Chap. 22.

Directions given for Recovery.

221

self from them. And I would remind you, that the Remedy must begin, where the first Cause or Complaint prevailed, I mean, in the Closet. Take some Time for Recollection, and ask your own Conscience seriously, How Matters stand between the blessed GOD, and your Soul? Whether they are as they once were, and as you could wish them to be, if you saw your Life just drawing to a Period, and were to pass immediately into the Eternal State? One serious Thought of Eternity, shames a Thousand vain Excuses, with which, in the Forgetfulness of it, we are ready to delude our own Souls. And when you feel that secret misgiving of Heart, which will naturally arise on this Occasion, do not endeavour to palliate the Matter, and to find out slight and artful Coverings, for what you cannot forbear secretly condemning; but honestly fall under the Conviction, and be humbled for it. Pour out your Heart before Gon, and seek the renewed Influences of His Spirit and Grace. Return with more Exactness to secret Devotion, and to Self-Examination. Read the Scripture with yet greater Diligence, and especially the more Devotional and Spiritual Parts of it. Labour to ground it in your Heart, and to feel, what you have Reason to believe the Sacred Penmen felt when they wrote, so far as Circumstances may agree. Open your Soul with all Simplicity, to every Lesson which the Word of God would teach you; and guard against those Things, which you perceive to alienate your Mind from inward Religion, though there be nothing criminal in the Things themselves. They may perhaps in the general be lawful; to some possibly they may be expedient; but if they produce such an Effect as was mentioned above, it is certain they are not convenient for you. In these Circumstances, above all seek the Converse of those Christians, whose Progress in Religion seems most remarkable, and who adorn their Profession in the most amiable Manner. Labour to obtain their Temper and Sentiments, and lay open your Case and your Heart to them, with all the Freedom which Prudence will permit. Employ yourself at Seasons of Leisure, in reading Practical and Devotional Books, in which the Mind and Heart of the pious Author is transfused into the Work, and in which you

ર

can

222 These Precautions to be presently taken. Chap. 22.

can (as it were) taste the genuine Spirit of Christianity, And to conclude, Take the first Opportunity that presents, of making an Approach to the Table of the Lord, and spare neither Time, nor Pains, in the most serious Preparation for it. There renew your Covenant with GoD: put your Soul anew into the Hand of Christ, and endeavour to view the Wonders of His dying Love, in such a Manner as may rekindle the languishing Flame, and quicken you to more vigorous Resolutions than ever, to live unto Him who died for you (e). And watch over your own Heart, that the good Impressions you then feel, may continue. Rest not, till you have obtained as confirmed a State in Religion, as you ever knew. Rest not, till you have made a greater Progress than before: For it is certain, more is yet behind; and it is only by a Zeal to go forwards, that you can be secure from the Danger of going backward, and revolting more and more.

§. 12. I only add, that it is necessary to take these Precautions as soon as possible; or you will probably find a much swifter Progress than you are aware in the downhill Road; and you may possibly be left of GOD, to fall into some gross and aggravated Sin, so as to fill your Consciences with an Agony and Horror, which the Pain of broken Bones (f) can but imperfectly express.

A PRAYER for one under Spiritual Decays.

ET

TERNAL and Unchangeable JEHOVAH! Thy "Perfections and Glories are like Thy Being, ❝immutable. JESUS Thy Son, is the same Yesterday, "To-Day, and for ever (g). The Eternal World to "which I am hastening, is always equally important, and presses upon the attentive Mind for a more fixed and solemn Regard, in Proportion to the Degréo in which it comes nearer and nearer. But alas, my "Views, and my Affections, and my best Resolutions "are continually varying, like this poor Body, which

goes through daily and hourly Alterations in its State "and Circumstances. Whence, O Lord, whence this "sad Change which I now experience, in the Frame and Temper of iny Mind towards Thee? Whence

(e) 2-Cor. v. 15, (f) Psal. li. 8. (g) Heb. xiii. 8,

this

Chap. 22. A Prayer for one under Spiritual Decays. 223 "this Alienation of my Soul from Thee! Why can I "not come to Thee with all the Endearments of filial "Love, as I once could? Why is Thy Service so "remissly attended, if attended at all? And why are the "Exercises of it, which were once my greatest Pleasure, "become a Burthen to me? Where, O God, is the

Blessings I once spake of (h), when my Joy in Thee 46 as my Heavenly Father, was so conspicuous, that "Strangers might have observed it, and when my Heart "did so overflow with love to Thee, and with Zeal for "Thy Service, that it was Matter of Self-Denial to me, ❝to limit and restrain the genuine Expressions of those strong Emotions of my Soul, even where Prudence and Duty require it.

