The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 2 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII. Sathans temptations whereby he ſeeketh to make our calling vneffectuall, anſwered.
§. Sect. 1 THoſe who are not called hee tempteth diuers waies, that he may hinder their effectuall calling;Of the neceſſity of our effectual calling. and firſt he laboureth to perſwade them, to neglect this their calling as a thing not neceſſarie, and to contemne the miniſterie of the word, which is the meanes whereby we are effectuallie called.
But we are to withſtand theſe temptations: and to this end wee are firſt to know, that before our effectuall calling wee are not true members of the Church, though wee may outwardly thruſt our ſelues into this ſocietie; for what els is the Church but that companie or congregation which is truly called and ſelected out of the world? and from hence it hath it name, for it is called Eccleſia foreign, from the calling thereof: vnleſſe therefore we be called we are not members of the Church, and if wee bee out of the Church there is no ſaluation; for our Sauiour gaue himſelfe for his Church alone, and he is the Sauiour of his owne bodie, Eph. 5.23.25. Act. 2.47.as it is Eph. 5.23.25. and he addeth daily vntounto the Church ſuch as ſhall be ſaued, as it is Act. 2.47.
Moreouer, vnleſſe we be truly called we ſhall neuer be truly iuſtified, and without iuſtification there is no glorification:Rom. 8.30. for this is the goldē chaine of our ſaluatiō, as appeareth Rom. 8.30.
Laſtly, wee can neuer come vntounto Chriſt, nor communicate with him in any of his benefits, nor receiue any ſanctifying and ſauing grace of Gods ſpirit, till by the grace of God wee are made partakers of this holie calling; for naturally wee are meere worldlings, deſtitute of all grace and goodneſſe, and ſo we remaine till by this holy calling we are ſeparated from the world, and ingrafted into the bodie of Chriſt, by whoſe ſpirit we are quickened who were dead in our ſinnes, and hauehave ſanctifying graces begotten nouriſhed and increaſed in vsus.
Seeing therefore this our effectuall calling is ſo neceſſarie, let not Sathan perſwade vsus to neglect it, neither let vsus when the Lord inuiteth vsus to this royall feaſt pretend excuſes, one that he muſt goe ſee his farme,Matth. 22. Luk. 14. another that hee muſt goe trie his oxen, a third that he muſt goe about his merchandize, and a fourth that he is hindred by a carnall mariage: for if we will not come when the Lord inuiteth vsus, like vnworthie gueſts we ſhall be ſhut out of the doores, and not ſuffred to be partakers of this banquet of eternall bleſſedneſſe.Pſal. 95.7.8. Whileſt today we heare his voyce let vsus not harden our hearts, for hee hath not promiſed that he will call againe to morrow, whileſt now he ſtandeth at the doore and knocketh and calleth for entrance, let vsus hearing his voyce open the doore of our hearts, that he may come in and ſup with vsus and we with him;Reuel. 3.20. for if vnkindly wee denie him entertainment, we can hauehave no aſſurance that hee will returne againe to ſuch churliſh and vngratefull hoaſts. In a word, ſeeing the Lord paſsing by many other in the world maketh choiſe of vsus, calling and inuiting vsus to the participation and fruition of eternall bleſſedneſſe and happineſſe, let no worldly buſineſſe, though it ſeeme as neceſſarie as the burying of our deare father,Matth. 8.21. hinder vsus from harkening, and obeying this heauenly call; let no tranſitorie trifle ſtay vsus from comming to God, when hee offreth to make vsus good aſſurance of his royall kingdome: for though many things bee conuenient, yet one thing is neceſſarie, and thrice happie are they which make choiſe of the better part.
§. Sect. 2 Sathans temptations whereby he moueth vsus to neglect the meanes of our effectuall calling.But it is impoſſible that euer we ſhould be truly called, vnles we carefully vſe the meanes when the Lord offreth them vntounto vsus, and attentiuely liſten vntounto the Lords voyce when hee inuiteth vsus to come vntounto him: and therfore Sathan laboureth, not ſo much to perſwade vsus that our vocation is in a thing vnneceſſarie vntounto ſaluation, ſeeing this is manifeſtly repugnant to plaine teſtimonies of ſcriptures, as to mooue vsus to neglect the meanes whereby we are called, namely the miniſterie of Gods word: partly working vponupon our inbred corruption, which not conceiuing the things of God condemneth them of fooliſhnes, and not being delighted with thoſe things which it vnderſtandeth not, they ſeeme irkſome and tedious; and partly inticing vsus with the commodities and pleaſures of the world, which are more pleaſant to carnall men than their meate and drinke, hee cauſeth vsus to ſpend that time in our earthly buſineſſes or vain delights, which we ſhould beſtow in the hearing of Gods word, whereby we ſhould be effectually called, that is, ſeparated from the world, and ingrafted as liuely members into the bodie of Chriſt Ieſus.
Motiues to perſwade to the diligent hearing of Gods word. The firſt motiue.Let vsus therefore ſtrongly arme our ſelues againſt this temption, as being moſt pernitious vntounto our owne ſoules: and to this end let vsus briefly conſider of ſome reaſons, whereby wee may be ſtirred vp diligētly to frequent Gods holy aſſemblies, to be made partakers of this heauenly ambaſſage. Firſt therefore were are to know, that the miniſterie of the word is Gods owne ordinance, which he hath inſtituted and ordained for the gathering together of the Saints, and building the bodie of his Church, Eph. 4.11.12.as appeareth Eph. 4.11.12. Neither doth he vſe ordinarily any other meanes (eſpecially where this is to bee had) for the true conuerſion of his children, and for the working of the ſanctifying graces of his ſpirit in them. And therefore though he could by extraordinary meanes, hauehave ſufficiently inſtructed the Eunuch in the waies of ſaluation, yet he would not, but rather vſeth his owne ordinance, and ſendeth Philip to preach vntounto him, Act. 8. Though hee could hauehave illuminated the eyes and vnderſtanding of Paul, Act. 8. Act. 9.6.17.by the immediat worke of his ſpirit, yet hee choſe rather to ſend him to Ananias, Act. 9.6.17. Though hee could by the miniſterie of his Angel, hauehave ſufficiently infourmed Cornelius in things neceſſarie to ſaluation, yet he would not offer ſo great diſparagement to his owne ordinance,Act. 10.5.6. and therefore he cauſeth him to ſend for the Apoſtle Peter, Act. 10.5.6. And therefore if wee would hauehave any aſſurance, of our effectual calling and true conuerſion vntounto God, let vsus with all care all diligence heare the word of God preached vntounto vsus.
The ſecond motiue.Secondly, let vsus conſider that it is euen God himſelfe, who ſpeaketh by the mouthes of his Ambaſſadours, and that they come not in their owne names but in Chriſts ſtead, to intreate vsus that we would be reconciled vntounto God,2. Cor. 5.20. as it is 2. Cor. 5.20; that though they bee but earthen veſſels, yet they bring from the world, and is yet hid to thoſe that periſh,2. Cor. 4.7. 2. Cor. 4.7. And hēce it is that the Prophets, being to pronounce their prophecies, ſtill begin with, The word of the Lord, and, Thus ſaith the Lord; and God himſelfe ſending Ieremie to preach, ſaith, that he had put his words into his mouth, Iere. 1.9.Iere. 1.9. Whoſoeuer therefore refuſe to heare the word of God preached, refuſe to heare the Lord himſelfe, as our Sauiour plainly affirmeth Luk. 10.16. He that heareth you heareth me, Luk. 10.16.and he that deſpiſeth you deſpiſeth me; and what hope can they hauehave of comming vntounto God, who cannot endure to heare his voyce calling them vntounto him?
