Seven Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 19
CHAP. 19. Of anſwers to certaine obiections brought againſt the neceſsitie of practiſing this godly life.
ANd now that I hauehave added theſe reaſons to the deſcription of the Chriſtian, which beleeueth in God, I would ceaſe to ſay any more of this matter, if I did think, that men, who hauehave receiued the Goſpell among them, were perſwaded and reſolued to yeeld to this doctrine, and to caſt away all clogges and cloakes of ſhame, feare, and other lets, and heartily goe about to practiſe the ſame willingly, when they hauehave heard it: But I know there are few ſuch.This ſtreight courſe not eaſily yeelded to. Act. 26.28. For they who doe thus, doe not onelyonly themſelues walke after the rule which I hauehave ſet downe, aiming thereat, as at a marke, but alſo deſire that many other were as they be.
But the multitude of ſuch, as hauehave either no faith, nor grace, but onelyonly heare our doctrine, who yet profeſſe that they looke for ſaluation by Chriſt, doe thinke, that this which I hauehave drawne out of Gods word, and ſet down for their edifying, is more then they neede to looke after, or trouble themſelues with: which kinde of perſons ſeeing they ſwarme eueryevery where, I doe oft ſay and profeſſe, that I oppoſe my ſelfe throughout this my booke againſt that their damnable opinion and practiſe, and doe bend the force of Scripture and ſound reaſon againſt them. For while theſe thoughts preuaile with them and poſſeſſe them, they do but reaſon againſt their owne benefit, comfort and happines: yea, and euen many of thoſe, who hauehave further taſted of the Goſpell, of whom it becommeth vsus to hope well; yet are for the moſt part, ignorant of the courſe, which I hauehave deſcribed, and content themſelues with this, that they hauehave ſome good affections at ſome times and flitting deſires to liue honeſtly.
And therefore, I would meete with ſome of the obiections, which they alleage, why they ſhould be no further dealt withall, but ſuffered to goe on as they doe in a fruitles, dead and dull manner. Some of theſe ſay,Firſt obiection, againſt the godly life: this life cannot be led. they hope their deſire is to pleaſe God, although they cannot doe it as ſome doe: and namely, ſuch as endeuour to follow this doctrine which in this booke I propound. For my part, I doe not marueile, that they ſhould as it were ſhrinke and hold backe from ſuch a courſe, though they would ſeeme religious, as hauing not yet ſeene how great incouragement God hath giuen them to walk in it; neither what great cauſe they hauehave to lay hold of ſuch incouragements, hauing many things to hinder them. Theſe perſons therefore, ſo many of them as will be teachable, and not reſiſt the truth wilfully, I will anſwere; and giuegive them ſome worthie examples of ſuch as hauehave gone before them herein: that they may not thinke, they are preſſed too farre, and to do more then they need (if poſſibly they may ſee their error, and ſo finde greater libertie and delight in well doing.) The which being done, they ſhall ſee what difference is betwixt the eſtate they are in, and that which they are ſtirred vp and called vntounto.
And that which hath perſwaded and moued me to this, is, (as I partly ſaid in the firſt entrance) for that I ſee many of good hope, and ſome not without a right and true beginning in this holie courſe, to bee kept at a ſtay,Many long kept at a ſtay. or driuen backe, and ſeeme not to know what the Chriſtian life is, nor in many yeeres to come thus farre, as to be perſwaded how pleaſant and profitable it is, and by how many degrees to bee preferred without all compariſon, before any other courſe. For many of the forwarder ſort, though they would not willingly forſake it, yet complaine, that they find much tedious heauines, ſtrong diſcouragements, and many relapſes which breed doubtfulnes and feare.Complaine of much tediouſnes. Some which are weaker, are vnderunder deadly dumpes, ſtrange queſtionings, whether they ſhall goe forward or no,Doubt of going forward. and ſuch ſmall comfort they finde in their profeſſion, that they declare plainly, that they are farre from the ſtaiednes which I ſpeake of: and this not at the firſt onelyonly, but many yeeres after they hauehave liked well of the Goſpell.
