Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 11 · Sermon 96
SERMON XCVI.
Of Righteouſneſs and Equity between man and man: And how tender and conſcientious a true Convert is therein.
EZEK. 36. 27.
And ye ſhall keep my judgements, and do them.
I Am now upon the latter general Branch, into which the whole work of Converſion divideth it ſelf. Religion to God, and Righteouſneſs to man, are the two pillars upon which this ſpiritual Temple is ſuſtained: God hath put theſe two together, yet how often doth the Devil and mans corruption divide them! ſome attend wholly to the Religious Worſhip of God, but are groſly neglective of righteous and juſt things; others glory much in their righteouſneſs to man, but ſhew no piety at all in their lives to God. Now where God giveth this new heart, there is a tender conſcience of both: And the firſt hath been diſpatched, under the notion of Statutes, which ſtrictly taken, relateth to the purity of Gods inſtituted Worſhip.
We come to the ſecond particular; viz. Righteouſneſs and Equity to man, contained in theſe words, Keep my judgements, and do them: It cannot be denied, but that the word Judgement in the Scripture, is of a vaſt and large ſignification, which I ſhall not enumerate at this time: Here I take it ſtrictly and diſtinctly, as in other places, for obedience to thoſe Laws of God, which contain righteouſneſs and equity between man & man; in which ſenſe the Prophets often call upon the Iſraelites, To do judgement, and juſtice, and to break off the ways of violence, oppreſſion, wrong, and all unrighteouſneſs. So that we may obſerve:
A Converted perſon is very conſcientious and tender in all the duties of righteouſneſs and equity to others.Obſerv.
He dareth not pray, hear, make a ſtrict profeſſion of Religion to God; and yet lye, cozen, deal falſely, wrong or defraud any man in his dealings; He hath a reſpect to all Gods Commandments, Pſal. 119. he knoweth the ſame God who commanded the Precepts of the firſt Table, containing duty to, and worſhip of God; doth alſo equally and indiſpenſably require duties of faithfulneſs and righteouſneſs to men. This point is of ſingular uſe, for wherein doth Religion get greater wounds, the Goſpel more diſhonor, then when men in repute for godlineſs, are found guilty and blame-worthy in the ways of diſhoneſty? To have wicked men lye, ſwear and forſwear, to defraud and injure others, the world expects no better, looks for no other; but for thee, a profeſſor of Religion, it expects all truth, fidelity, righteouſneſs, elſe thou art a dead flie in the box of ointment, a ſcandal and reproach to the ways of God; and thou hadſt better never to have been born, then to prove ſuch a ſtumbling block in the ways of piety. Indeed, there are paſſive ſcandals, when men will maliciouſly and falſly raiſe ſlanders and falſe reports of the profeſſors of Religion, laying to their charge things they never did, believing lyes, and miſinterpreting their words and actions; and theſe will be, as long as wicked men are in the world: And hence it is, that all godly men are looked upon as Hypocrites, as ſuch as will lye and do falſly, yea, do any thing for their advantages: But theſe are paſſive ſcandals, and theſe offences come from the venimous diſpoſition of wicked men; and the godly may rejoce in their innocency, while ſuch crimes are laid upon them. But then there are active ſcandals, when men of ſtrict profeſſion, do indeed walk in ſuch unjuſt and unrighteous ways, that thereby the name of God is blaſphemed among wicked men: Our Saviour ſaith, Wo be to that man, by whom ſuch offences come, Matth. 16. 7. So that we deſire this truth ſhould ſound aloud in the ears of all thoſe, who take themſelves for Converts; their faith and piety muſt be accompanied with all righteouſneſs and honeſty. Hence whereas converted perſons have ſeveral Titles and Attributes, denoting ſeveral qualities in them; there is nothing more frequent and ordinary, then to call them Righteous, this is in every page; How then is a Lyer righteous in his words? how is a breaker of his word and promiſe, righteous in his fidelity? how is a cheater or an overreaching man righteous in his dealings?
