The safety of appearing at the day of judgement, in the righteousness of Christ

For the removal of this Discouragement,

Consider, 1.

That many sad and sorrowful dispensations are consistent with the favour of God: men are ready to think that if God delighted in them, he could not find in his heart to exercise them in such a manner, his compassion would work so towards them, that they should not experience such sorrows: but men greatly mistake, it is true that all the ways of God are mercy to them that fear him: but yet many times his ways are in appearance contrary unto love; it is common with God to bring those that he has rejected into a prosperous condition, they are under very smiling ⟨p. 329⟩providences; and on the other hand God frequently frowns upon his own children, not only in external dispensations, but also by inward darkness, leaving them to conflict with sore temptations; the love of God to his people, is not an affection, as love in men is; but it is a design to make them happy: not to bestow all those degrees of blessedness upon them that he can, but it is with subserviency to a greater design, even the glory of his Name; and therefore he leads them to happiness in such a way as is conducible to the manifestation of the glory of his pardoning grace, his holiness and sovereignty; and it is frequent with God to lay very heavy afflictions upon his dearest children, Psal. 73.14. all the day long I have been plagued and chastened every morning: and God leaves his sometimes to a great deal of inward darkness: Psal. 88.15. while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted: men that fear the Lord may be in darkness, and have no light,