A Guide to Godliness, Book 1 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Where is ſhewed that carnall ſecuritie is the cauſe of many fearefull puniſhments.
§. 1 That carnall ſecuritie depriueth of Gods fauour and protection, and diſpoyleth vsus of all ſpirituall grace.
BVt that we may be moued to purſue this Vice with more deadly hatred, and more carefully vſe all good meanes to be armed againſt it, let vsus now further conſider, that as it is the euill of ſinne, and the cauſe thereof, as hath beene ſhewed; ſo alſo it is the cauſe of the euill of puniſhment; yea, it ſelfe is alſo a puniſhment of other ſinnes. Concerning the former: This ſecuritie expoſeth vsus to many euills both priuatiue and poſitiue. For it depriueth vsus of Gods aſſiſtance in the day of tentation, whileſt it blindeth our eyes, that we cannot ſee the want of his helpe, hardneth our hearts that we cannot deſire it, and ſhutteth our mouthes that wee cannot craue it by our feruent prayers. It diſpoyleth vsus of the rich furniture of Gods ſauing graces, by cauſing vsus to neglect, or formally and coldly to vſe the meanes whereby they ſhould be nouriſhed and increaſed, as hearing the Word, Reading, Meditating, Prayer, and the reſt, preſuming that we are well enough, ſafe, and in good eſtate without them; whereupon muſt needs follow their languiſhing and decaying, if this ſecuritie be ſtill cheriſhed in vsus. For the ſtrongeſt bodies will waxe faint and weake, if they bee depriued of their food whereby they ſhould bee nouriſhed. The greateſt flame and fire will ſoone goe out, if it be not fed with a new ſupply of fuell and kept in by blowing. The greateſt ſtate will ſoone bee conſumed, if men lauiſhly ſpend vponupon the ſtocke, and vſe no meanes to adde vntounto it. The beſt Vines will grow wild, and bring vnripe and ſowre Grapes, if they be neglected and be not pruned and well ordered. The moſt fruitfull ground, will in ſtead of good Graine, bring forth weeds, Thornes and Thiſtles, if it be not husbanded and manured. And thus it fareth with vsus in our ſpirituall eſtate, our ſtrength of grace will turne vntounto weakneſſe, if in our ſecuritie we thinke our ſelues ſo ſtrong, that wee need not to cheriſh them with the ſpirituall Manna, and meanes of grace and ſaluation. The fire of the Spirit will bee extinguiſhed, if wee caſt vponupon it this cold water of ſecuritie, and doe not continually re-enliue it by blowing vponupon it, and ſtirre vp the gifts and graces of God in vsus, as Paul exhorteth Timothy. Wee ſhall ſoone breake and 2. Tim. 1. 6.bee banke-rupted in our ſpirituall ſtate, if thinking with the Laodiceans, Apoc. 3. 17.that we are rich enough and hauehave need of nothing, we neglect the meanes whereby the mayne ſtocke of Gods graces may be preſerued and increaſed in vsus. Wee ſhall like degenerate Vines, in ſtead of ſweet, bring forth nothing but ſowre Grapes, if we neglect the continuall purging and pruning of our ſelues from our ſuperfluous luſts, and doe not preſerue our hearts well ordered and in the feare of God. Finally, in ſtead of the fruits of Vertue, we ſhall breed and bring forth nothing but the weeds of Vice and Sinne, if we neglect our ſpirituall huſbandrie, breake not vp the fallow grounds of our hearts, weed them not of thornie cares, manure them not by the vſe of all good meanes, whereby they may bee made rich and fertile, and ſow not in them the good ſeed of Gods Word, which will bring forth in vsus the fruits of Holineſſe and Righteouſneſſe.
§. 2 Of ſome ſpeciall graces whereof carnall ſecuritie depriueth vsus.
