but let him set himself in the presence of God, coming before him, as guilty of many grievous sins; let him search, diligently, the corners of his own conscience, and consider whether or no through his own default, he hath lost this grace, if so, let him beseech Almighty God to pardon him for this sin, admiring the inestimable riches of his divine patience in tolerating us so long.
By this means he will reap no small fruit from his aridity of spirit, taking from thence, occasion of profounder humility, when he considereth his own malice and perverseness in heaping up of sin, or of more ardent affection, when he seeth Almighty God's goodness in pardoning the same. And, although he enjoyeth no pleasure at all in his exercises, let him not, therefore, abstain from the continuation of them, for it is not always necessary that it The reward should be sweet and savoury to the of those who present taste, which will be here- after profitable. Especially when it is often seen by experience, that those who constantly persevere in their intended exercises, not giving over in the time of this aridity, but continue them with what care and diligence possibly they are able, that these I say, depart from this table recreated with many heavenly consolations, and much spiritual joy, seeing they find nothing to be omitted on their parts. It
