A77360:936
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation. : Gods return to the soul, or nation; together with his preventing mercy. : Delivered in ten sermons, (viz.) 1. Christs personal excellencies, the object of our love. 2. Christ crucified, the object of our faith. 3. The new covenant of grace opened. 4. Christ the mediator of the new covenant. 5. The way and spirit of the new covenant, or New Testament. 6. The blood of sprinkling. 7. The sweetness and profitableness of divine meditation. 8. The work and way of this meditation. 9. Gods return to the soul and nation. 10. Preventing mercy. / By W.B.
London: printed for N. Ranew, 1667
Sermons › Sermon 9: Gods Return to the Soul or Nation. SERM. IX.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
These things are not in perfection here: In heaven there is nothing but the presence of God, and all the comforts there flow from that Fountain.— In hell there's nothing but the absence of God, and all the ⟨p. 466⟩miseries there flow from that Fountain.— This life lies between both. And what if God will (that we may be sensible of the great deliverance from the wrath to come) give us a taste of hell, by his withdrawings and by his departings from us for a season.
These things are not in perfection here: In heaven there is nothing but the presence of God, and all the comforts there flow from that Fountain.— In hell there's nothing but the absence of God, and all the ⟨p. 466⟩miseries there flow from that Fountain.— This life lyes between both. And what if God will (that we may be sensible of the great deliverance from the wrath to come) give us a taste of hell, by his withdrawings and by his departings from us for a season.
Thirdly, I am sure, 'tis very fit that we should be conformed unto Jesus Christ. As Christ was conformed unto us, in reference to our Temptations; so 'tis fit we should be conformed to him, in reference to his Desertions. Christ was deserted, Christ was forsaken, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Surely, the Disciple is not above his Master. But
Fourthly, I am sure of this, That God loves to see the workings of all our graces, our Faith, and Love especially: There are some graces that do not open nor show themselves, but in the Sunshining day of Gods presence. When the Sun shines, the Marigold opens. When the Sun shines, the Fish that lay at the bottom of the water in a cloudy day, swim at the top of the water, and are seen. In the Sunshining day of Gods presence, then our Thankfulness, our Joy, our Assurance floats, and are to be seen upon the top of the water. But there are other graces, that are best seen when God withdraws, and when God is absent,— Faith in God,— And love to God especially.