N00747:175
Spiritual desertions discovered and remedied. Being the substance of divers sermons preached for the…
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]
printed by B. Green for Michael Perry and Benjamin Eliot, 1699
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.
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,
2. What shall we do when these are lost? we have been assured that they may so be; and to what a measure th privation may arrive, God only know and it is our duty to be laying in for a wet day. A Christian ought to be provided to be able to hold out in a storm, as well as to flourish in a calm: though he wants the comfort, yet he should keep his resolution, and say as he,