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John
Owen
Part
II
Meditations
and Discourses
concerning
The Glory
of Christ
Applied
to
UNCONVERTED
SINNERS
and
SAINTS
UNDER SPIRITUAL DECAYS
In Two Chapters, From
John 17:24
____________
CHAPTER
II
THE
WAY AND MEANS OF THE RECOVERY OF
SPIRITUAL DECAYS, AND OF OBTAINING
FRESH SPRINGS OF GRACE
THE
APPLICATION of the same truth, in the second I
place, belongs to believers, especially such as have
made any long profession of walking in the ways of God
and the gospel. And that which I design herein is to
manifest that a steady spiritual view of the glory of
Christ by faith will give them a gracious revival from
inward decays and fresh springs of grace, even in
their latter days. This truth is, as we shall see,
confirmed by Scripture, with the joyful experience of
multitudes of believers, and is of great importance to
all that are so.
There are two things which those who, after a long
profession of the gospel, are entering into the
Confines of eternity long for and desire. The one is
that all their breaches may be repaired, their decays
recovered, their backslidings healed; for to these
things they have been more or less obnoxious in the
course of their walking before God. The other is that
they may have fresh springs of spiritual life and
vigorous actings of all divine graces in
spiritual-mindedness, holiness, and fruitfulness, to
the praise of God, the honor of the gospel, and the
increase of their own peace and joy. These things they
value more than all the world, and all that is in it;
about these things are their thoughts and contrivances
exercised night and day.
Those with whom it is otherwise, whatever they
pretend, are in the dark as to themselves and their
own condition; for it is in the nature of this grace
to grow and increase to the end. As rivers, the nearer
they come to the ocean whither they tend, the more
they increase their waters and speed their streams; so
will grace flow more freely and fully in its near
approaches to the ocean of glory. That is not saving
which does not.
An experience hereof—I mean of the thriving of
grace toward the end of our course—is that alone
which can support us under the troubles and
temptations of life, with which we have to contend. So
the apostle tells us that this is our great relief in
all our distresses and afflictions, "for which
cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is renewed day by day" (II Cor.
4:16). If it be so that in the daily decays of the
outward man, in all the approaches of its dissolution,
we have inward spiritual revivals and renovations, we
shall not faint in what we undergo. And without such
continual renovations, we shall faint in our
distresses, whatever other things we may have or
whatever we pretend to the contrary.
And ordinarily it is so, in the holy, wise
providence of God, that afflictions and troubles
increase with age. It is so, in a special manner, with
ministers of the gospel; they have many of them a
share in the lot of Peter, which our Lord Jesus Christ
declared unto him (John 21:18), "When thou wast
young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither
thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt
stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee,
and carry thee whither thou wouldest not." Besides
those natural distempers and infirmities which
accompany the decays of life, troubles of life, and in
their affairs, usually grow upon them, when they look
for nothing less, but were ready to say with Job,
"We shall die in our nest" (Job 29:18).
So was it with Jacob, after all his hard labor and
travail to provide for his family, such things fell
out in it in his old age as had almost broken his
heart. And ofttimes both persecutions and public
dangers do befall them at the same season. While the
outward man is thus perishing, we need great
supportment that we faint not. And this is only to be
had in an experience of daily spiritual renovations in
the inner man. The excellency of this mercy the
Psalmist expresses in a heavenly manner (Ps.
92:12—15): "The righteous shall flourish like
the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall
flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still
bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and
flourishing; to show that the Lord is upright: he is
my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in
him."
The promise in the twelfth verse respects the times
of the Messiah, or of the New Testament; for so it is
prophesied of Him, "In his days the righteous shall
flourish" (Ps. 72:7),—namely, through the
abundance of grace that should be administered from
His fullness (John 1:16; Col. 1:19). And herein
consists the glory of the gospel, and not in outward
prosperity or external ornaments of divine worship.
The flourishing of the righteous, I say, in grace and
holiness is the glory of the office of Christ and of
the gospel. Where this is not, there is no glory in
the profession of our religion. The glory of kings is
in the wealth and peace of their subjects; and the
glory of Christ is in the grace and holiness of His
subjects.
This flourishing is compared to the palm tree, and
the growth of the cedar. The palm tree is of the
greatest verdure, beauty, and fruitfulness, and the
cedar of the greatest and longest growth of any trees.
So are the righteous compared to the palm tree for the
beauty of profession and fruitfulness in obedience;
and to the cedar for a continual, constant growth and
increase in grace. Thus it is with all that are
righteous, unless it be from their own sinful neglect,
as it is with many in this day. In this they are
rather like the shrubs and heaths in the wilderness,
which see not when good comes, than like the palm tree
or the cedars of Lebanon. And hereby men do what lies
in them to obscure the glory of Christ and His
kingdom, as well as disquiet their own souls.
The words that follow (Ps. 92:13), "Those that
be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in
the courts of our God," are not distinctive of
some from others, as though some only of the
flourishing righteous were so planted; but they are
descriptive of them all, with an addition of the way
and means whereby they are caused so to grow and
flourish. And this is their implantation in the house
of the Lord; that is, in the Church, which is the seat
of all the means of spiritual life, both as to growth
and flourishing, which God is pleased to grant to
believers. To be planted in the house of the Lord is
to be fixed and rooted in the grace communicated by
the ordinances of divine worship.
Unless we are planted in the house of the Lord, we
cannot flourish in His courts. (See Ps. 1:3.) Unless
we are partakers of the grace administered in the
ordinances, we cannot flourish in a fruitful
profession. The outward participation of them is
common to hypocrites, who bear some leaves but neither
grow like the cedar nor bear fruit like the palm tree.
So the apostle prays for believers that Christ may
dwell in their hearts by faith, that they may be
"rooted and grounded in love" (Eph. 3:17),
"rooted and built up in him, and established"
(Col. 2:7).
The want of this is the cause that we have so many
fruitless professors; they have entered the courts of
God by profession, but were never planted in His house
by faith and love. Let us not deceive ourselves
herein; we may be entered into the Church, and made
partakers of the outward privileges of it and not be
so planted in it as to flourish in grace and
fruitfulness.
That which on this occasion I principally intend is
the grace and privilege expressed (Ps. 92:14),
"They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;
they shall be fat and flourishing." There are
three things which constitute a spiritual state, or
belong to the life of God: 1) That believers be fat;
that is, by the heavenly juice, sap, or fatness of the
true olive, of Christ Himself (Rom. 11:17). This is
the principle of spiritual life and grace derived from
Him. When this abounds in them so as to give them
strength and vigor in the exercise of grace, to keep
them from decays and withering, they are said to be
fat; which, in the Scripture phrase, is strong and
healthy. 2) That they flourish in the greenness (as
the word is) and verdure of profession; for vigorous
grace will produce a flourishing profession. 3) That
they still bring forth fruit in all duties of holy
obedience. All these are promised to them even in old
age.
Even trees, when they grow old (the palm and the
cedar), are apt to lose of their juice and verdure:
and men in old age are subject to all sorts of decays,
both outward and inward. It is a rare thing to see a
man in old age naturally vigorous, healthy, and
strong; and would it were not more rare to see any
spiritually so at the same season! But this is here
promised to believers as a special grace and
privilege, beyond what can be represented in the
growth or fruitbearing of plants and trees.
The grace intended is that when believers are under
all sorts of bodily and natural decays, and, it may
be, have been overtaken with spiritual decays also,
there is provision made in the covenant to render them
fat, flourishing, and fruitful— vigorous in the
power of internal grace, and flourishing in the
expression of it in all duties of obedience; which is
what we now inquire after.
Blessed be God for this good word of His grace that
He has given us such encouragement against all the
decays and temptations of old age which we have to
contend with!
And the Psalmist, in the next words, declares the
greatness of this privilege: "To show that the Lord
is upright; he is my rock, and there is no
unrighteousness in him." Consider the oppositions
that lie against the flourishing of believers in old
age, the difficulties of it, the temptations that must
be conquered, the actings of the mind above its
natural abilities which are decayed, the weariness
that is apt to befall us in a long spiritual conflict,
the cries of the flesh to be spared, and we shall see
it to be an evidence of the faithfulness, power, and
righteousness of God in covenant; nothing else could
produce this mighty effect.
So the prophet, treating of the same promise (Hos.
14:4—8) closes his discourse with that blessed
remark (v.9), "Who is wise, and he shall understand
these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the
ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in
them." Spiritual wisdom will make us see that the
faithfulness and power of God are exerted in this work
of preserving believers flourishing and fruitful to
the end.
Having laid the foundation of this illustrious
testimony, I shall further declare and confirm my
intention so to make way for the application of the
truth under consideration to this case, manifesting
that the way whereby we may be made partakers of this
grace is by a steady view of the glory of Christ, as
proposed to us in the gospel.
There is a latter spring in the year, a spring in
autumn; it is, indeed, for the most part, but faint
and weak, yet is it such as the husbandman cannot
spare. And it is an evident sign of barren ground when
it does not put forth afresh towards the end of the
year. God, the good husbandman, looks for the same
from us, especially if we had a summer’s drought
in spiritual decays; as the Psalmist complains (Ps.
32:4). Had we not had a latter spring the last year,
the land had greatly suffered under the drought of the
summer. And if we have had such a drought in the
course of our profession by spiritual decays, as God,
the good husbandman, looks for a latter spring in us,
even in old age, in the vigorous acting of grace and
fruitful obedience; so without it we can neither have
peace nor joy in our own souls.
If a man, therefore, has made a great appearance of
religion in his former or younger days, and when he is
growing into age becomes dead, cold, worldly, selfish,
if he have no fresh springs of spiritual life in him,
it is an evidence that he has a barren heart that was
never really fruitful to God. I know that many stand
in need of being excited by such warning to a diligent
consideration of their state and condition.
It is true that the latter spring does not bring
forth the same fruit as the former. There is no more
required in it but that the ground evidence itself to
be in good heart and put forth that which is proper in
the season. It may be, such graces as were active and
vigorous in men at their first conversion to God, as
were carried in a stream of warm, natural affections,
may not so eminently abound in the latter spring of
old age; but those which are proper for the
season—as namely, spirituality, heavenly
mindedness, weanedness from the world, readiness for
the cross and death—are necessary, even in old
age, to evidence that we have a living principle of
grace, and to show thereby that God is upright; He is
our rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
What is further to be insisted on shall be reduced
to these four heads:
1. That the constitution of spiritual life is
such as is meet to thrive, grow, and increase to the
end. And it will do so, unless it be from the
default of them in whom it is.
2. That notwithstanding this nature and
constitution of spiritual life, yet believers are
subject to many decays. This is partly gradual,
and partly by surprisals in temptation, whereby the
growth of it is obstructed, to the dishonor of the
gospel and the loss of their own peace with joy.
3. Many professors are visibly fallen under
spiritual decays. They do not evidence any
interest in the blessed promise insisted on.
4. Our inquiry will be how such persons may be
delivered from such decays, and how they may obtain
the promised grace of spiritual flourishing in old
age. This will result in the strengthening of the
inward principle of life and abounding in fruits of
obedience, which are to the praise of God by Jesus
Christ. Then we shall make application to this case of
that truth which is the subject of the preceding
discourse.
1. The constitution of spiritual life is such
as is meet to grow and increase to the end.
Hereby it distinguishes itself from that faith
which is temporary; for there is a temporary faith,
which will both flourish for a season and bring forth
some fruit; but it is not in its nature and
constitution to abide, to grow and increase, but
rather to decay and wither. It is described by our
Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 13:20,21). Either some great
temptation extinguishes it, or it decays insensibly,
until the mind wherein it was manifests itself to be
utterly barren.
And, therefore, whoever is sensible of any
spiritual decays is called to a severe trial and
examination of himself, as to the nature of the
principle of his profession and obedience; for such
decays rather argue a principle of temporary faith
only, to which they are proper and natural, than that
whose nature it is to thrive and grow to the end,
whereon those that have it shall, as it is in the
promise, still bring forth fruit, and, without their
own great guilt, be always freed from such decays.
That this spiritual life is in its nature and
constitution such as will abide, thrive, and grow to
the end, is three ways testified to in the
Scripture.
a) In that it is compared to things of the
most infallible increase and progress; for besides
that its growth is frequently likened to that of
plants and trees well watered, and in a fruitful soil,
which fail not to spring, unless it be from some
external violence; it is likewise compared to such
things as whose progress is absolutely infallible
(Prov. 4:18), "The path of the just is as the
shining light, that shineth more and more unto the
perfect day."
The path of the just is his covenant-walk before
God, as it is frequently called in the Scripture (Ps.
119:35,105; Isa. 26:7; Ps. 23:3; Matt. 3:3; Heb.
12:13); and it comprises the principle, profession,
and fruits of it. This, says the wise man, is as the
shining light; that is, the morning light. And in what
way is this so? Why, as that goes on by degrees, and
shines more and more unto the high noon (though it may
be interrupted sometimes by clouds and storms); so is
this path of the just—it goes on and increases to
the high noon, the perfect day of glory. It is in its
nature so to do, though it may sometimes meet with
obstructions, as we shall see afterward; and so also
does the morning light.
There is no visible difference, as to light,
between the light of the morning and the light of the
evening; yea, this latter sometimes, from gleams of
the setting sun, seems to be more glorious than the
other. But herein they differ: the first goes on
gradually to more light, until it comes to perfection;
the other gradually gives place to darkness, until it
comes to be midnight.
So it is as to the light of the just and of the
hypocrite, and so is it as to their paths. At first
setting out they may seem alike and equal; yea,
convictions and spiritual gifts acted with corrupt
ends in some hypocrites, may for a time give a greater
luster of profession than the grace of others
sincerely converted to God may attain unto. But they
reveal their different natures in that the one
increases and goes on constantly, though it may be
sometimes but faintly; the other decays, grows dim,
gives place to darkness and crooked walking.
This, then, is the nature of the path of the just;
and where it is otherwise with us in our walk before
God, we can have no evidence that we are in that path,
or that we have a living, growing principle of
spiritual life in us. And it is fit that professors of
all sorts should be minded of these things; for we may
see not a few of them under visible decays, without
any sincere endeavors after a recovery, who yet please
them-selves that the root of the matter is in them. It
is so, if love of the world, conformity unto it,
negligence in holy duties, and coldness in spiritual
love, be an evidence of such decays. But let none
deceive his own soul; wherever there is a saving
principle of grace, it will be thriving and growing to
the end. And if it fall under obstructions, and
thereby into decays for a season, it will give no rest
or quietness to the soul wherein it is, but will labor
continually for a recovery. Peace in a spiritually
decaying condition is a soul-ruining security; better
be under terror on the account of surprisal into some
sin, than be in peace under evident decays of
spiritual life.
And, by the way, this comparing of the path of the
just to the morning light reminds me of what I have
seen more than once. That light has sometimes
cheerfully appeared to the world, when, after a little
season, by reason of clouds, tempests, and storms, it
has given place again to darkness, like that of the
night; but it has not so been lost and buried like the
evening light. After a while it has recovered itself
unto a greater luster than before, manifesting that it
increased in itself while it was eclipsed as to
us.
So has it been with not a few at their first
conversion to God: great darkness and trouble have, by
the efficacy of temptation and injections of Satan,
possessed their minds; but the grace which they have
received, being as the morning light, has after a
while disentangled itself, and given evidence that it
was so far from being extinguished that it grew and
thrived under all those clouds and darkness; for the
light of the just does in the issue always increase by
temptations, as that of the hypocrite is constantly
impaired by them.
Again, as it is as the morning light, than which
nothing has a more assured progress; so it is called
by our Saviour "living water" (John 4:10),
yea, "a well of water springing up into everlasting
life" (v. 14). It is an indeficient spring, not a
pool or pond, though never so large, which may be
dried up. Many such pools of light, gifts, and
profession, have we seen utterly dried up when they
have come into age, or been ensnared by the
temptations of the world. And we may see others every
day under dangerous decays; their countenances are
changed, and they have lost that oil which makes the
face of a believer shine,—namely, the oil of
love, meekness, self-denial, and spirituality of
converse; and instead thereof, there is spread upon
them the fulsome ointment of pride, self-love, earthly
mindedness, which increases on them more and more. But
where this principle of spiritual life is, it is as
the morning light, as an indeficient spring that never
fails, nor can do so, until it issues in eternal life.
And sundry other ways there are whereby the same truth
is asserted in the Scripture.
b) There are sundry divine promises given to
believers that so it shall be, or to secure them of
such supplies of grace as shall cause their spiritual
life to grow, increase, and flourish to the end; such
as that in the Psalm which we have considered. For
these promises are the means whereby this spiritual
life is originally communicated to us and whereby it
is preserved in us; by them are we made partakers of
this divine nature (II Pet. 1:4); and through them is
it continued in us. Now (as to) promises of this
nature,—namely, that by the dispensation of the
Spirit of Christ, and supplies of His grace, our
spiritual life shall flourish and be made fruitful to
the end—I shall briefly call over only one of
them at present (Isa. 44:3,4): "I will pour water
upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry
ground:1 will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my
blessing upon thine offspring: and they shall spring
up as among the grass, as willows by the
watercourses."
Although this promise may have respect to the
gracious dealing of God with the people of the Jews
after their return from the captivity, yet has it so
only as it was typical of the redemption of the Church
by Jesus Christ; but it belongs properly to the times
of the gospel, when the righteous were to flourish,
and it is a promise of the new covenant, as is
manifest in that it is not only given to believers,
but is also extended to their seed and offspring;
which is an assured signature of new covenant
promises.
And here is, 1) a supposition of what we are in
ourselves, both before and after our conversion to
God,—namely, as thirsty, dry, and barren ground.
We have nothing in ourselves, no radical moisture to
make us flourishing and fruitful. And as it is before,
so it is after conversion: "We are not sufficient
of ourselves; our sufficiency is of God" (II Cor.
3:5). Being left to ourselves, we should utterly
wither and perish.
But, 2) here is the blessed relief which God in
this case has provided; He will pour the sanctifying
water of His Spirit and the blessing of His grace upon
us. And this He will so do as to cause us to spring up
as among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.
There is nothing of a more eminent and almost visible
growth than of willows by the watercourses. Such shall
be the spiritual growth of believers under the
influences of these promises; that is, they shall be
fat and flourishing, and still bring forth fruit. And
other promises of the same nature there are many; but
we must observe three things concerning them, that we
may be satisfied in their accomplishment.
(1) The promises of the new covenant, as to the
first communication of grace to the elect, are
absolute and unconditional; they are the executive
conveyances of God’s immutable purposes and
decrees. And what should be the condition of the
communication of the first grace to us? Nothing that
is not grace can be so. If it be said that this also
is of God in us, which is the condition of the
communication of the first saving grace to us, then I
would know whether that be bestowed upon us without
any condition. If it be, then that is the first grace,
as being absolutely free; if it be not, then what is
the condition whereon it is bestowed? concerning which
the same inquiry must be made,—and so forever.
But this is the glory of covenant promises, that, as
to the communication of the grace of conversion and
sanctification to the elect, they are absolutely free
and unconditional. But
(2) The promises which respect the growth, degrees,
and measures of this grace in believers are not so.
There are many duties required of us that these
promises may be accomplished towards us and in us;
yea, watchful diligence in universal gospel obedience
is expected from us to this end. (See II Pet.
1:4—10.) This is the ordinary method of the
communication of all supplies of grace to make us
spiritually flourish and be fruitful, namely, that we
be found in the diligent exercise of what we have
received. God sometimes deals otherwise, in a way of
sovereignty, and surprises men with healing grace in
the midst of their decays and backslidings (as Isa. 57
:17,18). So has many a poor soul been delivered from
going down into the pit. The Good Shepherd will go out
of His way to save a wandering sheep; but this is the
ordinary method.
(3) Notwithstanding these blessed promises of
growth, flourishing, and fruitfulness, if we are
negligent in the due improvement of the grace which we
have received, and the discharge of the duties
required of us, we may fall into decays and be kept in
a low, unthrifty state all our days. And this is the
principal ground of the discrepancy between the glory
and beauty of the Church, as represented in the
promises of the gospel, and as exemplified in the
lives of professors—they do not live up to the
condition of their accomplishment in them; howbeit, in
God’s way and time they shall all be
fulfilled.
We have, therefore, innumerable blessed promises
concerning the thriving, growing, and flourishing of
the principle of spiritual life in us, even in old age
and until death; but the grace promised to this end
will not befall us while we are asleep in spiritual
sloth and security. Fervent prayer, the exercise of
all grace received, with watchfulness unto all holy
duties, are required.
c) God has secured the growth of this
spiritual life, by the provision of food for it,
whereby it may be strengthened and increased; for life
must be preserved by food. And this in our case is the
Word of God, with all other ordinances of divine
worship which depend thereon (I Pet. 2:2,3). Whatever
the state of this life be, whether in its beginning,
its progress, its decays, there is suitable
nourishment provided for it in the good Word of
God’s grace. If men will neglect their daily food
that is provided for them, it is no wonder if they be
weak and thriftless. And if believers are not earnest
in their desires after this food, if they are not
diligent in providing it, attending to it, much more
if, through corruptions and temptations, they count
it, in the preaching of it, light and common food,
which they do not value, it is no wonder if they fall
into spiritual decays; but God has herein provided for
our growth even to old age.
And this is the first thing which was proposed to
confirmation,—namely, that the constitution and
nature of spiritual life is such as to be indeficient,
so as to thrive and grow even in old age and unto the
end.
2. Believers, especially in a long course of
profession, are subject to decays that may cast them
into great perplexities and endanger their eternal
ruin.
And these spiritual decays are of two sorts: 1)
Such as are gradual and universal, in the loss of the
vigor and life of grace, both in its principle and in
its exercise; 2) Such as are occasioned by surprisal
into sin through the power of temptation; I mean such
sins as do waste the spiritual powers of the soul, and
deprive it of all solid peace.
As for temporary believers, give them but time
enough in this world, especially if it be accompanied
with outward prosperity or persecution; and, for the
most part, their decays of one sort or another will
make a discovery of their hypocrisy. Though they
retain a form of godliness, they deny the power of it
(Prov. 1:31; II Tim. 3:5). And if they do not openly
relinquish all duties of religion, yet they will grow
so lifeless and savorless in them as shall evidence
their condition; for so it is with them who are
lukewarm, who are neither hot nor cold, who have a
name to live, but are dead.
And herein lies a signal difference in this matter
between sincere believers and those who believe only
for a time; for those of the latter sort either do not
perceive their sickness and decays—their minds
being taken up and possessed with other things—or
if they do find that it is not with them as it has
been formerly, they are not much concerned, and on any
occasional new conviction they cry, "Yet a little
sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands
to sleep" (Prov. 6:10); but when the others find
anything of this nature, it makes them restless for a
recovery. And although, through the many snares,
temptations, and deceits of sin, or through their
ignorance of the right way for their healing, they do
not many of them obtain a speedy recovery, yet none of
them approve themselves in such a condition, or turn
unto any undue reliefs.
Now, that believers are subject to decays in both
the ways mentioned, we have full testimony in
Scripture; for as to that general, gradual decay, in
the loss of our first faith, love, and works, in the
weakening of the internal principle of spiritual life,
with the loss of delight, joy, and consolation, and
the abatement of the fruits of obedience, our Lord
Jesus Christ expressly charges it to five of the seven
churches of Asia (Rev. 2,3). And in some of them, as
Sardis and Laodicea, those decays had proceeded unto
such a degree that they were in danger of utter
rejection. And hereunto answers the experience of all
churches and all believers in the world. Those who are
otherwise minded are dead in sin, and have pretenses
to countenance themselves in their miserable
condition. So is it with the Church of Rome; and I
wish others did not in some measure follow them
therein.
And as to those of the second sort, whereinto men
are cast by surprisals and temptations, producing
great spiritual distress and anguish of soul under a
sense of God’s displeasure, we have an instance
in David, as he gives us an account of himself (Ps.
38:1—10), "O Lord, . . . thine arrows stick
fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no
soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither
is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For
mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy
burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and
are corrupt because of my foolishness."
It is certain that here is a description of a very
woeful state and condition; and the Psalmist, knowing
that he was called of God to be a teacher and
instructor of the Church in all ages, records his own
experience to that end. Hence the title of it is,
‘A Psalm to Bring to Remembrance." Some judge
that David had respect unto some great and sore
disease that he was then visited with. But if it were
so, it was only an occasion of his complaint; the
cause of it was sin alone. And he represents four
things:1) That he had departed from God and fallen
into provoking sins, which had produced great
distresses in his mind (vv. 3,4). 2) That he had
foolishly continued in that state, not making timely
application to grace and mercy for healing, whereby it
was grown deplorable (v. 5). And this folly is that
alone which makes such a condition
dangerous,—namely, when men, on their surprisals
in sin do not speedily apply themselves to healing
remedies.
3) That he had herein a continual sense of the
displeasure of God by reason of sin (vv. 2—4). 4)
That he was altogether restless in this state,
mourning, groaning, laboring continually for
deliverance.
This is a clearer delineation of the condition of
believers, when, either by the greatness of any sin,
or by a long continuance in an evil and a careless
frame, they are cast under a sense of divine
displeasure. This opens their minds and their hearts,
declaring how all things are within, which they cannot
deny. It is not so with many, in the same measures and
degrees, as it was with David, whose falls were very
great; but the substance of it is found in them
all.
And herein the heart knows its own bitterness; a
stranger intermeddles not with it: none knows the
groaning and laboring of a soul convinced of such
spiritual decays but he alone in whom they are. Hereon
is it cast down to the earth, going mourning all the
day long, though others know nothing of its sorrows;
but it is of a far more sad consideration to see men
manifesting their inward decays by their outward
fruits, and yet are little or not at all concerned
therein. The former are in ways of recovery; these in
the paths that go down to the chambers of death.
I suppose, therefore, I may take it for granted,
that there are few professors of religion who have had
any long continuance in the ways of it, having been
exposed to the temptations of life, and much exercised
with the occasions of it, but that they have been
asleep in their days, as the Spouse complains of
herself (Song of Sol. 5:2); that is, they have been
overtaken with decays of one sort or another, either
with respect to spiritual or moral duties, in their
relation to churches or families, in their judgments
or their affections, in their inward frames or outward
actions, they have been overtaken with the effects of
sloth, negligence, or the want of a continual watch in
the life of faith. I wish it were otherwise.
I principally herein intend those gradual
declensions in the life and power of grace which men
in a long course of profession are subject to. And
these for the most part proceed from formality in holy
duties, under the constant outward performance of
them; vehement engagements in the affairs of life, an
overvaluation of sinful enjoyments, growth in carnal
wisdom, neglect of daily mortification of such sins as
men are naturally disposed to, with a secret influence
from the prevalent temptation of the days wherein we
live; which things I will not speak of now.
3. Many professors of religion are fallen
under those spiritual decays and do not enjoy the
effects of the promises concerning flourishing and
fruitfulness. To fasten a conviction on
them, or some of them at least, that it is indeed so
with them is my present design; and this ought to be
done with diligence. The glory of Christ, the honor of
the gospel, and the danger of the souls of men call
for it. This is the secret root of all our evil, which
will not be removed unless it be digged up. Who sees
not, who complains not of the loss of, or decays in,
the power of religion in the days wherein we live? But
few there are who either know or apply themselves, or
direct others, to the proper remedy of this evil.
Besides, it is almost as difficult to convince men
of their spiritual decays as it is to recover them
from them; but without this, healing is impossible. If
men know not their sickness, they will not seek for a
cure. Some, when they see their sickness and their
wound, will apply themselves unto wrong, useless
remedies, like those in the Book of Hosea (5:13). None
will make use of any cure who see no disease at all.
Wherefore, to fasten a conviction hereof on the minds
of some, we may make use of the ensuing inquiries and
observations.
a) Have you, in the way of your profession,
had any experience of these spiritual decays? I doubt
not but that there are some who have been preserved
green and flourishing from their first conversion to
God, who never fell under the power of sloth, neglect,
or temptation, at least not for any remarkable season;
but they are but few. It was not so with scarcely any
of those believers under the Old Testament whose lives
and walkings are recorded for our instruction; and
they must be such as lived in an exact and diligent
course of mortification. And some there are who have
obtained relief and deliverance from under their
decays, whose backslidings have been healed, and their
diseases cured. So it was with David, as he divinely
expressed it (Ps. 103:1,3—5), "Bless the Lord,
O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy
name Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth
all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from
destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness
and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good
things, so that thy youth is renewed like the
eagle’s." So he celebrates his deliverance
from that state whereof he complains (Ps. 38), which
we mentioned before.
And there is no grace or mercy that more affects
the hearts of believers, that gives them a greater
transport of joy and thankfulness, than this of
deliverance from backslidings. It is a bringing of the
soul out of prison, which enlarges it unto praise (Ps.
142:7). Of this sort I doubt not but that there are
many; for God has given great warnings of the danger
of a spiritually decaying state; and He has made great
promises of recovery from it; and multitudes in the
Church are daily exercised herein. But I speak in
general to all. Have you any experience of such
spiritual decays, either in the frame of your spirits
or in the manner of your walking before God; or, at
least, that you are prone to them, if not mightily
preserved by the power of grace in your own utmost
diligence? If you have not so, then I fear it is from
one of these two causes:
(1) That, indeed, you have never had any
flourishing spiritual state in your souls. He that has
always been weak and sickly does not know what it is
to want a state of health and strength, because he
never had experience of it; much less does he that is
dead know what it is to want life. But he that from an
exquisite temper of health falls into languishing
distempers knows distinctly both how it was and how it
is with him. And the frame of the minds of many
professors of religion, with the manner of their
walking, is such, as that, if they are not sensible of
spiritual decays, it is evident that they never had
any good spiritual health; and it is to no purpose to
treat with such persons about a recovery.
There are, among those who make an outward
profession of true religion, many that live in all
sorts of sins. If you should deal with them about
backslidings, decays, and a recovery, you will seem
unto them as Lot did to his sons-in-law, when he told
them of the destruction of Sodom, as one that mocked,
or made sport with them (Gen. 19:14); or you will be
mocked by them for your pains. They have been always
such as they are; it was never otherwise with them;
and it is a ridiculous thing to speak to them of a
recovery. We must be able in this case to say to
men, "Remember whence you are fallen, and repent,
and do the first works" (Rev. 2:5). They must have
had an experience of a better state, or they will not
endeavor a recovery from that wherein they are.
Such, therefore, as see neither evil nor danger in
their present condition, but suppose all is well
enough with them because it is as good as ever it was,
will not easily be brought under this conviction; but
they have that which is of no less importance for them
to inquire into, namely, whether they have had
anything of the truth of grace or no. Or,
(2) If you have not this experience, it is to be
feared that you are asleep in security, which is
hardly distinguishable from death in sin. The church
of Laodicea was sensibly decayed and gone off from its
primitive faith and obedience; yet she was so secure
in her condition, knew so little of it, that she
judged herself, on the contrary, to be in a thriving,
flourishing state. She thought herself increased in
all church riches and goods—that is, gifts and
grace—while ‘‘she was wretched, and
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev.
3:17); in such a state as this it is questionable
whether she had anything of the life and power of
grace to be found in her or no. And so is it with many
churches at this day, especially that which boasts
itself to be without error or blame. And it is strange
that a church should suppose that it flourishes in
grace and gifts when it has nothing but a noise of
words in their stead.
So God testified concerning Ephraim, that "grey
hairs were sprinkled on him, yet he knew it not"
(Hos. 7:9). He was in a declining, dying condition,
but did not understand it. Hence it is added, "They do
not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all
this" (v. 10). If men will not learn and own their
spiritual decays, there is no hope of prevailing with
them to return to the Lord. "The whole have no need
of a physician, but the sick"; Christ "came not to
call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Such
persons are under the power of a stupid security from
whence it will be very hard to rouse them up.
Hence it is that we have so little success for the
most part in calling persons to look after a revival
and recovery of their decays; they acknowledge no such
thing in themselves—such calls may belong to
others; yea, if any word seem to come near them to
their disquieting, they are apt to think it was spoken
out of spite and ill will towards them: they approve
of themselves in their present condition. Hence is the
complaint of Christ in the ministry of the Word, "I
have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out
my hand, and no man regarded. Ye have set at nought
all my counsel, and would none of my reproof"
(Prov. 1:24,25). Hence, let this truth be pressed a
thousand times, it is not one of a thousand who will
think himself so concerned as to apply himself to a
relief. A spirit of slumber seems to be poured on
many.
b) To improve this conviction, I would ask
of some whether they have been able to maintain
spiritual peace and joy in their souls. I take it for
granted that ordinarily they are inseparable adjuncts
of the life of faith, in an humble, fruitful walk
before God. The Scripture testifies that they are so;
and no experience lies against it in ordinary cases.
And I suppose that those to whom I speak do in some
measure know what they are, and do not delude
themselves with fancies and imaginations: they have
substance in them, however by some derided, and to
some unknown. Have this peace and joy been maintained
and born sway in your minds? Have they under all
trials and surprisals been quickly composed by them?
or are you not rather on all occasions uneasy and
perplexed? It is certain that a decaying spiritual
state and solid spiritual peace are inconsistent; and
if ever you had such peace, you may by the loss of it
know into what state you are come.
c) Not to inquire further into things
internal and hidden, wherein men may justify
themselves if they please, there are too many open,
visible evidences of these decays among professors of
religion; they have not kept them from the eyes of the
Church, nor yet from the world. Do not pride,
selfishness, worldliness, levity of attire, and vanity
of life, with corrupt, unsavory communication, abound
among many? The world was never in a worse posture for
conformity than it is at this day wherein all flesh
has corrupted its way; and yet, as to things of
outward appearance, how little distinction is left
between it and those who would be esteemed more strict
professors of religion!
Was this the way and manner of the saints of old,
of those that went before us in the same profession?
Was it so with ourselves in the time of our first
espousals when we went after God in the wilderness, in
a land that was not sown (Jer. 2:2)? Some understand
what I say: if we have not, some of us, had better
days, we never had good days in our lives; if we have
had them, why do we not stir up ourselves to look
after a recovery?
d) May not God say of many of us what He
said of His people of old, "Thou hast been weary of
me, O Israel" (Isa. 43:22)? Have we not been weary
of God until we have abundant cause to be weary of
ourselves? The most, I presume, will be ready with
them in Malachi to say, "How or wherein have we
been weary of God?" Do we not abide, yea, abound,
in the duties of His service? What more can be
required of us? Wherein are we to blame? This were
something indeed, but that it is often so, that men
are weary of God when they even weary God with their
duties and services (Isa. 1:13,14). God says in His
Word, He is weary: they say in their hearts, they are
weary (Mal. 1:13). But I answer,
(1) Many cannot with any modesty make use of this
pretense. Their sloth, indifference, and negligence in
the observance of the duties of divine worship, both
in private and public, is notorious. In particular, is
not the duty of family prayer neglected by many, at
least as to its constancy and fervency? And although
it be grounded in the light of nature, confirmed by
the general rules of the Scripture, requisite to the
dedication of a family to God, strengthened by the
constant example of all the saints of old, and
necessary in the experience of all that walk with God;
yet do not many begin to seek out pleas and arguings
to justify their omission of this? Are not all things
filled with the fruits of the negligence of such
professors in the instruction of their children and
servants? And has not God given severe rebukes to many
of us in their fearful miscarriages? And as to the
public worship of God, I wish that sloth and
indifference did not appear upon too many, under
various pretenses. But,
(2) This is not that which I do intend. Men may be
weary of God while they abide in the observance of a
multitude of outward duties.
(a) They may be so with respect to that
spirituality and intention of mind to the exercise of
all grace, which are required unto such duties. These
are the life, the soul, the animating principle of
them, without which their outward performance is but a
dead carcass. Men may draw nigh to God with their lips
when their hearts are far from Him. This is that which
becomes God in His worship and is useful to our own
souls; for "God is a Spirit" and He will be
worshiped "in spirit and in truth"; which He is
not, but in the exercise of the graces of His Spirit
in the worshipers; ‘‘for bodily exercise
profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all
things" (I Tim. 4:8).
To keep the mind in this frame, to stir up all
grace to a constant vigorous exercise in all holy
duties, is a matter whereunto great spiritual
diligence and watchfulness is required. Watch unto
prayer. A thousand pretenses rise against it; all the
arts of sloth, formality, weariness of the flesh, and
the business of life contend to frustrate the design
of it. And the suitableness of resting in the work
done, to the principles of a natural conscience, gives
efficacy to them all; and when men come to satisfy
themselves herein, it may be it were better that for a
time such duties were wholly omitted; for in that case
conscience itself will urgently call on men, not
hardened in sin, to a consideration of their
condition: wherefore much spiritual labor and
diligence is required in this matter.
The outward performance of religious duties, be
they never so many or however strictly enjoined, as
the daily and nightly canonical hours among the popish
devotionists, is an easy task—much inferior to
the constant labor which some men use in their trades
and callings. And in them, in the performance of them,
either public or in their families, men may be weary
of God: and according as they are remiss in the
constant keeping up of spirituality, and the exercise
of grace in sacred duties, so is the degree of their
weariness.
And there is almost nothing whereby men may take a
safer measure of their decays or growth than by the
usual frame of their minds in these duties. If they
constantly in them stir up themselves to take hold of
God (Isa. 64:7), it is an evidence of a good temper of
spiritual health in the soul. But this will not be
done without the utmost watchfulness and care against
impressions from the flesh and other temptations. But
sloth and formality herein is a sign of a thriftless
state in the inner man: and all inventions of such
formality are harmful to the interest of grace.
(b) So is it with them also, who, attending
to the outward duties of religion, yet indulge
themselves in any known sin; for there is nothing of
God in those duties which tends not to the
mortification of all sin. Men may keep up a form of
godliness to countenance themselves in the neglect of
its power. And in particular, where any known sin is
indulged in, where the mortification of it is not duly
endeavored, where our religious duties are not used,
applied, and directed to that end, there is a
weariness of whatever is of God in them; nor has the
soul any real intercourse or communion with God by
them.
e) If we should make a particular inquiry
into the state of our souls with respect to those
graces which are most useful and tend most to the
glory of God, it is to be feared that the decays of
many would be made very evident; such graces as zeal,
humility, contriteness of heart, spiritual-mindedness,
vigor of soul, and delight in the ways of God, love,
charity, self-denial, and the like. Are we fat and
flourishing in these things, even in old age? Are they
in us and do they abound, as the apostle speaks (II
Pet. 1:8)? Do we bring forth the fruit of them so as
to show the faithfulness of God in His supply of
grace? I shall not make a particular inquiry into
them, but only give two general rules whereby we may
try ourselves with respect to them all.
(1) The loss of a spiritual appetite for the food
of our souls is an evidence of a decay in all these
graces. Spiritual appetite consists in earnest desires
and a savory relish; so it is described by the apostle
(I Pet. 2:2,3), "As newborn babes, desire the sincere
milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby; if so be
ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
There is required to this spiritual appetite an
earnest desire of the Word, grounded on an experience
of the grace of God in it, to the end that we may grow
and thrive spiritually thereby. And this appetite will
give us as just a measure of the state of grace in us
as a natural appetite to wholesome food, with due
digestion thereon, gives of a good state of health in
the body.
This, therefore, we are to inquire into. Does it
abide in us as formerly? We hear the Word preached as
much as ever; but do we do it with the same desire and
spiritual relish as before? Some hear to satisfy their
convictions, some to please their fancies, and some to
judge of the persons by whom it is dispensed. It is
but in few that the necessary preparation for the due
receiving of it is found.
When men grow in age, they lose much of their
natural appetite for food. They must still eat for the
maintenance of life; but they do not do it with that
desire after it as in the days of youth and health.
Hence they are apt to think that the meat which they
had formerly was more savory than what is now provided
for them; though what they now enjoy is much to be
preferred to what they had then. The change is in
themselves.
So we may find not a few professors who are ready
to think and say that the preaching which they had in
former days, and the religious exercises which they
were engaged in, were far to be preferred above what
they now enjoy. But the change is in themselves; they
have lost their spiritual appetite, or their hunger
and thirst after the food of their souls.
"The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the
hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet" (Prov.
27:7). Men being grown full of themselves, and of a
good conceit of their own abilities, have lost their
spiritual appetite for the Word of God; and this makes
the Word lose its power and efficacy toward them. That
Word which the Psalmist says is "sweeter than
honey, or the honeycomb" (Ps. 19:10), has little
or no taste or relish in it for them. If they were
hungry, they would find a sweetness in the bitterest
of its reproofs, beyond what they can now find in the
sweetest of its promises. They come to hear the Word
with sick desires and low expectations, as if they
were invited to eat after a feast, being self-full
before. But this loss of a spiritual appetite is an
evidence of the decay of all other graces.
(2) A neglect of making religion our principal
business is another evidence of the decay of all sorts
of grace in us. For where grace is in its proper
exercise, it will subordinate all things to religion
and the ends of it, as David declares twenty times in
the One Hundred Nineteenth Psalm. All things, all
occasions of life, shall be postponed thereunto. The
love and valuation of it will bear sway in our minds,
our thoughts, and affections; and the practice of it
shall give rule to all other concerns.
But is it so with many among us? It is well if
religion be one thing—it is far enough from being
the one thing; every other thing is preferred before
it, and it can hardly crowd in to possess any place in
their minds. To see men continually plodding in the
affairs of the world, regulating all their actings by
their concern in them, diverting only at some seasons,
as it were out of their way, to duties of
religion—it is vain to say that they make
religion their business. But there is scarce a more
certain evidence of a frame of mind spiritually
decaying in all sorts of graces, if ever any of them
were in it in sincerity and power, than this one, that
men do not make religion their chief business. And a
little self-examination will help men to judge what
they make their chief concern.
(3) Lastly, I might also instance the uselessness
of men in their profession; in want of love to all
saints, barrenness in good works, unreadiness and
unwillingness to comply, in any extraordinary manner,
with the calls of God to repentance and reformation;
in love of the world and pride of life, with passions
suited to such principles predominant in them: for
they are all undeniable evidences that those with whom
they are found had never any true grace at all, or
that they are fallen under woeful decays. But what has
been spoken may be sufficient to our present
purpose.
This is the third thing that was proposed, namely,
an endeavor to leave convictions on the minds of some
concerning their spiritual decays and the necessity of
seeking after a revival by the means that shall be
insisted on. And I intend it principally for those of
us who, under a long profession, are now come to age
and shall not have much time for duty continued to us.
And the truth is, I meet with none who are Christians
of any considerable experience and are spiritually
minded, who fail to be sensible of the danger of such
decays in this hour of temptation, and how difficult
it is, in the use of all means, to keep up a vigorous,
active frame of mind, in faith, love, holiness, and
fruitfulness. And for those who are not concerned
herein, I confess I know not what to make of them or
their religion.
4. I proceed to the way and means whereby
believers may be delivered from these decays and
flourish in the inward principle and outward fruits of
spiritual life. This will bring us back
to consideration of that truth which we may seem to
have diverted from. And to this end, the things
ensuing are proposed for consideration:
a) The state of spiritual decays is recoverable. No
man that is fallen under it has any reason to say,
There is no hope, provided he takes the right way for
his recovery. If every step that is lost in the way to
heaven should be irrecoverable, woe would be unto
us—we should all assuredly perish. If there were
no reparation of our breaches, no healing of our
decays, no salvation but for them who are always
progressive in grace; if God should mark all that is
done amiss, as the Psalmist speaks, "O Lord, who
should stand?" Nay, if we had not recoveries every
day, we should go off with a perpetual
backsliding.
But then, as was said, it is required that the
right means of it be used, and not that which is
destructive of what is designed; whereof I shall give
an instance. When trees grow old, or are decaying, it
is useful to dig about them, and manure them; which
may cause them to flourish again and abound in fruit.
But instead, if you remove them out of their soil to
plant them in another, which may promise much
advantage, they will assuredly wither and die. So it
is with professors and has been with many. Finding
themselves under manifold decays and little or nothing
of the life and power of religion left in them, they
have grown weary of their station and have changed
their soil; or turning from one way in religion to
another, as some have turned Papists, some Quakers,
and the like, apprehending that fault to be in the
religion which they professed, which was indeed only
in themselves. You cannot give an instance of anyone
who did not visibly wither and die therein; but, had
they used the proper means for their healing and
recovery, they might have lived and brought forth
fruit.
b) A strict attendance to the seventies of
mortification, with all the duties that lead
thereunto, is required to this end; so also is the
utmost diligence in all duties of obedience. These
things naturally offer themselves as the first relief
in this case and they ought not to be omitted. But if
I should insist upon them, they would branch
themselves into such a multitude of particular
directions as it is inconsistent with my design here
to handle. Besides, the way which I intend to propose
is of another nature, though consistent with all the
duties included in this proposal; yea, such as without
which not one of them can be performed in a due
manner. Wherefore, as to these things, I shall only
assert their necessity, with a double limitation.
(1) That no duties of mortification be prescribed
to this end, as a means of recovery from spiritual
decays, but what for matter and manner are of divine
institution and command. All others are laid under a
severe interdict, under whatever pretense they may be
used. "Who hath required these things at your hands?"
Want of this is that whereby a pretended design to
advance religion in the Papacy has ruined it. They
have, under the name and pretense of the means of
mortification, or the duties of it, invented and
enjoined, like the Pharisees, a number of works, ways,
duties, so-called, which God never appointed, nor
approved, nor will accept; nor shall they ever do good
to the souls of men. Such are their confessions,
disciplines, pilgrimages, fastings, abstinence, framed
prayers, to be repeated in stated canonical hours, in
such a length and number. In the bodily labor of these
things they exercise themselves to no spiritual
advantage.
But it is natural to all men to turn aside to such
reliefs in this case. Those who are thoroughly
convinced of spiritual decays are pressed with a sense
of the guilt of sin; for it is sin which has brought
them into that condition. Hereon, in the first place,
they set their contrivance at work, how they may atone
divine displeasure and obtain acceptance with God; and
if they are not under the actual conduct of
evangelical light, two things immediately offer
themselves to them. First, some extraordinary course
in duties, which God has not commanded. This is the
way which they betake themselves to in the Papacy, and
which guilt, in the darkness of corrupted nature,
vehemently calls for. Second, an extraordinary
multiplication of such duties as, for the substance of
them, are required of us.
We have an instance in both kinds (Micah 6:6,7),
"Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow
myself before the high God? shall I come before him
with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old? will
the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with
ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my
firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body
for the sin of my soul?" And by this means they
hope for a restitution to their former condition.
And whereas spiritual decays are of two sorts, first
from the power and effect of convictions only, which
are multiplied among temporary believers; and,
secondly, from degrees in the power and effects of
saving grace; those whose decays are of the first sort
are never to be diverted from attempting their relief
by such means; and when they find them fail, for the
most part they cease contending and abandon themselves
to the power of their lusts; for they have no
evangelical light to guide them in another course.
To them who are of the second sort is this
direction given, in an endeavor for a recovery from
backsliding and a thriving in grace, by a redoubled
attendance to the duties of mortification and new
obedience: Let care be taken that, as to the matter of
them, they be of divine appointment; and as to the
manner of their performance, that it be regulated by
the rules of the Scripture. Such are constant reading
and hearing of the Word, prayer with fervency therein,
a diligent watch against all temptations and occasions
of sin; especially an endeavor, by a holy earnestness
and vehement rebukes of the entrance of any other
frame, to keep the mind spiritual and heavenly in its
thoughts and affections.
(2) Let them take heed that they attempt not these
things in their own strength. When men have strong
convictions that such and such things are their own
duty, they are apt to act as if they were to be done
in their own strength. They must do them, they will do
them—that is, as to the outward work—and,
therefore, they think they can do them; that is, in a
due manner. The Holy Ghost has forever rejected this
confidence—none shall prosper in it (II Cor. 3:5;
9:8).
But hereby many deceive themselves, laboring in the
fire, while all they do immediately perishes; they
have been negligent and careless, whereby things are
come to an ill posture with them, and that peace which
they had is impaired; but now they will pray, and
read, and fast, and be liberal to the poor, and now
strive after an abstinence from sin. All these things
they suppose they can do of themselves, because they
can and ought to perform the outward works, wherein
the duties intended consist. Hereby Christ is left out
of the whole design, who, when all is done, is the
Lord that heals us (Exod. 15:26).
And there is another evil herein; for whatever men
do in their own natural abilities, there is a secret
reserve of some kind of merit in it. Those who plead
for these things aver there can be no merit in
anything but what proceeds from our own free-will; and
what is so done has some kind of merit inseparably
accompanying it; and this is enough to render all
endeavors of this kind not only useless and fruitless,
but utterly rejected. Faith must engage the assistance
of Christ and His grace in and to these duties; or,
however they may be multiplied, they will not be
effectual to our healing and recovery. These things
are to be used, according as we receive supplies of
grace from above, in subordination to that work of
faith that shall be declared. Wherefore,
c) The work of recovering backsliders or
believers from under their spiritual decays is an act
of sovereign grace, wrought in us by virtue of divine
promises. Out of this eater comes meat. Because
believers are liable to such declensions,
backslidings, and decays, God has provided and given
to us great and precious promises of a recovery, if we
duly apply ourselves to the means of it.
I shall here recall and explain only one of the
places wherein they are recorded (Hos. 14:1—8),
"O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou
hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words,
and turn unto the Lord: say unto him, Take away all
iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render
the calves of our lips . . . I will heal their
backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger
is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto
Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his
roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his
beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as
Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall
return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the
vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of
Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more
with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am
like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit
found."
The whole matter treated of in general, both as to
the disease and remedy, is fully stated in this
passage of Scripture; and that in the experience of
the Church, and God’s dealing with them; we may
therefore receive many plain directions from it, and a
safe guidance in our progress; which we shall endeavor
to take in the ensuing observations:
(1) This application of God to Israel, "O Israel,
return," was made when the generality of the people
were wicked and devoted to utter destruction. So it is
declared in the last words of the foregoing chapter;
and their desolation fell out not long after
accordingly. Wherefore no season nor circumstances of
things shall obstruct sovereign grace, when God will
exercise it toward His Church: it shall work in the
midst of desolating judgments.
(2) In such a time the true Israel of God, the
elect themselves, are apt to be overtaken with the
sins of the whole, and so to backslide from God and so
to fall into spiritual decays. So Israel had now done,
though she had not absolutely broken covenant with
God. He was yet to her "the Lord thy God"; yet she had
fallen by her iniquity. Times of public apostasy are
often accompanied with partial defects in the best:
"Because iniquity aboundeth, the love of many shall
wax cold" (Matt. 24:12).
(3) When God designs to heal the backsliding of His
people by sovereign grace, He gives them effectual
calls to repentance and the use of means for their
healing: so He does here by His prophet, "O Israel,
return; take with you words." And if I could see
that God did stir up His faithful ministers to apply
themselves in a peculiar manner to this work of
pressing vehemently all their congregations with their
duty herein, and let them know that there is no other
way to prevent their ruin but by returning to the
Lord, according to the ways of it here prescribed, I
should not doubt but that the time of healing were at
hand.
d) The means prescribed to this end, that
our backslidings may be healed in a way suited to the
glory of God, is renewed repentance: and this acts
itself—
(1) In fervent prayer. "Take with you words, and
say." Consider the greatness and importance of the
work before you and weigh well what you do in your
dealing with God. The matter of this prayer is
twofold: 1) The pardon of all iniquity; that is, the
taking away of it; and no sin is omitted, all being
now become equally burdensome: "Take away all
iniquity." When the souls of sinners are in good
earnest in their return to God, they will not leave
out the consideration of one sin. Nor are we meet for
healing, nor shall we apply ourselves to it in a due
manner, without some previous sense of the love of God
in the pardon of our sin. 2) Gracious acceptance:
"Receive us graciously." The words in the
original are only "And receive good"; but both
the words being used variously, the sense eminently
included in them is well expressed by, "Receive us
graciously." After we have cast ourselves under
tokens of Thy displeasure, now let us know that we are
freely accepted with Thee. And this also lies in the
desires of them who design to obtain a healing of
their backslidings; for under them they are sensible
that they are liable to God’s displeasure.
(2) Affectionate confessions of the sin wherein
their backslidings consisted, or which were the
occasions of them. "Asshur shall not save us";
"We will say no more to the work of our hands, Ye are
our gods." Fleshly confidence and false worship were
the two great sins that had now ruined the body of the
people. These believers themselves had an accession to
them more or less, as now they have to the prevailing
sins of the days wherein we live, by conformity to the
world. Of these sins God expects a full and free
confession, in order to our healing.
(3) A renewed covenant engagement to renounce all
other hopes and expectation and to betake themselves
with their whole trust and confidence to Him; whereof
they express, first, the cause, which was His mere
grace and mercy, "For in thee the fatherless
findeth mercy"; and, secondly, the effect of it,
which is praise and thanksgiving, "So will we
render the calves of our lips." And some things we
may hence further observe as to the case under
consideration. As,
(a) Although God will repair our spiritual
decays and heal our backslidings freely, yet He will
do it so, or in such a way, as wherein He may
communicate grace to us, to the praise of His own
glory. Therefore are these duties prescribed to us in
order thereunto; for although they are not the
procuring cause of the love and grace from whence
alone we are healed, yet are they required, in the
method of the dispensation of grace, to precede the
effect of them. Nor have we anywhere a more
illustrious instance and testimony of the consistency
and harmony which is between sovereign grace and the
diligent discharge of our duty than we have in this
place; for as God promises that He would heal their
backslidings out of His free love (Hos. 14:4), and
would do it by the communication of effectual grace
(v. 5), so He enjoins them all these duties in order
thereto.
(b) That unless we find these things wrought
in us in a way of preparation for the receiving of the
mercy desired, we have no firm ground of expectation
that we shall be made partakers of it; for this is the
method of Gods dealing with the Church. Then and then
only we may expect a gracious reviving from all our
decays when serious repentance, working in the ways
declared, is found in us. This grace will not surprise
us in our sloth, negligence, and security, but will
make way for itself by stirring us up to sincere
endeavors after it in the perseverance of these
duties. And until we see better evidences of this
repentance among us than as yet appears, we can have
but small hope of a general recovery from our present
decays.
c) The work itself is declared a) by its
nature, b) in its causes, and c) from its effects.
(1) In the nature of it, it is the healing of
backslidings: "I will heal their backslidings,"
the sin whereby they are fallen off from God, to whom
they are now exhorted to return. These bring the souls
of men into a diseased state and danger of death: the
cure of which is the work of God alone. Hence He gives
Himself that title, "I am the Lord that healeth
thee" (Exod. 15:26). And because of the poisonous
nature of sin and the danger it brings of eternal
death to the souls of men, the removal of it, or a
recovery from it, is often called by the name of
healing (Ps. 6:2; Isa. 57:18,19; Hos. 6:1). Here it
includes 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
backslidings.
(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 to sins past, is pardoning mercy: "Mine
anger is turned away from him"; and as to renewed
obedience, in which too our recovery consists, it is
in a plentiful supply of effectual grace: "I will
be as the dew unto Israel." Fresh supplies of the
Spirit of grace from above are so expressed; this is
necessary to our healing 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 various reasons.
1. The case which I would consider is in all
the parts of it stated distinctly, and represented
clearly to us. Nothing remains except
the special way whereby, in the exercise of faith,
this grace may be obtained; which is what I shall
speak of 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 to attain the vigorous actings 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 that everyone 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 to the glory of
God—that which so many duties are required to
prepare us for. Let no man think that it is a light or
common work; everything in it is peculiar: it is, to
them who are made partakers of it, a life from the
dead.
3. That none may utterly despond under their
decays. When persons are awakened by
new convictions, and begin to feel the weight of them,
and how they are 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 holiness 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 to himself.
4. That which remains is to declare the
particular way in which we may, by faith, obtain the
fruit of this and all similar promises and be
flourishing and fruitful even in old age.
Now, supposing a due attendance to the duties
mentioned, I shall give some directions with respect
to that which gives life, power, and efficacy to them
all, and which will infallibly bring us to the full
enjoyment of this signal mercy; and they are these
that follow:
First, all our supplies of grace are from
Jesus Christ. Grace is declared in the promises of the
Old Testament; but the way of its communication, and
our receiving of it, is revealed to 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 has 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
15:3—5). He is our Head, and all our spiritual
influences—that is, divine communication of
grace—are from Him alone. He is our life
efficiently, and lives in us effectively, so that our
ability for vital acts is from Him (Gal. 2:20; Col.
3:1—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 to us; but however we
should endeavor 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.
Second, the only way of receiving supplies
of spiritual strength and grace from Jesus Christ, on
our part, is by faith. Hereby we come to Him, are
implanted in Him, abide with Him, so as to bring forth
fruit. He dwells in our hearts by faith, and He acts
in us by faith, and we live by faith in or on the Son
of God. This, I suppose, will be granted, that if we
receive anything from Christ, it must be by faith, it
must be in the exercise of it, or in a way of
believing; nor is there any one word in the Scripture
that gives the least encouragement to expect either
grace or mercy from Him in any other way, or by any
other means.
Third, this faith respects the person of
Christ, His grace, His whole mediation, with all the
effects of it, and His glory in them all. This is that
which has been so much insisted on in the foregoing
discourses that it ought not to be again insisted
upon. This, therefore, is the issue of the whole: a
steady view of the glory of Christ, in His person,
grace, and office, through faith—or a constant,
lively exercise of faith on Him, according as He is
revealed to us in the Scripture—is the only
effectual way to obtain a revival from under our
spiritual decays, and such supplies of grace as shall
make us flourishing and fruitful even in old age. He
that thus lives by faith in Him shall, by his
spiritual thriving and growth, "show that the Lord is
upright, that he is our rock, and that there is no
unrighteousness in him."
We may consider briefly first, how this is testified
to in the Scripture; and then, what are the ways
whereby this grace or duty will produce this effect;
and so to close this part of the application of the
sacred truth before declared.
1. This direction is given us (Ps. 34:5),
"They looked unto him, and were lightened.’ and
their faces were not ashamed." That it
is Christ, or the glory of God in Him, who is thus
looked to, I need not prove—it will not be
denied. And it is their faith which is expressed by
their looking to Him; which is nothing but that
beholding of His glory which we have described: for it
is an act of trust arising from an apprehension of who
and what He is. The issue or effect is that they were
lightened; that is, received fresh communication of
spiritual, saving, refreshing light from Him, and,
consequently, of all other graces, whence their faces
were not ashamed; nor shall we fail in our expectation
of new spiritual communication in the exercise of the
same faith.
This is that which we are called unto (Isa.
45:22), "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the
ends of the earth." On this look to Christ, on
this view of His glory, depends our whole salvation;
and therefore all things that are needful thereunto do
so also: this is the way whereby we receive grace and
glory. This is the direction given us by the Holy
Ghost for the attaining of them.
So is the same duty described (Micah 7:7),
"Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will
wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear
me." The Church knew not any other way of relief,
whatever her distresses were.
A look to Christ as crucified (and how glorious He
was therein has been declared) is made the cause and
fountain of that godly sorrow which is a spring unto
all other graces, especially in those who have fallen
under decays (Zech. 12:10); and it is so also of
desiring strength from Him to enable us to endure all
our trials, troubles, and afflictions with patience to
the end (Heb. 12:1,2).
2. The only inquiry remaining is how a
constant view of the glory of Christ will produce this
blessed effect in us; and it will do so several
ways.
a) It will be effected by that transforming
power and efficacy with which this exercise of faith
is always accompanied. This is that which changes us
every day more and more into the likeness of Christ,
as has been at large before declared. Herein all
revivals and all flourishings are contained. To have a
good measure of conformity to Christ is all whereof in
this life, we are capable; the perfection of it is
eternal blessedness. According as are our attainments
therein, so is the thriving and flourishing of the
life of grace in us; which is that which is aimed at.
Other ways and means, it may be, have failed us; let
us put this to the trial. Let us live in the constant
contemplation of the glory of Christ, and virtue will
proceed from Him to repair all our decays, to renew a
right spirit within us, and to cause us to abound in
all duties of obedience. This way of producing these
effects flesh and blood will not reveal—it looks
like washing in Jordan to cure a leprosy; but the life
of faith is a mystery known only to them in whom it
is.
b) It will fix the soul to that object which
is suited to give it delight, complacency, and
satisfaction. This in perfection is blessedness, for
it is caused by the eternal vision of the glory of God
in Christ; and the nearer approaches we make to this
state, the better, the more spiritual, the more
heavenly, is the state of our souls. And this is to be
obtained only by a constant contemplation of the glory
of Christ, as has been declared. And it is several
ways effectual to the end now proposed. For,
1. Most of our spiritual decays and
barrenness arise from an inordinate admission of other
things into our minds. These weaken
grace in all its operations. But when the mind is
filled with thoughts of Christ and His glory, when the
soul cleaves to Him with intense affections, they will
cast out, or not give admittance to, those causes of
spiritual weakness and indisposition. (See Col.
3:1—5; Eph. 5:8).
2. Where we are engaged in this duty, it will
stir up every grace to its due exercise.
This is that wherein the spiritual revival
inquired after consists. This is all we desire, all we
long for, this will make us fat and
flourishing—that every grace of the Spirit have
its due exercise in us. (See Rom. 5:3—5; II Pet.
1:5—8.) Whereas, therefore, Christ Himself is the
first proper, adequate object of all grace, and all
its exercise (for it first respects Him, and then
other things for Him), when the mind is fixed on Him
and His glory, every grace will be in a readiness for
its due exercise. And without this we shall never
attain it by any resolutions or endeavors of our own,
let us make the trial when we please.
3. This will assuredly put us to a vigilant
watch and constant conflict against all the deceitful
workings of sin, all entrances of temptation, all
surprisals into foolish frames by vain imaginations,
which are the causes of our decays. Our
recovery or revival will not be effected, or a fresh
spring of grace be obtained, in a careless, slothful
course of profession. Constant watching, fighting,
contending against sin, with out utmost endeavor for
an absolute conquest over it, are required. And
nothing will so much excite and encourage our souls in
this as a constant view of Christ and His glory;
everything in Him has a constraining power hereunto,
as is known to all who have any acquaintance with
these things.
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