And if you can be no way affected with the remembrance of former things ; then one of these two great evils you are certainly under. For either, 1. You never had a true and real work on your souls, whatever you professed; and so never had true and real communion with God in any duties. You had only a temporary work, which excited your affec- tions for a season, which, now it is worn off, leaves no sweet remembrance of itself upon your minds. Had your faith and love been sincere in what you did, it were impossible but that the remembrance of their actings, in some especial instances, should be sweet and refreshing unto you. Or else,
2. You are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and there is no way left to give a sense or impression of spi- ritual things upon your minds. You have truly nothing left in rehgion, but the fear of hell, and trouble of duties. I speak not to such at present.
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As unto those unto whom this frame is a burden, there is no more effectual means to stir them unto endeavours for deliverance, than a continual remembrance of former things, and experiences they have had of holy intercourse and com- munion with God. This will revive, quicken, and strengthen the things that are ready to die, and beget a self-abhorrency in them, in consideration of that woful frame and temper of mind, which by their sins and negligence they have brought themselves into.
Secondly, Consider that as there are many things dread- fully pronounced in the Scripture against backsliding and backsliders in heart, as it is with you, yet also there are espe- cial calls and promises given and proposed unto those in your condition. And know assuredly, that upon your compliance or non-compliance with them, depends your everlasting- blessedness or woe.
Consider both call and promise in that word of God's grace, Jer. iii. 12 — 14. ' Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say. Return thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you : for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast trans- gressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you : and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.' Add thereunto this blessed promise, Hos. xiv. 4. * I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely : for mine anger is turned away from them.' If you design to live and not die. it must be by yielding obedience unto this call, and pleading this promise before God, mixing it with faith. Your return must be by the word ; Isa. Ivii. 18, 19. Here lies your great encouragement and direction, herein lieth your only relief. As you value your souls, defer not the duty you are called Ainto one moment. You know not how soon you may be without the reach of calls and promises. And he that can hear them witlnuit stirring up himself in sincerity to comply with them, hath made al- ready a great progress towards that length.
Thirdly, As unto those who Oii these and the like consi-
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derations do not only desire, but will endeavour also to re- trieve themselves from this condition, I shall give no advice at present but this ; be in good earnest. As the prophet speaks in another case ; if you will return, ' return and come,' make thorough work of it. You must do so at one time or another, or you will perish. Why not now ? Why is not this the best season? Who knows but it may be the only time you will have for it? It were easy to multiply all sorts of arguments unto this purpose. Trifling endeavours, occa- sional resolutions and attempts, like the early cloud, and morning dew, shifting with warnings and convictions, by renewed duties until their impressions are worn out, will ruin your souls. Unless there be universal diligence and permanency in your endeavours, you are undone. Then shall ye know the Lord, if you follow on to know him.
But now to return. These things, I say, through our sloth, negligence, and sin, may befall us, as unto our spiri- tually renewed affections. Their progress in conformity unto spiritual and heavenly things, may be slow, imperceptible, yea, totally obstructed for a season ; and not only so, but they may fall under decays, and the soul therein be guilty of backsliding from God. But this is that which they are capacitated for by their renovation ; this is that whereby the grace wherewith they are renewed doth lead unto; this is that which, in the diligent use of means, they will grow up unto, whereon our comfort and peace do depend ; namely, a holy assimilation unto those spiritual and heavenly things which they are set and fixed on, wherein they are renewed and made more spiritual and heavenly every day.