ou go,--there is none that
stirreth up himself to take violent hold of thee. Men lying loose in their
interest, and indifferent in the one thing necessary, do not strongly grip
to it. Nobody keepeth thee by prayer and intercession; so that there is no
diligence added to diligence, there is no stirring up of ourselves in
security.

_First_, When the Lord seemeth to withdraw, and when he is angry, it is
our duty to take hold the more on him; and not only to act faith, and call
on him by prayer, but to add to ordinary diligence,--it should be
extraordinary.

I. Then, I say, when the Lord is withdrawing and seemeth angry, we ought
not to withdraw from him by unbelief, but to draw near, and take hold on
him. And the Lord giveth a reason of this himself, Isa. xxvii. 4, 5,
"because fury is not in me." It is but a moment's anger, it is not hatred
of your persons but sins, it is not fury that hath no discretion in it, no
difference between a friend and an enemy; it is but at least a father's
anger, that is not for destruction but correction. The Lord is not
implacable. Come to him and win him,--"Let him take hold of me, and let him
make peace with me, if he will make peace." He is a God whose compassions
fail not; and so he is never so angry, but there is room left for
manifestation of mercy on those that come to him. God's anger is not an
humour and passion as ours is, he can take the poor child in his arms,
admit it into his bosom, when outward dispensations frown. Men's anger is
like the sons of Belial, briers and thorns, that none may come near to,
lest they be hurt; but God angry, is accessible, because his anger is
still tempered and mixed with clemency and mercy; and that mixture of
mercy is so great and so predominant in all his dispensations here, that
they being rightly understood, might rather invite to come, than scare
from it. There is more mercy to welcome, than anger to drive away. Look
upon the very end and purpose of God's hiding himself, and withdrawing,--it
is this; that we may come and seek him early, Hosea v. 15. When God is
angry, mercy and compassion principleth it, for anger is sent out to bring
in wanderers. His anger is not humour, but resolute and deliberate,
walketh upon good grounds, because David in his prosperity missed not God.
When all things went according to his mind, then he let God of where he
will; therefore, the Lord in mercy must hide his own heart with a frowning
countenance, and cover h