Spiritual Perfection Unfolded and Enforced from 2 Corinthians 7:1, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Infidelity, Hypocrisie, Envy, are in a special Sense pollutions of the Spirit. The unreasonableness of Infidelity. Hypocrisie Consider'd: it sometimes proceeds from Ignorance and Error. Sins are hid under the appearance of Virtues. The stedfast belief of God's pure Eye, an effectual means to Cure it. Envy at the good of others, with Malice wishing them Evil. The necessity of Regeneration evident from the consideration of inward defilements. Motives to cleanse the Spirit. God is highly dishonour'd by them. They are more easily contracted, and more frequently Committed, than those that are acted by the Sensitive Faculties. They are more incurable. The Injections of Satan distinguisht from those Sinful Thoughts that arise from the Hearts of Men. They are our Infelicities.
I Shall now proceed to Consider some other Sins, that in a special Sense, are the pollutions of the Spirit▪ It has been Observed already, that in Carnal Sins, the Spirit is the principal Agent, but of other Sins 'tis the Subject. Such are Infidelity, Hypocrisie, Envy and Malice, by which the Mind becomes dark and impure.
Infidelity, whether proceeding from secret Atheism, or open Deism, rejects reveal'd Religion, as unnecessary and groundless. But the Arguments that are drawn from the clear and living Springs of Nature to prove the Being of God, are of such Convincing Evidence, that none but those whose Interest it is, that there were no Supreme Lawgiver and Judge to Call them to an Account for their Actions, can doubt of his Eternal Existence. Now that there is a God, being proved, the necessary Consequence from that Principle is, that he must be honour'd and serv'd according to his own Will, and that it becomes his Wisdom and Goodness to reveal his Will to Men, the Rule of their Duty, and that this be done in the most instructive and permanent way, in Writing, that is less liable to Corruption than Oral Tradition, and that the Holy Scripture has in it such Conspicuous Characters of its descent from Heaven, besides the most undoubted Testimony that it was written by Men Divinely Inspired, and Infallible, that without violating the Rules of sound Discourse we must yield our Assent to its Divine Authority, and supernatural Doctrines reveal'd in it. I shall not here amplifie and illustrate these particulars, having in some Discourses, formerly publish'd, of the Existency of God and the Immortality of the Soul, and the Divinity of the Christian Religion, manifested how desperate the Cause of the Atheists and Deists is to unprejudic'd Minds.
Now though the deduction specified, be according to the true rule of Ratiocination, yet there are some that account it a slavery to fix their belief upon any Authority, but will be free in believing as they are in their actions. I will therefore briefly produce some proofs of the Truth of Christian Religion, that carry an uncontroulable Evidence in them: The abolishing Idolatry in the Pagan World, in the time foretold by the Prophets, is a palpable proof that Christian Religion was from the true God. The Instruments of this great Work, were a few Fishermen, that had neither Learning, nor Arms, nor Treasures: Patience was their Strength, Poverty their Choice, Disgrace their Honour: that without any Force, but of Illumination and Perswasion, of Humility and Charity, and enduring the most terrible Sufferings, they should vanquish the Pride of Philosophers, the Tyrannous power of Princes, the Rebellious Opposition of Mens Carnal Lusts, is not Conceivable without the assistance of Divine Strength, that convinc'd the most obstinate Enemies that the Doctrine was Divine, by the Miracles done in Confirmation of it. Besides, that which the wise Men in all Ages were searching for, that is, the perfection of the Law of Nature, (at first engraven in the Hearts of Men by the Author of it) but in vain: for although Philosophy affords some notices of Good and Evil, sufficient to check many notorious Vices, yet 'tis not sufficient to direct Men in their universal Duty towards God, others, and themselves: but the Gospel is an instructive Light of our full Duty: it speaks to the Heart, and changes its Thoughts and Affections, and reforms the Life according to the pure and perfect Rule reveal'd in it. Now could an Imposture produce such a perfection of Vertue in the wicked World? The true interpretation of the Moral Law in the Gospel is from God alone. V…x hominem non sonat. Could such a change be made without visible Miracles? If the Christian Religion was planted and propagated without the Confirmation of Miracles, it were a transcendent Miracle. And though we saw not the Miracles done by the Apostles, yet we see the permanent effects of them, in the belief and Lives of True Christians. Infidels are apt to reply, if they saw Miracles performed to assure them of the Divinity of the Christian Religion, they would believe it. 'Tis a vain pretence that Men would submit to the power of God declar'd by Miracles, who deny his Authority made known in that eminent degree of Evidence in his Word. Abraham answer'd the Rich Man, who desir'd a Messenger from the Dead might be sent to Convert his Brethren, They have Moses and the Prophets, and if they hear not them, they would not be perswaded though one rose from the dead.
