A Commentary on 1 Peter 1-3, Exposition of chapter 3 · Exposition of verse 4
Verse 4.
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, &c.
HItherto of that adorning they should not be curious or costly in. Now in this verse he shewes, in the affirmative, what apparell or dressing they s…ould be carefull of, and that is the adorning of their soules, and the apparelling of the inward man. In the words three things may be noted:
1. What must be apparelled, viz. the hidden man of the heart.
2. With what it must be adorned: which he shewes both in generall, and in particular; in generall, it must be with incorruptible things; in particular, it must be with a meeke and quiet spirit.
3. The reason, viz. because such apparell is very rich in Gods account.
The fir… thing then is, what must be apparelled▪ viz. the man of the heart The man of the heart. This is a kind of speaking not used in any place of Scriptu…e but this onelyonly: this Apostle onelyonly useth this kinde of expressing himselfe.
Now concerning the man of the heart I would consider of sixe things:
1. What he is.
2. Whence he is, or his originall.
3. In what he excels the outward man.
4. What condition he is in by nature.
5. H…w he may be mended, or made better.
6. How we may know when the man of the heart is right.
…or the first:Wh…t the man of the …eart i…. by the man of the heart hee meanes the same the Apostle Paul …oth by the inward man, 2 Cor. 4.16. and the inward man is the soule or he…rt of man Thus …e speakes of a Jew that is outward, and a Jew that is in…ar…, Rom. 2.28, 29. Now the heart is and may well be called the man for divers reasons:
1. In respect of definition. For the definition of a man agrees to the heart of man, though there were no body: for God was the God of Abraham, and Abraham was, and was a living man many hundred yeeres after his body was in the grave, Mat. 22. And hence it is that unto the soule or heart of man in Scriptures is attributed all things that the outward man can doe; as life, Psal. 22.27. language, Eccles. 9.1. Psal. 14.1. & 36.1. praying to God, Psal. 37.4. receiving messages from God; as when the Prophet is bidden to speake to the heart of Jerusalem, Esay 40. serving of God, &c.
2. In respect of dominion. The heart is the man, because it disposeth the way of man, Pro. 16.9. and ruleth the outward man: for out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. And therefore Solomon saith, that from the heart comes life, Pro. 4.23.
3. In respect of acceptation. The heart is that which God especially respects in man: it is the heart he lookes upon, 1 Sam. 17.7. He tries the heart, and, as Solomon saith, He weighes the hearts of the children of men, Pro. 21.2. and he will be served with our hearts, Iosh. 24.14. and in all holy duties it is with us in Gods account according as he seeth the heart, 1 Kings 8.39. so he requires the heart in repenting, 1 Sam. 7.3. in praying, 2 Tim. 2.22. Hos. 7.14. in hearing the Word, Luke 8. and so in every good duty. Thus of the first point.
His originall.For the second. The man of the heart hath his originall from God himselfe. He is the Father of Spirits, Heb. 12.8. and it was his especiall glory to forme and fashion the heart in man, as divers Scriptures shew, Zech. 12.1. Psal. 33.15. and is therefore called the God of the heart, Psal. 37.
Wh…r…in he e… cells the outward man.For the third. The man of the heart excells the outward man exceedingly, and that both in substance and in priviledges. As for substance in the outward man we agree with beasts, but in the inward man we agree with Angels; in as much as the man of the heart consists of a spirituall and immateriall essence, as well as the Angels. And as in substance, so in properties there is great difference: for first, the man of the heart is hidden; it can be and doe all his worke, and yet be invisible. God himselfe hath variety of conversation with the man of the heart, that no creature else knowes.
Secondly, he is free, and subject only to the God of his heart properly. No man can come at, or governe, or command the heart of man.
Thirdly, he is properly the seat of Gods image. Wee are not properly like God in our bodies, (because God hath no body) but in our spirits, though it be true, that the glory of Gods image shines through the body of man (as the light doth through the lanthorne) in respect whereof the outward man is said to bee made after Gods image: but else, properly, onelyonly the man of the heart is capable of that preferment, to be made like God.
His naturall condition very miserable many wayes.For the fourth point. The man of the heart by nature is in a most wofull condition, though in those general things before mentioned he excels the outward. His miserie will appear, if we throughly consider, either what he is in his qualities, or what he doth in his worke, or what he suffers in that estate. If you inquire after his qualities by nature, first, he is vaine, Ephes. 4.18. yea so vaine, as the outward man dares not act what the man of the heart entertaines. Secondly, he is foule; as Solomon saith, Who can say, I have made my heart cleane? Yea he is so foule, that it is as hard a worke to make the he art of one man cleane, as to create a world anew. Hence David said, O Lord create in me a cleane heart, Psal. 51. Thirdly, he is uncircumcised and altogether indisposed to matters of religion: he is slow, and hard to beleeve, uncapable and unteachable, and makes not use of the very first businesse in the entrance into religion, Ier. 9.26. 1 Cor. 2.14. Fourthly, hee is deceitfull above all things; hee can bee trusted in nothing, Ier. 17.9. Fiftly, he is verie unquiet, and never enjoyes any sound peace, nor is pleased with any condition; and oftentimes hee is like the raging Sea, Isa. 57. These are his qualities, some of them. His workes he doth are most abominable: for,
1. Hee is alwaies imagining mischiefe;Especially in his workes, which are abominable. the whole frame of his thoughts is onelyonly evill continually, Gen. 6. There is a world of wickednesse in him ev…ry day.
