in the night season, and am not silent; but thou art holy. Is not thy spirit according to thy measure, framed like Christs in this? Canst thou not say even when he writes bitter things against thee, he is a holy, faithful, and good God for all this. I am deserted, but not wronged. There is not one drop of injustice, in all the Sea of my sorrows. Though he condemn me, I must and will Justifie him. This also is Christ-like.
Fifthly, Though God took from Christ all visible and sensible comforts, inward, as well as outward; yet Christ subsisted by faith in the absence of them all. His desertion put him upon the act∣ing of his faith. My God, my God, are words of faith. The words of one that rolls upon his God. And is it not so with you too? Sence of love is gone, sweet sights of God shut up in a dark cloud; well what then? Must thy hands presently hang down, and thy soul give up all its hopes? What! is there no faith to relieve in this case? Yes, yes, and blessed be God for faith. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his ser∣vants, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light; let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay himself upon his God, Isai. 50.10. To conclude,
Sixthly, Christ was deserted, a little before the glorious morn∣ing of light and joy dawned upon him. It was a little, a very lit∣tle while, after this sad cry, before he triumphed gloriously. And so it may be with you. Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy and gladness will come in the morning. You know how Mr. Glover was trasported with joy, and cryed out, as a man in a Rapture. O Austin, he is come, he is come, he is come, meaning the Comfor∣ter, who for some time had been absent from his soul.
But I fear I am absolutely and finally forsaken.
Why so? Do you find the characters of such a desertion upon your soul? Be righteous Judges, and tell me, whether you find an heart willing to forsake God? Is it indifferent now to you whe∣ther God ever return again or no? Are there no mournings, melt∣ings, hankerings after the Lord? Indeed if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever. But can you do so? Oh no, let him do what he will, I am resolved to wait for him, cleave to him, mourn after him, though I have no present comfort from him, no assurance of my interest in him! yet will I not exchange my poor weak hopes, for all the good in this world.