The Souls Vocation, Part 2 (3 of 3)
Triall. 2 Secondly, if thou entertaine thy Saviour, as beſeemes a Saviour, thou muſt entertaine him as a King (for he is a King) that is, give up all to him, and entertaine none but thoſe that attend upon him, and appertaine to him; in a word, love all in Chriſt, love all for Chriſt, but expreſſe thy affection and joy to him above all; he is the King, all the reſt are but retainers, and therefore entertaine him in the firſt place; hee that loves any thing equall with Chriſt, hee never loved Chriſt truly; he that ſets up any thing, cheeke by jowle with his Saviour, he deſpiſeth, he renounceth his Saviour. It is all one (in plaine termes) as if a man ſhould put a ſlave into the chamber where the King is, and ſay, he hath entertained the King, this baſe behaviour of his, will drive the King away, as well as if he did openly and profeſly bid him be gone.
So if thou ſetteſt up any thing with thy Saviour, thou doſt drive him away, as well by thy baſe behaviour, as by open profeſſion: a man cannot receive friendſhip with Chriſt and the world upon the ſame termes: Iames 4.4.a wife that loves her huſband, loves him only as a husband, hee only hath her heart, and ſhe loves none but him in that manner; ſhe loves others as friends and neighbours, and gives them reſpect ſo farre as they keepe themſelves there, but if they come to claime the love of a husband, ſhe abhorres them: ſo a loving heart loves Jeſus Chriſt onelyonly as a bridegroome, and all things elſe only as friends and neighbours: the ſoule that loves Chriſt, loves him onelyonly as a Chriſt, and all the reſt as friends: the ſoule will love riches that may credit it, and parts that may advance it (as friends to ſpeake for a man, and to give occaſion to a man, to come to a Saviour) as the wife loves her husband firſtly, and the reſt as friends and neighbours, that muſt further the match: ſo the ſoule loves the Lord Ieſus Chriſt in the firſt place, and all things elſe, as profit, and riches, and parts, as friends and neighbours that may make up the match with a Saviour, and bring it into acquaintance with a Saviour: the ſoule loves prayer, and hearing, and Gods ordinances, as friends to ſpeake a good word to Chriſt for it; but if any thing come to ſteale away the heart, and challenge the affection of a ſpouſe, it abhorres it, it hates honour, and riches, and all things in the world that will challenge any ſpouſe-like love, Chriſt only ſhall have that.
Luke 14.16. opened.Our Saviour ſaith, Hee that hates not father and mother for my ſake, is not worthie of mee: that is, if father and mother ſtand betweene thee and Chriſt, if they would be married to thy ſoule, hate and abhorre them, love them ſo farre as they lead to a Saviour, but when they ſtep into the place of a Saviour, abominate and hate them.
Difference betweene a ſound and falſe heart in the entertainment of Chriſt.This I take to bee the difference betweene a ſound and falſe heart, in the entertainment of the Lord Jeſus; a ſound heart entertaines a Saviour, as a favourite entertaines a Prince, he comes into his houſe, and diſpoſes, and orders every thing as he ſees fit, what he will is done, and no more: but now an in keeper, hee entertaines him that comes next, he will take any mans money, and give welcome to any man, for he loves the gaine of all, but loves the perſon of none: ſo a gracious ſoule entertaines Chriſt as a Prince, all give attendance to the Lord, and all the courtiers are welcome, becauſe they are ſerviceable to his Majeſtie; but if a man be an enemy to his Majeſty, he will rather impriſon him, than entertaine him; he will rather puniſh him, than welcome him: but now an hypocrite entertaines the Lord Jeſus, as a ſtranger into an inne, if honour, or profits, or riches come firſt, they are firſt ſerved, all are welcome, they and Chriſt, and Chriſt and they, but loves not Chriſt, but he loves himſelfe in all.
Triall. 3 Thirdly, he that truly loves Chriſt, labours to give contentment to Chriſt, for love alwayes gives contentment to the thing beloved; ſo it muſt bee with every Chriſtian heart that is truly humbled, and hath this affection kindled, beſeeming our Saviour; the ſoule that thus entertaines him, is ſtudiouſly carefull, and marvellous watchfull, leſt it doe any thing that may grieve the Lord Jeſus, and diſcontent his Spirit, and ſend the good Spirit of the Lord ſad; or in any diſlike to Heaven; it is carefull, leſt the Lord Ieſus ſhould bee diſpleaſed with him, and offended at him, or goe away in anger and diſpleaſure; the heart feares, leſt hee ſhould doe any thing that may cauſe this, and it would be almoſt death to him, if hee ſhould doe this. Marke the guiſe and behaviour of the Spouſe, ſhe never left ſeeking of her beloved, till ſhe had found him, Cant. 3.7.and when ſhe had found him, ſhee layes hold of him, and when ſhe hath done ſo, ſhe brings him home, and when hee was there, ſhee gives charge to all the houſe, I charge you, O ye daughters of Ieruſalem, by the Roes and the Hindes of the field, that you ſtirre not up, nor awake my love, till he pleaſe. Look as it is when men of great place come into a mans houſe, there is a great charge & warning given; ſee there be no noyſe about ſuch a place, leſt ſuch a man be raiſed before his time. What baſeneſſe is this that wee ſhould have our hearts inlarged to any thing but Chriſt? A good heart wil do as the ſpouſe did here; when the ſoul hath received the Spirit of a Saviour, & found the mercy of a Saviour, it keeps watch & ward within it ſelfe, and gives peremptory charge to all in the family; I charge you profits, and pleaſure, and riches, and honour, and all the things of this life, love and joy, and all the faculties of the ſoule, (it gives them warning) I charge you that you ſtirre not, I charge you that you grieve not, I charge you that you diſquiet not the Spirit of the Lord, let there bee no motion but entertaine it, no command but obey it; no advice but receive it; thus the ſoule gives peremptory charge, not to grieve the Spirit of the Lord, or to doe any thing that may diſtaſte it.
See this in Lot, who when he had received the two Angels into his houſe, the curſed Sodomites came to the doore, and thought to abuſe his ſtrangers. Now (marke it I beſeech you) Lot could be content that rather any hurt or diſtaſte ſhould befall himſelfe than them: therefore obſerve how he pleads with thoſe baſe people. Lot went out unto them, and ſhut the doores after him, and ſaid; Gen. 19.8.I pray you brethren doe not ſo wickedly; Behold now I have two daughters which have not knowne man, let me bring them out unto you, and do to them as is good in your eyes, onelyonly to theſe men doe nothing; for therefore came they under the ſhadow of my roofe. This was kinde honorable entertainment. As Lot deale with the Angels, ſo a loving heart will deale with the Lord Ieſus: let my ſoule bee wounded (ſaith the loving heart) but let not Gods Spirit be grieved; let my honour bee laid in the duſt, but let not God be diſhonoured; let temptations, oppoſitions, perſecutions, and diſgrace befall mee, but let Gods glory be advanced. The ſoule is willing and content to beare any thing, but it will doe nothing againſt Chriſt, it will doe nothing againſt the Goſpell of the Lord Ieſus. The ſoule ſaith, you may doe what you will with me, my life, and honour, and wealth is in your hands, but to the Lord doe no harme; blaſpheme not his Name, reſiſt not his Spirit, doe no diſhonour to his Goſpell, doe not contemne his grace what ever betides me: This is the frame of the ſoule that truly loves Chriſt.
