Mans Active Obedience, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
The Chriſtians practice, according to the knowledge of himſelfe and his owne dutie; and herein firſt of the legall Commandements.
Queſtion.
SO much of the practice and vſe we are to make of the knowledge of God himſelfe, and of his workes: come now to ſhew the like vſes that we are to make of the knowledge of ourſelues, and of our owne duties. And firſt touching ourſelues: what may this ſerue vsus inſtead to know, that we were once made ſo happy creatures, and ſo excelling in goodneſſe?
A. For ſo much as it is the Lord that ſo made vsus happie, and not we our ſelues; all the excellencie of that our eſtate ſerueth but to declare him to bee moſt excellent, that firſt ſet vsus in it, and of whom we had it. For if the heauens declare the glory of God, and the firmament ſhow his Pſal. 19. 1.handy worke, which yet are but a part of the great world made by God of nothing; man who is a creature ſo fearfully Ingens miraculum homa.and wonderfully made, and ſo curiouſly wrought in the loweſt parts of the earth, as he is alone a little worldPſal. 139. 14. 1… Our ſoules and bodies are ſhops of his moſt notable works, whe.in himſelfe, and an abſtract or modell of the vniuerſall; how cannot the glory of God much more ſhine bright out of him; and the praiſe of his workmanſhip, his wiſedome, his goodneſſe, and his greatneſſe be more aboundantlyin are wrought wonders, and things neuer enough admired. The Lord did mouid and faſhion man, a liuing image of his Deity. ſhewed forth by a creature made ſo glorious, as had the very character and image of God his owne glory put vponupon it, which the other neuer had.
Beſide, the glory of our firſt creation being ſo great (who as touching our bodily ſubſtāce, were but creatures raiſed out of the duſt; and as touching our ſoules, made ſomething out of nothing, though a diuine ſubſtance indeedeGen. 1. 7. of an excellent and happy condition) puts vsus in hope that theſe vile bodies of ours, though they muſt returne againe to their duſt, & are to be laid downe againe with diſhonour in the graue▪ yet ſhall be raiſed vp againe the ſecond time to the fruition of a better perfection of glory in Gods kingdome, and be made like the glorious body of the Sonne of God, by the mighty power of himPhil. 3. 21. that once did ſo make them: and that theſe ſinfull ſoules of ours, though now they be ſo laden, peſtered, and poyſoned with aboundant corruption, as wee know not of any goodneſſe at all that can be found in them, ſhall by the ſame power not onelyonly be freed from all this load andRom. 7. 18. burthen of corruption; but recouer againe the firſt, if not a fuller purity, and greater perfection then they euer had, and be clothed vponupon againe with a more enduring glory, 2. Cor. 5. 4.that will neuer fade.
Laſtly, the knowledge heereof ſerueth to ſtoppe the mouth of eueryevery man from complaining againſt God that made him, for that he is now ſo lamentably ſallen; ſeeing God made him vpright, but himſelfe hath ſought out that inuention that hath cauſed this wofull ruine.Eccleſ. 7. 29.
Q. And what vſe are we to make of the knowledge of our miſerable eſtate, into which we that were once ſo happie, are now ſo plunged by the fall of Adam, as that we all by nature are become the children of wrath, one as well as another?
A. By this we are taught to acknowledge that thing, which (by our lamentable experience) wee hauehave now learned, and found to bee moſt true; namely, that noIob 4. 18. 1. Sam. 2. 9. creature, how glorious ſoeuer it be, is able to ſuſtaine and vphold it ſelfe, if the hand of the Creator bee once withdrawne.
This ſerueth alſo to ouerthrow our pride, to caſt downeRom. 3. 27. Ioh. 3. 3. 6. all our glory and confidence in our ſelues, all boaſting of our ſtocke and blood in nature, how nobly ſoeuer wee bee borne; ſince all are ſhut vp vnderunder this condemnation, to ſtand vnderunder the wrath of God by nature; and are becomeEpheſ. 2. 3. by ſinne the baſeſt and vileſt of all other creatures, excepting the diuels.
