The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 2 · Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX. Of the fift Motiue which is that our delay will bringe more ſorrowe or vtter deſtruction.
§. Sect. 1 THe fifth argument to perſwade vsus to ſpeedy repentance and turning vntounto God,More ſorrow followeth ſin then ioy accō panieth it. is that by our delay eyther wee prepare more matter for our owne ſorrow and griefe, or elſe treaſure vp for our ſelues a more fearefull meaſure of wrath againſt the day of wrath; for if the beſt happen that wee canne hope for, or imagine, it is that wee truely repent vsus of our ſinnes without which, there is no forgiueneſſe, and what is this repentance, but an harty ſorrowe, and bitter greefe, for our ſinnes paſt, and an earneſt deſire and indeuoure of forſaking them in time to come? and therefore ſeeing whatſoeuer pleaſure wee hauehave taken in ſinninge wee muſt after looſe it in ſorrowing for ſinne, ſeeing our laughing muſt ende in weeping, and our hony bee turned into gall, and wormewoode, let vsus breake off our ſinnes betimes, by vnfained repentance, and not heape vp matter of more greefe, let not our mindes ſo much dote to taſte of the honie which ſinne bringeth in the mouth, as that we forgette the poyſon which it carrieth in the tayle; let vsus not be ſo eager in drinking of this poiſon of ſinne, though it be ſweete and pleaſant to the taſt, remembring that it is deadly in opperation if it bee not (as it were) caſt vp againe by vnfained repentance; let not our gluttonous appetites cauſe vsus to ſurfet on the pleaſures of ſinne, ſeeing the preſent delight will not countervaile the future paine, when as being ſicke in ſinne, and tormented in conſcience, wee ſhall vomit that with greefe, which wee hauehave eaten with pleaſure, finding more bitterneſſe in the caſting vp, then ſweeteneſſe when we ſwallowed it downe. But this is the beſt which can befall vsus, for if we doe not thus hartely ſorrowe for our ſinnes, but ſtill liue in them with pleaſure and delight, then doe wee nothing elſe but heape vp iudgement, and puniſhments, which ſhall one day bee powred vponupon vsus in full meaſure, and fill vp the vialls of Gods wrath, till being filled vp to the brimme, hee will powre them out vponupon our one heades. And this the Apoſtle plainely ſheweth. Rom. 2.5. But thou (ſaith hee) after thine hardneſſe and heart that cannot repent, heapeſt vntounto thy ſelfe wrath againſt the day of wrath, and of the declaration of the iuſt iudgment of God. 6. Who will rewarde eueryevery man according to his workes. &c. And this is all the treaſure which ſinners, by deferring their repentance heape vp vntounto themſelues for the laſt daies; as Iames ſpeaketh. Iame. 5.3. The longer therefore wee deferre our repentance the more wee increaſe the bills of accoumpts, of which wee ſhall neuer bee able to giuegive a reckoning, at the great, and generall audit, the more wee heape vp our ſinnes, the more wee heape vp Gods wrath; and increaſe the meaſure of our condemnation, and helliſh tormentes eueryevery day, (as it were) pyling vp wood, in which we ſhall eternally be burned.
§. Sect. 2 The ſixt motiue to perſwade vsus to haſten our conuerſion vntounto God with all ſpeed,The ſixt motiue our dangerous eſtate before conuerſion. is the conſideration of the dangerouſneſſe of our eſtate before our conuerſion; for wee are dead in our ſinnes, the children of wrath and enemies vntounto God, who eueryevery minute lye open to his iudgements and puniſhments. And this the Lord implieth in his ſpeach to Cain, Gen. 4.7. If thou doeſt not well (ſaith he) ſinne lieth at the dore, that is the puniſhment due to thy ſinne, like a cruell wilde beaſt ſtill watcheth and waiteth for thee, ſo as thou canſt nor ſtirre any way but it is ready to ſeaſe vponupon and deſtroy thee. Now in what a fearefull ſtate are thoſe who eueryevery minute liue in this daunger, of which if they be ſurpriſed what can remaine vntounto them but euerlaſting death and deſtruction; For as the tree falleth ſo ſhall it lie, as it is Eccl. 11.3. that is; as the day of death leaueth vsus, ſo ſhall the day of iudgment find vsus, and therefore if wee be taken away in our impaenitencie whileſt we are dead in our ſins, children of wrath, and enemies vntounto God, ſuch ſhall we be preſented before the tribunal ſeate of iudgement in the preſence of the great iudge of heauen and earth.The ſeuenth motiue taken from the benefites which accompanie our conuerſion.