They that entertaine Perſons which they highly reſpect, are inquiſitive of thoſe that appertaine unto them to know what their minde is, what likes your maſter, and what takes he moſt contentment in? this they doe, that they may prevent him with a kindneſſe, though he aske not for it; what ever will beſt content him, they ſeeke for it, and what ever will diſtaſte him they labour to avoid it: So a gracious loving ſoule never ſatisfieth it ſelfe, but labours to give content to the Lord Ieſus, that hee may have his will onelyonly. Therefore ſuch a ſoule will come to a faithfull Miniſter and aske him, how muſt I order my family? What ſhall I doe in regard of my ſelfe and children? How may I pleaſe the Lord better? And how may I entertaine the Lords Spirit better? What duty is to be performed? What ſervice is to bee diſcharged? What courſe is to bee taken, that I may pleaſe Chriſt? You are acquainted with Chriſt, you know what will content him; I pray you tell me how I may pray ſo; and performe duties ſo that nothing may diſtaſte him, or be offenſive unto him. This I take to bee the difference betweene an honeſt ſincere heart which entertaines Chriſt as beſeemes him, and a naughty hypocriticall ſpirit that would fawne upon Chriſt Ieſus: this is the difference betweene faithfull true love and joy, and diſſembling love and joy. There is the ſame ods betweene them, which is betweene a man that entertaines a ſervant, and another that entertaines a noble friend, or a King into his family. A man entertains a ſervant, that he may pleaſe him, Simile.and not that hee may pleaſe his ſervant: he ſeeth he is wiſe to order his occaſions, and diligent to diſpatch his buſineſſe, and therefore hee receives him, that hee may get contentment from the ſervant, not that hee may give contentment to the ſervant: but if hee findes any inconveniency in his eſtate, or receives not that ſatisfaction from him which hee deſires and expects, hee turnes him out of doores. But now hee which entertaines a Noble man after a noble manner, and he which entertaines a King after a kingly manner, labours to give him all content, hee will not pleaſe himſelfe, nor fulfill his owne minde, but ſtudies how hee may give content to the Noble man, or to the King. Nay it is admirable to ſee what men of great place will doe in this caſe: When they entertaine a King, they themſelves will bee ſervants while the King is there; haply hee is a man of great eſtate, and hath many to attend upon him, yet hee gives charge to his ſervants, I care not what becomes of me, but bee ſure let his Majesty be pleaſed; and if any comes to ſpeake with him, hee tels him hee cannot poſſibly ſpeake with him now, hee muſt attend upon his Majeſtie.
So it is betweene a ſound faithfull loving ſoule that entertaines Chriſt, and an Hypocrite; the one receives Chriſt into his ſoule as a ſervant into his family, and all the while Gods Goſpell or Grace may promote his honour, or eaſe, or credit, ſo farre as theſe may ſerve his turne, ſo farre as profit, and honour, and riches come in by this means, welcome Goſpell, and welcome Chriſt: But if he ſees danger will come, or inconvenience befall, or miſery betide; then he turnes Goſpell, and Chriſt, and profeſſion, and all out of doores, becauſe hee entertained the Goſpell onelyonly as a ſervant to content himſelfe. But hee that entertaines Chriſt and the Goſpell, as a King into his ſoule, labours to give him all content, he will not pleaſe himſelfe, or his luſts, or his pride or vaine glory, or any thing in the world: Nay when Chriſt comes once to be received into the ſoule, he which before had his retinue, and all to attend upon him; they muſt all ſerve Chriſt now, nay he will not give Chriſt diſtaſte in the leaſt thing, he cares for no honour now, but to honour him, he cares for no advancement now, but to advance him, he eſteems of no riches now, but ſo farre as they may credit the Goſpell: Nay to goe further, they that were his neereſt and deereſt friends, if they come and deſire his company, he tels them no, he cannot, the Lord Ieſus muſt bee pleaſed, and the Spirit muſt bee contented: Nay his old luſts, and his old acquaintance, his old baſe haunts of heart, and his old ſinfull courſes, that have beene at inward league with his ſoule, though they come and plead for acceptance, the poore ſinner regards none of all theſe, he reſpects Chriſt onelyonly: Nay he will diſpleaſe a faſhion, rather than he will diſpleaſe Chriſt; he will diſpleaſe all the great men under Heaven, rather than hee will diſpleaſe Chriſt. Nay all that ſame glory and pride of his which hath beene ſo much beloved of him, the ſoule that hath beene truly humbled, and brought to an apprehenſion of Gods goodneſſe, will rather diſpleaſe that than diſpleaſe the Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
This is an entertainment that beſeemes the Lord, and this is the guiſe that beſeemes him which gives contentment to a Saviour: You muſt now and then receive the Goſpell when it pleaſeth you, and anon fling out the Lord Ieſus, and curriſhly behave your ſelves towards him; but you muſt give all content unto him, and beſtow all attendance upon him. It is admirable to ſee what love will doe, how men will ſquare their mindes and hearts to the mindes of thoſe that are tendered by them; they will be where they pleaſe, doe what they will, Pſal. 40.8.and talke of what they will: I delight to doe thy good will, O my God, (ſaith David) the originall carries it thus, It is my good will to doe thy good pleaſure: So it is the good will of the ſoule that loves God to pleaſe him above all things, wee ſhould ſo ſpeake, and worke, and walke, as beſeemes the Lord, as will give ſweet contentment to the Lord, that hee may delight to love us, and walke with us, and bee a good GOD unto us for ever.
Triall. 4 The fourth triall is this, He that loves a thing, it is his happineſſe and good to ſee the happineſſe and good of the thing he loves; (obſerve it) this is an undoubted argument of ſound affection, that a man ſhould bee willing that that which is affected by him, ſhould have all good, though hee in the meane time miſſe of it, if there bee any proſperity befals the party he loves, he thinkes himſelfe bleſſed; if any honour comes to him, hee thinkes himſelfe honoured; nay he had rather hee ſhould be honoured and advanced than himſelfe, this is true love indeed. But ſee a patterne of love, and a bleſſed mirrour of a heart inlarged with affection: When David was anointed to the crown, and Saul purſued him heavily, and thought to defeat him of the Kingdome, and dealt wretchedly and cruelly with him; 1 Sam. 23.17.Now Ionathan meets him after an heavy affliction, and labours to cheer up the heart of David, and ſaith, Feare not, for the hand of Saul ſhall not finde thee, thou ſhalt bee King over Iſrael, and I ſhall bee next unto thee: A man would thinke, why ſhould not Ionathan rather labour for the crowne himſelfe, hee was next heire apparant thereunto; hee might have ſaid, Saul is my father, and why ſhould not I ſucceed him in the crowne? why ſhould David ſtart in before me? No, this comforted his heart, and rejoyced and cheered his ſoule, David ſhall bee King, and I ſhall bee next unto him; hee loved David dearly, and therefore this refreſhed him, thou ſhalt bee King in Iſrael, and it is the comfort of my heart, that I ſhall be next unto thee. As who ſhould ſay, it contents me more that thou ſhalt be honoured, than if I my ſelfe were honoured.
