The Happiness of Enjoying and Use of Christ, Part 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Declaring the vanity of joyning humane obſervations to Chriſt Jeſus.
1. Terminus connexionis.BUt firſt of the terme of connexion, the particle For, rendring the reaſon why wee ſhould abſtaine from all forraigne and ſtrange guides to direct us, from all the rotten pillars of humane inventions to ſupport us, and from the broken Ciſterne of all the traditions and obſervations of men to fill us, to perfect us, to promote the welfare of our ſoules; for, or becauſe in Chriſt there is all fulneſſe, and therefore no cauſe, no need of ſtepping out from Chriſt, of caſting our eyes abroad on other lights, of joyning other things to Chriſt, of mixing and mingling other things with Chriſt. Whence we learne, that
Such is Chriſts fulneſſe, Doct. that men ought not to joyne to him other Doctrines and obſervations to further their eternall happineſſe. Such is the fulneſſe of the light of the Sunne, that the traveller need not joyne a candle of his owne thereunto, to helpe him in his travell. Such was the fulneſſe of light iſſuing from the fiery Pillar, that the Iſraelites needed not the light of any lamp beſides to guide them in their journeyes to the land of Canaan. Such a fiery Pillar, ſuch a bright and ſhining Sun is Chriſt, that wee need no other light to guide us in all our doings, in all our progreſſe to the heavenly Canaan, but onelyonly Chriſt ſhining in the ſacred Scriptures, and in the labours of his faithfull Miniſters: Therefore wee are ſent to him, as to the onelyonlyeMat. 23.9.10. Maſter, having both authoritie and wiſedome to command and inſtruct us. This was commanded by the voyce from heaven,fMat. 17.5. Heare him: as if the Lord had ſaid, I will not that yee depend on any other, whether Moſes or Elias, but on Chriſt. Moſes and Elias vaniſhed, Chriſt remained; the Ceremonies of the Law were aboliſhed, the predictions of the Prophets fulfilled, Chriſt alone remaineth, and him wee muſt heare; as a Scholler his Teacher, receiving all inſtruction from him; as a Servant his Lord, yeelding ful and conſtant obedience to him: Him we muſt heare in his Word, as a King in his Proclamation; in his Miniſters, as a King in his Embaſſadours, as a Bride-groome in his Friends: Him wee muſt heare in his precepts obeying him, in his promiſes beleeving him, in his judgements fearing him, in his mercies drawing nigh unto him, and rejoycing in him, every way quieting and contenting our ſelves with him: And for this cauſe hee is ſtiled our Prophet, a ProphetgDeut. 18.15, 18, 19. like unto Moſes, in nature and office, being a Man and a Mediatour, as Moſes was, though more excellent, and in a more ſingular ſort; Moſes as a Servant, Chriſt as a hHeb. 3.Sonne and Lord of his Church; a Prophet revealing the counſell of his Father concerning our redemption, a Prophet giving power to his Word to worke for our converſion. As he called Lazarus by his voyce, and raiſed him by his power; ſo hee calleth us by his Word, and converteth & raiſeth us by his grace. And as the eyes of Iſrael were on the fiery Pillar to guide them, and as that moved they moved: ſo muſt our eyes bee on Chriſt, conforming our motion according to Chriſts preſcription: all other doctrines are excluded, wee are denied to hearken to them, to embrace or entertaine them.i2 Epiſt. Ioh. v. 10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, the doctrine of Chriſt, but his owne doctrine, receive him not to houſe, have no acquaintance with him, give him no audience, ſhew him no countenance, neither bid him God ſpeed, ſalute him not, affoord him no ſpeech, wiſh him no ſucceſſe, ſhut your eares at him, withdraw your ſelves from him. Though wee, or an Angel from heaven, ſaith Saint Paul, whoſoever hee bee, be he never ſo famous for his learning, or renowned for his ſanctity; if hee ſpeake or live in externall appearance as an Angell; yet if he preach another Goſpel, another doctrinekGal. 1.8. then that which wee have preached unto you, let him bee accurſed; let him be vile and execrable in your eye, odious and abominable in your apprehenſion. Looke to Chriſt, cleave to Chriſt, turne not aſide from him, looke for no other Inſtructer to make thee wiſe unto ſalvation. Looke (ſaith Chryſoſtome) for no other Maſter;Noli exp… ctare alium magiſtrum, nemo te poteſt ſic docere. Chryſ. thou haſt the words of God, no man can ſo teach thee. And, I (ſaith our Saviour of himſelfe) am the way, the Truth, and the Life. Ambulare vis? (ſaith Auguſtine of Chriſt) ego ſum via. Falli non vis? ego ſum veritas. Mori non vis? ego ſum vita. Wilt thou walke? I am the Way. Wilt thou not bee deceived? I am the Truth. Wilt thou not dye? I am the life. So that in Chriſt there is ſuch fulneſſe, that wee have no cauſe of going to others, to joyne other doctrines and obſervations to Chriſt Jeſus.
