est thou thy face from me?" They cannot understand
wherefore it is. So Job cried out, "shew me wherefore thou contendest
with me," Job x. 2.

5. They may also be walking, in the mean while, without light or
counsel, so as they shall not know what to do. "How long shall I take
counsel in my soul," Ps. xiii. 2.

6. Moreover, they may have their heart filled with sorrow; as we see,
Ps. xiii. 2, "having sorrow in my heart," said David. He also saith, Ps.
xxxviii. that his sorrow was continually before him, ver. 17; and Ps.
cxvi. 3, "I found trouble and sorrow."

7. They may be so, as the sweet experience of others may yield them no
supply of comfort at present, Ps. xxii. 4-6, "Our fathers trusted in
thee," said David, "and thou didst deliver them; they cried to thee, and
were delivered; they trusted in thee, and were not confounded." But that
gave him no present ease or comfort; for immediately he addeth, ver. 6,
"but I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men," &c.

8. Yea, all their own former experiences may yield them little solace;
as we see in the same place, Ps. xxii. 9, 10, compared with ver. 14,15,
"Thou art he," says he, ver. 9, "that took me out of the womb," &c. And
yet he complains, ver. 14, "that he was poured out like water, and his
bones out of joint, that his heart was melted in the midst of his
bowels," &c.

9. They may be brought near to a giving over all in despondency, and be
brought, in their sense, to the very dust of death, Psal. xxii. 16.

If it be inquired, why the Lord dispenseth so with his own people?

We answer, and this is the _second_ particular, that he doeth it for
holy and wise reasons, whereof we may name a few; as,

1. To punish their carelessness and negligence; as we see he did with
the spouse, Cant. v.

2. To chastise them for their ill-improving of his favour and kindness
when they had it; as the same passage evidenceth.

3. To check them for their security and carnal confidence, as he did
David, Psal. xxx. 6, 7, when he said his mountain stood strong, and he
should never be moved. Then did the Lord hide his face, and he was
troubled.

4. To try if their obedience to his commands be pure and conscientious,
and not in a sort mercenary, because of his lifting up upon them the
light of his countenance; and to see if conscience to a command driveth
them to duty, when they are in the dark, and have no encouragement.

5. To put the graces of the Spirit to trial and to exercise