So it is with a good heart that loves Ieſus Chriſt, and his Grace, and his Goſpell: Oh, the happineſſe of the Goſpell, and the promotion thereof, is the greateſt good and comfort that can befall him. The Chriſtian ſaith, let God bee honoured, though I bee diſparaged, it skils not: Is the Lord advanced, and doth his Goſpell thrive? Is his Glory promoted? Doth the worke of grace goe forward? It is enough, what becomes of my honour, or parts, or liberty, or caſe, it is no matter. Let it goe well with the Goſpell, and let honour be given to the Lord Ieſus in the uſe of the means, and ordinances which he hath beſtowed upon us; let Gods cauſe finde that acceptance amongſt his ſervants which it ought, it is ſufficient, it rejoyceth my heart. See this in Iohn the Baptiſt, when Chriſt began to ſet forth the Goſpell, and to baptize, and many came unto him; the Diſciples of Iohn grudged at it, and ſaid unto Iohn, Iohn 3.29.Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Iordan, of whom thou bareſt witneſſe, behold the ſame baptizeth and all come to him: (Now marke how Iohn ſpeaks) His Diſciples were ſtirred becauſe they thought the honour and credit went away from them. As if they had ſaid, Maſter, there is one now that carries all before him, every mans eye is towards him, and every mans heart is after him. Now Iohn loved Chriſt, and marke how he replies, He that hath the Bride, is the Bridegroome, but the friend of the bridegroome, which ſtandeth and heareth, rejoyceth greatly, becauſe of the bridegroomes voice, this my joy therefore is fulfilled. As who ſhould ſay, Chriſt is the Bridegroome, I am but the friend of the Bridegroome, who labour only to prepare hearts for Chriſt. Is the Lord honoured? Is the Lords worke proſpered? if this bee ſo my joy is full, I have enough; let the Lord increaſe, though I decreaſe; let the Lord have the praiſe that is due unto him, and what ever befals me, I care not.
This alſo was that of Mephiboſheth, when he was dealt falſly with, and ſome falſe reports had beene ſuggeſted to David againſt him, he was content to put up all the wrong; and when David returned in peace, and hee ſaw the Kings face, and that he had gained the day, and got the field: David began to comfort and refreſh him, 2 Sam. 19.30.and bade him divide the land which hee had taken from him, betweene Ziba and him: now marke how hee replieth, Let him take all, for as much as the King is come againe in peace to his owne houſe: as who ſhould ſay, as for the land it skils not; as for my ſelfe, and the field, and my life, I paſſe not; for as much as you my King are come home in peace, it is enough, it is ſufficient that I have ſeene your Majeſtie in peace; this was better to him, than the field, or any thing elſe, whatſoever could befall him.
Beloved, many a man is all a mort, becauſe his honour fals to the ground, and becauſe his credit lies in the duſt; but if he may have his owne honour and credit, he is not troubled, though Chriſt and his Goſpell, and Gods honour and glory lye in the duſt; this man loves not the Lord: for he that loves the Lord, makes him his portion and his glory; it is enough Chriſt is mine; it is ſufficient that his glorie and Goſpell proſpers; what ever befals me, I care not; let the world take my eaſe, and liberty, and life, and all, let the Goſpell be advanced, I care not.
Brethren, ſuch are the baſe diſpoſitions of too too many amongſt us, they can tread upon Chriſts ſhoulders, and lift up him, that they may appeare above him; they can labour to lift up Gods Goſpell, that they may lift up themſelves thereby: this is a baſe diſpoſition, that harbours in the heart of moſt men: but (I beſeech you) lye downe in the duſt, and be content that the Lord may be advanced, though thou be diſgraced; be content that the Lords name may bee praiſed, though thou be diſhonoured: what though every mans mouth be againſt thee? and every mans hand oppoſit unto thee? yet if God be honoured, let that comfort thee: nay if any of Gods people advance God more than thy ſelfe, rejoyce in it: and let this be the aime of all our endevours for ever.
Triall. 5 The fifth triall is this, it is the nature of ſound love to covet nearer union with the thing beloved, and to have a kinde of earneſt impatience and reſtleſneſſe, till it attaine a greater meaſure thereof. Obſerve it, this is a thing which flowes from the nature of love; eſpecially from this love I now ſpeake of, which beſeemes the Lord, who is the beſt of all other things, which the ſoule can deſire, or the heart poſſeſſe. 2 Branches.There are two branches of the point; I will handle the one largely, and only touch the other.
Love, I ſay therefore, is firſt of a linking, and a gluing nature, and it will alwayes carrie the ſoule with a ſtreame and earneſtneſſe, to enjoy the poſſeſſion of, and union with the thing beloved; it cannot have enough of it, it is never ſatisfied with it; it covets nothing ſo much, riches now ſeeme loathſome, and profits and pleaſures are tedious vanities to him; the ſoule is out of taſte with all worldly delights, and deſires nothing ſo much as to enjoy Chriſt; this is that he would have. Let the wicked have what they will, and poſſeſſe what they pleaſe, but let me enjoy that only, and I care not.
When David had beene doting on the things here below, at laſt he came to ſee better things in God: and ſee how he ſtayeth his heart: Pſal. 73.25.Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none in earth that I deſire in compariſon of thee: he bids adieu to all other things, and marke what followes; It is good for me to draw neare to God. As if hee had ſaid, let the rich man have his wealth, and let the ambitious man have his honour, let the drunkard have his cup, and the adulterer his ſweet dalliances: let them drinke, and ſwill, and whore, and goe downe to hell, much good doe it them with their ſops, let them have what their hearts can deſire; but it is good for me to draw nigh unto God: Oh the pleaſures that are at Gods right hand! Oh the merciemercy and holineſſe which hee hath prepared, and will beſtow upon thoſe that are upright!
When Marie had beene ſeeking and weeping for a Saviour, Chriſt ſaid unto her, Woman why weepeſt thou? Iohn 20.16.Whom ſeekeſt thou? Marke now what Marie did, being moved with love to the Lord; ſhe conceived Chriſt to be the Gardiner, and ſhee ſpake thus, Sir, if thou haſt borne him hence, tell mee where thou haſt laid him, and I will take him away: She would be content to have the body of a Saviour rather than want a Saviour, ſhe would have a dead Saviour rather than none: but when our Saviour revealed himſelfe to her, when ſhee ſaw that he lived, and was riſen againe, ſhe flew upon him and with marvellous violence embraced our Saviour, (for ſo the words muſt of neceſſitie be underſtood) for Chriſt ſaith, Touch mee not, for I am not yet aſcended: the meaning is this, Marie was very eager of her Saviour: Have I againe ſeene my Saviour? And doe I againe poſſeſſe him? I will never part with him more: Chriſt ſaith unto her, Marie, and ſo diſcovers himſelfe: ſhe ſaith unto him, Rabboni, that is to ſay, Maſter; and there ſhe holds, as if ſhe would never leave him more: now Chriſt checks her, becauſe ſhe depended ſo much upon his outward preſence: Hee ſaith unto her, Touch me not, for I am not yet aſcended; as if he had ſaid, I ſhall live many dayes upon the earth, and thou ſhalt bee ſatisfied with my preſence, therefore doe not cling ſo faſt unto me; for the word touch ſignifies as much; and the ſame word is uſed in the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 7.1. opened.It is good for a man not to touch a woman, that is, to cleave and to cling unto her; and it is taken from thoſe peeces of buildings, which are let one into another: her affection was ſuch, that ſhe would not part with her Saviour, when ſhe had met him.
