The Beauties of Bethel, Treatise · Answer 7
Answ. To which I answer: first; if such men and women conceiued aright of this ordinance of God, and that in it the Lord of this great house had appointed vsus his stewards to breake vntounto his family the bread of life; they would bee farre enough from such prophane reasonings, sauouring so rankely of the flesh. For did wee euer heare a man in his wittes reason thus madly? why I hope wee may liue with a great many fewer meales, then two eueryevery day. I hope to eate meate once in a monethmonth, or once in a quarter were very sufficient; and one meale well eaten were better then all these meales. Now if wee would thinke him mad that in earnest should thus reason against his life: how can wee thinke him any better, that vponupon no other ground is resolued to starue his soule being his better part? which yet no lesse needeth his dayly bread then the bodye doth. The Iewes must go forth eueryevery morning to seeke Mannah, and to gather it; which they did cheerefully: for although they some-times vnthankfully fell out (like children with their meate,) yet it seemes they grudged not their labour of gathering it dayly: nay whereas they were commanded to gather it only on the sixe dayes, and in the sixt day double for it selfe and the seauenth, yet they runne out the seauenth day too, against the commandement to gather Exo. 16. 27.it. God might hauehave giuen them an haruest of Mannah once a yeare, as hee doth of graine vntounto vsus, or once a quarter, or once a monethmonth: but his wisdome saw it good to put them to more paines to gather it once a day. And wherefore? not onelyonly because hee would hauehave them depend vponupon him for their daily bread: but also because it was a type of Christ himselfe, who is that true bread which came downe from heauen: Ioh. 6. 48.whome both they and all beleeuers were dayly to hunger after, and dayly to seeke in such means as himselfe hath appointed: as whose obtaining and finding is well worth our dayly paines and industry. And surely the very Iewes shall rise vp in iudgement against all such Christians who will bee at no paines to seeke and finde Iesus Christ the true bread of life, of whom whosoeuer tasteth hee shall liue for euer: whereas the other were so painfull, without reasonings to meete with that foode which was but a shadow leading vntounto him: and of which our Sauiour saith; Your Fathers eate Mannah in the Ioh. 8. 49wildernesse and are dead.
Secondly consider whether the ancient Ancient beleeuers at more pains then vve.beleeuers came to heauen so easily as our daintie Protestants meane to doe. Wee read that those who were to worship in the old Testament, must rise and get them out of their houses, and build altars vntounto the Lord: they must bee both at paines and costes in the Gen. 12. 7. 8 & cap. 26. 25. & cap. 35. 3.seruice of their God. So did Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, and the Patriarches: and after them all the while that the ceremoniall law stood in force, eueryevery male must thrice a yeare appeare before the Lord at Ierusalem, were his dwelling neuer so remote or distant from the temple: yea they could goe marching forward with-out fainting through droughts and droppes, and would not giuegive ouer vntill they mette the Lord in Sion. Now if they tooke so much paines to seeke Christ in shadowes and obscurity in comparison; it is surely worth our double paines to enioy the substance, truth, and shining brightnesse of Christ, as at this day wee doe through the blessing of GOD in admirable euidence and clearenesse. But although the Lord hath granted vsus liberty to make shorter cuttes, and neede not so tire out ourselues in wearie pilgrimage to seeke his face, this is our condemnation that wee will not scarce goe out of our doores to meete with our GOD. The Queene of Saba that measured so many miles to heare the wisdome of Salomon, shall certainely rise vppe in iudgement against our people, who hauing a greater then Salomon here, are so farre from admiring, that they despise and contemne his wisdome.
But not to goe further in this point where bee the spirits of the faithfull martyrs of the former age, who hauehave passed the fire and water, and sword, and banishment, and all to enioy our liberties, which a number of vsus (their posteritie) count so slightly of as of the paring of our nailes?
