The Godly Mans Journey to Heaven, Treatise 8 – Treatise 9
THE FIRST ROCKE is a grosse abuse of Gods holy Predestination, and Election; which men of corrupt mindes, vnchast eares, blasphemous mouthes, and vile liues, peruert as they do other Scriptures, to their owne destruction.
WOe is me, woe is me, ô my soule, that that bold vncleane spirit, should find (euen vnderunder this great and cleare light of the Gospell) not a few men, not onelyonly mocke that comfortable doctrine of Gods eternall Predestination and Election; but tred it vnderunder foote, as the verie foundation of all securitie, and debaucherie; opening their foule mouthes, and spewing fotth like most vncleane dogges these vil… speeches: If I be appointed to heauen, let me wallow euen with pleasure in all kind of filthinesse, yet I shall be saued. Tremble, tremble, ô thou blasphemer of the blessed word of the most high God, and repenting thy selfe of this thy wickednesse, pray God, that if it be possible, this hellish thought of thy diuellish heart and abhominable speech of thy vncleane lips, may be forgiuen thee: for beleeue me, the child of God appointed and looking for saluation, thought neuer thus, speakes neuer thus. Well is Gods child acquainted with the nature of Gods elect, and therefore he abhorres some, and loathes himselfe, onelyonly for sinne; he smiles alwayes vponupon holinesse, and loues himselfe onelyonly in so farre as he finds himselfe endued with grace to louelove and practise holinesse. True it is, ô my soule, that the elected child of God knowes that God his father did make choise of him in his Sonne Iesus before the foundation of the world. But with this he knowes that this was done not to the end that he should thinke, that he should speake, so loosely, so abhominably as the vile blasphemer of God, and the reprobate doth, but to the end, that he should be holy, and without blame before him in louelove who did chuse him.Eph. 1. 4. Well is Gods elect child acquainted with that great seale engrauen on both sides, and not on the one side alone, wherewith our God sealeth those he hath appointed to be heires of his euerlasting inheritance. Hauing on the one side this heauenly Motto: The foundation of God remaineth sure; and The Lord knoweth who is his owne. And here behold, ô my soule, beside this Motto, as it were ye pleasant pourtraicture of Gods free election drawne. And on the other side, hauing this for an inscription:2. Tim. 2. 19. Let eueryevery one who calleth vponupon the name of the Lord depart from iniquitie. And here behold, ô my soule, beside that inscription, y• shining pourtraicture of true sanctification, which Angels, which diuels, which men shall not be able to separate from Gods election. But which is more, ô my soule, the wise, humble, and holy elect child of God, well instructed out of the word of God his Fathers booke, out of the which he learnes all these lessons, whereby to gouerne himselfe: while he knowes that the election of God his Father stands euer most sure and stable, in respect of his God who changeth not; yet, feeling himselfe to be subiect to a verie world of tentations and crosses, he cannot ceasse in the feare and reuerence of his God, whiles he liues here, to make his election more and more sure to h…mselfe, and that by eschewing all euill; the louelove and practise whereof he knowes cannot stand with the election of God; and by louing and doing good, yea by ioyning goodnesse vntounto goodnesse vncessantly: for he dare not attempt to thinke that his God hath drawne him toward his Maiestie by the soft and strong co…d of his eternall election, while Satan is pulling him backe, and he is willingly following after him, ledde in that blacke and vile halter of sinne. Thou must not wonder, ô my soule, that the elected child of God carrieth himselfe so, for are we not Gods children, thus charged by the Spirit? GiueGive diligence to make your calling and election sure, 1. Pet. 1. 5. 6 7. 8.ioyning vertue with your faith; and with vertue, knowledge; and with knowledge, temperance; and with temperance, patience; and with patience, godlinesse; and with godlinesse, brotherly kindnesse; and with brotherly kindnesse, louelove: for if these things be amongst you, and abound, they will make you that ye neither shall be idle, nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ.
THE SECOND ROCKE is a foule abuse of the grace of God, which vncleane men turne into vncleane wantonnesse; delighting, alas, to commit sinne, because that good God delighteth to forgiue sinne.
