The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance, Part 18
Dir. 2. IN oppoſition to this Hinderance, two things are to be done. 1. Deſire not ſo perillous a ſtation as worldly Proſperity and greatneſs is. Love not and ſeek not a condition ſo hazardous to your ſouls. Leave that to them that take it for their Portion, as not believing what they muſt loſe and ſuffer by it: or what God hath revealed of the life to come.
Or if you be in ſuch Proſperity, not by your Deſire, but by the will and Providence of God, let your fear and watchfulneſs be doubled, as your dangers are: Be not like thoſe ſenſualiſts, Jud. 12. that feed themſelves without fear. Uſe not proſperity to the pleaſing of the fleſh, and the proſpering of your luſts: but deny your your ſelves in the midſt of your abundance: and turn it into an adverſity to your ſenſual inclinations, by taming the body and bringing it into ſubjection, and ſuſpecting your ſelves, and walking humbly with God and man.
And when Adverſity is upon you, improve the opportunity for the knowledge of your ſelves. Then take a juſt ſurvey of your former courſe of life. Then try your ways, when the drunkeneſs and deceits of proſperity are paſt, and the hand of God hath brought you into a ſober and conſiderate ſtate. O how many ſouls do know that in one day, when adverſity hath made them wiſe and ſenſible, which before they knew and would not know; they ſaw it, but did not underſtand and feel it! Then on a ſudden they are able to paſs a righter judgement, upon their yielding to temptations, and the value of the things that tempted them, and upon their worldly deſigns, and fleſhly wiſdom, and their neglects of God and Heaven and duty, then before they could do, though they had never ſo much inſtruction, and though they could ſpeak the ſame words of ſin as now. Affliction taketh away the deceiving advantages of fleſhly objects, and unmasketh the glory and profit of the world, and awakeneth the rational faculties to perform their office; and therefore is an excellent opportunity for ſelf-acquaintance. The prodigal came to himſelf when he was denyed to fill his belly with the food of ſwine, Luke 15.16, 17. Nature teacheth men to underſtand that it is the principal Leſſon that Affliction readeth to us, To know our ſelves, and our ways, as they are related to God and to his judgement.
2. If you are in Proſperity, be the more ſuſpicious of flatterers, and drive them away with the greater deteſtation: Be more careful to keep them from you, then to keep your bodies clean from vermine. And be the more ſolicitous to procure ſuch faithful Overſeers and Phyſicions for your ſouls, as will do their beſt to ſave you, though they diſpleaſe you. O that you knew what an advantage it is to have a faithful Paſtor, and a faithful Friend, that ſeek not yours but …, and make no advantage to themſelves by flattering you, but chooſe the means that tend moſt to your ſalvation! And O that you knew the great diſadvantage of thoſe that want ſuch a Paſtor and ſuch a friend! You would then be ſure to give it as duplicate page duplicate page your ſtricteſt charge to both, to deal plainly with you, and never to hide or extenuate your ſin or danger. You would charge your Teachers, [What ever you do, deal faithfully with my ſoul! If you ſee me in any dangerous courſe, I beſeech you tell me of it: If I ſhould be hardened againſt your warnings and reproofs, I beſeech you deal not lightly with me, but labour to awaken me, and ſet it home, and pull me out of the fire, and ſave me as with fear; Jud. 23.] O ſuffer me not to be quiet in my ſins. The like charge alſo you would give to your friends that are about you, and converſe with you; chooſe ſuch Paſtors, and chooſe ſuch friends as are fitteſt, thus to prove your friends indeed: And charge them and intreat them, as they love your ſouls, and as they will anſwer it before God, that they ſuffer you not to ſin for fear of diſpleaſing you by plain reproofs: and reſolve to ſubmit and take it well. A ſtander by hath the great advantage of impartiality; and therefore may ſee that in you which you obſerve not in your ſelves: an object too neer the eye, or too far off, is not well diſcerned: ſelf-love doth not hinder us ſo much in judging of other mens caſes as our own. Friendly and faithful dealing in the matters of eternal conſequence, is the principal uſe and benefit of friend-ſhip. This differenceth the communion of Saints from Beelzebubs ſwarme of flies and caterpillars. Thus two are better then one: For if they fall, the… one will lift up his fellow: But woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up, Eccleſ. 4.9, 10. Much more woe to him that hath a multitude to caſt him and to keep him down.