Remains of Joseph Alleine, Treatise 3
DEUTERONOMY 32. 46.
And he said unto them, set your hearts unto all the words which I testisie among you this day.
THe words foregoing my Text are called the Song of Moses, what is storied of the Swan is made good in the Saints; they sing sweetest when they are about to die. It is said of Christ, that never man spake like to him, and he never spake more like himself than a little before his passion. What tender words, what yearning, melting bowels, what endearedness of affection doth he express to his poor sorrowfull Disciples in the 15, 16, 17. Chapters of John? There is (saith One of the Ancients) more worth in these three Chapters than in all the Books in the world. Moses, that famous servant of God, Israels guide, Prophet, Governour, Father, Husband, being about to take his leave of that perverse, stiff-necked people, begins to sing of Mercy and Judgment. And he sings sweetly in the ears of God, but dolefully, I doubt in the ears of Israel. Having ended his Song, he doth enforce both it and the Counsels given in the duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page foregoing Chapter with this vehement exhortation in the words of my Text. Set your hearts &c.
By [All these words] we are to understand not onelyonly the mercies and judgments spoken of in this Chapter, but the precepts laid down in the foregoing Chapter, and therefore he addes in the next words after my text, [which you shall command your Children to observe to do, all the words of this law,] I shall not stand any longer upon the words but presently give you this Doctrine.
Doct. That when God hath-discovered any duty to his people, he looks that they should set their hearts to it.
In the prosecution of this Doctrine I shall speak to these three things. (First) shew you what it is to set your heart to any duty, and shall speak particularly to that duty that God hath lately laid open to us, from those words. Commune with your own hearts. (Secondly,) I shall propound some motives to stir up those to it that have not yet begun, & to stir up those that have begun to go on in it. (Thirdly,) I shall prescribe some directions for the conscionable, constant, easie performance of the duty.
First, What 'tis to set the heart to any duty. This carries in it. First, Remembrance. Secondly, Serious consideration. Thirdly, Resolution. Fourthly, Love. Fifthly, Life. Sixthly, Labor. Seventhly, Care. Eightly, Constancy.
First, Remembrance, or a minding of our duty. Heb. 2. 1. Give the more earnest heed to the things that you have heard, lest at any time you let them slip. The memory of man is a leaking vessel, apt to let out as fast as God poures in. It is like a grate in the water-course; still the trash doth stick by us; but the pure water, the things of God and of another world are soon out and gone. Beloved, it is very strange, and yet very true, those things that we are most affected with, which are most fresh in our minds, that our thoughts do most naturally run upon, in a few weeks or months, the savor of them dye, and the things are buried in oblivion: and perhaps scarce ever come to mind again. Concerning this excellent course that we have been directed to, I pray God that I may never live to see it dead and buried: and thus I pray for you all. I confess, I am afraid of myself, lest time should wearout the sence or remembrance of so great a duty: but the Lord be better to me than my fears, and to all others whose fear this is. Neither is it implyed only that we should never forget this duty, or think upon it only nowand then, but that our thoughts should run upon it. That which a man sets his heart upon, he will often mind. The voluptuous man sets his heart upon his pleasure, and therefore will mind his pleasure. The Covetous man sets his heart upon his riches, and therefore minds his riches. Their thoughts are so taken up with those things that they scarce think upon any thing else. So it should be with us. When we are sitting at our tables, lying down, rising up, alone, in company, going to any duty, inour shops, about our callings, we should remember this course. We should be as well able to forget to eat as to forget the rule by which we should eat. VVe should be as well able to forget to sleep and speak, and follow our callings, as to forget the rule by which we should do it. I shall shut up this particular with the prayer of David, so full to this purpose, 1 Chron. 29. 18. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagnations of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee.
Secondly, Serious Consideration, or a pondering of the duty in our heart; as the expression in Luke is, chap. 2. 19. Now there are these three things that we are to consider when God doth discover any duty to us. (First,) What have I done? Hath not this command of God been neglected by me? Have not I been a meer stranger to the duty now laid open? or, is not this the duty, that the minister and my conscience hath pressed upon me from time to time, and yet I have neglected it. (Secondly,) What must I do? Is not this the command of God? And dare I do otherwise than obey it! Is it not the God of heaven that speaks unto me? examine thy self; commune with thy own heart. Is this God to be slighted? His authority to be despised? darest thou, O my Soul, to say the God of heaven nay! (Thirdly,) What shall I do? VVhat will become of me in t…e day of visitation, and in the day of judgem…nt, if I daily neglect this known duty, this weighty duty, this necessary duty? VVhen trobles shall come slowing in upon me like the waves of the Sea, one upon the neck of another how shall I be able to stand under them? If I think to go to God for refuge, Conscience will fly in my face, and tell me this is the God, that thou hast despised, whose voyce thou hast not hearkned to. How shall I stand in the day of judgement. and look God in the face, if I am contentious and will not obey the truth? What can I expectbut tribulation, and anguish, and wrath, Rom. 2. 8, 9. A Scripture which me thinks may be as a thunder-bolt in the hearts of any that hath a secret purpose in himself to neglect this duty. If we are careless in this duty, what can we expect but tribulation, and anguish, and wrath?
Thirdly, Resolution, A setled, fixed purpose of heart to do what God commands. When God tells us this is my command, thus and thus you must do; our hearts should answer the will of God we will obey: thus and thus we will do. Thus did David, The Lord said seek my face; and my heart answered, thy face Lordwill I seek. Beloved, we hear our duties, and read our duties many a time; and we are apt to acknowledge that this should be done, and to pray too, that it might be done; but for want of adding of resolution, many a time our convictions and prayers come to nothing. Concerning this duty let us not dispute but determine: let us not stand reasoning shall I, shall I, but resolve upon it.
Fourthly, Love to the duty, Christians should not only receive the truths of God, but receive them in love. The commands of God, like meat that pleaseth the pallat, must go down sweetly, duties must not be so much our task as our choyce: that which we would rather do than neglect, were we left to our liberty. Beloved, let us not only take up this course as necessary onelyonly, but let us love it as an excellent course. Let us not go to this work as a sick man goes to take down a loathsome potion, but as a sound healthy man goes to his ordinary meal.
Fisthly, Life, That which a man sets his heart upon he will be lively in, and do it to purpose. Rom. 12. 11. Not slothful in business; but fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Standing water is not wholsome; and wine that hath lost its spirit, is not pleasant. God is a spirit, and they that worship him; must worship him in spirit. He is a most pure act: and he will be served with activity. God would not accept a blind, torn, lame sacrifice under the law; and will he accept of a dead sacrifice under the Gospel? He would not have, the Asse offered to him, because it was a dull sluggish creature. Nor the Snail, because a slow lingring creature. We must not come to duties with dead hearts: with dull, drowsie, sleepy souls. When we are going to our work of communing with our hearts, we should stir up our hearts, call in our thoughts, compose our affections, rub our memories and consciences, till we have fetched life into them. Every faculty of the soul should act its part in this work: And here let me tell you that 'tis no fit time to set about this work, when we are between sleeping and waking: when the spirits are so far spent, and the senses tired, that we can scare, see the question, or to hear the answer that conscience gives. It will be good for every one to observe the temper of his body for this work, that so drowsiness may not detain him from it, or make him slight and over…ly in it.
Sixthly, Labor, we must take pains in duty, Eccl. 9. 10. What soever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. There must be labor before the duty, to break thorough difficulties and to bring the heart to it. There must be labor in the duty to keep the heart close to it. The heart will be unwilling to come to it, and therefore must be compelled. It is apt to wander, and therefore must be restrained and held in. We must not onelyonly do well, but be patient in wel-doing. The flesh must be crossed: carnal ease and contentment must be denyed, when they stand in the way of our duty, or would steal away the heart from God. God required that the Male should be offered up to him in sacrifice, because that was stronger than the other: to signifie to us that we must take pains and lay out our strength in duty. Beloved, wheresoever you are when you should se… about this work, say to your souls as Christ to the disciples, Arise, let us go hence. If the heart be backward, lay the cord of Gods command upon it; and by this cord hale it to the duty. Tell it, that the work must be done and shall be done. When thou art come to the work, bind thy heart to the good behavior. When thou art in it, often call upon thy heart to mind the work that it is about. When it would give thee the slip, hold it fast. When it would run from any question before it hath given any determination to it, pull it back: adjure it before the living God, in whose presence thou art, and whose honor is concerned in it, to speak out the truth concerning this matter: whether thou art guilty or not guilty.
Seventhly, Care, That duty is well done, that is carefully done.
Eighthly, Constancy, That which a mans heart is set upon, he will be hardly taken off from it. We must be constant in duties as well as fervent in them, Rev. 2. 3. Beloved, the work that I am now pressing you to, is not to be done once a week, or a month, or every other day; but every day. Every evening, conscience being mounted upon its tribunal, you are to give accompt of all the things that have passed that day. And remember this, that you never take any excuse for the omitting of this duty, at any time, but what you dare plead before God in the great day of accompt. It is to be performed every day: as sure as the night follows the day. Neither is this the work of a week, or a month, or a year, or of an evil time onelyonly, while the rod of God is upon your backs; no, it is the work of your life: it is a duty that you must live and dye in.
We should not take up this course, as the traveller takes up his cloak, which he wears in a storm, but throws off when the Sun shines. This is a duty as well in prosperity, as in adversity. It is Summer-fruit as well as winter-fruit. And I pray God, that neither summers heat, may be able to blast, nor winters cold be able to kill those good beginnings os reformation, that are now, to be found among us. I am afraid, that when God hath broken off one yoak from our necks, we shall cast away another. When God shall break off the cords of the wicked from us, we shall cast away the cord of duty from us. I pray God, that when we come into Canaan, we may not forget nor cast osf what we promised in the wilderness. Remember it is for your life. I shall press this upon you in the words of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 15. 58. Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, &c.
Objection. It is a hard work, a painful duty; a heavy yoak. Now there are several things that I shall speak, to answer this very briefly.
First, This complaint doth argue a very careless, loose heart. Ah Christian, didst thou keep a strict hand over thy self in the day, thou wouldst not find thy evening work so difficult. And hast thou a careless spirit? the more need there is that thou shouldst set upon this work, that thou mightest bring it into a better government.
Secondly, Wouldst thou neglect this duty because it is painful? upon the same account thou mayst cast of other duties. Thou can't not pray, nor hear, as thou shouldest without pain.
Give way to this objection, and for ought I know, in a little time, thou mayst bid farwel to all thy Religion: thou mayst cast off every duty. Thou canst not imagine what a plague it may be to thee, if thou shouldest give way to this objection. Give Satan an inch and he will take an ell: forbear one duty because of difficulty, and he will easily perswade men to forbear others.
Thirdly, Consider who it is that buzzes this in thine ear. Certainly it is the devil, the grand enemy of thy soul. God says, Commune with thy own heart: Satan says, no, it is too painful. VVhy, who wilt thou be ruled by, God or Satan? thy best friend, or thy worst enemy? Christian, in these outward concernments, thou wilt not advise with thy mortal enemy in things that concern thy life: And why wilt thou be such a fool in the matters of thy soul?
Fourthly, What dost thou cry out of pain? It is thy very calling and profession to t…ke pain. What mean those expressions in Scripture else whereby the life of a Christian is set forth by striving, wrestling, fighting, pressing toward the mark? To take pain is essential to Christianity, and without this thou canst not be a Christian. To leave any duty because it is painful is a contradiction to thy profession thou dost herein deny thy self to be a Christian.
…ifthly, The more difficult the work is, the more profitable thou wilt find it. That duty that cost's us nothing, will yeild us nothing: and that duty that cost's us much pain, will yeild us much peace and comfort.
Sixthly, Consider, is not grace worth the taking pains for? What wilt thou take pain for, if not for grace? Look about in the world: see how the men of the world run and ride, sweat and tire themselves for toyes and trisles. What pains then shouldst thou take for grace, one dram of which is more worth than a world. By this means, thou mayst grow in grace more in one monethmonth than in some years before.
And let me tell thee I have not Charity enough to think thee a Christian indeed, if thou dost not think grace worth any labor or pain that thou canst possible be at in the getting of it.
