Christian Behavior, Section 11
The Third Observation.
Every Believer should not only take …ed that their works be good, and so for … present do them, but should careful… study to maintain them; that is, to …ep in a continual exercise of them.
It is an easier matter to begin to do …od, than it is to continue therein: and … reason is, there is not so much of … Christians cross in the beginning of a …ork, as there is in a continual, hearty, …nscientious practice thereof. There…e Christians have need, as to be pres… to do good, so to continue the work; …an by nature, is rather a hearer than a …er, Athenian like, continually listing after some new thing; seeing ma…y things, but observing nothing, Acts, … 20, Isa. 42. 20. It is observable, that …er Christ had divided his hearers into …u parts, he condemned three of them … fruitless hearers, Luke, 8. 5, 6, 7, 8. …h! it is hard continuing believing, con…nuing loving, continuing resisting all that opposeth: we are subject to be we… ry of well-doing, Gal. 6. 9. to pluck o… right eyes, to cut of right hands … right feet, is no pleasant thing to fle… and blood; and yet none but these sh… have the Promise of Life, because no… but these will be found to have the effectual work of God's Grace in their soul… If ye continue in my Word, then are you … Disciples [indeed] Mat. 18. 8, 9. & 24. … John 8. 31. And hence it is that you … so many ifs in the Scripture about me… happiness; as if you be Sons, then He… and if you continue in the Faith; and we hold the beginning of our confiden… stedfast to the end, Rom. 8. 17. Col. 1. 2… Heb. 3. 14. not that their continuing the way of God is the cause of the … being right, but the work being right ca… seth the continuance therein: As … saith in another place, They went out … us, because they were not of us; for had … been of us, [no doubt] saith he, they … have continued with us, 1 John 2. 19.
But I say, where the work of God … deed is savingly begun, even there …, corruption, and the body of death …oppose it: Therefore should Christi…s take heed, and look that against these …posites, they maintain a continual …urse of Good Works among men.
Besides, as there is that in our own …wels that opposeth goodness, so there is … Tempter, the wicked one, both to …imate these lusts, and to joyn with …em in every assault against every ap…rance of God in our souls. And hence …is that he is called the Devil, the Ene…, the Destroyer, and him that seeks con…nually to devour us, 1 Pet. 5. 8.
I need say no more but this, He that …ill walk like a Christian indeed, as he …all find it is requisit, that he continue … Good Works; so his continuing there…, will be opposed: if therefore he will …ntinue therein, he must make it his …finess, to study how to oppose those …at oppose such a life, that he may con…nue therein.
Now then to help in this, here fitly …mes in the last Observation; to wit, … That the best way both to provoke our selves and others to Good Works, it … be often affirming to others, The Doc… of Justification by Grace, and to believ… our selves. This is a faithful Saying … these things I will that thou affirm const…ly, that those which have believed in … might be careful to maintain Good Work…
I told you before, that Good Works … flow from Faith: and now I tell … that the best way to be fruitful in th… is to be much in the exercise of the …ctrine of Justification by Grace; and … both agree: for as Faith animate… Good Works, so the Doctrine of Grace …mates Faith: Wherefore, the way t… rich in Good Works, it is to be ric… Faith; and the way to be rich in Fa… is to be conscientiously affirming the …ctrine of Grace to others, and believing … our selves.
First, To be constantly affirming i… others. Thus Paul tells Timothy, th… he put the Brethren in mind of the Tr… of the Gospel, he himself should not …ly be a good Minister of Christ, but sh… be nourished up in the words of Faith … of good Doctrine, 1 Tim. 4. 6.
It is the Ordinance of God, that Chri…ans should be often asserting the things … God each to others; and that by their … doing, they should edifie one ano…r, Heb. 10. 24, 25. 1 Thes. 5. 11.
The Doctrine of the Gospel is like the …, and the small Rain, that distilleth …n the tender grass, wherewith it doth …rish, and is kept green, Deut. 32. 1… Christians are like the several flowers … Garden, that have upon each of them … Dew of Heaven, which being sha… with the Wind, they let fall their … at each others roots, whereby they … joyntly nourished, and become nou…ers of one another.