To open this, conſider, That there is a twofold original fountain of Righteouſneſs The fountain and riſe of all righteouſneſs between man and man. Humane laws.towards man: 1. There is the immediate command and word of God, and that is called Jus Divinum, Divine Righteouſneſs. 2. There is the Law and Command of Nature, and that is Jus Humanum, An humane Righteouſneſs, or Right: And this is either general, the firſt and immediate principles of nature, ſuch as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of, Rom. 1. concerning the Gentiles, That they had a Law written in their hearts, verſe 7. about juſt and unjuſt things, and their conſciences accuſing or excuſing, upon the omiſſion or commiſſion of ſuch things, or elſe they are more remote and particular dictates, ſuch as the good and wholeſomes Laws of all Law-givers, in reſpective Nations: So what is righteous and juſt between man and man, is to be determined by the Laws of that Land where they live: Indeed, if any Law-givers (as ſome Heatheniſh have) commanded or allowed any thing that is againſt the Law of God, or the univerſal dictates of right reaſon; ſuch commands are not worthy the name of Laws, they are rather unjuſt decrees, and ſo do not binde: But otherwiſe, the Laws of a Land determine what is righteous and juſt between man and man: for although it be Gods command, That a man ſhould not ſteal, yet they are humane Laws that give the bounds and proprieties of eſtates to men: So that we Chriſtians, and the Jews, do ſomething differ about the Rules of Righteouſnes and Equity; for God was the immediate Law-giver unto that people: Moſes as a meſſenger from God, received from Gods mouth the Judicial Law, which he delivered to them; ſo that the Judicial Law appointed by God himſelf, was the Statute-Law of that Realm: Their Laws were not Humane, as all the Laws of Kingdoms and States are ſince Chriſts coming, but they were Divine: Their Laws about a Theif, a Murtherer, the Buyer and the Seller, were all Divine Laws, becauſe immediately commanded by God, though the matter was meerly humane: Now its greatly diſputed, how far theſe Judicial Laws, commanding Judgement and Juſtice between man and man, do binde us Chriſtians; and whether all Law-givers and States-men, are not bound to bring in thoſe Judicial Laws? for who can determine what is Righteouſneſs and Equity better then God, a righteous and wiſe God? Its not pertinent to wade into this excellent Queſtion at this time: Though ſome in this point are very rigid, to make all Obligatory, that are not expreſsly repealed by Chriſt; and ſome again are very remiſs and lax; yet all conclude, That the Moral Equity and Reaſon that was in every Judicial Law, doth binde Chriſtians as well as Jews; and with that we ſhall conclude this particular, whatſoever Law God made about Juſtice, Reſtitution or Puniſhment to the Jews, the Equity and reaſon of that Law, doth ſtill binde us, though not the particular maner. As for the New Teſtament, Chriſts Kingdoms was not temporal, or of this world; and therefore he onelyonly commands Righteouſneſs in the general, and commands that excellent Maxime, which an Heathen Emperor did ſo much admire, ſaying, He received it from Chriſtians, What ye would have men do to you, do ye to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets, Mat. 7. 12. that is, All the duties commanded by the Law, or required by the Prophets, are comprized in this Maxim, Whatſoever ye would that men ſhould do to you, do ye even ſo to them: Oh the world would not be full of ſuch wickedneſs, unrighteouſneſs as it is, if this were obſerved: And further mark, when our Saviour had preſſed them to earneſt prayer, and incouraged them therein, he addeth this as a neceſſary condition to their prayers: So that let men be never ſuch Angels in duties and expreſſions, let them pretend never ſo much Piety and Religion, if they walk not by this rule, they follow not Chriſts directions: Chriſt therefore he hath onelyonly given us general rules of Righteouſneſs, and for the particulars, he doth command Chriſtians to obey and ſubmit to the wholeſom Laws of that place where they are; as Rom. 13. Pay tribute to whom tribute, cuſtom to whom cuſtom: And this the Scripture doth often preſs, that none might think that the freedom they had by Chriſt, did take them off from Humane Obligations and Relations: This was a great temptation, they thought becauſe they were Freedom by Chriſt takes no man off from Humane Obligations.Chriſtians, and made free by Chriſt, that this alſo did take them off from obedience to Civil Magiſtrates, and from the Laws they lived under: No, the Scripture is diligent to teach this, That Chriſtianity and the Goſpel doth not aboliſh Political and civil Government, but rather greatly advanceth it as an inſtitution of God, preſſing obedience thereunto for conſcience ſake.
Thus I have opened unto you the fountain and riſe of all Righteouſneſs and Equity between man and man.
Now let us conſider, what are the grounds why converted perſons are tender Reaſons of the Doctrine.to do what is juſt and righteous; yea, the Doctrine may be heightned, They are not onelyonly tender about righteous things, but they are very conſcionable to do them, though to their external loſs. The Pſalmiſt deſcribing who ſhall aſcend into the holy hill of Sion, a type of Heaven, giveth ſuch Characters, moſt of which relate to duties of honeſty and righteouſneſs, Pſal. 15. 2. 3, 4. Verity in words of aſſertion, and veracity in Promiſes and Oathes. Our Saviour is large Mat. 5. in convincing and heightning thoſe duties againſt Murther, Adultery, Perjury, condemning all the ſubtil diſtinctions the Phariſees had invented to palliate their guilt. And you may read of Zacheus, when converted, the firſt thing that works upon his conſcience is, to reſtore fourfold where he had wronged any: He went above the command of God, that required not ſo much; but a godly man is ſo tender in matters of wrong and injuſtice, that he had rather do above then under his duty.
