The Christians Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace, Treatise · Chapter 10
CHAP. X: How a man ſhould carry himſelfe as in Gods ſight, when things goe well with him.
SECTIONI.
VVHen at any time youRules of a holy carriage, when things ſucceed well. proſper in any thing, and have good ſucceſſe, that you may therein walke according to God:
Firſt, Take heed of committing thoſe ſinnes whereto man is moſt apt, when his heart is fatted with proſperity.
Secondly, be carefull to produce thoſe good effects, which are the principal ends why God giveth good ſucceſſe.
The ſinnes eſpecially to bee ſhunned, are (1) aPro. 30. 9Denying of God, by bDeu. 6. 12forgetting him and his wayes, cDeut. 32. 15departing from him, when you are fat like Ieſurun, taking the more dIob 21. 14licence to ſin, by how much you ſhall proſper more in the world. (2)eDan. 4. 30 Hab. 1. 15 16 Aſcribing the prayſe of ſucceſſe to your ſelfe or to ſecondarie cauſes, ſacrificing to your owne net. (3) f1 Tim. 6. 17High mindedneſſe, thinking too well of your ſelfe, becauſe you have that which others have not, and deſpiſing and thinking too meanly of thoſe, which *1 Cor. 11 22have not as you have. (4) If riches increaſe, or if you thrive in any other earthly thing, gPſ. 62. 10 1 Tim. 6. 17ſet not your heart thereon, either in taking too much hIob 31. 25delight therein, or intruſting thereupon. Holy Iob, and good David were in ſome particulars over-taken with this latter. When Iob was warm in his neſt, he did hatch this ſecure conceit, that he ſhould dye in his neſt, and multiply Iob 29. 18his dayes as the ſand. And David Pſal. 30▪ 6in his proſperity ſaid, he ſhould never bee moved. But the LORD by afflictions taught them both to know by experience, how vaine all earthly things are to truſt unto, and ingeniouſly to confeſſe their error.
I reduce the good effects, whichThe good effects of proſperity are the principall ends why God giveth good ſucceſſe, unto theſe two heads: (1) profeſſed prayſe and thankes to God. (2) Reall proofes of the ſaid thanks, in well uſing and imploying this good ſucceſſe for God.Praiſe and thankes. Reaſons why God is to be praiſed, and thanked▪
Firſt, prayſe and thanke God. For (1) it is the chiefe and moſt laſting ſervice & worſhip, which God hath required of you. (2) It is iPſal. 29▪ 2moſt due, and due to him onelyonly, he onelyonly is kRev. 11. Rev 5. 1…worthy, for lRom. 11. 36.of him are all things, and he is called the God of prayſes. (3) It is the end mPro. 16. 4why God doth declare his excellency and goodneſſe both in his Word and Workes, that it may be matter of prayſe and thankes, alſo why he hath given man an hart to underſtand, and a tongue to ſpeake, that for them, and with them, as by apt inſtruments they might acknowledge his goodneſſe and excellencie, thinking, and ſpeaking to his prayſe and glory: wherfore David ſpeakingPſal. 57. …. compared with Pſ. 16 9 and Act. … 26. Pſa 108. 1. to his heart, or tongue, or both; when hee would give thankes, ſaith, Awake my glory, and I will give prayſ…. (4) There is not any ſervice of God more n1 Tim. 4. 4beneficiall to man, than to bee thankefull. For it maketh thoſe gifts of God which are good in themſelves, to be good to you, and they are the beſt continuers of good things to you, yea, Thanks are reall requeſts, and the oPhil 4. 6, 7.beſt ſecurity you can have: for God will not withdraw his goodneſſe from the thankefull.
This Prayſe and Thankes is a religious ſervice, wherein a man maketh knowne to God, that hee acknowledgeth every good thing to come from him, and that he is worthy of all prayſe and glory for the infinite excellencie of his Wiſedome, Power, Goodneſſe, and of all his other holy and bleſſed▪ Attributes manifeſt in his Word and Workes; and that he for his part ſtandeth wholly beholding to God, for all that he hath had, now hath, and which hereafter hee hopeth to have.
