Grace to the Humble, Sermon 5
GRACE TO THE HVMBLE. The fifth SERMO….
LVK. 9.23.
And he sayd to them all, if any will come after me, let him deny himselfe, and take up his Crosse daily and follow me.
A Second doctrine is this,Doct. 2. that the wayes of God are full of crosses and difficulties, for Christ would not give them a warning to no purpose: hee would not tell men that they that come to him, must take up their crosse daily and follow him, unlesse his wayes were full of difficulties.
Doct. 3.The third Doctrine is, That notwithstanding this difficulty wee must goe thorough the wayes of God though they bee never so full of difficulty and crosses.
Reas. 1.They are full of crosses and that in foure respects.
It must needes be so from Gods providence hee hath ordeined so, it is his will that all those that are members of his sonne, and have interest in him, should bee made conformable to his sonne: And hee through many tribulations entred into the kingdome, so should they, and if there were no other reason wee should rest in this: for in many things wee have no reason but Gods will: As thou hast hid these from the wise and men of understanding, and hast revealed to fooles;Matth. 11.25, 26. even so Father for thy good pleasure was such: and partly hee doth it that there may bee a witnesse borne to the truth: Now there is a twofold witnesse.
First, a witnesse in words which may bee done without crosses.
Secondly, a witnesse in deedes, when with mans blood there is a witnesse borne to the truth, and this is called a good witnesse; Christs witnesse is a good witnesse,2 Tim. 6.13. before Pontius Pilate, for it is better then that which is in word onelyonly And to this end God sendeth crosses, that hee might give witnesse to the truth. And againe that those that are appointed, might be tryed, that those that are good might bee knowne: As it is sayd of heresies, there must be heresies even among you,1 Cor. 11.19. that they which are approved among you might bee knowne: So it may be said of crosses, there must bee crosses, that the true members might be distinguished from the worldlings, the Gold from the Copper.
It must needes bee so if wee looke upon the nature of the thing: No duty but hath one crosse joyned with it: If wee come to reprove a man which must be done, yet this will bring losse of credit, friends, liberty, and life, as it did Iohn Baptist: It cost him his life;Matth. 14.10. wee must preach and professe Christ, which will bring trouble, ignominy, and persecution, as it did Paul, as it did Christ, as it did Daniel, wee must keepe the Commandements and walke downe right with God, and yet this will breed us much trouble, this will cause us to be loosers, when others are gainers: it will cause us to loose many advantages, which we might gaine with wicked consciences.
It must needes bee so in regard of the world, the world hates them, the world loves her owne, and they are opposite to them: if they were not opposite to the world, or able to resist their forces it might be otherwise, but the Saints are of low estate, and where the hedge is low every beast will leape over. The godly are Antipodes to the world, they are of a contrary condition, and disposition to the world; and therefore it fareth with them as it did with Christ; when ChristLuk. 2.35. is come then the thoughts of many hearts shall be opened, that is, to oppose; for before Christ came they thought no hurt, and so it is with the Saints that are the Image of Christ, that have the same spirit with Christ, that doe the same things for kind, though not for degree with Christ.
It must needes bee so in regard of the Saints, they neede this to keepe them in order, they neede humiliation, and they neede a renewing of their repentance, they had neede to bee chastised for their sinnes past; as we see in David, Also to keepe them from future sinnes, that they might keepe the flesh low; for God does with his Saints as Shepherds do with their sheepe, the Shepherd sometimes sends his dog onelyonly to barke at his sheepe, if that would doe it, but afterwards hee sends his dog to bite them too, onelyonly to keepe them in the right way. So doth God with the Saints to keepe the right way, so that if you joyne all these together, the providence of God, hee will have it so, the nature of the thing, scarce any thing but is hard, the hatred of the world, and the condition of the Saints, that they are to bee kept in the way, from straying out of it, wee shall finde that the wayes of God are full of crosses.
I adde they are full of difficulties, for as those wor…ds, take up your crosse daily and follow, shew they are full of crosses, so these words, you must deny your selfe, shew they are full of difficultie. They are full difficultie in these respects.
First, because the Law of God is a pure Law and straight,Reas. 1. but our natures are corrupt and sold under sin; now when such a nature is to bee brought to such a Law, then there is a difficultie: If the Law were a leaden rule to bee bent to our disposition, then it were not hard, but it is a straite rule and wee must bee conformable to it in all things, and therefore it is difficult.
If we looke upon our affections, they shew that it is a difficult thing; they are apt to be distempered, and quickly stirred up, and when they are distempered, not easily quieted, hardly ruled; our affections are ready to take hold of every twig, to stay us in our wayes; so that our affections are moved upon every occasion, to love when wee should not love, and to love and to over-love, and to joy and over-j…y; we are apt to mourne and to overmourne, we are ready to speake and to over speake: As a barrell of Beere if you stirre it, all that you draw out of it will bee thicke, and taste naughtily, because it was stirred; so it is with a mans affections, they are ready to bee distempered upon every occasion, and then his speech and all his actions are out of order.
In respect of our nature; In a man out of Christ there is a common nature and a corrupt nature; and in a man in Christ there are these two things though there bee something else. Now all the wayes of God, all the duties of new obedience are above common nature, now it is a hard thing to doe a thing beyond our reach, to goe up the hill must needes bee difficult: & againe they are contrary to corrupt nature, and where contrariety is there must needes bee reluctancy, and where that is, there must needes bee griefe, and all griefe is but a certaine revitency to the will, and where this is there must needes be difficulty.