For Christians to commune savorily of …'s matters one with another, it is as …hey opened to each others Nostrils …es of perfume. Saith Paul to the …rch at Rome, I long to see you, that I … impart unto you some spiritual Gift, to …nd you may be established; that is, that … be comforted together with you, by the …al Faith both of you and me, Rom 1. …2.
Christians should be often affirm… the Doctrine of Grace, and Justification … it, one to another.
Secondly, As they should be thus do…ing, so they should live in the power of i… themselves; they should by Faith suc… and drink in this Doctrine, as the goo… ground receiveth the Rain; which bein… done, forthwith there is proclaimed G… Works. Paul to the Colossians saith th… We give thanks to God, and the Father our Lord Jesus Christ, praying alwayes f… you, since we heard of your Faith in the L… Jesus, and love to all the Saints: … the hope which is laid up in Heaven for y… whereof ye heard before in the Word of … Truth of the Gospel, which is come un… you, as it is also in all the World, and brin…eth forth fruit as it doth also in you. … how long ago? Why, since the day ye h… it, saith he, and knew the Grace of God Truth, Col. 1. 3, 4, 5, 6.
Aples and Flowers are not made the Gardner, but are an effect of … planting and watering: plant in the …ner good Doctrine, and let it be wa…d with the Word of Grace; and as the effect of that, there is the fruits of Holiness, and the end everlasting Life, Rom. 6. 22.
Good Doctrine is the Doctrine of the Gospel, which sheweth to men that God cloatheth them with the * Righteousness of his Son, freely, and maketh him with …ll his benefits over to them; by which free gift the sinner is made righteous be…ore God; and because he is so, there…ore there is infused a principle of Grace * …nto the heart, whereby it is both quick…ed, and bringeth forth fruit * Rom. 3. …1, 22, 23, 24, 25. 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 Cor. 5. …1. * John 1. 16.
Now then, seeing Good Works do flow …om Faith, and seeing Faith is nourished … an affirming of the Doctrine of the …ospel, &c. take here these few Consi…rations from the Doctrine of the Gos…l, for the support of thy Faith, that …ou mayest be indeed fruitful and rich … Good Works.
First, The whole Bible was given for … very end, that thou shouldst both believe this Doctrine, and live in th… comfort and sweetness of it: For wha… soever things was written afore-time, w… written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 15. 4. John 20. 31.
Secondly, That therefore every Promise in the Bible is thine, to strengthen, quicken, and incourage thy heart in believing.
Thirdly, Consider that there is nothing that thou dost, can so please God as believing: The Lord takes pleasure in tho… that fear him, in them that hope in his me… cy, Psal. 147. 11.
They please him, because they imbrac… his Righteousness, &c.
Fourthly, Consider that all the with drawings of God from thee, are not f… the weakening, but for the tryal of th… faith; and also, that what-ever he su… fereth Satan, or thy own heart, to do, … is not to weaken Faith, Job 23. 8, 9, … 1 Pet. 1. 7.
Fifthly, Consider, that believing… that which will keep in thy view … things of Heaven, and Glory; and that …t which the Devil wil be discouraged, sin weakned, and thy heart quickned and sweetned, Heb. 11. 27. Jam. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 9. Ephes. 6. 16. Rom. 15. 13.
Lastly, By believing, the Love of God is kept with warmth upon the heart, and that this will provoke thee continually to bless God for Christ, for Grace, for Faith, Hope, and for all these things, either in God, or thee, that doth accompany Salvation, 2 Cor. 2. 14. Psal. 103. 1, 2, 3, 4.
The Doctrine of the forgiveness of sins received by Faith, will make notable work in the heart of a sinner, to bring forth Good Works.
But secondly, For as much as there is body of Death and Sin in every one that hath the Grace of God in this world; and because this body of death will be even opposing that which is good, as the …postle saith, Rom. 7. 21. therefore take these few particulars further, for the suppo…sing that which will hinder a fruitful life.
