Withdrawn Spirit



1. Is the Spirit withdrawn? Endeavour to maintain a sensibility of his absence. For it is a good sign that he is not totally withdrawn, while there is left in our souls a distressing, humbling sense of his absence. But if we grow careless and indifferent about his presence and influence, and now think to recover ourselves by virtue of the use of means in our power, we have missed the way, and can never attain to what we want, until our souls are led out after his gracious influences.
2. Inquire into the particular cause or occasion of the Spirit's withdrawal; and when you have found out the sin or sins which have occasioned it, then go and humbly confess before God, loathe yourselves for them, and bring them unto the cross of Christ to be pardoned and crucified.
3. Never omit spending some time in secret, daily to converse with God, with his word, and with your own souls. Keep steady to closet-religion, and endeavour to make the best of it. By no means neglect the duty itself, under a pretence that you cannot perform it aright without the Spirit. It is indeed very unpleasant and discouraging, when we find, from day to day, that the wheels of devotion drive on heavily. But however unpleasant it be, yet you ought still to keep to it, in order to maintain a sense of, and an humble frame of spirit under, divine withdrawals. But if you should be prevailed upon to neglect these regular exercises, you can have no reason to expect, that the life of religion should be maintained, or the comforts and pleasures of it restored to your souls.

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