Mr. Flavel, speaking of these changeable professors, says, "These professors have more of the moon than of the sun; little light, less heat, and many changes. They deceive many, yea, they deceive themselves, but cannot deceive God. They want that ballast and establishment in themselves, that would have kept them tight and steady." Flavel, Touchstone, ch. 2, sec. 2, [pp. 18–19].
They are like the waters in the time of a shower of rain, which during the shower, and a little after, run like a brook, and flow abundantly; but are presently quite dry: and when another shower comes, then they will flow again.
Whereas a true saint is like a stream from a living spring; which though it may be greatly increased by a shower of rain, and diminished in time of drought; yet constantly runs (John 4:14, "The water that I shall give him, shall be in him, a well of water springing up," etc.): or like a tree planted by such a stream, that has a constant supply at the root, and is always green, even in time of the greatest drought. Jeremiah 17:7–8, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river; and shall not see when heat cometh; but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought; neither shall cease from yielding fruit."
Many hypocrites are like comets, that appear for a while with a mighty blaze; but are very unsteady and irregular in their motion (and are therefore called wandering stars, Jude 13), and their blaze soon disappears, and they appear but once in a great while.
But the true saints are like the fixed stars, which, though they rise and set, and are often clouded, yet are steadfast in their orb, and may truly be said to shine with a constant light.
Hypocritical affections are like a violent motion; like that of the air that is moved with winds (Jude 12).
But gracious affections are more a natural motion, like the stream of a river; which though it has many turns hither and thither, and may meet with obstacles, and run more freely and swiftly in some places than others; yet in the general, with a steady and constant course, tends the same way, till it gets to the ocean.
And as there is a strange unevenness and disproportion in false affections, at different times; so there often is in different places. Some are greatly affected from time to time, when in company; but have nothing that bears any manner of proportion to it, in secret, in close meditation, secret prayer, and conversing with God, when alone, and separated from all the world.4
"The Lord is neglected secretly, yet honored openly; because there is no wind in their chambers to blow their sails; and therefore there they stand still. Hence many men keep their profession, when they loose their affection. They have by the one a name to live (and that is enough), though their hearts be dead. And hence so long as you love and commend them, so long they love you; but if not, they will forsake you. They were warm only by another's fire, and hence having no principle of life within, soon grow dead. This is the water that turns a Pharisee's mill." Shepard, Parable, pt. I, p. 180.
"The hypocrite," says Mr. Flavel, "is not for the closet, but the synagogue; Matthew 6:5–6: 'Tis not his meat and drink to retire from the clamor of the world, to enjoy God in secret." Flavel, Touchstone, ch. 7, sec. 2, [p. 148].
Dr. Ames, in his Cases of Conscience, speaks of it as a thing by which sincerity may be known, "That persons be obedient in the absence, as well as in the presence of lookers-on; in secret, as well, yea more than in public"; alleging Philippians 2:12 and Matthew 6:6. Ames, Cases of Conscience, bk. III, ch. 5, [p. 55].
A true Christian doubtless delights in religious fellowship, and Christian conversation, and finds much to affect his heart in it: but he also delights at times to retire from all mankind, to converse with God in solitary places.
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