This is a lively picture of that love which many a poore ſoule poſſeſſeth, when the Lord lets in the glimpſe of his love into the heart; when the ſoule hath waited long for merciemercy and comfort, and the Lord is pleaſed at laſt to refreſh it, and cheare it therewith, and to let in ſome ſweet incklings, and intimations thereof; many of Gods Saints begin to bee light headed, becauſe they are ſo raviſhed therewith, they are alwayes cleaving thereunto, inſomuch that many times they are almoſt beſides themſelves.
Looke as it is with parties that live in the ſame family, Simile.and their affections are drawing on one towards another in marriage; they will caſt their occaſions ſo, that if it be poſſible, they will be together, and have one anothers company, and they will talke together, and worke together, and the time goeth on marvellous ſuddenly, all the while their affections are drawing on: ſo it is with the ſoule that loves Jeſus Chriſt, and hath this holy affection kindled, it thinkes every place happy, where it hath heard of Chriſt, and thinkes that houre ſweet, wherein it put up its prayers to the Lord, and enjoyed love-chat with him; hee thinkes the Sabbath marvellous ſweet, wherein God is revealed in the power of his ordinances: any glimpſe of Gods goodneſſe, and notice of his merciemercy in Chriſt, is marvellous comfortable to the ſoule.
And it is the deſire of the ſoule to fit by it: as the drunkard doth in another kinde, ſo the loving ſoule would fit by this merciemercy and love of God, that he may be more acquainted with it, and more quickned and cheared by it; the ſoule is raviſhed therewith, and overcome as it were with the apprehenſion thereof: Pſal. 84.David envyed the porter that kept the doore of Gods temple, where Gods preſence was, and the very birds that built their neſts there: as if hee had ſaid, You have liberty to ſee the ſacrifices offered, and you may heare the voices of Gods people, and you may build your neſts in the temple of my God, and my Lord; and Lord am not I as good as birds? therefore his heart was inflamed with the want of theſe ordinances of God. Nay old Simeon when hee had ſeene our Saviour incarnate, his heart was ſo inlarged therewith, that he would have beene content to have left his body, that he might have had his full of his Saviour; Lord now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have ſeene thy ſalvation: as if he had ſaid, ſtand by body, let me come to my Saviour, let mee bee for ever with him, I have beene long enough in this ſinfull world already. A ſpouſe that is contracted, thinkes every day a yeare, and every yeare twenty, till that day comes; ſhee bleſſeth the very place where the bridegroome is, and ſhe thinkes the parties happy that talke with him, and ſhe takes every token that comes from him marvellous kindly, but yet ſhee thinkes, if that day would once come wherein ſhe might poſſeſſe him, and be poſſeſſed of him, that ſhe, and ſhe alone might enjoy her husband; Oh this would bee a happy day, her heart would bee cheared, and exceedingly refreſhed therewith: ſo a loving ſoule that hath beene truly humbled and inlightened in the apprehenſion of Gods love and merciemercy, and is contracted, as I may ſo ſay, unto Chriſt, hath many thoughts; when will it once be, that I may be married to Chriſt, and poſſeſſe him, and bee poſſeſſed of him? to bee with Chriſt is beſt for me: ſuch a one thinkes every token marvellous welcome, and every promiſe, and every word, that reveals any intimation of Gods kindneſſe; but yet, oh when will the day come, that I ſhall be forever with the Lord Jeſus; this is the higheſt pitch, that Saint Paul ſpeakes of, 1 Theſſ. 4.We that are alive, and remaine, ſaith he, ſhall bee caught up together with them in the clouds, and meet the Lord in the aire, and ſo ſhall wee bee ever with the Lord: thus the ſoule thinkes, when will that day come, that I may never be with ſinne more, never with the world more, never with corruptions more, never with baſe company more? but with that merciemercy, and that Spirit, and that grace, and with that Chriſt, for ever and ever; this is the guiſe of the ſoule, and the frame of the heart, that is kindled in ſound love to the Lord Jeſus; nay ſuch is the ſtrong and gluing nature of true love, that it will make a man bee with the thing beloved, though hee bee in never ſo great miſery. When Iacobs ſonnes came, and told him that Ioſeph was ſlaine, Iacob was grievouſly diſtreſſed, becauſe he loved him deerely; now marke what the text ſaith, All his ſonnes and daughters roſe up to comfort him, but he refuſed to be comforted; and ſaid, I will goe downe into the grave to my ſonne Ioſeph; he would rather be in the grave, than not to be with Ioſeph; and hee will goe downe into the grave, that he may be with him: ſo the wife that loves her husband, when hee is in priſon, ſhee will bee there with him, ſhee is ſorry that it ſhould bee ſo with her husband, but ſhee will rather bee in the priſon with him, than want his company: ſo an humble ſoule that hath his heart kindled in earneſt and ſound affection to Chriſt, is content even to goe into the grave with the Lord Jeſus, yea into priſon with the Lord Jeſus; let mee bee with Chriſt, ſaith he, though I be in perſecution; let me be with the Lord Jeſus, though I be in diſhonour: it is a griefe to the ſoule if Chriſt bee ſo; but a greater griefe, if he may not be with him where hee is: Cant. 2.6.when the ſpouſe had wanted her bridegroome a great while, and at laſt the Lord was pleaſed to reveale himſelfe unto her, ſhe faſtens upon him, and reſts contented with him and deſires no more; my beloved is mine, and I am his; as who ſhould ſay, thou art mine, and I am thine, let the world thinke what it will, I am thy wife, and thou art my husband: ſo ſaith the ſoule, Chriſt is mine, and I am his, and if I may have more of that grace and holineſſe which is in Chriſt, I have enough, I deſire no more, but without that I cannot be contented, I cannot be ſatisfied.
Secondly, there is a holy reſtleſneſſe and impatience in the ſoule till it can attaine this, it will take no nay at the hand of the Lord, but ſues for the match though Chriſt ſeeme to forbid the banes; and it were worth the while to obſerve how reſtleſſe the ſoule is, and how it be ſtirres it ſelfe to attaine neerer union with the Lord Jeſus, even when he ſeemes to abſent his preſence from the ſoule; but we cannot proſecute that, ſo that by this time then it doth appeare what it is to love the Lord trul…, and wee have laid downe the triall whereby we may know whether wee have this love or no.
Vſe. 3 The third uſe is a word of reproofe, you have heard the ground of conſolation already, therefore when the pill is ſugered, I hope it will down the better: Here then wee have a juſt ground of reprehenſion, and it comes marvellous heavy as a witneſſe to accuſe many, nay as a Judge to condemne many in the world; this is ſufficient to ſhake their hearts, and to make their ſoules that live in the boſome of the Church almoſt to ſinke in the conſideration and ſight of their owne miſerable and fearfull condition, upon whom this worke was never ſtamped, in whoſe ſoules this grace of God was never yet kindled; certaine it is ſuch never loved the Lord, nor ever rejoyced in Chriſt. Woe to their ſoules therefore, and (beloved) this is the condition of the greateſt part of thoſe that live in the Church, and are counted profeſſors among us; they love not Chriſt, they rejoyce not in him, yet they will not bee perſwaded of it; therefore give a little attendance I beſeech you to what I ſhall ſay.