Consider it comparatively and it is difficult, if wee compare Religion with other things; as take other things whereto our natures are agreeable, there is a difficultie in them if they be excellent as manuall arts they are hard. A man must serve apprentiship of seaven yeares, and labour very hard; and so in liberall sciences, to get sciences is a difficult thing, there is much labour to get much wisedome in these artes, there is much trouble and griefe of the flesh: Now Religion is an art above all, much more harder then all these, and much more difficult.
The varietie of imployments a Christian is occupied in, shewes that the way is difficult, a Christian must bee content to doe every thing, and to suffer any thing, hee must learne to bee in low estate and high estate, to be in riches and poverty, hee must learne to want and to abound, now to doe all this is difficult; may bee a man cares not for poverty, when hee hath riches, but when riches doe encrease hee sets his minde upon them readily: Its hard for him to resist, the world comming upon him, and though hee can doe this let passe riches too, yet it may be in a matter of praise, he can bee content to have praise, and seeke it where hee should not, and if not so, yet disgrace againe and an ill report that is a hard thing to beare, or againe it may be hee can beare ill report, yet hee hath some thing which hee doth desire much, and hee cannot leave that, some delight that is connaturall to him, some lust that is deare to him, therefore to keepe a mans heart aright in all must needes be difficult.
And againe the paucity of those that goe with us shew that it is difficult, wee have no company, there are so few to bare us company, and not that onelyonly but the multitude of those that are against us, we goe against the croud, against the streames of the world, and where a multitude is against us, there must needs bee shame cast upon us, though they bee in a wrong way; and this is sufficient to shew there bee many difficulties in the way to heaven. Now there are two questions to bee answered before wee come to the uses.
This may first be demanded, how this can come to passe that the wayes of God should bee difficult,Quest. whereas the wayes of wisedome are pleasure and all her pathes prosperity,Prov. 3.17. that is, a man takes not a step in the wayes to godlinesse, but there is some delight in them, there is prosperity that attends upon the wayes of godlinesse▪ So againe Christ tells them his yoke in as easie yoke,Mat. 11.30 and his burden is a light burden, and the reward of such as feare the Lord is life, honour and riches.
Answ.For answer to this the wayes of God are pleasant in themselves, and the reason why wee finde them not so, is from the distemper of our nature, we finde them so distastefull, because of the badnesse of our nature even as you say of meate and drinke, if any man aske you what, is not the meate sweete, yes, but to a weake and sicke stomacke they are most unsavory a sicke man cannot endure meate and drinke, and he takes it for the greatest injury you can doe him to set them before him. And dowe not say of light it is most pleasant? as it is indeede, but if a man have sore eyes, nothing is so unpleasant to him as light: So it is in the wayes of God, they are light they are most pleasant in themselves, but to those that have sore consciences they are the worst of any things. But are there none that finde this pleasure? yes, there are some that are removed out of their sicknesse, those that have a desire to keepe the Law of God finde this pleasure and content as the Apostle speaketh of wisedome, wee speake among you that are perfect: So we may say of all the wayes of God,1 Cor. 2.6. though to carnall men, to sicke men, to wounded men, to those that have a sore conscience, they are not pleasant, yet to the perfect they are pleasant, that is to those that have attained to the highest pitch of a godly life, but those that are sincere and upright, for so (perfect) is taken in that place.
If the wayes of God bee so full of difficulty and crosses,Quest. how can a man undergoe them? this is the way to make men affraid of the wayes of God; it is a hard thing for flesh and blood to doe all this, and who shall bee religious, and who shall bee saved, if all this be true.
For answer to this as Christ sayd to his Disciples,Answ. A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdome of heaven, that is, a man that sets his heart upon riches, whose heart is not in his owne hands should turne when he would; for to doe this to walke in these wayes of God, with man it is impossible while hee is left to his owne strength, yet it is most possible with God, but how is it possible? for answer to this, foure things there are which makes it easie.
It is possible if God give you a new nature, yee shall have new affections, and new delights, if wee have a new Law given us, wee shall have new delights in it, and then wee shall doe it with delight and facility.
If you consider that though the toyle of Christians, and it being taken alone, and it doth make them of all men most miserable, as the Apostle saith, if we have our reward here we are of all men most miserable,1 Cor. 15.17. yet if you put into the other end of the ballance, that which wee have for reward, that wch. accompanies the paines, they are made sweete. As it is with the Merchant man, tell him of the danger he must undergoe, then it is difficult for him to undertake, but he considering the gaine hee shall get by his travaile undertakes it: And so the covetous man greeves to breake his ease, but the gaine sweetens all the toyle, for we say, Finis dat amabilitatem medijs, let a man looke to the end, and it will sweeten the whole labour: So Phisicke though it bee bitter, yet considering it procureth our health, it is easily taken of us. Though the wayes of God are odious to the flesh, yet if we looke to the crop, the gaines, the victory that followeth, then wee may walke in them with ease.
If the burthen be heavy yet if a man have a new sufficient strength given him, hee rasily beares it. If you put a heavy burthen upon a child having but a childes strength it will presse him downe, but give a man strength and he will easily bare it. Set a man to doe a work and if he have no skill then it is hard to be done; but if he have skil & the art, then hee doth it with ease, so if God give strength equall to the burthen, which he layeth on us, then wee doe it with ease: if God give new habits, new graces, wch abilitate us & make us to beare the burthen.
