believer. More especially, if he was not watching, if these assaults are made in an hour when he looked not for them: if he expected nothing less, but had "fondly told himself
The day of evil would return no more."
2. The force of those temptations which arise from within, will be exceedingly heightened, if we before thought too highly of ourselves, as if we had been cleansed from all sin. And how naturally do we imagine this, during the warmth of our first love? How ready are we to believe, That God has fulfilled in us the whole work of faith with power? That because we feel no sin, we have none in us, but the soul is all love? And well may a sharp attack from an enemy whom we supposed not only conquered but slain, throw us into much heaviness of soul, yea, sometimes into utter darkness. Particularly when we reason with this enemy, instead of instantly calling upon God, and casting ourselves upon him by simple faith, who alone knoweth to deliver his out of temptation.
III. These are the usual causes of this second darkness. Enquire we, thirdly, What is the cure of it?
1. * To suppose that this is one and the same in all cases, is a great and fatal mistake: and yet extremely common even among many who pass
