The Righteous Mans Plea to True Happiness, Sermon 1 · Sermon 10
SER. X.The Tenth Sermon.
PSALME 4.6.
There bee many that ſay, who will ſhew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
WE are yet upon the poynt of happineſſe. but upon the laſt obſervation in it; and at this time we ſhall finiſh it: The point (that you may not forget it) for it is the maine, was this; That ſound knowledge and beliefe, joyned with ſoveraigne feare, and love; and both theſe crowned with ſincere repentance and obedience, ordered by the light and line of the true religion, is the onelyonly way to true happineſſe: we have diſpatched both the explication, confirmation, and the beſt part of the application; for we are on the laſt branch of it: viz. the matter of exhortation: which was, and is, to exhort every man to the proſecution, of every of thoſe particulars in the poynt, which are the ſeverall ſteps in the way to happineſſe: we handled it ſuccinctly in theſe branches.
Firſt, to exhort every-one to labour for ſound knowledge and beliefe.
Secondly, to put every one, upon the proſecution of theſe ſoveraigne affections, of feare and love.
The laſt branch, which I intend now to diſpatch, is, that thoſe that have both theſe, and have made a good ground-worke and foundation of knowledge and beliefe, and are not altogether defective in ſweet and holy affections towards God; would be carefull to crowne both theſe with ſincere repentance, and obedience.
That is the thing I ſhall now treat of:Get repentance, Obedience. in the proſecution of which I ſhall take the ſame order that I did in the former: which … to propound it in theſe three particulars.
1 Firſt (I ſhall take up what I intimated in the explication: becauſe it will bee needfull here for the preſſing of the point) what kind of obedience and repentance we ſhould aime at, and having briefly circum…cribed that,
2 I ſhall ſhew what courſe we ſhould ſteere in, and what way wee ſhould take, for acquiring and improving of our repentance and obedience, that we may attaine unto it, and really exhibite it.
2 And laſtly, bring ſome few conſiderations, wherefore, that ſhould put us on, and provoke us to this duty and care.
Firſt, what kind of obedience and repentance we ſhould aime at:What for the
In regard of
1 The Act:
2 The Manner of obedience and repentance.
I ſhall comprehend them both, though I ſhall proſecute rather the point of obedience, as being the maine in this place: But the maine of both is the manner, Manner.that we may underſtand what manner of obedience wee ſhould aime at; It muſt bee ſincere.
I ſhall expreſſe all very briefely in theſe two words: which though they may ſeeme too repugnant the one to the other, yet you ſhall find otherwiſe:Sincere. Sincere obedience I circumſcribe in that which is
1 Formall,
2 Cordiall obedience.
Formall obedience.1 Formall obedience: I meane not that which barely hath a ſhew▪ and ſhadow of obedience; but that which is obedience in propriety, and formality of obedience; that hath the very formality, and proper nature of obedience: For it is not meerely the opus operatum, the work done that makes a thing obedience; A man may come, and worke in my field, and do that ſame worke which I doe hire another to doe; he may come I ſay, and doe the worke, but hee doth it not upon my command, neither is it therefore obedience unto me; neither is it done in reference unto me, but he doth it for ſome other end of his owne, and it is his owne buſineſſe, and in this caſe a man is not bound to give him wages, for hee never covenanted with him for it: And ſo it is in this caſe; there may be many duties done in the ſpecies and kindes of them, or acts of obedience; but if it be not done with reſpect to God, and conſcience of his Commandement; it is not formally obedience: For you may remember that I noted in the application three Intrinſecall Charracters,Intrinſecally, in the true which did deſcribe the quality, and the property of obedience:
1 The firſt was; that wee muſt take heede, that our obedience ariſe from the right riſe and root;Riſe. that it have the right root from whence it ſprings and flowes; for that is all in all to make it proper obedience: as now when it ſprings from thoſe things that I mentioned in the other branch of the poynt; that is, from a grounded knowledge of the will of God, and faith;From knowledge, faith. that it is Gods will I ſhould carry my ſelfe ſo: and when it ſprings from a a holy feare and love of God, Feare, love.that I live conſcientiouſly and reſpectively, to approve my ſelfe to him in the diſcharge of my duty: this is the firſt thing neceſſary in the formality of obedience: it is not otherwiſe formally of the nature of obedience, nor cannot expect that acceptation and reward from God, which he will beſtow on obedience.
