; and that he will do with much
tenderness and readiness.

5. They would look upon it as no mean mercy, if, notwithstanding of all
the discouragements and storms that blow in their face, they are helped
to keep their face up the hill, and are fixed in their resolution, never
willingly to turn their back upon the way of God, but to continue
creeping forward as they may, whatever storms they meet with; yea, upon
this account ought they heartily to bless his name, and to rejoice; for
"their hearts shall live that seek him," Psalm xxii. 26.

6. They would remember, for their encouragement, that as many have been
helped through all discouragements, and have been brought home at
length, so may they be brought through all those storms which now they
wrestle with. It is the glory of the Mediator to bring his broken, torn,
and sinking vessel, safe to shore.

Now, I come to a third case, and that is,

CHAPTER XXIII.

HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST AS THE LIFE WHEN THE SOUL IS DEAD AS TO DUTY.

Sometimes the believer will be under such a distemper, as that he will
be as unfit and unable for discharging of any commanded duty, as dead
men, or one in a swoon, is to work or go a journey. And it were good to
know how Christ should be made use of as the Life, to the end the
diseased soul may be delivered from this. For this cause we shall
consider those four things:

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

2. Consider whence it cometh, or what are the causes or occasions
thereof.

3. Consider how Christ is life to the soul in such a dead case; and,

4. Point out the way of the soul's use-making of Christ, that would be
delivered herefrom.

As to the _first_, this distemper cometh on by several steps and
degrees. It will be sufficient to mention some of the main and most
remarkable steps; such as,

1. There is a falling from our watchfulness and tenderness; and when we
leave our watch tower, we invite and encourage Satan to set upon us, as
was said before.

2. There is going about duty, but in a lazy way, when we love and seek
after carnal ease, and seek out ways of doing the duty, so as maybe
least troublesome to the flesh, as the spouse did, Cant. iii. 1, when
she sought her beloved upon her bed.

3. There is a lying by, and not stirring up ourselves to an active way
of going about duty, of which the prophet complaineth, Isa. liv. 7, when
he saith, there is none that stirreth up himself to