The horror and distress he now experienced might also serve to prepare him for holy joy, when God should lift on him the light of his countenance.  Light and joy are most refreshing when they follow darkness and terror.  Therefore the joy of those who have been pricked in their hearts for sin and made to know its exceeding sinfulness, when they are brought to hope in divine mercy, and believe themselves forgiven of God.  There is reason to believe that the sorrows of this state will give a zest to the joys of heaven—­the darkness of this state, to the light of that in which darkness is done away—­the fear and concern here.

Some think that what Abram experienced on this occasion was intended to intimate God’s future dealings with his family.  They were honored by being taken into covenant with God, but were to pass through the horror and darkness of Egyptian bondage—­the distress of a wilderness state, and a war with the Amorites, before they should enjoy the promised land.  Some conceive Abram’s sufferings at this time, designed to prefigure the legal dispensation, under which his seed were to continue long and suffer many things.  However this might be, we know that Abram did not find rest in this weary land, unallayed with sorrow.  He was doomed to make his way through darkness, doubts and difficulties.

Such was the portion of this father of the faithful, while he remained in the body and continued on trail.  The same is the portion of all the saints.  “This is not their rest, because it is polluted.”  Rest is not to be found on earth.  When the remains of sin shall be purged away, there will be no more darkness, fear or horror.  “The former thing will pass away”

These considerations teach us what we have to expect while we tabernacle in clay—­namely, trials and difficulties, doubts and darkness—­these must be here our portion.  Though we may be children of God, we are not to expect exemption from them till the earthly house of our tabernacle is dissolved and we are clothed on with our house which is from heaven.

Those who are strangers to religion may flatter themselves that should they attain renewing grace and get evidence of it, they should no more suffer from fear or horror, or the hidings of God’s face, but that God would smile incessantly upon them and cause them to go on their way rejoicing.  But this is far from being the case.  Though when persons first attain a hope towards God, they are glad, their joy is soon interrupted—­doubts and fears arise—­their way is dark—­“God hideth his face that they cannot behold him.  O that I were as in months past —­when God preserved me—­when his candle shined upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness—­when the Almighty was yet with me.”

This hath been the complaint of many others beside benighted Job.  It is often the language of the saints while in this dark world.  “God often hides his face from those whom his soul loves, so that they walk on and are sad.”  This makes them long for heaven, because there “will be no night there, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor any more death.”