The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, Chapter 19
CHAP. 19 A Fifth Ʋſe: To ſee the miſery of being alwaies unfit for ſervice. A Sixt Ʋſe: To teach us to long for Heaven.
USE 5.
BUt now in the next place: If Gods people find ſuch a difference between themſelves, that at ſomtimes it is far otherwiſe with them than at other times: Hence then, what a miſerable thing is it to be alwaies down, and alwaies unfit for ſervice? This is a thing that does not uſually befal the people of God; though ſomtimes their hearts are down in compariſon of other times; yet to be alwaies down, and unſerviceable, this do not uſe to be the condition of the Servants of God: this is a ſad miſerable condition to be ſo, as if you never felt the power of God upon your hearts, never felt the Spirit of God breathing upon you, never felt the grace of God ſtirring upon you; you come and hear the Word, and thoſe Truths that are ſoul-quickning warming Truths, that ſtir others, and their hearts lie lumpiſh as a Log that lies in a flaſh of water ſeven yeers together, and is never ſtirred by them. Like unto a veſſel in a Houſe, that is caſt aſide, and lies moulding and rotting, that is never imployed, nor fitted for any ſervice, are theſe Veſſels of Honor? In 2 Tim. 2.21. the Scripture ſpeaks of Veſſels that are in a great houſe, that are Veſſels of honor; and he deſcribes them that they are purged and fitted for the maſters uſe, and prepared for every good work: Now if a veſſel lie alwaies moulding, and rotting, and never uſed, this is for the fire, and not for uſe: So thoſe hearts that are alwaies moulding, and rotting, and never fit for ſervice, they may fear they are veſſels of diſhonor, and for the fire.
Object. But may ſome ſay, I am afraid I am a veſſel for the fire, for I cannot tell that ever I found my heart ſit for any ſervice that God called me to.
Anſw. Firſt, That heart that is ſenſible of unfitneſs, and is humbled before God for it; it hath not ſuch an unfitneſs as to prepare it for the fire.
Secondly, It may be it is thy unthankfulneſs that makes thee ſay thou art never fit for ſervice, becauſe you are not fit for that degree you deſire, you do not take notice of the work of Gods grace for the preſent.
Thirdly, May be now you are framing and fitting for ſervice, if you be but making fit it is a ſigne you are not for the fire, if there be a veſſel for the fire, there is no mending of it, but if the maſter of the houſe ſhall call for a veſſel and require it to be cleanſed, and waſhed, and there is ſome work about it, it is a ſigne it is not for the fire, ſo may be God is fitting and prepareing you for ſervice.
Fourthly, May be it is that you miſtake your work, you do not know what the work is that God calls you to, you are alwaies unfit for ſuch, and ſuch ſervice, but that is not the work that God calls you to for the preſent, God calls you to a work of humiliation, and dependance upon himſelf, and ſeeking of his face, and a work of patience, do not ſay you are unfit for the Maſters uſe, becauſe you are unfit for ſuch and ſuch a work; may be the time is not yet, for the eſpicial work that God intend to uſe you in.
USE, 6.
In the Laſt place: if there be ſuch a difference between the hearts of Gods people, this may teach us to long for heaven, when our hearts ſhal be alwaies up there ſhal be ſuch a difference from that eſtate we are now in, as it is more then we are able to imagine; and there ſhal be no fear of the loſs of it, It is an obſervation of Mr. Brightman, upon the 19. Revel. 11. Comparing it with Reve. 4. and in Reve. 4.1. It is ſaid, there was a door opened in Heaven, In Reve. 19.11. It is ſaid, Heaven was opened, not only a little door was opened, but the gates and walles of Heaven were opened. There is a great deal of difference in the eſtate of Gods people here, ſomtimes they have a little door opened to them in Heaven, ſometimes the Heavens themſelves are opened to them, but a time wil come, when the Heavens ſhal not only be opened for them, but it ſhal be repleniſhed with them, the cheife Glory of Heaven ſhal be the Saints there, and we ſhall take no pains to keep our hearts up; it were wel if our hearts were up alwaies, though with never ſo much pains, they ſhal as naturally worke after God, as the Sun doth naturally ſhine, and therefore let us comfort our ſelves in that time, let us ſtrive and ſtrugle a while, there is a time when our hearts ſhal be up, and we ſhall never take any pains.