2. That hee may bee wicked the more securely, he imprisons the truth, and laies hold upon all the principles in his head, that might any way disturbe his course in sin, and locks them up in restraint, Rom. 1.18.
3. He resists the spirit, and proclaimes enmitie to God, and gets out of the way, that so the heart may be farre from God: and further, the more to provoke God he chooseth strange gods, which he daily entertaines, and gives unto them what is due unto God. These are they are called by the Prophet the Idols of the heart, Ezech. 14.
And finally, he is the authour of all the mischiefes are done by the outward man: for it is he that gives wicked lawes to the members, and makes the outward man doe all the villanies we see are done in the world, Mat. 15. Rom. 7.
And as he is most wretched in what he is, and doth; so is hee in what he suffers: for first, he is smitten with a most wofull Lethargie; alwaies given to sleeping, and in danger to go to Hell in any of these sleepes. And besides, he lives in the darke: it is alwaies night with him, he never sees day, Rom. 13.11. and besides, the Divell possesseth him, and hath raised strong Holds, and fortified himselfe within him, 2 Cor. 10.4. and lastly, he is an abomination to the Lord. As nothing is more esteemed of God than the man of the Heart, if hee bee right: so nothing is more loathsome to God, if he be wicked, Prov. 11.20.
Now for the fifth point: If any aske what must be done, that the man of the Heart may be mended and made right: I answer;
1. The heart most be prepared: prepared, I say, to returne to God,By what means the man of the …eart may be men…ed. 1 Sam. 7.3. Now the heart is prepared two waies: first, by a sound confession of the sinnes of the heart, when a man acknowledgeth the plague of his evill heart before God, 1 Kings 8.38. secondly, b… earnest prayer to God, to direct the heart, and set it in order, and bow i…, and incline it to goodnesse, 2 Thes. 3.5. Now it is certaine, that even these workes of preparation are not neglected of God; for hee heareth the preparations of the heart, Psal. 10.17.
2. It must bee stored with sacred notions, and knowledges out of the Word of God. The Law must bee written in the heart: the Word of God, in the sound knowledge of it, must be hidden there, Psal. 119.11. Ier. 31.33. Esay 51.7. for these sacred notions have a power to master and order the heart.
3. It must bee washed and purified. It must bee soundly rinsed in the teares of true repentance, and then it will become very acceptable to God, through the merits of Christ a…d his mediation, Iames 4.8. Ier. 4.14. God greatly delights in the heart, when it is broken and contrite, Psal. 34.19. & 147.3. & 51.17.
Now for the last point: The man of the heart is then right, when
1. It is true, Heb. 10.22. that is,How we may know when the man o… the heart is right. when it is without the guile of fraud and dissimulation; when it is as it seemes to be in religion; when it had rather be good than seeme so.
2. It is cleane: for, Blessed are the pure in heart, Mat. 5. Psal. 51.12. & 24.4. It is a signe the man of the heart is right, when it is freed from the liking and residence of naturall filthinesse it was given to, and when that continuall frame of vile thoughts and lusts is dissolved; especially when it strives after inward purity as well as outward.
3. When it is sound in Gods Statutes, Psal. 119.80. And so it is, first, when it is carefull to get warrant for every action from the Word, and seeketh doctrine and instruction, and to that end comes to the light, Pro. 15.14. & 18.15. Secondly, when it submitteth it selfe to the forme of doctrine into which it is delivered. The heart is sound in the Word, when a man doth from his heart consent to obey, and striveth to follow the directions daily given out of the Word, Rom. 6.17. especially when it is perfect with God: and so it is when it is a willing heart, and hath respect to all Gods Commandements, and desires to live in no sin, 1 Chron. 28.9.
4. When the full purpose of the heart is to cleave to God for ever; Acts 11.23.
And thus of the man of the heart, or what is to be apparelled and adorned. With what it must be adorned followeth: and in generall, it must be adorned with that which is incorruptible.
In that which is not corruptible.] Foure things may be noted in these words; two of them are implied, two of them more expresse.
Doct. 1. That the things belonging to the outward man are corruptible. All things that concerne him are …o: for first, his substance is corruptible; All flesh is grasse, 1 Pet. 1.24. so Iob 14.1.2. and besides, all his glory is as th… flower of the field. His riches, pleasures, honour, strength, beauty, health, and all he any way accounts his glory, it all will corrupt: for either vanitie will consume it, or violence will take it away, 1 Pet. 1.24. 1 Iohn 2.17. Mat. 6.19, 20. All earthly things are vanity and vexation of spirit, as Solomon shewes in the whole booke of Ecclesiastes.
