Chap. Queftions,andCafes ofConfcience about Jffe ions,&c. and from the power of Satanunto God; t Pet. 2.9. By the Grace ofConverfi- on, Godhrings us out of darkneffe into his marvellous light : and becaufe its fo marvellous, therefore it Both fo much affe&. Our changeat Converfion is very great : we become newmen, and we are fo afff&ed therewith, that we are (as it were) aaonithed therewith. Yet in this cafe we muaditlinguifh be- tween folid aff; &ions, and tranfient pallions, which wcareoff prefently, and va- nifb fuddenly. The affe&ions of force Chriftians, efpecially of young ones, are likecolours which arenot in grain, they will loon fade. It is with a new Convert, as with a man going to execution ; whileft he is upon the Ladder a Pardon is unexpectedly brought, how will hebe tranfported with joy ? He will even leapfor joy, yet afterwards this torrent of his joy may he abated, though his life be asdear tohim as ever. So when a foul hathbeen brought by the Law to a fight ofits loft condition, when the Gofpel proclaimes a Pardon, and the Spirit ofGod bath fet on the comfort of that Pardon upon the heart, Oh what ravifhments hath that foul fot the prefent ! which perhaps he thall not long re- tain : the. violence ofhis joy is abated, but the folidityofit remains. A third Reafonmaybe taken from Gods indulgence to youngConverts, who ufually gives in comfort according to the neceilities of his people : Its with God our heavenly Father, as its with natural Parents, they are molt tender over their new-born'children. T e father ofthe Prodigal, didnot only receive him mercifully,butbountifully too ; e gave immore then was for necetficy : He gave him not only Shooes, but a ping ; not onlycloaths, but the beft Robe : not only bread, but the fattedCalfe,andMu ck,at this Feafl, and all this was for his newly converted and repentingSon : he did not entertain him fo every day after. At our fiat Converfion God expreffes muchbounty and indulgence to us, and afterwards, though we have the fame love from God, and the fame love to God, yet the expreffions may not be the fame now, asformerly they were. Quell. what waft we do when we finde that we have loft our firfi affections? Anfw.Firil,Labour tobe fenfible of, andhumbled for thofe decays. A decayed condition is an uncomfortable condition : Though thy grace maycarry thee to Heaven; yet by thy decayes, thou wilt live uncomfortably on earth. Secondly,Labour to get thofe decayes repaired.If thouhail lot+ thy firfi love, repent and do thy firftworks, Rev. 2. 4, 5. Thirdly,Make up the want of former affeftions in folidity of knowledge and judgment: and if the candle givenot fo great a blaze,let it give a more clear and confiant li ht. Fourthly,Labour to keepup the firfi vigour ofyour affe&ions. For, s. Remember that you may lofe that in a{hors time, which you may belong in recovering. Aman, byoneweeks fickneffe, may lofe more firength then he can recover in amoneth. Awoundmay be foonmade,but is not fo looncured. So its far caller to lofe our holy affections, then it is to recover them. 2. Labour ro keep up your holy affe&ions ; For the truth of grace is more difcerned by our affe&ions, then by oura&ions. Its eafier to differ-rabic ads of race, then gracious affe&ions. A Painter maypaint the colour, but not the heat of the fire. 3. Its very hard CO retain the firfi vigour of ouraffe&ions, therefore we fhould take the more paines about it. Flulhin' of fpiritual joyis like the fea, wherein the tide doth not flow fo high, but the ebbe falls as low : Bernard fpeaking of them, faith, Sarabona, brevù mora, theycome feldom, and flay but a fhort time:As theFall follows the Spring : andone day isclear,and anothet cloudy; fo it iswith the heft Chriflian, hisaffe&ions arenot alwaysat the fame pitch : yet it fhouldbe our endeavour ro maintain in our fouls our firfi vigorous affe&ions in, and towards the wayes of God. Mr. Loveof Grace. F 3 CHAP.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=