The Right Method for a Settled Peace of Conscience, Direction 32
DIRECTION XXXII.
32. As ever you would live in Peace and Comfort, and well-pleaſing unto God, be ſure that you underſtand and deeply conſider wherein the height of a Chriſtian life, and the greateſt part of our Duty doth conſiſt; To wit, In a loving Delight in God, and a Thankful and Chearful Obedience to his Will: And then make this your Conſtant aim; and be ſtill aſpiring after it, and let all other affections and endeavours be ſubſervient unto this.
THis one Rule well practiſed, would do wonders on the ſouls of poor Chriſtians, in diſpelling all their fears and troubles, and helping not onelyonly to a ſetled Peace, but to live in the moſt comfortable ſtate that can be expected upon earth. Write therefore theſe two or three words deep in your underſtandings and Memory; that the life which God is beſt pleaſed with, and we ſhould be always endeavouring, is, A Loving Delight in God through Chriſt; and a thankful and chearful obedience to him. I do not ſay, that godly ſorrows, and fears, and jealouſies, are no Duties: but theſe are the great Duties, to which the reſt ſhould all ſubſerve. Miſapprehending the ſtate of Duty and the very Nature of a Chriſtian life muſt needs make ſad diſtempers in mens hearts and converſations. Many Chriſtians look upon Broken-heartedneſs, and much grieving and weeping for ſin, as if it were the great thing that God Delighteth in and requireth of them: and therefore they bend all their endeavours this way; and are ſtill ſtriving with their hearts to break them more, and wringing their Conſciences to ſqueez out ſome tears; and they think no Sermon, no Prayer, no Meditation ſpeeds ſo well with them, as that which can help them to grieve or weep. I am far from perſwading men againſt Humiliation & Godly ſorrow and tenderneſs of heart: But yet I muſt tell you, that this is a ſore errour that you lay ſo much upon it, and ſo much overlook that great and noble work and ſtate to which it tendeth. Do you think that God hath any Pleaſure in your ſorrows as ſuch? Doth it do him Good to ſee you dejected, afflicted and tormented? Alas, it is onelyonly as your ſorrows do kill your ſins, and mortifie your fleſhly luſts, and prepare for your Peace and Joys, that God regards them: Becauſe God doth ſpeak comfortably to troubled drooping ſpirits, and tels them, that he delighteth in the contrite, and loveth the humble, and bindeth up the broken-hearted; therefore men miſ-underſtanding him, do think they ſhould do nothing but be ſtill breaking their own hearts: Whereas God ſpeaks it but partly to ſhew his hatred to the proud, and partly to ſhew his tender compaſſions to the humbled, that they might not be overwhelmed or deſpair. But, O Chriſtians, underſtand and conſider, that all your ſorrows are but preparatives to your joys: and that it is a higher and ſweeter work that God cals you to, and would have you ſpend your time and ſtrength in. 1. The firſt part of it is Love. A work that is wages to it ſelf. He that knows what it is to live in the Love of God, doth know that Chriſtianity is no tormenting and diſcontented life. 2. The next part is, Delight in God, and in the Hopes and fore-thoughts of everlaſting Glory. Pſal. 37.4. Delight thy ſelf in the Lord, and he ſhall give thee the Deſires of thy heart: This is it that you ſhould be bending your ſtudies and endeavours for, that your ſoul might be able to Delight it ſelf in God. 3. The third part is Thankfulneſs and Praiſe? Though I ſay not as ſome, that we ſhould be moved by no fears or deſires of the Reward (that is, of God) but act only from Thankfulneſs (as though we had all that we expect already) yet let me deſire you to take ſpeciall notice of this Truth; that Thankfulneſs muſt be the main principle of all Goſpel-Obedience: And this is not onelyonly true of the Regenerate after faith; but even the wicked themſelves who are called to Repent and Believe, are called to do it in a glad and Thankful ſenſe of the mercy offered them in Chriſt. All the world being fallen under Gods wrath and deſerved condemnation, and the Lord Jeſus having become a Sacrifice and Ranſom for all, and ſo brought all from that Legal Neceſſity of periſhing which they were under, the Goſpel which brings them the News of this, is glad tidings of great Joy to them; and the very juſtifying Act which they are called to, is, Thankfully to Accept Chriſt as one that hath already ſatisfied for their ſins, and will ſave them, if they Accept him, and will follow his ſaving Counſel, and uſe his ſaving means: and the ſaving work which they muſt proceed in, is Thankfulneſs to obey that Redeemer whom they Believe in. So that as General Redemption is the very Foundation of the new world and its Government, ſo Thankfulneſs for this Redemption is the very life of Juſtifying faith, and Goſpel obedience. And therefore the denyal of this univerſal Redemption (as to the Price and Satisfaction) doth both diſable wicked men (if they receive it) from coming to Chriſt by true Juſtifying Faith (which is, The Thankful Acceptance of Chriſt as he is offered with his benefits;) and this Thankfulneſs muſt be for what he hath done in Dying for us, as well as for what he will do in pardoning and ſaving us; and it doth diſable all true Believers from Goſpel Grateful Obedience, when ever they loſe the ſight of their Evidences of ſpecial Grace (which, alas, how ordinary is it with them!) For when they cannot have ſpecial Grace in their eye to be Thankful for, according to this doctrine they muſt have none; becauſe they can be no ſurer that Chriſt dyed for them, then they are that themſelves are ſincere Believers and truly ſanctified. And when Thankfulneſs for Chriſts Death and Redemption ceaſeth, Goſpel obedience ceaſeth, and Legal & ſlaviſh terrors do take place: Though the ſame cannot be ſaid of Thankfulneſs for ſpecial renewing, pardoning Grace.
