A Guide to Godliness, Book 6 · Chapter 4
CAP. IIII.
Of priuate impediments on the left hand, as afflictions and perſecutions.
§. Sect. 1 How the world ſeeketh to hinder our courſe in godlineſſe by afflictions and perſecutions.
ON the left hand the World aſſaulteth vsus with afflictions and perſecutions, that it may hinder and diſcourage vsus in the wayes of godlineſſe. For firſt, it loadeth vsus, as much as in it lyeth, with croſſes and calamities, euen for righteouſneſſe ſake, and then perſwadeth vsus, that we ſerue God not only in vaine, but euen to our loſſe: and therfore that it were our beſt courſe, to take our liberty, and to liue as others doe, ſeeing wee hauehave no other rewards for all our painfull ſeruice, our ſtrictneſſe of life, and abandoning of our pleaſures, the vnpleaſant exerciſes of mortification, and denying in all things our owne wills and delightfull luſts, but miſery and affliction. And thus Dauid was aſſaulted, when hee was ready to conclude, that Pſal. 73. 13.he had cleanſed his heart, and waſhed his hands to no purpoſe in innocency, ſeeing he was afflicted eueryevery morning. And with the like tentation Iob was often diſcouraged, when as his three friends in ſo many places labour to perſwade him, that all his former labours in Gods ſeruice were vaine and of no worth, becauſe of the extraordinary afflictions which he indured. And Ieremy likewiſe was ſo much troubled with the ſight of the Jer. 12. 1. and 20. 14, 18.wickeds proſperity, and the ſenſe of his owne miſeries, that hee breaketh out into great impatiency. For the remouing of which impediment, wee are to know, that howſoeuer the world, and worldly men vſe all their might and malice to hinder vsus in our courſe of godlineſſe, yet they are no wayes able to doe what they intend, ſeeing they are not the chiefe cauſes of our afflictions, but onelyonly Gods inſtruments who ouer-ruleth them at his pleaſure, and ſo ordereth and diſpoſeth of all our croſſes and calamities which they inflict vponupon vsus, both in reſpect of their matter and manner, meaſure and time of continuance, as that they ſhall not any wayes hurt vsus, but ſhall wholly tend to our good; not conſume and deſtroy vsus, but purifie and purge vsus (like gold in the fire) from the droſſe of our corruptions; not coole or quench our zeale and deuotion, but rather kindle and inflame them; and finally, not hinder vsus at all in the duties of a godly life, but further and make vsus more forward and cheerfull in performing them, cauſing vsus, by theſe many tribulations, to goe more ſurely and ſafely, by the way of grace and godlineſſe, into the Kingdome of heauenly ioy and happineſſe.
§. Sect. 2 Of the worlds profeſſed hatred, whereby it ſeeketh to diſcourage vsus in the duties of a godly life.
Now theſe afflictions and perſecutions, which the world raiſeth againſt vsus to diſcourage vsus in all the duties of a godly life, are manifold, which in their owne nature are to fleſh and blood bitter and grieuous. And firſt, it purſueth vsus with profeſſed hatred, maligning all, with all ſpleene and ſpite, who leaue the world, and louelove God. For though whileſt we are of the world, it loueth vsus, becauſe wee are her owne, yet when Chriſt hath choſen vsus out of the world, and we hauehave giuen our names vntounto Joh. 15. 9.him, profeſſing that wee will be his ſouldiers and ſeruants, then the world, out of that hatred which it beareth to our Lord and Maſter, will begin, for his ſake to hate vsus. And as they who make themſelues friends Jam. 4. 4.of the world, doe, by reaſon of that enmity which is betweene them, make themſelues thereby the enemies of God: ſo contrariwiſe, thoſe that become friends vntounto God, doe hereby make themſelues enemies to the world. So Dauid ſaith, that they who rendred euill for good, were his aduerſaries, Pſal. 38. 20.becauſe he did follow the thing that was good. And therefore hee profeſſeth the like enmity againſt them, becauſe they were Gods enemies: Doe Pſal. 139. 