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The Case and Cure of a Deserted Soul: A Treatise Concerning the Nature, Kinds, Degrees, Symptoms, Causes, Cure of, and Mistakes About Spiritual Desertions.
In "The Case and Cure of a Deserted Soul", Joseph Symonds (d.1652) explores the nature, causes, and treatment of spiritual depression—a state that arises when God seems to hide his face, leaving the Christian to walk alone in a “dark night of the soul.” Every aspect of this condition is examined with a surgeon’s precision, a philosopher’s insight, and the Word of God’s wisdom on how to gain a firmer footing and emerge from this melancholy hour with renewed strength and vivacity.J.I. Packer has labelled "The Case and Cure of a Deserted Soul" as the definitive book for the diagnosis and treatment of spiritual depression. Peter Lewis says the book "shows a mind and heart replete with the best qualities of Puritan learning and devotion."Previously out-of-print, this classic treatise has been carefully prepared for the benefit and enjoyment of a new generation of Christian readers. Includes a foreword by Dr. James A. Fain III. Also available in paperback.The e-book edition includes over 700 embedded Scripture references in the ESV. Just click the link to the Scripture reference; no internet connection is needed!
324 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 4, 2020
Some beautiful passages, but the author’s style is too stilted. This made it a bit painful to read at times.
March 14, 2022
Many have regarded this to be the foremost puritan work regarding this topic. Sadly, I would have to disagree. There are some very helpful passages, though; particularly his chapters on the symptoms and consequences of a soul under desertion, and its effects on the life and vitality of various graces, such as in chapters 3-12 and 33-36.
He also does well in considering the various purposes of desertions in chapters 14 and 37.
Much of what is in between though is, sadly, quite a slog. He is almost torturously verbose for much of the way through, mainly due to the fact that he goes down so many different rabbit trails and bypaths that, he ends up losing much of his initial chapter outline. There were points where he got so lost in his own maze of headings, sub-sections, and sub-sub-sections that he just gives up, acknowledges his own long-windedness, and ends the chapter. It made me remember Mortimer J. Adler's comments about how the best books are those that have the most intelligible structure. Even if they are complex, the better they are organized, the more unified is the result and thus, they are easier to read. Too bad Symonds didn't spend more time on his outline.
Moreover, much of his application I found to be too stiff and austere. His directions and advice feel forced and obligatory, without much tenderness as you would find in many of his contemporaries. It often felt like a puritanical "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps."
Overall, there were some helpful passages throughout the work which could be gleaned by the diligent reader without having to force themselves the whole way through. I would, however, recommend before this work, the books on this same topic written by such men as Timothy Rogers, Wilhelmus A'Brakel, Thomas Goodwin, and Samuel Willard.
He also does well in considering the various purposes of desertions in chapters 14 and 37.
Much of what is in between though is, sadly, quite a slog. He is almost torturously verbose for much of the way through, mainly due to the fact that he goes down so many different rabbit trails and bypaths that, he ends up losing much of his initial chapter outline. There were points where he got so lost in his own maze of headings, sub-sections, and sub-sub-sections that he just gives up, acknowledges his own long-windedness, and ends the chapter. It made me remember Mortimer J. Adler's comments about how the best books are those that have the most intelligible structure. Even if they are complex, the better they are organized, the more unified is the result and thus, they are easier to read. Too bad Symonds didn't spend more time on his outline.
Moreover, much of his application I found to be too stiff and austere. His directions and advice feel forced and obligatory, without much tenderness as you would find in many of his contemporaries. It often felt like a puritanical "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps."
Overall, there were some helpful passages throughout the work which could be gleaned by the diligent reader without having to force themselves the whole way through. I would, however, recommend before this work, the books on this same topic written by such men as Timothy Rogers, Wilhelmus A'Brakel, Thomas Goodwin, and Samuel Willard.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews