Soul-Prosperity in Several Sermons, Sermon 13
SERMON XIII.
2ly. AS Souls that begin to proſper, and have any deſire to continue ſo, ought to keep themſelves under the greateſt obligations that are imaginable to beware of Relapſes: So they ought with as great care, and conſtancy, to realize the preſence of God with them, day by day. For it is, without all controverſie, true, that the exerciſe, and ſo, by conſequence, the growth, and increaſe of the principles of godlineſs, wherein Soul-proſperity ſpecially conſiſts, is founded upon, and preſerved by the due conſideratio… … God's preſence with us, and his all ſ…eing eye upon us. This is that which is ſpecially comprehended in that expreſſion of walking with God, and walking before God. And this is as ſpecially to be obſerved, That thoſe that did ſo, whilſt they did ſo, their Souls proſpered. We have it exemplified in Enoch, Gen. 5.22. And he had this teſtimony, that he pleaſed God, Heb. 11.5. So Noah, Gen. 6.9, Noah was a juſt Man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. So David, Pſal. 26.3, I have walked in thy truth. Pſal. 119.168, I have kept they precepts, and thy teſtimonies, for all my ways are before thee. This was the beſt teſtimony, that Solomon his Son could give of him, when he was dead, 1 King. 3.6, Thou haſt ſhewed unto thy ſervant David my Father, great mercy, according as he walked before thee, in truth, and righteouſneſs, and in uprightneſs of heart with thee. This is that which God gives in charge to Abraham, and that upon this account, Gen. 17.1, —walk before me, and be thou perfect. As thou deſireſt (and I know thou deſireſt) to hold faſt thine integrity: Let me live in thy thoughts, and ſee to it, that thou ſo live, ſo think, ſo ſpeak, and ſo do, as remembring thou art always in my ſight. This is that which hath a very great influence, to draw, as it were, the draught of the Image of God, day by day in our Souls, in more and more lively colours. For in the ſtate of glory, the glorified Saints that are with the Lord, and always behold his face are like him, and ſee him as he is, 1 Joh. 3.2. Even ſo it is in the ſtate of grace, ſo far as this duty is conſcientiouſly obſerved, and diſcharged, 2 Cor. 3.18, We all with open face, beholding as in a glaſs, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the ſame image, from glory to glory, even as by the ſpirit of the Lord. It is true, it is not ſaid of Moſes, that his face did ſhine the firſt time, that he had been with God in the Mount, but when he had been with him the ſecond time, Exod. 34.29. This then is that we ought to have deeply engraven upon our hearts, as ever we deſire not to loſe the things we have wrought, to do as David did, Pſal. 16.8, I have ſet the Lord always before my face. [Always] that implies that we ought to make it our daily work: what a Man does every day, he is ſaid to do Always. And [Always] i. e. one day as well as another, to our laſt day. This is no more then is expreſly required, Prov. 23.17, Be thou in the fear of the Lord, all the day long. And 1 Pet. 1.17,—paſs the time of your ſojourning here in fear. It is the exerciſe of the fear of God, which hath a very great influence upon Soul-proſperity, 2 Cor. 7.1,—perfecting holineſs in the fear of God. And it is this realizing the preſence of God, which hath the great influence into the exerciſe of the fear of God. Hence it is, that true child-like fear is ſaid to be, fearing before God; that is, out of an awful reſpect unto, and due conſideration of his All-ſeeing eye, Eccl. 8.12,—it ſhall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him. This is that then, which above all other things, ought not to be omitted, for the very ſinews of all heart-godlineſs are, as it were, cut in ſunder, ſo far as this is neglected. For there is nothing left then, which hath any power over the inward man, the hidden man of the heart, but it enjoys a lawleſs liberty, as if there were none to obſerve it, nor to judge it. 3 Epiſt. of John ver. 11, Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God, but he that doeth evil, hath not ſeen God. Deut. 32.18, Of the Rock that begat thee, thou art unmindful, and haſt forgotten God that formed thee. All their wickedneſs is charged upon that.
I ſhall ſay no more to this Second general Direction, but only theſe Three things.
