Seven Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 11
CHAP. II. Of certaine obiections raiſed from the former doctrine, and anſweres thereto: as why we ſhould put differences betwixt men: and whether the godly may fall reprochfully, and what infirmities they may hauehave.
Ob. Are all ſuch damned.BVt me thinkes I heare ſome obiecting thus: what? are all damned, and out of the eſtate of grace, which commit any of theſe ſinnes? And may not many of theſe offenders notwithſtanding their faultes, be the children of God? And if men commit ſuch faultes, doe they not (thinke we) repent afterwards? (I ſay, if they doe, that obiection is anſwered) Alſo they ſay, they cannot abide that ſuch differences ſhould be made of men. And hauehave the godly, whom ye ſhoale out of others, no faults, but are they without infirmities? are they ſo pure, that they liue not as other men? and doe not their liues gather vp the common ſinnes of the time, as holy as they be? and doe they not lie in them alſo for a ſeaſon, as well as they who are not thought ſo holy? Which if it be ſo, why ſhould we hauehave ſuch differences of men?God ſhoales out ſome from others. Pſalm. 1.2.50.16. 1. Theſ. 1.9. Iohn 1. & 10. why ſhould one be ſhoaled from the other? I anſwere, as for differences of men they are put, by the Lord himſelfe, both in name, conuerſation, and reward: to the Theſſalonians, he ſaith: The Lord ſhall recompence tribulation to them which trouble his: but to thoſe which are troubled, peace and reſt: and the end of the Miniſterie is to ſhoale Gods elect and beloued ones from the world, and to bring them to his ſheepefold.
Infirmities in all. Matth. 7.22.25.34.As concerning infirmities, it is defended by no Chriſtian, that the moſt godly which liue here, are voide of them, but rather confeſſe that they be burthened ſore with the weight of them: and ſo may they be, although theſe foule euils be not common with them, nor long lien in of them, which I hauehave ſpoken of; of whoſe infirmities I will ſay more, when I hauehave ſatisfied in ſome ſort theſe obiections.
The godlie ſomewhat infected with common corruptions.Therefore where it is demaunded, if they be not partakers of the ſame ſinnes, that other men are; I denie not, but that it is poſſible for them in ſome ſort, and for a time, to be carried after the ſtreame of the euill example of ſo many, which are in the world ſo common, and almoſt vniuerſall: for the beſt liue, where Sathans throne is, (euen as the Iſraelites and the Aegyptians dwelt together:) whoſe vnſauorie and ſtinking breath, what maruaile were it, if the whole and ſound ſhould be infected with it? And further, as they may poſſiblie hauehave their part in the ſinnes of the vngodly; ſo I denie not, (if God beare not the greater authoritie with them, and be not the more regarded of them) but that they may alſo lie ſtill in the ſame loathſomenes for a ſeaſon, though ſmallie to their comfort. This to be true, both lamentable examples of the Scripture doe ſhew in Noah, Lot, Dauid, and Peter: and wofull experience among vsus in all ages doe teſtifie. But what then? Are they therefore giuen ouer of the Lord to lie and abide in them, and being waſhed to wallow againe in the mire?
And as I deny not but that it may be poſſible,Difference betweene the fals of the godly and the wicked. and is too cleere by wofull experience, that the beſt may be ſnared with the ſinnes of others; ſo yet, I ſay, that when they fall, it appeareth plainelie, that it was the ſubtill malice of the diuell, watching his opportunitie ſo narrowlie, that he deceiued them, rather then that they were giuen ouer like wicked men; to lie therein, and to adde ſinne to ſinne without combat and conflict, as though they had made a league with ſinne, and were without God in the world, as the other be. And the rather I ſay this, becauſe when they hauehave been awaked,Cant 5. and come to themſelues againe, they are ſo ſtrangely amaſed at their offence,Note. and ſo tremble to thinke what they hauehave done, and can hauehave no peace within themſelues vntill they returne: and that after they hauehave got out, they are made more warie and vigilant againſt the like another time: the which of the wicked cannot be ſaid,Cant. 3.4, 5. in any of their repentings, till God change their hearts in deed, although in ſuddaine, and raſh feare they may be flighted, till it vaniſh away againe like ſmoake, and ſo come to nothing.
