A Guide to Godliness, Book 5 · Chapter 13
CAP. XIII.
Of the meanes whereby we may be inabled to keepe the Chriſtian watch.
§. Sect. 1 The 1. meanes is temperance and ſobriety, and the ſecond, the feare of God.
THe laſt thing to be conſidered in this ſpirituall watch, is the meanes whereby we may be inabled to keepe it; the which I will but briefly touch, becauſe they are ſo fully handled in the fore-named Treatiſe. The firſt meanes are ſobriety and temperance, the which as they much further vsus in the naturall watch, ſo are they ſingular helpes to inable vsus vntounto the ſpirituall. Whereof it is that in the Scriptures they are ioyned and inioyned together, as mutuall cauſes one of another. Be ſober 1. Pet. 5. 7, 8.and watch. We are not of the night, nor of darkneſſe; therefore let vsus not ſleepe 1. Theſ. 5. 5, 6.as doe others, but let vsus watch and be ſober. And our Sauiour Chriſt perſwading vsus to this ſpirituall watch, and arming vsus againſt the deepe ſecurity of the latter dayes, giueth vsus in charge, as a notable meanes to cauſe the one, and preuent the other, that we take heed vntounto our ſelues, leſt at any time Luk. 21. 34.our hearts be ouercharged with ſurfetting and drunkenneſſe, and the cares of this life, and ſo that Day come vponupon vsus at vnawares. Which meanes of watchfulneſſe when Noah and Lot neglected, they ſoone fell into a dangerous ſleep of ſinne. Neither muſt this temperance and ſobriety extend onelyonly to meates and drinkes, ſeeing we may be drunke with the intoxicating cups of pleaſures and carnall delights, and ſurfet vponupon worldly proſperity and earthly things, when we doe too hungerly affect them in our deſires, and ſet our hearts immoderately vponupon them; but they muſt reach alſo (as I ſhewed before, when I ſpake of ſobriety) to the right ordering of our minds in the vſe of all temporary bleſſings, in a due manner and meaſure, ſo as they may be helpes and not hinderances vntounto vsus in all the duties of a godly life; which if we neglect, we may ſurfet and be ſpiritually drunke, Eſa. 29. 9. and 51. 21.though we be neuer ſo temperate in the vſe of meats and drinkes. The ſecond meanes to make vsus watchfull is, to nouriſh in our hearts the true feare of God, not a ſeruile feare, which will make eueryevery ſlaue watchfull ouer his wayes, for feare of the whip; but a filiall and child-like feare, which will cauſe vsus to keepe ouer our ſelues, in all things, a diligent watch, that we may doe nothing diſpleaſing in his ſight, who ſo loueth vsus, and whom we ſo louelove; and contrariwiſe, that wee may ſo carry our ſelues in the performing of all good duties, as that God may be well pleaſed in vsus, and we in him; he delighting to doe vsus good, and wee delighting to praiſe his goodneſſe. Of which filiall feare the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh; There is Pſal. 130. 4.mercy with thee that thou maiſt be feared. And this is the feare which the Lord Ier. 32. 42.promiſeth in the couenant of grace, that he will put it into the hearts of his children and ſeruants, that they may not depart from him. This is it which (as the Wiſe man telleth vsus) cauſeth men to depart from euill; as wee ſee in Prou. 14 16. and 16. 6.the example of Iob, who is ſaid to be a man, fearing God, and eſchewing euill. And therefore Dauid deſiring to reſtraine men from ſinne, putteth (as it were) into their mouthes the bridle of Gods feare; Stand in awe (ſaith he) Pſal. 4. 4.and ſinne not. And contrariwiſe, if this feare be not in vsus, and our hearts be taken vp with carnall ſecurity, wee preſently neglect to keepe any watch, (like a City which feareth not the approch of any enemies) and ruſh, without care, into all wickedneſſe. And this the old Serpent knew well, who hauing no hope to preuaile againſt our firſt Parents, ſo long as being afraid Gen. 3. 4.of Gods threatening, they kept their watch; hee perſwaded them firſt to caſt out this feare by vnbeliefe, whereby becomming ſecure, they were eaſily drawne into tranſgreſſion. This made Abraham thinke that the Egyptians were ready for all wickedneſſe, becauſe the feare of God was not Gen. 20. 11. Pſal. 36. 1.in the Land. And the Pſalmiſt telleth vsus, that the tranſgreſsion of the wicked perſwaded him to conclude, that there was no feare of God before their eyes. And finally, the Apoſtle hauing repeated a whole bead roll of many ſinnes, which had defiled eueryevery ſeuerall part of wicked men, maketh the ſame concluſion with the Pſalmiſt, that becauſe they were deſtitute of Gods feare, this was the cauſe which made way for all the reſt.Rom. 3. 18, 19, 20.
