The silent soul, with soveraign antidotes against the most miserable exigents: or, A Christian with an olive-leaf in his mouth, when he is under the greatest afflictions, the sharpest and sorest trials and troubles, the saddest and darkest providences and changes, with answers to divers questions and objections that are of greatest importance, all tending to win and work souls to bee still, quiet, calm and silent under all changes that have, or may pass upon them in this world, &c. / By Thomas Brooks preacher of the Word at Margarets New Fish-street London, and pastor of the Church of Christ meeting there.

Object. 8 Oh! But God hath de∣serted mee, hee hath forsaken mee, and hee that should comfort my soul stands afar off, how can I bee silent?

the Lord hath hid his face from mee? clouds are gathered about mee▪ God hath turned his back upon mee, how can I hold my peace? supposing that the de∣sertion is real, and not in appearance only, as sometimes it falls out: I answer.

First, It hath been the common lot, portion and condition of the choicest Saints in this world, to be deserted and forsaken of God, Psal. 30. 6, 7. Psal. 77. and 88. Job 23. 8, 9. Cant. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. ch. 5. 6, 7. Isa. 8. 17. Micah. 7. 7, 8, 9. If God deal•• no worse with thee than hee hath dealt with his most bosome friends, with his choicest Jewels, thou hast no reason to complain. But

Secondly, Gods forsaking of thee is onely partial, it is not total; God may forsake his people in part, but he never wholly forsakes them, he may forsake them in re∣spect of his quickning presence, and in respect of his comfort∣ing presence, but hee never for∣sakes them in respect of his sup∣porting

presence, 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness, Psal. 73. 23, 24. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and hee delighteth in his way. Though hee fall hee shall not bee utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. Gods supporting hand of grace is still under his people, Psal. 63. 8. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth mee. Christ hath alwaies one hand to uphold his people, and another hand to embrace them, Cant. 2. 16. The everlasting arms of God are alwaies underneath his people, Deut. 33. 27. And this the Saints have alwaies found, witness David, Heman, Asaph, Job, &c.

Geographers write, that the City of Syracuse in Sicily, is so curiously situated, that the Sun is never out of sight: though the children of God sometimes are under some clouds of afflictions, yet the Sun of Mercy, the Sun of Righteous∣ness, is never quite out of sight. But

Thirdly, Though God hath for∣saken thee, yet his love abides and continues constant to thee; hee loves thee with an everlasting love, Jer. 31. 3. Where hee loves, hee loves to the end, John 13. 1. Isa. 49. 14, 15, 16. But Zion said, the Lord hath forsaken mee, and my Lord hath for∣gotten mee. But was not Zion mi∣staken? yes. Can a woman forget her sucking childe that shee should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee. Behold I have graven thee up∣on the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before mee. Look as persons engrave the mark, name or picture of those whom they dearly love, and entirely affect, upon some stone that they wear at their breasts, or upon some ring that they wear on their finger: So, had God engraven Zion upon the palms of his hands, shee was still in his eye, and alwaies dear to his heart, though shee thought not so. As Josephs heart was full of love to his brethren, even then when hee

spake roughly to them, and with∣drew himself from them; (for hee was fain to go aside, and ease his heart by weeping) so the heart of God is full of love to his people, e∣ven then when hee seemes to bee most displeased with them, and to turn his back upon them; though Gods dispensations may be change∣able towards his people, yet his gracious disposition is unchange∣able towards them. When God puts the blackest veil of all upon his face, yet then his heart is full of love to his people, then his bowels are yearning towards them, Jer. 31. 18, 19, 20. Is Ephraim my dear Son? is hee a pleasant childe? for since I spake against him, I do ear∣nestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. The Mothers bowels can∣not more yearn after the tender babe, than Gods doth after his di∣stressed ones. As Moses his Mo∣ther, when shee had put him into the Ark of Bul-rushes, wept to see

the babe weep, and when shee was turned from him, shee could not but cast a weeping eye of love to∣wards him: So when God turns a∣side from his people, yet hee can∣not but cast an eye of love towards them. Hosea 11. 8. How shall I give thee up, O Ephraim? &c. Here are four several hows in the text, the like not to bee found in the whole book of God. I am even at a stand, justice calls for vengeance, but mercy interposeth; my bowels yearn, my heart melts: O! how shall I give thee up? O! I can∣not give thee up, I will not give thee up. Gods love is alwaies like himself, unchangeable, his love is everlasting, it is a love that never decaies, nor waxes cold, it is like the stone Albestos, of which Solinus writes, that being once hot, it can never bee cooled again.