§. Sect. 3 The ſeuenth motiue may be drawne from the manifold benefits which will accompanie our ſpeedie conuerſion, for firſt vertue and goodneſſe being ſowne in vsus in the time of youth, will take more deepe roote in vsus, ſo as it cannot eaſily be left or loſt, for as the veſſell doth longeſt retaine the ſmell and taſt of that liquor which was put into it whileſt it was new and vnſeaſoned, ſo they will longeſt retaine vertue and goodneſſe who hauehave it planted in them in their youth, according to that Pro. 22.6, teach a child in the trade of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Secondly if we turne to God betimes the exerciſes of religion, and workes of ſanctification, will be farre more pleaſant and eaſie then if we deferre them till our old age, for often vſe will bringe vsus to a cuſtome, and long cuſtome will worke in vsus an habite of vertue, which will be eaſie and familiar, if children from their youth be brought vp in trades and occupations which are exceeding hard and difficult, they do attaine to the skill and practiſe of them with exceeding dexteritie and quickneſſe, but if the learning of them be deferred till old age they cā neuer attaine vntounto them, or at leaſt performe them ſlowly and with great difficultie, and ſo if from our childhood wee, accuſtome our ſelues to the learning and practiſe of the workes of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, they will growe exceeding eaſie and pleaſant, whereas being deferred they wilbe difficult and tedious. If the oxe whileſt he is yong be accuſtomed to the yoke hee draweth in it quietly and with no great paine, but if he runne long in the paſture vnbroken and vntamed, when he is brought to the yoke he ſtrugleth and ſtriueth, and therewith gaulling his necke draweth with exceeding payne and irkſomeneſſe; and ſo if in our youth we accuſtome ourſelues to beare the yoke of obedience, it wilbe eaſie and pleaſant, but if we vſe delayes we ſhall grow ſtubborne and ſtifnecked like vntamed oxen, and the bearing of Chriſts yoke through our impaciencie, and the rebellion of our nature will gaule and vexe vsus. Thirdly, the ſooner wee turne vntounto God, the more ioy, peace and comfort ſhall we hauehave in the whole courſe of our liues, for what ioy may bee compared with the ioy in the holy Ghoſt,Pro. 15.15. what peace is like the peace with God; & the peace of conſcience, when as we are ſure that we are now friends, who before we were enemies and children of God and heires of his euerlaſting kingdome of glory, who in time paſt were children of wrath and fire brands of hell? what comfort in the world can be imagined like vntounto the conſolation of Gods ſpirit, which is able to make all afflictions light; and euen death it ſelfe ſweet and pleaſant vntounto vsus, but this ioy, peace, & comfort doe all companie our true conuerſion vntounto God, and therefore who would deferre it for one day, ſeeing it bringeth ſuch ineſtimable benefits and ſuch ſurpaſſing pleaſures as none ſufficiently vnderſtand them, but they who feele & inioy them. Whereas on the other ſide if we deferre our cō uerſion, in the meane while wee are continually ſubiect to the checkes and terrours of an euill conſcience, in feare of Gods iudgements and eternall damnation: and though in outward ſhewe wee may bee exceeding merie and pleaſant, yet our mirth is ful of ſorrow, and our ioy of bitternes, and of ſuch laughter wee may ſay, thou art madde, and of this ioy what is that which thou doeſt? as the Wiſe man ſpeaketh, Eccle. 2.2. for it is but Sardonicus riſus laughter from the teeth outward, which is ſtraight controuled with ſome inward pange or checke of conſcience. Fourthly, the ſooner wee turne vntounto the Lord; the longer time we ſhall ſpend in his ſeruice, which in truth is perfect liberty, now what can bee more delightful vntounto any Chriſtian heart, then to ſerue our creatour from the daies of our youth, & to ſhew our thankfulneſſe to God our redeemer for all the ineſtimable benefits which he hath beſtowed vponupon vsus, by cauſing our lights to ſhine before men, and by glorifying his name in our godly & Chriſtian liues? what can be more pleaſing to a thankfull mind then to take all occaſions of expreſſing thankfulfulneſſe to him vntounto whom we are ſo much bounden? Laſtly, as by our ſpeedy conuerſion vntounto God we liue in ſweete comfort and ioyfull peace, ſo alſo wee ſecurely expect death and giuegive it entertainement when it commeth with cheerefull countenance, for being conuerted vntounto God we are at peace with him and in his louelove and fauour, wee are aſſured that the curſe of the law is nayled to Chriſtes croſſe, that he was condemned that we might be iuſtified and put to death that wee might liue eternally, that he is gone before vsus into heauen to prepare vsus a