Now if worldly things be corruptible things, then in generall we should all learne divers lessons: first, not to set our affections upon these things here below, we should not set our hearts upon that which wee cannot keepe long. All wee have, though it bee not yet corrupted, yet it is all corruptible: why should wee then make such haste to bee rich? especially, why should wee trust upon unc…rtain… riches? Secondly, seeing wee shall have these things but a …hile, wee should use them as such things as wee cannot enjoy long; and so wee should take our part of them in a sober and Christian freedome while wee have them, Psalme 49.18. Eccles. 9.7, 10. and especially wee should employ them to the best uses wee can: And the best use to put worldly things to,Not…. is either to make friends with them, by liberalitie to the poore, Luke 16. or to buy wisedome with them, by spending freely for the procuring of the meanes of salvation for our selves or others, Proverbs 17.16. and in generall the chiefe use of them is, by them to make our selves rich in good workes, 1 Tim. 6.19, 20. Thirdly, seeing earthly things are corruptible, wee should not envie the prosperity of wicked men, that abound not in any thing that will …arry long with them: all their portion is in these things that will away, Psalme 37.1, 2. & 49.15, 16, 18. Lastly, wee should all therefore bee of Moses minde, rather to suffer affliction with Gods people that shall possesse eternall things, than with the wicked to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season, Heb. 11.26. And in particular, both poore and rich may bee instructed hereby: for rich men should not glorie in their riches, but rather r…joice if God have made them low by true grace, which will last for ever, Iames 1.9, 10. 1 Tim. 6.17, 20 and poore men that have a portion in spirituall things, should not bee troubled for want of these …rthly things, seeing if they …d them they would last but a while, I…s 1.9. and therefore having food and raiment they should bee content. Thus of the first Doctrine.
Doct. 2. Earthly things doe not adorne a man. As they are corruptible, so they doe not make a man any whit the more comely: which is true in these foure senses following: First, they doe not adorne a man in the sight of God: he respects it not, whether a man be poore or rich, bond or free, cloathed or naked, in robes or in rags, Gal. 3.28. Secondly, they adorne not the inward man: they add nothing to the mind or heart of man. Thirdly, they adorne not with true ornament, but onelyonly with a shew: for if the glory of the world be like a withering flower, what true ornament can it be to weare such withered things? Fourthly, they adorne not for continuance. All apparell for the body of a man, and all ornaments for his house or state any way, they are the worse for wearing, and will weare cleane out in the end. And therefore for the use, first, how vaine a thing is the pride of life! and secondly, we should therefore know no man after the flesh, but to reckon of mans worth by better things than worldly things.
Doct. 3. A third doctrine is evidently to be observed out of these words; and that is very comfortable for godly Christians, such as the Apostle supposed these to be to whom he writes; and that is, That godly Christians have right to all incorruptible things. That which is not corruptible, if they seeke, they may possesse. It is their owne, God would have them put it on as they put on their apparell. He hath adorned his children with the gift of all incorruptible things: heavenly treasures are theirs, and they may lay hold on them, and lay them up as their certaine riches and portion, Mat. 6.…0. He grants eternall life to them that seeke glory, and honour, and incorruptible things; that is, he grants them an eternall possession of spirituall things, Rom. 2.7.
Now that this doctrine may be more evident and full of comfort, it is profitable to inquire distinctly what is incorruptible, and will last alwaies; and so we shall find by the testimonies of the Scripture that seven things are incorrup…ible.
1. …od is incorruptible, Rom. 1. and God is their God by covenant; and,… as David saith, he is the strength of their heart, and their portion for ever, Psal. 37.26. & 1…9 57. and God his mercy, and his love, and his power is everlasting. His mercy endures for ever, Psal. 136. and his loving kindnesse …all never be taken from him, Psal. 89.33. and with everlasting compassion he hath received them to favour, Esay 54. and with everlasting love hath he loved them, Ier. 31.3. and in the Lord Iehovah is everlasting strength for the protection and preservation of his people; and therefore they may trust upon him for ever, Esay 26.4. and therefore if all people will walke every …ne in the name of his God, godly men ought much more to wa…ke in the name of the Lord their God for ever and ever, Micah. 4.6.
2. The Word of God is incorruptible, and lasts beyond all end, 1 Pet. 1.24. Psal. 119.89. And this is the heritage of the godly, Psal. 119.111, 127. The truth shall be with us for ever, 2 Iohn 2.
3. The righteousnesse of Christ is everlasting, Dan. 9.24. and this righteousnesse is theirs, …o as they may put it on as a garment; and it makes them righteous before God, Rom. 13. ult. 1 Cor. 1.30. 2 Cor. 5.21.
