Thirdly, The Christian wrongs himself in not endeavouring to repair his broken armour, and recover his declining grace. By this he loses the evidence of his inheritance, or at least so blots it, that it cannot be so clearly perceived by him. A declining Christian must needs be a doubting Christian, because the common symptom of an hypocrite is, to wear and waste like a stake set in the groimd, which rots ; while true grace, like the tree, grows. Is not this the knot which the devil puzzleth many poor souls withal, and finds them work for many years to untie ? If thou wast a Christian, thou wouldst grow ; right saints go from strength to strength, and thou goest from strength to weakness. They go up the hill to Zion ; every ordinance and providence is a step that bears them nearer heaven : but thou goest down the hill, and art further from thy salvation than when thou didst first believe (as thou though test.) And doth it stand with thy wisdom. Christian, to put a staff into the devil's hand, an argu- ment into his mouth, to dispute against thy salvation with? If you held an estate by the life of a child, which upon the death of it should all go away from you, that child I warrant you should be well looked unto ; his head should not ache, but you would post to the physician for coimsel. I pray what is your evidence for that glorious estate you hope for? Is it not Christ within you? Is not this new creature (which may well be called Christ for its likeness to him) the young heir of heaven 's glory ? And when that is sick or weak, is it not time to use all means for its recovery? While thus, thou canst neither live nor die comfortably. Not live. A man in a consumption has little joy of his life : he neither finds sweetness in his meat, nor delight in his work, as an healthful man doth. Oh, how sweet is the promise to faith, when active and vigorous ! How easy the yoke of the command to the Christian, when his conscience is not galled with guilt, nor his strength enfeebled by temptation ! But the Christian in a declining condition tastes not the promise ; every command is grievous, and every duty burdensome to him : he goes in pain, like one whose foot is out of joint, though the way be ever so pleasant. And he is as unfit to die, as he is to live. Such an one can like no more to hear the news of death, than a tenant that wants his rent doth to hear of the quarter-day. This made David beg time of God ; ' Spare me a little, that I may recover my strength.'
Having shewn you why the Christian should endeavour to recover his declining graces, it will be very requisite to give a word of counsel to the Christian.
First, To direct him hov/ to judge of the declining state of grace, that he may not pass a false judgment upon himself therein.
Secondljr, To direct him when he finds grace to be in a declination, how he may recover it.
CHAPTER III.
A CAUTIONARY DIRECTION FROM WHAT WE MAY NOT, AS ALSO FROM WHAT WE MAY JUDGE OUR GRACES TO BE IN A DECLINATION.
Quest, First of the first; how may a Christian judge whether grace be declining in him or no ?
Answ. First, I shall resolve this negatively, and shew by what he is not to judge his grace to decline.
Secondly, Positively, by what he may certainly conclude a decay of grace.
First, Negativeh', and that in several particulars.
First, Christian, do not judge grace to be fallen weaker, because thy sense of corruption is grown stronger. This oft lies at the bottom of poor souls' complaints in this case ; oh, they never felt pride, hypocrisj^, and other cori'uptions so haunt them, as now ; none knows how they are vexed with these and the like, beside themselves. Now let me ask thee, who makes this sad moan ? whether thou dost not think these corruptions were in thee before thou didst thus feel them ? How oft hast thou prayed as formally, and not been troubled ? How oft hast thou stood chatting with the same lusts, and thy soul hath not been laid low before the Lord vv'ith such, abasement of thyself as now? Deal faithfully between God and thj' soul, and tell not a lie for God, by bearing false witness against thyself If it bp tlius, thou hast raiher a comfortable sign of grace
THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD. 1(^7