Laſtly, the knowledge hereof thus humbling and ouerwhelming vsus with ſhame, ſhould ſtirre vp in vsus ſuch a miſliking of our ſelues, as ſhould cauſe vsus neuer to beeRom. 7. 24. …5 quiet, till we might heare of ſome remedie; and ſet vsus a worke, to ſeeke out by all meanes, and with all diligence, for our full recouerie.
Q. What vſe may the knowledge of this bee put vntounto by vsus, that after the loſſe of ſo great a happineſſe beſtowed vponupon vsus in the firſt creation, and the throwing vsus downe vnderunder ſo great a degree of miſerie through Adams tranſgreſſion; as to be made by nature the very children of wrath, that can looke to inherit nothing but eternall deſtruction: we ſhould yet ſo be reſtored by grace, through the redemption that is in Chriſt Ieſus, as power ſhould be giuen vntounto vsus to become the ſonnes of God; yea heires, and fellow-heires with him of life and glory?
A. All this may worth…ly hold our minds in the continual admiration of this wonderful worke of him, whoſe name is called wonderfull, euen God our Sauiour; thatIſa. 9. 6. hath made this happie change for vsus: who in his infinite wiſedome hath found out the way, to bring vsus the greateſt gaine, out of that moſt beauie loſſe; and to improue that our falling, to a better riſing, and more ſure ſtanding for vsus then before; and out of the bottome and depth of that greateſt and moſt wofull miſery into which wee were throwne, to raiſe vsus vp to a higher height and degree of glory, and of aduancement in royall dignity, thenEpheſ. 2. 6. euer man had beſtowed vponupon him in the time of his firſt innocency: for by meanes thereof, he hath taken occaſion to vnite vsus more nearely to himſelfe, then we were before; our Nature in Chriſt being taken into the fellowſhip of the God-head, and perſonally ioyned to the diuine Nature 1. Iohn 1. 3. Mat…h. 1. 23. 1. Tim. 3. 16.of the Sonne of God himſelfe: a degree of dignitie aboue that euer any of the Angels were lifted vp vntounto, or (for ought that can be knowne) euer ſhall be.
Beſides, we beholding, and with reuerence wondring1. Iohn. 3. 1. at, what louelove of God this ſhould bee, that wee who are children of wrath by nature, ſhould now be thus called the ſonnes of God: this great alteration and happy change of our eſtate, ſhould cauſe vsus to be affected, like as were the people at their deliuerance out of their captiuitie, when their mouth was filled with laughter, and their tongue with Pſal. 126. 1. 2. 3. & 16. 9. Iſa…. 49. 13.ioy: this ſhould cauſe our hearts to be glad, and our tongues to reioyce, the very heauens to ſing for this, the earth to be ioyfull, the mountaines alſo to breake forth into ſinging; yea, all people in conſideration hereof, may bee called to clap their hands for ioy of this ſo great ſaluation, and to ſing aloud vntounto God with a ioyfull voyce; to ſing praiſes to God, to ſing praiſes; yea, to call forth to the ſingingPſal. 47. 1. 6. 7. praiſes of eueryevery one that hath vnderſtanding; ſeeing the Angels themſelues, who had not the like cauſe that wee hauehave, welcommed the birth and comming of the Sauiour into the world, with their heauenly ſweete melody, andLuke 2. 13. ſongs of great reioycing.
