N00747:106
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.
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.
2. That which nextly produceth […] trouble is their apprehension of this. Sometimes they are in so drowsy a frame, that God is hidden, and they are insensible of it, and so long it disquiets them not. How long it was thus with David we cannot certainly tell, but it was so till the Prophet came and r••sed him▪ • Sam. 12. begin. But when once the spiritual sense is awakened, and they miss, and cannot find him, now they are distressed. And it is an usual thing for ⟨p. 56⟩him to give such a touch on the Conscience upon his withdrawing, which quickens this sense; so •he found it in, Cant. 5.4. My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. And the reason is▪ because he ever deserts them with a purpose to return again, and this is in order to it.
2. That which nextly produceth 〈…〉 trouble is their apprehension of this. Sometimes they are in so drowsy a frame, that God is hidden, and they are insensible of it, and so long it disquiets them not. How long it was thus with David we cannot certainly tell, but it was so till the Prophet came and r••sed him▪ • Sam. 12. begin. But when once the spiritual sense is awakened, and they miss, and cannot find him, now they are distressed. And it is an usual thing for ⟨p. 56⟩him to give such a touch on the Conscience upon his withdrawing, which quickens this sense; so •he found it in, Cant. 5.4. My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. And the reason is▪ because he ever deserts them with a purpose to return again, and this is in order to it.
3. The trouble it self is a distressing perplexity of Soul. We observed that the word signifies such a Consternation as leaves a man, in his own apprehension, without counsel or help: he is brought into a labyrinth, and cannot ••e his way out; he can look no way but he is entangled, and this distracts him; so he complains, Psal. 88.15. While I suffer thy terrors, I am distracted. And we have such moans, Psal. 31.9, 10. I am in trouble, mine eye is consumed with grief, &c. And 38.8, 10. I am feeble and sore broken, I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart, my heart pants, my strength fai•• ▪ &c.
3. The trouble it self is a distressing perplexity of Soul. We observed that the word signifies such a Consternation as leaves a man, in his own apprehension, without counsel or help: he is brought into a labyrinth, and cannot ••e his way out; he can look no way but he is entangled, and this distracts him; so he complains, Psal. 88.15. While I suffer thy terrours, I am distracted. And we have such moans, Psal. 31.9, 10. I am in trouble, mine eye is consumed with grief, &c. And 38.8, 10. I am feeble and sore broken, I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart, my heart pants, my strength fai•• ▪ &c.
4. For the quality of it, it is the most distressing. Not but that there are degrees in it, as will anon appear, but in the kind, it is the greatest of any; there ⟨p. 57⟩is no other sort of distress that a Child of God meets with that is comparable to it; all are tolerable in comparison with this; hence that, Prov. 18.14. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? But this will be more evident by considering of the effects which it produceth in the Christian. Only let me premise in general, that this trouble operates diversly, both as to manner & degrees, accordingly as God hides his face from them. We must therefore consider these effects according to this diversity, and there are some that are common to all, and there are others that are proper to these and those, according as they are accommodated to their particular resentments▪ We may take a brief account of each of them.
4. For the quality of it, it is the most distressing. Not but that there are deg•ees in it, as will anon appear, but in the kind, it is the greatest of any; there ⟨p. 57⟩is no other sort of destress that a Child of God meets with that is comparable to it; all are tolerable in comparison with this; hence that, Prov. 18.14. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? But this will be more evident by considering of the effects which it produceth in the Christian. Only let me premise in general, that this trouble operates diversly, both as to manner & degrees, accordingly as God hides his face from them. We must therefore consider these effects according to this diversity, and there are some that are common to all, and there are others that are proper to these and those, according as they are accommodated to their particular resentments▪ We may take a brief account of each of them.
1. Those effects which are common to all are principally such as these.
