Characters of a Godly Man, Address · Letter 2
Brethren,
It ſhall not repent you, if ſeriouſly and frequently you do Examine your ſelves in reference unto theſe twelve Particulars. If theſe Acts are paſſed in your Souls, on the right ſide, Rejoyce and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in Heaven, whatever be your Scar-crows and Diſquietments on Earth.
Indeed as long as you live, you may be one while in tears of grief; crying, God be merciful unto me a Sinner. But you will be otherwhiles in tears of joy; exclaiming, I know that my Redeemer liveth. One while combating with fears; asking, Will the Lord be favourable unto me? But by and by triumphing over your fears; ſaying, I am perſwaded that nothing ſhall be able to ſeparate me from the love of God in Chriſt Jeſus. One while falling down on your Knees; praying, I believe; Lord, help my Unbelief. But another time, clapping your hands; and thankfully proclaiming it, Chriſt hath loved me and gave himſelf for me. One while as Heſter, If I periſh, I periſh. But another as Mary, My Soul rejoyceth in God my Saviour. He that doth not willingly grieve the Children of Men, will not let his own Children have nothing but grief, for any long time together, if they uſe the diligence he requireth for his ſweet Conſolations. However, I charge that you do not overvalue Comfort; that you do not forget, that a little Grace is more worth than much Comfort. And that Comfort is deſirable only for the ſake of Holineſs. I am wholly of his Mind who hath ſaid, Happier a great deal is that man's caſe, whoſe Soul by inward deſolation is HUMBLED, than he whoſe heart is through abundance of ſpiritual delight LIFTED up and exalted ABOVE MEASURE. Better is it ſometimes to go down into the Pit with him, who beholding darkneſs, and bewailing the loſs of inward joy and conſolation, cryeth from the bottom of the lowest Hell, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? then continually to walk arm in arm with Angels; to ſit, as it were in Abraham's boſom; and to have no thought, no cogitation, but, I thank God I am not as other men, it is not with me as with others. Ri. Hooker, pag. 546. as quoted by Mr. H. Hickman in his very excellent Diſcourſe on Eph. 4.30.
I do remember, and ſtill adhere unto what I have written in my Call to Sinners, Marks, than which I cannot find better. But variety and ſtore, is no ſore. It repents me not, that I have here propoſed theſe. And I will farther commend unto your uſe, Six excellent Queſtions of bleſſed Mr. Henry Scudder; as they are contracted by our worthy Mr. Samuel Lee; who, with him, well ſaith theſe words: You are in God's favour and in a ſtate of grace, if you can anſwer yea, unto ALL or unto ANY, of them.
Q. 1. How ſtand you affected to Sin? are you afraid to offend God, and dare not ſin wittingly? Is it your Grief and Burden that you cannot abſtain from it, nor get out of it as ſoon as you would?
Q. 2. How are you affected to Holineſs, and the Power of Godlineſs? to know God's Will and do it? to fear and pleaſe him? Is it your Grief when you fail? and your Joy when you do well?
Q. 3. How to the Church of God? are you glad when it goes well, and grieved when it goes ill, and ſit trembling with Eli, to hear how it goes with the Ark of God; however it be with your own Particular?
Q. 4. How towards Men? Do you diſlike wicked Men, and love thoſe that fear the Lord, becauſe they are good?
Q. 5. Can you endure your Soul to be ript, and your beloved Sin to be ſmitten by a ſearching Miniſter, and like him the Rather? and can yield an obedient Ear to ſuch a wiſe Reproof?
Q. 6. Though you have not Evidence always, or can ſcarce tell whether you ever had it; yet reſolve and deſire, and will as you are able to cleave to God in Chriſt for Salvation by Faith, and in no other Perſon, nor by no other means to be ſaved?
But that my Epiſtle is already ſwollen beyond my purpoſe, I would here have ſhewn you more largely theſe Particulars.
(1.) Strongeſt Grace and weakeſt do agree in many things, e. gr. 1 Both, have the ſame Original Giver, God the Father. Both are from his Electing Love. Unto which are owing the ſmalleſt ſparks, as well as the brighteſt flames of ſpiritual-life. 2 Both have the ſame meritorious Purchaſer, Jeſus Chriſt. Both are from his Redeeming Grace. Thereto are we beholden for our very Entrance into the State of Holineſs, as well as for our Proficience and final Perfection. 3 Both have the ſame Efficient Worker, the Holy Ghoſt. Both, are from his regenerating Work. Thereof it is, that the Babe in Chriſt is what he is, as well as that the grown Man in Chriſt is what he is. 4 Both are wrought by the ſame Inſtrument alſo; the New Covenant, Word of God, And, in ſhort, 5 Both have the ſelf-ſame Nature. They have the ſame Nature and Being, though ſo different ſizes of Strength and Power of working. A drop of water is as truly water, as the vaſt Collection of water in the Sea is ſo. And the Soul in whom Chriſt is formed but this hour, is as truly an holy one, as any of thoſe who are with him in Paradiſe.
