ON THE GLO bout a recovery. There are amongst those who make an outward profession of true religion, many that live in all sorts of sins. Ifyou should deal with them about backslidings, decays, and a recovery, you will seem unto them, as Lot did to his sons in-law, when he told them of the destruction of Sodom, as one that mocked, or made sport with them, Gen. xix. 14. or you will be mocked by them for your pains; they have been al- ways such as they are, it was never otherwisewith them, and itis a ridiculous thing to speak to them of a recovery. We must be able in this case to say to men, Remember whence you are fallen, and repent, and do your first works, Rev. ii. 5. They must have had an experience of a better state, or they will not endeavour a recovery from that wherein they are. Such therefore as see nei ther evil nor danger in their present condition, but sup- pose all is well enough with them, because it is as good as ever it was, will not easily be brought under this con- viction; but they have that which is of no less impor- tance for them to inquire into, namely, whether they have had any thing of the truth of grace or no? Or, (2.) Ifyou have not this experience, it is to be feared you are asleep in security, which is hardly distinguish- able from death in sin. The church of Laodicea was sensibly decayed, and gone off from its primitive faith and obedience, yet she was so secure in her condition, knew so little of it, that she judged herself, on the con- trary, to he ina thriving flourishing state. She thought herselfincreased in all church riches and goods, that is gifts and graces, while she was tm-etched, and miserable, andpoor, and blind, and naked, Rev. iii. 17.: in such a state as wherein it is questionable, whether she had any thing of the life and power of grace to be found in her or no. And so is it with many churches at this day, especially that which boasts itself to be without error or blame: and it is strange, that a church should suppose that it flourisheth in grace and gifts, when it bath nothing but a noise of words in their stead. So God testifiedconcerning Ephraim, that grey hairs were sprinkled on him, yet he knew it not,. Hos. vii. 9.; he was in a declining, dying condition, but did not understand it. Hence it is added, they did not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this, ver. 10. Ifmen will not learn, and own their spiritual de- cays,thereisno hopes of prevailing with them to return unto the Lord. The whole have noneed of a physician, n B RY OF CHRIST. 97 but the sick: Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance: such persons are under the power of a stupid security, from whence it will be very hard to rouse them up. Hence it is that we have so little success for the most part, in calling persons to look after a revival and recovery of their decays; they acknowledge no such thing in themselves, such calls may belong unto others; yea, if any word seem to come near them unto their disquietment, they are apt to think it was spoken out of spite and ill-will towards them; they approve of themselves in their present con- dition. Hence is the complaint of Christ in theminis- try of the word: as I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my band, and no man regarded: ye have set at nought all my counsel, and you would none of my reproof." Prov. i. 24, 25. Hence let this truth be pressed a thousand times, it is nut one of a thousand who will think himself so concerned, as to apply himself unto a relief. A spirit of slumber seems to be poured on many. 2. To improve this conviction, I would ask of some whether they have been able to maintain spiritual peace and joy in their souls? I take it for granted, that ordi- narily they are inseparable adjuncts of the life of faith, in an humble fruitful walk before God. The scripture testifieth that they are so, and no experience lies a- gainst it in ordinary cases. And I suppose that those. unto whom I speak do in some measure know what they are, and do not delude themselves with fancies and imaginations: they have substance in them, however by some derided, and to some unknown. Have this peace and joy been maintained and borne sway in your minds? have they under all trials and surprisals been quickly composed by them? or are you not rather on all occasions uneasy and perplexed? This is certain, that a decaying spiritual state, and solid spiritual peace are inconsistent: and if you had such peace, you may by the loss of it, know into what state you are come. 3. Not to inquire further into things internal and hidden, wherein men may justify themselves if they please, there are too many open visible evidences of these decays among professors of religion; they have not kept them from the eyes of the church, nor yet from the world. Do pride, selfishness, worldliness, levity of attire, and vanity of life, with corrupt unsa- , 14
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