In short, those who resist so strong a Light as shines in the Scripture, the delusion of their Mind is from their depraved Hearts. Speculative Truths obtain the present and easie Assent of the Mind; but Truths directive of Practice, if opposite to Mens Lusts, though their Evidence be unexceptionable, yet the carnal Mind is very averse from receiving them. This account is given of the Pharisees Infidelity, they repented not that Mat. 21. 32.they might believe in him. When the Will is ingag'd in the love of Sin, and Rebels against the Sanctity and Severity of the Gospel Commands, 'tis congruous to reject it. The corrupt Affections hinder the due application of the Mind to consider the motives of Credibility, and stain the Mind that it does not sincerely judge of them. Though Infidels pretend to be the only discoursing Wits of the Age, to have the Oracles of Reason in their Breasts, and despise others as Captives of a blind Belief, yet their Folly is palpable and penal, for having provoked God by their Infidelity, they are left to the power of their Lusts, and of the Tempter, and sink deeper into darkness, and become more hardned and presumptuous. Those who Embark with these distracted Pilots in such dangerous Seas, have a mind to perish for ever.
2. Hyprocrisie is a Spiritual Pollution. In its Theological Consideration it implyes a Counterfeiting Religion and Vertue: an affectation of the Name join'd with a disaffection to the Thing. The having a form of Godliness, with denying the power of it. Accordingly,
1. Every Titular Christian, who professes Subjection to Christ, and lives in Habitual Disobedience to his Commands, is an Hypocrite. The actions are the incarnate issues of the Heart wherein they are form'd, and the clearest discovery of it. A Rebellious Course of Sin, declares a person to be an Infidel, notwithstanding his owning Christ to be our King: His Life is a continual Lye: He vainly presumes that God is his Father, when his Actions declare him toJohn 8 41, 44. be a Child of the Devil.
2. Hypocrisie in a stricter sense is, when Men presume their spiritual condition to be good, upon false grounds. 'Tis observable, no Man is a Hypocrite to himself out of choice; he does not deliberately deceive himself: But one may be a Hypocrite without his knowledge, by Ignorance and Error. He may think his inclination to some Vertues, and his aversion from some Vices, to be Divine Grace: But sympathies and antipathies proceed often from Natural Temper, and not from the renewed Mind and Will, from Judgment and Choice. A tame Dog is as truly a beast as a wild Wolf. A Man that performs only some good things, and abstains from some evil, from natural Conscience, is as truly in the state of polluted Nature, as one that is wholly careless of his Duty, and freely indulges every carnal Lust. One may be exact in light matters, as the Pharisees in tithing Mint and Cummin, and neglect substantial Duties; he may be zealous in the outward parts of Religious Worship, and neglect Righteousness and Mercy, and think to compensate his defects in the Duties of one Table, by strict observing the Duties of the other: This is pernicious Hypocrisie. The subtilty and strength of Satan are imployed to deceive Men by an airy Religion, by an opinionative Goodness, to prevent their being awakened from their drowsie and deadly state. 'Tis worthy of notice, The Tempter has a double operation in the Minds of Men: He deceives the hypocritical with false hopes, by concealing or extenuating their Sins, to induce them to presume of the Favour of God, and to secure his quiet possession of them: He troubles the sincere with vain Terrors, by concealing their Graces, to discourage their progress in the way to Heaven: He is an envious Explorator, and searches to find out their defects, to accuse them to God; and he defames God to them, as if he would not spare his Sons that serve him: He is triumphant in the unsanctified, and militant in the Saints.
