Grace, Sermon 10
X. Sermon At Lawrence Jury, London. April 13. 1651.
2 TIM. 2. 1.
Be ſtrong in the grace of God that is in Chriſt Jeſus.
WE have already handled two great Caſes of Conſcience about ſtrength of grace, about the conſiſtency of ſtrong temptations and ſtrong cortuptions with the ſtrength of grace, and ſhall now proceed to a third Caſe, which is this,
3. Whether ſtrength of grace may conſiſt with the want of thoſe ſtrong affections,Caſe 3. which Chriſtians have had at their firſt converſion?
In anſwering whereof I ſhall endeavour to ſhew three things.
1. When a man may be ſaid to loſe his firſt affections?
2. In what Caſes may a ſtrong Chriſtian want ſtrong affections?
3. Whence it is that thoſe that have ſtrong grace may want ſuch ſtrong affections as they had at their firſt Converſion?
1. When may a Chriſtian be ſaid to loſe his firſt affections? Queſt. 1.Affections are fitly compared to the pulſes of the ſoul, by which may judgement be given of the ſtate and temper of the ſoul; and that we may know when theſe affections beat low and are decayed, we may make judgement hereof.
1. When we have not ſuch eager deſires after duties.Anſw. 1. It is very remarkable, that at a Chriſtians firſt converſion, he is ſo earneſt and eager after holy duties, that he will hardly allow time for the duties of his particular calling; nay how have men at firſt tyed themſelves to hear ſo many Sermons, make ſo many Prayers, read ſo many Chapters, ſpend ſo many houres in holy Meditation by our ſelves, and good conference with other Chriſtians? But alas, afterward this fervour begins to cool and remit, and men pray leſſe, and hear more ſeldome, and this is from the multitude of their wordly occaſions. Uſually men at their firſt converſion, (which as Divines have obſerved) ordinarily doth fall out between the eighteenth and twenty eighth year of their age (though God indeed be tyed to no year) yet men at that age have uſually leſſe of the world, and ſo it comes to paſſe, that afterward when the cares and profits, and pleaſures of the world ſteal away their affections, that they grow much more remiſſe then they were at the beginning.
2. Affections may be judged to be decayed when men have not ſuch raviſhing joyes as we were wont to have.Anſw. 2. How many have been at firſt in Davids frame of heart,Pſal. 122, 1 I was glad when they ſaid to me, come let us go into the houſe of the Lord? but afterwards the overeflowing of this flood of joy by dogrees hath abated.
3. When ſenſible profit by Ordinances is abated.Anſw. 3. A man may profit by Ordinances, and yet not be ſenſible of that his profiting. A Chriſtian may grow at the root in ſolidity of grace, though it may be not ſhoot up ſo much in bloſſomes of affection.
2. In what Caſes may a ſtrong Chriſtian want ſtrong affections?Queſt. 2.
1. In caſe you have leſſe ſin in duties,Anſw. 1. though leſſe affections. A weak young convert hath oftentimes much affection in holy duties, but much corruption too. They are very ſubject to raſhneſſe and precipitancy in their Prayers, and to be proud of any ſmall meaſures of grace in duty, and too apt to have carnal dependance upon their duties: But old experienc't Chriſtians, as they have often leſſe affection, ſo leſſe ſin in duties. Papiſts have very much affection in the performance of their devotions: but alas, they have the leaven of this errour in their beſt duties, that they think they merit by them: but grown and knowing Chriſtians, though they may not be ſo affectionate in duty, as the weak, yet they may exerciſe much more grace then they do. And ſo alſo it is after duties are performed. Weak Chriſtians are apt to indulge their corruptions afterwards, thinking they have made a compenſation for their ſins by their duties: But an experienced grown Chriſtian, though not ſo affectionate in duty, yet he is carefull afterwards that he do not by ſin ſpoyle all his duties.