Laſt of all, when hauehave they fallen dangerouſlie, who had ſo well begun?The godly fall not, but when they are ſecure and take libertie. 1. Sam. 35.24. Hath it been, while and when they hauehave held on in their courſe of Chriſtian dutie? HaueHave they been violentlie carried from the platforme and direction of a godlie life, whether they would or no, as not knowing what they did? or how they were brought to it? Yea rather, hauehave they not at ſuch times giuen themſelues the bridle, and ſuffered their mindes to runne too farre, after that which they tooke pleaſure in, and offended by? And hauehave they wiſely auoided the occaſions of ſuch miſchiefe and danger at ſuch times, as they vſuallie were wont? Neither obiect here, that a man cannot be at all times watchfull: and the wiſeſt ſhall or may bee ſometimes ouercome? I anſwere: were they warie, but as they hauehave been vſuallie, in which times they were preſerued from ſuch reprochfull falles? For if it were ſo with them, they could not thus offend: but if they hauehave been wearie of Gods gouerning of them, and hauehave thought long till they hauehave gotten more libertie to the fleſh; and to be at their owne hand with the world, and to count ſtollen waters ſweete: it is no maruaile though they hauehave ſmarted with Dinah, for ranging and ſeeking to hauehave their will amiſſe: for if his owne children prouoke him,Pſalm. 89.31. he muſt puniſh euen their ſinnes with the rod, and their offences with the ſcourge, till they returne and ſay, wee hauehave ſinned.
God hath promiſed to keepe vsus in all our waies, Pſalm. 91.11.wherein he appointeth vsus to walke, and whiles our mindes are leading vsus thither, we are in no danger,Philip. 3.13. and he hath promiſed vsus ſtrength to walke in them. But if wee will runne out of our bounds, with Shemeia, 2. Chron. 16.9 Philip. 4.where our owne hearts tell vsus that we are in daunger, is it any wonder, if afterwards it take hold of vsus? And was it not thus with that deare ſeruant of God, whom the Scripture commendeth by this title, that he was a man according to Gods minde? that when that one time befell,2. Sam. 11.4. (more to his reproch, then all other) he was found to giuegive himſelfe the bridle of vnlawfull libertie,Pſal. 51.5. and to ſhaking off the ſecret reigne of holie feare, more then vſually he did. And who denieth but that in ſuch a caſe, if they refuſe to ſtand vponupon their watch, they may become like other men? but yet for all that, is there great difference betwixt the one and the other, as hath bin ſaid: the one offending in that ſort, ſeldome, neither then long lying therein: the other making it his practiſe to breake out, one way or other. And therefore we muſt know, that when we hauehave obtained once to beleeue, and thereby to hauehave our poyſoned hearts purged and made cleane, as it is the greateſt of all other benefits;Prou. 4.23. ſo it is and may bee kept, by ſuch meanes as God hath prouided, and not loſt any more, but confirmed and continued in the feare of God. But then, as we be one with Chriſt, and partakers of him, and as branches of a vine, which ſucke our ſappe and draw our ſpirituall ſtrength and nouriſhment from him: ſo it is required of vsus (and we willingly yeeld to it) that we hold faſt the beginning of our abiding in him, Heb. 4.1. Heb. 3.12.that is, our faith, vntounto the end, and that we take heed that there be not at any time in vsus an euill and corrupt heart, which will make vsus fall from the liuing God, to our owne deceitfull imaginations and deſires, and ſo to fall dangerouſly, and to purchaſe heauines thereby, our bellies full.
How we may be fenced.And this let eueryevery one endeuour to doe, and he ſhall ſee himſelf ſo ſtrongly fenced, that through Gods bleſſing, which faileth not in ſuch a caſe, he ſhal be free from the diet of the careleſſe liuers (who are eueryevery while ſhaken) becauſe they who walke vprightly, walke ſafely: but he that peruerteth his waies, God will finde him out, Prouer. 10.9. For whereas many of Gods beloued ones procure ſore wounds in their liues, and anguiſh thereby, it is but the fruit of their owne labours, who will not bee held within holie compaſſe, but pleade for ſome vnlawfull libertie, and count it ſtrictnes more then needeth (by harkning too much to the vnruly fleſh) to tie themſelues to any certaine directing of themſelues in his ſeruice, (when yet his ſeruice is perfect freedome) whoſe euils I defend not: but yet I ſay, as I hauehave ſaid, if they be his, they ſhall riſe and repent with Peter, if they hauehave fallen with him, when yet the wicked ſhall lie ſtill and waxe worſe.2. Tim. 3.13.
But ye demaund, and would needes hauehave me anſwere, whether I can warrant ſuch as feare God,No warrant of not falling deadly. that they ſhall neuer fall into ſome reprochfull and dangerous euill, as other men doe, as well as they may breake out ſome other waies. If I might anſwere a wiſe and ſober demaunder, I would not refuſe to ſpeake my minde; although it may in part be gathered by that which I hauehave ſaid alreadie: vntounto ſuch a one therefore I ſay (for if any other ſee his owne practiſe not to agree with my anſwere, let him impute it to his owne ſinne rather then to my raſhnes) I ſay therefore, ſeeing rare and deare ſeruants of God hauehave fallen thus into ſhamefull ſinnes, it may ſeeme ſcarce poſſible for the beſt in theſe latter times, being far inferiour to ſome of them in grace, to be free from the like fearefull falles.VVe may be preſerued from foule falles. But yet wee muſt know, that ſome other of his good people God hath preſerued from that kinde of ſhamefull ſinnes and ſtaines, as Enoch, Abraham, Caleb, Ioſua, with many others: and therefore it may of vsus be hoped for, eſpecially ſeeing it is no other thing then we are commanded to hauehave ſpeciall regard and care of:2. Pet. 1.5. Col. 1.2…. Iam. 1.27. that is, to liue without iuſt reproch in the middeſt of a crooked generation and vnſtained. Saint Peter ſaith, If ye hauehave theſe things, ye ſhall neuer fall: that is, dangerouſly,2. Pet. 1.10. to take any great hurt thereby.
Therefore by theſe, and ſuch other perſwaſions, wee ought to be incouraged; for to vsus there is good hope to obtaine grace hereunto. But ſeeing all Gods children cannot alike be perſwaded, that they ought to giuegive all diligence hereunto; euen that they may be vnrebukeable amongſt men, as Paul did,1. Cor. 4.3.4. and ſo taught other to doe; but thinke it impoſſible to liue ſo conſtantly,Act. 26.18.19. but that they ſhall ſometime breake out dangerouſly: Therefore ſuch muſt be taught wiſedome by experience, and ſome of them being more proud then others, muſt hauehave their pride humbled, and healed by ſuch medicines:The firſt end, why God ſuffers ſome to fall ſo. Some to be humbled by their falles. VVhy many fall. for grieuous falles are phiſick for pride; and many who hauehave ſome grace, but not the grace which is ſufficient for them, are daungerouſly proud, becauſe they hauehave not fallen ſhamefully, that is, into ſome odious crime: and yet they hauehave fallen ſhamefully (if they could ſee it) in that they are dangerouſly proud: If God therefore ſeeth it meete to abate their pride thereby, they may poſſibly fall after ſuch a manner. Or if it be for the more manifeſting of his glorie in forgiuing them ſo great a treſpaſſe, they may alſo fall dangerouſly.The ſecōd end, to magnifie his merciemercy in forgiuing great ſinnes. Ioh. 21.15.
This doth our mercifull father ſee expedient oftentimes, as both in Peter and Dauid it came to paſſe, as alſo in others: who doubtleſſe loued the Lord, more then ſome others of his faithfull people, which neuer fell in that manner (as Peters anſwere, and Dauids Pſalmes doe cleerely teſtifie) yea, and ſuch loued him the more, Luk. 7.47. euen for that very cauſe, ſeeing they obtained merciemercy againſt ſo great ſinnes of theirs, and fearefull iniquitie.
Yea and to adde a third end, God is highly magnified by others,A third end why the faithfull fall in regard of others. which know and ſee this, that hee hath forgiuen ſo great offences, in ſuch as hauehave fallen grieuouſly: who otherwiſe beholding the heauenly courſe of ſuch excellent ſeruants of his, how holie and ſincere it was (ſaue in ſome ſuch offence) ſhould hauehave been vtterly diſcouraged, yea and like to hauehave deſpaired of their owne good eſtate: and the rather for the high opinion that they conceiued of them, if they had not ſeene or heard of theſe their falles. For theſe cauſes therefore the Lord may, and often hath, let ſome of his deare ſeruants fall dangerouſly: firſt, for the humbling of them: and ſecondly, for that they may ſee his exceeding bountifulnes in pardoning ſo great ſinnes; that they may louelove him the more: and thirdly, that others farre weaker then they, yet faithfull, may be incouraged to beleeue that their ſins ſhall be pardoned, and their weake ſeruice accepted of him; for as much as they hauehave ſeene that God hath pardoned great offences in ſome, otherwiſe farre more excellent then they: which if they were not perſwaded of, ſhould be diſcouraged much, becauſe of the great graces and gifts in them,1. Tim. 1.16. farre exceeding thoſe which are in themſelues.
