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

1. To such as sometimes thought themselves converted, but were mistaken in their apprehension: and now they ⟨p. 114⟩find trouble, and call all in question, and suppose themselves deserted: such a case may be, and possibly is more […] than we are aware of; and is very hazardous. They have possibly formerly pretended to great confidence, but now they are in fear. Give me leave to lay out the case of these, and then offer them some counsel: for the discovery of such, let these things be observed.

1. To such as sometimes thought themselves converted, but were mistaken in their apprehension: and now they ⟨p. 114⟩find trouble, and call all in question, and suppose themselves deserted: such a case may be, and possibly is more 〈…〉 than we are aware of; and is very hazardous. They have possibly formerly pretended to great confidence, but now they are in fear. Give me leave to lay out the case of these, and then offer them some counsel: for the discovery of such, let these things be observed.

1. There are those that have had something of a common work on them, every one hath a natural Conscience in him, whose nature and office is to reflect inward, and apply practical truths to one self, and this Conscience is not at once brawned and seared: the Word & Ordinances are accommodated to meet with mens Consciences, to put them in fear, and make them solicitous: and the Spirit of God often comes in these means under which men sit, and strives, and gives them inward touches and awakenings, which puts them upon endeavours to get quiet; and though natural corruption seeks to stifle such motions, and divert them from them, and so quench the Spirit: yet they cannot always so do, but are put upon it to do something ⟨p. 115⟩