September 16

Thou hast left thy first love. - Revelation 2:4.

WE should always make a difference between unavoidable infirmities and those declensions which, by the grace of God, we may escape. None of us advance as we ought to do; but this is still very distinguishable from turning into by-paths, or drawing back when in a proper road. How then are we to understand this charge? If we consider the words as applying to the Church of Christ in the present day collectively, then the charge may refer to the declension in the number and graces of the present race of professors, as compared with their predecessors; and this is no unusual thing.

The gospel, when introduced into a place, is commonly more successful at first. The Church resembles a newly-opened mine, which works freely at first, but afterwards requires much labour and yields little; so that by-and-by the owner abandons it, only leaving round the mouth some rubbish and cinders to tell the passengers there was once a mine. Everything in the Christian profession is prone to degenerate. Where is the denomination or church that has long remained in its glory? This reproof will apply also to individuals.

There were those who had fallen, and the charge is, the declension of their first love. In order to understand this, we may observe that a Christian’s feelings towards Divine things are commonly very lively and warm at first. They have the charm of novelty, and there is a simplicity of character which is lost afterwards, through changes arising out of new connections, new conditions, new circumstances, which by their intermixture debase, though they do not destroy, its nature. The young convert resembles a child, more remarkable for affectionate feelings than for knowledge or courage or anything solid; and such a character is very pleasing.

“A tree,” says Mr. Newton, “is most valuable in autumn, when laden with fruit; but more lovely in spring, when covered with blossoms.” God himself notices this in his address to the Jews by Jeremiah: “I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.” God loves a warm heart in religion. This is peculiarly desirable, and more acceptable to God than dull, dry indifference; man judgeth by the outward appearance, but God looketh at the heart. If Christ were to address us from heaven, might not his language be, concerning us-It is true you serve me; but it is rather from a sense of duty than privilege. It is true you hear my word, but not with that lively attention as at the beginning. It is true you observe my Sabbaths; but you do not hail them as heretofore, singing at their dawn,

“Welcome, sweet day of rest,

That saw the Lord arise,

Welcome to this reviving breast

And these rejoicing eyes.”

It is true you do not altogether “restrain prayer before God;” but where are those strong crying and tears by which it was once distinguished? where are those frequent and fervent ejaculations, “Lord, help me?” It is true you do not verbally deny me before men; but how often do you find it difficult to confess me? You sometimes wish to escape the shame of the cross; how then can you glory in it? You have not abandoned my cause; but where is the zeal that induced you to say, “Who is weak, and I am not weak! who is offended, and I burn not!” But we may understand the charge generally. It is said of Jehoshaphat that he walked in the first ways of his father David; and it is a sad implication that his first ways were his best ways. We have reason to believe that the king never equalled the shepherd in devotion.