And otherwiſe, or in other reſpects,Otherwiſe no feare of falling they neede not feare that God taketh any pleaſure to caſt them downe, who deſire to ſtand (when his propertie is rather to raiſe vp them that are fallen:) or that hee ſeeketh eueryevery aduantage,Pſal. 130.3. againſt their infirmities, who doth not look ſtreightly what is done amiſſe of them;Luk. 1.54. Gods tendernes ouer his. but helpe their weakenes, ſupplie their wants, and deliuer them from ſuch dangers, as they feare, ſo far as it is expedient; or els make them able to beare them. For proofe whereof, they may remember, how he kept them, when they had ſmall skill or abilitie to keepe themſelues,Deut. 33.12. after that they firſt imbraced his promiſes: will hee not much more keepe them ſafe, now they hauehave experience of his kindnes, and the power of Chriſt working in them? Nay, that which is more,Rom. 5.10. when they were his enemies, he gaue his ſonne to die for them: and now they are reconciled vntounto him, and approued of him, as his beloued ones, ſhall they not much more be preſerued (by his liuing in glorie) from the fearefull iudgements, which in his wrath he executeth againſt the vngodly of the world?
Col. 1.23. Sweet comfort to the weake.Therefore if thou beeſt grounded and eſtabliſhed in faith, and holdeſt faſt the beginning of thine ingrafting into Chriſt, be of good comfort, thy greateſt danger is paſt: for can he that loueth thee dearely, meane hardly againſt thee? Is there with him yea and nay, with whom there is no ſhadow of chaunge? The Lord witneſſing to that which I ſay, with reuerence and thankfulnes beleeue it: either thou ſhalt not fall reprochfully; or if thou doeſt, it ſhall be thus, as I hauehave ſaid,Note. euen ſo as it ſhal turne to thy good: and it neede to be to thy great good, which cannot be without the great offence of ſo many as ſhall know it. For though ſuch as ſhall periſh may turne this which I ſay,Rom. 8.31. 2. Pet. 3.16. Tit. 1.15. Cant. 3.4. to their owne great hurt, as they doe the Scriptures alſo (ſeeing to the vncleane all things are vncleane:) yet if thou ſhouldeſt ſlide, the Lord would hold thee vp, and make thee ſtand more conſtantly after. The world ſeeth no whit of this, but counteth it all arrogancie, boaſting, and falſehood, becauſe indeed they beleeue no more then they ſee, or then their reaſon and fleſhly wiſedome can prie into; which is an vtter enemie to this heauenly truth: but ô faith, what pretious ſecrets art thou able to reueale to vsus of Gods minde and will?Cant. 2.14. and how ſafe is he (yea in this dangerous wildernes of the world) in whom thou dwelleſt, ſeeing the Lord hath ſaid:1. Ioh. 5.4. This is the victorie that ouercommeth the world, euen our faith?
And this for anſwere to theſe obiections: Now as I hauehave promiſed, I will ſhut vp this part of Chriſtianitie, concerning the renouncing of inward and outward euils,VVhat infirmities the godly be ſubiect to. concluding what infirmities the godlie ſhall be ſubiect vntounto: which ſhall both ſufficiently proue, that they count not themſelues without ſinne, as they are charged by many: yet for all this, that they are not companions with the vngodly in harbouring and nouriſhing theſe worldly luſts and vngodlines, which I hauehave ſpoken of. The leſſe ſhall neede to be ſaid of this, ſeeing it may, and that not obſcurely, bee gathered, by that which hath been ſet downe: both that they doe not (with the Puritanes) dreame of any ſuch perfection,Luk. 17.10. Rom. 7.24. but that when they hauehave done all, they are vnprofitable ſeruants, and ſay with the Apoſtle: Oh wretched men that we are! and alſo, further then they are glad to be ruled by God, they feare the ſame falles that others doe. But becauſe they are not al ſpiritual, that is, ſpiritually minded wholy and altogether, as they are not wholy fleſh, that is, corrupt, but both theſe contraries fighting together (as the Apoſtle ſaith) one againſt the other, are in their ſoules:Gal. 5.17. therefore it commeth to paſſe, that they are ſubiect through this concupiſcence and infection which is in their fleſh, both to the diuels ſuggeſtions, and deluſions of the world, and they may bee caried after diuers and ſtrange luſts, and to commit outward ſinnes one after another further forth, then by the grace of Gods ſpirit their corruption be bridled, held backe, and ſubdued. But if that grace bee quenched or quailed, then euill deſires are kindled, and gather ſtrength to bring foorth fruite accordingly.