Foure grounds of this truth.In regard of the perfection of Chriſt: ItlCol. 1.19. pleaſed God that in him ſhould all fulneſſe dwell; fulneſſe of wiſedome to direct, fulneſſe of power to defend, fulneſſe of worth to ſatisfie Gods juſtice, to merit mans ſalvation; fulneſſe of righteouſneſſe to juſtifie, fulneſſe of holineſſe to ſanctifie, fulneſſe of merciemercy to p…rdon, fulneſs of ſufficiencie to ſatisfi… … is ſtiled a Rocke for his ſtrength to ſupport us; a Counſellour for his wiſedome to guide us; a Fountaine opened for his readineſs and preparedneſs to waſh away our uncleanneſs; a Tree of life bearing twelve ſorts of fruit every monethmonth, for the plenty and perpetuitie of joy and gladneſs, and other fruits of the Spirit, which he miniſters to true beleevers: To a river of living water, cleare as Cryſtall, for that ineffable purity, perfection, comfort and ſatisfaction which Chriſt miniſtreth to the ſoules of his children: To a pretious Pearle for his worth: To a Store-houſe for his fulneſs of all ſpirituall treaſure. O…e h…ppineſs of the ſoule that enjoyes Chriſt! He that hath the Lord Jeſus, n…e… not look elſwhere for any perfections. H…ving Chriſt we have all, ſaith Ambroſe: he may ſay…: Iacob did, I have enough. ThemRev. 12 1. woman, …ne ſpouſe of Chriſt, is deſcrib…d cloathed with the Sunne, and a Crowne of twelve Stars upon her head, the righteouſnes of Chriſt cloathing her as the Sun, and his doctrine guiding her as the light of twelve Starres, and in him arenCol. 2.3. hidden all the treaſures of wiſedome. Surely the man never knew, never ſaw, never apprehended Chriſts fulneſs, that dotes on forraigne d…ctrines, that admires humane inventions.
In regard of the vanity of all humane doctrines and obſervations: They are aoEzek. 13 7. Lam. 2.14 vaine viſion, a viſion compoſed of vaine and fooliſh things; they are an emptie Lampe, wherein is no light, they diſcover not the ſinne of mans heart, they doe not reveale God in Chriſt, they ſhine not into the heart, they make not wiſe unto ſalvation, they are a Schoole wherein men are ever learning, and yet p2 Tim. 3.7.never come to the knowledge of the truth. He that is moſt devoted to humane obſervations, is commonly moſt ignorant of the myſteries of godlineſs. As long as Saint Paul was a Scholler in this Schoole, he remained ignorant of his owne eſtate, hee ſt…ll beheld himſelfe in a falſe glaſs.qRom. 7.9. I was alive (ſaith Paul) once without the Law. Hee knowes little of the Law of God, that makes mens traditions a law to direct him in the ſervice of God; no light diſcloſeth the heavens, but that which ſhineth from heaven; no doctrine ſhewes forth God, and the way to heaven, but onelyonly that which God himſelfe hath given: Of all other doctrines we may ſay as Iob did of his friends,rIob 13.5. They are Phyſitians of no value, they neither diſcover nor cure the diſeaſe of the ſoule: And as ſometime the Lord ſaid of the Egyptians,ſIſa. 30.2. The Egyptians ſhall helpe in vaine, and to no purpoſe; their ſtrength is to fit ſtill: ſo may wee of all humane & carnal doctrines, they help in vain, and to no purpoſe, they can doe nothing by way of mortification to ſin, by way of corroboration againſt Satans temptations, by way of pacification in quieting the conſcience: In ſuch caſes their ſtrength is to ſit ſtill; they doe not profit the receivers of them. It is but the ſowing of chaffe, that brings forth no fruit; or feeding on huskes, that miniſters no ſtrength; a labour which doth nottIer. 2.8. profit. He that lookes beyond or beſide Chriſt for light to direct him, his labour is altogether unprofitable.
