Helps for Faith and Patience in Times of Affliction, Part 3 · Section 1 – Section 2
The Application follows.
Firſt, for Information. If it be the Character and Duty of gracious Souls, becauſe viſible things are temporal, therefore they muſt not, they do not much mind or regard them.
I. It follows then, that Earthly-mindedneſs, worldlineſs is a great Evil, and very unbecoming true Chriſtians, for their minds and converſations are it Heaven, Phil. 3. 19, 20. There is the diſcriminating Character, both of the gracious and ungracious, a vaſt difference between them, the one mind Earthly things, the other… have their converſation it Heaven. Moſt People look on thoſe things which are ſeen; all ſeek their own things, thoſe that they count their own; and thoſe are moſtly, …hiefly, and principally minded, as appears manifeſtly, thus:
1. By the ſtream of their Thoughts, which runs ſteddily upon viſible temporal things, having vain Minds.
2. By the common current of their Diſcourſes, their Talk is all of the World.
3. By the tide of their Affections, Love, Joy, Fear, Sorrow, Delight, all run ſtrongly World…rd.
4. By the courſe of their Actions, their Time, Pain, Care, all is ſpent about the World; riſing early, going to Bed late, eating the Bread of Carefulneſs, and all about the World. This is a great Evil, becauſe expreſly forbidden, Matth. 6. 19. Lay not up for your ſelves treaſures on earth, Joh. 6. 27. Labour not for that meat which periſheth. Col. 3. 2. Set your affections upon things above, and not upon things below. And this Worldly-mindedneſs is contrary to the Practice of true Chriſtians, as in the Text, We look not on thoſe things which are ſeen: So Phil. 3. 20. And it is the Character of ſuch as are in a ſtate of Nature, and that cannot pleaſe God: Rom. 8. 5, 8. They that are after the fleſh do mind in things of the fleſh: Such are not crucified to the World, but conquered and captivated by it; yea crucified by it; conquered by the Profits, Honours and Pleaſures of it, and meer Slaves to theſe; and crucified by the Croſſes and Loſſes of the World; their Hearts and Spirits lye under the Feet of theſe, and are at the beck of theſe; their Hopes and Comforts lye all at the Courteſie of the World; and this is a woful Bondage.
Remember this, we can never conclude, that we are truly gracious, until we have Grace enough to keep God and our Hearts together, and to keep the World and our Hearts aſunder. 1 John 2. 14, 15. Love not the world, nor the things of the world, for he that loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Woe to them that have their Portion in this World, Pſal. 17. 14. who have their good things here, who have laid up their Treaſures upon Earth, and there have their Heart. That Text Phil. 3. 19. is enough to terrifie a… ſuch; Their end is deſtruction who mind earth… things.
Inf. II. It follows from the Premiſes, that Contentment with our Condition, and with any portion of viſible temporal things, is a great Virtue, and well becoming Chriſtians: Diſcontent proceeds from our over-minding, and over-valuing, and over-loving earthly things; and it is a very great Evil, for it practically denies God's All-ſufficiency, his Wiſdom, Soveraignty, Faithfulneſs, and Mercy; it diſgraceth the Goſpel and Godlineſs, and is in it ſelf a great Plague.
Q. But how ſhall I do to be content, content to be deprived of my dear Relations, Eſtate, Health, Liberty, &c?
A. Read Mr. Burroughs's Book of Chriſtian Contentment: Take alſo theſe Directions.
1. Labour to make God your own, and then you will have a full and ſufficient Ballance to all your Loſſes. He is God All-ſufficient. Weigh well thoſe two Scriptures, 1 Sam. 30. 6. & 2 Sam. 23. 5.
2. Labour to make Chriſt your own; he offers himſelf to you in the Goſpel, with all he is, and with all he hath. And in him dwelleth all fulneſs, he is all in all: Pſal. 23. 1. The Lord is my ſhepherd, I ſhall not want, ſaid David.
3. Search the Scriptures, and be acquainted with the many exceeding great and precious Promiſes that are there, ſuitable to every Condition you can be in. Act your Faith on them, and apply them; lye upon and ſuck thoſe full Breaſts of Conſolation.
4. Pray for Contentment, and pray earneſtly for the manifeſtation of God's Love to your Souls, and that will ſo ſatisfie and content you, that any meaſure of earthly things will content you.
5. Be much in Heavenly Meditations, look upon inviſible and eternal things, ſpend ſerious frequent fixed Thoughts on them.