§. Sect. 3 Thirdly,The third motiue. 2. Cor. 5.18. the titles which are giuen vntounto the word in the Scriptures, may ſerue as ſtrong arguments to moue vsus carefully to heare the ſame: for it is called the miniſterie of reconciliation, whereby we are reconciled vntounto God, 2. Cor. 5.18. and therefore without it, there being no other ordinarie meanes of reconciliation, we remaine ſtill Gods enemies. It is called the Goſpell of peace,Eph. 6.15. Eph. 6.15. without which wee hauehave neither peace with God, nor the peace of conſcience; It is called the word of grace, Act. 14.3, and 18.32, becauſe it is the meanes whereby the Lord deriueth vntounto vsus his grace and merciemercy,Act. 14.3. and all the ſpirituall graces of his ſanctifying ſpirit;Phil. 2.16. Act. 13.26. It is called the word of life, Phil. 2.16. and the word of ſaluation, Act. 13.26. becauſe it is the meanes wherby we are ſaued out of the hands of ſpirituall enemies, and are certainly aſſured of euerlaſting life and happineſſe;Matth. 13.44. It is called the kingdome of God, Matth. 13.44. becauſe thereby we are brought, firſt into the kingdom of grace, and afterwards into the kingdome of glorie; It is that heauenly ſeede whereby we are begotten vntounto God, in which reſpect the miniſters thereof are called ſpiritual fathers,1. Cor. 4.15. 1. Cor. 4.15. and therefore without it wee can neuer be regenerated and borne vntounto God; It is the foode of our ſoules, euen milke for babes,1. Cor. 3.2. Heb. 5.12. and ſtrong meate for men of ripe yeares, 1. Cor. 3.2. Heb. 5.12. whereby we are nouriſhed vntounto euerlaſting life: and therefore let vsus not refuſe this heauenly foode like waiward children when our heauenly father offreth it vntounto vsus, for ſo our ſoules being hunger-ſtarued, nothing can follow but eternall death and deſtruction; It is the phiſicke of our ſoules, whereby being ſicke in ſinne they are cured and reſtored: for as Chriſt is our heauenly phyſition, ſo is his word the potion which hee giueth to purge vsus from our corruptions, and the preſeruatiue which confirmeth vsus in health, and preſerueth vsus from the leprous infection of ſinne, yea this phyſick is ſo ſoueraigne, that though with Lazarus were hauehave lien dead in our graues foure daies, that is, continued long in our naturall corruptions, yet this phyſicke being applied will raiſe vsus vp to newneſſe of life; and therefore thoſe who neglect this diuine phyſicke, are ſubiect to all infection of ſinne, and being infected can neuer attaine to their health againe. It is the ſquare and rule of our liues, from which we muſt not decline neither on the right hand nor on the left,Deut. 5.32. Deut. 5.32. and therefore without it our workes muſt needs be crooked in Gods ſight. It is a lanthorne to our feete,Pſal. 119.105. and a light vntounto our paths, Pſal. 119.105, whereby wee are guided in the waies of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe which leade vsus to euerlaſting happineſſe, which being taken away we ſhall walk in darkneſſe, and be eueryevery ſtep readie to fall into ſin and eternall deſtruction. It is the ſword of the ſpirit, wherewith we defend our ſelues and offend our ſpirituall enemies,Eph. 6.17. Eph. 6.17; which being neglected, or not skilfully vſed, we ſhall lie open to all thruſts and blowes, and be eaſily ouercome. In a word, it is profitable for all vſes, as being the onelyonly ordinarie meanes ordained to conuey vntounto vsus all good, and to preſerue vsus from all euill: and therefore great folly it is for any man to contemne it, or to preferre before it vaine pleaſures, or trifling commodities, which alſo are momentanie and vncertaine.
§. Sect. 4 Fourthly,The fourth motiue. the manifold benefits which by the word of God are deriued vntounto vsus, may ſerue as a ſtrong argument to ſtirre vsus vp to the diligent and carefull hearing thereof; for firſt thereby we become true members of the Church, out of which there is no ſaluation, and being ingrafted into the body of Chriſt, are made partakers of all his benefits. And this appeareth Eph. 4.11.12,Eph. 4.11.12. where the Apoſtle ſheweth that the end of the miniſterie is for the gathering together of the ſaints, and for the edification of the body of Christ. A notable example whereof wee hauehave Act. 2.41. where,Act. 2.41. by one ſermon three thouſand ſoules were added to the Church. Secondly, hereby we are regenerated and begotten vntounto God, and therefore in this reſpect Paul profeſſeth himſelfe, the father of the Corinthians 1. Cor. 4.15.1. Cor. 4.15. and without this regeneration and new birth, none ſhall euer enter into the kingdome of God, as our Sauiour ſheweth vsus, Ioh. 3.5. Thirdly,Ioh. 3.5. vnleſſe the blinde eyes of our vnderſtandings be illuminated, we ſhall fall into a laborinth of errors, and neuer finde the hard way which leadeth to Gods kingdome; but the word of God is that heauenly light, which ſhineth vntounto vsus who ſit in darkenes, and in the ſhadow of death, guiding our feete into the way of peace, as it is Luk. 1.79. and in this reſpect,Luk. 1.79. Matth. 