4. The fourth part of the Chriſtian Life, is Chearful Obedience. God loveth a chearful Giver, and ſo he doth in every part of obedience, Deut. 28.47. Becauſe thou ſervedſt not the Lord thy God with Joyfulneſs & with Gladneſs of heart for the abundance of all things, thou ſhalt ſerve thy enemies in hunger & thirſt, &c.
Will you now lay all this together, and make it for the time to come your buſineſs? and try whether whether it will not be the trueſt way to comfort? and make your life a bleſſed life? will you make it your end in hearing, reading, praying and meditation to raiſe your ſoul to Delight in God? Will you ſtrive as much to work it to this Delight as ever you did to work it to ſorrow? Certainly you have more reaſon? and certainly there is more matter of Delight in the face and Love of God, then in all the things in the world beſides. Conſider but the Scripture Commands, and then lay to heart your Duty, Phil. 4.4. Rejoyce in the Lord alway, and again I ſay Rejoyce. Phil. 3.1. Zech. 10.7. Joel 2.23. Iſa. 41.16. Pſal. 33.1. Rejoyce in the Lord O ye Righteous, for praiſe is comely for the upright. Pſal. 97.12. 1 Theſſ. 5.16. Rejoyce evermore. 1 Pet. 1. 6, 8, Rom. 5.2. John 4.36. Pſal. 5.11. & 33.21. & 35.9. & 66.6. & 68.3, 4. & 71.23. & 89.16. & 105.3. & 149.2. & 49.4. & 27.6. John 16.24. Rom. 15 13. and 14.17. The Kingdom of God is in Righteouſneſs, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt. Gal. 5.22 Pſal. 32.11. Be glad in the Lord and Rejoyce O ye Righteous, and ſhout for joy all ye that are upright in heart. Pſal. 132.9, 16. & 5.11. & 35.27. Hab. 3.18. with a hundred more the like. Have you made conſcience of this great duty according to its excellency and theſe preſſing Commands of God? Have you made Conſcience of the Duties of Praiſe, Thankſgiving and Cheerful Obedience, as much as of Grieving for ſin? Perhaps you will ſay, I cannot do it for want of Aſſurance: If I knew that I were one of the Righteous, and upright in Heart, then I could be Glad and ſhout for Joy. Anſ. 1. I have before ſhewed you how you may know that; when you diſcover it in your ſelf, ſee that you make more Conſcience of this duty. 2. You have had Hopes and Probabilites of your ſincerity: Did you endeavor to anſwer thoſe Probabilities in your Joys? 3. If you would but labour to get this Delight in God, it would help you to Aſſurance: for it would be one of your cleareſt evidences.
