Heaviness of soul

Or, perhaps, you are now in heaviness of soul: God, as it were, hides his face from you. You see little of the light of his countenance; you cannot taste his redeeming love. In such a temper of mind, how natural is it to say, “O how I will praise God, when the light of his countenance shall again be lifted up upon my soul! How will I exhort others to praise him, when his love is again shed abroad in my heart? Then I will do thus and thus: I will speak for God in all places: I will not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Then I will redeem the time. I will use to the uttermost every talent I have received.” Do not believe thyself. Thou wilt not do it then, unless thou dost it now. He that is faithful in that which is little, of whatsoever kind it be, whether it be worldly substance, or the fear or love of God, will be faithful in that which is much. But if thou now hidest one talent in the earth, thou wilt then hide five: that is, if ever they are given; but there is small reason to expect they ever will. Indeed unto him that hath, that is, uses what he hath, shall be given, and he shall have more abundantly. But from him that hath not, that is, uses not the grace which he hath already received, whether in a larger or smaller degree, shall be taken away even that which he hath.