im, are cold
and lifeless, and can never bring heat and warmth to a cold soul. It is
he in the ordinances whom we are to seek, and from whom alone life is to
be expected, and none else.

9. Though life lieth not in the ordinances as separated from Christ, and
life is to be expected from him alone, yet he would beware of going
about the ordinances in a careless, superficial, and indifferent manner:
for this will argue little desire after life, and will bring on more
deadness. The ordinances then should be gone about seriously,
diligently, and with great carefulness, yea, with such earnestness as if
life were not about the ordinances at all. This is the right way of
going about the ordinances.

10. He must in all this wait with patience, without fretting or
quarrelling with him for his delaying to come. He must wait with much
humility. It becometh not him who hath, through his folly, sinned life
away, to quarrel now with God, because he restoreth him not again to
life at the first asking. He may be glad if at length, after long
seeking, waiting, and much diligence, he come and restore to him the joy
of salvation, and if he be not made to lie as bedrid all his days, for a
monument of folly in sinning away his life, strength, and legs as he
did.

11. He must beware of giving way to any thing that may increase or
continue this deadness; such as untenderness in his walk,
unwatchfulness, negligence, and carelessness; and especially he must
beware not to provoke God by sinning against light.

12. He would also beware of limiting the Lord to any set measure of life
and strength: for it becometh not beggars to be carvers, far less such
beggars as through folly have sinned away a good portion. It was not for
the prodigal to seek a new patrimony, after he had dilapidated the
former; it might suffice him to be made as a servant.

13. He would use well any small measure of life he getteth, for God and
his glory; getteth he but one talent, he should use it that he may gain
thereby: we say, use limbs and have limbs, use strength and have it.
This will be the way to get more.

14. He would be taking on the vows of the Lord, and that in the Lord, to
walk more watchful in time coming, charging all within and without not
to stir or provoke the Lord to depart further or to scare him from
coming to the soul.

As to the _last_ particular,

If it be inquired, 1. What can that soul do that is not sensible of this
deadness and weaknes