Gods husbandry

CHAP. XVII. Containing the first use of the last point, viz. a terror to them that grow worse.

CHAP. XVII. Containing the first vse of the last poynt, viz. a terrour to them that grow worse.

Now this point concerning the branches bringing forth more fruit, Use 1 ¹serveth to discover the unhappiness of those men, in whom no such growth is found, but the quite contrary, viz. that are grown backwards and fallen behind hand, being more feeble in all graces, and scant in all good works, then formerly they were wont to be. And thus, alack, it is with many a man. Time was, when they were frequent in hearing the Word of God, and could not be kept from it by any means: now their hunger after it is turned into fullness, and the least occasion that is, will detain them from it; yea, rather then fail, they will quarrel with the Minister, (either for some point of doctrine which he teacheth contrary to their minds, or for some faultiness in the manner of teaching, or for some mis-behaviour of life, or for some thing or other, against ⟨p. 138⟩which they can allege any probable show of quarrel) rather then that they will not seem to themselves to have cause of not caring to come to hear. They were wont to read much, and pray often, and take time to meditate upon those things which they had heard; but now all these things are either quite laid aside, or very seldom performed: once they were abundant in works of mercy, now they are scant and sparing: formerly they were lively in their services, now little less then dead: and so it is with them, that any man which hath occasion of conversing with them, may plainly perceive them to be changed from better to worse. O, this is a lamentable condition, having its original in the overgrowth of voluptuousness, worldliness, pride, or some other like carnal affection, and shall have its issue either in some grievous sin, or heavy calamity, or both, even though they be Gods children. I dare not say, brethren, that it may not befall a true Christian, thus to fade for a season, (and yet the withering of the blade is a sore sign of a stony ground:) But this I dare say, that unless they do seasonably recover themselves, and return to their former goodness, or more, the Lord will surely chastise them in grievous manner, sending some or other heavy calamity upon them, either inward or outward; or if he do not so fetch them home again, this decay of seeming graces, is in truth the first degree of the cutting off of Hypocrites.