ON .TILE GLORY OF CHRIST. 92 the soul. But this will not be done without the utmost spiritual relish as before? Some hear to satisfy their convictions, some to please their fancies, and some to judge of the persons by whom it is dispensed. It is but in few that the necessary preparations for the due re- ceiving of it are found. When men grow in age, they lose much of their natural appetite unto food: they must eat still for the maintenance of life, but they do it not with that desire after it, and that gust in it as in the days of youth and health. Hence they are apt to think, that the meat which they had formerly was more savoury than what is now provided for them; though what they now enjoy is much to be preferred before what they then had; the change is in themselves. So we may find not a few professors, who are ready to think and say, that the preachingwhich they had in former days, and the reli- gious exercises which they were engaged in, were far ,to be preferred above what they now enjoy. But thechange is in themselves, they have lost their spiritualappetite. or their hunger and thirst after the food of their souls, Men being grown full of themselves, and of a good conceit of their own abilities, have lost their spiritual appetite unto the word of God; and this makes the word lose its power and efficacy towards them. That word which the psalmist says is sweeter than the honey., or honey-comb, Psal. xix. lo. bath little or no taste or relish in it unto them. If they werehungry, they would find a sweetness in the bitterest of its reproofs, beyond what they can now find in the sweetest of its promises. They come to bear the word with sick desires, and low expectations,. as ifthey were invited to eat after a feast, . being self-full before. But this loss of a spiritual appe-. Cite,- is an evidence of the decay of all other graces. whatever.. 2dly. A negfèct of making religion our principal. business, is another evidence of the decay of all sorts. of grace in us:. for where grace is in its proper exercise,. it will subordinate all things unto religion, and the ends . of it, as David twenty times declares in the 119th psalm. All things, all occasion of life shall be postponed there- unto; the love and valuationof it will bear sway in our minds, our thoughts and affections, and the practice of it shall. give rule unto all other concernments. But is. it so with many amongst us? It is well if religion be one thing, it is tar enough from being the one thing;. every other thing is preferred before it, and it can hard. watchfulness and care against impressions from the flesh and other temptations. But sloth and formality herein, is a sign of a thriftless state in the inner man: and all inventions of such morality are disserviceable unto the interest of grace. (2.) So is it with them also, who attending unto the outward duties of religion, do yet indulge themselves in any known sin; for there is nothing of God in those du- ties, which tend not unto the mortification of all sin; and men may keep up a form of godliness, to counte- nance themselves in the neglect of its power. And in particular, where any known sin is indulged unto, where the mortification of it is not duly endeavoured, where our religious duties are not used, rpplied and directed unto that end, there is a weariness of whatever is of God in them, nor bath the said any real intercourse or com- munion with God by them. 5. If we should make a particular inquiry into the state of our souls, with respect unto those graces which are most useful, and tend most to the glory of God, it is to be feared, that the decays of many would be made very evident; such are zeal, humility, contriteness of heart, spiritual mindedness, vigourof soul, and delight in the ways of God, love, charity, self -denial, and the like. Are we fat and flourishing in these things, even in old age? 2 Pet. i. 8. Do we bring forth the fruit of them so as to showthe faithfulness of God in hissupply of grace? I shall not make a particular inquiry into them, but only give two general rules whereby we may try our- selves with respect unto them all. 1st. The loss of a spiritual appetite tinto the food of our souls, is an evidence of a decay in all these graces. Spiritual appetite consists in. earnest desires, and a sa. voury relish: so it is described by the apostle, t Pet. ii. 2, 3. There is required unto this spiritual appetite an earnest desire of the word, grounded on an experience of the grace of God in it unto this end, that we may grow and thrive spiritually thereby. And this appetite will give us as just a measure of the state of grace in us, as a natural appetite unto wholesome food, with due di- gestion thereon, loth give of a good state of health in the body. This therefore we are to inquire into. Doth it abide in us as formerly?' We bear the word preached as much as ever; but do we do it with the same desire and
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