Laſtly, the conſideration of this louelove of God paſſing all knowledge, and of this bountie and goodneſſe of Chriſt in our redemption, which is ſo great, as the Angels themſelues cannot ceaſe wondering, and marueiling at the1. Pet. 1. 12. ſame, ought to moue and conſtraine vsus to dutie; and cauſe vsus to offer vp our ſelues, our ſoules and bodies, as liuing ſacrifices Rom. 12. 1.vntounto him by our daily ſeruing of him; that our whole life may be a reciprocall louing of him. And that as wee are called the ſonnes of God, who looke to inherit with Chriſt in glory, wee ſhew the naturalneſſe of that our ſonne-ſhip to God our Father (after the manner that the onelyonly begotten Son of God himſelf did, in whom the Father Mal. 1. 6.was alwaies well pleaſed), by our conſtant louing, fearing, and honouring of him; and for yeelding obedience vntounto him, that the ſame mind may be found to bee in vsus, which was in Chriſt Ieſus, who humbled himſelfe, andPhil. 2. 5 6 8. became obedient to his Father vntounto the death, euen to the death of the Croſſe.
Q. Proceede now to ſh…w, what vſe we are to make, as well of the knowledge of our duties which we are to performe, as you hauehave done of the knowledge of our ſelues in the ſeuerall eſtat…s, where in we now either are, or formerly hauehave been: and for ſo much as you hauehave ſhewed, that our duties in generall do conſiſt, in p…rforming due obedience to God his holy will in all things, declare what vſe is to be made by vsus of the knowledge hereof?
A. This ſhould ſet vsus aworke, firſt, with all earneſtnesRom. 12 2. and diligence, to inquire, proue, and find out, what that good, that acceptable, and perfect will of God is in all things, 1. Theſ. 4. 1.that ſo we may know how to walk and pleaſe him. Secondly, to the end this knowne will of God may be the betterFor a man to obey God, the way is to command his vnruly appe…i…es; and to command them, is for a man to be maſter of him…lfe; and for …e to be maſter of himſelfe, is …he moſt ſoue…ig…e princi…alitie. obeyed by vsus, and fulfilled in all things; that wee learne and labour daily to denie our ſelues, breaking our ſelues of our owne willes, that Gods will may the better bee done; and taking our ſelues from our ſelues, giuegive vp and preſent our ſelues, our ſoules and our bodies, a liuing ſacrifice, holy and acceptable vntounto God; which is our reaſonable ſeruing of God; no more remaining our owne, much leſſe abiding to become the ſeruants of men.
Q. Seeing the will of God (which we are to obey vntounto) is either in requiring vsus to doe that he hath commanded, or to endure and ſuffer that which he hath appointed; ſhew firſt 1. Cor. 6. 19. 20.what ought to be the vſe we are to make of our knowing it to be our duti…, to obſerve all that God doth command vsus, both in the affirmati…e and negatiue commandements which he hath giuen?
A. This ſhould cauſe vsus with all readineſſe and forwardneſſePſal▪ 119. 60. & 40. 8. ſimply to obey, and fully and wholly to do, whatſoeuer we can learne God commands vsus to do; and to forbeare to do, whatſoeuer we can learne he hath forbidden, without any further demurring vponupon the point, or conſulting with fleſh and blood; without asking anyGal. 1. 16. queſtion either of our owne hearts, or of any others elſe concerning the ſame. And that whether we can ſee into the reaſon of that which is commanded, or cannot ſound to the depth or bottome of the ſame, euen when ſuch a thing is commanded, as is both againſt nature of man, and promiſe of God, as was that giuen to Abraham; as knowing,Gen. 22. 3. 10. 1. Kin. 20. 35. 36 Leuit. 15. 37. that the commandement of the Lord requiring it at our hands, is reaſon great enough to cauſe vsus to obey (his will being the rule of all righteouſneſſe), and that commandement of God ſhall euermore be our ſufficient warrant, for whatſoeuer after that manner wee ſhall attempt.
Q. Come more particularly to the conſideration of ſuch duties as God hath commanded vntounto vsus in his Word. And firſt, ſeeing God doth command vsus to fulfill all the righteouſneſſe which is ſet donne in his Law, annexing both promiſes and threatnings, the better to hauehave it performed by vsus; ſhew what is the vſe that may bee made of the knowledge hereof.
