Seven Treatises, Treatise 5 · Chapter 7
CHAP. 7. Of a third let in this first kind, namely: The want of the ordinarie preaching of the word of God.
AND now to make an end of this firſt kind of lets,The third ſpeciall let, ariſing from vvant. we are to know, that there is another want which Sathan laboureth to hold vsus in, and the fitteſt of all other to bring on the two former: and that is, The want of an ordinarie and ſound miniſterie of the word of God, wherby the way to ſaluation and godlineſſe is plainely and in good order,2. Tim. 4.1.2 with louelove and diligence taught ſo oft in the weeke, as the people can conueniently attend vponupon the ſame. Which being the light of the world, and (as it were) the Sun that warmeth all the creatures of the earth with his influence: ſo it can but warme and inlighten them who are within the ſound of it, as the Sunne doth that part of the earth to the which he can ſpread his beames.Note. And although many vponupon whom this heauenly light ſhineth, are not made fruitfull like a garden by the heate of the Sunne; but rather as a dunghill, to ſauour worſe: yet ſuch as enioy not this grace of the Goſpell at all, can be but as the ſhadowed places where no Sunne commeth, which bring foorth nothing, or elſe that which is ſoure and vnſauourie.
God be bleſſed for thoſe which are painefull labourers, but yet for the infinite thouſands who know nothing, neither can know, I would that all which will be called the Lords Miniſters, did diligently and faithfully prophecie, and that the Lord would poure his ſpirit vponupon them plentifully for that purpoſe. If Peter could ſay no leſſe, but that it was meete, Num. 11.29. 2. Pet. 1.12.13 Beleeuers muſt be daily put in mind of heauenly things.whiles he continued in this tabernacle, to put the people in remembrance of heauen and the way to it, yea though they were ſtabliſhed in it alreadie no more to be remoued: who doubteth, but that it muſt needs be a ſore want to be without that help? For ignorance is a great and vſuall impediment of ſinceritie and good conſcience: for when the mind erreth or miſconceiueth, it doth miſleade the conſcience and deceiueth the whole man. For where that is not, beſides the thouſands which periſh for want of it, euen the godly (if any be there) cannot ſee their wants in grace, their corruptions of heart, and the many occaſions by which they offend in their life; neither the depth of Gods louelove, how he hath taken order to draw them out of all theſe; nor be refreſhed with the oft remembrance of theſe things, as their need requireth.
But this is a large field to walke in, and not of me in this place to be long taryed in: but yet I will not ceaſe to pray and hope for that which is wanting, as to be highly thankefull for that which we hauehave, namely: that the Lord of the harueſt would thruſt foorth labourers into the harueſt,Mat. 9.38. and eſtabliſh the libertie of the Goſpell preached by authoritie, and continue to vsus the glorious light and ſweet and deepe inſight into the will of God thereby, which we hauehave attained, and many moe might alſo hauehave done the ſame, vnderunder her Highnes moſt proſperous raigne and long peace: for whome many thankes be giuen to God amongſt vsus.
Now ſeeing by the wanting of this ſound miniſterie ordinarily inioyed, euen the moſt of Gods beloued do want the greateſt part of their beſt priuiledges,VVhat they want, who vvant that. or full weakly inioy them, let all welwillers to Sion procure this as much as in them lieth, both by their feruent prayers and other Chriſtian endeuours; and let ſuch as deſire to be more free from Sathans ſnares, prouide whiles they may, to be partakers of this benefit. As for ſuch as inioy it, and price it not aboue all that they hauehave, or euer can inioy in this world, but eſteeme it as a thing which they ſet litle by, yea and could want it well enough,Mat. 8.11. & 12. I will ſay no more to them but this: Many ſhall come from other places to ſeeke comfort there, both from East, Weſt, North and South, and ſhall ſit downe with Abraham, Iſaac and Iacob in the kingdome of heauen, and they themſelues ſhall be caſt out into vtter darkneſſe, where ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth:Amos 8.11. & 12. and that of Amos: Behold, the dayes come, ſaith the Lord God, that I will ſend a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirſt of water, but for hearing of the word of the Lord. And they ſhall wander from ſea to ſea, and from the North euen vntounto the Eaſt ſhall they runne to and fro to ſeeke the word of the Lord, and ſhall not find it.
They who ſhould weigh, how the Diuell hath laboured in all nations and throughout all generatiōs to hinder the paſſage of the Goſpell, (as, if that one booke of the Acts of the Apoſtles onelyonly were peruſed, doth appeare in that time) might eaſily be perſwaded, that the preaching and eſtabliſhing of it, is a ſingular and rare treaſure (howſoeuer blind men can iudge of no colours:) and therefore that the want of it is none of the ſmall lets, whereby Chriſtians are hindered, if poſſibly many might be perſwaded of it.