This is the cunning that Satan hath to deceive poore ſoules withall, becauſe theſe holy affections are inward and retired, as hope, and deſire, and love, and joy; becauſe I ſay they are ſecret things in the ſoule, and doe not diſcover themſelves outwardly to the view of the world, further than the fruits thereof manifeſt the ſame: Therefore men not knowing theſe affections themſelves, and not conceiving of the nature of them, that is the cauſe that many leane upon the expectation of what they have in frame of heart, though they want in the courſe of their lives: this is that which every man almoſt doth challenge to himſelfe, as that whereby he will beare up his heart in time of trouble, and cheere up his ſoule in the day of diſtreſſe. Wicked men when every one cannot but ſee and behold their baſe courſes, and loath their ſinfull practices, nay when they themſelves cannot but confeſſe their filthy behaviours, &c. Why they confeſſe they fall foully, and they fall dayly and ſcandalouſly; but that which heals all & helps all is this, they ſay it is true it is ſo with their lives, but yet they love the Lord Jeſus with all their hearts; every vile varlet will ſay thus when hee hath ſworne by a Saviour, and torne his fleſh in peeces, his bleſſed body, his blood, his wounds and all; yet when he hath done this, he loves a ſweet Saviour ſtill. Oh poore deluded miſerable ſinfull wretch: that I may apply my ſelfe particularly to ſuch a one; I beſeech you give mee leave to doe two things. Firſt, I will make it good that moſt men have not this love of God: Secondly, I will plead the Inditement, and then when I have laid out the Inditement and pleaded it, and ſhewed who they are that have not this love of God, the point will be cleere.
Firſt it is ſure and moſt certaine, 1 Moſt in the world have no love to God, but hatred againſt him.that moſt in the world that live in the boſome of the Church have not their hearts carried in any love of God, but in a hatred and deſperate oppoſition againſt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, In him was life, and this life was the light of the world, and the light ſhined in darkneſſe, and the darkneſſe comprehended it not: the meaning is this, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt was the life of the promiſe, in him was life, the promiſe of life was in Chriſt, and that promiſe of life was a light to teach men the way to life and ſalvation; but when this light of the promiſe of grace ſhined to the world, the darke world comprehended it not, they knew it not, Chriſt came unto his owne, Iohn 1.11.and his owne received him not. There the Lord ſpeakes of the Jewes that were his choſen people, and his owne by covenant: His owne by reaſon of the privileges and benefits, and ordinances which he beſtowed upon them: His owne by profeſſion, they tooke the Name of Chriſt upon them: Chriſt came not to heathens and pagans, but to his owne, and they received him not. How many are there amongſt us who profeſſe the Name of the Lord Ieſus, and take up the Goſpell of Chriſt, and yet being Chriſtians in profeſſion, will not entertaine the love of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt which ſhould make us Chriſtians in d…ed. Chriſt comes to many a mans doore, and knocks, and calls, and intreats entrance, but few will entertaine him when hee comes; nay let mee ſay more, my heart trembles to ſpeake it, nay my heart, were it as it ſhould be, would grieve to thinke it: Wicked men are ſo farre from priſing Chriſt and loving the Lord Ieſus, that they hate him more than ſinne; nay I had almoſt ſaid, yet I am loth to ſpeake it, my heart ſhakes to thinke it, but that I hope you are willing to heare the worſt; why then I will ſpeake it, and they are the words of the Scripture, wicked men hate Chriſt more than the devill himſelfe; the Lord be merciful to ſuch poor ſinful creatures, good Lord that ever men ſhould be created by the Lord, and enjoy mercy and meanes from the Lord, and yet love ſinne and the devill himſelfe more than God.
Object. But you will ſay, are there any ſuch, is it poſſible that ever any man that breathed and received mercy from the Lord Ieſus, ſhould deale ſo ſinfully and unkindly with him; why, the devill would not doe it.
Anſwer. I ſay to you as the Prophet ſaid to Hazael in another caſe▪ I know, ſaith he, the evill thou wilt doe to the children of Iſrael, their ſtrong holds wilt thou ſet on fire, 2 King. 8.12.13.and their young men wilt thou ſlay with the ſword, and wilt daſh their children, and rip up their women with childe▪ but Hazael ſaid, what, am I a dogge that I ſhould doe this? the Prophet told him, the Lord hath ſhewed it unto me: I know, ſaith the Prophet, the cruelty and venome of thy ſpirit though thou knoweſt it not: So when I ſpeake of theſe things, men will bee ready to ſay, what, are there any ſuch dogs to deale thus with the Lord Jeſus: I tell you the Lord knowes this, and the Word ſeeth all thy venome and ſpight and hatred againſt Chriſt, the Lord ſeeth and knoweth it. Moſt men in their hearts doe hate Chriſt, though they ſee it not: beloved, your hearts are more vile than you can conceive, and more baſe than you can imagine, the Word will make it cleere. The greateſt evill of all wee know is ſinne, the Devill is not to be loathed but for his ſinne; and the reaſon why he is ſo loathſome, is becauſe hee is ſo ſinfull. Now marke what the text ſaith, this is the condemnation, Iohn 3.19.that light is come into the world, and men loved darkneſſe more than the light: the Lord revealed light (that is, Chriſt) to the world, but the world loved ſin and the temptations of Satan, and the corruptions of their owne hearts more than Chriſt, and more than mercy that was tendered to them in the Lord Jeſus; it is cleere therefore it was ſo, it will be ſo, and it is ſo to this day; Men love their baſe luſts and ſinfull corruptions more than the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the power of his grace which he expreſſeth to their ſoules, and conſequently they love the deluſions and ſuggeſtions of Satan, more than the motions of Gods Spirit, and the comfort thereof. Thus now we have laid downe the Inditement, let us alſo plead it a little; wee ſee there be many in the Church that doe not lo…e the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but who are they? of that we will now ſpeake, for when we lay the charge, we muſt name the man; the Inditement in generall is nothing, we will therefore referre theſe men that love not Chriſt to three rankes. The firſt are open enemies to Chriſt: The ſecond are the glozing newters of the world: The third are the fawning Hypocrites that are faire in ſhew, but falſe in heart; all theſe are guilty of this Inditement, wee will therefore plead it againſt them, deſiring the Lord to convince their conſciences thereof.
Ranke. 1 Firſt for the former, and they are open enemies to the Lord Jeſus; we will not ſpend much time here, but ſtand longeſt there where is moſt need. Firſt therefore there are open enemies to Chriſt, and they are many, ſuch as Iſaiah ſpeakes of, ye ſtiffe necked and hardhearted, ye have reſiſted the Spirit of the Lord: Thoſe which ſet their mouthes againſt Heaven, and ſtand in open defiance againſt the Lord Ieſus, and againſt the power of his Grace, and the worke of his Spirit in the hearts of his, and in the miniſtery of the Word, and theſe we referre to two heads.