4. Gods covenant is incorruptible and everlasting Esa… 55.4. and it cannot be abrogared but the godly shall have the benefit of it for ever.
5. The gifts of saving gr…ce are incorruptible; and their hearts can never …ee drawne dry, but the spring of grace will bee in some measure in them. And through these graces the godly have everlasting consolation: for Gods gifts and calling are without repentance, Iohn 4.14 2 Thes 2.10. Rom. 11. This love is incorruptible, 2 Cor. 13. and everlasting joy shalbe upon their heads, Esay 61. So the seed of saving knowledge will abide in the godly for ever, 1 Iohn 3. and their meeknesse, and a quiet spirit, is reckoned an ornament that is not corruptible. But of this afterwards.
6. Good workes are incorruptible; so the righteousnesse of the just will last for ever, 2 Cor. 9.9. and though he die, yet his workes will follow him to Heaven, Rev. 14.13. Psal. 139.24.
Lastly, Heaven and the glory of it, is everlasting; Gods kingdome is an everlasting kingdome, 1 Tim. 6.11. and that glory is an eternall waight of glory, 2 Cor. 4.14. We have an house that is eternall in the Heavens, 2 Cor. 5.1. our inheritance there is immortall, and undefiled, and withereth not away, 1 Pet. 1.3.
The uses may be divers:
Use 1. For first, it should teach us to strive to be such as may have our portion in incorruptible thing: and so wee must first take oft our affections from all things that may offend; as resolved if our right eye offend us, to plucke it out; and if our right hand offend us, to cut it off; that is, to deny all sinfull things, though they were as deare to us as our right hand, or right eye, Mat. 9.45. Secondly, we must be such as yeeld our selves to obey the voice of Christ, and to bee ruled by him. Hee gives eternall life to his sheep: we must bee sheepe then, for hearing his voice, and tractablenesse, Iohn 10.29. Thirdly, wee must give glory to God, and rely upon his promise of grace in Jesus Christ: wee must be beleevers, Iohn 3.16. Fourthly, wee must by patient continuing in well-doing, still seeke immortality, Rom. 2.7. Thus of the first use.
Use 2. Secondly, seeing the portion of the godly lies in incorruptible things, wee should not be much troubled for the wants or losses in corruptible things. Wee have so large an inheritance in things that will last for ever, that it should be no grievance to us, though we should want those transitory things … world.
Use 3. Thirdly, for this reason, such as abound in earthly things, should bee … more willing to distribute them, and give them for good uses, seeing those things are not th…ir portion; and therefore they need not be overcarefull for the keeping of such things.
Use …. Fourthly, hence wee may gather infallibly, That the godly can never fall from grace: for Gods mercies cannot corrupt or fall away, and his gi…ts are without repentance. If they could be lost, then they were corruptible as well as earthly things. But this is a comfort that must not bee taken away, that God will establish Sion for ever, Psal. 48.8. and though the … passe away, and the lusts thereof, yet he that doth the will of God abideth for ever, 1 Iohn 2.17. and though the servant may be cast out of the house, yet the sonne abideth for ever, Iohn 8.35.
Lastly, we should the lesse feare de…th, seeing hence we learne that we have many things that will last with us, even after our bodies be rotten in the grave. Thus of the third doctrine.
Doct. 4. Now a fourth point is also cleare, and that is, That incorruptible things doe wonderfully adorne, and make men comely. This is the maine scope a…d drift of the Text, and therefore we should the more seeke after th…se things: for if wee could see the beauty of the inward man, as it is adorned with grace, wee would bee wonderfully enamoured and in love with it. No comelinesse of the body can so allure, as would this inward beauty of the man of the hear: and therefore againe, we should hence learne to make the more account of poore Christians. There are no persons in the world so comely as they, if wee knew the worth and ornament of true grace. And so in generall, we should love the godly above all people, because they are the fairest, and best adorned of all the men and women in earth: and in particular, those husbands that have gracious wives,Note. should learne so much religion as to love them entirely, even for the beauty of the man of the Heart, though they wanted the outward ornaments of riches, or extraordinary comelinesse of the outward man. Women also should especially hence learne to get grace, and knowledge, and holinesse into their hearts; for their best handsomnesse is in their qualities and gifts. 'Tis not their cloathes, but their manners and disposition, that becomes them or disgraces them. A faire body doth commend little, if the heart bee fowle; it is a small praise to have a good face, and an ill nature. Some women are like Helen without, and like Hecuba within.
Thus of the adorning of the man of the Heart in generall. Now followes the particular ornament, which the Apostle commends by name; and that is, a meeke and quiet spirit.
Of a meeke and quiet spirit.] Quietnesse is added to meeknesse, lest by mistaking the definition of meeknesse, they should not understand the Apostles meaning.
Now the doctrine hence to bee gathered, is, That amongst all the particular vertues required in Christians, meeknesse and quietnesse of nature and spirit is a speciall vertue, and carefully to bee sought: and in particular by Christian wives, as this and other Scriptures shew, Eph. 4.2. Mat. 11.28. Zeph. 2.3. Col. 3.12.
Before I make use of this point, I must consider what is comprehended in those termes, of a meeke and quiet spirit; and first, we must know before hand, what it doth not comprehend. It doth not require that women or men should be so quiet, as not to be troubled for their sinnes; or not to humble their soules for sinne; or that they should bee carelesse of their callings, either generall or particular; or that they should not admonish or reprove sinne in others, when they have a calling and fitnesse.
But unto the constituting of true meeknesse and quietnesse of spirit, is requisite,
1. Freedome from the evils that disquiet and molest the spirits of men;What things are requisite to me…knesse. such as are, first, anger, frowardnesse, fretting, and peevishnesse: secondly, worldly sorrow, crying, and aptnesse to take unkindnesse, and fullennesse: thirdly, distrustfull cares of life arising from covetousnesse, 1 Tim. 6, 10, 11. fourthly, rash zeale and fiercenesse, or inordinate striving and wilfulnesse; as may bee gathered in the case of a Minister, 2 Tim. 2.24, 25, 26. fifthly, contention, and evill speaking, or ill language; as may bee gathered from Tit. 3.2. and stirring up contention or brawles: sixtly, all inordinate desires, and raigning heart-sinnes, whether sinnes of ambition, lust, malice, or the like, Iam. 1.21. seventhly, unconstancy and levity of minde. Especially it crosseth those evils which are noted to be most usuall in women: such as are fretting, crying, taking unkindnesses, unconstancie, wilfulnesse, complaining of their husbands, or the like.
2. A kind of peacefull contentment, when Christians are habitually well pleased with their condition.
3. A gentle behaviour in case of wrongs or faults from or in others: so as to be, first, able to beare them: secondly, not to render evill for evill, but rather to overcome evill with goodnesse: thirdly, ready to forgive: fourthly, not provoked to anger.
4. A harmelesse and innocent behaviour, Zeph. 2.3.
5. The fixing of the heart by trusting upon God, and living without care, like a little child that beleeves his father will provide for him, Mat. 18.
6. Lowlinesse of mind, thinking no great thoughts of our selves, and esteeming the gifts of God in others, and accounting others better than our selves: and therefore is lowlinesse so often added to the word meeknesse to explaine it.
7. Silence from many words, from vaine and rash speeches, especially provoking termes.
8. Retirednesse, when a Christian is no busie-body in other mens matters, and his feet will be kept out of his neighbours house, and refuseth to have to doe with the strife that belongs not to him.
9. Tractablenesse, and easinesse to be directed, or appointed, and governed: as in relation to God, it is meeknesse to take his zeale upon us, Mat. 11.28. and so in a wise, it is a property of a meeke and quiet spirit to be easie to bee directed, and advised, and governed.
Ob. But is it not lawfull to be angry?
Sol. Yes, it is at some times, for some persons, upon some causes, and in some maner. Anger is a tender vertue, and such a one as by reason of our unskilfulnesse may be easily corrupted, and made dangerous.
Ob. But we must reprove or correct.
Sol. You may doe so: but that you must reprove with passion, or unquietly, I reade not; but rather you must reprove with the spirit of meeknesse. And besides, many rules are requisite to the right use of reproose and correction.
Ob. But can all this be attained?
Sol. It may, or else it would not be required in the new Covenant so often, and so vehemently urged; and the Church of God is not without instance of such as have attained it: and though in many things we may sin all, yet this vertue may be had, though not in the perfection of it.
Object. But I have desired and endeavoured to attaine to it, and cannot.
Sol. First, use the meanes to attaine it yet still: it may be had at length, though not presently. Secondly, it may be doubted of many that pretend this, that they have not such desire, nor use not such endevour in sincerity; they are not watchfull and carefull to looke to the opportunities of this vertue, or the occasions of the contrary vices.
Ob. But may not one have comfort of this vertue, if he be at any time angrie?
Sol. Moses the meekest man on earth was once angry, and Christ himselfe we reade was angry: but where this vertue of anger is not habitually, it reignes not; and where it is, it is bridled and ordered. Or else I may answer, that the act of meeknesse may be interrupted, and yet the habit preserved.
Ob. But we are so provoked, and have such wrongs as are very great and absurd, &c.
Sol. Else it were no great praise to be quiet: a Mastive, a Beare, a Lion, it may be, can be quiet sometimes, if they be not stirred or provoked. There is nothing from without us can make us vicious, without the working of a vile nature in our soules.
