Seven Treatises, Treatise 4 · Chapter 8
CHAP. 8. Of the neceſſarie parts of the daily direction, being the ſecond branch of the ſecond part of this Treatiſe.
FIrſt, that eueryevery day we ſhold be humbled for our ſins, as through due examination of our liues by the lawe of God we ſhall ſee them.
2 EueryEvery day we be raiſed vp in aſſured hope of the forgiueneſſe of them by the promiſes of God in Chriſt.
3 EueryEvery day we prepare out hearts to ſeeke the Lord ſtill, and keepe them fit and willing thereto.
4 EueryEvery day we ſtrongly, and reſolutely arme our ſelues againſt all euill and ſinne, fearing moſt of all to offend God.
5 EueryEvery day wee nouriſh our feare and louelove of him, and ioy in him more then in any thing, and endeuour to pleaſe him in all duties as occaſion ſhall be offered, looking for his comming. 2. Theſ. 3.5.
6 EueryEvery day our thankes be continued for benfites receiued, and ſtill certainely hoped for.
7 EueryEvery day we watch and pray for ſtedfaſtneſſe and conſtancie in all theſe.
8 EueryEvery day we hold and keepe our peace with God, and ſo lye downe with it.
And this is the direction which eueryevery Chriſtian muſt practiſe eueryevery day in his life, and theſe are the neceſſarie parts of it, which may not be omitted any day at all without ſinne: nor careleſly and wittingly without great ſinne. To the which,Obiect. if it ſhold be ſaid, that they are darke and hard to be vnderſtood, much more to be put in practiſe; yea and although they could, yet do they not ſufficiently nor throughly guide a Chriſtian: I anſwer, he that vnderſtandeth ſo much in the Scriptures,Anſwer. as that he knoweth thereby himſelfe reconciled to God, and ſo hauehave ſure hope to be ſaued, and to be one of them, whom God hath choſen out of the world from the reſt which ſhall periſh; he can eaſily vnderſtand the meaning of this direction, and the points and parts thereof, and is fit to be directed by it, (as for any other, it is but to accuſe and conuict him of infinit iniquities in his life,Rom. 7. and of guiltineſſe of eternall damnation thereby) although through the law of his members, which rebell againſt the law of his mind, and through ignorance, and the malice and ſubtiltie of the diuell, he be much diſtracted on the other ſide, and hindred from that which he ſeeth he ought to do, vntill experience hauehave made him better acquainted with it.
But this is the battell, which he muſt feele and hauehave with his luſts, and which eueryevery true beleeuer muſt be exerciſed with daily: and yet this reſiſtance and rebellion againſt Gods grace,How the beleeuer ſhould be enabled to keep the rules of direction. which he feeleth by this corruption and ſinne daily, is a moſt fit whetſtone to ſharpen him the more to imbrace and follow theſe rules in this direction ſet downe, becauſe he ſhall ſee, that by them he is made ſtrong againſt theſe his rebellions daily by litle and litle, whereas without ſome ſuch direction, he could in no wiſe be able to reſiſt.
Now whereas it is obiected, that although it ſhould be practiſed,Obiection. yet it is not a ſufficient directing of him, for, and throughout the day; ſeeing euerie rule and point hath not his certaine time ſet downe, in which it ſhould ſerue, and in the which it ſhould be required: to this I ſay,Anſwer. that we muſt not imagine, that there is any ſuch direction, as though thereby we might keepe from ſinne any houre of the day: but this direction teacheth, how by the wiſedome of Gods ſpirit according to the meaſure of our knowledge, we may be led through eueryevery part of the day in peace and ſafety, and do all the outward actions of the day, as by occaſion we ſhall be called thereto, more purely, and dutifully, and with more eaſe and chearfulneſſe, then otherwiſe might be looked for; eſpecially after we hauehave by longer experience bene exerciſed therein: for God doth teach his children wiſedome: when, and how to vſe thankes, and when to make requeſts, what ſinne to oppoſe themſelues againſt, as their weakeneſſe ſhall require, what duties to follow, how to watch ouer their heart, and life; and by all, to find and obtaine reſt to their ſoules.
And although through infirmitie, which is in the beſt,Although through infirmitie we come ſhort, yet much eaſe ſhall vve find in ſeruing God, by following direct. they ſhall neuer fully reape the fruite, which the rules do leade vntounto, for they faile through ouer-ſight, raſhneſſe, and by other naturall corruption are much feebled, and therefore muſt needs come ſhort in performing duty, as they ought: yet through the grace that God giueth his, they find and ſtill may obtaine by the helpe hereof, ſuch eaſe in the ſeruing of God through the day, as they thought before impoſſible, and neuer looked to inioy, that they may truly ſay, notwithſtanding the ſinne that cleaueth to them, that they hauehave oft moſt ſweete communion with God, and hold their ſinne in great ſubiection to their admiration, which was wont full ſore to imbondage them. Neither ſhall this ſeeme ſtrange or doubtfull which I ſay, if it be well conſidered.