(1.) That untill the Soul be ſpiritually alive to God, and ſo in a capacity of proſpering, there is neither delight, nor deſire to entertain any thoughts of God, Rom. 1.28, And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge. They caſt the notions of God out of their minds, as of no uſe to them, Pſal. 10.4, God is not in all his thoughts. i.e. Not in his thoughts at all, Job 21.14, They ſay to the Almighty, Depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy ways. Some ſay ſo in words at length, and all of them ſay it in their hearts. Thò God ſaith, Wo unto you, when I depart from you, Hoſ. 9.12. Yet they think it beſt when he departeth from them; and the farther the better. This frame of heart is the very blackneſs of Helliſh darkneſs. It ſpeaks the very language of Satan, Matth. 8.29, What have we to do with thee, thou Jeſus, the Son of God; art thou come to torment us before the time? Thus it was of old, Iſa: 30.11, Cauſe the holy one of Iſrael to ceaſe from us.
(2.) Though the Soul be alive to God, yet ſo far as the Image of the old Adam is unmortified, and any particular luſt indulged, ſo far God and the heart will be ſtrangers. Not only the beam but even ſuch a moat in the eye, will make ſuch Souls, to ſhun, what they can, the preſence of God, and the preſence of thoſe who, they think, will ſpeak the mind of God unto them; as Ahab did the preſence of Micaiah, 1 King. 22.8. Such Souls are far from proſpering. This is the very image of old Adam, Gen. 3.8, He heard the voice of God, and hid himſelf from the preſence of the Lord.
3. Even thoſe whoſe Souls do live, and in ſome meaſure, may be ſaid to proſper, though they dare not omit any external duty of Religion, yet they do too often, and too eaſily ſlip over this, without timely obſervation, till they take a review of their hearts, and then they ſee they have cauſe to ſay, as Pſal. 36.11. Unite my heart to thee, that I may fear before thee, all the day long: Or unite my heart within it ſelf, that it may not be diverted, or diſtracted, not carried this way, and that way, but that I may be able to ſay, It is fixed, it is fixed. Thus I ſay it is, and that too often with Souls that proſper according to their meaſure. Therefore we ought to charge our ſelves with this duty, and renew the charge from day to day. To ſet our ſelves under the actual conſideration of God's All-ſeeing eye; who hath abſolute Soveraignty over us; to whom alone we muſt ſtand or fall; who can tell us all our thoughts, and will render to every Man according to his works; and therefore hath a Book of remembrance for thoſe that think upon him, and fear his name, Mal. 3.16. And hath a bag for iniquity, wherein he doth, as it were, ſeal up mens ſins to bring them forth as Evidences, and charge them upon every one as the matter requires. And as God is ſaid to have a Book, and a Bag, ſo he is ſaid to have a Bottle, Pſal. 56.8, Put my tears into thy bottle, are they not in thy book? This, I ſay, we ſhould charge upon our hearts, and renew this charge from day to day, till we have ſome power over them. For though it be true, that God alone hath the Soveraignty over, and is the great diſpoſer of our hearts, yet under him, we may do much. What Man is there, whoſe conſcience will not tell him, if he conſult with it, that when his heart is flat, and dead, alienated from all ſerious thoughts of the preſence of God with him, that this is his own neglect, his own willful neglect; for he knows that when he hath a buſineſs to manage of any conſiderable concernment for his outward eſtate, he can eaſily command his heart to think on it, yea and cannot put it out of his mind, when he would; ſo that The abundance of the rich will not ſuffer him to ſleep, Eccl. 5.12. Therefore let us not neglect any longer to exerciſe that authority, which God hath given us over our hearts, if we deſire our Souls ſhould continue to proſper: We muſt ſerve him in righteouſneſs, and holineſs all our days, and every day: But all we do will come very far ſhort, not only of what it ought to be, but of what it might be, unleſs we do what we do, before him, as in his ſight, Luk. 1.75.
Thus of the Second Direction.
3. Spiritualize the Providences of every day: I mean, improve them to ſome ſpiritual advantage; ſo as thereby ſome gracious impreſſions may be wrought upon your hearts; that thereby the duties of the day may be better performed; principles of godlineſs more ſeaſonably exerciſed; and the workings, and ſtirrings of corruption more timely checkt, and throughly mortified. This will exceedingly help (ſcarce any thing more) to preſerve the Soul in its thriving, and proſpering frame. Conſider then, that every day, in reſpect of the Providences of God, it is filled up withal, is either one of thoſe two days mentioned, Eccleſ. 7.14. Either a day of Proſperity, or a day of Adverſity. Or elſe like that day, mentioned, Zech. 14.6. Neither clear, nor dark, but mixt; mercies given in, one part of the day, and croſſes taking their turn in the other. Now, it hath been experienced to be a great means of promoting and preſerving Soul-proſperity, to ſpiritualize both the one, and the other.
