uently renewed, the grounds of
thy former mistake might be easily removed.

Yet further, I would add these few things:

1. Take no pleasure in debating against your own soul; for that is but
to serve Satan's design.

2. Be not too rash or ready to drink in prejudices against the work of
God in your own souls; for that is to conclude with Satan against
yourselves.

3. Make much of any little light he is pleased to give, were it but of
one mark, and be not ill to please; for one scriptural mark, as love to
the brethren, may sufficiently evidence the thing.

4. See how thy soul would like the condition of such as are carnal,
profane, careless in the matters of God; and if thy soul doth really
abhor that, and thou would not upon any account choose to be in such a
case, thou may gather something from that to thy comfort. But enough of
this case here.

CHAPTER XXVI.

HOW IS CHRIST, AS THE LIFE, TO BE APPLIED BY A SOUL THAT MISSETH GOD'S
FAVOUR AND COUNTENANCE.

The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness,
occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and "the
fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is better
than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their life," Ps. xxx.
5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be
rife enough, concerning which we shall,

1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, whereby
the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the reasons of this dispensation.
3. Shew how Christ is life to the soul in this case; and, 4. Point out
the soul's duty; or how he is to make use of Christ for a recovery.

As to the _first,_ we may take notice of those particulars:

1. They complain of God's hiding of himself, and forsaking them, Ps.
xxii. 1, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" and Ps. xiii. 3,
"How long wilt thou forsake me?" &c.

2. They cry out for a blink of his face, and get it not; for he hath
withdrawn himself, Ps. xiii. 1, "how long wilt thou hide thy face from
me?" Heman, Ps. lxxxviii., cried out night and day, but yet God's face
was hid, ver. 1, 9, 14. The spouse seeketh long, Cant. v.; see Ps. xxii.
1, 2.

3. They are looking for an outgate, but get none. And "hope deferred
maketh their heart sick," Prov. xiii. 12.

4. They are in the dark, and cannot tell' why the Lord dispenseth so
towards them; "Why," said Heman, Ps. xviii. 14, "castest thou off my
soul? why hold