Well, Let us ſee what is the cauſe of tenderneſs herein: And
Firſt, Becauſe this new heart promiſed in the Text, is nothing but that which in 1.other places is called the image of God: Now the Apoſtle ſaith, The image of God, which is renewed in all converted perſons, conſiſts partly in righteouſneſs, and partly in true holineſs, Epheſ. 4. 24. Holineſs, that lieth properly in the things that belong to God. Righteouſneſs, in the matters that belong to others: So that whereſoever the image of God is, there is Righteouſneſs as well as Holineſs; ſo that as we are called upon To be holy, as God is holy; ſo to be righteous is our duty, as God is righteous. The Scripture doth much celebrate this attribute of Gods righteouſneſs, that his nature is righteous, his judgements, his word, his actions, yea all his ways: And now every converted man, labors to write after this copy: If then you ſee a man unjuſt, unconſcionable and falſe in his ways, ſay, How is the image of God in this man? how is God the father of ſuch an unrighteous man? Oh its not thy prayers, thy parts, thy abilities, all thy ſpiritual inlargements, can witneſs thee to have Gods image on thy ſoul, unleſs this alſo be accompanying thy converſion.
Secondly, A converted perſon cannot but keep the judgements of God, and do them, 2.becauſe God doth expreſsly reject all his worſhip, though performed never ſo zealouſly and fervently, if we do not alſo the things of Juſtice and Equity: Shouldſt thou walk in the Statutes of God, the Ordinances of his Worſhip, and not keep his Judgements, God will not own thee, Jer. 7. Will ye lie, and ſteal, and ſwear falſly, and come into my houſe, and ſay, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord? See with what indignation God rejects ſuch hypocrites, Will you come to my Worſhip, to my Temple, and yet live in thoſe ſins of fraud and injuſtice? Oh then think God ſpeaks to thee, if ſuch guile and falſhood may be found in thy life: Wilt thou cozen, lye, deal falſly, overreach others? and yet pray, repeat ſermons, ſpeak of God and Chriſt? Oh thou vain man, know, God is not mocked. The Jews who were more forward in outward Worſhip then others, they profered ten thouſand Rams, and Rivers of Oyl, yea, the firſt born of the womb; But what ſaith the Prophet Micah, Cap. 6. 8. He hath ſhewed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly? Oh notable place! worthy all your conſiderations that profeſs Religion in a ſtrict manner: Its not parts, opinions; no, though thou hadſt reve…ations, and the high admirable points of Religion, that will advance thee, unleſs thou do juſtly alſo; and verſe 11. Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and the bags of deceitful weights: See, God accounts no ſuch pure, or to have purity, that uſe any fraud or deceit in their dealings.
Thirdly, A godly man muſt needs walk righteouſly, becauſe ſuch outward actions between man and man, are objects that work upon the conſcience, or are matters 3.wherein the conſcience is concerned as well as in any thing elſe: Conſider what Paul ſaith, Herein I exerciſe my ſelf, to keep a good conſcience both towards God, and towards man, Acts 24. 16. He exerciſeth himſelf, that ſheweth his diligence, his induſtry, his ſetting of himſelf apart with all his might to keep a good conſcience, and then obſerve a good conſcience towards God; for if I be never ſo juſt and righteous towards man, yet if I do not alſo perform all that Worſhip, and all thoſe Duties that immediately belong to him, I have not a good conſcience: And then towards man: ſee conſcience is exerciſed in things towards man as well as towards God. A man of conſcience is ſeen as well in humane affairs, as in religious; he abhorreth that ſpeech, Quicquid libet, licet, What is pleaſing to a mans deſire, that is alſo lawful: Conſcience is not onelyonly ſeen in matters of Religion and matters of worſhip, but alſo in civil and worldly matters; yea how many caſes of conſcience do learned men handle, about the righteouſneſs and unrighteouſneſs of civil actions: De Jure, & Juſtitia, what exact diſputes are there? do not then think, that Chriſt hath purchaſed any ſuch freedom, as that thou needeſt not make conſcience about civil things; its no matter for them, if thou keep the Doctrine and Worſhip of Chriſt: This is a ſinful deluſion; For the grace of God which bringeth ſalvation, hath appeared, teaching us to deny ungodly luſts, and to live righteouſly and ſoberly: So then, not onelyonly the things of God are matter of conſcience, but the things of man; yea, the things of man work more upon a natural conſcience, becauſe they are diſcerned by the natural principles of reaſon: Hence the ſins of unrighteouſneſs and injuſtice, do more trouble the conſcience, if once awakened, then any other ſins: The pardon of them, or the ſenſe of the pardon, is difficultly obtained; and ſuch ſinners have much ado to get comforts, becauſe they have ſinned againſt the plain and clear light of Nature; and therefore for ſuch ſins that a natural conſcience would condemn, a catalogue whereof the Apoſtle giveth in Rom, 1. 29, 30. 31. men have had more terrible wounds of conſcience then for other ſins: It muſt needs then be, that a converted perſon abounds in all righteouſneſs, becauſe his conſcience is tender, Its An heart of fleſh.
