Remains of Joseph Alleine, Treatise 2
PSAL. 4. 4.
Commune with your own heart upon your Bed.
Doct THat it is the great duty of every man, to be often conferring with, and taking an account of his own heart, 2 Cor. 13. 5, Examine your selves, prove your selves; know you not your own selves? It is the duty of a man not to take the Report of his heart, but he must search his heart, he must be often putting questions to his heart. The heart cannot be easily found out. The Reasons of the point are these two.
First, Reas. 1. Is taken from the dissiculty of coming to know our own hearts. Therefore 'tis a necessary duty, because it is so hard to know our own hearts. Now this appears,
First, Because men are so generally mistaken in their own hearts: and that both bad men, and good men. Bad men, how osten do they boast of their good hearts? And though our Saviour tells us that out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, &c. yet all this while they think their hearts are good, they see nothing of these things in their hearts.
When Hazael heard of his heart, he w… dred that he should have such a heart. … would not believe that there was such … nature in his heart. He thought it w… … Dogs, and Tygers to do this: and yet a… wards he did all this. And so for Good m…; how did Peter fail in this, that he would … for him? And Christ could scarce put him out of this conceit. And it is like that he did intend what he spake, yea, he did try sarther than the rest did, sor he only did draw his sword. And who would have thought that there was that swearing, and cursing in his heart as there was? And so of David's Adultery, 2 Sam. 12.
Secondly, It appears in that it hath cos… men so dear to know their h…ts. (1) It hath cost them sharp tryals. Deut. 8. 2. God led thee these forty years in the Wilderness, to know what was in thine heart. That is, to make you to know, One would have thought that they had never been guilty of such horrid unbelief to distrust God, when they did feed upon, and weared miracles. (2) It hath cost them many sad falls to know them. 2 Chron. 32. 31. Hezekiah nor no body else would have thought that there could have been that in his heart, after God had wrought a miracle for him; And yet God left him that he might try what was in his heart. Brethren take heed that you be not too sure of your own hearts, be often fearful of your own hearts. (3) It hath cost them many tears and Prayers to know them. Though some of God… people have been Students of their own hearts twenty or forty years, yet after all this, they do find, sometimes, their hearts be too hard for them.
Thirdly, The difficulty of this appears, Because the Saints have called in the special help of God, without which they could not come to know it. So did David Psal. 139. 23. Search me O God, &c. Our own hearts are too hard for us unless we take God's special assistance with us. Our hearts will deal with us, without this, as a bad neighbour will do when we come to search for our Goods, they will not let you in, except you come with the Kings Officer. Now the difficulty of this lyes (1) In that the heart of man is so deep, Eccl. 7. 24. That which is exceeding deep who can find it out? Now so is the heart of man; for so Psal. 64. 6. And the heart is deep. The heart of man is deep as earth, yea, as Hell. …m. 3. that is, the hell that is in the heart. …2) The heart is very dark. Eph. 4. 18. Having the understanding darkned, &c. There …ou have two parts of the misery of man in his natural estate. 1. He is a stranger to God; 2. To Himself. He cannot see a jot into his own heart, till the Lord do spring into the soul with a new light; as he did into the Prison, they cannot see what there is in the heart. And we need not any further evidence for this, than that common good opinion that men have of their hearts. Though their hearts are full of odious poyson, and the like, yet they cannot see it till God open their eyes by conversion; and then they can see it: But yet it is but candle-light that the best of us have here of our hearts. (3.) Because the heart is very deceitfull, above all things. There have been great deceits in the world; yet put all together, none in the world is so cunning as the heart, there is no comparison. You would think if a man were told before-hand, there is a known Cheater come to deal with him therefore he should take heed of dealing wit… him, such a man would think sure that h… should not be too hard for him; but yet th… Saints have known this, that the heart is so de ceitful; and they have been twenty or fort… years learning it; yet their hearts are too har… for them.
Reas. 2. Secondly, Because the knowledg of the heart is so exceeding necessary. If a ma… turn over all the Books in the world, and b… not learned in his own heart, it is nothing.