The Use should be, first, for instruction. I may say of meekenesse and quietnesse as Christ said of humility, If you heare these things, blessed are you if you doe them, Motives to meeknesse.Iohn 13. Now there are many reasons should move us to be very carefull to expresse a meek and quiet spirit in our behaviour at home and abroad; as first, Gods Commandement. He requireth this at our hands earnestly, as appeareth by the places before quoted, and other Scriptures, Pro. 4.24. …condly, we have an excellent example for it in Christ; and hee chargeth us, of all the things which be imitable in him, to learne meekenesse and lowlinesse of him, Mat. 11.29. Thirdly, it will be a signe of our election and true sanctification, and that God loves us, Col. 3.12. Psal. 147.…. and that we have attained the wisedome that is from above, Iames 3.17. Fourthly, it is a great ornament to a man, as this Text imports, and that both in the sight of God and man. A meeke behaviour is very lovely and comely, Pro. 19.11.
5. Hereby we shall bring much rest to our soules, Mat. 11.29. Our hearts and consciences will be at great peace, whereas there are many occasions of trouble to our consciences which flow from passion and an unquiet and cont…ntious course of life.
6. Meekenesse is incorruptible, it will last for ever, both in the habit of it, and in the comfort and fruit of it: and besides, it will keepe the spirit from such putrefaction and corruption as passion and unquietnesse useth to breed in the spirits of other men.
7. Meekenesse makes the heart very capable of grace, and of the Word of God. The heart is fit to have the Word graffed upon it when it is meeke and quiet, Iames 1.21. and the Lord teacheth the humble his way, Psal. 25. Pro. 3.32. and he will give more grace to the humble, Iames 4.7.
8. God will be the protection of the meeke; he will relieve them, and make them glorious by deliverance, Psal. 76.8,9. & 147.5, 6. & 149.4. Zeph. 2.3. Yea a meek spirit is a great advantage to a mans outward estate, for the meeke shall inherit the earth. God loves no Tenants better than such, nor grants longer leases to any than to them, Mat. 5.6.
Secondly, this discourse of a meeke and quiet spirit should greatly humble such Christians as are froward, and passionate, and unquiet; and in particular, such wives as are guilty of these or the like faults. Now that this Use may be more profitable to these Christians, I would add two things; first, reasons to disswade them from frowardnesse and unquietnesse: secondly, I would shew them remedies how to help themselves against these faults.
There be many things observed in Scripture, and which they may feele in themselves, which should move them to hearty repentance for this unquietnesse and frowardnesse; as to consider,
1. The causes of frowardnesse and unquietnesse; which are in generall,O…iousnesse of frowardnesse, from the cause and effects of it. their ill nature; and in particular, pride, idlenesse, want of love to those with whom we converse, ignorance, and love of earthly things. From these, or some of these roots, proceeds this vice.
2. That the Scripture maketh this fault to be a sign of a wicked and naughty person, Pro. 6.12, 14. & 21.24. especially where one is guilty of it in the power and custome of it; and besides, reckons it among the faults of which there is little hope of cure▪ Pro. 29.20.
3. It causeth many and vile effects: for,
1. It is a great affliction and vexation to such as converse with them that are guilty of it, as these places shew, Prov. 17.1. & 21.9, 19. & 27.3, 15.
2. It is very hurtfull to the party that is guilty, for it makes him run into many sins, as these places shew, Pro 17.19. & 22.8. & 29.22. Psal. 37.8. and besides, it brings upon him great misery, for it makes a breach in his spirit within, Pro. 15.4. and brings much mischiefe upon him without, Pro. 17.20. and further, it makes him abominable in the sight of God, Pro. 3.32. & 8.13. & 11.20. and shames him almost incurably amongst men, Pro. 12.8. & 25.9, 10. and further, no body that is wise will make any friendship with them, but every body will avoide them as much as they can, Pro. 22.24. Wives tha… be so froward, and peevish, and hard to please, and unquiet, should much think of these things. And yet besides, it interrupts prayer, 1 Pet. 3.7. and is a great hinderance to the power of the Word, Iames 1.19, 20, 21. Lastly, if it bee not repented of, it will bring damnation of body and soule, Mat. 5.22.
3. It grieves the spirit of God, Eph. 4.30.
Now Christian men or women that desire to mend this fault of frowardnesse and unquietnesse, may attaine unto reformation, if they will carefully observe these rules following:
Helps for the attaining of quietnesse and meeknesse.1. They must study to be quiet, 1 Thes. 4.12. They must not trust their owne conceits of things, but with good conscience study how to prevent occasions of unquietnesse, and how to carry themselves discreetly, and with meeknesse. It doth require much study to live quietly.
2. They must be sure they meddle with their owne businesse, as it is further added in the same place. They must be sure to place their greatest care in learning how to discharge their owne duties to others, and not allow themselves liberty to suspect or censure the waies of others with whom they converse. Such wives as are so diligent to studie their husbands duties, and to finde fault with them in their callings, seldome or never live quietly with their husbands: whereas the Apostle here would have such wives as have ill husbands, to lay the ground of a quiet life, in the care of sound discharge of their owne duties to their husbands.
3. They must heartily repent for their faults of unquietnesse and frowardnesse past, and not only humble their soules in secret before God for such sins, but also shew their repentance to those with whom they converse, by an humble acknowledgement of their vile nature, and froward behaviour, even in the particulars of it. Repentance for knowne trespasses can never be sound, if it be secret, and not made knowne to the parties grieved.
