Use 2

Who is among you that fears the Lord and has been translated out of the state of darkness, and yet was never in this darkness of desertion which I have described to you? You who have been free from those terrors of conscience which are beyond all the miseries the world has — for as the joy of the Holy Spirit is unspeakable and glorious, so these terrors are unutterable and insupportably grievous — which yet souls that fear God and have obeyed him more than you have been made the anvils of. You who have been dandled and coddled and fed with sweet things, brought into the wine cellar, and have had all the Trinity to feast with you — while others have eaten gall and wormwood (Lamentations 3:19). And likewise you who, though you do not enjoy much ravishing joy and peace which passes understanding, yet being justified by faith have a solid peace with God, and so walk in freedom of spirit in the use of God's ordinances and the performance of holy duties. Let me from this doctrine give all such a great instruction: to take notice that such kinds of troubles do befall God's people, beyond what you have experience of. Many there are that think not so; Job's friends did not, and therefore censured him. And this is a necessary instruction.

First, this very knowledge of it prepares men for such a condition if it should befall them. Therefore, to prepare them for afflictions beforehand, the apostle bids them not think it strange concerning the fiery trial (1 Peter 4:12). For if they are strange to anyone, then if they befall him at any time they are the more grievous. As if some strange disease befalls a man which he had never heard of before and no physician has skill in, it amazes him and makes him despair. But if he has heard that others have had it and have been recovered, this somewhat helps to lessen the bitterness of it. Job's trial was a strange trial to his friends, and therefore you see how unskillfully they go about to heal it, and so left the wound worse than they found it. So to prepare you for it, it is good to take notice that such a condition exists. In like manner also in 1 Corinthians 10:13 the apostle says for the same end of other kinds of trials, that nothing had befallen them but what is common to man. There is great relief in that — that it is common and others have been in the like.

Second, take notice of it that you may be kept more in dependence upon God, and that you may fear him more. While we live in this world, men who know no afflictions beyond what they see with their eyes and feel in the outward man — nothing beyond loss of friends and credit — often fear God less, and when they come to part with any of these for God are less willing. But when they shall hear and know that God's wrath is beyond Pharaoh's wrath, as Moses knew — who yet in the vast apprehension of the greatness of it cries out, 'Who has known the power of your anger?' (Psalm 90) — then they will obey God and fear him more than all the kings of the earth, as Moses did, 'not fearing the wrath of Pharaoh' (Hebrews 11:27). When men enjoy a confluence of all earthly comforts and think their mountain strong — well built with wife, children, riches, health, and honors — they think they are more out of God's danger than other men, and are apt to say, 'Soul, you have goods for many years.' But know that God, without taking either your goods or your soul away, can in this life put your spirit into such a condition of darkness that you would give all the world for a moment's ease, when all other comforts shall be to you but as the white of an egg, as Job says. As he has joys the world gives not, so he has afflictions the world inflicts not. Therefore fear him more than the loss of all; obey him rather than keep all, for God can meet with you in the midst of all. So he met with David though a king, and then all his wives and kingdom could not comfort him until God would heal the bones that he had broken.

Third, take notice that there are such troubles, and learn not to censure others when they are in this condition. You walk in the light, and you see another in the dungeon — he may be dearer to God than you. It was Job's friends' fault, who having had no experience of such a condition themselves concluded he was a hypocrite. If you judge thus, then as Asaph says, 'You condemn the generation of the just' (Psalm 73:13-14). And herein Satan also is gratified and the strict ways of grace are scandalized. If God uses his children thus, 'Curse God and die,' says Job's wife, as the foolish men and women of the world do.

Fourth, pass your sojourning here in fear and serve him with fear (1 Peter 1:17), for 'even our God is a consuming fire' (Hebrews 12). Keep your heart in awe with the knowledge of such an estate. This kept Job in awe and made him so strict a man all his days. Read chapter 31 throughout and you shall see what a righteous man he was, and then see the reason for all in verse 23: 'Destruction from the Lord was a terror to me.' And to the same purpose also in chapter 4, last verse, he says that he had always feared what had now befallen him — of which the distress of his spirit was the greatest evil. This he feared might befall him even when he had the most assurance.

Lastly, be thankful that God spares you. Perhaps your body is weak and he knows you are but flesh, and so does not stir up all his wrath. If he should fall on you as on others it would destroy you. But consider that you had a stone in your heart as well as any other. Has God cured it by gentle means and so dissolved it and carried it away, when he has cut others and bound them and put them to much pain in the taking of it out? Oh, be thankful. You who are healthy and have strong bodies — are you not thankful when you see others sick and bedridden, roaring with the stone, toothache, and gout, of which you are free? And ought you not to be much more thankful for the healthfulness of your spirits — cheerfulness being the marrow of them — when others are sick (as the expression is in Isaiah 33) for want of assurance that their sins are forgiven, others in misery all day as if on a rack, distracted and almost out of their wits, even a burden to themselves? Oh, be thankful that it is not so with you!