5.14. Act. 13.47. Gods miniſters ars called the light of the world, Math. 5.14. Act. 13.47. becauſe, as lights, they guide and direct men in the waies of ſaluation, and reueale vntounto them the great light, euen the Sunne of righteouſnes, Chriſt Ieſus. Fourthly, through faith we are ſaued, Epheſ. 2.8. Neither is it poſſible,Eph. 2.8. that without ſaith wee ſhould euer attaine vntounto ſaluation, for this is the condition of all the promiſes of the Goſpell, without which wee cannot hauehave any aſſurance of them,Ioh. 1.12. and 3.16.18. Rom. 14.23. Heb. 11.6. Ioh. 1.12. and 3.16.18. Moreouer, whatſoeuer is not done of faith is ſinne, Rom. 14.23. And without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, Heb. 11.6. But the preaching of the word is the ordinarie meanes of begetting faith in vsus, as appeareth Rom. 10.17. Faith commeth by hearing, Rom. 10.17.and hearing by the word of God. And therefore whoſoeuer contemne or neglect the hearing of Gods word, they refuſe the meanes of faith; and being without faith, all they doe is ſinne, and cannot pleaſe God, neither can they euer hauehave any aſſurance of Gods promiſes, or their owne ſaluation. Laſtly, by the hearing of Gods word we are ſaued, and therefore Gods miniſters in this reſpect are called Sauers of the people, 1. Tim. 4.16. Take heede vntounto thy ſelfe and vntounto learning; 1. Tim. 4.16.continue therein, for in ſo doing thou ſhalt both ſaue thy ſelfe and them that heare thee; becauſe they are the miniſters of God, whom he vſeth as meanes, and inſtruments in working the ſaluation of the elect: and therfore ſeeing by the preaching of the word, we are made members of the body of Chriſt, regenerated & inlightned; ſeeing therby we attaine vntounto faith, & euerlaſting ſaluation, let vsus as we louelove our owne ſoules, diligently heare the word, and not ſuffer our ſelues to be hindred from frequenting the holy aſſemblies of Gods ſaints, with eueryevery vaine pleaſure and baſe commoditie.
§. Sect. 5 But here the tempter wil be readie to obiect,Sathans temptations, whereby he vvithdraweth men from the diligent hearing of Gods word, anſwered. that though the word preached be thus neceſſarie and profitable at ſometimes when we are at leaſure, yet this ſhould be no reaſon to moue vsus to neglect our buſines, or abandon our pleaſures; for when once by the hearing thereof we are conuerted, inlightned with the knowledge of Gods true religion, and indued with faith, it is ſufficient if we but ſeldome heare it; for what in ſubſtance can we learne, which we hauehave not alreadie learned, or what can the preacher teach vsus, which we doe not know as well as he? Againſt which temptation, which is ſo common and pernicious, it behooueth eueryevery chriſtian moſt carefully to arme himſelfe; and to this end let vsus know, firſt that this neglect of Gods word is a manifeſt ſigne that ſuch are not as yet truely conuerted, nor indued with any meaſure of ſauing knowledge and true faith;Ioh. 8.47. and 10.27. for whoſoeuer are of God heare his word, Ioh. 8.47; and all Chriſt ſheepe heare his voyce and follow him, as it is Ioh. 10.3.4.27. Whoſoeuer hauehave attained vntounto knowledge, faith, and the reſt of the graces of Gods ſanctifying ſpirit, they will be ſo rauiſhed with the excellencie of them, that it is not poſſible for them to content themſelues with a ſmall meaſure, but ſtill they will labour to grow from knowledge to knowledge, from faith to faith, from one grace to another, till they become perfect men in Chriſt. And as thoſe who hauehave but once taſted of ſome delicious meate, are not ſatiſfied therewith, but againe and againe feede vponupon it if eaſily they may come by it, becauſe their taſte is exceedingly delighted therewith; ſo if euer we did but truely taſte of this heauenly Manna, and ſpirituall foode of our ſoules, the word of God, we would not reſt ſo contented, but when oportunitie is offered, we would often feede vponupon it, vntill our ſoules were fully ſatiſfied, and nouriſhed vntounto perfect ſtrength;1. Cor. 12.13. and foraſmuch as ſo long as we continue here, our knowledge is but in part and our faith weake, and Gods graces but in ſmall meaſure, therefore we would continually feede on this heauenly nouriſhment, to the end of our liues, that thereby our knowledge may be increaſed, our faith ſtrengthned, and all other graces confirmed and multiplied in vsus. But if on the otherſide we loath this heauenly Manna, it is a manifeſt ſigne, we neuer taſted thereof in truth, or that our ſoules are exceeding ſicke in ſinne, which maketh them that they cannot relliſh this daintie and delicious foode, and that we hauehave not knowledge, faith, or any grace begotten in vsus, neither that our ſelues are begotten vntounto God. For as the childe being begotten and conceiued, doth preſently draw nouriſhment from the mother; and the bigger it waxeth, the more it deſireth till it come vntounto perfect age and ſtrength: ſo as ſoone as the graces of Gods ſpirit are begotten in vsus by the preaching of the word, they draw nouriſhment from their ſpiritual mother, the Church; and the ſtronger they waxe in grace, the more earneſtly they deſire a greater pittance till they become perfect men in Chriſt. And therefore where there is no deſire of this foode, there is no regeneration nor new birth.
