A Guide to Godliness, Book 5 · Chapter 43
CAP. XLIII.
Of other ſingular priuiledges, wherewith God crowneth a godly life.
§. Sect. 1 Their conceits confuted, who imagine that God wholy reſerueth the rewards of thoſe that ſerue him, for the life to come.
HAuing ſeene the benefits which accompany a godly life, let vsus now alſo conſider of the priuiledges wherewith God crowneth thoſe that leade it. Although in truth there is little difference betweene theſe two, ſeeing thoſe benefits are priuiledges, as being peculiar prerogatiues belonging onelyonly to the godly; and theſe priuiledges ſingular benefits, which are promiſed and giuen them as rewards of their godlineſſe. But becauſe I would not glut the Readers appetite with ſatiety, by ſetting before him all at once, a multitude of diſhes cooked after the ſame faſhion, I thought it not amiſſe to reſerue theſe that follow (as it were) for an after-courſe or ſecond ſeruice, dreſſed in ſomewhat a different manner; for as I conſidered the former benefits as the fruits of a godly life; ſo I will conſider theſe, as priuiledges comming directly from God, wherewith he endoweth and inueſteth the perſons of the godly, who deſire and indeuour to ſerue and pleaſe him. Although here againe I muſt confeſſe, that thoſe fruits of godlineſſe are the free gifts of Gods grace, and theſe priuiledges wherewith God peculiarly aduanceth the godly, may inſome ſort bee called the fruits of their godlineſſe. But that wee may come to our preſent purpoſe. It is the conceit of wicked worldlings, that God wholy deferreth to reward thoſe that leaue their ſinnes, and deuote themſelues vntounto his ſeruice, till the Day of Iudgement; and the puniſhments of thoſe who neglect him, and ſerue their owne luſts, to the ſame time, if at leaſt they beleeue at all, that there will bee ſuch a Day, or ſuch a retribution of rewards and puniſhments: And that in the meane while all things happen alike to all, to the righteous and to Eccleſ. 9. 2.the wicked, to the good and cleane, and to the euill and vncleane, &c. Now becauſe (according to the Iewes prouerbe) the dayes are prolonged, Ezech. 12. 22.therefore they conclude, that all prophecies ſhall faile, being ready with thoſe ſcorners to aske; Where is the promiſe of his comming? And 2. Pet. 3. 4. Eccles. 8. 11.becauſe ſentence againſt their euill workes is not executed ſpeedily, therefore their hearts are fully ſet in them to doe euill; and becauſe good workes, and the ſincere ſeruice of God is not (as they thinke) in this life rewarded, they meaſuring all things by ſenſe and outward appearance, conclude that there is no profit in it. And that therefore they will not buy vncertaine hopes at ſo high a price, as to forgoe for them the pleaſures of ſin, which are ſo ſweet to their carnall taſte, and Mal. 3. 14.to weary themſelues in Gods ſeruice, which is ſo diſtaſtefull to their corrupt appetite.
§. Sect. 2 That God ordinarily giueth greateſt plenty of worldly bleſſings to worldly men.
And ſurely it cannot be denyed, but that God, in the greateſt part, reſerueth in his owne keeping the rewards which he hath promiſed to Pſal. 17. 14. & 73. 7. Luke 16. 25.his owne ſeruants, and maketh them to liue more by faith then ſenſe. That ordinarily he giueth outward and temporall things in greateſt plenty, to ſuch beaſts as he fatteth for the ſlaughter, and letteth his own ſheepe feede vponupon bare Commons; that hee filleth the bellies of wicked men with his hid treaſures, and cauſeth their eyes to ſtand out with fatneſſe; becauſe (according to their owne deſires) hee giueth vntounto them their portion in this life, and all the good things which they are euer to inioy; and keepeth his owne children to a ſhorter allowance and more ſpare dyet, trayning them vp in his Schoole, with more ſeuere diſcipline, that learning his will and waies, they may bee made fit for their heauenly Inheritance. It is true, that Gods ſeruants alſo are moſt commonly ſubiect to croſſes and afflictions more then other men; and alwaies debarred of many pleaſures of ſinne, which are ſweete and delightfull to the carnall appetite, of which bewitching cups the wicked of the world doe drinke their fill. So that if they ſhould bee ſequeſtred from their hopes, and iudged onelyonly according to outward appearance, they, aboue all others, would ſeeme moſt miſerable. But what more then brutiſh blockiſhneſſe were this, if we ſhould by all this be encouraged in ſinne, or 1. Cor. 15. 