Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading and guiding to true happines, both in this life, and in the life to come: and may be called the practise of Christianitie. Profitable for all such as heartily desire the same: in the which, more particularly true Christians may learne how to leade a godly and comfortable life euery day. Penned by Richard Rogers, preacher of the word of God at Wethersfield in Essex.

CHAP. 6. Of another let: The leauing our first loue. [ G]

NOW followeth the second let in this first sort, that is: that many such as do hold on in some Christian course, do yet lose and fall from their first loue, not for a short time, as they before mentioned, but euen for years & dayes as they say: whē yet, they hauing once receiued it of the Lord at their first effectuall calling and conuersion, it ought to grow vp with them and accompanie them throughout their life, to make euery part of it more sweet and comforta∣ble. [ H] And great reason there is, why it should be so: for if we be truly conuer∣ted vnto God, the longer that we haue bene trained vp in his house (which is the militant Church) and tasted of the diet of his seruants how good it is in comparison of any other; the more we had need to take liking of his seruice, and with all chearefulnesse to liue in it afterwards, which at our first entrance we saw so great cause to like and approue of. In so much, that although wee shall haue strong perswasions to waxe wearie and slouthfull therein; yet there are many more and greater considerations to moue vs to constancie and good liking in the same.

But that it may the better be seene what our first loue is, I will in fewe [ I] words lay foorth the same. We are to know therefore, that when God first called vs from darknesse to light, and from vnder Sathans tyrannie and feare of hell to see our selues deliuered from them, which we saw were by our sinne due vnto vs; and that yet for all that, he would pardon our sins, receiue vs graci∣ously and loue vs freely, whereas before we were his enemies: this astonished vs, and after due consideration, inflamed our hearts and caused vs to admire this kindnesse of his, and to esteeme and preferre it before all pleasures, and to haue our hearts knit to him for it: for this loue of his constrained vs to loue him most feruently and dearely againe. Which our Sauiour Christ knowing well, asked of Peter in that case, if he loued him not more then the rest; euen [ K] as Dauid also calling the same to mind, brake out into these wordes, saying: I loue the Lord, because in the sorrowes of death he heard and deliuered me.

Thus when we first saw the exceeding loue of God and Christ to vs, we could not (I say) but loue him sensibly and heartily; and therefore our bre∣thren; and so his word and Ministers that brought vs tidings of it: for we no sooner beleeued, but faith that worketh by loue, wrought this in vs. And seeing

[ A] we loued him, we therefore began to keepe his commaundements. And this is the cause why Gods people are affected thus, and delight in his seruice, and one in another, as they haue perswasion of their true conuersion; and do therefore other duties readily, which others will not set vpon, nor go about: and this is that which the Scripture calleth Our first loue. Thus feruent are Gods children in the beginning, to the admiration of many; and no dutie is thought too great for them to perfourme to him, as he thinkes nothing too good to bestow vpon them. Yea, it may truly be said, If euer we loued, we loued God and Christ more then any thing; as Paule sheweth to the Philip∣pians: and our brethren; as it is in the Psalme, All my delight is in the Saints [ B] vpon earth: and the Ministers; as Paule speaketh, I beare you witnesse, that to do me good, you would haue plucked out your eyes.

Now then, to come to our purpose, when this loue shall waxe cold (as here our Sauiour chargeth many with it, and many now a dayes are iustly to be charged for it) is it not an intollerable trecherie? When we shal let slake in vs the consideration of such loue of God to vs in Christ, which neuer faileth, nor chaungeth towards vs; and we thought sometime, that it could neuer be forgotten of vs: is not this slaking of our loue towards him, a iust cause of complaint against vs? And do we not declare thereby, that either we be growne dull, slouthfull: forgetfull, or that we thinke, that the Lord hath ceas∣sed [ C] to be mercifull? Is it not a plaine testifying, that we thinke we are not re∣garded and prouided for by him, so as we may continue all wonted duties and seruices towards him? Yea rather, are we not iustly to be charged that we are couenant-breakers, or haue (as adulteresses) broken our faith to our first husband?

Whereas we hauing so long enioyed the priuiledges of his people and ci∣tizens, should now much more do so, and looke confidently for the promi∣sed reward, our saluation being now nearer then when we first beleeued. For why should pleasure or profite, wealth or fauour, things present or to come, put out of place that loue of God in vs, or cause vs for thē to be rebuked? Why [ D] should not our workes be more at the last, then at the first; as our knowledge is more, and our experience greater? And therefore who seeth not cause suffi∣cient, that our affections of first loue should continue?