Yea, where are become our homeborne, and ancient professors, who in the beginnings of the Gospell hauehave accounted foure, sixe, tenne, or more miles, a small Sabboth dayes iourney to heare a Sermon? such sweetnesse they found in the word, such a sweete face of God they beheld in his house, that they would hauehave gone a foote, nay bare-foote, rather then hauehave missed of that comfort. Surely the Lord hath either taken away ancient professors without succession; or else our eyes doe see a fearefull apostacie.
Thirdly, consider here whether euer any idolaters were so idle and secure Idolaters more painfull in their Idolatrie then we in the truth.in the worshippe of their false Gods, as many Christians professing the worshippe of the true GOD. And heere I might marshall the rankes of olde and latter ones, to whome no labours, no paines, no losses were accounted tedious or burdensome: euen while they offered their sweat and bloud also in sacrifice to the Diuell. What shall I speake of those who mingled the pittifull cryes of their tender children with their Musicke, while they were cast into the fire to bee burnt vp in sacrifice vntounto the idoll Molec? what of the trauells and paines of the Scribes and Pharisies, that would compasse sea and land to make a Proselite? What of Baals Priests lancing and cutting their flesh, before their idoll?
The blinded Papists at this day whip them-selues, make their faces leane with fasting, waste and consume their bodies with tedious pilgrimages to see some dead and rotten bones, and visit some apish idolls: shall now these satanicall seruices bee so auaileable to harden the vnbeleeuer against any crosses and bitternesse; that they will refuse no paine to goe to hell? and shall not the Lords owne ordinances and true religion carry so much power with them, as to bring those who professe them-selues his people out of their gates to knowe the right waye to heauen?
Fourthly what doth this heauinesse vntounto these ordinances argue but hearts out of heart with the best desires? for what we louelove and desire, no paines seemeth painfull for it. Many of these same persons will bee well content to toyle day by day, fare hard, breake their sleepe, eate the bread of carefulnesse; & all to lay a little money and wealth together; and some-times they scarce knowe for whome: and yet all this paines from day to day, is but a pleasure vntounto them, because their hearts and affections are carryed vntounto and set vponupon things below. In like manner did the louelove of God and Christ take vp the heart of any man (as eueryevery member of the true Church is sicke of this louelove) the sweetnesse of the exercises of religion, in which it is more and more conueyed into beleeuing soules, would bee sweeter then wine: that is, then most tastefull outward delights. Nay this louelove would shew it selfe stronger then death, nothing Cant. 8. 6.but death (if death it selfe) can dissolue it; much water cannot quench it, many floods cannot drowne it▪ that is; Many crosses, afflictions, trialls cannot vtterly ouer-come or extinguish it. Yea a mans whole substance will bee contemned in regarde of it. This sparckle of heauenly fire and seruencie will constraine a man, to cleaue vntounto the Lord in his ordinance, and groweth in time to such a burning desire of the glory of God as is able to carry a man beyond himselfe, yea euen to consume him, as Dauids zeale to Gods house did consume him.
And would to God all such secure Christians would at length begin to A glasse for secure christians to see their danger.conceiue of their danger, which is fearfull to such eyes as can behold it. For first, they are for the present destitute of the spirit of God, and so of all sauing graces, and lye vnderunder a fearefull damnation. Which truth is euident, in that wheresoeuer the spirit of God delighteth to dwell, there hee stirreth vp the heart to some good measure of cheerefulnesse in well-dooing, and keepeth it in a readinesse, and preparednesse to eueryevery good worke. For the office of the spirit is not onelyonly to enlighten the eye of the soule, that it can behold the beauties of Gods house, which it could neuer prie into before: but also to worke the will, and make it of vnwilling a willing wil. So as if before the presence of the spirit a man were as loth to heare, pray, read, as a Beare to the stake; now he is changed by that spirit which will not be idle: and is become a man wanting often power and abilitie; but to wil that which is good is present with him: the reasonings of the flesh, are partly subdued: the vnreadinesse which foiled his good duties before is in part foiled, & according to the measure of knowledge and faith, is the measure of his obedience daily increased: which things whosoeuer: hee bee that findeth them not in himselfe, hee hath not the spirit of Christ, and consequently is none of his.
