A Trial of Church-Forsakers, Section 17
SECT. 17. The uſe to bee made of the conſtancy of ſome, and forſakings of o…her: conſideration, exhortation, becauſe the day is approaching.
IT is the courſe of too many to cleave to the aſſemblies, but they are never the better. They onelyonly ſtand to outward profeſſion, but grow not in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Ieſus Chriſt. 2 Pet. 3.Hence is it, that if never ſo many of them ſtand, they cannot incourage them: nor if never ſo many fall away, they cannot wiſely conſider them, and exhort unto faithfulneſſe. Therefore the Apoſtle would have us ſuch knowing, and wiſe Chriſtians, by the helpe of publicke aſſemblies, that wee may wiſely conſider one another, and weightily exhort one another, that wee may keepe one another in ſound knowledge and pious practiſe.
There are three things which wee ſhoud conſider in our ſelves; our aptneſſe to fall,1 Conſider one another. the difficulty of our ſtanding, and our love to that way which is moſt dangerous. Though God ſet us not juſtly in ſlipperie places, yet are apt to ſlide away continually. Wee carry about with us the fooliſh and unwiſe fleſh, which makes us unwarie, and ſo we are ſoone caught in a deceitfull net. Eccleſ. 9.There are queſting ſnares of gaine, and queſtioning ſnares or frivolous and idle things which end in noyſe and tumult without profit: and thus wee are apt to fall. We as hardly keepe our ſtandings, we are children,1 Cor. 16. and doe not play the men. We are a mixture of weakeneſſe, and muſt have Gods good ſpirit lead us, Pſal. 143· Eph. 6. Matth. 7.or downe wee goe. Satan is principality and power, by whom the winde riſes, and the rayne falls, and the flouds come, and then our houſe, if it bee not ſtrongly founded goes to wrack. That little ſtrength wee have is apt to falſe us, by faith wee stand, Rom. 11. 2 Theſ. 3.10,and ſtill there is ſomething lacking to our faith. And thus it comes that wee hardly keepe our feete ſteady. Wee are alſo too much in love with that way that hath moſt danger in it. The ſpirit is willing, but the fleſh is weake, Matth. 26.and is ready to eate poyſon for wholeſome foode; ſometimes out of cuſtome, ſometimes out of curioſitie, and ſometimes out of an ill appetite wee have got to unwholeſome things.
But if wee doe wiſely conſider theſe things in one another, wee will bee full of compaſſion. And as they that conſider not are full of fierce and fiery cenſure, as Iudah to Tamar, Gen 38.bring her forth and let her be burnt, not conſidering his owne guilt: ſo they that doe it, are led by the contrary ſpirit. As when wee conſider a man aloft, who totters, is apt to fall, and unable to keepe his feete in a ſetled poſture, our bowels yearne, our fleſh drops feare, and wee are out of our ſelves with ſudden apprehenſion: ſo is it with a man that conſiders his brother; hee puts him on by fellow feeling. Yea then wee will prudently deale one with another to keep up. As wee ſee diſpoſitions, gifts, vertues or faults, wee wiſely fore-thinke, how to maintaine the beſt, and prevent the worſt. Beſides, this conſidering brings us to Pauls rule,Gal. 6.1. If a brother fall by infirmity, (not by pride and ſelfe conceit) reſtore him with the spirit of meekeneſſe;1 Cor. 4. ult. with a tender heart and hand, ſet him in joynt againe.
For want of this conſideration too many Chriſtians are ready to faile. The frailety of the fleſh, the oppoſition of grace is little conſidered, and ſo there is neither wiſedome, compaſſion, or meekneſſe to heale. Men difference not ſtubborne faylers, for whom there is a rod of iron; and weake failers, for whom there is a Spirit of meekeneſſe. Men diſcerne not ſinners of cuſtome, who are as blacke-moores and ſinners overtaken,Ier. 23. who with ſtripes muſt not bee driven quite away, and ſo doe more hurt than good. But bee more wiſe to conſider hereafter than before. This moved Paul to ſay, Hee that ſtands, Rom. 11.let him take heed lest hee fall. This moved Iohn to ſay, little children,1 John 5.21. Luke 22. keepe your ſelves from Idols. Yea this mooved CHRIST to ſay, When thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy brethren. Out of ſuch conſideration, I have laboured to give this revalſion and Antidote. And if our forſakers had had it too, it might have ſaved mee a labour, and they might with it have had more wiſdome, meekneſſe, and compaſſion, and leſſe heart-dividing cenſures.
