A Guide to Godliness, Book 4 · Chapter 10
CAP. X.
Of our perſeuerance in all Chriſtian duties of a godly life.
§. Sect. 1 That we muſt perſeuere both in profeſſion and practice of godlineſſe.
BVt as we muſt be eueryevery day conſtant in the duties of a godly life without intermiſſion, ſo muſt we perſeuere in them vntounto Pſal. 1 3. and 92. 12, 14. Pſal. 112. 9. Prou. 4. 18.the end without apoſtaſie or defection. For as it is the property of a faithfull and bleſſed man to bring forth his fruit in due time and ſeaſon, ſo alſo not to fade or wither, but to flouriſh alwayes like the Palme tree, and to bring forth moſt fruit in old age. His righteouſneſſe indureth for euer, and his wayes are like a ſhining light, which ſhineth more and more vntounto the perfect day. An example whereof we hauehave in the Church of Thyatira, whoſe laſt workes were more then their firſt. Now Apoc. 2. 19.this perſeuerance muſt be ſhewed both in imbracing and profeſſing the truth of Chriſtian doctrine, and alſo in practiſing the holy duties which it teacheth in the whole courſe of our liues and conuerſations. VntoUnto the former the Apoſtle exhorteth, Stand faſt in the liberty wherewith Chriſt hath Gal. 5. 1.made vsus free. The Apoſtle Iohn likewiſe: Let that therefore abide in you, which 1. Ioh. 2. 24.you hauehave heard from the beginning. And our Sauiour Chriſt in his Epiſtle to the Churches: That which you hauehave already, hold faſt till I come. The other, Apoc. 2. 25.the Lord himſelfe commandeth: Thou ſhalt louelove the Lord thy God, and keepe Deut. 11. 1. and 12. 1. Micah 4. 5. 2. King. 17. 37his charge and his Statutes, and his Iudgements, and his Commandements alway: or as he expoundeth it in another place; In all the dayes that thou liueſt vponupon the earth, or for euermore. And contrariwiſe apoſtaſie and defection is forbidden; Take heed, brethren, leſt there be in any of you an euill heart of vnbeleefe, Heb 3. 12.in departing from the liuing God.
§. Sect. 2 Of the meanes of perſeuerance. 1. Meanes.
Now the meanes whereby wee may attaine vntounto this perſeuerance in the duties of a godly life, are diuers. The firſt is, to conſider often with Math. 24. 13. Apoc. 2. 10. Apoc. 2. 11. 26. and 3. 11. 12.our ſelues, that all Gods gracious promiſes are limited and reſtrained vntounto thoſe (not that begin well, or hold out to the mid way, but) who perſeuere vntounto the end. So our Sauiour Chriſt, Hee that indureth to the end, ſhall be ſaued. Be faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive thee a Crowne of life. And not he that fighteth, but in fighting ouercommeth, hath the promiſes of freedome from all miſery, and fruition of heauenly happineſſe made vntounto him. And elſewhere he indefinitely promiſeth, that if wee abide Joh. 15. 7.in him, and let his Word abide in vsus, then aske what we will, and it ſhall bee done vntounto vsus. To the ſame purpoſe the Apoſtle Iames telleth vsus, that who ſo Iam. 1. 25.looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetfull hearer, but a doer of the worke, that man ſhall bee bleſſed in his deed. And the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes ſaith, that we are made partakers of Chriſt, Heb. 3. 14.if we hold out the beginning of our confidence ſtedfaſt to the end. And therefore if we meane to hauehave any part in Gods promiſes, we muſt conſtantly perſeuere in the profeſſion and practice of true godlineſſe, and the Chriſtian duties of an holy life. The ſecond meanes of perſeuerance, is carefully to The ſecond meanes of perſeuerance, is to auoyd the cauſes and meanes of apoſtacy and defection.auoyd the cauſes and meanes of apoſtaſie and defection. And theſe are diuers: firſt, voluntary liuing in any knowne ſinne, which will harden the heart, and dead the conſcience, and ſo make way for many others, till wee be wholly carried away from God in a ſtreame of wickedneſſe. Secondly, we muſt carefully take heed of the leaſt declinations in Chriſtian graces and holy duties; for if we be once going downe the hill, wee ſhall hardly keepe our ſelues from running headlong to the bottome, vnleſſe wee ſtop ſpeedily in the very beginning. And as for the preſeruing of our bodies in a ſound eſtate, we labour with ſeaſonable phyſicke to preuent diſeaſes, and when we finde our health to decline a little, doe vſe all good meanes at the firſt, becauſe if the ſickneſſe ſeaze thorowly vponupon the vitall parts, it will hardly be remoued, and indanger our liues: ſo muſt we take the ſame courſe for the good of our ſoules, carefully obſeruing the firſt declinations of our ſpirituall health, that we may ſtop them at the beginning, before they breake out into any extremities. And conſidering that thoſe diſeaſes both of body and ſoule, are moſt dangerous and deſperate (not which come ſuddenly with ſome ſenſible violence, but) which ſteale vponupon vsus by degrees vponupon no apparant cauſes, and impaire the health by little and little, becauſe they are hardly diſcerned, and when they are knowne, not eaſily cured, as in the outward man, the conſumption, hectique feuer, and the like; and in the