Seven Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 14
CHAP. 14. Of the aunſwering of ſome obiections about the former doctrine, and of the other two vertues which helpe to a godly life.
Obiect. We cannot doe as we deſire.AS firſt this, whereas theſe rules hauehave been ſaid to be able to carrie the Chriſtian beleeuer, in a well ordered courſe of liuing, ſome obiect thus: It falleth out often times, that we hauehave a very good deſire to doe that, which we know, pleaſeth God; but wee finde no ſtrength to performe. And further, they ſay; we doe not ſo much maruaile that we attaine not that which we ſeeke, when the Apoſtle himſelfe maketh the ſame complaint, where he ſaith, to will is preſent with me, but I finde no way to accompliſh that which I deſire. I will not anſwere this as the deuouteſt Ieſuites doe, namely, that God giueth his grace, and we may receiue it if we liſt, although we hauehave no aſſurance of his fauour by faith: which is a meere mocking of poore people, whiles they are warned to ſeeke that with vnſauorie and vncomfortable wearying of themſelues, which they can neuer poſſibly finde:Anſwer. 1. But this I ſay, if this be oft and earneſtly deſired of thee (as it was of Paul) Gods grace ſhall be ſufficient for thee.
And further, if thou haſt neuer ſo feruent a deſire to ouercome euill, and to doe that which thou knoweſt to be good, and yet haſt not thy heart poſſeſſed of the fauour of God,2. The beſt deſire without aſſurance of Gods helpe is vaine. and taken vp therewith, but ſtandeſt waueringly affected about that matter, thy deſire is not that deſire which I hauehave ſpoken of: neither therefore able to helpe thee in that which thou wouldeſt; it being no fruite of faith.1. Iohn 5.4. For this it is, that ouercommeth all lets in the world, and no other thing, euen this faith I meane, whiles by it we are perſwaded that Chriſt Ieſus ſo loueth vsus, that he is readie to doe any thing which is expedient for vsus: becauſe of the great fauour that he beareth vsus, whereby we are made able alſo,Phil. 4. and in whom we can doe all things, as ſhall be expedient for vsus.
For as nothing can ſeparate it from vsus, ſo he thinketh nothing too good, or too pretious for vsus. So that he, into whoſe heart his louelove is ſhed plentifully, is perſwaded, that as he hath ſaued him from the greateſt daunger of hell; ſo he will much more ſaue him from the ſmaller, of being ouercome of his corrupt luſts: and that he, who hath beſtowed by free graunt and ſure promiſe, the greateſt benefit vponupon him, namely, the kingdome of heauen; will not denie him the ſmaller,Rom. 5.10. Rom. 8.30. that is, grace to liue Chriſtianly here on earth. For he that hath giuen vsus Chriſt, by whom we hauehave the former, how ſhall he not with him giuegive vsus other things alſo? And if, not as we would, yet that is beſt which he giueth.
Now for the other part of the obiection, that Paul himſelfe did not finde grace to ouercome the rebellion of the old man,VVhy Paul ouercame not all rebellion. that is, his corrupt nature: I ſay, it is true, that fullie and perfectly he did not: to the end, that he might alwaies hauehave a marke of his vnworthines, and ſin remaining in him, and thereby remember, that it was of only merciemercy that he was pardoned, and the grace of God, that kept him from falling away from him. And for both theſe cauſes, that he might be abaſed, and kept humble vnderunder ſo great grace as hee had receiued: in regard whereof, he had (as he confeſſeth himſelfe) been exalted and lifted vp aboue meaſure: and laſt of all,2. Cor. 12.9. that he might from time to time finde ſweetnes ſtill in the forgiuenes of his ſinnes. But although he was not perfect here, as an Angell; yet was he not caried of his luſts into groſſe iniquitie (as ſome dreame, becauſe he cried out and complained, I am carnall, Paul was not caried into groſſe iniquity.ſolde vnderunder ſin: O wretched man that I am!) And it was neceſſary that he ſhould miſlike and be grieued with the ſmalleſt rebellion or reſiſtance of goodnes, and with ſome vnfitnes to his calling which he felt ſometimes, and to other good duties: but yet Gods grace was ſufficient to keepe him, that he fell not into that depth that he might hauehave done.
