A Letter Instructing to Repentance Love and New Obedience, Letter 1
A LETTER WRITTEN BY Maſter PAVL BAYNE late deceaſed; effectually inſtructing and prouoking to true repentance, louelove and new obedience.
MAſter D. I include your wife in you, both your loues to that Saint departed, and to my ſelf, doth bind me vntounto you in all Chriſtian dutie, eſpecially to exhort you to repentance, and prouoke you to louelove, the neglect whereof, though hitherto it hath been ſomewhat excuſable, yet hereafter it might iuſtly bee condemned in me; wherefore I will breake off ſilence, laboring to build you forward in the graces aboue named. Firſt to deale with you in repentance, then to helpe you forward in new obedience. The Lord preacheth repentance ſtill to vsus: If a meſſenger knocking at our doores hauehave their anſwere returned, they are gone forthwith to them that ſent them; ſo if the plague and ſuch like meſſengers which God ſendeth to vsus, had that they came for, they would not ſtill ring the bel at our dores, and cal vponupon vsus. Neither doth God waite for repentance onelyonly from the wicked, but hee would hauehave his deareſt children meete him condemning themſelues; if ye alſo repent not more and more (when you ſee the examples of Gods wrath) you ſhal alſo periſh). Firſt, to ſhew you what this is, ſo I ſhall ſtirre you vp to it more fruitfully. By repentance I meane nothing elſe, butb2. Co. 7.10 godly ſorrow for ſinne, wherein the ſoule humbleth it ſelfe before God, and commeth home to him. It is not a worldly ſorrow (like theirs in the 7.cHoſ. 7.14. of Hoſea) which maketh vsus whine, becauſe the world is hard, nor yet a hopeles griefedGe. 4.13. in feare of puniſhmēt like Cains: but a griefe forePſ. 51, 3.4 ſinne as it diſpleaſeth God, whoſe louelove through Chriſt, wee hauehave feltfZac. 12.10 ſhed into our hearts,gLam. 3.22 whoſe mercies we ſee in that we are not cōſumed, yea,hHeb. 12.6 whoſe fatherly affection doth ſeeke to recall vsus home by louing correction. Now in this ſorrow, the ſoule doth humble it ſelfe, for this is the nature of repentance, it wil make vsusiEzech. 36.31. take ſhame to our ſelues, giuing glory to God, partly by ſeaſonable acknowledging thoſe waies wherein we hauehavekPſal. 51.14. Dan. 9.5. moſt prouoked God, partly bylEzech. 36.30. iudgeing our ſelues as worthie to bee cut off, that we may finde grace in his eyes, and not bee condemned. And together with grieuing and abaſing it ſelfe, the ſtray ſoulemAct. 26.20. commeth home to God, purpoſing (through his ſtrength) to leaue the waies wherin it hath grieued him, and to cleaue to God in all his commandements. Looke then if entring into your heart you finde, that as much hath beene amiſſe, ſo diſcerningnRom. 2.4. Gods mercy and patience, yea his goodneſſe, in giuing you the cal of his word and corrections, you are grieued that you hauehave been ſo vnkinde, and vndutifull, to ſo kind and carefull a father; if you finde that where it is to his glory you louelove to confeſſe your vnfruitfulneſſe, & to condemne your ſelf, and doe with true purpoſe of heart ſtrike a new couenant with God to forbeare your owne waies, to walke more fruitfully before him, ſo far as his grace ſhall preſerue you from the one, and ſtrengthen you to the other, (for all our ſufficiencie is in him); if you find theſe things in any meaſure, then reioyce, for God hath giuen youoAct. 11.12 repentance to eternall life. But if your hearts hauehave neglected this exerciſe of a broken ſpirit, and that your conſciences tell you there hath been little or no griefe this way; then you muſt be entreated that whileſt it is called to day, that Gods grace doth ſtill inuite you, you would not harden your hearts, but prepare to meete him.pLuk. 23.28. Weepe not for me, weepe for your ſins, ſaith our Sauiour, and bleſſed are they that mourne in this kinde, the Lord carrieth a handkercheife to wipe away thoſe teares, he is neere to comfort theſe hearts; theſe Aprill dewes bring May-flowers; ſuch as ſowe in teares ſhallqPſal. 126.5. reape in ioy. Is it not better for vsus to take the rod into our owne hands, and beate our ſelues gently, then force the Lord to take vsus into his hand, who is a conſuming fire: if the Lord do but ſee you are willing to caſt downe your ſelues, and to deale with your owne ſoules, he will couer your heads in the euill houre, and make louelove to your ſoules, whē his negligent children ſhall taſte of his temporarie diſpleaſure. Delay not this: our foules in their ſwaruings from God, are like two bones beſide their ioynt, the longer they go they proue the more painfull, if wee take them in time they are ſet more eaſily. We wil take Phyſick, purge, ſweat, to preuent the growing of diſeaſe vponupon vsus; ſhall we not bee wiſe for our ſoules; the vomit of the ſoule, is the griefe of repētance, take it betime, driue not of till the Lord bee forced to viſit. Now if God giuegive you to deſire that your hearts were broken in his ſight, but yet you finde that you cannot (partly for the hardneſſe in your harts, partly for outward diſtractions) do the thing you would, I will helpe you a little at this lift. There is an art in blowing vp eueryevery grace in the ſpirit, and this with the reſt.
