The Way to a Blessed Estate in this Life, Text
THE VVAY TO A BLESSED ESTATE IN THIS LIFE.
BY EZEKEL CVLVERVVELL.
LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawſon, for William Sheffard, and are to be ſold at his Shop, at the entring in of Popes-head Alley out of Lumbard-ſtreete. 1623.
THE VVAY TO A BLESSED ESTATE IN THIS LIFE.
THAT which our Lord Ieſus from Heaven writ vntounto the Church of Sardis; Rev. 3.1.Thou haſt a name that thou liueſt, but art dead, may be truly ſpoken of the greater ſort of not-counterfeit Profeſſors of the Faith in our time: for it is cleare by the Text, that this is not ſpoken of hypocrites, who are ſtarke dead, but of ſuch who having ſome life remaining in them, are in a dead ſleepe:Many drowſie profeſſors. for theſe of whom I ſpeake, take good paines to keepe vp a name of Chriſtianitie, both in the exerciſes of Religion, and in their outward behauiour, (though in both there be much ſayling) but in very truth there is but a little life of faith and louelove in all their Profeſſion, as may appeare in their cold and vncomfortable prayers, in their wandering and drowſie hearing of the Word, and vnfruitfull receiving of the Sacraments, and much more in their abuſe and neglect of the ſecret exerciſes of Prayer, reading, and meditation by themſelues, and conference with others, ſeldome deepely bewayling their eſtate, leſſe reioycing in the aſſurance of their ſalvation by Chriſt, as ſeldome delighting in God, with a zeale to ſet forth his glory in every part of their life.
Though this be the ſtate of the greater part of thoſe that hauehave ſome truth of grace in them, yet may we ſay againe,A few worthy. that there are with vsus, (as in the Church of Sardus) a few names that hauehave not defiled their garments, that is, doe liue vnrebukably, and walke worthy their holy calling, having a ſweet feeling of Gods favour vntounto them, and ſo can boldly come vntounto him in time of need, with aſſurance that he doth graciouſly reſpect them, their prayers, and vnfeigned obedience; who likewiſe doe more delight themſelues in God, then in all earthly things, accounting it their greateſt griefe to offend him, and greateſt ioy to pleaſe him; poſſeſſing their ſoules with confidence and patience in their greateſt trialls, looking for the appearing of Chriſt.
This is that bleſſed eſtate to be inioyned in this life,What a bleſſed life here may be attained. which God hath prepared, (though in divers meaſures) for the faithfull, all which may well bee contained in this ſhort ſentence of the Pſalmiſt. Pſal. 37.4. Delight thy ſelfe in the Lord, and he will giuegive thee thy hearts deſire: which I doubt not but all true Chriſtians (when they hauehave well conſidered it) would be glad to attaine vntounto:Deſired by many, not attained. But either through ignorance of the way how to attaine it; or through negligence; not putting in practiſe what they know: they ſpend many yeares, either ſecurely, or vncomfortably, ſeldome attaining to that heauenly feaſting, which (if they were wiſe) might be their daily refreſhing:How this life is attained. whoſe eſtate I much tendring, doe endevour to ſhew them, how this happie life may be attained; which I conceiue to be onelyonly by a more plentifull feeding vponupon Chriſt by faith. It is without queſtion, that all and every part of our ſpirituall life is in Chriſt, of whoſe fulneſſe we receiue grace for grace: and this is as cleare,Ioh. 1.26. that we receiue no grace firſt or laſt from Chriſt, but by beleeving: in which reſpect Chriſt is truly and principally ſaid to be our ſpirituall food,Ioh. 6.27.35. and beleeving to be the true feeding vponupon him. Which being ſo,34. it neceſſarily followes, that feeding ſeldome or weakely, we cannot hauehave much ſpirituall ſtrength: and otherwiſe feeding plentifully and ſoundly, we ſhall be fat, and flouriſhing in grace, and ſo attaine vntounto the bleſſed life ſpoken of.
How to feed oft in the day on Chriſt.For the better vnderſtanding and practiſing whereof, this is ſpecially to be conſidered, How every true beleever may daily, yea, oft in the day, by faith feed vponupon Chriſt, that ſo he may receiue from him all ſpirituall nouriſhment, for his refreſhing and ſtrengthening to every good worke.
This is done by ſetting before vsus thoſe ſweet promiſes, which God hath made to vsus, for the ſtrengthening of our faith in all our neceſſities: and, ſo particularly to apply them to our ſelues. Whereby we may comfortably aſſure our ſelues, that we ſhall enioy that which God hath promiſed. Wherein we are firſt to get the true meaning of that which is promiſed.
