Seven Treatises, Treatise 1 · Chapter 6
CHAP. 6. Of the lets that hinder faith on the behalfe of the People.
Lets of faith in the people. Diuels bewitching.BVt if the Miniſter be framed both in life and doctrine, as were to be wiſhed, thus to giuegive warning to the people of Sathans malicious intents, and other impediments; and ſo ſeeke to winne them to the faith: yet are there ſuch ſwarmes of euils in the people, and ſo many kinds of them, that except, they for their parts be willing to be counſelled, and to receiue their meſſage and doctrine, they ſhall finde, that through one let or other, few of them ſhall be partakers of this pretious faith which I ſpeake of. To ſpeake more plainelie, my meaning is, Sathan layeth infinite ſtumbling blockes in their way:Light eſteeming the Goſpell. for when God by the Preaching of the Goſpell ſheweth the world how their ſinnes are pardoned, and their deadly woe remoued in Chriſt, they will not marke it, nor take any paines about it, but eſteeme of it as of a light matter, as though God did ſeeke his owne good by making ſuch an offer to them, rather then theirs: and that he muſt be more beholden to them for hearing the way to ſaluation preached, then they to him for teaching them; and ſo count it not thanke worthie. Other hauehave weightier matters (as they thinke) to looke after, namely, their pleaſures, Luk. 14.and their profits; with the beautie and louelove whereof, the diuell dazeleth their eyes, that they ſee nothing there, that is, in their preaching, which can prouoke them to be in louelove with it: although that which can ſaue them be onelyonly there to be had. So by one deceite or other he preuaileth ſo farre with them, that they beleeue not, no not euen they, who hearing, receiue the doctrine with liking it, and for that very cauſe thinke that they beleeue.
And what is cleerer at this day, then this, that of many thouſands which receiue the glad tidings of eternall life by our preaching, willingly,Fevv that receiue the doctrine hauehave faith. or at the leaſt without reſiſting our doctrine; yet few, yea very few attaine to the power of faith, neither declare any worke thereof to bee in them? For either they feele no neede within themſelues, whereby they ſhould be driuen to ſeeke helpe out of themſelues, in Chriſt; or if they doe, they by and by, before they ſuſtaine any ſmart, lay their burthen vponupon him: ſo that he is neuer ſought, nor cared for of them, but when their need pincheth them; and then they beleeue in him (they ſay) but be indeede no more ſtaied and confident by their faith, nor in their liues reformed, then they were before: and ſo ſerue him with their tongues, and lips, and follow their owne luſts in their hearts; or ſtaggering ſtill betwixt hope and doubt, at a bluſh reioycing, and not able to render a reaſon why; and at another time caſt downe as farre againe, in token of no ſtay nor peace. Now of all theſe how truly are the Apoſtles words verified, the Goſpell being hidden from them? that is, the promiſes of it not being beleeued of them, what other cauſe is there then this, the diuell by one meanes or other hath ſo blinded them all, that they beleeue not: and as for this latter ſort, they ſeeing their miſerie what it is, and how vnauoidable by any way that they can finde out, how could they (if they were not inchanted and depriued of their right minde by the diuell) be content to goe without the remedying thereof, it being ſo freely and graciouſly offered them?
The which thing alſo,Practiſe of true Chriſtians. is prooued further to be true by the practiſe of true Chriſtians, who hauing ſure hold and taſte by faith of Chriſts merits, will admit no deluſions that deceiue the other, whereby they might be depriued of the aſſurance thereof. But although they hauehave temptations,Heb. 4.1. ſtrong and fierce, as well as the other, yet they ſo looke to the greatnes of Gods louelove, and the truth and certaintie of his promiſes, and the benefit which they reape thereby, that although with ſtrong fighting, and lowd cryes through depth of ſorrow, they are in combat with Sathan; yet they will not giuegive ouer, nor yeeld their right into his hand. But as one in the perill of drowning taketh hold of a naked ſword, though it cut him deepe, rather then yeeld his life to the water: ſo they chuſe to keepe their faith with ſome great difficulties, rather then to giuegive ouer their ſoule, which is vpholden onelyonly thereby, into the diuels hand, and themſelues into perdition. Whereupon we heare ſuch ſpeeches teſtifying ſore conflicts betweene Sathan and them,Iob. 13.15. Pſalm. 23.4. Although thou kill me (O Lord) yet will I truſt in thee: and, Though I walke in the middeſt of the vale of death, yet will I not forſake thee. By which appeareth, that the ſame god of this world, is not wont to caſt miſts onelyonly before the eyes of the beſt, but euen attempteth ſore to take away all the light of their faith from them, as hee doth keepe it from the other altogether: But God hath taught their hands to warre, and their fingers to fight (as it is in the Pſalme) the which skill, becauſe the other want, they are foyled.