For how ſhould a poore Chriſtian riſe vp when he is fallen by any occaſion, or come into the way againe when he is ſtrayed out: or how ſhall he be ſtrengthened being weake, or be comforted in his heauineſſe; if he hauehave not this at hand ordinarily, to bring tidings of Gods will to him, and eueryevery way to ſupplie his many wants: euen as if the trumpet ſound not, who can prepare himſelfe to the battell? Therefore it is, that there are ſuch maine blockes layd in the way of Gods ſeruants, that either they cannot inioy this bleſſing any long time, or in any good ſort and manner, to build them vp and direct them euerie way as is meete; or if they hauehave all this, yet they ſhall hinder themſelues and one another.
For it is to be lamented, to ſee how few can rightly vſe ſuch liberties and make their profite of them while they inioy them: as to draw out of their teachers, vnderſtanding, and humbly pray and labour for ſpirituall wiſedome whereby they may hauehave the right vſe of their knowledge in euerie particular action: and in the ſpirit of meekneſſe to helpe build vp one another, and to be lights to the ignorant by giuing good example; but worldly minded, or contentious, or paſſing their time vainely and prophanely. And if this complaint may iuſtly be made where the Goſpell is purely and plainely preached (as who doth not ſee that it may?) then what need many words to proue what hauocke there is of goodneſſe, where the word of God is not in place to rebuke the euill and vphold the contrarie? no leſſe, (doubtleſſe) then as if haile-ſtones in the harueſt ſeaſon, which battereth and and beateth downe the corne: no leſſe (I ſay) doth the Diuell with his bad inſtruments make a ſpoile of religious and chriſtian life. So that it is apparent how ſore an impediment the want of ſound, familiar and diligent preaching of Gods word is; Salomon including many hurts and dangers in one word,Prou. 29.18. ſaying: Where that is wanting, the people periſh.
The ſame I ſay of other helpes to the building vp of a godly life,The not vſing the daily helpes to godlineſſe, is a great want that much hind…reth a Chriſtian. which I hauehave ſpoken of in another place, that if we ſuffer our ſelues to be hindred by the Diuell from the daily & reuerent vſe of them, he ſhall ſufficiently preuaile in holding vsus backe, that we ſhall not flouriſh as plants in the Lords orchard: I meane if we do not conſecrate our ſelues to God, pray and meditate daily as I hauehave directed before to do, if we delight not in reading, or take not the benefit of chriſtian exhortation and conference, watching ouer one another, and prouoking to louelove and good workes,Heb. 10.24. and to take good by examples of one another: and if we be not more humbled by our chaſtiſements, and our hearts more inlarged to ſerue God by his daily benefits: but trifle out our pretious time after the manner of men of the world, finding no ſuch ſauour in any of theſe as we do in earthly delights, namely, eating, drinking,Mat. 24.38. ſleeping, playing and dealings about our profits; the Diuell hath what he ſeeketh at our hands, and keepeth vsus farre enough off from our beſt portion. Finally, the want of our whole armour, or any part of it,The vvant of daily keeping on the armor, is a great want. whereby we defend our ſelues from euill on euerie ſide, this (though all the other were preſent) ſhould ſenſibly appeare to be wanting, for the daungers and fals which we ſhold ſuſtaine for want of the ſame. The remedy againſt the wāt of the word preached, is to relieue our ſelues with it, where we may with moſt cōueniēcy inioy it: but rather that we ſue eaneſtly to liue vnderunder it: which would be more generally granted of God, if it were (as a benefit which cannot be wanted) ſought for & deſired. But whether of both ſo euer be, let vsus ſo partake it, that we may feel our ſelues ſēſibly (as by good diet) refreſhed,1▪ Pet 2.2. & 2. Pet 3.17. & grow in grace & in the knowledge of our ſauiour Ieſus Chriſt: for which end it is among vsus.
The remedy of all the other wants, ſeeing it is a faithfull practiſing of the daily direction, of the which I hauehave ſpoken largely alreadie, or any other ſuch: therfore it is ſufficient to ſhew the Reader; that all theſe wants the Diuell will hinder him by, to the end that he may hold him back from the practiſe of the godly life,Prou 23.23. and conſequently from the ſweete fruite which he might inioy thereby. The which I ſpeake to this end, that he may be on the other ſide more incouraged reſolutely to giuegive ouer himſelfe thereunto daily: ſeeing thereby all theſe euils and perils of this life ſo vnwelcome and ſo much feared, may be in great part auoided.
If any obiect,Obiection. that theſe firſt kinds of lets (though not ſo particularly) are ſet downe before, and the remedies, as here they are, and therefore that this is ſuperfluous: let ſuch know, that I therfore ſet theſe downe particularly,Anſvver. to let thē ſee that a well ordered courſe is a remedie for and againſt all diſeaſes: and therefore I mention the manifold lets in this Treatiſe, which come in the way to hinder it, that they may ſee the better to ſet themſelues againſt them, and not to thinke their labour loſt, which they are moued to beſtow in acquainting and exerciſing themſelues throughly in the practiſe of Chriſtian direction from day to day, as it is drawne from Gods word. And thus much of the firſt kind of lets, whereby the Diuell hindreth vsus through wants in good things; he taking occaſion from the corruption of our nature, whereby we are prone to euill and vnapt to good, to ſtrengthen ſinne in vsus.