6. Conſider your Deſerts: No perſon in the World, how little ſoever he hath of the good things of the World, but hath much more than he deſerveth, and more than he doth well improve; and how much ſoever he hath of the evil things of the World, he hath infinitely leſs than he deſerved, for every thing out of Hell is a Mercy: It's of the Lord's Mercy we are not conſumed.
7. Conſider, if you be true Chriſtians, you have the Spirit of Chriſt in you, Rom. 8. 9. Jeſus Chriſt had a moſt contented Spirit: Contentment is the inſeparable Companion of true Godlineſs. 1 Tim. 6. 8. Having food and raiment, let us be content. Let us, that are Chriſtians, who have the Great GOD for our Portion, and Bleſſed Jeſus for our Treaſure, and Heaven for our Inheritance, having Food and Raiment, any Food, any Raiment, though never ſo coarſe, let us be content, content with ſuch things as we have, Heb. 13. 5.
Inf. III. Thirdly, hence it follows alſo, that great is the Folly of all by Nature, and great is their Blindneſs; which appears in this, that they value, prize, mind, and follow after viſible temporal things, much more eagerly and earneſtly than after inviſible eternal things: This is but too manifeſt, Iſa. 55. 2. labouring for that which is not bread: not Bread for their Souls, and for that which cannot ſatisfie their Souls. God, Chriſt, Heaven, is not in all, ſcarce in any of their Thoughts, Pſal. 10. 4. & 49. 11. the god of this World blinds Mens Eyes. 2 Cor. 4. 4. and the World bewitcheth Mens Minds, and the Deceitfulneſs of Sin ſo ſtrangely deludes …, that they become meer Slaves and Captives to the World.
Ask any Man or Woman what things are beſt, Earth or Heaven, God or the Creature, their Souls or their Bodies, Saving Grace of Worldly Goods? and all will confeſs, that God is beſt of all, and Heaven better than Earth: If it be ſo, why then is this World minded more than God? and, why is Earth minded more than Heaven? The Apoſtle tells us the true reaſon, Rom. 8. 5. which is, becauſe Men are in the Fleſh, in a ſtate of Nature, under ſpiritual blindneſs and darkneſs: This their way is their folly; Pſal. 49. 12. It is a great Folly to chuſe the worſt things, and refuſe the beſt; to mind Earth, and forget Heaven; to purſue the Creature, and neglect God and Chriſt: Folly indeed! to mind day and night, and follow hard after viſible temporal things, and neglect eternal. The pleaſures of ſin are but for a ſeaſon, but a God's right hand are pleaſures for evermore; Pſal. 16. laſt.
O, the bewitching nature of this World! that it ſhould ſo gain and hold the Affections of Men and Women! that altho the World and the faſhion of it paſſeth away, and is but a ſhadow, yet that Men ſhould ſo drown themſelves in it, as to make them forget the World to come. How unreaſonable a thing is it, to ſpend all our Thoughts, Cares, and Pains about viſible temporal things, ſeeing they are ſo tranſitory and periſhing, ſo much beneath our neverdying Souls, ſo utterly unable to ſatisfie or content our Souls, or to comfort us in our Troubles, or to ſtand us in any ſtead in Death and Judgment? Were not our Minds moſt ſtrangely blinded, it were impoſſible that, having Reaſon and Underſtanding, we ſhould ſo waſte our Time and Strength in purſuit of earthly things, ſeeing the Great God and the Bleſſed Jeſus offer themſelves to become ours; and ſeeing Heaven, and Happineſs, and Glory is before us, and offered to us, and we may have them if we will, and ſo be happy for ever; O wonderful Folly and Blindneſs! the Lord enlighten and convince us.
Inf. IV. Fourthly, it follows, that a true Chriſtian lives by Faith, and not by Sence; for he that is a Captive to the World, hath but little Faith, if any; 1 John 5. 4. For faith overcometh the world; where Sence riſeth, Faith falleth. Now, ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 5. 7. We walk by faith, not by ſence. This is our Practice, and this is the very meaning of the Text: We look not at thoſe things that are ſeen; that is, we live not by Senſe, but by Faith.