4. It will wonderfully help them if they pray constantly to the Lord Jesus, that left such a patterne of meeknesse, and to entreat him, by influence of his grace, to quiet and sweeten their natures. Beseech the Lord Jesus, even by his meeknesse to make us meek, and able to expresse his vertue in a quiet conversation.
5. They must not give place to wrath; but if they perceive their hearts rising, and inclined to passion, and provoking and censorious words, they must presently lay necessity of silence upon themselves, till they be able to speake quietly and without frowardnesse. This one rule constantly, for a while, observed, would breed a great alteration in their dispositions quickly, and in time weare out the force of the disease. Unquietnesse is much enlarged by the words are uttered after the offence is taken.
And thus of a meek and quiet spirit: only we may note from the indefinite requiring of meeknesse, That Christians and (in particular) Christian wives, must exercise meeknesse and quietnesse towards all persons, and at all times, and in all places. In all places I say, and so both at home and abroad: towards all persons, and so they must carry themselves quietly, not only towards their husbands, but towards their servants, and their neighbours, whether they be poore or rich: and at all times: they must not be young Saints, and old Divells, as the Proverb is, that is, of a soft and gentle behaviour at first, and then grow froward afterwards. Age and infirmities are not sufficient excuses for vicious anger and unquietnesse. Besides, in that the Apostle resembles meeknesse to apparell, it imports, That by nature we are borne without it, our soules being as naked in respect of meeknesse, as our bodies be in respect of cloathes; and withall, that it should be our every-daies care to put on meeknesse, and fit our selves for quietnesse, as wee would put on our cloathes. And further, as it is not enough to put on our cloathes, but we must tie them, and fit them handsomely; so must we use discretion in the putting on of meeknesse and quietnesse, fitting the vertue to the reasons and occasions of the day.
Thus of the second part of this verse. The third and last is the reason why women should be so carefull of this kind of dressing and apparell; and that is, because it is a thing of great price in the sight of God.
Which in the sight of God is of great price.] Divers things may be hence observed:
1. That God doth highly esteeme of the vertues, and true grace, and good behaviour of his servants: and therefore in this place their vertues are said to be very rich in Gods sight; and in the Scriptures, he gives the terme of riches to their gifts, 1 Cor. 1.5. and grace is called glory, Esay 4.5. and God is described, as if he were in love with his people, when they carry themselves graciously, Iohn 14.21. And this serves greatly to exalt the praise of Gods good nature, and tender affection to man: and the more, because all good things in us are his owne gift, Iames 1.17. and because our best gifts have many imperfections in them, and our best workes are defiled with sinne, Esay 64. and besides, because he greatly esteemes them, even the least beginnings of goodnesse in his servants: as, their desires to be good, and their very preparations of their hearts to goodnesse, Esay 55.1, 2. Psal. 10.17.
2 Christians are bound in all their behaviour, to carry themselves so, as that God may accept of them, and esteeme what they doe: and this is required of them in every state of life. They are tyed to this, not only in what they doe in Gods house, but in what they doe in their owne house: This all are charged, Heb. 12.28. and so wives here, and so servants, Eph. 6. 5, 6, 7. The praise and acceptation of God should be ever before their eyes: the reasons are, because the formes and rules of all behaviour are given by God: his Word is the light to our feet, and the lanthorne to our paths, Psal. 119. and is only able to make the man of God perfect in every good word and worke, 2 Tim. 3. ult. and besides, if we doe well, we are sure never to faile of the praise of God: whereas if we seeke the praise of men, wee may be deceived. For either they may praise us for that which is abominable in the sight of God, Luke 16.15. or they may dispraise us when wee doe well; or at best, their praise is mutable. And further, it is God that must reward our good conversation, Eph. 6.8. and therefore reason that hee bee looked after in what wee doe. Lastly, this is a signe of difference betweene the godly and the wicked in doing good duties: a godly man is knowne by this signe, that his praise is of God and not of men, Rom. 2.29. Mat. 6.
The Use should be, to teach us therefore in all our waies to labour to please God, and above all things to seeke his acceptation. Now if wee would have God pleased with what we doe, we must looke to divers rules.
1. Wee must bee sure that wee are not in the flesh:Rules for our practise, so as God may bee pleased with …. for they that are in the flesh, cannot please God, Rom 8.8. Wee must be sure we are new creatures, Gal. 6.15.
2. Wee must set God alwaies before us, and remember his holy presence, Gen 17.2. Psal. 16.8. God cannot abide to be forgotten.
3. Wee must come to the light, that it may bee manifest that our workes are wrought in God, Iohn 3.22. Wee must walke by rule, Gal. 6.16. and do all in faith, Heb. 11.6.
