N00747:160
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.
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
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.
2. God hath made no promises to us that we shall not be Deserted. He hath indeed promised that He will never forsake his people, but hath not said that he will never withdraw, or hide his face from them. Nay, […] far is it from this, that he hath threatened it in case, and made it one of the chastisements which he inflicts […] them for their follies. Now faith must have a word on which it builds its conclusion, else it is not faith, but presumption; and a Divine faith must rely on the Testimony of God, beyond which it dares not to go.
2. God hath made no promises to us that we shall not be Deserted. He hath indeed promised that He will never forsake his people, but hath not said that he will never withdraw, or hide his face from them. Nay, 〈…〉 far is it from this, that he hath threatned it in case, and made it one of the chastizements which he inflicts 〈…〉 them for their follies. Now faith must have a word on which it builds its conclusion, else it is not faith, but presumption; and a Divine faith must rely on the Testimony of God, beyond which it dares not to go.
3. As long as we live here, we are in hazard of provoking God to desert us. We observed in the Doctrinal part, that the more bold transgressions, or more gross sinful neglects of the people of God are the procurers of this, and that by it he corrects them for such follies: and we are not secure against these. We have a deceitful heart in us, a carnal part that will betray us, if it can: a vigilant Adversary ⟨p. 80⟩that lieth in wait to hurt us, and we walk in the midst of snares, and traps, and pits that are covered, and if we be not the more watchful, we shall be ensnared in them.
4 Nay, God may, if he sees meet, so exercise us, when we are most heedful to our selves: for we observed, that God may do it for the farther exercise and advancement of the Grace of his Children; and accordingly dispenseth himself, in this regard, with a great deal of arbitrary liberty; so that though we take heed to our selves, and diligently attend to Gods counsels, that we may be brought into the dark; for this is presumed of such as fear the Lord, and obey the voice of his Servants, Isa. 50.10. not but that the most likely way to enjoy the most of God with us, is to walk close with him, in obedience to his revealed will: however, he is Sovereign, and his wisdom knows what is best; we therefore ought not to be secure.
4 Nay, God may, if he sees meet, so exercise us, when we are most heedful to our selves: for we observed, that God may do it for the farther exercise and advancement of the Grace of his Children; and accordingly dispenseth himself, in this regard, with a great deal of arbitrary liberty; so that though we take heed to our selves, and diligently attend to Gods counsels, that we may be brought into the dark; for this is presumed of such as fear the Lord, and obey the voice of his Servants, Isa. 50.10. not but that the most likely way to enjoy the most of God with us, is to walk close with him, in obedience to his revealed will: however, he is Soveraign, and his wisdom knows what is best; we therefore ought not to be secure.
3. It will greatly increase the perplexity of a desertion, when it comes unexpected. We are wont to say, forewarned, sore armed. Desertions are hard to ⟨p. 81⟩bear, when we are best prepared for them: though Job could say, Chap. 3.26▪ 27. the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, &c. Yet the temptation of i• put him too much out of frame. But out of doubt Davids trouble was the greater, because he was secure against it▪ never looked for the wind to blow any▪ more from that quarter. Sudden surprises are astonishing, and discompose us much; whereas expected evils are fore pondered, and accordingly we are laid in the better to meet with them; and they are not strange.
3. It will greatly encrease the perplexity of a desertion, when it comes unexpected. We are wont to say, forewarned, sore armed. Desertions are hard to ⟨p. 81⟩bear, when we are best prepared for them: though Job could say, Chap. 3.26▪ 27. the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, &c. Yet the temptation of i• put him too much out of frame. But out of doubt Davids trouble was the greater, because he was secure against it▪ never looked for the wind to blow any▪ more from that quarter. Sudden surprizes are astonishing, and discompose us much; whereas expected evils are fore pondered, and accordingly we are laid in the better to meet with them; and they are not strange.
4. And indeed there is nothing will sooner procure this desertion, than such carnal confidence, and good reason, for there is nothing which puts a Child of God more out of frame for the due serving of God, and exercising of faith on him, or more exposeth him to be a prey to the adversary, and entangled in every temptation. If Peter grow confident of his strength, and on this adventures farther then he had a call, he is ensnared & taken. Mat. 26. If David thinks himself out of the reach of trouble, God thinks it high time to give him disquietment, Text. Be we then warned by others ⟨p. 82⟩examples, to take heed to our selves, how […] allow such frames to grow upon us: […] we do not, it will certainly cost us sorrow before God hath done with us.
4. And indeed there is nothing will sooner procure this desertion, than such carnal confidence, and good reason, for there is nothing which puts a Child of God more out of frame for the due serving of God, and exercising of faith on him, or more exposeth him to be a prey to the adversary, and entangled in every temptation. If Peter grow confident of his strength, and on this adventures farther then he had a call, he is ensnared & taken. Mat. 26. If David thinks himself out of the reach of trouble, God thinks it high time to give him disquietment, Text. Be we then warned by others ⟨p. 82⟩examples, to take heed to our selves, how 〈…〉 allow such frames to grow upon us: 〈…〉 we do not, it will certainly cost us sorrow before God hath done with us.
2. This tells us▪ that it is a dangerous thing for a Christian, to value himself only upon the comforts which he enjoys in Gods presence. It is the duty of Gods people, to get and keep a clear evidence of their good estate, according to, 2 Pet. 1.10. give all diligence to make your calling and election sure; and to be very solicitous on this account, is a good sign that we value the favour of God more than life: but it is great wisdom to get this so settled, as we may be able to make use of it at all times: and hence to have nothing to conclude it from but these comforts, is not safe. Consider,
2. This tells us▪ that it is a dangerous thing for a Christian, to value himself only upon the comforts which he enjoys in Gods presence. It is the duty of Gods people, to get and keep a clear evidence of their good estate, according to, 2 Pet. 1.10. give all diligence to make your calling and election sure; and to be very sollicitous on this account, is a good sign that we value the favour of God more than life: but it is great wisdom to get this so settled, as we may be able to make use of it at all times: and hence to have nothing to conclude it from but these comforts, is not safe. Consider,
1. It is true, it is a serene time with us, when we are so, and we cannot but be strengthened by the experience of it. A Child of God must needs be abundantly satisfied, when he finds himself in the arms and embraces of his Saviour, when Christ brings him into his Chambers, and spreads his banner of love over him; when he hath all the witness, seals, and earnests of the spirit afforded him: ⟨p. 83⟩hence that, Psal. 36.9. In thy light shall we see light: By this all his doubts are answered, all disputes against his good estate are silenced; and he can rejoice in the Lord, and triumph in the hopes of glory. I seek not therefore to discourage, but would to the utmost encourage the prizing, and making the best improvement that may be of such a condition as this, whensoever God vouchsafes it to us. But,
1. It is true, it is a serene time with us, when we are so, and we cannot but be strengthened by the experience of it. A Child of God must needs be abundant•y satisfied, when he finds himself in the arms and embraces of his Saviour, when Christ brings him into his Chambers, and spreads his banner of love over him; when he hath all the witness, seals, and earnests of the spirit afforded him: ⟨p. 83⟩hence that, Psal. 36.9. In thy light shall we see light: By this all his doubts are answered, all disputes against his good estate are silenced; and he can rejoyce in the Lord, and triumph in the hopes of glory. I seek not therefore to discourage, but would to the utmost encourage the prizing, and making the best improvement that may be of such a condition as this, whensoever God vouchsafes it to us. But,
9. Hence proportionably to their apprehension of this wrath, must their distress be▪ As they count it happiness ⟨p. 76⟩compleat 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 terrour 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 crys 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 beyound ⟨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.
