The case and cure of a deserted soule, or, A treatise concerning the nature, kindes, degrees, symptomes, causes, cure of, and mistakes about spirituall desertions by Jos. Symonds ...

CHAP. V. That a man may bee Deserted, and not know it, with the Causes and Evills of it.

I Have done with the State of a Deser∣ted soule, the next thing is the Symp∣tomes and Consequences of it, which will give some help to a man to know whether he be in this state or not. And it is needfull to declare the signes of it, for often men are in this lamentable case and know it not; as in another sence it is said of Sampson, when he awaked out of that sleep in which he lost his haire, that he wist not that the Lord was depar∣ted from him. Judg. 16.20. So it is true of many, God is departed from them,

and they misse him not till they awake out of their sleepen.

Quest. But is it possible that, that man should be so besotted, that falling from a blessed course of sweet communion with God, into so grievous an estran∣gednesse from him he should not per∣ceive it? can a man fall from such a height into such a depth, and not know it?

Ans. Yea, certainly; and there are divers causes of it; as 1, there may be a great flush of spirit, and much activity from false principles, so that a man may seeme to be the same, and to enjoy God as he did, when if it bee observed, hee hath lost much, and the greatest part of his life stands upon other pillars, as vi∣gor of nature, strength of parts, inforce∣ment of conscience, respects to men, false joyes, fanatick dreames, superstiti∣ous rules, &c. these windes often fill the sayles, these waights move the wheeles, even there where there is little of God.

2. Gods departure is graduall, as hee comes not all at once, but by degrees,

so he departs not suddenly, but gradually, as the Sun riseth by degrees, and sets by degrees, and so night creepes often upon men before they are aware: So God by degrees estrangeth himselfe, and leaves the soul to wither by degrees; as in a body languishing in a consumption, there is not such an apprehension of the going out of life, and the comming in of death, as in him that receiveth a sud∣den mortall hurt; and as he who wast∣eth in his estate by little and little is not so sensible of his decay, as he that loseth all at once: So if a man should fall from a heavenly converse with God, and from a flourishing spirituall state, into a livelesse and barren condition on a sud∣den, he would be more affected with it, but now his fall is graduall, therefore lesse seene; a hill is sometimes drawne out into such a length, that the descent of it doth scarce appeare. In Gods way a man may descend dayly, yet because his decay is as it were broken into so many small parts, he hardly seeth it: old age, and gray haires come slowly and slily, they come by stealth, one gray

haire creeping after another, and here and there upon them, they know it not. Hos. 7.9. A decrepit weake state steales upon men, their soules being like drey∣ning cisternes which empty themselves by drops, and so emptinesse overtakes them before they see it: while they think they are rich, they become poor. Apo. 3.17.

[unspec 3] 3. Men lose much of God and know it not, because they rest too much upon o∣ther things that doe deceive them; some things without them cause them to mi∣stake, as 1, a pride and conceitednesse raysed by comparing themselves with others worse than themselves; 2, the te∣stimony and applause which others give them, especially if by many, by the god∣ly, by the wise; praise blinds them, and holds them in a sweet dreame of an imaginary excellency; 3, transient and fleeting gales, God now and then break∣ing in with potent workings, and that rather to exercise of guifts for his office and for others sakes, that they may be built up, when themselves indeede wither.

[unspec 4] 4. They consider not, nor examine

their estates, they lay down their watch, and hold not continuall sessions for Judgement of themselves, therefore changes befall them, and they know it not; when men cast not up their estates, they may grow poore and not see it. Conscience is the soules watchman, yea her Iudge; ••ow if there be a vacation, and the Judge fits not, a man may be spoy∣led of much of his estate, and not bee righted: except wee judge our selves frequently, wee cannot know our selves fully, but may lose and not see it.

