A Guide to Godliness, Book 1 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Of ſuch Reaſons as may mooue vsus to abhor carnall ſecuritie, and to vſe all meanes either to preuent it, or to be freed from it.
§. 1 That it is neceſſary to hauehave our hearts wrought vntounto the hatred of this Vice.
IN the practice of phyſick it is a thing of greateſt difficultie, to diſcouer truely and throughly the diſeaſe of the Patient, and the ſtate of his body; and yet this skill is moſt neceſſary, ſeeing they who faile in this point alone, muſt needs faile in all the reſt, applying vnfit, if not hurtfull medicines, which weaken the body and ſtrengthen the diſeaſe. But yet it is not enough that the ſickneſſe by the ſymptomes and ſignes be plainly diſcerned; and the cauſes and effects, properties and qualities of it well knowne; if the learned Phyſician and ſicke Patient proceed no further; but it is alſo required for the effecting of the cure, that there bee firſt a willingneſſe in the Patient to be healed of his infirmitie, with a reſolution to vſe the medicines which ſhall be preſcribed; and then skill and faithfulneſſe in the Phyſician, to preſcribe ſuch as are effectuall for his recouerie. And thus it fareth with the ſpirituall diſeaſes of the ſoule, the Patient and Phyſician. For wee muſt firſt labour to know what the ſickneſſe is by the ſignes thereof, and then be carefull in preſcribing & applying the beſt remedies. And therefore hauing plainly diſcouered this dangerous diſeaſe of carnall ſecuritie by the ſignes of it, it remayneth now that we come to the cure, and ſhew the meanes whereby he who findeth himſelfe ſicke of this pernicious diſeaſe, may be recouered to ſpiritual health. And firſt, becauſe the skill in the phyſician is nothing in preſcribing the beſt means, except there be alſo a wil in the Patient to vſe & apply them; I wil vſe ſome motiues to perſwade all that find themſelues affected with this ſickneſſe, to deſire with all earneſtneſſe that they may be cured, that ſo they may be made willing alſo to apply the remedies. And becauſe all phyſick, both for body and ſoule, is in it ſelfe, or at leaſt in conceit vnpleaſant to the Patient; and none are willing to vſe it, but thoſe who feele the payne or ſee the danger of their diſeaſe; therefore it is fit that wee ſet downe the nature, properties and effects of this carnall ſecuritie, that ſo a deſire may be wrought in thoſe who are ſubiect vntounto it to be cured of it. The which is more neceſſarie in that this ſicknes is not painfull to the Patient, but inſenſible, like the lethargie or dead palſie; yea, in truth moſt pleaſant and delightfull to the moſt, ſo that he who hath it, is naturally loth to be cured of it, becauſe he liueth at eaſe without diſturbance, inioyeth quietly all his worldly comforts, and goeth on to his deſtruction with a cheerfull heart & merry countenance. And therefore the leſſe he feeleth the paine, the more he needeth to ſee the danger; and ſeeing himſelfe cannot apprehend it, becauſe this diſeaſe affecteth the mind and taketh away the vnderſtanding, ſo as it cannot naturally be diſcerned by the partie that hath it; I will ſhew how deſperate and pernicious it is vntounto all thoſe, who doe not vſe the meanes wherby to be recouered.
§. 2 That Chriſt hath giuen vsus ſpeciall warning to flee ſecuritie.