But I hauehave in effect anſwered this alreadie by another occaſion.VVe may looke for the like grace that Paul had in our meaſure. Now to applie this to our ſelues, and not to bee glutted with it as many are, I ſay; that wee likewiſe through the ſame grace in our meaſure, may looke with good cheere to bee deliuered from the yeelding to our wicked luſts, which moſt dangerouſly incumber vsus, as hee was from his: wee being reſolued, that our moſt louing father (for the tender care hee hath ouer vsus) is alwaies looking downe from heauen, and beholding who is vpright hearted towards him (how weake ſoeuer) that he may ſhew himſelfe ſtrong towards him, 2. Chron. 16.9.and thereby ſupplie his weaknes. And thus the deſire to keepe a godly courſe being ſoundly planted in vsus, and the ſame proceeding from faith alſo, who doubteth but that it may hauehave ſtrength to doe ſuch outward duties as are required, though weakly:1. Chron. 28.… to endeuour at leaſt (which God will accept) though wee doe not alway preuaile ouer ſuch ſtrong corruptions, as oftentimes for want of ſuch grace doe maſter vsus. But in thus ſpeaking, I ſhew what Gods children may confidently looke for, not what eueryevery one obtaineth. And except the ſinne of incontinencie, againſt the which God hath prouided a lawfull remedie,2. Cor. 12.9. Rom. 7.25. wee hauehave both promiſe from God, and wee by the power of our faith, doe inioy ſuch victorie ouer other ſinnes, as whereby wee may walke without iuſt reproofe amongſt men, and keepe our peace toward him alſo: this being added, that when we are craftily deceiued by the vnceſſant malice of the diuel, (although not without our owne ſlouth, ſleepines and ſecuritie) we hauehave acceſſe, as in time paſt, and recourſe to God by the meanes of our aduocate,1. Iohn. 2.1. and doe recouer our hope and hold againe.
Thus I hauehave ſhewed, how they who hauehave a will and good deſire, may look for ſtrength alſo to performe in ſome good ſort, the duties which ſeeme ſo difficult and impoſſible to them, ſo that they neede not be greatly troubled with that obiection: howſoeuer there are many, and thoſe alſo fauourers of Chriſtian religion, who neuer finde nor feele the ſame. But becauſe many of Gods deare ſeruants finde it not thus oft times, neither are able to ſay,Many weak… diſcouraged for want of this victorie. that they feele this, but contrarily doe complaine that their life is full of diſquietnes, for that they cannot ouercome the force of anger, impatience, raging, frowardnes, and ſuch like, neither liue godly to their contentation, although they deſire it: becauſe I ſay theſe may be diſcouraged by this doctrine, I would hauehave them vnderſtand, that I hauehave not in the former anſwere to the laſt obiection ſet downe, what eueryevery godly Chriſtian doth or ſhall feele (as I ſaid before) but what God of his bountifull liberalitie hath prouided, that they may feele and find:Many know not their libertie. and how their eſtate may be bettered, and their ſpirituall libertie enlarged.
Beſides, many good people doe not know this, in a long time what God hath bequeathed them: nay, many of them neuer know one of the many ſweet liberties and priuiledges of Gods children; but only receiue ſo much light from the father of light (and therefore are rightly called the children of light) as whereby they ſee the way to his kingdome:Epheſ. 5.8. and according to the knowledge they hauehave of his will, thereafter they declare and ſhew it forth in their liues; but nothing as they might, and as ſome others doe.
Now to proceede to the other vertues which further our practiſe of a godly life: ſuch as receiue and deſire to attaine to the grace which I hauehave ſpoken of, that is, to be more ſound and better ſetled in an holy courſe, they are and muſt be glad with all their heart to be diligent and painefull in this worke of the Lord,The two next vertues, diligence and conſtancie. and to abide conſtant therein, that they may by theſe two vertues adioyned, nouriſh all good deſires, and holy endeuours, after they be once planted in them: and hold out the contrarie, whileſt they be not yet greatly troubled with them: and ſet on worke their knowledge in ſuch practiſe, as it may well be ſeene whoſe ſeruants they are.
Diligence and conſtancie bring great matters to paſſe.This diligence and conſtancie, in whatſoeuer they be vſed, they bring great things to paſſe, whether it be in any trade, or in the ſearching out of things obſcure and hard to be found out, when only the light of reaſon is followed: and who doubteth then, but that in holy duties, wherein men are guided by the ſpirit of God, moſt excellent effects are brought forth of them? Neither is any dutie indeed well performed without them: for which cauſe S.2. Pet. 1.5. Peter ſpeaking of the godly life, teacheth that all diligence muſt be added thereto: GiueGive all diligence (ſaith he) to ioyne with your faith vertue, as if he ſhould ſay, that all is loſt without it: and Ieremy ſaith, that he is curſed, Ierem. 48.10. Iam. 1.25.that doth Gods buſines negligentlie: And of conſtancie, what ſaith S. Iames? He that looketh in the perfect law of libertie, and abideth therein, if he be not a forgetfull hearer, but a dooer of the worke, ſhall be bleſſed in his deede, that is, in ſo behauing himſelfe.
VVhat diligence.Therefore, by the firſt of theſe two, namely, diligence, let them be readie to take all occaſions and opportunities to the doing of ſome good, and to ſhunne idlenes and vnprofitablenes, that ſo they may bring foorth much fruite redeeming the time wiſely,2. Pet. 1. Epheſ. 5.15.16.while they may: and that with a thouſand times more gaine then others doe: and not as ſlouthfull, and vnthriftie perſons,Rom. 16.19. & 12.9. paſſe it ouer idly and vnprofitablie, for the pleaſing and ſatisfying of their fooliſh appetite, for the preſent time.
Conſtancie. Iohn. 8.31. & 15.5.By the ſecond, namely, conſtancie, and continuance, let them not onelyonly keepe their hearts and liues in the ſame good eſtate, which by diligence they hauehave alreadie nouriſhed in themſelues, but alſo waxe more fruitfull, and their hearts more inlarged: and ſo daily become followers of eueryevery good worke,Gaine of theſe. Reuel. 2.19. 2. Tim. 4 8. vntill their latter yeares be better then the former, and vntill they hauehave finiſhed their courſe with ioy. And being once acquainted with the gaine that theſe bring with them, they ſhall doe as the merchants (who hauing their mindes ſet vponupon their aduantage, ſuffer not themſelues to range after pleaſures, but buſily follow their trade which bringeth in commoditie) ſo that whatſoeuer part of the Chriſtian life they are occupied about (holding theſe for their companions) they may count it the moſt happie time, which is ſo beſtowed. For in ſo doing, they weane their hearts and mindes from much draffe and worldly luſts, which would, if they might be lodged there, much annoy them: and thereby they are much more readily diſpoſed vntounto dutie, then ſuch as will not imbrace them: who being contented with any vncertaine and deceiueable perſwaſion of Gods fauour, and refuſing to bee holden within ſuch narrow ſtreights and compaſſe of this holie and Chriſtian counſell, that is, of going forward by diligence and conſtancie in their courſe, breake out oftentimes to their trouble, daunger, and diſcredit; when the other are quiet and merie.Many pay deare for their liberties. And becauſe they account it bondage to bee held in after that manner, therefore they finde that they pay deare for their liberties, when they be after conſtrained to repent the ſeeking of them,Note. and yet cannot eaſily recouer their inward peace which they loſt for them, nor ſhake them off againe, when yet moſt gladly they would.
And for want of theſe two, and through the contrarie,Want of theſe daungerous. ſlouth and inconſtant vnſetlednes, in that they doe not ſettle themſelues to one good thing or other, euen the moſt of the godly doe not finde that ſweete fruite in their life, which is to bee found, namely, of ſafetie vnderunder Gods protection from time to time: but by improuidence, and wearines of well doing, they doe by little and little plunge themſelues into ſome deepe vnſetlednes, out of the which, it is hard to ariſe againe. Therfore Salomon in two words hath fitlie expreſſed them both, ſaying: Let the feare of the Lord be in thy heart continually: Prou. 23.17.which is as much, as a diligent care to pleaſe him with conſtancie therein.
Thus as I hauehave ſaid, to theſe former rules and vertues which guide vsus to liue godlie, theſe two are commanded, diligence and conſtancie. By the one,Epheſ. 5.6. that we be readilie prepared, as wee ought to practiſe good, and ſo reſiſt euill: whereas ſlacknes and no care, or too little, is condemned. By the other, that thereby wee may continually goe forward in doing good, and fleeing euill:1. Theſſ. 5.3.6. Gal. 5.7. wherein all ſtaying, ficklenes, or going backward, is very dangerous. Hereto belongeth that to the Corinthians, when he hath ſaid:1. Cor. 15.58. Awake to liue righteouſly, and ſinne not, he addeth, Be ſtedfaſt and vnmoueable, alwaies abounding in the worke of the Lord: knowing that your labour is not in vaine. And after; Watch, 1. Cor. 16.13.ſtand faſt in the faith, quite your ſelues like men, and be ſtrong. And this is neceſſarie aboue all things, that ſo wee may become that ſimplicitie which is meete for them who are in Chriſt.