place there, and now ſitteth at the right hand of his father to giuegive vsus ioyfull entertainement when we come vntounto him, that he hath taken away the ſting of death which is ſinne, and hath made a ſoueraigne medicine againſt this poyſon with his precious bloud, and therefore being conuerted vntounto God we need not to feare death, nay rather wee may wiſhe with the Apoſtle to be ſpeedily diſſolued that we may be with Chriſt ſeeing that is beſt of all. As it is Phil. 1.23. neyther need wee to feare the deſtruction of this earthly tabernacle, ſeeing wee are aſſured that we hauehave a building giuen vsus of God, a houſe not made with hands but eternall in the heauens. as it is 2. Cor. 5.1. Moreouer we ſhall not need to feare either ſuddaine death; or an euill death, for it cannot be ſuddaine to them who are alwaies prepared, Nee poteſt malè mori qui benè vixit, Auguſt.neither can he die ill who hath liued well. On the other ſide thoſe who deferre their repentance and turning vntounto God, when death approcheth are filled with horrour & feare when as they ſee that they are ſtill ſubiect to the curſe of the law and eueryevery minute in danger of Gods fearfull iudgements; when as the waight of ſin preſſeth them, Sathan and their owne conſcience accuſeth them, death waiteth on them to bring them to euerlaſting death, hell, and deſtruction. And therefore ſeeing ſo many benefits accompanie our ſpeedy conuerſion both in life and death, and ſo many euils follow our delayes: let vsus not be moued by Sathans tentations, the ſweeteneſſe of ſinne, nor with the alluring vanities of this deceitfull world to deferre our repentance from day to day, but let vsus now harken whileſt God, yet calleth vsus, and take the good and acceptable time when he offereth it vntounto vsus.
§ Sect. 4 The eight motiue to perſwade vsus to ſpeedy conuerſion,The 8. motiue becauſe repentance deferred to olde age is not ſo excellent or acceptable. is that our turning vntounto God being deferred to our olde age, or till the time wee lie ſicke on our deathbeddes, is not ſo excellent in it one nature, nor ſo acceptable vntounto God, as if it were performed in the time of our youth; for what great matter is it if wee leaue our ſinnes, when they, are readie to leaue vsus, to renounce the world with the riches honoures, and pleaſures thereof, when they are readie to abandon vsus; to imbrace mortification, when as our bodies are mortified with ſickeneſſe, and brought to the gates of death; to giuegive to the pore when wee can keepe our goods no longer, to forgiue our enemies, when as we can not offer them any further wrong, or violence, to cōmend our wiues, and children, into the hands of God, when as we our ſelues can no longer defend and prouide for them? to ceaſe to ſweare and blaſpheme Godes name, when as ſoone after wee ſhall ceaſe to ſpeake? moreouer how can wee thinke that this will be acceptable vntounto God when as wee doe not come vntounto him before all the world forſakes vsus, nor craue his helpe till wee are abandoned of all other ſuccour, nor offer to come into his ſeruice before wee are ready to goe out of the worlde, and that rather for feare of puniſhment; and hope of reward, then for any louelove we beare to our Lord and maiſter. But let it be granted (as in trueth it cannot bee denied) that whenſoeuer wee truely repent vsus of our ſinnes and turne vntounto God he wil receiue vsus to mercy, ſhould wee take occaſion hereof to deferre our conuerſion and to continue in our ſinnes? ſhould his louelove and mercy towardes vsus mooue vsus to rebellion, and impietie, towards him, and becauſe hee is gratious and long ſuffering ſhall we therfore the more offend him, and as it were whet the edge of his wrath againſt vsus? be it farre from vsus. Nay rather if God be gratious and mercifull, let vsus bee aſhamed to offend ſo gratious and mercifull a God, and though wee ſhoulde bee ſo hard harted as not to feare his iuſtice, and fearefull iudgementes, yet euen in common humanitie let vsus bluſh for ſhame to offende him in conſideration of his infinite louelove, and merciemercy. If wee had a friende who by reaſon of the louelove hee beareth vsus, would hardly bee diſpleaſed, or mooued to anger againſt vsus, would wee make this vſe of his louelove and patience, ſtill to prouoke him with new iniuries? Nay if their bee any good nature and ciuilitie in vsus, would not his louelove towardes vsus, mooue vsus to louelove him againe, and woulde not this louelove worke in vsus a care and feare not to diſpleaſe him? yes aſſuredly. O let not then the Lordes louelove, patience, and long ſuffering, who is our friend of frindes, make vsus to take occaſion of offending, and diſpleaſing him, but rather let the conſideration thereof bee a forcible and ſtronge motiue to mooue vsus to repentance.