2. They are lead by the spirit of sathan who ruleth in the hearts of the disobedient, whose old pollicie it is by this very perswasion of ease, to keepe such from the pure worship of God, as hee would make seruiceable in all manner of vnrighteousnesse. When the Lord had commanded all Israell that they should appeare before him to worship him in spirit and truth at Ierusalem: the diuell deuised a tricke, of which hee made Ieroboam his instrument, 1. King. 12. 28.which indeed turned to the corruption of all the ten tribes with most horrible idolatrie. He pitties the paines of the people; and it is too much for you to goe up to Ierusalem. It is a more Vers. 27.easie course and cutte to make two Calues, and set vp one at Dan, and an other at Bethel, and worship there. By this argument drawne from their ease, hee wonne all the people of God from their allegeance and seruice of their true GOD, to the worship of two Calues: and yet all was but out of pollicie, for hee feared if the people should goe to Ierusalem to worship, that their hearts would bee turned to their LORD euen to Rehoboam. Euen so the Diuell hauing taken captiue vnderunder his power such as are wilfullye departed from GOD, hath no waye to keepe them vnderunder his girdle, but by keeping them from sacrifizing at Ierusalem, hee feareth if they should diligentlye frequent the holy assemblies, and ioyne with other of the people of GOD in the word, prayer and Sacraments, that by this meanes they would returne to their naturall Lord. And therefore hee dayly suggesteth and perswadeth them to fauour them-selues, it is too great paines to goe to Church, you can pray at home, read at home, goe some time to Church to auoyde danger of lawe, and reproche of men, and it is enough. And as hee then preuailed, that the people went euen to Dan, so at this day, a number make Chappels of ease of their owne houses; others can pray as well (as their horses I had like to hauehave sayd, but) on their horse backes, as in the Church, whom for my part I can easily beleeue.
3. They hauehave a seale of perdition vponupon them, whosoeuer forsake carelesly the assemblies of Gods people here in earth, they shall certainely bee seperated from them, when too late they shal wish they had been wiser then to hauehave accounted their wayes foolish. Let vsus not forsake our fellowship as the manner Heb. 10. 25of some is, saith the holy Apostle.
Why what danger is there now and then to keepe from Church, I hope we may bee good Christians for all that? The Apostle tells vsus a reason, because this is a with-drawing of our selues to Verse. 39.perdition. It is to walke in the high waye to destruction. And indeede what other can such sworne enimies of Christ looke for, when cold Christians are sent away with such colde comforte euen from the dooing of those duties, which the other eyther neglect or contemne? for if the Lord threatneth his people, that although they might serue him in some outward seemely sorte, yet if they did it not with cheerefulnesse, and a good Deut. 28. 47.heart, they should serue their enemies: if such shall bee sent away with a cursse on their heads, can such as will neither hauehave part nor fellowship in this businesse, euer looke to bee heyres of blessing? Let them repent therefore of these their wickednesse, and praye GOD, that if it bee possible, the thought of their hearts may bee forgiuen them.
Lastly, what paines takest thou here but for thine owne profit? thinke not that thy godlinesse benefiteth Thy paints in religion profiteth thy selfe, not God.GOD, but thy owne selfe: as thy Atheisme hurteth not him but thy owne soule. Thou hereby bringest thy selfe where thou mayest beholde the face of thy GOD, whereby thy paines is plentifully returned with recompence. This face of God when it was yet vayled, did so draw the hearts of ancient beleeuers, that neither distance of place, nor difficultie of way, nor tediousnesse of weather, nor weaknesse or wearinesse of body could with-holde them from the beholding of in the place where hee had put his name.