Now that this our diligence and care in all good duties ought to bee for continuance, and euen while life laſteth; let vsus know, that the Lord commaundeth it to all his children: according to that which is written,Matth. 24.12. Ioh. 8.31. & 15.7. He that abideth to the end, he ſhall be ſaued. And in another place, If ye continue in my word, and it abide in you, then are ye my diſciples indeed: and, Aske what ye will, and it ſhall be done to you. And yet this might bee ſpoken to ſmall purpoſe, if the Lord had not promiſed as much to his faithfull ſeruants; that they ſhal hauehave grace to perſeuere giuen them from aboue: as he ſaith by the Apoſtle: He that hath begun this good worke in you, will performe it vntill the day of Ieſus Chriſt: Phil. 1.6.Alſo to the Theſſalonians: Faithfull is he that hath called you, 1. Theſſ. 5.24.which will alſo doe it. If it be demanded, how he will inable them, ſeeing there are many feares in their life of finall falling away: the ſame Apoſtle anſwereth this, in the Epiſtle to the Coloſſians, ſaying: To the end ye may walke worthie of the Lord, (and pleaſe him in all things) and be fruitfull in al good works, Col. 1.10.11.& increaſe in the acknowledging of God, ye muſt be ſtrengthened with all might through his glorious power vntounto all patience and long ſufferance with ioyfulnes. And S. Iohn ſpeaketh to the ſame purpoſe,1. Iohn 4.4. thus: Greater is he that is in you (that is, the ſpirit of God) then he that is in the world, that is, the diuell. The fruite of ſuch a courſe is both an happie end here (as it is written:Pſal. 37.37. Marke the end of the vpright and iuſt, for the end of that man is peace) and happines for euer after. As wee reade where Paul ſaith: I hauehave fought a good fight, I hauehave finiſhed my courſe, and kept the faith: 2. Tim. 4.8.from henceforth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteouſnes, which the Lord the righteous Iudge ſhall giuegive me at that day: and not to me onelyonly, but to all that louelove his appearing. But I hauehave been long in the former points, and by occaſion hauehave ſhewed throughout the whole diſcourſe of the godly life, that it muſt be continued to the end: I ceaſe now to ſay any more.
Thus hauing ſet downe theſe vertues which muſt guide vsus to practiſe the godlie life throughout our whole courſe, it may eaſily bee ſeene how euerie man who is come thus farre, may prooue himſelfe a repentant perſon, and be apt and fit to bring foorth the fruits of amendement in his particular actions, and how his whole conuerſation may bee ſuch as may beſeeme a man of God, ſo farre as humane frailtie will ſuffer: wherein, becauſe wee follow Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe,Other two vertues, humilitie and meeknes. Matth. 11.29. wee muſt know, that all our duties muſt be practiſed in humilitie and meeknes: for ſo he ſaith, in ſubmitting your ſelues to my doctrine, and in leading the godly life, learne of me to be humble and meeke.
As if hee ſhould ſay, if ye bee hautie and high minded, ſo as ye deſpiſe the ſimplicitie of my doctrine, and thinke it too baſe a thing for you to be ſubiect to; or froward and vntractable, that in ſome points ye wil hold back, though in ſome other ye be obedient, ye can neuer liue godlie, as God requireth of you. Theſe therefore muſt hauehave no place in Chriſtians, either Miniſters, or priuate perſons, but the contrarie vertues, as I hauehave ſaid: which are oft times in the Scriptures ſet downe together,Epheſ. 4.2. Col. 3.12. as well as in this place: that wee may know how needfull it is, that they ſhould alwaies goe together; and that although there bee many goodly gifts in a man, yet if he hath not theſe, they ſhall loſe their credit, and beautie amongſt thoſe which behold them, and withhold their commoditie from him who wanteth them.