Prayſe and Thankes goe together, and doe differ only in ſome reſpect. The ſuperabundant excellency in God, ſhewed by his Titles and Workes, is the obiect of prayſe. The abundant goodneſſe of God, ſhewed in thoſe his Titles1 Chr. …. 11, 1…, 13. Pſal. 8 1▪ 9 and Workes, to his Church, to you, or to any perſon, nothing to which you have reference, is the obiect and matter of your thankes.
Theſe things concerning praiſe1 Chro. 29 14 and thankes, are needfull to be knowne and obſerved.
Firſt, Who muſt give prayſeWhat is requiſite in praiſe and thankes. and thankes? Namely, you, and all that have underſtanding and pPſ. 150. 6breath, muſt praiſe the Lord.
Secondly, To whom praiſe and thanks are due? qPſ. 50. 14 Pſal. 115. 1Only to God; Not to us, not to us (ſaith the Church) but to thy Name give glory.
Thirdly, By whom muſt this Sacrifice of thankes be offered? Even rEph. 5. 20 Heb. 13. 15by Chriſt onelyonly, the onelyonly high Prieſt of our Profeſſion, out of whoſe golden Cenſer our prayers and praiſes aſcend, and are ſweet-ſmelling to GOD, as ſRev. 8. 3, 4Incenſe.
Fourthly, For what muſt wee praiſe God, and give him thanks? Wee muſt praiſe him in all his workes, be they for us, or againſt us; we muſt thanke him tEph. 5. 20for all things ſpirituall and temporall wherein he is any way good unto us.
Fifthly, With what muſt wee prayſe and thanke him? Even uPſ. 10▪ …with our ſoules, and all that is within us, and with all that we have. We muſt praiſe and thanke GOD with the inward man, praiſe him with the Spirit, and with the underſtanding; praiſe him1 Cor. 14. 1… with the will, praiſe and thanke him with the affections, with all love, deſire, joy, and gladneſſe, praiſe him with the whole hart. Wee muſt likewiſe praiſe him with the outward man, both with tongue & hands; our wordsPſal. 35. 28 and our deeds muſt ſhew forth his praiſe. When our thankes are cordiall, orall and reall, then they make a good harmony, and ſweet melodie, moſt pleaſant in Gods eares.
Sixthly, When muſt we give thankes? *Eph 5 20 Pſa. 55. 17. Pſ. 119. 164 Pſ. 104. 33.Alwayes, Morning, Evening, Noone, at all times, as long as wee live, and have any being, wee muſt praiſe him.
Seventhly, How much? Wee muſt praiſe and thanke him xPſa. 48. 1.abundantly. Wee muſt endevour to proportion our praiſe to his worthineſſe and goodneſſe: As we muſt love him, ſo wee muſt thanke him with all our ſoule, and with all our ſtrength.
There is no ſinne more common than aLuk. 17. 17, 18.unthankefulneſſe, for ſcarce one of ten give thankes, and that one which doth give thankes, beſides many other his errors in thankeſgiving, doth not thank God for one mercy among twenty. Many in diſtreſſe will pray, bHoſ. 7. 14or cry, and bowle at leaſt, as they in Hoſea, for Corne, and Oyle, but who returneth proportionable praiſes to his prayers? Whereas a man ſhould be oftner in thanks, than in prayers, Pſal. 59. 10becauſe GOD preventeth our prayers with his good gifts a thouſand wayes.
Take heed therefore that you be not unthankfull. It is a moſt baſe, hateful, and damnable wickedneſſe. For he that is unthankfullDiſſwaſives from unthankfulneſſe. to God, is (1) A moſt diſhoneſt and diſloyall man, he is injurious to God, in detaining from him his due, in not paying his Tribute. (2) He is fooliſh and improvident for himſelfe; for by not paying his reut of thankes, and for not doing his homage, he cDeut. 28. 47, 48. Hol. 2. 8, 9.forfeits all that hee hath into the Lords hands, which forfeiture, many times, he taketh: But if hee doe not preſently take the forfeit, it will prove worſe to the unthankefull in the end. For proſperity, ſevered from thankſgiving, alwayes *Hoſ. 4. 7. Rom. 1. 21.increaſeth ſin, and prepares a man for greater deſtruction. The more ſuch a one thrives, the more doth pride hard-heartedneſſe, and many other noiſome luſts grow in him. This unthankefulneſſe is the high way to be given over to dRom 1. 21. to 19▪a reprobate ſenſe. ePſ. 69. 22.Such prosperity alwayes wayes proves a ſnare, and endeth in utter ruine. For the fPro. 1. 32proſperitie of fooles ſhall deſtroy them. And when the wicked proſper, it is but like ſheepe put into fat paſtures, gIer. 12. 1 2, 3that they may be prepared to be pluckt out for ſlaughter in the day of ſlaughter. An unthankfull man is, of al men, moſt unfit for to goe to heaven. Heaven can be no heaven to him: for there is praiſing of God continually. Now to whom thankeſgiving and ſinging of the praiſes of God is tedious, to him heaven cannot be ioyous.
