The Method of Grace

Inference 4.

If every unregenerate soul be a dead soul, how sad is the case of Hypocrites, ¹and temporary believers who are twice dead? These are those cursed trees of which the Apostle Jude speaks, Jude v. 12. ⟨p. 537⟩Trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. The Apostle alludes unto dying trees. Trees that are dying the first time in the spring, they then fade, decay, and cast their leaves, when other trees are fragrant and flourishing. But from this first death they are sometimes recovered by pruning and dressing, or watering the roots: But if in Autumn they decay again, which is the Critical and Climacterical time of trees to discover whether their disease be mortal or not: if then they wither and decay the second time, the fault is ab intra, the root is rotten, there is no hope of it. The husbandman bestows no more labour about it, except it be to root it up for fuel to the fire. Just thus stands the case with false and hypocritical professors, who though they were still under the power of spiritual death, yet in the beginning of their profession they seemed to be alive. They showed the world the fragrant leaves of a fair profession: many hopeful buddings of affection towards spiritual things were seen in them, but wanting a root of regeneration, they quickly began to wither, and cast their untimely fruit. However, by the help of ordinances, or some rousing and awakening providences they seem to recover themselves again: but all will not do, the fault is ab intra from the want of a good root, and therefore at last they who were always once dead, for want of a principle of regeneration; are now become twice dead, by the withering and decay of their vain profession. Such trees are prepared for the severest flames in hell,