19.diſcouraged in Gods ſeruice? For can wee imagine that the iuſt Iudge of heauen and earth ſhould deale vniuſtly? or that Wiſedome it ſelfe Gen. 18. 25.ſhould bee ſo vnwiſe in the diſpenſation of rewards and puniſhments? Is God thus bountifull to ſtrangers and enemies, that hee cauſeth them to abound with earthly bleſſings; and reſerueth hee nothing better in ſtore for his owne children that ſerue and pleaſe him? Doth hee correct their ſlips and falls with ſuch ſmarting rods of temporary afflictions? and hath he not three-ſtringed whips, Strappadoes and Rackes, for ſuch as trayterouſly rebell againſt him, and wilfully diſhonour him by their outragious wickedneſſe? Shall wee, who hauehave not ſo much as the leaſt ſparke of that iuſtice and truth, bounty and goodneſſe, which is in him as an infinite flame, performe our promiſes which wee hauehave made to our ſeruants? and ſhall not God keepe his couenant with his? Shall we preferre thoſe of our owne family before ſtrangers, and extend our bounty to thoſe that ſerue and pleaſe vsus by doing our will, much more then to others who neglect vsus, yea rather diſgrace and wrong vsus by their ill carriage? and ſhall the Lord, whom wee ſee ſo bountifull to his enemies, bee niggardly to his friends? and not reſerue his richeſt rewards for thoſe which hauehave indeuoured to doe him beſt ſeruice, ſeeing heauen and earth are at his diſpoſing? Let vsus not then ſo much looke vponupon our ſeuere education, as vponupon the inheritance vntounto which wee are thus trayned. Not vponupon the ſorrowfull ſeede-time, but vponupon our ioyfull harueſt. Not vponupon our ſharpe conflict, wounds and skarres, but vponupon our Victory, Triumph and Crowne: And ſo ſhall wee bee eaſily able to make Moyſes his choyſe, and rather deſire to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, then to inioy the pleaſures of ſinne, Heb. 11. 25.which laſt but for a ſeaſon.
§. Sect. 3 That euen in this life God endoweth the Godly with many ſingular and peculiar priuiledges, and firſt, that hee loueth them aboue all other his creatures.
Yet, that ſecure worldlings may not be proud of their preſent preferments, nor pleaſing themſelues with their portion, neglect to doe God better ſeruice, becauſe they thinke hee hath no better wages then the temporary pay of worldly benefits; and that Gods faithfull Seruants may not be diſcouraged in holy and Chriſtian duties, becauſe all their eſtate ſtandeth in hopes, and little in fruition; let vsus conſider in the next place, that euen in this life the faithfull hauehave many rich and royall priuiledges, as the preſent pay and earneſt of their heauenly happines, for their better incouragement in all Chriſtian duties, of which, wicked worldlings that vtterly neglect them, are wholy deſtitute. Whereof we are to take the better notice, becauſe howſoeuer they generally belong to all Gods children, yet many take little comfort by them, either by reaſon of their ignorance, which cauſeth them not to know them; or their careleſneſſe, which will not let them ſeriouſly conſider of them; or their earthly-mindedneſſe, which maketh them, with Lots wife, more to looke backe vponupon the pleaſures of Sodom, then vponupon thoſe priuiledges which lye before them, as they are going on in the waies of godlineſſe, and to caſt their eyes ſo much vponupon the falſe ſplendor and brightneſſe of worldly vanities, that being dazled therwith, they are not able to diſcerne ſpirituall and heauenly excellencies; or finally, becauſe they are ſo negligent in the duties of Gods ſeruice, and weaken their faith with ſo many ſlips and fals, wants & imperfections, that they are not able to make vſe of their priuiledges, nor to apply them vntounto themſelues with any comfort & aſſurance. And to ſpeake nothing of that reward which vertue and holy duties bring with them, in their owne excellency, and in the conſcience of well-doing; nor of the fouleneſſe of vice, which is puniſhed in it ſelfe, and with thoſe checkes of conſcience, and terrours of minde accompanying ſinfull actions, which make the heart ſorrowfull and full of diſquietneſſe, when there is nothing but mirth and iollity in outward appearance (in which regard, notwithſtanding piety in the ſeruice of God, is much to be preferred before the pleaſing of our owne ſinfull luſts, though there were no afterreckoning, no heauen or hell, rewards or puniſhments) there are many ſpeciall and rich priuiledges, wherewith God euen in this life crowneth that faithfull ſeruice which is done vntounto him. The firſt, and fountaine of all the reſt, is, that God loueth them aboue all other his creatures, with a ſpeciall and ſingular louelove, which mooueth him to multiply all his fauours vponupon them, in all things which may further their temporary good and euerlaſting happineſſe. For he loueth thoſe that feare and ſerue him, with an euerlaſting louelove, and hauing ſet his affection vponupon them, he loueth them to Ier. 31. 