The danger of this diſeaſe hereby appeareth, in that Chriſt the great and chiefe Phyſician of our ſoules, doth ſo carefully giuegive warning of it; vſing all meanes to let all thoſe that are his to ſee the danger, and to take ſuch courſes as they may preuent it, or being tainted and ouer-taken with it, may be awakned and rowſed vp out of this ſweet, yet pernicious ſlumber. And this he doth both by Parables, Examples, and Admonitions, and Exhortations, which he preſſeth and enforceth from them. For firſt, this is the mayne ſcope of the Parable of the wiſe and fooliſh Virgins, of which, they being poſſeſſed with the true feare of Matth. 25.God, ſtood carefully vponupon their watch, expecting the vncertaine comming of the Bridegroome, and ſo when hee came, were receiued with him into the bridall Chamber of eternall bleſſedneſſe; but the other being ſecure and retchleſſe, ſpent their time in eaſe and ſloth, not vſing any meanes to bee prepared againſt the time of his approching, who being taken vponupon the ſudden, vnprouided and vnfurniſhed of the oile of ſauing grace, and the light of an holy life, were excluded from the marriage feaſt, and depriued of the fruition of heauenly happines. To this end alſo tendeth the Parable of the wiſe and faithfull, and the euill and vnfaithfull Seruant; the one expecting daily his Maſters cōming, carrieth himſelfe in all his affaires, and towards his fellowes, ſo wiſely and honeſtly, as if his Maſter were alreadie preſent, and he is for his Matth 24. 45. Luk. 12. 42.reward pronounced bleſſed, and made Ruler of all his Maſter hath, for his fidelitie and care at his comming. The other being made ſecure, becauſe his Lord delayeth his comming, behaueth himſelfe ſo as though he thought he would neuer come, ſmiting his fellow ſeruants, and eating and drinking with the drunken, who is taken vponupon a ſudden by his Maſter, and in a day when he looketh not for him, and for his reward is cut off and appointed to hauehave his portion with the Hypocrites, where ſhall Luk. 12. 18, 19.be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. Finally, at this our Sauiour alſo aymeth in the Parable of the rich Man, who abounding in all prouiſion, and hauing more Corne and Fruits then roome to beſtow them in, giueth himſelfe to ſecure reſt and eaſe, ſaying to his Soule, Thou haſt much goods laid vp for many yeeres, take thine eaſe, eate, drinke, and be merry. But out of this ſecure ſlumber hee is quickly awakned with Gods voyce, ſaying; Thou Foole, this night thy ſoule ſhall be required of thee, and then whoſe ſhall thoſe things be which thou hast prouided?
§. 3 The examples of ſecuritie in others ſeuerely puniſhed, ought to be warnings vntounto vsus.
To this purpoſe our Sauiour alſo produceth examples, mouing vsus to bee wiſe by the experience of others harmes. As the example of Luk. 17. 26.thoſe who liued before the Flood, and of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who liued ſecurely in their ſinnes, eating and drinking, buying and ſelling, planting and building, marrying and giuing in marriage, as though they had beene free from all danger, and ſure that thoſe pleaſures would hauehave euer laſted. But the iſſue of this ſinfull ſecuritie was, that they were ſurpriſed with Gods fearefull Iudgements at vnawares; For no ſooner was Noah entred into the Arke, but the Flood came and drowned them all; and preſently after that Lot was gone out of Sodom, thoſe ſinfull and ſecure Cities with all their Inhabitants, were terribly conſumed with fire and brimſtone. And from both theſe Parables and Examples, the Lord raiſeth admonitions and inforceth exhortations, mouing vsus to ſhake off carnall ſecuritie, and being affected with Chriſtian feare, to ſtand carefully vponupon our watch, and to be inſtant in prayer, that we may be found readie at Chriſts appearing. Watch therefore, for you know not what houre your Lord doth Matth. 24. 42.come. And againe, Let your loynes be girded about, and your lights burning. Luk. 12. 35, 36.And ye your ſelues like vntounto them that wait for their Lord when hee will returne from the wedding, that when hee commeth and knocketh, they may open vntounto him immediately. Bleſſed are thoſe ſeruants, whom the Lord when he commeth, ſhall find watching, &c. And this know, that if the good man of the houſe had knowne what houre the Thiefe would come, he would hauehave watched, and not hauehave ſuffered his houſe to be broken thorow. Be therefore readie alſo; for the Sonne of Man commeth at an houre when ye thinke not. And elſewhere: Take you heed, watch and pray, for Mark. 13. 35, 36.ye know not when the time is, &c. leaſt comming ſuddenly, he find you ſleeping. By all which wee ſee the neceſſitie of an holy and religious feare, ſtirring vsus to watchfulneſſe, and the extreme danger of carnall ſecuritie. For if that bee not without much hazard and perill, and ought to bee carefully ſhunned of vsus, whereof our Sauiour giueth vsus once warning, then how jeaperdous and full of extreme danger is this carnall ſecuritie, and with how great care to bee auoyded of vsus, of which Chriſt giueth vsus ſo many warnings, as of nothing elſe more oft and earneſtly, in ſo many and ſuch great varietie of Parables, Examples and Admonitions. And withall, thus much is implyed hereby, that as this ſinne of ſecuritie is great and dangerous, ſo we are naturally moſt prone to be ouer-taken by it, which moueth our Sauiour to vſe ſo many and effectuall meanes to preſerue vsus from it, or to awaken vsus out of it, if wee bee alreadie fallen into this ſpirituall Lethargie.
