The Practice of Repentance, Chapter 36
CAP. 36. Signes of Repentance, in respect of others.
3 THe signes of true Repentance in respect of others.
1 A man truely humbled will esteeme of others, better than of himselfe, Phil. 2.3. For, 1. his minde is cleared to see his owne euils greater than all mens else: so Paul esteemeth himselfe the chiefe of all sinners.
2 His heart is smitten and humbled, and so deiected in himselfe, as that he thinketh himselfe too meane for any ranke, or place with GOD, or good men. The returned Prodigall comming to himselfe, confessed hee is not worthy to be set amongst the meanest seruants in his fathers house: whereas a proud man, that neuer saw himselfe, is so farre from casting down himselfe, that hee thinketh eueryevery place too meane for him; that eueryevery mans sheafe must bow to his: he thanketh God, as the Pharisee, he is not as others, nor so bad as the Publican.
Obiect. But sound grace is not blinde; it is able to spye a difference betweene himselfe, and a gracelesse man. It knoweth that a small measure of grace is of much worth before GOD: whereas a gracelesse man is little worth.
Answ. As by light wee see light; so by grace, the light of grace; which sheweth vsus, that grace is not giuen vsus, to lift vp our selues aboue others, but to humble vsus in the sense of our imperfections, in the sight of our own grace. True grace causeth vsus to glorifie God by them, and for them, but by no meanes to glory in them.
Obiect. But I know many great euils in others, which I praise God, I finde not in my selfe: I know others farre inferiour in knowledge, wisedome, watchfulnesse vntounto my selfe: may I for humility, preiudice the truth? may I giuegive false testimony, or iudge vnrighteously to preferre a wicked person before my selfe?
Answ. 1. Charity reioyceth in the truth: therefore the Apostle commanding to iudge better of eueryevery man than our selues, must be vnderstood with limitation: first, he writeth of men conuerted, called before, Saints and Brethren. A man called, may with prayse to God iudge his owne estate better before God, than him that he knoweth is not yet called: but of Brethren and Conuerts, thou maist not preferre thy state before GOD, aboue any of them.
Obiect. But I see many euils, and faults in him.
Answ. 1. Seest thou none in thy selfe?
2 Thou seest his outside, not what he is within towards God: but thou seest thine owne inside, and that none called, can bee worse or so bad as thy selfe, if all were knowne.
3 Grace will teach thee to see euils in thy brother, to couer them, to cure them if thou canst, and humble thy selfe for them.
2 The Apostle speaketh not of gifts, or qualities bestowed on men, but of mens persons; not before men, but before God. A man may in true iudgement esteeme his owne gifts, being so, better thā an others. The Apostle said not, …et eueryevery man esteeme anothers gifts better, but another mans person. And a man may esteeme his person, better than another mans place among men, but not before God. he may esteeme his owne person better.
3 A man may in some particular action, hold himselfe more iust, and innocent than another, before God and man, as Dauid was more innocent than Saul in that particular: but if Dauid had esteemed Saul a better man before God, than himselfe, I suppose he had not sinned, but walked according to charity, which hopeth all, and construeth all the best.
Obiect. He had been deceiued.
Answ. Falli quidem posse, peccari non posse; He doth what he is commanded, and sinneth not, where he goeth not against certaine kinds.
2 He is soft and gentle vntounto others: this grace putteth off fiercenesse and fury, maketh the Lyon and Lambe dwell together, Isay. 11.6. Hee seeketh to restore him that is fallen, by the spirit of meeknesse, considering himselfe, Gal. 6.
He considereth, first, how himselfe was once carnall, and sold vnderunder sinne: secondly, how long it was, and with what adoe he was drawne out of sinne: thirdly, what a while he was a babe in Christ, weake, foolish, childish: fourthly, how often he hath fallen since in temptation: fifthly, how subiect he is to fall, how hardly he standeth, what weakenesse still breaketh out; this maketh him meeke, and soft to other weaklings and offenders. Thus the grace of Christ affecteth the Christian, as Christ himselfe, who had experience of temptation, to hauehave a fellow-feeling of infirmity, in such as are tempted.
3 The faults he espyeth in others, he will condemne in himselfe; if not in the act and habit, which grace preserueth him from, yet in the seeds and inclination: or he will fall vponupon some worse thing in himselfe, which in his owne sense shall cast him farre below them. Master Bradford seldome saw any man fall into sinne, or misery, but vsed to say, Lord be mercifull. A good heart hath so much to doe at home, as it is not at leisure, or list so much to iudge, or condemne others, as himselfe.
4 He will doe his best to draw others out of sinne. Hos. 6.1. Come, let vsus returne vntounto the Lord. Acts 26.29. Would God not thou onelyonly, but all that heare me this day, were altogether as I am, excepting my bands. The theefe on the Crosse in that straight time, bewrayed the soundnesse of Repentance, by admonishing his fellow, railing on Christ, to win him, Fearest not thou, &c.
1 The Commandement isReason. generall. Ezek. 18.4. Returne, and cause others to returne.
2 Grace is as fire, spreading and catching. Mal. 3.16. Then spake eueryevery one that feared God to his neighbour, by
admonitiō
counsell.
3 The spirit of grace, and compassion will pull men out of the fire, Iude 22. and draw them out of the danger.
4 Well he knoweth how by his sinnes, and bad example, hee hath drawne others from God: and now will manifest Repentance, by drawing others with himselfe vntounto God.
Vse.Dost thou seeke by exhortation, aduice, admonition, perswasion, by the spirit of meekenesse to turne them right that are gone astray? Here is an argument, thou hast beene humbled for thy own sin, and misery: thou declarest thy Repentance by thy care of other mens soules. But a carelesse disposition towards others; thou troublest not thy selfe with sins of others, as not concerning thee, argueth a carelesse disposition within thy self. Especially
1. The Magistrate must reclaime or restraine euill doers; preuent and hinder the sins of others, else lye vnderunder the guilt of others sins.
2. The Minister must set himselfe to win soules, to saue others with himselfe. Peter conuerted, must strengthen the Brethren. The Seruant must resemble Christ, who not onelyonly mourned ouer Ierusalem, but warned Ierusalem that their habitation should be desolate.
3. The Master of a family must hauehave care to bring all the family to the knowledge of God, to reforme his house. Iob 12.23. He that putteth sin away in himself, putteth iniquitie from his Tabernacle; and will not abide to dwell, where sin dwelleth vnreformed.