inward and ſpirituall part, carnall ſecurity, hardneſſe of heart, and others of like nature; let vsus not therefore neglect the leaſt declinations in ſauing grace, and holy duties, but keepe a carefull watch ouer our ſelues, that none of theſe diſeaſes of our ſoules ſteale vponupon vsus, and become deſperate before we diſcerne them. Let vsus bee as good husbands for our ſoules, as wee are for our clothes, houſes and grounds, mending little holes, before they teare out into great rents, repairing the firſt decayes, ere they become rotten and ruinous, and making vp the breach as ſoone as wee diſcerne it, before it come to an inundation, and carry vsus away in a floud of wickedneſſe. And this counſell the Apoſtle giveth vsus. Lift vp (ſaith he) the hands which hang downe, and the feeble knees; and make ſtraight paths to your feet, leſt that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed, &c. Looking diligently leſt any man faile of the grace of God, leſt any root of bitterneſſe ſpringing vp, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. A third cauſe of apoſtaſie, is a great opinion of our owne ſtrength, which cauſeth God to leaue vsus that we may ſee our weakneſſe, as we ſee in the fearfull defection of the Apoſtle Peter: And alſo a fond conceit that we are ſo rich in grace, that we may ſpend vponupon the ſtocke, and labour for no more; and that we hauehave already ſo well profited in religious duties, that we need not take any care or paines to make any further progreſſe: For there is no ſtanding ſtill in the wayes of Chriſtianity; but when we ceaſe to goe forward, wee begin to goe backward; when in our owne opinion we are at the full, we will begin to wane and decline towards a change; and when our godlineſſe is come to a ſtanding water, it preſently declineth and neuer ceaſeth, vntill it be come to a low ebbe. For the preuenting whereof, let vsus not meaſure our vertues and good proceedings by the falſe mete-yard of pride and ſelfe-louelove, which will make vsus ouerweene our owne gifts and good parts; nor compare our ſelues with our ſelues, or others that come behind vsus, and hauehave not attained vntounto Gal. 6. 4.our meaſure, but with the perfect Law of God, which like a lookingglaſſe will diſcouer our blemiſhes and imperfections, and with our Sauiour Chriſt, the perfect paterne of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, according Epheſ. 4. 13, 14, 15.to whoſe Image we ought to be conformed. A fourth cauſe of defection from God and godlineſſe which we muſt ſhunne, is the immoderate louelove of the world and worldly vanities, which cooleth and quencheth in vsus the louelove of God, and of ſpirituall and heauenly things; and ſo choketh in vsus all good deſires and indeuours of ſeeking after them that wee may obtaine them. For as our Sauiour telleth vsus, we cannot ſerue God, and Mammon: Math 6. 24. Jam. 4. 4.And the Apoſtle ſaith, that the amity of the world is enmity with God; and therefore whoſoeuer will be a friend of the world, he is Gods enemy. Which argument the Apoſtle Iohn vſeth to diſſwade vsus from this carnall louelove: LoueLove not the world (ſaith he) nor the things that are in the world. If any man louelove the world, the louelove of the Father is not in him. A fifth cauſe, is ſlackneſſe 1. Ioh. 2. 15.and negligence in the vſe of thoſe meanes which both beget and begin Gods graces in vsus, and alſo nouriſh and preſerue them when they are begun; as the hearing of the Word, reading, prayer, meditation, the Sacraments, and ſuch like. For as the ſtrength of the body languiſheth and conſumeth, if we refuſe our bodily food, whereby it is preſerued, ſo muſt alſo our ſoules needs fall into a conſumption of all grace and goodneſſe, if we neglect that ſpirituall nouriſhment by which onelyonly they are ſuſtained in vsus. A ſixth cauſe is, the grieuing of Gods Spirit dwelling in vsus, by quenching the good motions of it, and defiling our ſoules with ſinnes Epheſ. 4. 30. 1. Theſ. 5. 19.that waſte the conſcience, being committed wilfully againſt the knowledge; which loathſome filthineſſe polluteth our ſoules and bodies, and maketh this holy Gheſt weary of his lodging, & going away, to withdraw alſo with him his gifts and graces, by which alone wee are inabled vntounto all good duties. And therefore if wee would not fall away from all grace and goodnes, let vsus louingly entertain the Author of them, and not grieue Gods holy Spirit, by reſiſting thoſe good motions which he putteth into vsus, and by making our hearts and bodies, which ſhould be his holy temples and place of reſidence, a loathſome ſtie of ſinfull vncleanneſſe. A laſt cauſe of apoſtacy, is neere and inward familiarity with prophane and wicked perſons, who will corrupt vsus with their euill examples, and poyſon vsus with the contagion of their ſinnes, alluring and drawing vsus by degrees Deut▪ 7. 2, 3, 4.to accompany them in their euill courſes, vntill at laſt wee runne on Pro. 22. 24, 25.with them into the ſame exceſſe of outragious wickedneſſe, and ſo giuegive a finall farewell to all grace and goodneſſe.1. Cor. 6. 14.
§. Sect. 3 The 3. meanes is to conſider that we can no otherwiſe be accepted and approued of God.
The third meanes of perſeuerance is to conſider, that there is no other way to be approued of God, either in our perſons or actions. For Heb. 10. 38.though our workes make neuer ſo glorious a ſhew in the ſight of men, and our firſt beginnings and proceedings ſeeme moſt excellent, and giuegive great contentment both vntounto our ſelues and all others, yet if we continue not vntounto the end, the Lord will take no delight either in vsus or them; according to that of the Apoſtle: If any man draw backe, my ſoule ſhall take no pleaſure in him. Fourthly, let vsus remember, that our begun and continued righteouſneſſe will not at all profit vsus, if wee deſiſt in our courſe, and returne againe to our former wicked wayes. For ſo the Lord hath plainly ſaid, That the righteouſneſſe of the righteous ſhall not deliuer him in the day of Ezek. 33. 12.his tranſgreſsion, and for the wickedneſſe of the wicked, he ſhall not fall thereby, in the day that he turneth from his wickedneſſe; neither ſhall the righteous bee able to liue for his righteouſneſſe, in the day that he ſinneth, &c. And therefore as the ſinner hath no cauſe to goe on in his ſinne, deſpairing of pardon, ſo Nec ſanctus ergo ſecurus eſſe debet, quandiu in huius vitae agone verſatur; nec desperare peccator, &c. Hier. ad Celantiam.the righteous hath no reaſon to deſiſt in his righteouſneſſe, preſuming of reward, for that which he hath done already. The fift meanes is, to conſider, that if wee perſeuere not in the profeſſion and practice of true godlineſſe, all our former labour will not onelyonly be ſpent in vaine, but alſo to our great loſſe, ſeeing we ſhall be in farre worſe caſe after our apoſtaſie, then we were before we made any profeſſion of Religion. For Satan hauing bin once beaten out of poſſeſſion, vponupon his returne taketh ſurer hold; & as our Sauiour ſpeakes, One euil ſpirit taketh with him ſeuen other worſe then himſelfe, Mat. 12. 44, 45.and reenter and dwell there: & the laſt ſtate of that man is worſe then the firſt. So the Apoſtle Peter telleth vsus, that it had bin better for apoſtates not to hauehave 2. Pet 2. 20, 21. Heb. 6. 4. & 10. 26.knowne the way of righteouſneſſe, then after they hauehave knowne it, to turne from it, like the Dog to his vomit, and the Sow being waſhed, to her wallowing in the mire. The ſixth meanes is, to hauehave alwayes in our remembrance the fearefull puniſhments which are inflicted vponupon Apoſtates, both in this life and the life to come. For the backſlider in heart ſhall bee filled with his owne wayes; and a Pro. 14. 14. & 1. 31.good man, who perſeuereth in his integrity, ſhall be ſatisfied from himſelfe. More eſpecially, he that forſaketh God and the wayes of his Commandements, the Lord will forſake him, & giuegive him ouer vntounto himſelfe, to go on in his owne ſinfull courſes to his euerlaſting perdition and deſtruction, according to that of Dauid to his ſonne Salomon; If thou forſake him, he will 1. Chro. 28. 9.caſt thee off for euer. And that of Azariah to Aſa; The Lord is with you, 2. Chro. 15. 2.while you be with him, and if yee ſeeke him, he will be found of you; but if you forſake him, hee will forſake you. So the Lord threatneth to ſtretch out his Zeph. 1. 4, 6. Luk. 17. 32.hand, and to cut off them that were turned backe from him, and thoſe who had not ſought him, nor inquired after him. In the life to come Apoſtates ſhall be depriued of heauenly happineſſe, for he only that indureth to the end, ſhall be Mat. 24. 13.ſaued. And he that putteth his hand to the plough, and looketh backe, ſhall not be Luk. 9. 62.thought fit for the Kingdome of God. Yea, they ſhall not only loſe theſe heauenly ioyes, but alſo hauehave their portion in helliſh torments; For they that Heb. 10. 26, 27.ſinne willingly, after they hauehave receiued the knowledge of the truth, and perſeuere in their ſinnes without repentance, there remaineth vntounto them no more ſacrifice for ſinnes; but a fearefull looking for of iudgement, and fiery indignation which ſhall deuoure the aduerſaries, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh.
§. Sect. 4 The laſt means of perſeuerance, is Prayer.
Laſtly, if we would perſeuere in the duties of a godly life vntounto ſaluation, we muſt remember, that it is not a thing in our owne power, but the free gift of God, and therefore if we would hauehave it, we muſt continually beg it at his hands by feruent and effectuall prayer. For as it is he alone that giueth vntounto vsus the ſpirituall life of Grace, who were naturally dead in treſpaſſes and ſinnes; ſo it is he onelyonly that can preſerue vsus in it. And if he openeth Pſal. 104. 18, 19.his gracious hand, we ſhall be nouriſhed and filled with all good; but if hee hideth his face from vsus, wee ſhall preſently be troubled, and periſh in our former ſtate of ſinne and infidelity. It is he that worketh in vsus both to will and Phil. 2. 13. & 4. 13.to doe, of his good pleaſure; and wee who are able to doe nothing of our ſelues, are inabled to doe all things through Chriſt which ſtrengtheneth vsus. It is hee that beginneth the good worke of grace in vsus, and hee onelyonly can performe and finiſh it vntill the day of Ieſus Chriſt. It is he alone, Phil. 1. 6.that is able to keepe vsus from falling, as the Apoſtle Iude ſpeaketh, and to preſerue Iude v. 24.vsus faultleſſe, before the preſence of his glory with exceeding ioy. We can no more walke in our owne ſtrength in the wayes of godlineſſe, then Peter could vponupon the waters: but it is the power of Chriſts Word, that ſupporteth vsus, and keepeth vsus from ſinking, and his gracious promiſes of his helpe and aſſiſtance, by which we are ſtayed. It is not our apprehending him, but his apprehending vsus and holding vsus in his hand that preſerueth Phil. 3. 12. Eſa. 41. 13.vsus from falling; for our weake and childiſh hold would ſoone faile, though we cling vntounto him by a liuely faith, if he tooke not ſurer hold of vsus, and (as it were) carried vsus like a louing Father in the armes of his prouidence. Neither doe we chiefly perſeuere, becauſe wee are faithfull vntounto God, but becauſe he is faithfull vntounto vsus, and will ſtabliſh and keepe vsus from all euill. Our 2. Theſ. 3. 3. 1. Cor. 1. 9. 1. Theſ. 5. 24. Mat. 28. 18. Iob. 10. 28, 29.owne ſtrength would not ſtay vsus from being forcibly carried away with the violent tentations of our ſpirituall enemies; but it is our Sauiour Chriſt that keepeth vsus, who hauing receiued from his Father all power in heauen and earth, is ſtronger then all, and none ſhall bee able to plucke vsus out of his and his Fathers hands. It is he that confirmeth vsus vntounto the end, that we may 1. Cor. 1. 8. Eſa. 54. 10.bee blameleſſe vntounto the Day of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. The promiſes of God which in Chriſt are yea and Amen, vntounto the glory of God by vsus, are they which ſtabliſh vsus in him; and it is hee that hath ſealed vsus, and giuen vsus the 2. Cor. 1. 21, 22.earneſt of the Spirit in our hearts. And therefore if wee would perſeuere in grace and in the wayes of godlineſſe, we muſt beg it at Gods hands, and pray for our ſelues, as the Apoſtle for the Coloſſians, that he will repleniſh Col. 1. 10, 11.vsus with knowledge of his will in all wiſedome, that wee may walke worthy the Lord vntounto all pleaſing, being fruitfull in eueryevery good worke, and increaſing in the knowledge of God, ſtrengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, vntounto all patience and long-ſuffering with ioyfulneſſe. And as he prayeth for the Theſſalonians; that the Lord will make vsus to increaſe and abound in louelove, 1. Theſ. 3. 13.to the end that he may ſtabliſh our hearts vnblameable in holineſſe before God, vntounto the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, with all his Saints.