Firſt therefore you muſtrDeut. 30 1 Lam. 3.40. Apoc. 2.5. enter into your hearts, & conſider your owne waies. Wee will keepe a reckoning what we run vponupon the ſcore with men, but rare are they, that thinke how deepe they are in Gods books, ſuch ill husbands wee are for our ſoules. Now wee muſt heere marke warily, whether wee hauehave not loſt ſome graces which wee hauehave had; I mean, hauehave them not ſo powerfully as we hauehave felt them. Whether wee doe not giuegive place to ſloth, doing Gods ſeruice coldly & ſleightly; whether wee hauehave not forgotten our couenant which wee hauehave made with God in Baptiſme, viZ. of dying to our owne thoughts, words, and deeds daily, and labouring in our whole courſe to feele that not now we liue, but Chriſt in vsus, as Paul ſpeaketh, his ſpirit teaching vsus to doe eueryevery thing as before him in conſcience of his will, to his glory. Yea, you here muſt call to mind, the moſtſDeut. 9 7. grieuous ſinnes which you at any time hauehave prouoked God with, wee muſt not bid adieu to the remembrance of our ſinnes paſt and pardoned, but muſt euer beare them in memory, ſo far forth as may help vsus with godly ſorrow, holy baſhfulneſſe, and lowlineſſe of minde. Deut. 9. Now then thus ſetting the matter before you, if you finde not your harts pricked with it, then you muſt (as the Prophet ſpeaketh) take words to your ſelues,tHoſ. 14 3. and trouble your owne ſoules, as thus; What? ſhall I thinke of my ſins againſt God, & not grieue nor bluſh at them? If I hauehave ouerſhot my ſelfe, ſo that men may hauehave a ſaying to me, it doth cut mee at the heart, I am aſhamed; if ſomthing croſſe but my corrupt nature ere while, I hauehave griefe at will; and ſhall I not grieue for offending my God? If I had broke day, and not kept touch with man, I could not looke him in the face, ſhall it not goe nigher me, that I hauehave kept my couenant no better with God? If my ſeruant hauehave loytered his day ouer, and not done my worke, he bluſheth, and is afraid to come before mee: and ſhall not I change my countenance, and be moued that I hauehave been ſo vnprofitable in the works of God? Thus as men in ſwoones, being chafed, come again, ſo ſhall your ſoules, while thus you beſtirre them, feele ſome warmth returning to them. But if yet the heart will not relent, you muſt in the third place, ſeeing your barrenneſſe and inabilitie, turn you to Chriſt ſpeaking to him in this wiſe: Were it to grieue at earthly occaſions, or that my ſelfe were diſpleaſed, heere my affections would come to mee before I ſent for them; but for godly ſorrow, none of it groweth in our gardens, our fooliſh hearts louelove not holy mourning, our hard hearts will not relent to thinke how we diſpleaſe thee, we knowing there is no ſtrength in vsus to any thing is good, look to thee, thou art the Chriſt &uAct. 5.31. Lord; thou giueſt repentance to thy Iſrael, and forgiueneſſe of ſinne; thou (Lord) doſt circumciſe the heart, thou hammereſtxEzech. 36.26. and breakeſt by thy Spirit the ſtone of them, making them fleſhie & tender.yLam. 5.21 Lord do thou turne vsus, and we ſhall be turned: Thus while you turne your eies to Ieſus that quickning Spirit, he will bee preſent to quicken this grace in you. But what if yet your harts ſhould not ſo kindly melt with in you as you deſire, yet al… is ſafe, for this is the ſmoke of repentance,zMat. 12.20. which Chriſt will not leaue till it blaze forth, hee will not put forth a ſmoking weeke. This deſire and labouring after it, is happines it ſelf; BleſſedaMat. 5.6. are they that hunger and thirſt after righteouſnes; yea, vſing this courſe to conſider of your wants, to chide after ſome ſort your own ſoules, and to look to Chriſt the giuer of repentance, the ſtone of your hearts, the hardnes wil come away by little & litle, & whē in bodily wounds the approuedſt plaiſters muſt be often laid on, you muſt not thinke, that theſe ſpiritual euils ſo long growing on vsus, ſhould bee quite gone on the ſudden. I doe beſeech you therefore, as euer you would taſte the comforts of God; as you would find eaſe in euill houres, when nothing but God can refreſh you; yea, as you louelove to eſcape much worldly ſorrow, which tendeth but to death, ſo acquaint your ſelues betime with this exerciſe of a broken heart;bMat. 5.4. Bleſſed are they that mourne, for they ſhall be comforted, and wee know much more earthly ſorrow then we ſhould, becauſe we will not trouble our owne ſoules a little, blowing vp that godly ſorrow which is required at our hands.