MAny wayes, alas, ô my soule, doth miserable man wrong God his gracious maker: yea, many men called Christians, do grosly grieue that holy one Iesus, who hath called them to that high dignitie to be called the sonnes of God: but in this specially, that they take occasion to commit sinne, yea to continue in sinne, with some pleasure and contentment, because God the Father out of his vndeserued louelove, borne freely to man, hath giuen his Sonne to dye for man, because his blessed Sonne out of this same louelove hath humbled himselfe willingly, yea, chearfully to the death for man; so that blind nature, common ciuilitie, Gods truth, their owne consciences, Angels, and well informed, or any waies, reformed men, cannot but condemne them, yea pronounce them to be execrable. Woe is me, ô my soule, that euer subtle and strong Satan should hauehave preuailed so ouer man, that man now can be content to abuse that salue which is onelyonly able to cure him, yea that he doth runne headlong vponupon that sharpe slaying sword of sinne, because he heareth that salue is prepared for the curing of him. All men confesse, ô my soule, that that second couenant of grace made betwixt God and man in his blessed Sonne Iesus, that second Adam (who neuer fell nor can fall) is of greater moment, and alwayes more glorious then that first couenant of workes, which was made in that first Adam who stood not long, but fell fearefully. And canst thou deny but as our God hath obliged himselfe more strictly to man by this second couenant of grace, then he was by that first of works: so man is become nearer, yea sibber to God by the last then he was by the first; and in that respect obliged to worship and attend his Maiestie, so much the more diligently, faithfully, and constantly? findest thou, ô my soule, when thou readest and cōsiderest Scripture, but God thy maker, perceiuing that first couenant of workes made betwixt him and man, broken by man, prooued iust; and so adiudged man with all his posteritie vntounto that death threatned against him and them, in case that couenant should be violated by them? And shall not our God, hauing giuen his owne Sonne for man, proue much more iust in condemning all such who dare attempt to despise that bloud shed by him for sinne, by selling themselues ouer to sinne, because his bloud was shed for buying them from sinne? If a Iew hauing the Law of God put in his hand by Moses, Leuit. 18. 5.hearing Moses sound this in his eares:Deut. 27. 26. Do this and liue: Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them: could with Abraham see by faith the day of the blessed Messias a farre off, and reioyce in it, he were easily freed from that curse: for blessed Iesus (who was made a curse for vsus) blesseth all those whom Moses curseth, prouiding they can repent and beleeue in him. But ô Gentile, liuing now not vnderunder the Law, but vnderunder the Gospell, not hauing Moses, the seruant of God for thy doctor, but Iesus, the Son of God for thy Maister: what if thou shalt take vponupon thee not to abuse that Law giuen by Moses, but that grace dearely cost and louingly brought to thee by Iesus? duplicate page duplicate page where shalt thou finde salue to cure thy sore, and medicine to heale thy disease? Let me anger Moses through breaking of the Law: let Moses threaten me for breaking of the Law: If I can but touch with a liuely faith the hemme of Iesus garment, I shall find peace with God, and health with life to my selfe. But if I shall anger Iesus, who shall pacifie him? where shall I find a sacrificer, to satisfie him; hauing despised that bloud shed by him for me? Oh, ô my soule, when shall that sentence, yea, that byting sentence be hearkened vntounto, by the monstrous, vile, loose gospellers of this profane, licentious, leacherous time, He that despised Moses, died without merciemercy, vnderunder two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishments suppose ye, shall he be worthy which treadeth vnderunder foote the Sonne of God, and counteth the bloud of the Testament as an vnholy thing, wherewith he was sanctified, and doth despise the Spirit of grace. That patient who among men doth despise the kindest wisest,Heb. 10. 28. 29. the painefullest, and best approued Physician, is thought to be desperately diseased? And shall not that man, ô my soule, who dare (taking himselfe to sinne, Christs onelyonly enemie) neglect Iesus, renounce Iesus medicine, die for euermore? for can Angels, can Saints, triumphing in heauen, can Saints fighting on earth, yea, can diuels euer dying in hell cure him, whō Iesus will not cure, who dare refuse to be cured by Iesus? Yea, who is not affrayed to cast that cup (euen the blessed word of God, and Sacraments annexed thereto, in the which the wholesome potions of saluation are kept, and by the which they are conueyed to the sicke soules of Gods children) vnderunder his feete? Do not Peter and Iohn triumphantly crie.Act. 4. 12. There is no name vnderunder the heauen by the which a man can be saued, but by the name of Iesus. Yea, doth not Augustine, August.who was no Papist, taught of God and ledde by Scripture, maintaine that which Peter and Iohn did proclaime: for he doth see no Sauiour, but one; euen sweet Iesus: Nemo liberat à vulneribus illius trucidatores, nisi gratia saluatoris; nemo liberat venundatos sub peccato, à vinculis captiuitatis, nisi gratia redimentis. None freeeth man from the wounds of that murtherer, but the grace of that Sauiour: none deliuereth those who be sold vnderunder sinne, from the bonds of spirituall captiuitie and thraldome, but his grace who redeemeth them. Sure I am, ô my soule, were Iude, that blessed Apostle of Iesus, liuing this day, he would change his tune, if he were writing either to vsus, or of vsus, (who liues now vnderunder such a dispised, abused, great light) writing to those of his time,Iude 4. he was content to say: There are certaine men crept in, which were before of old ordained to this condemnation; vngodly men there are which turne the grace of our God into wantonnesse, and denie God the onelyonly Lord, and our Lord Iesus Christ. But were Iude liuing now among vsus, he could not but say, and write thus: There be manie men, who do resort to the house of God, who call vponupon the name of God, who daily in troopes runne on foote, ride on horsebacke, keeping their solemne meetings in citie and countrey, who turne the sauing grace of God into damnable wantonnesse, denying (albeit not with their foule mouthes, yet by their vile deeds) that God and Lord who would hauehave saued them. Oh, ô my soule, when shall that golden sentence written by Augustine be heard of vsus,August. who liues now? be honoured and embraced by vsus as a wholesome medicine able to cure vsus? as a precious Iewell able to honour vsus? Quid nobis gratia Dei vtilius confert in hoc praesenti seculo maligno, Aug. Epist. 47.nisi vt moriamur peccato? ac per hoc ipsi gratiae inuenietur ingratus, qui propter illam vult viuere peccato, per quam morimur peccato. Iude 4.What more profitable thing doth the grace of God in this present wicked world bring to vsus, then that by it we are made to do the same? so that, that man must by this be found vnthankefull to the grace of God, who because of it, will liue in sinne, by the which we are made able to die to sinne? Oh when shall the loose gospellers hearken to Irenaeus saying to them? Vt aucta est gratia sub nouo Testamento, ita & poena eorum qui non credunt. As grace is augmented now vnderunder the Gospell, so the punishmēt of those, who beleeue not, is encreased also. And no wonder that he write so, considering that his Maister writ before him touching Chorasin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum: Wo be to thee Chorasin, wo be to thee Bethsaida, for if the great workes, which were done in you, had bene done in Tirus, and Sidon, they had repented long ago in sackcloath and ashes. Mat. 11. 21. 23. 24.Therefore I say vntounto you, it shall be easier for Tirus, and Sidon, at the day of Iudgement then for you. And thou Capernaum which are lifted vp vntounto the heauen, shall be brought downe to hell, for if the great workes which hauehave bene done in thee, had bene done among them in Sodome, they had remained to this day. But I say vntounto you it shall be easier for them of the land of Sodom at the day at Iudgement then for thee. GiueGive no place to sinne, ô my soule, because Christ died for sinne, and by his death hath purchased remission of sins to thee, not forgetting thee: which the Apostle saith to thee.2. Cor. 15. 14. 17. If one be dead for all, then were all dead: and be died for all, that they which liue should not hence forth liue vntounto themselues, but vntounto him which died for them, and rose againe. Therefore if any man be in Christ let him be a new creature.
THE THIRD ROCRE IS A foolish leaning (without anie ground) to a naked profession of God, with the mouth, without any practise of godlinesse in thy life.
