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Thou hast experience of God's love, in that he has opened thine eyes
to see thy sins, and in that he has given thee desires to be saved
by Jesus Christ. For by thy sense of sin, thou art made to see thy
poverty of spirit, and that has laid thee under a sure ground to
hope that heaven shall be thine hereafter.
Also, thy desires to be saved by Christ have put thee under another
promise, Matt. 5: 3, 6; so there are two to hold thee up in them,
though thy present burden be never so heavy. As for what thou sayest
as to God's silence to thee, perhaps he has spoken to thee once or
twice already, but thou hast not perceived it. Job 33:14, 15.
Besides, God says, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;" but perhaps it
may be long first. "I waited patiently," says David, "I sought the
Lord;" and at length his cry was heard: wherefore, he bids his soul
wait on God, and says, "For it is good" so to do "before thy
saints." Psalm 40:1; 52:9; 62:5.
And what if thou waitest upon God all thy days? Is it below thee?
And what if God will cross his book and blot out the handwriting
that is against thee, arid not let thee know it as yet? Is it fit to
say unto God, Thou art hard-hearted? Despair not; thou hast no
ground to despair, so long as thou livest in this world.
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