4. We must serve God in our spirits, as well as in our outward man: not as men-pleasers, or with eye service, or with outward worship; but from the heart, and with the spirit, Rom. 2.28, 29. Eph. 6.5, 6, 7.
5. We must make conscience of the least sins, to avoide them, and of the least Commandements, to obey them, if we would be great in heaven, Mat. 5.19. Divers of these are exprest in one sentence, Micah 6.8. Hee hath shewed thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee; surely to doe justly, and to love mercy, and to humble thy selfe to walk with thy God.
6. We must avoide those sins that God especially hates; such as are swearing, Commandement 3. Deut. 28.58. lukewarmnesse in religion, Rev. 3.15, 16. persecuting such as feare God, 1 Thes. 2.15, 16. wilfull fashioning our selves after this world, Rom. 12.1, 2. to blesse our selves in our hearts against Gods curses, Deut. 29.19. through impatience or unbeliefe to withdraw our selves in adversity, Heb. 10 38. and in generall, all grosse sins, Rev. 22.15.
Doct. 3. The best riches a Christian hath are his vertues and gifts of his mind: and therefore he saith here, they are rich in Gods sight. Now they are his best riches in divers respects:
1. Because they are riches in Gods sight, whereas all worldly treasures commend not any man to God, Gal. 3.28. He gives us naked into the world, and takes us himselfe naked againe.
2. Because they furnish the best part of man, viz. his mind; wh…eas worldly riches doe only furnish mens houses or bodies.
3. Because no violence can take these treasures away. A man may be vertuous spight of the hearts of all the Divells in hell, or divellish men on earth; whereas worldly treasures may be many waies lost.
4. Because those things doe make a man rich to immortality, whereas worldly riches can serve at best but for a mortall life. And therefore this point shewes, that godly men that seeke vertue and grace have chosen the better part, and that we should all covet spirituall gifts with more earnest affections than worldlings doe outward riches. And it shewes the happy estate of poore Christians: they may be very rich for all their poverty outward, Rev. 2.8. Neither may hypocrites please themselves with saying they are rich, Rev. 3.17. for God will discover their counterfeit wares. And in generall, we may hence gather, that the richest men in the Parish are vertuous men.
Doct. 4. It is evident from hence, that God sees the spirits of men: our hearts are all open and manifest before him, Ier. 17.9. 1 Kings 8.39. 1 Sam. 17. Heb. 4.13. And this must needs be so, because God is omniscient: all eye, and sees all things. The Sun may cease shining, but God cannot cease seeing. Secondly, because God formed the hearts of all men, and therefore must needs know them, Psal. 33.15. Thirdly, because God by his providence doth specially watch over the world of spirits, add daily visits mens hearts, Iob 7.18. Psal. 17.3. and receives presentments of all abuses. He daily tries the hearts and reins, and weighes the heart of man, Pro. 21.2.
And therefore the Use should be divers: first, to reach men to labour for inward and secret goodnesse, as well as outward and open conformity; and to be afraid of sin in secret: for no darknesse can hide from God, the day and night are all one to him: and though no eye of man see thee, yet art thou alwaies before the eye of God. We should therefore keepe our hearts with all diligence, Pro. 4.23. And it may be a great comfort to the godly against all the scornes and censures of the world, that traduce them as hypocrites; for God sees their hearts: yea, it may comfort them against the imperfections of their workes: for God seeth the preparations and desires of their hearts, and that they would faine doe better. But especially this is terrible to wicked men; for if God see the hearts of men, in what case are they that have such evill hearts?
Ob. Why, will some one say, what fault can God find with our hearts?
Sol. God sees the deadnesse and dulnesse that is in thy heart in his service. He sees thy directions, and how far off thy heart is from him, when thou drawest neere to him with thy lips: he sees thy hypocrisie and securitie, and thy double and divided heart: he sees thy carnall cavils, and the boiling risings of thy heart against him and his truth: he sees thy f…fulnesse and unbeliefe, and the uncircumcision of thy heart; thy unre…h…blenesse and forgetfulnesse: he sees all the vanities and errours of thy imaginations, all thy lusts, and passions, and wicked desires, and all th… fram… of thy imaginations that are only evill continually: he sees thy filthy nakednesse, and all the Idols thou entertainest in thy heart: and therefore if thou wilt not perish in the eternall abomination of God, make haste to wash thine heart from wickednesse, and seriously to repent of the sins of thy spirit.
Lastly, the scope of this place teacheth us distinctly, That God makes a great reckoning of such men and women as have meeke and quiet spirits. There is reason for it, because a quiet mind is like to Gods mind, which is never stirred nor moved from everlasting to everlasting, but is alwaies the same; and because where the spirit is meeke and quiet, there all sin is mortified, and every good gift and grace doth prosper. And this should be a great encouragement to all Christians, and in particular, to Christian wives that are meek, and live quietly with their husbands: for though their husbands should not love them the more, or esteeme of this grace, hence they may see that God will like them much the better for it, and they are very comely and richly cloathed in Gods sight.