… Keep a continual wa…th over the wretchedness of thy own heart (not to be discouraged at the sight of thy vileness) but to prevent its wickedness; for that will labour either to hinder thee from doing Good Works, or else will hinder thee in the doing thereof; for evil is present with thee for both these pu… poses; take heed, then, that thou do not … sten to that at any time, but deny, though with much strugling, the workings of … to the contrary.
2. Let this be continually before thy heart, that God's eye is upon thee, and seeth every secret turning of thy heart▪ either to or from him: All things are … ked and bare before the eyes of Him w… whom we have to do, Heb. 4. 13.
3. If thou deny to do that good whic… thou oughtest, with what thy God … given thee; then consider, that though… … love thy soul, yet he can chastise; … thy…inward man with such troubles, … thy life shall be restless and comfort… 2dly. And can also so blow upon thy … ward man, that all thou gettest, sh… put in a Bag with holes, Psal. 89. 31,… 33. Hag. 1. 6.
And set the case he should license but one Theef among thy Substance, or one spark of Fire among thy Barns, how quickly might that be spent ill, and against thy will, which thou shouldst have spent to God's glory, and with thy will? and I tell thee further, that if thou want a heart to do good when thou hast about thee, thou mayest want comfort in such things thy self from others, when thine is taken from thee. See Judg. 1. 6, 7.
4. Consider that a life full of Good Works, is the only way, on thy part, to answer the Mercy of God extended to thee; God hath had mercy on thee, and hath saved thee from all thy distresses; God hath not stuck to give thee his Son, his Spirit, and the Kingdom of Heaven: saith Paul, I beseech you therefore by the Mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living Sacrifice to God, holy, acceptable, which is your reasonable service, Rom. 12. 1. See Mat. 18. 32, 33.
5. Consider that this is the way to convince all men, that the Power of God's things hath taken hold of thy heart (I speak to them that hold the head) and say what thou wilt, if thy faith be not accompanied with a holy Life, thou shalt be judged a withered branch, a wording professor, salt without savour, and as lifeless as a sounding Brass, and a tinckling Cymbal, Joh. 15. Mat. 5. 13. 1 Cor. 13. 1, 2. For, say they, shew us your faith by your works, for we cannot see your hearts, Jam. 2. 18.
But I say on the contrary, if thou walk as becomes thee who art saved by Grace, then thou wilt witness in every mans Conscience, that thou art a good Tree; now thou leavest guilt on the heart of the wicked, 1 Sam. 24. 16, 17. now thou takest off occasion from them that desire occasion, and now thou art clear from the blood of all men, 2 Cor. 11. 12. Acts 20. 26, 31, 32, 33, 34.
This is the Man also that provoketh others to Good Works: The ear that heareth such a man, shall bless him; and the eye that seeth him, shall bear witness to him.
Surely, saith David, he shall never … moved: The Righteous shall be had in eve… lasting remembrance, Heb. 10. 24. Job 29. 11. Psal. 112. 6.
6. Again, the heart that is fullest of Good Works, hath in it least room for Satans temptations; and this is the meaning of Peter, where he saith, Be sober, be vigilant; that is, be busying thy self in Faith and Holiness, for the Devil, your adversary, goeth about like a roaring Lyon, seeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5. 8. He that walketh uprightly, walketh safely; and they that add to Faith, Vertue; to Vertue, Knowledge; to Knowledge, Temperance; to Temperance, Brotherly-kindness; and to …hese Charity, and that abounds therein, he shall neither be barren nor unfruitful; he shall never fall, but so an entrance shall be ministred to him abundantly, into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Prov. 10. 9.
7. The Man who is fullest of Good Works, he is fittest to live, and fittest to die: I am now (at any time) ready to be offered up, saith fruitful Paul, 2 Tim. 4. 6. Whereas he that is barren, he is neither fit to live, nor fit to dye: to dye, he himself is convinced he is not fit; and to live, God himself saith he is not fit; Cut him down, why doth he cumber the ground? Luke 13. 7.
Lastly, Consider, to provoke thee to Good Works, thou shalt have of God, when thou comest to Glory, a reward for every thing thou dost for him on Earth. Little do the People of God consider, how richly God will reward, what from a right principle, and to a right end, is done for Him here; not a bit of bread to the poor, nor a draught of water to the meanest of them that belong to Christ, or the loss of a hair of your head, shall in that day go without its reward, Luke 14. 13, 14. Mat. 10. 42.
