A Help to Holy Walking, Treatise · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Of Duties in General.
HAving in the fore-going Treatiſe, ſhewed you the Excellency, Neceſſity and Benefits of an Holy Life; and the deadly danger of all unholy Courſe; I hope many of you are reſolved to alter that courſe of life: you have too long already lived in; and will begin to queſtion what ſhall we do to be ſaved? To this end in this part, I ſhall point out ſome neceſſary duties, which every Chriſtian is bound to perform, and lay down ſome directions by them for the right performance of them.
Now my deſire is, that you would reſolve to practice what out of Gods word I ſhall prove to be your duty; otherwiſe to what end ſhall I write them, or you read them: what ſay ſay you, will you do it, or will you not? 'tis not a ſlight buſineſs, neither will a ſlight reſolution ſerve your turn; you will meet with many Racks in the way, and therefore had need to be well grounded; with many ſtorms of temptations, and therefore had need to lay a good foundation; you have ſpent too much time already in the ſervice of Sin and Satan, and 'tis pity you ſhould any longer ſerve ſo bad a Maſter: and now God gives you a call unto his ſervice; methinks it ſhould be no hard queſtion to reſolve, neither need you any great time to conſider, whether God or the Devil be the beſt Maſter? whether Holyneſs or Sin be the better work? whether Heaven or Hell be the better wages? whether the Tranſitory Pleaſures of Sin, or the endleſs joyes of Heaven be more deſireable? haſt thou need of much time to conſider of this buſineſs? if thou yet ſtand at a ſtay, let me put in ſomthing that may turn the Scales: conſider to whom thou art moſt engaged, to God or Satan? art not thou Gods by right of Creation? he made thee of nothing, and whoſe is the Pot, but the Potmakers? he made thee a Rational Creature, when he might have made thee a Brute Beaſt; a Toad or a Serpent, or the moſt deſpicable Worm that crawls under thy feet, and is it not he that maintains thee at his own Coſt and Charges? thou haſt not Food to eat, or Drink to drink, or Clothes to put on, but what he gives thee; neither Health nor Strength, Limbs nor Senſes, Life nor Breath, but from him; 'tis his Corn and his Wine, that feeds thee, 'tis his Wool and his Flax that clothes thee; 'tis his Silver and his Gold that makes thee Rich, Hoſ. 2.5. And is it yet a Queſtion, who ſhould be thy Maſter? Haſt any better Friend, or greater Benefactor? Nay, further; thou art his alſo by right of Redemption; when thou ſoldeſt thy ſelf to be a Slave to Satan, did not he buy thee by his precious Blood, out of that Helliſh Slavery? Did not he loſe his Life for thy Ranſom? Did not he lay down his Life to free thee from the guilt of ſin, and from the filth of ſin, and from the puniſhment due for ſin, from the wrath of God, the Curſe of the Law, the Slavery of Satan, and from everlaſting damnation? and haſt thou yet a better Friend to truſt to? The work God ſets thee about is wages as well as work; 'tis equal, 'tis reaſonable, 'tis honourable; his Yoak is eaſie, and his burthen light: The wages alſo differs; the one gives everlaſting Happineſs, the other endleſs miſery: and canſt not yet determine who ſhall be thy Maſter? Conſider then, what God minds in theſe his Commands; is it his own benefit, or thine? What profit is he like to have by thy Obedience? Or what damage by thy Diſobedience? Alas! thou art ſo far below him, thou canſt neither do him good or hurt: All the benefit or damage redounds to thy own Soul. Conſider alſo, what the Devil minds; doubtleſs, thy Ruine: He goes about like a roaring Lyon, ſeeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5.8. And art not yet determined who ſhall be thy Maſter? Conſider then, whether ever thou kneweſt one Man that ever was made Happy by following a ſinful Courſe of Life: Or ever thou kneweſt one Man made miſerable by God's Service, or an Holy Courſe of Life. And now, if thou haſt reaſon, make uſe of it; and I doubt not, if thou wouldſt be brought to conſideration, thou wouldſt ſoon reſolve. I ſhall at preſent take it for granted, and ſhall proceed; firſt, to give you ſome general Directions to be obſerved in all duties; and then deſcend to ſome particular duties unto God, and give Directions for theſe alſo: the general are theſe that follow.
