Helps to Stir Up to Christian Duties, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. About this Chriſtian Duty of ſtirring up our ſelues, and what it is to ſtirre up ones ſelfe in Chriſtian duties.
NOne that ſtirre up themſelves.] This is the ſecond Duty neglected, they did not ſtirre up themſelves to take hold on God, there was a neglect of the very indevour after it, which is here charged upon them: whence we have the Obſervation lying plaine before us, It is our duty ſeriouſly to excite and ſtirre up our ſelves in all exerciſes of piety and Godlineſſe, with all intention of ſpirit, to our uttermoſt.
For the further opening of the point, two things are to be explained:
1. What it is to ſtirre up ones ſelfe.
2. The things, about which, this duty is to bee converſant and exerciſed.
For the firſt, to ſtirre vp a mans ſelfe, hath theſe two things in it:
1. The awaking of our ſelves, the ſhaking off that dulneſſe and drowſineſſe which cleaves to us. To this the Apoſtle hath reference, Rom. 13.11.oforeign. Excitari. Expergiſci. It is high time to awake out of ſleepe; he ſpeaks to ſuch as were already converted: Now this awakening is a freeing of our grace from the oppreſſion it was under, by worldly cares, carnall feares, or ſome ſinfull luſts, which cauſe a neglect of univerſall piety, and the workes of the light, and day of regeneration, unto which wee had our new Creation.
The Beleevers, in theirpFerventior eſſe ſolet, qui rem primùm aggreditur. firſt ſetting out, are commonly more earneſt and fervent in following God calling them; the firſt apprehenſions, and ſenſe of their bleſſed change affect more, which may bee gathered from the reproofe of the Church of Epheſus, in the loſſe of their first love, and calling her to remember from whence ſhe was fallen, to do her first works, Rev 2.4, 5. That ſeemes to be like it, Ier. 2.2. I remember for thy ſake the kindneſſe of thy youth, though that doth more principally declare the kindneſſe of God in taking that people to himſelfe before all other, as an argument of conviction, that for no cauſe, againſt all obligations of duty, they, contrary to their firſt beginnings forſooke the Lord: As in proceſſe of time men grow colder, in their affections to him at leaſt, though they utterly forſake him not; the Prophet therefore cals upon them, and uſeth divers arguments in the verſes following, to put them upon the duties enjoyned them.
Though Gods children are called out of the world, yet they have much of the world in them ſtill, and therewith are miſerably enthralled many times, ſo that we need awaking, and ſtirring up. In which reſpect it is that the Lord hath provided, as well goads to pricke forward the dull, as nailes to faſten them that are inconſtant, Eccleſ. 12.11. See alſo for this, theſe following Scriptures, 1 Cor. 15.34. Revel. 3.2. Heb. 10.24.
The ſecond thing in the ſtirring up a mans ſelfe, is not onelyonly the awaking up of our ſelves, but the ſetting aworke that grace beſtowed, together with the employing of our faculties in their ſanctification, to their uttermoſt abilities. This may appeare by Saint Paul his exhortation to Timothy, I put thee in remembrance that thou ſtirre up the gift of God that is in thee: as if he ſhould have ſaid, Conſidering thou haſt an unfained faith, and becauſe of my great affection to thee, whereby I am carefull of thee, I, with great confidence, put thee in remembrance that thouqforeign. 2 Tim. 1.6 Sicut ignis indiget lignis, ita & gratia alacritate, ut fervère perpetuò poſſit. Chryſoſt. ad loc. quicken up the holy fire that is in thee, and blow it up, uſe the grace thou haſt with courage, and ſtrength of Spirit. So againe the ſamer2 Tim. 2.1 Apoſtle, Be ſtrong in the grace that is in Christ Ieſus.
Now as there is required great wiſdome and circumſpection in ordering the graces given, and ſetting them in their right place and ſtation, and ſo giving them their due worke and exerciſe; When, one ſaith, knowledge bee you ready to diſcerne what Gods will is; Faith, be you ready to beleeve what God promiſeth; Hope, be you ready to expect what is promiſed; Patience, be ready to beare what the Lord inflicteth; Obedience be you ready to goe about what God commandeth: I ſay, as there is required this wiſedome in ordering grace, ſo there is required great intention of Spirit in intending al inſtruments of motion, all faculties and powers of body and ſoule, for the keeping theſe in their due height, that they ſlacke not, nor abate not of their former ſtrength and vigour. Thus you ſee what it is to ſtirre up ones ſelfe, and wherein it ſtands.