Diuers others account the Chriſtian life, mopiſh, ſolitarie,Obiection. Chriſtian life mopiſh. and ſuch an eſtate, the which they hold great wiſedome to auoyde; that I ſay nothing of the Atheiſts, whom I vouchſafe no anſwere. Now therefore except theſe can be otherwiſe perſwaded, that the godly life is neither irkeſome in it ſelfe, nor full of deadly diſcouragements, except, to the fleſh,Rom. 8.12. whereto they are not debters, neither without great comfort; yea euen in tribulation (through hope which deceiueth not) but ſuch an eſtate,Rom. 12.12. as hath cauſed many for the delight they hauehave found in it, to refuſe all other, which could not ſtand with it: except (I ſay) they can be thus perſwaded, what likelyhoode is there,Phil. 3.8. that they ſhall euer be brought to be acquainted with it?
For anſwere to all, let ſuch vnderſtand and know, that this Chriſtian life is not to be peeced vp with ſome good actions in the which we may reſt,Chriſtian life is not in ſome good actions. Mark. 6.19. neither conſiſteth of good intents, and in chopping and changing our courſe from good to euill, and contrarily: but it is the ſame which I hauehave ſaid, euen the keeping of our hearts ſincere and vpright, and vnfainedly bent to walke with the Lord after all his commaundements throughout our whole courſe, according to our knowledge: and that in ſuch wiſe, and with ſuch delight, that he who hath experience of it, would not change it for any other: for why? it yeeldeth an hundreth fold for one in all carnall liberties or delights, which we forſake.
And that it muſt be thus with the people of God, and may poſſibly be alſo, that of the Prophet doth plainely declare, that the man which may reioyce and ſpeake of his eſtate with comfort indeede, is he which doth not by fittes and at ſome odde times,Pſal. 119.97.98. lift vp his heart to God: but who doth ſo louelove his law, that he meditateth in the ſame all the day long, as he himſelfe did, meaning this, that his thoughts ſhould leade him to God from time to time; and when they are occupied about euill, or ranging in the world vnprofitabile and amiſſe, that he ſhould by and by without dallying, or delay, call them backe againe. And what (thinke we) doth he meane in another place, when not ſpeaking particularly of himſelfe, but generally of all which are the Lords,Pſalm. 1.2. Pſalm. 119.9. he ſaith? The bleſſed man doth exerciſe himſelfe day and night in this, that he may pleaſe God (as his word directeth him) and hauehave peace thereby with him, and ſo may teſtifie, that God is his treaſure, becauſe his heart and louelove is ſet vponupon his commaundements. He doth not meane that we, who will be happie, muſt be occupied in prayer, hearing or reading onelyonly both day and night; neither yet doth he meane, that in ſome pange, or when we thinke good, we ſhould be occupied thus, and well affected, and hauehave our liues well framed: but this he meaneth, that he, who is godly and happie indeede, indeuoureth to this, that his minde may delight in, and be poſſeſſed of good matters, or rightly vſing lawfull: or carefully reſiſting thoſe which are ſinfull.
Phil. 3.20.And it is the ſame, which the Apoſtle ment when he ſaid, our conuerſation is in heauen, though we are on earth: teaching therein himſelfe and all other Chriſtians, that their whole courſe (ſo farre as mans frailtie would permit) (and how farre it may permit, let this treatiſe out of Gods word teſtifie) ought to be a ſetled and conſtant carrying of themſelues (as I ſaid before) throughout their liues in ſuch ſort, as they might ſhew and approue themſelues to be men of God.Examples of godly men. If we deſire to ſee examples of theſe things, the Scripture ſetteth out many vntounto vsus: and namely the life of our father Enoch, that in his time,Enoch. Geneſ. 5.24. which ſoone after the creation of the world was corrupted, he did yet walke with the Lord: as if it ſhould ſay, he did ſo liue in the world amongſt men, that he had yet, through his life, an heauenly and moſt happie communion with God.
Abraham. Geneſ. 12.7.Abraham, though he be not exempted from infirmities, yet from the firſt time of his calling vntounto his death, what a rare paterne did he ſet before the eyes of men in his example, of a man conſecrated to God, and not earthly minded? For whereſoeuer he came, he ſet vp an altar vntounto the Lord: declaring thereby, that no change of place, time, or companie, could withholde him from following the Lord, but as the firſt left countrie and kindred at his commaundement, when he knew not as yet whither he ſhould goe, or what ſhould become of him: So when he had leaſure after to returne, Heb. 11.15.yet he refuſed; becauſe he ſought a better countrie, namely, heauenly, witneſſing ſtill more and more, that his obedience was ſound and faithfull,Geneſ. 12.4. Compared with Gen. 25.27. by looking to another inheritance, vntill an hundred yeares were fully complete in an holy courſe.
