The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance, Part 16

The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance · Part 16

p. 402I Doubt not but there are many of the Hearers that by this time, are deſirous to be inſtructed, how this ſelf knowledge may be attained: For whoſe ſatsfaction, and for the reducing of all that hath been ſpoken into practiſe, I ſhall next acquaint you with the Hinderances of Self-knowledge (the removing of them being not the leaſt point in the cure,) and with the Poſitive Directions to be practiſed for the attainment of it: And becauſe the Hinderances and Helps are contrary, I ſhall open both together as we go on.

The Hinderances of ſelf knowledge are ſome of them without us, and ſome within us; and ſo muſt be the Helps.

I. The external Hinderances are theſe.

1. The failing of Miniſters in their part of the work through unskilfulneſs or unfaithfulneſs, is a great cauſe that ſo many are ignorant of themſelves. They are the Lights of the world: and if they are ec…lipſed, or put under a buſhell; if they are darkened by the ſnuff of their own corruptions; or if they feed not their light by the oile of diligent ſtudies and other endeavours; or if they will not go p. 403…long with men into the dark and unknown corners of the heart, what wonder if mens hearts remain in darkneſs, when thoſe …hat by office are appointed to afford them Light, do fail them? It is not a general dull diſcourſe, or critical obſervations upon words, or the ſubtile deciſion of ſome nice and curious queſtions of the ſchools, (though theſe may be uſeful to their proper ends,) nor is it a neat and well compoſed ſpeech about ſome other diſtant matters, that is like to acquaint a ſinner with himſelf. How many ſermons may we hear (that to others ends are not unprofitable) that are levelled at ſome mark or other, that is very far from the Hearers hearts, and therefore are never like to convince them, or prick them, or open and convert them? And if our congregations were in ſuch a caſe, as that they needed no cloſer quickening work, ſuch preaching might be born with and commended: But when ſo many uſually ſit before us, that muſt ſhortly dye, and are unprepared, and that are condemned by the Law of God, and muſt be pardoned or finally condemned: that muſt be ſaved from their ſins, that they may be ſaved from everlaſting miſery, I think it is time for us to talk to them of ſuch things as p. 404moſt concern them; and that in ſuch a matter as may moſt effectually convince awake and change them. When we come to them on their ſick-beds, we talk not then to them of diſtant or impertinent things: o… words, or forms, or parties, or by-opinions, but of the ſtate of their ſouls, an… their appearing before the Lord, and ho… they may be ready, that death may b… both ſafe and comfortable to them … (though a ſuperſtitious miſerable fellow that knoweth no better things himſelf, may talk to the ſick of beads, and relicts, and o… being on this ſide or that, for this ceremony or the other, and may think to conjure the unholy ſpirit out of him, by ſome affected words of devotions uttered from a graceleſs ſenſeleſs heart, or to command him out by Papal authority, as if they would charm his ſoul to heaven, by ſaying ove… ſome lifeleſs forms, and uſing the Goſpel … a spell; Yet Miniſters indeed that know themſelves what Faith and what Repentance is, and what it is to be regenerate and to be prepared to die, do know that they have other work to do.) The Goſpe… offereth men their Choice, whether they will have Holineſs or ſin; and be ruled by Chriſt, or by their fleſhly luſts; and ſo whether p. 405they will have spiritual, or carnal, eternal or tranſitory Joys. And our work is to perſwade them to make that choice which will be their Happineſs if we can prevail, and which eternal Joy depends upon: whether we come to them in ſickneſs or in health, this is our buſineſs with them. A man that is ready to be drowned, is not at leiſure for a ſong or dance; And a man that is ready to be damned, methinks ſhould not find himſelf at leiſure to hear a man ſhew his wit and reading only, if not his folly and malice againſt a life of Holineſs; Nor ſhould you think that ſuitable to ſuch mens caſe, that doth not evidently tend to ſave them. But, alas, how often have we heard ſuch ſermons, as tend more to diverſion than direction, to fill their minds with other matters, and find men ſomething elſe to think on, leſt they ſhould ſtudy themſelves, and know their miſery! And whereas there may be ſo much ingenuity in the ſinner as to perceive that the diſcourſe of idle tongues, or the reading of a Romance is unſuitable to one in his condition; and therefore will not by ſuch toyes as theſe, be called off from the conſideration of his ways; A preacher that ſeems to ſpeak religiouſly, by a ſapeleſs, p. 406dry, impertinent diſcourſe thats called a ſermon, may more plauſibly and eaſily divert him: And has conſcience will more quietly ſuffer him to be taken off the neceſſary care of his ſalvation, by ſomething that is like it, and pretends to do the work as well, then by the groſſer avocations, or the ſcorns of fools: And he will more tamely be turned from Religion, by ſomething that is called Religion, and which he hopes may ſerve the turn, then by open wickedneſs, or impious defiance of God and Reaſon. But how oft do we hear applauded Sermons, which force us in compaſſion to mens ſouls to think [O what … all this to the opening a ſinners heart unto himſelf, & ſhewing him his unregenerate ſtate? Whats this to the conviction of a ſelf-deluding ſoul, that is paſſing unto Hell with the confident expectations of Heaven▪ To the opening of mens eyes, and turning them from darkneſs unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God! whats this to ſhew men their undone condition, and the abſolute neceſſity of Chriſt and of renewing grace! what is in this to lead men up from earth to heaven, and to acquaint them with the unſeen world, and to help them to the life of faith and love, and to the mortifying and the pardon of their ſins? How little p. 407skil have many miſerable preachers, in the ſearching of the heart, and helping men to know themſelves, whether Chriſt be in them, or whether they be reprobates? and how little care and diligence is uſed by them to call men to the tryal, and help them in the examining and judging of themſelves, as if it were a work of no neceſſity! They have healed alſo the hurt of the daughter of my people ſlightly, ſaying Peace, Peace, when there is no Peace, ſaith the Lord, Jer. 6.14. And Ezek. 13.10, 11, 12. Becauſe, even becauſe they have ſeduced my people, ſaying Peace▪ and there was no peace, and one built up a wall, and lo others dawbed … with untempered morter, ſay to them that dawb it with untempered morter that it ſhall fall: there ſhall be an overflowing ſhowre, and ye O great hailſtones, ſhall fall, and a ſtormy wind ſhall rend it: Lo when the wall is faln, ſhall it not be ſaid unto you, Where is the dawbing wherewith ye dawbed it?]

