Which suggests, that the dejections of God's people are unreasonable ones sin itself is no just cause and reason of them for though it is very disagreeable, loathsome, and abhorring, troublesome and burdensome, to a spiritual man, and is ingenuously confessed, and heartily mourned over, and is matter of humiliation yet no true reason of dejection: because there is forgiveness of it with God the blood of Christ has been shed for the remission of it it has been bore and done away by him nor is there any condemnation for it to them that are in him and though it rages, and threatens to get the ascendant yet it is promised it shall not have the dominion over the saints neither the nature of it, being great, as committed against God himself, nor the multitude of sins, nor the aggravated circumstances of them, are just causes of dejection, since the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin nor are Satan and his temptations he is indeed an enemy, very powerful, subtle, and terrible he is the strong man armed, the old serpent, and a roaring lion and his temptations are very troublesome and grieving and it becomes the saints to be upon their guard against him and them but they have no reason to be cast down on account hereof for God, who is on the side of his people, is mightier than he Christ is stronger than the strong man armed, and the divine Spirit who is in them is greater than he that is in the world: Satan is under divine restraints, and can go no further in tempting than he is suffered, and his temptations are overruled for good besides, good armour is provided for the Christian to fight against him with, and in a short time he will be bruised under his feet: nor are the hidings of God's face a sufficient reason of dejection for though such a case is very distressing, and gives great trouble to those that love the Lord nor can they, nor does it become them to sit easy and unconcerned in such circumstances, as they are great trials of faith and patience yet it is the experience of the people of God in all ages: some good ends are answered hereby, as to bring saints to a sense of sins, which has deprived them of the divine Presence, to make them prize it the more when they have it, and to be careful of losing it for the future. &c.] The psalmist corrects himself, as being too much depressed in spirit with his present circumstances, and expostulates with himself adding,
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