Now for the ſecond, of helping you forward in obedience, the ſum of the couenant twixt God and vsus is this; he in Chriſt ſaith, he wil take vsus for hiscHoſ. 2.23. people, wee promiſe to him, that we will hauehave him for our God. This therefore doth compriſe our duty to God, that we ſet him vp in our harts as God; which thing wee doe firſt, when we grow vp to know him, and to acknowledge him in all things. Secondly, when we make him our truſt. Thirdly, when we louelove him aboue all. Fourthly, when wee feare him. Fifthly, when we reioice in him. Sixthly, when our hearts are thankfully affected to him, making him their ſong and praiſe. This is to hauehave him for our God, when we know nothing, truſt in nothing, louelove, feare, reioice in nothing, whē our hearts are thankfull aboue all to him. To ſpeake a little to the ſeuerals: We cannot hauehave God our God, till wee come to know him in Chriſt: ignorance dothdEph. 4.18 eſtrange vsus from God, and knowledge doth acquaint vsus with him. This Paul prayeth for in the behalf of the Coloſſians, 1.10. that they might be filled with the knowledge of God, the ſpirits of their mind being opened, to look towards him. Euen as our image in the glaſſe doth looke to vsus from whom it is reflected; ſo Gods Image in vsus doth make the eie of our mindes view him, the author of it in vsus. Now this knowledge conſidereth of God two waies, either ſimply apart frō al other reſpect, and thus it conceiueth a ſpirituall eſſence, in reſpect of his properties, or perſons into which this diuine ſelfe ſame nature is diſtinguiſhed, the Father, Sonne, and Spirit, al of them hauing the ſame ſpirituall nature, as if I and you with ſom third man, might bee ſuppoſed all to hauehave but one and the ſelfe ſame ſoule and body, being diſtinct perſons. Or elſe it conſidereth God, as made manifeſt in our Nature, for Ieſus the Sonne, hauing one, and the ſame Nature with the Father, hath taken ſuch a ſoule & body as we hauehave (ſinne excepted) to fellowſhip of his perſon, and thus is becomeeMat. 1.23 Emmanuel, God with vsus, or Godf3. vlt. manifeſted in our Nature, in which humane Nature God the Sonne ſuffered death for vsus, in which likewiſe hee manifeſted his Diuine power, raiſing it vp, glorifying it in heauen; ſo that he who was dead in his humane Nature, is now aliue in it for euer, hauing ſwallowed vp death into victorie. Thirdly, it conſidereth God manifeſted in Chriſt, as he is become our God by Couenant, in regard of ſuch things which his faithful mercies doe worke for vsus. He in Chriſt is our Iuſtifier, our Sanctifier, that helpes vsus againſt the remnants of our corruption; our Redeemer that deliuereth vsus from all troubles; the God that careth for vsus, giueth vsus eueryevery good gift, bleſſeth vsus in our eſtates, feedeth vsus, giueth vsus and all his beloued ones ſleep, defendeth vsus from al euil, keepeth vsus by his power to ſaluation, is the beginner and ender of all his good graces in vsus. Now how ſhort are we in this point, wee are like infants in a manner new borne, they are kept by the louing Parent, from fire, water, are fed, laied to ſleepe, made readie, vnreadie; ſhifted in their ſcape, but they know not who doth all this for them. So doth our heauenly Father by vsus in Chriſt, but (he knoweth) little vnderſtanding hauehave we of him: for though God be light it ſelfe, a Spirit which brightly ſeeth all things through heauen & earth, to whoſe pure ſhine the Sun is darkeneſſe, yet the weakenes of our ſight is ſuch wee cannot look againſt it: as the Bat and Owle cannot indure to ſee the bright beames of the Sun in the firmament; you muſt therefore take notice of your ſpirituall blindneſſe, and come vntounto him that ſelleth eyeſalue,gReue. 3.18 that hath the ſpirit of illumination, which openeth the eies of the blind, and crie to him for merciemercy. Why if your eyes were ſore bloud-ſhot, &c. your eies wherewith you ſee but one another, creatures like your ſelfe, you would ſeeke out for them, and waſh with ſtrongſmarting waters, but you would reſtore them; wil you not ſeeke to your God in Chriſt for to reſtore that ſight of your ſpirits wherewith you ſee him, and the things of your peace within the vale, euen in the heauens? nay, you muſt bee aſhamed you take knowledge no more of your God through the whole day. If our children when wee are by them, ſhould through rudeneſſe and careleſneſſe not once caſt a looke to vsus, as acknowledging our preſence, would we take it at their hands? might not eueryevery one ſay, theſe children they are better fed then taught? they are thus graceleſſe. Let vsus apply it to our ſelues, who ſerue our God and Father little better, and you muſt ſet vponupon this ſuite with better hope, becauſe God hath promiſed to vsus, this is his couenant, weegIer. 