We have a notable Instance in most of the Churches that our Saviour awakens to the consideration of their condition, in the Revelations: We may single out one of them: Many good things there were in the Church of Ephesus, Chap. 2. 2, 3. for which it is greatly commended; but yet it is charged with a decay, a declension, a gradual falling off and Apostasy, ver. 4, 5. Thou hast left thy first Love, remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and do thy first works. There was a decay both Inward in the frame of heart, as to faith, and love, and outward as to obedience and works, in comparison of what they had formerly, by the testimony of Christ himself. The same also might be showed concerning the rest of those Churches, only one or two of them excepted. Five of them are charged with decays and declensions. Hence there is mention in the Scripture of the Kindness of Youth, of the Love of Espousals, with great commendation, Jer. 2. 2, 3. of our first Faith, 1 Tim. 5. 12. of the beginning of our confidence, Heb. 3. 14. And cautions are given, that we lose not the things that we have wrought, 2 John 8. But what need we look back or search for Instances to confirm the truth of this Observation? An habitual declension from first Engagements unto God, from first Attainments of Communion with God, from first strictness in Duties of Obedience, is ordinary and common amongst Professors▪ Might we to this purpose take a general view of the Professors in these Nations, among whom the […] of the […] of us ⟨p. 227⟩will be found in part or in whole, in somewhat or in all, to fall, we might be plentifully convinced of the truth of this Observation. Is their Zeal for God as warm, living, vigorous, effectual, solicitous, as it was in their first giving themselves unto God? Or rather, is there not a common, slight, selfish frame of spirit in the room of it come upon most Professors? iniquity hath abounded, and their love hath waxed cold. Was it not of old a burden to their spirits to hear the Name, and ways, and Worship of God blasphemed and profaned? could they not have said with the Psalmist, Ps. 119. 136. Rivers of water run down our eyes because men keep not thy Law? Were not their souls solicitous about the Interest of Christ in the World, like Eli's about the Ark? Did they not contend earnestly for the Truth once delivered to the Saints, and every parcel of it?
We have a notable Instance in most of the Churches that our Saviour awakens to the consideration of their condition, in the Revelations: We may single out one of them: Many good things there were in the Church of Ephesus, Chap. 2. 2, 3. for which it is greatly commended; but yet it is charged with a decay, a declension, a gradual falling off and Apostasie, ver. 4, 5. Thou hast left thy first Love, remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and do thy first works. There was a decay both Inward in the frame of heart, as to faith, and love, and outward as to obedience and works, in comparison of what they had formerly, by the testimony of Christ himself. The same also might be shewed concerning the rest of those Churches, only one or two of them excepted. Five of them are charged with decays and declensions. Hence there is mention in the Scripture of the Kindness of Youth, of the Love of Espousals, with great commendation, Jer. 2. 2, 3. of our first Faith, 1 Tim. 5. 12. of the beginning of our confidence, Heb. 3. 14. And cautions are given, that we lose not the things that we have wrought, 2 John 8. But what need we look back or search for Instances to confirm the truth of this Observation? An habitual declension from first Ingagements unto God, from first Attainments of Communion with God, from first strictness in Duties of Obedience, is ordinary and common amongst Professors▪ Might we to this purpose take a general view of the Professors in these Nations, among whom the 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 of us ⟨p. 227⟩will be found in part or in whole, in somewhat or in all, to fall, we might be plentifully convinced of the truth of this Observation. Is their Zeal for God as warm, living, vigorous, effectual, solicitous, as it was in their first giving themselves unto God? Or rather, is there not a common, slight, selfish frame of spirit in the room of it come upon most Professors? iniquity hath abounded, and their love hath waxed cold. Was it not of old a burthen to their spirits to hear the Name, and wayes, and Worship of God blasphemed and profaned? could they not have said with the Psalmist, Ps. 119. 136. Rivers of water run down our eyes because men keep not thy Law? Were not their souls solicitous about the Interest of Christ in the World, like Eli's about the Ark? Did they not contend earnestly for the Truth once delivered to the Saints, and every parcel of it?
