Mans Imaginations, Treatise · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Of spirituall considerations which concerne our selues.
Sect. 5. The consideration of our owne personall sinnes.
THe considerations which respect our selues are six: First, we must cōsider our owne personall sinnes; as well the corruptions of our hearts, as the actuall Transgressions of our liues. This was Dauids practise;dPsal. 115. 59. I considered my waies saith hee) and turned my feete, into thy testimonies. The Iewes likewise in their great affliction, stirred vp themselues to this dutie, saying one to another; eLam. 3. 40.come let vsus search, and trie our waies, and turne againe vntounto the Lord.
In this consideration of our sinnes, wee must doe three things: First, seriouslly call to minde in what manner wee hauehave sinned; whether of ignorance or of knowledge, of weaknesse through infirmitie or of wilfulnesse through presumption: Secondly, we must dulie waighe the greatnes of our particular sinnes, euen of the least of them, remembring this, that by eueryevery sinne wee commit, Gods infinite maiestie is displeased, and his iustice violated: Thirdly, wee must consider the number of our sinnes; which wee shall neerest attaine vntounto, by searching out our Thoughts, our wills, & affections, our words, & actions, all which being diligently obserued, will make vsus crie out, that they bee in number as the haires of our head, and the sands by the Sea-shoare. Quest. But what if a man hauehave truely repented him of his sinnes, must he still vse this cōsideration of them? Answ. Yes verily, although he bee assured of the pardon of them: so did Dauid after Nathan tould him thy sinnes are forgiuen; hee penned the 51. Psalme, and when hee was high in Gods fauour, he prayed still for thefPsal. 25. 7. pardon of the sinnes of his youth: for howsoeuer God in merciemercy put our sinnes out of his remembrāce vponupon our true repentance, yet we must neuer put them out of our remembrance, so long as we liue in this world; because the consideration of them, though they bee pardoned, is a notable meanes both to mooue vsus to renewe our repentance, and also to make vsus watchfull against sinne in time to come.
Sect. 2. Of mans miserie through his sinnes.
Secondly, wee must consider the miserie into which eueryevery one is plunged by nature through Adams fall, and his owne sinnes. This was Iobs meditation, saying, gIob. 14. 1.Man that is borne of a woman, hath but a short time to liue, he is full of miserie: and so goeth on most notably describing the miserie of man: yea, this was Salomons consideration in the whole book of Ecclesiastes, from the beginning to the end.
Nowe that this consideration may take place in our hearts,Mans natural miserie branthed out. wee must enter into a particular view of this our naturall miserie: the principall branches whereof bee these: first, a separation from all fellowship with God: for as Isai hIsa. 59. 2.saith, Our sinnes hauehave separated betweene God and vsus: and this is the speciall part of mans miserie. Secondly, societie and fellowship with the damned spirits, the deuill and all his angels; standing in this, that man by nature beareth the image of the deuill, and withall performeth seruice vntounto him in the practise of lying, iniustice, crueltie, and all manner of sinne. Thirdly, all manner of calamities in this life, as ignominie in good name, paines and diseases in the bodie, losses, and damages in friends, and in all temporall blessings whatsoeuer. Fourthly, the horrour of a guiltie conscience, which is in it selfe the beginning of hell torments: for it is our accuser vntounto God, our Iudge to giuegive sentence against vsus, and the very hang-man of our soules to condemne vsus eternally. Fiftly, the second death, which is the full apprehension of the eternall furie of Gods wrath, both in bodie and soule eternally. This consideration must be often vsed of eueryevery man, to mooue him to repentance, and it is very effectuall thereunto: for if we doe but consider howe a man for the paine of one tooth, will be so grieued, that hee could wish with all his heart to be out of the worlde, that his paine were ended; oh then how great shal we think the apprehension of the full wrath of God to bee, seazing not vponupon one little member, but vponupon the whole man both bodie and soule, & that for euer? No tongue can expresse, nay no heart can conceiue the greatnes of this terrour, and therefore it must be an occasion both to beginne and encrease true repentance in vsus dailie.
Sect. 3. Of our owne particular temptations.
Thirdly, wee must consider our owne particular Temptations wherewith wee are most assaulted through the malice of Sathan, and our owne corruption. Bee sober and watch (saithi1. Pet. 5. 8. Peter) for your aduersarie the deuill goeth about like a roaring Lyon, seeking whome he may deuoure. This was Paules practise towards the incestuous man, whom hee had enioyned to bee excommunicate, for after he heard of his repentance, hee gaue direction that hee should bee receiued into the Church againe, least hee were swallowed vp of ouer much heauines, and so Sathan should circumvent them: for (saithk2. Cor. 2. … & 11. hee) wee are not ignorant of his enterprises. If forraigne enemies should seeke the inuasion of our land, not onelyonly our magistrates, but euerie ordinarie man well affected to his Countrey, would bethinke himselfe what coast were the weakest, that thether present defence might bee sent to keep out the enemies; euen so, seeing the deuill doth assault vsus daily, wee must enter into serious consideration of our thoughts, wills; and affections, and see in what part we bee most weake, and in what inclination Satan may most easily preuaile against vsus, which we shall best espie by obseruing the sinnes of our liues; and this will make vsus arme our selues against him by Gods grace, euen in the weakest parts, that hee breake not into our hearts, to the ruine of our soules.