Q. But what is it to live or walk by Senſe?
Anſ. The great good, or end, or happines that a carnal Heart propoſeth to it ſelf, in which it expecteth Content, is ſome good that is the object of Senſe, ſomething that may be ſenſibly enjoyed, and this they purſue and labour after. The Rule by which they judge things, is Senſe; if things pleaſe Senſe, and ſeem good to Senſe to the Eye, to the Ear, to the Taſte, to the Appetite, they judge them to be good things; if not pleaſing to the ſenſe, they are counted evil things That which affects their Hearts, is Senſe, Senſible Comforts, or Senſible Croſſes, Senſible Gain, or Senſible Loſs; wanting the light of God's Spirit to open their Underſtandings, they live only by Senſe, and are but Senſual; Jude 19. Eccl. 11. 9. and ſo they walk after the Fleſh, and mind the things of the Fleſh, chiefly and principally. This Life of Senſe is variouſly expreſſed, Prov. 3. 5. A leaning to their own underſtanding; Pſal. 81. 12. A walking after their own hearts luſts, and in their own counſels; Jer. 9. 14. Walking after the imaginations of their own hearts; Iſa. 65. 2. After their own thoughts, in a way that is not good. Iſa. 5. 21.
This is not the way of true Chriſtians; but they walk by Faith, and not by Senſe.
Q. What is it then to walk by Faith?
Anſ. The great Good, or End, or Happineſs that a gracious Soul aims at, and ſeeks content in, is that which is preſented to him by Faith, out of the Word of God, and that is twofold, to wit, the glorifying of God, and the enjoyment of him; theſe are things not ſeen; theſe are not the Objects of Senſe, but of Faith: To glorifie God in Chriſt, and to enjoy God in Chriſt, this is the end of the Saints walk and way; and all this is by Faith.
This Life of Faith is demonſtrated ſeveral ways.
1. He that lives by Faith is guided by the Word of Faith, and that is the whole Goſpel, and every Truth in it; ſuch a Soul gives up it ſelf to the conduct of the whole Word of God; it walks by no other Rule.
2. It yields it ſelf up to the government of the Spirit of Faith, the Holy Ghoſt; it is obedient to the motions, ſtirrings, counſels of the Holy Spirit, harkning to that word behind him, Iſa. 30, 31. not willingly grieving nor quenching it.
3. It walks in the way of Holineſs, for this Faith purifies the Heart; Acts 15. 9. & 26. 18.
4. It always leans upon Chriſt, and draws ſtrength from him, to hold on and hold out in the way of Duty; by it the Soul abides in Chriſt, John 15. 3. and by drawing of ſtrength from Chriſt it can do all things, Phil. 4. 13. notwithſtanding all oppoſition.
5. By Faith the Soul commits himſelf to God in Chriſt, in all his ways, and truſts himſelf and all his concernments with God; Pſal. 37. 3, 5. Prov. 16. 3. 2 Pet. 5. 7. Pſal. 112. 7, 8. Iſa. 26. 2, 3.
Such a Soul can ſatisfie himſelf with what he receives by Faith, as really and truly as others can ſatisfie themſelves with Senſe; the faithful Promiſes of God are as ſweet to him as the ſenſible Poſſeſſions and Enjoyments are of others, Heb. 11. 13. they ſaw the Promiſes afar off, and embraced them.
Now, when a Soul can depend upon God alone for All, in the want of all outward means, and make progreſs in the ways of God, through all difficulties, and not draw back; and doth in his whole courſe of Life ſo walk, work, and act, as becomes one that doth believe ſuch glorious things in the other World, as he doth believe; when there is a ſuitableneſs in his Life to what he believes; then, oh then, he may truly be ſaid to live by Faith. And this is the Life that in ſome degree every true Chriſtian lives, and deſires to live; and this living by Faith, and not by Senſe, is that which is meant in the Text.
2 Ʋſe.
The ſecond Uſe is of Exhortation to us all, to look off from viſible temporal things. Let us labour to get our Hearts crucified, and our Affections mortified to all earthly things; to draw away our Minds as much as poſſible, from the things of this Life. A great part of the Goſpel, and of the Doctrine of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, tend to this, to take off our Hearts and Minds from ſetling and fixing upon earthly things.
I.Some Motives to this.
II.Some Directions.
I. Motives.
1. Conſider, it is the expreſs Command of God, Col. 3. 1, 2. Set not your affections on things below, 1 John 2. 14, 15. Matth. 6. 19. Lay not up for your ſelves treaſures on earth. This we ſhould urge on our Hearts.
2. Conſider the vanity, emptineſs, inſufficiency, unſatisfactorineſs to the Soul, of all earthly things; Eccl. 5. 10.
3. The great inconſtancy and uncertainty of them, 1 Tim. 6. 17. Prov. 23. 5. 1 Cor. 7. 31. Riches and Honours go from one man to another, as Birds hop from Tree to Tree.