§. 4 That Chriſts holy Apoſtles hauehave giuen vsus many warnings, to take heed of carnall ſecuritie.
With like care and earneſtneſſe, doe Chriſts holy Apoſtles admoniſh and warne vsus, to take heede of this dangerous and pernicious Rom. 13. 11, 12.ſinne of carnall ſecuritie. The Apoſtle Paul telleth vsus, that now it is high time to awake out of ſleepe, becauſe now our ſaluation is neerer then when wee beleeued, that is, then at our firſt conuerſion, when as wee begun to beleeue. And therefore as Runners for a prize, make moſt ſpeed when they come neereſt vntounto the Goale: ſo ſhould we be moſt carefull in ſhaking off all ſecuritie and ſloth, and in running ſwiftly in the Race of godlineſſe, when we approch to the Goale of bleſſednes: and exhorteth vsus, that ſeeing the Night is farre ſpent, and the Day is at Eph. 5. 14, 15.hand, we doe therefore caſt off the works of darkneſſe, and put on the Armour of light. And againe: Awake thou that ſleepeſt, and ariſe from 1. Theſ. 5. 6.the dead; and Chriſt ſhall giuegive thee light. See that yee walke circumſpectly, not as fooles but as wiſe, redeeming the time, becauſe the dayes are euill. And elſewhere: Let vsus not ſleepe as doe others, but let vsus watch and be ſober, &c. And becauſe we are alwayes in danger, he would hauehave vsus to be at no time retchleſſe and ſecure, but ſeeing we hauehave innumerable enemies euer readie to aſſault vsus, he exhorteth vsus to hauehave continually the whole Armour of God faſt buckled vntounto vsus, that we may be able Eph. 6. 11:to ſtand against the wiles of the Deuill. So the Apoſtle Peter vponupon the ſame ground, exhorteth vsus to ſhake off carnall ſecuritie, and to ſtand ſtill vponupon our guard with all care and watchfulneſſe. Bee ſober (ſaith he) be vigilant, becauſe your aduerſarie the Deuill, as a roring Lion walketh 1. Pet. 5. 8, 9.about, ſeeking whom he may deuoure; whom reſist ſteadfast in the Faith.
§. 5 That carnall ſecuritie is a moſt dangerous ſickneſſe of the ſoule.
