The Christian in Complete Armour

Secondly, he that declines in grace, and labours not to repair it, he wrongs his brethren who have a share in one another's grace; ⟨p. 336⟩he wrongs his whole body that seeks not cure for a wound in any member. We are bid to love one another, 2 epist. of John 5. v. but how shall we show our love to one another? the very next words will direct us, And this is love, that we walk after his Commandments. Indeed we show little love to our brethren by sinning, whereby we are sure either to ensnare them or grieve them; and how to let grace go down, and sin not go up is a riddle to any that know what they both are.

Secondly, he that declines in grace, and labours not to repair it, he wrongs his brethren who have a share in one anothers grace; ⟨p. 336⟩he wrongs his whole body that seeks not cure for a wound in any member. We are bid to love one another, 2 epist. of John 5. v. but how shall we shew our love to one another? the very next words will direct us, And this is love, that we walk after his Commandments. Indeed we shew little love to our brethren by sinning, whereby we are sure either to ensnare them or grieve them; and how to let grace go down, and sin not go up is a riddle to any that know what they both are.

Thirdly, the Christian wrongs himself in not endeavouring to repair his broken armour, and recover his declining grace. By this he loses the evidence of his inheritance, at least so blots it that it cannot be so clearly perceived by him. A declining Christian must needs be a doubting Christian, because the common symptom of an hypocrite, is to wear and waste like a stake set in the ground, (which rots, while true grace like the tree grows.) Is not this the knot which the devil poseth many poor souls withal, and finds them work for many years to untie? If thou wert a Christian thou wouldest grow. Right Saints go from strength to strength, and thou goest from strength to weakness. They go up the hill to Zion, every Ordinance and Providence is a step that bears them nearer Heaven; but thou goest down the hill, and art further from thy salvation then when thou didst first believe (as thou thoughtest;) and doth it stand with thy wisdom, Christian, to put a staff into the devils hand, an argument into his mouth, to dispute against thy salvation with? If you held an estate by the life of a child, which upon the death of it should all go away from you, that child I warrant you should be well looked unto; his head should not ache, but you would post to the Physician for counsel; I pray what is your evidence for that glorious estate you hope for? Is it not Christ within you? Is not this new creature (which may well be called Christ for its likeness to him) the young heir of Heavens glory? and when that is sick or weak, is it not time to use all means for its recovery? while thus, thou canst neither live nor die comfortably. Not live; a man in a consumption has little joy of his life, he neither finds sweetness in his meat, nor delight in his work, as a healthful man doth. O how sweet is the promise to faith when active and vigorous? how easy the yoke of the Command to the Christian, when his conscience is not galled with guilt, nor hi