31.34 ſhall know him from the greateſt to the leaſt of vsus: the eye looking on a thing becōmeth one with it in ſome manner. But leaſt I grow too tedious, I come to the ſecond, wee muſt truſt on him, hanging all our hopes on his merciemercy and truth toward vsus. And theſe two go together; men ſomtime the better wee know them, the leſſer we truſt them, and that deſeruedly, but Pſal. 9.Pſal. 9.10. ſuch as know God, ſhall truſt in him, and who ſo repoſeth al his confidence in God, hee takes him in ſo doing for his God: as the Scripture in this reſpect ſaith, the couetous man is an idolater, taketh his money for God; becauſe hee putteth his truſt in vncertaine riches, his wealth is a ſtrong tower in his thoughts: and hee that truſteth in the creature, with-draweth his heart from God (ſaith the Prophet) teaching that our hearts are vnited to God,Jer. 17.3. when the affiance of them is ſet on him. Now though we ſhould liue by faithhGal. 2.20 on the Sonne of God, truſting vponupon him for the giuing and maintaining of all our good both temporall and eternall, leaning vponupon him for defence, and deliuerance from all euils ſpirituall, yea, and corporall,i1. Pe. 5.7. caſting all our cares on him,kPhil. 3.3. hauing no confidence in the fleſh, but reioycing in Chriſt Ieſus, though this is our dutie, yet we are exceeding weake in faith, and full of vnbeleefe: this will appeare by our want of feare at the thretnings of Gods word and by our careleſneſſe, which maketh vsus looſly looke after his promiſes. Did wee beleeue ſuch threatning, (if you liue after the fleſh you ſhall die),Rom. 8.11. wee would tremble when we fauour our ſelues in our owne wayes? the diuels beleeue and trē ble. Againe, truſting ciuilly in mans word or bond, we do ſeek them carefully, and are glad when we hauehave got thē: and as we ſay, wee write vponupon them, to hauehave ſo much at ſuch a day, vponupon a ſubſtantiall mans word or bond giuen vsus. But Gods word that promiſeth all good things in this life, as wel as the life to come, his ſeales wee ſeeke not after them, wee are not glad of them, which is a ſigne of our great vnbeleefe in them. Secondly, by the reſting of our hearts in outward things, and our being diſquieted when we want them, is a token that our hearts are vnbeleeuing; while wee hauehave meanes and good likelihoods of this or that, wee are well, let theſe faile, we are troubled: which ſheweth that wee reſt not on the word of God, which is as ſure in the want of all things, as in abundance, but leane on ſuch things as wee ſee and hauehave at hand. Suppoſe a man had crutches vnderunder his armes, but leaned not at all to them as hee goeth, take them away, he walketh as before. So wee, did not we truſt and leane on the things ſeene, but on God who is not ſeene, but by the eye of faith, wee ſhould goe as vpright, when al things to ſenſe ſpeake the contrary, to that wee beleeue, as when our feeling is fed abundantly, hoping againſt hope. Thirdly, did we reſt on God, and truſt to him, (as who is all in all) we would ſeeke to him for his bleſſing, more then for meanes, which by his bleſſing doe this or that, whereas we labour not to make him ſure to vsus, but to get the meanes, and then wee thinke all is well with vsus. Now when you find your vnbeleef, you muſt make it odious to your ſelfe by ſuch like conſiderations. Shall I ſeeke after the word of a mā, ſometime, to ſecure but a twentie ſhillings matter, and ſhall I not ſeeke after the precious promiſes of my God? ſhall I truſt to a man promiſing this or that, and ſhall I not truſt my God, who is truth it ſelfe, that cannot lie? will not a ſubſtantiall man thinke much, if I take not his bare word? and ſhall I not truſt my Lords word and ſeale & oath (he hath ſworn to bleſſe vsus with all bleſſings in Chriſt) vnleſſe he leaue me a pawne alſo? Then in the third place, when you finde your vnbeleeuing heart trouble you,Heb. 12.2. you muſt looke to Chriſt, who is the authour and finiſher of your faith, ſpeake to him. Thou haſt begun, thou muſt finiſh. Encreaſe my faith, I beleeue, helpe my vnbeleefe. The third dutie is, you muſt louelove him, for louelove we know maketh the man and woman one, ſo it doth couple vsus to God. Wee muſt labour to ſay from our hearts, Lord, what hauehave wee in heauen but thee,Pſal. 73.25. or in earth in compariſon of thee. Now though we think wee doe louelove him, and doe ſo, yet it is weakly, and aboue all things we had need to mende in this behalfe. Trie your louelove and then iudge of it. Thoſe you louelove, doe you not louelove to be preſent with thē, as you two one with another? if one of you be forth of towne, doe you not thinke long til you meet together? are page missing but ſhould bee affectioned toward eueryevery ſtranger; if ſhee ſhould not care how long ſhe were abſent from him, but thinke her ſelfe beſt while they were aſunder; if ſhee cared little how her louing huſband were offended, caſting that at her heele which hee taketh to heart, were not this ſhameleſſe behauiour in her? and ſhall not we be aſhamed to ſhew no leſſe want of louelove to thee, to whom our ſouls are married in Chriſt? Then you muſt turne you to God, confeſſing that your hearts are full of harlotry and falſe-louelove. You can louelove your ſelues, you hauehave affectiō enough to the things of this world, the gifts of God, and that the meaneſt, more then the giuer, as