And is the sight of the face of the Lord so happilye vncouered in our Ministerie, not worth the paines of looking vponupon? thy paines in this behalfe may entitle thee to all the priuiledges of Gods people before mentioned. And if those were not inough for thee, yet the God whom thou seekest (if thou so seeke him as hee is found of thee) hee is liberall and louing inough to make thy cup to runne ouer aboundantly aboue all that wee hauehave spoken or can thinke, and though all thy seruice is but dutie and farre vnderunder that, yet the LORD will not take thy labour for naught. Hee challengeth the seruants in his Temple, whether euer any of them did so much as open the doores, or Malac. 1. 10kindle a fire for sacrifice freely and without wages; no hee allowed them liberallye for such vnderunder-seruices. How then may wee thinke will hee requite such as are continually about him in his eye, and still behold his face in the presence-Chamber of his Church?
The latter sorte, which is also the last of which wee propounded to speake, are timerous and fearefull Christians, who thinke it better sleeping in a sound skinne, then in a sound conscience: and because this diligent frequenting of the Church, which we call them vntounto, is not without some reproche among the prophane and wicked Ob.of the world: they are lothe to pull their warme hands out of their bosome to sette to this Ploughe. They will not in such a way as men coūt Timerous & fearfull protestantshaeresie; or Praecisenes serue the God of their fathers, they will keepe an euen course and a good report while they hauehave it, and Sermon-gadders, and Sermon-mongers they will not bee counted.
Ans. Weerevnto I answer that as it is not amisse to cast our costes aforehand, yet must wee so lay our counters as that we desist not from building vppon our foundation: & in casting these costes wee cannot say that this course is exempted from reproch: Nay seeing Satans mallice is no whit abated neither in him-selfe, nor in his instruments, wee affirme that there cannot a childe so soone be borne into the Church, but the Dragon standeth before the woman to bee deliuered, to deuoure her childe so soone as euer it is brought forth: and if he cannot do that, he casteth out of his Reu, 12. 4. 16.mouth water like a flood, that she might bee carryed away of the flood. But yet the comfort is they are the rebukes of Heb, 11. 26 & cap, 13. 13.of Christ, both because they are vttered against him: hee accounteth them as against himself & he helpeth his seruants to beare them, becommeth a porter putting vnderunder his shoulder, as also disburdeneth no lesse displeasure against thē then if they were done against his own person. And this is rather a matter of reioycing, to partake of Christs sufferings yea, it is a peece of the blessednesse 1 Pet, …. 13. 14. & 2.of Christians to suffer for well doing and to bee railed vppon for Christes sake: And therefore a Christian must with Moyses esteeme these rebukes of Christ his greatest riches, although hee hadde the treasures of a Kingdome before him; else will hee neuer bee able to hold out vntounto the end of his saluation: Neuer therefore professe the name of Christ into which thou art baptized, if thou beest ashamed of it before men, neuer professe louelove to Christ any longer, if thou canst not indure a word for his sake; neuer professe, so fast to cleaue vntounto him that thou wilt rather die with him then deny him, if thou beest Meanes against the former feare.affraid of eueryevery damosels speach, putte on humility of heart that thou maist bee contented with abasement for his sake; that if any Michal shall mocke thee in thy reioycing before the Lord thou maist resolue that thou wilt yet bee more vilde; indure more lashes of the tongue, and more forrowes then soe, if GOD call thee vntounto it, rather then misse of such comfortes and matter of true ioy as before the Lord thou maist meete withall. And pray for courage and resolution to hold thee on, vndaunted in thy godly course. And seeing thou maist bee bolde so long as thou haste a good cause and a good conscience, putte on Nehem, 6. 10. 11.the spirit of that worthy Nehemiah. When hee had a prophecy (though a false one) that if hee did not take the Temple for his sanctuary that night, the enemies would come and slay him: his answer was: shoulde such a man as I flee? who is hee that beeing as I am would goe into the Temple to liue? I will not goe in. So should such a man as I who professe the Ghospel, who hauehave giuen my name to Christ, who knowe the Commaundement of GOD, and that this is the beaten way to heauen; troden by all such seete as euer walked in faith and obedience; should such a one as I forsake the assemblyes of Gods people? And that for the blasts of such as are of satans sinogogue: If it stood vppon my whole estate, my liberty, and losse of life it selfe, I would not doe it. I know whatsoeuer men accoumpt of mee whose corrupt iudgements would condemn euen the innocency of Christ him-selfe if hee liued againe vponupon the earth, if hee should bee dilligent at Sermons, yet seeing ye Lord hath honoured mee so highly as to become one of his houshold; and seeing his word doth iustifie my waies & my dilligence in his house, I am at a poynt, I care not what man can say, I feare nothing hee can doe against me. I hauehave a soule to saue, I must looke to that.
