But as the Lord takes different methods with particular persons, it may be useful to take notice of this, lest any should be tempted to think, they are not right, because they were not brought to God in the same way as others, whom they have heard of. Some penitents, from the beginning of their convictions, are favoured with clear views of the mercy and love of God in Christ; of the rich provision which he has made for the salvation of a lost world; and of his willingness to save all who come to him. They feel the drawing influences of the Holy Spirits are greatly comforted, and encouraged by the promises; and never pass through those deep waters of sorrow, which many do! They are enabled to hope, and quietly wait for the sal vation of God; being truly sensible of their want of it, and earnestly longing for the blessing. The Lord will not deceive nor disappoint them; but according to his neverfailing promise, he will manifest himself, and pardon their iniquity. There are others, who are powerfully awakened, are made painfully to feel, all the dreadful load of guilt, which lies upon their conscience; and clearly see their original depravity. They well know the truth of that word: "I am carnal, sold under sin," and are, perhaps, as much affected with the consideration of it as Paul, was, when he cried. out in the bitterness of his soul; "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Yet, alas! these cannot weep at the feet of Jesus, as many do; and what exceedingly increases their distress they are obliged to bear the heavy curse of an obdurate heart. How natural it is for such to cry out, « Ô! did my heart but melt, and could I but weep like others, I should account myself happy: But I am more brutish than any man; I am even as a beast before the Lord, I sit under the most awakening discourses unmoved; neither the threatenings of God alarm me, nor do his promises allure me. I mourn, because I cannot mourn; and I grieve, because I cannot grieve. The heavens are as brass to my formal prayers. The Lord is at an infinite distance from me, and refuses to answer my cry. O that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments, I would know the words which he would answer me: and understand what he would say to me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No, but he would put strength Into me. Behold I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left-hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: He hideth himself on the right-hand, that I cannot see him.” The truth is, the darkness, the bitter sorrow, the extreme distress which such persons labour under, is inexpressible; it can only be known by experience: but having passed through these deep waters myself, I know how to sympathize with those, who labour under the same heavy burthen and therefore would endeavour to encourage and comfort them, in this time of their distress. But there are others who are brought to a clear sight, and deep sense of their lost and ruined estate, are affected in quite a different way. There heart is like melting wax before the fire, and their eyes as fountains of tears; so that they could almost weep their very life away. Now there certainly is some degree of comfort in this state. To weep at the feet of Jesus, does strangely ease the burthened mind for the present. But perhaps their trouble may be such as David felt when he said, "I have watered my couch with my tears, and have mingled my drink with weeping" or when he complains, "I am weary with erying, my throat is dry:" And if the Lord delay his coming (which sometimes is the case) these souls may mournfully sing with our own Poet, "Still every means in vain I try, "God is in this in every place, “O'er earth a banished man I rove, A wise builder, when he intends to build high, takes care to dig deep, and lay the foundation sure, and the great builder of his church, when he intends persons for eminent usefulness, Ꮖ Ꭵ . frequently exercises them with long-continued and painful convictions; and perhaps with very distressing temptations. He gives them to feel the plague of their own heart, and makes them fully acquainted with the nature and dreadful effects of sin; and when they are delivered, they not only stand firmer, but are enabled to comfort others when in the same situation. We all acknowledge that experience is the best teacher, and therefore a minister of Christ having been thus deeply exercised, may be the more abundantly useful, in comforting afflicted consciences. Whatever method the Lord takes with us, he intends the same thing: He certainly designs to bring us into his favour, to bless us with a clear sense of his love, and to make us happy in his family. But until we enjoy this happiness, we walk in darkness, such as the Israelites did, when the words of the text were designed to comfort them. They do not see after what manner, or by what means, the Lord will deliver them. Every thing, except the promises of God, seems to make against them, and to forbid their expecting any such blessing. They know, that if they rightly believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, they would find the salvation which he hath purchased. But here they are at a loss, they do not understand what it is to believe in Christ. Perhaps such reasonings as these pass through their minds: "What shall I do that I may believe, which I have not done already? I have sought the Lord with my whole heart, and yet I have not found him. What is it to believe on the Son of God? shall unfold this mystery to 'me? How shall I find my mind affected in the act of believing? How shall I know that I believe aright, and that I am not deceived? What is that peace of God which I shall then receive, and how shall I know it is real, and not imaginary? What is that love of God which shall then be shed abroad in my heart, and