Helps to Stir Up to Christian Duties, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Where the Doctrine is applyed in the ſeverall uſes of it.
Vſe 1 THis ſhewes us that the profeſſion of Religion, and the exerciſe of it, is no dull or lazy thing, but a buſineſſe of the greateſt intention of all others in the world, unto which is required the ſtrength andeNon eſt ad magna facilis aſc…nſu…; quem ſudorem perpetimur cum co…amur aſcō dere c lles, & vertices montium? quid ut aſ…endan us ad coelum? Cyp. de diſ. & hab. Virg. higheſt pitch of our affections, our moſt elevated thoughts, and the utmoſt of our endevours.
Againe, it ſhewes how much they do deceive themſelves, that content themſelves with doing duties of Religion out of forme, and cuſtome, without theinward Principles of Faith,fQuodlibet agens propter amorem agit, quodcunque agit, Aq. 1.2 q. 28. art. 6 Love, and Obedience, to ſet them a going, and to move and ſtir them forward. Amongſt theſe we may ranke,
1. The Papiſts, whoſe Religion cannot be but joyleſſe and uncomfortable, reſting in the work done; who if they can give in ſuch a number and tale of Prayers, undergoe ſuch penance, and ſcrew up their outward Devotions to ſuch a height, thinke all is wel, though the heart all this while hath not ſtirred a foot about the buſineſſe, nor ſo much as looked toward the body what it was a doing.
2. Amongſt our ſelves we may take in our ſimple ignorant people, who are full Papiſts in this; who therefore thinke they have prayed, becauſe they have bin upon their knees; heard the Sermon well, becauſe they have beene at Church, &c. and ſo plod on from day to day, without any ſenſe of the evill, or comfort of the good.
3. Thus is the Civill man, and carnall Profeſſor deceived; who though hee hath more knowledge than the other, and by the benefit of education, good example, or the light of naturall conſcience, hath more dealings with God, yet hath hee his heart as cold, ſtarke, and unſtirring as the other; and though he applaud himſelfe in the Mediocrity of his temper, as having found out agNihil Salvator …id…lium ama… …epido… e…n…. Hieron. middle way to ſerve his turne, betweene ſtrictneſſe and profaneneſſe; yet is it of al others the moſt dangerous and moſt loathed by the Lord, who, being of thehRev. 3.16 Laodecean temper, ſhall certainly bee ſpued out of Gods mouth.
4. Thus is it with the ſubtill and cloſe hypocrites of theſe times, who, like the cold Glow-wormes of the night, ſeeme to carry more light about them, and make a greater buſtling than the other; yet becauſe it is without all heat and ſweat of the minde and heart, what they doe ſhall be reckoned but asiHeb. 9.14 dead workes, which have a loathſome ſavour in the Noſtrils of the Almighty. Thus thekRev. 31 Angell, or Miniſter of the Church of Sardis is ſayd to have a name to live, though he was dead.
Vſe 2 This may bee for tryall and examination of our ſelves, what our care and endevour is in ſtirring up our ſelves in all duties and exerciſes of piety; How have we anſwered all that coſt and care of God towards us? How doe our hearts run and cleave to the Lord in preferring him before all things,lPſal. 73.26 ſatisfied with him alone? How are wee for Chriſt? ſince the ſaithfull called and choſen are with Chriſt, Revel. 12.7 & 17.14fighting on his ſide againſt the Dragon and his Angels, againſt Antichriſt and all his Adherents; and ſincenMat. 12.30 he that is not with Christ, is against him; and hee that gathereth not with him, ſcattereth with the Devil Our new Creation giving a new diſpoſition, whereby we riſe up on the Lords ſide, againſt whom, before,oRom. 8 7 our wiſedome was enmity. Doe thou ſeriouſly weigh what anſwer thou canſt give, as in Gods preſence, without deceiving thy ſelfe, or others, unto that preſſing queſtion of our Saviour,pMat. 5 47 foreign, What ſingular thing do you? What doe ye more than others? What doe you more than the carnal and profane? than the civill, or the hypocriticall profeſſor? What doe you more for God than theſe?
Vſe 3 How may this ſmite, as with a mighty ſcourge of reproofe, the very ſpirits of Gods owne people for that ſluggiſh and bed-rid diſpoſition that cleaves to our nature? How doth our wonderful guiltineſſe of the neglect of this duty begirt, and beſiege us on every ſide? Whoſe heart may not ſmite him? Whoſe minde doth not ſecretly miſ-give him, and falls under the thought of his grievous omiſſions? Whoſe conſcience doth not tell him that hee is involved and enwrapped in this ſpiritual drowſineſſe and Lethargie? Who may not take up this heavy complaint, There is none that ſtirreth up himſelfe? and may ſay, and I am one of them: and ſo may I ſay, that ſpeake this; and thou that heareſt this. Ah wee fooles, and ſlow of heart, we have not put forth our ſelves in any proportion anſwerable to the grace given, or mercies received. Ah! (deare Chriſtian) hee that ſhall looke backe, and take a ſerious view of the time of his life ſince his calling, and ſhall conſider what ſpeciall opportunities of doing, and receiving good h e hath fore-ſlowed, how cold and careleſſe hee hath bin to oppoſe, or prevent ſinne in himſelfe or others; what a dead heart hee hath had for the moſt part, in all the duties of Gods worſhip, both in his prayers to him, his prayſes of him, and his ſtanding for him; how the bowels of his compaſſions have bin lockt up from his brethren, whoſe good he ſhould more have tendred: his ſlackneſſe and ſlownes in his chriſtian race, going moſt an end a ſnailes pace, as though heaven were notworth the comming thither: if any ſhall (I ſay) conſider his many failings, and groſſe omiſſions in althe aggravating circumſtances of them, if the teares ſtand not in his eyes, he hath juſt cauſe to complaine of he hardneſſe of his heart. Ah if our hearts were ſearched with lights and tapers, what a deale of luggage and lumber would there bee found? what heaps of droſſe, of cold and ſluggiſh matter would appeare to lye deading and damping thoſe few ſparkes of heat, and little light yet remaining in us? Good Lord! how full are we of our ſelves, and of the world? what ſtrange luſts and paſſions lye yet unmortified in us? which keepe downe our minds that wee cannot lift them up to divine and ſpirituall things: May it not be ſaid in a ſpirituall ſenſe of moſt of our hearts and houſes, as theqIſa. 47.14 Prophet ſpeakes, there is not a cole to warme it.
Vſe 4 How ſhould this humble and aſhame us? how ſhould wee bewaile this wretched luskiſhneſſe and ſluggiſhnes of our ſpirits, this indiſpoſition, this unactiveneſſe and unzealouſneſſe, if it were poſſible, with teares of blood? The godly are wont to eſteeme of life, not according to that they find in their body, but their ſoule; when that wants a heavenly diſpoſition to ſpirituall things, they lament over it as a dead ſoule, ſince herein ſtands the life of it, to be ſtirring and active in our duties of love and obedience.rIſa. 38.15….16. O Lord, by theſe things men live, and in all theſe things is the life of my ſpirit, ſaith that good King Hezekiah. Let us view our ſelves in the ſeverall relations wee ſtand towards others, whether Magiſtrate, Miniſter, Parent, Maſter of a Family, Friend or Neighbour, &c. and then let us but ſtand a while and think what good might have beene done, which now hath been fore-ſlowed in our owne hearts, in our families, and abroad: if in our firſt ſetting out in our Chriſtian race wee had thus beſtirred our ſelves; now that time is paſt and gone, and ſpilt like water on the ground, which can no more bee gathered up againe! What prayers and Sermons have beene loſt, &c. what ſinne and evill might have beene avoyded, what ſinne might have beene reſtrained by us, the guilt of which now ſtickes upon us. But more eſpecially ſhould it abaſe us, and throw us downe in our ſelves, and make us bluſh within our ſelves, that wee have bin ſo vilely wanting to the Lord and his grace, that we have not ſtirred up our ſelves according to the grace given, and abilities beſtowed upon us; in that wee have not done that which we might have done, and was in our power to do, both in regard of reſiſting ſins and temptations, and performing duties of piety and mercy.Whether a man may do more then he doth with that ability which he hath?
Queſt. But here it may be demanded, Whether a man may doe more than he doth with that ability which he hath?
Anſw. 1 For the anſwering of this queſtion, I ſhall lay downe theſe ſeverall poſitions:
Firſt, it is granted that an unregenerate man can do no good Spirituall without grace;ſMat. 12.33 the tree muſt be good before the fruit can be good: AstIohn 15.4. the branch beareth not fruit but in the Vine, Iohn 15.4.
Secondly, Yet a naturall man may doe more then he doth, towards the attainment of a better ſtate, and to the good of other men, they might uſe meanes, as Hearing, reading, prayer, as it is an outward action, ſo giving to the poore, &c.
Thirdly, a regenerate Chriſtian, as in his firſt regeneration, he is only paſſive, God infuſing new habits of grace, new qualities into every faculty: ſo after regeneration hee cannot doeuRom. 7.15. Gal. 5.17. all the good he would, nor when he would, nor as hee would.
