Stephen Charnock (Works, Vol. 4, p. 493):
In case we find ourselves not in such a condition as we desire [upon self-examination], let us exercise direct acts of faith. Let us not deject ourselves, and make so bad a conclasion as Peter did, and say to Christ, ‘Lord, depart from me, for I am a sinful man;’ but let us cast ourselves upon the truth and faithfulness of God in the promise of life in Christ. Lay hold on the promise of life, as if you had not laid hold of it before. When comfort is not fetched in by reflex acts, let faith be exercised in direct acts; when there is darkness and no light, ‘trusting in the name of the Lord,’ and ‘staying upon God,’ is the proper business of the soul, Isa. 50:10; we should then drink of the waters of life, groan under our sin, and go to a Saviour; ‘forget,’ as Paul, ‘the things that are behind, and press forward to the things which are before,’ Philip. 3:13, 14. We naturally would believe God upon his deed, and trust in him, because we find something wrought in our own souls; God therefore sometimes hides a man’s own graces from him, to draw out the soul in acts of faith, which indeed gives the most glory to God. God will be believed upon his word, and God turns it often to the great advantage of the soul, and puts it upon the exercise of faith, when he denies it the comfortable sight of faith. In this case we should make use of such Scriptures which may foment and nourish faith, and put us upon the casting out that filth and mud in our souls which we discerned. When we can find no grace to present Christ with, we should fetch grace from him. A city of refuge is for a malefactor, a physician for the sick, and a Christ for those that groan under the burden of sin; a Christ lifted up and dying, for those that are stung by the serpent.
