Seven Treatises, Treatise 6 · Chapter 6
CHAP. 6. Of the fourth priuiledge: How the godly may riſe againe when they are fallen.
The 1. point.THe fourth priuiledge doth moſt fitly goe and agree with theſe three former, although much differing from them: and therefore I doe adioine it, as the next in order thereto. And it is this: that if at any time his beloued ones doe by any occaſion fall from their ſetled courſe into any offence, whereby their conſciences are wounded and accuſe them, or be by ſtrong deluſion perſwaded that God is highly diſpleaſed with them;If any beleeuer be turned out of a good courſe, he may boldely returne. yet this liberty they hauehave giuen them of God, to returne to him, with certaine perſwaſion that he wil neuer caſt them off, but will receiue them into fauour againe, from which it ſeemed to them that they were debarred: whereas they, who were neuer conuerted vntounto God, can hauehave no ſuch warrant, neither deſire it vnleſſe it be in their feare. And yet I ſpeake not this, as though I went about to debar ſuch from imbracing Gods mercy offered them: who I exhort earneſtly, to ſeeke it ſpeedily. But as for the other, there is no iuſt cauſe why they ſhould caſt away their confidence, and doubt or feare that the Lord hath forſaken them, as the moſt of them through ignorance and vnbeleefe doe too readily conceiue and perſwade themſelues. For if any of them ſinne, they hauehave an Aduocate with the father, Ieſus Chriſt the righteous,1. Ioh. 2.2. who is a propitiation for their ſinnes, to the end they may be incouraged to riſe vp out of their falles againe.
And if it were not thus, that they might be receiued againe after ſome grieuous offence, what incouragement were there to any Chriſtian, to ſtriue againſt ſinne and ſeeke to liue godly, ſeeing one time or other, the frowardeſt may be ledde into that ſinne which he neuer thought he ſhould hauehave beene deceiued by? So that God would hauehave vsus know, not onelyonly that we may riſe vp from our falles,We offend him highly, if we doe not. and returne to him againe as to our father; but alſo, he commandeth vsus ſo to do, and looketh for it at our hands, and is offended if we doe it not; as may plainely appeare by his owne wordes in the prophet Ieremy: Doe men fall and not riſe againe? or goe out of the way and not returne? Ier. 8.4.6.I waited and looked, and there was no man that ſaid: What hauehave I done? Proofes of it.If God wait and looke for it, that ſuch as hauehave peruerſly offended, ſhould returne;The firſt. and taketh it ill at their hands that they doe not: is it to be doubted, whether they may or no? Yet more may be ſaid to this purpoſe. Me thinks that which our ſauiour Chriſt ſpeaketh to Peter, is admirable:The ſecond. who was not content to teach him this doctrine among other, Of the returne of a ſtraying ſheepe; but becauſe he would ſtrongly arme him againſt diſpaire, at the time when he ſhould fall into that deepe gulfe of denying him, he ſaith vntounto him,; Simon, Simon, Luc. 22.31.32.Sathan hath deſired you to ſift you as it were wheat; but I hauehave praied for thee, that thy faith faile not: and when thou ſhalt be conuerted, ſtrengthen thy brethren. Wherein moſt louingly and wiſely, although couertly, hee forewarneth him, that though Sathan ſhould driue him farre from his ſtanding, and almoſt gleane him out from the reſt of his fellows, as an Apoſtate: yet for all that, he ſhould not remaine ſeparate from him, & through vnbeleefe afraide to come home to him againe, but in any wiſe thinke that he muſt returne: and for more ſure token thereof, he ſhould afterward cōuert others; ſeeing by his experience he ſhould be beſt able to perſwade them, as hauing moſt deeply fallen himſelf and therefore might hardlieſt of others hauehave beene raiſed vp againe and pardoned. And to a ſingular end did the Lord Ieſus ſpeake thus to him, and in fit ſeaſon, leſt Peter after his fall ſhould hauehave beene affraid to ariſe: for which cauſe alſo, he did incourage him; when ſending to his diſciples to meet him in Galily, he expreſſely named Peter among the reſt, ſaying: Go tell the diſciples and Peter that I goe before them into Galily, leſt Peter ſhould elſe hauehave thought that he had not bin worthy to be counted a diſciple. Mar. 16.7.