3. Ioh. 13. 1.the end; which hee hath notably manifeſted vntounto them, in that this louelove could not be broken off by their enmity againſt him, but when they were yet ſinners and enemies, he ſent his Sonne, his onelyonly Sonne, the Sonne of his louelove, to die for their ſinnes, that they by him might attaine vntounto euerlaſting Ioh. 3. 16. Rom. 5. 8, 10.life and happineſſe. In him hee hath adopted them for his ſonnes and children, and loueth them as a tender father loueth his child, accepting Ioh. 1. 12. 1. Ioh. 3. 1. Mal. 3. 17, 18.graciouſly of all their imperfect ſeruice, paſſing by all their infirmities, and pardoning all their ſinnes. Yea, hee numbreth them among his chiefeſt Iewels, and indoweth them with ſuch ſpeciall teſtimonies of his louelove, that it is eaſie to diſcerne betweene the righteous and the wicked, betweene him that feareth God, and him that ſerueth him not. But though the louelove of a father bee great towards his child, yet it doth not ſufficiently expreſſe Gods louelove towards his, and therefore hee compareth it to the louelove of a tender-hearted mother towards her ſucking infant. And yet this commeth ſhort (as it needs muſt: for how can that which is finite reach to that which is infinite?) and therefore hee ſaith, that though a woman may forget her ſucking child, yet he will not forget them. And in this regard, to expreſſe Eſa. 49. 15.the greatneſſe of his louelove, he taketh a reſemblance, from the higheſt degree of louelove amongſt men, which is of an husband towards his wife, Hoſ. 2. 19.yea of a Bridegroome to his Bride, vntounto which, the louelove of parents and friends, yea, of any other thing in the world, giueth place, ſeeing they are coupled in ſuch neere vnion and communion, that they are no more two, but one fleſh; ſo that the one, in louing the other, loueth himſelfe, and cannot Gen. 2. 24.make much of his Spouſe, but he cheriſheth his owne fleſh, (as it were) in another body. The which infinite louelove of God towards thoſe that ſerue him, giueth vntounto them full aſſurance, as of his preſent fauours, ſo eſpecially of heauenly happineſſe. For if the Lord delight in vsus, then hee will aſſuredly Num. 14. 8.bring vsus into this heauenly Canaan, which floweth with a large ſtreame of farre greater bleſſings then milke and honey, euen with a flood of pleaſures, which are at Gods right hand for euermore. If the Lord ſo dearely louelove Iob. 17. 21, 24.vsus, then he will delight in our company, and where he is, there we ſhall be alſo. 1. Iob. 3. 2.For where ſhould the children bee, but in their fathers family? Where ſhould the Bride be, but with her Bridegroome, who take their chiefe pleaſure in the mutuall fruition of one anothers louelove? The which high and holy priuiledge, is a moſt effectuall reaſon to make vsus diligent in all the duties of Gods ſeruice, which aſſureth vsus that we are in this louelove and liking with God, vponupon which dependeth our eternall happineſſe. For if men thinke it ſuch an high prerogatiue to bee the fauourites of great Princes, that they think all paines and ſeruice too little, which may endeare them to their louelove, becauſe this alone intitleth them to all other benefits of honours, riches, and pleaſures which a kingdome can yeeld vntounto them; then with what cheerefulneſſe ſhould wee performe all holy duties of Gods ſeruice, which aſſure vsus, that wee ſhall be, and are his ſpeciall Fauourites, who hath heauen and earth at his diſpoſing, with all the rich treaſures and ioyfull pleaſures contained in them, in the aſſurance whereof, our Sauiour telleth vsus, that wee hauehave much more cauſe to reioyce, Luk. 10. 20. 1. Pet. 1. 8.then in the gift of miracles, or that the foule ſpirits are ſubdued vntounto vsus?
§. Sect. 3 That God watcheth ouer the godly with his ſpecial prouidence; and the benefits of this priuiledge.