But that wee may bee moued to abhor this ſinne of carnall ſecuritie with greater hatred, let vsus further conſider, that it is a moſt fearefull and pernicious vice, which hath in it all relations of ill, being not only in it ſelfe exceeding euil, but alſo the cauſe of many & grieuous euils. In it ſelfe it is a diſeaſe of the ſoule moſt dangerous and deſperate, vnleſſe it be cured by vnfayned repentance; for there is no diſeaſe more pernicious to the ſpirituall Patient, ſicke in ſinne, then the ſtone in heart, or if you will an heart of ſtone; no ſtone ſo hard and hardly broken. For though the voyce of the Lord bee ſo powerfull and full of Maieſtie, that it breaketh the Cedars, ſhaketh the earth and maketh it to tremble; yea, renteth the Rocks, turning them into a ſtanding water, Pſal. 29. 4, 5. & 114. 8. Num. 20. 11.and the Flint it ſelfe into a Fountaine of waters, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh; yet it moueth not the ſecure and ſtonie heart, nor reſolueth it into the teares of repentance; and therefore we reade that when the Word of God by the Prophet was ſo mightie, that it claue inſunder the ſtonie Altar, yet the more hard and ſtonie heart of Ieroboam, was not at all 1. King. 13.affected and pierced with it; but notwithſtanding all Gods terrible Threatnings he goeth on ſecurely in his ſinne. It is (as the Prophet calleth it) that Spirit of deepe ſleepe, which cloſeth vp mens eyes, and depriueth them of the ſpirituall vſe of their ſenſes and vnderſtanding, making the Viſion and Word of the Lord, as the words of a Booke which is Eſa. 29. 9, 10, 11.ſealed; ſo as Gods Miniſters may complayne of ſuch, as hee doth in the ſame place, that they are drunken, but not with wine; they ſtagger, but not with ſtrong drinke. Neither is it an ordinarie ſleepe, but that dangerous Lethargie of the ſoule, which maketh men as vnfit to all holy duties and ſpirituall exerciſes, as death it ſelfe makes them vnapt and vnable to performe any naturall or morall actions. It is the Deuils cradle, in which he lulleth men aſleepe, ſo as he may do with them what he pleaſeth; that deadly ſtinging Viper which bringeth them into the deepe ſlumber of death and deſtruction; and that Cart of Hell, which in the darke night of Ignorance, carrieth quietly and without noyſe, huge multitudes into the Pit of euerlaſting death. Finally, it is that Circes, that Syren, that Witch, which transformeth men into bruit beaſts, and depriueth them not onelyonly of all grace, but euen of naturall reaſon and vnderſtanding. It is a ſeeming peace, more Nimia ſecuritas mentis tempeſtas eſt. Gregor. in Moral.dangerous then any warre; and in outward appearance a quiet calme, but in truth the moſt perillous tempeſt, in which many millions of ſoules doe ſuffer ſhipwracke, and ſinke into the gulfe of endleſſe perdition.
§. 6 That carnall ſecuritie is a diſeaſe hardly cured.
And as this ſecuritie is a dangerous and grieuous diſeaſe, ſo in this reſpect it is the more pernicious, becauſe it is hardly cured, and that in a double reſpect; firſt, becauſe inſenſible diſeaſes are in themſelues moſt deſperate, as the Lethargie, dead palſie, apoplexie. And euen in acute ſickneſſes, as Feauers and burning Agues, we account the patient moſt hopeleſſe and helpleſſe, when as he is paſt feeling of his ſickneſſe. Thus alſo the wounded members are moſt hardly cured, when by much effuſion of blood and ſpirits they are become ſtiffe and benummed. And whereas greene wounds, which are moſt ſharpe and painfull to ſenſe, are ſoone healed; thoſe which are full of dead fleſh, gangrened or turned into Cankers, as they are freeſt from payne, ſo are they furtheſt from curing. And thus it alſo fareth with thoſe who are ſpiritually ſicke, and wounded with the ſores of ſinne; the more ſenſible they are of their griefe, the more hope there is of their recouerie; and contrariwiſe, the more ſenſeleſſe and ſtupid, the more hardly can they be reſtored to their ſpirituall health. For as Auguſtine ſaith, Quod non dolet non pro ſano, ſed pro …ortuo computandum. Auguſt.that wound which payneth not, is not to bee eſteemed ſound, but dead. Secondly, becauſe he who is not ſenſible of his diſeaſe, thinking himſelfe alreadie well enough, doth vſe no meanes whereby hee may be recouered; the which is alſo the condition of thoſe who are ſicke of this ſenſeleſſe ſecuritie; they thinke they are in good caſe, rich in all things, and hauehave need of nothing, as we ſee in the example of the Angell of the Church of Laodicea; and therefore ſeeke not to better their Apoc. 3. 17.eſtate till God open their eyes, and giueth them the ſight and ſenſe of their pouertie and wretchedneſſe. In which regard we may fitly ſay to thoſe who are ſicke of this ſecuritie, as Bernard to Eugenius, there is Nihil plus metuo tibi pace iſta. lib. 1. de Gonſid.no greater cauſe of feare, then ſuch peace and quiet.