For hath not the Lord promiſed to make his children partakers of the diuine nature, euen the grace of his holy ſpirit, whereby they ſhall flie the corruption that is in the world through luſt? hath he not ſayd,2 Pet. 1.4. that if they watch and pray, they ſhall not fall into temptation? but be deliuered from euill? Math. 26.41.and that if they reſiſt the diuell, he ſhall flie from them? and by the armour of a Chriſtian they ſhall ſtand faſt againſt all infernall ſubtilty? And hath he not ſayd,Math. 6.13. Iam. 4.7. Epheſ. 6.14. that the weapons of our warfare are mighty, caſting downe ſtrong holds, which ſeemed impoſſible to be caſt downe? hath he not taught vsus that he is greater which is in vsus, then he that is in the world? 2. Cor. 10.4.hath he not promiſed them his ſpirit the comforter, which the world cannot hauehave, 1. Ioh. 4.4. Ioh. 14.17. 1. Cor. 10.13.that they might not be here as Orphanes and deſolate? and that he will lay no more vponupon his, then he will make them able to beare?
And what ſhould I ſay more? hath he not giuen them ſingular prerogatiues, that they being vpholden by them,The prerogatiues of a Chriſtian. may paſſe by the deceiueable baites of the world, that they may not poyſon them? And by this litle which I ſay, of a great deale which might be ſayd out of the Scriptures to the like purpoſe, doth not God harten and incourage his to truſt in him for that ſtrength and grace which ſhall be ſufficient for them? 2. Cor. 12.9.& hath he not taught them daily to thinke much of theſe things? Now then, when his poore ſeruants come to know his mind, and will in them, and how he is affected to them: yea which is more, when they ſhall be further inſtructed, that his will is, that they ſhould daily occupie their minds in thinking of theſe and ſuch like things, is it any great maruell if they grow more heauenly minded, and be more conſtantly ſetled in an holy courſe? and ſo become acquainted with the practiſe of duty more vſually and continually then they were wont, when either they know not that any ſuch thing was required of them daily, or how to bring their hearts daily to like of it?
And when they ſhall be well and throughly perſwaded (whatſoeuer the wandring and inconſtant courſe of the moſt be) that God requireth of them, that eueryevery day they ſhall warily ſhunne euill, waite to honor him in the proper duties and ſeruice, which they owe to him, & count it their chiefe worke to do ſo daily: to pray oft, and to ſpeake to him in thankſgiuing, daily renew their faith, and hope of ſaluation, and other temporall fauours of his; when, I ſay, they ſhall ſee that God commeth thus neare to them, whiles they are abſent from him here on earth, and offereth them this familiaritie as his friends, and not vſing them as ſeruants, is it to be maruelled at, that they accept of it daily? and when they hauehave taſted once, that this may be their vſuall and ordinarie diet (this ſweete communion with God, I meane, which was wont to be but their feaſting now and then) is it to be thought ſtrange, that they ſhould reach out their hand to this their welfare?
No, no: if God once perſwade his, that they may walke in his fauour euerie day, and with more acceptation and better welcome, then when they could hauehave but a ſmall glimſe of it, once in a weeke, monethmonth or quarter, they will not ſtarue when they may banquet,Note. they will not eate achornes with ſwine when they may be fed with Angels foode, they will not ioy in the company of wicked men,Ioh. 14.23. Reu. 3.20. when they may hauehave communion with the God of glory, and with his deare ſeruants departed out of this life by the good memoriall which they hauehave left behind them: and with thoſe which remaine here ſtill;Pſal. 16 3. being ſuch, as in whom the Prophet had all his delight. Neither will they want or any day forgo the liberties of the children of God, namely confidence, peace, and ioy in the holy Ghoſt; to ſolace themſelues in earthly things (which bring great bondage) with the ſonnes of men.
Indeed I deny not, but whiles Gods people are tied ſhort of the cleare knowing their liberties, and are holden in blindneſſe and ignorance of theſe things, as many are, but that they are alſo kept in vnbeleefe, not being perſwaded, that God affoordeth ſuch liberties to them: and then moreouer, the penury of good examples to go before them herein, do much hinder and hold them backe from inioying their part in them. But who doubts if they knew theſe things, & were perſwaded of them, but that they wold be as ioyfull to heare of this heauenly and happie newes, as they were to hauehave the tidings of ſaluation at their firſt calling, as being now better able to diſcerne the beauty of heauenly things then when they firſt beleeued?
