A Guide to Godliness, Book 5 · Chapter 24
CAP. XXIIII.
Containing diuers effectuall reaſons to mooue vsus vntounto this exerciſe of Meditation.
§. Sect. 1 That this duty is required in the Scriptures.
BVt that thoſe who truly feare God, may not bee carryed away in this common ſtreame of negligence and corruption, ſporting themſelues in the pleaſures of ſinne, vntill they fall into the dead ſea of endleſſe deſtruction; let them firſt conſider, that this duty of conſideration and examination of our eſtates, is ſtrictly required of God, and hath been alwayes practiſed by the faithfull. The former is manifeſt by plaine teſtimonies of holy Scriptures. Dauid exhorteth vsus to ſtand in awe, and ſinne not; and to commune Pſal. 4. 4.with our owne hearts vponupon our bed, and be ſtill. The Church in the Lamentations demandeth why a liuing man ſhould complaine, ſeeing a man is Lam. 3. 39, 40.puniſhed for his ſinnes? and therefore his beſt way is, not to lye lamenting his paine, but to finde out and remooue the cauſe, that the effect may ceaſe. Let vsus ſearch and try our wayes (ſaith ſhe) and turne againe to the Lord. So the Lord ſaith, that the people of Iſrael, vponupon their freedome out of captiuity, ſhould remember their wayes, and all their doings, wherein they Ezek. 20. 43.had been defiled, that they might be lothſome in their owne ſight, for all the euils Hag. 1. 5, 7.which they had committed. Thus the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus to examine our 1. Cor. 11. 28, 31. Gal. 6. 4, 5.ſelues before we come to the Lords Table, and telleth vsus, that if we would iudge our ſelues, we ſhould not be iudged of the Lord. So elſewhere; Examine 2. Cor. 13. 5.your ſelues whether you be in the faith; prooue your ſelues, &c. And thus in many Rom. 6. 17. 1. Cor. 6. 9, 10. Epheſ. 2. 11.places he putteth thoſe in mind to whom he writeth, of their former ſinfull eſtate, out of which, through Gods mercy they were deliuered, that they might repent of their ſinnes paſt, and praiſe the Lord for their preſent condition. The neglect of which duty the Lord complaineth of, and condemneth in the Iewes, as the cauſe of their groſſe ingratitude and impenitency. The Oxe knoweth his owner, and the Aſſe his Maſters crib; but Eſa. 1. 3.Iſrael doth not know, my people doth not conſider. So Ieremie; I hearkened and Jer. 8. 6.heard, but they ſpake not aright, no man repented of his wickedneſſe, ſaying, What hauehave I done? As on the other ſide, the practice of this duty is commended vntounto vsus in the examples of the godly. Thus Dauid performing himſelfe, what he perſwaded vntounto others, ſaith, that hee conſidered his owne Pſal. 119. 59. Luk. 15. 17.wayes, and turned his feet vntounto Gods teſtimonies. So the Prodigall did begin his repentance by comming to himſelfe (as it were) out of the dead ſwoone of ſinne, calling to remembrance his departing from ſuch a gracious Father, and his owne wandrings in the wayes of wickedneſſe, in which he had loſt himſelfe, as in an inextricable and endleſſe Labyrinth. And the Apoſtle often recalleth his ſinnes to his remembrance, to humble himſelfe that had committed them, glorifie God who had forgiuen them, and comfort others who had alike falne, and to incourage them with him to forſake their ſinnes, and turne vntounto God by vnfained repentance.
§. Sect. 2 The great profit of this exerciſe of examination.