§. Sect. 2 The third meanes is the remembrance of Gods Iudgements.
The third meanes is, often to call vntounto our remembrance Gods fearfull Iudgements executed vponupon all ſinners, but eſpecially vponupon ſuch as hauehave Mat. 24 38.continued in their wickedneſſe with careleſſe ſecurity, and wholly neglected to keepe this watch; as of the old world, who liued in all rechleſſe ſecurity, eating and drinking, buying and ſelling, marrying, and giuing in marriage, ſo doing theſe things, as that they neglected all things elſe which were neceſſary for their ſafety and ſaluation, vntill Noah entring into the Arke, they were all ſwept away with an vniuerſall deluge. Thus alſo Sodom and Gomorrah liuing in their ſinnes with all ſecurity, were attached with Gods fearfull Iudgements when they leaſt thought of them, and were wholly deſtroyed with fire and brimſtone. Thus Babylon exceeding Eſa. 47. 8, 9.in ſecurity, as much as in all other ſinnes, had thoſe puniſhments which ſhe leaſt feared, inflicted vponupon her. Thus the Lord threatened the Church of Sardis, that if they would not watch, he would come as a thiefe againſt Apoc. 3. 3.them; that is, bring vponupon them ſuddenly vnexpected iudgements, with which, when they neglected this warning, they were afterwards fearfully ſurprized. But of this poynt I hauehave ſpoken at large in another Treatiſe of carnall ſecurity and hardneſſe of heart.Treatiſe; onelyonly let it ſuffice here to ſhew, that as neglect of Gods Iudgements maketh vsus ſecure and careleſſe; ſo the often calling of them to mind, is a notable meanes to make vsus watchfull, that wee may not hauehave the like, or greater inflicted vponupon vsus. The which is the principall vſe that our Sauiour intended in propounding the former examples of the old world, and of Sodom and Gomorrah, fearefully puniſhed, becauſe they ſecurely Mat. 24 3…, 42. Luk. … 35, 3….went on in their ſinnes, that wee might not be ouertaken with the like, but that continually watching and praying, wee might bee thought worthy to eſcape them, when God commeth in his viſitation to take notice of our wayes. And thus alſo the Apoſtle hauing called to remembrance Gods heauie Iudgements inflicted vponupon the Iſraelites, ſaith, that all theſe things were written for our learning, vponupon whom the ends of the world 1. Cor. 10. 5. to 12.are come, that by flying their ſinnes, wee might eſcape their puniſhments, and thereupon inferreth this vſe, that wee ſhould not preſume on our owne ſtrength, but that he who thinketh hee ſtandeth, ſhould take heed of falling.
§. Sect. 3 Of the fourth meanes, which is, to remember the day of death.
The fourth meanes is, that wee continually remember the day of our death, not as though it were farre off, but neere approching, and euen knocking at our doores. For our liues are ſhort and momentany, and this ſhort time ſo vncertaine, that we hauehave no aſſurance that we ſhall liue another day, no not ſo much as the next minute. When wee goe abroad, wee know not whether we ſhall returne home; nor when we are at home, whether wee ſhall liue to goe abroad; when wee goe to bed, wee cannot tell whether we ſhall euer riſe; and when we riſe, whether we ſhall againe goe to bed. For many hauehave been thus ſuddenly taken away, going well out of doores, and neuer returning; lying downe ſecurely to take their reſt, hauehave been found dead the next morning. Now ſeeing that which befalleth one, may happen to any, and that which hath been the caſe of many, may probably betide any one; let it be our wiſedome to ſtand continually vponupon our watch, that we may be found in readineſſe, ſeeing it is a matter that concernes vsus no leſſe, then the euerlaſting ſaluation or damnation of our ſoules. And ſeeing we are not ſure of liuing another day, let vsus thinke that eueryevery day may be the laſt, and ſo take occaſion to watch carefully ouer our wayes, that we may, when God pleaſeth to call, be prepared to goe vntounto him with cheerfulneſſe and ioy: and when wee are inticed to commit any ſinne; as to louelove the world immoderately, to increaſe our riches by fraud and deceit, or violence and oppreſſion, to ſweare, lye, and profane the Lords Day, to drinke drunken, commit filthineſſe, or any other ſinne; let vsus ſay vntounto our owne ſoules, Would I commit this or that ſinne, if I were ſure that this day were my laſt? Farre would it be from me, if I were thus perſwaded. And therefore let mee bee now as farre from giuing way willingly vntounto any of theſe, or the like ſinnes, ſeeing, for ought I know, it may be the laſt minute. And thus when wee finde our ſelues ſlacke and backward vntounto any duties of Gods ſeruice, let vsus examine our owne hearts, whether we would not ſhake off all ſluggiſhneſſe, and goe about them with all care and diligence, if we were perſwaded that wee ſhould not liue another day; and then if wee be wiſe, we will bee as circumſpect and carefull that wee neglect no good duty which may bring comfort to our hearts, peace to our conſciences, and aſſurance of ſaluation to our ſoules; ſeeing many as luſty as we, being well in the morning, hauehave beene dead before night.
