Spiritual desertions discovered and remedied. Being the substance of divers sermons preached for the…

Spiritual Desertions Discovered and Remedied.

PSAL. XXX.7. —Thou didst Hide thy Face, and I was Troubled.

Among all the Dispensations of Gods Providence towards the Children of Men, in this World, there are none more awful and mysterious, than the Desertions which he sometimes exerciseth his own withal. Whatsoever trials they meet with in this World, as long as they can ⟨p. 6⟩go up and down in the light of Gods countenance, all is well; but when once that is last, nothing can afford them any […]. There are two sorts of Professors in the Visible Church; C•rna• men, who never experienced the gracious presence of God with them, and are not therefore sensible of their want of it; but if they can enjoy his common goodness, all pleaseth them, and they seek no farther; and if they are in trouble at any time, it is only for want of these things: and Gracious Souls, who have been made apprehensive of the Love of God, and felt the preciousness of Communion with him; which if it be at any time withdrawn, they quickly repent it, and it brings them into great distress; and because it is now a time wherein God seems more than ordinary, to treat his Children with such Providences as these, […] may no• be amiss for the help of these, to treat a little on this Subject. I find by my observation, many of those, if not the most, whom I have occasion to treat with about their Soul Concerns, who are serious, to be much in the dark, and not a little perplexed about their Spiritual State, and ready to say of themselves ⟨p. 7⟩