(1.) If the day be a day of Proſperity, i. e. if no evil befalls us, but that according to the promiſe, Pſal. 121.7, 8, The Lord ſhall preſerve thee from evil: The Lord ſhall preſerve thy going out, and thy coming in. When God bleſſeth the beginning, and ending of what we undertake; this hath enough in it, to raiſe up in our hearts, high thoughts of God, that he ſhould load us with benefits, Pſal. 68.19. Such as may be very effectual to keep us under thoſe obligations, which his bounty, and goodneſs lays upon us. Thus it wrought in David, Pſal. 116. He is reckoning up the mercies of God toward him: Then ver. 5. He exalteth God in his heart: And ver. 7. His Soul retires into God, and takes up its reſt, and ſatisfaction in him alone: And ver. 9. He heightens his reſolution. Thus it was with David, and thus it may be with us: Eſpecially, when the thriving proſpering Soul hath ground and reaſon enough to ſee the preſent mercies, of what kind ſoever they be, as having relation unto, and being pledges of Eternal mercies. This ſweetens them, and heightens them, how little ſoever, how common ſoever they be; that they may ſay as David, 2 Sam. 7.18, Who am I, and what is my father's houſe? This makes them more heart-melting, more heart-obliging, then otherwiſe they would be, or poſſibly can be to any Soul, that is either dead in ſin, or in a dying, withering, languiſhing condition. Six pence received only as a ſix pence, doth not affect the heart like that which is received as an earneſt of a greater Sum, which ſhall certainly upon ſuch a day be given to us; ſo it is here, when we can conclude, that he who kept us this day from evil, that it hath not grieved us, as Jabes prayed, 1 Chron. 4.10. and hath given us quiet, and comfortable reſt this night; can, and certainly will keep us by his mighty power, through faith, unto ſalvation: and this night's reſt is a pledge unto us of Eternal reſt, in thoſe heavenly manſions above, in our Father's houſe. And this concluſion, though no Man elſe can, yet thriving, and proſpering Souls may make.
2. If the day be a day of Adverſity, a day filled up with ſad tidings, or ſad events, yet the Providences of ſuch a day may be ſpiritualized, to the ſpiritual advantage of the Soul. By a believing conſideration from what hand they come; as Job did ch. 1. ver. 21, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. For what cauſe? A man for the puniſhment of his ſin, Lam. 3.39. What God aims at therein, ſc. our profit, that we might be partakers of his holineſs. From what principle? David believed, that it was in faithfulneſs to the intereſt of his Soul, that God afflicted him, Pſal. 119.75. A believing conſideration, I ſay, of theſe things, in ſuch a ſad and dark day, will conduce to preſerve the Soul in a proſpering frame: By melting down the will into the will of God, and by raiſing up the heart in the exerciſe of faith, hope, and patience; quietly to wait for ſupport under, benefit by, and, in due time, ſuch a deliverance from them all, as they ſhall be able to ſay, to the praiſe of God's free grace, truth, and faithfulneſs, as Jacob, notwithſtanding all his troubles in his life-time, which were neither few, nor ſmall, did on his Death-bed: That the Lord delivered him from all evil, Gen. 48.16.
3. If the day be a mixt day, as moſt days are, ſome comforts, ſome croſſes, ſome things going for us, and ſome things againſt us; theſe parti-coloured Providences may be ſpiritualized for our Souls advantage; and be unto us as the ſide-wind to the Ship, that beſt fills all the Sails, variety of gracious principles may be exerciſed. In ſuch a day we find enough to humble us, enough to make us thankful, and thoughtful what to render unto the Lord. That it is no worſe, That it is ſo well, as the King of Spain ſaid, when he heard of the miſcarriage of his Fleet in Eighty eight, whether he ſaid ſo, or no, depends upon the credit of the Hiſtorian. But I am ſure the Prophet Jeremiah ſaid, Lam. 3.22, It is of the Lords mercy, that we are afflicted, and not conſumed: caſt down, but not caſt off. Look to that place once again, Eccleſ. 7.14, In the day of adverſity, conſider. What ſhould we conſider? Why conſider this, and mark it well, that both theſe days, with all their fillings up, are from the Lord. That it is he, who thus ſets the one againſt the other; that we may ſee that his account will be ſo balanced, that our receipts when they are leaſt, will balance our ſufferings, when they are moſt. And that therefore we have enough to reaſon our ſelves both into a ſubmiſſion, and into a thankful frame, Job 2.9, 10, Shall we receive good at the hands of God, and ſhall we not receive evil? And would not theſe, think ye, keep our Souls in a thriving, and proſpering frame? It would ſure.
