Secondly, §2When Christ comes with his Comforting mercy, and causes his comforting grace to pass upon a mans heart; then he doth come at midnight, in an hour and time when he doth least expect him. I sought him (says the Spouse,) but I found him not. I sought him on my bed, in private, and found him not. I sought him in the streets, in the public Ordinances, but I found him not. It was but a little that I passed from the watchmen, but I found him whom my Soul loveth. Then, and there she finds him, where she looked not for him, and did not expect him. Psalm 42. verse 6, 7, 8. O my God (says David). My Soul is cast down within me. Here's trouble, sorrow, and heaviness; all thy waves are gone over me, verse the 17. Here's more. Yet (saith he) verse 8. The Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time, and in the night his songs shall be with me. It is Gods ordinary title, The Lord our maker, who giveth songs in the night, Job. 35. We read of Master Robert Glover, mentioned by Master Fox, in the book of Martyrs, That though he were a man very gracious and holy, faithfully bearing witness to the truth; yet it pleased God to withdraw himself and presence from him, in so much that he was greatly distressed while he was in prison; and opening himself to his friend, told him, how God had left and deserted him; his friend exhorted him still for to wait on God, which he laboured to do, and the night before his execution, spent much of that time in prayer, yet no comfort came, no manifestations of the presence of Christ; the next day he was drawn out to the stake for to die for the truth, and as he went, he mourned much for the presence of Christ; but when he came in the sight of the stake, it pleased God so to fill his heart and soul with comfort, and the incomes of his love, that he cried out unto his friend, O Austin, he is come, he is come, he is come. This good man was in the ⟨p. 9⟩dark a great while; but when in the darkest time, then Christ came. Christ comes at midnight, when he doth come with comfort.
Secondly, §2When Christ comes with his Comforting mercy, and causes his comforting grace to passe upon a mans heart; then he doth come at midnight, in an houre and time when he doth least expect him. I sought him (sayes the Spouse,) but I found him not. I sought him on my bed, in private, and found him not. I sought him in the streets, in the publique Ordinances, but I found him not. It was but a little that I passed from the watchmen, but I found him whom my Soule loveth. Then, and there she finds him, where she look't not for him, and did not expect him. Psalme 42. verse 6, 7, 8. O my God (sayes David). My Soule is cast down within me. Here's trouble, sorrow, and heavinesse; all thy waves are gone over me, verse the 17. Here's more. Yet (saith he) verse 8. The Lord will command his loving kindnesse in the day time, and in the night his songs shall be with me. It is Gods ordinary title, The Lord our maker, who giveth songs in the night, Job. 35. We reade of Master Robert Glover, mentioned by Master Fox, in the booke of Martyrs, That though he were a man very gracious and holy, faithfully bearing witnesse to the truth; yet it pleased God to withdraw himselfe and presence from him, in so much that he was greatly distressed while he was in prison; and opening himselfe to his friend, told him, how God had left and deserted him; his friend exhorted him still for to waite on God, which he laboured to do, and the night before his execution, spent much of that time in prayer, yet no comfort came, no manifestations of the presence of Christ; the next day he was drawn out to the stake for to die for the truth, and as he went, he mourned much for the presence of Christ; but when he came in the sight of the stake, it pleased God so to fill his heart and soule with comfort, and the incomes of his love, that he cried out unto his friend, O Austin, heis come, he is come, he is come. This good man was in the ⟨p. 9⟩darke a great while; but when in the darkest time, then Christ came. Christ comes at midnight, when he doth come with comfort.