This consideration concerneth all men, not onelyonly the dissolute and sinnefull, but euen those that hauehave receiued most grace. It were infinite to goe through all the temptations of Satan▪ consider this one for all,An ordinarie and yet most dangerous temptation. whereby he kills many a soule; Through the whole course of mens liues, he laboureth to fill their hearts with carnall securitie, and to bring them to neglect the ordinary meanes of saluation; this done, he seekes to keepe them in this estate all their life long: but in the end he takes an other course, for when death approcheth, then he seekes to strike their mindes with obliuion of gods mercies, and to fill their soules with terrours in regard of their sinnes, and of Gods iudgements due vntounto them; that so bereauing them of all hope of merciemercy, he may bring them to finall despaire: Wee therefore beeing forewarned of his deadly fraud, must seriously bethinke our selues of this temptation, and cast with our selues eueryevery day how to auoide it. This we shall doe if we shake off carnall securitie, and negligence in the meanes of our saluation: and prouide betimes for the assurance of Gods louelove and fauour, that when death shall come, wee may be free from the terrour of an euill conscience, & hauehave strong hope, and consolation in Christ Iesus.
Sect. 4. Of our particular ende.
Fourthly, we must consider our particular ende. The Lord complaineth of the want hereof in his owne people, lDeut. 32. 29.Oh that they were wise, then would they consider this; They would consider their latter end. In this consideration three points must be obserued: first, that the time of death is vncertaine, no man knoweth when he must dye: secondly, that the place is vncertaine, no man knoweth where he must dye: thirdly, that the manner of his death is vncertaine, none knoweth by what death he shall glorifie God and therefore that we may not deceiue our selues, wee must thinke that most fearefull, and greivous ends may befall vsus, in regard of the bodily payne, and torment, euē then when we little feare or suspect any such thing. This consideration will bee a notable meanes, to stirre vp our hearts either to beginne, or renew our repentance: when wickedm1. King. 21. 27. Ahab heard of his fearefull end, hee was humbled: And the Ninivites beeing told of their sudden destructiō,nIonah. 3. 56. repented in Sackcloath, and Ashes, and turned to the Lord.
Sect. 5. Of our straight accompt at the last day.
Fiftly, we must often consider with our selues, and that most seriously, of that straight account, and reckoning of all our thoughts, words, and actions, which we must make vntounto God at the last day of iudgement. This is the principall consideration of all, and the want hereof a fearfull sinne, arguing great negligence, ignorance, blyndnes of mind, and hardnes of heart: If a Traveller come into an Inne, hauing but one penny in his purse and call for all manner of dainty fare, and prouision, spending sumptuously, will not al men iudge him void of all consideration, sith he hath nothing to pay, when his account is to bee made? loe, this, or worser is the most mens case, who in this life pursue their profits and pleasures, with all eagernes, they care not how, neuer regarding that reckonning which they must make vntounto God, at his terrible day of accounts with all the world: and therefore though the former cōsiderations will not, yet let this take place in our hearts, to mooue vsus to a daily forehand reckonning with God in the practise of true repentance, and to imploy the good gifts and blessings we receiue from God, like good seruants, vntounto the best advantage of his glorie, that when this account is to be made, we may giuegive it with ioy, and not with feare. And that this consideration is effectuall to this purpose, Salomon teacheth in vsing it as his farewell with dissolute youth, with whome otherwaies he hath little hope to preuaile, sayingoEcclesiast. 11. 9. goe too thou young man, take thy pleasure in thy youth, yet know, that for all this, thou must come to Iudgement. But how powerfull it is with Gods child, we may see in Paul, pAct. 24. 15.who professeth of himselfe that in regard of this account, he endeauoured to hauehave alway a cleere conscience towards God, and towards men.
Sect. 6. Of our present estate towards God.
Lastly, we must seriously consider of our present estate towards God, whether we be in the state of sinne, or in the state of grace; whether we belong to the kingdome of darkenes, or be true members of the kingdome of Christ: It is not enough to bee in the Church, but we must be sure, we be of the Church; For many wolues, and Goates be in Gods fould; They went out from vsus (saith S. q1. Iohn. 1. 19.Iohn) but they were not of vsus: And therefore Paul adviseth to this consideration, saying,r2. Cor. 13. 5. prooue your selues, whether you bee in the faith or not. The want hereof was the fearefull sinne of the foolish virgins, sMat. 25. 3.who contented themselues with a shew of religion, hauing the blasing lampes of outward profession; and laboured not for that oyle of true grace, which might enlighten their soules to the fruition of Gods glorie: yea, this is the common sinne of this age, men blesse themselues in their good meaning, saying they hope well; and doe not through search, whether they be true members of gods Church or not: Now if after tryall it appeare, that true faith and repentance be wanting in vsus, which are the seales of Adoption in Gods children then with all good conscience, we must vse the meanes appointed of God to obteine these graces for our assurance; the comfort whereof will be so pretious vntounto our soules, that we shall abhor to admit such wicked Imaginations into our minds, as any way tend to depriue vsus of it.
These are the considerations which respect our selues; whereunto if we giuegive our mindes in a constant course, as also to the former which concerne the Lord, obseruing withall the rules before prescribed, through Gods blessing vponupon our endeauour, wee shall vndoubtedly finde by good experience, that euill thoughts shall not preuaile against vsus: but beeing reformed in our cogitations, we shall send out of our mindes as from a cleansed fountaine, such streames of good words and works, through the whole course of our liues, as shall redound to the glorie of our God, the good of our brethren, and the consolation of our owne soules, through Iesus Christ our Lord, to whome with the Father, and the holy Ghost, be praise in his church for euermore. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Perkins, Mans Imaginations (1607)