SIEDITATIONS AND DISCOURSES ly crowd in to possess any place in their minds. To »w see men continually plodding in the affairs of the world, regulating all their actings by their concernment in them, diverted only at some seasons, as it were, out of their way unto duties of religion, it is vain to say that they make religion their business; but there is scarce a more certain evidence of a frame of mind spiritually decaying in all sorts of graces, ifever any of them were in it in sincerity and power, than this one, that men do not make religion their chiefest business; and a little self - examination will help men to judge what it is that they make so to be. Lastly. I might also instance in the uselessness of men in their profession; in want of love unto all saints; barrenness in good works; unreadiness and unwillingness to comply in any extraordinary manner with the calls of God unto repentance and reformation; in love of the world, and pride of life, with passions suited unto such principles, predominant in them; for they are all nn- deniable evidences, that those with whom they are found, had never any truegrace at all, or that they are fallen under woful decays.But what bath been spoken may be sufficient unto our present purpose. This is the third thing that was proposed, namely, an endeavour to leave convictions on the minds of some concerning their spiritual decays, and the necessity of seeking after a revival by the means that shall be in- sisted on. And I intend it principally for those of us, who under a long profession, are now come unto age, and shall not have much time for duty continued unto us. And the truth is, I meet with none, who are chris- tians of any considerable experience, and arespiritually minded, but they are sensible of the danger of such de- cays in this hour of temptation, and how difficult it is in the use of all means to keep up a vigorous active frame of mind, in faith, love, holiness, and fruitfulness. And for those who are not concerned herein, I confess I know not what to make of them, or their religion. Fourthly. I proceed unto that which was proposed in the fourth or last place; namely, the way and means whereby believers may be delivered from these decays, and come to thrive and flourish in the inward princi- ple, and outward fruits of spiritual life, which will bring us back unto the considerationof that truthwhich we may seem to have diverted from. And to this end, the things ensuing are proposed unto consideration. 1. The state of spiritual decays is recoverable. No man that is fallen under it bath any reason to say there it no hope, provided he take the right way for his reco- very. Ifevery step that is lost in the way to heaven should be irrecoverable, wo would be unto us; we should all assuredly perish. If there wereno reparation of our breaches, no healing ofour decays, no salvation but forthem who are alwaysprogressive in grace; if God should mark all that is done amiss, ao the psalmist speaks, O Lord who should stand? Nay, ifwe had not recoveries every day, we should go off with a perpetual backsliding. But then, as was said, it is required that the right means of it be used, and not that which is destructive of what is designed, whereof I shall give an instance. When trees grow old, or are decaying, it is usual to dig about them and manure them, which may cause them to flourish again, and abound in fruit: but instead hereof, ifyou remove them out of their soil, to plant them in another, which may promise them much advantage, they will assuredly wither and die. So it is with professors and hathbeen with many; finding themselves under manifold decays, and little or nothing of the life and power of religion left in them, they have grown weary of their station, and have changed their soil, or turning from one way in religion to another, as some have turned papists, some quakers, and the like, apprehending that fault to be in the religiosi which they professed, which was indeed only in themselves. You cannot give an instance of any one who did not visibly wither and die therein; but had they used the proper means for their healing and recovery, they might have lived, and brought forth fruit. 2. A strict attendance urto the severities of mortifi. cation with all the duties that lead thereunto, is required unto this end; so also is the utmost diligence in all du- ties of obedience. These things naturally offer them- selves, as the first relief in this case, and they ought not to be omitted. But if I should insist upon them, they would branch themselves into such a multitude of particular directions, as it is inconsistent with my design here to handle. Besides, the way which I intend to propose, is of another nature, though consistent with all the duties included in this proposal; yea, such as without which, not one ofthem can be performed ist a due manner. Wherefore, as unto these things, I shall only assert their necessity, with a double limitation.
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