N00747:153
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. If therefore his object fail him, and he have no other to rely upon, he must needs be perplexed. It is a killing thing to be disappointed in ones expectation, in which his all is concerned: and if the deferring of hope makes the heart to faint, the defeating of it must needs make it to die in the man; especially when he sees no other course to be taken, or any other re••ge where he may repair this loss: it will make him to say as he, Judg 18.24. Ye have taken […] my Gods, and what have • more?
3. If there•ore his object fail him, and he have no other to rely upon, he must needs be perplexed. It is a killing thing to be disappointed in ones expectation, in which his all is concerned: and if the deferring of hope makes the heart to faint, the defeating of it must needs make it to dy in the man; especially when he sees no other course to be taken, or any other re••ge where he may repair this loss: it will make him to say as he, Judg 18.24. Ye have taken 〈…〉 my Gods, and what have • more?
4. And the deeper apprehension that he hath of his misery hereby, the more oppressed must he needs be. It is certain that according as men apprehend the good or evil they are concerned in, they will be proportionably affected with it; for the affections are moved by the will, according to the resentment which it hath of the good or evil which are the objects of it These things are accommodated to the rational powers which God hath put into man, and are answerably exerted by the Children of God, in whom grace doth not destroy but rectify nature. Here therefore let us take a particular account of them, as they refer to the matter before us, in the following Conclusions.
1. A Child of God hath been made apprehensive of the fearful misery under which he was by sin. This is wrought in the Heart and Conscience▪ by the Spirit of God, in order to the making of the Children of men the Children of God; and the remembrance of it abides with them as long as they live. Fallen man is in a miserable condition, having lost his right to all good, and being fallen under a curse that involves all ⟨p. 72⟩infelicities in it. The natural man doth not resent this of himself; […] God, when he comes to convert a sinner, reveals it to him, and makes him to know it and feel it, and that both temporal and spiritual: hence that, Jer. 2.19. Know and see that it is an evil thing and bitter: and this belongs to the work of the Spirit, Joh. 16.8. He shall convince the world of sin.
1. A Child of God hath been made apprehensive of the fearful misery under which he was by sin. This is wrought in the Heart and Conscience▪ by the Spirit of God, in order to the making of the Children of men the Children of God; and the remembrance of it abides with them as long as they live. Fallen man is in a miserable condition, having lost his right to all good, and being fallen under a curse that involves all ⟨p. 72⟩infelicities in it. The natural man doth not resent this of himself; 〈…〉 God, when he comes to conveit a sinner, reveals it to him, and makes him to know it and feel it, and that both temporal and spiritual: hence that, Jer. 2.19. Know and see that it is an evil thing and bitter: and this belongs to the work of the Spirit, Joh. 16.8. He shall convince the world of sin.
2. He hath been deeply concerned to escape this misery, and obtain eternal felicity. This also hath been the fruit of the operation of the Spirit in him: for, though nature it self stimulates men to enquire after an escape, upon conviction of danger, and to use means to obtain it, yet it is God only who hath discovered the way for it, and moves the soul to hearken after it; for, by the light of nature there was no discovery of this: nor can the natural man comprehend it, when it is discovered in the Gospel: but God hath touched the heart of this man with a remorse and an enquiry, What shall I do to be Saved? and made him very solicitous to obtain it: he was loth to perish, and longed that he might escape; and the ⟨p. 73⟩terrors which he read in the threatening were so great upon him, and such was his expectation of their •alling upon him, that he restlessly longed for relief.
2. He hath been deeply concerned to escape this misery, and obtain eternal felicity. This also hath been the fruit of the operation of the Spirit in him: for, though nature it self stimulates men to enquire after an escape, upon conviction of danger, and to use means to obtain it, yet it is God only who hath discovered the way for it, and moves the soul to hearken after it; for, by the light of nature there was no discovery of this: nor can the natural man comprehend it, when it is discovered in the Gospel: but God hath touched the heart of this man with a remor•e and an enquiry, What shall I do to be Saved? and made him very sollicitous to obtain it: he was loth to perish, and longed that he might escape; and the ⟨p. 73⟩terrours which he read in the threatning were so great upon him, and such was his expectation of their •alling upon him, that he restlesly longed for relief.