And of Iob, how cleerely doth the holy Ghoſt witnes this,Iob. 1.1. whereof I ſpeake? In ſomuch, that he not onelyonly withdrew himſelfe, and departed from the corrupt examples of the people of his time, but alſo had a particular regard of the actions of his life, both towards God and men:Iob. 31. all. For proofe whereof, his ſtrong faith with patience, prayers and ſacrifices doe teſtifie the one: his iuſt dealing with all men, and mercifulnes to the poore, with rare wiſedome in gouerning his owne family and in carrying himſelfe toward all, doe ſhew moſt cleerely the other: All which were not at times, but vſually and ordinarily performed, and through his courſe of life looked vntounto and continued.
And yet another thing I muſt needes adde (as I am perſwaded) very admirable:Iob. 3.25. that he did vſe to acquaint himſelfe in the middeſt of his proſperitie with the looking for a change, and did learne in his greateſt abundance to want: and being in ſo high a place, yet he was not puffed vp;Iob forgoing his goods without any great griefe did inioy them when he had them, without any great louelove. Therefore louelove thou the world little while thou haſt it, ſo thou ſhalt loſe little when thou forgoeſt it. becauſe he conſidered how fleeting and momentany all things were: and that his proſperitie was lent him onelyonly for a ſhort time, and was not a patrimonie or inheritance to him for euer: So that when he was afterward tried with loſſe of all (which was exceeding much) it might appeere, that he was but little moued with it, becauſe he had loued it but a little, when he did inioy it: The which gratious man thus vſing the world, as hath been ſaid, holding all ſo ſtrangerlike, while he had it, and ſo willingly foregoing it, when God would require it, how could he doe it, without a diligent looking to his wayes, and the directing of the thoughts of his heart in a very particular manner, and that in and about worldly goods, in which caſe men thinke no bounds ſhould be preſcribed them.Note.
As for Moſes, although it was a rare grace,Moſes. Heb. 11.24. when he was of full and ripe yeares, to refuſe to be maintained as the ſonne of Pharaohs daughter, and to inioy the pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon; yet it is more marueilous, how in example he went before the reſt, in the things which God required: and ſhining daily more and more, as the Sunne till the noone tide; not weary of his ſeruice, as many are, but liking better of it, the longer experience he had of it: ſo that there was no good being elſewhere to him: and ſo accompliſhed eightie yeares in that righteous and holy courſe.
As for Dauids practiſe, beſides the Lords commendation of him,Dauid. Act. 7.46. that he was a man after his owne minde: ſo that we may ſee more particularly, how he paſſed his time, that one place of his Pſalmes doth cleerely ſhew,Pſal. 119.10. where he ſaith: This is the courſe of my life, after the which I frame my ſelfe, as the bleſſed of the Lord alſo doe: with my whole heart I ſeeke thee, O Lord, as thy word teacheth me: the which ſo farre as I hauehave receiued, I lay it vp, and hide it in my heart, as treaſure: and ſo farre as I doe not vnderſtand it, I deſire to be further taught of thee: I vſe to ſpeake of thy wonderous workes, and of thy wiſedome: I take more pleaſure in thy teſtimonies, then in all manner of riches: and I daily meditate and muſe thereon. By theſe, with many other ſuch properties of a godly man mentioned in the ſame Pſalme, we may conclude without doubting, that a minde thus exerciſed was not voyde of a life full of anſwerable fruites:Pſal. 55.17. And three times a day he did vſe to refort to God ordinarily in prayer and thankſgiuing, after a ſolemne manner,1. King. 15.6. beſides other occaſions oft moouing him: that ſaue onelyonly in that one matter of Vriah the Hittite, we ſeldome reade of a man more taken vp of an heauenly heart, then he was.