§. 7 That carnall ſecuritie is the cauſe of all ſinne.
But as this ſecuritie is in it ſelfe euill and ſinfull, ſo is it the cauſe of all euill, and that both the euill of ſinne, and alſo the euill of puniſhment. Pro. 13. 14.For as the feare of God reſtrayneth thoſe who are indued with it from all wickedneſſe, and as the wiſe Man ſpeaketh, is like the Wellſprings of life to make vsus flee from, and eſcape the ſnares of death; ſo this carnall ſecuritie keepeth open houſe for all impietie and ſinne, whileſt the ſecure perſon preſumeth not onelyonly of impunitie, notwithſtanding that he fatteth himſelfe with the pleaſures of ſinne, but alſo promiſeth vntounto his ſoule the long fruition of his preſent proſperitie, and afterwards the perpetuall poſſeſſion of euerlaſting happineſſe. So the Pſalmiſt ſaith, that the workers of iniquitie boasted themſelues in their wickedneſſe, Pſal. 94. 4, 5, 6.broke in pieces the Lords people, and afflicted his heritage, murthered the Widdow, Stranger and Fatherleſſe, ſaying, the Lord ſhall not ſee, neither ſhall the God of Iacob regard it. And the Prophet telleth vsus, that Babylon liued in all voluptuouſneſſe, ſecurely preſuming that ſhee ſhould be a Queene for euer and ſee no euill. Thus Abraham Eſa. 49.concludeth, that the Egyptians were fit for Rapes, Murther, and all outragious wickedneſſe, becauſe there was no feare of God in the Land. Gen. 20. 11.And the Apoſtle hauing ſet downe a Catalogue of many grieuous ſinnes; ſetteth downe this as the mother ſinne and cauſe of all the reſt, that there was no feare of God before their eyes.Rom. 3. 18.
§. 8 That ſecuritie emptieth the heart of all grace, and prepareth and maketh it fit to receiue Satan, with all his tentations.
For ſecuritie which emptieth the heart of all feare of God, not onelyonly encourageth the fleſh to goe on in all ſinful courſes, which will yeeld vntounto it delight, profit or preferment, becauſe there is no feare of danger, and entertayneth all the tentations of the World, which bring with them any carnall contentment, but alſo ſetteth the doore of our hearts wide open to let in Satan, and maketh way for all his tentations. For when this euill ſpirit and enemie of our ſaluation, would lay more firme and ſure hold of ſuch as he alreadie poſſeſſeth, hee departeth for a time, as though by the power of Gods Word and Spirit, he Matt. 12. 43, 44.were caſt out and vanquiſhed. But when hereby he hath made them ſecure and retchleſſe, he returneth againe, and finding his houſe (that is their hearts) emptie and cleane ſwept, with this beeſom of carnall ſecuritie, of all ſpirituall graces, and garniſhed with all vices, which are the ornaments in which hee moſt delighteth, Hee taketh with him ſeuen other ſpirits, more wicked then himſelfe, and they enter in and dwell there, and ſo the last ſtate of that man is worſe then the firſt. So that if ſecuritie hath firſt taken vp the roome, Satan may at his pleaſure make an entrance and get an eaſie victorie. For as in ciuill affaires, nothing doth more expoſe a ſtate to deſperate danger, then when through proſperitie and eaſe it becommeth ſecure, fearing no enemie, nor ſuſpecting the approch of any euill, as the ſtories of Troy, Babylon, Carthage, Rome, and many others, doe make it manifeſt; ſo nothing doth more endanger our ſoules, to be ſacked and ſpoyled of all grace, by our ſpirituall enemies, then when being taken vp with ſloth and ſecuritie, we feare no danger. So that the Deuill, World and Fleſh, intending to aſſault vsus (as the Danites, the men of Laiſh) may encourage Iud. 18. 