It doth concerne you therefore, that you be much and oft in thankes and praiſes unto GOD. For this cauſe, doe theſe things: (1) worke your heart to a reſolution and longing ſo to doe. (2) Beware of, and remoove impediments to thankefulneſſe. (3) Improve all good furtherances thereunto.
For the firſt, Conſider that beſidesMotives to thākfulnes that thankes is the beſt ſervice, being the end of all other worſhip, and is Gods due, and is the end why God giveth matter, for which, and meanesby which we ſhould be thankefull; and beſides that, nothing is more beneficiall than thankefulneſſe, nor more miſchievous than unthankfulnes, as hath beene already noted; to adde more force with them, conſider theſe motives; Harty and conſtant thankfulnes is a teſtimony of uprightneſſe; it doth excellently hPſal. 33. 1become the upright to be thankefull. It is all the homage and all the ſervice which God requireth at your hands, for all the good that he beſtoweth on you. It is iPſ. 147. 1pleaſant and delightfull. It is poſſible and eaſie through the grace of Gods Spirit. It is a ſmall matter, to what God might exact; even as an homage-penny, or pepper-corne. Thankefulneſſe doth fat, elevate, and enlarge the ſoule, making it fruitfull in good workes, no duty like it. For the thankefull man (with David) is oft conſulting with himſelfe, kPſal. 116 12.what he ſhall render to the Lord for all his benefits to him. Laſtly, this ſpirituall praiſe and thankes to GOD by Chriſt, is the beginning of heaven upon earth, being part of the communion and fellowſhip which wee have with God while wee live here. It is that everlaſting ſervice which indureth for ever.
Secondly, when you haveImpediments to thankfulneſſe. wrought the heart unto a good will to be thankfull, then ſh…nne the impediments thereunto. Amongſt many take heed eſpecially of theſe, (1) Ignorance, (2) Pride, (3) Forgetfulneſſe, (4) Doubting of Gods love, (5) Over-eager affection to the benefits received, eſpecially to ſuch as are temporall.
Firſt, If you be ignorant of the excellencie and worth of good things beſtowed, or i… you miſprize things, preferring naturall, temporall, or common gifts, before ſpirituall, eternall, and ſpeciall graces, peculiar to GODS children, you can either give no thankes at all; (for who can give thankes for that hee eſteemeth worth little or nothing?) or if you doe give any thankes, it will be propoſterous, giving thankes for temporall bleſſings ſooner, and more, then for ſpirituall, and eternall. Moreover, though you doe know each good gift according to its due value; yet if, through ignorance you miſtake the Giver, you will beſtow your thankes upon men, and inferiour creatures, upon ſecond cauſes: but not on God, who is the lIam. 1. 17Giver of every good and perfect gift.
Secondly, If you be proud and highly conceited of your worth and good deſervings, you will expect greater matters than God will thinke fit to give; as m2 Kin. 5. 11, 12.Na… man did, before he was cleanſed; and when you miſſe of your expectation; you will be ſo farre from thanks, that you will mutter and complaine.
Thirdly, Though you know the worth of the gift, and doe know the Giver; alſo doe thinke your ſelfe unworthy of the gift; yet if you have not theſe good gifts of God in actuall remembrace; if you have forgotten them, and they be out of minde, how can you be actually thankefull? Therefore when David calleth upon himſelfe to be thankefull, he ſaith, nPſ. 103. 2Forget not all his benefits.
Fourthly, Suppoſe that you know wel the worth of the gift, and doe judge your ſelfe leſſe then it, and remember well that you received it of God; yet if through doubting of Gods love, and through miſ-beliefe, you thinke that God doth not give it to you in love and mercy, but in wrath, as he gave oHo. 13. 11Iſrael a King; your heart will ſinke, and be ſo clogd with this feare, that you cannot raiſe it vp to thankes, for any gift which you conceive to be ſo given.
Fiftly, Suppoſe that you quit your ſelfe of all the former impediments; yet, if you be overeagerly affected with the gift, you will in a kinde of over-ioyedneſſe be ſo taken up with it, that (as little childrē, when their parents give them ſweet-meates, or ſuch things as they moſt delight in, fall to eating of the ſweet-meat, and runne away for joy, before ever they have made a legge, and ſhewn any ſigne of thankfulnes) you will eaſily be overtaken in this kinde, and neglect God that gave it.
The furtherances of thankfulneſſe,Furtherances of thākfulnes are moſt of them directly contrary to the former hindrances; of many, take theſe:
Firſt, Get ſound knowledge of God, and of his pPſal. 8.infinite excellencies and qMat. 6. 13▪ Rom. 11. 36abſoluteneſſe every way, & of his independency on man, or any other creature: whence it is that he rPſal. 50. 12▪ 15. 1 Chro. 29 14, 15, 16.needeth not any thing that man hath, or can doe, neither can he be beholding to man: But know that you ſtand in ſAct. 14. 17 Act. 1…. 28.need of God and muſt be beholding to him for al things. Know alſo that whatſoever God doth, by whatſoever meanes it be, hee doth it tIſa. 43. 25 Hoſ. 14. 4.from himſelfe, induced by nothing out of himſelfe, being free in all that he doth. Know likewiſe, that whatſoever was the inſtrument of your good, God was the Author both of the good, and of the inſtrument.
Next, Fill your ſelfe with a due Iam. 1. 17.knowledge of the full worth and excellent uſe of Gods gifts, both common, and ſpeciall. Wealth, honour▪ libertie, health, life, ſenſes, limmes, wit, and reaſon, &c. conſidered in themſelves, and in their uſe, wil be held to be great benefits, but if you cōſider them in their abſence, when you are ſenſible of poverty ſickneſſe, and the reſt; or if you be ſo bleſſed, that you know not the want of them; then if you ſhall adviſedly, and humbly looke vponupon the poore, baſe, impriſoned, captives ſicke, deafe, blind, dumbe, diſtracted &c. uHeb. 13. 3▪Putting your ſelfe in their caſe, you will …ay that you are unſpeakeably beholding to God for theſe corporal and temporall bleſſings.
But chiefely learne to know, a…d conſider well, the worth of ſpirituall bleſſings: xPhil. 4. 7.One of them, the peace of God, paſſeth all underſtanding. To enjoy the Goſpell upon any tearmes, to have …vation, ſuch a ſalvation, offered by Chriſt, to have faith, hope, love, and other the manifold ſaving graces of the Spirit, though but in the leaſt meaſure, in the very firſt ſeed of the Spirit, though no bigger then a aLuk. 17. 6▪grain of Mustardſeed, with never ſo much outward affliction, is of ſuch value, and conſequent, that it is more then b1 Cor. 2. 9eye hath ſeene, eare hath heard, or ever entred into the heart of man. For beſides that the leaſt grace is invaluable in it ſelfe; it doth give proof of better gifts, namely, that God hath given his Spirit, hath given Chriſt, and in him, hath given himſelfe a propitious, and gracious God, & hath given cRom. 8. 32all things alſo. When you know God aright, & his gifts aright, knowing all things in God, and God in all things, then you will be full of praiſes and thankes.
Secondly, Be d1 Chr. 29 13, 14low and baſe in your owne eyes. Let all things be baſe in your eyes, in compariſon of God, account them ePſa. 146. 1, 3 Pſa. 33. 16, 17worthleſſe and helpeleſſe things without him. Iudge your ſelfe to be, as indeed you are, fGen. 32 10leſſe then the leaſt of Gods mercies: For what are you of your ſelfe, but a compound of duſt and ſinne, unworthy any good, worthy of all miſery? You ſtand in need of God, …he not of you; gLam 3. 22It is his mercy that you are not conſumed. When you can be thus ſenſible of your owne neede, and that helpe can come onelyonly from God, and that you are worthy of no good thing; then you will be glad, and thankefull at heart to God for any thing. An humble man will be more thankfull for a peny, then a proud man will for a pound.
