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

9. When, in this condition, they pray to God, and can find no answer to their ⟨p. 23⟩prayers and tears. It is true, he many times answers them graciously, when they do not understand him: however they are to their own sense unanswered, they do not find those returns which they hoped for, and esteemed to be proper for their condition, though they cry incessantly, and mourn after God ardently. So the Psalmist uttered himself, Psal. 22.2. O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not me, & in the night season, & am not silent. Nay, it may be to their apprehension, God answers them in anger, and gives them the most discouraging returns; as he expostulates, Psal. 80.4. How long wilt thou be angry at the prayers of thy People? And Job 30.20, 21. I cry unto th•e, and thou dost not hear me, I stand up, and thou regardest me not, thou art become cruel te•me. And he apprehends that God rejects his petitions, as, Lam. 3.8. When I cry and sho••, he shutteth out my prayer.

10. When discouragements oppress, & almost over bear them. Their fears are so great, and their hopes run so low, that they are ready to give up all for gone, and are at the very brinks of despair. Thus it was with David▪ Psal. 31.22. ⟨p. 24⟩I said in my hast, I am cut off from before thine eyes. And the Prophet,