A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

252 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMFORTINGFather " will spare thee as a man spareth his own son, thatserveth him." Nay, and with so much more kindness andlove, " as the heavens are higher than the earth," and Godgreater than man.4. In case of spiritual desertion.A father solacing himself with his little child, and delightingin its pretty and pleasing behaviour, is wont sometimesto step aside into a corner or behind a door, uponpurpose to quicken yet more its love and longing after him,and try the impatiency and eagerness of its affections. Inthe mean time he hears it cry, run about, and call uponhim, and yet he stirs not, but forbears to appear; not forwant of compassion and kindness, which the more it grievesthe more abounds ; but that it may prize more dearly thefather's presence, that they may meet more merrily, and rejoice in the enjoyment of each other more heartily. Conceivethen, and consider to thine own exceeding comfort, thatIhy heavenly Father deals just so with thee in a spiritualdesertion. He sometimes hides his face from thee, andwithdraws his quickening and refreshing presence for 3 time,not for want of love, for he loves thee freely ; he loves theew^ith an everlasting love ; he loves thee with the very samelove with which he loves Jesus Christ ; and that dear Sonof his loves thee with the same love his Father loves him.But to put more heat and life into thine affections towardshim and heavenly things ; to cause thee to relish communionwith Jesus Christ, when thou enjoyest it, more sweetly ;to preserve it more carefully ; to joy in it more thankfully ;and to shun more watchfully whatsoever might rob thee ofit ; to stir up all the powers of thy soul and all the gracesof God in thee ; to seek his face and favour again with moreextraordinary and* universal seriousness and industry. Forwe find with pleasure, possess with singular contentment,and keep with special care, what we have sought with pain.We may see this in the spouse. Cant, iii, 1,6, under thepressure of a grievous desertion.Ponder every particular." By night on my bed I sought him. whom my soul loveth :I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and goabout the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I willseek him whom my soul loveth : I sought him, but I foundhim not. The watchmen that go about the city found me :to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth ? It wasbut a little that I passed from them, but 1 found him whommy soul loveth : 1 held him, and would not let him go, untilI had brought him into my mother's house, and into thechamber of her that conceived me. I charge you, O yedaughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of