You see then that one may be Deser∣ted and not know it; but it much con∣cernes a man to be vigilant, that he may discerne Gods accesses to him, and re∣cesses from him: For,

[unspec 1] 1. Else though hee enjoy God, hee cannot be thankfull; it is not the presence, but the evidence and sense of mercies that rayseth thankfulnesse: hee that re∣ceiveth not, and he that knoweth not that he receiveth, is alike unthankfull: when a man lyeth long out of the bal∣lance of Judgment, hee knoweth not whether he bee better or worse: God

may be present in many gracious coun∣sels, checks, incitements, impulsions, and yet have little thanks for his preci∣ous mercies, except they be observed. If a Prince come in favour to visit thee, and stand knocking, and be not known, thou canst not acknowledge that high favour with thankfulnesse; And though Christ stand at the doore and knock, that thou mayst open that he may come in and sup with thee, and thou with him, if thou know not this day of salvation, and this season of grace, it cannot affect thee. What a sinne is this? God is with thee by secret workings of his Spirit, he is with thee in thy way, and in the meanes of grace, and thou observest not? But it is with thee as with Iacob in another case, who sleeping, knew not what had befalne him, but when hee a∣waked, then hee said, God was in this place, and I knew it not, Gen. 28.16.

[unspec 2] 2. Except you know how it fares with you, if God be departed, you will lie still and not enquire after himo. Hee that is sick, and knoweth it not, seekes not for cure. The whole, that is, such as

thinke they are well, need not the Physi∣tian, but the sick: such as feele their sick∣nesse and paine, Matth. 9.12. They that are rich in their owne opinion, seek not for supply, but say, They want no∣thing, Apoc. 3.17. He will neither beg nor worke for bread that is full. He that thinkes all is well, and seemes to be some∣thing, when he is nothing, Gal. 6.3. is at rest, as one that needs not. It is said, that the Pharises need norepentance, Luk. 15.7. that is, they know no need, be∣cause they see not their sinne. No man seekes that he thinkes he hath, there∣fore looke well to thy selfe, lest thou be deceived: A man may goe on with an opinion of a good estate, and be mi∣staken. As the hungry man dreameth, and behold he eateth, but when he awaketh his soule is empty: and as the thirsty man dreameth, and behold he drinketh, but when he awaketh, behold he is faint, Esay 29.8. so you may be in a beggerly con∣dition, while you conceit you are rich. Except you search your selves, and till you awake out of your dreame and be∣hold your misery, you will not seeke

for remedy. What brings the beast to the river, but thirst and heat? That man will not seeke for the Well of life, that feeles no want. Necessity is the mother of industrie, and indigence breeds diligence.

[unspec 3] 3. It is a contempt of God not to ob∣serve what interest you have in him, and what communion with him. If a friend, much more if a King come to thy house, and thou take no notice of his comming in or going out, will he not take it ill, and count it a great neglect of him? Is it not a signe his company is not valued, whose presence is not accepted, and whose absence is not regarded? Things that thou prizest thou keepest with care, possessest with joy, and losest with grief. A small matter may be lost, and not missed; but if a jewel be lost, it is soot missed.

Consider, if an husband had occa∣sion of departure for a season, and the wife should not be loath to part with himp, nor grieved to want him; would not all say she loves him not? When you make a feast, you sit not downe till

the chiefe guest come, and when hee comes, you meet him with all fit respect and kind entertainment: If then you sit downe to make merry with the crea∣tures when God is not come in to sup with you, Apoc. 3.20. or when you en∣tertaine your pleasures, and delights, and profits, and other worldly content∣ments, and give but slender heed and respect to God, so that his presence or absence is not much to you, it is a signe he is not your chiefe, but you despise him: therefore be carefull to observe diligently how God is with you, that you may not lose him, and not see it; for this is to contemne him. Adde this, that Gods withholding himselfe is a signe of his displeasureq, and it is a great provocation to slight it.

Notes

• n

  Et vigil elapsas quae∣rit avarus opes.
• A mā may be deser∣ted and not know it.
• Men mi∣stake and are many waies de∣ceived in judging.
• They consider not them∣selves.
• But it is needful to know whether we be De∣serted or not.
• Else though God be enjoyed, yet we shal bee un∣thankfull.
• Though wee enjoy not God, we shall be secure.
• o

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Ar. Rhet. l. 1. c. 5.
• Not to seeke to know this is to con∣temne God.
• p

  Indicium amoris est non delecta∣tio illa quae pulchri prae∣sentia perci∣pitus, sed morsus & dolor qui eo avulsosenti∣tur. Plut. de profect. Virt.
• q

  Substra∣ctio gratiae est maxima poena. Altis. in sent. l. 2. tract. 30. q. 2.