Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

5. Herein is implied, that decays in grace be repaired. It is indeed certain, that there is no falling away from true Grace, that is, totally and finally; Therefore the Apostle saith of true Christians, they shall never fall, 2 Pet. 1.10. You shall, saith he, hold on in your Christian course, till you come to the end of your race, and shall never fall by the way, that is, not irrecoverably. Yet it is sadly true, that there may be gradual decays, though that stock of Grace which God bestoweth upon the Soul in its first Conversion cannot be lost; yet a gracious Christian may be, as it were, in a swooning fit sometimes. The wise Virgins slept. The lively and vigorous actings of Grace may decay yea, a man may decay in Knowledge, in Love, in Practice, that possibly he doth not pray so often as formerly, nor hear so diligently nor keep such a strict watch over his own heart, nor is so heavenly minded, nor so ⟨p. 221⟩zealous for God as once he was. A true Christian, if he be not very watchful, will be subject to not only actual, but even habitual declensions; As we see in the Christians at Ephesus, who had not only lost their first works, there was actual declensions; but their first love also, there was inward and habitual declension, Rev. 2.5. Now when it is thus, they that would work out their own Salvation, must labour for renewing, strengthening Grace. As it was said to backsliding Sardis, Repent, strengthen the things which remain, and are ready to dye, Rev. 3.2, 3. So as for decaying, dying, languishing Christians, the things which concern them, is to repent, and to seek after renewing Grace. As David in such a case did, Psal. 51.10. Renew a right spirit within me, and again, Vers. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation. This is necessary in order to working out Salvation. If a man be going to such a place, and turn out of his way, if ever he would come to his journeys end, he must return into his way again. So when a man is travelling to Heaven, if Temptation draw him aside, he must look to it, that he quickly return into the way of life again.