And if it were not ſo, that all weake ones falling by any occaſion, might be raiſed vp againe, and the poore wandring ſoules brought home, but muſt vtterly periſh and be loſt, to what end ſhould theſe and many other like Scriptures ſerue: Brethren, if any be fallen by infirmitie, thou that art ſpirituall, that is,Gal. 6.1. haſt more ſtrength of the ſpirit then they, helpe to hold them vp in the ſpirit of meekeneſſe; that ſo they may be faſt ſetled in their former faith and hope againe? And alſo, the parable of the ſtraying ſheepe vponupon the mountaines,Mat. 18.22. which with all diligence was ſought vp againe till it were found, and not let goe and loſt for euer? Beſides, who knoweth not, that it is one vſe of the miniſtery of the word, as we reade in the prophet Ezekiel, to ſtrengthen,Ezech. 34.3. confirme and ſtabliſh thoſe, who hauing had a taſte of the life to come, yet are haled and caried from their ſtaied courſe by the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne and the world? alſo, to heale the ſicke and to binde vp the broken, &c? For the which cauſe, the Apoſtle deſired to come to the Theſſalonians often,1. Theſ. 3.13 to ſupplie that which might be wanting in any of them: and if a man muſt oft and in great iniuries remit his brother, will not God who teacheth others to be mercifull, doe much more? Therefore this ought to be out of all queſtion, and controuerſie, that the brother who hath forſaken the good way which leadeth to life, and is intangled in the world, or ſnared in the falſe and deceiueable pleaſures of it, or any other way is turned aſide after ſathan; yet is not caſt off from being cared for of the Lord, but hath large liberty and great incouragement to returne, contrary to that curſed opinion of the Nouatian heretikes.
What a benefit this is.Which if it be ſo, who doeth not ſee, what and how great a benefit and priuiledge it is to all that hauehave fallen into any grieuous crime, (at leaſt as they count it) and ſo hauehave their faith weakened, and their comfort appalled? For to a man in that caſe nothing is more comfortable, as by the words of Elihu in the booke of Iob, Iob. 33 23.moſt liuely appeareth, ſaying: When a man ſhall be ſo wrought vponupon by the word of God, that for feare and inward anguiſh he turne away from his owne worke, that is, his old ſinfull life, and refuſe his meat which was wont to be moſt pleaſant vntounto him, and ſorrow take hold on him vponupon his bed, &c: if then there be a meſſenger of God, one that can tell him Gods minde, (who ſhall be as one of a thouſand vntounto him) who can certifie him of the fauour of God that he ſhall not be forſaken of him; behold that man is reuiued, and he is comforted as in the daies of his youth, &c. And eueryevery godly preacher hath experience of the ſame: both how many heauie hearted Chriſtians are raiſed out of their falles with much comfort; and how intolerable an eſtate it were for them to beare, if they had not good aſſurance from God about that matter.
But this which I ſay is wiſely and warily to be heard & receiued, I confeſſe: that is to ſay,This doctrine muſt wiſely be receiued. We may not be imboldned to ſinne by it, that euen as it is with all thankfulneſſe to be hearkned vntounto of the afflicted in minde, and ſuch as mourne in Sion: ſo likewiſe, that in no wiſe it be vſed as an occaſion to imbolden any to ſinne, or to gather hardneſſe of heart in them, that either they dare goe forward more readily to that ſinne which they delight in, becauſe they heare there is hope of forgiueneſſe to ſuch as hauehave runne from God;Nor ſleightly repent on it. or ſeeke pardon the more ſleightly and houerly, becauſe God receiueth ſuch ſinners to mercy.
Both which reſpects becauſe they are woorthy to be regarded alwaies in this caſe, and for that an example very fit for this purpoſe commeth to my remembrance, I will in as few words as I can, lay foorth the ſame. In the booke of Ezra the prieſt,Ezra. 10.1.2. &c. we read, that he and many of the people of the captiuitie after their returne home, caſt themſelues downe before the houſe of the Lord, praying and confeſſing their ſinnes with teares in aboundance, and chiefly this ſinne, in that they had taken to themſelues wiues of ſtrangers; which was a grieuous breach of the Lords commandement. Zechania the ſonne of Iehiel a godly man, anſwered and ſaid vntounto Ezra: It is true; we hauehave committed a moſt heinous and wilfull offence, in ioining our ſelues to ſtrangers, and marying wiues out of them: but yet, that we caſt not our ſelues into deadly deſpaire,Two points are principally to be obſerued. (as ſuch a tranſgreſſion of Gods law might eaſily carie vsus vntounto) let vsus know, that there is hope in Iſrael concerning this thing. Wherein, theſe two points I obſerue principally among many others:First, Gods mercies are not ſleightly to be ſought for. that as neither Ezra who had great knowledge in the law of God, nor Zechania, nor the people which feared God, durſt in ſuch an offence lightly and in a looſe manner, heale vp their breach of Gods commandement,Secondly, when God is rightly ſought vntounto, there ought to be no doubt of obteining mercy. although they knew that there was hope to be conceiued of pardon; but ſaw cauſe to humble themſelues before God in the confeſſion of their ſinne, and praied for the remiſſion of it with teares, and made a firme couenant to put away their ſtrange wiues: ſo yet, when they ſought vntounto God after this holy and hearty manner, then did they incourage one another to looke for mercy and forgiueneſſe, ſaying: There is hope?