2 And beſides the right root, there muſt be right rule, Rule.by which our obedience muſt be ſquared: It is an ordinary obſervation, that a man cannot draw (even in naturall things) a long ſtreight line perfectly ſtreight, except he draw it by ſome rule: it is not the ſteddieſt hand that can doe it exactly, but there will be ſome nookes, and therefore men uſe to take a rule to draw a line by: I am ſure it muſt bee ſo in ſpirituall obedience: a man muſt have an eye to the Word of God, to make that his Card and Compaſſe to ſaile by, to make that his rule and warrant of his actions; or elſe though he hit (as it were) hab nab at ſome circumſtances, yet it is not formall obedience, becauſe it is not regulated according to Gods Rule: Now though a man may hand over head (as they ſay) make ſome haſty and tumultuous doings, patch up a great deale of mud together to make a wall, not caring for a ſquare to make it perpendicular, yet if a man would build a Temple, or ſtately Palace, he muſt doe it perpendicular, it muſt be ſtraightly built according to an exact line and meaſure, or elſe one part will overtop an other, and all tumble downe: It is ſo in this caſe, every thing that is not ſquared, and regulated, and ruled by the rule of Gods Word; what ever materiality it may have, it hath little or no formality of obedience: Gods Word muſt be the patterne; and thoſe examples that are propounded to us, and ſo farre as they are propounded to us for examples: In a word, all muſt be regulated by the Word of God; that muſt be the rule of our actions, if we wil performe right obedience.
3 Laſtly, Obedience that is formally right, muſt have the right race, Race.ſcope, end: as I doe it out of conſcience to God, and regulate it, not according to my owne fooliſh fancy, but his VVord; ſo I muſt levell all to his glory: not that I exclude my owne ſalvation and good, for they are ſubordinate, and may worke well together; but the more that is ſwallowed up, emptying ones ſelfe, and wholly nullifying a mans ſelfe, not looking to himſelfe, but devoting himſelfe to Gods glory, the more noble, and more excellent the work is.
And this is that I meane by formall obedience: I ſhall expreſſe but a word concerning the other branch: It muſt be cordiall, or hearty,Cordiall. and ſincere obedience, as I expreſſed it in the generall.
Now (as I noted formerly, and therefore ſhall but mention it now) there bee two extrinſecall cognizances, Cognizances.by which a man may gueſſe of a mans ſincerity, and cordialneſſe, which we muſt aim at: they are,
1. Vniverſality.
2. Perpetuity of obedience.
I. VVe muſt labour and take care to exhibit not a lame, but a compleat obedience, univerſally:Vniverſall. Now there may be mentioned a three-fold Vniverſality neceſſary in this caſe.
I. Vniverſall, Extending to the whole law.extending to the compaſſe of the whole law: A man muſt not be narrow handed; hee muſt not be Funambulus virtutum, as Tertullian ſpeakes, going in a narrow tract of obedience: not thinking becauſe he hath one vertue, he hath done a great exploit, and attained the favour of God by it (and it may be thinke that may be an excuſe to bear him out in a great many other failings) but he muſt have reſpect to all Gods commandements: his walke and compaſſe of duty muſt be as large as the compaſſe of both the tables, in duty towards God, and man.
2 Vniverſall in an other reſpect too: viz. to the whole compaſſe of the law a little more intimate:In negative and affirmative Precepts. I meane both in negative and affirmative obedience; abſtaining from every evill the law forbids; keeping a mans ſelfe pure and undefiled from the guilt of any of thoſe things that croſſe that holy law; and endeavouring earneſtly in every good: not ſatisfying a mans ſelfe that he is negatively good; that is, hee is not thus or thus, or as ſuch are; but a man muſt be affirmatively perfect too; hee muſt extend to all that God requires: we muſt not onelyonly commit, or practiſe that which God commands us to doe; but omit alſo that which he hath forbidden us to commit: and performe our obedience in both kindes.
3 To the whole man.3 Laſtly, the Law of God reacheth to the whole man, and therefore I extend it ſo farre: If wee would have our obedience beare the Character of ſincerity,In thought. then it muſt reach the thoughts, and bents of the inward man; and the very inward bent of the heart and affections; it knits all together: It reacheth the words, Word.and layeth a law on the tongue and ſpeeches, neither of theſe muſt violate Gods Law: and as by a ſteddy rule it reacheth to actions too, wherein the principality is, and the greateſt manifeſttaion: and he that would exhibite his obedience ſo as may be accepted, and accounted of as ſincere, muſt approve himſelfe in this univerſality; approve himſelfe in his thoughts words and deeds:Deed. yea I ſay, in his very deeds and actions, and thoughts: not onelyonly taking care of the outſide to make that cleane; but to purge himſelfe inwardly; and rather to bee rich in good workes; to have the greateſt part of his ware in the inner part of his ſhop, and not all in the fore ſide, on the board or ſtal; not in a bravado, in ſome outward expreſſion of words; but in ou… very thoughts we muſt be conformable to the Law of God, and in the very beatings of our heart and affections: that is the third thing, and ſincerity demonſtr…tes it ſelfe in the univerſality of it, whereas hypocriſie comes exceeding ſhort.
