96 MEDITATIONS AND DISCOURSES asleep in their days, as the spouse complains of herself, Cant. v. 2.; that is, they have been overtaken with de- cays of one sort or another, eitherwith respect unto spi- ritual or moral duties, in their relation unto churches or families; in their judgments, or their afiictione; in their inward frames or outward actions, they have been overtaken with the effects of sloth, negligence, or the want of a continual watch in the life of faith: I wish it were otherwise. I principally herein intend those gradual declensions in the life and power of grace, which men in a long course of profession are subject unto. And these for the most part proceed from formality in ,holy duties, under the constant outward performance of them; vehement engagements in the affairs of life, an overvaluation of sinful enjoyments, growth in carnal wisdom, neglect of daily mortification of such sins as men are naturallydis- posed unto, with a secret influence from the prevalent temptation of the days wherein we live, which things are not now to be spoken unto. Thirdly. But I come to that which was proposed in the third place, namely, to skew that this at present is the stateof many professors of religion, that they are fallen under those spiritual decays, and do not enjoythe effects of the promises concerning flourishing and fruit- fulness, whichwe have insisted on. To fasten a convic- tion on them, or some of them at least, that it is indeed so with them, is my present design; and this ought to be done with some diligence. The glory of Christ, the honour of the gospel, and the danger of the souls of men do call for it. This is the secret root of all our evil, which will not be removed unless it be digged up. Who sees not, who complains not of the loss of, or de- cays in the power of religion, in thedays wherein we live? but few there are, who either know or apply them- selves, or direct others unto the proper remedy of this evil. Besides, it is almost as difficult to convince men of their spiritual decays, as it is to recover them from them; but without this, healing is impossible. If men know not their sickness, they will not seek for a cure. Some, when they see their sickness and their wound, Will apply themselves unto wrong, useless remedies, like them in the prophet Hosea, v. 18. But none will make use of any cure who see no disease at all. Wherefore, to fasten a conviction hereof on the minds of some, we may make use of the ensuing inquiries and observation;. 1. Have you in the way of your profession had any experience of these spiritual decays? I doubt not hut . there are some who have been preserved green and flourishing, from their first conversion -unto God, who never fell under the power of sloth, neglect, or tempta don, at least not for any remarkable season, .. but they are but few. It was not so scarce with any of these be- lievers under the Old Testament, whose lives and walk- ings are recorded for our instruction; and they must be . such as lived in an exact and diligent course of morti- fication. And,some there are who have obtained relief and deliverance from under their decays, whose back - slidings have been healed, . and their diseases cured. So it was with David, as he divinely expresseth it, Ps. ciii. 1 -5. So doth he celebrate his deliverance from that state, whereof he complains, Psalm xxxviii. which we mentioned before. And there is no grace or mercy that doth more affect the hearts of believers, that gives them a greater transport of joy and thankfulness, than this, of deliverance from backslidings. It is a bringing of the soul out of prison, which enlargeth it unto praise,. Psal. cxlii. 7. Of this sort I doubt not but that there are many: for God bath given great warnings of the danger of a spiritually decaying state; and liebathmade great promises of a recovery from it, and multitudes in the church are daily exercised herein: but I speak in . general unto all. Have you any experience of such spiritual decays, either in the frame of your spirits, or in the manner of your walking before God, or at least that you are prone unto them, ifnot mightily preserved by the power of grace in your own utmost diligence? If you have not so, then 1 fear it is from one of these two causes. (1.) That indeed you have never had any flourishing spiritual state in your souls. He that hath been always . yeah and sickly, doth not know what it is to want a state of health and strength, bemuse he never had ex- perience of it; much less dots he that is dead, know what it is to want life. But be that front an exquisite temper of health, falls into languishing distempers, knows distinctly, both how it was, and how it is with him. And the frame of the minds of many professors of religion, with the manner of their walking, is such as that if they are not sensible of spiritual decays, it is evident that they never had any good spiritual health; and it is to no purpose to treat with such persons as
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