harlottes to rings, gold, bracelets, more then the ſenders, and beſeeching him to purge your hearts of this, and fill you with his louelove: for this is his promiſe, I will circumciſe your hearts, and make you louelove mee with all your hearts. The fourth thing is the feare of God: Sanctifie the Lord in your har…s, make him your feare:Eſa. 8.13. *Mat. 10.28.feare to offend him, who when the body is killed can caſt the ſoule into hell fire. We ſhold reuerence his excellent Maieſtie, and dread to offend him, becauſe hee hath been gracious to vsus, and hath power to doe with vsus what euer he pleaſeth. And with good reaſon were there from whom wee hold our houſe and ſtocke, ſo that hee could turne vsus out of all at his pleaſure: would wee not walk very circumſpectly, fearing that which might alienate his fauour from vsus? Againe, if the Maieſty of a mortall man doth affect vsus (as of the King) with reuerence; how much more ſhould wee be affected with the glorious Maieſty of the moſt high God? Now you muſt know your hearts are much void of this alſo. The thing ſpeaketh it ſelf. Do you not feele when in prayer you are to ſpeake to God, that there is no reuerence in your hearts beſeeming ſo high a Maieſtie? Do you not feele the want of dreade at his iudgements, which ſo long hauehave been vponupon vsus, and ſtill houer about vsus and what awe is in vsus, making vsus fearefull by ſin to diſpleaſe him? Alas, preſumption, ſecuritie, hardneſſe of hart, theſe weeds grow ſo hic, that wee can ſcarce diſcerne ye fruit aboue named. In the third place thē you muſt worke this want vponupon your heart, as the former, ſaying: If I were in the preſence of ſome great perſonage, and ſhould carrie my ſelfe rudely, without due reſpect, would I not bluſh? ſhall I not bee aſhamed I hauehave no more reuerence when I come before thee,Iam. 2.19. O thou God of glory? ſo for want of dread ſhall the beaſts tremble whē the Lion roreth: yea ſhall the diuels tremble to thinke of thy iudgement? O ſhall I be ſenſleſſe and no whit mooued? So for want of awe in regard of breaking Gods law: ſhall I dare as well to take a beare by the tooth, as to breake the Kings law, where eſpecially it threatneth life, limme, or liberty? and ſhall I not bee afraid to treſpaſſe againſt thy … tutes, the breach wherof is puniſhable with eternall death. Is there none but thee that wee may make bold with ſhall I bee ſo fooliſh as to feare ſickneſſe, pouerty, mens diſpleaſure, and not bee afraid of ſinne, and thy wrath which isaHeb. 12. vlt. a conſuming fire? what were this but with little childrē to bee ſcarred with a harmeleſſe bul begger, and to bee dreadleſſe of fire and water. In the laſt place, you muſt looke to God in conſcience, how this affection is peruerted in you, confeſſing to him that you can feare the face of men, things that are, or ſeeme hurtfull to your ſelues: you can …emean your ſelues reuerently toward ſuch as are great amongſt mē, but toward him you finde great want; and goe pray him to worke it in your hearts, who hath couenanted to put hisbIer. 32.40 feare in our harts, ſo that we ſhall not depart from him. Fifthly, to hauehave God for your God, bindeth you to reioyce in him:cPhil. 2.4. Reioyce in the Lord, againe I ſay reioyce.dIe…. 9.23. Pſal. 37.4. Delight thy ſelfe in the Lord, and hee will giuegive thee thy hearts deſire? let not the rich man reioyce in wealth, the ſtrong man in ſtrength, the wiſe man in wiſedome, but in this, that he knoweth mee, ſaith the Lord. For what wee make our chiefe ioy, that is our God, for the heart reſteth chiefly in that with which it is moſt delighted. Now what is more equall, then that we ſhould ſolace our ſelues in him, with ioy vnſpeakeable and glorious, who hath deliuered vsus from death ſinne and Satan (who as Gods executioner hath power in ſin and death) in him who is a light and a ſhield, that is a fountaine of all good, and a defender of vsus from all euill; one able to maintaine all the good ſpiritual and corporall which we hauehave, and giuē vsus whatſoeuer is wanting: but if wee marke our hearts, their ioy is much depraued, (ſo that Salomon ſaith not without cauſe,Eccleſ. 2.2. our laughter is become madneſſe); for our harts are not cheary this way: tell thē of the precious benefits are giuen vsus in Chriſt, pardon of ſinne, peace, the beginning of euerlaſting life through the work of grace, hope through Chriſt of the heauenly Kingdome; why they can heare this and be ſo farre from leaping within vsus, that we can hardly diſcerne them any whit moued. Nay, if we marke them the better, we ſhall ſee, that when wee would hold them to the remembrance of ſuch things, till they hauehave broke looſe from vsus, they are not in their kind, cannot bee lightſome; as if God were the dampe of our mirth, not the matter of our exulting gladnes. Now when you obſerue, that you cannot reioyce in the Lord, you muſt ſhame your ſoules, by laying before them their owne courſe in other matters. If I ſee ſome toy & heare ſome ieſt, I cannot containe my ſelfe; if I heare ſome goodneſſe, or meete with proſperus ſucceſſe in my worldlie affaires, I can bee pleaſant enough; if I be paſſing the time with my friends at their curteous inuitements, it goeth on merily, deadneſſe and vncomfortablenes I feele them not for the time. Fie, ſhall I hauehave laughter euen till I tickle at a feather at ſome merry conceit, at good newes of ſome earthly buſineſſe, and ſhal I not reioyce in the Goſpel of God in good newes from heauen touching the ſaluation of my ſoule? Againe, ſhall I laugh and bee cheary in being with my friēd, and ſhall I be all amort when I draw neere my God? Shall I be glad of acquaintance with a man, and not bee glad yt I know my God in Ieſus Chriſt, which is life euerlaſting?Iob. 1.17.1. The wicked they exult, in ſeruing ſin & Satā to their deſtruction, ſhall I bee without ioy in ſeruing my God, who giueth of his free grace to me life euerlaſting? O our reioycing is earthly, little ioy of the holy Ghoſt dwelleth with vsus. We are like ſuch as are ſicke of light phrenſies, they …ill laugh at their ſhad…ow, at their own phan…es, but can ſee nothing …to, nay, diſtaſte that which ſauoreth of right reaſon. As therefore againſt the former, ſo againſt this alſo we muſt fight the good fight of faith looking to him, who hath ſaid hee will make our hearts glad in his houſe, who hath promiſed to ſend his ſpirit to vsus, that our ioy may bee full; praying him that in this regard hi… Kingdome may come and that hee would rectifie this affection in v… to make vsus able to tak… comfort in that whic… is matter of true reio… cing. Now for prayſi… God, and thankfulne… to him, wee hauehave this commandement,*Phil. 4.6. in al things giuegive thanks, yea in euils;Iohn 1. Pſal. 104. end. ſhal we receiue good things from God, and not euill, the Lord hath giuen, the Lord hath taken, bleſſed bee his name. No wonder, for medicine is as good in due ſeaſon, as the delightfulleſt dainties. Now our inward and outward croſſes are by Gods graces made wholeſome phyſicke to purge out our corruptions, and make vsus partakers of the quiet fruit of righteouſneſſe and holineſſe. Yea, our hearts ſhould be ſo thankfully affected, that like a fire it muſt breake forth and inflame others. My ſoule, my heart, al within me praiſe the Lord, Pſal. 104, 35. My ſoule praiſe the Lord, praiſe yee the Lord. He doth ſtirre vp himſelfe, and prouoke others, as the Cocke that firſt clapping his wings about his bodie, rowſeth vp himſelf, and after crowing awaketh others. Otherwiſe cōmon termes of thankfulneſſe without affectiō are a court-holy-water (as we ſay) which our God that looketh at heart and raines doth not reſpect. And truly there is great cauſe, looke at benefits paſt (eaten bread muſt not be forgottē, thanks muſt ſtill be greene); doth not the particular deliuerance, when many fell on each hand of you, bind you ſtill to thankfulneſſe. If all things you enioy, you know the temporall bleſſings, as tolerable health, good name and reputation, freedom from ſuite and ſeruice, ability rather to …e helpful then chargeble, the domeſticall peace, your liberties without feare of reſtraint, all of them in their place no ſmall matters. Will you conſider ſpiritual bleſſings, that which you hauehave downe in hand is as great a work of his merciemercy, as the glorious ſta…e you looke for hereafter. Is not the Lords worke more admirable in his firſt making, and quickning the infant in the wombe, then in feeding it there, drawing it forth, and nurſing it vp to full ſtature? ſo his begetting vsus who were dead, to bee aliu… (though yet in the wombe of our mother the Church) is more then the bringing of vsus to a perfect man in Chriſt Ieſus, when now we are new borne babes in him. And though it ſeeme ſtrange, yet it is onelyonly in this reſpect, becauſe we are like infants who liue, but know not in compariſon that they liue; ſo wee hauing in ſmall meaſure that Spirit, which teacheth vsus to know the things beſtowed on vsus, know not how great that grace is, which is already ſhewed vsus. It is no ſmal thing when wee were dead in ignorance, and the luſts of our ignorance to bee quickned with the life of God, in knowledge, righteouſneſſe and holineſſe, when wee were enemies to bee made friends, yea ſonnes and daughters. The Apoſtle doubteth not to reaſon from this (as the greater) to life euerlaſting (as the leſſer) Ro. 5.10. If God, when we were enemies, hath recōciled vsus by his death, how much more wil he ſaue vsus with perfect ſaluation of ſoule and body by his life, that is, by putting forth the power of his Spirit, now hee liueth to die no more. Theſe then are great things: his acquitting you from the ſinne and death for Chriſt the ſu…ties ſake; his ſending his Spirit into your heart, and giuing you part in the firſt reſurrection. Beſide theſe, you muſt remember what aduerſities he hath holpen you in, how he hath eaſed the yoke of your corruptions, which hauehave had