None beguiled by Sathan, but wilfull and fooliſh.And thus by this which hath been ſaid, let all learne to know, that none are kept voide and deſtitute of the fruite of the Goſpell, and the beleeuing of the ſame vntounto ſaluation; but ſuch as willingly put their neckes in Sathans yoke, and are contented to bee depriued of the crowne of righteouſnes and life, through their owne follie; whiles others, more wiſe then they, will by no meanes let it goe. But to the end that eueryevery ſort may ſee themſelues as in a glaſſe, and what their ſeuerall lets are, I hauehave thought good to ſet them down briefly and particularly; or at leaſt ſo many, as whereby the moſt are hindred by the diuell from imbracing and beleeuing the promiſe of life: that all which liſt,Particular lets of faith. may ſee how they are held backe from their happines and peace: And theſe they are briefly.
1. Some thinke it impoſſible. Pſalm. 14.1.1. Firſt, ſome thinke it impoſſible to be aſſured of their ſaluation in this life, and therefore ſeeke not after it.
2. Not neceſſarie. Matth. 19.22.2. Others think it poſſible, but not neceſſary, that men ſhould buſie themſelues about it, for the obtaining and keeping of it, and that they may be ſaued without ſo much adoe.
3. Too hard.3. Another ſort are ſuch as thinke it both poſſible and neceſſarie, but they ſee it ſo hard to come by, that they are loth to take the paines, therefore they will not goe about it.Luke. 14.18.
4. Careles.4. Another ſort are careles, and as ignorant, as they are careles; euer learning, but neuer comming to the knowledge of the truth: who though they come to heare, yet regard not when God ſpeaketh vntounto them out of his word,Luk. 8.12. their minds being taken vp about other matters: Now by this manner of hearing, they come not to vnderſtand the doctrine, much leſſe affect it.
5. Feare loſſe.5. Others ſee that if they ſhould labour ſo after heauenly things, they muſt loſe their liberties in ſinful pleaſures, which they wil not by any meanes forgoe: and contrariwiſe, that they muſt ſuffer reproch, and afflictions, with the children of God:Heb. 12.16. Luk. 8.13.14. and therefore they looke not after the promiſe of the life to come: as Eſau.
6. Preſume. Ioh. 2.23.24.6. Others are preſumptuous, who through ſelfeloue perſwade themſelues that they doe beleeue, and yet keepe ſome one ſinne, or many in their hearts, which they will not renounce; contenting themſelues to thinke they hauehave faith,Matth. 8.21. Reuel. 3.17. when they hauehave it not; and ſo neuer ſeeke for the truth and power thereof. As, they would follow Chriſt, but firſt they would goe burie their father.
7. Neuer broken hearted. Iere. 4.4. & 8.67. Others with theſe, though not ſo groſſe offenders, were neuer broken hearted through the ſight of their ſinne, and miſerie; and therefore the doctrine of faith cannot enter.
8 Feare continuance. Acts. 26.27. Ioh. 6.60.66.8. Others thinke, that though they begin, yet they ſhall neuer continue, or hold on in a godly courſe; or els doe take offence ſome other way: and therefore will neuer goe about it: or hauing begun, will ſoone reuolt againe.
9. Too ſlightly ſeeke it.9. Others will ſay, it is a comfortable thing to know our ſelues to bee the children of God, and they hope they are ſo: they ſpeake well of the Goſpel: they are glad to heare it, and like well of the promiſe of eternall life, but they neuer goe about to faſten it to themſelues, by meditating of it, weighing the truth and vnchangeablenes thereof, and making their account to liue by it,Reuel. 3.1. and to be conformed to it.
