Rev. III. 2.J England's spiritual languishing. 419
expiration, but to recover them to their former height and radiancy ; and, therefore, a like matter is expressed by the apostle Paul in another word, for he biddeth Timothy dva^airvpeiv, stir or blow up the gift of God in him, 2 Tim. i. 6.
There is nothing of difficulty in the clause, only it doth not so easily appear, since they are not specified in the text, what are those ra \oi7ra, those remains of religion, which he urgeth them to strengtlien.
How shall we know what they are ? Ans. It cannot be meant of persons, as some would have it, understanding it of the weak of the flock, for it is ra Xolttcl, things, not persons ; and truly it must be something concerning the vitals of religion ; such, which, if revived, would make them live and flourish again in the sight of God and of the churches. Now, doctrinals it cannot be, for the reason rendered in the latter part of the text, ' For I have not found thy works perfect before God.' It is some decay in practioals, thy works, ra epja ; and if they had decayed in doctrinals, they could not have so much as a name that they lived. And then mere discipline it cannot be, for howsoever that be a great preservation to godliness, and a considerable stake in religion's hedge, yet the corruption or intermission of discipline cannot so properly be termed the death of the church. It is, I remember, if some expound the place right, called the sleep of the church, Cant. vi. 2, ' I sleep, but my heart waketh.' Brightman i applieth it to the church about the third century, which was watchful over doctrine ; the heart waked, but carelessly digested the corruption and degeneration of discipline, and therefore she is said to sleep, but it is nowhere called death ; and it cannot be mere discipline, though some regard may be had thereunto. And therefore principally it is meant of some few poor relics of languishing godliness, like sparks under the ashes which needed blowing up." The sum of all is, I hope you will be stirred up by this admonition to prevent your death, and utter languishing in re- ligion, that decayed godliness may have its former power, efficacy, and glory. I look upon the text as a counsel to a church, not to private Christians. I confess it is applied to them by most, because it yieldetli conceptus prccdicahiles, as they call them, much preaching matter con- cerning the languishing and decay of grace in Christians.
I cannot say this is excluded, because the part followeth the reason of the whole, but I rather look upon it, and so shall handle it, in a public regard.
The point is : —
Doct. That a special way to save a church and people from immi- nent and speedy ruin is the repairing of decayed godliness.
It is Christ's counsel to Sardis, lest he should come upon them as a thief, that is, bring a sudden and unthought-of destruction. Give me leave to parallel it but with one ])lace, and then I shall proceed to the reasons. It is the counsel to Ei)hesus, Rev. ii. 5, ' Do thy first works, or else I will come to thee quickly and remove thy candlestick,' &c. Kecovering religion to its former height is made a means of preventing God's coming in judgment ; and it is there expressed by ' first works,'
1 Brightman in Cant.
* ' Restaurantes zelum ardoremque pietatis, qusD in vobis effrixit, et psene jam extincta est.' — Jac, Rex in Apoc.
420 England's spiritual languishing. [Eev. III. 2.
because religion at the first coming is entertained with more genuine simplicity, and zealous earnestness, as stuffs in their first making are strongly wrought, and is full of life and power ; therefore do thy first works.
Reason 1. Because by this means you take away that which will be the cause of ruin. God delighteth to make the outward estate to carry proportion with the inward ; as we decay in godhness, so our outward happiness languisheth, and the hand of mercy is slackened. How easily may a wise Christian read his guilt in his condition, and from his outward decays understand his inward ! And truly it is so in commonwealths too, their fate followeth the state of religion. God meteth to us in our own measure ; instances want not ; ' Ye have for- saken me, and therefore I have left you,' 2 Chron. xii. 5. Rulers rebel against God, and their people rebel against them, ' therefore is there a tumult among thy people,' Hosea xiv. 10. Friends are alienated and estranged from them, because their hearts are first estranged from God ; there are confusions in the church, and then what followeth ? distractions in the state. It was grave advice which the English divines gave the Dutch magistrates in the Synod of Dort,i that they should take heed lest, by their connivance at church dis- orders which they could help, they did not draw on state tumults and factions, which, when they would, they could not help. Truly this is God's course, to retaliate with the creature ; and, as I said before, to make their outward condition answer their inward. Eeligion is, as it were, the soul of the commonwealth. Now, the state of the body dependeth much upon the good temper of the soul, it being linked to it by the affections, as so many pins and nails. A troubled soul dis- composeth the body, but a cheerful mind cureth it ; so religion and godliness, as it thriveth, maketh us thrive. God challengeth his people to avouch one instance when ever they lost by it, Jer. ii. 5, ' What ini- quity have your fathers found in me ? ' and ver. 13. ' 0 ye generation ! have I been a wilderness or a land of darkness to you ? ' Did ever god- liness do you hurt? If you can, do but produce one experience ! If you will believe Polycarp upon his own trial — and let me tell you he was an old Mnason, and had much trial of God — he will inform you, oySoTj- KQvra KoX e^ errj SovXevco aurat^ kol ovSev fie r/SUrjcrev, &C. For my part, saith he, I can speak of eighty-six years ; I have been his servant so long, and he never did me harm. And truly, notwithstanding the prejudices that are abroad, we may come in with the like attestation, godliness never did us harm ; when it thrived and was vigorous, we thrived, and sensibly felt the benefits of the power of it. See how God appealeth to men in this matter, Micah ii. 7, ' Are these his doings ? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly ? ' See the meaning of that place a little : ' Are these his doings ? ' Speaking of the troubles, do you think these are the fruits of religion ? or of your endeavours for the advancement of it ? No ; your own souls know that my words have done you good, yielded you much comfort and deliver- ance ; you were happy as long as you kept in that way. And there-