2 Exhort one another.The Apoſtle would have us alſo make ſuch uſe of publike aſſemblies that wee may exhort one another. Hee knowes that it is a great worke to continue in love to God, his truth, and Saints, and in good workes. Pride is one of the laſt ſinnes that dye. It is like a man of a ſtrong heart which hardly yeelds; his heart is more in compaſſe than another mans. It will worke it ſelfe out of leſſe ſinne and more grace:Pro. 13.10. Iam. 1.21 and where pride is, there is contention: and ſo leſſe truth and love. Againe, ſuperfluity of maliciouſneſſe drownes the whole nature of man. Even when the head floates with Chriſt, the heart is too much drencht in this. It is croſſed, and will croſſe againe, like the devils cocke, to ſpurre all oppoſites: and hence alſo comes loſſe of truth and love. Againe, the ſpirit of a man luſteth after envy. Jam. 3. Mat. 20.This makes the eye evill becauſe God is good. It deſires to bee in the uppermoſt forme, like the two ſonnes of Zebedeus. Therefore Ioſeph, the reformed Prodigall, and the laſt workers in the Vineyard are grumbled at: and hence alſo is leſſe truth and love. Laſtly, truth and love enter at a narrow paſſage,Eph. 1. and Chriſt comes not with all his mighty power at firſt. As the Sea is not ſifted thorow the narrow creviſes of the earth at once: ſo is it with truth and love. And as a Conquerour, that leaves moſt of his Armie behinde him, ſubdues not preſently: ſo it is with Chriſt and us. Wee are not able to receive his truth and love together, neither ſtands it with his diſpenſation, wee being not extraordinary, but ordinary ſervants, who muſt attaine by induſtry. Hence therefore men dreaming that they have attained, when there is much behind, doe ill uſe what truth and love they have, and ſo faile foulely.
Neither is it leſſe difficult to continue in good workes. The fountaine is apt to be dry, that is, a good heart.John 7. If out of the belly doe not flow rivers of waters of life, no waters will runne to the living. How ſoon is this ſtreame dryed up, becauſe men live not with Chriſt the ſpring-head? Beſides, men are not altogether for gathering this worlds goods to ſpend it upon their luſts. They forget that there is a time to ſcatter, Eccleſ. 3.and then they caſt not their bread upon the waters, Eccleſ. 11.they beleeve not that they ſhall finde it ſo. Laſtly, men have three bad thoughts that keepe them from good workes. They thinke that no man is more worthy to have then themſelves. Some are wicked and not worthy: ſome are good, yet themſelves are better: ſome are idle and will live upon the ſpoile: and ſome are painefull, and therefore the better able to provide for themſelves: ſtill ſelfe is thought to be the onelyonly man to have. They thinke themſelves againe the abſolute owners of what they have.1 Sam. 25. It is their owne, as Nabal ſaid, why ſhould they give it to others? This they willingly thinke not, that they are ſtewards, Luk. 19.and ſo are kept backe. Laſtly, they thinke this worlds goods the onelyonly commanders of men and things: and therefore they will not put themſelves out of them that they may rule all.
