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

2. Take heed of mistaking those things for Desertions, which are not so in themselves. Gods Children are too apt to ce• sure him, and discourage themselves in this regard, and so create to themselves ⟨p. 131⟩needless trouble: and Satan readily suggests to a misgiving heart, that which may perplex him on this account: in particular.

1. From outward afflictions, if some great outward trouble befall a Child of God, he presently refers it to Gods anger, and by it he concludes that now he hides his face; and as she once said to Christ, Joh. •1.21. if thou hadst been here my brother […] not died; so he concludes, if God […] been with him, this or that evil had not befallen him. It is true, afflictions are some of Gods Rods, wi•h which he is wont to correct his people, Psa. 89.32. and it becomes them now to make search into their own hearts and carriage: however, God often brings them for trial and exercise, such were those that Job met withal, Chap. 1. nor are all corrections desertions, but the clear discoveries of Gods fidelity: he therefore could say, Psal▪ 119.75. I know that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.

1. From outward afflictions, if some great outward trouble befal a Child of God, he presently refers it to Gods anger, and by it he concludes that now he hides his face; and as she once said to Christ, Joh. •1.21. if thou hadst been here my brother 〈…〉 not died; so he concludes, if God 〈…〉 been with him, this or that evil had not befallen him. It is true, afflictions are some of Gods Rods, wih which he is wont to correct his people,