OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 323 It belongs not to my design to treat of it in particu- lar ; yet I cannot let it pass without some remarks upon it, it being an evil almost epidemical among pro- fessors, and prevalent in some to such a degree, as that they seem to be utterly forsaken of all powers of spiritual life. Now, besides all that folly and sin, which we before discovered as the causes of the want of the growth of our affections in spirituality and heavenliness, which in this case of their decay are more abominable, there is a multiplication of evils wherewith this state of heart and mind is accompanied. For, First. It is that which of all things the Lord Christ is most displeased with in churches or professors. He pities them in their temptations, he suffers with them in their persecution, he intercedes for them on their surprisal, but threatens themunder their spiritu- al decays. Rev. ii. 4, 5, and iii. 2. This he cannot bear with, as that which both reflects dishonor upon himself, and which he knows to be ruinous to those in whom it is. I3e will longer bear with them who are utterly dead, than with those who abide under thesedecays. Rev. iii. 15, 16. This is the only case wherein he threatens to reject and cast off a profess- ing church; to take away his candlestick from it, un- less it be that of false worship and idolatry. He that spalte thus to the churches of old, speaks now the same to us; for he lives forever, and is always the same, and his word is living and unchangeable. There is not one of us who are under this frame, butthe Lord Christ, by his word and Spirit, testifieth his displeas- ure against us ; and if he be against us, who shall plead for us l Consider what he says in thiscase, Rev. ii. 5, and iii. 8. Q, who can stand before these dread-
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