And this may be, yea and no doubt is,The ſtate of weaker Chriſtians. the eſtate of the many of Gods ſeruants: ſuch eſpecially, as for want of good experience, and acquaintance in the Chriſtian life, and battaile, are more eaſily deceiued, and beguiled then others are. And hereof it is, that many hauehave been ouertaken, and oft doe ſlide, and fall daungerouſly, and are carried from keeping a good conſcience, and from well doing: And diuers commit thoſe ſinnes which they had long abſtained from, hoping that they ſhould neuer hauehave fallen into them any more: But what then?Theſe much differ from all wicked. Are they therefore like to the ſundrie ſorts of the former wicked ones, of whom I ſpake before? No, nothing leſſe: for either they are wary and watchfull againſt them, before hand, leaſt they ſhould fall; and it is their greateſt care, that they may not fall into them: or when they ſee how they hauehave been ouercome, and deceiued, they lay it to heart by and by,Phil. 2.12. bewaile it, and are much humbled to ſee how they hauehave been circumuented, and cannot be quiet, whiles they ſeeing God offended, are not reconciled to him againe. And on the contrarie, if they preuaile ouer their ſinnes, and hold vnderunder their affections, and keepe their conſciences excuſing them, that ſo they may walke with God and abide in his fauour;1. Iohn 3.21. then are they more ioyfull then they, who hauehave all that their hearts can wiſh.Pſalm. 4 8. And although all hauehave not the like knowledge, how to doe and goe about it; yet it is the earneſt deſire of their heart to hauehave it ſo: In token whereof, euen the weakeſt which are new borne, are heauie and cannot be comforted, for that they ſee continually how they hauehave diſpleaſed God.
And to this purpoſe I might ſay much more, whereby all that can iudge, may ſee, that theſe ſinnes are of infirmitie committed by them: and that they are haled and drawen to doe ſuch things, as in no wiſe they would, when they are come to themſelues, and when the ſpirit of God ouerruleth and ſubdueth their looſe and ranging affections: neither would they hauehave been carried after them, euen then when they were haled to the committing of them, but that they were weake to performe that, which faine they would hauehave done. I ſay, who doth not ſee, that theſe men ſinne not like the other, but in ſuch wiſe as the beſt, and deareſt of Gods children in all ages hauehave done, who neuer fully ſatisfied themſelues (no not the beſt of them) in that which they did.
And this is properly ſinne of infirmitie, when partly of knowledge,What ſinne of infirmitie is. but more through frailtie, an offence is wrought to the diſpleaſing of God: and when of ſuch an one it is committed, as becauſe he hath his heart ſanctified, would not doe it:Note. and yet becauſe the power of corruption at that time is greater in him, then the ſtrength of grace, therefore he was ouercome of it, and forced to yeeld to it.
But I demaund whether any ſuch combat or conflict be found in the vngodly, & workers of iniquitie, in them of whom I hauehave before ſpoken.Wicked ſinne boldly. HaueHave they feare before the ſinne committed, leaſt they ſhould fall into it? But by what ſigne doe they proue it, and by what reaſon can they perſwade it? who neither watch againſt it, neither hauehave their hearts out of louelove with it: nay they are ſo farre from ſtriuing againſt it, that they are ſet on fire to commit it, and would hate him deadly, which ſhould earneſtly diſſwade, much more withhold them from the committing of it: or doe they after the committing of it,Their ſorrow is carnall. bewaile it for that God was offended thereby, and for their vnkindnes againſt his maieſtie, and for his diſhonour thereby? It may be for feare of hell, and damnation, if they be neerely vrged, and leaſt it ſhould come to light, and ſo bring reproch and puniſhment vponupon them; They may bowe themſelues like a bulruſh for a ſeaſon. Which kinde of men (that I may prooue it to be true,Note. which I ſay of them) when that pange and qualme is ouer, are not onelyonly mery and quiet againe, when yet they hauehave no word of comfort from God, but are readie to the like ſinne againe; yea and many of them commit it againe indeede a little while after.
But will any call this, wholeſome and Godly ſorrow which bringeth repentance? Alas! it is as farre from it, as is the Eaſt from the Weſt. Neither hauehave they any ſtrife or combat before, or after the committing of ſinne, as diſtracted in themſelues for that, which they hauehave done; or fearefull, leaſt they ſhould commit the euill which they goe about, further then this, that their conſcience may ſecretly tell them it is euill: but they repell it, and will in no wiſe heare the ſame: And therefore they ſinne not, as Gods children doe; that is, by infirmitie. And thus much for anſwere to the former queſtions: And of the firſt part of godlineſſe alſo of the life of the beleeuer, this be ſaid.