21, 22not (ſaith he) I hate them (O Lord) that hate thee? and am I not grieued with thoſe that ſpeake againſt thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies. The which hatred of the world, and malicious enmity againſt the faithfull, is a ſtrong tentation, and great diſcouragement, eſpecially to thoſe who are of mild, gentle and peaceable diſpoſitions, to hinder their ſpeed in the wayes of godlineſſe. Againſt which, that wee may be the better armed, let vsus firſt conſider, that it is a matter of meere neceſſity to vndergoe the worlds hatred, if we would be aſſured, that we either louelove God, or that we are beloued of him. For ſuch enmity there is betweene them, that he who maketh himſelfe a friend to the one, doth neceſſarily Iam. 4. 4. 1. Ioh. 2. 15.become an enemy to the other; and if any man louelove the world, the louelove of the Father is not in him. So our Sauiour telleth vsus, that wee cannot Math. 6. 24.ſerue God, and Mammon, being Maſters of ſuch a contrary diſpoſition, but we ſhall hate the one, whileſt we louelove the other; or elſe cleaue to the one, and forſake the other. Secondly, let vsus conſider, that there is no great loſſe of the worlds louelove, which doth vsus little good; yea, no little hurt, ſeeing (like a miery dog) the more it fawneth vponupon vsus, the more it defileth vsus; nor any great harme, yea no ſmall gaine in the worlds hatred, ſeeing it doth but ſo much the more weane our hearts and affections from the louelove of earthly vanities, that they may with more intireneſſe cleaue vntounto God, and bee wholly fixed vponupon ſpirituall and heauenly excellencies. Thirdly, let vsus remember, that the hatred of the world hath been from the beginning, the Gen. 3. 15.portion of all Gods Saints and ſeruants, whom it hath purſued with deadly malice, becauſe they hauehave been beloued of God. Yea, aboue all others did it moſt hate and maligne our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, and therefore we muſt not thinke much if it purſueth vsus with the like malice. For as he hath told vsus, The ſeruant is not greater then his Lord; If they hauehave Joh. 15. 19, 20.perſecuted me, they will alſo perſecute you. Fourthly, the worlds hatred needeth not to diſcourage vsus in the wayes of godlineſſe, ſeeing it is vntounto vsus a comfortable euidence, that we are not of the world, for then it would louelove his owne, but that we are the true Diſciples of Ieſus Chriſt, whom he hath choſen out of the world. Yea contrariwiſe, if the world ſhould louelove vsus, we had iuſt cauſe to ſuſpect our ſelues, ſeeing louelove ariſeth out of likenes; neither could we be ſo much in the worlds fauour, vnleſſe we too much fauoured it. Fifthly, the worlds hatred cannot diſcourage vsus, if wee conſider, that it is abundantly recompenced with the louelove of God, and of his Saints and bleſſed Angels. For the worlds malice can but bring ſome temporary trouble, ioyned with much inward and ſpirituall comfort, but in the fauour of the Lord is life and bleſſedneſſe. And therefore Pſal. 30. 5.as no wiſe man, who is highly in the fauour of his Prince, his chiefe Nobles, and the beſt of the people, will greatly care for the hatred of baſe gally-ſlaues, and the abiects of the Land, eſpecially when the fauour of both will not ſtand together: ſo if we be truly wiſe for our owne good, we will not, if we be aſſured of Gods louelove, and all his faithfull ſeruants, regard much the hatred of the world, which can louelove none but thoſe whom God hateth. Finally, this hatred of the world for righteouſneſſe ſake, will not diſmay vsus, if we alwayes remember, that it ſhall be rewarded with euerlaſting happineſſe, according to that of our Sauiour, Bleſſed are Luk. 6. 22, 23.yee, when men ſhall hate you, and when they ſhall ſeparate you from their company, and ſhall reproch you, and caſt out your name as euill, for the Sonne of mans ſake; reioyce yee in that day, and leape for ioy; for behold, your reward is great in heauen; for in the like manner did their fathers to the Prophets.
§. Sect. 3 That the former poynt ought to be held with diuers cautions.
