self once cried out upon the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me:" and yet he was the beloved of the Father, and is now at his right hand in glory and all this he did that we might not be forsaken. He hath removed the enmity he hath reconciled us to God: by grief he passed himself to joy, and he will wipe away his servants' tears, and cause their griefs to end in joy. 8. Sometimes, the soul that would draw near to God, is molested with a storm of hideous temptations, and even confounded with a swarm of disordered, perplexed thoughts. Satan assaulteth it with temptations to despair, temptations to horrid blasphemous thoughts; temptations to entangle, intermit, corrupt, or pervert the duty which they are about; so that the soul is discouraged, overwhelmed, and broken with the inward assaults, and troubles, and distractions which it undergoeth. In this case, faith hath a Saviour suitable to our relief. It can look to him that was tempted in all points like as we are, without sin, and is now such an High Priest as can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; and, therefore, we may come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. "In all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people: for he himself having suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." He submitted not only to be tempted by satan, but tempted in a wilderness, where he had no man to comfort him; and to be tempted to the most horrid blasphemy and wickedness, even to fall down and worship the devil himself: and he suffered the tempter violently to carry him to the pinnacle of the temple, Matt. iv. What should we think of ourselves, if we had been used thus? Should we not think that God had utterly forsaken us? He suffered himself to be tempted also by men: by the abuses and reproaches of his enemies; by the desertion of his followers; by the carnal counsel of Peter, persuading him to put by the death which he was to undergo. And he that made all temptations serve to the triumph of his patience, and conquering Heb. iv. 14-16. ii. 17, 18. power, will give the victory also to his grace, in the weakest soul. to us. 9. It would be the greatest attractive to us to draw near to God, and make the thoughts of him pleasant to us, if we could but believe that he dearly loveth us, that he is reconciled to us, and taketh us for his children, and that he taketh pleasure in us, and that he resolveth for ever to glorify us with his Son, and that the dearest friend that we have in the world, doth not love us the thousandth part so much as he. And all this in Christ, is clearly represented to the eye of faith. All this is procured for believers, by him: and all this is given to believers in him. In him God is reconciled He is our Father, and dwelleth among us, and in us, and walketh in us, and is our Gods. Light and heat are not more abundant in the sun, than love is in Jesus Christ. To look on Christ, and not perceive the love of God, is as to look on the sun, and not to see and acknowledge its light. Therefore, whenever you find your hearts averse to God, and to have no pleasure in him, look then to Jesus, and observe in him the unmeasurable love of God: that you may be able to comprehend with all the saints, "what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God "." Love and goodness are that to the will, which delicious sweetness is to the sensitive appetite. Draw near then, and taste the feast of love which God hath prepared and proposed by his Son. Dost thou not see or feel the love of God? Come near, and look upon God incarnate; upon a crucified Christ; upon the Covenant sealed in his blood; upon all the benefits of his Redemption; upon all the privileges of the saints; and upon the glory purchased, possessed, and promised by him. Put thy hand into his wounded side, and be not faithless, but believing : and then thou wilt cry out," My Lord, and my God." 10. So also, when the soul would fain perceive in itself the flames of love to God, it is the beholding of Christ by faith, which is the striking of fire, and the effectual means of kindling love. And this is the true approach to God, and the true communion and converse with him so far as we h Ephes. iii. 18, 19. 2 Cor. vi. 16-18. love him, so far do we draw near him, and so far have we true communion with him. O what would the soul of a believer give, that it could but burn in love to God, as oft as in prayer, or meditation, or conference, his name and attributes are mentioned or remembered! For this, there is no such powerful means, as believingly to look on Christ, in whom such glorious love appeareth, as will draw forth the love of all, that by a lively faith discern it. Behold the love that God hath manifested by his Son, and thou canst not but love him, who is the spring of this transcendent love. In the law, God sheweth his frowning wrath: and therefore it breedeth the "spirit of bondage unto fear :" but in Christ God appeareth to us, not only as loving us, but as love itself; and therefore as most lovely to us, giving us the spirit of adoption, or of filial love, by which we fly, and cry to him as our Father. 11. The actual undisposedness and disability of the soul to prayer, meditation, and all holy converse with the blessed God, is the great impediment of our walking with him: and against this, our relief is all in Christ. He is filled with the Spirit, to communicate to his members: he can quicken us when we are dull: he can give us faith when we are unbelieving he can give us boldness when we are discouraged : he can pour out upon us the Spirit of supplication, which shall help our infirmities, when we know not what to pray for as we ought. Beg of him then, the spirit of prayer: and look to his example, who prayed with strong cries and tears, and continued all the night in prayer, and spake a parable to this end, that we should always pray, and not wax faint. Call to him, and he that is with the Father will reach the hand of his Spirit to you, and will quicken your desires, and lift you up. 12. Sometimes, the soul is hearkening to temptations of unbelief, and doubting whether God observe our prayers, or whether there is so much to be got by prayer as we are told. In such a case faith must look to Christ, who hath not only commanded it, and encouraged us by his example; but also made us such plentiful promises of acceptance with God, and the grant of our desires. Recourse to these promises will animate us to draw nigh to God. 13. Sometimes the present sense of our vileness, who are but dust and despicable worms, doth discourage us, and weaken our expectations from God. Against this, what a wonderful relief is it to the soul, to think of our union with Christ, and of the dignity and glory of our Head! Can God despise the members of his Son? Can he trample upon them that are as his flesh and bone? Will he cut off, or forsake, or cast away the weakest parts of his body? 14. Sometimes, the guilt of renewed infirmities or decays doth renew distrust, and make us shrink; and we are like the child in the mother's arms, that feareth when he loseth his hold, as if his safety were more in his hold of her, than in her hold of him. Weak duties have weak expectations of success. In this case, what an excellent remedy hath faith, in looking to the perpetual intercession of Christ. Is he praying for us in the heavens, and shall we not be bold to pray, and expect an answer? O remember that he is not weak, when we are weak; and that it concerneth us, that he prayeth for us: and that we have now an unchangeable priest, who is able to save them to the uttermost, or to perpetuity," that come (sincerely) to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." If you heard Christ pray for you, would it not encourage you to pray, and persuade you that God would not reject you? Undoubtedly it would. 15. Sometimes, weak Christians, that have not the gifts of memory or utterance, are apt to think that ministers indeed and able men, are accepted of God, but that he little valueth such as them. It is here a great encouragement to the soul, to think that Jesus our great High Priest, doth make all his children priests to God. They are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that they should shew forth the praises of him that hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light: an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." Even their "broken hearts and contrite spirits, are a sacrifice which God will not despise!." He knoweth the meaning of the Spirit's groan. 16. The strength of corruptions which molest the soul, and are too often struggling with it, and too much prevail, doth greatly discourage us in our approach to that God that i Heb. vii. 24, 25. * 1 Pet. ii. 5. 9. 1 Rom. viii. 26, 27. hateth all the workers of iniquity. And here faith may find relief in Christ, not only as he pardoneth us, but as he hath conquered the devil and the world himself, and bid us be of good cheer, because he hath conquered, and hath all the power given him in heaven and earth, and can give us victorious grace, in the season and measure which he seeth meetest for us. We can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth us. Go to him then by faith and prayer, and you shall find that his grace is sufficient for you. 17. The thoughts of God are the less delightful to the soul, because that death and the grave do interpose, and we must pass through them before we can enjoy him and it is unpleasing to nature, to think of a separation of soul and body, and to think that our flesh must rot in darkness. But against this, faith hath wonderful relief in Jesus Christ. "Forasmuch as we were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage "." What an encouragement it is to faith, to observe that Christ once died himself, and that he rose from the dead, and reigneth with the Father: it being impossible that death should hold him. And having conquered that which seemed to conquer him, it no more hath dominion over him, but he hath the keys of death and hell. We may now entertain death as a disarmed enemy, and say, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?" Yea, it is sanctified by him to be our friend, even an entrance into our Master's joy: it being best for us to depart and be with Christ". And, therefore, death is become our gain. O what abundance of strength and sweetness may faith perceive from that promise of Christ, "If any man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall also my servant be P." As he was dead, but now liveth for evermore, so hath he promised, that "because he liveth, therefore shall we live also "." But of this, I have written two treatises of death already. 18. The terror of the day of judgment, and of our particular doom at death, doth make the thoughts of God less m Heb. ii. 14, 15. John xii. 26. " Phil. i. 23. • Phil. i. 21. |