The New Birth, Treatise · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Exhorting the Regenerate to grow in Grace.
ANd this is the conſolation of God wee hauehave to giuegive you: O, all yee, his ſonnes and daughters;2. Exhortation twofold: hearken a little further (I pray you) to the exhortation that muſt enſue: Seeing the Lord of Heauen hath created a new life in you, learne you two things for the neceſſitie thereof to ſaluation; Firſt,1. To nouriſh this life of grace in themſelues. to cheriſh it in your ſelues; ſecondly, ſo much as is poſſible, to propagate it vntounto others. Firſt (I ſay), make much of this life of grace; this new man created in you according to God in righteouſneſſe, and true holineſſe; make much of it: ſtriue to confirme it; ſtrengthen it, and increaſe it; ſo ſoone as the life of nature is ſeene in a man, he is made (you know) deſirous of nouriſhment, that augmentation may follow generation: So be you alſo for your ſoules, that you may at one time, both ſhew your new birth, and confirme it. In truth this I muſt tell you aſſuredly (for I know it to bee as true, as the Lord himſelf is to be truſted of his word), he that once hath this life, ſhall neuer ſee death. But I told you before, that he may feele ſickneſſe; and that if it were not for the ſick-making phiſicke; which the Lord will giuegive him for his recouerie, he might feele death. Now therfore I am to entreate you all, to ſaue the labour of taking phyſicke, and that by ſeeking to preuent diſeaſes, and to grow in ſoundneſſe of ſpirituall ſtrength. You all know right well, what bee the chiefe things which impaire naturall ſtrength, and procure diſeaſes of body, namely, poyſon, ſurfetting, and ſtaruing. It is euen ſo likewiſe with the ſoule:1. By auoiding ill company and c…ooſing g…od. 2. By auoiding things ſinfull in reſiſting the firſt motions to ill. firſt, by poyſon it inuenometh it ſelfe; ſecondly, by ſurfetting it diſtempereth it ſelfe; and laſtly, by ſtaruing it infeebleth it ſelfe. Beware of ranke poyſon: Sinne, I ſay, ſinne; things vnlawfull and condemned; theſe are very ſtarke poyſon to the ſoule: Ratts-bane, and Hen-bane, and Mercury, and Opium; yea, the very inward moiſture of a Toade or Serpent, are no more dangerous to the fleſh, then this is to the ſpirit. And when a Chriſtian man begins to yeeld ſo much to the naughtineſſe of his owne hart, that hee takes leaue to allow ſome ſinne in himſelfe, in ſome ſmall degrees; then it ceaſeth not to worke wofully in his ſoule, till at laſt it hauehave cauſed him to breake forth into the groſſe and foule practice of it, and then is he poyſoned indeede; and if the Lord ſhould not come with his phyſick, he could not but bee damned: but howſoeuer, hee languiſheth and is ſicke, he leeſeth the ſenſe of Gods fauour; the deſire of Gods ſeruice; the comforts of Gods Word; and the louelove of the comming of Chriſt Ieſus. Luſt, reuenge, deceit, louelove of money, louelove of credit, louelove of pleaſure, and all other corrupt affections lodging within (if they once ſo farre preuaile, that a man is willing to follow them, in thoughts and words agreeable to their wicked nature) doe by little and little euen grieue the Spirit of God, and quench the graces of the holy Ghoſt, till after a while, a man falleth into ſome wicked act of ſome of theſe kinds: and, Oh then, the burning, and ſhooting, and ſwelling of the body after the drinking of Ratts-bane, is not more manifeſt in the bodie, then the miſerable effects of theſe ſinnes are euident in the ſoule. The conſcience begins to accuſe; God is alienated; the hart is hardned; the mind blinded; and ſometimes a man lies long (as it were) in a ſowne, before he can recouer himſelfe by repentance. Wherefore the godly mans care muſt be, to oppoſe the firſt motions of ſinne, to flie the occaſions of euill doing, to be careful of reſtraining himſelfe from the very ſmalleſt degrees of wickedneſſe: for a little ſinne allowed, will bring in a greater; till that come accompanied with the greateſt of all; and that make a man little leſſe then dead the ſecond time. We muſt therefore caſt away the ſuperfluitie of maliciouſneſſe (that is, this allowing of ſinne, and pleaſing our ſelues in the occaſions, & firſt degrees of it), if euer we deſire the ſpirituall health and wel-fare of our inner man. Dauids conceitedneſſe begate idleneſſe; idleneſſe begat adulterie; adultery, murder; and all, a long lying, and deepe ſleepe in ſinne. It is wofull to conſider the miſerable ruines, that hauehave been made in the ſoules of many of Gods ſeruants, by their careleſnes this way; how weake they hauehave growne! how their acquaintance with God, their delight in his Word, their comfort in prayer, their deſire of being diſſolued, and their ioy in a godly