Seventhly, Consider Christian, what pain Christ did take, and what misery he did undergo for thee. Thy soul was dearer to him than his own glory: and thy salvation, than his own life and blood. And shall not his glory, his commands be dearer to thee, Christian, than a little carnal ease? Think upon it, if thou hast any spark of ingenuity this consideration will prevail upon thee to set about this work.
I come now to propound some motives to stir up those that have not begun this work, to set about it. And those that have begun, to go on in this work.
First, Consider it is the command of God. It is not the voyce of man, but of God. It is God that speaks to thee, Commune with thy own hearts: Examine thy self. Christian, I urge the command of God upon thy Conscience, wilt thou obey or w…lt thou not? darest thou to set thy self against God! and set thy will above the will of God! O think upon it.
Secondly, Consider the time when, and the manner how you consented to set to the performance of this duty. It was in a time of love; at a feast of love; and after a Song of love. Consider what a rich mercy God hath bestowed upon you, in giving you liberty to draw nigh to him in such an ordinance as you lately sate under. It was but a little while ago, beloved, that you thought that you should drink no more of the fruit of the vine, till you drank it in your fathers kingdome. And behold contrary to your expectations, the King hath sent to you, saying, come and sup with me: come and sit at my table.
Hath God dealt so with any people? He hath feasted you in a time of famine: and spread a table for you in a howling wild…rness. Doth not this extraordinary providence think you, call upon you for some extraordinary duty? And do not you think in your consciences that it is this duty? Why else hath God propounded it to you, and urged it upon you, in such a time as this is? If you neglect it, it may cause God to take away the Cor… and wine from you; and to break the stasf of ….
Thirdly, What do you know but God put it into the heart of his servant, to press this duty at that time, to try whether you were real in that love and loyalty which you did then prosess to him? I suppose you all understand the transactions that passed there between God and you: that God did put his seal to the Covenant, that he would make good all the mercy promised: and that you did put your seal, thereby binding your selves to the performance of all the duties required.
Fourthly, Consider when another such opportunity is offered to you how will you be able to look God in the face? Methinks that man should not dare to come to the Sacrament, and again put his seal to the Covenant, that hath knowingly and willingly broken his last engagement.
Fifthly, Doth not your own looseness, and the enemies profaneness, and the present dispensations that you are under, call upon you for more than ordinary strictness in your lives and conversations? The Lord have mercy upon us, what prejudice have we brought to the Gospel by our carnal, careless conversations! VVhat pitch of profaneness are the enemies of God risen to! They are not afraid to bid him defiance at his face! In what a doleful case are many of our brethren abroad in the world, and how sad is it like to be with us? The glory of God is gone from the publick to your houses, and are you not afraid? I am sure there is reason enough to think, that it will take its flight from thence too. And doth not all this call upon us aloud in the language of the prophet, Lam. 3. 40. Let us search and try our ways and turn unto the Lord. If we look behind us, and see what we have been: If about us, and see how devilish men are: And above us, to see the black clouds that hang over our heads; we cannot but see that it is time to take another course, to live more like Christians, And what course so likely to effect this, as daily self-examination? serious consideration is the best way to sound and thorough reformation.
Sixthly, Consider the excellent advantages that will come to thee by taking this course. Christian, wouldst thou have peace of conscience? The sence of Gods love shed abroad upon thy heart! wouldst thou live in heaven? wouldst thou walk in the light of Gods countenance, grow in grace, have thy corruptions overcome and subdued? Behold a most excellent receipt: the best that ever was prescribed.
Seventhly, Consider with what face wilt thou be able to go to God and beg of him to subdue thy corruptions, and to strengthen thy graces when thou wilt not use the means? Think upon it with what face wilt thou be able to look up to God and put up such a petition?
Eighthly, How wilt thou be able to excuse thy self from hypocrisie, if thou neglect this duty? When thou dost hear it laid down as a Character of sincerity, not to live in the neglect of any known duty.
Ninthly, Consider what base ingratitude you will be guilty of, both to God in sending his servant among you: and to his servant for all the care and pains that he hath taken for your souls?
Tenthly, Consider what answer will you be able to make to God, or how you will be able to look his servant in the face another day; when he and you must stand together and give up your accompt: he of his doctrine, and you of your obedience to it.