Thirdly, Call all the forementioned knowledge of God and of his gifts, into freſh memory. Commune with your ſoule, and cauſe it to repreſēt lively to your thoughts, what God is in himſelfe, what to his Church and to you, hPſ. 139. 17how precious his thoughts are to you-ward. Tell your ſelfe oft what iPſal. 40. 5God hath done, and what he will doe for your ſoule. Call to minde with what varietie of good gifts he doth ſtore his Church, & bleſſe you: you will find that they will paſſe all account and number. When withal you call to minde that God is free in all his gifts to you, who are unworthy the leaſt of them; If you would cauſe your ſelfe to dwell upon theſe, and the like thoughts; they would worke in you an holy rapture, and admiration, out of which you ſhall with David break out into theſe or the like prayſes: kPſalm. 8.Oh Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! I thanke thee, I praiſe thee, I devote my ſelfe, as lRom. 12. 1my beſt ſacrifice to thee, I will bleſſe thy Name for ever and ever.
Fourthly, Be perſwaded of Gods love to you in theſe good things, which he giveth unto you: Firſt, he loveth you as his creature; and if onelyonly in that regard, he doth preſerve you, and doe you good, you are bound to thanke him. Secondly, you cannot know but that he loveth you with a ſpeciall love to Salvation; Gods revealed 1 Ioh 3. 16. 1 Tim▪ 2. 4will profeſſeth as much, you muſt not meddle with that which is ſecret. I am ſure he maketh proffer of his love, and you daily receive tokens of his love, both in means of this life, and that which is to come. Did not he love you, when out of his free and everlaſting good will towards you, mIoh. 3. 16He gave his Sonne to die for you, that you beleeving in him, ſhould not dye, but have everlasting life? What though yet you be in your ſinnes? Doth hee not bid you nHoſ. 14. 2, 4.turne? and hath hee not ſaid, …hee will love you freely? What though you cannot turn to him, nor love him as you would? yet endevour theſe in the uſe of all good meanes, to be, and doe, as God will have you, then doubt no…, but that GOD doth love you; and you muſt wait, till you ſee it in the performance of his gracious promiſes untoSignes to know whē God giveth good things in …. you.
But if you would conſider things aright you may know certainly, that the good things you have received of God, are beſtowed in love to you; I will onelyonly aske theſe Questions: Hath Gods merciemercy made you to bethinke your ſelfe of your dutie and obedience to God, have you had a will to be thankefull upon the thoughts thereof? or if you finde a defect and barrenneſſe herein; hath not this unfruitfull and unthankefull receiving of good things from God, beene a great burden and griefe of heart to you? If yea, this is an evident ſigne, that God gave thoſe good things to you in love, becauſe this holy and good effect is wrought in you by them. Againe; D… you love God? would you love God, and his wayes, and Ordinances yet more? This provet… that God loveth you; for o1 Ioh. 4. 10. 19.… man can love God, till God have firſt loved him. Likewiſe, doe you love the p1 Ioh. 4. 7children of God? The… certainly you are Gods childe and are loved of God; By theſe you have proofe of your calling and election, how that you are now q1 Ioh. 3. 14.tranſlated from death to life: after which time, though God may give you many things in anger, as a father giveth correction, yet he never giveth any thing in hatred and in wrath, as hee doth to his enemies. rRom. 8. 28All things works together for good to them that love God: therfore whatſoever he giveth to ſuch, is in love.
Fifthly, Preferre the honour and 5glory of God before, and above all things that may be beneficiall to your ſelfe: preferre likewiſe the kindneſſe, and love of God in the gift, farre above the gift it ſelfe; then you will never bee ſo taken up with the enjoyment of the gift, as to forget to give prayſe and thankes to the Giver.
Sixthly, unto the former helps6 …dde this: take upon you with …n holy imperiouſneſſe over your ſoule, charge your ſelfe to be thankefull; and, ſith you have good reaſon for it, take no nay. Say with David, ſPſ. 103. 1.Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoule, and all that is within me, bleſſe his holy Name, &c.
