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

1. When they resent Gods hiding of himself in respect of his Assistances; so that their graces fail in the exercise of them, and they apprehend the means of grace in a great measure unprofitable to them; and instead of growing in grace, they rather wither and decay, and temptations prevail, and they are drawn into sin: the effects especially following on this, are,

1. This fills them with an apprehension of Gods anger, and is terrible to them; and indeed there is not a more fearful token of Gods displeasure at his Children than when he leaves them to sin, and withdraws his Spirit from them; we read, 2 Sam. 24▪ 1. the anger of God was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, to say, go number Israel and Judah ▪ How shall they be able to pursue their work, and obtain the Crown if thus left? God is angry indeed, when he lets every Grace languish, and corruption to gather strength, and carry them Captive, and they cannot but so resent it.

2. This puts them upon a diligent search after the provocation: they conclude on this, that there is blame in them; God would not have so deserted them, if they had not some way prevaricated: this therefore they must find out, and they are in great anxiety of mind till they can come at it; •hey cry out as he, Job 10.2. show me wherefore thou contendest with me; and they look into every corner of their soul, to find out the Achan. David therefore in this trouble of his, runs up to the cause of it, viz. his carnal confidence, verse 6.