It is a plain and terrible paſſage, Prov. 24.24. He that ſaith to the wicked, Thou art Righteous, him ſhall the people curſe; natives ſhall abhor him,] Such injuſtice in a Judge or witneſſes is odious, that determine but in order to temporal rewards on puniſhments: (Lev: 19.15. Prov. 18.5. p. 408& 28.21.) But in a meſſenger that profeſſeth to ſpeak to men in the name of God, and in the ſtead of Jeſus Chriſt, when the determination hath reſpect to the conſciences of men, and to their endleſs joy or torment, how odious and horrid a crime muſt it be eſteemed to perſwade the wicked that he is Righteous, or to ſpeak that which tendeth to perſwade him of it though not in open plain expreſſions! what perfidious dealing is this againſt the Holy God! what an abuſe of our Redeemer, that his pretended meſſengers ſhall make him ſeem to judge clean contrary to his Holineſs, and to his Law, and to the Judgement which indeed he paſſeth and will paſs on all that live and die unſanctified! What vile deceit, and cruelty againſt the ſouls of men, are ſuch Preachers guilty of, that would make them believe that all is well with them, or that their ſtate is ſafe or tolerable, till they muſt find it otherwiſe to their woe! when diſeaſed ſouls have but a ſhort and limited time allowed them for their cure, that a man ſhall come to them, as in the name of their Phyſition, and tell them that they are pretty well, and need not make ſo much ado about the buſineſs, and thus keep them from their only help till it be too late! what p. 409ſhame, what puniſhment can be too great for ſuch a wretch? when the neglect and making light of Chriſt and his ſalvation, is the common road to Hell, Heb. 2.3. Matth. 22.5. and moſt men periſh becauſe they value not and uſe not the neceſſary means of their recovery; for a man in the name of a miniſter of the Gospel, to cheat them into ſuch undervaluings and neglects, as are like to prove their condemnation: what is this but to play the Miniſter of Satan, and to do his work, in the name and garb of a miniſter of Chriſt? It is damnable treachery againſt Chriſt and againſt the peoples ſouls to hide their miſery when it is your office to reveal it; and to let people deceive themſelves in the matters of Salvation, and not to labour diligently to undeceive them; and to ſee them live upon preſumption and ungrounded hopes, and not to labour with faithful plaineſs to acquaint them with their need of better hopes. But ſome go further, and more openly act the part of Satan, by reproaching the moſt faithful ſervants of the Lord, and labouring to bring the people into a conceit that ſeriouſneſs and carefulneſs in the matters of God and our ſalvation, are but hypocriſie and unneceſſary ſtrictneſs: And in their company p. 410and converſe they put ſo much countenance on the ungodly, and caſt ſo much ſecret or open ſcorn upon thoſe that would live according to the Scriptures, as hardeneth multitudes in their impenitency. O dreadful reckoning to theſe unfaithful ſhepherds, when they muſt anſwer for the ruine of their miſerable flocks! how great will their damnation be, which muſt be aggravated by the damnation of ſo many others! When the queſtion is, How come ſo many ſouls to periſh? the anſwer muſt be, Becauſe they …et light by Chriſt and Holineſs which ſhould have ſaved them: But what made them ſet light by Chriſt and Holineſs? It was their deceitful confidence that they had ſo much part in Chriſt and holineſs, as would ſuffice to ſave them, though indeed they were unſanctified ſtrangers unto both. They were not practically acquainted with th…ir neceſſities. But how came they to continue thus ignorant of themſelves till it was too late? Becauſe they had teachers that kept them ſtrange to the nature of true holineſs, and did not labour publikely and privately to convince them of their undone condition, and to drive them to Chriſt that by him they might have life. Woe to ſuch Teachers that ever they were born, p. 411that muſt then be found under the guilt of ſuch perfidiouſneſs & cruelty! Had they ever felt themſelves, what is it to be purſued by the Law and conſcience, and with broken hearts to caſt themſelves on Chriſt as their only hope and refuge, and what it is to be pardoned, and ſaved by him from the wrath of God, and what it is to be ſanctified and to be ſenſible of all his Love, they would take another courſe with ſinners, and talke of ſin, and Chriſt, and holineſs at other rates, and not deceive their people with themſelves.

Direct. 1. My firſt Direction therefore to you is in order to the knowledge of your ſelves, that if it be poſſible, you will live under a faithful, ſoul-ſearching, skilful Paſtor, and that you will make uſe of his publike and perſonal help, to bring you and keep you in continual acquaintance with your ſelves.

As there is a double uſe of Phyſicions; one General, to teach men the common Principles of Phyſick, and read them Lectures of the nature of diſeaſes, and their cauſes and remedies; and the other particular, to apply theſe common precepts to each individual perſon as they need; So is there a double uſe of miniſters of the Goſpel, One p. 412to deliver publikely the common doctrines of Chriſtianity concerning mans ſin and miſery, and the remedy, &c. and the other to help people in the perſonal application of all this to themſelves. And they that take up only with the former, deprive themſelves of half the benefit of the miniſtry.

