438 DIRECTIONS eoa GETTING AND KEEPING so sensibly as before. Let me assure you of this as truth: 1. Young people have usually more vigor of affections than old ; be- cause they have more vigor of body, and hot blood, and agile, active spirits ; when the freezing, decayed bodies and spirits of old men must needs make an abatement of their fervor in all duties. 2. The like may be said ofmost that are weak and sickly in com- parison of the strong and healthful. 3. All things affect men most deeply when they are new, and time weareth off the vigor of that affection. The first hearing of such a fight, or such a victory, or such a great man or friend dead, doth much affect us ; but so it doth not still. When you first receive anybenefit, it more delight- eth you than long after. So married people, or any other, in the .first change of their condition, are more affected with it than after- ward. And indeed man's nature cannot hold up in a constant ele- vation of affections. Children are more taken with every thing that they see and hear than old men, because all is new to them, and all seems old to tjte òther, 4. I hive told you before that some natures are more fiery, passionate and fervent than others 'are ; and in such a little grace will cause a great deal of earnest- nets, zeal and passion. But let me tell, you, that you may glow in these, and not grow in the body of your graces. Doubtless Satan himself maydo so much to kindleyour zeal, if he do but see it void of sound knowledge, as he did in James and John when they. would have called for fire from heaven'; but they knew not what spirit they were of. For the doleful case of Christ's church- es in this age hath put quite beyond dispute that none do the,devil's work more effectually, nor oppose the kingdomof Christ more des- perately, than they that have the hottest zeal with the weakest judgments. And as fire is most excellent and necessary in the chimney, but in the thatch it is worse than the vilest dung, so is zeal most excellent when guided by sound judgment, but more destructive than profane sensuality when it is let loose and mis- guided. On the other side, you may decay much in feeling and fervor of affections, and yet grow ingrace, if you do but grow in the under- standing and the will. And indeéd this is the common growth which Christians have in'their age. Examine, therefore, whether you have this or no. Do you not understand the thing's of the Spirit better than you formerly did? Do you not value God, Christ, glory and grace at higher rates than formerly? Are you not more fully resolved to stick toChrist to the death than formerly you have been? I do not think but it would be a harder work for Satan to draw you fromChrist to the flesh than heretofore. When the tree bath done growing in visible greatness, it groweth in root- edness. The fruit grows first in bulk and quantity, and then in
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