VntoUnto theſe precepts drawing vsus, and theſe examples leading vsus to this duty of examination, we may adde the great profit which may allure vsus, Plus teipſum explora quàm proximos: nam illud lucrum tuum eſt, hoc proximorum, &c. Nazianzen. in ſentent.and the vrgent neceſſity which preſſeth it vponupon vsus. For firſt, the benefits are manifold which accompany this exerciſe. Examine thy ſelfe more (ſaith one) then thy neighbours, for that is thy gaine, this theirs. Thou ſhouldeſt rather take an account of thy actions, then of thy moneyes; ſeeing theſe periſh, but they are permanent, and ſhall continue with thee. More eſpecially, this examination bringeth vsus vntounto a diſtinct knowledge of ſinne, which otherwiſe wee ſhould onelyonly ſee in generall view, and (as it were) in the whole lumpe or maſſe. It diſcouereth vntounto vsus their innumerable numbers both great and ſmall, and as the Sun-ſhine, helpeth vsus to diſcerne eueryevery ſluttiſh corner, which before was not ſeene, and reuealeth not onelyonly the groſſe vncleanneſſe of the houſe, but much duſt and innumerable moates, which we not diſcerning, thought the houſe cleane and free from them: So doth this ſearching of our hearts lay open vntounto vsus many annoyances, which before were hid, and innumerable numbers of our leſſer ſinnes, which wee thinking to be nothing, ſuppoſed our ſelues to bee ſo pure, that there was no need to be purged of them. It ſheweth vntounto vsus not onelyonly our groſſe offences, but alſo the corruptions and imperfections of our beſt actions; and with our errours and wandrings out of the way of truth, our lameneſſe and ſlowneſſe whileſt we are walking in it. It diſcouereth, with the number of our ſinnes, their greatneſſe and hainouſneſſe, and maketh vsus know, whilſt we ſearch our ſores to the bottome, that they are ſo deepe and dangerous, that they need preſent cure, and the ſoueraigne ſalue of Chriſts Blood; which ſeemed ſo ſlight, whilſt they were skinned ouer with colourable excuſes, that we thought there was no haſte of the cure, & that eueryevery Lord, hauehave mercy vponupon vsus, or ſhallow broken ſigh was ſufficient to heale them. It worketh our hearts to a true hatred of them, when vponupon iuſt triall wee ſee their vglineſſe and deformity, their horrible pollution and noyſome ſent. For howſoeuer, whilſt theſe filthy channels were vnſtirred, they did little trouble vsus with any ill ſauour; yet when wee rake in theſe ſtinking puddles, they make vsus abhorre them, and ſhew by their noyſomneſſe, how much they need clenſing. Yea, it will make vsus to loath our ſelues for our ſinnes ſake, and thus abhorring our ſelues, to repent, with Iob, in duſt and aſhes, according to that of the Prophet, Then ſhall yee Iob 42 6. Ezek. 36. 31.remember your owne euill wayes, and your doings that were not good, and ſhall loath your ſelues in your owne ſight, for your iniquities and abominations. And as it thus humbleth and prepareth our hearts for repentance, ſo is it a moſt effectuall meanes to worke it in vsus. And this Salomon intimateth, where hee ſaith, that if the Iſraelites hauing ſinned, ſhould bethinke themſelues, and repent; nothing that they muſt conſider their euill wayes, before 1. King. 8. 47.they could repent of them. And our Sauiour firſt requireth, that the Church of Epheſus ſhould remember from whence ſhee was falne, and then Apoc. 2. 5.that ſhe ſhould repent and doe her firſt workes of louelove. Thus the lamenting Church, remembring her ſinnes and afflictions which they had brought Lam. 3. 19, 20.vponupon her, was humbled and repented. By reaſon whereof, it furthereth much the worke of ſanctification, and helpeth to purge out of vsus the relikes of our ſinfull corruptions. For this frequent examination will not ſuffer ſin to ſleepe with vsus, nor to hauehave any time to fortifie it ſelfe againſt vsus; but aſſone as it is entred, it diſcouereth this enemie, and will not ſuffer it to lay againſt our ſoules any ſecret ambuſhments. It nouriſheth in vsus the true feare of God, and maketh vsus carefull to auoyd his diſpleaſure. It pulleth vsus backe, being ready to fall into ſinne, when we conſider the miſcries which attend vponupon it, and from relapſing into our old diſeaſes, when we remember with what danger and difficulty we did eſcape them. It keepeth our hearts and conſciences pure and peaceable, whilſt by the frequent vſe of it, they are preſerued from the pollution of ſinne, or quickly purged when they are defiled. It nouriſheth Gods graces in vsus, and maketh vsus conſtant in the wayes of godlineſſe. It helpeth vsus much in aſpiring towards perfection, whilſt by often reuiewing of our works, we ſee their defects, and indeuour to amend them. Finally, it preſerueth vsus from receiuing any hurt by Gods temporary Iudgements, for if we would iudge our ſelues, he would not 1. Cor. 11. 32.iudge vsus; and maketh vsus comfortably, and with ioy expect the comming of the Lord to the laſt Iudgement, when as wee hereby keepe euen our accounts, and are prepared to render a reckoning when he calleth for it.
§. Sect. 3 That this exerciſe of Meditation is very neceſſary.
The neceſſity of this exerciſe doth likewiſe appeare, becauſe the neglect of it depriueth vsus of all the former benefits. But more eſpecially, as repentance is neceſſary vntounto ſaluation, ſo this examination muſt neceſſarily goe before repentance. For firſt, we muſt by examination come to the knowledge of our ſinnes, before we can either bewaile or turne from them. Whereof it is, that our Sauiour calleth ſinners onelyonly to repentance, that is, Mat. 9. 13.ſuch as know and acknowledge themſelues to be in this number. And Ieremy willeth the backſliding Iſraelites, firſt to acknowledge their iniquities, Ier. 3. 13, 14.and then to repent of them, and to turne vntounto the Lord. And Dauid ſaith, that he thought on his wayes, and then turned his feete vntounto Gods Teſtimonies. Pſal. 119. 59.So the Lord ſaith of the Iewes, that they ſhould remember their wayes and be Ezek. 16. 61.aſhamed. And putteth conſideration before repentance, as a cauſe and meanes of it; Becauſe (ſaith he) he conſidereth and turneth away from all his & 18. 28.tranſgreſsions; implying that he could not hauehave turned, vnleſſe he had firſt conſidered of his ſinnes from which hee turned. And this (as one excellently M. Dyke of repentance.obſerueth) is implyed euen in nature, where there is the ſame inſtrument of ſeeing and weeping, to ſhew vntounto vsus, that weeping depends vponupon ſeeing. He that ſees well, weepes well. He that ſees his ſinnes thorowly, will bewaile them heartily. And this want of conſideration, the Prophet noteth to hauehave beene the cauſe, why Ephraim would not turne vntounto the Lord, that he might heale them; They conſider not (ſaith he) in their hearts, Hoſ. 7. 1, 2.that I remember all their wickedneſſe. And the Prophet Ieremy noteth this to hauehave beene the cauſe of the Iewes impenitency; becauſe no man ſo much as demanded, What hauehave I done? Neither in truth is there any one greater Ier. 8. 6.cauſe why men in our owne dayes goe on in their ſinnes without repentance, then want of due conſideration what they are doing, namely, treaſuring Rom. 2. 5.vp againſt themſelues wrath, againſt the day of wrath, and (as it were) heaping vp a pile of wood for their owne burning. Neither were it poſſible, that they ſhould ruſh into all ſinne, like the horſe into the battell, if they would but examine whither they are a going, and into what deſperate dangers of death and deſtruction they plunge themſelues, by continuing in their wicked courſes. Againe, without often and ſtrict examination, it is not poſſible for vsus to finde out, or auoyd the deceitfull wiles of our owne ſinfull hearts; ſeeing they are ſo deepe, that without much ſearching, Ier. 17. 10.wee cannot ſound them to the bottome. Whereof it is that the Wiſeman counſelleth vsus, that we ſhould aboue all other obſeruations, looke Pro. 4. 23.to our hearts. And the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus to take ſpeciall heed, leſt there ſhould be in vsus an heart of vnbeliefe, in departing from the liuing God. Moreouer, Heb. 3. 12. Deut. 11. 16.without this diligent ſearch, whereby wee come to a ſight of our wants, we would flatter our ſelues in our weake and fraile eſtate, as though nothing needed reformation; and pleaſing our ſelues in our owne imperfections, we would neuer labour and ſtriue after more perfection. For we are naturally ſo full of pride and ſelfe-louelove, that as Salomon ſpeaketh, EueryEvery Pro. 21. 2.way of a man ſeemeth right in his owne eyes. And therefore our Sauiour exhorteth vsus to take heed that the light which is in vsus be not darkeneſſe, that is, Luk. 11. 35.that our ſeeming wiſedome be not fooliſhneſſe, and that wee miſtake not the ſtained cloth of our imperfect obedience, for the pure white linnen of perfect ſanctity; and ſo groſly abuſe our ſelues: for if a man thinketh Gal. 6. 3.himſelfe to be ſomething, when he is nothing, he is deceiued, and coozeneth himſelfe of his owne ſaluation. With which deceit it is eaſie to be ouertaken (with proud Iuſticiaries) by reaſon of our ſelfe-louelove; if wee doe not often and ſeriouſly examine our ſelues, according to the perfect rule of Gods Law, and in this cleere Looking-glaſſe behold our blemiſhes, and the manifold wants and imperfections of our beſt actions. Furthermore, the neceſſity of this examination heereby appeareth, in that the neglect thereof is the cauſe of all ſinne. For what is the reaſon why men ruſh headlong into all manner of groſſe and notorious wickedneſſe? Why they blaſpheme Gods holy Name for no worldly aduantage, but vponupon meere vanity? Why they diſpleaſe God, and diſable themſelues vntounto all duties of his ſeruice, by ſurfetting and drunkenneſſe, without any gaine, yea, to the diſcredit of their perſons, and ruining of their eſtates? Why they commit filthineſſe and vncleanneſſe, thereby weakning their bodies, and ſhortning their liues? and why they continue in theſe and many ſuch ſinnes, with impenitency and hardneſſe of heart? Surely not ſo much through the ignorance of their mindes, or becauſe their iudgements are not conuinced, that theſe are grieuous ſinnes, which for the preſent draw Gods fearefull plagues vponupon them; and will heereafter be puniſhed with euerlaſting death (For they heare theſe things daily ſounding in their eares in the Miniſtery of the Word, and ſee fearefull examples and preſidents continually of them in others, who hauehave liued in the like wickedneſſe) But becauſe though they hauehave ſight and knowledge, yet they hauehave no vſe of it, the deuill hauing ſo hud-winkt and blind folded the eyes of their minde, that they neuer examine their ſtate, nor conſider with themſelues what they doe, whither they are a going, nor what will be the iſſue and end of theſe things: And ſo like hooded Hawkes, are carried quietly by the deuill into all wicked courſes which leade them to deſtruction.
§. Sect. 4 The former point, prooued by the Scriptures. Eſa. 1. 3.
And this is manifeſt by the Scriptures, which in many places ſhew, that men commit many of their ſinnes, and liue in them without repentance, becauſe they examine not their eſtate, nor enter into due conſideration what they doe. Thus it is ſaid, that the cauſe of the Iſraelites vngratitude and rebellion againſt God, was, becauſe they did not conſider, either Gods goodneſſe and bounty, nor their owne wickedneſſe, and the manifold euils which thereby they brought vponupon themſelues. That the cauſe why many of them followed drunkenneſſe, and ſported themſelues in this ſinne with all ſenſuall delight, was, becauſe they regarded not the worke of Eſa. 5. 11, 12.the Lord, neither conſidered the operation of his hands. That they forſooke the Lord, and worſhipped ſtockes and ſtones, the works of their owne hands, Eſa. 44. 19.becauſe none conſidered in their hearts the vanity of Idols, and that themſelues had made them of the ſame tree, wherof they had burned a part, and conuerted other parts of it to other vſes. That the cauſe of Babylons inſolency & pride, wherby they tyrānized ouer Gods people, was, becauſe they did not cōſider, that God had made them only ſcourges & rods to correct his people, which hauing done, he would caſt thē into the fire: which things Eſa 47. 7. & 57. 11.they did not lay to heart, nor remember the latter end, namely, their deſtructiō, and the deliuerance of Gods people. And as neglect of this conſideration is the cauſe of ſinne, ſo alſo it expoſeth vsus to fearefull puniſhments; for if we will not iudge our ſelues, we ſhall be iudged of the Lord; if we forget his Iudgements and neuer thinke of them, hee will rub our memories, and helpe vsus to recouer our loſt wits, by whipping vsus like Bedlems, and making vsus ſenſible by ſmart, who were inſenſible of reaſon. Thus the Lord ſaith, that the whole Land was made deſolate, becauſe no man laid it to Ier. 12. 11.heart. And thus he threatneth the Iſraelites, that becauſe they did not remember and conſider his former mercies, and their owne ſinnes and vnworthineſſe, therefore he would recompence their wayes vponupon their head, and Ezek. 16. 43.make them to know him by his Iudgements, when as his mercies would not make them acknowledge him. Laſtly, this may ſhew vsus how neceſſary this examination is, ſeeing it muſt of neceſſity bee done either in this world, or the world to come. For all ſhall render a reckoning of all that they hauehave done in the fleſh; and therefore if wee doe not examine and iudge our ſelues heere, God will examine and condemne vsus heereafter. If we doe not call our ſelues to account in this life, when as finding our ſelues ſhort in our reckonings, we hauehave time to ſue, through the Mediation of Chriſt, for the pardon of our debts, and to procure a generall acquittance and diſcharge: we ſhal be accountant to Gods Iuſtice at the day of Iudgement, when the Day of grace and ſaluation being paſt, there will bee no place for procuring of pardon; but being much indebted, and hauing nothing to pay, we ſhall be caſt into the priſon of outer darkeneſſe, without hope of mercy, or deliuerance from that endleſſe miſery. Which fearefull Iudgement and condemnation if we would auoyd, let vsus heere, whilſt the Day of ſaluation laſteth, examine, iudge, and condemne our ſelues, that wee may turne from our ſinnes by vnfained repentance; and ſo hauing Chriſt to be both our Aduocate and Iudge, we ſhall then eſcape Gods ſeuere and ſtrict Iudgement, ſeeing he will anſwere for vsus; and our examination and iudgement being already diſpatched in this life, nothing ſhall then remaine, but that he our Iudge ſhould pronounce the ſentence of abſolution, and enter vsus into the full fruition of that heauenly happineſſe, and euerlaſting ioyes of his Kingdome, which by his death and merits he hath purchaſed for vsus.