More particularly, our light of knowledge will ſoone grow dimme, if we ſecurely content our ſelues with that we hauehave, and doe not more illuminate our vnderſtanding by the light of Gods Word, from which (as the light of the Moone from the Sunne) it was firſt borrowed. Or elſe, if it remayne quicke and ſharpe in theorie and ſpeculation, it will waxe vaine and vnprofitable in reſpect of vſe, and no way further but rather hinder vsus in the wayes of godlineſſe. Our faith will become faint, if through ſecuritie we careleſly neglect the meanes of Hearing, Rom. 10. 17. 1. Tim. 1. 5.Reading, Praying, &c. ſeeing it is nurſed and cheriſhed by the ſame meanes, by which it was bred and borne in vsus. Our louelove will waxe cold and fruitleſſe, if wee grow ſecure and ſluggiſh with the Spouſe in the Canticles, neglecting to ſee and ſeeke the face of our Beloued in Cant. 5. 2. 6.the vſe of his holy Ordinances, to harken to his Voyce, not meditating on his infinite louelove, wherewith hee hath loued vsus: vponupon which cooling of our affection towards him, he will withdraw himſelfe, and hide from vsus his louing Countenance (as it is in the ſame place) and ſo wee ſhall alſo loſe the ſweet and comfortable ſenſe and feeling of his louelove in our hearts, till wee hauehave ſhaken off our carnall ſecuritie, and hauehave diligently ſought his face and fauour by renuing our faith and repentance. Our affiance in God will ſoone languiſh, if we either ſecurely flatter our ſelues with a conceit that wee are out of danger, or hauehave ſtrength in our owne hands to preuent or ouer-come it, neither can we catch ſure hold of this ſtaffe of our ſtrength, till wee ſee what need we hauehave of it, and hauehave caſt out of our hands the brittle Reede of our owne abilities. Our feare of God will quickly fayle and giuegive place, if wee nouriſh ſecuritie, which is an vtter enemie and oppoſite vntounto it; for contraties, without meane, cannot be in their ſtrength and vigour in the ſame ſubiect at the ſame time; and if wee neglect, through this ſecuritie, the meanes and cauſes of Gods feare, as the meditating on his Power, Preſence, and Prouidence, his Mercy, Iuſtice, Goodneſſe, Truth; it muſt needs follow, that it ſelfe will decay in vsus. Our patience will be enfeebled, when as wee preſume that wee are ſafe from all trialls and tentations, or ſecurely reſting on our owne ſtrength, as ſufficient to ouer-come them, we hauehave neglected to gather Arguments of comfort and conſolation againſt the day of affliction. Finally, our prayers will grow cold and formall, vnchearfull and heartleſſe, when by our ſecuritie wee are made inſenſible of our wants, and are in no feare of approching euills.
§. 3 That Gods Spirit will not dwell in a ſecure heart.
And as this ſecuritie depriueth vsus of all ſauing grace: ſo alſo of the good Spirit of God, which is the author and fountaine of them. For 1. Theſ. 5. 19.it cauſeth vsus, through ſloth and negligence to quench the good motions of the Spirit, either perſwading vsus to the preformance of good duties, or to ſhunne and auoide vice and ſinne, whileſt wee neglect to put in practice, the things vntounto which it mooueth vsus: And ſo vexing Eph. 4. 30.and grieuing this holy gueſt, wee make him weary of his lodging, and willing to depart from vsus. For, as ſecuritie maketh way for the euill ſpirit to enter into our hearts, when as it ſweepeth it cleane of all vertue, and garniſheth it with vice and ſinfull corruptions: ſo it maketh the good Spirit to remoue and depart, being in all things moſt oppoſite vntounto it. And as the fire is extinguiſhed when as we doe not blow and cheriſh it, or if wee ſtop the vent ſo as it cannot flame out, and ſmother it in its owne ſmoke; ſo we doe extinguiſh the fire of Gods Spirit, when through ſecuritie we neglect to vſe the meanes whereby it is nouriſhed, or will not let it blaze and flame out in the actions of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe.
§. 4 That Carnall ſecuritie depriueth vsus of eternall happines.
