fully repented of. God smites tliem with deadness and hardness of heart, and the spiritual life for awhile is greatly obstructed and impaired, that it cannot discover itself, and they have not those lively influences of grace as formerly. Thus it was with David when he had strayed so greatly from God, and begs God not to cast him otT: Ps. li. 11, ' Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.' As a wound in the body lets out the life, blood, and spirits, so these grievous sins are as a wound in the soul. Sin against the conscience of a renewed man defaceth the work of the Holy Spirit, so that for a while he seems to be shut out from God's favour, and his gracious abilities are lessened and impaired ; he is like a wounded man, till he be cured and made whole again. The Spirit being grieved and resisted, withdraws, and the strength of the soul is wasted ; and there- fore be very tender, stand in awe not only of greater, but smaller sins. 2. By reason of some good omitted, especially neglect of the means whereby we may be kept alive, fresh and lively in God's service. Lazy fits of indisposition and omissions of duty do more frequently steal in upon believers than positive outbreakings and commissions of sin, and they are more ready to please themselves in them, and lie still under them, and so by this means contract much deadness of heart. As a lute that is not played upon, but hangs by the wall, and not used, it soon grows out of keller for want of use ; so if we do not diligently and constantly exercise ourselves in godliness, our hearts grow dead and vain. It is the complaint of the church, Isa. Ixiv. 7, 'There is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee." If we do not stir up ourselves to keep on a constant commerce with God and respect to God, alas ! deadness creeps upon the heart unawares ; and Ave are commanded, ava^coTrvpelv, 2 Tim. i. 6, ' To stir up the gift of God which is in us.' Surely a slothful servant will soon become an evil servant : Mat. xxv. 26, ' Thou evil and slothful servant.' Therefore our sinful sluggishness is one cause of our deadness ; for he that doth not trade with his talents will necessarily become poor : and if we do not continue this holy attendance upon God, the heart suffers loss : 1 Tlies. V. 19, 20, ' Despise not prophecy ; quench not the Spirit.' The coupling of these two things together shows, that if we despise prophecy, we quench the Spirit ; as fire goes out not only by pouring on water, but by not stirring and blowing it up. To expect help from God when we are sluggish is to tempt Christ, and put him still upon a miraculous way to heal and cure our distempers. Who will bring bread and meat to a sluggard's bed, who will not arise to labour for it, or will not rise at least to fetch it ? Therefore, if we will not attend upon God in the means of grace, he will not bring us that help, com- fort, and supply that otherwise we might have. God worketh, but so that we work also : Phil. ii. 12, 13, ' Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling ; for it is God that worketh,' &c. God's working is not a ground of laziness, but for more strict observance. Since all depends upon God, therefore take heed you do not offend God, and provoke him to suspend his grace. We must not lie upon a bed of ease, and cry, Christ must do all ; for this is to abuse the power of grace to laziness. It is notable that God bids his people do that which he promiseth to give them, Ps. xxxi. 24 ; Ps. xxvii. 14, ' Be of
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good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart.' As if he had said, Strengthen thine heart, and he Avill strengthen thy heart. The courage of faith is both commanded and promised. Why ? God by this would show how we should shake ourselves out of our laziness and idleness ; that though God gives us grace and power, yet he will have us to work ; as a father that lifts up his child's arm to a burden, and bids him lift it up. Usually we complain of deadness with a reflection upon God ; he quickens the dead, and therefore I am dead. Ay ! but what hast thou done to quicken thy self? for grace was never intended that we might be idle. You must complain of yourselves as the moral faulty cause ; God is the efficient cause. You do not meditate, pray, draw life out of the precious promises. When the spouse sleeps and keeps her bed, then Christ withdraws. Cant. v. 6.
3. Another cause is unthankfulness for benefits received, especially spiritual benefits ; for God loves to have his grace acknowledged. He stops his hand, and suspends the influences of his grace, when the creature doth not acknowledge his bounty : Col. ii. 7, ' Be established and rooted in the faith, abounding therein with thanksgiving.' The way to grow in faith, and get by faith, is to be thankful for what we have received ; that is an effectual means both to keep it and to get more. Therefore if we be always querulous, and do not give thanks for the goodness of God to us for what he hath already vouchsafed to us in Christ, no wonder that deadness and discouragement creep upon our hearts.