7. 10.one another with aſſured hope of victorie, becauſe they are to fight againſt ſuch as are quiet and ſecure, and therefore eaſie to bee ouercome. For this ſecuritie is the mother of Sloth and Negligence, making men not to regard their enemies ſtrength and malice, nor their owne danger; and conſequently, to omit all meanes of their owne ſafetie. Yea, not onelyonly doe our ſpirituall enemies thus finally vanquiſh the veſſells of wrath prepared to deſtruction; but oftentimes Ad vnius horae ebrietat…m nudat faemora quae per 600. annos ſobrietate contexerat. Hieron. ad Ocean.foyle and leade captiue vntounto ſinne Gods deereſt ſeruants, as wee ſee in the example of Noah, who perſiſted in his iuſtice and integritie in time of danger, but when the Flood was paſt, and he ſecured from all feare, he is foyled by Satan in his owne familie. So Lot who ſtood in his vprightneſſe, when he liued in danger among the Sodomites, fell ſhamefully in the ſole companie of his owne daughters. And Dauid, who in the time of his perſecution by Saul, was a patterne of pietie, when hee walked ſecurely on the Roofe of his Kingly Palace, was tempted and ouercome. But yet this ſecuritie ariſing from outward cauſes, doth not ſo much endanger vsus, as that which ariſeth from an opinion of our owne ſtrength, and the weakneſſe of our ſpirituall enemies, becauſe we hauehave gotten the better of them in ſome conflicts. For it maketh vsus to neglect the chiefe pillar of our ſtrength, the power and prouidence of God, and all good meanes, whereby wee might bee enabled to ſtand in the day of battaile; and ſo encourageth our enemies to aſſault and ſet vponupon vsus, and weakneth our hands in making reſiſtance. Whereby Saepe quem tentationis certamen ſuperare non valuit, ſua deterius ſecuritas ſtrauit, &c. Greg. in Moral. Saepe mens dum virtutis ſuae ſecuritate reſoluitur infidiante aduerſario inopinatae culpae telo perforatur. ibid.(as one ſaith) oftentimes it commeth to paſſe, that he whom the conflict of tentation could not ouercome, is ſhamefully foyled by his owne ſecuritie. And the mind becomming looſe and negligent in ſecuritie of its owne vertue, is pierced and wounded with the weapon of an vnexpected fault by our treacherous enemie. And this is the cauſe, why the Lord continually exerciſeth his ſeruants in the ſpirituall warfare, and ſuffereth the enemies of their ſaluation to skirmiſh with them, that they may bee preſerued from ſecuritie, which is farre more dangerous then any warre. And as Scipio wiſely aduiſed in the Senate, that Carthage ſhould not vtterly bee deſtroyed, leſt the Romanes with too much peace and ſecuritie, ſhould become ſlothfull and effeminate, and ſo bee eaſily ſubdued by ſome other enemies: ſo the Lord would not giuegive vsus a full victorie ouer our ſpirituall enemies, but ſuffereth them (though with ouer-ruled and abated forces) to skirmiſh with vsus, that we may not become ſlothfull and ſecure, and ſo expoſed to more danger. And thus wee ſee, that carnall ſecuritie is in it ſelfe a dangerous euill and grieuous ſinne, the which ſhould moue vsus with vnreconciliable hatred to abhor and make warre againſt it; neuer being at reſt, till by the vſe of thoſe good meanes which God hath ſanctified for this purpoſe, wee hauehave baniſhed it out of our hearts, and in ſtead of it, eſtabliſhed in them the true feare of God.