Fourthly, A regenerate Chriſtian after grace received, ſtandeth in need not onelyonly of generall ayd,*It is Gods free grace, his voluntary influence which habituateth and fitteth al our faculties, which animate thus unto a heavenly being, which giveth us both the ſtrength and firſt act, whereby we are qualified to work, and which con. curreth with us in astu ſecundo, to all thoſe works which we ſet ourſelves about. As an inſtrument, even when it hath an edge cutteth nothing till it be aſſiſted and moved by the hand of the artificer: ſo a Chriſtian, when he hath a will and an habituall fitneſſe to worke, yet is able to doe nothing without a conſtant ſupply and aſſiſtance and eoncomitancy of the grace of Chriſt, exciting, moving, and applying that habituall power unto particular Actions. E. R. but of ſupply of new grace, to put forth every ſpirituall act of grace; partly for the working out of his owne ſalvation, and partly for the more ſpirituall and lively performance and accompliſhment of the worke it ſelfe. Hee ſtandeth in need of,
1. Preparing grace, that whereby God prepared the heart of Titus to receive Pauls exhortation, 2 Cor. 8.17. By this grace the hearts of Gods people are prepared to pray, Pſal. 10.17.
2. Exciting, or awakening, or quickning grace: Iſa. 30.4. in the latter end of the verſe, Hee wakeneth morning by morning, hee wakeneth my eare to heare as the learned. So, Pſal. 143.11.
3. Aſſiſting and ſtrengthning grace, 1 Pet. 5.10.
4. Enlarging grace, Pſal. 119.32.
5. Directing grace, 2 Theſ. 3.5.
6. Protecting, or preſerving grace, keeping off prevailing interruptions, Eſay 27.3.
7. Perfecting grace, 1 Pet. 5.10.
Fifthly, Though a regenerate Chriſtian cannot by his owne abilities excite, or prepare, or enlarge his owne heart to any Spirituall duty, yet by the grace he hath received, he may, and ought to uſe the meanes which God hath appointed for the ſtirring up of the heart towards God: for,
1. Hee may walke in a conſcionable care not to live in any knowne ſinne, or after the fleſh; for to live after the fleſh, deadeth and dulleth the Spirit, Rom. 8.13.
2. He may abſtaine from the conſtant, abundant uſe of ſenſuall comforts; for ſuch (though lawfull) will ſecretly choake the heart of a Chriſtian, as they did Salomons.
3. Hee may diligently uſe the holy Ordinances of God, eſpecially the hearing of the Word where it is Preached with power; in the uſe whereof, a regenerate Chriſtian, by grace received, exceedeth a naturall man, in that a naturall man can onelyonly heare, but not upon a right ground, nor for a right end; but a regenerate Chriſtian, by grace received, may heare in obedience to Gods ordinances, and for his edification, ſeeking and waiting upon God for a bleſſing, Cant. 3.1.
4. He may diſcerne the dulneſſe and deadneſſe of his owne heart to all ſpirituall duties, and may*Iſa. 63.17 complaine thereof unto God in prayer, Iſa. 63.17.
Sixtly, for want of the uſe of theſe means he may juſtly be ſaid not to prepare his owne heart, 2 Chron. 12.14. not to ſtir up himſelfe to take hold of God, as in the Text: and ſo therby toxEphe. 4.30 grieve the holy ſpirit of God, y2 Cor. 6.1and to receive the grace of God in vaine, and therfore may juſtly be reproved hereof, and complained of, as in the Text. Beſides this, the conſtant experience of all the children of God wil beare them witneſſe, that there be no ſinnes that lye more heavy upon them, or under which they doe more deepely grone and mourne, than their walking unworthy of thoſe precious mercies and graces they have received,zVerum, heu mihi, ſtudium ellud meum et zelus (ſi hoc nomine dignus eſt) adeo remiſſus & languidus fuit ut innu mera mihi ad munus meum preclarè fungendum defuiſſe fatear In Teſt. Calvini in vita ipſis, p. 102 Queſt. neither growing up in them to that ſtrength, nor imploying them to that fruitfulneſſe they might have attained unto.
But why is it a ſinne not to ſtir up our ſelves to holy duties, ſince exciting grace is Gods worke alone, and hee muſt renew it every morning, elſe the worke wil not be done, Iſa. 50.4.
Anſw. 1 Anſw. Becauſe it is by reaſon of our ſinne that God doth not ſtir us up: as,
1. Our narrowneſſe of heart and mouth in prayer, Pſal. 81.10. Aske liberally and have liberally: prayers area2 King. 13.17, 18, 19. like arrowes of Deliverance, which would be multiplied and enlarged.
