N00747:180
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.
2. God doth not always appear to them alike in the dispensation of his love to them. He indeed loves them always unchangeably; but in the application of this to them, he acts his pleasure, according to his Wisdom. Sometime he affords ⟨p. 88⟩them a mighty presence, in aiding of their graces, and then their souls set them as the Chariots of Amminadib; but anon he withholds this, and leaves them to themselves, and then all flags in an instant, now their hands hang down and their knees buckle under them, and their graces are in a withering condition. Sometimes he refresheth them with his flagons and then their hearts are cheered as with new wine, anon he withholds these ravishing, and carries it aloof, and they are cast down and disquieted. Thus he will let them know, that their all depends upon him.
2. God doth not always appear to them alike in the dispensation of his love to them. He indeed loves them always unchangeably; but in the application of this to them, he acts his pleasure, according to his Wisdom. Sometime he affords ⟨p. 88⟩them a mighty presence, in aiding of their graces, and then their souls set them as the Chariots of Amminadib; but anon he witholds this, and leaves them to themselves, and then all flags in an instant, now their hands hang down and their knees buckle under them, and their graces are in a withering condition. Sometimes he refresheth them with his flaggons and then their hearts are cheered as with new wine, anon he witholds these ravishing, and carries it aloof, and they are cast down and disquieted. Thus he will let them know, that their all depends upon him.
3. And these changes many times have their frequent revolutions. It is not only thus for once and away, but the Sun of righteousness now shines bright upon them, anon it is beclouded, and then it breaks out again, but presently a sable cloud interposeth. No wonder then if there are such alterations in their carriage, when there is such a change in Gods discovering of himself to them. The coming & going of the Sun makes Summer & Winter. And indeed, though it be always our duty to be in the exercise of our faith, yet it becomes us to