10. Others like well of it, as the former,10 Sudden flaſhes ſoone out. and ſometimes weigh and conſider the doctrine, and thereby thinke themſelues to be in good caſe: but this comfort is ſudden, and quickly gone againe. And thus they are driuen and toſſed to and fro; yet being cloſe men, will not diſcloſe their hearts, and lay open their doubts to ſuch as may helpe them, and helpe to ſet them at libertie from their lets: although they be vtterly vnable to helpe themſelues.Matth. 7.26.
Theſe are the chiefe lets, whereby the people are holden from this grace of beleeuing, without which, it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, or to be his children.
And now that I hauehave ſet downe a taſte of both kindes of lets, I thinke it not amiſſe to ſtay a while in ſpeaking to both ſorts of them, by whom theſe ariſe, that is to ſay, the Miniſters and people. And firſt,An exhortation to the miniſters I turne to you my brethren in the Miniſterie: And you I exhort to conſider your duties laid foorth at large in the word of God, ſometime by the names and titles which he giueth vsus, and ſometime in plaine commandements and charge. The names are many; as watchmen, Ezech. 33.7. Cant. 3.3. labourers, Mat. 9.37. the ſalt of the earth, The titles of Miniſters.and light of the world, Matth. 5.13.14. ſhepheards, Ioh. 21.15. and the good Scribes which bring out of their treaſurie both old and new things, Matth. 13. and ſtewards to giuegive eueryevery one his portion, 1. Cor. 4.1. and nurſes, 1. Theſſ. 2.7. with ſuch like. In cōmandements thus: Take heed to your charge, and to the whole flock, Their charge.ouer which the holy Ghoſt hath made you ouerſeers, to feede the Church of God which hee hath purchaſed with his bloud, Act. 20.28. And againe, to Timothie: I charge thee before God, and the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who ſhall iudge the quicke and dead at the appearing of his kingdome, preach the word, be diligent in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, conuince, reproue, exhort, with all long ſufferance and doctrine. 2. Tim. 4.1.2.
All which with the like, what other thing doe they teach, but that all ſuch as the Lord hath put in truſt with his people, bought with ſo great a price,VVhat their practiſe ſhould be. ſhould louelove them tenderly, as nurſes doe the yong children, and beare their weakneſſes kindly, rather then break their hearts with ſorrow? Alſo that they ſhould prouide for them liberally and with good allowance, and teach them the whole counſaile of God, as good Scribes: and regard all ſorts as the Lords ſtewards, by wiſe applying themſelues to all. Then that they ſhould be diligent and painfull, as the Lords workmen and labourers, going before them as lights to guide, in example of vncorrupt life in all wiſedome and grauitie, but eſpecially (as Chriſt taught his Diſciples at his departing from them) in humilitie, Ioh. 13.14.15. not thinking themſelues too good,2. Cor. 4.5. for Chriſts ſake to be their ſeruants. And to the end, they may bring them to him,2. Cor. 11.2. and preſerue them as chaſt ſpouſes to him their onelyonly husband; to doe them good priuatly, as their needes ſhould require, by confirming the weake, comforting the afflicted, 2. Tim. 2.….admoniſhing the vnruly, and being patient towards all, Ezech. 34.4.5. 1. Theſſ. 5.14. Theſe duties (I ſay) the Lord inioyneth vsus by the forementioned titles which he giueth to his Miniſters, and by the commaundements and charges annexed thereto. Now, as we would be glad he ſhould heare vsus in the time of our neceſſitie, and eſpecially in our laſt and ſolemne day of our departure from this life: ſo let vsus heare him thus calling vponupon vsus to hauehave compaſſion on his ſillie,Incouragemēts to the Miniſters to do their dutie. ignorant and ſhiftles people. And although the burthen that he laieth vponupon vsus is great, yet are not our incouragements for that purpoſe exceeding great alſo? The honour that hee putteth vponupon vsus to be his ambaſſadours, The firſt from their honour.and to bring the meſſage of ſo great a king, and the meſſage it ſelfe not about things tranſitorie or earthly, but eternall, what can bee like vntounto it? Beſides,The ſecond, frō their comfort. the comfort which wee may reape both by our priuate ſtudie in giuing attendance to reading, and as hauing that, as our ordinarie labour to talke with God (as I may ſay) and his good ſeruants, when other men muſt toyle and trauaile in all weather, with much care and trouble: and alſo the comfort by our preaching, which may eaſily be greater to vsus then to them which heare vsus, oh what can be in this life, comparable vntounto it? whereby alſo our hearts are ſweetly ſeaſoned, and our liues farre better gouerned, and wee more ſafely kept from eueryevery euill way, as Salomon ſaith, Prou. 2.10. vnleſſe