Hence it stimulates the soul to an active pursuit of its chief good But many decline in their apprehension of divine thingsThey neither see so clearly, nor feel so powerfully the truths of God as they once did They consequently relax their diligence in the ways of God Such persons are evidently in the state of those at Sardis-] Our hope [Faith sees the reality, and hope anticipates the enjoy ment of heavenly things When hope is lively it serves as an anchor of the soul- Then the future prospects are less valued- We are more discouraged with any difficulties- In this state the things that remain are ready to die-] Our love [Love is as wings to the believing soul It carries us on with ardour and delight It makes us entertain low thoughts of all we do- But when it decays, we lose our fervour Duties become a burden and a task They are performed with less frequency and spiritualityWe endure with less concern the hidings of God's faceWe We are more indifferent respecting his return to our soulsWe feel less solicitude to please or honour him What can more strongly indicate the dying state of a soul?-] Moreover the things which remain are ready to die, when our corruptions increase Graces and corruptions are as the scales of a balance— The growth of corruption argues the decay of the divine life And such decay is manifest 1. When our besetting sin resumes its ascendency [It is the effect of grace to mortify and subdue our besetting sin But that sin is rarely if ever extinguished in this worldIt is generally the first that discovers our declensionsWhen that regains its power, we are sure that it is ill with the soul-] 2. When our natural hardness and obduracy of heart return [Divine grace brings a tenderness of spirit It shews itself by humiliation and contrition But sin will blind the eyes, and harden the heart In this state we shall feel less compunction in or after the commission of sin— When conscience thus fails in its office we are in a dying state indeed-] 3. When we are unwilling to be reclaimed [A heart duly impressed desires the light But persons in a backslidden state often feel averse to it They are backward to be told of their faults— They willingly expose themselves to the temptations of sin— This is the worst symptom that a living soul can experience-] May God now accompany with his blessing II. Our Lord's advice to persons in such a state None can more need advice for their bodies, than these for their souls 1. Be watchful Against self-deception [There are many things which may hide our condition, from us We may easily mistake gifts for graces We may attribute to God's Spirit what results from the operation of natural principles We may be less sensible of decay because it happens to be gradual The heart will suggest many plausible excuses It may satisfy itself also with hopes of a speedy revivalBut "be not deceived; God is not mocked"-] Against the occasions of sin [Many fall by means of their excessive care about worldly business Others decline through mixing too much with worldly company Too free an use even of lawful things injures many- Resist them in future on their first appearance-] 2. Strengthen the things that remain Go to Christ for his Spirit [Christ is the only source of spiritual strengthe In vain will be all human endeavours without his aid—. Go then, and plead with him that promised— "They that dwell under his shadow shall return," &c.-] Exercise your graces more diligently [Every thing improves by exercise Put forth therefore your faith, your hope, your love— "Stir up the gift of God that is in you". You will then experience the truth of that promisef_] Lay home upon your heart the most powerful considerations [Think how uncomfortable a declining state is! how dishonourable to God, and dangerous to your own souls! Consider that if God ever restore you, he may do it in such a way as shall be extremely terrible and distressing But what if he should "come at an unexpected hour?"— Let instant attention then be paid to the direction following the text] ADDRESS 1. To those who have no marks of life in them [They who are in a declining state are in great dangerIf they be not restored "their last state will be worse than their beginning" What danger then must they be in who exercise no graces, and indulge numberless corruptions! Oh! repent, ere it be too late-] 2. To those who are enjoying the divine life ["Be not high-minded, but fear," and be watchful— "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"If it be difficult to proceed, it is still more so to recover lost ground Remember your strength consists in depending upon Christ When you are weak in yourselves, then only are you truly strong Comfort yourselves with that description of your almighty guardian"] b Prov. iv. 14, 15. e Rev. iii. 1. "He hath the seven spirits of God," i. e. a fulness of all the gifts and graces of the Spirit, with a power to dispense them in all their perfection and variety. d Jer, iii. 22. & Rev. iii. 3. e Hos. xiv. 7. f 2 Pet. i. 10, 11. Jude 24. LXXVI. A CHRISTIAN'S DYING REFLECTIONS. 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. CHRISTIANITY adapts its comforts to every part of our existence But its influence is peculiarly visible at the close— St. Paul, when expecting death, was not without the most comfortable reflections, I. In his review of the past He had had different views of life from what are generally entertained [Many think they have little to do but to consult their own pleasure But St. Paul had judged, that he had many important duties to fulfil-] He had devoted himself to the great ends of life [He had maintained a warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil He had run his race with indefatigable zeal and ardour"He had kept the faith with undaunted courage and constancy He had disregarded life itself when it stood in competition with his duty-] Hence the approach of death was pleasant [He enjoyed the testimony of a good conscience He could adopt the language of his Lord and MasterHe was a prisoner without repining, or wishing to escapeHe was condemned, and could wait with complacency for the tyrant's stroke-] In consequence of this, he was happy also II. In the prospect of what was to come He had long enjoyed the earnest of eternal blessings— 1 Cor. ix. 26. e John xvii. 4. b Acts xx. 24. and xxi. 16. Eph. i. 14. He looked forward therefore now to the full possession of them [A crown of righteousness means a most exalted state of holiness and happiness in heaven Nor did he doubt but that such a reward was laid up for him-] He did not however expect it on account of any merit in himself of "righ [He speaks of it indeed as bestowed in a way of " teous" retribution— But he expected it wholly as the "gift" of God through Christe-] Nor did he consider it as a gift peculiar to himself as an apostle [The "longing for Christ's second coming" is a feeling common to all Christians For them also is this crown of righteousness reserved-] INFER* 1. How does the apostle's experience condemn the world at large! [The generality are strangers to spiritual consolations But there is no true religion where they are not experienced Let all consider what would be their reflections, and pros pects, if they were now dying Let all live the life of the righteous, if they would die his death-1 2. How amply does God reward his faithful servants! [Poor and imperfect are the best services that they can render Yet how different is their state from that of others both in and after death! Let all then devote themselves entirely to God-] e Rom. vi. 23. f 2 Pet. iii. 12. 8 Heb. ix. 28. If this were the subject of a funeral sermon, it might be improved in reference to the deceased and the survivors, to shew that the former resembled the apostle, and to stimulate the latter to a due improvement of their time. |