Use. The use is to stir us up to know o… own …rts. I beseech you what ever you n… lect, neglect not this duty.
Now there be sundry ways of Communing with our own hearts. Sometimes by way of Consolation. Return to thy Rest O my Soul, &c. Psal. 116. 7. Sometimes by way of expostulation. Why art thou cast down O my soul, &c. Ps. 42. Sometimes by way of Exhortation, to quicken and excite our hearts. Psal. 62. 5. My soul wait thou onelyonly upon God. Here he stirs up his heart in believing in God. So awake, up my Glory. that is, my heart or soul. The soul of man, that is his honour, Gen. 49. 6. And see how David doth exhort his soul: up my heart, my Glory. He found his heart, it may be, somewhat dead and dull, and therefore he stirs it up, sometimes by way of Instruction, Psal. 16. 2. 7.
But sometimes by way of Examination and Inquiry, that is the principal on which all the rest do depend, and therefore I intend to insist on that; and I beseech you to stir up your selves to this duty. My Brethren, you should be often questioning with your own hearts; It is sad to think how Papists, yea Pagans do outpass us in this, and what a shame is it that we should be such strangers to this duty? After we have been told of it, and have confessed that it is a duty!
Now you must know there is a double Communication. Ordinary, and Extraordinary. Ordinary, and that is either Transient, or more solemn. The first we should be in continually, every hour in the day. The want of this is the reason that we are such strangers to our own hearts, Christian, Remember this and step in often into thy own heart and thoughts, the heart of man is always talking to it self; and you should often step in and see what it is that they are talking of, see if they are well employed; and if they be not, set them a Task, especially before, in, and after duties; especially after duties to search what evil we have committed in the duty, or else we shall not find matter for examination of our hearts in the evening; we should take notes of our hearts all the day, & read them over in the evening. And then besides this, there must be a solemn Examination. And here I should beseech you Christians, every evening to spend some time for this work; a quarter, or half an hour. I speak of the Evening because the Scripture speaks so much of this time; and the practice of good men have been in this time: A very Heathen could do this, and you shall find this was David's practice. Psal. 16. 7. My Reins instruct me in the Night-season. Well then, I would advise thee Christian, to take this advice.
Every Evening before you sleep, set some time apart, more or less, from the world, and set thy heart as in the presence of God, and charge it before God, to answer to these interrogatories.
First. With reference to your Duties.
First. Did not God find me on my bed when he looked for me on my knees? This question might be a shaming question, and I cannot without indignation speak of this, that many … us should be so willing to please our selves … a little case, when we should enjoy those pleasant hours with God! How do you think that God will take this at your hands? there be many persons that do spend many hours in their beds, that they might enjoy Communion with God in, and then they are fain to … up their duties in a co…ner, I beseech you that this may be left off. It may be, many of you have not so much to do in the world as others, they have not the business that others have, and therefore they need not rise so soon, but lye longer than others. Ah Christian! do not make that use of it, thou hast no more time for sloth than others. I tell thee from God, he hath not given thee any time to be idle in. I am afraid that many of you do not know what it is to sleep by Rule If thou dost not, this is a shame to thee, a Christian should do nothing but by Rule. It may be some will say, what Rule must we use? Ans. We must have respect to our Bodies, what may be for one man, may not be for another; but for healthy bodies six or seven h…urs is enough in conscience; let every man give his body no more than his body will require. And remember this general Rule, to be sure that you do use some Self-denyal about your sleep: That general Rule should be observed, though the particular Rule cannot be given. That excellent servant of God, Mr. Jordan, that kept assurance of Gods love thirty years, did up at three or four a clock every morning, and if he did not, he did bewail it; O that it were thus with you!