1. In publike how skilful and diligent ſhould we be, in opening the hearts of ſinners to themſelves! The Pulpit is but our candleſtick, from which we ſhould diffuſe the holy Light into all the Aſſembly: Not ſpeaking the ſame things of all that are before us, as if it were our work only to trouble men, or only to comfort them: but as the ſame Light will ſhew every man the things which he beholdeth in their varieties and differences; (we ſee by the ſame ſun a man to be a man, and a beaſt to be a beaſt, and a bird to be a bird;) ſo the ſame word of truth which we deliver, muſt be ſo diſcovering and diſcriminating, as to manifeſt the ungodly to be ungodly, and the carnal to be carnal, the worldling to be a worldling; the hypocrite to be an hypocrite, and the enemies of holineſs to be as they are; and the ſincere to be ſincere; and the renewed ſoul to be indeed p. 413renewed. The ſame light muſt ſhew the excellency of ſanctification, and the filthineſs of ſin: the glory of the Image of Chriſt, and the deformity of that spiritual death which is its privation. It muſt ſhew the Righteous to be more excellent then his neighbour, Prov. 12, 26. and help men to diſcern between the righteous and the wicked; between him that ſerveth God, and him that ſerveth him not, Mal. 3.18. we muſt not be like the miſerable ungodly preachers, that cannot deſcribe the ſtate of grace with clearneſs and feelingly, becauſe they never knew it: or that dare not diſcover the unſanctified leſt they detect themſelves, nor judge them accordidg to their office, leſt they condemn themſelves; and that preach to the ungodly as if all were well with them; and they dare not awaken the conſciences of others, leſt they ſhould awaken and affright their own: and therefore are ready to ſcorn at all diſtinguiſhing preachers, and to take the diſcovery of regeneration to be but the boaſting of hypocriſie, as if he that would differ from the moſt, or did pretend to the ſpecial priviledges of the Saints, did but as the Phariſe, thank God that he is not like other men; or ſay, Stand by, I am more holy then thou: And if theſe preachers p. 414could prove that all men ſhall be ſaved that will but ſay that they are Chriſtians, they might then have hope of being ſaved themſelves, wi…hout that ſerious piety which they ſo diſtaſte. No wonder therefore i… they preach in the language of Corah ▪ Numb. 1….3. Ye take too much upon you… ſeeing all the Congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them▪ wherefore then lift you up your ſelves above the Congregation of the Lord!] But the Lord ſaith [If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou ſhalt be as my mouth: …t them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them,] Jer. 15.19. If you love not differencing preaching, make no difference from the true members of Chriſt by your hypocriſie or ungodly living; be ſuch as they, and we ſhall not difference you from them. Read but the firſt Pſalm, and the fifteenth Pſalm, and the third of John, and the eighth to the Romans, and the firſt Epiſtle of John, and then tell me whether the Scripture be not a differencing word, condemning ſome, and juſtifying others, and ſhewing the true ſtate of the difference betwixt them. What is there no difference between the heirs of Heaven and Hell? Or is the difference no more then that one p. 415…th the name of a Chriſtian, and not the …her? or that one had the hap to be born …here the Goſpel was Received, and Chri…nity was the Religion of the Countrey, … the other the unhappineſs to be born …here it was not known? O no, when … dreadful differencing day is come, men …all find that there was another kind of …fference, between the way of Life and … death: When many ſhall ſay, Lord, …rd, have we not propheſied in thy name, … in thy name have caſt out devils, and in … name done many wonderful works! … whom Chriſt will profe…s, I nevor knew …: Depart from me ye that work iniquity, …atth. 7.22, 23. When many ſhall come …om the Eaſt and W…ſt, and ſhall ſit down …th Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob in the …ingdom of heaven; but the children … the Kingdom ſhall be caſt out into …ter darkneſs: there ſhall be weeping … gnaſhing of teeth] Matth. 8.11, 12. …ha… a difference will appear between thoſe …at now converſe together, and ſit here in … ſame ſeats, between whom the world …at judgeth by the …ut ſide, diſcerns but …tle or no difference? When thoſe things …all be executed that are written in Matth. …, and 2 Theſ. 1. O what a difference p. 416will then appear! when of thoſe that we in the ſame Church, the ſame houſe, … ſame ſhop, the ſame bed, One ſhall be tak… and the other left: and the felicity that … hid in the ſeed of Grace, ſhall ſhine … to the aſtoniſhment of the world, in … fulneſs of eternal Glory!

I know Preachers are ordinarily … that thus difference between the Godly … ungodly; the very names of difference … matter of ſcorn to guilty ſouls, becauſe th… imply the matter of their terror. I ha… oft noted this with admiration, in the ſu…ceſs of Chriſts own doctrine upon … Jews, Luk. 4.18, 19, 22. when he had preached the Goſpel, as that he had … teſtimony of the multitude that wonder at the gracious words that proceeded out his mouth, yet ſome were cavilling … believed not, and v. 25, 26, 27. he ſai… [I tell you of a truth, many widows were … Iſrael in the days of Elias, when the Hea… was ſhut up three years, &c. But … none of them, was Elias ſent ſave unto S…repta a City of Sidon, to a woman that … a widow: And many lepers were in Isra… in the time of EIizeus the prophet: … none of them was cleanſed ſaving Naam… the Syrian:] But how was this differenc… p. 417… doctrine of Chriſt entertained, by the …? It is ſaid v. 28.29. All they in the …agogue when they heard theſe things, were …lled with wrath, and roſe up and thruſt … out of the City, and led him to the brow … the hill whereon their City was built, that …hey might might caſt him down headlong] …ead it and conſider, what moved theſe …en to ſo much rage againſt Chriſt himſelf or preaching this doctrine, which reſtrain…d the fruit of the Goſpel to a few; and …en you will not wonder, if thoſe preach…rs that imitate Chriſt in this, be uſed no …etter then their Maſter.

But let Miniſters know that this is their …uty, to ſhew every man himſelf, his deeds, …nd ſtate as indeed they are: And let Chriſtians chooſe and love ſuch Miniſters. Chooſe not the Glaſs that makes you fair…ſt, but which is trueſt, and repreſenteth you to your ſelves as God accounteth you, whether he do it with more eloquence or leſs; with ſmoother or with rougher language; hear him if you may, that will beſt acquaint you with the truth of your condition, and chooſe not thoſe that ſpeak not to the heart.