For this light affliction (and so all other pieces of self-denyal) which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17.
I tell thee Christian, be but rich in Good Works, and thou shalt have more then Salvation; thy Salvation thou hast freely by Grace through Christ, without works, Ephes. 2. 8, 9, 10. but now being justified and saved, and as the fruits hereof, reviewed by the holy Ghost; after this, I say, thou shalt be rewarded for every work that proves good; For God is not unrighteous to forget your works and labour of love, which you have shewed to his Name, in that you have ministred to his Saints, and do minister, Heb. 6. 10. 1 Cor. 3. 14.
Moses counted the reward that he was to have, for a short suffering with the People of God, of greater worth, than the Treasures of Egypt, the smiles of the King, or the honour of his Kingdom, Heb. 11. 25, 26, 27.
In a word,The fruitless Professor must meet with disappointments. Let the disappointments that do and shall most surely befal the fruitless Professors, provoke thee to look with all diligence to thy standing.
For First, Such a one is but deceived and disappointed touching the Work of Grace he supposeth to be in his heart, he thinks he is a Christian, and hath Grace, as Faith, Hope, and the like, in his soul, yet no fruits of these things manifest themselves in him; indeed his tongue is tipt with a talk and tattle of Religion; poor man, poor empty man! faith without works is dead; thy hope shall be as the giving up of the Ghost; thy gifts with which thy soul is possessed, are but such as are common to Reprobates; thou art therfore disappointed, God reputeth thee still but wicked, though thou comest and goest to the place of the Holy, Jam. 2. 19, 20. Job 11. 20. 1 Cor. 13. 1, 2, 3.
Secondly, Therefore all thy joy and comfort must needs fall short of saving comfort, and so leave thee in the su… notwithstanding; thy joy is the joy … the * Pharisees, and thy gladness as th… of * Herod; and the longest time it can last, it is but a Scripture * moment * Joh. 5. 33. * Mark 6. 20. * Job 20. 5. Alas, in all thy gladness and content with thy Religion, thou art but like the Boy that plays with Brass instead of Gold; and with Counters instead of that which will go for currant Coin: Thus, if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth or disappoints himself, Gal. 6. 3.
Thirdly, This is not all, but look thou certainly for an eternal disappointment in the Day of God, for it must be; thy lamp will out at the first sound the trump of God shall make in thine ears; thou canst not hold up at the appearance of the Son of God in his Glory; His very looks will be to thy profession, as a strong wind is to a blinking candle, and thou shalt be left only to smoak.
Oh the alteration that will befall a foolish virgin! she thought she was happy, and that she should have received happiness with those that were right at the heart; but behold the contrary, her lamp is going out, she is now to seek for saving Grace, when the time of Grace is over; her Heaven she thought of▪ is proved a Hell, and her God is proved a Devil; God hath cast her out of his presence, and claps the door upon her; she pleads her profession, and the like, and she hath for her answer repulses from Heaven: So are the pat… of all that forget God, and the Hypocrit… hope shall perish; whose hope shal be cut off, and whose trust shall be the Spiders web; though he lean upon his house, it shall not stand, he shall hold it fast, but it shall not indure, Mat. 25. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Luke 13. 25, 26, 27, 28. Job 8. 13, 14, 15.
Take heed therefore; thy Soul, Heaven and Eternity, lies at stake; yea, they turn either to thee or from thee upon the hinge of thy Faith; if it be right, all is thine; if wrong, then all is lost, however thy hopes and expectations are to the contrary; For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing, nor Uncircumcision, but Faith which worketh by Love: Let no man therefore deceive you with vain words, for because of these things, cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of unbelief: For the Earth that drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth Herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God; but that which beareth Briars and Thornes, is [rejected] and is nigh unto cursing, whose …nd is to be burned, Gal. 5. 6. Ephes. 5. 3, 4, 5, 6. Heb. 6. 7, 8.
Objection.
