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. VI. Rules to judge when one is Deserted. The first is the consideration of his graces. First, their activity is abated.

SInce men may be Deserted, and not know it, and since it so much con∣cernes

all to know how it fares with them in this case, I will propound some rules for their helpe in judgement of themselves in this point.

These rules are three considerations, or the view of three things.

• 1 Their graces.
• 2 Corruptions.
• 3 Meanes of grace.

First rule. Consider your graces which you have received; for when there is a variation of divine influence, there will be a change in the new man: as you may reade in the very face and countenance of the earth, what her receipts are from the heavens; whether the heat and rain be liberally or sparingly afforded: so when the Sunne of righteousnesse shuts in himselfe, it will soone appeare in the change of your spirits.

In times of desertion there will be a change in your spirits in respect of

• 1 Activity.
• 2 Light and sight.
• 3 Affection.

That decay of spirituall activity ap∣peareth and sheweth it self in 2. things.

• 1 Vnfruitfulnesse in good.
• 2 Indisposednesse to good.

[unspec 1] 1. There is lesse done, there are fewer fruits: you are not so frequent, and so abundant: duties are curted, and clip∣ped; God hath not his services in that number and measure as before: you doe not so much good by counsels, perswa∣sions, reprehensions, and such other of∣fices of Christian love, but are become more uselesse and fruitlesse.

In this abatement of action, there are three things considerable.

1. It is voluntary. There is an abate∣ment sometimes (for a season) out of necessity, as in case of bodily infirmity, or other inevitable occasions; but this is not sinfull, where the affection and desire to duties is not quenched, but held up in strength; But when men do voluntarily lay downe their strength of holy endeavours in the wayes of God, and move more slowly and neg∣ligently, either much omitting, or slight∣ly performing the duties of godlinesse, it is a signe that it is not with them as it hath beene, Apoc. 2.4, 5.

[unspec 2] 2. It is an abatement especially of such acts of grace, as are internall, and most proper to a godly man, as mourn∣ing for sinne, rejoycing in God, selfe judging, heavenly improvement of the promises, and providence of God, desire of Christs appearing, &c. There may possibly be an holding up of duties ex∣ternall, as hearing, prayer, &c. but if these inward actions and motions of the new man cease, it is a certaine argument that a man is upon the losing hand. Ex∣ternall duties may be upheld by the po∣wer of conscience, and other causes, but those inward acts cannot spring but from an inward root. Here Grace in∣herens is the womb, and grace assistant is the mid wife, the one gives disposition, the other action; so that when a man is lesse in these, he hath lesse of God.

[unspec 3] 3. In the abatement of externall acts; there will be lesse done in personall and secret duties, than in more publick duties which are with and before o∣thers: pride and other civill respects may enkindle a false fire in a frozen heart; the breath of applause may fill

the sails, & move the ship, which other∣wise would lie still, or move another way: A Pharisaicall spirit will be much quickned with praise and glory, and a servile spirit will be much provoked by feares; men are content to doe more then they would sometimes through hope of the favour of men, sometimes through feare of disfavour. But such are moved not by the spirit that is from above, but by the spirit that is in the world: therefore judge your selves by secret acts, follow your selves into your closets and retiring places, and observe your diligence, endevour, and spirit in your hidden wayes, and secret duties, for what you are in them, that you are indeed: as then you may best take your height, when you remove all advan∣tages, for if you stand upon any thing, you will seeme higher then you are; so you may best see the temper of your spirits, when all externall en∣forcements are absent; when you are your selves, without the ingrediencies of respects to men, to intermingle with your spirits.

[unspec 2] As there will be lesse done in a time of desertion, and an abatement of fruit∣fulnesse, so you may discerne an indispo∣sednesse, and unmeetnesse to duties.

[unspec 1] 1 Lesse willingnesse; you may doe good, but it is rather as a tasker, than a delight, and you are not carried to it so much out of liking and contentment, as by a compulsory judgement, which lay∣eth a necessity on you, that you doe it as a debt and due, which the law exacts upon paine of imprisonment, but not as a free-will offering, and Eucharisticall sacrifice. When the heart is filled with God, its delight is with him, and he yeelds obedience in love, and counts his worke wages: an evill heart is hard∣ly drawne to good, it quarrels with the rule, and is loath to be bound. Da∣vid, when he was in distemper, and left in the rage of his corruption, was not willing to be limited by the law of God; but when he was himselfe, then he loved it, Psal. 119.129. Gold and sil∣ver was not so precious, he chose it, v. 137. he took it as his portion, vers. 57. I said, oh Lord, this is my portion, I will keep thy wordss.

When a man enjoyeth God, his walking with God, is his life; he is much affected with converse with him, partly through love and sutablenesse to God, in respect of which, he is the Cen∣tre to which he tends, and in which he rests, partly through respect to the re∣compence which he hath in hope, and partly for the sense of sweetnesse which he hath in his converse, God meeting his servants with satisfying comforts, sweet embracements, and blessed co∣ruscations, and beames of mercy and loving kindnesse, so that they say in their hearts with David, It is good for me to draw near to God, Psal. 37.28.

Yea, love mightily commandeth and enclineth the hearts to duties; but when a man is in greater distance from God, then the pleasant wayes of ho∣linesse, which were to the soule as a de∣lightfull Paradife, are become as the way of a desart, a way of thornes and briars, a wearisome and unplea∣sant path.

[unspec 2] 2 That zeale & fervencie which you had, will be much weakned: when God

is with a man by powerfull and plentifull supplies of the spirit, he musters up all the powers of his soule, and cals in all his abilities to wait on God, and to doe him service. So David, Praise the Lord, O my soule, and all that is within me blesse his holy name, Psal. 103.1. Observe with what contention and strength you were wont to doe what you did; for if now you put lesse to it, and goe on in a way of spirituall lazinesse and sloth, it's sure there is a diminution of hea∣venly influence: this seemeth to be the case of the Church in the greatest part of it, which caused the Prophet to complaine, There is none that calleth up∣on thy name, or stirreth up himselfe to take hold of thee, Esay 64.7.

Notes

• First rule; Conside∣ration of graces, in which whē one is de∣serted, will be decay in respect of
• 1 Activity, which ap∣peareth by 1. Unfruit∣fulnesse.
• Lesse done.
• Especially in internal and most vitall acti∣ons.
• In perso∣nall and secret du∣ties.
• By indis∣posednes.
• Lesse wil∣lingnesse.
• r

  Nil nisi jussus agit. Ovid.
• s

  Calvin. in loc.
• Lesse zeal and fer∣vency.