A Guide to Go to God, Petition 5 · Section 139 – Section 140
§. 139. Of dealing with man, as we deſire God ſhould deale with vsus.
Q. VVHo are eſpecially tyed to the condition of the fift Petition?
A. They who call God Father, and craue forgiueneſſe of him. For this Particle WEE in the condition, and the Particles OVR, VSUS, in the Preface, and in the Petitions, are all of the ſame Number and Perſon, and hauehave a mutuall reference to the ſame perſons.
Q. What doctrine hence ariſeth?
A. Saints that craue and expect mercy of God are moſt bound to ſhew mercy to man. This did the Lord preſſe vponupon his ſeruant thus, I forgaue thee all thy debt becauſe thou deſiredſt mee: ſhouldeſt not thou alſo hauehave had compaſſion on thy fellow-ſeruant, euen as I had compaſſion on thee? This alſo doth the Apoſtle eſpecially preſſe vponupon Profeſſors, Epheſ. 4. 4, 5, 6.as theſe Reaſons ſhew, There is one body, and one Spirit, euen as yee are called in one hope of your Calling: One Lord: one Faith: one Baptiſme: one God and Father of all.
By the mercy which Saints, that craue and expect mercy from God, ſhew, both God that forgiueth them, and Chriſt, for whoſe ſake God forgiueth them, are moſt glorified. The Goſpell alſo and their profeſſion thereof, are moſt graced, and honoured thereby; yea and the mouthes of ſuch enemies as watch for occaſions to diſgrace profeſſors of the Goſpell, are ſtopped. Finally the mutuall good of the members of Gods Churches is hereby much promoted.
What great and iuſt cauſe of complaint is in theſe reſpects giuen,Quarrels of Profeſſors. by reaſon of the teachy, wrathfull, reuengefull diſpoſition of many that in profeſſion of Religion are very forward. Of thoſe who in outward profeſſion make their houſes Gods Churches by the dayly exerciſes of piety therein,This complaint againſt quarrels of Profeſſors is not made as an inuectiue againſt profeſſion, but againſt ſuch as abuſe profeſſion, and made it a cloak to …ouer their hypocriſie. conſtantly offering vp their morning and euening ſpirituall ſacrifices, who alſo by frequenting the houſe of publike prayer, the miniſterie of the Word, the Lords Table, and other ſeruices of God, make great ſhew of much piety, hauehave the name of Saints, and ſeeme to expect much mercy from the Lord, of thoſe, I ſay, there be many who are full of enuy, wrath and reuenge, very quarrellous and contentious, ready to arreſt, to bind to the Peace and good behauiour, to caſt into Priſon, to commence ſuites in Law, and enter actions of treſpaſſe of defamation, and of other like pettie matters vponupon very ſleight occaſions. The Prophet foretold the Wolfe ſhould dwell with the Lambe, Iſa. 11. 6.and the Leopard lie d…wne with the Kid, &c. But now ſuch as profeſſe themſelues to bee Lambs, and Kids of Chriſts flocke can ſcarce dwell quietly one by another. Many Profeſſors are as very fire-brands as any other.Iam. 1. 27. Surely their profeſſion and religion is vaine. They mocke God, they deceiue man, they lie againſt their conſcience, when they ſay, We forgiue. Their ſinne is the greater, in that thereby they open the mouthes of prophane perſons againſt the Goſpell of Chriſt, and a profeſſion thereof.
Let vsus who call God, Father, who craue, who expect merciemercy of God, learne with what mind to do it: namely, with a mind ready and willing to do for others what we deſire to be done for vsus. Lift vp pure hands without wrath,, thou that deſireſt God to turne away his wrath from thee. Shew merciemercy thou that craueſt merciemercy of God. Be bountifull, thou that longeſt to taſte of the ſweetneſſe of Gods bountie. Forbeare thy brother, thou that wouldeſt hauehave God forbeare thee. So deale in eueryevery other reſpect, as thou prayeſt God to deale with thee. This is acceptable to God. This well becommeth thy profeſſion. This will bring much comfort to thy ſoule. Thus ſhall not thy prayer be made in vaine.
The Dutie and Parties moſt bound thereto being declared, The Perſons to whom the dutie is to bee performed are to bee ſet out.
§. 140. Of the ſeuerall kinds of debts whereby we become debters to man.
Q. VVHo are meant by DEBTERS?
A. Such as any way wrong man. For the Apoſtle ioyneth together theſe two phraſes, aPhilem. v. 18. foreign.wronged, endebted. So many wayes as one wrongeth another, he becometh a debter to him. But one may wrong another (according to thoſe ſeuerall, diſtinct heads of duties which the law enioyneth to bee performed to our neighbours) fiue waies.
1. In his place or dignitie. HereinbNumb. 12. 2. Aaron and Miriam, c—16. 3.Corah, Dathan and Abiram became Debters to Moſes. They ſpake againſt that authoritie, eminencie, and dignitie which God had giuen him.
2. In his Perſon or life. Hereind1. Sam. 19. 10, 11. &c. Saul became a debter to Dauid by perſecuting his perſon, and ſeeking to take away his life. Herein alſoeActs 2. 23. the Iewes were debters to Chriſt.
3. In his chaſtitie. Hereinf1. Sam. 25. 44 Phalti and Michal became debters to Dauid, in that (g2. Sam. 3. 14. Michal being Dauids wife) they two as man and wife liued, and kept, companie together.
4. In his goods. Herein Oneſimus became a debter to Philemon, by running from him, and purloyning his goods, which moued Saint Paul to ſay,hPhilem. v. 18. If he hauehave wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, &c.
5. In his good name. Hereini2. Sam. 16. 7, 8. Shemei became a debter to Dauid, by reproaching him, and calling him a man of bloud, a man of Beliall.
All theſe wrongs hath God expreſly forbidden in his Law: ſo as they are double debts. One as tranſgreſſions againſt God. The other as iniuries againſt men. The later of theſe kinds of debts is here meant in this condition. Of that kind are all the forenamed inſtances.