life, hath been interrupted! and how they hauehave come to that paſſe, as ſcarce to ſhew to others, or find in themſelues any ſigne of liuing! Perhaps this may be the very caſe of ſome amongſt you, that heare mee at this time: O (if it be) get thee a preſeruatiue; take thee a large quantitie of godly ſorrow; feede vponupon the bitter (but wholeſome) hearbs of humiliation and griefe; go and meditate on the threatnings of the Law; on the death of Chriſt; on the lamentable effects that others of Gods people hauehave found vponupon their growing ſo naught: and recouer thy ſelfe againe by hearty confeſſion, and humble begging of pardon and of ſtrength. And now all you, that be (as yet) free from ſuch wofull ſickneſſes, be admoniſhed by the miſeries of others; and let not the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne ſo farre preuaile againſt you, that you ſhould giuegive any allowance vntounto it, take any pleaſure in the motions or occaſions of it, or giuegive your hearts leaue ſo much as to thinke or ſpeake of it, but with deteſtation. Poyſon is often ſweete; but a wiſe man had rather deny to his taſte the delight of ſweetneſſe, then fill his ſtomack with deadly pangs and gripings. Sinne is honey in the mouth, but grauell in the belly. Hidden bread is pleaſant, and ſtolne waters are ſweete: but, O the miſerable agonies which muſt enſue, before the ſoule can bee clearely purged againe, from the remainders of ſuch poyſon! It is a pleaſing thing to dally, to reuenge, to deceiue, to play the glutton, and the drunkard: but it muſt coſt a man ſo much toile, ſo many ſorrowfull confeſſions, ſo many heauie paſſages, before hee can recouer againe the quiet of his conſcience, and his enioyment of the aſſurance of Gods fauor; that at laſt it ſhall appeare a deare-bought contentment, and an euill penny-worth of delight. No wiſe man will drinke Wine and Sugar, if it hauehave been firſt impoyſoned with ſome deadly thing: neither let any Chriſtian ſo farre forget the rules of Chriſtian wiſdome, as for any paltry pleaſure, or profit, or credit (which lying, ſwearing, whoredome, drunkennes, idolatrie, or any like groſſe ſin, may yeeld vntounto him) to venture the committing of them. Doubtleſſe if he do, his complaint ſhall bee at laſt as thoſe ſonnes of the Prophets once ſaid; O man of God, death is in the pot! But to ſurfet is little leſſe dangerous,3 Taking heed of exceſſe in things indifferent, and accuſtoming to ſparing and moderation. then to feede on poyſon: to labour ouer-much, and ouer-hard to the inflaming of the bloud; to drinke when a man is hot, to eate and drinke exceſſiuely; theſe things doe ſo exceedingly diſquiet and ouer-charge the body, that many a man dies of them. So in the ſoule, it is likewiſe found, that the exceſſiueneſſe of things lawfull, and the vnſeaſonableneſſe of indifferent actions, doth ſometimes little leſſe annoy the ſoules welfare, then the committing of things ſinfull. Eſpecially if a man doe miſtake, and account that thing lawfull or indifferent, which is wicked and ſinfull; and hereupon out of his erroneous iudgement, lay the reynes vponupon the necke of his carnall deſires: groſſe, knowne, confeſſed ſinnes, doe no more infeeble the ſoule, and ouerthrow the quiet and ſtrength of the inward man, then ſuch licentiouſneſſe. The abuſe (I ſay) of things in themſelues lawfull, through the vntimely and immoderate doing of them, is exceeding perillous vntounto the ſoule; and often death is little leſſe, then ready to enter in at this window. The ouer-eager following of worldly buſineſſe, when a man, not out of obedience to Gods commandements, and out of a deſire to humble himſelfe by iuſt painefulneſſe in his calling: but out of a louelove of wealth, and a deſire to grow rich and great in the world, doth ſet his thoughts and hands a worke about the affaires of this life, ſo that hee can ſcarce thinke or ſpeak (with any life or comfort) of any other thing, then this earth; this greedy and continuall purſuing of worldly buſineſſes, though in themſelues lawfull, honeſt, and commendable doth vexe the ſpirit, choak the word, diſ-hallow the ſoule, offend God, and wound the conſcience, no leſſe then the committing of fornication would doe: for this is to commit ſpirituall whoredome with that grand harlot, the wicked world. Alſo the perpetuall and vnſatiable vſe of pleaſures and paſtimes (in themſelues, it may be no way ſinfull nor condemnable), yet ſtill purſued with an ouer-vehement affection to them, with an ouer-ſtrong delight in them; when they bee not vſed as meanes of maintaining our health, or fitting our ſelues for the workes of our calling, and (indeede according as the name of recreations beareth) for the refreſhing of the mind, and making it more liuely and chearefull in