3. Vse. If our hearts delight be in these Reioyce that others inioy these liberties with vsus.assemblies, then wee cannot but breake out into the praise of God where euer we see these ordinances established: we cannot but reioyce when others inioy them with vsus as beeing the meanes by which men are redeemed vntounto God, and made Kinges and Priestes vntounto him. If Dauid were aliue againe he would lead vsus ioifully to Church. Of whom we neuer read that he danced but before the Arke. The Communion of Saints cannot but cause and raize our hearty reioycing for the greatest good which can befall the Church.
Now what is yt greatest blessednesse that God him-selfe can either promise or performe to the sonnes of men liuing in earth? surely euen this, to set his tabernacle amongst men, to dwell with them; & Leu, 26. 11. 12.become their God. This is the knitting vppe of all his mercies.
But what speake I of the Saints vponupon earth, seeing the Saints in heauen make it the matter of their heauenly songes, that out of all kindreds and tongues, Reu, 5. 9.and people, and nations, men are redeemed vntounto God. Dost thou see the desolate hauehave children as well as the marryed wife? Dost thou see the truth of the church inlarged? seest thou ye coūtries of Isa, 54. 1. 2.hir habitatiō spred out? Perceiuest yu the increase of her on the right hand and on the left? Examine here whether thy heart breaketh forth into holy reioycings, in that the barres are put into the rings of the Arke, whereby the glory of the Lord, after a sort walketh amongst his people; in that heauen is filling apace, by the accomplishing of yt number of the elect, & in yt the comming of lesus Christ hastneth for the final redemption of his body. Til thou findest this yu hast not found that affectiō of the Prophet heere commended vntounto thee.
2. The truth of this affection will make vsus call others to hauehave their parts Call others herevntowith vsus in these priuiledges. The Prophet Dauid though he was a King yet became such an humble companion of all them that feared the Lord, that hee Psal. 12 2. 1.thought it no disgrace to bee called by his people to ye Tabernacle. Some great Kings would hauehave thought it no great pollicy to hauehave giuen answer to such popular motions: or if hee had seene his people go, it were ynough as for himselfe he might hauehave greater matters in hand. But oh how doth religion beate downe high conceits! And maketh euen Kings take the Kingdome of God like little children? Dauid disdained not, but reioiced when they said to him Come let vsus go to the house of the Lord. He lost no honor; no it was his truest honor in the eies of God, and hearts of his people; yt he gaue them contentmēt and incouragement, in such an honorable motion as yt was. Faith in the heart will not so retire it selfe, but it will bee kindling, & calling on others: whence it is that we read in so many places of the Prophers, yt when people are conuerted to the faith, these voices should be soū ded from thē. Up let vsus go & pray before the Lord & seek the Lord of hoasts; I wil Zach, 8, 21. Isay, 2. 2. Micca, 4. 1.go also: And, vp let vsus go to the mountaine of the Lord, to the house of the God of Iacob & he wil teach vsus his waies, and wee wil walk in his paths: but especially it forceth Especially their owne family.vsus to bring our own families carefully to ye place of worship, as those for whom we must bee more countable: it bringeth vsus to yt holy resolution of Ioshua: that although none wil ioin with vsus in such waies; let them at their perill do as seemeth them good: our selues and Iosh, 24. 15.our housholds wil serue the Lord.