I may iustly make a heauie complaint of the decay thereof in many Mini∣sters, whose glorie and crowne it was sometime, to see the peoples profiting in godlinesse, as Paul saith; whose meate and drinke was, to do the will of their Father, and who did well prooue that they loued Christ more then all other things, by their diligence in feeding his sheepe and lambes: and what prey or bootie soeuer they haue met with, and got since, sure I am, that some of them do sometime wish those seasons past, were now present still. And whatsoeuer [ E] causes of this decay they alleadge, yet when they weigh their case vprightly, they can say no lesse, but the fault is principally in themselues. How many of the people also may I speake of, who verifie that saying of Christ: Iohn was a burning light, and for a season ye delighted in him? who neither can honour God, as then they did, nor giue that light to other? All which I wish to con∣sider that which was said to them that had offended in the like case: I haue somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first loue: Remember from whence

thou art fallen and repent, &c. [ F]

Thus I haue in some sort laid foorth this first loue, which God by his spi∣rit worketh in all his elect children when he first bringeth them home, and maketh them to know how greatly they are bound to him for their so admi∣rable deliuerance and happie conuersion. And herewith I haue shewed, how easily both teacher and hearer leaue and depart from the same, and fall from it, though otherwise they keepe some course in seruing God; as the Church of Ephesus did, whom yet the Lord reproued sharpely for that they had lost this. For thus he saith: I know thy workes, and thy labour, and thy patience, and that thou canst not beare with them that are euill, &c. Neuerthelesse I haue some∣what against thee, that thou hast left thy first loue. [ G]

Our Sauiour likewise in Saint Mathew foretelleth, that this should be one thing among many other worthily to be complained of, That in the lat∣ter dayes (in which these wherein we now liue, are reckoned) the loue euen of many good Christians, (as also of such as seemed by good likelihood to be so) shall decay and waxe cold: whereby, what other thing did he meane then this; that mens affection in the worshipping and seruing of God, the zeale of his glorie, loue to their brethren, and feruencie towards the preaching of the Gospell, should be sore and much abated ouer it was in the beginning, when they first embraced it and were enlightened by it to beleeue in him. And as though he would teach, that it should be a very hard thing to recouer this [ H] first loue againe, he giueth this watch-word in the same place: [But they that continue to the end shall be saued.] Whereby (me thinke••) he doth liuely ad∣monish and warne all sound-hearted Christians, to looke heedfully and care∣fully to nourish and preserue that holy, pure, and first sparkle of grace kindled in them, against all that might come in the way to quench and put out the fame.

As though he would say: Although all pietie and christian care of honou∣ring God be not extinguished in men; yet if they decline thus farre, to suffer their earnest and feruent affection and loue to God and goodnes, to be coo∣led in them: euen this is a blemish not to be borne or allowed; and a sinne, [ I] which both God cannot nor will not beare and passe by in them, and which striketh at the very life and saluation of those that offend in that manner; and such a losse as will be hardly recouered againe. And, though in other wordes, yet fully to the same purpose, Saint Paul speaketh to the Thessalonians, when he saith: Quench not the spirit: as if he would say, The worke of grace wrought in you by the spirit of God, to fixe your delight on heauenly things, and not on the earth; and whereby ye were caried to set vp in your hearts, the Crea∣tor and the things which he commaundeth, before the creature: this worke of the spirit destroy ye not; neither let your feruent desires and holy affecti∣ons which haue bene kindled in you therby, be as fire which water quēched. [ K]

Now then, if the words of our Sauiour both to the church of Ephesus, and his prophesie of that which should come to passe in the last dayes, how the loue euen of the godly should waxe cold (which he spake as a thing both ad∣mirable, and to be much lamented;) and withall, this exhortation of the Apo∣stle, of not quenching the spirit, be of any weight with vs: why is it at this day with many (which are of good hope, that they appertaine to God) as it

[ A] is, and as we see it to be? that is to say, that their good beginnings haue bene turned into vnlike, euen daungerous proceedings?

For in many it may be seene, of whom it may as truly be said, that they are nothing like the people which once they were, when they first embraced the Gospell. I might iustly make the complaint of any which haue bene but aba∣ted in their zeale and feruent loue of good things, (of which sort there are in∣numerable:) but I would I might not also charge numbers that they are dis∣guised, being so farre off from forward and zealous professors (which once they were) that (as Saint Paule complaineth of the Corinthians) they are now full ; yea, they thinke it meere foolishnesse to hunger after knowledge, and [ B] thirst after grace; and as new borne babes, to desire the sincere milke of the word, that they may grow thereby: who if they thinke much to be still called babes, and so to desire milke; yet I hope, though they be men growne, they must still hunger after strong meate. But howsoeuer it be, and howsoeuer some haue degenerated from their first loue more then others, it is too fearefull to see, (I say not, how many haue no affection, neither beare any heartie good will to the sincere preaching of the Gospell, neither at any time euer did: for who can number them?) but it is too fearefull (I say) to see how many of them are chaunged who began well: and (as the Apostle saith) Ranne well; but they haue bene letted in such wise as they obey not the truth.

[ C] If wearinesse of, at least wise, litle pleasure taking in the publike ministerie, neglect of priuate conference and of exhorting and edifying one another, vntowardnesse to good workes and shaking off loue to the brethren, imbra∣cing the world and the entertaining of ill companionship, with hart-burning against the Preachers for telling them the truth, whom sometime they loued and reuerenced highly; and if the making of no conscience of open sinnes, where secret and small ones could not sometimes haue bene abidden: if (I say) these and such like in men, where the contrarie haue bene, be signes that the first loue is cooled and sore decayed; there are enough, who giue iust cause of complaining.

