A Divine Cordial

1. None but the Godly are capable of desertion. Wicked men know not what Gods love means, nor what it is to want it; they know what it is to want health, friends, trading, but not what i• is to want Gods favour. Thou fearest thou art not Gods child, because thou art deserted, whereas none but the Godly are deserted. The Lord cannot be said to withdraw his love from the wicked, because they never had it. The being deserted, evidenceth thee to be a Child of God. How couldest thou complain that God hath estranged himself, if thou hadst not sometimes received smiles and love-tokens from him?

2. There may be the seed of grace, where there is not the flower of joy. The earth may want a crop of Corn, yet may have a Mine of Gold within. A Christian may have grace within, though the luscious fruit of joy doth not grow. Vessels at Sea, that are richly fraught with Jewels and Spices, may be in the dark, and be •ossed in the storm. A soul enriched with the treasures of grace, may yet be in the dark of desertion, and so tossed as to think it shall be cast away in the storm. David in a state of disconsolacy prays, Take not away thy holy Spirit from me, Psal. 51.11. He doth not pray, saith Austin, Lord, Give me thy Spirit, ⟨p. 47⟩but, Ne tollas spiritum, Take not away thy Spirit; so that still he had the Spirit of God remaining in him.

2. There may be the seed of grace, where there is not the flower of joy. The earth may want a crop of Corn, yet may have a Mine of Gold within. A Ch•istian may have grace within, though the luscious fruit of joy doth not grow. Vessels at Sea, that are richly fraught with Jewels and Spices, may be in the dark, and be •ossed in the storm. A soul enriched with the treasures of grace, may yet be in the dark of desertion, and so tossed as to think it shall be cast away in the storm. David in a state of disconsolacy prays, Take not away thy holy Spirit from me,