2 It muſt approve it ſelfe too in perpetuity: 2 Perpetuall.Sincerity ſhewes it ſelfe by a conſtant courſe of obedience towards God and man: Not to hamper a little at ſome peeces of obedience; to have ſome times, ſome good intentions; ſome good thoughts; ſome good ſpeeches; to goe to the Church now and then; and as ſoone as ever a man is out againe, to turne to his vomit of ſwearing, and drunkeneſſe, and filthineſſe, and all kind of exceſſe. Tis not ſincerity to be ſeemingly conſcientious and devout, to lift up the eyes in the Church; but to cheate and cozen in the ſhop: tis not to make a labyrinth, to be out and in, backward, and forward; but there muſt be a perpetuall, and a conſtant courſe: For if grace be truly rooted in the heart, it will bee a perpetuall ſpring: not like a poole, or ſome current, which after ſome raine it may be runnes very faſt; not upon ſome fits to runne a great deale; but if it bee from a ſincere roote and principle, it will ſhew the ſincerity of it in its perpetuity: And though it bee not able to keepe that pace that it deſires, yet it will not ſtart out of the way, but be conſtant in it: Tardus viator, &c. the ſlow and ſoft paced traveller, is better then a nimble hunter; though the one runs far in a day, and nimble; yet the other comes to his journeyes end: and this is one of the maine Characters, of ſincerity, that there is a perpetuity: And therefore the Scripture and Divines have made this diſtinction of grace: There is grace that is true; and grace that is temporary: A temporary grace for the outward act, a wicked man may have, an hypocrite may reach it; but time will diſcover it, Truth is the daughter of time: It will bee manifeſt in time: A man muſt keepe a conſtant courſe and tenour of obedience in his life, and that is a Character of ſincerity; Theſe I ſay are but extrinſecall ones; yet wee cannot have a fairer and more legible one then theſe, univerſality, and perpetuity; theſe onelyonly crowne a good man, and doe demonſtrate his ſincerity.
How, in,2 But how may one that is willing and ſenſible of the truth and equity of this courſe, attaine unto it? There bee many difficulties, and many repugnancies of the fleſh to keepe a man off from ſuch a courſe of obedience towards God: how may a man therefore (notwithſtanding theſe rubbes) attaine unto it, and raiſe his mind, and faſten it this way?
For that, I will ſay but theſe two things, viz.
Some things in generall, and
Some things in particular:
In generall: generall.there be three ſteppes (as it were) and degrees, which are very conſiderable, to bring a man to that pitch; and to faſten him in a ſteady courſe of obedience: as
1 A deepe and ſerious conſideration of our wayes: Deep and ſerious conſideration.examining and conſidering our wayes, and pondering our ſteps; and ſtudying to beat downe that which is contrary to the right way; to ſee the deformity of the one way, and the bents of the other way, let there bee this ſerious conſideration:
2 From this wee ſhould proceede to ſtrong reſolution;Strong reſolution. to bind our hearts to the good behaviour: to ingage our ſelves by vowes and covenants to GOD, to walke in that way, which upon ſadde, and ſerious, and ſober conſideration I have diſcovered to bee the good way: Indeavour I ſay, to come to reſolution of ſpirit; to ſay, I will keepe the Commandements of my GOD: and therefore I will beate off all other things, that would keepe me off, or interrupt me in that way: There muſt bee ſtrong reſolutions: which had neede ever and anon to bee repaired, becauſe they are apt to grow ſicke and faint and weake: It may be for a while a man may hold out well; but if our reſolutions bee not renewed, they will grow ſlacke: therefore ever and anon we had need renew our reſolutions, vowes, and covenants.