Laſtly though the Lorde bee ſo gratious,Rom. 2.4. §. Sect. 5. The laſt motiue becauſe repentance in time of ſicknes is often vnſound. and mercifull, that he is ready to receiue vsus into his louelove, and fauour whenſoeuer wee vnfainedly repent, and truely turne vntounto him; yet foraſmuch as hee extendeth his mercy to thoſe onelyonly, who are truely penitent; & ſeing the repentance of the moſt is fained, and hypocriticall, which then onelyonly beginneth when death or ſome extreame daunger approacheth, this ſhould bee a ſtronge motiue to perſwade vsus to repent, and turne vntounto the Lorde, when wee are in our perfect health, ſtrength, and proſperite that ſo wee may hauehave aſſurance that our conuerſiō is ſincere and vnfained, and not forced or diſſembled. Wee knowe that Pharaoh himſelfe when hee was vexed with Gods fearefull plagues,Exod. 9.27. & 10.16.17. could ſay I hauehave ſinned, and promiſe amendment, And Saul, when God threatned to cut him off, and to take the kingdome from him, could acknowledge his wickedneſſe, and pretend a deſire to worſhip the Lord. And Ieroboam could ſhewe more contrition for the loſſe of his hand,Sam. 15.14.25. then he euer ſhewed for the loſſe of his ſoule. And wicked Achab when he heard heauie iudgments denounced againſt him, could outwardly humble himſelfe,1. King. 13.6 & 21.27. put on ſackeloth, faſt and goe demurely. And who may not obſerue in his owne experience, how many there are who in the time of their ſickeneſſe, make godly ſhewes of repentance, promiſing goulden mountaynes and vowing if they recouer, that they will leade a newe life, forſaking their ſinnes, and indeuouring to ſerue the Lorde in the duties of holineſſe, and righteouſneſſe, and yet the ſame men being reſtored to their heath, with the dogge returne to their vomit, and with the ſowe to wallowe againe in the filthie puddle of ſinne, becomming as prophaine, wicked, irreligious, and negligent in all duties of chriſtianitie, as euer they were; which is a moſt vndoubted ſigne, that there repentance was but faigned, and diſſembled, and that they were mooued thereunto not for any louelove of God, or hatred of ſinne, but for feare of Gods iudgmentes, and eternal condemnation, and therefore as ſoone as the cauſe of their feare is a little remooued, their repentance alſo ceaſeth. Moreouer wee knowe that true repentance is the gifte of God, and that we hauehave it not at our owne beck and call, but when he offereth and vouchſaueth it vntounto vsus, and therefore it is no maruaile if they who hauehave ſcorned this gratious gift all the whole courſe of their liues, ſhould be denied it at the time of death, & left ſo to the hardnes of their harts, that though with Eſau they ſeeke repentance with teares, yet they ſhall neuer find it. And though with the fiue fooliſh virgins they deſire to buy oyle for their lamps, yet the time of grace being paſt they ſhall be ſhut out of doores and excluded from the mariage. Neither doth the Lord ordmarily beget faith,Eph 4.11.12. repentance and other ſanctifying graces in any man, but by the vſe of the meanes which he hath ordayned for this purpoſe; now the meanes ordained of God are not ſickneſſe or the infirmities of old age, but the miniſterie of his word, made effectuall by the inward operation of his ſpirit for our conuerſion & ſanctification; and therefore if the Lord hath oftentimes graūted vsus this meanes, and they hauehave not beene effectuall for our conuerſion if hee hauehave often called vsus in the preaching of the word and wee hauehave refuſed to come, what hope can we hauehave that wee ſhould turne vntounto God,John 6.44. without this meanes in the time of ſickeneſſe, who by the continuall hearing of the word hauehave not beene conuerted in the time of our health, ſeeing not any come vntounto Chriſt but whom the father draweth, and the meanes whereby he draweth vsus vntounto him, is not ſickeneſſe or the approching of death ordinarily, but the miniſterie of his word; for when the ſheepe heare Chriſts voyce and thereby knowe him to bee the true ſheepheard. then (and not before) they follow him as it is Iohn. 10.27. So that though we were ſicke and certainely aſſured wee ſhould die to morrow, yet for all this, wee are neuer the neerer our conuerſion, faith, and repentance then we were before; as appeareth in the example of the Epicures. 