Sacred Therapy, Book 3 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Concerning the case of the true convert, falling asleep in carnal security under guil…tnesse of fleshly pollutions, and dreaming himself to be in no ill condition.
SOmetime the flesh so far prevaileth against the renewed work of the spirit in converts, that not only they are overtaken in a fault (Gal. 6. 1.) but also are, as it were, taken captive and led away for a time by the lust… of the flesh, and nearby recalled unto the servitude of some wicked concupiscence: In which condition, it is possible they lye sleeping a long time, till God waken them out of their deadly lethargy. And this condition, alas! is very oft to be found to the dishonour of Christian profession, in these that have begun to live blamelesly, and have fallen back to the filthy pudle of their old conversation, whereby they draw upon themselves and their families Gods wrath and sad …udgments: Of this disease we find there were not a few to be found in Corinth, 2 Cor. 12. 20, 21.
2. The causes of this fearfull condition are manyfold, and cannot easily be condescended upon: for, many defects and wicked motions of the heart, do usually concur with the neglect of duty, and commission of actual sins, against the di…ction of the conscience, at least without the remorse of conscience and true repentance, before this fearfull condition fix it self on a man; and of this sinfull sicknesse, there are sundry degrees. The first is, when the worship of God and obedience of his precepts is performed perfunctoriously, as when the confession of sin, is without sorrow for sin or remorse of sin in particulars; when prayer is made without earnest desire, to obtain the request; when deprecation of wrath is made without fear of danger; when intercession is made without sympathy and brotherly affection; when thanksgiving is offered without estimation of the benefit received; when singing of psalms is discharged without melody and harmony of the heart, when conference of holy subjects is not entertained, or discharged slightly, and without reverence; when the hearing of the Word is without attention of the mind; when the reading of the Scripture is followed without endeavour to profit thereby, without observation of the will and providence of God for edification; when the profession of religion is without zeal and fruits suitable as occasion doth offer: whosoever doth rest well pleased with himself in this case, he is overtaken by this malady.
The second degree is, when this evil goeth further on, and doth defile the outward man: as when the tongue is not bridled, the man doth not take heed what he speaketh, but lets idle speeches, profane and rotten communication fall out of his mouth, which do not only not serve unto edification, but serve also to corrupt the hearer. And he that pleases himself in this case, declares his religion vain in so far, Iam. 1. 26.
The third degree is, when this evil breaks forth in grievous scandalous practices, as in the open profession of some errour, in making or fomenting a schisme, in contention, emulation, envy, drunkennesse, laciviousnesse, fornication, or such like: for here, dead works do openly appear, and the garment of Christian profession is openly defiled. This seemeth to be the condition of many in the Church of Sardis, in whom, beside the profession of christian Religion, little spiritual life was to be found. And therefore Christ, the searcher of hearts, calleth them dead or ready to die, Rev. 3. 1, 2. Thou hast a name that thou art living, but thou art dead, or in a deadly condition tending to death certainly to follow, if it be continued in, from which condition our Lord doth except some, who had not defiled their garments, but so carryed themselves as their conversation was answerable to their holy profession, ver. 4
That this deadly sicknesse may be cured, 1. it is necessary that the conscience of such a secure sinner, be wakened both by others and by himself, and that by setting his sins before his eyes, together with the merit thereof, and the wrath of God kindled against him, and destruction at hand if he do not speedily repent him. 2. Heed must be taken of Sathans wiles, that the wakened and convicted sinner despair not; for in this case there is no small danger of it, when he who had given his name to Christ, findeth himself to be in Sathans camp and service, and wearing the badge of Sathan in giving so publick scandal to the people of God. 3. Whatsoever spunk of faith or hope, or repentance, or desire of returning unto God, and setting himself against all sin hereafter, is found iu such a person, must be entertained and fostered, lest that little sponk be extinguished which is ready to dye. 4. Let him call to mind the Word of God whereby he was first moved to turn unto God, add to consecrat himself to the service of Christ, and let him compare his sometime better conversation, with his late pollutions, that he may be ashamed, and hast himself in unto nearer fellowship with God, from whom he hath so filthily and fearfully made defection. 5. Let him be upon his guard and watch over his heart, lest he be overtaken again by the tentations of Sathan, his own corrupt nature, and the intising example of the world, lest he perish in his transgression, if he shall again provoke the Lord. 6. And last of all, let him set before himself the ample promises which Christ hath made to a victorious wrestler of this kind, Rev. 3. 5. He that overcometh the same shall be cloathed in white rayment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, &c.