The Mystery of the Holy Government of our Affections, Title page – Table of contents
THE MYSTERIE OF THE HOLY GOVERNMENT of our Affections. CONTAYNING THEIR Nature, Originall, Causes, and Differences. Together with the right Ordering, Triall, and Benefit thereof: As also resoluing diuers Cases of Conscience, incident hereunto. Very necessarie for the Triall of Sinceritie, and encreasing in the Power of Godlinesse.
The first Booke.
LONDON, Printed by Bernard Alsop, and are to be sold at his House, at S. Annes Church, neere Aldersgate.
TO THE RIGHT Honorable, Worshipfull, and my very bountifull Benefactors, the Hon: Sir Thomas Smith, most Worthie Gouernour of the East Indian Company, Together with the graue Committees, & the rest of that famous Societie: All Health and Happinesse.
RIght Honorable, Worshipfull, and dearly beloued in our Lord Iesus: It hath beene an ancient and laudable Custome of the Church of God, as to ordaine generally certaine ordinarie LoueLove-Feasts and Christian Meetings, for the more comfortable exercise and maintenance of Brotherly LoueLove, which is the Bond of Perfection: so more especially, when the Lord hath enlarged himselfe in any extraordinarie Fauour vntounto his Church, by deliuering the same out of some desperate and inexplicable danger. We hauehave not onelyonly the expresse commaund of God, to be enlarged in thankfulnesse accordingly, but to expresse our thankefulnesse: as principally by exercising our selues in Psalmes and Hymnes, and spirituall reioycings; so also (to testifie our renued interest in the Creatures, which such Extremities might hauehave vtterly depriued vsus of) in this respect also, to solace our selues in a more liberall vse thereof by solemne Feastings, and all such outward Meanes, as together with inward refreshing of the Minde, might also tend aboundantly to the comfort of the body; as being much weakened and disinabled with the feare and expectation of former Dangers. And thus wee may finde, that the Church of God hath vponupon such Occasion accordingly practised. See Hest. 9. Nehem. 8.
And thus doe wee at this day solemnize the Memoriall of our Wonderfull and glorious Deliuerance from the Kingdome of Darkenesse, by the True Light of the World, Iesus Christ: Who as at this Time shined as it were in the darkenesse and obscuritie of his Humane Nature, that so hee might bring Light out of Darkenesse, and by his abasing of himselfe vntounto the shape of a Seruant, might restore vsus to the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God. Wherein howsoeuer happily we are not free from some vniust imputation of superstition, by such, who being not able to discerne betweene the right vse, and abuse of things, doe therefore condemne our Liberty for the common abuse thereof in these licentious Times, by turning the same as an occasion to the flesh: yet neither ought their aspersions any whit to discourage any religious heart from an holy improuing of his Liberty to the glory of God, seeing they proceed rather of superstitious singularity then any sound ground of Truth: Neither may we doubt, but that our reuerend and spirituall Behauiour herein, as it shall iustly cleare vsus from any imputation of superstition, so it may also free vsus from the danger of any such abuse, which the loosenesse of the times is guiltie of. For howsoeuer it may not be denyed, but that such Obseruations as were meerely of Humane Inuention; or though they were of Gods appointment, yet tending to the obscuring and abrogating of the Truth of Christ, were meerely superstitious, and so to bee renounced of vsus, as they were abolished by Christ: such as were the Ceremonies of Moyses, and whatsoeuer else of the like nature: Yet whatsoeuer Ordinances hauehave their Equitie from the Law of God, and Practise of the Saints, according thereunto, and withall are so farre from opposing the Uertue of Christ, or Christian Libertie, as that both in their Intent and Use they may further to the more comfortable enioying of both: as these hauehave their sufficient warrant, because they further that blessed Communion betweene God and Man, and serue also for the maintenance of holy Societie betweene Man and Man; so may wee lawfully vse our Libertie herein, so all things bee done to the Glorie of God, and mutuall Edification: Especially, seeing the lawfull Custome of our Church and State ought to bind vsus wisely heerein, if we will not be contentious, whereof we hauehave no such custome, neither the Churches of God. And therefore, howsoeuer to him that doubteth, this libertie may be sinne; & that much more, if hee shall proceed to condemne others, wherein himselfe is not resolued; and that most of all, if hee shall depriue himselfe of the libertie in good things, vponupon pretence of some euill that doth hang vponupon the same (as the manner of some is:) yet should this rather prouoke vsus to improue our libertie to the best in all spirituall manner, that so eyther the Mouth of Iniquitie may be vtterly stopped, or opened graciously to glorifie our God with vsus, euen on our behalfe. The Meanes and Triall hereof, seeing it consists in the holy ordering and gouernment of the Affections, as euidencing the inward puritie of the hart; which being purified by Faith, all things become pure thereunto: therefore shall this Direction at this Time prooue most seasonable, wherein by our libertie in the flesh, we may be so easily prouoked to exceed to the satisfying of the flesh. Neither onelyonly shall it serue for the restrayning of Intemperancie at this time: But seeing the whole course of our Christian Life is graciously ledde, and so accordingly followeth the wise Temper of our Affections, and so is also approued and perfected thereby: Therefore also shall this Light prooue a profitable Guide, to conduct vsus throughout all the Difficulties and Infirmities thereof: As seruing for an Armour both to enable vsus in the Conquest of such Enemies, which will bee sure at all times to oppose vsus in our Heauenly Iourney; as also the better to comfort vsus, in regard of such Infirmities, and outward faylings, which doe oftentimes mainely challenge the truth of our proceeding. For as, if there be a willing minde, the Lord accepts it aboue what we do, or can doe, that