holiness, from the condition of obedience and communion with God
miraculous hand of God; but while these strange mercies were fresh on him, he fell into drunkenness and incest. David was delivered out of all his troubles, and the rule over his enemies round about, and he makes use of his peace from a world of troubles to contrive murder and adultery. Immediately after Hezekiah's great and miraculous deliverance he falls into pride and boasting. Their falls in such seasons seem to be permitted to instruct us all in this truth; so that no persons, in no seasons, with whatever measure of grace, can promise themselves security from its prevalence except by constantly keeping close to Him who gives supplies that are above its reach. This should make us look about us. Are we better than Noah, who had that testimony from God, that he was "a perfect man in his generation," and "walked with God?" Are we better than Lot, whose "righteous soul was vexed with the evil deeds of ungodly men," and is commended by the Holy Ghost? Are we more holy, wise, and watchful than David, who obtained this testimony, that he was "a man after God's own heart?" or better than Hezekiah, who appealed to God himself, that he had served him uprightly, with a perfect heart? And yet we see what rule this law of sin worked in and over them. They are set up as buoys to show us the rocks, where they made their shipwreck, and would have done to their ruin, had not God prevented it in his faithfulness.
2. It manifests its power in the habitual backsliding from zeal and holiness, from the condition of obedience and communion with God they had attained, which are found in many believers. Promises of improvement are many and precious, the means excellent and effectual, the benefits great and unspeakable; yet it often happens, that decays and backsliding are found on professors, and on many of the saints of God. Now, whereas this must principally be from the strength of indwelling sin, the observation itself is true, - namely, that some of the saints often decline from that growth in faith, grace, and holiness which might be expected from them, - and then show that the cause of this evil lies in what we are dealing with. To prevail on true believers to a sinful decline and gradual apostasy, requires more strength than prevailing on unsound professors to total apostasy; as the wind which will blow down a dead tree will scarcely shake a
living, well-rooted tree. But this it will do. There is mention made in the Scripture of "the first ways of David," and they are commended above his latter, 2 Chronicles 17:3. The last ways of David were tainted with the power of indwelling sin. Though we have mention only of the actual eruption of sin, yet that uncleanness and pride which was working in him in numbering the people were certainly rooted in a decline from his first frame. Those rushes did not grow without mire. David would not have clone so in his younger days, when he followed God in the wilderness of temptations and trials, full of faith, love, humility, brokenness of heart, zeal, tender affection to all the ordinances of God; all which were eminent in him. But his strength is impaired by the deceitfulness of sin, and he becomes a prey to lusts and temptations. We have a notable instance in most of the churches that our Saviour awakens to consider their condition in Revelation. We may single out one of them. Many good things were in the church of Ephesus, Revelation 2:2, 3, for which it is greatly commended; but it is charged with a gradual falling off: Verses 4, 5, "You have left your first love. Remember therefore from whence you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works." There was a decay, both inward as to faith and love, and outward as to obedience and works, by the testimony of Christ himself. The same also might be showed concerning most of the other churches. Five of them are charged with backsliding. Hence there is mention in the Scripture of the "kindness of youth," of the "love of espousals," with great commendation, Jeremiah 2:2, 3; of our "first faith," 1 Timothy 5:12; of "the beginning of our confidence," Hebrews 3:14. And cautions are given that we "lose not what we have worked for" 2 John 8. A habitual decline from first commitments to God, from first communions with God, from first strictness in duties of obedience, is common amongst professors.
So let us ask; -
(1.) Is their zeal for God as warm, living, vigorous, as it was at the first? or rather, is there not a selfish frame of spirit come on most professors? Iniquity has abounded, and their love has waxed cold. Was it not of old a burden to their spirits to hear the name, and ways, and
worship of God blasphemed? Could they not have said, with the psalmist, Psalm 119:136, "Rivers of waters run clown our eyes, because men keep not your law?" Were not their souls solicitous about the interest of Christ in the world, like Eli's about the ark? Did they not contend earnestly for every part of the faith once delivered to the saints especially where the grace of God and the glory of the gospel was especially concerned? Did they not labour to condemn the world by a holy lifestyle? And do now the generality of professors abide in this frame? Have they grown in it? or is there not an indifference grown on the spirits of many in this thing? do not many despise all these things, and look on their own former zeal as folly? May we not see many, who have formerly been respected, become daily a reproach to the men of the world through their follies? Is it not with them as it was of old with the daughters of Zion, Isaiah 3:24, when God judged them for their wantonness? has not the world and self utterly ruined their profession? and are they not regardless of their former commitments? are not some in an open enmity to the ways of God? They please them no more, but are evil in their eyes. But how is it with the best? Are not almost all men grown cold? are they not less committed than formerly? are they not grown weary in their religion; so things are mediocre at home, and careless in the world? at least, do they not prefer their ease and secular advantages before these things? - an attitude that Christ abhors, and declares that those in whom it prevails are none of his. Some seem to retain a zeal for truth; but wherein they make the fairest appearance, they will be found to be most abominable. They cry out against errors, - not for truth, but for party's and interest's sake. If a man is on their party and promotes their interest, however corrupt he may be in his judgment, he is embraced, and, admired. This is not zeal for God, but for a man's self. It is not, "The zeal of your house has eaten me up," but, "Master, forbid them, because they follow not with us." Better for men never to pretend to any zeal at all than to substitute such wrathful selfishness in it.
(2.) Is men's delight in the worship of God the same as in former days? do they find the same sweetness in them as they did? How precious