2. A ſtrong Chriſtian may want ſtrong affections,Anſw. 2 in caſe he hath ſtrength of judgement to recompence the want of his affections. Young trees are more ſappy, but old trees are more ſolid; Wherefore the Apoſtle prayes for the Philippians, not only that tbeir love might abound, but that their judgement might alſo abound. Phil. 1. 9.As a man that is come to his full age, though he do not grow in bulke and extenſion of parts; yet he grows intenſively, and in the conſolidation of the parts of the body: ſo old and experienced Chriſtians, …hough they have not ſo much affection; yet they have more ſolidity and clearneſſe of judgement, more experimental knowledge in the profound myſteries of the Goſpel, and more diſtinct apprehenſions of the deep things of Chriſt. A ſtrong believer, what he wants in affections he hath compenſated to him in a diſtinct and experimental knowledge of the deceitfulneſſe of his heart, of the vanity of the world, of the ſinfulneſſe of ſin, and of the tranſcendent excellency of Chriſt. New converts are raſh, inconſiderate, injudicious; and therefore we have a promiſe made to new converts, that they ſhall proceed in grace. It is a promiſe made to the Gentiles when the Kingdom of Chriſt ſhall come amongſt them, that though at the firſt they were raſh, yet it is ſaid,Iſa. 32. 4. The heart of the raſh ſhall underſtand knowledge, and the tongue of the ſtammerers ſhall be ready to ſpeak plain. Affection without knowledge will be but raſhneſſe, which (like metal in a young horſe) will be apt to precipitate him and make him ſtumble. An experienced Chriſtian though he have not ſo much ſeeming metal in his affection, yet ſhall rid more way to heaven by farre then a young Convert, and that without fear of ſtumbling. At the firſt kindling of the fire, there may be more ſmoak, though afterward the flame will be clearer: So when at firſt thou haſt much affection, afterwards thou ſhalt have a clearer judgment.
3. A ſtrong Chriſtian may want ſtrong affections in caſe it proceed from a natural temper,Anſw. 3. and not from a ſinful careleſſe diſtemper. There are ſome perſons that are naturally of a ſoft and tender diſpoſition, and theſe are naturally more affectionate; nay the woman who is the weaker veſſel, commonly her heart holds moſt affection: And ſo likewiſe there are ſome who naturally are more bound up in their affections, and are of a reſerved temper, who naturally do not break out into any great expreſſion either of the paſſion of joy or grief. We read in the Goſpel, that they that expreſt moſt affection to Chriſt at his death, and made the moſt paſſionate lamentation for him, were the women, Luke 23. 27.who naturally are of a more melting diſpoſition. Some mens diſpoſitions are like ice, they will eaſily thaw and melt; others like iron, it muſt be a a hot fire that will … them down: So it is, ſome men will be more affectionate upon a ſmall occaſion then others upon a greater, and this is from naturall diſpoſition. Melancthon was not ſo affectionate as Luther, but it is obſerved that he was more judicious.
4. In caſe of ſickneſſe and old age, and bodily weakneſſe,Anſw. 4. He that hath ſtrength of grace may yet want ſtrength of affection. The expreſſion of our affection depends much upon the temperature of the body, if bodily ſtrength and vigour be impaired, our affections muſt needs flag. As the ebbing and flowing of the ſea depends upon the motion and influence of the Moon: So our affections do ebbe and flow much what, as the ſtrength or weakneſſe of the body hath an influence upon them. As a Muſician when he is grown old, cannot ſo dexterouſly handle an inſtrument, as when he was young, though perhaps he hath now more judgement and experience in muſick; ſo it is in old age, that brings experience in the wayes of God, yet may abate affections. Old age and ſickneſſe makes the body like a tyred horſe to the active ſoul; an active traveller would faine ride away to his journeys end, but his horſe is tyred. An aged ſickly Chriſtian may have as much grace and more then ne had at firſt, and yet not be ſo able to pray; and ſo a Miniſter not ſo able to preach affectionately as before; and this from the indiſpoſition of the body.
3. Whence it is that thoſe that have ſtrength of grace,Queſt. 3. may yet want thoſe ſtrong affections which they had at their firſt converſion?
1. Becauſe at firſt converſion grace was but particularly imployed,Anſw. 1 which afterwards was more diffuſed and generally imployed. When much water runs in one Channel it makes the ſtream the ſtronger; but when there are many rivulets cut out, though there is as much and more water, yet there is not the ſame ſtrength of ſtream: So it is at our firſt converſion, all our affections made but up one ſtream, and ſo our affections ſeemed the ſtronger. A new convert hath not ſo many duties to performe as a grown Chriſtian hath, becauſe he doth not know ſo many duties. It may be at firſt all his affections run out to pray, and hear the Word, and read good books, and whileſt all the affections run in this one channel they ſeem to be very ſtrong; whereas a grown Chriſtian he hath not only theſe generall duties, but many particular duties of his calling and relations to follow, he hath many duties to perform to God and men, which a new convert knowes not, and therefore it is that though his affections may ſeem weaker, yet his grace is as ſtrong as before & ſtronger.
