DEPTHS OF SIN. and make to it withal some discoveries of his love and the excellencies of Christ, so that it begins to yield and be overpowered, being almost persuaded to be a chris- tian ; if then, through the strength of lust or unbelief, it goes back to the world or self-righteousness, its folly has unkindness with it, which sometimes shall not be passed by. God can, and often does put forth the great- ness of his power for the recovery of such a soul ; but yet he will deal with him about this contempt of his love and the excellency of his Son, which had been manifested to him. 4. Sudden forgetfulness of endearing manifestations of special love. This, God cautions his people against, as knowing their proneness to it. " God the Lord will speak peace to his people and his saints; but let them not turn again to folly." Ps. 85 : 8. Let them take heed of their aptness to forget endearing manifestations of special love. When God at any time draws nigh to a soul by his Spirit, in his word, with gracious words of peace and love, giving a sense of his kindness on the heart by the Holy Ghost, so that it is filled with joy unspeakable and glorious; for this soul, on a temp- tation, a diversion, or by mere carelessness and ne- glect, to suffer this sense of love to be, as it were, ob- literated, and so lose that efficacy to obedience with which it is accompanied; thisalso is full of unkindness.. 5. Great opportunities neglected, and great gifts not improved, are .often the occasion of plunging the soul into great depths. Gifts are given to trade with for God; opportunities are the market-days for that trade. To bide the one in a napkin and let the other slip, will end in trouble. Disquietments and perplexities of heart are worms that will certainly breed in the rust of un- exercised gifts. God loseth a revenue of glory and honor by such slothful souls; and he will make them sensible of it. I know some at this day whom omis- 0*
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