And ſo it ought to be with all gods children: that when they hauehave beene ſupplanted by the deuill (for all their care and watchfulneſſe,) then ought they to imbrace this ſweet remedy, and flie vntounto it as to an anchor; That God will be intreated of them: and ſo with more thankfulneſſe and humbleneſſe to walke forward. If any therefore abuſe this liberty to licentiouſneſſe and boldneſſe in ſinning, they ſhall beare their puniſhment; and let them be ſure, that their ſinne will finde them out. Thus we hauing ſeene cleerely and plainly the minde and will of God about this matter, let vsus now conſider the greatnes of this libertie and benefit: that the poore ſeruants of God who hauehave beene much diſtreſſed for want of the certeine knowledge of it, may be helped and relieued.
I remember the daies and times (as I ſtil ſee oft the experience of it) wherein this glad tidings would of heauie and afflicted conſciences hauehave beene eſteemed aboue gold, if it could hauehave beene fitly applied to their diſeaſe,Experience teacheth, how ſuch hauehave languiſhed who hauehave wanted this benefit. and if they ſtanding in need of it, might hauehave beene aſſured from God of ſuch welfare: I remember (I ſay) ſuch times, and the deſire of many therein; who yet for want of that, hauehave lien languiſhing, and beene filled with heauineſſe for that they could not be raiſed vp and comforted: ſome, whole weeks and moneths: ſome others for not receiuing this meſſage in due time, hauehave bene caſt for many yeeres into ſuch diſtruſt of Gods fauour, that it hath beene a matter of great difficultie to recouer them at the length. And who doubteth, but that it was the eſtate of the people of Iſrael, and of many generations of them?Iudg. 2.4. and namely at Bochim, when they repented by the meſſage of the angell? and alſo an other generation after them, whom Samuel, 1. Sam. 7.4.6.after long ſtraying from God, brought home? and of ſome of the Churches in the Reuelation;Reu. 2.4. as namely, the church of Epheſus? that they ſtood in need of this incouragement, who hauing left their olde firſt louelove, although good things were ſtill found in them, were tolde by the Apoſtle Iohn from the Lord, that they were ſo farre gone, that it was time for them to conſider with themſelues from whence they were fallen, and to renounce their ſinnes, and repent of them, and do their former works; that ſo they might againe receiue ſound comfort? whoſe ſore, when it ſhould hauehave come to be felt, would hauehave turned to another maner of vexation, both longer continuing and more deeply pinching them, if by this counſell from God it had not beene preuented.
And ſuch as in this age are ſubiect to the ſame weakneſſe,No greater comfort than this to a poore ſinner. as hauing ſometime laied holde on Gods fauour and merciemercy, yet hauehave afterward fallen into ſome ſinne againſt their conſcience, muſt holde this for a ſingular priuiledge: that the Lord is willing to receiue them againe, to paſſe by their ſinne, and that they by the way that he hath taught them ſhould riſe vp to comfort.
