Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

2. But the weak Christian hath little of these spiritual delights: his ordinary temper is to apprehend that God and his ways are indeed most delectable: his very heart acknowledgeth that they are worthiest and fittest to be the matter of his delights: And if he could attain assurance of his special interest in the love of God; and his part in Christ and life eternal, he would then rejoice in them indeed, and would be gladder than if he were Lord of all the world: But in the mean time, either his fears and doubts are damping his delights; or else (which is much worse) his appetite is dull, and God and holiness relish not with him half so sweetly, as they do with the confirmed Christian; and he is too busy in tasting of fleshly and forbidden pleasures, which yet more deprave his appetite, and dull his desires, to the things of God: so that though in his Estimation, choice, resolution and endeavour he much preferreth God before the world yet as to any delightful sweetness in him, it is but little that he tasteth. He loveth God with a Desiring ⟨p. 63⟩Love, and with a Seeking Love, but with very little of a Delighting Love. The remnant of corrupt and alien affections do weaken his affections to the things above; and his infant measure of spiritual life, conjunct with many troublesome diseases, allow him very little of the joy of the Holy Ghost. Nay perhaps he hath more grief, and fear, and doubts, and trouble, and perplexity of mind, than ever he had before he turned unto God: and perhaps he hath yet less pleasure in God, than he had before in sin and sensuality. Because he had his sin in a state of fruition, but he hath God only in a seeking, hoping state: he had the best of sin, and all that ever it will afford him: but he hath yet none of the full felicity which he expecteth in God: The fruition of him is yet but in the prospect of hope. His sensual sinful life was in its maturity, and the object present in its most alluring state: but his spiritual life of faith and love, is but yet in its weak beginnings, and the object absent from our sight: He is so busy at first in blowing up his little spark, not knowing whether the fire will kindle or go out, that he hath little of the use or pleasure, either of its light or warmth. Infants come crying into the world; and afterwards oftener cry than laugh:

2. But the weak Christian hath little of these spiritual delights: his ordinary temper is to apprehend that God and his wayes are indeed most delectable: his very heart acknowledgeth that they are worthiest and fittest to be the matter of his delights: And if he could attain assurance of his special interest in the love of God; and his part in Christ and life eternal, he would then rejoyce in them indeed, and would be gladder than if he were Lord of all the world: But in the mean time, either his fears and doubts are damping his delights; or else (which is much worse) his appetite is dull, and God and holiness relish not with him half so sweetly, as they do with the confirmed Christian; and he is too busie in tasting of fleshly and forbidden pleasures, which yet more deprave his appetite, and dull his desires, to the things of God: so that though in his Estimation, choice, resolution and endeavour he much preferreth God before the world yet as to any delightful sweetness in him, it is but little that he tasteth. He loveth God with a Desiring