But yet ſome cautions muſt be heere obſerued: as firſt, that howſoeuer we are not to louelove the world, nor to maintaine neere and inward familiarity Rom. 12. 18.with Gods enemies, yet in reſpect of our priuate carriage, we muſt behaue our ſelues innocently and iuſtly towards them, and as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh (as much as in vsus lyeth) hauehave peace with all men. Secondly, we muſt ſo hate their ſinnes, their worldlineſſe and prophaneſſe, as that in the meane time we louelove their perſons, performing vntounto them all ciuill and religious duties, whereby we may gaine them to Chriſt, and bee meanes (as much as in vsus lyeth) of their conuerſion and ſaluation. Thirdly, that vnderunder colour of hating the world, we doe not carry our ſelues cynically and harſhly, peeuiſhly and contentiouſly with thoſe which remaine ſtill profeſſed worldlings, but goe forward in the practice of all holy duties, with all meekneſſe of conuerſation, oppoſing them in nothing, but when they oppoſe vsus in piety and righteouſneſſe. For the world is ready to hate vsus too much already, for our profeſſion and practice of Gods true Religion, though by our peruerſe behauiour, and rigid ſtiffeneſſe, euen about things indifferent, we doe not giuegive it any cauſe to hate our perſons. And therefore let vsus auoyd their errour, who when they hauehave taken vponupon them the profeſſion of Chriſtian Religion, thinke themſelues bound to profeſſe open enmity againſt all thoſe who are contrary minded; and that they beſt approue their Chriſtianity, when as the fire of diſſenſion, by their tart behauiour, is kindled betweene them, becauſe Chriſt came to Math. 10. 34. Luk. 12. 49.bring a ſword and fire vponupon the earth, and to ſet at variance, euen thoſe which are of a mans family. For in many other places, wee are earneſtly exhorted to vſe all meekneſſe and louelove, that we may win them by our conuerſation who are without, vnleſſe it be in the cauſe of God, and the defence of his truth. And therefore that place of our Sauiour is not to bee vnderſtood ſo much of the doings of the faithfull, whereby ſtanding vponupon tearmes of hoſtility, they ſhould prouoke the enemies of the Goſpell againſt them, but rather of their ſufferings and perſecutions, which for Chriſts ſake and the Goſpell they ſhould indure at the hands of the wicked, though they behaued themſelues as meekly and mildly, as innocently and louingly, as the cauſe of God and defence of his truth would ſuffer them. Or if at all, of their doings and oppoſitions againſt prophane worldlings, yet not in ſuch things, wherein they might lawfully agree, but in matters weighty and important, as concerning Gods glory and their owne ſaluation; and not in ſpleene, and ſpite, or priuate reuenge, but when they hauehave lawfull authority to ſuppreſſe their fury, & curbe in their malice; or by an open war, according to the Law of God and Nations proclaymed againſt them. Finally, we muſt take heed, that we doe not eſteeme all them as worldlings, who goe not as farre as wee in the profeſſion of Religion and the practize of holy duties; for there are Chriſtians of all ſizes and ages, and as well babes as growne men in Gods family. But thoſe onelyonly are to be ranked in this number of worldly oppoſites, who are profeſſed enemies of Chriſtian Religion, or onelyonly hauehave the name of Chriſtians, but are in truth groſſe idolaters, or wickedly prophane, who in their liues deny the power of that truth, which they outwardly profeſſe; maligning and hating all thoſe who louelove and feare God, euen for their godlineſſe ſake, and diſplaying their banners of impiety againſt all grace and goodneſſe. Neither doe I thinke that formall Chriſtians, who liue ciuilly amongſt vsus, profeſſing Chriſtianity, and ioyning with vsus in the publique exerciſes of Religion, are to be reckoned amongſt theſe worldlings, who oppoſe vsus, and whom we oppoſe, though wee cannot obſerue in them any ſignes of ſound conuerſion, or of the ſincerity and power of godlineſſe; (ſeeing our Sauiour himſelfe is ſayd to hauehave loued the yong man, who yet had not ſo farre proceeded in the courſe Marke 10. 21.of Chriſtianity) but prophane perſons, lewd liuers, notorious blaſphemers, profeſſed ſcorners, and malicious oppoſers againſt the Profeſſors and practiſers of Gods true Religion.
§. Sect. 4 Of the falſe iudgement of the world, ſhewed in their bitter cenſures of the godly.