For a man to part with the things, that are pleasant to him according to the the flesh, with the things that he prizeth much, that he thinkes his life, and his safetie consists in, while he thinkes of them, thus it is hard to deny himselfe: but let a man bee enlightned once and they bee shewed him, to be onelyonly as vanishing things; while hee sees them as vanitie hee will dispise them; and therefore the Scripture calls them foreign; no man grieves at the flowers which are within his hand; or for the losse of some counters, or false treasure, or that the shadow perisheth. Now the things of the world are like to these as Saint Iames saith,Iam. 1.10. The rich shall vanish away as the flower of the grasse, that is, though hee be glorious for a time in the sight of all men, and in his owne conceite, yet this beauty presently perisheth, and so a man must reckon of his treasure, but as some counter or counterfeit treasure, as that place declares. IfLuk. 16.11 we have not beene faithfull in the unrighteous Māmon, who wil trust us in the true treasure? intimating that the other is but a false treasure, that is, that it is but Copper, that is, but a counter, it is but a counterfeit thing: So againe the things of this world are but shadowes, the best of the wicked are but as a shadow; now when one comes home to Christ hee sends his Spirit into his heart, to inlighten him, which shewes him the vanitie of these earthly things, and then hee is willing to part with them.
Now wee come to the use of it;Vse. 1. first then learne hence to prepare for crosses make account of them, that is wee must not looke for pleasure here, seeke for great things here, our great things are layd up in heaven.Ioh. 16.33. In the world saith Christ yee shall have trouble, that is, here you shall have crosses, if you will be downe right in your profession, and walke in the streight way of the Gospel; you must resolve to part with those things that are most pleasant to you, and to undergoe those things which are most unpleasant to you, when you resolve to serve God with a perfect heart, you must make account to beare whatsoever crosses shall come; and if any better thing come you must count that as gaine; looke about and consider what is deare to you and resolve to leave it: And know that when the knot is tied between God and you and the band be made, then you are engaged to this; it may be God will not bring you to it, but you must howsoever prepare for it; shall a souldier goe to war and not make account of enemies? hee is no good souldier that resolves not to dye in battell: shall a Pilote goe to Sea and not resolve for a tempest? Aristotle speaks of a fortitude which comes from ignorance when they see the thing more difficult, and their strength lesse then they thought of, they presently desist; and so wee finde it with many Christians because they considered not before of the danger, they leave off the good way that they began to walke in; many a man goes out of Egypt, leaves the flesh, and resolves to take a new course but hee dyes by the way, and never arriveth at heaven, by reason of the difficultie he meeteth with never expected, therefore say with your selves though Sommer be now, yet Winter may come, though it be faire to day, yet wee know not but a storme may come before night, prepare therefore for a storme in a faire day.
We should learne hence not to mistake the wayes of God,Vse. 2. for though the wayes of God bee full of crosses, then certainly that is not the way to heaven, which most men goe;Luk. 6.25. it is not for naught that our Saviour saith, cursed be you that have your heaven here, and that laugh here, the meaning of those words is this, as if he should say, it is impossible to bee a true Christian indeede, and enjoy that carnall pleasure, wealth, and ease that others doe, otherwise there were no end of those words if they might bee joyned together: The rich men are blamed for that they lived in pleasure on the earth, yee have lived in pleasure upon the earth: and in wantonnesse you have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter, that is, you may looke for pleasure in heaven, but if you looke for pleasure here on earth you shall never goe to heaven. And if you goe to a place, and if it should be told you that the way is full of danger, of narrow bridges and stiles, full of theeves and syrens, baytes to entice you away, if you meete with none of all these, you may justly suspect you are put out of your way; so it is here, for if the way of God be such a way, a way full of difficulties and full of crosses, and you enjoy pleasure and ease, you may conclude you are out of the way.
I but this is to such as are indiscreet,Object. that know not when to speake, and when to hold their peace? but will not discretion helpe me? & yet if not that? will not a mans innocency and good parts helpe him out?
I answer, none of all those will doe it:Answ. If you looke upon David, he was a man of as great wisedome and discretion as men are usually capeable of, and it is sayd of him that David behaved himselfe wisely,1 Sam. 18.5. and was accepted in the sight of all the people, and hee was a man of excellent parts,1 Sam. 18.5. an excellent souldiour, an excellent musitian and he had honour enough too. David hath slaine his 10000. and yet for all this, he was subject to the obloquies of men. And if this example will not serve the turne, then looke to Iesus Christ, in him there was no want of wisedome, in him there was no want of goodnesse, and yet hee was thus opposed: therefore you must be so farre from thinking your selves freed from troubles, and crosses by your discretion, innocency and good parts, that you must bee resolved on the contrary, that the more you have of these, the more you are liable to the crosse, and there is good reason for it, for if the object be greater the more the facultie is exercised above it. Now goodnesse and holinesse is the object of the worlds hatred, the more of this goodnesse and holinesse you have, the more the world hates you: And the more you grow in grace, the more opposition you will have. The world loves her owne, therefore in what measure a man is not the worlds, in that measure the world hates him: and therefore take heed of mistaking the wayes of God; and you have more reason to looke to it now at the receiving of the Sacrament: for if you bee in this way, many thinke if they sinne and aske God forgivenesse they may come to the Sacrament; but that is not enough; you must remember that whosoever takes Christ as a Saviour, must take him as a Lord too: you finde these two words joyned together, the Lord our Saviour; and what God hath joyned let no man seperate; that is, he that will have Christ as a Saviour,Matth. 10.5. must have him as a Lord too: many will serve Christ as retainers doe; they will attend on their Master on Sabboth dayes, and Holy-dayes, and weare their Liveries, but will not doe any other service all the weeke, so wee would take Christ for our Saviour, to have the use and benefit of him, but wee are not willing to serve him, wee are loath to take him as an husband, for better for worse to subject our wills to his: some come to the feast without their wedding garments of their conjugall love. There are two things in that wedding garment. First, shee that will marry another must divorce her selfe from all other. Secondly, she must love her husband. So it must be in the love of Iesus Christ; 1 Cor. 16.22.If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ, let him be an Anathema, Maran-atha; wee must love him indeede downe right, wee must love him in good earnest; as a chast wife loves her hu…band; wee must not part with him; where there is error personae there is no marriage: so many men marry themselves to an imaginary Christ, they mistake Christ, and therefore the marriage hold not; except your righteosnesse, that is, you that are in Christ, and are justified by him, except your righteousnesse exceede the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees you cannot bee saved. There must bee Pauls disposition in us, Lord what wilt thou that I doe? what should I suffer for thee.