But what shall I do, who am so cold, slothful and heartless, that I cannot find any heart to do any work for God in this World; indeed time was when his Dew rested all …ight upon my branches, and when I could with desire, with earnest desire, be doing and working for God; but alas now 'tis …therwise.
Answer.
If this be true, thy case is sad, thou art to be pittied, the Lord pitty thee; …nd for thy recovery out of this condi…ion, I would give thee no other counsel than was given to Ephesus, when she …ad lost her first Love; Remember, …aith Christ, from whence thou art fallen, …nd repent, and do thy first Works, &c. Rev. 2.5.
Mark: Thy first Works, is, to enter into a serious considering and remembrance from whence thou art fallen: duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page remember that thou hast left thy God, the stay of thy Soul, and Him without whom there is no stay, comfort, or strength, for thee to either do or suffer any thing in this World: Without me, saith He, you can do nothing, John 15. 5. A sad condition; the remembrance of this, for certain, is the first step to the recovering a back-sliding heart; for the right remembrance of this doth bring to mind, what loss that sou… hath sustained that is in this condition, how it hath lost its former visits, smiles and consolations of God: whe… thy Conscience was suppled with the Blood of thy Saviour; when every step thou tookest, was, as it were, in Honey and Butter, and when thy heart could meditate terrour with comfort, Job 29▪ 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Isa. 33. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18▪ Instead of which, thou feelest darkness hardness of heart, and the thoughts o… God are terrible to thee, Psal. 77. 3▪ now God never visits thee, or if h… doth, it is but as a wayfaring-man, th… tarryeth but for a night, Jer. 14, 8, 9.
This also brings to mind, how the case … altered with thee, touching thy confidence in God for thy future happiness, …ow uncertain thou now art of thy hopes for Heaven, how much this life doth …ang in doubt before thee, Deut. 28. 65, 66.
2. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent.] These are words well put together; for a solid considering of what I have lost in my declining, will provoke in my heart a sorrow and godly heaviness, whereby I shall be forced to bemoan my condition, and say, I will go and return to my first Husband, for then it was better with me than now, Hos. 2. 7.
And beleive it, the reason of God's standing off from giving thee comfortable communion with himself, it is, that thou mightest first see the difference between sticking close to God, and forsaking of him; and next, that thou mightest indeed acknowledge thy offence, and seek his face, Hos. 5. 15. he taketh no pleasure in thy forlorn condition; he had rather thou shouldst have Him in thy bosome, only he will have it i… his own Way: He looketh down upon men, and if any say, I have sinned and perverted that which is right, and i… profiteth me not, then he will deliver his soul from going down into the Pit, and his life shall see the Light, Job 33. 27, 28.
3. Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first Works.] As there should be a remembring and a repenting, so there should be a hearty doing our first Works; a believing as before; a laying hold of the things of Heaven and Glory, as at the first; for now is God returned to thee as before, Zech. 1. 16. and though thou mayest, through the loss of thy locks, with Sampson, be weak at the first, yet in short time thy hair will grow again; that is, thy former experience will in short space be as long, large and strong as in the former times; indeed at the first thou wilt find all the wheels of thy soul rusty, and all the strings of thy heart out … tune; as also, when thou first beginnest to stir, the dust and filth of thy …art will, like smoak, trouble thee …m that clear beholding the Grace of thy God, and his Love to thy Soul; …t yet wait, and go on, and though you findest thy self as unable to do …y thing as thou formerly couldst, …t I say, up and be doing, and the …ord will be with thee, for he hath …t despised the day of thy small things, … Chron. 22. 16. Zech. 4. 10.
I know thou wilt be afflicted with a thousand temptations to drive thee to despair, that thy Faith may be faint, &c. …t against all them set thou the Word … God, the Promise of Grace, the blood of Christ, and the Examples of God's Goodness to the great Back…ders, that are for thy encouragement …corded in the Scriptures of Truth; …d remember, that turning to God …er back-sliding, is the greatest piece … service thou canst do for him, and … greatest honour thou canst bring to … Blood of Christ; and know further, that God, to shew his willing re…ception of so unworthy a creature, saith There shall be joy in Heaven at thy Co…version to him again, Luke 15. 7, 10.