2. Our heedleſneſſe in the uſe of the Ordinances, Luk. 8.18.
3. Unfruitfulneſſe in the uſe of grace received, Mat. 25.29.
4. Unbeleefe, Mat. 14.31. elſe renewing our waiting on the Lord for his help and grace, would renew our ſtrength, Iſa. 40.31.
Thus you ſee how ſtill the faultbRectè homo corripitur que precepta non implet quia exetus negligentia eſt quod gratiam non habet per quam poſſit ſervare mandata. Th. Aq. queſt. diſp. 24. art. 14 returnes upon our ſelves, how we cannot ſtand before this truth, but muſt lye downe as condemned of our ſelves, and guilty of this evill, that we have not ſtirred up our ſelves to doe that which was in our power to have done, that good (I ſay) which wee ought and might have done.
Vſe 5 What remaines now but that I ſhould call upon you, and my ſelfe, with all the ſtrength of exhortation I may, (and the Lord grant it may be effectuall to us all) that wee ſet about this ſo needfull a Chriſtian duty, and that if it be poſſible we might bee drawne off from our dregs and lees, to get above our ſelves, and to bee heightned in our deſires, and practice of all Chriſtian duties, to doe them in a more lively, active, and ſtirring manner: this being like oyle to the wheeles, and as wind to the ſayles that ſets all agoing; this indeed is all in all, for what are all our ſervices, but ſapleſſe, liveleſſe, and loathſome things without this?
And firſt I would bend my ſpeech to ſuch as formerly have bin more forward and ſtirring-hearted, but now are growne more remiſſe and ſpirit-leſſe: I would ſpeake to ſuch, in the Name of God, as the Lord ſpeakes by the Prophet to his people,cIer. 2.5 What iniquity have your fathers found in mee, that they are gone from mee? What evill have you found in Gods wayes, that you are growne weary of them? Speake, in the preſence of God, what evill have you found in prayer, that you grow ſo ſlacke in it? You were wont you could have gone to the Lord with much enlargement, and, it may bee, with many teares;dPſa. 45.1 your tongue was as the pen of a ready Writer; why are you now ſo narrow-hearted? Why doe you ſo fore-ſlow the duty?Siccine putamus oraſſe Ionam? Sic Danielem inter Leones? Sic latr nem in cruces? Hier. ſpeaking thereof cold prayers. and make ſo many excuſes? and are ſo loth to come into Gods preſence? neither is there that ſtrugling againſt this woful diſpoſition as formerly. What evill have you found in Gods word? the time was when you went with much joy to Gods houſe, and you loved the Bible above al books, and now it can lie a day, & ſometimes a weeke, and you never looke into it?eIob 15.11 Are …he conſolations of God ſmall with you? are the counſels and exhortations of the Scriptures grown weake? Are the Promiſes of God more dry and withered? Is not God ſtill a hearer of praiers? or is his arme ſhortned that it cannot ſave? God forbid! But doth not the fault lye in yourſelfe, unto whom the world, and other ſinfull diſtempers have marred the relliſh and taſte of theſe Divine counſels and comforts? What evill have you found in the ſocietie of Gods people? of whoſe grace and goodneſſe you cannot bee but well perſwaded; why are you ſo ſtrange unto them? the time hath bin when you have preferred them before all others, and choſe them for the onelyonly companions of your life, you could have opened your mouth to the edification of others, but now you are like a curſt Cowe that will not give downe her milke; you can now like well enough of carnall ſpeech, and worldly companie, and can ſort your ſelfe with ſuch of whoſe happineſſe you have no perſwaſion. Speake, is not this your caſe? are you not blame-worthy? why then be grieved, and ſigh within your ſelfe: andfRev. 2.4, 5 Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent and doe thy first workes. Let our Saviours counſell come ſeaſonably to thee,gRev. 3.2 Be watchfull to ſtrengthen the things which remaine which are ready to dye reſt not in this unprofitable and uncomfortable condition, till thou find thy ſpirit to revive, and thy care of better things to flouriſh, and ſpring againe in thee:hHeb. 12.12 13. Lift up thy hands that hang downe, and the feeble knees, leſt that which bee lame be turned out of the way. Labour to recover thy former ſtrength and ſtation; and therefore to cheriſh and blow up that fire which yet remaines hid under the aſhesi2 Iohn 8 that thou loſe not that which thou hest wrought, but mayest receive a full reward.
But leſt any be diſcouraged,Cauti…n. wee are to know, that this dulneſſe and unſtirringneſſe of heart, may proceed ſometime from
1. Weakneſſe, faintneſſe, and feeblenes of body, whether it beinregard of preſent ſickneſſe, indiſpoſition to health, age, or other bodily infirmities, in which caſe a good Chriſtian may be feeble in performance of duties the minde moſt an end following the preſent temper of the body.