COmparing the protestation of our professors, with their conuersation, I hauehave for some bygone yeares lamented (before my God in secret,) ô my soule, the desperate estate of this our deaddest age. Our professors do protest that they do know and worship that God who made not only the heauens and the earth, but who made that booke which is onelyonly worthy the stile of a booke, to wit, the Bible, and that they hold this booke, for the booke of this God; indited by his Spirit, and put in register by his pen-men, ledde by this same spirit: yet our professors so liue, as all who do looke on them, and heare them (being truly sensible of the true God, and truly instructed by the Spirit of truth out of his word) must euen solemnely sweare, that the effects of a great manie of them, do either denie this God who made the Bible, to be that God whom they worship; or the Bible to be Gods booke. Offend not rashly, ô my soule, that I speake so to thee: for after triall (alas) this will proue to be most true. If our professors did hold that God who made that booke which we call the Bible for their God, would they not striue to worship him, and to liue with men, and among men, as God by this his booke hath appointed them to do? Againe, if our professors, ô my soule, held the Bible for Gods booke, indited by his Spirit who cannot lye, calling nothing good but that which is good before God, and which leadeth man toward the narrow way of saluation, calling nothing euill but that which is euill before God, and which draweth man towards the broad way of perdition, could they be so easily induced to transgresse those lessons our God by this booke teacheth them, and vnderunder no lesse paine then of remedilesse, endlesse, condemnation commands them to obey? yea, durst they for ten thousand worlds attempt to do this? I wonder, ô my soule, if our gallants (whom nothing can tame) do hold that speech for the speech of God (who cannot lye of faine)?Eccles. 11. 9 Reioyce ô yong man in thy youth, and let thy heart cheare thee in the dayes of thy youth, and walke in the wayes of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement. Eccl. 12. 14.God will bring eueryevery worke vntounto iudgement with eueryevery secret thing whether it be good or euill. I wonder if our mad whoremaisters and whoores, if our abhominable blasphemers, if our brutish drunkards, if our filthie speakers, do hold these speeches for the speeches of the great God, before whom they must one day appeare, and giuegive an account of their whole carriage here, publicke in the streets and priuate in chamber, by night and by day? Men do not despise a thiefe when he stealeth to satisfie his soule, Prou. 6. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.because he is hungrie; but if he be found he shall restore to seuen fold, or he shall giuegive all his substance of his house: but he that committeth adulterie with a woman is destitute of vnderstanding he that doth it, destroyeth his owne soule, he shall find a wound and dishonour, and his reproach shall neuer be taken away. For iealousie is as the rage of man, therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance, he cannot heare the sight of anie ransome, neither will be consent though thou augment the price. 1. Cor. 6. 9. 10.Know ye not that the vnrighteous shall not inherit the kingdome of God? Be not deceiued, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, Ephes. 5. 3. 4. 5. 6.nor adulterers, nor wantons, nor buggerers, nor theeues, nor couetous, nor drunkards, nor raylers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdome of God. But fornication and all vncleanenesse, or couetousnesse, let it not be once named among you, as it becometh Saints; neither filthinesse, neither foolish talking, neither iesting, which are things not comely, but rather giuing of thankes. For this ye know, that no whooremonger, neither vncleane person, nor couetous person, which is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God. Let no man deceiue you with vaine words; for, for such things commeth the wrath of God vponupon the children of disobedience: be not therefore companions with them. Reu. 21. 8.But the fearefull and vnbeleeuing, and the abhominable, and murtherers, and whooremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all lyers, shall hauehave their part in the lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Yea, I wonder, ô my soule, if the Kings and Princes, and mightie men of this world do hold that speech for the speech of God: And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, Reu. 6. 15. 16. 