The Soul's Conflict with Itself

In this kind of desertion, seconded with this kind of temptation, the way is to call home the soul, and to check ⟨p. 352⟩it, and charge it to trust in God, even though he shows himself an enemy, for it is but a show, he doth but put on a mask with a purpose to reveal himself the more graciously afterward; his manner is to work by contraries. In this condition God lets-in some few beams of light, whereby the soul casts a longing look upon God, even when he seems to forsake it; it will with Jonah in the belly of hell, look back to ¹the holy Temple of God, it will steal a look unto Christ. Nothing more comfortable in this condition, then to fly to him, that by experience knew what this kind of forsaking meant, for this very end that he might be the fitter to succour us in the like distress.

In this kinde of desertion, seconded with this kinde of temptation, the way is to call home the soule, and to check ⟨p. 352⟩it, and charge it to trust in God, even though he shewes himselfe an enemy, for it is but a shewe, he doth but put on a maske with a purpose to reveale himselfe the more graciously afterward; his maner is to worke by contraries. In this condition God lets-in some few beames of light, whereby the soul casts a longing looke upon God, even when he seemes to forsake it; it will with Ionas in the belly of hell, looke back to ¹the holy Temple of God, it will steale a looke unto Christ. Nothing more comfortable in this condition, then to flye to him, that by experience knew what this kinde of forsaking meant, for this very end that he might bee the fitter to succour us in the like distresse.

1. 1Jon. 2. 4.Ion. 2. 4.