s?

_Ans_. Though there be not any real sense and feeling of this condition,
yet there may be a suspicion that all is not right; and if this be, the
soul must look out to Christ for the life of sense and for a sight of
the provocations that have brought on that condition. He that is the
Life must recover the very beginnings of life; and when the soul winneth
to any real apprehension and sense of this deadness, it must follow the
course formerly prescribed for a recovery.

2. But it will be asked, how can a soul act faith in such a case? And if
it cannot act faith, how can it come to Christ and make use of him?

_Ans_. It is true, while the soul is in that case, it cannot act a
strong and lively faith; yet it can act a weak and a sickly faith; and a
weak faith and a sickly faith can lay hold on an enlivening Christ, and
so bring in more strength and life to the soul. If the soul be so weak
as that it cannot grip, yet it can look to him that can quicken the
dead and hath helped many a poor soul before out of a dead condition: or
if it cannot do so much as look, yet it may give an half-look, and lie
before him who waiteth to be gracious; and sustain itself if it can get
no more, with a maybe he shall come.

3. But further, it may be asked, what can the soul do, when, after all
this, it findeth no help or supply, but deadness remaining, yea, and it
may be, growing?

_Ans_. The soul in that case must lie at his door, waiting for his
salvation, and resolving, if no better may be, to die at his door, and
leave no approved means or commanded duty unessayed, that it may recover
its former vigour, activity and strength. And while the believer is
waiting thus, he is at his duty; and this may yield him peace, and he
may be sure that he shall never be ashamed, Psalm xxv. 3; lxix. 6. Isa.
1. 18.

CHAPTER XXII.

HOW CHRIST IS TO BE MADE USE OF AS OUR LIFE, IN CASE OF HEARTLESSNESS
AND FAINTING THROUGH DISCOURAGEMENTS.

There is another evil and distemper which believers are subject to, and
that is a case of fainting through manifold discouragements, which make
them so heartless that they can do nothing; yea, and to sit up, as if
they were dead. The question then is, how such a soul shall make use of
Christ as in the end it may be freed from that fit of fainting, and win
over those discouragements: for satisfaction to which we shall,

1. Name some of those discouragements which occasion this.

2. Show what Christ ha