Secondly, To ſee we hauehave a good warrant, that this is promiſed to vsus, that therevpon we may conclude, we ſhall certainly enioy that which God hath promiſed, ſeeing he is faithfull who hath promiſed.
But ſeeing this is not well conceived by many,Example. I will make it plaine by example, 1 Cor. 1.30 it is ſaid; But of him are yee in Chriſt Ieſus, who of God is made vntounto vsus wiſedome, and righteouſneſſe, and ſanctification, and redemption. In which is as much ſayd as may be conceived, or deſired; the meaning whereof is, that every true beleever, is by Gods ſpirit made a living member of Chriſt Ieſus, from and in whom, he is made by God a true partaker of all things needfull to ſalvation: that whereas he is by nature fooliſh, guiltie, filthy, and in bondage, now in Chriſt he is made perfectly wiſe righteous, holy, freed from all his enemies, and ſo reſtored to full happineſſe. This promiſe of God being clearely vnderſtood, muſt now be applyed particularly by every beleever to himſelfe, thus: Seeing God who is all-ſufficient; and faithfull, that in his Word, which is Truth it ſelfe, promiſed theſe great benefits (in which all are contained) to every true beleever, therefore I who doe truly, though weakely, beleeue in Chriſt, may boldly aſſure my ſelfe, that all theſe be mine, and therefore I ſhall not want any thing needfull for my preſent comfort, or eternall happineſſe. Which whoſoever doth daily practiſe in this manner to maintaine, and increaſe his faith by application of this, and all other of Gods promiſes, he ſhall daily more and more enioy in this life that bleſſed eſtate wee ſpeake of.
Pray for faith.But for as much as faith is the gift of God, and we cannot further beleeue then wee be drawne by Gods ſpirit, therefore wee muſt ioyne often and fervent prayer, that God by this meanes would increaſe our faith.
This may ſeeme eaſie to be performed,Not eaſie. but vponupon better triall, it will not be found ſo eaſie to doe it effectually; for beſides our owne great vntowardneſſe to beleeve, I cannot thinke of any dutie, wherein our common Adverſary, will vſe more cunning, and diligence to hinder vsus, then in this: either by keeping vsus from rhe worke, or beguiling vsus in it: whereby it comes to paſſe, that very few doe (to any good purpoſe) practiſe the ſame.
Two chiefe letts.Amongſt many lettes which hinder the faithfull practiſe hereof, I obſerue theſe two, in two divers ſorts of beleevers. The former in thoſe,1. Not prizing Chriſt. in two divers ſorts of beleevers. The former in thoſe, who not ſufficiently feeling their wants, and too much contented with their eſtate, doe not ſo prize Chriſt, and this bleſſed eſtate in him, as may moue them to take this paines, and therefore neuer reach vntounto this growth in grace wherevnto they might come, if the fault were not in them ſelues. The other let is in thoſe who highly prizing the benefit,2. Our vnworthines. and earneſtly labouring for it, are by the ſenſe of their owne vnworthineſſe, ſo kept downe' that they cannot with any hope looke vp, for ſo great a bleſſing.
Remoue of the firſt let.For the remooving of both theſe lettes, the firſt ſort are to bethinke themſelues, what an vncomfortable account it will be, when God ſhall call them to it, to ſee how many yeares they hauehave ſpent, with little growth in grace, either to the glory of God, or good example to others, or to the peace of their owne ſoules. Whereas on the other ſide, they might hauehave attained vntounto ſuch a ſweet life, as would hauehave beene a heauen vponupon earth; namely, To reioyce alwayes in the Lord.
Of the ſecond let.For the other poore ſoules, who are kept downe with the ſenſe of their owne vnworthineſſe, they are to know, that all Gods promiſes, are free and vndeſerved, ſo as no vnworthines ought to hinder them from beleeving: yea, rather they that hauehave the moſt ſenſe of their owne vnworthineſſe, hauehave moſt incouragement to beleeve, for that voice of Chriſt,Mat. 11.28. Come vntounto me all you that are weary and heavie laden, and I will eaſe you: ſerue not onelyonly for our firſt converſion, but in all our diſtreſſes whatſoever, throughout the whole courſe of our life.
Satan will beguile;If any eſcape both theſe lets, and goe about this worke, then will Satan vſe all his skill to beguile both ſorts: ſuch as are weake and heauie hearted,Some that they beleeue not; ſoone diſcouraged, he tempts and perſwades, they labour in vaine, and doe not beleeue, when indeed they doe, as ſhall appeare.Others, that they hauehave more faith then they hauehave. The other ſort who are too well conceited, and light hearted, Satan labours to perſwade, that they hauehave more faith then indeed they hauehave, and that their caſe is better then in truth it is.