And thus we may incourage our ſelues in the duties of a godly life, againſt the hatred of the world and wicked men. Let vsus in the next place conſider of the fruits of this hatred, from which diuers impediments doe ariſe, that hinder many in the wayes of godlineſſe. And theſe are either internall in the minde and iudgement, or externall in the words and actions: of the former ſort there are two notable hinderances and diſcouragements. The firſt is the falſe iudgement and erroneous opinion of wicked worldlings, ſhewed in their hard and harſh, bitter and vncharitable cenſures of the godly, whereby they condemne their perſons, and all the good graces of God in them, with all the vertuous actions which are done by them, as euill and faultie. Their feruencie of deuotion in religious exerciſes, they iudge to be groſſe hypocriſie; their wiſdome and Chriſtian prudence, they repute wilineſſe and ſubtilty; their ſimplicity, folly; their zeale, 2. King. 9. 11.madneſſe; their patience, Stoicall apathy and ſtupidity; their frugalitie, niggardly auarice; their bounty, lauiſh waſtfulneſſe; their Chriſtian forbearance and long-ſuffring, puſillanimity and baſe cowardize; their ſeuerity, cruelty; their reſolute and abſolute obedience to Gods Law, they condemne as no better then rebellion againſt Princes and Magiſtrates; their contempt of the world and earthly vanities, is reputed by them cynicall and melancholike ſottiſhneſſe and folly. In a word, if wee ſet our ſelues ſeriouſly to pleaſe God, nothing that wee can doe will pleaſe the world, but all is taken at the worſt, and euen our beſt vertues will be branded and blemiſhed by their vniuſt and vncharitable cenſures, as blameworthy and vicious. But that this may not diſcourage vsus in our Chriſtian courſes, let vsus conſider, that this hath beene euer the portion of all Gods children, to be condemned by his enemies. Thus the Prophets were cenſured to be oppoſites to Princes and States, the Apoſtles to be ſeditious Matth. 11. 18.perſons and brochers of nouelties. Iohn the Baptiſts abſtinence Matth. 26. 8.and auſterity was counted deuilliſh, Maries louelove and bounty reputed needleſſe and lauiſh waſtefulneſſe. Yea, our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe eſcaped not theſe falſe and vniuſt cenſures, but had his beſt actions blemiſhed with the malicious cenſures of wicked men. His miracles done by the vertue of his diuine nature, were deemed to be done by the power of Beel-zebub the prince of the deuils; For his benigne ſociableneſſe, he was iudged a boone-companion and a friend to Publicanes and ſinners; and all his gracious words, wreſted and miſconſtrued vntounto the worſt ſenſe, which wit and malice could giuegive vntounto them. And therfore if we will walke in their ſteps, we muſt looke for the like meaſure, which both our fellow ſeruants, and our great Lord and Maſter hauehave found before vsus. Againe, let vsus remember that we ſtand or fall to our owne Maſter; and as it will doe vsus little good to be approued of the world, when he condemneth vsus, ſo as little hurt, to be condemned of the world, when God and our conſciences doe approue and iuſtifie vsus. Finally, let vsus know to our comfort, that the day will come, when all theſe vniuſt cenſures and ſentences pronounced by the mouthes of malicious men, ſhall be wholy reuerſed; and all the ſorrow and griefe cauſed by them, ſwallowed vp with rauiſhing ioy, when we ſhall heare that laſt ſentence of approbation pronounced by our Lord and Sauiour; Well done, good and faithfull ſeruant, &c. applauded Matth. 25. 23.by the acclamation of all the Saints and Angels.
§. Sect. 5 Of worldly contempt, vntounto which the godly are liable.
The other impediment, whereby the world laboureth to diſcourage all that in the ſincerity of their hearts feare and ſerue God, is, to Mal. 3. 17.hauehave them aboue all other men in greateſt contempt and baſeſt eſteeme. For whom God prizeth as his choyſeſt Iewels, the world vilifieth as abiects and the refuſe of all things; whom the Lord honoureth with the glorious titles and priuiledges of his owne children, and heires apparant to his heauenly Kingdome, the world deſpiſeth as men vnworthy to liue in any humane ſociety. And no ſooner are they admitted into that holy and happy communion with God, and fellowſhip of his Saints, but preſently worldly and wicked men ſhunne them as vnworthy their company. For as the vniuſt man is an abomination Pro. 29. 27.to the iuſt, ſo he that is vpright in his way, is abomination to the wicked. And this was that ſtumbling blocke, which being caſt into the way, hindred many of the Rulers from following Chriſt, and from imbracing and profeſſing that truth, of which their conſciences were conuinced, becauſe they feared, leſt hereby they ſhould impeach their reputation, and expoſe themſelues to the contempt of their conſorts, louing the praiſe of men, more then the praiſe of God. This kept the parents Ioh. 12. 43. Joh. 9. 23.of the blinde man from confeſſing Chriſt, and iuſtifying his miracle, becauſe the Iewes had decreed, that if any man did confeſſe that Ieſus was Chriſt, he ſhould be put out of their Synagogue, and baniſhed from their ſocieties and publique aſſemblies. Which impediment if we would remoue, wee muſt learne to eſteeme baſely of the worlds eſtimate, and neither to thinke better of our ſelues, when it honoureth vsus, nor worſe, when it vilifieth and deſpiſeth vsus. To which purpoſe let vsus conſider, that when wee are for righteouſneſſe ſake moſt contemned in the eyes of the world, wee are moſt magnified in the eyes of God; and contrariwiſe, when we hauehave moſt the applauſe of men in our euill courſes, we are eſteemed of God moſt vile and abiect, according to that of our Sauiour, That which is highly eſteemed amongst Luk. 16. 