Who among you fears the Lord and has been brought out of the state of darkness, yet has never experienced the darkness of desertion I have described? You who have been spared those terrors of conscience that go beyond all the miseries the world can inflict — for just as the joy of the Holy Spirit is unspeakable and glorious, these terrors are unutterable and unbearably painful — yet souls who fear God and have obeyed Him more than you have been made the anvils of them. You who have been tenderly cared for, fed with sweet things, brought into the wine cellar, and had all of the Trinity feast with you — while others have eaten gall and wormwood (Lamentations 3:19). And likewise those who, though they do not enjoy great surges of joy and the peace that passes understanding, yet being justified by faith have a solid peace with God and walk in freedom of spirit in the use of His ordinances and the performance of holy duties. Let me give all such people one important lesson from this teaching: take note that such troubles do fall on God's people, beyond anything you have experienced. Many people do not believe this; Job's friends did not, and so they wrongly judged him. This is an important lesson to learn.

First, simply knowing about this kind of darkness prepares a person for it if it should come upon him. This is why the apostle urges believers not to think it strange when they face the fiery trial (1 Peter 4:12). When something is completely unfamiliar, if it comes it strikes even harder. If a person contracts a strange disease he has never heard of and no doctor knows how to treat, it terrifies him and drives him to despair. But if he has heard that others have suffered the same disease and recovered, that knowledge takes some of the bitterness away. Job's trial was strange and unfamiliar to his friends, and you can see how clumsily they tried to help — they left the wound worse than they found it. So to prepare yourself, it is good to know that such a condition exists. In the same spirit the apostle says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, speaking of other trials, that nothing has come upon them except what is common to man. There is great comfort in knowing that — that it is common, and that others have gone through the same.

Second, take notice of this so that you may remain more dependent on God and fear Him more. People who know no affliction beyond what they can see and feel outwardly — nothing beyond the loss of friends or reputation — often fear God less, and when it comes to giving up anything for God's sake they are less willing. But when they hear and understand that God's wrath exceeds Pharaoh's wrath — as Moses knew, who still cried out in awe of its immensity, 'Who understands the power of Your anger?' (Psalm 90) — then they will obey God and fear Him above all the kings of the earth, as Moses did, 'not fearing the wrath of the king' (Hebrews 11:27). When people enjoy every earthly comfort and think their mountain stands firm — well-built with wife, children, wealth, health, and reputation — they tend to feel they are safer from God's judgment than other people, and are prone to say, 'Soul, you have plenty stored up for many years.' But know this: God can, without taking away your goods or your life, bring your spirit into such a condition of darkness in this very life that you would give everything you own for a moment's relief — when all other comforts will seem to you like the white of an egg, as Job says. Just as He has joys He gives that the world cannot give, He also has afflictions He sends that the world cannot inflict. Therefore fear Him more than you fear the loss of everything; obey Him rather than hold on to everything — for God can reach you in the middle of all your prosperity. So He reached David, who was a king, and then all his wives and his kingdom could not comfort him until God healed the bones He had broken.

Third, take note of these troubles so that you do not condemn others when they are in this condition. You walk in the light, and you see another person in the dungeon — he may be dearer to God than you. This was Job's friends' mistake: having no personal experience of such a condition, they concluded he was a hypocrite. If you judge that way, then as Asaph says, 'You have condemned the generation of the righteous' (Psalm 73:13-14). In doing so you also gratify Satan and bring reproach on the strict ways of grace. If God treats His own children this way, people like Job's wife say 'Curse God and die' — which is exactly what the foolish people of this world do.

Fourth, live out your time here in fear, and serve God with reverence (1 Peter 1:17), for 'our God is a consuming fire' (Hebrews 12). Keep your heart in awe by knowing that such an estate exists. This kept Job in awe and made him such a careful and upright man all his days. Read chapter 31 throughout and you will see what a righteous man he was — then see the reason for all of it in verse 23: 'For I dreaded destruction from God, and I could not bear His majesty.' He says the same thing in chapter 4, last verse — that he had always feared what eventually came upon him, and that the distress of his spirit was the greatest evil he faced. He feared it might come upon him even in his most assured moments.

Finally, be thankful that God spares you. Perhaps your body is weak and He knows you are only flesh, so He does not bring His full wrath to bear. If He came upon you as He does upon others, it would destroy you. But recognize that you had a hardened heart just as much as anyone else. Has God cured it by gentle means, quietly dissolving it and carrying it away — while He has had to cut others open, bind them up, and put them through great pain to remove it? Then be thankful. You who are healthy and strong — are you not grateful when you see others sick and bedridden, writhing with kidney stones, toothache, and gout, from which you are free? How much more then should you be grateful for the health of your spirit — cheerfulness being its very marrow — when others are sick (as the expression goes in Isaiah 33) for lack of assurance that their sins are forgiven, when others are in misery all day as if on a rack, distracted and nearly out of their minds, a burden even to themselves? Be thankful that it is not so with you!