A. The knowledge of this ſerueth moſt pregnantly, firſt, to vrge vsus, and call vponupon vsus, not to content our ſelues with ſeruing God by halues, doing ſomething, and leauing the reſt vndone; or doing many things with Herod, Mark. 6. 20.though not all things, not yet many times the chiefeſt things that ſhould be done: but that we knowing how it is written concerning vsus, in the volume of Gods book, that we are to doe all his will: we anſwere out of the willingneſſePſal. 40. 7. …. and ready obedience of our harts with him, that was a man after Gods owne heart, My God I am contented to doe it; or, I delight to doe thy will, Oh my God. For which cauſe, we are with him to get the Law of God intoPſal. 119. 6. our hearts, hauing reſpect not to ſome onelyonly, but to all the commandements of the Law, and to all the contents of thoſe commandements; ſo ſtriuing hard after perfection, and indeauouring with all our might, to fulfill the whole righteouſnes which God doth require at our hands; whileſt we make conſcience of al our waies, and of doing one dutie as well as another, and ſhunning all ſinne alike; auoyding one euil as wel as another, as thoſe that deſire to walke worthy of the Lord vntounto all pleaſing, being fruitfull in Coloſſ. 1. 10.eueryevery good worke.
Secondly, the knowledge of this, that God requireth at our hands ſuch abſolute and perfect obedience, to be performed by vsus vntounto the whole Law, which he hath giuen vsus as a moſt perfect rule of fulfilling all righteouſneſſe, it being the very ſtaple of all iuſtice and Legall worſhip required; calleth to our remembrance, what was the happineſſe of that firſt eſtate of ours, wherein we were ſet before Adams fall; and what was the meaſure of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, wherewith we then were indued, and according whereunto we were made after Gods image; euen ſuch, as anſwereth to the greateſt perfection of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, which this perfect Law of libertie can exact, and require at our hands in the greateſt rigour that it hath. It calleth well to our remembrance, what was the ſtrength and power of grace that wee then had in vsus; whereby wee were perfectly able to doe the whole will of God, and keepe all this Law, without feeling any of the commandements grieuous or burdenſome to vsus. For doubtleſſe God would neuer require the performance and fulfilling of all the righteouſneſſe of this Law at the hands of man, as he now doth (eſpecially vnderunder ſo great a penaltie of the tranſgreſſion thereof); vnleſſe he had firſt giuen power and abilitie vntounto man, ſufficiently and well to performe and fulfill the ſame.
3. Further, the knowledge of ſo great a degree of righteouſneſſe, and perfection of obedience to be required at our hands, as is contained in this Law, and therein commanded vntounto vsus (we knowing by all experience our great inability to be any way anſwering thereunto, it being now become vntounto vsus a thing wholly impoſſible in regard of the weakeneſſe that is in our fleſh): this mayRom. 8. 3. ſerue much to humble vsus, and caſt vsus downe with ſorrow and griefe, to bewaile the miſerie of our preſent eſtate, into which we are now fallen; as vponupon whom moſt heauily doth lye the guilt of the breaking of the whole Law, wee being found tranſgreſſors of all the Commandements; and for whom all the puniſhment, that is threatned for ſuch tranſgreſſion, doth daily abide; and at all times iuſtly may bee feared, leſt it ſhould be executed to our vtter deſtruction, and euerlaſting confuſion, if pardon and forgiueneſſe be not had.
4. Laſtly, the knowledge of all that is thus required at our hands, ioyned with our owne knowledge by daily experiēce, how little, yea, how nothing at all is performed by vsus, as ought to bee done of vsus (wee knowing withall, what is the danger of eueryevery tranſgreſſion) ſhould make vsus reſtleſſe, vntill wee might know how to bee diſcharged; and how, and by whom to hauehave all this righteouſnes fulfilled for vsus, and all our ſinnes and tranſgreſſions clearely remitted, and for euer pardoned and forgiuen vntounto vsus; the Law ſo being our Schoolemaster to bring vsus vntounto Gal. 3. 24.Christ.