Helps to Stir Up to Christian Duties, Chapter 9

Helps to Stir Up to Christian Duties · Chapter 9

p. 204CHAP. IX. Shewing ſome motives unto this duty of ſtirring up our ſelves.

NOw that wee might be farther moved and ſtirred up hereunto (for God knowes that great is our dulneſſe; and ſloware our apprehenſions of theſe things) let us conſider in the generall how wee are commandeduuCor. 11.3, …. Cor 14.12 earneſtly to covet the beſt gifts p. 205and * to ſtudy that we may excell; and that it is honourable to bexx2 Cor. 9.22 Cor 9:2 leaders in goodneſſe, to be preſidents of piety, provoking others; and that if this ſtirringneſſe of heart bee wanting, all goes but heavily forward. As theyyExo. 14.25Exod 14:25 Aegyptians, who, when their wheeles were taken off, drave their Chariots but heavily. But more ſpecially there be three things which I would offer to your conſideration to move to the duty in hand.

1Firſt, looke a while, and ſee what a ſtirring and buſie world it is,Conſider what a ſtirring world it is. how mightily men are put forward, and ſet a going in their ſeverall wayes, according to the ſeverall projects they drive, p. 206and thoſe inward principles by which they worke, and by which they walke. The world is as a great Ant, or Emit-hill, where there are multitudes of thoſe buſie creatures, carrying and recarrying ſtrawes, ſtubble, or other ſuch luggage, and every one buſie in doing ſomething, and intent to adde, and bring to the heape: So in this world there is a mighty and general buſineſſe, an earneſt trudging about, a continued ſollicitouſneſſe, plotting, and working upon the face of the earth. See it in a few inſtances:

1. The Time-ſerver is buſie to fit his ſailes to every wind, marks what is in grace and faſhion with the Times, p. 207obſerves the Motions of great ones, and ſtudies how he may pleaſe the moſt.

2. The deepe and clung-headed Politician, who dwels many times the next doore to Atheiſme, is buſie in wheeling about his owne ends, is darke in his wayes, and uſually, like a Boat-man, lookes one way, and rowes another.

3. The Ambitious man puts on Abſolons behaviour, is buſie in ſeeking applauſe and reſpect and how he may be carried aloft, as a feather, upon the breath of men.

4. The Voluptuous man is buſie to draw out the quinteſſence of all ſinnes and vanities; to ſucke the ſweet out of them, to array himſelfe p. 208like a childe of Paradiſe, and to have his part in all the pleaſures of nature.

5. The worldling is buſie in telling his money, caſting up his accounts, looking in his Almanacke, enquiring for a purchaſe, enlarging his barnes, Luke 12.18.Luke 12:18alwayes plotting how hee may get or ſave. The Papiſts are buſie to advance the Catholicke cauſe, as they call it, to make Proſelytes; buſie they are in their Devotions, as thezzIer. 7.18Jer 7:18 Prophet ſpeakes, The Children gather wood and the Fathers kindle the fire & the women knead their dough to make cakes to the Queene of heaven. The Devill is buſie,aaIob 1.7Job 1:7 going to and fro in the earth, doing miſchiefe, murdering ſoules, p. 209and filling Hell. All theſe, and many others, are driven with great force upon their ſeverall wayes, and are unwearied in them. Thus it is with the men of this world,bbPſal. 17.14Ps 17:14 who have their prrtion in this life. And how ſhould this fire us, and put life and ſpirit into us, who ſerve a better maſter, and have better work to doe?ccTurp… eſt impios diabol… tam ſtrenué ſervire nos Chriſto pro ſanguinis pretio nihil rependere. Cyp. lib. de opere et elemoſy. Why ſhould not we do more for God and his honor, than any in the world ſhould doe for themſelves, or to promote Satans kingdome. Let us reſolve therefore with the ProphetddMich. 4.5Mic 4:5 Micah, All people (ſaith he) will walke every one in the Name of his Grd, Zach. 10.12Zech 10:12and we will walke in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

p. 2102Secondly, let it move us to conſider how our bleſſed Savior,Looke upon our Saviour, how he ſtirred up himſelfe in the great buſineſſe of our Salvation. in the great buſineſſe of our Salvation, ſtirred up himſelfe, and put forth himſelfe to hiseeHeb. 7.25. foreign.Heb 7:25 uttermoſt for us; he ſtirred up all his ſtrength, left nothing undone, bare as much as hee could beare,ffPhil 2.7. Scipſum exmanivis.Phil 2:7 went as low as he could go, downe to the grave, even to hell it ſelfe in paines and anguiſh of Spirit, did what poſſibly he could doe, which ſhould fill us with ſtrong deſires, and endevours, to enforce our ſelves to our uttermoſt, for ſoggQuid nos pro Domino tam b…no facere conveniet cum ille pro malis Servis tan…a ſeceret? Salv. kinde a Redeemer as we have found him to be, to love his perſon, to prize his merits, to obey his will, to delight in his Ordinances, to love his children, p. 211to doe what wee may to advance his honour and ſervice, tohhGen. 3.15Gen 3:15 tread hard upon the Divels head, and to be profeſſed enemies to his kingdome all our dayes.