Secondly. Have I not prayed to no purpose, or let Roving thoughts eat out my Duty? Take an account every Evening what you have gained by that days Prayers, if we did so, this would be brave; then we should grow apace. But this is our great loss, that we content our selves with the duty done, and do not look to the manner of performance, or the doing of the Duty; therefore if thou wouldst gain by thy duties, see HOW as well as WHAT thou didst pray. How did I pray! was my heart lively or dull? Let it not be enough that your hearts do acquit you in this, that you have not neglected duty, but whether you have not been slack in the duty. And because vain thoughts are our great enemies here, look that these do not eat up thy Sacrifice; we have been often complaining of these, but we are not eased of them: And what is the reason? because we do not take our hearts to Task about it, for our vain thoughts in duty every day; if we did but ask our hearts this every Evening, our hearts would be ashamed to be found guilty every day.
Thirdly. Have I not neglected, or been very overly in the Reading of Gods holy Word? I am afraid that many of us do neglect this duty, doth not there pass over our heads many a day wherein we Read not a Chapter? And yet I fear more of the manner how you Read. Did you begin with Prayer, and observe what promises, or Commands, or Threatnings, or Examples were there for you to Imitate, or to fear and avoid? And did you turn it into Prayer afterwards? That I would advise you to, to turn some of the Chapter into prayer afterward. O that we should slight the word, that the Saints of God have set such a price upon! The word! why 'tis the word of God, and when we see the hand of God to it, this should affect us.
Fourthly. Have I digested the Sermon I heard last? Have I prayed it over, and Repeated it over? Brethren, would you know why we are such Dwarfs in Christianity, why we grow so little? Here is one grand Reason, we take in much and digest but little; it may be thou art greedy of taking opportunities, there cannot be a Sermon but thou must be at it, or else it is not well; but dost thou Pray it over, and Repeat it over again? The want of this is the reason that we grow no better, therefore content not thy self that thou hast heard such a Sermon; it is never well till God hear of it, in Confession, Prayer, and praise for such mercies as were discovered to thee. This is the way to thrive, and you will never Thrive till you come to this. The Reason why there have been so much sowing and so little fruit, is because the seed hath not been covered by Meditation, and watered by prayer, the Devil or evil thoughts come and steal away the seed.
Fifthly, Was there not more of custome and Fashion in my Family-Duties, than of Conscience? Brethren, if my observation fail not, Christians are more apt to be formal in these Duties than in others. Now this should be a cause of shame to us, this is a very great evil, we are very formal in such duties as do come ordinarily, especially if we are not the Speaker, but do joyn with others: whereas, if thou didst but make this use of it, thankfully to prize, and gladly improve such opportunities, thou would'st thrive more abundanly. Say with thy self, now I have an opportunity to worship God in the Family. You that are Heads of Families it is a great mercy that you have, that you can lead your Families into the presence of God: and you that are members of the Family, have a great mercy that you live in a Family where you can come twice a day, at least, to God beyond many others, and do you labour to improve it.
Sixthly, Wherein have I denyed my self to day for God? Brethren, you have not lived like Christians this day, if so be you have not used some self-denial to day; If thou hast not denied thy flesh, but hast given it so much case as it would have: and thy Appetite, but hast let it have so much as it would, and thy tongue, but let it go out whither it would; thou hast not lived as a Christian.
Seventhly. Have I redeemed my time from too long and needless visits, Idle imaginations fruitless Discourses, unnnecessary Sleep, morethan needs of the world? It is a duty incum bent upon every Christian to redeem his time, this hath sate heavy upon the best of Gods servants, that they have no more redeemed time; now if you would redeem your time, there be these time-Robbers and devourers that must be watched.
First. Too long and needless visits. Many men are so LONG in their visits, that they loose much time of their own, and others too; whom they go to visit. Ask thy heart have not I been too long in such a visit, and so steal away others time as well as my own? And so for NEEDLESS visits, when there is no need; be sparing and short in your visits or else you will loose your time, and make others to loose their time also.
Secondly. Idle imaginations. These steal away our time, and we think not of it; If this were look'd to how might we grow in grace? When a man is on his Journey, how might he have good thoughts, whereas our hearts are talking of vanity; and so in our Shops.