Sort. 1 Firſt, ſuch as are profeſt oppoſers of the evidence of the truth, thoſe whereof Chriſt ſpake, the Houſholder let out his Vineyard to Husbandmen, Matth. 21.33.and when the time of the fruits drew neere, hee ſent his ſervants to the Husbandmen that he might receive the fruits of it, and the Husbandmen tooke his ſervants, and beat one, and killed another, and ſto… another; at laſt he ſent his ſonne, and ſaid, ſurely they will reverence my ſonne; nay when hee came they all combined and conſpired together, and ſaid, this is the Heire, come let us kill him, and the inheritance ſhall be ours; this was an intimation of the Scribes and Phariſees, the Chuch was the Vineyard, and it was let out to them, and God ſent his Prophets among them, they perſecuted them; then hee ſent his Diſciples, they ſtoned them, and when his Sonne came, they conſpired againſt the Lord Ieſus, with one open mouth, with one joynt endevour; Come, ſaid they, this is the Heire, let us kill him, and the inheritance ſhall be ours: And doe you thinke that the Scribes and Phariſees are dead, and have left none of their curſed brood and generation behinde them? I tell you beloved, there are many perſecutors of Chriſt and his Goſpell to this day, which are the leaders of the campe, which ſtand in open defiance of the God of Heaven; but if you aske mee what entertainment their luſts have among theſe men, they find all welcome: poſſible temptations whiſper not, occaſions come not, corruptions ſtirre not ſo ſoone, be the company never ſo baſe, the courſe never ſo vile, the practice never ſo wicked, but theſe miſerable ſinfull creatures give audience and attendance, and acceptance, and entertainment to theſe baſe courſes, nay they invite them and provide for them, nay they beſtow a great deale of coſt for the entertainment of their luſts, they ſeeke out occaſions to commit their ſinnes; the adulterer goeth in the twi-light to meet his queanes, and the drunkard goes to the Ale-houſe to meet with his baſe companions; thus they invite their luſts, and provide for their luſts; this is that the Apoſtle diſſwades us from; Rom. 13.14.make no proviſion for the fleſh to fulfill the luſts thereof: yet theſe men make proviſion for their baſe luſts, their mindes are plotting, and their endevours labouring, to provide all courſes that may give entertainment to their luſts; therefore no marvell they finde ſuch long continuance in their ſinnes, becauſe they make ſuch proviſion for them: but now if you will obſerve how theſe men entertaine Chriſt, you may diſcover it by theſe two paſſages.
Paſſage. 1 Firſt, obſerve how they entertaine the power of Chriſts Spirit in the miniſterie of the word; and ſecondly, how they entertaine the preſence of our Saviour in the graces of his children: Firſt, concerning the miniſterie of the word, if it be ſo that the miniſtery of the word comes powerfully home to the conſcience, and would open the eyes, and awaken the heart of ungodly men, and would plucke them from their ſinnes: Oh what an uproare there is! and how doe men take up armes againſt the truth, and beat off the power of the word, that it may not prevaile with the heart, and awaken them, and that it may not rule in their lives? Chriſt notes ſuch as theſe for oppoſers of goodneſſe; Luke. 19.27.Bring hither mine enemies, that would not that I ſhould reigne over them, and ſlay them before my face: the word would plucke the cup from the drunkards mouth, and the adulterer from enjoying his dalliances with his mate; but their hearts ſwell, and they groane to be under that truth, and under the rule thereof, and to be ſwayed thereby; nay they doe not only withdraw themſelves from yeelding obedience to the holineſſe of the word, but they will not ſo much …s acknowledge the truth of the word, which the Devill himſelfe did: when Paul was preaching the grace of life and ſalvation, the text ſaith, Acts 16.17.The damſell that had the ſpirit of divination met him, and the Devill ſaid, Theſe men are the ſervants of the moſt high God, which ſhew unto us the way of ſalvation: the Devill acknowledged that this was the word, and the very truth; the Devill acknowledged theſe were the ſervices which God commands, and theſe were the duties which ought to be diſcharged: but wicked men will not be perſwaded of this, they will not beleeve that they muſt be holy, as he is holy; neither will they beleeve, that they muſt be pure, as he is pure; theſe men doe not give God ſo much honour, as the Devill did: but die out, and ſay, I will never be of that opinion, all the world ſhall not perſwade mee to it, five hundred Miniſters ſhall not make me thinke ſo: Be…oved, this is profeſt oppoſition, and deſperate hatred againſt the Lord, not onelyonly to withdraw …he heart from obedience, but the underſtanding from the acknowledgement of the truth, which …he Devill himſelfe confeſſeth: Lord, what hearts …ave theſe men, and what diſtempers are in their …pirits? who will not doe that, which the Devill …imſelfe will doe.
Paſſage. 2 Nay in the ſecond place, looke how they behave themſelves, when they come into Chriſts preſence, doth not that man hate a man, that cannot endure to be in his ſight, and enjoy communion with him? if Chriſt come amongſt theſe, and preſſe into the ſocietie of them in the preſence of his children, their hearts are tranſported with infinite indignation againſt the appearance of grace in the lives, and againſt the appearance of holineſſe, in the courſes of thoſe which are the ſervants of the Lord, (obſerve this) they that h…e poore Chriſtians for the holineſſe and grace which they have received from Chriſt, they ha…e Chriſt more, and holineſſe more: fearfull is the caſe of ſuch, and their condition lamentable; O… that they would at laſt goe home, and parley with their owne ſoules, and reaſon with their hearts after this manner, and not ſuffer themſelves any longer to be deluded; ſay thus to thy ſoule, I have beene heretofore deluded, and I have deceived my ſelfe, I pretended I hated ſuch men, becauſe they were diſſemblers and hypocrites: no no, I hate the picture of grace; much more grace a ſelfe in them: if a man cannot endure the picture of a man, much leſſe can he endure the perſon of that man; ſo is it with the ſoule: I beſeech you, be at laſt convinced of it, and ſay, I hate the ſhew and forme of godlineſſe in Gods children, but I hate the vertue and power of godlineſſe mu… more; if I hate the beames of the ſunne, I ha… the ſunne much more; if I hate the ſonne for the fathers ſake, I hate the father much more; if I hate a Chriſtian, becauſe Chriſt hath humbled and brought him home, then I hate Chriſt infinitely, then I hate his Spirit infinitely, then I hate his grace infinitly much more; if I hate the lanthorne for the lights ſake, then I hate the light much more: a thiefe cannot endure a lanthorne, if it be a light lanthorne, (if it be a darke one, haply hee can away with it) but if it be a light lanthorne, hee loathes the lanthorne, and hee loathes the man that brings it, but he hates the light much more than the lanthorne: ſo is it with every ſinfull oppoſer of the practice and profeſſion of Gods grace: a Saint of God hath a ruſh candle light of Gods grace, and purity, and uprightneſſe, and he carries this among a company of blaſphemers and oppoſers of God and his grace, now when they ſee this light of holineſſe, they hate the man that beares it, much more holineſſe it ſelfe, which is in him, for which hee is ſo oppoſed an… reſiſted.