3Laſtly, this ſtirringneſſe of heart,The certainty and fulneſſe of the reward. as it is accompanied with much ſweet peace, and inward comfort, and reſt of heart; and as it brings a good report, and eſteeme in the Churches of Chriſt; cauſing one Chriſtian (of what degree, calling, and condition ſoever hee be) to excell another, and appeare higher, even as Saul did amongſt the people: ſo it is attended with certainty and fulneſſe of reward, and that according to the quality of our worke; as there hath bin p. 212more grace in it, more reverence, zeale, fervency, more faith and reſting upon God; ſo ſhall thehh2 Tim. 4.7, 82 Tim 4:72 Tim 4:8 reward be more plenteous and abundant. The more faithfull ſervice wee have done, the more welcome ſhall wee bee to him when hee cals for us; As a faithfull Embaſſadour is welcomed home by his Prince; and as a Factor, that hath done his maſter good ſervice in a farre Countrey, is gladly received by him. O when the faithfull ſoule, being carried on Angels wings, ſhall firſt ſet footing on the glorious pavement of heaven, and the Lord ſhall ſay, Welcome my deare and faithfull ſervant, thou haſt beene a good ſervant unto p. 213me,iiMat. 25.23Matt 25:23 Enter into the ioy of thy Lord; this ſpeech ſhall bee of more infinite refreſhing, then if ten thouſand worlds, and the glory of them, had beene given unto it; for what could bee ſpoken more by the Creator? what could be deſired more by the Creature? This their faithfulneſſe alſo, with how much the more ſtirringneſſe and advantage to the Lords honour it hath beene managed and diſcharged, by ſo much thekkRev. 3.21Rev 3:21 neerer in place it brings us to the Lord; As Davids Worthies were admitted to have the neareſt place about his perſon. How many thouſands are there of Saints at this day,llRev. 7.9.14 15.Rev 7:9Rev 7:14 ſtanding before the Throne of God, with Palmes in p. 214their hands, and Crownes on their heads, who in this world have beene the Lords Worthies, who have fought his battels, and lifted up his Name to their uttermoſt. Speake, O ye bleſſed ſoules departed, whether this bee not your glory and your joy that you have had your harts ſtirred for the Lord; and if you were upon the earth againe, whether you would not doe, if it were poſſible, a thouſand times more for him, that for ſuch weake ſervices, ſuch poore and imperfect performances, hath rewarded you with the favours and joyes of eternitie.mmRev. 15▪ 3Rev 15:3 O who would not feare and ſerve thee, O Lord, thou King of Saints, & glorifie thy name? p. 215who makeſt all thy ſervantsnnRev. 1.6Rev 1:6 Kings, and affordeſt them everlaſting Communion with thy ſelfe! It matters not (deare brethren) what wee are in this world, how ſhunned, deſpiſed, andoo1 Cor. 5.131 Cor 5:13 made the off-ſcouring of all things; nay, though every one that meets us ſhould ſpit in our faces, revile, and trample upon us, if by this meanes any honour might redound to the Name of the Lord; it is enough for us to bee happy when wee dye, and to be ſet ſafe over thatppLuk. 16.26Luke 16:26 gulfe that parts Hell & Heaven, and toqqIob 33, 26Job 33:26 ſee the face of God with ioy to all eternity. O Eternity! Eternity! bleſſed Eternity! this makes abundant amends for all, though wee ſhould p. 216live here thouſands of yeers, and in them all doe and ſufferrrFredericke Danvile, and Francis Rebezies after they had returned from the Torture to their fellowes in priſon, reioyced together, & comforted themſelves with the meditation of the life to come, and contempt of this world, ſinging Pſalmes together till it was day. Eox. Act. & Mon vol. 2. p. 160. hard things! How ſhould this fill our hearts with great thoughts, our hands with all advantages? how ſhould wee with great courage goe forth to meet al opportunities? What a ſpur ſhould this put upon all our endevours? How ſhould we thinke our ſelves happy that ever we were borne, that the Lord hath done us this honour, as to put us into his ſervice? and that hee hath conferred upon ſinners and poore wormes, ſuch as thou and I are,ſſ1 Cor. 2.91 Cor 2:9 Such things as neither eye hath ſeene, eare hath heard, nor have at any time entredento the heart of man to conceive.