4. How prejudicial they have been to thoſe that have had the moſt of them, but beneficial to very few.
5. That theſe earthly things are all defiling things, like Pitch; and corruptible and corrupting things, being full of Snares and Temptations, are but like Thorns to moſt.
6. No real Happineſs in them, for Reprobates may have them; and they may conſiſt with Gods Wrath; therefore we ſhould not ſet our Hearts upon them.
II. Directions ſhewing how we may get off our Hearts, and draw off our Minds from them, for our Hearts are ſo glued to them, we cannot but look on them, and mind them.
It is not eaſie work to do, but let us uſe the means that God hath appointed, and try what we can do.
1. Firſt, Let us labour to be transformed in the Image of our Minds, renewed in the Spirit of our Minds; Rom. 12. 1. Eph. 4. 23. New Natures we muſt get, this muſt be done; our Old Minds are vain, and altogether ſuitable to earthly things.
Q. But how ſhall we get New Minds?
A.1ſt, Pray earneſtly to God, to give you new Hearts, to repair his Image on you, to create a clean Heart in you, as David did, Pſal. 51. 10. to give you his Spirit, 1 Cor. 2. 12. to ſanctifie you throughout, 1 Theſſ. 5. 23. to regenerate you by his Word and Spirit; Jam. 1. 17, 18. Tit. 3. 3, 4, 5. Oh pray, pray that God would caſt you into a new Mould, to root out the old corrupt Principles of Nature in you, and to plant new heavenly Principles of the Divine Life and Nature in you, to work a real change in you.
Go to Jeſus, beg his Spirit; He was crucified to all viſible temporal things, beg of him to give you thoſe Waters of Life, Joh. 4. 14. which he hath promiſed to them that hunger and thirſt after them: Beg of him to make you of his mind; labour to put him on by imitation.
2ly, Look up to God's Covenant, and lay hold on God's Covenant, Ezek. 11. 19. and moſt earneſtly beg the Lord to take you into his Covenant, and to remember his Covenant, and to perform it to you, and wait upon God continually: Study the Covenant of Grace, and lay hold on it; for in the Covenant God promiſeth to become our God and Portion; and if once God be ours, all the good of Heaven and Earth is ours, and then we ſhall but little mind viſible temporal things.
3ly, If we would be regenerated, we muſt ſearch the Scriptures diligently, attend on the Word preached and read, for the Word of God is the Seed of Regeneration, the Word of Grace, ordained to work Grace in Souls, Acts 26. 18. Look often into the glaſs of the Goſpel, 2 Cor. 3. 17, 18. and look thorow it unto the glory of the Lord, that ſhines forth in it; the glory of his Love, and Grace, and Mercy, and Wiſdom; and Power, and Holineſs, and Righteouſneſs, and Faithfulneſs, all which are wonderfully diſplayed in the Face of Jeſus Chriſt, in this glaſs of the Goſpel; and by frequent, ſerious, believing, fixed looking into this glaſs, and upon the glory of God in Chriſt therein repreſented, we ſhall be changed into the ſame Image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.
4ly, Study Jeſus Chriſt much, ſet him ſtill before you for a Pattern, labour to imitate him, and to be like him, and to walk as he walked: And this is the way to get new Minds.
2 Direct. Secondly, If we would get off our Hearts from earthly things, let us labour for a clear knowledge and a firm belief of, and familiar acquaintance with inviſible eternal things; take a few inſtances: The Reſurrection of the Body, as fet out in 1 Cor. 15. The ſecond Coming of the Lord Jeſus, the manner and ends of it, 2 Theſſ. 1. 6, 7, 8, 9. The glorious manifeſtation of the Sons of God, and their full Redemption. That when Chriſt, who is their Life, ſhall appear, they ſhall appear with him in glory, Col. 3. 3. The Day of Judgment; the ſeparation of the Sheep from the Goats; the final irrevocable Sentence that ſhall then paſs on all Mankind; the Saints paſſing into Heaven with Chriſt, their Souls and Bodies united, and their triumphant entrance with the Captain of their Salvation into the Paradiſe of God, to ſee the Bleſſed God face to face, to live in his preſence, in whoſe preſence is fulneſs of joy, and at whoſe right hand are pleaſures for evermore; to live with God in perfect Light, Love, Purity, Reſt, and Peace for ever and ever; fully and for ever freed from all Sin and Miſery. Oh, theſe are the things moſt worthy of all our moſt ſerious, moſt fixed, and moſt conſtant Meditations.
