2. Ir must be acknowledged that there is yet that which is worse than what we have yet insisted on, and more opposite unto the growth of affections in conformity unto heavenly things, which is the proper character of those that are spiritually renewed; and this is their spiritual decay, manifesting itself in sensible and visible effects.
Some there are, yea many, who, upon the beginning of a profes- sion of their conversion unto God, have made a great appearance of vigorous, active, spiritual affections; yea, it is so with most, it may be all, who are really so converted. God takes notice of the love of the youth in his people, of the love of their espousals.
In some, this vigour of spiritual affections is from the real power of grace, exerting its efficacy on their hearts and in their minds. In others, it is from other causes; as, for instance, relief from conviction, by spiritual illumination, will produce this effect. And this falls out unto the advantage of such persons, that generally a change is wrought in their younger days; for then their affections in their. natural powers are active, and bear great sway in the whole soul. Wherefore, the change that is made is most eminent: in them, be it what it will. But as men increase in age, and thereon grow up in carnal wisdom and a great valuation of earthly things, with their care about them and converse in them, they abate and decay in their. spiritual affections every day; they will abide in their profession, but have lost their first love.
It is a shame and folly unutterable that it should be so with any who make profession of that religion, wherein there are so many in- comparable excellencies to endear and engage them to it more and more. But why should we hide what experience makes manifest in the sight of the sun, and what multitudes proclaim concerning them-- selves? Wherefore, I look upon it as a great evidence, if not abso- lutely of the sincerity of grace, yet of the life and growth of it, when men as they grow up in age do grow in an undervaluation of pre- sent things, in contempt of the world, in duties of charity and bounty, and decay not in any of them. But I say it is usual that the en- trances of men’s profession of religion and conversion unto God are attended with vigorous, active affections towards spiritual things. Of them who really and sincerely believed, it is said that on their believing “they rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory;” and of those who only had a work of conviction on them, improved
CHAP. XVII] | DECAYS IN SPIRITUAL AFFECTIONS. 457
by temporary faith, that “they received the word with joy, and did many things gladly.”
In this state do many abide and thrive, until their affections be wholly transformed into the image and likeness of things above. But with many of all sorts it is not so. They fall into woful decays as unto their affections about spiritual things, and consequently, in their whole profession and conversation, their moisture becomes as the drought in summer. They have no experience of the life and actings of them in themselves, nor any comfort or refreshment from them; they honour not the gospel with any fruits of love, zeal, or delight, nor are useful any way unto others by their example. Some of them have had seeming recoveries, and are yet again taken into a lifeless frame. Warnings, afflictions, sicknesses, the word, have awakened them, but they are fallen again into a dead sleep, so as that they seem to be “trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.”
Some things must be spoken unto this woful condition in general, as that which is directly opposite unto the grace and duty of being spiritually minded, and contrary unto and obstructive of the growth of spiritual affections in an assimilation unto heavenly things. And what shall be spoken may be applied unto all the degrees of these decays, though all of them are not alike dangerous or perilous.
(1.) There may be a tame of temptation, wherein a soul may appre- hend in itself not only a decay in, but an utter loss of, all spiritual affections, when yet it is not so. As believers may apprehend and judge that the Lord hath forsaken and forgotten them when he hath not done so, Isa. xlix. 14, 15; so they may, under their temptations, apprehend that they have forsaken God, when they have not done so; as a man in the night may apprehend he hath lost his way, and be in great distress, when he is in his proper road: for tempta- tion brings darkness and amazement, and leads into mistakes and a false judgment in all things. They find not, it may be, grace work- ing in love, joy, and delight, as formerly, nor that activity of heart and mind in holy duties which spiritual affections gave unto them; but yet, it may be, the same grace works in godly sorrow, by mourn- ing, humiliation, and self-abasement, no less effectually, nor less ac- ceptably unto God. Such as these I separate from the present consideration.
(2.) There may be a decay in affections themselves as unto their actings towards any objects whatever, at least as unto the outward symptoms and effects of them; and on this ground their operations toward spiritual things may be less sensible. So men in their younger days may be more ready to express their sorrow by tears, and their joy by sensible exultation and motion of their spirits, than in riper