Eleventhly, Consider how conscience will sting thee for this neglect when thou comest to dye. Ah Christian, when thou shalt be ready to leap into eternity, and shalt want assurance, not knowing whether thy lot shall fall either in heaven or hell. And conscience shall tell thee if thou hadst taken such a course thou mightest have had assurance: when thou shalt with grief of soul remember this and the other miscarriage, and that if thou hadst taken this course, thou mightest have prevented this trouble; O how will this adde to thy sorrow and break thy heart!
I come now to give some directions for the constant, conscionable, easie performance of this duty
First. Set about this course speedily. The longer thou dost delay the work, the more difficult thou wilt find it. VVhat is said of repentance is true here, he that is not fit to day will be less fit to morrow.
Secondly. Be deeply humbled that thou hast neglected such a duty so long. Hath it been out of ignorance? bewail thy ignorance. Hath it been out of laziness? bewail that when men would make the building strong, they will lay the foundation low. It is a good way to be constant and successful in any duty, to begin with sorrow and humiliation.
Thirdly, Do it out of a principle of conscience in obedience to Gods command: because it is thy duty, and God commands it.
Fourthly. Bless God for making known this duty, and prescribing to thee so easie away for the performing of it. Bless God for making known the duty, a…d God will bless thee in the doing of it.
Fisthly. VVhen you come together let this duty be the matter of your conference; or at least, be osten speaking one to another of it. Doubtless, it will be good for the carrying on of this work to choose out a Christian friend, and for these to agree together, and unbosome themselves each to other, what doth hinder the work; and what benefit they find &c. and engage one another to take up this course, and be constant in it whatsoever times may come.
Sixthly, Take heed of formality, or keeping on a round in the duty without a due regard of the end of the duty. Take some time once in a week, or fortnight, and call thy heart to an accompt how thou hast sped, what thou hast got.
Seventhly, Take heed of resting in the duty. If thou do … make an Idol of the duty God will make nothing of it: God will curse the work and blast thy design.
Eightly, Be careful to live up to those Rules by which thou hast engaged to examine thy self? As he said of prayer, If thy praying do not make thee leave off sinning, thy sinning will make thee leave off praying. So here, if thy examining thy self, do not make thee to leave off thy remissness; thy remissnesse will certainly make thee leave off thy self-examination. VVhen a man hath been careless in the day, and come to read over these questions, and conscience shall answer guilty in most of these things, this will make the work so tedious, that thou wilt never long bear the trouble of it. Unless thou art able to live up to these rules, thou wilt never be able to hold on in it long. And therefore remember this, if at any time you find that you have been carelesse …n the day foregoing, be sure in the next morning to set up a new resolution to stick close to these rules. Undo all that you have done before, as it were, and begin again. Try in the strength of God what you can do this day; how exact you can be this day.
Ninthly, Let us set about the work with some shore ejaculation to God for his Assistance in it, and his blessing upon it.
Tenthly, Solemnly engage to God that you will take up this course and be constant in it, and never lay it down what ever times may come, and temptations may assault you. When God doth enjoyn any duty, he requires all the means that tend to the performing of that duty. Now this is the best means that can be thought upon for every one to engage to God, that he will set upon it and be constant in it. I know that the deceitful heart will be very backward, they are very shy of such engagements. But if they are, remember this, that there is something in the bottom which you will do well to look out: And when you have found it out, to cast it forth with indignation. VVhy should we be backward to do that between God and our selvs, which we have done publickly before many witnesses, and I believe shall be called to do again. To set about this work is no more than you have done already, when you sate under that great ordinance and set your seals that you would perform all the duties of the new Covenant. And did you except this? You will find this engagement a great help to the work. Let us this night before we sleep put this direction in practice; engage your selves to God in some such words as these,
O eternal God, thou that searchest the heart, and wilt not hold them guiltless that take thy name in vain, especially in solemn Covenants made with thy self, I do here solemnly promise, that I will set upon this duty of daily self-examination, and in this practise to live and dye. Such engagements God is well pleased with, Jerem. 30. 21, Who is this that engageth his heart to draw nigh to me? As if the Lord had said, come thou art welcome, I take this kindly from thee.