N00747:102
Spiritual desertions discovered and remedied. Being the substance of divers sermons preached for the help of dark souls, labouring under divine withdrawings. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Four lines from Isaiah]
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.
4 There are some Desertions that have their frequent revolutions: there are the turns that some of Gods Children are entertained withal: sometimes they are in the light, and anon in the dark; now they are lifted up, and presently they are cast down; and they can come to no settlement: God is not to be contended with when it is so; but if we search diligently, we may possibly find a satisfactory reason in our selves for it.
5. God will show his manifold wisdom in bringing of his to glory, & hence acts very differently with them in the exercise or trial of their graces. If God may be glorified by us, that should satisfy us; and in this way he gaineth great glory; hence,
5. God will shew his manifold wisdom in bringing of his to glory, & hence acts very differently with them in the exercise or trial of their graces. If God may be glorified by us, that should satisfie us; and in this way he gaineth great glory; hence,
1. Some have but few of these desertions, and those also very short: and they are carried the greater part of their life in a clear light: Of such we have the Psalmists remark, Psal. 89.15, 16. they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance; in thy name shall they rejoice all the day.
1. Some have but few of these desertions, and those also very short: and they are carried the greater part of their life in a clear light: Of such we have the Psalmists remark, Psal. 89.15, 16. they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance; in thy name shall they rejoyce all the day.
2. Others have more of these at their setting out, and afterward they enjoy a great serenity. God pleaseth to hold them a considerable time in the dark, before he makes remarkable discoveries of himself to them; though he gives them the grace, yet they want the comfort of it; but afterwards, after humble waiting, he comes in with his wondrous light, and replenisheth them with it; they find the meaning of that, Psal. 112.4. unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness; a cloudy day hath a serene sun-set, and in the evening it is light.
3. Others begin fair, but are afterwards tried with awful withdrawings God at first seals his love up to them, takes them into his chambers, and manifesteth his wonderful love to them: and after that he changeth his providence toward them, and they are carried into ⟨p. 53⟩deep waters, where there is no standing: when they have been Royally feasted with his love, they are called to the trial of their grace by his withdrawings. Such was the close of Davids Reign.
3. Others begin fair, but are afterwards tried with •wful withdrawings God at first seals his love up to them, takes them into his chambers, and manifesteth his wonderful love to them: and after that he changeth his providence toward them, and they are carried into ⟨p. 53⟩deep waters, where there is no standing: when they have been Royally feasted with his love, they are called to the trial of their grace by his withdrawings. Such was the close of Davids Reign.
4. Others have a dark time between; their beginning and ending is bright, but God interposeth a time of clouds and darkness, in which they feel no small exercise. So it was with Job.
5. Others are kept in the dark all their days; and possibly set in a cloud too; the Apostle speaks of some such, in Heb. 2.15. who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage; and we find the Psalmist thus representing of his own condition in this respect, Psal. 88.15. I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. Now in all these things God brings about his own glory, and carries on the saving good of his Children, and is not to be disputed but adored in the arbitrary conduct which he affords them through life and time.
5. Others are kept in the dark all their days; and possibly set in a cloud too; the Apostle speaks of some such, in Heb. 2.15. who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage; and we find the Psalmist thus representing of his own condition in this respect, Psal. 88.15. I am afflicted and ready to dy from my youth up. Now in all these things God brings about his own glory, and carries on the saving good of his Children, and is not to be disputed but adored in the arbitrary conduct which he affords them through life and time.
Proposition 2. That his so hiding from them, i• troublesome and terrible to them; it is that which oppresseth, and almost sinks & overwhelms their spirits.
There are two things that may here ••me under consideration.
1. We may enquire into the nature and operation of this trouble.
2. We may observe, whence it is that th•se Desertions are so terrible to them?
1. Concerning the nature and operation of this trouble, we may first take a general description of it, and then trace it in the effects which it produceth in the Christian.
1. Of this trouble take this general description; It is the most distressing perplexity of Soul, in a Child of God, arising from his apprehension of Gods withdrawing from him. We before observed that the […] used in our Text is very emphatical▪ which is engrossed in the description, and may be laid forth in the opening of it. Here therefore observe.
1. Of this trouble take this general description; It is the most distressing perplexity of Soul, in a Child of God, arising from his apprehension of Gods withdrawing from him. We before observed that the 〈…〉 used in our Text is very emphati•al▪ which is engrossed in the description, and may be laid forth in the opening of it. Here therefore observe.
1. The subject of these hidings; and that is a Child of God. That these may undergo them hath been already observed & made manifest; as also that there is a vast difference between Gods hiding from these, and from wicked men; and accordingly there are also different resentments in them, both as to the things wherein God hideth, and the entertainment ⟨p. 55⟩which they give thereunto. We must therefore carry in our minds whom it is that we are treating about.
1. The subject of these hidings; and that is a Child of God. That these may undergoe them hath been already observed & made manifest; as also that there is a vast difference between Gods hiding from these, and from wicked men; and accordingly there are also different resentments in them, both as to the things wherein God hideth, and the entertainment ⟨p. 55⟩which they give thereunto. We must therefore carry in our minds whom it is that we are treating about.
2. We are told whence it is that their trouble proceeds; viz. The ••prehens••• of Gods withdrawing from them. And here observe,
1. The foundation of this trouble i• in the desertion it self: it is that which gives being to it. If God should not withdraw, they would not thus be troubled: could they always enjoy the light of his countenance, it would abundantly satisfy them, let what else will befall them. Psal. 23.4. When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will from no ill, for thou art with me.