Neither doth it only depriue vsus of grace in this life, but alſo of glorie and happineſſe in the life to come. For this crowne and garland 1. Cor. 9. 23, 24. Apoc. 2. 10. & 3. 21.of euerlaſting bleſſedneſſe, is not promiſed to ſlothfull loyterers, but vntounto them that ſtriue for it, to wraſtlers that contend for maſterie, to runners that runne in the Spirituall race, that hold out to the end, to thoſe that fight in the Chriſtian warfare, and neuer giuegive ouer the field till they hauehave obtained victorie. This gate of life is not opened to thoſe that ſlothfully ſit ſtill, and ſecurely content themſelues with their preſent ſtate, not caring whether they goe in or no; but vntounto thoſe that ſtriue Matth. 7. 13. & 11. 12.to enter into it, and vſe a kind of holy violence, that they may preſſe in, and not be in danger of being put backe. Saluation belongeth not to thoſe, who are careleſſe and ſecure in the vſe of the meanes whereby it may bee had, but to ſuch as worke it out with feare and trembling. Theſe mariage joyes are not prepared for ſuch fooliſh Phil. 2. 12.virgins as ſleepe in ſecuritie, and take no care to bee found in readineſſe; but for the wiſe, who not knowing when the Bridegroome Matth. 25. 10.will come, doe ſtand vponupon their watch, and hauehave their lampes of Faith clearely burning, and giuing out the light of a godly life. And therefore Nemo duri cordis ſalutem vnquam adeptus eſt, &c. Bernard. ad Eugen. lib. 1. Ezech. 11. 29. & 36. 26.(as one ſayth) there was neuer any of an hard and ſecure heart that obtained ſaluation, vnleſſe God hauing mercy vponupon him, hath taken away his ſtonie heart from him, and giuen him an heart of fleſh, as the Prophet ſpeaketh.
§. 5 That Carnall ſecuritie expoſeth vsus to poſitiue euils, and firſt to all dangers.
And thus we ſee that Carnall ſecuritie depriueth vsus of all good in this life and the life to come. But beſides this priuation of good, it doth alſo expoſe vsus poſitiuely to all euill. As firſt, it maketh vsus ſubject to all dangers, and that in diuers reſpects. Firſt, meritoriouſly and deſeruedly it being juſt with God, that they ſhould not bee ſhaded vnderunder the wings of his prouidence, who hauehave no awfull reſpect of his preſence, but are careleſſe and vnconſcionable in all their wayes. Secondly, becauſe they are improuident and negligent in the vſing of any meanes, whereby they may be preuented, either prayer vntounto God for his protection, or repentance for ſinne, which hath indangered them to Gods Iudgements, or Chriſtian prudence, in fore-caſting what euils may befall them, or if they happen, how they may preuent them. In which regard, it is no more ſtrange for ſecure men to fall into miſchiefe, then to ſee a man, who hauing blind-folded himſelfe, and runneth he careth not whither with head-long haſte, or that walketh in his ſleepe, to ſtumble at blocks in his way, or to fall into Pits and Ditches. Thirdly, becauſe they alwayes lye open vntounto their ſpirituall enemies, and encourage them with their ſecure careleſneſſe to ſet vponupon them, becauſe before the aſſault they are ſure of victorie. Fourthly, becauſe giuing themſelues to ſloth and eaſe, they neglect to buckle the Chriſtian Armour vponupon them, whereby they might be inabled to reſiſt their enemies in the day of conflict. And laſtly, becauſe they who through ſecuritie are deſtitute of the feare of God, endanger themſelues to all things elſe which are to bee feared; and howſoeuer they are void of all feare in the time of proſperitie; yet when the things they neuer feared fall vponupon them, they are ſo amazed and aſtoniſhed with approching dangers, and ſo depriued of all courage to reſiſt, or counſaile to auoid them; that they doe through exceſſiue feare ineuitably Nunquam ſecura debet eſſe foelicitas, quia periculoſiora ſunt animo ſecura, quam corpori aduerſa &c. Aug. in Sent. T. 3. c. 1059. Qui praeſumit minus veretur, minus praecauet, plus periclitatur, &c. Tertul. de cultu Foemin. pag. 407.fall into many of them, which they might hauehave eſcaped, if they had feared ſeaſonably, and prouidently fore-ſeene them before they hapned. In which reſpect, one ſaith, that our proſperitie ought neuer to bee ſecure; becauſe ſecuritie is more dangerous to our mind, then aduerſitie to our body. For things proſperous doe firſt corrupt vsus, before thoſe which are aduerſe, can breake and hurt vsus. And another Father giueth the reaſon of this danger, Becauſe he that ſecurely preſumeth feareth not, and ſo is leſſe cautelous and prouident, and thereby more apt to fall into danger. Feare is the foundation of health and ſafetie; and preſumption the impediment of feare. And therefore it is more profitable if we feare that we may fall, for by fearing we ſhall take heed, and taking heed we ſhall eſcape.