And (as I have formerly expreſſed) there may bee conſidered a threefold time, in an orderly courſe (beſides an extraordinary) wherein it is meete for a man to take up his ſpirits, and ſet them in a right temper of reſolution, viz. Firſt, wee ſhould doe it every day: Every day even a heathen man could ſay, call thy ſelfe to an account, and conſider thy wayes: ſee how thou doſt walke or decline, or thrive and proſper in obedience, and repaire thy ſtrength, renew thy covenant every day: And againe doe it more ſolidly every weeke, every Lords day, when we have further helpes to ſtrengthen us; when wee have the preaching of the Word, to quicken us, and to worke upon our ſpirits and put us on more: Take an occaſion to doe it yet more ſeriouſly every monethmonth, when wee come to the Lords Table, and partake of thoſe ſeales, the ſubſtance of which is the renewing of our covenant with God.
Doe it yet more often, beſtow yet more time in meditating upon our wayes;Reinforcing. and reinforcing our ſelves upon new reſolutions; humbling our ſelves for what wee have failed: and even as a horſe will do, after every ſtumbling make ſo much more ſpeed, ſo after al our ſtumblings and failings, let us recover and inforce our ſelves ſo much the more. To omit all extraordinary caſes, and extraordinary perſons, and extraordinary times, and motions of Gods ſpirit, and all other extraordinary occaſions, wee muſt take this courſe of ſerious examination, and ſtrong reſolution.
Speedy execution.3 And then there remains nothing, but ſpeedy execution, to let upon this, which is the third thing in the generality, and which I will expreſſe a little more particularly:
And there bee but two things that I will mention as moſt conſiderably helpfull to ſet a man upon and ſtrengthen him in a way of obedience.In ſpeciall.
Firſt of all,Repaire and increaſe in Knowledge. the repairing and increaſing of thoſe former things in the poynt, as namely, your knowledge, labour for a new improvement every day; increaſe your knowledge: Let the word of God dwell plenteouſly among you: ſtrive more to know what the good and acceptable will of God is: build your ſelves up more in your knowledge, and this is one ſtep toward our obedience.
Increaſe your faith and beliefe;Faith. cleaving and aſſenting to the word of God; beliefe, that is a good helpe: It is unbeliefe that is a great rubbe hindring us from ſetting upon the wayes of obedience: for becauſe wee doe not beleeve, therefore we doe not doe. But the more firmely we beleeve the more ſtrongly wee ſhall runne the wayes of Gods Commandements.
Againe, increaſe your holy affections of feare and love. Increaſe a holy feare of God: Feare.often ſet his Majeſty before your eyes: often thinke upon the holineſſe, the excellencie, and the purity of his nature: thinke on his Majeſty in all reſpects, think upon his All ſeeing eye, and upon his All-knowing knowledge: that he takes an account of all a mans wayes, and all his actions: and this will worke a holy feare of his Majeſty, and that holy feare will put it upon holy obedience: Increaſe alſo your love and ſweet affections towards God: labour to ſee,Love. not only excellencie to aſtoniſh, but beauty in God to move us to love, and ſweetnes to inflame our love: labour to ſee all the goodneſſe and ſweetneſſe that is in him: and this will wonderfully raiſe our thoughts to love him; and that love infinitely ſet us on in a way of obedience to him. This I ſay will be a great helpe: for the truth is, nothing in this kind commeth off hanſomly from us, if it comes not from love; it is againſt the hair, if it come not from a principle of love: whereas on the otherſide (as the ſaying was) Marti arma non ſunt onera: The commandements of God will not be burthenſome to us, if we love God: ſo that now the increaſing, and the renewing of every one of theſe former things, wil be a meanes to ſet us upon obedience: for every one of them ſervs proportionably, for the watering of the very root of obedience, to make it thrive and proſper: though I doe not now (for it is not neceſſary, if I would make a young tree grow that I have planted, that I ſhould goe to the top, or boughes of the tree, and caſt water there, it is but frivolous; for it ſufficeth to caſt the water at the root; for it is the root that nouriſheth all the branches; and all the ſap, it is firſt at the roote, and ſo conveighed to the boughes and branches:) So it is in this caſe: I doe not ſpeake of watering the top of obedience, to make it flouriſh outwardly: but water the root, with this knowledge, and theſe affections (which are the root of all the actions of obedience) and then there will naturally iſſue forth the fruit of obedience: For if theſe be kept well and ſtrong: if theſe be renewed and furthered; the other will be a naturall iſſue out of it.