I make mention of theſe holy ſeruants of God, the more particularly ſetting downe their courſe of liuing, their properties, and their whole eſtate, rather then ſome of their actions and holy works, to this end; That they, who louelove to hauehave ſhort worke made of this matter, and content themſelues with this, as a ſufficient warrant of godlines, if they can reckon vp ſome commendable workes in their liues (whereas the baddeſt hauehave ſomewhat in them that is commendable) may not iudge ſo of a godly life, deceiuing themſelues: but may make it their whole conuerſation to be godly, not fauouring themſelues in any knowne ſinnes, or actions doubted of to be ſinnes, but ſifting themſelues daily, Lam. 3.40.to ſearch and finde them out: neither withholding themſelues from new duties, which they hauehave not been wont to practiſe, but teachable and readie to heare, whatſoeuer the Lord hath to require of them. And my meaning is, that after we hauehave made an entrance into a godly life, we ſhould not hold on by fittes, now and then (as I ſaid) and be off and on, as many are: but conſtantly goe forward, as our yeeres growe vponupon vsus, and carefully to indeuour, that in one thing as well as in an other, we may pleaſe God in reuerence, and in feare.
Neither is it my purpoſe in all this, to perſwade, that beleeuers muſt hauehave ſome godlines (for that muſt be attained to,We muſt grow. alreadie; of all ſuch as I direct my ſpeech to) neither that they ſhould reſt in that which they hauehave: but looke vponupon ſuch to follow them, who in the Scriptures are ſet before them, as the forwardeſt Chriſtians,Phil. 3.13. and holieſt examples: So that they acquainting themſelues ſtill with their owne wants, weakneſſes, and corruptions, which they beare about them, may daily gather ſtrength againſt them, and proſper as the Lords plants, in eueryevery part of their life to become fruitfull.
So ſhall they know by experience what this meaneth, which I ſpeake of, namely, to walke with God continually, and after a certaine manner (although wandering on the earth,Double benefit of Chriſts death. wrapped in with infirmities) to hauehave their conuerſation in heauen with him. And ſo ſhall they more cleerely and fully behold the benefit of Chriſts death; that it was not onelyonly to ſaue them from eternall death, and to bring them to euerlaſting life; but alſo to worke the death of ſinne our moſt deadly enemie, and to mortifie it, and to purchaſe for them a comfortable paſſage thither alſo, through the inioying of many goodly bleſſings in this life, as pledges of the ſame, though it be otherwiſe but a vale of miſerie, to all ſuch as finde not this for their portion. For this is to be knowne, that as eueryevery one excelleth another in the graces of the ſpirit, thereafter is his meaſure greater in the priuiledges of a Chriſtian, more then others, and with more ſound and continuall comfort doth he paſſe his daies, and free his life from reprochfull and fearefull euils. And the more that any godly man increaſeth in goodnes, and goeth beyond that eſtate, wherein he hath ſometime been, in knowledge and in an high eſteeming of it, and the right vſe of the ſame; the more ſhall his life be filled with matter of ſound and pure reioycing.
Therefore to conclude this matter: ſeeing the godly and Chriſtian courſe of liuing is not a ſeruing of God when we thinke good, but from time to time; nor a looking to ſome of our actions, when others are not regarded; nor an eſtate vnpleaſant to the ſpirituall man, whom the holy Ghoſt directeth, but eaſie, ſweete, and comfortable; ſeeing alſo we hauehave heard by many examples of godly men (otherwiſe not without their infirmities any more then we) that this life hath been practiſed in al ages: I conclude,The elect muſt take vp this yoke. that the elect and beloued of the Lord ſhall yeeld to the imbracing of it, and muſt take vp the ſame, though it be a yoke to the corrupt luſts not yet ſubdued: and that ſuch as ſee not cauſe to ſubmit themſelues to Gods commandements one as well as another, but will take their libertie in ſome euill, after the deſire of their hearts, cannot glorie with any ſound peace of a godly life.
And conſequently, that the life of the common Proteſtant,Life of the common Proteſtant no godly life. which counteth it preciſenes to be abridged of any libertie that he hath been wont to vſe, or yet liketh to inioy (how vnlawful or offenſiue ſoeuer it be) is nothing leſſe then a godly and Chriſtian life: for ſuch a one will come to the light, Ioh. 3.21.that whatſoeuer is not as it ought to be, may be made knowne, and ſo remoued. But he that will not be touched, nor ſuffer his actions to be cenſured, nor reprooued, though he be farre from this practiſe, but pleaſeth himſelfe in the things which he doth, is (without all queſtion) fraught and filled with infinit euils, and a bondman to his own luſts, whatſoeuer opinion he hath of himſelfe, and let ſuch a one know, that his damnation ſleepeth not. But many of theſe with whō I hauehave to deale, ſuch as goe for good Chriſtians,Another obiection against this godly life. and who in ſundrie of their doings are of vsus well to be liked (though God iudgeth the heart) many ſuch (I ſay) doe keepe at a ſtay, or content themſelues with this, that they doe no great euill (although they doe little good) becauſe they ſee few liue better,Obiect. 2. by whom they might take any great light to amend. To ſpeake plainly,None now liue ſo. they thinke there are none in theſe daies, who doe follow the ſteps of the holy fathers, whoſe liues I commend: which kind of perſons may be eaſily conuinced, and I will ſay no more, then I needes muſt. The truth is, that the generall ſtate of thoſe men, who imbrace the Goſpell, is much to be bewailed. For although they are infinitly the worſe, by reaſon of the ſwarmes of Atheiſts, Papiſts, Familiſts, and others, both Heretikes and Machiuilians, which with their ſtinking breath doe poyſon many thouſand inhabitants, which dwell in the land amongſt them: yet beſides this, the abomination is great without reſpect of them; through ignorance, little reuerence to the word, cuſtome in euill, and ſleight executing of ſundrie good lawes among vsus: but this ought to be no offence to any. For who would looke for any other then loathſome life in the greateſt number, as it hath alwaies been? Chriſt himſelf affirming, that his flocke is but ſmall, Luk. 12.32.
But notwithſtanding this, in ſome places, and thoſe many, throughout her Maieſties dominions, where the Goſpell hath been ſoundly preached and painfully,Many good lights amongst vsus. eſpecially in an ordinarie miniſterie continued: ſuch particular parts of this Realme will teſtifie, that there hauehave been, and are many, not of the Miniſterie onelyonly, but of the people alſo, who hauehave been lights vntounto thoſe which hauehave knowne them, and liued amongſt them, and whoſe names hauehave ſounded, and that moſt iuſtly, a farre off, where they themſelues hauehave neuer come: My ſelfe hauehave knowne many, and yet doe (the Lord multiplie the number of them, and the grace which he hath giuen them, a thouſand fold,The communion of Saints the ſweeteſt life. and be highly praiſed for them) with whom to hauehave liued, and bin conuerſant, hath bin the next choice vntounto heauen it ſelfe, and to the communion of Gods Saints there, which ſome of them doe alreadie inioy.
Their names I ſpare for ſundrie cauſes; but ſuch they were, whiles they here remained, and ſuch they are, of whom I ſpeak, who yet remaine (though I know but few of thoſe many (I hope) whom God hath beautified his Church withall) as may iuſtly take away this offence from any, who ſhould thinke that wee hauehave none which may be paterns and lights to others of this Chriſtian, innocent, and fruitfull life: yea rather, it may perſwade them that there are many ſuch, as by good and long experience can teſtifie, that which is elſewhere written,Pſal. 19.12. that in ſeruing God there is great reward, and that godlines receiueth many bleſsings, 1. Tim. 6.6.as the fruites of Gods promiſes, euen in this life.
And they do not as many, that is, giuegive ouer and faint, as though the Chriſtian life grew weariſome and tedious to them; but the longer they hauehave continued therein, ſo much the more ſetled and conſtant they hauehave been in the ſame, increaſing daily in faith, and other graces, and hold on their fellowſhip ſince they knew firſt the power of the Goſpell: Phil. 1.5.Yea many there are at this day (to Gods glorie be it ſpoken) who hauehave ſo effectually tasted how good and ſweete the Lord is, that they hauehave been incouraged to adde to the times, and to their trauaile in the ſeruice of God, as prayer, reading, for one houre in the weeke many, and for a little labour in looking to their waies,A vvorthie grovving. watching their hearts, and ſearching out their ſinnes, much and oft: for the profit which they hauehave found thereby.