§. 6 That carnall ſecuritie expoſeth vsus to Gods fearfull Iudgements.
Secondly, this carnall ſecuritie bringeth vponupon vsus Gods fearefull Iudgements, as appeareth by many teſtimonies of Scriptures, wherein Deut. 19. 19, 20, 21.they are denounced, and many examples of ſecure ſinners, vponupon whom they hauehave beene inflicted. So the Lord threatneth, that if any hearing the words of the Curſe recorded in the Booke of the Law, doe bleſſe himſelfe in his heart, ſaying, I ſhall hauehave peace though I walke in the imagination of my heart, to adde drunkenneſſe vntounto thirſt; hee will not ſpare him, but then his anger and jealouſie ſhall ſmoke againſt that man, and all the curſes that are written in that Booke ſhall lye vponupon him, and the Lord ſhall blot out his name from vnderunder Heauen; and the Lord ſhall ſeparate him vntounto euill. Thus, becauſe the Rulers of Ieruſalem ſaid, We Eſa. 28. 15, 18.hauehave made a couenant with Death, and with Hell are wee at agreement, when the ouerflowing ſcourge ſhall paſſe through, it ſhall not come vntounto vsus; for wee hauehave made lyes our refuge, and vnderunder falſhood hauehave wee hid our ſelues; therefore the Lord threatneth, that their couenant with Death ſhall be diſanulled, and their agreement with Hell ſhall not ſtand, and that when the ouerflowing ſcourge ſhall paſſe through, they ſhould be trodden downe by it. So becauſe the reſidue of Iſrael, liuing in great iniquitie, blood and peruerſneſſe, ſaid in their ſecuritie; The Lord hath forſaken Ezech. 9. 9, 10.the Earth and ſeeth not; the Lord threatneth that his eye ſhould not ſpare them, and that he would hauehave no pitie, but would recompence their way vponupon their head. Thus the more careleſſe and ſecure the Iewes were in examining their wicked works and wayes, ſaying in their hearts; The Lord will doe neither good nor euill, the more curiouſly Zeph. 1. 12, 13.he threatneth to ſearch them out, and to puniſh them with greater ſeueritie; the which hee implyeth by that borrowed ſpeech, that hee would ſearch Ieruſalem with Candles, and puniſh the men that were ſetled on their lees, making their goods to become a booty, and their houſes a deſolation. So, becauſe Babylon liued in her ſinnes with great ſecuritie, and promiſed vntounto her ſelfe impunitie, and the continuance of her proſperitie, the Lord denounceth thoſe iudgements againſt her, Eſa. 47. 8.from which ſpecially ſhee bleſſed her ſelfe, euen loſſe of Soueraigntie, ſlaughter and deſolation: the which is alſo threatned againſt the Anti-type the Romiſh Babylon, and in Gods good time ſhall be inflicted. Apoc. 18. 7, 8.And thus doe ſecure ſinners who through hardneſſe of their heart cannot repent, treaſure vp for themſelues wrath againſt the day of wrath, and Rom. 2. 5, 6.the reuelation of the righteous iudgement of God, who will render vntounto eueryevery man according to his deeds.
§. 7 The former point illuſtrated by examples.