2. And when you have heard the beſt, the cleareſt, the moſt ſearching Preacher, do p. 418not think that now you can do all the reſt of work your ſelves: and that you have further need of help: But make uſe their more particular perſonal advic… not needleſly, but in theſe follow… caſes.

1. In caſe that after your moſt dilige… ſelf examination, you are yet at uncertain… and doubt, whether you are truly ſanctifi… or not. The ſetling of your ſtates for … eternity, and the well-grounding of yo… Hopes and Comforts, is a matter of ſu… unſpeakable moment, as that you ſhou… not remain in careleſs, negligent unce…tainty, while God hath provided you … further means that may be uſed for aſſ…rance. Yea if you were not troubled wi… doubting, yet if you have opportunity … opening your Evidences to a judicio… faithful Miniſter or friend, I think it may … worth your labour, for the Confirmation … the peace and comforts which you ha… You cannot make too ſure of everlaſtin… Happineſs.

2. And not only in the firſt ſetling … your Peace, but alſo when any notabl… aſſault or dangerous temptation ſhall af…terward ſhake it, which you canno… overcome without aſſiſtance, it is ſeaſo…able p. 419to betake your ſelves to the Phyſi…ion.

3. And alſo in caſe of any dangerous …a…ſe or declining that hath brought you …to a ſtate of darkneſs. The ſick and …unded muſt have help: They are not …ufficient for themſelves.

4. Alſo in caſe of any particular corru…tion, or temptation, your particular ſinful …nclinations may (caute…ouſly) be opened to a faithful Guide, that by his prudent and lively counſel you may be ſtrengthened.

If you ſay, To what end do Miniſters preach to me, and why do I hear them opening the natures of Grace and of Hypocriſie, if I cannot judge of my ſelf by the doctrine which they preach? I anſwer, 1. You may and muſt judge your ſelves by the publike common helps, as far as you are able: But a perſonal applying help, added unto this, is a further advantage. And humility ſhould teach you, not to think better of your underſtandings then there is cauſe; nor to think you are ſo wiſe as to need but one help, when God hath provided you two: or that you need but the leſſer, when he hath provided you a greater. And doth not your own experience convince you? p. 420Do you not find that after the beſt publi… preaching you are yet in doubt, and at loſs about your ſpiritual ſtate, and ther…fore that you have need of further help?

2. I further anſwer you: There is … great a diverſity of particular circumſtance in the caſes of particular perſons, tha… a great deal of help is neceſſary to moſt, t… paſs a right judgement, when they do un…derſtand both the Law, and the fact. Wi… you think it enough that you have the ſtatutes of the Land, and the Law-books to judge of all your own caſes by? Or wil… you not think that you have alſo need o… the Counſel of the wiſeſt Lawyer (i… your weightieſt caſes) to help you to judge of your cauſe by the particular application of the Law to it? So in Phyſick▪ who is ſo fooliſh, as to think that by the help of the moſt learned Book, or approved Receipts he is able to be his own Phyſicion, without any more particular advice? You muſt be long in ſtudying Law or Phyſick before you can underſtand them ſo well as thoſe that have made them the ſtudy and buſineſs of their lives. It is not having or reading a Book only, or hearing a Lecture of them, that can make you as underſtanding as the maſters of the p. 421Profeſſion; and alſo to have all paſſages at hand that muſt be obſerved in the judging of your Cauſe. So is it in matters of the ſoul. When you have heard much, and underſtand much, you cannot in modeſty think that all the ſenſe of Scripture, about thoſe points, is known as exactly to you, as to your moſt judicious Teachers; and that you are as able at once to ſee all the paſſages of the word, and of the fact, as may enable you to paſs ſo clear a judgement on it. Perhaps you will ſay, that you know your own hearts and actions better then they do. I anſwer, You do ſo, or ſhould do ſo, as to the matter of fact: and it is you that they muſt know it from: And yet when you have done, you may not be able to judge of your State by thoſe acts which you ſay you know: You muſt ſhew the Lawyer all your evidences: He cannot ſee them, till you ſhew them him: and yet when he ſeeth them, he can judge of them whether they are good or bad, and of your title by them, better then you can that have the keeping of them; becauſe he better underſtands the Law: The Phyſicion feeleth not your pain, nor knoweth it till you tell it him: And yet when you have told it him, he knows better p. 422then you what it ſignifieth, and whether it tendeth, and whether be curable or not, and what muſt cure it.

But perhaps you will ſay, that when you have gone to Miniſters, and opened your caſe to them, they cannot reſolve you, but you are ſtill in doubt.

I anſwer, 1. Perhaps when they have reſolved them, yet you would not be reſolved. Have they not told you the truth and you would not believe it? Or directed you to Remedies which you would not uſe? They cannot when they have told you the truth, compell you to believe it; nor when they have told you what will do the cure, they cannot make you uſe it if you refuſe.

2. And what if the nature of the diſeaſe be obſtinate, and will not be cured eaſily and at once, but with time and diligence and patience? Will you therefore think the means are vain? Muſt you at once, or in a ſhort time, be reſolved, and delivered from all your doubts, about your title to eternal life, or elſe will you caſt off all advice? ſhould you do ſo by your bodies, you may know what were like to be the iſſue: ſhould your children learn thus of their teachers, they were like to make unhappy p. 423Schollars. As you will not have done with Chriſt, if he cure you not at once, nor give over praying if you have not all your deſires at once (if you love your ſelves) So you muſt not have done with the Counſel of your Guides, if they ſatisfie not your doubts at once: As you ceaſe not hearing them in publike, though you have ſtill your doubtings; ſo why ſhould you ceaſe adviſing with them perſonally upon that account? Uſe Gods means, and be thankful, if by degrees they do the care, and prevail at laſt.