3 He hath found the emptiness and insufficiency of every other object of trust: He hath been looking every way for relief; he hath been trying many courses to help himself, but they have all disappointed him; he hath gone to the world, and that hath deceived him; he hath looked to his privileges, and they have not succoured him; he hath attempted his own Righteousness, and that hath failed him: he hath accordingly been broken off from all these, and dares no longer to look that way; hath resolved as they▪ Hos. 14.3 Ashur shall not save us, &c. and Jer. 3.23. in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and the multitude of mountains.
3 He hath found the emptiness and insufficiency of every other object of trust: He hath been looking every way for relief; he hath been trying many courses to help himself, but they have all disappointed him; he hath gone to the world, and that hath deceived him; he hath looked to his pri••ledges, and they have not succoured him; he hath attempted his own Righteousness, and that hath failed him: he hath accordingly been broken off from all these, and dares no longer to look that way; hath resolved as they▪ Hos. 14.3 Ashur shall not save us, &c. and Jer. 3.23. in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and the multitude of mountains.
4. He hath discovered the fullness of sufficiency there is in God, through' Christ, to deliver him, and make him perfectly blessed. God hath made himself known to him in his communicable perfections, to be one in whom he may trust for salvation; and hath revealed himself in the face of Christ, as a God ready to ⟨p. 74⟩receive him, and bestow eternal salvation upon him: he hath seen that he can deliver him from all his miseries, and fill him with those glories which shall make him satisfied: he hath appeared to him, as a sun and a shield, and the author of grace and glory and every good thing, Psal. 84.11. As one that is able to save him to the uttermost, Heb. 7.21. and he hath been made to believe that all they are blessed that put their trust in him.
4. He hath discovered the fulness of sufficiency there is in God, thro' Christ, to deliver him, and make him perfectly blessed. God hath made himself known to him in his communicable perfections, to be one in whom he may trust for salvation; and hath revealed himself in the face of Christ, as a God ready to ⟨p. 74⟩receive him, and bestow eternal salvation upon him: he hath seen that he can deliver him from all his miseries, and fill him with those glories which shall make him satisfied: he hath appeared to him, as a sun and a shield, and the author of grace and glory and every good thing, Psal. 84.11. As one that is able to save him to the uttermost, Heb. 7.21. and he hath been made to believe that all they are blessed that put their trust in him.
5. He hath utterly renounced all other trust, and placed his alone hope in God, through Christ for salvation. He hath rejected the world, both men and things of it, and cast off all his own righteousness and strength, and chosen God in Christ for his portion, and said to him, as Psal. 73.21. Whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is nothing on the earth that I desire in comparison of thee; and hath obliged his soul to this, as Psal. 62.5, 6. my soul trust thou in God alone, &c.
6. Hence his life is bound up in the •avour of God: All his help is in that; he hath no where else to go; he is resolved in this, that if God do not save him, he must perish; if he be not his portion, he must have none: if God ⟨p. 75⟩should fall him, he hath no where else to repair, but must needs sink; he utterly despairs of having succour from any other hand; he hath no other string to his bow; he can not go any whither else, but saith, as, Joh. 6.68. whither should we go, thou only hast the words of eternal life.
6. Hence his life is bound up in the •avour of God: All his help is in that; he hath no where else to go; he is resolved in this, that if God do not save him, he must perish; if he be not his portion, he must have none: if God ⟨p. 75⟩should fall him, he hath no where else to repair, but must needs sink; he utterly ••spairs of having succour from any other hand; he hath no other string to his bow; he can not go any whither else, but saith, as, Joh. 6.68. whither should we go, thou only hast the words of eternal life.
7. Hence the anger of God cannot but be very terrible to him, if he hath his whole dependence for time and eternity on Gods favour; surely then it cannot but be very bitter, to see him discover his anger, and look to him as an Enemy: this is it that he alone account• fearful; Psal. 7•.7. Thou, even thou ar• to be feared, and who is he that can stand, when once thou art angry?
8. Those withdrawings of his discover him as an angry God, to his Children. They readily read wrath and indignation in them: hence the Psalmist complains how heavily his wrath lay upon him, in these dispensations▪ Psal. 88.7, 16. thy wrath lies heavy upon me▪ thy fierce wrath goeth over me.
9. Hence proportionably to their apprehension of this wrath, must their distress be▪ As they count it happiness ⟨p. 76⟩complete to have this God their friend and father, so that it is the too of misery to have him for their enemy: and the more of comfort they have ever felt in communion with him, the more oppressing must his withdrawing be: hence that, Job 31.23. Destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure. Christ is his life, Col. 3.4 And if his life have deserted him, what shall he do? whither shall he go? he knows not how to live at present without him; if his God be gone, he cries out as, Psal. 38.10. My heart pants, my strength fails me. He is desolate and bereaved, and because all his hope for eternity is bound up in God, if he is brought into fear whether ever he will return again, he is at a loss about his interest in him, and suspects whether he hath not cast him off for ever; the very thoughts of losing these glorious refreshments, and pleasures, and joys that are in his presence, and at his right hand for evermore, and undergoing those miseries which he hath had an apprehension of, which are the portion of those that must be eternally separated from his presence, must needs be dismal beyond ⟨p. 77⟩conception. None can apprehend or believe it, but the Soul that feels it; no• can he express it to others, so bitter & dreadful it is: and he may well cry out as the Church doth, in Lam. 1.12. Behold and see, if there be any sorrow like my sorrow.
9. Hence proportionably to their apprehension of this wrath, must their distress be▪ As they count it happiness ⟨p. 76⟩
1. Learn hence what a foolish thing it is for the Children of God, to nourish in themselves carnal confidence, & security. We ought indeed to live in the exercise of Faith, and labour always to strengthen and establish it; but there is a Presumption which the best are in hazard of, and if they reckon it to be a strong faith, they grievously mistake themselves. For a believer, when he finds his heart engaged, to think himself Temptation proof, and be thereupon adventurous beyond a Call; or because he now stands in the light of Gods countenance, to conclude that he shall never be beclouded again, is carnal confidence: and the Doctrine before us will discover the folly of it, if we consider;
1. That there is a vast difference, between this and faith in exercise. And to ⟨p. 78⟩make this evident we have need to take notice only of this, viz. That faith it always accompanied, in its exercise with holy fear: a Child of God dares indeed to ••ust in him; but he knows that this •aith is to be found in the use of means, and not to indulge a neglect of them: hence that, Eph. 5.15. See that you walk Circumspectly. Faith tells him that if he would have God to keep him, he must look to his ways, and not lay himself open by security. What further difference there is between these, will be seen in that which follows.
2. There is no reason for us to promise our selves that we shall never be Deserted, but on the other hand, great reason to expect it. Faith ought to be able to give a reason for its confidence, but there is none to be rendered for this, for▪
2. There is no reason for us to promise our selves that we shall never be Deserted, but on the other hand, great reason to expect it. Faith ought to be able to give a reason for its confidence, but there is none to be rendred for this, for▪
1. The best of Gods people have been Deserted: So that Grace is no security against it. What hath been, may be Except we can prove some particular immunity granted us on this account, we have no ground to monopolize any privilege to our selves, which none of the Saint• which ever went before us, could ⟨p. 79⟩challenge. Job, David, Heman, Peter, &c. were deserted, and who are we then that we should promise our selves to escape it? What is written of them in the word of God, is for our admonition.
1. The best of Gods people have been Deserted: So that Grace is no security against it. What hath been, may be Except we can prove some particular immunity granted us on this account, we have no ground to monopolize any priviledge to our selves, which none of the Saint• which ever went before us, could ⟨p. 79⟩challenge. Job, David, Heman, Peter, &c. were deserted, and who are we then that we should promise our selves to escape it? What is written of them in the word of God, is for our admonition.
