First notes hidden sinful inclinations as ground for it: impatience, discontent, too much love for the material world, selfishness, distrust in God, lack of real submission to the sovereign will of God. Concluded that any fault on the sinful will (for example, a guilty conscience) is the cause of depression.
But carefully distinguishes between physical and spiritual causes of a problem:
“In many case that a large part of the cause is due to bad temper, weakness, diseases of the body, the soul is greatly handicapped by this, but when it comes to such physical needs can be seen that the sinfulness is smaller and less dangerous the soul, no longer a problem, but is minor. “
Then Baxter points out some specific causes of “excessive zeal” which manifests itself as depression. Includes “extreme pain, the body is unable to bear” weakening of mental abilities (such as mental decline of the very old), and “when the brain and imagination go crazy” body for other reasons.
Demonstrates outstanding balance. Baxter recognizes that some depressions are not derived from sin or failure to handle life according to how God says (in fact, at the end of his sermon on depression provides directions for health care!). (more…)
