scudderpage254

sole dependence on him; trying, whether, because God seems to forsake them, they will forsake him; whether, like king Joram, they will say, Why shall they wait upon God any longer? 2 Kings vi. 33; and whether they will, with Saul, betake them to unlawful means of help, 1 Sam. xxviii. 6, 7. Or whether, on the other side, they will say, with Job and David, Though God kill us, or forget us, yet we will trust in him, hope in him, and praise him, Job xiii. 15; Psa. xlii. 9, 11, who, they are persuaded, is, and will show himself to be, the health of their countenance, and their God. God uses to leave his children, as, in another case, he left Hezekiah, to try them, and to know what is in their hearts, 2 Chron. xxxii. 31.

Fourthly, God withdraws himself for a time, that they may learn to esteem more highly of his favour, and to desire it more, when by the want of it, they find by experience, what a hell it is to be without it; and that they may be more thankful for it, and be more careful, by studying to please God, to keep it when they have it. This holy use, David and the church made of God's forsaking them, as they thought, for a time, Psa. lxxx. 18, 19; Cant. iii. 2, 5, 6, ii. 7, viii. 4. It made them seek more diligently after God, promising that if he would turn to them, they would not go back from him; resolving, by his grace, to cleave more closely unto him.

But know this to your comfort, when God most withdraws himself and forsakes you, it is but in part, in appearance only, and but for a time. He may, for the cause before mentioned, turn away his face, and forbear to show his loving countenance; but he will not take his loving-kindness utterly from you, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail, Psa. lxxxix. 32 - 34. What God said to his afflicted church, that he saith to every afflicted member thereof: For a small moment have I forsaken thee: but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath have I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer, Isa. liv. 7, 8. Hence it is that in your