First, I will show you wherein godliness is decayed.
Secondly, How it came to pass, what may be the occasions or causes of such a languishing.
Thirdly, What we shall do to repair it ; every one in his place, the people in their way, the ministry in theirs, and you in that orb and sphere that is proper to you.
Fu'st, My first work is to show that godliness is decayed, and wherein.
^ See Briglitman in Apoc, cap. iii.
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I shall do that the rather, partly that it may help iis to put our nioutlis in the dust, and to lie low in the sense of our shame this day ; partly because we are all apt to call our design godliness, every party like the old Eogatians, ingross it to themselves. For my part, I look upon it as the highest sacrilege and peevishness in the world for men to do so, to measure religion by their private interest and opinion, and as they thrive more or less in the world, so to judge or cry out of the rising or fall of religion. Private conceits do not deserve so glorious a name, and the godly party is of a larger extent than to be appropriated or confined within any one sect and faction. Alas! how often do we mis- take self-love for zeal, and out of a blind dotage to our own opinions, think Christ standeth or falleth with our private misconceits and in- terests. It was but a presumptuous arrogance in Nestorius, to promise heaven and victory so lavishly to Theodosius the Emperor, if he would do as he suggested.^ Therefore to prevent all partial claims, and to waive the suspicion of any such drift, I shall first show wherein the power of godliness is found to decay and languish, even unto death ; I mean that godliness which is commended to us in the word, and is the glory of our religion and profession. The gasping of it is many ways discovered, but especially by these things.
1. By the languishing of zeal, and the neglect of public duties. Zeal is a grace so rare, that we scarce know the nature and working of it ; for, alas ! to what a stupidness and cold indifferency in religion are we come. Though God be dishonoured, truth violated, the Sabbath profaned, yet men are neither hot nor cold, Rev. iii. 15. We content ourselves with a lukewarmness and mumbling of profession, middling it between Christ and the world ; neither suffering nor doing any further than will suit with our interests, as if in hazardous cases we should look on rather than interpose. Where are those that do eirayw- vl^eadac, contend earnestly for the faith of the saints, the glory of God, that mind religion for religion's sake ? Jude 3. If we had more love, we would have more zeal ;- if the heart were gained to religion, we would have more heat and power, and not give up ourselves to such a secure oscitancy. The iniquity of the times should put us forward, not make us worse. A godly man should be like fountain water, hottest in coldest weather. Dead fishes may swim with the stream, and every carnal heart walk according to the trade of Israel. It deserveth no thanks to be earnest in duties, when there is no opposition against them ; but, alas ! as soon as danger cometh, how are men discouraged ! It should not be so. When the wicked prevail, it is said of the godly man : Job xvii. 9, * That he shall hold on his way ; and he that is righteous grow stronger and stronger,' True grace and true zeal by an antiperistasis is best in the worst times; but it is otherwise with us, for our magistrates, some of them, when the day of God is profaned, his name dishonoured, his truth questioned, are like careless Gallios, troubled with none of these things, do not come forth to the help of Christ, For our ministry, many act no fui'ther than they are encouraged, and put on by an outward power, and will not engage till all difficulties be first removed by a secular arm ; others leave themselves
^ * Disperde mecum haereticos et ego tecum disperdam Perses,' &c * 'NoQ amat qui non zelat.' — Au(/. contra Adlmani, cap. xiii.
426 England's spiritual languishing. [Key. III. 2.
at a loose liberty and indifferency to comply with all parties, and launch forth no further, than they may get to shore again if a storm arise. Our people are in an unsettled hesitation, ready to draw back upon every trouble, pleading for the stumps of Dagon, and revolting in their hearts to the old ways. And truly as yet the evil days are not fully come, so that this grace is not thoroughly exercised. However, a cold indifferency in such times will in very evil times be a flat apostasy. Certainly this is clear already, that we are much gone off from our first love. At the first breaking out of reformation, what heat and violence was there offered to the kingdom of God ! what zeal against the little foxes, every modest appearance of error ! what a holy forwardness ! whereas now we are at a stand ; the old world, like old men, every day losing more of its heat and fervour. Melancthon s prophecy is almost verified ; for he, though he were a sober and meek man — and indeed his fault was too much connivance, for, by his silence, consubstantiation prevailed — was so sensible of the decay of zeal in his time, that he feared the world would come to account religion a matter of nothing, or a word-strife, not worthy men's regard and engagement ; and truly it is even brought to that pass.^