1. Direction. In all the Duties thou performeſt to God or Man, ſee that thou haſt a Divine warrant for it out of the Word of God; that which he Commands, is our Duty; and what he forbids, is our ſin if we do it; where there is no Law, there is no Tranſgreſſion; and where 'tis no Commanded Duty, there thou canſt expect no Bleſſing; yet many Men are apt to invent ways for God's Worſhip, as if the Scripture were difficult; and, with the Phariſees, Teach for Doctrines, the Commandments of Men; they ſet up their Poſts by God's Poſt, and their Dagon by God's Ark, but it will never ſtand; they take much pains, and be at much coſt in the Worſhip of their own deviſing, but they will loſe their Labour; and when they come for their Reward, God will ask them, who required theſe things at their hands? When therefore thou art preſt unto a Duty, enquire whether God Command it, or at leaſt, whether it be conſonant to his Word, if not, reject it; we muſt not Worſhip God after Mens invention, or Humane Traditions, contrary to his revealed Will. God hath left us work enough to do, we need not invent more. We read indeed of ſome Idolaters that fained themſelves gods, and then patcht up a kind of Idolatrous Worſhip to theſe gods; thus Baals Prieſts cut and wounded themſelves till the blood guſhed out, not much unlike to our Popiſh whippings: Some alſo poured out Drink-Offerings to the Queen of Heaven, and baked Cakes for her, Jer. 44.17. Yea, ſome of them Offered their Children to Molech, and made them paſs through the Fire; yet all this Labour was loſt, yea, worſe than loſt, it became their ſin, becauſe it was to a ſtrange god. In like manner, many Worſhip the true God in a falſe manner, by giving him ſuch Worſhip he never Commanded, neither ever came it into his mind. But the Scripture is a ſufficient Rule for Worſhip, where all the material parts of Worſhip are preſcribed; only ſome neceſſary Circumſtances are left to Humane prudence to determine, as the Time, and Place, and other ſuch like, which may be altered according to the preſent occaſion; yet we read in Scripture of Voluntary Humility, and Worſhipping of Angels, but God doth not allow of it, Col. 2.18. The Church of Rome doth therefore exceedingly err in thruſting upon us thoſe new invented, needleſs Ceremonies, ſuch as God never made, neither ever gave power to Man to intrude into his worſhip; yea, alſo they err in adding many things as Fundamentals, which are errors of their own deviſing, ſuch as their five added Sacraments, their private Maſs, Communicating in our kind, propitiatory Sacrifice for the Sick and dead, Prayers to Saints departed, and to Angels, Images, Crucifixes, Popes Pardons, Indulgences, Pilgrimages, and many more; but theſe wanting Authority, are not to be heeded by us; yea, amongſt us alſo we have too many Popiſh Superſtitions, received by Traditions, which God hath never warranted, and therefore we ought not to obſerve them. But in all thy Duties, whether it be an Act of Divine worſhip, or any Duty to thy Neighbour, ſearch the Scriptures, if it be not according to this Rule, own it not: See what need Chriſtians have of knowledge to know what is ſin, and what is Duty; what is Commanded, and what forbidden.
2. Direct. When thou knoweſt thy Duty, and haſt a Divine Command for it, delay not, but ſet upon it; many undo themſelves by delays, they think to do that hereafter, which they never Live to do; practice is the Life of all. Set upon the performance of thoſe Duties which God requires at thy Hands; take them as they lye, and do not pick and chuſe. 'Tis the practice of ſome Men, and thoſe of no ſmall note, for Religion, to pick and chuſe their Duties; this they will do, and this they will not do; they ſcum off the Fat and ſweet of Duty, and leave the difficult, dangerous, coſtly part of Duty undone; but this is not ſufficient, neither will it evidence any one to be a Chriſtian indeed: Many, eſpecially great ones, run on with this miſtake; for a little Grace makes a great ſhew in a great Man, yea, oft-times the ſhew is taken for the Subſtance; many will perform ſuch Duties as are in Credit in the world, and like to coſt them but a little, which yet refuſe ſelf-denying, difficult or dangerous Duties. They will hear, and read, and confer, and, perhaps, pray in their Families, and ſome other ſuch like External parts of worſhip; and if God will be pleaſed with theſe, and Heaven will be had upon ſuch terms, they will have it: but if he require ſelf denyal duties, or thoſe which croſs their own Intereſt, if they muſt take up the Croſs and follow him, and deny themſelves, hate and forſake Father or Mother, Wife or Children, Lands or Livings, Pleaſure or Honour, Liberty or Life, for his ſake; they will not buy Heaven at ſo dear