The ſecond priuiledge which God vouchſafeth vntounto all thoſe that leade a godly life, is, that louing them with this fatherly louelove, he watcheth ouer them with his prouidence, to conferre vponupon them all manner of good. For howſoeuer all things in heauen and earth are ſubiect to this all-ſeeing and all-ruling prouidence, yet after a more ſpeciall manner he watcheth ouer thoſe that feare him, as his owne peculiar people; and though his power and preſence extend to all the world, like the power of a King vntounto his whole Dominions, yet he is heereby chiefly beneficiall to thoſe that feare and ſerue him, as being of his owne family, yea his adopted children in Ieſus Chriſt. Thus the Pſalmiſt ſaith, that the eyes of the Lord are vponupon the Pſal. 34. 15. & 33. 18.righteous, and his eares are open vntounto their cry. And againe, The eyes of the Lord are vponupon them that feare him; And as Elihu ſpeaketh, He withdraweth Job 36. 7.not his eyes from them. So Dauid in another place; The Lord knoweth the Pſal. 37. 18.dayes of the vpright, and their inheritance ſhall be for euer. Yea, but the eyes of the Lord are vponupon all things, and there is nothing ſo ſecret, that is vnknowne vntounto him; and what priuiledge then hauehave thoſe herein that ſerue him, aboue thoſe that ſerue him not? It conſiſts not in the generall view, and notice which God taketh of one thing as well as of another; but in that he hath a more watchfull and benigne eye ouer thoſe that feare him, to preſerue them from all euill, and to beſtow vponupon them all that is good; by reaſon whereof they are ſo farre from miſcarrying by any chance and caſualtie, any malice or fury of their enemies, that not ſo much as an haire Mat. 10. 30.can fall from their head without the will of their heauenly Father. In which reſpect, the Lord compareth himſelfe to an Eagle, which ſafely carrieth her Deut. 1. 31. & 30. 11.yong, and defendeth them from all other rauenous birds, when they are vnable to ſhift for themſelues. And to a carefull Shepherd, who not onelyonly Ezech. 34. 12.keepeth his Sheepe from the Wolfe, but alſo feeds them in greene Paſtures, Pſal. 23. 1, 2, 3.driueth them to the ſtill waters, cureth the ſicke, and carrieth in his armes the lame and weake, as Dauid alſo ſheweth by his owne experience. And thus our Sauiour called himſelfe the good Shepherd, who watched Ioh. 10. 1, 2, &c.ouer his Sheepe with ſuch louelove and care, that he was ready to lay downe his life for them, rather then they ſhould periſh by any danger. Now the benefits which we hauehave by this priuiledge, are many and ineſtimable. For by this ſpeciall prouidence, God, like a faithfull Shepherd, leadeth vsus out and in, and directeth vsus in all our courſes, guideth vsus in the wayes of his Eſa. 30. 21.Commandements, and keepeth vsus from wandring in the by-paths of errour, and from loſing our ſelues in the deſarts of ſinne. And thus the Pſalmiſt ſaith, that the ſteps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth Pſal. 37. 23.in his way; whereby hee is kept from falling into many ſinnes, vntounto which hee is prone through naturall corruption, and wherewith others, that are not thus guided and gouerned, are often and eaſily ouertaken; and alſo into many dangers and euils, to which their fraile liues are ſubiect, whereinto others not thus directed, doe ruſh and periſh in them. Secondly, by this ſpeciall prouidence, thoſe that ſerue the Lord, are preſerued from all euils, and protected againſt all enemies; and that not after a ſlight and ordinary manner, but with ſuch vigilant care and tenderneſſe, as a man watcheth ouer the apple of his eye, as the Lord profeſſeth, and Zach. 2. 8. Pſal. 17. 8.Dauid alſo found by his owne experience. The which, though it bee allſufficient to preſerue vsus from all danger of euill, yet for our greater comfort, and the better confirming of communion and louelove betweene his holy Spirits and vsus, hee cauſeth his Angels to incampe round about thoſe that Pſal. 34. 7.feare him, and deliuereth them; yea, hee committeth them vntounto them, as their ſpeciall charge, to keepe them in all their wayes, and to beare them in their hands, that they daſh not their foot againſt a ſtone. Of which, we hauehave many examples; as of the three children thus preſerued in the fiery furnace; and Dan. 3. 25. & 6. 