2. It may proceed from melancholy diſtempers with which the minde may be over-growne.
3. Or the party may lye under ſome violent temptation of Satan, or diſtreſſe of conſcience, which may ſtrangely, for the time, make one dull, mopiſh, and forgetfull.
4. Or it may proceed from ſpirituall deſertion, when the ſenſe of Gods favour, love and wonted preſence may be departed from him for a time.
5. Or the outward meanes of the Word may be taken from them, either wholly, or it may be much ecclipſed, which formerly they enjoyed in more plentie and power.
Theſe, and many ſuch like, may bring a dulneſſe upon the hart in Duties; but if thy weariſomneſſe in duties, and thy decayings in good ariſe from none of theſe, but that it hath rooting and foundation in thy owne corrupt nature, and is cheriſhed and fomented by the lusts of other things, thoumuſt take it home to thy ſelfe, and know thy caſe is ſo much the worſe, and that thou art laden with the more guilt, by how much thou art left without excuſe, God having done ſo well for thee, and thou having ſokDeut. 32.6 ill requited him.
Laſtly, this exhortation is to be ſet home upon every one that feares the name of God, be they poore or rich, noble or meane, learned or unlearned, young or old, all need it, and therefore all may harken to it; for all to kindle and quicken up our ſelves, to ſharpen and ſet an edge upon our ſelves, to rouze up our ſelves, to preſſe forward and goe an end with all our might, in all our duties. O what is worthy our care, paines and travell if this be not, to have our ſpirits quickned and enlivened with ſtronger incitations to what is required of us, to tugge and toyle, to labor &lNon ad ruborem tantum ſed ad ſudorē, ſweat in this worke, breaking through all difficulties, and bearing up againſt all oppoſitions. As the Cocke claps his wings to ſtirre up himſelfe to crowe, and as a fire-brand borne in the wind is themSee Davids anſwer when Michall his wife mocked him, 2 S…m. … 20 21, 22, 23 more enkindled; and as Sampſon ſtirred up his ſtrength, when it was told him the Philistims were upon him. As there was more in Sampſon than in another man, ſo is there in every true Chriſtian, who being in covenant with God, and having his vowes upon him, he goes forth in the ſtrength of theſe and ſo long as henJudg. 6 14 goes forth in this might, and cleaves to him that is the ſtrength of Iſrael, ſo long no ſinne ſhall maſter him, nor duty be too hard for him; otherwiſe hee ſhall bee weake, and as another man. Hence it is that Salomon ſaith,oPro. 15 24 The way of life is above to the wiſe. The godly man goeth an higher way than his neighbour, even in the common buſineſſes of this life, even of his ordinary calling, becauſe they are done inpGal. 2.20 Rom. 14.23 faith andqDeut. 5.29 obedience: much more when hee draweth neere to God in more immediate duties of his worſhip, as when we are to praiſe him, or ſtand for him This is that which p… s the difference, even the hea t ſtirred and moved with theſe principles, which being wanting in every naturall man, the heart muſt needs ſinke, and flagge in his performances. O then that there were ſuch an heart in us as to goe this higher way, to get above the ordinary ſort, even like the Aegles of heaven, who delight themſelves in their high flying, and when they are fartheſt from the earth: ſo to get above earthly men, and earthly things, to be as the flame, which, the higher it riſeth, the purer it is; ſo ſtill to bee aſpiring in our thoughts, deſires and indevours, and to get them up to ſuch a pitch,Prov. 4.18 by which they might bee freed from their dregs and droſſe.
And ſeeing the ſtrength of our minds is the moſt precious thing wee have, wee ſhould reſerve this for the moſt excellent duties and buſineſſes, and beſtow it upon them. Thus ſhal we makeſFides auget aetatem. Amb a ſhort life a long one, and thus ſhalt thou live more in a day, than another doth in ſeven yeares, or in all his time: for it is not to be reckoned a life which is meaſured with dayes and yeares; but that which istIn brevi vitae ſpatio tempo…a virtutum multa complevit. Hieron. Ep. ad Fu. filled with good Actions, with fervent prayers, with walking in an awfull feare of God, with denying thy ſelfe, and mortifying, thy luſts, with bearing afflictions patiently, with giving good example unto others, to helpe the diſtreſſed and afflicted, to ſtand on Gods ſide, oppoſing the ſinnes and evils of the times, &c this is truly to live; theſe are the moſt noble actions of life, and theſe are the moſt excellent iſſues and productions of the mind and ſoule