§. Sect. 4 The laſt means is, to meditate often on the day of Iudgement.
The laſt meanes, which I will heere touch, is, that we often meditate vponupon that great and terrible Day of the Lord, when hee ſhall come with 2. Cor. 5. 10.thouſands of his holy Saints and Angels to iudge both the quicke and the dead; when as we muſt all appeare before the Iudgement ſeate of Christ, that eueryevery man may receiue the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Of which Day, becauſe we are vncertaine when it will be, we ſhould alwayes keepe our ſpirituall watch, that we may, whenſoeuer Chriſt commeth, be found ready. And this vſe our Sauiour himſelfe maketh of his aſſured and yet vncertaine comming: Of that day and Mar. 13. 32, 33.houre (ſaith he) knoweth no man, no not the Angels which are in heauen, neither the ſonne, but the Father onelyonly: Take yee heed therefore, watch and pray; for yee know not when the time is; leſt comming ſuddenly, he finde you ſleeping. So likewiſe the Apoſtle Peter; The end of all things is at hand, be yee therefore 1. Pet 4. 7.ſober, and watch vntounto prayer. And ſurely, if wee would but ſeriouſly conſider with what rauiſhing ioy at that Day the hearts of all thoſe ſhall be poſſeſſed, who, like wiſe and faithfull ſeruants, ſhall be found watching and waiting for the comming of their Lord, when as hee who hath pronounced Mat. 24. 45, 46.them bleſſed already, ſhall then enter them into the full fruition of bleſſedneſſe, and make them ioynt-owners of all that hee hath, the vnſpeakeable ioyes, ineſtimable riches, and triumphant glory of his Kingdome; and on the other ſide, with what ſhame and confuſion of face, vexation of ſpirit, and horrour of conſcience, they ſhall bee plagued and tormented, who with the euill ſeruant hauehave ſecurely gone on in their ſinnes, and hauehave vtterly neglected the ſpirituall watch, hoping that the Maſters comming was farre off; wee would be mooued heereby to ſhake off all carnall ſecurity, and thinke no care and diligence too great in keeping this watch, that wee may not bee taken vnprouided and vnprepared at the comming of our Lord. And theſe are the meanes, which if we carefully vſe, will much helpe vsus in keeping this watch. But let vsus take heed that wee doe not reſt wholly or chiefly vponupon our owne watchfulneſſe; ſeeing when we hauehave done all we can, wee ſhall with the wiſe Virgins bee ouertaken ſometimes with drowzineſſe, and intermit our watch; but ſeeing if the Lord, the great Watchman of Iſrael, who neuer ſlumbreth nor ſleepeth, doe not watch ouer the houſe of our earthly Tabernacle and City Pſal. 121. 2. Pſ. 127. 1, 2, 3, 4.of our ſoules, all our watching is but in vaine, let vsus often and inſtantly pray vntounto him, that hee will continually watch ouer vsus, and inable vsus with his Pſal. 141. 3.grace and holy Spirit, to watch ouer our ſelues and waite vponupon him; knowing aſſuredly, that if hee giuegive ouer his watch, and leaue vsus to our owne, we ſhall ſoone be ouertaken of carnall ſecurity, and fall into the dangerous Lethargy of ſinne and death.