Now, becauſe it is ſo difficult a work, not only to continue in good works, but in truth and love which muſt make them excellent: therefore the Apoſtle would have us ſo improve our ſelves by the fellowſhip of publike aſſemblies that we may be able to exhort one another. Such is the inconſtancie of nature in all good courſes, that it is eaſily apt to change from good to worſe. Moſes was but a while gone, and Iſrael fell to idolatry. Ex. 32.Paul wondred that the Galathians were ſo ſoone turned to another Goſpel. Gal. 1▪6.Yea ſuch is our ſlowneſſe in good, that we had need be ſpurred continually.Apo. 2.4. Epheſus forſakes her firſt love: Yea and when Chriſts hearers heard, they muſt be exhorted to heare:Mat. 13.9. and when the Theſſalonians did edifie one another they muſt bee exhorted to doe it. 1 Theſ. ….11.Men are in a dead ſleepe, and they are loth to be awaked as the ſluggard: they thinke themſelves able to exhort themſelves,Prov. 6. they love not many maſters, Jam, 4.they ſee not how frozen they are, till their owne hearts ſmite them, as Davids, 2 Sam. 24.10. 2 Sam. 16.7, 8.till God raiſe up ſome adverſary to reproach them, or till God take them in hand himſelfe by ſome heavie viſitation. Therefore ſaith Paul, exhort one another. Oh that wee could alwayes walk in the preſence of this duty,Heb. 1…. and ſuffer the words of exhortation too. The wicked will call one upon another to goe to hell,Ex. …. Prov. …. why ſhould not we to get one another towards heaven. But how our forſakers will anſwer it to God I know not, who caſt themſelves out of our aſſemblies in folly, before they are caſt out in juſtice, and forgoe this whetſtone of exhortation, for a blunt ſticke of their owne deviſing. This I am ſure, they might be exhorted with us, and learne to exhort others better from us then they doe, to leade poore ſoules into the wayes of diſcord, diſtraction, and ſtrife.
3 The day approacheth.I have but one thing to thinke upon this text more, and that is Pauls motive and inforcement (ſo much the more becauſe ye ſee the day approaching) men complaine much of dayes, and times▪ but I am ſure, the worſe they are the more had they neede to keepe the communion of Saints both publicke, and private. Evill dayes will come faſt enough, no man had neede to pull them upon himſelfe. If hee doe, there is (the day) comming which will pay to the purpoſe (without a pardon) for all his ſinnes and indiſcretions.Luk 19.42 All other dayes are our dayes, in which wee eate, drinke, marrie, give in marriage, work, play, pray, and heare, and the like: but this is the day, with GODS marke upon it, when all ſhall bee awaked and gathered before their JUDGE. The thought of this day ſhould ſharpen us to love aſſemblies, and call others to them, becauſe they are the ordinances of CHRIST the JUDGE▪ On this day there will bee fulneſſe of feares and terrours. Fearefull ſights of an univerſall fire, throne, and JUDGE: fearefull yellings and cryings of deſperate men: fearefull accuſations from heaven, earth, and conſciences; and the fearefulleſt ſentence that ever yet paſſed, Goe yee curſed. Therefore had wee neede all our lives to get ſomething to comfort us againſt that time, for it is an evill time to the wicked. On that day will there bee an expectation of comfort, or diſcomfort, for ever, and ever, upon all that wee have done, either in our aſſemblies, or out of them. On that day wee ſhall heare ſuch accounts as wee have never heard, as how wee have willfully ſinned in every ſecret. Eccleſ 12.In the ſecret of our underſtanding, will, affections, judgements, conſciences, corners, woods, and denns? How many aſſemblies wee have neglected? How many wee have prophaned, in being no better? How many in our power wee have not exhorted? How many have exhorted us, and wee have not anſwered and followed? On that day ſhall I bee judged if I have taught you to acknowledge our CHURCH a true CHURCH, our MINISTERY a true MINISTERY, and our WORSHIP a true WORSHIP, againſt my judgement and conſcience according to the rule of CHRIST ſo farre as I am come, yea, and I ſhall bee caſt alſo. And on that day, ſhall our forſakers eſcape ſcotfree? ſhall they not paſſe a ſtrickt triall and examination? Have yee had a care to keepe a Chriſtian ſtate to CHRISTS honour? Have yee loved publicke aſſemblies to that end and uſe? Have yee not forſaken the aſſemblies of CHRISTS people for no juſt cauſe? Is not that a true church which profeſſeth the name of Chriſt according to his word, whereto it ſubmits as the rule of the religion it hath? Is not that a true Church which enters