Thirdly. Fruitless Discourse. Ask thy heart whether thou hast not failed in this duty? what a shame is this that many Christians do come together and scarce any thing of God in their mouths while they be together!
Fourthly. Unnecessary Sleep. There is much evil in this, when persons do take up so much time in their sleep, that there is scarce time left for Religious Duties.
Fifthly. More than needs of the World. Men must be very watchfull of this or else the world will Rob them of their time, if a man will not use some self-denyal about his worldly occasions, but serve God no more than the world will give him leave, he shall serve God but little.
Eighthly. Have I done any thing more than ordinary, for the Church of God, in a time extraordinary? Brethren, we shall never be able to stand before our own Consciences in the evil day, if our hearts cannot acquit us in this, that we have put our selves to it more than ordinary for the Church of God. You know the troubles of the Church at this day, and we should every one of us run with his Bucket, and put out this fire. God is crying to us, as Moses to Aaron, Num. 16. 46. Take a Censer — and go quickly unto the Congregation, and make an attonement for them; for there is wrath gone out from the Lord, the Plague is begun. O let us run for the Tokens of his displeasure are in the land! … your tears that must quench these flames that the Bush, the Church is burning in. How is it that we do not weep over the Church? we sit here at ease through Gods blessing, but how is it with the Church of God abroad in the land? How far are our hearts from the temper of Gods worthies heretofore? It was said of One, that when there was any …ad news, concerning the Church, they were fain to conceal it from her, least her heart should be overwhelmed with the news of it.
If we had some certain news that our Estates were at undoing, how would we break our sleep? and yet how is it that we are so careless of the Church of God! How is it that others are so wounded and sick, and ready to die with grief, and yet we take so little notice of it? It was the saying of One to me, I wonder how any can laugh (said she) when Gods Church is in such distress. I beseech you take some more time with God than you were wont to heretofore, for the Church of God. What if thou didst pray twice a day heretofore, and now thou doest pray three times a day, once a day the more though but a quarter of an hour. to seek to God for the Church, and sometimes a whole day; it will come in upon thy account, when the troubles come upon the Church, that thou didst labour with thy Bucket, if it were possible, to put out the fire.
Ninthly. Have I took care of my Company? Many times many of us are very great Loosers by this, by vain company; to be sure if they do us no other harm, they Rob us of our Time, and that is no small hurt; and therefore fly from their Company as from a Plague-fore. Or if sometimes thy Calling do call thee to them, yet do not go among them, before thou hast Prayed to be delivered from the evil of their Company.
Tenthly. Have not I neglected some Relative Duty to day, as of Husband, Wife, Pa rent, Child, Master, Servant.
Secondly, for your sins.
First. Doth not Sin sit light? This is … cause of no small mischief to our souls, this is the cause why Christ is no more …, and the promises no more sweet; … sits so light: why we can hear the … a common lovely thing, and be but … fected with it? If thou couldst but … a … sense of sin upon thy spirit, this would be a speedy course of preventing sin; this is a cutting down of a great limb of sin. When a man cuts down a Limb of the Tree, a great deal of brush will come down with it; and so if thou dost but cut down this Limb, let sin sit heavy, down comes self, and pride, and many sins will come down with it. How is it that Paul could say, O wretched man that I am &c. and we are no more distressed with the sense of sin?
