8. *But suppose we are aware of this snare of the devil, we may be attacked from another quarter. When fierceness and anger are asleep, and love alone is waking, we may be no less endangered by _desire_, which equally tends to darken the soul. This is the sure effect of any _foolish desire_, any vain or inordinate affection. If we _set our affection on things of the earth_, on any person or thing under the sun, if we desire any thing but God and what tends to God, if we seek happiness in any creature, the jealous God will surely contend with us: for he can admit of no rival. And _if_ we _will_ not _hear_ his warning _voice_, and return to him with our whole soul; if we continue to grieve him with our idols, and running after other gods, we shall soon be cold, barren and dry, and _the god of this world_ will _blind_ and darken _our hearts_. 9. But this he frequently does, even when we do not give way to any positive sin. It is enough, it gives him sufficient advantage, if we do not _stir up the gift of_ God _which is in us_: if we do not _agonize_ continually _to enter in at the strait gate_: if we do not earnestly _strive for the mastery_, and _take the kingdom of heaven by violence_. There needs no more than not to fight, and we are sure to be conquered. Let us only be careless or _faint in our mind_, let us be easy and indolent, and our natural darkness will soon return, and overspread our soul. It is enough therefore, if we give way to _spiritual sloth_: this will effectually darken the soul. It will as surely destroy the light of God, if not so swiftly, as murder or adultery. 10. But it is well to be observed, that the cause of our darkness, (whatsoever it be, whether omission or commission, whether inward or outward sin) is not always nigh at hand. Sometimes the sin which occasioned the present distress, may lie at a considerable distance. It might be committed days or weeks or months before. And that God now withdraws his light and peace, on account of what was done so long ago, is not (as one might at first imagine) an instance of his severity, but rather a proof of his long-suffering and tender mercy. He waited all this time, if haply we would see, acknowledge and correct what was amiss. And in default of this, he at lengths shews his displeasure, if thus at last he may bring us to repentance.