This alſo is cleere and euident by the examples of former times; for thus the old World, and Sodom and Gomorrah, liuing ſecurely in Luk. 17. 25, 28.their ſinnes without repentance, eating and drinking, buying and ſelling, building and planting, marrying and giuing in marriage; were deſtroyed with Gods fearefull Iudgements of Fire and Water. So the Iewes, when they ſecurely bleſſed themſelues in their proſperitie, and drowned the voyce of the Lords Heralds, denouncing warre, with Ier. 6. 142their lowder crie of peace, peace, were vanquiſhed by their enemies, and led into a miſerable captiuitie. Thus Belſhazzar was attached in Dan. 5.the middeſt of his cups, and being in his chiefe pollity, feaſting his Princes and Concubines, and farre off from all danger, his ruine is written by a finger vponupon the Wall, and ſoone after executed and accompliſhed. And as this hath beene the condition of ſecure men in time paſt; ſo is it now, and ſhall be to the end of the World, and euen at the end of it; For when they ſhall ſay peace and ſafetie, then ſudden deſtruction ſhall come vponupon them, as trauaile vponupon a Woman with 1. Theſ. 5. 3.child, and they ſhall not eſcape, as the Apoſtle telleth vsus. In which regard the eſtate of ſecure men, flouriſhing in proſperitie, is like the ſtate of the fatted Oxe that is led to ſlaughter, who is as ſecure and far from feare, as he was in fore-times, when he was led to the paſture; or of the ſilly Bird, which feedeth ſecurely on the bait, when the Net is readie to bee pulled vponupon her; or of the Drunkard, of which the wiſe Man ſpeaketh, who ſleepeth ſecurely in the midſt of the Sea, or as hee lyeth vponupon the top of the Maſt, readie to bee blowne ouer Hatches Pro. 23. 34.in eueryevery Tempeſt.
§. 8 That carnall ſecuritie plungeth men into euerlaſting condemnation.
But moſt fearfull is the eſtate of ſecure men, in reſpect of that fearefull condemnation, which they plunge themſelues into, in the World to come. When as they ſhall not onelyonly be depriued of heauenly ioyes, but be alſo for euer tormented with helliſh torments. As we ſee in the example of the retchleſſe and ſecure ſeruant, whoſe Lord came in a day when he looked not for him, and in an houre that he was not aware of, and not onelyonly depriued him of the reward giuen to the faithfull ſeruant, whom hee found well imployed, but alſo cut him off, and appointed Matt. 24. 50, 51.him his portion with hypocrites, where ſhall bee weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. Neither ſhall they bee ſubiect onelyonly to ordinarie puniſhments and tortures in this helliſh condemnation (though the leaſt in this kind bee fearfull and intolerable) but as they hauehave more ſecurely wallowed themſelues in carnall and worldly pleaſures, preſuming that they ſhould alwayes laſt, the more exquiſitely ſhall they bee tormented; as we ſee by that fearfull ſentence pronounced againſt the Whore of Babylon, the Antichriſt of Rome. How much ſhe hath glorifieth her Apoc. 18. 7.ſelfe and liued deliciouſly, ſo much torment and ſorrow giuegive her: For ſhee ſaith in her heart, I ſit a Queene and am no widdow, and ſhall ſee no ſorrow. For if the Lord obſerueth ſuch a iuſt proportion in executing iudgement, according to the Law of requitall in this life: How much more Lex tallonis.may ſhee, and all other of her condition, expect it in the laſt iudgement, when there ſhall be no further day of vengeance taken, but eueryevery ſinner ſhall be puniſhed to the full, according to the qualitie and quantitie of his ſinnes?
§. 9 That carnall ſecuritie is a fearful puniſhment of other ſinnes.
Finally, as this carnall ſecuritie is in it ſelfe ſinfull, the cauſe of ſinne and the cauſe of puniſhment: ſo (that we may know that there is no relation or reſpect of euill wanting in it) it ſelfe alſo is a fearful puniſhment of other ſinnes. For when we not onelyonly put out the ſmall ſparks of the light of nature remayning in vsus, and put to ſilence our owne conſciences, accuſing vsus for ſinne; but alſo ſtriue againſt Gods Spirit, and quench the good motions thereof, either mouing vsus to good or reſtrayning vsus from euill; then it is iuſt with God to giuegive vsus vp vntounto our Gen. 6. 