[The season of espousals, as in the natural, so also in the spiritual, world, is, for the most part, a season of love ^ But the first ardours in religion too often abate, even v/here the external conduct continues irreproachable. Thus it was with the Church at Ephesus : their works, with respect to the matter of them, were good : but there wanted that holy and devout affection which characterized that people in their first conversion : they had " left their first love." On this account, he who searched their hearts and tried ilieir reins was justly displeased.
Some there are who look upon a declension in spiritual affections rather as a mark of growth than of decay. And we are ready to acknowledge, that the fervour ivhicli arises from novelty, and exists merely in our animal spirits, may be lost, without any injury to our souls. But can our esteem of God be lessened, our desire after him languish, or our de- light in him be diminished, without our contracting guilt and suffering loss ? No : such a dereliction of our former expe- rience is sinful in the extreme. For, do not all the grounds of our love to God still continue as strong as at any former period of our lives ? Yea, have they not increased every day and hour? and consequently should not our love have in- creased together with them? Would not an indulgent husband be offended, if his incessant attentions to his wife were requited with a diminution of her afi'ection towards him, even though, from a sense of duty, she managed with unceasing assiduity his family concerns ? Shall not God then be displeased with such a requital of all his kindness ? Yes : the Believer, who declines in the inward exercises of his affection to God, shall surely hear of it from him, however worthy he may be of com- mendation for his diligence in outward duties. The Lord Jesus is a jealous God; and sooner or later he will surely say to us, " I have somewhat against thee." O let us search and try our ways, that we may not oblige him to come to us in a way of judgment, when he would rather come in a way of love and mercy !]
III. His admonition —
[To recollect those seasons when we have enjoyed inti- mate access to God, and had his glory revealed to us, is a profitable exercise. We should do well to compare the frame of our minds in those seasons with the state into which we too often relapse. O what a humiliating difference shall we see! When we were on the Mount, how impossible did it appear that we should ever so degenerate, as to be altogether insensible as the very stones ? Yet how often is that the real state of our souls !
But, wliile we " remember from whence we are fallen," let
us ' Jer, li. 2,