VOL. XIII. L
162 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V, [SeR, XXV.
[3.] Though we should not lightly judge ourselves guilty of a decay of love, yet we should not lightly acquit ourselves of it. For it is a great evil, and a common evil, and many that are surprised with it are little sensible of it.
(1.) It is a great evil. Partly, because the higliest degree of love does not answer to tlie worthiness of Christ, nor to. the duty of the regenerate, who are called by him from such a depth of misery to such a height of happiness. And therefore when a man falleth from his first love, and that measure which he had attained unto, and doth come short not only of the rule, but of his own practice, it is the more grievous. To come short of the rule is matter of continual humiliation to us ; but to come short of our own attainments is matter of double humiliation ; and the rather, because he that plcaseth himself in such an estate doth in effect judge the first love to be too much, as if he bad been too hot and earnest, and done more than he needed, when he had such a strong love to Christ. His former love is really con- demned, and thereby Christ is disesteemed, as if not worthy to be beloved with all the soul, and all the might, and all the strength. And partly, because as our love decayeth, so doth our work ; either it is wholly omitted, or else we put off God with a little constrained, com- pulsory service, which we had rather leave undone than do ; our delight in our work is lessened. As when the root of a tree perisheth, the leaves keep^green for a while, but within a while they wither and fall off; so love, which is the root and heart of all other duties, when that decayeth, other things decay with it. The first works go off with the first love, at least, are not carried on with that care, and delight, and complacency, as they should be. And partly, because of the punishment which attendeth it. Christ is jealous of his people's affection, and cannot endure that he should not be loved again by those whom he so much loveth, and therefore hasteneth to the correction of this dis- temper, and those that allow themselves in it : Eev. ii. 5, ' Behold I will come against thee quickly.' He threateneth to that church a removal of their candlestick, when their zeal of Christianity was abated. When a people grow weary of Christ, they sliall know the worth of him by the want of him. So when particular christians grow weary of God, and suff'er a coldness and indifferency to creep upon their hearts, he cometh by some smart judgment to awaken them, and will make them feel to their bitter cost, what it is to despise or neglect a loving Saviour, 2 Chron. xii. 8.
(2.) It is a common evil. For it is a hard matter to keep up the fervency of our love, therefore are there so many exhortations even to the best. The commended Thessalonians are thus praj^ed for, 2 Thes. iii. 5, ' And the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God ; ' and Jude 21, ' Keep yourselves in the love of God.' The best are apt to remit something of their delight in God, and their constant study to please him ; and our watchfulness is mainly to preserve this grace. There is so much self-love in us, love of our own ease and carnal satisfaction, so much love of the world, and such a constant working, warring principle to draw us ofi" from God and heavenly things, that we cannot sufficiently stand upon our guard, and take heed to ourselves, that we do not quench this heavenly fire that should always burn in
VeK. 14.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 163
our bosoms. The generality of professors have no such care ; if they do not wholly cast off religion, tliey are satisfied, though their love to God be exceeding cold ; and as the hen as long as she hath one or two of her brood to follow her, doth not mind the loss of the rest, so they, as long as they do a few things for God, mind not the loss of many degrees of grace.
(3.) Many that are surprised with it, are little sensible of it ; because spiritual distempers are not laid to heart, till they openly appear in their effects and fruits. A man may be much in external duties, and yet his love may be cold ; the life of his duties may be decayed, though the duties themselves be not left off; as the Pharisees tithed mint and cumin, and all manner of herbs, but passed over judgment, and the love of God, Luke xi. 42. Some small thing the flesh may spare to God, when as yet the heart is in a great measure withdrawn from him. There may be a decay in the degree of love, when there is no total falling from former acts : he may continue his course of outward duty, though he doth not act so vigorously from love as he was wont to do ; he is colder in obedience, and his delight in God is not so great as formerly ; his work is carried on with more difficulty and regret, and it is more grievous to obey ; the acts and fruits are fewer, though they do not wholly cease, and are not animated with sucli a working, active love ; therefore many times men are so insensible, that they throw off all ere they mind their distemper. As the glory of God, in Ezekiel, removed from the temple by degrees, first from the holy place, then to the altar of burnt-offerings, then to the outer court, then the city, then rested on one of the hills which encompassed the city, to see if they would bring him back again ; so in this case men grow cold towards God. God is first cast out of the heart, then out of the closet, then out of the family, then more indifferent as to public duties ; then sin beginneth to hurry us to practices inconvenient ; first we sin freely in thought, then foully in act, and all because we did not observe the first declinings.