"Alas, Lord, whither am I fallen! Thine Eye sees me still; but Oh how unlike what it once saw me! Cold "and insensible as I am, I must blush on the Reflec

tion.Thou seest me in secret (i), and seest me, "perhaps, often amusing myself with Trifles, in those

Seasons, which I used solemnly to devote to Thine ❝ immediate Service. Thou seest me coming into Thy "Presence as by Constraint; and when I am before "Thee, so straitened in my Spirit, that I hardly know "what to say to Thee, though Thou art the GOD with "whom I have to do; and though the keeping up an "humble and dutiful Correspondence with Thee is be yond all Comparison the most important Business of my Life. And even when I am speaking to Thee, "with how much Coldness and Formality is it? It is "perhaps the Work of the Imagination, the Labour of "the Lips: But where are those ardent Desires, those

66

intense Breathings after Gon, which I once felt? "Where is that pleasing Repose in Thee, which I was 66 once conscious of, as being near my Divine Rest, as "being happy in that Nearness, and resolving that if "possible I would no more be removed from it? But "Oh, how far am I removed? When these short * Devotions, if they may be called Devotions, are over, in what long Intervals do I forget Thee, and appear so little animated with Thy Love, so little devoted to Thy Service, that a Stranger might converse with 02 65 me

&

224

A Prayer under Spiritual Decays.

Chap. 22.

66 me a considerable Time, without knowing that I had cc ever formed any Acquaintance with Thee, without "discovering that I had so much as known or heard 66 any Thing of God?Thou callest me to Thine "House, O Lord, on Thine own Day; but how heart"less are my Services there? I offer Thee no more than 46 a Curcase. My Thoughts and Affections are engrossed "with other Objects, while I draw near Thee with my Mouth, and honour Thee with my Lips (k). Thou "callest me to Thy Table; but my Heart is so frozen, "that it hardly melts even at the Foot of the Cross; "hardly feels any Efficacy in the Blood of Jesus. Oh

66

wretched Creature that I am! Unworthy of being "called Thine! Unworthy of a Place among Thy Chil ❝dren, or of the meanest Situation in Thy Family; "rather worthy to be forsaken,, yea, to be utterly "destroyed!

"Is this, Lord, the Service which I once promised, " and which Thou hast so many Thousand Reasons to

expect? Are these the Returns I am making, for Thy "daily providential Care, for the Sacrifice of Thy Son, "for the Communications of Thy Spirit, for the Pardon "of my numberless aggravated Sins, for the Hopes, "the undeserved, and so often forfeited Hopes of "Eternal Glory? Lord, I am ashamed to stand or to "kncel before Thee. But pity me, I beseech Thee,

and help me: For I am a pitiable Object indeed; "My Soul cleaveth unto the Dust, and lays itself as in "the Dust before Thee; but Oh, quicken me, according "to Thy Word (1)! Let me trifle no longer, for I am 66 upon the Brink of a Precipice! I am thinking of my "Ways, Oh give me Grace to turn my Feet unto Thy "Testimonies; to make haste without any further Delay, "that I may keep Thy Commandments (m)! Search me, "Oh Lord, and try me (n)! Go to the first Root of this "Distemper, which spreads itself over my Soul; and

recover me from it! Represent Sin unto me, O Lord, "I beseech Thee, that I may see it with Abhorrence! "and represent the Lord Jesus Christ to me in such a "Light, that I may look upon Him and mourn (0), that I may

(k) İsai, xxix. 13. (1) Psal. cxix. 25. (m) Psal, cxix. 59, 60. (n) Psal. cxxxix. 23. (0) Zech. xii. 10.

Chap. 22. A Prayer under Spiritual Decays.' 225 "I may look upon Him and love! May I awaken from this stupid Lethargy, into which I am sinking; and 66 may Christ give me more abundant Degrees of Spiritual "Life and Activity, than I have ever yet received! “And may I bé so quickened and animated by Him, "that I may more thau recover the Ground I have lost, " and may make a more speedy and exemplary Progress, than in my best Days I have ever yet done! Send down upon me, O Lord, in a more rich and abundant "Effusion, Thy good Spirit! May he dwell in me as in 63 a Temple which He has consecrated to Himself (p)! and while all the Service is directed and governed by "Him, may holy and acceptable Sacrifices be continually "offered (q)! May the Incense be constant, and may "be fragrant! May the Sacred Fire burn and blaze perpetually (r); and may none of its Vessels ever be profaned, by being employed to an unholy or for bidden Use! Amen."

(p) 1 Cor. iii. 16. (q) Rom, xii, 1.

(r) Ley. vi, 13,

it

CHAP,