3. Some hide their crying Sins under the colourable appearance of Vertues; and pretend to Holiness, that they may sin with less suspicion, and more security. He will speak of those Sins in others with severity, which he freely indulges in himself. The Characters of Religion are drawn in his Countenance, but his Lusts are deeply ingraven in his Heart. These our Saviour compares to painted Sepulchres, that within contain sordid dust and rottenness. This is perfect Hypocrisie; a deadly pollution, that wounds the Vitals, sears the Conscience, quenches all Goodness in the Will; for this Hypocrite is voluntarily so. Hypocrisie in the Heart is like Poyson in a Spring, that spreads it self through all the veins of the Conversation. This Sin our Saviour never speaks of but with detestation: For this he denounc'd such a heavy Woe against the Pharisees, that used Religion as a masking habit to appear glorious in the Eyes of Men, and disguised their Worldly Aims in Devotions; and made long Prayers to be esteem'd of Men. This is so odious to God, that he forbids all the emblems and resemblances of it to the Jews, Linsy-wolsey Garments, and miscelain Corn. Our Defects acknowledged with ingenuity, excite his Compassion; but counterfeit Vertues excite his Indignation: For what can be more provoking, than to appear to be like God in Holiness, the Glory of the Deity, for this end, to be secretly wicked, and to affront his Omniscience, as if he could not discern them through all their close and dark concealments. A Hypocrite is fearful of Men, but faces God. Pride mix'd with Hypocrisie was the Devil's original Sin, he abode not in the Truth; and Religious Hypocrites are his Natural Children. The hottest climate in Hell will be their habitation: For our Saviour threatens some Sinners their portion with Hypocrites; that is, aggravated Damnation. This Sin is difficultly cured, in that 'tis not easily discovered by Men, and does not expose to shame; but is subservient to many carnal ends. Men cannot dive into the Hearts of others, and cannot discern between the Paint of Hypocrisie, and the Life of Holiness. The mixture of beautiful Colours in the Countenance, may be so artificial, that at distance, it may be thought to be natural. Besides, Hypocrisie turns the Remedy into Poyson: For the frequent exercise of Religious Duty, which is the means to sanctifie us, confirms and hardens Hypocrites.
The effectual means to cure it, is a stedfast belief of the pure and flaming Eye of God; who sees Sin where-ever it is, and will bring it into Judgment. A Hypocrite may hide his Sin from the Eyes of others, and sometimes from his own Conscience, but can never impose upon God. And as nothing so confounds Men with shame, as to be found false and perfidious in their dealings; how much more will the Hypocrites be cover'd with confusion at the great day, when they shall appear naked, with their loathsome Ulcers, before innumerable Angels and Saints? They will desire the Rocks to hide them from that glorious Assembly.
The stedfast belief of this great Truth will cause frequent and solemn thoughts of God, as our Inspector and Judge: I have set the Lord always before me; he is at my right-hand, I shall not be moved: This was the effect of David's Faith. This will produce Sincerity in Religion unrespective to the Eyes of Men; and preserve us from secret Sins. 'Tis the prescription of our Saviour; Beware ye Luk. 12. 1, 2, 3.of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is Hypocrisie: For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known: Whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness, shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the Ear in closets, shall be proclaimed on the house tops.
3. Envy at the Good of others, and Malice, wishing them Evil, is a deep pollution of the Spirit. This absolutely alienates Men from the Nature and Life of God: For the clearest conception we have of the Deity is, that he is Good, and does Good. This is contrary not only to supernatural Grace, but to natural Conscience; and turns a Man into a Fiend. This Vice is immediately attended with it… Punishment. The envious Man is his own tormentor, and has the Vipers …ate in the Fable, that in biting the File, wounded it self. Besides, this stops the descent of Divine Blessings, and turns the Petitions of the Envious into Imprecations against themselves.
To finish this Head, 'tis observable, nothing more discovers the necessity of Renovation, than the defilements of the Spirit. As Birds by incubation hatch their brood; so from sinful Thoughts and Desires actual Sins proceed. Our Saviour tells us, Out of the Heart proceed Mat. 15. 19.Murders, Adulteries, Fornications, Thefts, False-witness, Blasphemies, which defile a Man. 'Tis above all things necessary, to keep the Heart; for the issues of Death …low from it. The design, contrivance, and consent to sin, are in the Heart; the Body is only the Instrument of Sin. To enforce this Counsel, there are many Motives.