Vse 3.Hence wee learne not to bee discouraged from any exercise, for any crosse that followes it, or difficultie that is in it, because these are necessary companions of doing good, they will not be seperated: for it may be many a man hath a good meaning; hee would doe such and such a thing, but hee shall loose such and such an advantage, he shall suffer such and such a disgrace; but this you must not doe, for these are knit together; duties, crosses, and difficulties: we finde it in the Scriptures sayd of good Kings, that they turned not to the right hand nor to the left, that is, a man must walke in a streight course, he shall meete with Lyons, and with stormes, but hee must not bawke them, but he must grapple with the Lyon, if hee withdraweth himselfe, as the Apostle speaketh in the name of God,Heb. 10.29 my soule shall have no pleasure in him; simple doing is not worth the doing, but the crosse hath the blessing. Againe to what end have we grace and the Spirit, but to raise us up to higher degrees of parts, we heare of men that shall seeke out adventures: Souldiers are glad when they have occasions who shall scale the walls, who shall first set upon the breach. For ought I see Luther was so farre from fearing disgrace, as that he rejoyced in it, and the Apostle not to bee excepted against; thus Saint Paul counted it a great grace, and counted the Philippians happy that they had occasion to exercise this grace. Let us not draw our selves into difficult matters, for Christ knowes our worke, and our opportunitie. And you know this you shall be punished, as well for omission as for commission; for sinfull silence, as well as for corrupt talke. There is a prize in the hand of a foole and he knowes not how to use it; for every opportunity to doe good is as a particular talent, as a prize for the use of which wee must be countable: such as fought not the Lords battailes were accursed as well as such as fought amisse, and the fearefull and unbeleeving are shut out from heaven: And remember this, that barren trees shall bee cut down as well as thornes and bryers,Reve. 21.8. for the Text saith, they keepe the ground idle: Many a man set in a great place doth nothing, but another in his place having his opportunitie would have done much, why hinders hee the good. It was the Prophets complaint, no man is bold for the truth. Many have good opportunities, but no courage. As wee say of Hartes they have great hornes, but they doe nothing, quia deest annimus, because they want courage. And remember when you have taken such a person as Christ upon you, you must doe the things beseeming such a great person. Thus a man should bee ready to say as Saint Paul saith: It is better for mee to dye, then to hinder the Gospel of Christ any way. The keeping of a good conscience is our treasure, the best flower in our garden, wee had better loose all then this: let a man so reckon of it, let a man consider what is every man that is a Christian, he is a pearle among common stones; his works and actions must not be the same with theirs. As wee say a mud wall might bee made of any thing, of any rubbish, but if a man will make a pallace hee must take the best and finest stones; so to make a temple for the holy Ghost, there must be holy affections, a new frame and temperature, your words must bee changed with your behaviour, if you be of Christ you must set upon greater things, then others doe.
Object.But it will bee objected, I shall doe no good by doing of this; if I should doe any good by it, I would willingly doe it.
Answ.But to this I answer that it is nothing howsoever; whether you doe good by it or no, you must doe it, for it is your deare friend, and besides witnesse must bee borne to the truth: which you may doe, though you attaine not to your end; and againe consider though you doe mee no good, yet you have your reward; as the Physi…ian looseth not his reward though the patient dye. The Lawyer is not deprived of his fee, however the case goe. So let a man indeavour and though the successe answer not his intent, yet hee hath reward.
But you will say the times are so evill,Object. that it is not to no end to goe about such a thing now.
Answ.But this must bee quite otherwise, for in coldest weather the fire is hottest; now in such a time God hath neede of some to stand for him. The more evill the times are the more couragious you should shew your selves in Gods causes.Object. I but I am alone.Answ. So was Luther, when he began he was alone, and Elias hee was alone, and though you bee alone, you know not what good you may do, you …e on… cole kindles another, and that another, and you know not how farre it may goe. And againe consider the Prophet complaines of these, thereEzek. 22.30. is not any that could page missing most pitch you can, for if you doe otherwise, your labour will bee to short for the worke.
