2. This is from the newness of the condition. Naturally we are much affected with any new thing,1 as for example, for a man that hath been many years in a dark dungeon, to be suddenly brought into the light, the suddenness of the change would much affect a man. This is the state of our souls at our first conversion; we are therefore brought from darkness into light, and from the power of Satan unto God. 2By the grace of conversion, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light; and because it is so marvellous, therefore it doth so much affect. The change at first conversion is very great, a man be comes another man, and man is so affected, that he is put into a kind of astonishment. ⟨p. 124⟩Yet in this case we must distinguish between solid affections, and floating and transient passions, which do wear off presently, and vanish suddenly. The affections of some Christians, especially young ones, are like those colours which are not in grain, they will soon fade. It is with a young Convert as with a man going to execution, while he is upon the ladder a pardon is unexpectedly brought, how will this man be transported with joy? he will leap for joy, he will in that case be all joy & exultation for the present, and it may be afterward the flush & torrent of his joy is abated, though his life be as dear to him as ever: So when the soul hath been brought by the Law of God to a sight of its lost condition, & then the Gospel hath proclaimed a pardon, & the Spirit of God hath set on the comfort of that pardon upon his heart. Oh what ravishments hath that soul for the present! which perhaps he shall not long retain, the violence of his joy is abated, but the solidity of it remains. The soul is much affected with its first meeting with Christ, and though the flush of that joy be over, yet the souls love to Christ is as much, and its prizing Communion with Christ the same. The Cripple when he was restored to strength,3 went leaping and praising God, because the unexpectedness of the cure did mightily affect his heart; and this is a second reason why those who are grown and solid Christians, yet perhaps may not retain the ⟨p. 125⟩same measure of affections they had at their first conversion.
2. This is from the newness of the condition. Naturally we are much affected with any new thing,1 as for example, for a man that hath been many years in a dark dungeon, to be suddenly brought into the light, the suddennesse of the change would much affect a man. This is the state of our souls at our first conversion; we are therefore brought from darknesse into light, and from the power of Satan unto God. 2By the grace of conversion, God calls us out of darknesse into his marvellous light; and because it is so marvellous, therefore it doth so much affect. The change at first conversion is very great, a man be comes another man, and man is so affected, that he is put into a kinde of astonishment. ⟨p. 124⟩Yet in this case we must distinguish between solid affections, and floting and transient passions, which do wear off presently, and vanish suddenly. The affections of some Christians, especially young ones, are like those colours which are not in grain, they will soon fade. It is with a young Convert as with a man going to execution, while he is upon the ladder a pardon is unexpectedly brought, how will this man be transported with joy? he will leap for joy, he will in that case be all joy & exultation for the present, and it may be afterward the flush & torrent of his joy is abated, though his life be as dear to him as ever: So when the soul hath been brought by the Law of God to a sight of its lost condition, & then the Gospel hath proclaimed a pardon, & the Spirit of God hath set on the comfort of that pardon upon his heart. Oh what ravishments hath that soule for the present! which perhaps he shall not long retain, the violence of his joy is abated, but the solidity of it remains. The soule is much affected with its first meeting with Christ, and though the flush of that joy be over, yet the souls love to Christ is as much, and its prizing Communion with Christ the same. The Creeple when he was restored to strength,3 went leaping and praising God, because the unexpectednesse of the cure did mightily affect his heart; and this is a second reason why those who are grown and solid Christians, yet perhaps may not retain the ⟨p. 125⟩same measure of affections they had at their first conversion.
- 1Answ. 2.
- 21 Pet. 2. 9.
- 3Act. 3. 8.
