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 sen- sible exaltation and motion of their spirits, than in riper years. And this may be so, when there is no decay of grace in the affections as renewed. But
1. When it is so, it is a burden unto them in whom it is. They cannot but mourn and have a godly jealousy over themselves, least the decays they find should not be in the outward, but the inward, not in the natural, but the spiritual man. And they will labour that in all duties, and at all times. it mav be with them, as in days of old, although they cannot
BEING SPIKITUALT.Y MINDED. 449
attain strength in them, that vigour of spirit, that life, joy. peace, and comfort, which any have had experience of.
2. There will be in such persons no decays in holi- ness of life, nor as unto diligence in all religious duties. If the decay be really of grace in the affections, it will be ac- companied with a proportionable decay in all other things, wherein the life of God is concerned. But if it be only as unto the sensible actings of natural affections, no such decay will ensue.
3. Grace will in this case more vigorously act itself in the other faculties and powers of the soul, as the judg- ment and the will in their approbation of, and firm adherence unto, spiritual things. But,
4. When men find, or may find, their affections yet quick, active, and intent on other things, as the lawful en- joyments and comforts of this life, it is in vain for them to relieve themselves, that the decays they find are in their affections as natural, and not, as they ought to be, gracious. If we see a man in his old age srow more in love with the things of this world, and less in love with the things of God, it is not through the weakness of nature, but through the strength of sin.
On these, and, it may be, some other the like occasions, there may be an apprehension of a decay in spiritual affec- tions, when it may not be so, at least not unto the degree that is apprehended. But when it is so really, as it is evi- dently with many, I had almost said with the most in these days, it is a woful frame of heart, and never enough to be lamented. It is that which lies in direct contradiction unto that spiritual mindedness which is life and peace. It is a consumption of the soul which threatens it with death every day.
It belongs not unto my design to treat of it in particular; yet I cannot let it pass without some remarks upon it, it being an evil almost epidemical among professors, and pre- valent in some unto such a degree, as that they seem to be utterly forsaken of all powers of spiritual life.
Now besides all that folly and sin which we before dis- covered as the causes of the want of the growth of our affec- tions in spirituality and heavenliness, which in this case of their decay are more abominable, there is a multiplication
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450 THE GRACE AND DUTY OF
of evils wherewith this state of heart and mind is accom- panied. For,
1. It is that which of all things the Lord Christ is most displeased with in churches or professors. He pities them in their temptations, he suffers with them in their per- secution, he intercedes for them on their surprisal, but threatens them under their spiritual decays ; Rev. ii. 4, 5. iii. 2. This he cannot bear with, as that which both reflects dishonour upon himself, and which he knows to be ruinous unto those in whom it is. He will longer bear with them who are utterly dead, than with those who abide under these decays ; Rev. iii. 15, 16. This is the only case wherein he threatens to reject and cast off a professing church, to take away his candlestick from it, unless it be that of false worship and idolatry. He that spake thus unto the churches of old, speaks now the same unto us ; for he lives for ever, and is al- ways the same, and his word is living and unchangeable. There is not one of us who are under this frame, but the Lord Christ, by his word and Spirit, testifieth his displeasure against us ; and if he be against us, who shall plead for us; Consider what he says in this case. Rev. ii. 5. iii. 3. O who can stand before these dreadful intimations of his dis- pleasure ! The Lord help us to mind it, lest he in whom we profess to place our only trust, be in our trial found our greatest enemy. Take heed of such sins as Christ himself, our only advocate, hath put a mark upon, as those which he will not save us in.
2. It is that wherewith above all things the Holy Spirit is grieved. His work it is to give grace an increase and progress in our souls. He begins it, and he carries it on. And there can be no greater grief unto a wise and gra- cious worker, than to have his work decay and go backward under his hand. This is the occasion of those complaints of God which we find in the Scripture, of the unprofitable- ness and backsliding of men after the use of means and re- medies for their fruitfulness and cure. ' What,' saith he, ' could I have done more for my vineyard than I have done ? Why, then, when I looked for grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes ?' Can any thing be apprehended to be such a just matter of grief and complaint unto the Holy Spirit, to see and find those whom he had once raised up unto holy and