Fourthly, Though the Lord hath hid his face from thee, yet certainly thou hast his secret pre∣sence with thee. God is present,

when hee is seemingly absent. The Lord was in this place, and I knew it not, saith Jacob. The Sun many times shines when wee do not see it, and the husband is many times in the house when the wife doth not know it. God is in thy house, hee is in thy heart, though thou feest him not, thou feelest him not, though thou hearest him not, Heb. 13. 5. I will never leave thee, nor for∣sake thee, or as it may bee rendred according to the Greek, I will not not leave thee, neither will I not not for∣sake thee. Art thou not now drawn out to prize God, and Christ, and his love, above all the world? yes; art thou not now drawn out to give the Lord many a secret vi∣sit, in a corner behinde the door, in some dark hole where none can see thee, nor hear thee but the Lord? yes; are there not strong breathings, pantings and longings after a clea∣rer vision of God, and after a ful∣ler fruition of God? yes; art thou not more affected and afflicted with the withdrawings of Christ,

than thou art with the greatest af∣flictions that ever befell thee? yes, Austin upon that answer of God to Moses, Thou canst not see my face and live, makes this quick and sweet reply, then Lord let mee die, that I may see thy face. Dost thou not of∣ten tell God that there is no punish∣ment to the punishment of loss, and no hell to that of being forsaken of God? yes; dost thou not finde a secret power in thy soul, drawing thee forth to struggle with God, to lay hold on God, and patiently to wait on God, till hee shall re∣turn unto thee, and lift up the light of his countenance upon thee? yes; well then, thou mayest bee confi∣dent that thou hast a secret and blessed presence of God with thee, though God in regard of his com∣fortable presence may bee departed from thee; nothing below a secret presence of God, with a mans spi∣rit, will keep him waiting and working till the Sun of Righteous∣ness shines upon him. If any vain persons should put that deriding

question to thee, where is thy God? thou mayest safely and boldly an∣swer them, my God is here, hee is nigh mee, hee is round about mee, yea hee is in the midst of mee, Zeph 3. 17. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, hee will save, hee will rejoyce over thee with joy, hee will rest in his love, hee will joy ••ver thee with singing. The bush, which was a type of the Church, consum∣ed not all the while it burned with fire, because God was in the midst of it. It is no Argument that Christ is not in the Ship, because tempests and storms arise.

Fifthly, Though God bee gone, yet hee will return again; though your Sun bee now set in a cloud, yet it will rise again; though sor∣row may abide for a night, yet joy comes in the morning. A Chri∣stians mourning shall last but till morning, Micah 7. 19. Hee will turn again, hee will have compassion upon us. Cant. 3. 4. It was but a lit∣tle that I passed from them, but I found

him whom my soul loveth; I held him, and I would not let him go, &c. Psal. 94. 19. In the multitude of▪ my thoughts within mee, thy comforts de∣light my soul. Isa. 54. 7, 8, 10. For a moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlast∣ing kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer; for the mountains shall depart, and the hills bee removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee; neither shall the co∣venant of my peace bee removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. God will not suffer his whole dis∣pleasure to arise upon his people, neither will hee forsake them total∣ly or finally; the Saints shall taste but some sips of the cup of Gods wrath, sinners shall drink the dreggs, their storm shall end in a calm, and their winter night shall be turned into a summers day. There was a woman who was thirteen years under desertion, which was so vehement, that for the most part

of her time, shee was fain to keep her bed through weakness: A godly Minister, who was affected with her condition, went to com∣fort her, and to pray with her, but when hee came and offered to do it, shee shrieked out, utterly refu∣sing and forbidding him to pray with her, for said shee, I have too many abused mercies to answer for already; yet hee would not bee put off, but prayed by her, and so prevailed with God on her behalf, that the next morning shee was de∣livered from all her fears, and had such exceeding joy, that the like hath rarely been heard of; the Lord that had been long withdrawn from her, returned at length in a way of singular mercy to her. There was another precious woman, who was several years deserted, and hearing a precious godly Minister preach, shee of a sudden fell down over∣whelmed with joy, crying out, O! hee is come whom my soul loveth! and for divers daies after shee was filled with such exceeding joyes,

and had such gracious and singu∣lar ravishing expressions, so fluent∣ly coming from her, that many came to hear the rare manifestati∣ons of Gods grace in her, the low∣est of her pious expressions did ex∣ceed the highest that ever the Mini∣ster had read in the book of Mar∣tyrs. But