Fourthly, Therefore they walk righteouſly, becauſe there are ſo many promiſes 4.in Scripture made to righteouſneſs: That muſt needs be a duty in an eminent manner, to which ſo many great and glorious promiſes are annexed: Now you ſhall ſcarce finde any action ſo incouraged by God, nor any men ſo much as righteous men: If a righteous man have but a little eſtate, yet that little is better then many riches of the wicked, Pſal. 37. 16. To have great eſtates, to have large revenues in this world, and not by righteous ways, by fraud, oppreſſion, violence, either by thy ſelf or Anceſtors, is like Ionahs gourd, that gave him ſome eaſe and ſhelter for a ſeaſon, but preſently there aroſe a worm within it that conſumed it: So that a righteous man with his little Cottage, little morſel of bread, with his little cruiſe of drink, is better then rich Dives, that gets his wealth unjuſtly. The rich man may fare more deliciouſly every day; but the other fareth with more true joy. Lazarus may be glad of his crums, but Dives may be glad of the crums of his ſpiritual joy and contentation; yea, the righteous man hath that promiſe, which the greateſt Potentate in the world Prov. 10. 2, 3.hath not, Verſe 22. The righteous ſhall never be forſaken, nor his ſeedbeg bread▪ Thus you ſee righteouſneſs hath Gods ſpiritual bonds for his outward happineſs; and then for outward calamities, if they overtake a Nation, who is looked upon but a righteous man? Noah, a righteous man, and a preacher of righteouſneſs, 2 Pet. 3. 5. God makes an Ark to ſave him: And from Lots example, ſee what a comfortable concluſion Peter maketh, The Lord knoweth how to deliver the rightecus, 2 Pet. 2. 9. So that if thou art never ſo forward in any Religious parts and duties, if thou art not a righteous man, thou canſt nor lay hold on any temporal mercies, neither mayeſt thou expect deliverance in time of publique calamities; yea, righteouſneſs in evil times, is better then all policy, all wiſdom: Men think if they take this ſide, or that ſide, then they are ſure to do well; Oh! remember, righteouſneſs is the ſureſt wiſdom, and the ſureſt ſafety, Prov. 4. 18. The path of the juſt is as the ſhining light, that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day; yea, righteous men are the Saviours of a Land, of a Nation: For as injuſtice and violence deſtroy it, ſo righteouſneſs exalteth a Nation.
Uſe of Admonition, To all thoſe who have a tender reſpect to Gods Worſhip; they long for a Reformation in the Church, they pray for godly order, they Uſe 1.obſerve the Sabbath, they are diligent in family duties; Oh take this along with you alſo, Remember righteouſneſs, let thy words be righteous words, void of lying, guile, falſhood, let thy actions be righteous actions, without fraud, oppreſſion, or overreaching thy brother, elſe God will caſt all thy duties and Religion as dung upon thy face: Oh let the world bluſh, and be for ever aſhamed, to take up ſuch reproaches, As that thoſe who will not ſwear, will lye, will overreach, will deal unjuſtly; Oh let all men be ready to ſay, They regard thy word, more then other mens oaths.
Uſe of Inſtruction, How far moſt men are from this new frame of heart: May Uſe 2.we not with the Prophet, go and ſearch for a righteous man, and finde none: What lyings, falſhoods, what fraud, what unjuſt trading and overreaching of other men! Oh that many men can ſleep in the houſes they are in, can walk in the fields alone, for horror of ſoul, for their unconſcionable dealings, for their unjuſt bargains, for their ſecret fraud they have uſed to get wealth? Doeſt thou not hear the very timber in the wall groan againſt thee? Doth not the ruſt of thy money witneſs againſt thee? The crys and ſighs, and groans of thoſe whom thou haſt wronged, cry aloud for vengeance.