A Guide to Godliness, Book 1 · Chapter 4
CAP. IIII.
Of the forme and manner how all Chriſtian duties ought to bee performed, namely, with feruency of deſire, a ſettled reſolution, and earneſt indeuour to pleaſe God in all things.
§. Sect. 1 That theſe deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours are required of all thoſe who will ſerue and pleaſe God.
ANd ſo I come from the matter of it, and the duties therein required, to ſpeake of the forme and manner, how they may be ſo performed, as that they may bee acceptable in Gods ſight. And heereunto there concurre three things: Firſt, feruencie of deſire: Secondly, a ſettled reſolution: And thirdly, an hearty and earneſt indeuour to pleaſe God in all things by doing his will, in the duties of pietie, righteouſneſſe, and ſobriety. Firſt, our hearts muſt be inflamed with feruent deſires to pleaſe God in all things, and to doe his will in as great perfection heere on earth, as the Angels and Saints doe it in heauen, although we cannot poſſibly in this ſtate of ſinne and corruption attaine vntounto it. So the Church profeſſeth of her ſelfe: In the way of Eſa. 26. 8, 9.thy iudgements, O Lord, hauehave we waited for thee, the deſire of our ſoule is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee; with my ſoule hauehave I deſired thee in the night, yea with my ſpirit within me will I ſeeke thee early. The which deſires breake out into longing wiſhes after that perfection which we cannot as yet compaſſe, as we ſee in Dauid; O that my wayes were directed to keepe thy Pſal. 119. 5.ſtatutes! And are accompanied with bitter griefe and lamentable complaints, when as we finde them croſſed with our corruption, and defeated by the tentations of the deuill and the world; as we ſee in the Apoſtles example; To will is preſent with me, but how to performe that which is good, I find Ro. 7. 18, 19, &c.not. For the good that I would, I doe not; but the euill which I would not, that I doe, &c. for I delight in the Law of God after the inner man, but I ſee another law in my members warring againſt the Law of my minde, and bringing me into captiuity to the law of ſinne, which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliuer mee from the body of this death? And this feruent deſire of the heart to pleaſe God by doing his will, is alwayes accompanied with an vndanted reſolution and ſettled purpoſe of the will to ſhake off all delayes, and breake thorow all difficulties which hinder vsus in our courſe, and with all care and good conſcience, to vſe all helpes, whereby we may be inabled and furthered in Gods ſeruice. And thus Dauid reſolueth that he will keepe Pſal. 119. 8, 30, 32, 33, 34.Gods ſtatutes. I hauehave choſen the way of truth, thy iudgements hauehave I laid before me. I will runne the way of thy Commandements; when thou ſhalt inlarge my heart. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy ſtatutes, and I ſhall keepe it vntounto the end. GiueGive me vnderſtanding, and I ſhall keepe thy Word; yea I ſhall obſerue it with my whole heart. And from this deſire of the heart, and reſolution of the will, there followeth an earneſt indeuour in the whole man, of conforming all our powers and parts, words and workes, intentions and actions to the will of God, that we may in all things pleaſe him, and glorifie his name, by hauing the light of our liues ſhining before men; according Matth. 5. 16.to the exhortation of the Apoſtle, Whether ye eate or drinke, or whatſoeuer 1. Cor. 10. 31.ye doe, doe all to the glory of God.
§. Sect. 2 That all Euangelicall obedience conſiſteth chiefly in theſe deſires, reſolutions and indeuours.