If Religion bee so crosse and opposite to our nature,Vse 5. learne hence to humble our selves; if Religion be good, then the contrary to it must needs be bad, which is our nature, we must not runne out as a mans heart would doe, to say they are streight Lawes, Lawes made with blood, and God is a hard God, a hard Master, but learne on the other side to returne to our selves, and say, what natures have we, that we cannot walke in the wayes of God, without this difficultie, say with Saint Paul, the Law is spirituall, but I am carnall and sold under sinne; we must humble our selves, and not exalt our selves as many doe, and say wee are but flesh and blood, we doe as much as we can, our minde and intention is good: but we must humble our selves, when you finde Religion opposite to you, and you opposite to Religion and God, thinke that out of this contrariety must needs come Gods hatred, looke to his pure nature, and your impure affections, and sure they must needes breede an Antypathie betweene him and us; therefore we cannot but bee loathsome to God, and hee must needes hate us; now wee should confirme our judgements to God, and loathe, hate, and abhorre our selves, for the evill disposition that is in us, and every time that you come to an holy duty, as to pray, and you finde backwardnesse in your selves, when you come to speake profitably, and you finde a contrarietie in you, when you come to heare the word, and you finde a lumpishnesse in your hearts, this should humble you, this should open as it goes a new crevice of light to you, which makes us to see our misery, and long after Christ and prize him: we should humble our selves that God may lift us up; for God giveth grace to the humble, this advantage wee may get by the sight of our owne vilenesse.
Vse 6.Hence we may learne to justifie the truth of our Religion; if it had beene the device of Polititians they would have had one of these two ends, either to please themselves, or else to get a multitude of followers; so to make something of themselves: but you shall finde Religion to have in it that which is contrary to a mans desire; it crosses his will, it crosses his opinion, it crosses his affections and intentions; and takes his ends, his profit his credit, and his pleasure. And besides, there is nothing in it to draw our nature after it, but it is contrary to it. Take them that are fishers and fowlers, they alwayes use baites that are agreeable to the Fish, and the Fowle. This is not the way that Christ hath taken. In his Word there is nothing to draw our nature, but quite opposite to it: wee must deny our selves, wee must bee ready to part with all, and become other men, and we shall mee…e with crosses every day and hee that followes Christ must looke for them: This puritie in the whole booke of God contrary to man, and these infinite crosses here foretold may helpe us to make an argument to confirme us in the present truth.
Doct. 4.The last Doctrine that these words afford us is this, that all that are Christs Disciples must follow him, that is, although this be required that you must deny your selves, and take up your crosse, though difficulty hang upon Religion, yet you must goe through all: All that are Christians, all that will have any benefit by Christ, must tread in his steps, must bee made like Christ.Rom. 8.29. God hath predestinated them which hee knew to bee conformed to the image of his Sonne, that he might be the first borne among many brethren; that is, God will have all his Sonnes of one fashion; as parents will put their children in one fashion, masters their servants in one livery, so God will have you like his eldest Sonne, he will have no iniquality: Indeede there is inequality for degrees, but God will have an equality for fashion, hee will have a perfection for parts, though not for degrees that hee may bee the first borne among many brethren; that is, every man that will bee saved, must looke what Christ did, that must hee doe. As Gideon sayd to his Souldiers,Iudg. 8.17. looke what yee see me doe, doe yee likewise: for I am your guide and captaine whom you must follow, when you see me blow the trumpets, and when yee see me break the pitchers doe you so. So when Abimelech cut downe bowes,Iudg. 9.48. all his people did doe the like, so saith Christ, whatsoever you see mee doe that doe yee, for he is our Captaine, he is our Prince, hee is the Generall of the Army, and all that will bee victors must bee obedient unto him, as Souldiers are unto their Generall, which is the strictest obedience that is, they must keepe their watch and stations, oppose all dangers, fight when hee will have them, turne this or that way as hee commands, and every relation that replies, following is found in him; hee is the guide, the guide of our feete, our Lord, our Master, our Captaine, our Father, our Husband. Hee saith this to all his Disciples follow mee; that is, as if hee should say, there are two sorts of men in the world, some stragling people, as sheepe without Shepherds: Malantes milites, as Souldiers without a Captaine, Masterlesse servants, as wandring beggars, of which not onelyonly our high wayes, but also our cities and streets are full; that is, they are idle persons that make a conscience of nothing, that sweare, that breake the Lords day: They are priviledged persons, they may doe what they will, I have nothing to doe with them. But there are another sort of men, that have given up their names to Christ to be his servants, such as you are must follow mee, you have a rule to goe by, that is Christ.
Quest.But is Christ our rule? the Law is our rule; have we two rules?
Answ.It is true the Law is our rule? but Christ is the rule of that rule: Christ and that Law differ, as Christ and the example, as in our Grammer and Logicke, you have the rule and the example: So it is here, the Law is the rule, and Christ is the example.
But Christ is an high example, he is to high for us,Object. wee can never attaine to him, and take away the hope and take away the the indeavour; Tolle spem & tolle conatum.
To this I answer,Answ. that though it bee so that wee shall never attaine to him, yet it is best that there should bee an high example; for the best coppy is the best helpe: And so those that learne to write, wee set the best coppy to them that begin to write, and there is reason for it; because a man cannot hit the marke, therefore shall I set him a wrong marke: so because a man could not doe according to the rule, therefore shall I set him a false rule? And againe it is necessary that wee should have him for an example, though hee be so high that wee may bee still on progresse, goe on further still in godlinesse, and it is not expected that wee should doe all at the present, but that we should be still mending and turne to the right rule, and last of all it is needfull you should have such an example set you, that you may bee kept humble, it will shew us our defects when wee compare our selves with our selves, or other men we thinke somewhat of our selves: But when wee compare our selves with Christ, then wee are humbled, as Peter when hee once saw him in his purity, and his majesty that confounded him, Lord I am a sinfull man, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come to me.