Secondly. Am I a Mourner for the sins of the Land? My Brethren, we have great reason, I doubt, to check our selves sharply here, that when God hath made it so plainly a duty to us, and yet we are so little affected with the sins of the Land, when God doth set a mark upon them (onelyonly) for preservation, that Cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst of the Land; yet we remain insensible! Can our hearts acquit us now in this thing? O let us never leave our hearts, but be checking of them for this. If thy name were but wounded, it would break thy heart almost; and yet how is it that we can hear of Gods name to be dishonoured and yet not break for it! Can our hearts witness for us that we do never hear of the blasphemie that is in the land, and of the Superstition and Idolatry of the land, but God doth hear of it again by us, before we sleep, by Prayer? This should be for a lamentation to us, that the wounds that are given to God are no more upon our hearts. We may say of the glory of God as they of David. 2 Sam. 18. 3. 'Tis worth ten thousand of us. Our estates, and names, and all that is dear to us, yea, our very souls are not so much worth as the honour of God. And how is it then that we can see God dishonoured, and we cannot mourn sor it? Gods glory is his Crown that is upon his head; and shall we see his Crown trodden, down in the dirt and not be affected with it? we are far from the disposition of Gods Saints and servants heretofore. When Moses saw the Idolatry of the people, he was so zealous, that he overturned the Tables that God wrote with his own finger. And Ezra when the people had taken strange wives he sate down and … his cloaths. Ezr. 9. Bretheren how may we blush to hear and read this, and to think how far our hearts are from this frame! It may be you do think it enough that you did cry out upon it when you hear… the Blasphemy, so that you are free from … your selves, but this is your sin, if you do no… mourn over it. (1 Cor. 5. 2. 7. No doubt the godly Corinthians did detest this sin, but the Apostle tells them that is not enough, whil… they did not mourn over it:) When wic…ness doth raign, as if it were the time of … Devils incarnation; as if Hell it self were … ken loose upon us to Act its part … ground, and we not mourning ov…r it
Thirdly. Do not I live in … that I know or fear to be a Sin? If I do thus, there is no peace with God or Con… to be h… sor you. Psal. 66. 18. If I … in my heart, God will not hear my Prayers. It is a sign that God doth not regard thee, if thou art one that dost live in the practice or allowance of any sin; and he will not own thee for this. Rom. 6. 16. If thou dost yield up thy self to any sin willingly, that is a manifest sign that thou art none of Gods.
Thirdly, For your hearts. Ask several questions.
First. Have I been much in holy ejaculation? Thus we ought to Pray continually; not onelyonly at our set and solemn times, but upon all occasions, to step aside and speak a word or two with God; in our Journeys, and Occupations, this is walking with God indeed; when we do not onelyonly take a turn or two with him in the morning, and so in the evening, but all the day long. It is said of Mr. Dod, that he never got up his Horse, but he prayed before he came off. Thus did Nehemiah, while the King was talking with him, he was praying to God. Nehem. 2. 4. So I prayed to the God of Heaven, this was a Heavenly ejaculation; this would keep your hearts a praying all the day long. When the hearts of men do naturally bend to God, as the sparks fly upward this is a good thing indeed; when we cannot go by the door, but we must step in and have a turn with God; you will take it as a great kindness for a man not onelyonly to come on set times to visit you, but when he comes in every time he comes by the door to see you; And when thy heart is thus wont to turn into God, this will be an … to thee that thy heart is used to converse with God.
Secondly. Hath not God been out of mind, Heaven out of sight? put that question to thy heart. My Brethren, this is our great sin, and should be our great shame, that the thoughts of God are such strangers to our souls; that we are so little in heaven in the day, as we are. O what a loser is God by this in his glory! what losers are we by this in our graces and comforts! O were our hearts on all occasions thus thinking of God how holy a frame should we quickly grow into? Why should not our hearts be as much with God, as the hearts of the Worldlings be with the Creature? Doth not God deserve it as much as the Creature? His heart is always talking with the World: If he come to hear, his heart is talking with the world. If he come to pray, his heart is alway with the World. Why should not our hearts be talking with God while our hands are employed about this world? It was a Heavenly breathing of a gracious spirit, a confounding passage, that I met with; Lord as formerly I lived without thee in the world, so now let me … without the world in thee. If we did but love God as well as a worldly man doth love his wealth and riches, we should be so taken up with the love of God as quite to forget the world. For the world makes them forget God, that he is not alwayes in their thoughts. Yea, says he, we should be taken up always with God.