2. This is from the newneſs of the condition. Naturally we are much affected with any new thing,Anſw. 2. as for example, for a man that hath been many years in a dark dungeon, to be ſuddenly brought into the light, the ſuddenneſſe of the change would much affect a man. This is the ſtate of our ſouls at our firſt converſion; we are therefore brought from darkneſſe into light, and from the power of Satan unto God. 1 Pet. 2. 9.By the grace of converſion, God calls us out of darkneſſe into his marvellous light; and becauſe it is ſo marvellous, therefore it doth ſo much affect. The change at firſt converſion is very great, a man be comes another man, and man is ſo affected, that he is put into a kinde of aſtoniſhment. Yet in this caſe we muſt diſtinguiſh between ſolid affections, and floting and tranſient paſſions, which do wear off preſently, and vaniſh ſuddenly. The affections of ſome Chriſtians, eſpecially young ones, are like thoſe colours which are not in grain, they will ſoon fade. It is with a young Convert as with a man going to execution, while he is upon the ladder a pardon is unexpectedly brought, how will this man be tranſported with joy? he will leap for joy, he will in that caſe be all joy & exultation for the preſent, and it may be afterward the fluſh & torrent of his joy is abated, though his life be as dear to him as ever: So when the ſoul hath been brought by the Law of God to a ſight of its loſt condition, & then the Goſpel hath proclaimed a pardon, & the Spirit of God hath ſet on the comfort of that pardon upon his heart. Oh what raviſhments hath that ſoule for the preſent! which perhaps he ſhall not long retain, the violence of his joy is abated, but the ſolidity of it remains. The ſoule is much affected with its firſt meeting with Chriſt, and though the fluſh of that joy be over, yet the ſouls love to Chriſt is as much, and its prizing Communion with Chriſt the ſame. The Creeple when he was reſtored to ſtrength,Act. 3. 8. went leaping and praiſing God, becauſe the unexpectedneſſe of the cure did mightily affect his heart; and this is a ſecond reaſon why thoſe who are grown and ſolid Chriſtians, yet perhaps may not retain the ſame meaſure of affections they had at their firſt converſion.
3. A third Reaſon may be taken from Gods indulgence to young Converts,Anſw 3. who uſually gives in comfort according to the neceſſity of his people. It is with God our heavenly Father as with naturall Parents, they are moſt tender over their new-born children.Luke 15. 22. That parable of the returning Prodigall is very full to this purpoſe; his father did not onelyonly receive him mercifully, but bountifully too, he gave him more then was for neceſſity; not onelyonly ſho…s, but a ring; not only clothes, but the beſt robe; not only bread, but the fatted calfe, and muſick at this Feaſt, and all this was for this newly converted and repenting ſon, though his father did not entertain him ſo every day. So our God, at our firſt converſion expreſſeth much of his bounty and indulgence to his children, though afterward we may have the ſame love of God, & the ſame love to God, though the expreſſions may not be the ſame now, as formerly in thoſe daies of Gods bounty.
Let us from hence learn,Vſe. that though we have loſt thoſe affections which we had, yet we muſt
1. Labour to be ſenſible of, and humbled for thoſe decayes. A decayed condition is an uncomfortable condition; though thou haſt ſo much grace as will bring thee to heaven, yet by thy decayes thou wilt be very uncomtable here on earth.
2. Labour to get thoſe decays repaired. If thou haſt left thy firſt love, Rev. 2. 4, 5.repent and doe thy firſt works.
3. Make up the want of former affections in ſolidity of knowledge and judgement; and if the candle give not ſo great a blaze, let it give a more clear and conſtant light.
4 Labour to keep up the primitive vigour of your affections.
1. Remember you may loſe that in a ſhort time, which you may be a long time in recovering. A man may loſe more ſtrength in one weeks ſickneſſe, then many months will make reparation. A wound may be quickly made, but not ſo ſoon cured. Philoſophers wil tel us, that the way from the habit to the privation is far eaſier, then from the privation to the habit; it is far eaſier to make a ſeeing man blind, then to make a blind man ſee; ſo it is far eaſier to loſe our holy affections, then it is to recover them.
2. Labour to keep up your holy affections: for the truth of grace is more diſcerned by our affections then our actions. Acts of grace may be eaſier diſſembled then gracious affections. A Painter may paint the colour, but not the heat of the fire.
3. Labour to keep up affections as they were at firſt, becauſe it is very hard to retain them: it is hard to keep them wound up to any height. Fluſh of ſpirituall joy is like the ſea; the tide doth not ſo flow, but the ebbe doth fall as low. Bernard ſaid of theſe ſtrong guſts and great fluſh of theſe ſpirituall joyes and gracious affections,Rara hora, brevis mora. They come but ſeldom, and ſtay but a ſhort time. As in nature there is a ſpring, and then the fall of the leafe, and one day is clear, and another is cloudy: ſo it is with the beſt Chriſtian, his affections are not alwaies at the ſame pitch, at the ſame height; but it ſhould be our endeavour to cheriſh and maintain in our ſoules our firſt flouriſhing affections, in and towards the waies of God.