O how the ſubtil enemy diſadvantageth the Goſpel, by the miſapprehenſions and dejected ſpirits of Believers! It is the very Deſign of the ever-bleſſed God, to Glorifie Love and Mercy as highly in the Work of Redemption, as ever he Glorified Omnipotency in the Work of Creation: And he hath purpoſely unhindged the Sabboth which was appointed to Commemorate that work of Power in Creation, to the firſt day of the week, That it might be ſpent as a weekly day of Thanksgiving and Praiſe for the now more Glorious work of Redemption, that Love might not only be equally admired with power, but even go before it. So that he hath laid the foundation of the Kingdom of Grace in Love and Mercy: and in Love and Mercy hath he framed the whole Structure of the Edifice: and Love and Mercy are written in legible indelible Characters upon every piece: And the whole frame of his Work and Temple-ſervice, hath he ſo compoſed, that all might be the reſounding Eccho's of Love; and the Praiſe and glorious Commerations of Love and Mercy might be the great buſineſs of our ſolemn Aſſemblies: And the new Creation within us, and without us, is ſo ordered, that Love, Thankfulneſs and Delight, might be both the way and the end. And the Serpent who moſt oppoſeth God where he ſeeketh moſt Glory, eſpecially the Glory of his Grace, doth labour ſo ſucceſfully to obſcure this Glory, that he hath brought multitudes of poor Chriſtians to have poor low thoughts of the Riches of this Grace: and to ſet every ſin of theirs againſt it, which ſhould but advance it: and even to queſtion the very foundation of the whole building, whether Chriſt hath Redeemed the World by his Sacrifice? yea he puts ſuch a vail over the Glory of the Goſpel, that men can hardly be brought to Receive it as Glad tidings, till they firſt have Aſſurance of their own Sanctification! And the very nature of Gods Kingdom is ſo unknown, that ſome men think it to be Unrighteouſneſs and Libertiniſm, and others to be Penſive Dejections, and Tormenting Scruples and fears; and but few know it to be Righteouſneſs and Peace and Joy in the Hoy Ghoſt: And the very buſineſs of a Chriſtians life and Gods ſervice is rather taken to be Scrupling, Quarrelling and Ve… our ſelves and the Church of God, then to be Love and Gratitude and a Delighting our ſouls in God and chearfully obeying him. And thus when Chriſtianity ſeems a Thr… dom and Torment: and the ſervice of the world, the fleſh and the Devil, ſeems the onelyonly freedom, and quiet and delight, no wonder if the Devil have more unfeigned ſervants then Chriſt; and if men tremble at the name of Holineſs, and fly away from Religion as a Miſchief. What can be more contrary to its nature, and to Gods deſign in forming it, then for the Profeſſors to live ſuch dejected and dolorous lives? God calls men from Vexation and Vanity, to high Delights and Peace! And men come to God as from Peace and Pleaſure, to Vexation. All our preaching will do little to win ſouls from Senſuality to Holineſs, while they look upon the ſad lives of the Profeſſors of Holineſs; As it will more deter a ſick man from medling with a Phyſician, to ſee all that he hath had in hand to lie languiſhing in continual pains to their death, then all his words and promiſes will encourage them. O what bleſſed lives might Gods people live, if they underſtood the love of God in the myſterie of mans Redemption; and did addict themſelves to the conſideration and improvement of it, and did believingly eye the promiſed Glory, and hereupon did make it the buſineſs of their lives, to Delight their ſouls in him that hath Loved them! And what a wonderful ſucceſs might we expect to our Preaching, if the Holy Delights and Chearful Obedience of the Saints did preach as clearly to the eyes of the world, as we preach loudly to their ears?
But fleſh will be fleſh yet a while! and unbelief will be unbelief! we are all too blame! The Lord forgive our overlooking his Loving kindeneſs, and our diſhonouring the Glorious Goſpel of his Son; and our ſeconding Satan in his contradicting of that Deſign which hath contrived Gods Glory in ſo ſweet a way.