3.owne luſts, ſeeing we will needs ſerue them, and not let his ſpirit alwayes ſtriue with vsus; to blind our minds and vnderſtandings (not by putting out our eyes, but) by with-holding the light of his holy Spirit, whereby alone they are illuminated; to harden our hearts (not by infuſion of corruption) but leauing them to their owne naturall hardneſſe, and denying to giuegive the Oyle of his grace, whereby they might be ſoftned, and to cauſe the many wounds which we hauehave giuen vntounto our conſciences, to take away the ſenſe and feeling of it, and ſo turne vntounto a deadly Gangrene or incurable Canker. So Auguſtine ſaith, that Iuſtiſsima poena vt qui ſciens rectum non facit, ami…at ſcire quod rectum. De lib. Arbit. lib. 3.it is a iuſt puniſhment from God, that hee who knoweth to doe well and doth it not, ſhould alſo be depriued of the knowledge of well-doing. Thus when the Gentiles ſinned in the higheſt kind againſt their conſciences, and knowing the true God by the light of nature, and by reading in the great Booke of the Creatures, did not worſhip him as God, but fell into grieuous Idolatrie, and committed ſpiritual Whoredome with all the Creatures; the Lord (as the Apoſtle ſaith) that they might receiue (foreign) that recompence Rom. 1. 27.of reward which was due vntounto their willfull error, gaue them ouer to their owne vaine imaginations, to become Fooles, to the vncleane luſts of their owne hearts and vile affections, and to a reprobate mind, to commit ſinne with greedineſſe, and without any ſenſe or feeling. So when the Iewes would take no warning neither by Gods Words nor Works, but wearied his Prophets with ſpeaking vntounto them, and himſelfe with ſmiting and correcting them; ſo that he excuſeth his neglect of fatherly chaſtiſements, becauſe hee found them vnprofitable and bootleſſe: Wherefore ſhould you be ſtricken any more; ſeeing yee will reuolt Eſa. 1. 5.more and more. At laſt, as a reward and iuſt puniſhment of their impenitency, hee giueth them vp to their blindneſſe of mind, carnall ſecuritie and hardneſſe of heart. Goe, and tell this people; heare yee indeed, Eſa. 6. 9, 10.but vnderſtand not; and ſee yee indeed, but perceiue not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their eares heauy, and ſhut their eyes; leſt they ſee with their eyes, and heare with their eares, and vnderſtand with their heart, and conuert and be healed. Thus when they liued in vniuſtice and Zach. 1. 10, 11, 12.oppreſſion, and would ſhew no mercy, nor harken to Gods Prophets calling them to repentance, their hearts alſo became as hard as the Adamant ſtone. And thus the Lord threatneth, that hee will bring diſtreſſe Zeph. 1. 17.vponupon them, and make them to walke like blind men, without light of comfort, or ſight of vnderſtanding, becauſe they had ſinned againſt him. And this of all other puniſhments, inflicted in this life, is moſt grieuous and fearfull, and therefore with greateſt care to bee auoyded. For other puniſhments, being ſanctified by Gods Spirit to our vſe, doe open our eyes, but this ſhutteth and maketh them ſtarke blind; others make vsus to flee vntounto God, and draw neere vntounto him for eaſe and comfort, but this maketh vsus to flee further from him, as though we needed not his helpe. Others bruiſe our hearts and make them contrite, cauſing them of ſtone to become fleſh; but this doth more and more harden them (as froſt doth the water which it conuerteth into Ice) and of fleſh maketh them to become ſtone. Other afflictions doe helpe to cure our ſpirituall ſores, and to draw out the Core of our corruptions, but this makes them to rot and feſter, by neglecting thoſe holeſome ſalues, whereby they ſhould be healed. Others refine vsus, like good mettall, in the fiery furnace, and like Files doe ſcowre away our ruſt, but this maketh vsus to ruſt the more, and couereth vsus ouer with filth and droſſe. Others make vsus crie out vntounto God by prayer, and more diligent in his Eſa. 26. 16.ſeruice, this ſhutteth our mouthes that wee cannot, and hardneth our hearts that wee will not call vponupon him, and maketh vsus to neglect all good duties. Others correct vsus and make vsus better, this corrupts and Heb. 8. 12. Apoc. 3. 19. 2. Tim. 2. 12. & 3. 12. Act. 14. 22.makes vsus worſe. Finally, they are the way to Gods Kingdome, for we muſt ſuffer with Chriſt before we can raigne in him; yea, they helpe vsus forward in the way of Righteouſneſſe, that leadeth vntounto Happineſſe, and ſo, as the Apoſtle ſaith, cauſe vntounto vsus a farre moſt excellent and eternall 2. Cor. 4. 17.waight of glorie; but this puniſhment of carnall ſecuritie and hardneſſe of heart, doth make vsus vtterly to neglect this way, and thruſteth vsus into the broad way that leadeth to deſtruction.