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in the paths of holiness, and full of that peace which passeth all understanding; while his better prospects are fearfully clouded, and a deep gloom overhangs his dejected spirits. Scripture, instead of offering him consolation, presents only a menacing aspect; and he dwells, with an oppressive melancholy, upon those passages, which contain the severe denunciations of an offended God against hardened and impenitent sinners. Ordinances, that once seemed to bring all heaven upon his ear, now delight no more; and, though he sedulously frequents them, he appears to himself to have, as it were, no interest in them. The precious dew of God's Holy Spirit descends upon all around him; while he alone, like Gideon's fleece, remains unaltered. Public and private devotion are equally inefficacious; and even the social conversation of a dear and religious friend no longer produces its wonted effect. Weary of himself and sick of the world, bewailing the deadness of his

own heart, and mourning for the loss of those better days which once he knew, he is ready to exclaim O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I flee away and be at rest.*

Such appears frequently to have been the case with that favoured servant of God, the holy Psalmist of Israel. O Lord, rebuke me

* “ In spiritual trials, that are the sharpest and most fiery of all, when the furnace is within a man, when God doth not only shut up his loving kindness from its feelings, but seems to shut it up in hot displeasure, when he writes bitter things against it; yet then to depend upon him, and wait for his salvation, this is not only a true, but a strong, and very refined faith indeed, and the more he smites, the more to cleave to him. Well might he say, When I am tried, I shall come forth as gold. Who could say that word, Though he slay me yet will I trust in him? though I saw, as it were, his hand lifted up to destroy me, yet from that same hand would I expect salvation." Abp. Leighton's Comment. on 1 Pet. 1-7.

not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast inme, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger; neither is their any rest in my bones, beeause of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head; as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly, I go mourning all the day long. I am feeble and sore broken; I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me; as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.*

In another psalm he exclaims; my tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

* Psalm xxxviii.

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with the multitude that kept holy-day. Notwithstanding this use of outward means, the heart of the prophet could still find no comfort; Why art thou cast down,

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my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of the water-spouts; all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. In this melancholy situation, David looks up for help to him, from whom alone help can come. O my soul, hope thou in God, for I will yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God.*

While the Christian labours under this depression of spirits, the subtle enemy of mankind is busily employed in harassing and dis

* Psalm xlii.

tracting his soul. A thousand anxious doubts and fears are suggested to him. His former happy communion with God appears only like a delusion; and he is tempted to suspect, that he never knew what real religion is. All those arguments and evidences, from which he once concluded that he was at peace with Christ, no longer retain their former efficacy, but seem to have vanished into empty air. While he thus suffers the terrors of God with a troubled mind; he is almost induced to believe, that the Most High hath forgotten to be gracious, and hath for ever shut up the bowels of his compassion against him.*

* There are some very useful observations on this subject, in a sermon by the late Bp. Horn, intitled The blessing of a cheerful heart. He judiciously refers the gloom which I have been describing, ultimately to a kind of infidelity, a timorous distrust of God's promises. Something of that sort will generally be found at the bottom of religious despondency, insomuch that every Christian

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