Sixthly and lasty, Gods desert∣ing, Gods forsaking of his people, shall many waies work for their good. As

First, God by withdrawing from his people, will prepare and fit them for greater refreshings, ma∣nifestations and consolations, Psal. 71. 11, 20, 21. Saying, God hath forsaken him, persecute and take him, for there is none to deliver him. But shall this forelorn condition work for his good? yes. Thou which hast shewed mee great and sore troubles, shalt quicken mee again, and shalt bring mee up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt encrease my great∣ness,

and comfort mee on every side. When Josephs brethren were in their greatest distress, then Joseph makes known himself most fully to them, so doth Christ our spiritual Joseph to his people. Hudson the Martyr, deserted at the stake, went from under his chain, and having prayed earnestly, was comforted immediately, and suffered vali∣antly.

2 By Gods withdrawing from his people, hee prevents his peoples withdrawing from him; and so by an affliction hee prevents sin: for God to withdraw from mee is but my affliction, but for mee to with∣draw from God, that is my sin; and therefore it were better for mee that God should withdraw a thou∣sand times from mee, than that I should once withdraw from God: God therefore forsakes us, that wee may not forsake our God; God sometimes hides himself, that wee may cleave the cl••ser to him, and hang the faster upon him. As the

Mother hides her self from the childe for a time, that the childe may cleave the closer, and hang the faster upon her all the day long; God sometimes hid himself from David, Psal. 30. 7. Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled, I was all∣amort; well, and is that all? no, vers. 8. I cried to thee O Lord, and unto the Lord I made supplication. Now hee cries louder, and cleaves closer to God than ever; so in that, Psal. 63. 1, 2. O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in thy San∣ctuary. Well, and how do these withdrawings of God work? why this you may see in verse 8. My soul followeth hard after thee, or as the Hebrew reads it, my soul clea∣veth after thee; look as the husband cleaves to his wife, so doth my soul cleave to the Lord, the Psal∣mist now follows God even hard at heels, as wee say▪ But

Thirdly, The Lord by with∣drawing from his people, will in∣hance and raise the price, and com∣mend the worth, excellency, sweet∣ness and usefulness of several pre∣cious promises, which otherwise would bee but as dry breasts, and as useless weapons to the soul. As that, Micah 7. 18, 19. Hee will turn again, hee will have compassion upon us, &c. and that, Isa. 54. 7, 8. but now opened; and that, Heb. 13. 5, 6. and that, Hab. 2. 3. and that, Psal. 5. 12. For thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous; with favour thou wilt compass him (or crown him) as with a shield; the Lord will com∣pass the righteous about with his favour, as the Crown compasses about the head, as the Hebrew im∣ports; and that, Psal. 112. 4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in dark∣ness; hee is gracious and full of com∣passion, and righteous. And that, Jer. 3••▪ 37. Thus saith the Lord, if Hea∣ven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed

of Israel, for all that they have done, saith the Lord. As sure as Heaven cannot bee measured, nor the foun∣dations of the earth searched by the skill or power of any mortal man: So sure and certain it is, that God will not utterly cast off his people, no no•• for all the evil that they have done; now at what a rare doth a deserted sou•• v••••ue these precious promises? well, saith hee, these promises are sweeter than the hony or the hony-comb, they are more precious than gold, than fine gold, than much gold, than all the gold in the world. I prefer them before my food, before my deligh••ul food, yea before my necessary food, before my appointed portion. As Alexan∣der laid up Homers Iliads in a Cabi∣net embroidered with gold and pearls, so deserted souls will lay up these precious promises in the Ca∣binet of their hearts, as the choicest treasure the world affords. Dol〈…〉〈…〉ns they say love musick, so do ••e∣serted souls the musick of the pro∣mises. That promise, 1 Tim. 1.

15. was musick to Bilny the Mar∣tyr; and that promise, John 10. 29. was musick to Ʋrsine; and that pro∣mise, Isa. 57. 15. was musick to a∣nother; and that promise, Isa. 26. 3. was musick to another, and that to another, Mat. 11. 28, &c. promises that are suit∣ed to a deserted mans condition, make the sweetest musick in his car, and are the most soveraign cordials to bear up his spirits, that God can give, or Heaven afford, or the soul desire. Deut. 32. 13. Hee made him to ride on the high places of the earth, that hee might e•••• the fruits of the field; and hee made him to suck hony out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock. Ah the hony, the oil that deserted souls suck out of such promises that speak home and close to their conditions!

Fourthly, By Gods hiding his face, and withdrawing himself from thee, thou wil•• bee inabled more feelingly, and more experi∣mentally to sympathize with o∣thers

and to have compassion on others that are or may bee in the dark, and forsaken of God, as now thou art. Heb. 13. 2. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversi∣ty, as being your selves also in the bo∣dy. It is observed of the Bees, that when one is sick, they all mourn; and of the Sheep, that if one of them bee faint, the rest of the flock will stand between it and the Sun, un∣til it bee revived; in the natural body, if one member grieve, and is in pain, all suffer with it; when a thorn is got into the foot, how doth the back bow, and the eyes pry, and the hands go to pluck the thorn out; none so compassionate towards deserted souls, as those who have been deserted and for∣saken of God themselves. Oh! they know what an evil & a bitter thing it is to bee left and forsaken of God; and therefore their bowels, their compassions run out much to such, yea most to such; they know that there is no affliction

no misery, no hell, to that of being forsaken of God.

Anaxagoras seeing himself old, and forsaken of the world, laid himself down, and covered his head close, determining to starve himself to death with hunger; but alass! what is it to bee forsaken of the world, to a mans being forsa∣ken of God? were there as many worlds, as there bee men in the world, a man were better bee for∣saken by them all, than to bee for∣saken of God: There is a great truth in that saying of Chrysostome, viz. That the torments of a thou∣sand hells, if there were so many, come far short of this one, to wit, to bee turned out of Gods presence with a non novi vos, I know you not, Mat. 7. 23. The schools have long since concluded, that paena sen∣sus, the pain of loss, is far greater than paena damni, the pain of sense: what a grief was it to Absolon to see the Kings face clouded? and how sadly was Eli and his daughter af∣fected with the loss of the Ark,

which was but a testimony of Gods presence? but Oh how much more is a Christian affected and afflicted with the loss of the face and fa∣vour of God? the remembrance of which makes his heart to melt, and his bowels to yearn towards those whose Sun is set in a cloud.

Fifthly, Hereby the Lord will teach his people to set a higher price upon his face and favour, when they come to enjoy it. Cant. 3. 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth; I held him, and I would not let him go, &c. No man sets so high a price upon Christ, as hee that hath lost him, and found him a∣gain. Jesus in the China tongue signifies the rising Sun, and so hee is, Mal. 4. 2. especially to souls that have been long clouded. The poor Northern Nations in Strabo, who want the light of the Sun for some months together, when the tearm of his return approaches,

they climb up into the highest mountains to spie it, and hee that spies it first was accounted the best and most beloved of God, and u∣sually they did chuse him King; at such a rate did they prize the return of the Sun: Ah! so it is with a poor soul, that for some months, years, hath been deserted, Oh how highly doth hee prize and va∣lue the Sun of Righteousness, his returning to him, and shining upon him! Psa. 63. 3. Thy loving kindness is better than life, or better than lives, as the Hebrew hath it, divine favour is better than life, it is better than life with all its revenues, with all its appurtenances, as honours, riches, pleasures, applause, &c. yea it is better than many lives put together. Now you know at what a high rate men value their lives, they will bleed, sweat, vomit, purge, part with an estate, yea with a limb, yea limbs, to preserve their lives. As hee cried out, give mee any deformity, any torment, any misery, so you spare my life. Now,

though life bee so dear and preci∣ous to a man, yet a deserted soul prizes the returnings of divine fa∣vour upon him, above life, yea a∣bove many lives; many men have been weary of their lives, as is evi∣dent in Scripture and History; but no man was ever yet found that was weary of the love and favour of God; no man sets so high a price upon the Sun, as hee that hath lain long in a dark dungeon, &c. But