22.Daniel in the Lyons den; and in that mighty Army of holy Spirits, ſent for the comfort and incouragement of Elizeus ſeruant. Thirdly, by this 2. King. 6. 17.ſpeciall prouidence, God both vpholdeth his children that ſerue him, when they are ready to fall into ſinne and danger, and raiſeth them vp being falne; preſerueth them from troubles and afflictions, and deliuereth them out of them when they call vponupon him. For he couereth them with his Pſal. 91. 4, 5, 6, &c.feathers, and vnderunder his wings they ſhall be ſafe, his truth ſhall be their ſhield and buckler, &c. The eyes of the Lord are vponupon thoſe that feare him, to deliuer their Pſal. 33. 18, 19.ſoule from death, and to keepe them aliue in famine. In which regard, the Lord incourageth his ſeruants againſt all dangers; Feare thou not, for I am Eſa. 41. 10.with thee: be not diſmaid: for I am thy God; I will ſtrengthen thee, yea, I will helpe thee, yea, I will vphold thee with the right hand of my righteouſneſſe, &c. Or if for their chaſtiſement they be afflicted and foyled with any euill, either of ſinne or puniſhment, yet they ſhall not be forſaken, and ſuffered to lye and periſh in it, and as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, Though they fall, they Pſal. 37. 24.ſhall not vtterly be caſt downe, for the Lord vpholdeth them with his hand. Yea, though many be the troubles of the righteous, yet the Lord deliuereth them out of all; and though he beateth them with his rods, yet he keepeth all their bones, Pſal. 34. 17, 18.ſo that not one of them is broken. For the Lord vpholdeth them in their integrity, Pſal. 41. 12.and ſetteth them alwayes before his face, as Dauid ſpeaketh out of his owne experience. Finally, as God by this ſpeciall prouidence preſerueth thoſe that ſerue him, from all euill; ſo alſo he prouideth for them all that is good, ſupplying all their wants, and relieuing them in all their neceſſities. For if we truſt in the Lord, and doe good, we ſhall dwell in the Land, and Pſal. 37. 3, 4.verily we ſhall be fed; if we delight our ſelues in the Lord, hee will giuegive vsus the deſires of our hearts. Which argument Dauid vſeth, to moue all vntounto Gods feare: O feare the Lord (ſaith he) ye his Saints, for there is no want to them that Pſal. 34. 9, 10.feare him. The young Lions lacke and ſuffer hunger, but they that feare the Lord, ſhall not want any good thing. Now what greater priuiledge, then to be thus at Gods finding? to hauehave him our guide to direct vsus, our King to gouerne and defend vsus; our louing Father, and carefull Shepheard, to feed vsus, and ſupply all our wants; to preſerue vsus from dangers, and deliuer vsus out of all our troubles; to heale our wounds, and cure our diſeaſes: ſeeing he beholdeth all our wants, and is all-ſufficient to ſupply them? What ſtronger motiue then this, to moue vsus wholly to deuote our ſelues vntounto his ſeruice, in whom we liue, and mooue, and hauehave our being, ſeeing our Act. 17 28.fraile liues are lyable to ſo many euils, both of ſinne and puniſhment, obnoxious to ſo many dangers, and ſtand in need of ſo many helpes and comforts, that if the Lord ſhould but for the leaſt moment withdraw his hand, and caſt vsus from vnderunder the protection of his wiſe and powerfull prouidence, we ſhould vtterly periſh and come to nothing?
§. Sect. 4 That he guideth and gouerneth the godly with his grace and holy Spirit: 1. In their proſperity.
The third priuiledge which the Lord vouchſafeth vntounto the godly, is, that he ſo guideth and gouerneth them by his grace and holy Spirit, that they make a right vſe of all eſtates, both of proſperity and aduerſity, and turne all things which happen vntounto them by the Diuine prouidence, to their ſpirituall good, the inriching of their ſoules with all ſauing graces, and the furthering and aſſuring of their eternall ſaluation. For whereas wicked men, inioying worldly proſperity, doe ſtand in ſlippery places, their table becomming a ſnare vntounto them, and their honours, riches and pleaſures, the baits of ſinne, which make them to fall into the diuels nets of perdition (for their honours nouriſh and increaſe their ambition, their riches ſerue as ſweet drinkes, to make them thirſt the more, and increaſe their ſwelling dropſie of couetous deſires, their pleaſures make them more ſenſuall and voluptuous, and all together worke