Theſe and ſuch like, which God doth admit his deare children vntounto, ſhould be taught them oft, and plainely, and wiſely, and fitly applied to them. Miniſters ſhould dwell in them:1. Tim. 4.16. and know by themſelues, who hauehave in a long time growne but in ſmall inward acquaintance with them, that the people do not in two or three teachings of them, no nor ſo many yeares teaching, reach to the cleare vnderſtanding, much leſſe the vſe and fruite of them: not onelyonly becauſe they require practiſe, but daily and continuall practiſe: and that of them, they were wont to hauehave their hearts and their heads taken vp and poſſeſſed of worldly cares, and worldly luſts, which with no ſmall, but much labour and louelove of the Miniſter in teaching, as well as the peoples liking, reuerence and diligence in hearing and praying, muſt be beate out againe.
And yet (which is moſt pitifull to thinke) through this, that few are by diligent and ſincere preaching brought to Chriſt at all by true conuerſion, it cometh to paſſe, that there are very few, for the moſt part, in one congregation who are fit to heare or be taught this doctrine. And thoſe that are, do ſeldom meete with it:Note. and therefore they ſeeing how hard it is to get neceſſarie helpes for this life, and that care to be in greateſt requeſt among men in the world, euen they alſo grow ſicke of the ſame diſeaſe, and while the chiefe thought is how to liue, and their helpe ſmall to liue daily to God, they hauehave leane ſoules, and now and then, onelyonly are in a well ordered courſe, and that with much ado, ſo farre is it off, that they hauehave any daily taſt of heauen in this life.
Which, how common ſoeuer it be to be found almoſt in eueryevery place where God hath any Church, yet we muſt not thinke, that it can be no otherwiſe: as though common Chriſtians were not able to reach and attaine to any daily ſeruing of God ioyfully, if diligence were vſed in beating things into them oft: (for both we may find here and there ſome few, who do happily inioy that care and liberty daily: and alſo many mone and long for it at firſt, when they hauehave but a dim ſight & ſmall taſt of it) but they are not trained to it, nor furthered in it, to whom otherwiſe it ſhould be moſt welcome. And though men thinke that Chriſtians hauehave other things to looke after, then the worſhipping and ſeruing of God: yet I ſay, in good aduiſedneſſe,Note. tha if they could obtaine this, to giuegive God his due daily with all good conſcience, euen this were the neareſt way for them, to come by all things which they hauehave need of in this world, as our Sauiour ſaith:Math 6.33. First ſeeke the kingdome of God and his righteouſneſſe. And therefore I hauehave written this treatiſe particularly of the daily directing of the people of God, who hauehave already conſecrated and giuen ouer themſelues vntounto his ſeruice, that it may put them in mind, that this their couenant with God is to be renewed daily, and their beſt care to pleaſe him, that euer they had, euen their firſt louelove, to be ſtill continued, and that they muſt daily abide in his louelove. And in a word,Ioh 15.10. the rules which I hauehave before ſet downe for the keeping of the heart in good plight and order, one day as well as another, and ſo conſequently the life; muſt from day to day be aboue all other things looked to and regarded: whereas otherwiſe there are things innumerable, as traines and ſnares layd by the diuell, to deceiue, diſtract, and vnſettle them, and ſo they ſhall find it a hard and weariſome worke to returne againe. And if any ſee ought in this which I ſay, fit to benefite him, let him be carefull to helpe on others.
But I will returne to that from which by occaſion I digreſſed: that is to ſay, that we ſhould inure and acquaint our ſelues with theſe rules which are before ſet downe for the well ſeaſoning and ordering of our hearts, that thereby we may be fit to gouerne our liues eueryevery day, and that by the helpe of them both, we may be fenced from great dangers, and walke with God all the dayes of the life of our pilgrimage: and this is that liuing by faith, which the Scripture maketh mention of,Habac. 2.4. when it ſaith: The iust ſhall liue by his faith. And which is ſayd to hauehave bene the life of our fathers (who yet were much more darkly led and guided then we) as is to be ſeene in the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes, where it is ſayd of Abell, Noe, Abraham, and many other:Heb. 11.13. All theſe died in faith, in the which they had liued and continued vntounto their end. And Paule ſpake it of himſelfe, who was an example to all Gods people:Gal. 2.20. I liue no longer, but Christ in me, and the life that I leade is by faith in the Sonne of God. This forme of direction, that we ought to be guided by eueryevery day, or any other agreeable to the Scriptures, is both by good reaſon, and the teſtimony thereof proued vntounto vsus to be that which we muſt follow, that ſo we may liue by faith (as I hauehave ſayd.) For (to ſay a litle for the inſtruction of the ſimple) ſeeing eueryevery day is one part of our whole life, wherein we are by great likelihood in danger to offend and prouoke God, yea euen then when we hauehave the feweſt ſtops in our way to hinder vsus, and moſt helpes to further vsus, it ſtandeth with moſt ſound reaſon according to the word of God, that we be fenced & prepared to paſſe one day as well as another, if we make account well to paſſe and go through our whole courſe. And therefore to ſee how this forme of daily direction, is drawne out of the word of God, let eueryevery part of the whole proue, and teſtifie vntounto vsus.