And now Chriſtian Reader, let me intreat thee in the name and fear of God, hereafter better to underſtand and practiſe thy Duty. Thy heart is better a thouſand times, in Godly ſorrow then in Carnal mirth (and by ſuch ſorrows it is often made better, Eccles. 7.2, 3, 4.) But never take it to be Right till it be Delighting it ſelf in God. When you kneel down in prayer, labour ſo to conceive of God, and beſpeak him that he may be your Delight: ſo do in Hearing and Reading: ſo do in all your Meditations of God: So do in your feaſting on the fleſh and blood of Chriſt at his Supper. Eſpecially improve the happy opportunity of the Lords Day, wherein you may wholly devote your ſelves to this work. And I adviſe Miniſters and all Chriſts Redeemed ones, that they ſpend more of thoſe days in Praiſe and Thankſgiving, eſpecially in Commemoration of the whole work of Redemption (and not of Chriſts Reſurrection alone) or elſe they will not anſwer the Inſtitution of the Lord: And that they keep it as the moſt ſolemn day of Thanksgiving, and be briefer on that day in their Confeſſions and Lamentations, and larger at other times! O that the Congregations of Chriſt through the world were ſo well informed and animated, that the main buſineſs of their ſolemn Aſſemblies on that day might be to ſound forth the high Praiſes of their Redeemer; and to begin here the Praiſes of God and the Lamb which they muſt perfect in Heaven, for ever! How ſweet a foretaſte of Heaven would be then in theſe ſolemnities! And truly, let me tell you, my Brethren of the Miniſtry, you ſhould by private Teaching and week-day Sermons ſo further the knowledge of your People, that you might not need to ſpend ſo much of the Lords Day in Sermons as the moſt godly uſe to do: but might beſtow a greater part of it in Pſalms and ſolemn Praiſes to our Redeemer. And I could wiſh that the Miniſters of England to that end would unanimouſly agree on ſome one Tranſlation of the Engliſh Pſalms in meeter, better then that in common uſe, and if it may be, better then any yet extant (not neglecting the poëtical ſweetneſs under pretence of exact tranſlating) or at leaſt to agree on the beſt now extant: (the London Miniſters may do well to lead the way) leſt that bleſſed part of Gods ſolemn worſhip, ſhould be blemiſhed for want either of Reformation or Uniformity. And in my weak judgement, if Hymns and Pſalms of Praiſe were new invented, as fit for the ſtate of the Goſpel-Church and Worſhip (to Laud the Redeemer come in the fleſh, as expreſly as the work of Grace is now expreſs) as Davids Pſalms were fitted to the former ſtate and infancy of the Church, and more obſcure revelations of the Mediator and his Grace, it would be no ſinful humane Invention or addition; nor any more want warrant, then our Inventing the form and words of every Sermon that we preach, and every prayer that we make, or any Catechiſm or Confeſſion of faith: Nay it may ſeem of ſo great uſefulneſs, as to be next to a Neceſſity. (Still provided that we force not any to the uſe of them that through ignorance may ſcruple it.) And if there be any Convenient parcels of the Ancient Church that are fitted to this uſe, they ſhould deſervedly be preferred. I do not think I digreſs all this while from the ſcope of my Diſcourſe. For doubtleſs if Gods uſual ſolemn worſhip on the Lords Days were more fitted and directed to a Pleaſant, Delightful, Praiſing way, it would do very much to frame the ſpirits of Chriſtians to Joyfulneſs and Thankfulneſs and Delight in God: then which there is no greater cure for their Doubtful, Penſive, ſelf-tormenting frame. O try this, Chriſtians, at the requeſt of one that is moved by God to importune you to it! God doth pitty you in your ſorrows! but he Delighteth in you when you Delight in him. See Iſa. 58.14. compared with Zeph. 3.17. And if ſin interpoſe and hinder your Delights, believe it, a Chearful Amendment and Obedience is that which will pleaſe God better then your ſelf-tormenting fears: Do not you like that ſervant better that will go chearfully about your work, and do it as well as he can, accounting it a Recreation, and will endeavour to mend where he hath done amiſs, then him that will at every ſtep fall a crying, O I am ſo weak I can do nothing as I ſhould. An humble ſenſe of failings you will like; but not that your ſervant ſhould ſit ſtill and complain when he ſhould be working; nor that all your ſervice ſhould be performed with weeping, diſquietneſs and lamentations; You had rather have your ſervant humbly and modeſtly chearfull, and not alway dejected, for fear of diſpleaſing you. O how many poor ſouls are overſeen in this! You might eaſily perceive it even by the Devils oppoſition and temptations! He will further you in your ſelf-vexations (when he cannot keep you in ſecurity and preſumption) but in amending he will hinder you with all his might. How oft have I known poor paſſionate Creatures, that would vex and rage in anger, and break out in unſeemly language, to the diſquieting of all about them; and others that would drop into other the like ſins, and when they have done, lament it, and condemn themſelves; and yet would not ſet upon a reſolute and chearful Reformation! Nay, if you do but reprove them for any ſin, they will ſooner ſay, If I be ſo bad, God will condemn me for an Hypocrite; and ſo lye down in diſquietneſs and diſtreſs; then they will ſay, I ſee my ſin, and I reſolve to reſiſt it, and I pray you warn me of it, and help me to watch againſt it. So that they would bring us to this paſs, that either we muſt let them alone with their ſins for fear of Tormenting them, or elſe we muſt cauſe them to lye down in terrours. Alas, poor miſtaken ſouls! It is neither of theſe that God cals for! Will you do any thing ſave what you ſhould do? Muſt you needs be eſteemed either Innocent, or Hypocrites, or ſuch as ſhall be damned? The thing that God would have, is this; That you would be glad that you ſee your fault, and thank him that ſheweth it you, and reſolvedly do your beſt to amend it, and this in faith and chearful confidence in Chriſt, flying to his Spirit for help and victory. Will you pleaſe the Devil ſo far, and ſo far contradict the gracious way of Chriſt, as that you will needs either ſin ſtill, or Deſpair? Is there not a middle between theſe two? to wit, Chearful Amendment? Remember that it is not your Vexation or Deſpair, but your Obedience and Peace that God deſireth That life is moſt Pleaſing to him, which is moſt ſafe and ſweet to you.
