Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applied unto unconverted sinners, and saints…Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints…

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 knoweth it's own Bitterness; a Stranger intermedleth not with it: None knows the groaning and labouring of a Soul convinced of such Spiritual Decays, but he alone in ⟨p. 47⟩whom they are. Hereon is it cast down to the Earth, going mourning all the day long, though others know nothing of it's 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 withal been exposed unto 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 her self, Cant. 5. 2. that is, they have been overtaken with decays of one sort or another, either with respect unto Spiritual or Moral Duties, in their Relation unto 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 with it were otherwise.