APPENDIX. 251 and one work prepareth for another; and he maketh variety of capacities, which occasion varietyof receptions and of gifts ;. and heyseth to give every thing that to which he hath brought it into the next capacity and disposition. And therefore, in general; we may conclude that we feel not God's love shed abroad upon the heart, because the heart is un- disposed, and is notin the next disposition thereto ; and abused free- will hath been the cause of that. That we have grace, is to be as- cribed to God :. that weare without it, is to be ascribed to ourselves. 1. Heinous guilt of former sin. may keep a soul much without the delights of divine love; and the heinousness. i$ not only in the greatness of the evil done, materially, but oft in our long and will- ful committing ofsmaller sins, against knowledge, and conscience, and consideration. The Spirit thus grieved by hardened hearts, and willful repulses, is. not quickly and easily a Comforter to such a soul ; and when the sinner doth repent, it leaveth him more in un- certainty of.his sincerity when he thinks, 'I do but repent, purpose, and promise now; and so I oft did,and yet returned the next temptation to my sin: and how can .1 'tell that my heart is not the same, and I should tin again if I had the same temptations ?' O, what doubts and perplexities doth, oft willful sinning prepare for ! 2. And sins of omissions have here a.great part. The sweet- ness of God's love is a reward which slothful servants are unmeet for. It follows a " Well done, good and faithful servant." There is needful a close attendance upon God, and devotedness to him, and improvement of gospel grace, and revelation, to make a soul fit for amicable, sweet communion with God: all that will save a soul from hell will not do this. He that will taste these divine love-tokens must, 1, Be no stranger to holy meditation and prayer, nor unconstant,.cold, and cursory in them ; but must dwell and walk above with God. 2. And he must be wholly addicted to improve his Master's talents in the world, and make it his design and trade on earth to do all the good in the world he can ; and to keep his soul clean from the flesh, and worldly vanity. And to such a soul God will make known his love. 3. And, alas ! how ordinarily doth some carnal affection corrupt the appetite of the soul ! When we grow too much in love with men's esteem, or with earthly riches, or when our throats or fan- ciescan master us into obedience, or vain desires of meat, drink, recreation, dwelling, Ire., the soul loseth its appetite to things divine; and nothing, relisheth where ,appetite is gone or sick. We cannot serve God and Mammon, and we cannot at once taste much pleasure both in God and Mammon. The old, austere
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