[2.] It is a very senseless and unreasonable sin. God never gave you cause or occasion to grow weary of him. He chailengeth Israel : Micah vi. 3, ' 0 my people, what have I done unto thee ? and wherein have I wearied thee ? testify against me , ' Jer. ii. 5, what is it maketh you weary of God ? His commands ? They are not grievous, but all holy, just, and good. His trials are not severe, nor above mea- sure, nor beyond strength. His rewards are not doubtful or question- able, but sure, if we had but the patience to wait for them. ' Many good works have I done among you ; for which of those do you stone me ? ' Much good he hath done us ; what is it makes us weary ?
[3.] There is much ingratitude in it. He hath given much cause to the contrary. There is none begin with God but they have an in- vitation to go on — in God himself a new inviting sweetness to keep up our affections fresh and lively, 1 Peter ii. 3, Ps. xxxviii. 8, In his ways much serenity and peace. Gal. vi. 16 ; yea, strength if we be sin- cere with him, Prov. x. 29 ; besides a promise of supply. It is not only matter of usual experience, but secured by promise : Isa. xl. 30, 31, ' The youths shall faint and be weary, but they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.' Look, as in heaven God is always to the blessed spirits new and fresh every morning ; so in the church, when we taste anything it doth not cloy — there is more to be had in God, still greater things than these. In carnal and earthly things, the more we try them the imperfections which formerly lay hid are discovered upon fruition ; therefore, all these things are less in enjoyment than they were in expectation. But it is not so in these spiritual things ; €very taste should provoke appetite.
2. The terribleness of the judgment.
[1.] On nations. When men have opened the doors to the king of glory, and then throw him out again, or bid him depart out of their coasts for temporal reasons, as the Gadarenes did Christ, God taketh it heinously : 2 Chron. xii. 8, ' They shall know my service, and the ser- vice of the kingdoms of the countries;' that is, they should see what a difference there was between serving God and serving enemies.
[2.] On churches. Kev. ii. 5, 'Behold I will come against thee quickly.' When their zeal of Christianity was abated, he threateneth a removal of their candlestick. If a people grow weary of Christ, they that would not acknowledge his worth shall know the want of him to
314 A FAST SERMON.
their bitter cost. God would unchurch them, by removing his ordin- ances from them, and give them over to those errors and delusions they affected and lingered after.
[3.] For particular persons, it layeth them open to God's severe cor- rection, Hosea v. 15. The great use of afflictions is to quicken us ; if God's disciiDline smart, we may thank ourselves for it. God maketh them the sharper, that we may not dote upon the world, and neglect him, and grow cold in his service, and to awaken a lively sense of re- ligion in us.
[4.] For total defection. There is dreadful vengeance appointed for them that prefer the creature before God, bodies before souls, and earth before heaven : Heb. x. 9, 10, ' They draw back to perdition.'
Use. Take heed of growing weary of God.
1. Man is a very changeable creature, and the course of temptations may be altered, 1 Kings ii. 28, and 1 Kings xiii. 4-19.
2. There is a cursed satiety. Our affections are deadened to things to which we are accustomed. Manna is loathed by the Israelites : Nothing but this manna. The full stomach loatheth the honeycomb. When first acquainted with religion, we are more affected with it, but afterwards glutted. Certainly we more admire grace, and are nf bre affected with it, when first called out of darkness into light, 1 Peter ii. 9. In a deep thirst our taste is more lively ; but yet the sense of this wonderful mercy should never be forgotten by us, nor should we ever lose our gospel relish.
3. When we grow weary of God, we take little notice of it. The generality of professors, if they do not wholly cast off religion, are satisfied though their love to God be exceedingly cold ; and as long as they do a few outward things for God, which they had rather leave undone than do them, do not take notice of the decay of their principle, which is faith working by love. But God noteth this ; for he weigheth the spirits, and all is but tithing, mint, and cummin, if we pass over judgment and the love of God, Luke xi. 42.
4. The issue of this distemper of mind is so dreadful, that we can- not sufficiently watch against the first declinings, for these are the cause of all the rest. When you begin to grow careless, strike in effec- tually and rouse up thyself, 2 Tim, i. 6, dva^coTrvpeiv, as the priests were to keep in their holy fire of the altar. Otherwise when the evil heart beginneth to draw us from God, we shall be hardened in it, Heb. iii. 12, 13. It was a delight to me to think of God, to speak of him, or to him ; how is it that my heart is gone off from these things ? God is as lovely as ever, and sin as odious.