in them pride, and forgetfulneſſe of God, carnall ſelfe-louelove, and louelove of the world, affiance in earthly vanities, and contempt of ſpirituall and heauenly things) The Lord preſerueth thoſe that feare and ſerue him, from falling into theſe tentations, by moderating their deſires, and mortifying their carnall concupiſcence, ſo as they doe not exceſſiuely affect theſe worldly vanities, nor dote vponupon them when they hauehave them, but vſe them onelyonly as helpes and comforts of their pilgrimage, and not ſet their hearts vponupon them as their Paradiſe, and the rewards of their Countrey, becauſe they know them to be vaine and vncertaine, both in their getting and keeping; momentany and mutable, being eueryevery day ready to leaue vsus, or we them. Their honours doe not puffe them vp in pride, but make them the more humble, ſeeing they poſſeſſe them not as their owne proprieties, but as Gods Talent, whereof one day they muſt giuegive a reckoning; as wee ſee in the example of Dauid, who though he were aduanced from a lowe eſtate to a Kingdome, yet profeſſeth, that his heart was not haughty, nor his eyes Pſal. 131. 1, 2.lofty, but that he behaued himſelfe in all meekneſſe and mildneſſe, as a child weaned of his mother. Their riches doe not withdraw their hearts from God, though they abound in them, neither doe they truſt in them, becauſe they know them to be vncertaine, but in the euerliuing God, who giueth them 1. Tim. 6. 17.richly all things to inioy; as we ſee in the example of Iob, who though hee Job 31. 24.were the wealthieſt man in all the Eaſt, yet he did not make gold his hope, Iob. 31. 24.nor ſaid vntounto the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; nor reioyced, becauſe his wealth was great, nor becauſe his hand had gotten much. But onelyonly they vſe them as the great inſtruments of well doing, and as meanes to inable them to exerciſe themſelues in the workes of mercy, according to Iobs example, who being rich and able to doe good, did not withhold from the Iob 31. 16, 17, 19.poore their deſire, nor cauſed the eyes of the widow to faile, nor did eate his morſels alone, but did let the fatherleſſe eate thereof, nor would ſee any periſh for want of clothing, nor the poore to lye without a couering. Their pleaſures, though as great as they inioy, who hauehave eminent places in Kings Courts, doe not, like intoxicating cups, bewitch them, and make them ſo drunke, that they forget the ioyes of heauen, vntounto which they aſpire, but euen when they hauehave drunke the deepeſt draught of them, they can (with Salomon) ſay of them, that all is vanity and vexation of ſpirit, and that there is no profit Eccleſ. 2. 11.vnderunder the Sunne. And when they are put to their choyce, ſo as they muſt of neceſſity leaue the one, to imbrace the other, they will, with Moſes, hauehave ſuch reſpect to the recompence of their heauenly reward, that they will chuſe rather Heb. 11. 25, 26.to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, then to inioy the pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon. Finally, though with the Patriarches they abound with Gods bleſſings, yet they will not fixe their hearts vponupon them, becauſe here they Heb. 13. 14. and 11. 10.hauehave no continuing City, but they ſeeke one to come, which hath foundations, whoſe builder and maker is God; and therefore like the Workman, is permanent and euerlaſting. Now what a priuiledge is this, to be vpheld in ſuch ſlippery places, in which, all that are left to themſelues, doe fearfully fall? to hauehave antidotes againſt theſe dangerous drinkes, wherewith all that want them, are poyſoned? to bee made more humble, mindfull of God, and thankfull vntounto him by theſe worldly things, which make the moſt proud, forgetfull and vngratefull? Finally, to hauehave ſuch a right vſe of all theſe earthly and temporary bleſſings, that they become vntounto vsus pledges of Gods louelove, and earneſt pennies of eternall happineſſe, and ſo to inioy both earth and heauen, all the comforts of this life, as helpes and furtherances to aſſure vsus of the glory and ioyes of the life to come? Of which, ſeeing none but the godly are partakers, what a ſtrong motiue ſhould it be to perſwade vsus vntounto the ſeruice of God in an holy life?
§. Sect. 5 Secondly, he guideth the godly in the time of their afflictions.