If you ſay ſtill, You cannot Delight in God: I ſay again; Do but acknowledge it the great work that God requireth of you, and make it your daily aim, and care, and buſineſs, and then you will more eaſily and certainly attain it. But while you know not your work, or ſo far miſtake it, as to think it conſiſteth more in ſorrows and fears; and never endeavour in your Duties or Meditations to raiſe your ſoul to a Delight in God, but rather to caſt down your ſelf with ſtill poaring on your miſeries, no wonder then if you be a ſtranger to this life of holy Delight!
By this time I find my ſelf come up to the ſubject of my Book of the Saints Reſt; wherein having ſaid ſo much to Direct and Excite you, for the attainment of theſe Spiritual and Heavenly Delights, I will referr you to it, for your help in that work; and adde no more here, but to Deſire you through the courſe of your life to remember, That the true Love of God in Chriſt, and Delight in him and Thankful, Chearful Obedience to him, is the great work of a Chriſtian, which God is beſt pleaſed with, and which the bleſſed Angels and Saints ſhall be exerciſed in for ever.
And O thou the Bleſſed God of Love, the Father of Mercy, the Prince of Peace, the Spirit of Conſolation, compoſe the Diſquieted ſpirits of thy People, and the tumultuous, diſjoynted ſtate of thy Churches; and pardon our Raſhneſs, Contentions and Blood-guiltineſs, and give us not up to the ſtate of the wicked, who are like the raging Sea, and to whom there is no Peace! Lay thy command on our winds and waves, before thy ſhipwrackt veſſel periſh: And Rebuke that evil ſpirit whoſe name is Legion, which hath poſſeſſed ſo great a part of thine Inheritance: Send forth the ſpirit of Judgement and Meekneſs into thy Churches▪ and ſave us from our Pride and Ignorance with their effects: And bring our feet into the way of Peace, which hitherto we have not known. O cloſe all thy People ſpeedily in loving conſultations, and earneſt enquiries after Peace. Let them Return from their Corruptions, Contentions and Diviſions, and joyntly ſeek thee, asking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, ſaying, Come, let us joyn our ſelves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that ſhall not be forgotten: Blaſt all oppoſing Policies and Powers: Say to theſe Dead and Dry bones, Live. And out of theſe Ruines do thou yet erect a City of Righteouſneſs, where thy People may dwell together, in Peaceable habitations; and in the midſt thereof, A Temple to thy Holineſs: Let the materials of it be Verity and Purity: Let the Redeemer be its Foundation: Let Love and Peace cement it into Ʋnity: Let thy Laver and Covenant be the Dores: and Holineſs to the Lord be engraved thereon; that buyers and ſellers may be caſt out, and the common and unclean may know their Place; and let no deſolating Abomination be there ſet up: But let thy People all in one name, in one faith, with one mind, and one ſoul, attend to thine Inſtructions, and wait for thy Laws, and ſubmit unto thine Order, and Rejoyce in thy Salvation: that the troubled ſpirits may be there exhilerated, the dark enlightned, and all may offer thee the ſacrifice of Praiſe (without diſ-affections, diſcords or diviſions:) that ſo thy People may be thy Delight, and thou mayſt be the chiefeſt. Delight of thy People; …d they may Pleaſe thee through him that hath perfectly pleaſed thee. Or if our expectations of this Happineſs on earth be too high, yet give us ſo much as may enlighten our eyes, and heal thoſe corruptions which eſtrange us from thee, and may propagate thy Truth, increaſe thy Church, and honour thy Holineſs, and may quicken our deſires, and ſtrengthen us in our way, and be a fore-taſt to us of the Everlaſting Reſt.
Luk. 2.14. Glory to God in the Higheſt, on earth Peace▪ Good will towards men.
Ecleſ. 12.12, 13, 14. Of making many Books there is no end: and much ſtudy is a wearineſs to the fleſh. Let us hear the Concluſion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his Commandments: for this is the whole [Duty] of man, &c.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Baxter, The Right Method for a Settled Peace of Conscience (1653)