Vse. 4. If our chief delight be in the A meane estate with these liberties to bee preferred before a better with out them.assemblies of Gods people, then wee cannot but prefer a meane outward estate with the fruition of the exercises of religion before a wealthy and glorious conditiō in the want of them: as our Prophet here preferred the meanest office, euen of doore-keepers, who were to be first, & last in ye tabernacle, before a glorious and easie life in the Pallaces of the mighty in which hee should bee deteyned from the places of Gods worship. Euen so whosoeuer would carry such an heart as Dauid (who was a man according vntounto the Lords owne heart) must esteeme of a poore life vnderunder a powerfull Ministry, more happy and comfortable, then a rich condition in places of ignorance, which want the meanes of their spiritual consolation. Moyses was of this minde he would rather suffer (aduersity, want, reproch,) with the people of GOD, then inioy the treasures of Egypt by forsaking them.
It was also alwaies a mark of ye people of God to follow him into the places of his true worshippe, where hee went Heb, 11.before. If in Shiloh, if in Ierusalem; thither do all the Tribes repaire, euen such as set their face to seeke the Lord. But how do men proclaime that this reioycing 2 Chro, 11. 16.neuer entred into their hearts, who with Lot chuse Sodom before Canaan, and delight rather in the Mountains of Samaria then in Sion hil which indeed is the fruitfull part of the earth? Some choose habitations for friends, ayre, waters, woods, walkes, fruitfulnesse, and some other speciall commodities, and hence commend them and there seate themselues and set downe their staffe, although Gods habitation be not there: the Ministrie is counted as an hang-by: if that bee there they count it neuer the better; if it be absent it is neuer a whit the worse, they care but a little too liue in the common ayre of Gods people, the familiaritie of Gods friends, the pleasures of Gods house, the sweete fruites of the spirit of God are not enquired after, nor tasted. Others retaine to atheists, scorners, papists; swearers, and if Peter can warme himselfe still by Caiphas fire hee can sweare and forsweare as they doe. They neuer aske themselues that question which the Lord asked Eliah, What doost thou here Eliah? they say not, what doe 1. King. 19. 9.I here in this caue? this is not a place where I should bee, to liue where the Diuell dwelleth, or where God dwelleth Reu. 2. 13.not: they heare not the Lords voyce speaking to them as vntounto Eliah. Vp, get thee to Sarepta, I hauehave appointed there 1. Kin. 17. 9.one to feed thee: They are well content to be fed by Rauens still. But here is a fearefull brand vponupon such who are contented to make exchange of heauen for earth, and hauehave resolued that they will be gainers in the world, though it bee to the losse of their soules. Whosoeuer therfore thou art, yt hast any care of thy soule; neuer liue if it be possible vnderunder an idoll, but where the worde is setled, and the ministery duly discharged. Buy the truth whatsoeuer it cost, yea with the losse of many outward things: be a meanes to thy abilitie to procure a standing Ministry to thy selfe & thine: what comfort couldst thou hauehave to liue and dwell in a wildernesse among wild beasts, without men, or other comforts, in such a barren soile as no paines can ouer-come the inuincible stifnesse of the ground? and yet in such a place were it more comfortable for a godly heart to liue, then amongst a wicked people wanting meanes of grace and instruction. And if thou wouldst dwell in the loueliest part of the earth; choose such a place as which the Lord hath chosen to manifest his presence in, and wherein hee hath set his tabernacle. The tribe of Beniamin was of all the tribes the beloued of the Lord, as Beniamin Deu. 33. 12 Gen. 44. 20himselfe was the dearest to his father. But wherein consisted this louelinesse? in this, that the Lord should dwell betweene his shoulders. In which Metaphor the whole possession of Beniamin is compared to a body; and the metropolitane, which was Ierusalem, to the head set betweene two shoulders, in which the Lord delighted to dwell. If any place therefore in earth should draw our affections aboue others, it is that in which the Lord in his ordinances draweth nearest vntounto vsus: and if our delights bee in the places where the Lord delighteth not to shew the presence of his grace, our affections come short of our example here commended vntounto vsus. The face of God shining in his ordinance must be our Naomi, to which we must say, Where thou goest I will go, and where thou dwellest Ruth. 1. 16I will dwell.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Taylor, The Beauties of Bethel (1609)