so wee may discerne a truth of Grace in the imperfection thereof: so seeing the Lord will perfect the worke he hath begun in vsus. And yet in that manner, that still his power must be seene in our weakenesse, that he may hauehave the only glory; therefore as this is for the present our euidence of sinceritie, that we louelove & affect what we cannot do, greeuing withall for our fayling heerein; so by these contrarie affections about the same Obiect, wee doe not onelyonly Iustifie the Spirituall combate, but do daily interesse our selues heereby in the vertue of our Christ, by whom we are not only sustained in the combate, aboue any abilitie in our selues, but also by his vertue, we are daily strengthned against all oppositions, that so in time we may be more then Conquerors. But of these things more particularly in the Treatise ensuing. Which as I hauehave now according to my promise, published for the Common good; so because we liue in a prophane and surfeting Age, wherein all is counted too little for the satisfying of the Flesh: and eueryevery little too-much, that serues by the restraining thereof to the satisfaction of the Mind: therefore are my Meditations sorted accordingly; As in some breuitie and much weakenesse, to stumble the prophane, who stands vponupon colour more then cloth, doting rather vponupon what may affect and puffe vp the giddy braine, then what may reforme and humble the honest heart: so thereby also to exercise, and stirre vp the dulnesse of the best; that what seemes not so apparant at the first view, may by more serious Meditation and feruent prayer be better conceiued, and more profitably digested. And therefore also hauehave I beene the briefer in this Generall discouery of the gouernment of the Affections; because my purpose is (God-willing) to adde shortly hereunto a Particular Discouery of each seuerall Affection, according to their Order, Nature, and Differences; wherein by the Grace of God there may be some profitable supply in speciall, for what soeuer is wanting in the Generall direction. Meane while, that I might not be wanting to the season, whereby the time may in some measure be redeemed, and the hearts of Gods children raysed vp to further hope. I hauehave thought good first to frame these Wals and Gates for the Citie, that so the Inward buildings may be more safely erected and perfected. Of all which, as I hauehave bin bold to make choice of your Honours & Wor. as Patrons; and Gardians, as to whom being already bound by so many former fauours; I could not choose but renew my Bonds, by paying this poor Interest, though far I hope from any base Usurie: yet binding hereby to a continuall debt of louelove, which is then best paid, when stil it is owed. And so I humbly request you to accept therof, not as a discharge of my debt, but only a pledge of the renewing of the bonds of my best affections towards your Worships, which seeing they ought not to be measured by any outward expressing thereof, therefore my hope is, that you will accept of my endeauours herein, not according vntounto that which I hauehave, but answerable to my affection therein. Comforting my selfe heerein: that seeing God hath giuen you wisedome to discern of things that differ, and our hearts are in the hands of God, that if we preuaile with him, we shall preuaile with men: therefore, as my desire heerein, is to approue my selfe vntounto God and the consciences of his people; so other things shall be so farre supplied, as that still the power of God may be seene in our weakenesse, and the Lord may hauehave the glory of all his mercies. What others ayme at in these endeauours, I matter not; neither doe I enuie at what they reape: much lesse doth it stumble me, what this way of making our selues knowne to the World, daily heares of, either vaineglory or filthy lucre, or such like: It sufficeth me, that my reward is with God, and that I hauehave daily experience of the difference betweene his paiment and mans, that so I might trust him better, and man the lesse; and yet still not to faile any good occasion, whereby I may prouoke men, that they may be like vntounto God in a wiser disposall of their Affections. This is that I ayme at in this Treatise. This I shall heartily labour for in my best deuotions and supplications vntounto our God for you, that he would encrease in you al wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding, that you may approue the most excellent, and like wise Merchants, still be buying that Pretious Pearle; and hauing once obtained it, labour stil to husband it with most aduantage to Gods glory and the good of his Church, being neuer weary of weldoing, that so you may reape in due time if you faint not, that so you may fight the good fight of faith and finish your course with ioy, and so lay hold of Eternall life. And so I heartily commend you all to the grace of God in Christ Iesus. Resting in him.
Your Hon: and Worsh: with all that I am or may be. Th. Cooper.
The Contents of this Booke.
OF the N…tion of this terme Affection, and the diuers acceptions thereof. Chap. 1.
Of the Generall Distribution of affections into their seuerall classes & kinds. ch. 2.
Of the causes of Affections and Perturbations. ch. 3.
Rules for the right iudging of Affections and their sinceritie. ch. 4.
1. Concerning their ground.
2. Their Obiect.
3. Their Ende.
General rules for the right ordering and triall of them: especially in regard of such …entations as doe accompany …he same. ch. 5.
How we may discerne the …entation from the Affection. ch. 6.
How to order our affections.
1. In regard of our selues.
2. Towards others.
3. Towards God.
Of the Benefits of this holy Ordering and triall of our Affections.
Cases of Conscience incident hereunto: whereof,
1. Whither Faith be an affection.
2. Concerning the Obiect of our Affections, whether it be an argument of vnsanctified affections to be more conuersant about earthly, then heauenly things.
3. How we may place our Affections on things which are done.
The Right ordering of our Affections, consists in two things.
First, In the right Iudgement of them.
Secondly, In the holy disposing and imploying of them on their seuerall Obiects.
Concerning the right iudgement of Affections: heere first consider wee.