15.men, is abominable in the ſight of God. Let vsus remember, that we cannot immoderately affect the applauſe of men, and maintaine faith and a good conſcience. For as our Sauiour demandeth: How can yee beleeue, Ioh. 5. 44.which receiue honour one of another, and ſeel: not the honour that commeth from God onelyonly? That we can neuer hold out conſtantly in our courſe of Chriſtianity, vnleſſe we can with the Apoſtle, eſteeme it a very ſmall 1. Cor. 4. 3.thing to be iudged of mans iudgement; and can be content with him, by honour and diſhonour, euill report and good report, to goe forward in the duties 2. Cor. 6. 8.of a godly life, which if wee performe with neuer ſo much diligence & zeale, yet if therein we doe not ayme chiefely to pleaſe God more then men, we ſhall not be the ſeruants of Chriſt, but of the world, Gal. 1. 10.ſeeing we will be willing to lay aſide our profeſſion and holy practice, when the world cenſureth and condemneth them. Let vsus know, that it will little auaile vsus at the day of death or iudgement, to hauehave had the approbation and applauſe of men, when as God and our owne conſciences ſhal condemne vsus; nor be any cauſe of griefe at that day, when we call to minde, that for the pleaſing and honouring God in all Chriſtian duties, we hauehave diſpleaſed the world, and brought our ſelues into contempt with men, when as the Lord & our own conſciences ſhal approue & iuſtifie vsus. Let vsus conſider, that as the praiſe & applauſe of men Matth. 7. 1, 2.is mutable and momentary, ſo likewiſe their contempt, diſprayſes and falſe cenſures; of which wee within a while ſhall be acquitted, and they being repayed according to their owne meaſure, ſhall be iudged and condemned. The which argument the Prophet vſeth to incourage vsus in this caſe: Harken vntounto me, ye that know righteouſneſſe, the people Eſay 51. 7, 8.in whoſe heart is my Law; feare yee not the reproch of men, neither be afraide of their reuilings; for the Moth ſhall eate them vp, as a garment, and the Worme ſhall eate them vp like wooll: but my righteouſneſſe ſhall be for euer, and my ſaluation from generation to generation. Finally, let vsus remember, that it hath beene alwaies the lot of the Righteous, who hauehave truely feared God, and made conſcience of all their waies, to be vilified and baſely eſteemed amongſt wicked worldlings. Thus the Iſraelites, becauſe they ſerued God according to his will, by offring vntounto him ſuch ſacrifices as he required, were ſo contemned and deſpiſed of the Gen. 43. 32.idolatrous Egyptians, that they accounted it an abomination to eate with Gen. 43. 32.them. Of this, the true Church complayneth, and againſt this it prayeth: HaueHave mercy vponupon vsus, O Lord, hauehave merciemercy vponupon vsus, for we are exceedingly Pſal. 123. 3, 4.filled with contempt. Our ſoule is exceedingly filled with the ſcorning of thoſe that are at eaſe, and with the contempt of the proud. So likewiſe Dauid complayneth; I am ſmall and deſpiſed; yet doe I not forget thy precepts. Pſal. 119. 141.And the Apoſtle Paul ſpeaking of himſelfe, and of other Gods faithfull Miniſters, ſaith, that they were made and reputed as the filth of the 1. Cor. 4. 13.world, and the off-ſcowring of all things. Which Saints and ſeruants of God wee muſt be contented to accompany in their contempt and vile eſteeme, when by the profeſſion and practice of the truth we fall into it, if euer wee meane to accompany them in glory. Yea, our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe was content for our ſakes to be contemned and Eſay 53. 2, 3.deſpiſed amongſt men, as it was foretold by the Prophet, and whileſt he performed the duties of his calling, to be accounted a friend and companion of Publicanes and ſinners, yea, to be himſelfe eſteemed a notorious ſinner; a prophaner of the Sabbaths, whileſt hee healed on them; a Sorcerer, whileſt he did miracles; a Wine-bibber, whileſt he conſorted with ſinners after a familiar manner, that he might call them to repentance: and laſtly, after a deſpiſed life, to die a contemptible and reprochfull death, euen the death of the Croſſe, and thereby to be numbred amongſt the wicked. And therefore why ſhould the members looke for honour and high eſteeme, where the Head was ſo ſcorned and contemned? Why ſhould wee not for his ſake deny our ſelues and our owne credit and reputation amongſt men, who therefore deſpiſe vsus, becauſe wee deuote our ſelues vntounto his ſeruice? Why ſhould wee not thinke ſuch contempt our chiefeſt glory, and the baſe eſteeme of the world ſufficiently recompenced, when wee are dignified with the title of Gods ſeruants and ſonnes, and with that precious account which he maketh of vsus? Why ſhould we not with patience and ioy, follow our Head in the ſame way, by Heb. 12. 2.which he aſcended vntounto glorie, comforting our ſelues, according to his example, againſt all contempt and reproch, by looking vponupon the ioy which is ſet before vsus?