In reſpect alſo of the afflictions of this preſent life, godlines hath no leſſe priuiledges. For firſt, they which carefully ſerue & pleaſe God, are wholly 1. Pet. 2. 24. Col. 2. 14. Gal. 3. 13.deliuered from thē, as they are puniſhments of ſin to ſatisfie Gods Iuſtice, becauſe Chriſt hath in their ſtead ſatisfied for them, & paid their debt to the vttermoſt farthing, and by taking away their ſinnes through his death and ſufferings, hath alſo cancelled the hand-writing which was againſt them, freed them from the curſe of the Law, and all the puniſhments which were due vntounto them. Secondly, by leading of a godly life, we are freed from afflictions in the greateſt part, as they are the corrections of Gods children. For howſoeuer ſometimes the chiefe end, at which God aimeth in afflicting the godly, is the triall of thoſe graces which hee hath giuen them, that being approoued, he may be glorified that gaue them, and Jam. 1. 12.his gifts crowned in thoſe that hauehave receiued them; yet for the moſt part, ſinne being the occaſion, euen of theſe trials, and the cauſe of other croſſes, according to that in the Lamentations; Wherefore doth a liuing Lam. 3. 39.man complaine, a man ſuffereth for his ſinnes? Hereof it followeth, that wee may eſcape theſe afflictions, if we carefully flee ſinne, and ſerue the Lord in the duties of a godly life. For though the Lord iudgeth his children 1. Cor. 11. 32.in this life, that they may not be condemned in the life to come; yet it is not as they are innocents (for thē they ſhould neuer come into iudgment) but as offenders, who by their ſinnes and negligence in his ſeruice, hauehave deſerued theſe, and farre greater puniſhments. Though he chaſtizeth eueryevery Heb. 12. 6, 7.ſonne whom he receiueth, yet not being faultleſſe, but when by their ſins they hauehave diſpleaſed him, that he may bring them to repentance and amendment. And therefore he preſcribeth this repentance as a meanes to preuent his corrections, ſeeing, by reaſon of naturall frailty and corruption, we cannot be wholly innocent: As many as I louelove, I rebuke and chaſtize; Apoc. 3. 19.be zealous therefore and amend. Though he make afflictions to ſerue for ſoueraigne ſalues to his Children, yet he would not apply them to the whole skinne, and ſound fleſh, but becauſe they hauehave ſores which need to be cured, being ſo feſtered, that the balme of his benefits will not heale them. Finally, when by afflictions he weaneth them from the louelove of the world, it preſuppoſeth that they dote too much vponupon it, and argueth, that if, as they ought, they did lothe and contemne it, in compariſon of ſpirituall graces, and heauenly glory, they ſhould not hauehave it imbittered vntounto them: For what mother would rub her teat with muſtard, or wormewood, to weane her child, if he had wit and will to leaue it in due time? So that if we would carefully flee ſinne, and pleaſe our heauenly Father, by doing our duty, we ſhould not need to feare ſtripes, but ſhould be continually cheriſhed and incouraged with rewards. If we would not ſurfet of ſinne and wound our conſciences, we ſhould not be troubled with the bitter medicine, and ſharpe and ſearching ſalue. But we might, with comfort and aſſurance, apply Gods promiſes of preſeruation, both from outward and inward afflictions, euen when they are moſt rife in the world, and ſeaze vponupon others round about vsus, according to that of Eliphaz to Iob, He ſhall deliuer thee in ſixe troubles, yea in ſeuen there ſhall no euill touch Iob 5. 19. Pſal. 32. 10. and 91. 3, 4. Pro. 3. 21, 22, 23, 24.thee. And that of the Pſalmiſt, Many ſorrowes ſhall be to the wicked, but he that truſteth in the Lord, mercy ſhall compaſſe him about. Thirdly, if by our ſinnes we hauehave brought afflictions vponupon vsus, yet walking before God in our ordinary courſe, after an holy manner, we ſhall hauehave heereby this priuiledge, that thoſe afflictions which are pernicious vntounto others, both in reſpect of their ſoules and bodies, ſhall not be able to doe them any harme. Or though, like the Serpent, they bite them by the heele, and cauſe ſome temporary ſmart, yet being armed with the breſt-plate of righteouſneſſe, they ſhall not hurt their vitall parts, nor any whit hinder them of euerlaſting happineſſe. Yea contrariwiſe, through the good bleſſing of God, and aſſiſtance of his holy Spirit, ſanctifying them to their vſe, they, with all other things, ſhall worke together for their good, by drawing them neerer vntounto Rom. 8. 28.God, through vnfained repentance, by mortifying their ſinnes, weaning them from the world, ſtrengthening them in all grace, and by being vntounto them infallible ſignes of Gods louelove, and their adoption. In all which, and innumerable other reſpects, they may conclude (not from the ſenſe and ſmart of their afflictions, which, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, ſeeme not Heb. 12. 11.ioyous, but grieuous) but from the fruits of righteouſneſſe, which ſpring from them; that it is good for them that they hauehave been afflicted, that they might Pſal. 119. 