2. But yet to ſpeake a little more particularly:Exerciſe theſe. The maine thing that will helpe us in obedience, is the very act and exerciſe of obedience: Every act is ſtrengthned, and every habit is ſtrengthned, by the exerciſe of many acts of that habit; and it groweth to be ſtrengthned by frequent uſe: obedience is a thing that cannot bee otherwiſe ſtrengthned, but only by meere practice: So that this is the Maine, viz. the ſetting upon the worke, not only meditating, and pondering upon it; and thinking what I ought to doe to obey God, but when I doe know what his will is, I muſt ſet upon the doing of it, I muſt not diſpute about the thing, but fall upon the doing of the thing, which I know I ought to doe.
And now in this there be two things.
Some things muſt bee taken heed of that will hinder us in the practiſe of obedience.Take heed
And ſome things, that we muſt take care of, that will exceedingly further us in a courſe of obedience.
I will but touch upon ſome few things in either.
Reaſoning. Take heed of ſuch carnall things, Of Carnalas will choak us in the very thoughts, when we are to goe about a courſe of obedience: I ſay will choake the very thoughts: as 1. Carnall Reaſon: It is a wonderful thing to ſee (and yet no wonder when we conſider our naturall condition) how many things will boyle (as it were) out of the heart; how many fooliſh excuſes, and how many vain pretences, to keepe a man off from duty, when a man hath ſome thoughts to goe about it: as when a man hath ſome thoughts to goe, and heare the Word of God, then ariſeth ſuch an hindring thought, as thus. I can ſit at home, and reade the while, and ſave my labour of going: I know what the Miniſter wil ſay, viz. that it is but faith and obedience we muſt labour for: And ſo many other things there may be, and indeed ſo many, as that they will take us off from the thing we ſhould, and indeed otherwiſe would doe: It is ſtrange to thinke of the infinit reaching, and racking a mans wit to make excuſes, ſome thought of other is in the way, either it is not now time, or ſome thing elſe there is alway; ſome diſputes that reaſon wil ſuggeſt, by which wee contradict our intents, and choake our purpoſes of doing this or that duty Take heed therefore of canall reaſon, it is a dangerous thing to word it with God: but when a man once ſeeth his way before him; then it is haſt to fall upon it; let there bee no cunctating, no delaying in the work for ſome fooliſh reſpect: Remember this; there is nothing in the world, but may be ſpoken againſt; if a man would give way to every reaſoning: Is there any truth in the world, but may be reaſoned againſt? is there any truth ſo cleare, but wit will find ſomething to ſay againſt it? But it is no matter what men, or thy owne carnall reaſon ſay, ſo Gods word ſaith otherwiſe: And therefore away with all ſuch fooliſh carnall reaſonings as theſe: I would doe ſuch a duty; but there is a ſecret ſuggeſtion of my heart now, that I thinke it not beſt to do it, or I will doe it ſome other time: but away with theſe; when wee know what we ſhould doe, fall on it and doe it: Away with carnall feare, Feare:away with feare, take heed of it: Ruſticus expectat &c. A countrey man expects at the water ſide to goe over, he ſeeth the waterrunning, and is reſolved to ſtay till it was all gone, but hee conſidered not that it came from a Fountaine: And ſo as there wil be diſputes alwais, ſo there is a ſpring of difficulties that will ariſe, as indeed there can beno good action, but there is, or may be ſome danger, or difficulty in the performing of it; and ſomething that may be a reſtraint againſt the performance of it; Carnall feare will hinder; I ſhall have ſome ſhame, a nick name (it may be) ſet upon me; I ſay carnall feare of ſhame may hinder, that is an other: but we muſt rectifie this feare, with the feare of God, nay mortifie it: A man muſt not reſpect ſuch fooliſh things, nor feare ſome Bug-beares, but fear God: And let that feare extinguiſh all carnall feare: that (may otherwiſe diſcourage and diſhearten us in the thoughts of any duty.
3. There is likewiſe carnall ſloth,Sloath. and ſluggiſhneſſe of our nature, whereby wee learne to delay and put off; and the Devill is ready to envegle us with it, and put it into our heads; that this may be done ſoone enough before I die; what, ſhall I be godly, and holy; and be a Saint before I come to heaven: yes I tell you, you muſt; you muſt be Saints here; or elſe you ſhall never bee Saints there: Doe not delay, nor dally, nor ſuffer your corrupt nature therefore to keepe you off, by any reaſon that can be objected againt this: Do not fall off from the duty out of a meere ſluggiſhnes, to be loath to put your hands to your mouth, as they ſay: loth to put out your hands to reach the Crowne. Take heed of theſe carnall things.
