ON THE GLORY OF CHRIST. 8 of their hypocrisy. Though they retain a form of god- liness, they deny the power of it, Prov. i. 31. And if they do not openly relinquish all duties of religion, yet they will grow so lifeless and savourless in them, as shall evidence their condition; for so it is with them who are lukewarm, who are neither hot nor cold, who have a name to live, but are dead. Andherein lieth a signal difference in this matter, be- tween sincere believers, and those who believe only for a time; for those of the latter sort do either not perceive their sickness and decays, their minds being taken up and possessed with other things; or if they do find that it is not with them as it bath been formerly, they are not much concerned; and on any occasional new con- viction they cry, Yet a little more slumber, a little more sleep, a little more folding of the hands to sleep. But when the other do find any thing of this nature, it makes them restless for a recovery. And although through the many snares, temptations, and deceits of sin, or through their ignorance of the right way for their heal- ing, they donot manyof them obtain a speedy recovery, yet none of them do approve themselves in such a con- dition, or turn unto any undue reliefs. Now that believers are subject to decays in both the ways mentioned, we have full testimony in scripture: for as unto that general gradual decay, in the loss ofour first faith, love, and works, in the weakening of the in- ternal principle of spiritual life, with the loss thereon of delight, joy, and consolation, and the abatement of the fruits of obedience, our Lord Jesus Christ sloth express- ly charge on five of the seven churches of Asia, Rev. ii. iii. And in some of them, as Sardis and Laodicea, those decays had proceeded unto such a degree, as that they were in danger of utter rejection. And hereunto answers the experience of all churches, and all believers in the world. Those who are otherwise minded, are dead in sin, and have got pretences to countenance them- selves in their miserable condition. So is it with the church of Rome; and I wish others did not in some measure fellow them therein. As unto those of the second sort, whereinto men are cast by surprisals and temptations, producing great spi- ritual distress and anguish of soul, under a sense of God's displeasure, we have an instance in David, as lie gives an account of himself, Psalm xxxviii. 2-10. It is certain that here is a description of a very wo- fill state and condition; and the psalmist knowing that he was called ofGod, to be a teacher and instructor of the church in all ages, records his own experience unto that end. Hence the title of it is, A psalm to bring to remembrance. Some judge that David had respect un- to some great and sore disease that he was then visited withal. But ifit were so; it was only an occasion of his complaint; the cause of it was sin alone. And four things he Both represent. (I.) That he had departed from God, and fallen into provoking sins, which had produced great distresses in his mind, ver. 3, 4. (2.) That he had foolishly continued in that state, not mak- ing timely application to grace and mercy for healing, whereby it was grown deplorable, ver. 5. And this fol- ly is that alone, which makes such a condition danger- ous; namely, when men on their surprisals in sin, do not speedily apply themselves unto healing remedies. (3.) That he had herein a continual sense of the displea- sure of God by reason of sin, ver. 2, 3, 4. (4.) That he was altogether restless.in this state, mourning, groan- ing, labouring continually for deliverance. This is a clearer delineation of the condition ofbelievers, when either by the greatness of any sin, or by a long contin uance in an evil and a careless frame, they are cast un- der a sense of divine displeasure. This opens their minds and their hearts, declaring how all things are within, which they cannot deny. It is not so with many in the same measures and degrees as it was with David, whose falls were very great, but the substance of it is found in them all. And herein the heart knoweth its own bitterness; a stranger intermed- dleth not with it: none knows thegroaning and labour- ing of a soul convinced of such spiritual decays, but he alone in whom they are. Hereon is it cast down to the earth, going mourning all the day long, though others know nothing of its sorrows. But it is of a far more sad consideration, to see men manifesting their inward decays by their outward fruits, and yet are little or not at all concerned therein. The former are in ways of re- covery, these in the paths that go down to the chambers of death. I suppose, therefore, I may take it for granted, that there are few professors of religion, who have had any long continuance in the ways of it, having withal been exposed unto the temptations of life, and much exercis- ed with the occasions of it; but that they have been
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