This doctrine where it is receiued, honoureth God highly,God is highly honoured by this doctrine. and cauſeth many thanks to be giuen to him, for that poore ſinners ſee him ſo ready to forgiue them, and that, ſo often and ſo many and great offences as they themſelues durſt not looke for, or thinke that he would: and in that many who bare ſhew that they are troubled for their ſinnes ſometime, doe not magnifie God for this trueth and doctrine with all their might, it is becauſe they are not they whom they would be taken to be, that is, ſound-hearted. But then could it not be a priuiledge properly belonging to the children of God,The hard-hearted hauehave no benefit by it. if hard-hearted or double-minded perſons might be partakers of it. But they labouring to ſhake off godly ſorrow for their ſinne, and checke of conſcience, all that they can, and as long as they are able, by mirth and paſtime or in continuance of time to forget it; if for all their ſhifting & fencing it off, the Lord ſometime ſtrike them with terrour, and holde them vnderunder by ſtrong hand, and cauſe them to quake: yet they doe not ſeeke his face, but either bow themſelues onelyonly for a day like a bul-ruſh, as Ahab; or els they are ſwallowed vp into vtter deſpaire, as Iudas. Neither can ſuch hauehave any releaſe at all. So much the greater fauour let others (I meane, Gods ſeruants) count it, that they may in their repentance for their ſinne, hope ſtedfaſtly for pardon; yea, and ought to ſay eueryevery one vntounto their ſoules:Pſ. 43.5. Turne vntounto thy reſt, O my ſoule: for the Lord hath heard thy grones, and reiecteth not thy prayers. Why art thou caſt downe and diſquieted within me? wait on God, he is my preſent helpe: for he is more ready to grant, than we to aske. For if the ſonne of God make them free,Iohn. 8.36. then are they free indeed. An exceeding priuiledge is this to them: and therefore who ſeeth not, that they reſting thus perſwaded, may be of good comfort?
It is to be lamented, that the poore Chriſtians ſhould looſe this benefit.For indeed, this priuiledge is giuen of God as a remedie; and therefore may and ought of all that hauehave need of it, to be receiued, and by all meanes to be imbraced; which if it be, forthwith the wound and ſore is healed, which yet without ſuch a medicine and helpe had beene deſperate and vncurable: a remedy farre vnlike to popiſh contrition, confeſſion auricular to a prieſt, and their blaſphemous ſatisfaction. Oh therefore, that this might enter deeply and were thorowly ſetled in the hearts of ſuch, as mourne and pine away for that they hauehave prouoked God to anger.Math. 18.10. Zach. 2.10. Oh that they knew, that their teares are put into the bottle of gods remembrance, and how ready he is to receiue them into fauour, and to blot out all their offences; who hath therefore ſaid: See that yee deſpiſe not one of theſe little ones: and againe, Reioice and be glad, yee that mourne in Sion, &c. for I will dwell in the middeſt of you: and to his prophets and miniſters; Comfort my people, comfort them at the heart.
The teacher is many times more in fault then the learner. The want of ſeeing the bountifulneſſe of God, is the cauſe of great and continued heauineſſe. It is pittie that any doe arrogate it to themſelues vniustly, that which belongs not to them.And further I ſay: Oh that ſuch had beene rightly grounded in faith at the firſt; which hath beene as much, or rather more, the fault of the vnskilfull builder and teacher of them, then their owne. For this may moſt truely be affirmed, that for want of well grounding them, they hauehave vponupon eueryevery light and ſmall occaſion beene ſhaken and vnſetled in their faith; as, in the leaſt accuſation of their conſcience, in any affliction, or in the feare of death. But if they could ſee the bountifulneſſe of gods louelove towards them, how vnwoorthy ſoeuer they ſeeme in their owne eies, they ſhould not goe ſo long heauy and diſquieted, ſuffering the enemie to oppreſſe them, and as though there were no hope for them in their God. But yet I ſay this on the other ſide: Oh that ſome did not looke too haſtily to be receiued into fauour, and vſe meanes too ſlightly for the ſame; yea, I ſay againe: Oh that ſome did not too prophanely, or blockiſhly and ceremoniouſly ſeeke to God, and returne to him in holowneſſe of heart: which maner of abaſing themſelues, doeth hold them in a woorſe caſe then the other.
And thus (to drawe to an end of this matter) I truſt it doth appeare what a ſingular priuiledge this is, that the Lord graunteth free acceſſe to thoſe, who after their conuerſion hauehave ſinned any way againſt their conſcience, to bewaile their ſinne before him, and to be perſwaded of forgiueneſſe of the ſame: which being knowen of them, they need not hold backe from him, as manie of his deare children for a long time hauehave done; but come home againe, and that earely, ſeeing God who hath ſmitten them, will heale them; and he,Exod. 34.7. who hath called himſelfe a God of great compaſſion and mercy, would hauehave his poore people to feele and inioy it. The ſame I ſay likewiſe of dulneſſe, idleneſſe, vnprofitable barrenneſſe of the heart, and ſuch other corruptions which are wont to quench the worke of gods ſpirit in his children, and to be the ſeed of many curſed euils: the Lords will is, that they ſhould beleeue that he will giuegive them ſtrength to weaken them, as well as forgiue them; and that they ſhould thereby be incouraged to ſhake them off, and breake out of them: which if they were perſwaded that they might doe, would incourage them more heartily to reſiſt and ſtop them.