more power in you, then now they hauehave; yea, what euils he hath put by you. HaueHave you not been tempted in …his or that kind, it is becauſe God in merciemercy would not leade you into temptation. Yea this is in ſome reſpect more to bee acknowledged the… victorie when you are tempted. For, not to bee tempted is more immediately from God and leſſe in mans power, then to preuaile againſt temptations. For nothing doth ouercom vsus without our will, but without our wills, God doth leade vsus into triall; for he knoweth we would taſte little of theſe, if it were in our power to bee our owne caruers. You muſt bee as thankful for ſuch ſins which God hath not let you know, as for thoſe which hee hath pardoned in you, hauing committed them. Whither doe you thinke you are bound to praiſe God more, if hee reſtore you when you are ſicke; or if he keep you, ſo that you feele no ſickneſſe? Now if you weigh what things God hath prepared for you, they are ſuch as neuer eye ſaw, neuer entred fully into the hart of mortal man. Compare the ſtate of Prince Henrie in his Queen Mothers womb with his condition at full age in all the glory of his Fathers Court, there is a broad difference which may fitly reſemble the diuerſitie of our preſent and future condition. We are borne ſons and daughters of God, heyres apparant to the Kingdom of heauen: but while the Church doth heere trauell of vsus, we are pent vp in darke cloyſters, & annoied with much ſtincks of ſinne in ou… ſelues and others, but hereafter our ſtate ſhal… be altogether lightſome, happie and glorious. So that wee may well ſay to God, O how great is the good which thou haſt laid vp for them that feare thee! How great things doſt thou worke before the ſonnes of men, for ſuch as hope on thee? You ſee then how for things paſt, for things preſent, and things God hath in ſtore for vsus, wee are bound to bee thankfull. Now if you aske what it is in which our thankfulneſſe ſtandeth. I anſwere; firſt, in a heartie acknowledgement of Gods goodneſſe to vsus in all things, with conſcience of our owne vnworthineſſe, as who are leſſe then the leaſt of his mercies.Compare Geneſ 32.10.33.5. 1. Ch. 29.14 Moſes example, Exodus 18.8. Secondly, we muſt tell of Gods kindneſſe, that we may glorifie him before others; come, I will tell you (ſaith Dauid) what God hath done for my ſoule. Thirdly, it doth make vsus caſt about, what we may returne to God in way of thankfulneſſe, Pſal. 116. What ſhall I giuegive the Lord for all his benefits vntounto mee. Fourthly, it will make vsus accuſe our ſelues, if we bee backward in dutie. Thus we ſee when wee receiue any more ſpeciall kindneſſe from our frinds, firſt, our inward affections doe acknowledge and intertaine it gladly. Secondly, we tell what ſuch an one hath done for vsus. Thirdly, we will thinke how wee may requite him, or teſtifie our thankfulnes at the leaſt toward him. Laſtly, we challenge our ſelues (if time goe on, and no token of our good will be returned) as to blame that forget ſo great curteſie as was ſhewed to vsus. Now then that you hauehave heard what it is to bee thankfull, what good reaſon wee hauehave; wee muſt lay our ſelues to this rule, and we ſhal find wee come as ſhort here, as in thoſe aforenamed. O wee are horribly vnthankfull! what good bleſſings do we receiue, not once caſting a look to the donour of them. When wee are kept in the night, our houſes from fire, breaking into, &c, when refreſhed with ſleepe, when kept al day in our out-going and incommings, when fed, doe wee acknowledge our God heartily in theſe, yet it is hee that watcheth, or in vaine they keepe the Citie; it is he that rocketh vsus aſleepe, and draweth the courtaine of the night about vsus; he giueth ſleep to his beloued, Pſal. 137. It is hee that wardeth about vsus all day, keeping vsus in our waies, Pſal. 120. He openeth his hand, and like a great houſe-keeper giueth vsus our daily bread. If in earthlie things which wee ſee, & taſt, we cannot praiſe him, what taking ſhall wee bee found in about heauenly, whē you hauehave your daily ſins forgiuen you in Chriſt; when you are kept from the ſin of your own hart, the corrupt examples of worldly men, the ſpirituall wickedneſſes that fight againſt vsus; when you go in ſpirituall peace from morning to night, which alone is a gift paſſing vnderſtanding,Phil. 4.7. doe you acknowledge God with affection toward him in theſe things? it is he that ſhifts vsus out of the ſcapes of our corruptiō, waſhing vsus in the bloud of his Chriſt from the filth of our ſinne; hee forgiueth vsus eueryevery day our treſpaſſes; it is his power,1. Pet. 1.5. in which as in a tower, we are kept ſafe againſt all our enemies vntounto ſaluation. Hee is the God of peace, the Prince of peace in Chriſt, who ſtilleth the… accuſing, and ſubdueth the rage and vſurpation of ſinne in vsus: we are like infants, that hauehave much done about them, but knowe not who doth it, take no knowledge of them. Our God doth carry vsus on in the armes