But you will object it is …ue indeede;Object. if Christ had …ived among us as among …he Apostles, if hee would …ead us by his hand, but he is taken from us and how should we doe?
But to answer to this,Answ. know that though hee bee gone, he hath left his Spirit and that Spirit is put into your hearts, and that Spirit will guide you, that is, it will be as a monitour behind your backes to tell you this is the way, walke in it, when we are stragling out of it, it lusteth against the flesh: this Spirit all those that are in Christ have, because you are sonnes God hath sent the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts:Gal. 4.6. Rom. 8.9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ hee is none of his: that is, every man that comes to him, though hee be taken from him, yet he sends his Spirit into his heart, and tells him the way, the Spirit shall lea… you into all truth. Though in speciall it led the Apostles, yet in fundamentall points it shall lead them all that are the servants of Christ.
Object.But this is an uncertaine rule, I may bee deceived in it; I may take the suggestion of the Divell for the evidence of the Spirit.
But to try you have the word for a rule,Answ. the Spirit dictates nothing but agreeing to the word; if it agree with the word it is from the Spirit.
But yet you will say the words of the Spirit are but remote guides,Object. they are but intellectuall things: Therefore there are more sensible guides,Answ. the lives of the Saints which are written for our instruction; and wee have many living Saints, the present Saints that live among these are helpes to you, these are companions in your wayes these are good lights to follow: God hath not left himselfe destitute, but hee hath Saints in every nation, where the Gospell is preached: But this caution you must take, that the Saints may erre from the way and straggle a little from it Therefore you must follow them as that you must fix your eyes upon Christ, because he onelyonly is the Author and finisher of your faith, that is, as hee began the doctrine of faith, and taught us the rules of it, so hee hath consummated it, and left us examples to follow: it is not so with men, for that rule is most true. Non est ejusdem & inv…nire & preficere artem. Take the most learned man though hee found out an art, yet he never finished it, yet Christ hath done this: Therefore looke to him; though there be a cloud of witnesses as a cloud went before the Egyptians, yet Christ is the surest guide: But further to explaine this I will shew you two things.
First, what it is to follow?
Secondly, whom you are to follow; first the act, and then whom you are to follow.
First what it is to follow, and thus I may briefly describe it to you:A description of following. To follow Christ is nothing but to resolve, to doe and suffer willingly, and withall our heart what hee commands, &c. There are foure difficult things put together in this description, which are to be handled severally.
I say to follow Christ, is nothing but to resolve, that is, when you come to Christ once, you must have a minde to goe which way soever hee will lead you: wee must not reason with flesh and blood, but be obedient to him, not knowing whether we goe, as a man that goes into a strange county, hee puts himselfe into another mans hands, saying I will follow thee; bee the wayes what they will hee is resolved to goe through rough and plaine, thicke and thinne, whether his place bee dangerous or safe, hard or easie, such a resolution must they have that follow Christ, there must be no mincing, no excepted place, I will follow thee but not in this path, but not in this place, as the Apostle speaketh you have obeyed from the heart to the whole forme of doctrine whereunto you have beene delivered;Rom. 6.17. that is, there is a whole forme of doctrine, every jot of this must be obeyed, Christ hath delivered you to obey it, that is, to this end Christ hath redeemed you from hell and death, that you may obey the whole passage of it; not picke and chuse, but whatsoever hee doth command wee must resolve to obey, whatsoever way hee lead to follow him, may be hee will lead through poverty and infamy, and disgrace, & hatred of all men, and imprisonment. Therefore I say wee must resolve to doe and suffer, for indeede suffering is but a higher degree of doing, as the Philosopher well sayd, bare suffering is not laudable, but so farre as a man acts in his suffering, that is, some actions there are that require but simple obedience, but in some actions you must suffer if you will doe them, the good ground brings forth fru…te with patience, that is, many duties have crosses joyned with them, with patient bearing they bring forth fruite.Heb. 12.1. Runne with patience the race that is set before you;Rom. 2.7. so we render it continuance, the originall is by patience in well doing. So God sent Annanias to tell Paul, Act. 9.16.what hee must suffer at Damascus, I will shew how many things hee must suffer for my names sake. So it is with every one that is called home to Christ. There are certaine things that hee must doe and suffer, that he must resolve to doe and suffer. Secondly hee must resolve to doe and suffer willingly and with all his heart: There is a kinde of following which proceeds from a naturall inclination, as the leafe the bow, the Iron, the loadstone, they can doe no otherwise: thus must you follow Christ.