My Brethren, what shall we say for this! How shall we excuse this, that we should be so unmindfull of God, while the Worldling is so mindful of the world? O what a shame is this! For shame, be ashamed at your selves before we go away hence. I profess Christians, I have wondred … God will throw away his kingdome upon some that do care so little for it as we do. O shame thy self out of this evil frame! Brethren, why do not we carry it towards the world, as the world doth towards us? The world doth carry it towards us as …; and we know not what it will do to us. VVhy should not we carry it more strangely towards it? O never leave, till the thoughts of Heaven be thy natural thoughts, O check thy heart ronndly in the Evening for this sin, if … find thy heart faulty here; and never leave till thou ha… brought it into a right frame.
Thirdly. Have I been often looking into my …, & made conscience even of vian thoughts? you know your Rule, Keep thy heart with all …, … of it are the Issues of life. Now hast thou been keeping thy heart with all diligence? Brethren, you may be sure your work will go but badly on, unless you look to your hearts, and keep your hearts. Examine then in the Evening, how hath my heart been employed to day, hath it not been a thorow-fare of vain thoughts? of evil imaginations? I fear that many of us do make little con… of this. It may be thou dost make conscience of vain thoughts in duty: but I fear that few … do make conscience of vain thoughts at other times. Ah Brethren, you … not known what it is to live the life of Christianity, if you do not look to this. This must be mended. Brethren, what a blessed thing would this be, if we had but once attained this frame! If our hearts did but naturally run in a hollow Channel? This is attainable, and many of the Christians have attained to it. And if it be attainable, … we should never be quiet till we have attained it. Why, Christian, take this Rule, force thy heart a while to it; keep thy heart for a while in this Tract, set it some holy Subject, some good Task, and make it to ply its work; and when thou hast got to this, then by degrees it will be sweet to thee. It is not enough to say, what hurt is there in such vain thoughts? It is enough that there is no good in them, that there is no profit in them; yea, there is a great deal of hurt in letting thy thoughts to run abroad. My Brethren, you do, I believe, every one of you that are Christians indeed, complain of the burthen of your vain thoughts. I believe, that this is the greatest trouble of many Christians here, for the vanity of their thoughts in holy duties. And what is the reason of this? Because they do let out their hearts at other times; this is the reason that we have no more command of our hearts in holy duties, because we do not keep them in at other times. God complains of Jerusalem, Jer. 4. 14. (and may he not complain so of us?) O Jerusalem, how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee? Have not we, many of us, been complaining these seven or twice seven years of vain thoughts, and yet they are lodging in us? And if you take this course with your hearts, you will find more benefit in it, than ever you did in any thing that you have tryed hitherto.
But I know what the flesh will say here, what to be always taken up with holy things? this will be an intollerable burthen. O but do not hearken to the evil report, that the flesh will bring upon the wayes of God. Indeed I confess it will bring some dissiculty, yet I trust, you will be willing to be at some pain for so great a good as this is, but after a little while you will find it easie. There is nothing that is easie to a Learner, but if it be a Trade or such a Tongue … a little while that he is used to it, it is his d…light. And so will this be the sweetest thing in the world to thee, if thou dost but keep thy heart to it a while. And therefore never leave watching and praying, till thou hast got thy heart into this frame.
Fourthly. Have not I given way to the working of pride or passion to day? My Brethren, the Spirit of God is a holy Dove that will not rest in an unquiet and froward heart. It was a passage os a very Holy man, Whatsoever you do, take … of passion. 2 King. 3. 15. Elijah was sain to call for a Minstrel before he could allay his passion; I beseech you to watch your hearts when there is a temptation to pride, and a provocation to passion before you, or else you will grieve the good spirit of God, and make him to withdraw himself from you. It is a saying of Mr. Baxter, when there is a temptation to pride before me, I am fain to watch my heart as narrowly as I would do the Thatch of my house, when fire is put to it; and presently to throw on it the water of … testation, Resolution, and recourse to God. And so must you do if ever you mean to attain to a heavenly heart. I remember it is written in the Life of a Holy man, that he did fear and tremble more when he did hear his commendation, than when it never so dreadfully thundered; and this frame should be in thee. O fear temptations to pride, I beseech you tak… heed of pride, that your hearts do not grow haughty. If you do not take good heed, you are like to fall, That Servant is never like to do much for God that is puffed up with pride, If thou hast got down thy self, and trod upon the neck of pride, then thou art become a great Victor indeed. This is the reason why God doth not employ us in his service more, because he sees that there is such an evil heart in …, that we would make his mercies fuell for our pride and Lust. Let it be your daily practice to get the victory over this enemy, the pride of your heart. It was a very exemplary pattern that is set before us in that holy man; Says he, concerning himself, Methinks I am broken all in peices before God when I speak to him, as when I tread upon an Egg and trample it all to peices. It was a passage in one of his Letters writing to comfort another, I pray God make use of me a poor Rush, to do you some good. Let us lay this pattern before us. But more especially, look to our holy and humble Jesus; and you shall find rest to your souls. Follow your pride and passion thus with observation and detestation every day, and this will weary it out at last.