1. Cor. 15.32. Let vsus eate and drinke (ſay they) for to morrow we ſhall die a man would thinke they ſhould rather hauehave ſayd, let vsus faſt and pray for to morrow we ſhall die; but this plainly ſheweth that we are neuer the neerer our conuerſion vntounto God, and true repētance though we are certaine that death approcheth; it is onelyonly the worke of Gods ſpirite, which ordinarily worketh not by the means of ſickneſſe or feare of death, but by the miniſterie of the word which is Gods owne ordināce,Eph. 4.11.12. inſtituted of God for the gathering together of the Saints, and for the edification of the body of Chriſt. And therefore whileſt the Lord calleth vsus in the preaching of the word, let vsus harken vntounto his voice, and turne vntounto him by vnfained repentance, for if Gods owne ordinance is not effectuall for our conuerſion, aſſuredly there is no hope that euer we will be conuerted by ſicknes or any other extraordinarie meanes whatſoeuer. It is an admirable miracle wrought by the infinite wiſedome and almighty power of God, that a poore ſinner ſhould be conuerted vntounto him by the preaching of the word, for hereby we who were dead in ſinne, are raiſed vp to newneſſe of life, we who were borne blind, are indued with ſight, our hearts more hard then the Adamant are made flexible, and ſoft as waxe to receaue any impreſſion, which the Lord wilimprint in them, and wee are moued to denie our ſelues, and to caſt away our owne righteouſneſſe, and to reſt and relye vponupon Chriſt Ieſus alone for our iuſtification and ſaluation, which is quite contrarie to our naturall diſpoſition: but it were a miracle of miracles that all theſe things ſhould be wrought in vsus by ſickneſſe, which the Lord hath not ordayned for this purpoſe, when as the meanes appointed by God himſelfe the miniſterie of his word, which is Gods owne ordinance could neuer worke them in vsus. It may bee indeed that Gods hand lying heauy vpō vsus in the time of ſickneſſe, and fearing worſe iudgements in the life to come, we may be moued hereby to make a goodly ſhew, and to vowe great reformation if we might bee reſtored to our health: It may be that with Pharaoh we may make a fained confeſſion of our ſinnes, and promiſe to amend if this iudgement may be remoued, or that we may with Achab outwardly humble our ſelues before God, to the end we may eſcape thoſe fearefull puniſhments which are threatned in his word; but it is a thouſand to one if we then truly repent who hauehave liued our whole time in impenitency, or then turne vntounto God if wee were not before that time effectually called and conuerted; for as wee liue ſo wee commonly die, neither is it likely that hauing led our liues like wicked Balaam we ſhould die the death of the righteous, that hauing alwaies hitherto been thornes and thiſtles we ſhould now bring forth ſweet figges and pleaſant grapes when wee are ready to be cut downe and to be caſt into the fire, that hauing all our life ſowed the ſeedes of wickedneſſe we ſhould at our death reape the fruit of godlineſſe; And therefore (as the Apoſtle exhorteth) let vsus not be deceiued: God is not mocked; for whatſoeuer a man ſoweth that ſhall he alſo reape; for he that ſoweth to his fleſh, ſhall of the fleſh reape corruption, but he that ſoweth to the ſpirit, ſhall of the ſpirite reape life euerlaſting. as it is Gal. 6.7.8. Let vsus now turne vntounto God while he calleth vsus and graunteth vsus the meanes of our conuerſion the miniſterie of his word; now is the acceptable time, now is the day of our ſaluation; and if wee will now turne vntounto God and truly repent whileſt we might continue in our ſinnes, we may be aſſured our repentance is true and vnfained, and not preſſed out of vsus with ſence of preſent paine, nor forced with feare of future puniſhment, and that turning to God wee ſhalbe receaued to grace and mercy, ſeeing we then offer to ſerue him, when wee might hauehave ſerued Sathan, the world and our owne corrupt fleſh.