And in theſe deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours doth conſiſt the very forme and eſſence of a godly life, it being the top of that perfection which Act. 11. 23.we can attaine vntounto in this ſtate of imperfection. This is that Euangelicall obedience which in the Goſpel is required of vsus, as we ſee in the Acts of the Apoſtles, where Barnabas exhorteth the Church of Antioch, not to performe that perfect obedience which the Law exacteth, which was a yoke too heauy for any to beare, but that with purpoſe of heart, they would cleaue vntounto the Lord. VntoUnto which alſo the Goſpel inableth vsus, being made powerfull and effectuall by Gods grace, and the inward operation of his holy Spirit. This is that ſonne-like obedience which God now requireth of vsus, which if we performe, we and our ſeruice ſhall be accepted of God in Chriſt, our imperfect righteouſneſſe being couered with his perfect obedience, and our corruptions waſhed away in his blood. For he ſpareth vsus, as a louing father ſpareth his ſonne that ſerueth him, who in the duties Mal. 3. 17.which he requireth, reſpects his affection, more then the action, and the intention and deſire of his heart to pleaſe him, more then of his abilities in performance; according to that of the Apoſtle; If there be firſt a willing 2. Cor. 8. 12.minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that hee hath not. An example whereof we hauehave in Dauid, who hauing in his heart 2. Sam. 7. 16.a deſire and reſolution to build the Temple, though he did it not, was accepted and rewarded of God, as if he had built it. And in Abraham, Gen. 22. 16.whoſe reſolution to ſacrifice his ſonne, was as pleaſing in Gods ſight, as if he had beene ſacrificed. Now the reaſon why our deſires and reſolutions are ſo acceptable vntounto God, is firſt, becauſe they are the chiefe ſeruice of the heart, which the Lord reſpecteth aboue all other parts and outward performances. And ſecondly, becauſe all our indeuours and actions are according to our deſires, either forward and feruent, or ſlacke and remiſſe. For as Philoſophie teacheth, the louelove and deſire of attaining to the end, is the firſt cauſe in the intention of the agent, which ſetteth him on worke, and according to the greatneſſe of this louelove and deſire, to the end at which wee ayme, ſuch is our care and diligence in the vſe of all good meanes whereby wee may attaine vntounto it. Moreouer, as it will make our perſons and actions accepted of God, ſo our prayers which God hath promiſed to heare and grant. According to that of the Pſalmiſt; Lord, thou Pſal. 10. 17.haſt heard the deſire of the humble; thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cauſe thine eare to heare. And againe, He will fulfill the deſire of them that feare Pſal. 145. 9.him, he will heare their cry, and will ſaue them. And the Wiſeman telleth vsus, that the deſire of the righteous ſhall be granted, that is, not they who are Pro. 10. 24.righteous, according to the rigour of the Law, but they who are Euangelically righteous, and deſire and labour to attaine vntounto it, as it is expounded in the prayer of Nehemiah, O Lord, I beſeech thee, let now thine eare be attentiue Nehem. 1. 11.to the prayer of thy ſeruant, and to the prayer of thy ſeruants, who deſire to feare thy name. And conſequently, this being one of their moſt principall deſires, that they may be ſo freed from their corruptions and imperfections, as that they may performe vntounto God that perfect obedience which the Law requireth, and their ſoule longeth after; the Lord will ſatisfie it; and though for a time they bee turmoiled and humbled in the ſight and ſenſe of their corruptions, yet by degrees he will bring them vntounto this perfect age in Chriſt, and to that height of perfection which they ſo much deſire, when as hauing put off, with their mortalitie, all relikes of corruption, they ſhall be clothed with thoſe long white robes of perfect Apoc. 6. 11.holineſſe in his heauenly Kingdome. VntoUnto which happy eſtate in the meane time, their longing and thirſting deſires doe giuegive them full title and intereſt: for they are bleſſed, not who are repleniſhed with perfect righteouſneſſe, but who hunger and thirſt after it, as our Sauiour hath Matth. 5. 6.taught vsus.
§. Sect. 3 That our deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours muſt not be faint and weake, but ſeruent and earneſt.
But yet, that we may not in our carnall ſloth and ſecurity deceiue our ſelues with ſhaddowes in ſtead of ſubſtances, we are to know, that not all kind of deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours are acceptable vntounto God, nor make vsus to be accepted of him, but thoſe only which are ſound and ſolid, ſincere and vpright; vntounto which, diuers properties are required. Firſt, that they be not faint and weake, fickle and ſlight; but ſtrong and vehement, earneſt and feruent, like the deſires of women with child, which are euen heart-ſicke, vnleſſe they be ſatisfied in the things which they long after, as Dauid implyeth where he ſaith; Behold, I hauehave longed after thy precepts, Pſal. 119. 40.quicken me in thy righteouſneſſe. And againe, My ſoule fainteth for thy ſaluation, Verſ. 81.but I hope in thy Word, that is, thy promiſe, whereby thou haſt aſſured me that thou wilt ſatisfie my deſire. They muſt not be inferiour to the deſires of worldlings, ſeeing the things deſired are ſo much ſuperiour, exceeding them in excellencie, profit, and permanencie, as farre as heauen exceedeth earth. Now we know that the deſires of worldlings after their riches, pleaſures, and preferments, are ſo feruent and earneſt, that they wholly take vp their thoughts in thinking of them, and their care in compaſſing them. Neither is there any paines ſo great, or danger ſo deſperate, which they will not venter vponupon, but night and day, by ſea and land, labour after that which their ſoule loueth. They muſt be like the deſires of the Spouſe in the Canticles, which made her ſicke through their feruent Cant. 2. 5.heate, and ready to ſwoune, had ſhe not beene ſtayed and refreſhed with the wine and apples of ſpirituall comforts. They muſt ſo inlarge our hearts, that they will be ready to breake, if they be not repleniſhed and mollified with the oyle of Gods grace and holy Spirit, according to that of Dauid, My ſoule breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy iudgements at all Pſal. 119. 20.times. They muſt (as they are compared) reſemble hunger and thirſt, Matth. 5. 6.which make men ſicke till they bee ſatisfied, and ſo reſolute, that nothing can withſtand them, no difficultie or danger ſo great and deſperate, which they will not hazard themſelues vntounto, that they may procure meate and drinke to preſerue them from famiſhing; and with ſuch care and diligence vſe all meanes tending heereunto, as if they were religiouſly bound to doe it by a ſolemne oath; as we ſee in that deſire and reſolution of Dauid; I hauehave ſworne, and will performe it; that I will keepe thy righteous iudgements. Pſal. 119. 106.And thus Iob, to ſtrengthen his deſires and reſolutions, in ſhunning ſinne, and ſeruing God, bindeth himſelfe and all his members heereunto by ſolemne couenant; I hauehave (ſaith he) made a couenant with mine eyes, why then Iob 31. 1.ſhould I thinke vponupon a maiden?
§. Sect. 4 They muſt be intire and totall, both in reſpect of the ſubiect and obiect.
Secondly, theſe deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours, muſt be intire and totall, both in reſpect of the ſubiect and obiect. For they muſt proceed from the whole heart and will, ſo farre foorth as they are regenerate, and hold place in all our actions and indeuours. Neither will God in his ſeruice accept of a heart diuided, whereof one part is giuen vntounto him, and another to the world; nor of a double heart, one while ayming at his glory, and another while at the glory of the world, ſiniſter and earthly reſpects. Neither can we after this ſort ſerue God and Mammon, nor with an vnſettled reſolution, which now inclineth to Gods ſeruice, and ſoone Matth. 6. 24.after to the ſeruice of Satan, for the baſe wages of ſinfull profits and pleaſures; nor with ſuch a lame indeuour, as maketh vsus halt betweene gaine and godlineſſe, Religion and worldlineſſe, the praiſes of men, and the approbation of God and a good conſcience. But we ought with ſuch firme reſolution goe out of the Sodome of ſin, that we muſt not caſt a looke backward, Luk. 17. 32.as relenting in our purpoſe, and ſeeming loth to leaue it; and ſo ſet our hearts and hands to the plow of Gods husbandry, that we neuer giuegive it ouer, till we bring foorth plentifull fruits of holineſſe, that ſo after, we may reape the harueſt of heauenly happineſſe. In regard of the obiect Luk. 9. 62.alſo, they muſt be intire, and hauehave reſpect vntounto all Gods Commandements, deſiring, Pſal. 119. 6.reſoluing, and indeuouring to pleaſe God in all things, both in flying and forſaking all manner of ſinne which he hath forbidden, and imbracing and practiſing whatſoeuer duties he hath inioyned and commanded. So that it is not enough, if with Herod we ſerue God in ſome things, and take libertie to ſerue the deuill, the world, and our owne luſts in others; that wee leaue ſome ſinnes which are leſſe pleaſant or profitable, and retaine others which bring more profit or delight; nor that wee imbrace and practiſe ſome vertues and Chriſtian duties, which are more eaſie and leſſe coſtly, and neglect others which are more chargeable, and require greater paines and diligence. And when we are commanded by God to ſlay all the curſed Canaanites and Amalekites of ſinfull corruptions, wee muſt not put ſome only to the ſword, and keepe others aliue to pay the tribute of pleaſure or profit to our carnall luſts, neither kil and mortifie the leaneſt of this curſed cattell, which ſerue vsus for little or no vſe, and let the fatteſt liue, as beſt ſeruing to feede our fleſhly appetite: but wee muſt deuote them all vntounto God as an accurſed thing, and deſire and reſolue (as much as in vsus lyeth) not to leaue any one aliue to carry tidings to the deuill of the ſlaughter of the reſt. Yea if there be an Agag which is more potent and powerfull in vsus then any other, we muſt take our firſt and chiefe care how that may be ſubdued and killed; or ſuch an Herodias and darling ſinne, that our fleſh more doteth on, then any other of our corruptions; we muſt with moſt care and circumſpection, yea with moſt hatred and deteſtation, in reſpect of our part regenerate, put that fartheſt from vsus, as moſt hurting our Chriſtian growth, and hindring our proceedings in the wayes of godlineſſe. According to the exhortation of the Apoſtle; Let Heb. 12. 1.vsus lay aſide eueryevery weight, and the ſinne that doth ſo eaſily beſet vsus, and let vsus runne with patience the race that is ſet before vsus. As on the other ſide, the more difficulty wee finde in any holy duty, by reaſon of that auerſeneſſe which we feele in our corrupt nature vntounto it, the more vehement muſt our deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours be to imbrace and practiſe it; euen as the trauailer taketh willingly moſt paines in going vp the hill that lieth in his way homewards, and the Water-man imployeth the more ſtrength and indeuour in handling his Oares, when as he roweth againſt wind and tide, then when they both fauour and further him.
§. Sect. 5 That our deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours, muſt aime at the meanes as well as the end.
Thirdly, that our deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours may bee ſincere and acceptable vntounto God, it is required, that we as well ayme in them at the meanes whereby they may bee accompliſhed, as at the end, and take all occaſions, and vſe all helpes, which may inable vsus to Gods ſeruice, and with like diligence auoide all lets and impediments, whereby we might be hindered in it, as we deſire and indeuour to performe the ſeruice it ſelfe which God requireth. For where he inioyeth any duty, there he no leſſe requireth the meanes and opportunities which inable vsus thereunto; and to thinke that we can performe the dutie, and neglect theſe helpes, is to imagine that wee can liue long, and eate no food, or come ſpeedily to our iourneys end, and neuer trauaile in the way that leadeth vntounto it. As therefore it was a vaine wiſh of Balaam to die the death of the righteous, when as he neuer tooke care to leade a righteous life: ſo is it no leſſe vaine to deſire, that we may leade the life of the righteous, when wee doe not deſire, reſolue, and indeuour to vſe the meanes that inable vsus to doe it. And ſuch are the deſires and reſolutions of thoſe, who out of blinde deuotion indeuour to leade a godly life, continuing in their ignorance, and neglecting all good meanes, whereby they might come to the knowledge of Gods will, and ſo conforme their liues in obedience vntounto it; who thinking it enough to hauehave a good meaning, doe tyre themſelues in their owne ſuperſtition, and ſpend all their labour in vaine, offering vntounto God, in ſtead of his pure ſeruice, which hee hath commanded, their owne will-worſhip, and humane inuentions and traditions, which he hath ſo often in his Word forbidden and condemned. But quite contrary was the courſe and carriage of holy Dauid, in his deſire and reſolution to leade a godly life: for as he longed, and had his heart euen broken with the vehemencie of his deſires, to keepe Gods Satutes and Lawes; ſo with like earneſtneſſe hee hungred and thirſted after the meanes which might inable him vntounto it; which was, to come into Gods Courts, the viſible place of his preſence, to heare his holy Word read and preached vntounto him. As the Pſal. 42. 1, 2.Hart (ſaith he) panteth after the water-brookes, ſo panteth my ſoule after thee, O God; my ſoule thirſteth for God, for the liuing God: When ſhall I come and appeare before God? And againe, O God, thou art my God, early will I ſeeke Pſal. 63. 1, 2.thee, my ſoule thirſteth for thee, my fleſh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirſty land, where no water is, to ſee thy power and thy glory, ſo as I hauehave ſeene thee in the Sanctuary.
§. Sect. 6 That they muſt not be lazie and idle, but diligent and painfull.
Fourthly, our deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours to leade a godly life, muſt not be lazie and luskiſh, idle and ſlothfull; but exceeding induſtrious, painfull, and diligent in the vſe of all good meanes whereby wee may attaine vntounto it. For being a Iewell of ſuch price, we may not thinke to hauehave it for the bare wiſhing; but that we muſt compaſſe it with ſome difficultie, and hauehave our coſt and labour, in ſome proportion, anſwerable to this precious pearle, which is much to bee preferred before many worlds. And conſidering what coſt and paines worldly men willingly vndergoe in purſuing their earthly deſires, out of a bare, and (often) falſe hope to obtaine them; with what induſtry and labour, hazard and danger, the ambitious man aſpireth vntounto honours, the couetous man hunteth after riches, and the voluptuous man after pleaſures; let vsus be ſorry and aſhamed to thinke any paines or perill too much, in walking in the way of a godly life, which ſhall aſſuredly be crowned with glory and immortalitie, rewarded 1. Cor. 2. 9.with heauenly treaſures which will neuer fade, and with ſuch euerlaſting ioyes, as our eyes hauehave not ſeene, nor our hearts conceiued. The ſoule Pro. 13. 4.of the ſluggard (ſaith Salomon) deſireth, and hath nothing, but the ſoule of the diligent ſhall be made fat. The which, as it is true in reſpect of earthly riches, ſo alſo of ſpirituall grace and the treaſures of holineſſe, the which we may long idly wiſh, and yet neuer inioy them; whereas if, as our deſires be earneſt, ſo our indeuours diligent and laborious, wee may hauehave much more aſſurance to be inriched with them, then to compaſſe, with all our paines, our worldly deſires; ſeeing we hauehave Gods promiſes more abſolute for them. Neither doe they flee their followers as earthly riches doe, which make themſelues wings, and flie away as the Eagle towards heauen, Pro. 23. 5.deluding their hopes, which with moſt ſpeede purſue them. Yea ſlothfull deſires rather hurt, then helpe vsus in the wayes of godlineſſe, cauſing the ſluggard to reſt in them, as ſufficient without vſing any meanes to hauehave them ſatisfied. In which reſpect, the ſaying of Salomon is truely verified of them; The deſire of the ſlothfull killeth him, for his hands refuſe to labour. For Pro. 21. 25.as his body muſt needs famiſh, who onelyonly wiſheth meate, but vſeth no indeuour to ſatisfie his hunger; ſo his ſoule will ſoone bee depriued of the ſpirituall life of grace and godlineſſe, who idlely deſireth to bee repleniſhed with this ſpirituall foode, and taketh no paines to attaine vntounto it. The Kingdome of God (ſaith our Sauiour) ſuffereth violence, and the violent Matth. 11. 12.take it by force. Neither ſhall they enter into it, who ſit downe idlely, and cry out, Lord, Lord, open vntounto vsus, that is, content themſelues with a bare Mat. 7. 12, 13, 21profeſſion of Chriſtianity, and labour not to doe the will of our heauenly Father, but they who ſtriue to enter in at the ſtraight gate, and take much paines in trauailing that narrow path of righteouſneſſe which leadeth to Gods Kingdome.
§. Sect. 7 That our deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours muſt not be by fits and flaſhes, but conſtant and durable.
Laſtly, our deſires, reſolutions, and indeuours, muſt not be by fits and flaſhes, one while hot and earneſt, and another while cold and remiſſe; Perſeuerandum eſt & aſſiduo ſtudio robur addendum, donec bona mens ſit quod bona voluntas eſt. Sen. Epiſt. 16.but conſtant and durable, like thoſe in couetous men, which neuer ceaſe, till they be ſatisfied, or rather becauſe they can neuer be ſatisfied whileſt we liue on earth: therefore they muſt neuer ceaſe, but the more wee hauehave of theſe ſpirituall riches, the more earneſtly we muſt deſire and indeuour to hauehave them ſtill increaſed. For this life is not the time of our perfection, and full age in Chriſt, but of ſpirituall growth in grace, from ſtrength to ſtrength, and from a leſſer, to a greater meaſure of godlineſſe and righteouſneſſe. We muſt not, like thoſe who are ſicke of an ague, be one while cold, and another while hot, nor hauehave a good day for Gods ſeruice, and an ill day for the ſeruice of the deuill and the world: for this were a ſickneſſe, and no ſpirituall health, which would prepare vsus for death and deſtruction, and not for life and happineſſe. Neither will God euer accept of it, who can no more indure to hauehave thus our time, then to hauehave our hearts diuided betweene him and his enemies. But our ſoules (with Dauids) muſt Pſal. 119. 20, 33, 112.breake for the longing that they hauehave vntounto Gods iudgements at all times; we muſt with him reſolue to keepe Gods ſtatutes vntounto the end, and hauehave our hearts inclined to keepe his ſtatutes alway. Wee muſt not, like the hypocrites, of whom Hoſea ſpeaketh, offer vntounto God a righteouſneſſe like vntounto the morning dew, which vaniſheth when the Sunne ariſeth, but ſuch as will indure the heate Hoſ. 6. 4.of the day, like the ſtreames that flow from a ſpringing fountaine. For the waters of life which Chriſt doth giuegive, are neuer dry, but ſhal be in him that hath them, a well of water ſpringing vp to euerlaſting life. And the trees Ioh. 4. 14.of righteouſneſſe, which are of Gods planting, are like thoſe planted by the Pſal. 1. 3.riuers ſide, which are neuer barren, but bring foorth their fruit in due ſeaſon; and they that be planted in the Houſe of the Lord, ſhall like the Palme Pſ. 92. 12, 14.tree perpetually flouriſh, and bring foorth fruit in their old age, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh.