Heaven taken

2. It reproves those who have quite ¹left off all violence: they have left off reading and praying in their family. There is not so much as a face of ⟨p. 109⟩Religion to be seen, they are fallen finally^*. Such were Joash, Jehu, Julian. The goodly building of their profession which others admired, now hath not one stone left upon another.

1. 12. Branch. Reproof.
2. *In quibus principium fervet, medium tepet, exitus alget; illos hypocritas suisse patet, q•i victoriae coronam non consequuntur. Paraeus.

But, Why do men thus run retrograde in their motion, and quite throw off that violence which they seemed once to have?

But, Why do men thus run retrograde in their motion, and quite throw off that violence which they seem'd once to have?

1. Because they never had a principle of spiritual life^*. Things that move from a principle of life are constant, as the motion of the pulse: but things artificial are apt to be at a stand, and their motion ceaseth. As a clock when the weights are hung on, goes; but take off the weights, and it stands. So the Apostate never moves in Religion, but for gain and applause; and when these weights are taken off, he is at a stand, he goes no further. That branch must needs wither that hath no root to grow upon.