1.  To be frequently setting to the duty, as, for example, of prayer, though that should raise the distemper of their body, for through time that may wear away, or at least grow less; whileas, their giving way thereto, will still make the duty the more and more terrible, and so render themselves the more unfit for it, and thus they shall gratify Satan, who, it may be, may have a hand in that bodily distemper too.  When the poor soul is thus accustomed or habituated to the attempting of the duty, it will at length appear not so terrible as it did; and so the body may become not so soon altered thereby as it was.

2.  When such an one can do no more, he should keep his love to the duty, and his desires after it, fresh, and lively, and should not suffer these quite to die out.

3.  He should be much in the use of frequent ejaculations, and of short supplications darted up to God; for these will not make such an impression on the body, and so will not so occasion the raising and wakening the bodily distemper, as more solemn addresses to God in prayer would possibly do.

4.  If he cannot go to Christ with confidence, to draw out of him life and strength, according to his need, yet he may give a look to him, though it were from afar; and he may think of him, and speak of him frequently, and would narrowly observe every thing that pointeth him out, or bringeth any thing of him to remembrance.

5.  Such souls should not give way to despairing thoughts, as if their case were wholly helpless and hopeless; for that is a reflecting on the power and skill of Christ, and therefore is provoking and dishonourable to him.

6.  Let Christ, and all that is his, be precious always and lovely unto them.  And thus they should keep some room in their heart open for him, till he should be pleased to come to them with salvation; and who can tell how soon he may come?

But enough of this.  There is a fourth case of deadness to be spoken to, and that is,

CHAPTER XXIV.

HOW SHALL THE SOUL MAKE USE OF CHRIST, AS THE LIFE, WHICH IS UNDER THE PREVAILING POWER OF UNBELIEF AND INFIDELITY.

That we may help to give some clearing to a poor soul in this case, we shall,

1.  See what are the several steps and degrees of this distemper.

2.  Consider what the causes hereof are.

3.  Shew how Christ is life to a soul in such a case; and,

4.  Give some directions how a soul in that case should make use of Christ as the Life, to the end it may be delivered therefrom.

And, first, There are many several steps to, and degrees of this distemper.  We shall mention a few; as,

1.  When they cannot come with confidence, and draw out of him by faith, what their soul’s case calleth for; they cannot “with joy draw waters out of the wells of salvation,” Isa. xii. 3; but keep at a distance, and entertain jealous thoughts of him.  This is a degree of unbelief making way for more.