But you will say have we flesh in us which is backward and untoward, and therefore wee cannot follow Christ so willingly. But as wee say a Beare followes to the stake obtorto collo, against his will, and this is found in the Saints as it is sayd of Peter, when thou art old another shall stretch forth thine hand,Ioh. 21.18. and ano…her shall gird thee, and leade thee whether thou wouldest not. Christ tells him there of his death, and that hee should leade him whether hee would not, now Peter was a Martyr, and wee cannot thinke but that he dyed and suffered Martyrdome willingly:Answ. but yet hee should bee led whether he would not, that is, whether his flesh would not: it is true the flesh cannot thus willingly follow Christ: therefore you must if you would follow Christ aright, finde something in you, that you should follow Christ, with propensivenesse and willingly: to expresse this I have added these other words, with all your heart, wee finde expressed in the old Testament by three phrases, love the Lord with all your minde, with all your heart, and with all your might, first, with all your minde, that is, your understanding; secondly, with all your heart, that is, your affections; thirdly with all your might, that is, with your executive power. Wee are to follow him with all our minde, and I rather use these three, because the word (follow) is applyed to all these, some are sayd to be followers of such whose opinions they follow. As those that follow Aristotle and Ramus: So some are sayd to follow Paul, some Apollos, but we must follow Christ: thus wee must follow his opinions his tenents, keepe close to his word, that is, wee should consider what Christ sayd, what the Scripture saith, for otherwise it is no faith, for is fides fundatur in ore Dei; wee must not take things on trust, wee must not receive such a truth, because such a writer set it downe; but wee must see what warrant it hath in the word of God, otherwise we are not rooted in the faith, we are to have an estimation of orthodoxall fathers, but we are to fix our eyes on Christ. As for example the doctrine of justification, this you may learne out of writings, but you must see what footing it hath in the Scriptures, or else when our strong adversaries set upon us wee shall quickly be convinced: And againe you must doe it that when you preach the Word of God, you may have more authority: when one creature hath to deale with another it hath no authority, but when God hath to deale with the creature, hee doth much prevaile.
We use to say some follow such a man whom they desire to imitate: for there are some who in their opinions are higher then the rest of whom wee thinke that all that they doe is comely; and this is that second way of following Christ to love him, when wee affect whatsoever wee see him doe, and whatsoever wee see of him in his servants, that is, we must so imitate them as that our imitation may bee referred to Christ, when wee see the image of Christ in them, we must take heede that wee adhere not to the creature, but say it is a sparke and glympse of Christ; I will follow him: But above all take heede of the contrary, when wee see something of Christ rising in their conversation, that wee doe not despise and contemne him: It is the world that hates the godly. We are to follow him with all our might, that is, with al our executive powers; that is, whatsoever wee doe, whatsoever we act, whatsoever wee take in hand, wee must follow him, when a man followes another mans counsell, he will follow that and nothing but that, as courtiers follow the King, when any one aske us a thing wee must pause upon it, to see whether it be Gods will or not: As it is sayd of David, I have a man after mine owne heart, &c. on this manner wee should follow Christ; wee must follow him at all times, for there are uncertaine times, when it is easie to follow Christ; but there are some difficult when you are put to an exigent, when there is some difficultie in following Christ, now you must not picke and chuse, but you must take him for better and worse, there are some brunts as we may see, shunne not them. If Daniel might have spared himselfe, in such a brunt as this, he might have spared himselfe in all, but wee see it might not doe it: If Mordicai could have bowed to the Kings favorite which doubtlesse hee could not doe, then he he neede not have procured that displeasure. Moses might have enjoyed Pharaohs pleasure, if in some particulars hee might have granted to him, but he might not: we must not doe as many servants doe with their masters, run from them when harvest comes in, when labour begins; for if we doe wee may feare Christ will say to us, as such masters say to such servants. If you will stay from mee when I most neede you, I will not keepe you all the yeare besides when I have no neede of you, and therefore take heede of it. If a man out of fearefulnesse in such times shall not follow Christ, he shall receive no reward. A souldiour when the battaile comes flees from his colours, but hee can bee content to take his wages and lye in quietnesse and peace: take heede of forsaking Christ when the battaile comes, that is, when there comes something dangerous to the flesh: you must resolve to follow Christ thus. Christ tells you that if you follow him, that he hath no houses, no lodging, no earthly content, neither must you looke for any, your will and advantage must be spirituall. In the world you shall have trouble: Hee dealeth with man in this case as Naomi dealt with Ruth;Ruth 1. wee see how shee dealt with her, shee bids her goe to returne againe, and tells her shee was too old to beare children, &c. and then shee sets upon her againe; Behold thy sister is gone backe, and wilt thou goe alone? At length Ruth gives her this answer, that nothing but death should part, I will goe, &c. and there shee rests: After this manner Christ deales with us, when men come to follow him, he tells them they must looke for no Riches, as to the young man in the Gospell, goe and sell all that thou hast and then come to mee, you must looke for no ease. The Foxes have holes, and the birds of the ayre have nests, but the Sonne of man hath not whereon to lay his head, you must looke for many crosses; but if hee meete with such a one that saith, naught but death shall part thee and mee, such an one Christ receiveth, such an one God accepteth. So that it is as it was with the Israelites, if any one were faint hearted, he should not goe up to battaile, for they would doe no good, and then also they weakned others: So wee say to all men we tell you now what it is to follow Christ, you must go to warre with him, and wee tell you, if you be faint hearted, you must not come under the banner, if you will not follow Christ through the love and hatred of all men, through poverty and riches, you will doe no good, but discourage others.