71. Lam. 3. 27.learne Gods Statutes; and that it is good for a man that he beare the yoke from his youth: yea, that they are bleſſed whom the Lord chaſteneth, and teacheth Pſal.them out of his Law. Finally, by leading of a godly life, wee hauehave this priuiledge in reſpect of our afflictions, that we ſhall hauehave ſeaſonable deliuerance out of them, when as it ſhall be moſt fitting, both for Gods glory, and our owne ſpirituall and euerlaſting good. For as the Wiſe man ſaith, The righteouſneſſe of the vpright ſhall deliuer him, but tranſgreſſors ſhall Pro. 11. 8.be taken in their naughtineſſe. So the Pſalmiſt ſaith, that many are the troubles Pſal. 34, 17, 19.of the righteous, but the Lord deliuereth them out of all. For, When the righteous cry, the Lord heareth, and deliuereth them out of all their troubles: according to his gracious promiſe, Call vponupon me in the day of trouble, I will Pſal. 50. 15.deliuer thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me. And therefore this alſo ſhould effectually mooue vsus vntounto the duties of a godly life, feeing heereby all eſtates are ſanctifyed vntounto vsus, and euen afflictions themſelues are turned to our good, which in their owne nature are the puniſhments of ſinne. For ſeeing through our intemperate luſts, we oftentimes ſurfet of the pleaſures of ſinne, and thereby caſt our ſelues in to many afflictions (as it were) dangerous diſeaſes, who would not eſteeme much of ſuch a cordiall, as will keepe the poyſon of the diſeaſe from the vitall parts? yea, which will cauſe the ſickneſſe it ſelfe to become a meanes of increaſing and confirming our ſpirituall health? But ſuch a cordiall is true godlineſſe, which conuerteth afflictions, which in their owne nature are the diſeaſes of our ſoules, and ſtates, cauſed by ſurfetting vponupon ſin, into notable helpes and meanes for the bettering of our ſpirituall eſtates, by making vsus to flee ſinne more carefully, whereupon we hauehave ſurfetted, and by confirming and increaſing all Gods graces in vsus.
§. Sect. 6 That God inwardly guideth the godly by his grace and holy Spirit.
The fourth priuiledge which the Lord beſtoweth vponupon the godly, is, that as he outwardly gouerneth, defendeth and preſerueth them by his 1 Cor. …. 16. and 6. 19.wiſe and powerfull prouidence; ſo hee giueth vntounto them an inward guide to direct and rule them, to excite, vphold and ſtrengthen them in all good courſes, to purge them from all their corruptions, and to inable them vntounto eueryevery good worke; euen his owne holy Spirit, and that not to viſit them ſometimes by fits, but to dwell in them as in his temples, and to keepe in their ſoules and bodies continuall reſidence, that hee may be alwayes ready to direct and guide them in all their wayes, to ſtrengthen their weakneſſe, and to comfort their feeble hearts, that they may not faint in their Chriſtian courſe. And this the Lord promiſeth to the faithfull; I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walke in my Statutes; and, Ye ſhall keepe my Iudgements and doe them. Neither doth this Spirit come alone, but richly and royally attended with a choyce troope and traine of all ſanctifying and ſauing graces; as faith, hope, charity, patience, humility, and a good conſcience, with the reſt, which are of incomparable more value then the whole world, as bringing with them, for the preſent, the greateſt comfort and contentment, and being for the time to come, earneſt-pennies of euerlaſting ioy and happineſſe. Nor doth this holy Spirit giuegive vsus theſe graces in the firſt and leaſt degrees onelyonly, but doth dayly nouriſh and increaſe them in vsus, from one degree to another, till from infancy to child-hood, and from thence to youth, wee Pſal. 92. 14, 15.doe at laſt grow vp vntounto a perfect age in Chriſt, bringing forth moſt Eph. 4. 13.fruit in our latter end. For being aſſiſted and comforted by the Spirit, wee ouercome all difficulties, and thoſe duties which at the firſt ſeemed hard and almoſt impoſſible, become familiar and pleaſant; that yoke of Chriſt which at firſt galled vsus, doth not hurt Matth. 11. 29.vsus at all, when we are anoynted with this oyle, and his burthen which ſeemed intolerable, hauing this Companion to helpe and aſſiſt vsus, becommeth light and eaſie, yea, ſweet and delightfull. And ſo on the other ſide, when wee ſubmit our ſelues to be guided and gouerned by the Spirit in the duties of a godly life, and doe not grieue it by quenching the good motions which it ſuggeſteth vntounto vsus, we cauſe the good Spirit of God to take pleaſure in his habitation, and to delight in vsus to doe vsus good, multiplying and increaſing his graces in vsus, of which we hauehave brought forth ſuch good fruits, and redoubling our talents, when as we hauehave rightly vſed them to our Maſters aduantage; according to that of our Sauiour; To him that hath, ſhall be giuen, and he Matth. 25. 29. Luk. 8. 18.ſhall hauehave aboundance; and from him that hath not, ſhall be taken euen that which he ſeemeth to hauehave.