a rate. But God is reſolved he will abate nothing, and they are reſolved they will bid no more; and ſo they part. But hath not the ſame God Commanded the one as well as the other? And hath he not wiſdom enough to know which is the beſt, and neareſt way to Heaven? Or would he willingly torment his Creatures, and put his Servants to unneceſſary Troubles? Can theſe Men think to find out a nearer way to Heaven than God hath preſcribed? Or that they ſhall ever come there without his knowledge, without the Qualifications he requires. Surely they are much miſtaken; yet how ordinary is it even for Profeſſors themſelves to ſtudy Arguments for ſin, and againſt duty, when the one ſuits with their Carnal Intereſt, and the other croſſes it. But Chriſtians that have taken Chriſt upon his own terms, and are delivered from the power of ſin and Satan, think they can never do enough for Chriſt. They are always queſtioning, what ſhall I do for him, that hath done ſo much for me? What ſhall I render to the Lord for all his benefits? Pſal. 118.12. 'Tis the very end why we are delivered from our Enemies, to ſerve God in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs all the days of our Lives, Luke 1.74,75. 'Tis the mark of thoſe that Love God, to keep his Commandments, John 14.15. When others perform duties only in Subſerviency to their own Carnal Intereſts, and therefore only own that part and duty that ſuits with their deſigns, as Jehu, in his Reformation of Idolatry, and ſet up their Staff, and ſay, hitherto will I go, and no further; then a godly Man that makes the enjoyment of God his ultimate end and aim, will, like Daniel to the Lyons Den, or the three Children to the Fiery Furnace, before they will either neglect known duties, or commit known ſins: Others are forward in the cheap part, but backward in the coſtly part of duty; and the Devil might alſo buy their Profeſſion it ſelf out of their Hands; many that will hear, and read, and pray, becauſe it coſts them little, yet will hardly be perſwaded to be Charitable to the Poor, and Liberal to Pious Uſes, becauſe 'tis coſtly; or to forgive Injuries, love Enemies, make Reſtitution of ill gotten Goods; venture their Eſtates, Lives, or Liberty, when the Cauſe of God requires it; then they cry out, with Naaman, the Lord be merciful to me in this thing: but God will abate nothing of his price, he will have Univerſal Obedience, or he will own none at all.
3. Direct. Wouldſt thou perform Duties in an acceptable manner? Then hold on in a conſtant courſe of Duty; 'tis not enongh to begin well, but thou muſt hold out well: The ſame Reaſon that perſwaded thee to enter into ſuch a Courſe of Duty at the firſt, may perſwade thee to hold out to the end; there is the ſame ground for the one, as for the other: If it be becauſe ſtorms ariſe, Troubles and Perſecutions look thee in the Face, this might have been fore-ſeen; thou ſhouldſt have ſate down firſt, and reckoned the Charges; Chriſt told thee before, Through many Tribulations we muſt come to Heaven. He that is now aſhamed of Chriſt and his Croſs of Service, the time is coming, Chriſt will be aſhamed of him: Thou muſt follow him through thick and thin; through good Report, and evil Report, or thou art like to loſe him; yea, though thou meet Death it ſelf in the Face. 'Tis not he that ſets out well, but he that continues to run well, is like to get the Prize; 'tis not he that gives the On-ſet, but he that Fights well, is like to get the Victory: You did run w…ll, ſaith the Apoſtle, who hindred you? Gal. 5.7. So run, that you may obtain, 1 Cor. 9.24. 'Tis not he that begins well, but he that holds out to the end, ſhall be ſaved, Mark 13.13. 'Tis he that is Faithful to the Death, that ſhall receive the Crown of Life, Rev. 2.10. Many Promiſes are made to thoſe that overcome, Rev. 2.11.17.26. & 3.5.12.21. There are many, that in a day of Goſpel Proſperity, cry Hoſanna unto Chriſt; but when ſtorms are up, then cry, Crucifie him. This Age gives too full a Teſtimony to this Truth. But thoſe that are Faithful to God will be conſtant in his Service, what danger ſoever looks them in the Face. Many are like to Weather-Cocks, turn with every Wind; or like a Ship without Ballaſt, are toſſed with every Storm: But a ſincere Chriſtian is like a Ship in the Harbour, that hath a ſure and ſtedfaſt Rock to Anchor upon. Many are like the Planet Mercury, good in a good Conjunction, and bad with the bad: Or like Proteus, that can turn themſelves into any ſhape for Advantage; but a true Chriſtian gives this for his Motto, Semper idem, always the ſame; the change of Times, the change of Company, the change of Religion, makes no change in him; he knows God changes not: Poverty and Proſperity are God's trying Times, wherein may be diſcovered what is in the Heart; Hazael, when a mean Man, never thought ſo much evil had been in his Heart, as appeared to be there when he was Advanced. The ſtony ground did not at firſt appear to be ſo deceitful, as indeed it proved. But Holy Job was the ſame on the dung-hill, as on the Throne; in Adverſity, as in Proſperity; he did not ſerve God for Riches, nor will he forſake him in Poverty: Haſt thou been a Profeſſor of Religion, and haſt thou hitherto performed the duties Commanded? What madneſs now poſſeſſes thee, that thou wilt leave his Service? What canſt thou object againſt him? Is the Devil a better Maſter? Or will he ſet thee about better work? Or will he give thee better wages? If Religion be not good, why didſt embrace it at firſt? If it be, why doſt leave it? If thou now leave off, all thy Labour, and all the pains that ever thou haſt taken will be utterly loſt in reference to Salvation; If the Righteous forſake his ways, all his Righteouſneſs ſhall not be remembred to him, in his ſin he ſhall dye, Ezek. 18.24. It may be thou haſt gone many a Mile to hear Sermons, ſpent many an Hour in Prayer, and Humiliation, & many a Day in Faſting, and Humbling thy Soul; and wilt thou loſe all thy Labour at the laſt? Nay, wilt thou now diſhonour that God, which time was thou ſeemedſt to Honour? And wilt thou ſtrengthen the hand of Wicked Men in their wickedneſs? And weaken the hands of poor doubting Dhriſtians? And ſadden the Hearts of the godly? Wilt thou bring the Blood of Souls upon thy own head? If not, hold on in a courſe of Holy Duty, Whatever oppoſition thou meet with in the way; Heaven will make amends for all the ſweat and blood thou loſeſt; and Hell will be ſower ſauce to thy ſweet Meat: What madneſs is it, to leave thy work a little before thou ſhouldeſt receive thy Wages?
4. Direct. Let all the Duties thou performeſt, either to God, or Man, proceed from a right Principle; from a Heart ſanctified by Grace, and purified by Faith, and ſeaſoned with Love. Make the Tree good, and his Fruit will be good; but a Corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. An evil Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit, nor a good Tree evil Fruit. 'Tis impoſſible that a Corrupt Fountain ſhould ſend forth ſweet Water, or a filthy Veſſel ſweet Liquor. Let the Love of God be the ſtrongeſt Motive to thy Obedience, and let this engage thy heart to every Duty: Though thou ſhouldeſt do the duty required, if thou do it not in obedience to that Command, God will not own it. Whatever thou doſt, do all to his Glory, and in Obedience to his Command, or thou wilt loſe thy Reward; let thy heart ſay in ſincerity, Propter te propter te Domine; it is for thy ſake, and in Obedience to thy Command that I do it, and for no ſiniſter reſpect whatſoever. Hypocrites may do the thing which God Commands, but from another ground, and for another end; they ſavour of the Cask, and ſmell of ſelf-Intereſt; they reach no higher than themſelves, as water aſcends no higher than the Fountain Head. Jehu did what God Commanded in deſtroying Idolatry, and rooting out Ahab's Poſterity; but all this while he hath a Kingdom in his Eye. But the Love of God Oyls the Chariot-Wheels of a Chriſtians endeavours; it carryeth him above, beyond, and out of himſelf. God tells him what he would have done, a Chriſtian never examines the Command by any Carnal Intereſt, whether he may reap gain, or loſs, Honour, or Diſgrace by it; come what come will, he reſolves to do it, if God command it, whatever ſtands in his way, though he meet Death it ſelf in the Face, he will go on, God calls him; and, with Samuel, he cryeth out, Speak, Lord, for thy Servant heareth; he knows he that ſets him on work, can bear him out. Now, all Service that ariſeth not from this ground, is ſlaviſh, and mercinary, and merits nothing at Gods hands but blows; he that doth the thing Commanded, and knoweth not of the Command, doth not Obey God in the work; and if he know that it is Commanded, and doth it, yet not becauſe it was Commanded, but upon other account, God will not Reward this as Obedience. The Phariſees knew that Prayer, Faſting, and Alms-deeds were Commanded duties; yea, they performed thoſe duties, but not becauſe God Commanded them, but that they might be applauded by Men; therefore Chriſt ſends them to men for a Reward, Mat. 6.1,2,3, &c. The performance of a duty will do us little good, if we cannot ſay, with the Apoſtle, The Love of Chriſt conſtraineth us. Many are conſtant attenders upon the Ordinances, not out of Love to God, or Obedience to his Will, or any delight they have in the duty, but for fear of puniſhment, or hope of reward, either from God or Man; or for popular Applauſe, or one thing or other of that Nature; and theſe Men, perhaps, in the mean time have their handS upon the works, and their Hearts buſied in the Devils Service; and they look upon Gods Service as a Slavery, and glad when they are Releaſed. But a ſincere Chriſtian is like the Servant mentioned, Exod. 21.15. that ſaith, I Love my Maſter, I will not go Free; though there were neither Reward in Heaven, for my Obedience, nor puniſhment in Hell, for my diſobedience, I will do it becauſe 'tis my Maſters will, and I delight in the work it ſelf; this Love of God in the Soul, is as weights to the Clock, or as Oyl to the Jack, it ſets it on work for God: love makes labour light, they do it for Conſcience ſake, Rom. 13.5. when others do it for gains ſake. Saul obeys for a Kingdom, and Jehu for a Crown, and when this was obtained, their Obedience was over; they are like to Dogs, they follow their Maſter till they meet with Carrion: examine now thy heart, what is the ground of thy obedience, if it be lower than thy love to God, and deſire to obey him, 'tis not right.
5. Direction, Let all thy duties whether to God or Man, be performed in the manner which God requires; now Chriſt himſelf tells thee, God is a Spirit, and he that worſhips him, muſt worſhip him in Spirit, John 4.24. and the Apoſtle tells us, that bodily exerciſe profiteth little, but godlineſs is profitable unto all things, 1 Tim. 4.8. 'Tis not the Motions of the Body, nor the moveing of the Lips, 'tis not Bowings, Couchings, Cringings that he is affected with, if the Heart and Affections go not along: this is one main difference between a ſincere Chriſtian, and an Hypocrite; both may do the ſame Duty, both may joyn in the ſame Prayer, and both may hear the ſame Sermon, yet one may be accepted, and the other not; nay, for the Bulk and Materiallity of the Duty, the Hypocrite may exceed the other; the Phariſees they faſted, they gave almes, they made long Prayer, they tythed Mint and Anice, and yet all this while lay under the Curſe, and were Enemies to God, and perſecutors of Chriſt; their heart was abſent from their duty, and it was not right to God, they loſt all their labour in Heavens way, becauſe they had little trading with, and little knowledg of God, or their own hearts: Hypocrites feed upon the husks of duty, nnd never meet with Chriſt in the duty; when a ſincere heart hath trading with God, and ſweet communion with Chriſt himſelf: if ever therefore thou wouldſt perform pleaſing Sacrifice to God, be ſure to wind up thy heart and affections unto God, and never content thy ſelf with any duty till thou meet with Chriſt in the duty; duties are appointed to be done, not for their own ſakes, but to help the Soul to mount up to Heaven upon their wings, which is the place of its reſt: in them the Soul is trading with God for Chriſt, and if we make not this uſe of them, they will do us no good. God regards not ſo much the external part of duty, though this is not to be diſregarded, as he doth the internal; he looks, eſpecially at the carriage of the heart in the duty; my Son ſaith he, give me thy heart, if this be preſent, many infirmities ſhall be paſt over; if this be abſent, though the duty be never ſo gloriouſly acted in the eye of of the World, it is hateful in the eye of God: Cain and Abel both offered Sacrifice, and in the matter of their Sacrifice we know not, the one exceeded the other, yet one was accepted, and the other rejected: why what was the matter? becauſe the one was accompanyed with Sincerity, the other with Hypocriſie; and as God, ſo all good Men make it their buſineſs to look to the heart in duty, they carry it along with them to God, and offer it at his feet, they know the more of the heart is in the duty, the better God loves it; and the more of the heart is in the ſin, the worſe it is: they look more and grieve more at the miſcarriage of the Heart in a duty, when it lyes dead, or dull, than at a miſ expreſſion, or external failing; when thou comeſt therefore unto God in duty, gather in thy ſcattered thoughts and affections, and let them meet here as lines do in a Center, or as the Sun-beams in a burning glaſs; this will make thy Prayers Hot and Fervent, which otherwiſe would be Cold and Remiſs; when our Spirits are raiſed by the Spirit of God, and the Fleſh kept under in the duty, then we are like to prevail: 'tis not the Multitude of looſe or lone, and cold expreſſions will ſerve turn; the Phariſees out-did many Chriſtians in long Prayers: but 'tis the Spiritual performance that God requires; cold Petitions do but put denyals into Chriſts mouth, we muſt perform every duty as if it were for Life and Death, for Eternity; yea, as if it were our laſt duty that ever we ſhould perform: ſuch performances as theſe are acceptable to God, and beneficial to Man.