17.and the chiefe captaines, the mightie men, and eueryevery bondman, and eueryevery free man hid themselues in dennes, and among the rockes of the mountaines, and said to the mountaines and rockes fall on vsus, and hide vsus from the presence of him that sitteth vponupon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who can stand? Our professors then, ô my soule, for the most part can neither hold that God who made the Bible for their God, neither the Bible for his booke, considering that sensible, hard, and seene exposition, may easily be found to be betwixt their liues and Gods lessons taught in this Bible. And therefore without doubt, they hauehave madly (miscarried by that vncleane spirit) set vp to themselues their owne hearts lustes, to be both their God, whom they will serue, and that onelyonly booke which they will learne and follow. I know one Scripture, ô my soule, which shall condemne thousands, who heare and reade Scripture (alledging they hold it for Gods word) vnlesse they repent speedily.Iam. 2. 12. Thou beleeuest that there is a God, thou doest well. The diuels also beleeue and trembleth. Oh, ô my soule, when shall a great many amongst vsus, and professing with vsus, learne to do that which the diuell doth; well knowes he, that the onelyonly true God who made the heauen, and the earth, made the Bible also; and that this Bible is the booke of that God, who is the onelyonly true God, yea, that all things contained in it be most true: albeit, alas, many men neglect and contemne that which they heare out of the Bible, that which they reade in the Bible, while the diuel knowing these things can tremble, assured that he is adiudged by that most great and most iust Iudge of the world vntounto eternall condemnation, as the Bible speaketh. Shall Satan who doth beleeue Gods word to be true, and who can tremble at the sound of it be condemned? and shall he escape the feare …ullest damnation which shall be found in hell, who is so far from trembling at the iudgements of God, brought to his eares out of Gods word, that he makes but a mocke of them? It were good they were thinking vponupon that, spoken by our God touching the old foolish vncleane Iewes: Will ye steale, Ier. 7. 9. 10.and murther, and commit adulterie, and sweare falsly, and burne incense vntounto Baal, and walke after other gods whom ye know not, and come and stand before me in this house whereupon my name is called, and say we are deliuered, though we hauehave done all these abhominations? Were Paul liuing, sure I am, no sooner would he lend his eares vntounto a great many of our professours, but he would say ouer againe: They professe that they know God, Tit. 1. 16.but by their workes they denie him, and are abhominable and disobedient, and to eueryevery good worke reprobate. And no wonder, for the voice of our blind sensuall professours is this, ô my soule: I louelove God, and cursed be he who loues not God. But, ô blind foole, when shalt thou begin from an heart sensible of God, and with a cleane mouth honouring God, to say, I louelove godlinesse, and cursed shall he proue at length who loues not godlinesse. The voice of our blind sensuall professors is this, I hate the diuell, I defie the diuell, and all his works. But when shall they begin from an honest heart, and with true lips to say, I hate sin, and cursed shall he proue at length who hates not sinne. O when shall that of Augustine be taken to heart by our vncleane professours?Ep. 171. Christianos vos dicitis & Christo contradicitis. Ye call your selues Christians, and you contradict Christ alwayes. Open our professours eyes ô Lord by thy Spirit, to the end that they may once happily see that which Bernard brought to the eares of the loose professours of his time: Vnde tibi gloria putide puluis? de vitae sanctitate, quid tibi prodest pium Saluatoris nomen lectitare in libris: nec habere pietatem in moribus. Whence commeth glorie and honour vntounto thee, ô stinking dust, from the holinesse of thy life I thinke it commeth onelyonly? for what can it profit thee to reade the holy name of thy Sauiour in bookes, while that thou hast not holinesse in thy manners. And againe. Is Scripturas recte legit, qui verba vertit in opera. That man readeth holy Scripture aright, who turneth words into workes; doth that in his life which he reades in the Scripture.
THAT ONELYONLY GLORIOVS INNE, AND BRIGHTLY SHIning palace, filled with all pleasures and ioyes, towards the which the Babes of God do iourney in time laboriously: and in the which they shall liue eternally, with the nature and condition of those babes who shall possesse it.
IOH. 14. 2.
In my Fathers house are many dwelling places, if it were not so, I would hauehave told you: I go to prepare a place for you.
IOH. 17. 24.
Father, I will that these whom thou hast giuen me be with me where I am; that they may behold the glorie which thou hast giuen me, for thou louest me before the foundation of the world.
REVEL. 20. 6.
Blessed and holy is he, who hath part in the first resurrection, for on such the second death hath no power: but they shall be the Priests of God, and of Christ, and shall reigne with him a thousand yeare.