We ſhould firſt labour to get thoſe things into our Heads, fully and clearly to underſtand them, and ſhould not be contented with a dark confuſed knowledge of them, but ſhould labour for a diſtinct knowledge of them; and therefore ſhould earneſtly beg the light and aſſiſtance of the Holy Spirit, to inſtruct and teach us, as Eph. 1. 18. and look up to God's Promiſe, which is, that all his People ſhall be taught of him, that we may have a ſpiritual knowledge of them. And then we ſhould labour to draw theſe inviſible eternal things down into our Hearts, and labour to draw up our Hearts to them, for with the Heart Man believeth. We ſhould beg of God to open our Hearts wide to embrace them, to reliſh, and ſavour, and be affected with them, and exerciſe our loves, hopes, deſires, delights, hunger and thirſt after them, conſidering alſo the tranſcendant Excellencies of thoſe inviſible eternal things, above all viſible temporal things; and our own real concernment in them, and likewiſe their nearneſs to us, they are not far off; we ſhall ſhortly poſſeſs that Kingdom promiſed, and inherit that Glory purchaſed for us, if we be true Believers; But a little while, and he that ſhall come will come, and will not tarry.
Conſidering alſo, that all our Thoughts, Words, and Actions have reference to inviſible eternal things. If they be good and holy, they have reference to eternal glory; if bad and wicked, they have reference to eternal Miſery; for ſuch as is our Heart and Life here, ſuch ſhall be our eternal ſtate hereafter.
3 Direct. Thirdly, Be much in the Meditation of Heavenly Things, if we firmly believe, and are fully perſwaded, that there are indeed ſuch great and glorious, ſuch excellent things in the other World, as the God of Truth aſſures us of, in the Word of Truth; and if we believe, or have good ground to hope, that we have a title to them, and ſhall ſhortly enjoy them, why are they not more in our Thoughts? why do we not more meditate on them? Our frequent fixed Meditations on Heavenly things, will ſo ſweeten and delight our Souls, and yield ſuch ſatisfaction to us, as to take off our Minds from Earthly things: And to Meditation add Prayer, That God would raiſe and lift up your Hearts to mind things above.
4 Direct. Fourthly, Diſcourſe frequently and feelingly of the vanity and emptineſs of viſible temporal things, and of the reality and excellency of inviſible eternal things: If Heaven and Glory be in your Hearts, they will be in your Mouths. Conſider alſo the ſhortneſs of the time you have to converſe with viſible temporal things, 1 Cor. 7. 31. and ſtudy a crucified Chriſt more, by that you will come to be crucified to the World, and the World to you; Gal. 6. 14.
5 Direct. Fifthly, Conſider you that are Chriſtians, are not at home, you are in a ſtrange Country, you are but on your Journey, in your paſſage to your Father's houſe, to your long home, and therefore you ſhould not much mind the things of this World.
6 Direct. Sixthly, Conſider what you loſe all the while you are inordinately minding earthly things; you loſe not only your precious time, but much inward joy and peace, and much ſweet communion with God, which you might have in minding of, and meditating upon Heavenly things: Pſal. 63. 4, 5. My ſoul ſhall be ſatisfied as with mar… and fatneſs:—When I remember thee open my bed, and meditate on thee in the nightwatches.
7 Direct. Seventhly, Let us work a few more ſerious Conſiderations into our Hearts and Minds, to take them from Earthly things.
(1.) That whatever any Man or Woman hath of viſible temporal things, Death will put a full end to them all, and after Death they all ſhall partake of inviſible and eternal things. Matth. 25. 46. The wicked ſhall go away into everlaſting puniſhment, and the righteous into life eternal.
(2.) That every Man and Woman in the World is either made for ever, or undone for ever, as they are related and entituled unto the inviſible eternal good things or evil things of the other World; they are made for ever, if related and entituled to the inviſible God and Glory; and undone for ever, if not: So that our Eternal Happineſs or Miſery depends not on our relation or title to viſible, but to inviſible things.
(3.) Such as is our Title and Eſtate now, to the one or other, ſuch it will be to all Eternity. As the tree falls, ſo it lies: as death leaves us, ſo will judgment find us.