4. Beſides all theſe, we meet with daily paſſages, in what we hear, and ſee, which though they do not immediately touch us, yet may be thus ſpiritualized. Every Creature of God is a Text for our hearts to raiſe ſome Doctrines, ſome ſpiritual Meditations from. We have a Proverb, That there is never an outſide, but it hath an inſide. Underſtand it thus: There is nothing that comes under our obſervation, but there may be extracted from it, ſome inference or other, to employ our thoughts about, and that to good purpoſe; even to keep our Souls in their good frame: For as a Bee can ſuck honey out of many a flower, where a flye finds no ſuch thing as wanting a principle for it: So a proſpering, ſpiritualizing Soul may, and therefore ought, to endeavour to extract ſome good out of every thing; even out of its own, and other Mens failings, as we may read, Pro. 24.30, 31, 32, I went by the field of the ſlothful—I looked upon it, and received inſtruction. Upon this ground, among others, the principles of godlineſs are called, a partaking of the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. For as God, according to his infinite power, and wiſdom, brings light out of darkneſs; good out of evil: Even ſo may the principles of godlineſs much more, out of every good thing, though of a very mean concernment. And would not this help to preſerve it in its proſperous frame? It would ſure. That Man is like to thrive, who gains by every thing he deals in: And that Soul is like to continue to proſper, which raiſeth Earth into Heaven, and fetcheth Heaven out of Earth; as every one doth, ſo far as he is faithful in the fore-mentioned particulars. And beſides, it is one of the beſt helps that I know of, to make improvement of that portion of our time, which runs between one ſolemn duty and another, which otherwiſe would lye upon our hands, and be rendered uſeleſs, as to Soul-concernments.
4. Another great work which proſpering Souls have to do, in order to the preſerving of themſelves in a proſpering frame, is this: To preſerve a deep ſenſe of their ſpiritual poverty, when it is beſt with them, in reſpect of Soul-proſperity. The Apoſtle Paul from the firſt day after his converſion, to the day of his diſſolution (for ought we read, or have any appearance to ſuſpect to the contrary) did thrive, and proſper in his ſpiritual eſtate. His inward man was renewed daily, 2 Cor. 4.16. Yet what he thought of himſelf, we find by what he ſpeaks of himſelf, Rom. 7.23, 24, I find another law in my members, warring againſt the law of my mind—O wretched Man, that I am—. 2 Cor. 3.5, Not that we are ſufficient to think any thing as of our ſelves—. Eph. 3.8, Ʋnto me who am the leaſt of all Saints, is this grace given—. This is as needful a direction, as any of the reſt. For it is a hard matter to ſtarve this ſin of pride, and ſelf-exalting thoughts, becauſe it will feed almoſt, upon any thing. Nothing ſo good, yea nothing ſo mean, but pride will feed upon it. Abſolom was proud of his long locks, he wore his hair ſo long, that when he polled it, it weighed about four pound in weight, 2 Sam. 14.26. But I ſpeak not now of this kind of pride: but of that kind of pride, which, without ſpecial care, may breed out of thoſe excellent things, which are found in proſpering Souls; as pride of gifts: There is the root of that pride in a proſpering Soul, which Solomon ſpeaks of, Pro. 18.2, A fool hath no delight in underſtanding, but that his heart may diſcover it ſelf. Of that in the Phariſee, Luk. 18.11, God, I thank thee, I am not as other men are. Joh. 7.49, This people which knoweth not the law, are accurſed. Pride of Grace: Though corruption that is in the heart, hates the grace, that is in the heart, yet it is apt to be proud of it, when it is taken notice of. Grace cannot be proud: but he that hath it, may be proud of it. As Paul was in danger of being lifted up, and exalted above meaſure, through the abundance of revelations, which were given unto him, 2 Cor. 12.7. Now, which way ſoever pride works, ye will find it like the wind, ſometimes at one door, ſometimes at another. Reſiſt it, for God reſiſteth that Man, that doth not reſiſt it, Jam. 4.6. He gives more grace to thoſe that walk humbly with him, but he reſiſts the proud, by abating, and leſſening what he had given. So far as the heart begins to be lifted up, ſo far it is naught, how good ſoever it was before, Hab. 2.4, Behold, his Soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him. Therefore whenſoever the inward man begins