And God takes the liberty that other fathers have, to shut his children out of his presence when he is angry. And it is but ‘for a moment,’—that is, in comparison of eternity,—though haply it should be thus with him during a man’s whole life; and he therefore takes liberty to do it, because he hath such an eternity of time to reveal his kindness in; time enough for kisses and embraces, and to pour forth his love in.
So that often when the sun is set, yet starlight appears; that is, though that other, the immediate presence and evidence of his favour, shines not on the soul, yet his graces therein appear, as tokens of that his love: so as the soul knows that there is a sun still, that gives light to these stars, though it sees it not; as in the night we know that there is a sun in another horizon, because the stars, we see, have their light from it, and we are sure that it will arise again to us.
Thomas Goodwin. A Child of Light Walking in Darkness.