Wee must follow Christ all manner of wayes, now for the meaning of this last it is this, that is, those two-wayes, inwardly and outwardly, and there is difficultie in both: you must follow Christ inwardly; whom I serve with my Spirit saith Paul, that is, I doe not onelyonly doe the outward worke, but I serve him with my Spirit, it is a hard thing to doe so, it were nothing, if wee were onelyonly to doe the outward worke, but wee must doe it with our spirits, that is, when your conscience shall tell you within you, such a duty you must not omit, such vaine glory you must not seeke, such pleasure you must part with: then so to doe that duty is to follow Christ inwardly; to approve all the inward affections of your hearts to God, who searcheth the inmost windings of the Spirit, that is difficult, many might goe well away were it not for the inward lust.
You must doe it outwardly, that is, you must professe his name, and that you must doe before a wicked and adulterous generation, when there is difficulty, shame and disgrace, then wee must follow Christ: so this was the occasion of these words, If you will venture to follow me, know this, that I must suffer many things at Ierusalem; therefore deny your selves and take up your crosse daily and follow me. Many a man will follow Christ, but he will follow him a far off, hee will follow him without his livery, that men should not know whose servant he is, but he that will follow Christ must follow his colours before all men openly: hee that will bee ashamed of me, saith Christ, I will bee ashamed of him before my father which is in heaven; wee are fallen into such times as it is easier to follow Christ inwardly then outwardly, when men are ashamed to make shew of so much as is within them, whereas heretofore times were such as men should make a shew of more then hee had. So wee see what it is to follow Christ, consisting in these foure things. First, to doe whatsoever he commands. Secondly to do it with all our hearts, that is, wi…h all our mindes, with all our soule, & with all our might. Thirdly, to follow him at all times. Fourthly, all manner of wayes.
The second thing is what is to be followed, and that is Christ, that is, to follow his example, and to follow his p…ecep…s, but this in the generall is to little purpose, therefore I will picke some speciall examples, & some speciall precepts wherein wee are to follow Christ, therefore you shall finde these things in Christ example.
First, hee was abundant in love which hee shewed many wayes, hee shewed it by giving a life for us, no greater love then to give himselfe for us, when wee were his enemies, when there was no worth nor goodnesse in us, hee shed his blood for us.Rom. 5. So it was shewed partly in his aptnesse to giving.Acts 20.35 Paul relates this as a love saying of our Saviour: It is better to give then to receive. And what hee sayd no doubt he preached: againe another fruit of his love was to forgive, no disgrace no contumely so great, but hee easily passed it by: So in the greatest despite of all his crucifying hee easily forgave them that crucified him. And another thing wherein his greatest love was seene, was his great compassion, his bowels rowled in him. Hee was compassionate both to mens soules and bodies: So on other bodies,Matth. 9.36. hee tooke compassion on them as sheepe having no shepherd: So when hee saw the people fainting after they had followed three dayes,Mark 6.38 hee had compassion on their bodies; he wrought a miracle to helpe them,Col. 3.12, 13. he fed five thousand with five loaves and two fishes▪ And this is that that is commended to us in Christ, Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved bowels, &c. And so I say to you labour to abound in love, in love to God, and in love to one another, bee ready to doe any kindnesse, and forgive any unkindnesse, let your bowels melt over other mens miseries, have a tender compassion for other mens sins especially in ministers labour to have a love to all mankind, for it is love that edifies, knowledge that puffeth up, and it is that which Saint Iohn moveth us unto in his Epistles; love one another, yea transgressions and any offences wee must forgive them even as Christ forgave us our sinnes; If there be any infirmities we must passe by them as Christ passed by ours, that is, your failings towards Christ are ten times more then mens failings towards you, he forgave you, therefore doe you forgive them, and this love must be renewed at the Sacrament, &c.
Hee was one that sought no praise of men, no applause, no vaine glory, hee desired not to be some body in the eyes of men, which appeares by this, all which he did hee laboured to hide, that which was excellent in him, observing his miracles, charging those in whom he wrought them to be silent: Hee endured the Crosse and despised the shame, that is, when he was mocked he despised it; so should we despise the shame, marke the word despised the shame, endured the Crosse, because that was a heavy burden, and he endured the shame. There will still be Ishmaels that will mocke the Isaacks of God, false nicknames and approbrious speeches will be cast on such as make profession of Religion: But despise the shame, alas shame is but a chip of the Crosse;Object. but why did Christ despise it? hee had an eye to the recompence of reward, that is, when a man beholds God, and lookes upon heaven having such great things in his eyes, hee cares not what men say, and if you despise you w…ll despise credit as Christ did, as that deede of his shewes more pl…inely.Luk. 23.8.11. Herod desires to see him, Pilate sent him to him, and so expected some miracle of him but Christ would doe no miracle, so that Herod his men of warre despised him: Now here a man is more put to it, when men expect somthing from him, when hee is ingaged for his credit to doe something then to despise this, and omit this opportunity is a great thing. Hee was despised of Herod, and of his men of warre, hee despised obloquies & the reproach of men, and also praise of men; for it was but an empty thing; but let the prayse of God bee great in your eyes.
Thirdly, hee was exceeding obedient to his Father, if God would have him dye on the Crosse which was a great matter, hee would doe it: So in drinking of the cup hee seemed unwilling something, but yet since his Father had mingled it hee would doe it, this is obedience, when we doe what God would have us doe? wee would have health but God puts us in sicknesse; hee afflicts us with sharpe diseases: this is the cup that my Father hath mingled for me, and I will drinke. And another part of his obedience is in this; when he had sent forth his Disciples, when they brought in poore fellowes he thanked God for it; of which there could bee no other reason rendred but his Fathers will.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Preston, Grace to the Humble (1639)