(4.) This looking off from earthly things is the way to grow and encreaſe in Grace, for Worldly Cares do choak, deaden, and weaken Grace, cloying the Affections, entangling and encumbring the Thoughts, much hindring the exerciſe of Faith and Love, which are the principal Graces whereby holy Souls enjoy Communion with God.
(5.) By this you will have more Communion with God; for the leſs we look downward, the more we ſhall look upward; and the more we look upward to God and Chriſt, in the actings of our Faith and Love, the more will God and Chriſt manifeſt themſelves and their love to our Souls.
(6.) This will ſupport us in Affliction, and comfort us in a dying hour; when our Affections are crucified to the World, we ſhall not be unwilling to part with it. Col. 3. 3. We are dead, ſaith the Apoſtle; that is, to the World. And this ſupported thoſe in this Chapter; they were crucified to all viſible temporal things, therefore they could eaſily part with them.
3 Ʋſe.
Thirdly, by way of Examination. By this gracious frame of Spirit, we may know our ſpiritual ſtate, whether we be born of God or no, whether in Chriſt or no; to wit, by this, Whether our Hearts and Minds are more ſet on God, Chriſt, and Heaven, or on the World. Rom. 8. 1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus; they are ſafe, come Plague, Sword, Fire, Faggot: But who are in Chriſt Jeſus? He tells us, They that walk not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit. So Ver. 5, 6. They that are ſpiritually minded; they that have their converſation in Heaven. Phil. 3. 20. Col. 3. 1, 2. They are riſen with Chriſt. So Pſal. 73. 25, 26. If we be born from Heaven, we are bound for Heaven: Heavenly-mindedneſs is as good an Evidence for Heaven as any is, and Earthly-mindedneſs is as ill a Character as can be. Let us now try our ſelves by this: Where are our Hearts, and Minds, and Affections moſtly ſet, on Heaven or Earth, on Chriſt or the Creature? Let our Conſciences ſpeak: Surely this one Rule of Tryal will help us to know in what ſtate we are.
Laſtly, For Conſolation to Believers, in reſpect of outward Loſſes and Troubles, that they are all viſible and temporal things that we can loſe, and but temporal things that we can ſuffer, which are but light and ſhort, as we have ſeen; but our inviſible eternal Mercies, they are all ſure, and can never be loſt. If we had enjoyed our earthly Comforts a little longer, it could have been but a little longer, they and we muſt have parted: All viſible things are but temporal; our faireſt Flowers are fading, our ſweeteſt earthly Mercies are periſhing: And here is our Comfort, that if we be in Chriſt, we ſhall be delivered from Eternal Death, from Everlaſting Deſtruction, from the Wrath to come. If we have our part in the firſt Reſurrection, the Second Death ſhall have no power on us. Let this comfort us, that the Comforts we loſe here are but temporal Comforts, and the Troubles we ſuffer here, are but temporal Troubles. And this brings us to the ſecond Point obſerved from the Text, which was,
2 Doct. That a right and true Judgment of earthly things, will help to ſupport the Lord's Services under their Afflictions.
Of which I ſhall ſpeak but briefly, becauſe much of what hath been ſaid in the former point … confirm this.
Heb. 10. 34. They took joyfully the … their Goods; And why? but becauſe … in themſelves they had in Heaven … a more enduring ſubſtance. They … Judgment both of Earth and Heaven, … Earthly and of Heavenly Things, and … infinite worth and value of … they knew that Heavenly things were … real, the moſt ſubſtantial, the moſt … and that Earthly things were temporal …, and therefore not ſo …e command … leſs to be valued or … Heavenly things.
Q. 1. But how … of Earthly things?
A. (1.) We muſt judge of … only wiſe, judgeth of them … judge truly and rightly of them. Now God hath declared in his Word his Judgment of them, Iſa. 4. 6, 7. The mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken this. The voice ſaid, Cry; and he ſaid, What ſhall I cry? All fleſh is graſs, and all the goodlineſs thereof as the flower of the field. The graſs withereth, the flower fadeth. Pſal. 39. 5, 6. Verily, every man, at his beſt eſtate, is altogether vanity. Surely, every man walketh in a vain ſhew, Pſal. 103. 14, 15. we are but Duſt: As for man, his days are as graſs: as a flower of the field, ſo he flouriſheth. For the wind paſſeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof ſhall know it no more. Job 14. 1, 2. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth alſo as a ſhadow, and continueth not. So 1. Pet. 1. 24. Jam. 1. 10. & 4. 14. What is our life? It is but even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vaniſheth away. This is the Judgment of God concerning Man, all Men; They are but Duſt, but a Shadow, but Graſs, and the Life of Man very ſhort, and full of trouble, but even as a bubble, but a vapour; and we may be ſure, that the Judgment of God is according to Truth. And then, for all the things of this World, Solomon, by the Spirit of God, hath declared what they all are. Eccleſ. 1. 2. Vanity of vanities, ſaith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Vanity and Vexation. Riches, Honours, Pleaſures, Relations, Friends, Liberty, all pleaſant Accommodations, all is vanity and vexation of ſpirit. This is the true and right Judgment we ſhould have of all earthly things.