Many vveake ones troubled with feare of their owne vvants, vvithout cauſe.Now I hauehave ſhewed how the Diuell troubleth many weake Chriſtians by the wants before mentioned, here I thinke not amiſſe, to ſhew how ſome are troubled by feare of their owne wants without cauſe. For experience teacheth, what deadly heauineſſe he raiſeth vp in the hearts of many of Gods deare children by occaſion of their wants in grace. And among the manifold hurts which he bringeth by meanes thereof to many weake Chriſtians, this one is not to be omitted: what grieuous and ſore diſcouragements he oppreſſeth many tender conſciences with, while they eſpie ſome gfts of God in other, which they thinke be not in themſelues; though they ſeeke aboue all things to pleaſe God, as hauing had ſome ſweet feeling of his fauour through faith. Theſe (I ſay) when they conſider and deeply weigh their owne emptineſſe of grace and barrenneſſe, their manifold infirmities alſo which they beare about them; the Diuell abuſeth their weakneſſe to an heauie and vncomfortable ſorow, which is alſo as vnprofitable to them.
In which ſtate he driueth them to find out in themſelues many diſorders and fals, ſundrie out-ſtrayings from their Chriſtian courſe, and how they cannot preuaile ouer their corruptions; and ſo maketh the innocent ſoules, not onelyonly to thinke that they be farre worſe then they are, but alſo troubleth and diſquieteth them beyond meaſure: inſomuch that they hauehave bitter ſobs, and make ſore complaints againſt themſelues; in the meane while forgetting (through vnthankfulneſſe) Gods manifold kindneſſes towards them, and what cauſe of reioycing rather, and thankſgiuing they hauehave offered vntounto them.Some are long troubled in this manner. And in this caſe he keepeth ſome of them many yeares together, perſwading themſelues that none are ſo bad as they, nor ſuch hypocrites, &c. when yet the things whereof they do moſt accuſe themſelues, are meere infirmities, and not any groſſe or palpable treſpaſſes. This deſcription of them (that I ſay no more of them) who ſeeth not how apparently it bewraieth the Diuels malice and ſubtiltie in hindring, yea ſnaring them (as I may ſay) in ſuch ſort, as they cannot wind out any way? when yet (as hath bene ſayd) there are no ſincerer-hearted Chriſtians then they, nor who ſeeke the Lord more hartily, for that meaſure of knowledge & experience which they hauehave.
Now if they are bleſſed who feare and who are troubled for ſome wants in grace,Prou. 28.14. Mat. 5.3. who is ſo blind that he ſeeth not, that euen by this which is their ſorow, and in their owne account euen their miſerie: yet by this (I ſay) they proue themſelues to be bleſſed and happie? The ſpeciall remedie for theſe is godly boldneſſe,Remedies: Godly boldnes. to conſider what God hath done for them in giuing them ſuch hungring hearts after good things: which could not be, except they had taſted of thoſe ſweete graces alreadie, and had ſome part or portion of the ſame.Thankfulneſſe. They muſt be perſwaded to more heartie thankfulneſſe to God, and ſee this their humilitie, meekneſſe, louelove of God and deſire of heauenly things, to be iuſt cauſes hereof. Their vnkindneſſe to God they do well to acknowledge, and that is an eſpeciall grace of God in them; and that they find in their nature, rebellion againſt goodneſſe: but yet, not ſo, that they ſhew themſelues more vnkind by not confeſſing that they hauehave much cauſe to reioyce, from him.
And therefore let them beleeue,There is great cauſe of reioycing in that, for which they are heauy. that their eſtate is rather to be highly accounted of, (euen as it is) ſeeing the thirſtie (as dry ſponges) drinke vp much grace, and the humble ſhall find reſt to their ſoules; then that for ſome wants of grace they ſhould caſt downe themſelues halfe deſperately, as though God regarded them not, when yet their eſtate is the eſtate of all Gods children: among whom, euen the beſt hauehave many wants of grace, and know but in part, nor beleeue but in part, although they hauehave through experience learned better then the other to ſuſtaine the ſame. For where faith is in Gods promiſes (without which they cannot heartily louelove heauenly things) they muſt know that they hauehave a liberall portion, and therefore ought to lift vp their hearts out of their deadly dumps: and as theſe and ſuch like directions do counſell them, let them grow forward, but without diſcouragement; yea though their meaſure be ſmall, and they in their owne iudgement be the backwardeſt of others.
Of ſmall beginnings come great proceedings; of one little ſparckle,VVeake beginnings in grace being ſound, promiſe great increaſe. a mightie flame; and the talle Okes were ſometime but ſmall akornes: he hath well begun, who hath in truth begun; and he hath much, who feeleth that he wanteth much: and he who in an humble and a meeke ſpirite hungreth after knowledge and grace, hath made good proceeding towards the attaining of both, and ſhall in time be ſatisfied therewith. This I ſpeake to incourage thoſe, whom Sathan abuſeth by occaſion of ſome wants of good things in them: when in the meane while (if they knew ſo much) there is no cauſe; but contrariwiſe, of reioycing. Thus much of the firſt kind of lets.