To this ranke alſo belongs your poore, ignorant, carnall creatures, and civilized carnall Goſ…elers, however they will not doe, what theſe …en doe, yet they will approve of what they doe; poore ſilly things that know nothing of God and grace, and can doe nothing againſt the truth of God of themſelves; though they are not brought to this height of wickedneſſe, to be profe… oppoſers againſt that which is holy, yet they will joyne ſides with the wicked, and what they doe they commend, and appl…d, and approve of: …f a poore Chriſtian be banded from one place to another, to the loſſe of his liberty, and griefe of his heart; nay, ſay theſe poore deluded creatures, and carnall goſpellers, it is no matter, they muſt be more holy than others, and they muſt be more preciſe than others, it is no matter now, ſee what they get by it; theſe men now approve of what a company of perſecutours doe, and their heart is the ſame, though they do not do the ſame they are guilty of it, becauſe of their approvement of it; as the Scribes and Phariſees conſpired againſt our Saviour; the ſouldiers they took our Saviour, Pilat he condemned our Saviour, now the poore crowd, they cried below, Crucifie him, crucifie him, they did not condemne him, nor take him, but they were guilty of crucifying Chriſt, becauſe they gave their conſent and approvement thereunto, as S. Peter ſaith, Ye have crucified the Lord of life, ſo there are a company of poore creatures, Acts 2.you know you old poore husband, and your old poore father, though poore fooles, they can doe nothing againſt the Goſpell, yet it doth their hearts good, when it is oppoſed, and they ſay, it is well, it is pitty but it ſhould be ſo: I tell thee thou a… guilty of oppoſing Chriſt, as well as he that perſecutes Chriſt; marke what Chriſt ſaith to the Scribes and Phariſees, Your Fathers ſlew the Prophets, and you build their ſepulchers; that is, th… approved the practices of their fathers, ſo th… looke as it is with a campe, there are ſome lead… and commanders, and there are ſome ſouldiers and there are others which are followers of th… campe, and carry the baggage; now though … be not leaders, and captaines, and ſouldiers, yet all are of the ſame campe; ſo there is a great long traine in the Devils campe, there are ſome leaders, and profeſt oppoſers of Chriſt, which the ſunne is wearie to behold, and the earth is weary to beare, theſe are the ſouldiers, and captaines, and commanders, and poore ignorant creatures, and carnall goſpellers that follow the baggage, they are of the black guard too, though they are the taile of the armie, yet they are of the armie of the Devill, and they are all young Satans, though their talents bee not ſo long, and their clawes ſo ſharp, as others are; they have not learned the skill to make a prey of a poore man, as others have, but yet they will approve of that which others doe: conſider this then all ye that ſtand in open defiance againſt Chriſt, all you that joyne ſides with, and give a kinde of allowance to ſuch ungodly courſes, you are guiltie and found tardy in this caſe, though the ſinne be not yours by action, yet you make it by approvement: thus the open enemy to Chriſt is gone, as alſo the poore ignorant creature, and carnall goſpeller, and civilized perſon, who though the will not doe a thing, yet it is roſt meat to him to ſee it done.
Ranke. 2 The ſecond ſort that comes here to bee reproved, are glozing neuters, theſe alſo love their ſinnes more than Jeſus Chriſt, and love not him in truth; theſe are thoſe that halt betweene two opinions, your linfie-woolſie men, (as we ſpeake in the proverb) theſe tame fooles that will doe no body no harme, provid…d that no man hurts them; the higheſt pitch of theſe neuters is this that they may procure ſafety among all men, and gaine ſome reſpect amongſt the beſt; they wiſh all ſhould doe well, but their reſolution is this, they will not trouble themſelves, nor be troubleſome to others, they ſay, hurt comes by medling, and he that meddles leſt is beſt at eaſe; they dwell like civill good neighbours by Chriſt and the Goſpell, and now and then they will doe Chriſt a good turne, provided they may not hazard themſelves, and that they may ſerve their owne turne; they will welcome all perſons of all rankes, if a blaſphemer or riotous perſon comes in, they will ſuit with them, and welcome them, if they be never ſo vile and baſe, they will ſay nothing; little ſaid is ſoone amended; they will not reprove them, becauſe they ſhould not cenſure them againe: nay if they will take up ſinfull courſes (though they will not doe the ſame with them yet) they will ſtand by and looke on, and ſecretly give allowance thereunto: nay further (I beſeech you, obſerve it) as they will welcome ſuch perſons, ſo they will often invite a Miniſter to their houſes, and intreat him to preach on the ſunday, and they: will ſtraine marvellouſly: …o… ſome holy talke, becauſe they know the heart of a poore Miniſter cannot brooke idle conference, but this neuter likes thoſe Miniſters beſt, that will not meddle with any perſonall fault in his family; but if a Miniſter will ſpeake only in the generall, hee hath what hee would, and hee commends highly the judgement of the man, hee thankes him extraordinarily for his paines, and deſires much more of his company, and commends him for a very diſcreet man, and one that knowes how to carry himſelfe; (I and he knowes how not to meddle with him, you muſt underſtand that too) if the Miniſter will preach doctrinall things only, and take up points, and lay them downe, and have halfe a ſcore points in his ſermon, then hee extols him for a judicious and learned man in the Scripture, and he gathers the very creame of the Scripture, but if he come home to the conſcience, and apply perſonally, and diſcover particularly the baſeneſſe of his heart, and the baſeneſſe of his life, hee then takes his Bible and fals to reading, hee cannot heare with that eare, but wiſheth that men would follow their text, (and I could wiſh every one did ſo) Now this neuter intrencheth upon articles of agreement betweene him and the Goſpell, for he made this covenant with the Goſpell, that he will not trouble the Goſpell, not perſecute it, neither will not have that to meddle with him, but if the Goſpell come home to him, and would drive him out of his pace, hee wiſheth the Miniſter would keepe his text: this man counts zeale in a good courſe, like a fever in a mans body, and hee thinkes it dangerous to be ſicke, and therefore he will keepe a cold temper in his body for conſtitution, and a cold luke warme temper in his profeſſion, and then he is admirable healthfull; and …he will be talking much of the cuſtomes of men in the world that are in great place, and if there be any thing which is naught authorized by great men: he takes much upon him thoſe two words, Church and ſtate, and holds them up as enſignes, and hee thinkes it a ſtrange thing, and thinkes it to be high treaſon, and falſe Latine, that any man ſhould queſtion on what he ſpeakes in this caſe, the Engliſh of it is this, he is reſolved to ſee the ſtrongeſt ſide, and he will be with that ſide, whether it be with the Lord Chriſt, or the power of his grace, he cares not, but he will be ſure to ſleepe in a whole skin; ſo that theſe baſe ſinfull men care not for the power of religion, they love themſelves, and love not Chriſt: theſe men deale with profeſſion, as the neuterall townes in the Low countries deale with the armies and ſouldiers of the Emperour and the King of Denmarke, they will leane to both, that they may be ſubject to neither, they will not take ſides with the Emperour, nor yet with the King of Denmarke, but they will be content for to live at eaſe, and they will doe any thing that they may not be troubled, but if any of both ſides begin to ſet upon them, they turne head preſently, they will doe no harme to them, if they will not hurt them; but if they ſeeke to bring them under authoritie, they are not able to beare it, but reſiſt them: ſo it is with theſe neuteraliſts in a Chriſtian courſe, they will faſhion themſelves to the world, that the world may not deſpight them, and they will faſhion themſelves in profeſſion to the better ſide, that they may not diſtaſte them; a man will pray in his family in the morning, and leave Chriſt there, and payeth tribute that way, onelyonly Chriſt