to be renewed, and that it begins to be better in the frame and temper of the heart, then formerly: Then watch, and pray that ye do not fall into this temptation. And conſider, when it is at beſt with us, how much we come ſhort of the holineſs of that rule we ought to walk by, and of the holineſs of that God which is propoſed for our pattern; 1 Pet. 1.15, As he which hath called you is holy, ſo be ye holy in all manner of converſation. Let us compare our ſelves with that Rule, and with that Pattern, and the bright-ſhining beams of the Sun will not diſcover more motes in the Air, then the holineſs of God, and his law, would convince us of ſin to be in us. And when it is at beſt with us, would make us to ſee reaſon to complain of our ſelves as Paul did, Rom. 7.14, The law is ſpiritual, but I am carnal, ſold under ſin: And to pray as, Pſal. 143.2, Enter not into judgment with thy ſervant, for in thy ſight ſhall no Man living be juſtified. And in the ſtrength of Chriſt to reſolve, as Phil. 3.13, 14, I count not my ſelf to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting thoſe things which are behind, and reaching forth to thoſe things which are before: I preſs toward the mark—. As knowing that the Soul never proſpers ſo much, but it may proſper more; for no Man knows when he hath all the grace he ſhall have: And if we do not endeavour that we may proſper more, things will not proſper long, 2 Pet. 3.17, 18, Beware leſt ye alſo being led away with the errour of the wicked, fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſs; But grow in grace—If If ye grow not, ye will fall from your ſtedfaſtneſs which ye have attained unto.
5. As we ſhould realize the preſence of God with us daily, and keep our Souls under God's eye: So put them over, and their well-fare, and proſperity into God's hands, to preſerve them. We know that Job proſpered in his outward eſtate, ſo long as God kept up the hedge about him, and all that he had, Job. 1.10. So it is with our Souls, They, and the gracious principles that are in them, are preſerved in, and by his hand, Jude v. 1. Sanctified by God the Father, and preſerved in Chriſt Jeſus. 2 Chron. 32.26, Hezekiah humbled himſelf for the pride of his heart. When David's Soul was in a proſpering frame; ſee how he prays, 1 Chro. 29.18, O Lord God—keep this for ever in the imaginations of the thoughts of thy people—i. e. That thoſe gracious impreſſions might not wear off. It is worth our obſerving, that the Lord Jeſus knew what extraordinary gifts and graces the Apoſtles were to receive; yet all this would not do, if God ſhould let them go out of his hand, Joh. 17.6.
6, And laſtly: Becauſe there will be remiſneſs in obſerving this, and what other Directions ye may have from the word, whereby the well-fare of the Soul may be endangered, as by Communing with our own hearts, we ſhall find, be ſure, that ever now and then, as the matter requires, we ſet time apart for more ſerious examination, humiliation, and renewing the exerciſe of repentance, faith, &c. Such times are like ſcouring times, which Veſſels ſtand ſometimes in need of, though waſhed every day. This is the way, if there be any defect, to ſet all things right again, Rev. 2.5, Remember whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy firſt works.
Thus I have ſhewed you, what the work is, that proſpering Souls have to do, if they deſire (and they ought to deſire it with all their might, and all their ſtrength) that they may proſper ſtill. It is a work that never muſt be at an end, while the Soul is in the Body. I ſay no more to it, but conclude with that 1 Cor. 10.12, Let him that ſtandeth, take heed leſt he fall. If any think that theſe Directions are too many, I ſuppoſe that upon farther conſideration, thoſe that do think ſo, may ſee reaſon to think otherwiſe: For ſo far as I can apprehend, not one of them can be ſpared; they one help another. Thoſe that underſtand nothing of a Watch, may, poſſibly, wonder, what need there ſhould be of ſo many Wheels, ſo near one another, and that they will but hinder one another; but thoſe that have underſtanding in things of this nature, do know, that one Wheel helps forward another. It is ſo here.
This is all I have to ſpeak upon this branch of the Uſe. I now proceed to a few words to each of thoſe two Caſes, mentioned the laſt day.
1. How a Man may manage the buſineſs of his calling, and all his worldly affairs, ſo as to promote his proſperity in the World, and not prejudice, but thereby farther his Soul-proſperity?