better things; but are followed for their owne ſakes, out of a louelove of paſtime (which is a childiſh, and too baſe a thing for a wiſe heart to bee in louelove with), and when there is no conſcionable regard had, of that rich and pretious iewel of time (which no treaſure cā redeeme): I ſay, the moſt honeſt and lawfull recreations in the world, ſo inordinately followed, without regard of the due end thereof, and without the practice of Chriſtian moderation in them, is no leſſe harmefull to the ſoule, then it is to the body to bee ouer-watched, or ouer-laboured. It dulleth the heart, it clogs the conſcience, it ſtoppeth the mouth from praying, it interrupteth all good meditations, and by little and little doth ſteale away the hart from God and godlines; till at the length groſſe ſinnes and preſumptuous, doe come in the neck of lawfull liberties abuſed. The ſame be ſpoken of the vſe of daintie fare, and ſoft raiment, and all other naturall comforts, when the heart begins to bee ingaged to them; when we onelyonly ſeeke our owne ſatisfaction in them; when we forget to demonſtrate in our manner of vſing them, a deniall of the world, and a crucifying of our ſelues to the world, and the world to vsus: then they are dangerous to our ſoules, and doe euen little leſſe then kill vp the new man in vsus. O I would that the experience of many a Chriſtian did not verifie this! Learne therefore to temper your ſelues in things indifferent; to be moderate in following your calling; moderate in vſing recreations; moderate in meate and drinke, and attire; and alwaies rather to be ouer-ſparing to your ſelues in theſe things, then ouer-large; rather abridge thy ſelfe of ſomewhat thou mighteſt hauehave, then by venturing as farre as euer thou art able, to make thy ſelfe beleeue it is lawfull, to bring thy ſelfe in danger of going a ſtep or two further, and falling into a f…at ſinfull abuſe. Shew forth the vertues of Chriſt Ieſus, & let it appeare, that thou doeſt not louelove the world, nor the things therof, by being content alwaies to come a little too ſhort of thine allowance, then any whit at all exc…eding it. The moſt wholſome diet is that, that is moſt ſparing; and it is profitable for the body ſomewhat to deny the appetite, and abridge the ſtomacke. Euen ſo it is alſo for the ſoule; and no man ſhall euer bee other then a dwarffe and weakeling in godlineſſe, that will not be drawne to denie himſelfe ſomewhat of his lawfull liberty: for ſo ſlippery is our ſtanding, ſo weake are our feete, that if we venture to doe all we think lawfull in theſe kinds, wee ſhall ſurely doe it vnlawfully. I hauehave told you (brethrē), belieue it as a ſure truth, which your experience ſhal iuſtifie, though your tongues may deny: You ſhall not be confirmed in the inward man, if you doe not keepe your ſelues ſomewhat ſhort in outward liberties of the body, about profit, pleaſure, foode, attire, and the reſt of theſe bodily, and ſenſuall matters. O preferre thy ſoule before thy bodie; and make more account of inward ſtrength, then of outward wealth, credit, or merriment. But laſtly, if a man doe ſtarue himſelfe for want of victuall,4. By being conſtant in religious exerciſes. and pine his body, by neglecting his due meales, it is without all doubt, that he ſhall hauehave a weake and feeble body. So it is alſo for the ſoule. The Lord that hath ordained bread to make mans heart ſtrong, hath ordained alſo the ſpirituall foode of his ſoule, prayer, preaching, the ſacraments, holy meditations of the Word, and works of God. Theſe are as requiſite for the ſoules increaſe in grace; as meate, and drinke, and cloth, for the bodies proceeding in ſtrength. Now as it often falleth out in the body, that there growes vponupon it a certaine kind of crazineſſe and ſtomackleſneſſe, which makes a man to hauehave no mind of his victuals; and then the longer hee abſtaineth, the leſſe mind he hath to eate, the leſſe abilitie to digeſt: ſo it commeth to paſſe likewiſe in the inward man; the ſoule begins to take little content in prayer, in reading the Scriptures, in hearing the word preached, in the receiuing of the holy ſacrament. Theſe things are not deſired, nor delighted in, with halfe ſo much ardour & feruour, as in former time. When the caſe ſtands thus with the ſoule (and likely the comming in of gaine and preferment, by diuerting the thoughts and affections from things heauenly, to things earthly, doe bring the ſoule to this caſe), then it growes weaker and weaker, and often falleth groſſely and palpably. Yea, it commeth to paſſe ſometimes, that afflictions lying hard vponupon a man, doe euen put his ſoule out of taſt, through the ſowerneſſe and bitterneſſe of carnall ſorrow, that hee findeth no appetite to holy exerciſes, (which are the repaſts of