tinual watch which they ought to keep over their hearts; whilst they are negligent in holy duties, either as to the seasons of them, or the manner of their performance; when they are strangers to holy meditation and self-examination; whilst they inordinately pursue the things of the world, or are so tender and delicate as that they will not undergo the hardship of a hea venly life, either as to the inward or outward man; much more when they are vain in their conversation, corrupt in their communication, especially if under the predominant influence of any particular lust, it is vain to think of thriving in spiritual affections. And yet thus it is with all who ordinarily, and in their constant course are thriftless herein.

CHAPTER XVII.

Decays in spiritual affections, with the causes and danger of them. Advice to those who are sensible of the evil of spiritual decays.

It must be acknowledged, that there is yet that which is worse than what we have insisted on, and more opposite to the growth of affections in confor. mity to heavenly things, which is the proper character of those that are spiritually renewed. And this is their spiritual decay manifesting itself in sensible and visible effects.

Some there are, yea, many, who, upon the beginning of a profession of their conversion to God, have made a great appearance of vigorous, active, spiritual affections; yea, it is so with most, it may be all who are really so converted. God takes notice of the love of the youth in his people, of the love of their espousals.

In some, this vigour of spiritual affections is from the real power of grace, exerting its efficacy on their hearts and in their minds. In others, it is from other causes for instance, relief from convictions by spiri

tual illumination will produce this effect. And this falls out to the advantage of such persons, that generally a change is wrought in their younger days: for then their affections in their natural powers are active, and bear great sway in the whole soul. Wherefore the change that is made, is most eminent in them, be it what it will. But as men increase in age, and thereon grow up in carnal wisdom, and a great valuation of earthly things, with their care about them, they abate and decay in their spiritual affections every day: they will abide in their profession, but have lost their first love.

It is a shame and folly unutterable, that it should be so with any who make profession of that religion, wherein there are so many incomparable excellencies to endear and engage them to it more and more; but why should we hide what experience makes manifest in the sight of the sun, and what multitudes proclaim concerning themselves? Wherefore I look upon it as a great evidence, if not absolutely of the sincerity of grace, yet of the life and growth of it, when men, as they grow up in age, grow in an under-valuation of present things, in contempt of the world, in duties of charity and bounty, and decay not in any of them. But I say, it is usual that the entrances of men's profession of religion and conversion to God, are attended with vigorous active affections towards spiritual things. Of those who really and sincerely believed, it is said, that, on their believing, they " rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory." And of those who only had a work of conviction on them, improved by temporary faith, that "they received the word with joy, and did many things gladiy.'

In this state do many abide and thrive, until their affections be wholly transformed into the image and likeness of things above. But with many it is not so; they fall into woful decays as to their affections about spiritual things, and consequently in their whole profession and conversation their moisture becomes as the drought in summer. They have no experience of the life and actings of them in themselves, nor any

comfort or refreshment from them; they honour not the gospel with any fruits of love, zeal, or delight, nor are useful any way to others by their example. Some of them have had seeming recoveries, and are yet again taken into a lifeless frame. Warnings, afflictions, sicknesses, the word have awaked them, but they are fallen again into a dead sleep; so that they seem to be "trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.'

Some things must be spoken to this woful condition in general, as that which is directly opposite to the grace and duty of being spiritually minded, and contrary to, and obstructive of the growth of spiritual affections in an assimilation to heavenly things. And what shall be spoken may be applied to all the degrees of these decays, though all of them are not alike dangerous or perilous.

First, There may be a time of temptation, wherein a soul may apprehend in itself not only a decay in, but an utter loss of all spiritual affections, when yet it is not so. As believers may apprehend and judge that the Lord hath forsaken and forgotten them, when he had not done so-" Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee." So they may, under their temptations, apprehend that they have forsaken God, when they have not done so as a man in the night may apprehend he hath lost his way, and be in great distress, when he is in his proper road. For temptation brings darkness and amazement, and leads into mistakes and a false judgment in all things. They find not, it may be, grace working in love, joy, and delight, as formerly, nor that activity of heart and mind in holy duties, which spiritual affections gave to them: but yet, it may be, the same grace works in godly sorrow, by mourning, humiliation, and self-abasement, no less effectually, nor less acceptably to God. Such as these I separate from the present consideration.

Secondly, There may be a decay in affections themselves, as to their actings towards any objects what

ever; at least as to the outward symptoms and effects of them; and, on this ground, their operations towards spiritual things may be less sensible. So men in their younger days may be more ready to express their sorrow by tears, and their joy by sensible exaltation and motion of their spirits, than in riper years. And this may be so, when there is no decay of grace in the affections as renewed. But,

1st, When it is so, it is a burden to those in whom it is. They cannot but mourn and have a godly jealousy over themselves, lest the decays they find should not be in the outward, but the inward, not in the natural, but the spiritual man. And they will labour that in all duties, and at all times, it may be with them as in days of old, although they cannot attain strength in them, that vigour of spirit, that life, joy, peace, and comfort, of which many have had experience.

2dly, There will be in such persons no decays in holiness of life, nor as to diligence in all religious duties. If the decay be really of grace in the affections, it will be accompanied with a proportionable decay in all other things, wherein the life of God is concerned. But if it be only as to the sensible actings of natural affections, no such decay will ensue.

3dly, Grace will in this case more vigorously act itself in the other faculties and powers of the soul, as the judgment and the will, in their approbation of, and firm adherence to spiritual things.

But,

4thly, When men find, or may find their affections yet quick, active, and intent on other things, as the lawful enjoyments and comforts of this life, it is in vain for them to relieve themselves, that the decays they find are in their affections as natural, and not as they ought to be, gracious. If we see a man in his old age grow more in love with the things of this world, and less in love with the things of God, it is not through the weakness of nature, but through the strength of sin.

On these, and, it may be, some other occasions, there may be an apprehension of a decay in spiritual affections, when it may not be so, at least not to the

degree that is apprehended.

But when it is so really, as it is evidently with many, I had almost said with the most in these days, it is a woful frame of heart, and never enough to be lamented. It is that which lies in direct contradiction to that spiritual mindedness which is life and peace. It is a consumption of the soul, which threatens it with death every day.

It belongs not to my design to treat of it in particular; yet I cannot let it pass without some remarks upon it, it being an evil almost epidemical among professors, 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 them under their spiritual decays-" Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God." This he cannot bear with, as that which both reflects dishonour upon him. self, and which he knows to be ruinous to those in whom it is. He will longer bear with them who are utterly dead, than with those who abide under these decays "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." This is the only case wherein he threatens to reject and cast off a professing church, to take away his candlestick from it, unless it be that of false worship and idolatry. He that spake thus to the churches of old, speaks now the same to us; for he lives for ever, and is always the same, and his word is living and unchangeable. There