Gods word, the food of our ſoules, often to be receiued.Moreouer the word of God is the foode of our ſoules, whereby we are nouriſhed, and the graces of Gods ſpirit confirmed and increaſed in vsus; and therefore it is not ſufficient to eate of this foode once or twice, but continually, euen as often as the Lord calleth vsus to this ſpirituall banquet. For as the body will waxe faint, and quickly periſh, vnleſſe that which waſteth away be continually ſupplied by nouriſhment: ſo will the ſoule languiſh and waxe faint in ſpirituall graces, vnleſſe it be often nouriſhed with this heauenly Manna. Let not therefore Sathan perſwade vsus, that ſeldome hearing of Gods word is ſufficient, whereas this banquet is often prouided; for though in the time of ſcarcitie by the extraordinarie bleſſing of God, wee may goe with Elias fortie daies in the ſtrength of one meale, yet if we feede no oftner when the Lord graunteth vntounto vsus plentifull prouiſion of the ſpirituall foode, our ſoules will be hungerſtarued. Neither let our often receiuing of this heauenly nouriſhment, cauſe vsus with the vnthankfull Iſraelits to loath it, or like wayward children, or impacient ſicke patients, ſpit it out of our mouthes againe; for if our appetites be thus cloyed through a ſurfet of ſatietie, ſurely we are to feare, leaſt the Lord who is a cunning phyſition, will preſcribe vsus a long faſt, till we hauehave recouered our ſtomackes, as he threatneth Amos 8.11. I will ſend a famine in the land, Amos. 8.11.not a famine of bread nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord. And then we ſhall wander from ſea to ſea, and from the North euen to the Eaſt ſhall we runne to and fro to ſeeke the word of the Lord and ſhall not finde it.
§. Sect. 6 Laſtly,That we ſhould often heare, though we had ſufficient knowledge. though it ſhould be graunted that we had attained vntounto ſuch a meaſure of knowledge, that we ſhould neede no more, yet are there many reaſons why we ſhould continually heare Gods word with as great diligence as euer we did; for the end of our hearing is not onelyonly to know, but alſo to practiſe; not only to informe our iudgements, but alſo to reforme our affections; not onelyonly to beget the graces of Gods ſpirit in vsus, but alſo to nouriſh and increaſe them; not onelyonly to teach vsus what we ſhould doe, but alſo to ſtirre vsus vp to the doing thereof; and the word of God is not onelyonly a light for our feete to ſhew vsus the way, but alſo a pricke in our ſides to make vsus goe in the way, and a bridle in our mouthes to keepe vsus from wandering; it is not onelyonly profitable to teach, but to improue, to correct and inſtruct in righteouſnes. That the man of God may be abſolute, being made perfect vntounto all good workes, 2. Tim. 3.16.as it is, 2. Tim. 3.16. it is not onelyonly profitable for doctrine, but for edification, exhortation and conſolation, as appeareth, 1. Cor. 14.3. And therefore it is not ſufficient to come once or twice to the aſſemblies of Gods ſaints,1. Cor. 14.3. but we muſt aboue all things deſire with the prophet Dauid, that we may dwell in the houſe of the Lord all the daies of our life, Pſal. 27.4.to behold the beautie of the Lord, and to viſit his temple, Pſal. 27.4. For though our knowledge be neuer ſo great, yet ſo long as we hauehave any ſinne hanging on, or any grace imperfect in vsus, we had neede to be continuall hearers of Gods word, for the ſuppreſſing of the one and perfecting of the other.