Page:Causes and cure of spiritual darkness.pdf/5

5 self to be, as silenced all my doubts, scattered my fears, and gave the most delightful peace and joy to my conscience. I now learnt indeed what I thought I had (and perhaps really had) learnt before, viz. ‘ To live by Faith alone upon the Son of God ; to make his sacrifice and righteousness my constant refuge, and draw ail my consolations thence.' I found I had unawares laid too great a stress upon evidence of grace, and looked too much to them for my comfort, and too little to Christ. I plainly saw that with ail the brightest evidences of grace about me, I was still a sinner, and must apply to my Saviour as such, in order to give life and vigour to my consolations and hopes : and that the spiritual life in me must be perpetually supplied from the same fountain whence I had derived what I had already experienced. I found that the seasons of darkness were not the proper seasons for seeking after evidences ; but that the immediate and leading duty was, trusting in the Name of the Lord. I saw more clearly than ever, that in the great business of acceptance with God, I could bring no righteousness of my own that would avail ; but that, as a creature utterly undone myself, I must look to him ‘ who takes away the sin of the world.’ That God never rejected any, that seriously and in earnest applied to him, because they were more guilty and unworthy than others, or accepted others because they were less so ; and, in a word, that as the best must, so the worst may, come to him, through a penitent faith in the precious blood and righteousness of his Son, with equal assurance of a gracious welcome. And from that time to this (I bless God for his great