2. Take heed of worldly diſtractions:Worldly diſtractions. It is a wonder to think, into what a labyrioth, the world leeds a man, if hee will dance after the pipe of it: ſometime with this thing, and ſometime with the other thing; ſo that there is no time for any duty to God; doe it I muſt, and not ſlothfully; I ſee that this is a duty, and there is no excuſe to bee made: but the ſubtilty of the world inſinuates it ſelfe into us; drawing us from one taske to an other taske, from one occaſion to an other oceaſion, from one viſite to an other viſite; and complement after complement; that a man eats out all his precious time, & cats out al good thoughts, while a man danceth in that maze, and followeth the world in a wild Gooſe chafe: And certainly if a man will ſtay while all worldly buſines bee done, a man ſhall never have any time for God: But remember one thing is neceſſary: take your ſelvs off from worldly distractions, do not plunge your ſelves over head and eares in the world: Be not ſo deep in the world as too too many are; that have nothing left, nor ſpirit, nor time for God, nor for their own ſouls: But remember foreign, let not the world have al, beſtow ſome time upon God, ſome time upon your ownſoules.
2. I will add but a word for the affirmative part,take care of and that is concerning what you muſt take care of.
In a word,1 Hint of take the hint of al outward opportunities & occaſions, when God offers an oportunity of doing him ſervice, & of doing any act of obediēce, do it.
2. And take the hint of inward motions: when the Spirit of God, and the dictate of our conſcience, doth ſay, this is the way, walke in it; and thou oughteſt to doe this; doe it.
1. Take the hint of opportunity,1 Opportunity: as ſuppoſe thou haſt an opportunity of prayer; take heed of all thoſe creepings, and windings; thoſe ſerpentine tricks of the fleſh and the world that would ſtay thee; and when thou haſt an opportunity to prayer offered, lay hold upon it, and make uſe of it: take I ſay the occaſion; when God hath now led thee to privacy, thou art then where thou maiſt freely have communion with God: Take alſo that opportunity, that thou haſt offered, to doe good to thy neighbour, while wee have opportunity let us doe good to all: It is not good to let ſlip any opportunity; that is a certaine truth: Doe not neglect therefore, nor ſlightly, (but upon juſt ground) let fall any opportunity: when God gives a man an occaſion, and an opportunity, it is Gods call; and therefore let no opportunity ſlip: It may be now, thou haſt a good knowledge of the waies of God, thou haſt a good affection to it, and thou doſt not act yet according to it: but when there comes any opportunity for us, let us take that occaſion: let that wind blow us over to God by duty, let that opportunity make all move to God.
2 Take the hint of the motion of Gods Spirit; I doe not ſpeake of any extraordinary motion,Inward motions. or revelation: It is not needfull for me to ſtay for them; neither are they ſuch common things, as ſome fanaticall, and fantaſtick ſpirits have, and do imagine (whether out of ſtrength of fancy; or wickedneſſe of policy, I know not) yet notwithſtanding the ſpirit of God hath divers wayes of revelation, as in his word, or upon ſome occaſion of ſome acts of the ſpirit: the ſpirit of grace that God hath planted in a mansheart, that ſtirs him up to good: And this ſpirit of God doth often times whiſper to us, ſaying, this is a duty thou muſt doe; and thy conſcience doth witneſſe with the ſpirit that it is ſo; and thy owne affections (if thou haſt any heaven ward, duty-ward) do ſtirre thee alſo; now theſe come on thee, doe not neglect the offer of the ſpirit; doe not, quench the ſpirit of God: Thou haſt it may bee, a motion to goe and pray to God, and this comes from a regular ground; and it is alſo ſeaſonable: doe not lightly then extingtiſh and quench the ſpirit through neglect, drive not away the ſpirit, God is willing to ſtrive with thee, and thou ſhalt not drive away the ſpirit if thou art but …achable, if thou haſt but an eare to hear; oh …f God wil ſweetly converſe with us, and put an h…nt to quicken good motions in us: if hee will (I ſay). O let us cheriſh them, by putting ourſelves ponduty! O when God offers the hint by his ſpirit, take it; take that hint, I ſay, A man may doe more in an houre of prayer, when hee hath the motions, and the power of the ſpirit, when the fore-runner of it, is ſome ſweet motion caſt into the heart of a man; ſome ſweet touch of meditation puts him upon duty, O then I ſay, a man would make uſe of the ſailes of that hint by that wind, hee might diſpatch a great voyage of prayer, and returne richly laden. Doe not looſe therfore theſe opportunities: and ſo for any other p ar of duty, or obedience, doe notextinguifli or ſlightly turne back thoſe motions of the ſpirit of God; thoſe voyces of thy conſcience within thee, calling upon thee for the performance of duty, doe not neglect it, but let that time bee thy time; for now it is a time of winning grace; and God that hath ſtirred thee up, will certainly ſtrengthen thee: when I am private, and am at leaſure, then is a peculiar and proper time, and when Gods ſpirit moves me, and telleth me this is the time, make uſe of this efficacious motion.
3.3 Motives: There remaines now the third thing in this branch, viz. to propound ſome conſiderations to preſſe on this duty.
To diſpatch that, I ſhall propound but ſome two, or three.
1. Conſider that obedience is the ſcope, Obedience the ſcope of both.and the end, and the perfection of both the former; the very top, and crowne of knowledge and affections; the very height that they reach unto: knowledge is give that we may bee the fitter to obey: and affections are given but to ſtirre us up to obeditence; and therefore we ſhall looſe the fruit, and ſcope, and the end of all the other preparatives, if we do not adde this: All acts of our underſtandings and affections will be imperfect, if we doe not adde obedience: for that is the ſcope and end why God gives the other: why the Spirit of God worketh the other in a mans heart; it is all but to prepare a man for this: Now if a man be furniſhed with armes to fight, he muſt fight when he is called to uſe them: And ſo in this caſe, when God giveth a man affections, and endowments, if a man uſe them not, what is hee the better?
2.Scale of truth This is the very ſeale of the truth of both the former: A man can have no aſſurance that hee hath knowledge that is ſaving; or that his affections are ſuch as are right; except both theſe ſhew themſelves by inclining us to obedience; for there is a natural l dependency betweene this and the former; betweene the actions of obedience, and the root that I ſpake of: It is impoſſible but they muſt breake forth, and ſhew themſelves in actions (at leaſt) in ſeaſonable time: It is true the tree doth not alway ſhew the life of it, by the leaves and fruit; (they are ſomething ſeparated from life) but yet that tree that doth not ſhew, (though it lye dead all the winter) that it lives in the ſpring; I ſay if it doe not ſpring up in the Sun-ſhine in ſummer; if it doe not then flouriſh, it is dead: So in this caſe, certainely though actions doe not alwayes accompany us; a mans affections may bee ſtrong in him; but yet there is more required to action, then affection: the intrinſecal character of grace lieth principally in the affections: and therfore when a man comes to an inward breach, that is the worſt: the externals may faile, and the Apoſtle complained of that, Miſerable man that I am: his will was good, his affections were good, but hee had not power to act; But yet when there is a ſeaſon of actions, and all things concurre; when God affords other conveniences in abundance to produceactions, if a man doth not bring forth action then, certainely I will conclude that knowledge is dead knowledge, and thoſe affections are dead, that life is gone out of him, or elſe it would ſhew it ſelfe in this warme ſummer, and wee ſhould ſee both leaves and fruit: for it cannot lye hidden, (if a man have affection to God) but it will break forth upon occaſion: Obedience therefore is the ſeale of truth; & we can never evidence the truth of our knowledge, and our affections, except upon occaſion wee ſhew it by the fruitfulneſſe of our actions.
3.Root of al ends. And againe this obedience is the Seale and immediate root of all theſe ends, which wee ſhall propound to our ſelves: It is the immediate root of our Conſolation: 1 Owne conſolation:A man may gather comfort from his obedience to God, in the performance of duty: I doe not ſay it is the proper root, but it is the moſt immediate root; for you know apples doe not grow out of the root of the tree; but they grow out of the top of the branches, and yet they grow by vertue of the root: but the branch is the moſt proper place on which they are to grow: So it is in this caſe; comfort is immediately gathered as it were from the forecite in the actions, in the utmoſt branches of the actuall obedience: Immediately wee have but little comfort from our affections, becauſe wee have bu… little aſſurance of the ſincerity of our affections; but our comfort is gathered, and multiplied in our abounding in the worke of the Lord: The more obedience, the more comfort: I cannot expreſſe it better then thus: A mans body is warme when his clothes are on him, to keep him warme: the clothes give mee not that warmth that I have; but my body, and yet the clothes keepe me in warmth; for without them I ſhould ſuffer ſome cold in my externall parts. And ſo it is in this caſe: Though our comfort doe not originally ariſe from our obedience, yet our obedience keepes our comfort warme: The more wee compaſſe our ſelves about with obedience, the more we heape up things, and doe them according to the rule of Gods word, and our conſcience; the more we abound in theſe things, the more wee keepe our comfort warme: out of what feare or love we doe them to God, there is the vitall excellency of them: but this is mightily cheriſhed by theſe breakings out in actions of obedience; it is the ſeale of our own conſolation.