Object. But I find it is God only that can ſpeak peace; and therefore it is vain to hang on men.

I anſwer, God ſpeaketh by his word and ſpirit: His word is to be delivered, expounded, and applyed to you by his Miniſters: If therefore you will have it from God, you muſt not refuſe his own appointed ordinary means. The spirit comforteth by the promiſe: As in Converſion God uſeth not to do it by the ſpirit, without, but in, and by the Miniſtery of the word; ſo alſo in all our directions, and ſatisfaction and comfort afterwards. As he that will run from the Miniſtry of the word, becauſe it is God that muſt convert, doth indeed run from p. 424God, and is not like to be converted: ſo is it in point of aſſurance, and conſolation. The Teachers of the Church [are to be accounted of as the Miniſters of Chriſt, and ſtewards of the myſteries of God, 1 Cor. 4.1. by whom the people have believed, 1 Cor. 3.5. not having dominion over their faith, but being helpers of their joy, 2 Cor. 1.24. who are comforted in all their tribulations, that they might be able to comfort them that are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith they themſelves are comforted of God, v. 4. They are to be faithful and wiſe ſtewards, whom the Lord maketh Rulers over his houſhold to give them their portion of meat in due ſeaſon, Luk. 12.42. Thus Chriſt hath given authority to his ſervants, and appointed to every man his work, Mark. 13.34. and given Paſtors and Teachers to his Church, for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the miniſtry, for the edifying of the body of Chriſt, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the ſon of God to a perfect man, Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. Theſe therefore being Chriſts officers, and this their appointed work, we muſt receive ſo much of Gods mercies by their hands, as belongeth to their office to adminiſter. [If there be a meſſenger p. 425with him, an interpreter, one among a thouſand, to ſhew unto man his uprightneſs; then God is gracious unto him, and ſaith, Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ranſome: Job. 33.23, 24.

So that you ſee it is Gods way to ſhew to man his uprightneſs, and to ſpeak peace to ſouls by his meſſengers and interpreters that are fitted and authorized thereto.

Object. But it is but few that are able thus to diſcuſs the caſe of unſetled doubting ſouls, and to give them clear and ſafe directions, that may ſave them both from preſumption and despair: In many places the Miniſters are ſenſeleſs of theſe things, and unacquainted with the concernments and works of conſcience, and have nothing to ſay to us, unleſs to deride us as ſcrupulous and preciſe, and bid us not trouble our heads about ſuch matters, ſeeing God is merciful, and Chriſt dyed for ſinners: They will diſcourſe with us long enough about news, or worldly buſineſſes, or opinions, or controverſies; but when we open to them the ſtate of our ſouls, and deſire their advice for the making our calling and election ſure, they have no ſenſe or ſavour of ſuch diſcourſe: p. 426And many miniſters that are truly Conſcientious, are yet ſo unskilful and ſo weak that we have no encouragement to acquaint them with our ſtate.

To this I anſwer: It cannot be denyed but all this is too true; and it is matter of lamentation, and muſt ſend us to God with the old petition which Chriſt himſelf hath put into our mouths, Math. 9.37, 38. [The harveſt truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harveſt that he will ſend forth labourers into his harveſt.]

But conſider that this is no wonder, or unuſual thing: For all this, there is no nation under heaven that hath more able faithful Miniſters of Chriſt, then are in theſe Nations. Alas how much of the Church is guided by meer ignorant Readers! and how much by ſuperſtitious deceivers! Did you know the caſe of the poor Chriſtians in the Ethiopian, the Greek, and the Roman Churches, you would bleſs God that it is ſo well with us: Even when the Church was in a narrower room, yet God complained, Jer. 12.10. [Many Paſtors have deſtroyed my vineyard: they have trodden my Portion under foot: they have made my pleaſant portion a deſolate wilderneſs: They p. 427have made it deſolate: and being deſolate it mourneth unto me:] And Jer. 23.1, 2. [Wo be to the Paſtors that deſtroy and ſcatter the ſheep of my Paſture, ſaith the Lord: therefore thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſrael againſt the Paſtors that feed my people: Ye have ſcatted my flock and driven them away, and have not viſited them: behold I will viſit on you the evil of your doings, ſaith the Lord.] And I will ſet up ſhepherds over them that ſhall feed them, and they ſhall fear no more, nor be diſmayed] Then was the Church fain to take up this lamentation, Jer. 10.19, 20.21. Woe is me, my hurt! for my wound is grievous: But I ſaid, Truly this is a grief, and I muſt bear it: my tabernacle is ſpoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to ſtretch forth my tent any more, and to ſet up my curtains: For the Paſtors are become brutiſh, and have not ſought the Lord: therefore they ſhall not proſper, and all their flocks ſhall be ſcattered.]

But the voice of healing mercy ſaith [Only acknowledge thine iniquity, &c. Turn O back ſliding children, &c. and I will give you Paſtors according to my heart, which ſhall feed you with knowledge and p. 428underſtanding,] Jer. 3.13, 14, 15.

You ſee in all other profeſſions (that require not ſupernatural illumination) there are but few that attain to excellency: It is but in few that Nature layeth the foundation in, or giveth that capacity, to be excellent, which Grace doth elevate and improve.

Take therefore the advice of the ableſt you can get: If moſt Phyſicions are weak and ignorant, do not therefore caſt off all, nor yet caſt your ſelves upon one that is like to kill you, becauſe he is your neighbour. I will not perſwade you to go always to the Miniſter of your Pariſh, to open the caſe of your ſouls, be he fit or unfit: but to the fitteſt that you can have acceſs to: The Papiſts themſelves will give men leave to chooſe others for their Confeſſors. Where there is moſt of the heavenly illumination, and holy skill in the matters of the ſoul; where there is the ſoundeſt and exacteſt judgement, joyned with experience and tender compaſſion, and faithful plaineſs, and cautelous ſecreſie, there open your hearts if you have opportunity, and take the help of ſuch faithful counſellors to acquaint you with your ſelves.

p. 429Object. But ſuch Miniſters being few, and having more of greater work then they can turn them to, are not to be spoken with … oft as my neceſſity requireth help.

Anſw. Uſe then the beſt that are at leiſure; And it is not only Miniſters that you muſt uſe, but any other Chriſtian friend, that hath ſuch abilities and qualifications, as fit them to aſſiſt you; Whoſoever hath the Light, refuſe not to come to it; Gods gifts and graces may be helpful to you in a Parent, a husband, a neighbour, and not only in a Miniſter.

Queſt. But how far may a dark and doubting perſon take up and reſt in the judgement of a Miniſter or of others, about the ſtate of his ſoul, when he is not ſatisfied himſelf?

Anſw. This Queſtion is of very great uſe, and therefore the more carefully to be reſolved; I ſhall anſwer it therefore, 1. Negatively, and 2. Affirmatively.

1. No mans judgement of your ſtate is to be taken as abſolutely infallible or divine: nor is man to be believed as God is with a divine belief: when they tell you, that [If you are regenerate, you are juſtified] then they do but tell you what God p. 430hath told you, and therefore this is to be taken as of infallible certainty, not as it is their word, but as it is Gods: ſo alſo when they tell you, that [if you are unconverted you are not forgiven] But when they tell you, that [you are converted or unconverted, pardoned or unpardoned,] this judgement is not to be taken as infallible or Divine.

2. For the bare matter of fact (whether you Repent or not; whether you had rather be Holy or unholy, &c.) there is no Miniſter that can know your Heart ſo well as you your ſelves may know it: except in caſe when Melancholy or paſſion, or a weakneſs of underſtanding on one ſide, or a wilfulneſs of preſumption on the other ſide, doth make men judge of their own condition quite contrary to the evidence that appeareth in their lives to others.

3. It is not ſafe to reſt on the judgement of one that is either an enemy or ſtranger to the workings of a careful troubled ſoul; or of one that is drunk with any hereſie, or fond of any private opinion of his own, and layeth out his zeal to form people into his opinion, as if the life of Religion lay in that: Nor yet of a weak unskilful man.

p. 4314. It is not ſafe for you to reſt much in the …udgement of one that knows you not, and not acquainted (by himſelf, or by the …port of others, or ſome good evidence) of …he bent and manner of your lives, but muſt …dge only by the preſent expreſſions of your …wn mouths.

5. It is not ſafe for you to reſt on the …dgement of any one ſingular perſon, when …e judgement of moſt of your judicious …cquaintance is contrary to it. So much …or the Negative,

2. Affirmatively I anſwer, 1. By a …vine faith you are bound to believe all …e promiſes of Scripture that your Paſtor …or any other) ſhall acquaint you with.

2. As a Diſciple of Chriſt, you are …ound to Learn the meaning of thoſe Pro…iſes (and other paſſages of the Scripture) …rom your Teachers daily authorized to …ſtruct you: And with ſuch a Humane …lief, as a ſchollar oweth to his Teacher … Arts or Sciences, you are bound to Be…lieve your Teachers concerning the mean…ng of the promiſes, in caſes wherein you … unable your ſelves to underſtand the word by its proper light and evidence, as …ell as they; and in caſe you ſee no evidence of falſhood in their expoſition, nor p. 430duplicate page p. 431duplicate page p. 432have any ſpecial reaſon to diſtruſt them. … that will believe nothing that his Teach… telleth him in order to his own underſtan…ing, ſhall never underſtand by Teaching▪ If you know as much as he already, yo… need no Teacher: If you do not, you mu… believe him, or elſe you can never learn … him. But this is not to take him for om…niſcient, or infallible in himſelf, but … credit him as a man.

3. You are bound, when he judgeth … your particular caſe, upon your opening t… him the matter of fact, to allow him ſo muc… credit as is due to the proportion of his un…derſtanding. You tell him how you fe… your hearts affected, and what the actions … your lives have been; when you have tol… it him, he judgeth by Gods word, whethe… this be a ſtate of ſaving grace which yo… deſcribe, or not; if upon much ſtronger parts or longer ſtudy, and more experience, h… know more of the meaning of the word and of the nature of grace, and ſo be able to judge then you, modeſty requireth tha… you do in that meaſure ſubmit your underſtanding unto his, and believe him according to the meaſure of his skil, upon ſuppoſition that you deceive him not in your information. Even as you will believe a… p. 433…awyer about your Title to your lands, …hen you have ſhewed him your evidence; … a Phyſicion about your diſeaſe, when …ou have told him what you feel (as I ſaid …efore.)

4. You are bound to add alſo all that credit …hat his Honeſty and fidelity requireth, if …e be a godly man, unwilling to deceive …ou.

5. And you are bound to add ſo much …elief as in the caſe is due to a ſtander by …hat is out of the duſt, and is not blinded by ſelf-love, or partiality, or paſſions, or any …lfiſh byas, as moſt men are to themſelves.

6. If you are darkened by melancholly, …r any other weakening diſtemper, that maketh you uncapable of judging for your ſelves, you are bound to allow another ſo much credit, as the advantage of his ſounder underſtanding, and more compoſed judgement doth require. If every Child, or ſick perſon will believe no body that doth not ſay as they, their ſelf-conceitedneſs and their diſtruſt of others will be their wrong.

7. In the manner of reception, you are bound to do all this with ſuch a ſubmiſſion as belongeth to an officer of Chriſt: Not that you are to believe any falſhood, that he p. 434bringeth you, and fathereth upon Chriſt nor to put out your own eyes, and ſee wit… his: But to learn of him to underſtan… your ſelves, and receive what he bringet… you according to his office: As a child … bound to ſubmit to any Tutor or Teache… that the Parents ſhall ſet over him. Th… ſame truth muſt be received as from a doubl… obligation, when beſides it proper evidenc… it is delivered by a meſſenger of Chriſt.