Chriſtians must grovv from their firſt vntowardnes in Gods ſeruice.And whereas they hauehave ſometime gone about theſe ſpirituall duties vntowardly, whiles their mindes (though renued) were weakely ſeaſoned with grace: yet after they hauehave with much cheerefulnes and delight gone about the ſame, when they hauehave had more acquaintance with the chriſtian courſe. The remembring of the houres of holie aſſemblies by keeping holie day on the Lords Sabboths in the word and prayer, and other priuate houres of calling on God, and reading of his word, how pleaſant and ſweete is it vntounto them,Their grovvth muſt be ſeene in duties to men, as well as to God. before they come to it? And yet if they ſhould reſt in theſe, I would not thinke them worthie ſo great commendation, not adioyning therewith other duties to men. But when they hauehave found ſuch delight in the former worſhipping of God, they hauehave alſo walked more roundly and fruitfully in their particular callings, in their families and other companies, and their wordly matters (in which moſt men doe highly offend God, and think they may deale in them as they thinke good) they carefully endeuour to be directed in them by ſuch rules, as his word teacheth them. And ſuch as theſe are, God hath ſet amongſt others, that they may learne of them, and be ſhadowed as it were,Matth. 13.32. vnderunder the wings of their good example.
And this is the paterne of the life which God would hauehave vsus to leade, from the which the whole world well nigh are ſtrangers, though little to their reioycing; and principally they, who ſcornefully refuſe all ſuch inſtructions, as require more then they doe, or be willing to practiſe. Indeed it muſt be granted, that theſe being few in reſpect of them, who ſet themſelues to vphold the corrupt eſtate that the world hath euer lien in: they hauehave not therefore many to commend their good examples, as the other hauehave; but rather are ill ſpoken of, becauſe they will not follow the ſame exceſſe of riot that others doe, 1. Pet. 4.4. and eſpecially where they dwell: for the diuell enuieth their credit and good report. And yet the worſt in their controuerſies and needs, when they are driuen to truſt ſome, will ſooneſt chooſe them to be comprimitters for them, as knowing them to be men of good and vpright conſciences, rather then others: as wee reade Saul did ſo account of Dauid (when he ſpake according to ſound reaſon) and made him ſweare to him, that he would be kind and friendly to his posteritie after him, 1. Sam. 24.22. And ſuch honour hauehave the Lords people.
And therefore to turne a little to theſe obiectors, let them not thinke that our age affoordeth none, which are fit to be examples to them;What vſe of ſuch lights muſt be made. Prou. 14.6. Pſal. 16.3. but let them rather be wiſe to diſcerne them (at leaſt, that which is pleaſing to God in them) which is not hard to ſee, for thoſe which are willing to vnderſtand, but eaſie to be found out of ſuch as deſire it. Let them reuerence, and be in louelove with ſuch as excell in pietie and vertue; and with the pretious things which are in ſuch: let them aime at this alſo, that they may bee like them, and not lie ſtill in the darknes, to the which they are accuſtomed. And ſuch of them, as God hath bleſſed with ſome better liking of knowledge, let them louelove and frequent the companie of ſuch as deſire neither to be idle, nor vnprofitable, ſeeing he hath ſet ſuch amongſt them, to farre more great and ſingular purpoſes, then they can by carnall eyes ſee or diſcerne. Let them labour to ſee their owne wants, cauſe them to make much of thoſe who may helpe to ſupplie them, and of whom they may learne to come by thoſe graces, which they ſhould without the helpe of ſuch, neuer hauehave attained vntounto.
And if they carrie themſelues in ſuch humilitie, and reuerent account making of their betters, in whom there is a greater meaſure of Gods gifts, they ſhalbe no longer led with their former doubts, whether any are before them in the Chriſtian life, but they ſhall praiſe God highly for ſetting ſuch lights and examples before their eyes, by whom they may be directed: and when they are ſo farre inlightened, they ſhall ſoone alter their language, and ſpeake with new tongues: as they in the Acts (chap. 2.13. compared with 2.37.) who in their prophanenes, railed on the Apoſtles, and ſaid, they were drunken with new wine, in the fore part of the day: but being conuerted by Peters Sermon, they had learned to come in humilitie to them with the reuerend titles of men and brethren, asking counſell of them, whom they had ſo abuſed, rather then of any other; what they ſhould doe to be ſaued. And this for anſwere to the ſecond obiection.