Theſe alwaies neceſſarie.And theſe two are not particular vertues which ſometime only may hauehave vſe, but ſuch fruites of the ſpirit as neceſſarily are required in all actions: ſo that at no time, humblenes of minde, and meeknes of ſpirit may be wanting. All theſe vertues (I confeſſe) are common, as well to the forſaking of euill, as to the doing of good: and ſo vnderſtand it, though it be put out of place. But I ſet them down here, ſeeing the former part of this treatiſe was ſo large. And that which I hauehave ſaid of this matter, I wiſh to be well obſerued, that the life of the beleeuer is a continuall proceeding in the departing from euill, and endeuouring after duties, in ſuch manner as hath been ſaid: and a ſetled courſe in repentance, and a conſtant walking with God; and not an idle, or vncertaine ſtumbling vponupon ſome good actions (whiles a great part of his life is neglected, and not looked after) he muſt not be ſometime at commaund, and readie to offer his ſeruice to God in ſome good moode, and after take his owne libertie to doe what he liſteth.
The Lords ſeruice is not like the diſordered ſeruice of many vnreformed gentlemen, where, beſides the attending at table and on horſebacke, the attenders may runne where they will: but it is like to a well gouerned familie, where all are appointed their office and place, in one thing after another to be well occupied, and kept from idlenes; and yet not diſcharged thereby, to doe what they will after. So our Sauiour teacheth it ſhould be with his ſeruants, as with a ſeruant in a familie: who when he hath wrought in the field,Luk. 17.…. is not by and by diſcharged of other duties, but then doth buſines at home: ſo they, when they hauehave been fruitfull, and hauehave purpoſed to doe all that is required of them, hauehave done but their dutie.
So that the end of one worke is the beginning of another:Deut. 18. and yet al without toile and tediouſnes. For ſo hath God prouided, that his ſeruants may be merie at their worke, yea whatſoeuer they ſhall put their hand vntounto; and the more duties they do, redeeming the time from idlenes, and vnprofitablenes,Matth. 11.30. Deut. 12.18. the merrier. There is much work in the Lords familie, as there are many places to ſerue in: And the ſlouthful & idle ones, howſoeuer they can hauehave place ſometime in earthly gouernment, yet are they expelled from thence. And this is that which Saint Peter warneth vsus, that we be neither idle, nor barren, which we ſhall auoide, if wee be filled and furniſhed with the traine of heauenly vertues: as knowledge, faith, louelove, patience, godlines.Iohn. 15.5. And herein is our heauenly father glorified, if we bring foorth much fruite.
To this end we muſt know that Chriſtianitie is fitly compared to a trade, wherein men goe from one worke to another: and a Chriſtian hath many ſins to weede out, and to labour againſt, and therefore not careleſly to marre all his worke in an houre, that he hath well followed ſundrie daies: as he that loſeth all that he hath by a caſt at dice. He hath alſo many duties to looke vntounto, towards God, his neighbour, and himſelfe: wherein it ſhall bee found requiſite for him to be carefull, after the doing of one, to goe to another: and not to admit any thing againſt the peace of his conſcience, no not in his recreations, nor in his weightieſt worldly dealings, feaſtings, companie, &c. but to ſee the vnitie of the ſpirit kept in the bond of peace.Epheſ. 4.3. And as the Phiſitions doe wel direct, that for the preſeruing of bodily health, it is good to riſe from our meate with an appetite, and not to ouercharge the ſtomack: ſo it is none of the meaneſt rules for maintaining our ſoules health, to keepe alwaies an appetite to ſome new dutie, when we hauehave performed the old, and not to be ſo wearied in the doing of one, that wee bee vtterly vnfit to goe about another.
This one thing being thus from time to time carefullie regarded, ſhall make all the reſt well and rightly vſed, and the whole life thereby kept in frame and good order. For thus to bee ſetled in our Chriſtian courſe, that with full reſolution we be willingly weaned from our euill luſts and corruptions, or readilie diſpoſed to one good dutie or other, and not wearie, but it be forthwith diſliked (as we neede not, ſeruing ſo bountifull a maſter as we doe, who hauehave God the commaunder of our worke, and a promiſer of bleſſing vntounto it:) Thus (I ſay) to be ſetled, who can ſay, but that it is a ſingular teſtimony of their ſpirituall welfare to all that practiſe it, and a furtherance of a godly and well ordered life.