(2.) We muſt judge of theſe earthly things by the experience of the beſt and wiſeſt men that ever lived upon Earth; they will tell us from their own experience, that they are all vanity and vexation. So Solomon, Job, David, Moſes; Pſal. 90, 4, 5, 6.
Yea, we all know this by our own Experiences every day, that all fleſh is as graſs, and as the flower of the field: How ſoon do all our earthly Comforts wither and periſh, our deareſt and neareſt Relations wither and dye away, our Health and Strength, our Life, and all, ſtill withering and periſhing? [See largely of this in Dr. Reynold's Three Treatiſes, the firſt part, concerning the vanity of the Creature.]
(3.) Once more judge of Earthly things by the evil uſe we make of them while we have them, through Satan's Temptations and our own Corruptions, (as was ſhewed before) and alſo what cloggs and hinderances they are to our Souls, in our way to Heaven: Altho' Life, and all the Accommodations of Life, as Health, Strength, Liberty, Eſtate, Friends are good things in themſelves, and given us to be helps to Holineſs, and to Heaven; yet we muſt confeſs to our ſhame, that all our Earthly Comforts, yea, and our animal Life it ſelf, doth very much, moſt times, hinder our Communion with God, hinder us in the Service of God, keep our Hearts at too great a diſtance from God; and many more Evils they bring upon us; all which conſidered, we have but little reaſon ſo to value them as we do, nor to let our Hearts and Affections ſo to run out after them. Thus let us take a right judgment of all Earthly things. It is true, that ſo far forth as theſe Earthly things are uſeful to us in the Service of God, and further the good of our Souls, ſo far forth we ought to love and prize them, and praiſe God for them, and pray for the continuance of them; but ſo far forth as they are hinderances to us in Holineſs, and bring Sin and Guilt on our Souls, as too oft they do, ſo far forth, and in that reſpect, we had better be without them than with them; their Room would be better than their Company: And when they prove Snares to us, and like Solomon's Wives draw away our Hearts from God; and like Dalilah to Sampſon, betray our Souls into the hands of our ſpiritual Enemies; then ſurely it is the goodneſs of God to ſeparate them from us, and ſtrip us of them, and we ſhall have cauſe to bleſs God for ſo doing.
Sickneſs and Weakneſs improved, is better for our Souls than Health and Strength abuſed: Reſtraint and Confinement improved, better than Liberty abuſed: Solitarineſs improved, is better than a Family and Company abuſed: Poverty improved, better than Riches abuſed, &c. Thus you may get a right Judgment of Earthly things.
Q. 2. But how will this right Judgment of Earthly things help us to bear our Troubles in this World?
A. 1. By acting our Faith upon the Word of God. Believe, and be fully perſwaded of the truth, which God, the God of Truth, hath ſpoken concerning all Earthly things: Believe that all fleſh is graſs, that life is but a vapour, &c. here lies the root of all our Impatience and Diſcontent under our Loſſes and Earthly Comforts, even our Unbelief; we do not fully and firmly believe they are ſuch vain things that we are deprived of, out graſs, but as the flowers of the field. Juſt like a man that finds a Box or Bag of Counters, and takes them to be all pure Gold, and greatly rejoycech in what he hath found; then after a ſhort time he loſeth his Counters, and then he is exceedingly troubled for the loſs of them, becauſe all this while he took them for Gold; but if once he comes to believe, that it was but a Box or Bag of Counters, then he grieves no more. So it is with us; we believe not, that all our Comforts are vanity and vexation; we look not on them to be ſo, but that there is much contentment, and ſweetneſs, and ſatisfaction to be had in them: And therefore we grieve immoderately when we loſe our Counters; but if we did firmly believe they are but Counters, Shadows, Graſs, Vapours, we ſhould not be ſo caſt down.