8. You may yet more boldly and confidently give credit to the judgement of ſuc… a Miniſter of Chriſt, when he not ſingular but ſpeaks according to the concurren… judgement of the generality of able experienced men Modeſty will forbid you to thin… your ſelves wiſer then all the able Miniſter… about you.

9. You have the leſs reaſon to ſuſpect hi… judgement, when you may be ſure that he i… not perverted by any ſelf-intereſt, or ſelf-reſpect, and bawketh not the truth for fea… of diſpleaſing you, or bringing any diſcredi… or ſuffering on himſelf.

10. Laſtly, when all theſe things concur you may with the greater confidence reſ… upon his Judgement. And though ſtill he i… but an imperfect man, and no abſolute certainty of your eſtate can be had from his p. 435bare judgement (though from his doctrine …nd the Effects and Signs there may,) yet ſuch a Judgement, ſhould weigh very much with you, to the raiſing of fear and care in the ungodly, and for the quieting of a troubled ſoul.

Let us a little now apply this Direction to both parties. Beloved Hearers, if any of you can look before you to eternity, and do not with awakened thoughts conclude, that all probable means ſhould be uſed in time, to make ſure of your final Juſtification at the dreadful day of God, that man wants either the faith of a Chriſtian, or the feeling of a conſiderate man. Are you all deſirous to be ſure before hand, what ſentence ſhall paſs upon you then, or are you not? If you are, come on, and let me make a motion that you cannot reaſonably refuſe: The buſineſs is of unſpeakable conſequence: To be deceived, may be to be undone for ever: Will you adviſe with thoſe that God hath appointed to give you advice in ſo great a caſe? Well then! will you go and faithfully open your ſtate (ſuppoſing you have the need before expreſſed) to ſome able faithful Miniſter of Chriſt? Not to an ignorant, or a carnal, unexperienced man; but unto once that is skilled in ſpiritual affairs, and p. 436that will be faithful to you, and deal with that ſerious gravity and reverence as beſeems him that is helping to prepare a ſou… for the bar of Chriſt: Will you (if you never did it) tell him, whether ever you were convinced of yovr ſin and miſery; and whether ever you ſaw the need of Chriſt? and whether you have loathed your ſelves for your iniquities? and fle… to Chriſt as your only refuge from the wrath of God? and have turned away with reſolution from your former ungodly careleſs life? and have changed your company, your buſineſs, and your delights? Whether you make it your chief buſineſs to pleaſe God, and to ſave your ſouls? and reſolve to take up with the hopes of Heaven as your only portion,, and not to hazzard it, for any wordly intereſt, or fleſhly pleaſure whatſoever? whether in your eyes a vile perſon be contemned, but you love and honour them that fear the Lord? Tell theſe and other ſuch particulars of your ſtate to your faithful Paſtors; Anſwer them to theſe, and ſuch like queſtions, and then take their judgement (with the cautions before expreſſed) of your ſpiritual ſtate. Heare what they will tell you of it. Might not this courſe convince thee of thy p. 437miſerable ſtate, that never hadſt any ſuch evidences as theſe to ſhew! and might it not awaken thee in time, to bethink thee of a ſafer courſe! Go to any faithful Miniſter in the world and tell him the plain truth, that yet thou art a ſecret fornicator or drunkard, or pot companion, or fleſh-pleaſer in ſome ſenſual way; or if thou ſinneſt not ſo groſly, that yet thou art a formal hypocrite, and haſt a ſecret enmity to thoſe that are moſt ſeriouſly Religious, and live the moſt heavenly lives, and that thou art thy ſelf a ſtranger to all the foreſaid paſſages of ſanctification; and I dare aſſure thee that he will tell thee if thou art thus indeed thou art in the gall of bitterneſs & the bond of iniquity, and muſt be ſpeedily renewed and ſanctified and juſtified, or thou art undone for ever. I tell thee, there is not a man that is worthy the name of a Miniſter in all the world, but will paſs this judgement on the condition of thy ſoul. And yet wilt thou bear it our with a ſenſeleſs heart, a ſeared conſcience, and a brazen face, and ſtill live as careleſly as if all were well with thee▪ what is thy ſoul of no more worth? Is it ſo ſmall a matter with thee what becometh of thee? Or is the judgement of able faithful Miniſters in the way of their own office, of no p. 436duplicate page p. 437duplicate page p. 438more regard with thee? What not when all the foreſaid requiſites concur! They ſhew thee the plain word of God againſt thee; and that his Threatning contains the vertual ſentence of thy condemnation; They are by office the Interpreters of the Law of God to you; It hath been the ſtudy of their lives: The matters in queſtion are ſuch as they have had experience of in themſelves and others: They have judged as hardly of themſelves and of their own caſe, as now they do of yours when theirs was the ſame as yours is now. Do they pronounce you miſerable as being ſtrangers to the ſpirit of Chriſt? So they did by themſelves when they ſaw their ſin: and therefore they are impartial: They have had before them multitudes, (alas too many) in your caſe: And you will regard the judgement of a Phyſicion that hath had many hundreds in hand that had the ſame diſeaſe as you. They are men that are not willing to deceive you. They deny themſelves in telling you of your danger: They know that ſmoother words would pleaſe you better: And they have natures that deſire mens love and favour, rather then diſpleaſure and ill will. They are more impartial then you are, and have not your ſelf-intereſt and paſſion to p. 439blind them: They are not abuſed in their judgement by the temptations of evil company, or of worldly fleſhly things as you are; For theſe temptations more hinder us from judging our ſelves then other men. They are the meſſengers of Chriſt appointed to give to each their portion: and ſhould not their judgement be regarded in the buſineſs committed to their truſt? And it is not one man or two, or a hundred only, that are of this mind: Open thy caſe to all the judicious faithful Miniſters in the land, or in the world, and open it truly, and they will all tell thee that if thou die without converting ſanctifying grace, thou art loſt for ever; and that all the world cannot ſave thee from the everlaſting wrath of God. Try as many of them as you will, and ſee if all of them tell you not the ſame thing. And is all this nothing to thee, preſumptuous ſinner, that in the judgement of all the moſt able faithful Minſters of Chriſt, thy ſoul ſhould be in a ſtate of death? Art thou wiſer then all the beſt and wiſeſt, in the matters of their own profeſſion? If all the Phyſicions in the countrey ſhould tell thee, that thou haſt a diſeaſe that will certainly be thy death, unleſs thou take ſome ene effectual medicine in time, I think thou wouldeſt not p. 440ſl…ght their judgement, and ſay, They are too cenſorious, that thou knoweſt thy condition better then they! I think it would affright thee to ſeek after the remedy. And why ſhould not the judgement of the faithful Miniſters, about the ſtate of thy ſoul, be ſo far regarded, as to awaken thee to a more careful enquiry, and ſtir up a preventing and remedying fear? If the judgement of Chriſts officers be not regardable, then there is no matter of terror in excommunication; nor no matter of comfort in Miniſt…rial Abſolution.