Fourthly, For your tongues. Ask these questions.
First, Have I bridled my tongue, and forced it in? This is a very necessary question that must be enquired into. I tell thee if thou hast no measure to bridle thy tongue, thou art no Christian. Jam. 1. 26. On the other side if thou hast once got this skill to govern thy tongue, thou art a grown Christian, Jam. 3. 2. He that can govern his tongue, hath attained to some good growth and good perfection in grace. Ah Brethren, you had need to set up Davids resolution daily, Psal. 39. 1. I said I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not with my tongue, Psal. 17. 3. I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. And distrusting his own strength you may see how he runs to God for strength, Psal. 14. 1. 3. Set a watch (O Lord) before my mouth: keep the door of my lips.
Secondly, Have I spoke evil of no man? This is an express charge of the Apostle, Tit. 3. 1, 2. Put them in mind to speak evil of no man. And the Apostle Peter chargeth us that if we will grow in grace, to put away the evil of evil speaking. This is a great and universal sin among us; that we are apt to speak evil of others. When we do hear of any thing that is evil in any one, how do we speak of it to our friends? See that you have good ends & a lawful call to tell, before you tell of anothers evil. Brethren, this cannot be sussiciently bewailed, that there should be so great an evil among us, that we should be so backward to speak of our brothers evil to himself, and so prone to publish it to those that we should not.
Thirdly, Hath the law of God been in my mouth, as I sate in my house, went by the way, lying down, rising up? How great is the charge of God given us! And how great is our negligence in this work! Deut. 6. 7. Thou … teach them diligently unto thy Children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou lyest down, and when thou … up. Christian can thy heart acquit thee here now? Can thy family acquit thee; that this is thy work when thou art sitting by the fire with them? Can thy yoke-fellow witness for thee, that the word of God is in thy mouth when thou lyest down, and risest up? Can thy fellow-traveller say that these are thy talks when tho… walkest? Deut. 11. 8. What benefit would this be to others, if thou didst but do this? When wilt thou come to the full resolution of them? Well, set this resolution with thy self, that thou wilt not let thy Conscience alone till thou dost come to this.
Fourthly, Have I come into no Company but I have dropped something of God there, and left some good savor behind? O what a shame is it that Christians should be so unlike themselves! that when they come into company, it cannot be seen who is the Christian, and who is not! O how should we be ashamed of this, that we should be ashamed of our God! O That thou wouldst make conscience of this, not to come …nto any company, but to drop something of God there.
Fifthly, For your Tables.
First, Did not I sit down with no higher end than a beast, meerly to please my appetite? Did I eat, and drink for the glory of God? you cannot know what it is to be a Christian, till you come to do all things by Rule. Make conscience of this, to set your ends right when you sit down to your Tables.
Is it not a shame, that a Christian, should sit down with no higher end than a beast to his meat? Beasts do eat and drink to satisfie their hunger. Remember that thou sit down with an eye upon God. This will make thy table to be sanctified to thee.
Secondly, Did I not rise from my table without dropping something of God there? Christian, how often dost thou contradict the example of thy Savior? You shall find his discourse when he sate at the table still that he was always speaking of God. And is it not a shame that thou should st imitate thy Saviour no better?