2. Meditation and Conſideration of the true nature of all Earthly things, as God hath ſhewed us in his Word; often thinking, pondering, and meditating on their vanity, uncertainty, tranſitorineſs and deceitſulneſs: Without this due and ſerious Meditation, a right Judgment of them will do us no good. When God ſmites our Comforts, maketh our faireſt Flowers to wither, blaſteth our flouriſhing Graſs, then let us conſider what God hath ſmitten and blaſted, nothing but graſs, but flowers. What have we loſt? Nothing but Shadows, but Counters: This deep Conſideration will ſupport us under our Loſſes. Conſider alſo the Experience of the Saints, who in all Ages have found theſe things to be but vanity and vexation.
3. Add Prayer to God, That He will throughly convince your Minds of the vanity of all earthly things, as David prayed, Pſal. 39. 4. That we may judge of them as God judgeth of them, and not otherwiſe; and then it will not ſo much trouble us to part with them. So much for a right Judgment of the good things of this World: We muſt alſo labour to get a right Judgment of the evil things of this World, as Poverty, Sickneſs, Impriſonment, Diſgrace, loſs of Friends and Relations; we uſually judge amiſs of theſe alſo, and therefore become impatient.
Now, that we may have a right Judgment of theſe things alſo, we muſt obſerve the former Rules.
1. To judge of theſe Evil things as God in his Word judgeth of them. Now God tells us in his Word, that Afflictions are ſhort and light; that is comparatively, as was ſhewed before; that his ends and deſigns in all the Afflictions of his People, are good and gracious; of which largely before; that they are Tokens of his Fatherly Love to us, and Evidences of our Sonſhip; that they are for our ſpiritual and eternal profit, to take away our Sins, and to make us partakers of his Holineſs, and to prepare us for that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; that they are needful and neceſſary for us, Afflictions being as neceſſary to God's People, in their paſſage to Heaven, as Water is to a Ship, to carry her to her Port.
Now, if we judge of Afflictions thus, as the Only-wiſe God judgeth of them, we ſhall bear them with much patience.
2. To judge of them as the wiſe, good, and holy men of God do judge of them. Moſes choſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon. Holy David profeſſeth, That it was good for him that he was afflicted, Pſal. 119. 71. [Ʋpon which Text I have written at large by it ſelf.] So the Primitive Chriſtians, 2 Cor. 4. 17, 18. and Heb. 10. 34. And thouſands now in Heaven, and upon Earth, can ſeal to this Truth, That Afflictions have done them good.
3. Let us judge alſo by our own Experiences, that as the good things of this World have been, by Satan's Temptations, and our own Corruptions, very hurtful to our Souls; ſo the evil things of this World have been, through the Grace of God, ſanctifying them to us, very profitable to our Souls, and we have cauſe to bleſs God for them.
And as Earthly things, good in themſelves, become evil to us, ſo evil things, ſo in themſelves, but by the Bleſſing of God on them, become good into us.
Now this right Judgment of the evil things of this World, will much ſupport us under them,
1. If we ſtrongly act our Faith in believing that God in his Word hath ſaid of theſe Evil things, that they are all but light and ſhort, that He hath ſuch gracious ends in them; and if we act faith and Hope upon the many exceeding great and precious Promiſes in the Word, made to his People in their Afflictions, and relye upon his faithfulneſs in them, we ſhall be ſweetly ſupported under them.
2. If we duly meditate and conſider of the good …ruits that our Afflictions ſhall bring forth in us, … due time; and do duly ponder upon the gracious ends of God in them, it will, doubtleſs, mightily uphold us under them.
3. And if we add fervent Prayers to God, to give out all thoſe ſpiritual Bleſſings of Afflictions to us; and wait on him for the bleſſing, hoping, …eſiring, and panting after theſe Bleſſings; we ſhall be enabled to bear up under them all.
Application.
Let us bewail our wrong and falſe Judgment of Earthly things, both of the good and evil things of this World, and pray earneſtly for a true, ſpiritual, and right Judgment of them; let us fully ſubmit our Judgments to the Judgment of God, and ſetledly acquieſce in God's Judgment; let us pray earneſtly for a ſpiritual Underſtanding, and a renewed Judgment; let us look on all viſible temporal things, as God looketh on them, and ſettle it in our minds. That the Judgment of God is right and beſt; and let us not lean to our own Underſtandings, and by this means we ſhall be much helped to bear all our Afflictions with Comfort and Patience.
So much of this Doctrine.