the ſoule) nor any cōtentment in them: then grace is in the wane alſo; then all vertues wither and languiſh, and the ſoule fareth like vntounto him that cannot eate is victuals, whoſe very cheekes ſhew it: ſo the outward behauiour and carriage of ſuch a man, being farre ſhort of that heauenlineſſe and fruitfulneſſe, that once will diſcouer this languiſhing of his ſoule. Wherefore he that would bee ſtrong in Chriſt Ieſus, and in the power of his might, muſt ſtirre vp in himſelfe the Spirit of God which he hath receiued, by conſtancy in holy meditations of God, of his Kingdome, of his workes, of his attributes; of himſelfe, his mortalitie, his ſinfulneſſe, the ſhortneſſe of life, the vanitie of earthly things, the vncertaintie of friends and wealth, and that laſt houre of his life, and that great day of iudgement. He muſt alſo reuiue the ſame grace of God in him, by being feruent in prayer, and by prouoking himſelfe with all heartineſſe of deſire, to beg good things at Gods hand, eſpecially the increaſe of al heauenly vertues. He muſt alſo labour to make his hart hot, with earneſt and vnfained thankeſgiuing for all temporall and ſpirituall benefits; eſpecially for the death of Chriſt, and the kingdome of heauen by that deere price purchaſed for him. He muſt gaine all opportunities of hearing the Word preached; and not ſuffer any idle obiection, and fooliſh impediment to hinder him from frequenting it. He muſt digeſt it by meditation, when he comes home. He muſt carefully prepare for the Lords ſupper, by renewing his repentance and his faith, before he come thither: And thus he muſt feede of all the delicates, that God hath prouided for him. No ſo true ſigne of bodily health, nor ſo ſure meanes of outward ſtrength, as a good ſtomack with good digeſtion: No ſo ſure token and certaine meanes of ſpirituall ſtrength and health, as a longing deſire to all holy exerciſes, publike as well as priuate, and priuate as well as publike. By theſe Chriſt Ieſus communicates his graces to vsus. The Word that begat vsus, will nouriſh vsus. The ſpirit of prayer that obtained good things, will obtaine alſo increaſe of them, and ſo the ſoule muſt needs be well liking. Brethren, you all are taught by nature the neede of corporall food, know alſo the neede of ſpirituall; and if thou deſire to hauehave thy ſoule thriue in ſtrength and ſtature; forſlake not thy meales, cut not off religious exerciſes ſhort, diſpatch not Gods worſhip curſorily, turne not holy duties into matters of faſhion, and formalitie; but doe them, and doe them conſtantly, and doe them heartily, and content not thy ſelfe in doing them, vnleſſe thou find ſome life and courage in doing them. And that thou maieſt thus maintaine in thee an hungry appetite after the exerciſes of pietie; dip thy morſels often in the ſharpe ſauce, and ſower herbes of humiliation. Looke back (ſo often as thou findeſt a kind of fulneſſe of ſtomacke, and ſpirituall ſatiety growing vponupon thee), looke backe vntounto the former ſinnes of thine ignorance, conſider thy naturall miſery and wretchedneſſe, conſider of thy moſt beloued corruption, and addreſſe thy ſelfe to worke ſome ſenſible apprehenſion of griefe for theſe things and ceaſe not ſtriuing, though at firſt thou ſeeme to ſtriue in vaine. It is certaine, that labouring with ones owne heart, to find out his corruptions that lie hidden, and to lament them being found out, will quicken the ſoules appetite, and reſtore a man to ſome liuelineſſe in holy duties; at leaſt will ſo farre forth preuaile, that if he recouer not his appetite; he ſhall remaine ſenſible of this ſpirituall ſtomackleſneſſe, and humbled vnderunder it, and full of ſighs and groanes, becauſe of it; which at length will cure him without inconuenience. Now (brethren) let this word of exhortation ſinke into your ſoules. If regeneration be neceſſary to ſaluation, then the growing in the power of regeneration is alſo neceſſary. Weake things are often ſo obſcured with their contraries, that it remaineth vncertaine, whither they be or no: but that that is ſtrong, will ſtirre and ſhew it ſelfe. Grace may be doubted of, ſo long as it remaineth feeble and infant-like; adde vntounto it growth and bignes, and it will be out of queſtion. No man can be aſſured of his ſaluation, without edifying his inward man; more then be ſaued, without hauing the new man. If you would enioy your new birth, confirme it; if you would attaine the comfort of it, grow in it. Neglect not the grace of God that is giuen vntounto you: now that you are in Chriſt, be ſtrong men in Chriſt: and ſeeing the Lord hath vouchſafed you the worke of his Spirit, giuegive me leaue to make vſe of the ſweete exhortation of Paul to his Theſſalonians; & to entreate you (brethren) to encreaſe yet more and more.