such cold seasons as these, their Spirits move but stiffly about, and seldom rise into any earnest petitions for Grace, but sink under the burden of Prayer, or steal away to some Trifle, or other for a little Relief.  That in such cases they have no Heart to go on with the rest of their Duties, all the Commandments of God growing grievous upon them, and Repentance beginning to have a discouraging face:  That they know not how to follow their Master, wheresoever he goeth with all this Oppression, the Cross being now too much for them to take up, and they feeling now no Ease in his Yoke.

And when they often find it thus to their grief, even where they think they take care to prevent it, wou’d one ever believe they shou’d act, as if they desir’d these Gloomy Returns, or thought the present Light they enjoy’d cou’d never be obscured again?  How shall we do to think them sincere in their daily bewailings of Human Infirmities, while they continue to lay new weights on their Nature, as if the common Occasions of Life afforded not tryal enough for their faith, unless they call’d in Temptations to prove how much they coul’d bear?

Wou’d they that desired to be fervent in Prayer, and attend on the Lord with as little Distraction as their State would admit, fill their Heads with a crowd of extravagant thoughts, and run to see Devotion it self ridiculed, as if nothing was in it but Solemn Pretences?  Or wou’d they that proposed to have their Affections in order, and their Appetites calm, chuse to thrust in themselves, where Moving the Passions is the business in hand, and such things are rendred inviting, to which the Heart is but too much inclined?

It cannot sure be safe for any to let Errours come often before them in such shapes, as may make them wish they were true.  It must needs enfeeble their Minds, to have those Spirits divided that want to be fixed; and to converse with loose Manners brought down into fashion, and dress’d up with intent to deceive, is much too great a hazard to run in that little ground that is left to hope for the grace and assistance of God, where his Spirit is griev’d, and his Being deny’d.

And it is to be feared that they who come freest from any of that Pollution, which is in such quantities scattered there, have at least some dust to wipe off before they get home:  ’Tis hard staying so long in such a Cloud of black vapours and smoak, without having so much as a soiling remain; great odds it is, but something will stick for a sober reflection to banish, and a Prayer to correct.  And who is there that wants more work of that nature than He has already.