[ D] Euen these (I say) are sufficiently conuicted, to haue left their first loue, who are thus eclipsed and darkened as I haue said. For how can others be drawne by their examples, when they see them not to hold out the profession of their hope with ioyfulnesse as they were wont? Nay, how can they choose but be more backward in religion and discouraged by the same? Indeed I confesse, it requireth the whole man to be taken vp and employed in this worke, that God may be serued of vs with such chearefulnesse and readines as he was at the beginning: but what then? Can we for all that denie, that we ought to be employed with all possible care therein? And what day cometh ouer our heads, wherein God giueth vs not encouragement hereunto? For [ E] what day do we not, or may we not, make our hearts merrie with the Lords fauour freely graunted vs, and his louing countenance shining vpon vs?

And can it be any lesse then our great sinne, to haue our hearts going after straunge delights, which shall shoulder out this which is the greatest? I grant we are renewed but in part, and that much corruption remaineth to cloy and incumber vs; and through Sathans malice and vigilancie, not onely to hin∣der, but euen to hold vnder goodnesse in vs; especially through so many

occasions and prouocations as we walke subiect to in the world. But yet for [ F] all that, may we not shake off our feruencie and diligence in doing the Lords worke. And although we cannot auoide it, but we shall be nearely laid at, and narrowly beset with all manner of hinderances, both allurements and discouragements; so as we shall be broken off againe and againe: yet must we therefore know, that our life is called and so we must find it, euen a continu∣all battell with our lusts worldly and vnruly, and our affections vnmortified: and we must accustome ouerselues hereto carefully, seeing the Lord hath pro∣mised, to teach our fingers to fight and our hands to warre: that in time wee may be expert, rather then cowardly to faint, or trecherously to run away.

Yea but ye will say: We are ignorant in many points how to behaue our [ G] selues; which procureth vs no small disaduantage. And I say againe, by the grace of God, that ignorance shall not greatly hurt vs, which we cannot be without: but shall serue to humble vs onely. Yea, but we are forgetfull also, (ye will say) & that much troubleth vs. To this I answer, as to the former: It is not this that can vnsettle vs, if we adde not thereunto our owne witting & wil∣full negligence. And if ye obiect, that for all our care and watch to nourish and preserue grace and holy affections in vs; yet who is so circumspect and vi∣gilant, but he shall be vnsetled and turned out of his course before he be a∣ware? I aunswer againe: Howsoeuer this be or come to passe, it is but to the end we shold rise vp & recouer by making our mone to our God, who cānot [ H] be without pitie towards vs: yea, if we haue felt bitternesse arise in our hearts against this christian course which is the Lords yoke, and vnder our afflicti∣ons; yet let not this dismay vs from clinging and cleauing to him; we are his, and he will forgiue and receiue vs againe. I haue obiected the hardest that is wont to hinder and breake off our first loue: and were our hearts daily set to count it our greatest worke to keepe it, (as how great are our helpes and en∣couragements hereto?) God witnessing to that I say: though many doe, who will not be counselled; yet we should not be they who shall lose their first loue.

And thus much of this second let arising from want of some necessarie [ I] thing, namely, of our first loue: where in the way of aunswering obiections, I haue set downe the remedie against it.

Notes

• The second spe∣ciall let ari∣sing from want
• Act. 26.18.
• Hos. 14 5.
• Ioh. 14.24. VVhat our first loue is.
• 2. Cor. 5.8. Rom. 5.5. Ioh. 15.9. & 10 Ioh. 21.15. Psal. 116.1. 1. Ioh. 5.1. Rom. 10.15. Luc. 7.47. Psal. 119.97. Gal. 5.6. Heb. 10.32.
• Ioh 14.16.
• Reu. 2 4. Math. 2.12.
• Phil. 3.8.
• Luc. 10.42. Psal. 119.97. Psal. 16.3. Gal 4.15.
• Ioh. 13.1.
• Hos. 1.
• Rom. 13.13.
• Reu. 2.21.
• 1. Thes. 2.19.20. Ioh. 4.34.
• Ioh. 21.15.
• Ioh. 5.35.
• Reu. 2.2.
• The cooling of loue foretold.
• Mat. 24.12.
• Hard to reco∣uer our first loue being lost.
• Take heed in time.
• The danger great:
• Thes. 5.19. Col. 3.1.
• VVhich many find and feele.
• Giuing iust cause to others to lament their case.
• 1. Cor. 4.8.
• 1. Pet. 2.2.
• Heb. 5.14.
• Gal. 5.7.
• Signes, or ef∣fects thereof.
• To keepe our first loue, a hard worke.
• Yet a dutie commaunded by the Lord,
• VVho also en∣courageth vs thereto.