of his tender mercy. But alas, little doe wee vnderſtand of him. In benefits receiued often,I meane not meate and drinke, but many other which in the courſe of the day are giuen vsus of God. our ſpirits do not once looke vp to him, but as ſwine take the maſt, ſo doe wee our bleſſings: or if we do any thing in way of thankfulneſſe, how ouerly do we turne ouer this duty? our affections and inclinations more bent another way, thē to that we hauehave in hand, euen the thankful praiſing of our God: we ſerue him as our children ſerue vsus, whē they come in to vsus frō their play, and hauehave got ſomthing of vsus they wanted, away they goe without looke or leg to vsus; but if they know we will hauehave it, then they doe them in ſome faſhion, but ſo, as we may ſee their hart is in their game abroad more then their dutie: ſo for ſpeaking what our God hath done for vsus, (thankfulnes will not ſlip ouer a benefit receiued) when doe wee with delight tell of his kindnes? When doe we beat our heads, not ſuffering our tēples to reſt till wee hauehave giuen our God ſome argument of our thankfulneſſe? Alas, we vſe our God, as if it greatly mattered not how he were dealt with. Now then take words to your ſelues, condemning frō your harts this grieuous ſinne. Say if a man doe bid mee to ſupper once a quarter, I thanke him then, when I meet him after, I thank him of my laſt being with him, I tell what kinde welcome, what good cheere hee made mee, bid him home againe, check my ſelfe if I forget him. But if ſome greater matters be beſtowed on vsus, how kindly doe wee take them, how doe we louelove to tell of them, how doe wee yeeld our ſelues vp to them to bee at their cō mands to the vtmoſt of our abilities. Shall I thanke him that giueth me a ſupper in louelove, and tell of his louing entertainment, bee aſhamed if I make no neighbourly requitall? and ſhall I not bee affectionately thankfull to my God, who giueth me all my daily bread; yea, who feedeth my ſoule with himſelfe in Ieſus Chriſt (heere is my body, my blood) that I might liue for euer? Shall I not tell of thoſe fined wines, thoſe fatte things euen of my God, broken in his body and ſoule with ſorrowes, ſheadding his precious blood, wherewith my vnworthy ſoule hath beene fed and feaſted? Shall I for ſome ſmall kindneſſe tell a man I am his to bee commanded? and ſhall I not reſigne my ſelfe to my God, who hath paid my debt, and purchaſed mee a new ſtocke, euen the hope of eternall life with his precious blood? ſhall I bluſh vponupon ſome more vnthankfull part to mā, and not be aſhamed of vnthankfulneſſe toward God? What? ſhall I be worſe to my God, then an Oxe or an Horſe is to his owner? If I ſhould ſhew one exceeding great louelove, & he ſhould not at all regard mee, or returne mee ſome common countenance, could I endure it? Thus then turne your ſelues to God, I am become worſe to thee, then the whelpes that feede vnderunder my boord are to me: they will open and fawne in their kinde on me, but my heart hath no power to bee thankfull to thee, to praiſe thee. O thou who requireſt of me in all things to giuegive thee thankes: & haſt promiſed to write thy commandemēts in my heart, put into my heart a law of thankfulneſſe, O thou quickening ſpirit, quicken my ſoule this way: labour for thankful hearts: God asketh vsus but this as a rent for all his bleſſings beſtowed on vsus: I will deliuer thee, and thou ſhalt praiſe my name, Pſalm. 50.15. Wee will not forfait things to men for not payment of rent: let vsus not giuegive God cauſe to reenter and ſtraine vponupon vsus, and all wee hauehave, for not magnifying and praiſing him. Thus if my God helpe you to ſtirre vp your hearts to repentance, and to ſurrender your hearts to him by eying him, truſting on him, louing him, reioycing in him, by making him your feare, by praiſing him with ſpirit, word, and worke: then happy ſhall you bee. If new plagues breake forth, you ſhall hauehave comfort in the hotteſt: and if you labour to ſee how farre your hearts are out of frame, in their confidence, louelove, feare, ioy, thankfulneſſe, in regard of the impenitent hardneſſe, and impudencie that is in them; for they cannot bluſh for that God knoweth by them, though our eares will glow on our heads, if men know ought reprochfull by vsus. If you labour to finde this out, and then in ſight of your miſery, looke to Gods promiſe, who hath promiſed to giuegive you a new hart, a tender hart, in which his commandements ſhall bee written by the finger of his ſpirit, then you ſhall ſee this courſe will neither let you bee idle nor vnprofitable; yea it ſhall returne you much comfort and true peace: in life and death wiſe men will take the ſowre with the ſweet, and the world is not gotten without paines taking; therfore if it ſeeme to hauehave any bitterneſſe, or to require labour, you muſt not be diſmayed, I will promiſe you it is but brackiſh on the toppe, the deeper you go, you ſhall find it the ſweeter.
Your louing friend, PAVL BAYNE.