Thirdly, Take heed of the first decays, and look often into the state of your hearts. A man that never casts up his estate is undone insen- sibly ; therefore look often into the state of your hearts, whether you increase in your affections to God, in the power of holiness, or whether you go backward. It is the devil's policy, when once we are declining, to humble us further and further still, as a stone that runs down the hill ; therefore take heed, look to the first declinings. A gap once made in the conscience, grows wider and wider every day ; and the first declinings are the cause of all the rest. Evil is best stopped in the beginning. And, therefore, when you begin to be cold, careless in the profession of godliness, and not to have the like savour as you vrere wont to have, take heed. A heavy body, moving downward, still gets more strength, it goes down and moves faster still. Oh, therefore, stay at first ! The first remitting of your watch and spiritual fervour is that which is the cause of all the mischief that comes upon many, so that they are given up to vile aftections and lying errors. It is easier to crush the egg than kill the serpent. He that keeps his house in constant repair prevents the fall of it, therefore look to your hearts still. Our first declinings, though never so small, are very dangerous. Pliny speaks of the lioness, lib. viii. cap. 16 ; first she brings forth five lions, then four, then three, then two, then one, and for ever afterward is barren. Thus we first begin to remit of our diligence in holy things, and are not so frequent in acts of communion ; then this and that goes off, till we have but little left us ; and then all is gone, and men grow worse and worse. I may resemble it to Nebuchadnezzar's image, the head of gold, the breasts of silver, the thighs of brass, the feet of iron and clay, still worse and worse. So men are embasing by degrees, and fall ofi" from God, and their savour of the ways of God.
Fourthly, Often review yom- first grounds, and compare them with your after experiences, and what fresh tastes you had then of the love of God to your souls : Heb. iii. 14, ' We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginninir of our confidence steadfast unto the end.'
VeR. 31.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 321
The first rejoicing of faith, the sweet sense thcat you had, oh, how pre- cious was Christ to you then, when first you came out of your fears ! Revive this upon your heart ; this will stir you up to be faithful to God. When, the love of Christ was fresh upon your hearts, your motions were earnest. Many begin like a tree full of blossoms, give great hope of fruit. We should labour to keep up this aftectiou, and that a cursed satiety may not creep upon us.
Use 2. If those that have chosen the way of God and begin to con- form their practice ought with all constancy to persevere, then it reproveth —
1. Those that take up .religion only by way of essay, to try how it will suit with them ; they do not entirely, and by a resolute fixed purpose, give up themselves to the Lord. You should resolve upon all hazards ; not take up religion for a walk, but for a journey. Not like going to sea for pleasure ; if they see a storm coming, presently to shore again ; but for a voyage to ride out all weathers. Thus you should do, stick to the ways of God, and at first make God a good allowance, that ' neither tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor peril, nor sword, nor anything, may separate you from Christ,' Eom. viii. 35. We should count all charges, and resolve upon the worst.
2. It reproves aguish Christians, whose purity and devotion come upon them by fits : Hosea vi. 4, ' Their righteousness is as the morn- ing dew.' The morning dew, that cannot endure the rising sun, is soon wasted and spent when the sun ariseth with his heat and strength; vv^hereas our righteousness should not be like the morning dew, but like the morning light.
3. It reproves them that are only swayed by temporal advantages, that are off and on ; as the Samaritans, when the Jews were favoured by Alexander and other princes, then they would deny the temple that was upon Mount Gerizim, and say that they were brethren to the Jews ; but when the Jews were in danger, then they would disclaim them. Thus many are swayed by temporal advantages, either intend- ing or omitting the conscience of their duty, as they are favoured by men. But we are to stick to God's testimonies.
Secondly, Let us come to David's prayer, ' 0 Lord, put me not to shame.' It is in the nature of a deprecation, or a prayer for the pre- vention of evil. The evil deprecated is shame. By shame some iHiderstand the reproaches of wicked men : Lord, let me not suffer their reproach, for I have stuck unto thy testimonies. A man that doth not stick to God's testimonies, that is not zealous and constant, will be put to shame before God and man, and made a scorn by them, and lie under great reproach ; therefore. Lord, prevent this reproach. These reproaches are grievous to be borne. It is against the spirit of man to be contemned, especially when he doth well. But certainly this cannot be meant; he would not so earnestly deprecate this, I should think, at least, not in such an expression, ' 0 Lord, put me not to shame.' He speaks of such a shame wherein God had a great hand. It is true, God may sufter this in his providence. Well, then, this shame may be su]iposed to result either from his sin or from his sufleriugs.