Neigbours edification.2. The edification of our neighbour, which ſhould be an other end wee ſhould aime at: wee ſhould depend more upon our obedience, then upon any thing elſe for that end: Indeed knowledge may be a meanes to edifie, and ſo may our affections too, but all this cannot doe any good without action: Let your workes be ſeene before men, that they may glorifie your heavenly Father: we provoke others by our holy patterne; Some thing may lye in us, which they cannot take notice of; our knowledge and affections may lye hid: they will not have the treaſure of grace, except it be manifeſted to them, by workes of obedience, as of inſtruction to them, or reproofe with tenderneſſe of heart; our edification, and building up of our neighbour, flowes from ſuch actions. As the Candell doth ſhine through every pane of the Lanthorne to give light: ſo our knowledge and affection ſhines through every act of obedience to edifie our neighbour.
And this is the way to glorifie God, Gods glorification.and adorne Religion; to beautifie that, and caſt an honour upon it: If wee know, and can talke of Religion, and will be contentious for it; in truth it is ſome-thing; But alas it is nothing: So farre as our way tends to the glory of God, it is in actions of obedience: our knowledge, or our affections immediately doe not glorifie God: It is alone our actions of obedience, that put an honour, and glory, and beauty upon God, and upon the religion of God: whereas Religion fares ill, if men be all in tongue, and nothing in deed, or actions: If we put all in our pretence of affections of holineſſe; and walke not in the actions of holineſſe; this will be a diſgrace, and ſcandall to Religion: The performance of holy actions, makes men ſee the beauty and excellency of Religion, and doth ſtrongly advance the kingdome of God, and the glory of God: I had thought to have added ſomething in a generall way:In generall Seeke al theſe that wee ſhould take heed that we do aime at all theſe; viz. knowledge, and affections, and obedience, I ſay to exhort you to aime at all theſe: becauſe none of theſe alone are ſufficient to note our ſincerity; nor to ſupport us in miſery; nor advance us to felicity, and happineſſe: But every one of them muſt goe together; And therefore take heed of all; for all theſe doe but make up the way to the true happineſſe, the thing that is ſo deſireable as in the firſt point, that is ſo miſerable if it be only in the world, as in the ſecond point, that is reall and royall, if we poſſeſſe our ſelves of God, as in the third point; and the thing that is attaineable to by theſe things, as in this laſt point: and therefore we muſt ſet upon this way, which will bring to that happineſſe we deſire.
If we doe but well weigh (to paſſe by the neceſſity of the thing;Neceſſity of the thing. we cannot be without happineſſe, it is a thing no man can want: and to paſſe by the opportunities of grace that GOD hath given us,Opportunity of grace: to bring our ſelves in a way for the attaining of happineſſe; to paſſe by all theſe I ſay) the mortality of man, Mortality of man.and the mutability of the times: and there is nothing in the world that can ſecure us,Mutability of times. or enſure us of any good: Let us therfore labour after this, to enſure this happineſſe to our ſoules;Excel…e…cy of grace. that what ever come we may be ſure of this, and if we be we ſhall doe well: I cannot enſure you of anything that you have; you are now rich, I cannot enſure you ſhall be long ſo: I cannot enſure you of your health: you are now healthful and ſtrong, but I cannot enſure it: I can not enſure your lives, you are living now, but how long ye ſhall you nor I know not: I can only enſure you of this, God and your happineſſe; if you have God you ſhall have happineſſe; yea I can enſure you of your God, and happineſſe in this way: and then whether I am rich, or poore; whether I am ſicke or well; whether I live or dye; If I can be inſured of this, that I ſhall be a happy man, I have all, if I can make that ſure: and this is the way to it, by walking this way, you and I may attaine it: Labour therefore to get ſound knowledge; and joyne to that ſoveraigne affections; and to crowne both with ſincere obedience: and this way will aſſure us of it; viz. that what ever come wee ſhall be happy. ⁂
FINIS.
Imprimatur.
THOMAS VVYKES. Jan. 20. 1639.
End of the text · John Stoughton, The Righteous Mans Plea to True Happiness (1640)