8. One of these is _Isaiah_ l. 10. _Who is among you that feareth the_ Lord, _and obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the_ Lord, _and stay upon his_ God. But how does it appear either from the text or context, that the person here spoke of ever had light? One who is _convinced of sin, feareth the_ Lord _and obeyeth the voice of his servant_. And him we should advise, tho’ he was still dark of soul, and had never seen the light of God’s countenance, yet to _trust in the name of the_ Lord, _and stay upon his_ God. This text therefore proves nothing less, than that a believer in Christ “must sometimes _walk in darkness_.” 9. Another text which has been supposed to speak the same doctrine, is _Hosea_ ii. 14. _I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her._ Hence it has been inferred, that God will bring every believer _into the wilderness_, into a state of deadness and darkness. But it is certain, the text speaks no such thing. For 1. It does not appear, that it speaks of particular believers at all. It manifestly refers to the _Jewish_ nation; and perhaps, to that only. But if it be applicable to particular persons, the plain meaning of it is this, I will draw him by love: I will next convince him of sin, and then comfort him by my pardoning mercy. 10. A third scripture from whence the same inference has been drawn, is that above recited, _Ye now have sorrow: but I will see you again; and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you_. This has been supposed to imply, That God would, after a time withdraw himself from all believers: and that they could not, till after they had thus sorrowed, have the joy which no man could take from them. But the whole context shews, that our Lord is here speaking personally to the apostles, and no others; and that he is speaking concerning those particular events, his own death and resurrection. _A little while_, says he, _and ye shall not see me_, namely, whilst I am in the grave: _And again, a little while, and ye shall see me_, when I am risen from the dead. _Ye will weep and lament, and the world will rejoice: but your sorrow shall be turned into joy――Ye now have sorrow_, because I am about to be taken from your head. _But I will see you again_, after my resurrection, _and your heart shall rejoice. And your joy_ which I will then give you, _no man taketh from you_. All this we know was literally fulfilled, in the particular case of the apostles. But no inference can be drawn from hence, with regard to God’s dealings with believers in general.