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  They cry out for a blink of his face, and get it not; for he hath withdrawn himself, Ps.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 holdest thou thy face from me?” They cannot understand wherefore it is.  So Job cried out, “shew me wherefore thou contendest with me,” Job x. 2.

5.  They may also be walking, in the mean while, without light or counsel, so as they shall not know what to do.  “How long shall I take counsel in my soul,” Ps. xiii. 2.

6.  Moreover, they may have their heart filled with sorrow; as we see, Ps. xiii. 2, “having sorrow in my heart,” said David.  He also saith, Ps. xxxviii. that his sorrow was continually before him, ver. 17; and Ps. cxvi. 3, “I found trouble and sorrow.”