how shall I know I am not mistaken in a matter of such vast importance?" Who These and a thousand such thoughts may pass through the troubled mind; and it can have no rest or peace till it is brought out of this darkness into the marvellous light and glorious liberty of the gospel. We must therefore come to the same point, we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. But what is it to believe in Christ? No one can tell till he himself is enabled to believe: As strange as this may appear, I am bold to affirm, that no man (be he ever so wise or learned) can explain what it is to believe in Christ, till he happily experiences the faith of the gospel. This is what only God can teach us, and which none can learn but by experi ence. If any should say, "To believe is only to receive Christ, as he is freely offered to us in the gospel." It is very true: but, What is it to receive Christ? We must receive him ourselves, and then we shall know. But some will re ply, "To believe is nothing more than to trust wholly in Christ for life and salvation This is certainly true. But what is it to trust in Christ? Those only know who have trusted in him. But others, who think that they have found out the secret, will tell us, "To believe is nothing more than to have clear views of Christ, as he is set forth in the gospel, considered, as having accomplished the work of our redemp tion." Christ is undoubtedly thus set forth in the gospel, but we must take care we view him so as to receive life and salvation from him; to experience redemption through his blood, and the renewing power of his grace. For true faith will always bring salvation along with it. As a mistake here would be extremely dangerous, I beg leave to observe, we never make those mistakes in natural things which we frequently make in spiritual. A man shivering with cold may be greatly delighted with a distant view of painted fire, but upon coming nearer to it, he finds his mistake; there is no heat. A poor sinner may possibly please himself by seeing Christ evidently set forth as crucified before his eyes in the gospel: But he must so behold the Redeemer, as to be changed into his image by the power of his renewing grace. What kind of darkness may the children of God walk in? Those who have been brought into light and liberty already? It is certain they never need be brought into that kind of darkness, out of which the Lord hath mercifully delivered them, nor is it this sort of darkness which the text speaks of. For no one can be brought into this darkness but by disobedi ence; and the text speaks of obedient souls only. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his servant? It is not a little strange, that backsliders of all descriptions will take comfort from this scripture? Yet nothing is more clear than that the Lord does not, in this text, speak to them at all. We know no one can backslide from God but by means of sin, but here the prophet speaks to those who are obedient. And that we never need be brought into the darkness again, out of which we are delivered, is clear from his own word; "There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit." "I am the light of the world, (saith our gracious Redeemer) he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Again, "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." Hence it is clear, he who believeth and followeth the Holy Jesus, shall not walk in darkness, no more shall he who obeyeth the voice of God's servant. The darkness intended in the text must be such as a faithful follower of God may walk in while under distressing providences, heavy afflictions, or severe temptations. 1. Dark and distressing providences. The Lord hath no where promised his children shall have uninterrupted prosperity in this world. He sees this would not always be the best for them. In reading the history of the ancient saints and servants of God, we find, he frequently permitted them to be brought into great straits and difficulties, and their faith and patience were put to the trial; yet on these occasions they were favoured with extraordinary displays of the power and goodness, the mercy, and loving kindness of the Lord; he always appeared in their behalf in their greatest difficulties. Consider the conduct of Divine Providence towards the patriarch Joseph. He was the most pious of all the sons of Jacob, and brought his father an account of his brethren's bad conduct; for this and other reasons they hated him, and found an opportunity to sell him as a slave into Egypt. What a dark cloud overshadowed this lovely youth! He walked in darkness, and had not light into the future dispensations of Divine Providence. Yet the Lord appeared for him in due time, and gave him such favour in the sight of his master, that he made this poor stranger the governor of his house, and put all he had into his hand: so for a time, Joseph was an honourable and a prosperous man. But it was not long before a darker cloud than the former came over hin; for stedfastly resisting the solicitations of his unhappy mistress, she falsely and wickedly accused him to his master, who too easily believed her, and cast the innocent youth into prison, where he might well expect to be confined all the days of his life. For who would give themselves any concern about him, as he was an entire stranger in that country? How natural would it be for him to reason upon his present situation, so as to add to his distress? Perhaps such thoughts as these might flow into his mind: "Is this to be the reward of my integrity and upright conduct? O why hath the Lord permitted this distressing trial to befal me? Here I am in a desolate state indeed! banished into a strange land, and shut up in a loathsome dungeon, where I shall be entirely forgotten! Alas for my aged father! how little does he know what his fa |