covenant with mee, as all the Chriſtians in the World by entring into my ſchoole by Baptiſme? Is not that a true Church which acknowledgeth mee onelyonly head for ſupreame rule, and under mee my liefetenants and chiefe officers, to governe according to my lawes general, and ſpeciall? Is not that a true Church which rejoyceth in good members, yet dare not forbid wicked hypocrites from the outward priviledges of my feaſt, becauſe I have commanded her that good and bad ſhould bee called? Is not that a true Church which hath the power of governement in beſt and wiſeſt, when I never commanded that whole aſſemblies ſhould ever have an independent power to doe according to voyces, which cannot but bee the authour of ſchiſme? Is not that a true Church which doth exerciſe governement according to my patternes and rules, inſ…rting things in order, ordaining teachers, and caſting out unworthy beaſts, as information, and conviction could bee juſtly had? Have you forſaken ſuch a Church, to ſet up a Church of your owne deviſing, which hath never beene from my time downeward; to ordaine Paſtours and Doctours that are not able to divide the word of God aright; to caſt out, or keepe in according to the voyces of two, or three men or women, which may out of ſelfe-conceit, and pretence of my word, preſume to bee a Church contrary to my will? What Miniſtery have you forſaken? A miniſtery that hath beene honoured by the bloud of bleſſed martyrs: that are no wooden Prieſts, but whoſe breath hath blowne away Romiſh tyranny, idolatrie, ſuperſtitions, and falſities, which diſhonoured mee and my offices; a miniſtery that hath gained ſoules from heatheniſme, and prophaneneſſe in their turnes, and moved (by my bleſſing) effectually to ſerve the living and true God, even to thouſands, and millions? What worſhip have you forſaken? a worſhip of praying and receiving of Sacraments with my word, with petitions, ſupplications, interceſſions, and giving of thankes to my father in my name? Have yee forſaken ſuch a worſhip, and all becauſe every one that goe before in worſhip have not their tongues at liberty to ſay what they liſt, but are helped by the publicke ſpirit of my Church, ſo as they may with one heart and mouth at one time, when I have no where commanded the contrary? Oh let this Terrour of the Lord perſwade men.2 Cor. 5.11. 2 Pet. 3. A thouſand yeares with Chriſt are but as one day; for the Iudge ſtandeth at the doore: and when hee doth come, thinke what praiſe and honour ye ſhall get by diſturbing a Church where is a true Miniſtery, and worſhip, by diſheartning of Gods tender people from his ſervice, under pretence of his word, when for none of your fancies you can produce one precept of Chriſt. The moſt you pretend are obſcure places (which by the diligenteſt ſearchers of ſcriptures have beene and are diverſly expounded, and therefore no ſure footing) or ſome obſcure examples without lawes; which yet, if they were never ſo pregnant, prove but the lawfulneſſe, not the neceſſitie of ſuch practiſes. And will you hazard the peace of a Chriſtian Church, the comfort of your conſciences, the liberty of your goods, and bodies, upon ſo ſandy a foundation. Oh thinke upon that day, and take wiſer mens advice then your ſelves that have not beene carried with raſhneſſe, puffed with pride, in love with a conceit of ſelfe-government, or pricked with envies, emulations, jealouſies, juſt puniſhments, and ſee whether ſuch men will warrant your courſes upon the price of their ſoules in that day. And if all candor bee not baniſhed, if hatred to an Engliſh Prieſt, a Biſhops creature (as ſome body is termed) have not put out the eies of wiſedome and charity, doe but reade what heere in all humble love, and without bitterneſſe of language is preſented unto you. Read it as in the ſight and preſence of God. See that my hearts deſire is that you may have comfort with us, and that heereafter you may bee ſaved without needing repentance for this your unwiſe and unwarranted way. If it doe not (except you outface light) ſatisfie you; in the maine it will burne like ſtubble, chaffe, and ſtraw, in the day of Chriſt. But if it doe, and yet (out of a thought of what a brave thing it is to caſt downe the governement of others, that you may governe your ſelves, and then call it Chriſts) and yet (I ſay) will not follow it, then That day approacheth, and I ſend you over to him, to doe with you according to his pleaſure, yet with hearty and humble prayers for the ſaving of your miſſe-led Soules.
FINIS.
End of the text · Robert Abbot, A Trial of Church-Forsakers (1639)