5. The work itself is declared, — (1.) By its nature; (2.) In its causes; (3.) From its effects.
(1.) In the nature of it, it is the healing of backsHdings: " I will heal their backslidings," — the sin whereby they are fallen off from God, unto whom they are now exhorted to return. These bring the souls of men into a diseased state and danger of death: the cure hereof is the work of God alone. Hence he gives himself that title, " I am the Loed that healeth thee," Exod. xv. 26. And because of the poisonous nature of sin, and the danger it brings of eternal death unto the souls of men, the removal of it, or a recovery from it, is often called by the name of healing, Ps. vi. 2; Isa. Ivii. 18, 19 ; Hos. vi. 1. Here it includeth two things : first, the pardon of sin past ; and then, a supply of grace to make us fruitful in obedience : "I will be as the dew to Israel;" as we shall see. This is God's healing of back- slidings.
(2.) In the causes of it, which are, — 1. The principal moving cause; and that is, free, undeserved love : " I will love them freely." From hence alone is our recovery to be expected. 2. The efficient cause; which, as unto sins past, is pardoning mercy : " Mine anger is turned away from him ; " — and as unto renewed obedience, in which too our recovery consists, it is in a plentiful supply of effectual grace: " I will
458 HOW TO EECOVER FROM SPIRITUAL DECAY,"
be as the dew unto Israel." Fresh supphes of the Spirit of grace from above are so expressed; this is necessary unto our heahng and recovery.
(3.) It is described by its effect, which is a much more abundant fruitfulness in holiness and obedience, in peace and love, than ever they had before attained. This the prophet sets out in multiplied similitudes and metaphors, to denote the greatness and efficacy of grace so communicated.
I have a little insisted on the opening of the context, for sundry reasons.
1. The case which I would consider is in all tlie parts of it stated distinctly, and represented clearly unto us. There is nothing remains, but only the especial way whereby, in the exercise of faith, this grace may be obtained ; which is that which I shall speak unto in the last place, as that which is principally intended in this Discourse.
2. That I might show how great a thing it is to have our spiritual decays made up, our backslidings healed, and so to attain the vigor- ous acting of grace and spiritual life, with a flourishing profession and fruitful obedience, in old age. It is so set forth here by the Holy Ghost, as that every one must needs have a sense of the beauty and glory of the work : it is that which divine love, mercy, and grace, are eminently effectual in unto the glory of God, — that vvhich so many duties are required to prepare us for. Let no man think that it is a light or common work ; every thing in it is peculiar : it is, unto them who are made partakers of it, a life from the dead.
3. That none may utterly despond under their decays. When per- sons are awakened by new convictions, and begin to feel the weight of them, and how implicately they £ire entangled with them, they are ready to faint, and even to despair of deliverance. But we see that here is a promise of deliverance from them by pardoning mercy, and also of such fresh springs of grace as shall cause us to abound in holi- ness and fruitfulness. Who is it that is entangled with corruptions and temptations, that groans under a sense of a cold, lifeless, barren frame of heart? He may take in spiritual refreshment, if by faith he can make application of this promise unto himself.
4. That which remains, is to declare the particular way whereby, in the exercise of faith, we may obtain the fruit of this and all other pro- mises of the like nature, unto the end so often proposed, — namely, of being flourishing and fruitful even in old age. Now, supposing a due attendance unto the duties mentioned, I shall give some directions with respect unto that which gives life, power, and efficacy unto thern all, and which will infallibly bring us unto the full enjoyment of this signal mercy; and they are these that follow: —
1. All our supplies of grace are from Jesus Christ. Grace is de-
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clared in tlie promises of the Old Testament ; but the way of its com- munication, and our receiving of it, is revealed unto us in the New. This belongs to the mystery of it, that all grace is from Christ, and shall be in vain expected any other way. He hath assured us, that "without him we can do nothing;" we can no more bring forth fruit, than a branch can that is separated from the vine, John xv. 8-5. He is our head, and all our spiritual influences — that is, divine communi- cation of grace— are from him alone. He is our life efficiently, and liveth in us elfectively, so as that our ability for vital acts is from him, Gal. ii. 20 ; Col. iii. 1-4. Are we, then, any of us under convictions of spiritual decays? or do we long for such renovations of spiritual strength as may make us flourish in faith, love, and holiness? We must know assuredly, that nothing of all this can be attained, but it must come from Jesus Christ alone. We see what promises are made, what duties are prescribed unto us; but however we should endea- vour to apply ourselves unto the one or the other, they would yield us no relief, unless we know how to receive it from Christ himself