growing, than decaying. Sin cannot be on the getting hand, if the sense of sin grow quick. This is the concomitant of a thriving soul ; none so full of complaints of their own hearts as such; the least sin goes now to their very souls, which makes them think worse of themselves than ever : but it is not the increase of sin in them, but the advance of their love to Christ makes them judge so. When the sun shines with some power, and the year gets up, we observe, though we may have frost and snow, yet they do not lie long, but are soon dissolved by the sun. Oh ! it is a sweet sign that the love of Christ shines with a force upon thy soul, that no corruptions can lie long in thy bosom, but they melt into sorrow and bitter complaints; tliat is, the decaying sold, where sin lies bound up and frozen, little sense of, or sorrow for it appears.
Secondly, Take heed thou thinkest not grace decays, because thy comfort withdi-aws. The influence of the sun comes where the light of it is not to be found ; yea, is mighty, as appears in those mines of gold and silver which are concocted by the same. And so may the actings of grace be vigorous in thee, when least under the shinings of his countenance. Did ever faith triumph more than in our Saviour, crying, 'My God, my God I' Here faith was at its meridian, when it was midnight in respect of joy. Possibly thou comest from an ordinance, and bringest not home with thee those sheaves of comfort thou usest to do, and therefore concludest grace acted not in thee as formerly. Ti-uly, if thou hast nothing else to go by, thou mayest wrong the grace of God in thee exceedingly ; because thy comfort is extrinsical to thy duty : a boon which God may give or not, yea, doth give to the weak, and deny to the strong. The traveller may go as fast, and ride as much ground, when the sun doth not shine as when it doth; though indeed, he goes not so merrily on his joiu'ney ; nay, sometimes he makes the more haste ; the warm sun makes him sometimes to lie down and loiter ; but when dark and cold, he jiuts on with more speed. Some graces thrive best, like some flowers, in the shade, such as humility, dependence on God, &c.
Thirdly, Take heed thou dost not mistake, and think thy gi-ace decays, when may be it is only thy temptations increase, and not thy grace decreases. If you should hear a man say, because he cannot to-day run so fast, when an hundred weight is on his back, as he could yesterday without any such a burden, that therefore he was grown weaker, you would soon tell him where his mistake lies. Temptation lies not in the same heaviness always upon the Christian's shoulder. Observe, therefore, whether Satan is not more than ordinary let loose to assault thee ; whether thy temptations come not with more force and violence than ever ; possibly, though thou dost not with the same facility overcome these, as thou hast done less, yet grace may act stronger in conflicting with the greater than in overcoming the less. The same ship, that when light ballasted and favoured with the wind, goes mounting ; at another time, deeply laden, and going against wind and tide, may move with a slow pace, and yet they in the ship take more pains to make it sail thus, than they did when it went faster.
Secondly, Positively ; how thou mayest conclude that grace is declining ; and that in a threefold respect.
First, In reference to temptations to sin.
Secondly, In refei-ence to the duties of God's worship.
Thirdly, The frame of thy heart in worldly employments.
First, In reference to sin ; and that is threefold.
First, When thou art not so wakeful to discover the cncroachings of sin upon thee as formerly. At one time v.'e find David's heart smote him, when he but rent the skirt of Saul's garment. At another time, when his eye glanced on Bathsheba, he takes no such notice of the snare Satan had him in, and so is led from one sin to another ; which plainly shews that grace in him was heavy- eyed, and his heart not in so holy a frame as it had been. If an enemy comes up to the gates, and the sentinel not so nuich as gives an alarm to the city of his approach, it shews he is oil" his guard, either fallen asleep or worse. If grace were awake, and thy conscience had not contracted some hardness, it would do its ofllce.
Secondly, When a temptation to sin is discovered, and tliou findest thy heart shut uj>, that thou d^'sl not prav against it, or not with that zeal and lidy
]gg WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU
indignation as formerly upon such occasions, it is a bad sign that hist liath got an advantage of thy grace, that thou canst not readily betake thyself to thy arms. Tliy affections are bribed, and this makes thee so cold a suitor at the throne of grace for help against thine enemy.