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…

1. 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 unto us, to the praise of his own Glory. Therefore are these Duties prescribed unto 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 any where 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 promiseth, that he would heal their Backslidings out of his free Love, verse 4. and would do it by the Communication of Effectual Grace; ver. 5. so he enjoins them all these Duties in order thereunto.

1. 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 unto us, to the praise of his own Glory. Therefore are these Duties prescribed unto 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 any where a more illustrious Instance and Testimony of the Consistency and Harmony which is between Soveraign Grace, and the diligent discharge of our Duty, than we have in this place: For as God promiseth, that he would heal their Backslidings out of his free Love, verse 4. and would do it by the Communication of Effectual Grace; ver. 5. so he injoyns them all these Duties in order thereunto.

2. THAT Tunless 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 it self, by stirring us up unto sincere endeavours 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 Hopes of a general Recovery from our present Decays.