Secondly, When thy diligence in thy particular calling is more selfish. Pos- sibly thou hast wrought in thy shop, and sat close at thy study, in obedience to the command chiefly ; thy carnal interests have swaj-ed but little with thee ; but now thou tradest more for thyself, and less for God. Oh, have a care of this !
Thirdly, When thou canst not bear tlie disappointment of thy cainial ends in thy particular calling, as thou hast done : thou workest and gettest little of the world, thou preachcst and art not much esteemed, and thou knowest not well how to brook these. The time was thou ccmldst retire thyself into God, and make up all tliou didst want elsewhere in him ; but now thou art not so well satisfiecl with thy estate, rank, and condition ; thy heart is fingering for more of these than God allows thee ; this shews declining. Children are harder to be pleased, and old men, (whose decay of nature makes them more froward, and in a manner children the second time,) than others. Labour therefore to re- cover thy decaying grace ; and as this lock grows, so thy strength with it will, to acqiiiesce in the disposiire of God's providence.
CHAPTER IV.
A WORD OF COUNSEL FOR THE RECOVERY OF DECLINING GR^CE.
We come now to give a few directions to the Christian, how to recover de- caying grace.
Inquire faithfully into the cause of thy declining. The Christian's armour decays two ways ; cither by violent battery, when the Christian is overcome by temptation to sin, or else by neglecting to furbish and scour it with the use of those means which are as oil to keep it clean and bright. Now inquire which of these have been the cause of thy decay. It is likely both conciu".
First, If thy grace be weakened by any blow given it, by any sin committed by thee, there then lies a threefold duty upon thee towards the recovery of it.
First, Thou art to renew thy repentance. It is Christ's counsel, Rev. ii. 5, to Ephesus, ' Repent, and do thy first works;' where it is not only conmianded as a duty, but prescribed as a means for her recovery ; as if he had said, Repent, that thou mayest do thy first works. Lo, Hos. xiv. 2, the Lord sets backsliding Israel about this work, bidding her ' take words, and turn to the Lord;' and, ver. 4, he then tells her he will take her in hand to recover her of her sins, ' I will heal their backslidings.' A repenting soul is under promise of healing; and therefore, Clnistian, go and search thy heart, as thou wouldst do thy house if some thief or murderer lay hid in it to cut thy throat in the night ; when thou hast found the sin that has done thee the mischief, then labour to fill thy heart with shame for it, and indignation against it, and so go big with sorrow, and cast it forth before the Lord in a heartbreaking confession. Better thou do this, tiian Satan do thy errand to God for tliee.
Secondly, When tJiou hast renewed thy repentance, forget not, delay not then to renew thy faith on the promise for pardon. Repentance, that is like purging physic to evacuate the peccant humour ; but if faith come not pre- sently with its restorative, the poor creature will never get heart, or recover his strength. A soul inay die of a Hux of sorrow, as well as of sin ; faith hath an incarnating virtue, as they say of some strengthening meats ; it feeds upon the promise, and that is 'perfect, converting,' or rather restoring 'the soul,' Psa. xix. 7. Though thou wert pined to skin and bones, all thy strength wasted, yet faith would soon recruit thee, and enable every grace "to jjerfomi its office cheerfully. Faith sucks pence from the pnmiise, called ' peace in believing ;' from peace flows joy ; ' being justified l)y faith, we have peace with God,' Rom. v. 1 ; and, ver. 2, ' We rejoice in hope of glory;' and joy aflbrds strength, ' the joy f)f the Lord is our strength.'
J'yQ WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU