A Guide to Godliness, Book 2 · Chapter 3
CAP. III.
Of our adhering and cleauing vntounto God, with the full purpoſe and reſolution of our hearts.
§. Sect. 1 Of the ſumme of the firſt Commandement.
WE hauehave ſpoken of piety, which is the ſumme of the firſt Table. And now it followeth, that we ſpeake briefely of the particular precepts; the firſt whereof is contayned in theſe words: Thou ſhalt hauehave no other gods before me, or before my face. The maine ſcope and ſumme whereof is this, that wee know, acknowledge and worſhip Iehouah, the Father, Sonne and holy Ghoſt, in Trinity of perſons, and vnity of Eſſence, and no other gods beſides him. For to hauehave God, is, in our mindes and vnderſtandings to know and acknowledge him, to bee our God, all-ſufficient, incomprehenſible, omnipotent, immutable, eternall, iuſt, mercifull, and infinite in all perfection; in our hearts and affections to adhere and cleane vntounto him with faith, affiance, hope, louelove, zeale, whom we know to be the chiefe Goodneſſe and ſupreme cauſe of all our happineſſe; in our wills, with all earneſt deſire and conſtant reſolution to ſerue and obey him in all his Commandements, with all the power and faculties of our bodies and ſoules, whom we know and acknowledge to be the chiefe end of all things, and ſo infinitely good & gracious vntounto vsus; and with our bodies, actions and indeuours, to worſhip and ſerue him alone, with all our might and ſtrength. So that the true ſauing knowledge of God is the ground of all other vertues and obedience, as we hauehave ſhewed; and therefore if wee would imbrace any vertues, or perform any Chriſtian duties of a godly life, we muſt in the firſt place labour to hauehave our mindes inlightened with the knowledge of God and his truth; without which, our deuotion will bee no better then ſuperſtition; and all our indeuours in the performance of religious duties, meere will-worſhip and idolatry, as wee ſee in the example of the Idolaters, who in ſtead of worſhipping the only true God, worſhip ſtocks, ſtones and Images, Saints, and Angels, and in ſtead of doing Gods will in their deuotions, do their owne wills, and therefore tire themſelues, and ſpend all their ſtrength in vaine.
§. Sect. 2 Of adhering to God, what it is, and the neceſſity of it.
But of this knowledge of God, which is the maine ground of a godly life, wee hauehave before ſpoken; and now it remaineth that wee ſpeake of the hauing of God in our hearts and affections, wills and reſolutions. Of which we will intreate firſt generally, and then more ſpecially. The generall duty which compriſeth all the particulars, is, that knowing and acknowledging the Lord to be in himſelfe the chiefe Goodneſſe, and infinite in all perfection, and our moſt gracious and louing Father in Ieſus Chriſt, we doe adhere and cleaue vntounto him with all our ſoules and wills, hearts and affections, reſoluing to conſecrate our ſelues wholy to his worſhip, and with the vttermoſt of our indeuour to pleaſe him in all things, by conforming our liues in all holy obedience vntounto his reuealed will, leauing and forſaking whatſoeuer he condemneth as euill, and imbracing and practizing all that he commandeth as good. And this the Lord requireth in the firſt place of all thoſe who ſerue him. Thou ſhalt feare the Deut 10. 20. & 13. 4. Ioſ. 22. 5.Lord thy God, him ſhalt thou ſerue, and to him ſhalt thou cleaue. And againe, Yee ſhall walke after the Lord your God, and feare him, and keepe his Commandements, and obey his voice, and yee ſhall ſerue him and cleaue vntounto him. So Barnabas exhorteth the new Conuerts of Antioch, that with full purpoſe of Act. 13. 23.heart they would cleaue vntounto the Lord. And the Apoſtle perſwadeth not to the bare practice of good duties, but that wee cleaue vntounto that which is good. Which holy reſolution was in Dauid, who purpoſed in his heart that Pſal. 17. 3.his mouth ſhould not tranſgreſſe; and fully reſolued, that if the Lord would teach him the way of his ſtatutes, he would keepe them with his whole heart and Pſal. 119, 33, 34.vntounto the end. The which reſolution is neceſſary vntounto all thoſe who intend to leade a godly life, wherein there are ſo many lets, difficulties and diſcouragements, that if wee be not fully reſolued to paſſe by, or ouercome them, wee ſhall eyther not beginne, or ſoone giuegive ouer to proceede in the Chriſtian courſe. And therefore our holy deſires to pleaſe God in all things, muſt be armed and confirmed with ſtrong reſolutions, that we will do our vttermoſt indeuour to attaine vntounto our deſires; or elſe they will be but like thoſe idle and vain deſires of the ſluggards, of which Salomon ſpeaketh, who deſire and hauehave nothing, becauſe they are but bare wiſhers, neuer Pro. 13. 4.purpoſing to take any paines for the ſatisfying of their deſires. Neither can ſuch be ſaid to ſerue God with their whole hearts, but with a part only; For as Philoſophy teacheth vsus, there are two faculties in the heart of man; the one called concupiſcible, which deſireth and imbraceth that good which reaſon diſcouereth, the other the iraſcible faculty, which being diſpleaſed with thoſe lets and oppoſitions that hinder the fruition of the good deſired, armeth vsus with reſolution to ſet vponupon and ouercome them. And with both theſe we muſt ſerue God, cleauing vntounto him and his will, with the deſires of our heart, as the chiefe good, and reſoluing to inioy him at any price, and to doe that which is pleaſing vntounto him, notwithſtanding all difficulties and dangers which oppoſe vsus in the way.
§. Sect. 3 The properties of ſound reſolution: As firſt, that it muſt be vniuerſall, &c.
But ſeeing many men deceiue themſelues with ſhadowes and ſhewes of good purpoſes and reſolutions of cleauing vntounto God, and pleaſing him by their ſeruice; it will not be amiſſe to ſet downe ſome properties and ſignes whereby we may know that, vntounto which the Scriptures ſo earneſtly perſwade vsus. And firſt, this reſolution ought to be generall and vniuerſall, extending it ſelfe not only to ſome few of many duties, but vntounto all without exception. We muſt with Dauid hauehave reſpect vntounto all Gods Commandements; Pſal. 119. 6. Col. 110. Heb. 13. 18.and walke worthy of the Lord, vntounto all pleaſing, being fruitfull in eueryevery good worke, and hauing a good conſcience in all things, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. Secondly, it muſt be diligent and painefull in the vſe of all good meanes whereby we may attaine vntounto our end; like vntounto the reſolution of worldlings in compaſſing earthly things, who ſpare for no paines for the atchieuing their purpoſes, but labour night and day, by Sea and land, for the compaſſing of their riches, pleaſures and preferments. So as wee may ſay with Dauid, My ſoule followeth hard after thee; and neuer reſt in our Pſal. 63. 8.purſuite, till with the Spouſe in the Canticles, we inioy him whom our ſoule loueth. Thirdly, it muſt be ſo magnanimous and couragious, that nothing may be able to daunt or diſmay it: and the greater the difficulties and dangers be which croſſe vsus in our Chriſtian courſes, the more muſt wee double and redouble our reſolutions to withſtand and ouercome them, though it be with the loſſe of riches, friends, yea, euen life it ſelfe. And ſuch a reſolution was in good Ioſhua, who though all the people did leaue Ioſ. 24. 15. Ruth 1. 16.the Lord, vowed himſelfe and his family vntounto his ſeruice. And in Ruth, whoſe reſolution of adhering to Naomi and her God, could not bee hindred by any diſſwaſion. And finally, in the Apoſtle Paul, who when hee was perſwaded by his friends, that he ſhould not expoſe himſelfe to the perill of perſecution, by going vp to Ieruſalem, breaketh through all difficulties in the ſtrength of his couragious reſolution; What meane you to Act. 21. 13.weepe and breake my heart? for I am ready, not to be bound onelyonly, but alſo to die at Hieruſalem for the name of the Lord Ieſus. Yea, when the holy Ghoſt himſelfe witneſſed, that in eueryevery Citie, bonds and afflictions did abide him, his reſolution made him conſtant in his courſe: But none of theſe things (ſaith he) moue Act. 20. 23, 23,me neither count I my life deare vntounto my ſelfe, ſo that I might finiſh my courſe with ioy, &c. Fourthly, it is the property of this reſolution of adhering vntounto God, to ioyne with this fortitude and magnanimity, true humility; not grounding our courage vponupon our owne ſtrength, as Peter did, who truſting to the ardencie and vnchangeableneſſe of his louelove towards Chriſt, reſolued, that though all men ſhould forſake him, yet hee would Mat. 26. 33, 34.not. For if we leane vponupon this weake Reede, it will moſt faile and deceiue vsus, when we moſt rely vponupon it; but being humbled in the ſight and ſenſe of our owne weakeneſſe and frailty, wee muſt wholly reſt vponupon the power and promiſes of God, and like the child in the mothers armes, wee muſt cling vntounto him with all our ſtrength, but not ſo much truſt to the firmeneſſe of our hold, as to his claſping of vsus, knowing that if he withdraw his ſtrength and leaue vsus, we ſhall ſoone ceaſe cleauing vntounto him, and fall into thoſe tentations, which the deuill, the world, or our owne fleſh ſhall ſuggeſt vntounto vsus. Wee muſt ſay with the Apoſtle Paul, I am able to doe all Phil. 4. 13.things, but we muſt adde that which followeth, through the power of Chriſt which ſtrengtheneth me. We muſt reſolue with him, that nothing ſhall ſeparate Rom. 8. 38, 39. & 7. 14, 15, 18.vsus from the louelove of God in Ieſus Chriſt, in the meane time acknowledging our impotencie vntounto any good, and that in vsus, that is, in our fleſh, dwelleth no good thing. And ſo ſhall our reſolution of cleauing vntounto God bee much more firme, ſeeing God reſiſteth the proud, but giueth grace to the humble; and filleth the hungry with good things, but ſendeth the rich empty 1. Pet. 5. 5. Luk. 1. 53.away. Laſtly, our reſolution muſt be firme and conſtant, neuer leauing to cling vntounto the Lord with a liuely faith, till by louelove we hauehave full fruition of him in his Kingdome. It muſt not be vnſettled, fickle, and by fits, one while reſoluing to ſerue God, and another while drawne from our reſolution by worldly tentations: but we muſt claſpe faſt hold of him, as Iacob Gen. 32. 26.did in his wraſtling, and fully reſolue neuer to leaue him, till wee hauehave our deſire, that is, till wee hauehave full fruition of him in heauen, without feare of loſing him. Moſt of which points I hauehave handled before, and therefore doe heere thus briefly touch them.
§. Sect. 4 The neceſsity of our adhering vntounto God, proued by diuers reaſons.
And this holy reſolution of cleauing vntounto God, and pleaſing him in all things, is moſt neceſſary vntounto a godly life; firſt, becauſe it is the foundation and ground of all other duties, which whilſt it remaineth firme, there is good hope, though the reſt of the building bee ſhrewdly ſhaken with the blaſts and ſtormes of trialls and tentations, and much fayling and frailty be ſhewed in many outward actions; ſeeing ſo long as the foundation remaineth, the decayed parts of the houſe may bee repaired with more eaſe; but if our reſolution be vnſettled and weake, the whole frame that reſteth vponupon it, will fall with it owne waight; and the duties themſelues of a godly life, will ſeeme irkeſome and tedious. It is the very ſoule which giueth life and motion to all our actions, and in what caſe it is, in ſuch are they; if ſtrong, then are they ſtrong, if weake, then they weake alſo. If it be faint, then they languiſh; If full of vertue and vigour, then are they alſo vigorous and couragious. Secondly, becauſe it is a mayne and principall part of true repentance, which chiefly conſiſteth in the full purpoſe of the heart, the inclination and reſolution of the will, and the conſtant indeuour in our whole liues, to forſake all euill, and imbrace all good, and in all things both inwardly and outwardly to pleaſe God, by performing vntounto him that acceptable ſeruice, which in his Word he requireth of vsus. Thirdly, becauſe this purpoſe of heart, and reſolution of our wills, to ſerue and pleaſe God, doth make both our perſons and actions acceptable vntounto him; for he chiefly requireth the ſeruice of our hearts, as being the fountaine of all our actions, and reſpecteth not ſo much our deeds as our will; not the perfection of our actions, as the ſincerity of our affections; according to that of the Apoſtle; If there be a willing mind, a man is accepted, 2. Cor. 8. 12.according to that which he hath, and not according to that which he hath not. As we ſee in the example of the prodigall ſonne, who reſoluing to goe to his Luk. 15. 19, 20. Et tu ſi propoſue…is in corde, declinare à malo, & facere quod bonum eſt, &c. Bern.father, and to acknowledge his ſinne, before he had done it, and whileſt he was yet a great way off, his father ſaw him, and had compaſſion on him. To this purpoſe one ſaith, If thou purpoſeſt in thine heart to leaue euill, and doe good, to hold that which thou haſt receiued, and to grow daily better, although (by reaſon of humane frailty) thou doeſt ſomething not to be iuſtified: Yet if thou purpoſeſt not to perſiſt in it, but repenteſt and amendeſt what is amiſſe, as farre as thou art able, God, without doubt, will repute thee holy. Laſtly, this reſolution is neceſſary, becauſe we ſhall meete with many difficulties and diſcouragements in our courſe of a godly life, as the tentations of the deuill, the perſecutions, ſcornes, and reproches of the world, the corruptions of our nature, and the vnpleaſantneſſe vntounto fleſh and blood of holy duties; that if we be not armed with a ſtrong reſolution, well grounded and ſettled with mature and ſerious conſideration, vponupon vnanſwerable reaſons which induce vntounto it, wee ſhall not bee able to continue conſtantly in our courſe, but giuegive ouer with ſhame, that which we hauehave raſhly and weakely begunne. And therefore our Sauiour exhorteth vsus to lay a good foundation before we begin this building, and Luk. 14. 28, 29, 30.to prepare a good ſtocke, whereby we may be inabled to finiſh our worke; and to make ſufficient preparations to withſtand the force of our ſpirituall enemies, before we preſume to enter into the field and giuegive them battell. The which is chiefly done, when wee arme our ſelues with Chriſtian courage and vndaunted reſolution, that we will ſet aſide all excuſes, and come vntounto God when he calleth and inuiteth vsus, that wee will breake thorow all difficulties, and bee diſcouraged with no dangers; that, come proſperity or aduerſity, honour or diſgrace, riches or pouerty, life or death, wee will conſecrate our ſelues to Gods ſeruice, and doe all things which are pleaſing in his ſight.
§. Sect. 5 Of the meanes whereby wee may confirme our reſolution of adhering vntounto God.
Now the meanes of confirming this reſolution of adhering vntounto God with all our hearts, and pleaſing him in all things, are diuers. Firſt, wee muſt often meditate on Gods infinite goodneſſe in himſelfe, whereby hee deſerueth the whole heart and affection, with all the ſeruice of his creatures, and their whole indeuour to glorifie him who is worthy of all louelove. Secondly, we muſt call often to our remembrance his ineſtimable louelove, and exceeding great bountie towards vsus, which plainely appeare in our election, creation, preſeruation; but eſpecially in that great worke of our redemption, wherein he hath giuen his Sonne to death, that he might ſaue and reſtore vsus to life and happineſſe; as alſo the ſpeciall and ſingular fauours which hee hath extended vntounto vsus in the whole courſe of our liues: And this, if any thing will make vsus reſolute to ſerue and pleaſe him, whom wee hauehave tryed and taſted to bee ſo infinitely good and gracious vntounto vsus. Thirdly, wee muſt meditate ſeriouſly on his power and all-ſufficiency, whereby he is able, and on the truth of his gracious promiſes, whereby he hath aſſured vsus, that he is willing to aſſiſt vsus in all difficulties, and to defend vsus againſt all dangers which ſhall affront and oppoſe vsus in our Chriſtian courſe, and in the performance of the duties of a godly life; for what can more ſtrengthen our reſolutions in performing faithfull ſeruice vntounto God, then to be aſſured by his aſſiſtance, of victorie ouer all enemies, ſtrength in ouercomming all difficulties, ſafety in all dangers, and proſperous ſucceſſe and an happie iſſue of all our indeuours? And thus Moſes exhorteth Ioſua to reſolution and courage, becauſe God had promiſed to be with him. He it is (ſaith hee) that doth goe before thee, he will be with Deut. 31. 8.thee, he will not faile thee, neither forſake thee; feare not, neither be diſmayed. Fourthly, let vsus remember, that it is impoſſible to loſe the fruit & benefit of our labour, whatſoeuer paines we take in Gods ſeruice; for beſides the preſent pay of temporal benefits, we ſhal hauehave the rich rewards of eternall and heauenly happineſſe, of which, the other are but ſmall earneſt pennies and pawnes. So that if we in Gods ſeruice loſe our earthly riches, we ſhall hauehave for them heauenly treaſures; if our fame and reputation amongſt men, we ſhall be recompenced with eternall glory, in the preſence of God, his Saints, and Angels; yea if we loſe our life it ſelfe, in loſing, we ſhall finde it, Mat. 10. 39.euen an euerlaſting and moſt happy life, for one that was momentany and miſerable. Fifthly, if we would hauehave this Chriſtian reſolution firme and conſtant, it muſt be well grounded when we firſt begin, and wee muſt expect, when we enter into the courſe of a godly life, not the fauour of men, eaſe and proſperity, but many enemies to encounter vsus, and many difficulties and dangers in our Chriſtian way; which if we doe not forecaſt before they happen, and arme our reſolution againſt them, they will vtterly daunt and diſcourage vsus at their firſt approching. And therefore before we make purchaſe of this gaine of godlineſſe, let vsus caſt before-hand what it will coſt vsus, and reſolue to leaue it at no rate. Sixthly, let vsus meditate often of the excellency, vtility, and neceſſity of a godly life, in which reſpects it is to be preferred before all worldly things whatſoeuer, ſeeing thereby, and by no other meanes without it, we are aſſured of Gods louelove and our owne ſaluation, of his grace in this world, and glory and happineſſe in the world to come. Seuenthly, let vsus thinke of the preciouſneſſe of our ſoules, which are of much more value then ten thouſand worlds, and that there is no other meanes to prouide for their eternall happineſſe, and their fruition of Gods preſence, which perfecteth our bleſſedneſſe in heauen, then by framing our hearts to adhere vntounto him, with firme reſolution to ſerue and pleaſe him whilſt wee liue vponupon the earth. And let vsus often meditate on that ſpeech of our Sauiour, What will it profit a man to win the whole world, and loſe his ſoule? For heere our ſoules are ſaued or loſt; heere Mar. 8. 36.the acceptable time and day of ſaluation laſteth; which if we let paſſe, it is neuer againe to be regained, but our precious ſoules, for the price of momentany vanities, ſhall be eternally ſold to helliſh torments. Laſtly, becauſe our reſolution of adhering vntounto God, and pleaſing him in all things, is apt to faint and languiſh, therefore our care muſt be, often to ſuruey it, that when we finde any faylings or vnſettledneſſe in it, we may repaire and ſtrengthen it; yea, in truth this is a worke fit for eueryevery morning, to take a view of our ſpirituall ſtate, and to renew our reſolution, that wee will the day following vſe all meanes whereby it may bee improoued and bettered, inrich our ſelues in our ſpiritual ſtocke, and to our vttermoſt indeuour, doe all things which may pleaſe God, as wee ſhall more fully ſhew heereafter. Yea, if we finde our reſolutions weake and vnſettled, we muſt confirme them, by making with God a ſolemne Couenant, that our hearts in all things ſhall adhere vntounto him, and ſtart aſide vponupon no occaſion; according to the example of Aſa, and the reſt of Gods people, who entred 2. Chro. 15. 12, 14 & 34. 31.into a Couenant to ſeeke the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart, and with all their ſoule; yea if neede be, wee muſt confirme this Couenant, not onelyonly by ſolemne proteſtation, but by an inuiolable oath, as they did at that time; and the Prophet Dauid long before them; I hauehave ſworne (ſaith Pſal. 119. 106.he) and will performe it, that I will keepe thy righteous iudgements.