Sermons preached

1. How different are they from the Spirit of Christ, that can brook God's Absence without any remorse or complaint? Christ cried with a loud voice, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? These go on securely, never observe God's Accesses and Recesses; when the Comforts of his Spirit, and the Communications of his Grace are wholly suspended, and with-holden from them, they never lay it t ⟨p. 174⟩Heart. Stupid and insensible Creatures! It is all one to them, whether God go or come, whether He manifest Himself propitious to them, or his Face be hidden from them. They take up with the vain delights of the present World. Micah showed more respect to his Idols, than they do to God; Judg. 18. 24. Ye have taken away my Gods, and what have I more? And do you ask, What aileth thee? When God is gone, they are not troubled. The Christians wept when Paul said, Ye shall see my Face no more, Acts 20. 25. And will ye not mourn and lament your Loss, when God hideth his Face, and shutteth up Himself in a Veil and Cloud of Displeasure? Much of serious Christianity lies in an Observation of God's coming and going, and a suitable Carriage, Mat. 9. 15. A serious Christian will be affected with the Loss of comfort and quickening, and lament after a withdrawn God.

1. How different are they from the Spirit of Christ, that can brook God's Absence without any remorse or complaint? Christ cried with a loud voice, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? These go on securely, never observe God's Accesses and Recesses; when the Comforts of his Spirit, and the Communications of his Grace are wholly suspended, and with-holden from them, they never lay it t ⟨p. 174⟩Heart. Stupid and insensible Creatures! It is all one to them, whether God go or come, whether He manifest Himself propitious to them, or his Face be hidden from them. They take up with the vain delights of the present World. Micah shewed more respect to his Idols, than they do to God;