It ſhall be therefore the wiſedome of all who will not be deceived, carefully to examine and try themſelues; which that they may the better doe, let them conſider of theſe markes that follow: whereby either ſort may certainely iudge of themſelues.
Foure markes of faith not ſeene.For ſuch as conſcionably endevour to nouriſh their faith in ſuch manner as hath beene ſhewed, and yet finde no comfort, but feare they doe not beleeue, (when as indeed they doe) theſe are to diſcerne their faith by ſuch ſecret operations, as doe certainely ſhew faith to be there, though it be not ſeene: namely, An vnfeigned griefe for the want of faith,1. Griefe for want of faith. with an vnceſſant indevour for the attaining of it. Againe, A reverent eſteeme of God, and hearty affection of vnfeigned louelove to him, which cannot be without ſome former apprehenſion of Gods louelove to them, which is in many, (though they ſee it not). And laſtly, A tender Conſcience,4. A tender conſcience. fearing to diſpleaſe God, even in ſmaller matters, which others little regard. Whoſoever ſhall find theſe fruits, (which cannot come but from faith) may certainly know, that there is a roote of faith grounded in their hearts, though they ſee it not.No fruits: no faith. But ſuch as hauehave no feeling of their faith, and ſee no ſuch effects in their liues, hauehave iuſt cauſe to thinke that they hauehave no faith at all.
Notes of true and falſe comfort.As for the other ſort, who are too well perſwaded of themſelues, that they finde comfort in meditating on Gods promiſes, whereas indeed they deceiue themſelues, and hauehave not that faith they imagine, as their fruits doe ſhew.
This may be diſcerned by theſe notes;
1. True, is hardly got.Firſt, True comfort is vſually very heardly gotten, with much prayer and labour, and it is oft a long time before this be felt: therefore they who vponupon their firſt thoughts on theſe promiſes, finde comfort that they hauehave part in them, may ſo farre miſtruſt, all is not ſound, till they ſhall ſee ſome better proofe thereof: which if they doe not, but for all this will be confident, that all is well, it is to be feared, their comfort is not ſound.
2. Feare of deceit.For this is another propertie of that true comfort which ſprings from faith, eſpecially in young and weake beleevers, that they (ſo highly valewing the benefit) are very fearefull of being deceived, and muſt ſee good evidence, before they will be perſwaded, that they hauehave this ſaving faith.
3. Poore in ſpirit, mourne, and lowly.Whereof if they ſhall be perſwaded, yet therwithall is ioyned ſuch a feeling of the weakeneſſe of their faith, and ſo of all grace, as makes them poore in their owne eyes, and mourne for their wants, thinking lowly of themſelues, and more highly reuerencing the graces of God in others. Whereas they who be deceived, are as the Laodiceans; rich and wanting nothing, and ſo be merry, and too light hearted, thinking too well of themſelues, and too ſlenderly of others, better then themſelues.
4 Hunger and labour for more.Another ſure marke of ſenſible faith and comfort, is this; That they that hauehave taſted of it, can never be ſatisfied, but ſtill hunger and labour for more: none more diligently vſe all good meanes to grow in grace then they: Even as the ſtrong and moſt healthfull bodie, doth feed better then the weake and ſickly. But ſuch as being well ſatisfied with that they hauehave, and feele no hunger, nor labour for more, it is evident their faith and comfort are not good.
5. Anſwerable obedience.To proceed, and not to gather all that might be added hereto, this ſhall ſerue for all; That as like fire, like heate: ſo like faith, like life, great or ſmall. So that where there is ſtrong faith, there muſt needs be great obedience, and therefore whoſoever hee be that is careleſſe of his converſation, and barren in the fruits of a holy life, his faith muſt needs be weake, if not dead.
Wherefore to conclude, I adviſe every one, who by theſe markes ſhall diſcerne himſelfe to be deceived, with fancie in ſtead of faith; to goe about this worke more ſeriouſly, and to lay a better foundation of faith, and not to ſay, he hath found comfort, till he can bring good witneſſe thereof. Which whoſoever ſhall neglect, ſhall in the end (to ſay no more) lament his folly, when he who ſeeing his errour, ſhall more carefully and conſtantly put in practiſe this maine dutie of daily feeding vponupon Chriſt, ſhall grow in grace, and attaine to that bleſſed life here, whereof we ſpeake beſides eternall life: the full reward of all his labour.
FINIS.
End of the text · Ezekiel Culverwell, The Way to a Blessed Estate in this Life (1623)