Chapter 13

CHAP. XIII.

The third general head; The Ends for which God leaveth his children unto this darkness. First, such as are drawn from God, and his faithfulness; &c.

The third generall head; The Ends for which God leaveth his children unto this darknesse. First, such as are drawne from God, and his faithfulnesse; &c.

Now let us come to those ends which God may have in this his dealing with one that fears and obeys him, which are many and holy ones.

NOw let us come to those ends which God may have in this his dealing with one that feares and obeyes him, which are many and holy ones.

First, to show his power and faithfulness, in upholding, raising up, and healing such a spirit again as hath been long and deadly wounded with inward terrors; which is as great an evidence of his power as any other; and therefore saith Heman, Psal. 88. 10. Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? shall thy faithfulness be declared in destruction. ver. 11. That is, in raising my soul up again to joy, and comfort, which is as much as to raise up a dead man; nay more, as much as to raise up a soul already in hell; for the same terrors, says he, that destroy them, do in like manner seize on me; in the 1. Ephes. 19. it is said, That the exceeding greatness of Gods power was seen in raising Christ from death to life: and wherein lay principally the demonstration of that power? not simply in raising his body up again; that was no ⟨p. 139⟩