Having laid the foundation of this illustrious testimony, I shall farther declare and confirm my intention, so to make way for the ap- plication of the truth under consideration unto this case,— manifesting that the way whereby we may be made partakers of this grace, is by a steady view of the glory of Christ, as proposed to us in the Gospel.
There is a latter spring in the year, a spring in autumn ; it is, in- deed, for the most part, but faint and weak, — yet is it such as the husbandman cannot spare. And it is an evident sign of barren ground, when it doth not put forth afresh towards the end of the year. God, the good husbandman, looks for the same from us, especially if we had a summer's drought in spiritual decays ; as the Psalmist com- plains, Ps. xxxii. 4. Had we not had a latter spring the last year, the land had greatly sufliered under the drought of the summer. And if we have had such a drought in the course of our profession by spiri- tual decays, as God, the good husbandman, looks for a latter spring in us, even in old age, in the vigorous acting of grace and fruitful obedience; so without it we can neither have peace nor joy in our own souls. If a man, therefore, hath made a great appearance of religion in his former or younger days, and when he is growing into age becomes dead, cold, worldly, selfish, — if he have no fresh springs of spiritual life in him, it is an evidence that he hath a ban-en heart, that was never really fruitful to God. I know that many stand in
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need of being excited by sucli warning unto a diligent consideration of their state and condition.
It is true, that tlie latter spring doth not bring forth the same fruit with the former. There is no more required in it but that the ground evidence itself to be in good heart, and put forth that which is pro- per unto the season. It may be, such graces as were active and vigorous in men at their first conversion unto God, as were carried in a stream of warm, natural affections, may not so eminently abound in the latter spring of old age; but those which are proper for the season — as namely, spirituality, heavenly-mindedness, weanedness from the world, readiness for the cross and death — are necessary, even in old age, to evidence that we have a living principle of gTace, and to show thereby that God is upright ; He is our rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
What is farther to be insisted on, shall be reduced unto these four heads: —
I. That the constitution of spiritual life is such as is meet to thrive, grow, and increase unto the end, and will do so, unless it be from the default of them in whom it is.
II. That notwithstanding this nature and constitution of spiritual life, yet believers are subject unto many decays, partly gradual, and partly by surprisals in temptation, whereby the growth of it is ob- structed, unto the dishonoiur of the gospel and the loss of their own peace with joy.
III. I shall show that such at present is the condition of many professors, — namely, that they are visibly fallen under spiritual decays, and do not evidence any interest in the blessed promise insisted on.
IV. On the confirmation of these things, our inquiry will be, how such persons may be delivered from such decays, and by what means they may obtain the grace here promised, of spiritual flourishing in old age, both in the strengthening of the inward principle of life and abounding in fruits of obedience, which are to the praise of God by Jesus Christ ; and then we shall make ajoplication unto this case of that truth which is the subject of the preceding discourse.
I. The constitution of spiritual life is such as is meet to grow and increase unto the end. Hereby it doth distinguish itself from that faith which is temporary ; for there is a temporary faith, which will both flourish for a season and bring forth some fruit ; but it is not in its nature and constitution to abide, to grow and increase, but rather to decay and wither. It is described by our Lord Jesus Christ, Matt, xiii. 20, 21. Either some great temptation extinguisheth it, or it decays insensibly, until the mind wherein it was do manifest itself to be utterly barren. And, therefore, whoever is sensible of any spiritual decays, he is called unto a severe trial and examination of himself,
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as unto the nature of the principle of his profession and obedience ; for such decays do rather argue a principle of temporary faith only, unto which they are proper and natural, than that whose nature it is to thrive and grow to the end, whereon those that have it shall, as it is in the promise, still bring forth fruit, and, without their own great guilt, be always freed from such decays.
That this spiritual life is in its nature and constitution such as will abide, thrive, and grow to the end, is three ways testified unto in the Scripture.