In regard of the fooliſhneſſe of man to ſtep aſide from Chriſt, and cleave to humane obſervations. Every man reputes it a fooliſh thing for a man that hath a full fountaine, to ſeeke water out of an empty pit; for him that hath the Sunne ſhining upon him, to light a Candle to guide him. It was great folly in the men of Schechem to refuſeuIud. 9.9. the Vine, the Olive, and the Figge-tree, and chooſe the Bramble; to leave the ſonnes of Jerubbaal, and chooſe Abimelech to reigne over them. What is Chriſt but a living fountaine, a bright and ſhining Sunne, a Vine, an Olive, a Figge-tree, full of all light, repleniſhed with the greateſt fulneſſe of all divine and heavenly fruit? And what are humane doctrines and obſervations, but an empty pit, a very ſnuffe that gives no light, a barren bramble that beares no good fruit? Man never more manifeſts his fooliſhneſſe, then in leaving the Lord Jeſus.wIer. 2.11, 12, 13. Hath any nation (ſaith the Lord) changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Bee aſtoniſhed, O yee heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, bee yee very deſolate, ſaith the Lord: for my people have committed two great evils; they have forſaken mee, the fountaine of living waters, and hewed them out ciſternes, broken ciſternes that can hold no water. Who is the fountaine of living waters, but God and his Chriſt? What are the broken ciſternes, but humane inventions, which have no water of life in them? Who is cenſured in the Parable as a foole, but he that left the Rock, and built upon the Sand? Who is the Rock but Chriſt? What is the Sand but the vaine and idle obſervations of men? And who ſo fooliſh as he that leaves the former, and builds his faith and ſalvation upon the latter? Hee is certainly, in Gods account, a man of no underſtanding that leaves Chriſt, in whom are hidden all the treaſures of true wiſedome.
In regard of perill: It is very dangerous to leave Chriſt, and adhere to rotten doctrines, and empty devices. It is dangerous to the Sheepe to leave the Shepheard, and apply himſelfe to the Wolfe: to the ſicke to leave the wiſe and faithfull Phyſician, and put himſelfe into his hands who is both ignorant and deceitfull. What are the Teachers of corrupt doctrine, butxMat. 7.15. Wolves in ſheeps clothing, andyIer. 6.14. falſe Phyſicians, who heale the diſeaſe of the daughter of Gods people deceitfully. The men of Iſrael expoſed themſelves to great danger when they left David their true King, andz2 Sam. 20.2. followed Sheba that blew the trumpet of rebellion. The man that leaves Chriſt, and followes them that blow the trumpet of vaine and idle,Omne quod non aedificat audientes in periculum vertitur au…ientum. Ierom. carnall and unſound doctrine, expoſeth his ſoule to the danger of infection, ſeduction, and utter ruine. Unſound doctrines are inſtruments of great prejudice to their receivers, the bait by which Satan, like a Fowler, allures them; the ſnare in which, like a Hunter, he intangles and takes them. The Prince of darkneſſe hath no ſuch agents as deceitfull Teachers: he doth more advance his kingdome and bring greater ruine to the ſoules of the people by bad ſeeds-men, then by the men of any one calling beſides them: a lying ſpeech out of the mouth of ana1 Kings 13.8.19. old Prophet, prevails & draws to diſobedience, more then a Kings perſwaſion. Satan ordinarily workes the greateſt miſchiefe by being ab1 Kings 22.22. lying ſpirit in the mouth of ſome Prophet. The ſtate of mans ſoule is very dangerous that ſtickes not cloſe to Chriſt Jeſus.