Thirdly, Was not my appetite too hard for me? Brethren, I doubt many of us are little skilled in the duty of temperance. It may be many of us do think, we may eat as long as it is pleasing to our appetites. This is a great, though I fear a common evil: that as Juae says they feast without fear. Here, observe this general rule, never to sit down to your tables but to use some Self-denia. And for an exact rule; we cannot give an exact rule to every one; but this, for healthy bodies to eat so at one meal, that we may be hungry at the next I am verily afraid that this sin of gluttony is a very common sin: Therefore Christian set a special watch upon thy appetite.
There are two sorts of intemperance that we should beware of; either with respect to the Quantity, or to the Quallity of what we eat. We offend in the first when we eat more than we can digest. In the other, when a man gives himself to eat that which the Physitian tels him is not fit for him. And what a shame is this that neither reason nor grace, should keep a person from breaking out into intemperance.
Fourthly, Did I not mock with God when I pretended to crave a blessing and return thanks? If I may judge by my own experience, I think that we are more formal in this than in any other thing. Well let this be amended by us, It is a sad thing that we should mock God when we pretend to serve him.
Sixthly, For your callings. Four questions here.
First, Have I been diligent in the duties of my Calling?
Secondly, Have I defrauded no man? Have I observed that golden rule of justice in my dealings this day, that I have done no otherwise to any man than I would be done unto? When I have considered it, I find that there is more of Christianity in our moral duties than we are aware of. This is not to be a Christian, to be so onelyonly in prayer, and hearing, &c. but to be a Christian in your Shops, and fields, &c. If thou art no second table-man thou art no Christian. Remember that, this is to be a reproach to Religion.
Thirdly, Have I dropped never a lye in my shop or trade? You that have dealings in the world you had need to look to this every hour. I beseech you Christians look to this: this is a fearful sin, and it is a sign that there is nothing of Christianity in thee if this prevail. Therefore set a guard upon thy mouth; and beg of God to keep thy mouth, that there may nothing but truth come from it. And in the evening examine how thou hast kept thy charge in this respect.
Fourthly, Did not I rashly make or safly break some promise? There is a great and reigning evil in this respect among those that trade in the world. Be very wary and very sparing in making a promise; and when thou hast made it, be sure to perform it. I wonder how you can read that Scripture, Psal. 15. Of those that shall enter into the holy hill of the Lord, That he sweareth to his own hurt and performeth it.
And thus I have given you materials for the examining of your own hearts. Now my further business to you is to know how you resolve to perform this? will you not content your selves with the approving of these rules only? But will you set it forth in practise? I beseech you do not … in ba…e resolution and intention, but resolve that never a day shall pass before these things be done by you.
To stir you up hereunto let me give you these three motives.
First, Consider, that there will be no such means in the world for you to get a sound and thorow conquest over your corruptions. You have been striving a great while with your corruptions: some with vain thoughts, some with pride, som with passion, and it may be you have got but little victory: And what is the reason? Because you have not followed it with constancy. If thou didst but take thy heart to task every day about it thou wouldst surely get the victory over it. As a holy man much experienced in this did use that comparison: Thou must watch thy corruptions (says he) as a cat doth her prey; either it must keep in, or else she hath it. If thou didst thus, thou wouldst quickly find the theif, & so wouldst bring it to the bar before hand, & have execution done upon it. We must be daily in the pursuit of our corruptions, we must never give it over, not in one prayer or one day, and then we are like to get the victory over it.
Secondly, Consider this is a ready way to Assurance, Brethren, the great reason why Christians are without assurance, is for want of self-examination: for want of pain and diligence in observing their own heart. But now if you set upon this duty you will be skil'd in your own hearts. I doubt this work of self-examination is seldom done by many Christians, except it be upon some special occasion.
Thirdly, Consider hereby you shall come to a thorow acquaintance with your own hearts, 2 Cor. 13. 5. Prove your selves, and then follows, know you your selves? he that proves himself oft, shall know himself at length.