VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 159
SEKMON XXV.
For the love of Christ constraineth us, hecause ive thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. — 2 Cor. v. 14.
The fourth case of conscience is about the decay of love. The heart is not so deeply affected as it was wont to be with the love of God in Christ, nor is there such a strong bent of heart towards him, nor delight in him, and we grow more remiss in our work, feeble in the resistance of sin. Some that thus decay in love, are not sensible of it ; others from the decay infer a nullity of love. Therefore because this is a disease incident to the new creature, something must be said to this case, both to warn men, and to direct them in the judging of it. In answering this doubt, take these propositions —
1 . Leaving our first love is a disease not only incident to hypocrites, but God's own children. To hypocrites : Mat. xxiv. 12, ' The love of many shall wax cold ; ' to God's own children : Rev. ii. 4, ' Neverthe- less I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.' They were commended for their labour in the Lord's work, zeal against hypocrites, patience in adversity, yet I have somewhat against thee ; what is that ? "Ori, ttjv ayaTrrjv crov rrjv Trpcorrjv a(^rjKa<i. Only here is this difference, though the disease be common to both, yet with some difference as to the event and issue. Hypocrites may make a total defection, and there may be in them an utter extinction of love : in others there is not a total failing, but only some degrees of their love abated. The love of hypocrites may utterly miscarry and vanish. Many seem to be carried on with great fervour and affection in the ways of God for awhile, yet afterwards fall quite away ; partly, because it was a love built upon foreign motives, as the favour of the times, the air of education, the advantage of good company. Christ might be the object, but the world the ground and reason of all this love. Jesus is not loved for Jesus' sake. He must be both object and reason ; otherwise when the reasons of our love alter, the object will not hold us. When times grow bad we grow bad with them. It is no wonder to see hirelings prove changelings ; and many that loved a Christ triumphing, to forsake and hate a Christ crucified. When the grounds alter, their affections are removed ; their affections to Christ's cause and servants will cease also ; as artificial motions cease, when the poise is down by which they are moved. Flying meteors, when the matter that feedeth them is spent, will vanish and disappear, or fall from heaven like lightning, when the stars, those constant fires of heaven, shine forth with a durable light and brightness. What is in one evangelist, ' take from him that which he hath,' is ' take from him that which he seemeth to have,' in another, Luke viii. 18. Partly, because if Jesus were loved for Jesus' sake, yet not with such a prevalent, radicated love, as could subdue contrary affections. There is a love of God, and a delight in his ways, which is cherished in us upon right motives and reasons, such as the offer of pardon, and eternal life by Christ ; but this did but lightly affect the heart, not change it — a taste of the good woi-d, Heb. vi. 4-6. At first men find a marvellous
160 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XXV.
sweetness In the way of godliness, hugely pleased with the joossibility of pardon and happiness ; but these sentiments of religion are after- wards choked by the cares of this world and voluptuous living ; and all that delight and savour which they had is lost, and comes to nothing, when temptations rise up in any considerable strength. Therefore we are warned to keep up the confidence and rejoicing of hope, Heb. iii. 6, 14, that well-pleasedness of mind, that liking, that comfortable savour which we had in the serious attending upon the business of religion.
2. Grod's own children may find their love cold and languishing, and that they go backward some degrees, and sufier loss in the heat and vigour of grace ; but though grace do decay, it is not utterly abolished. The church of Ephesus left her first love, but not utterly lost it ; the seed of God remaineth in them, 1 John iii. 9 ; there is some vital grace communicated in regeneration which cannot be lost. This is more radicated than the former ; it is a deeper sense of God's love, and doth more affect the heart, that it is not so easily controlled by contrary affections ; but chiefly because it is preserved by the influence of God's grace, with respect to his covenant, wherein he hath undertaken not to depart from us, so to keep afoot that love and fear in our hearts, that we shall not depart from him, Jer. xxxii. 40. In the new covenant God giveth what he require th, donum ijerseverantice, as wtII as iDncceptum. Well then, though this love may suffer a shrewd abatement, yet it is not totally extinguished. Gradus remit- titur, actus inter mittiticr, sed habitus non amittitur. Not only may the acts and fruits be few, but the measure of their inward loye toward Christ may be abated, and yet not the habit lost or totally fail.