(1.) God is infinitely dishonour'd and displeas'd by the Sins of our Spirits: For the Soul is of near alliance with God, and of incomparable more value than the vile Body: Therefore the defiling it is highly provoking. The Soul is the place of his special residence; and the entertaining Sin in it, is as a fouler Indignity, than the bringing Dung into the Chamber of Presence of a King. We should be more careful to approve our Thoughts and Desires to God, than our Words and Actions to Men.
(2.) They are more easily contracted than those which are acted by the sensitive Faculties: They secretly insinuate into the Soul: External Sins require …it time, and place, and means for their commission; and are often hinder'd by the moral restraints of Fear and Shame: But speculative Sins may be committed without convenient circumstances. In whatever place, or company, Men are, they may retire into their Hearts, and please themselves with vicious thoughts and desires of future Sins, and devices how to make provision for the Flesh; with carnal representations and complacency of the Sins they have committed: They may personate the Pleasures of Sin in the scene of Fancy; and the imagination of old Sins becomes a new Temptation, and deeply stains their Minds: And as 'tis usual, what pleases is favour'd and defended, they by carnal Discourse pervert Scripture to countenance their Lusts; which is the highest Wickedness.
(3.) Spiritual Sins are most frequently committed, being of quick dispatch, without the toil of the Body: From hence their number is as the Sand upon the Sea-shore. They infinitely increase Mens accounts with the high and eternal Judge; whose Understanding is as searching as 'tis unsearchable. The Judgment of the last Day is distinguished from the process of inferiour Humane Courts, which are confin'd to take cognisance only of Mens intentions by overt acts; for then there shall be a revelation of the thoughts and secrets of the Heart.
(4.) Spiritual Sins are more incurable than those that are done by the Body: For when the sensitive Faculties by Diseases and Age are disabled, then the vicious habits of the Soul may be strong… ▪ and like the Poyson of a Serpent, beVitiorum ministeria senue…unt. Sen. more deadly by Age.
Notwithstanding inward Pollutions induce such a Guilt, yet Carnal Men are apt to think that till Sin be perfected in the gross act, 'tis not deadly: And for this they pervert Scripture; wherein 'tis said, That when Lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth Sin; and Sin when 'tis finish'd, brings forth Death. But in God's sight, the contemplative commission of …in, renders one as truly guilty as the actual; and Consent to the doing it, renders as obnoxious to his inlightened and impartial Tribunal, as the Performance. His pure and perfect Law, the Rule of our Duty, forbids all defilements fleshly and spiritual, and that shall be the Rule of our Judgment. And as the Soul is the first and principal agent in Sin, it shall first receive the recompence of it: In the interval between Death and the Resurrection, while the Body is without sense in the Grave, the Soul is tormented in Hell.
Before I proceed to the next Head, it will be useful to add, That many sincere Saints are in perplexity from the injections of Satan, …earing they arise from their own Hearts.
1. They may be distinguish'd by their quality: Unnatural Thoughts against our selves, and blasphemous of God, are usually from the Tempter.
2. When they make terrible impressions upon our Spirits, they are his fiery Darts: For the native off-spring of our Hearts are conceived with freedom and complacency.
3. They are our infelicities, but induce no Guilt when resisted by us. A Rape may be committed on the Mind; and as the ravish'd Virgin, that cryed out for rescue from Violence, was declared by God himself innocent; so when the tempted Soul, with strong cryes, prays for Divine Relief, God will not say those terrible injections to our charge. Our Saviour was tempted by the unclean Spirit, yet was holy, harmless, and undefiled; and has a compassionate tenderness for those who are tempted, and will make them partake of the Fruits of his glorious Victory. 'Tis true, if the injections of Satan are cherish'd by the Carnal Mind, they are ours by adoption, though of his begetting. The Devil put in the Heart of Judas, the design of betraying Christ, but it was entertain'd by his Covetous Mind, and involv'd him under the heaviest Guilt. The inclinations of Carnal Men are to various Sins, to which they are more inclinable by the Temptations of Satan; but that does not excuse them from Guilt.