(2.) Strong Grace and Weak do differ in their Meaſures, their Strength, and their Comforts and Troubles. As grown Men do differ from Sucklings. Having no more Limbs than they, but every one larger, and ſtronger, and more capacious of Pain and Pleaſure. Weakeſt Converts have Knowledge of the Goſpel-Covenant; but not ſo Extenſive, or ſo Intenſive and clear, as ſtronger ones have. They have predominant and practical Conſent to it's Demands; but not ſo free from Heſitations, nor ſo victorious over Jealouſies, as ſtronger ones have. They have Reliance upon it's Promiſes, but not ſo Quiet and ſo little Interrupted as ſtronger ones have. They have their Comforts and their Troubles, but not (ordinarily, at leaſt) ſo great as ſtronger Converts have. The Loads of ſtrong ones, would break their backs; and the ſweet Wines that they do drink, would be too ſtrong for their heads. True it is, leaſt Children in Nature and in Grace, be more in crying than when more grown. Though God can, he very rarely doth, make little Grace ſo evident unto us, or ſo comforting of us, as he maketh greater. But what is ſaid above, is true.
(3.) The huge diverſity of Grace hath various Cauſes of it; e. gr. Converts are of various 1 Ages, and ſtandings in Grace. 2 Their outward Helps are various; ſome have Parents, Miniſters, and Company, an hundred fold more helpful than others. 3 Their inward Aids of the Holy Spirit are various; He helpeth all, but not all alike. 4 Their Prayers and Pains to improve their Helps are various. 5 Their Services and Employments, and ſo their Occaſions for Grace are various. One needs more than another therefore. 6 Their Sins and Provocations of God to withdraw from them, are various. Some fall into foul and groſs Sins, which others keep far from; and ſome do more indulge carnal Affections than others do.
(4.) Special marks of Weakneſs in true Grace are theſe. Namely, 1 Wavering and Deſultorineſs in our Promiſes unto God. He that ſtaggers hath weak feet; he that is Up and Down, one while will be the Lord's, and by and by fears to Vow it, he hath weak Grace. 2 Suſpiciouſneſs of God's Promiſes unto us. He hath a weak knowledge of fallible Men, whoever much trusts them; and he hath as weak a knowledge of God, that cannot lye, whoever much doubts him. 3 Eaſineſs to be ſcandalized, or turned out of God's way, by any thing we meet with. By God's darker Providences, as Aſaph was. Or, by good Men's failings, as Job's Friends were. Or, by wicked Men's inſtigations, as poor Spira was. He ſtands. but weakly, who falls eaſily.
(5.) Special Marks of Truth in weak Grace be theſe; e. gr. 1 Giving glory unto God, when we cannot take Comfort from him. We muſt needs ſincerely love him, with whom we had rather Mourn than Rejoyce with the World. And whom we Praiſe, while he hides his face from us, or frowns upon us. 2 Combating on against ſin, even while, we think at leaſt, we cannot conquer it. Doing all we can againſt it, even while all we do ſeems to do no good. Bleſſed be Goſpel grace! it is certain we Conquer, as long as we verily Fight. Sin is never our Maſter, till we do Conſent to have it ſo. But happy is the Soul, that even then holds on the Conflict when he imagines that Sin hath got the Maſtery. 3 Making up in Root what we want in Fruit. Growing downward, when we can't grow upward. I mean, being exceedingly Humble, when we can't be ſo uſeful to God's Name in the World; Abaſing our ſelves, when we cannot Exalt God otherwiſe. 4 Lying at the Pool as weak Cripples, as long as we are ſo. Willing to have ſtrength; and waiting on God for ſtrength; and ſtaying his time at his Gates, if he makes us wait long for it. Reſolving, to Juſtifie him if he never give it, and to Admire and Bleſs him if he give it at all. The poor Canaanite was ſincere, and came off with honour; ſhe, whoſe firſt Prayer was anſwered with Silence, and for her ſecond Prayer, was called a Dog; but, undaunted by both, prayed on that ſhe might have ſome of Chriſt's Kindneſs, though it were but the ſhare of a Dog. Though it were but a Crumb, and not Plenty.