Sixthly, Hereby the Lord will train up his servants in that preci∣ous life of faith, which is the most honourable, and the most happy life in all the world. 2 Cor. 5. 7. For wee walk by faith, and not by sight. The life of sense, the life of reason is a low life, a mean life; the life of faith is a noble life, a blessed life; when Elisha demanded of the Shu∣namite what hee should do for her, whether hee should speak for her to the King, or the Captain of the Hoast? she answered, I dwell among my people, that is, I dwell nobly and

happily among my people, I have no need to make any sute to King or Captain; and this shee accounts her great happiness; and indeed it is the greatest happiness in this world to live much in the exercise of Faith; no man lives so free a life, so holy a life, so heavenly a life, so happy a life, as hee that lives a life of faith; by divine with∣drawings the soul is put upon hang∣ing upon a naked God, a naked Christ, a naked Promise; Now, the soul is put upon the highest and the purest acts of Faith, viz. to cleave to God, to hang upon God, and to carry it sweetly and obedi∣entially towards God, though hee frowns, though hee chides, though hee strikes, yea though hee kills. Those are the most excellent and heroick acts of faith that are most abstracted from sense and reason; hee that suffers his reason to usurp upon his Faith, will never bee an excellent Christian; Hee that goes to school to his own reason, hath a fool to his school-master, and hee

that suffers his faith to bee over∣ruled by his reason, shall never want woe, where reason is strong∣est, faith usually is weakest, but now the Lord by forsaking of his people for a time, hee makes them skilful in the life of faith, which is the choicest and the sweetest life in this world. But

Seventhly, By divine withdraw∣ings you are made more conform∣able to Christ your head and hus∣band, who was under spiritual de∣sertion as well as you, Mat. 27. 46. My God, my God, why hast thou for∣saken mee? There is an hidden Em∣phasis in the Hebrew word, El sig∣nifies a strong God, Eli, Eli, My strong God, my strong God; the unity of Christs person was never dissolved, nor his graces were ne∣ver diminished; in the midst of this terrible storm, his faith fortifieth and strengtheneth it self upon the strength of God; My God, my God; yet in respect of divine protection, and divine solace, hee was for a

time forsaken of his Father▪ and if this bee thy case, thou art herein but made conformable to thy Lord and Master, nay, thou dost but sip of that bitter cup, of which Christ drank deep; thy cloud is no cloud to that which Christ was under. But

Eighthly and lastly, By these transient and partial forsakings, the Lord will exceedingly sweeten the clear, full, constant and un∣interrupted injoyments of him∣self in Heaven to all his people. Ah! how sweet and precious was the face and favour of the King to Absalom, after hee had for a time been banished, and at length resto∣red to his royal favour again? One∣simus departed from Philemon for a season, that he might receive him for ever: so the Lord departs from his people for a time, that they may receive him for ever; hee hides him∣self for a season, that his constant presence amongst his children in glory, may bee th•• more sweet and

delightful to them, &c.

Notes

• Psal. 9. 4. Gen. 49. 23, 24
• As the Nurse up∣holds the little childe, &c.
• The very Heathen hath ob∣served that God doth not love his chil∣dren with a weak af∣fection, but with a strong masculine love. Sene∣ca.
• Gen. 42.
• Mal. 3. 6.
• Exod. 2.
• Psal. 23▪ 4 Psal. 139. Gen. 28. 16
• Cant. 2. 14
• Psal. 42. 1, 2, 3 Psal. 63. 1, 2, 3
• Cant. 5. 6.
• Exod. 33. 20.
• Psal. 30. 6, 7
• Mal. 4. 2.
• Isa. 17. 14 Psal. 30. 5. Psal. 40. 1, 2, 3 Psal. 5. 11 Psal. 42. 5, 8, 9, 11
• So Mris. Honey∣wood, Mris. Ka∣therine Breterg, and divers others.
• Gen. 45. 1, 2, 3, 4
• Heb. 10. 38, 39. Christ the Captain of our sal∣vation will execute Martial Law upon all that withdraw from their colours, &c.
• Gen. 2. 24
• 2 Pet. 1. 4
• And that, John 14. 21, 23. and that, 1 Sam. 12. 20. Isa. 60. 19,—ult.
• Psal. 119. 103. 72. v. ••sa. 19. 10 Pro. 8. 11 Jo•• 23. 12
• Heb. 5. 2
• Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 11. cap. 17
• Plutarch,
• Chrysost. ad Pop. Antioch. Hom. 47. & in Mat. Hom. 24.
• Austin saith, Lord, I am con∣tent to suf∣fer any pains and torments in this world, if I might see thy face one day; at such a rate did he prize the face of God.
• Chaimi.
• 2 King. 4. 15, 16
• Isa. 50. 10
• Chap. 63. 15, 16
• Job. 13. 15 Faith acts in the most kingly way when it hangs up∣on a kil∣ling God.
• Psal. 22. 1, 2 Christ was onely for∣saken in regard of his hu∣mane na∣ture, not in respect of his God∣head.
• Psal. 71. 20, 21
• Phil. 15.