we be careleſſe of our owne good. More then this, we hauehave incouragement and perſwaſion to doe our duties in this behalfe more cheerefully, by conſidering that ſo many as we turne from their euill waies,The third, the peoples benefit. ſo many ſoules we are counted to ſaue, Iam. 5.20. And this wee ſhould doe now, whiles wee may doe it in peace, and whiles there are many willing to heare, whoſe example may draw on others: who, if they ſhould not be taken, whiles they may, will not afterterwards perhaps be brought on, though we ſhould neuer ſo much deſire it: fearing that which the Apoſtle ſaith, 2. Tim. 4.3. that the time will come, when they will not ſuffer holeſome doctrine, and hauing their eares itching, ſhall after their owne luſts, get them an heape of teachers, and ſhall turne their eares from the truth, and ſhall be giuen to fables. The laſt, from our reward.And laſtly, we know, that the reward after this life, is a ſtronger motiue then all theſe, which I hauehave mentioned: (but I am ſure, that all together are moſt ſtrong, and ſhould be to vsus as the threefold cable that is not eaſily broken) and that is ſet downe in Daniel thus:Dan. 12.3. They which inſtruct others ſhall ſhine, as the light of the firmament, and they which turne many to righteouſnes, as the ſtarres, for euer.
This is that which I thought meete to ſay to my brethren in the Miniſterie, who according to their diuers eſtates, places, people, and other occaſions, ſhall (I know too well) meete with diſcouragements enough: but if they be wiſe againſt the greateſt of all other, which are within them, I meane the diſtemperatures and contradictions, and diſputes of their owne euill hearts, I doubt nothing, but that the other ſhall be reſiſted and ouercome. All obiections which might trouble and hinder from this worke,How to anſwer the obiections which might diſcourage vsus. and dutie, are infinite: Therefore only looke to God, and hauehave him going alwaies before you, and let his word be the man of your counſailes (in which eſtate alone, ſound, and durable peace is to be found) and he will teach the teachable aboue their expectation, and giuegive wiſedome to the ſimple, and ſtrength to the weake, that by him, they ſhall finde that eaſie, which otherwiſe were impoſſible: I meane to ſwallow vp diſcouragements, and finde the greateſt ioy in the diligenteſt performing of dutie.
An exhortation to the people to embrace the Miniſterie.Now I turne to you, my brethren or people and hearers: who (as I hauehave ſaid) raiſe vp lets and hindrances to too many againſt your ſelues, though ye had none offered you by your Miniſters. Whoſe caſe (for the greateſt part) I pitie and bewaile, that you are ſo farre from knowing and duly conſidering this great merciemercy of God towards you, in ſending his preachers among you, that very few of many, ſee the end of their miniſterie; and therefore receiue them not as from God, as the inſtruments by whom ye may beleeue, and be reformed, and conſequently look and waite for the accompliſhment of your happines, after ye hauehave firſt taſted how good the Lord is to them by their preaching vntounto you. Know ye therefore,The firſt reaſon. that God hath appointed them as meſsengers of your reconciliation with him, who were farre ſequeſtred from him before, and eſtranged: and wheras he might hauehave taught you by other meanes, and led you thorough this long and weariſome wildernes by other guides, he hath ſeene this the fitteſt way to doe it, by men his miniſters, ſeeing yee ſhould neuer hauehave been able to heare the Lord himſelfe, if hee ſhould hauehave ſpoken to you, no more then the people of Iſrael were,Exod. 20.19. when they cried out at the hearing of his voyce, and ſaid, Lord ſpeake thou no more to vsus, but let Moſes ſpeake to vsus, and we will heare him in all that thou ſhalt ſay to vsus by him. Heare them therefore, who are able to deliuer the Lords meſſage vntounto you; whoſe preaching is life or death to you: and if ye deſpiſe them in that their meſſage, ye ſhall doe all one, as if ye deſpiſed the Lord himſelfe that ſent them. Heare them (I ſay) in the Lords ſteed, in all that they ſhall ſay to you from him. Learne by their miniſterie to ſee your ſelues to be the ſonnes and daughters of God almightie, who, before the miniſterie of the word worke vponupon you mightily, are his enemies, your hearts being ſet on euill workes, and vnderunder his wrath iuſtly. Suffer your ſelues to bee launced, purged, wounded, ſeeing ye cannot otherwiſe be healed. Receiue the holeſome word of exhortation, and be content to put your neck in his yoke, and willingly ſubmit your ſelues to his word, that ſo ye may glorifie God for his louelove towards you, in and by their labour and trauaile among you, that ye may thereby gaine more, then if you had al abundance and your hearts deſire.