Anſ. 1. It is, without queſtion, not only lawful, but every Man's duty, to be diligent in his calling, and to manage it with honeſty, and integrity to his beſt advantage, that he may proſper in the World; in reference to thoſe ends, for which Callings were ordained. That he may eat the labour of his hands, Pſal. 128.1. and not eat his fingers ends, as it is ſaid of idle perſons. That with quietneſs he work, and eat his own bread, 2 Theſ. 3.12. And be helpful to others, Eph. 4.28. Therefore, he ought to be diligent to know the ſtate of his flock, and to look well to his herds, Prov. 27.23.24. Not to leave all to the care of his ſervants. Under this one particular, a provident care over Mens eſtates in every other Calling, is likewiſe injoined, that ſo nothing be loſt, Joh. 6.12.
2. But though this be true, yet every one that deſires, that above all things, his Soul may proſper, ought not to make Religion a complement, as too many do; but his chief buſineſs. The Lord Jeſus owed, and payed reſpect, and ſubjection to his parents, Luk. 2.57. Yet he declared, that he muſt attend his heavenly Father's buſineſs, ver. 49. Thus David, Pſal. 119.38,—thy ſervant, who is devoted to thy fear. As a Scholar who devotes himſelf to his ſtudy, makes learning his buſineſs: So we ought to mind this one thing as moſt neceſſary, Luke 10.42. It's true, it may be with a Chriſtian that ſeriouſly minds the proſperity of his Soul, as it is with Mariners at Sea, they are bound for ſuch a Coaſt, but whilſt they are ſailing, they may meet with a croſs Wind, which may drive them the quite contrary way: but as ſoon as the ſtorm is over, they recover themſelves, and get into the right way, wherein they Sailed before. So a Chriſtian (one that is ſo indeed) is bound for Heaven, and the holy word of God is the Compaſs he ſails by. Yet, a contrary wind of temptation blowing, he may be driven back; but he recovers himſelf again by the exerciſe of Faith, and Repentance, and ſails on conſtantly toward his heavenly Port. Thus he that minds, above all proſperities, the proſperity of his Soul, ought to make Religion his buſineſs; he is devoted unto it: To him to live is Chriſt, Phil. 1.21.
3. Both theſe being true: That every Man hath, or ought to have a Calling to follow, which he ought with prudence, providence, and diligence to attend, for the ſupport of his outward eſtate, according to the condition, wherein God hath ſet him. Every Man hath, or ought to have a Calling to follow, which he ought to manage with all his heart, all his might, and all his ſtrength, as that which is for the moſt deſirable proſperity, the proſperity of his Soul, therefore he ought to manage the former, in ſubordination to this; God never intended them otherwiſe. Still he would have us to abide with God in our Calling, 1 Cor. 7.24. That a Man ſo drive his Trade for the World, as not to hinder his Trade for Heaven. His home-trade within doors, his Shop, his Ware-houſe, his Working-houſe, his Oxen, or his Farm, muſt not rob his Cloſet, nor indiſpoſe him, much leſs take him off from thoſe private duties of Religion, whereby Communion between God, and his Soul, may be preſerved, and increaſed. Nor yet muſt his forreign Trade hinder him from walking as becomes the Goſpel, in all his converſe with others, but that he may, as the matter requires, ſhew forth the graces of Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2.9. 1 Theſ. 5.14, 15, Be patient to all men, not rendering evil for evil to any man, but ever follow that which is good. So far as any Man doth thus manage his worldly affairs, for his proſperity in the World, he ſhall not prejudice, but thereby farther his Soul-proſperity.
And in order hereunto, conſider theſe few things.
1. Remember that of Salomon, Pro. 28.20. Make not haste to be rich. Do not graſp more of the world into your hands, then ye may manage without diſtraction. This cannot any more be for the proſperity of the Soul, then to eat more meat, then the natural heat of the ſtomach can well digeſt, can be for the health of the body. Therefore in ſuch a caſe, it is a mans duty, intereſt, and wiſdom to do, as the Sea-men do, when the Ship is overladen, caſt out ſome of the burden, leſt they hazard the loſs of their lives. Otherwiſe, that will be found a truth, when it may be too late to prevent it, what the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Tim. 6.9. They that will be rich (that are ſet upon it) fall into temptations, and ſnares, and into many fooliſh, and hurtful luſts, which drown men in a Whirlpool of deſtruction and perdition.