O the madneſs of a hardened ſinner! that when he ſheweth by the fruits of an ungodly life that he is a ſtranger to ſanctification, and liveth in the ſins which the Scripture threatneth damnation to, and hath no evidence of true converſion to ſhew, will yet be confident of pardon and ſalvation, let God and all his Miniſters ſay what they will againſt it… and will rather be offended with h…s ſpiritual Phyſicions, for telling him of the danger of his ſtate, and rail at them as if they did him wrong, then he will ſee his danger and prevent his miſery! Let ſuch a one hear the word of God, if he have eares to hear, Deut. 29.19, 20, 21: [Leſt there ſhould be among you a root that p. 441beareth gall wormwood, and it come to paſs when he heareth the words of this curſe, that he bleſs himſelf in his heart, ſaying, I ſhall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, to add drunkenneſs to thirſt: The Lord will not ſpare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealouſie ſhall ſmoak againſt that man, and all the curſes that are written in this book ſhall lie upon him, and the Lord ſhall blot out his name from under heaven, & the Lord ſhall ſeparate him to evil, &c.]

And on the other ſide, Is there any ſoul among you that in doubts, and trouble, hath opened his caſe to the faithful Miniſters of Chriſt, and their judgement is, that your ſtate is ſafe? Is this the judgement, not only of the weakeſt, but the wiſeſt; not only of ſtrangers, but of thoſe that know you beſt; not only of one, or two, but of all or moſt of the judicious Miniſters, that ever you opened you caſe to? even of the moſt honeſt and impartial, that would not flatter you nor deceive you? Yea and perhaps, when deſertions, or Melancholy, or paſſion, or ignorance do make you unmeet to judge of your ſelves: And doth all this ſeem nothing to you? or a ſmall matter? It is not nothing: It is not ſmall: I confeſs it is no ground of certainty: p. 442They are but men: It is a humane teſtimony: But yet it is a teſtimony, that may weigh down many of your own ſurmiſes, and take off much of your diſtreſſing fears; and may give much eaſe to troubled ſouls, while they are ſeeking after ſurer knowledge: It is a ground of comfort, not to be despiſed, or made light of: Till you can come to ſee your evidences your ſelves, and to be acquainted with the indwelling spirit as your witneſs, you may much quiet your minds, and take much comfort, in this judgement and witneſs of the ſervants of the Lord, that have a spirit of diſcerning ▪ and have that grace which acquainteth them with the nature of grace in others, and that have been long exerciſed in the diſcerning of mens ſtates: It is poſſible an Hypocrite (eſpecially one that wilfully giveth them a falſe relation of himſelf) may deceive them: but it is Probable that it is not one of many they are deceived in, when they know or have a good deſcription of the Perſon. If in a Law ſuit all the ableſt Lawyers tell you that your cauſe is good; it is poſſible they may be deceived, but it is not likely; If in a Feaver all the ableſt Phyſicions tell you, the danger is paſt, it is poſſible yet that they may be all deceived: But yet p. 443I think you would take ſome comfort in ſuch a teſtimony; ſo ſhould you here: Though the Judgement of Miniſters be not infallible, it may be much better then your own, though about your ſelves: and it may be ſet againſt the jealouſies and fears of a diſquiet ſoul, and againſt abundance of the moleſting ſuggeſtions of the accuſer.

I do not by all this draw you to lay too much on man; I advance them not too high, and make them not Lords of your faith, but helpers of your Joy. I draw you not to any deceitful courſe; nor into any way of danger to your ſouls. I bid you not fully and finally reſt in the judgement of man: I bid you not neglect any means to come to fuller knowledge, and certainty of your own ſincerity: I bid you not forbear any means that tend to the getting of true grace: If you have it and know it not, the ſame means (for the moſt part) may increaſe it, which you uſe to get it: And if you have it not, when it is thought you have it, the means may work it, that that are intended to increaſe it. Do all that you can to Repent, Believe, and Love God, and Live to him, whether you ever did theſe before, or not: But yet let the judgement of your faithful Paſtors, the p. 444officers and experienced ſervants of the Lord, keep of deſpondency and deſpair that would diſable you from the uſe of means, and would weaken your hands, and make you ſit down in unprofitable complaints, and give up all as hopeleſs. Let their judgement quiet you in the way of duty; Lean on them in the dark, till you come into the light. Yea be glad that you have ſo much encouragement and hope, from thoſe that are by Chriſt appointed to ſubſerve the ſpirit in the comforting as well as the ſanctifying work, and to ſhew to man his uprightneſs, and to ſay to the Righteous, It ſhall be well with him, Iſa. 3.10. I tell you, all the wealth of the world, is not worth even this much ground of comfort: Live upon this much, till by diligent attendance and waiting on the ſpirit of grace and comfort, you can get higher.