muſt give him leave to couzen in his ſhop at noon; …et him have what he would, and hee will pay tri…ute to the Goſpell, and Chriſt, and all; he will pay …ribute of all hands that he may not bee troubled. This is obſervable of men in great place, a great man will have one or two good ſervants in his family, to credit himſelfe that way, and hee will …ave a knave and a drunkard too, that they may …loſe with thoſe of that ranke, and ſo get credit …n both ſides: but if the Goſpell beſiege this man, …nd the power of the Word flies in the very face …f him, and hee muſt lay downe his owne aimes …nd ends, and he muſt lay downe his applauſe of …he world, and his owne credit, and his civilizing …ourſes; then they turne head preſently, and are …ot able to beare the authority of the truth, to …oope thereunto, and be framed thereby (for the …ords ſake thinke of it) theſe men entertaine Chriſt in this caſe, as ſometimes men doe their …eighbours, they entertaine them lovingly if they …ill keepe within their bounds, and looke to …heir owne ground, that hee may ſuffer no harme …y them, but now to entertaine him as a Land…ord, and as a Conqueror, that hee ſhould take all …om them, and they depend upon him, this they …annot beare. Now the Saints doe this, they can …ntertaine the Lord Ieſus as a Landlord, and as a Commander; but theſe newters entertaine the Goſpell and Chriſt as good neighbours; all the …hile the Goſpell troubles them not, and puts no …azard upon them, they will welcome it; but if the power of the truth will by force preſſe in upon them, and make them either better or worſe, they cannot beare it with patience, but are in a devilliſh fume with the power of the Goſpell that is revealed with evidence unto them: Let theſe men know that they which are not with Chriſt, are againſt Chriſt in his account, though a man ſtand ſtill and doe nothing, and therefore thinks all ſhall bee well with him, and all ſhall bee quiet with him; let him know that all the wrong which is done to Chriſt and to his Goſpell, which he ſees and aſſents unto, and is not an helper againſt, the Lord will require it at his hands, and they are guilty of it before the Lord: C…rſ… yee Meroſh, curſe him with a bitter curſe, becauſe hee went not out to helpe the Lord againſt the mighty; It is nothing for a man to ſay I did not ſuch a thing, and I was loth to put my finger in the fire before I was called, I tell thee thou wert called to it; ſuch a man, ſuch a Miniſter, that ſaw the Goſpell lie at the ſtake, and had not a heart to grieve for it, and a hand to ſuccour it, hee is guiltie thereof: the Lord will ſpew ſuch new…ets out of hi… mouth, Revel. 3.16.I would thou wert either hot or cold, becauſe thou art neither, therefore I will ſpew thee out of my mouth; that is, either openly prophane, or ſoundly ſincere, be ſomething, appeare in your colours either a Saint that may be ſaved, or elſe a Devil that may bee damned; otherwiſe the Lord will vomit you out of his mouth: cold water is beſt digeſted, and a mans ſtomacke by hot water is leaſt offended, but luke warme water is moſt loathſome; ſo the Lord hates and abhors a lukewarme Laodicean foole that is of no ſide, becauſe …he is not ſincere hearted of any ſide.
Ranke. 3 The third and laſt ſort is your fawning Hypocrite, who pretends extraordinary zeale for Chriſt, and expreſſeth outwardly much love to goodneſſe, and will ſpeake for a good cauſe, and hazard himſelfe therein; and yet when he hath done all, and ſhewed himſelfe a friend to Chriſt in profeſſion, hee proves in concluſion a moſt bitter enemy: Saul was juſt ſuch a fawning Hypocrite, God commanded him to goe againſt the Amalekites, 1 Sam. 15.3.and destroy all: Now Saul pretends great matters what he would doe, and what he had done for the Lord; and when Samuel came to meet him, Saul ſaid, Bleſſed be thou of the Lord, I have performed the Commandement of the Lord: as if he had ſaid, I am glad you are here, that I may give up my account, I have done what the Lord enjoyned me to doe, and am glad that I may approve my heart unto thee herein; but Samuel preſently convinced him and ſaid, What means then this bleating of ſheepe in mine eares, and this lowing of Oxen which I heare? As who ſhould ſay, haſt thou done the commandement of the Lord? No, though I were ſilent, yet the lowing of Oxen, and the bleating of Sheepe can teſtifie that Saul is an hypocrite and a diſſembler, and hath not diſcharged nor performed the duty God commanded him; he bade kill all, but thou haſt ſaved ſome. But leaving theſe, I come a little to diſcover divers other ſorts of Hypocrites amongſt us, and they may bee ranked into foure ſorts. Firſt, there is a whining Hypocrite: Secondly, the wrangling Hypocrite: Thirdly, the glorious Hypocrite: and fourthly, the preſumptuous Hypocrite. I ſhall hardly peruſe any of theſe at this time, I will onelyonly touch the ſecond a little, which I thinke to bee ſeaſonable, and that is the wrangling hypocrite: There are a company of wretched men in the world that fawn and flatter, and pretend to doe great kindneſſes, and they profeſſe they are at your command to ſerve you, to doe what you will, and performe what you pleaſe; but trie them and prove them, and you ſhall finde it otherwiſe, they will not openly profeſſe that they will not doe the thing, but when all comes to all, they pretend theſe and theſe inconveniences will follow if they ſhould doe it: they will not profeſſely ſay they will not doe the kindneſſe, but they will make a plea that they ought not, that they ſhould not doe it, and it is againſt reaſon that you ſhould require it: ſo theſe Hypocrites they reſolve to live no longer, they reſolve that they would not enjoy any thing in this world, they would not bee any thing, or doe any thing, but onelyonly ſo farre as the Lord Ieſus may be honoured, and his Goſpell promoted: If they thinke they ſhould promote the Goſpell of Chriſt more another way than this, they would not undertake it: but when it comes to this paſſe that a man muſt leave his honour, and livings, and profits, which ſo neerly concerne him, for Chriſt, then (his tricke is this) hee doth not profeſſe …y ſay, I will have pleaſure or profit and not Chriſt, but he will wrangle with Chriſt, and ſtand upon tearmes with God, and ſay, hee ought not to doe this, it is not fit he ſhould doe it, there is no command for the thing. Beloved, it is admirable to obſerve the ſpirit of theſe men when the word comes cleere to them, when the duty is revealed and required at their hands; Oh how they will ſearch farre and neere to invent arguments, to make it no duty, and turne over all bookes, and (as he ſpake wittily) rake the Devils skull, that ſo they may have ſome ſhift not to doe that which they ought. It is a pretty trick to bee obſerved amongſt great men that follow the faſhion. Firſt, they reſolve to conforme themſelves to the Word of God revealed, but when the faſhion comes up, they will plead for that too: and now the queſtion is not what they muſt doe, but what they will doe; for all faſhions muſt bee lawfull, becauſe they are reſolved to uſe them. I will propound one truth onelyonly to theſe men (obſerve it in thine owne ſoule) doe not thinke to wrangle out the truth, and to quarrell with the Goſpell, or to make any pretence againſt that way which God hath chalked out before thee, and againſt any duty God commands thee: But art thou in good earneſt, content that that ſhould bee true which God will have to bee true? Art thou willing thoſe things ſhould bee naught, which the Word of God ſaith are naught? Men may talke what they will, but they have their reſervations ſtill, and there is a league betweene them and their baſe courſes which they will not bee convinced of: There is a ſecret way of ſinning which they will not leave, but plead for it, that their Conſcience may not flie in their faces, and that they may not goe profeſſely againſt the evidence of the truth. Beloved, theſe men give no contentment to Chriſt, but to their owne corrupt hearts. One gives content to the faſhion and weares that, another gives content to his libertie, hee will not bee hazarded: Therefore hee will do any thing rather than he will be undone: now this man loves freedome, and not the truth of Jeſus Chriſt, hee will not ſuffer impriſonment for it. This gracious worke of the Spirit was never wrought in theſe mens hearts.