(6.) Innumerable are our Motives to ſeek ſtrength of Grace. Will the weakeſt Grace carry to Heaven? what then? Bread and Water will keep you alive on Earth; but you do deſire more a great deal. Life, is Life, and very ſweet and precious. But you deſire Health, Strength and Beauty, do you not? Moſt do think, that their Glory in Heaven will be more or leſs, as their Grace on Earth is more or leſs. Whether that be ſo or no, I thus argue. If you love not God, you have no true Grace. If you do love him, how can you but crave more Ʋnderſtanding, and more Power, to ſerve him? This remember; Though you do what he Accepts of, you do not what he is much honoured by, while you are weak. His infinite Grace accepts and rewards your little one; but your little one doth but ſorrily Praiſe and Serve the Glory of his infinite one; Add hereto; tho' weak Saints are equally Elected, Redeemed, Called, Juſtified, and Adopted, with the ſtrongeſt; yea, and have equally all the Promiſes of the Covenant, that concern the Eſſentials of Salvation; ſo that the least Stars be as firmly fixed in the Firmament of Bliſs, as the greateſt Luminaries be; yet this is true: God's love of Delight is greater to ſtrong Saints than to weak; and, It is then greater to them when they are ſtrong, than when they are weak. Natural Parents love all their Children; but although they have moſt Pity of the Weak, they have moſt Pleaſure in the Strong. And in the Strong, they then have moſt Pleaſure when they are Strongeſt. It is no otherwiſe with our Heavenly Father. Abraham was God's Friend, by way of eminency: and then, when, without ſtaggering, his Gigantick grace bore parting with his Iſaac, then, above ordinary, God looked on him complacentially. Zanchi ſpeaks broader than I do. God's love of good-will is not Equal to all his Saints. He wills more good to ſome Saints, than unto others. Which you cannot deny, unleſs you will ſay that his holy Spirit's Graces be lumber, unworthy to be put in the Inventory of his Goods. In a word; every Believer doth wear the Garland of the Supream King's Favour: but in that Garland there are ſpecial Flowers, which are vouchſafed only unto ſtrong Believers. Again, If you love not your ſelves, you have not true Grace. If you do love your ſelves, (your true ſelves; and not only your earthen Shells,) you cannot but deſire to be Men. You cannot be willing to keep in your Infancy; to live all your days in the Cradle; and in Swadling clothes; unable to go upon your feet; ſtumbling at every ſtraw, even when you are moſt carefully led by your ſpiritual Nurſes; and filling the houſe with your Cryes, while they carry you in their Arms. Plainly, you cannot but be ſick of deſire, to have it better with you than it can be until Grace is ſtronger. To have it better than now it is; now that you conceit, if you apply a Promiſe, it is horrid Preſumption; and if you do not, it is fatal Unbelief. That if you Hope, it is but Self-deluſion; and if you do but Doubt, it is ſtraightway Deſperation. That, if you Repent, it is a ſorrow but legal; and if you fall into any Sin, it is no leſs than that which is Unpardonable. That if you go unto the Lord's Table, 'tis blaſphemous Intruſion; and if you keep away, it is prophane contempt of the Inſtitution. [Read the reſt in your own hearts.] I will add no more.
(7.) Growth in Grace is not always diſcerned where it is, but is often falſely preſumed to be where it is not. This Growth, is like the growth of a Plant which requireth three things; Life in the Plant, Watering of it, and God's Bleſſing on it. Hearts and Plants muſt Live ere they Grow? muſt have heavenly Dews on that Life, and God's Bleſſing on thoſe Dews. Where theſe three do meet, Grace grows in all Dimenſions; heighth of Knowledge, length of Meditation, bredth of holy Affection and Action, depth of Humility. That which let and hindred theſe is took out of the way. The curſed Suckers, which before ſtole away the nouriſhment of Grace, are now cut off. Their names be Legion, they are many: but the chief of all are two; Idleneſs from, and in Duty: and Pride of Duty. In ſome Souls, they are cut off, and Grace ſprings up amain in an inſtant. Their Profiting appears unto all men, and themſelves too. But theſe Souls are extraordinary Examples. The Growth of moſt Graces is like that of Oaks; ſlow and unſenſible, though ſure and firm. Yea, like the Amendment and recovering of ſick Folk, which begins with Peelings of pain, and Complaints of being worſe and worſe. For which, there are Reaſons enough to make no very ſmall Book. Miniſters muſt ſuggeſt them, as occaſion requires. As certain it is on the other hand; there be many falſe appearances of growth in our graces. We muſt take heed that we find not Sin to be only exchanged, when we think it is mortified. Or, only to be Covered, when we fancy it is Killed. That we do not find our new Reformation, to be the effect of Temptation's removal, and no more. Wild-fire may abide in us, when Fuel for its flames is denied unto us. And holy Fire may be ready to die, when bitter Zeal and carnal, may repreſent us unto our ſelves as Seraphims. Nevertheleſs, it is but a Difficulty, not an Impoſſibility, to find whether we grow in Grace or not. He that would find himſelf ſo to do, cannot too curiouſly obſerve how his FAITH worketh. Gal. 5.6. How his HOPE quickneth him. 1 Pet. 1.3. And how his Love conſtraineth him, unto Diligence in doing God's Will, and Patience in ſuffering it. 2 Cor. 5.14. To be ſure, it is ſome or other Sin, that creates our darkneſs and doubt. And, as one ſaith well, If we do not know the particular Bee that ſtings us with it, let us throw down the whole hive; and then our Troubler ſhall not eſcape.