A Divine Cordial

2. When Christians have lost their Appetite. A man in a deep Consumption, hath not that Stomach to his meat, as formerly. Time was when Christians did hunger and thirst after righteousness, they minded things of an heavenly aspect, the Grace of the Spirit, the blood of the Cross, the Light of Gods Countenance; they had a stomach to Ordinances, and came to them as an hungry man to a feast; but now the case is altered, they have no Appetite, they do not so prize Christ, they have not such strong affections to the Word, their hearts do not burn within them; a sad presage they are in a consumption, their love is decaying. It was a sign Davids natural strength was abated, when they covered ⟨p. 136⟩him with clothes, and yet he gat no heat, 1 Kings 1.1. So when men are plied with hot Clothes, I mean Ordinances, yet they have no heat of affection, but are cold, and stiff, as if they were ready to be laid forth; this is a sign their first love is declined, they are in a deep Consumption.

2. When Christians have lost their Appetite. A man in a deep Consumption, hath not that Stomack to his meat, as formerly. Time was when Christians did hunger and thirst after righteousness, they minded things of an heavenly aspect, the Grace of the Spirit, the blood of the Cross, the Light of Gods Countenance; they had a stomack to Ordinances, and came to them as an hungry man to a feast; but now the case is altered, they have no Appetite, they do not so prize Christ, they have not such strong affections to the Word, their hearts do not burn within them; a sad presage they are in a consumption, their love is decaying. It was a sign Davids natural strength was abated, when they covered ⟨p. 136⟩him with cloaths, and yet he gat no heat, 1 Kings 1.1. So when men are plyed with hot Cloaths, I mean Ordinances, yet they have no heat of affection, but are cold, and stiff, as if they were ready to be laid forth; this is a sign their first love is declined, they are in a deep Consumption.