2. Remember that though ye ought to be diligent in your calling, yet it ought to be with a holy indifferency of Spirit, not as Rachel, Gen. 30.1. Give me Children, or I dye, but as David in that great ſtrait wherein he was 2 Sam. 15.26. Let the Lord do with me, as it ſeemeth good in his ſight. Thus it ought to be, and thus it may be, if we deſire our care for proſperity in this world may not hinder the proſperity of our Souls. The ſtrongeſt, and higheſt workings both of our heads and hearts, ſhould be after our Soul concernments. Thus did David Pſal. 63.8. My Soul followeth hard after thee. 2 Sam. 6.14. David danced before the Lord, with all his might. But when a mans eyes, and his heart (as the expreſſion is concerning Jehojakim Jer. 22.17.) are but for the world, i. e. he doth greedily affect it, and moſt eagerly purſue it, as if that Judgment were befallen him, which literally befel Korah, and Dathan, the earth ſwallowed them. However ſuch may hold up, and rub on, in a formal profeſſion, and that it may be with ſome ſeeming forwardneſs, yet their Souls can never proſper. It is impoſſible they ſhould. Therefore, labour not for that meat which periſheth, but for that which endureth to everlaſting life, Joh. 6.27.
3. Remember this, That there is no abſolute neceſſity of it, upon one account, or other, that a man ſhould be as rich, as other rich men of the ſame calling. That is neceſſary which cannot be ſupplyed, with ſomething inſtead of it. As the light of the Sun is neceſſary for the day. All the Candles in the world cannot ſupply the want of that. No, it will be night, when the Sun is ſet, for all the Stars. Now, the wealth, and great things of the world may be ſupplyed by ſomething elſe; for neither mans life, nor the comforts of his life conſiſts in abundance, Luk. 12.15. ſo Pſal. 4.6, 7. There be many that ſay, who will ſhew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us, thou haſt put gladneſs in my heart, more then in the time, that their Corn and their Wine increaſed. But all the world cannot ſupply the want of Soul-proſperity, Matth. 16.28. What can it profit a man, if he ſhall gain the whole world, and loſe his own Soul. Therefore that is the only thing neceſſary, Luke 10.42.
4. Remember this, That we manage the buſineſs of our calling, with a holy fear, and jealouſy, leſt we ſhould prejudice the wellfare of our Souls. Job was afraid, leſt his Children, whileſt they were refreſhing their bodies, ſhould have wronged their Souls, Job 1.5. there is as much reaſon to be afraid, in this caſe, for the world is defiling, Jam. 1.27. to keep himſelf unſpotted from the world. It his hard to touch Pitch, and not to be defiled. This was in the thoughts of Jeſus Chriſt, Joh. 17.15. I pray not that thou ſhouldeſt take them out of the world, but that thou ſhouldeſt keep them from evil.
5. Remember this, That the ruling, predominant, chief, and principal end in labouring for the things of this world, ſhould be in reference to the world to come, when David prayed for life, it was not principally that he might live; but that he might live and praiſe God, Pſal. 119.17.175. So in labouring after all the things of this life, we ſhould deſire them; not as ſtops, but as ſteps in our way to heaven, and ſo accordingly uſe them, reckoning this, though not the only, yet as one of the chiefeſt advantages we have by them, that we have a price put into our hands, whereby we may be the more uſeful; and our light ſhine ſo much the more before Men, that they may glorify our Father, which is in heaven, Matth. 5.16.
6. Remember this, That it is our duty, and we ought to prepare for it, by keeping the things of the world at a diſtance from our hearts, to run the hazard of the loſs of all, when the keeping of them is inconſiſtent with the conſcience of that duty, and ſubjection, we owe to Chriſt; when it comes to that, we ſhould ſuffer joyfully the ſpoiling of our goods, as they did, Heb. 10.34. though we ſhould go as naked out of the world, as ever we came into the world. He that will keep what he hath, in a way that God doth not approve of, may keep the thing, but he will loſe the comfort of it. Even as they, Exod. 16.20. that would keep Manna beyond the time, that God allowed them, they had the Manna, but it did them no good; it had worms in it, and did ſtink. Thus we have ſomething toward the anſwering of that queſtion; and I do believe, that ye will find that ſo far as theſe rules are obſerved, the world will not prejudice your Souls.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Benn, Soul-Prosperity in Several Sermons (1683)