Which becauſe you ſee not, I will ſhew you how great it is in ſome ſort: and that is ſo much, as if you attaine it, ye owe no leſſe then your owne ſoules to them for it, Philem. 19. For they ſhall not only ſaue themſelues, The ſecond reaſon.who ſhal performe this dutie of teaching amōg you, in ſuch maner as hath bin before ſet down, but they ſhall ſaue you alſo, who intertaine them as Gods meſſengers, 2. Tim. 2. and be meanes to make you ſee your ſelues happie, both here and for euer. Which being ſo, who can ſufficiently admire the blindnes,The peoples ſin. nay the wilfull blindnes of the people, the careleſnes, yea the bold careleſnes and blockiſhnes of them, who ſee nothing of this which I ſay, though wee ſpeake oft of it and aloud among them, that they may regard it. I thanke God to ſee ſome thing, that I ſee in ſome perſons; I meane their reuerent and thankfull receiuing of the Goſpell, and their care to be reformed by it: but that in ſo long a time of peace and free paſſage to the Goſpel vnderunder her Maieſties moſt proſperous raigne, ſo few make that the flower of their garland, and their beſt portion, it is moſt worthily to be bewailed. Which teſtifieth too cleerely, that either there are many enemies of the Goſpell among vsus, beſides Prieſts, and Ieſuites, and open Recuſants: and among them that louelove it (as they pretend) many of them louelove darknes more then light, becauſe their deedes are euill, and who doe not eſteeme Gods meſſengers as ſent from him, for their ſingular benefit. For then would not ſome (and thoſe not a few) denie them their due which God hath giuen them that labor among them; nor withhold their earthly things from them, to whom they deliuer ſpirituall: nor eſteeme meanly and baſely of them,How the people hinder themſelues. who would faine win them to God: Neither would many of the people lay ſuch blockes in their owne way as they doe, deſcanting of them in ſuch wiſe, as they will be ſure that none of them ſhall doe them good. For rather then they would hauehave nothing to except againſt them, if they cannot finde thoſe accuſations, that are iuſt, they are content with any ſhew, why they ſhould refuſe to bee counſelled and perſwaded by them. And therefore, if they be old, they ſay, they dote, and know not what they ſay: if they be yong, they hauehave no iudgement nor experience: if they be wealthie, then they are couetous: if poore, then baſe and contemptible: if they be maried, they can not follow their callings, but the world: if vnmaried, then they liue ſuſpiciouſly. And thus (to ſay no more) it is fearefull to ſee how little the people (in one reſpect or other) are ſeaſoned with the ſweete fruite of the Miniſterie: and therefore, if ye feare God, regard your owne welfare and peace, and will not come to iudgement, imbrace the Miniſtery reuerently, as Gods meſſage, and the greateſt and moſt lets of faith are remoued.
Thus I hauing ſet downe theſe lets which doe chiefly hold from faith, both on the Miniſters part and the peoples, and hauing ſaid ſomewhat to both in way of exhortation, ſeeing out of theſe two kinds of men, God chuſeth out his elect: I conclude, that there are many lets from faith, but yet withall it may be ſeene,There are fit remedies to theſe lets. that there is apparant remedie to be found againſt them, (as I hauehave ſaid) and how ſubtilly ſoeuer the diuell bewitcheth and holdeth men backe by them, yet the Scripture offereth greater grace, by the which they may breake through all hindrances and diſcouragements, which may keepe them from it, if the Miniſter and people would make conſcience of their duties.