Laſtly, to all other meanes, ioyne earneſt prayer to God, to give you a thankefull heart. It is not all the reaſons you can alleage for it, nor at the morall perſwaſions you can propound to your ſoule can worke it, (though theſe bee good meanes, yea, Gods means▪) if you goe about to worke your heart to it in the power of your owne might, all will be in vaine. For as you cannot pray but by Gods Spirit, ſo neither can you give thankes but by the Spirit▪ Therefore, ſay as David did: tPſal 51. 10. 15.Renew (O Lord) a right ſpirit in me; and, open my lippes, that my mouth may ſhew forth thy prayſe.
SECTION 2. Touching proofes of Thanks.
IT is not enough to profeſſeHow a man may approve his thanks. and utter prayſe and thankes to God; you muſt give proofe of it.
Firſt, aRom. 12.by devoting and giving your ſelfe to God, to be at the will of him, who is your Soveraigne Lord, who giveth you all that you have, who is alwaies giving unto you, and alwaies doing you good, bPſa. 11…. 14.Pay your vowes to him that performes his promiſes to you. Let it appeare that you acknowledge him to be ſuch a one, as you ſay in your prayſes, and that you ſtand bound and beholding to him indeed, as you ſay in your thankes; in that you carrie your ſelfe in your life towards him, as to him who only is Excellent, who onelyonly is God, who is your God, the God of your life and ſalvation; and that, in all holy ſervice, and in all holy living. For Thankes-doing is the proofe and life of Thanks-giving, and it is a divine ſaying, The good life of the Thankefull, is the life of Thankefulneſſe. Wherfore every new mercy ſhould quicken your reſolution to perſevere and increaſe in well-doing, ſerving God the rather cDeut. 28. 47.with gladnes of heart, becauſe of the abundance of all things.
Secondly, Doe good with thoſe bleſſings, which God giveth you. For every d1 Cor. 12. 7.good gift is given to a man to profit withall, not onelyonly himſelfe, but every member of that body, whereof he is part. Whatſoever good gift God hath given you, whether corporall, or ſpirituall, it muſt be imployed to Gods glory, and to your neighbors good, as well as to your owne, as God ſhall miniſter opportunitie. If riches (and the ſame muſt be underſtood of health, ſtrength, wiſdome, skill, &c.) be given to you, you muſt ePro. 3. 9.honour God therewith: and as f1 Cor. 16 2.God doth proſper you in any thing, you muſt communicate to them that need; as to the poore, ſicke, weake, ſimple, and ignorant. If God give knowledge, faith, ſpirituall wiſdome, abilitie to pray, or any other of his rich graces, you muſt not hoard them up, and keep them reſerved for your owne private benefit; but you muſt communicate them to others, and improve them for the good of others; for the procuring their ſpirituall good, and edifying them in faith, hope, and love.
By communicating your goods and common gifts of God in this ſort, you make your ſelfe gLuk. 16. 9friends with them, againſt a day of need; and when you honour GOD, and doe good with any the talents which GOD putteth into your hand to trade with, then you make the beſt improvemēt of them. Hee who thus maketh God his friend in his proſperitte, ſhall certainely finde him to be his ſure friend in adverſity in this life: and when he ſhall be put out of his Stewardſhip at death, then hL…k. 16. 9he ſhall be received into the everlaſting habitations. When, the more you proſper, the better you deſire and endevour to be, and to doe more good, this is an infallible proofe of true thankfulnes, and is an evident ſigne that you walk with God in proſperity, as he would have you.
Give all diligence therefore, to learne this leſſon, iPhil. 4▪ 12how to be full, and how to abound; But know it can be learned no where but in Chriſts Schoole, and can never be practiſed but by Chriſts ſtrength. This is it which the kPhil. 4. 12. 13.Apoſtle had learned, and ſaid, he was able to doe it through Chriſt that ſtrengthened him. It is a moſt needfull and high point of learning, to be instructed, and to know, every where, and in every thing how to be full and to abound: of the two, it is more rare, and more difficult, then to know how to bee abaſed, and to ſuffer want, which ſhall be the ſubject of the next Chapter.