6. Direction, Thou muſt perform all thy duties as in a right Manner, ſo to a right End; for the End either Makes or Marrs the Action: now the Ends are ſuch as God himſelf hath appointed in his word. Now God never ordained duties, or good works to be truſted in for Salvation; thou canſt never merit Heaven by thy Prayers, or other Duties; they were not commanded for this end, indeed they are a cauſa ſine qua non of Salvation: for though they cannot ſave us, yet we ſhall not be ſaved in the neglect of them, they are the way to the Kingdom, though not cauſa regnandi, Chriſt hath purchaſed to himſelf a peculiar People, zealous of good works; they are of ſpecial uſe for us, in the way that God hath appointed us to walk in; God hath appointed us to do them, and threatened us, and will puniſh us if we neglect them; as I ſhall more fully prove when I treat of them particularly; and that it is Gods will and command, is enough to ſatisfy an honeſt heart, though there were neither reward, nor puniſhment for the doers, or neglecters of them: this is the way to glorify God, John 15.8. Hereby is our Heavenly Father glorified, when we bring forth much fruit. Mat. 5.18. Let your Light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven. By this means alſo we may be inſtrumental of others Converſion. Wives are commanded to carry themſelves ſo holily and wiſely, that thereby unbelieving Husbands may be won to the Faith, 1 Pet. 3.1. and as they may do good to others, ſo they may bring comfort to themſelves; theſe breathings out of Grace, will be an Evidence to the Soul of the love of God, when we find the Spirit helping our infirmities, teaching us how, and for what to pray: theſe products of Grace will yield the Soul no little ſatisfaction; yea, by this means we obtain many bleſſings from God: what ſweet returns of Prayer have the Saints had? how often hath God anſwered them in the very Petitions they have asked? Chriſt bids them ask and they ſhall have; ſeek and they ſhall find; knock and it ſhall be opened to them; and how many can experience this truth? though God promiſe the mercy, yet he will be ſought to for it, and what ſweet and raviſhing incomes of the Spirit of God have Chriſtians oftentimes in the Hearing, Reading, Meditating, and conferring of the word of God; receiving of the Sacrament, and other Religious duties? and what Satisfaction and Comfort? 'Tis true, we muſt not truſt to them for comfort, as the Cauſe, but as the Inſtrument: Hezekiah found Comfort upon his ſick Bed from the Faithful performance of God's Will. But this is not all; one ſpecial end why God appointed them, is to bring the Soul nearer unto Chriſt by them, and to this end we muſt uſe them; they are as Ladders to help us up to Heaven, to lift us above our ſelves, to lay hold upon Chriſt; we muſt make uſe of them, as a Traveller doth of a Boat or Bridge, to help us over unto Chriſt; or as he doth of a Staff, or Stile, to help him in his Journey; though they in themſelves have no Excellency, yet they help us over where true Treaſure is; though they be empty in themſelves, and vain to thoſe that truſt in them, yet are they enriching to the Saints that truſt not to them, but uſe them for the ends appointed; but many, like Fooliſh Lovers, wooe the Maid, when they ſhould Court the Miſtreſs; or like Fooliſh Travellers, play with the Stile, or fall in Love with the Boat, and neglect their way; they truſt to their duties; but theſe were never appointed to ſave us, or to make up Chriſt's Merits Satisfactory, for this is ſufficient; but that it may help us to lay hold upon Chriſt's Satisfaction: Uſe them therefore for that end.
7. Direct. When thou haſt done all this, and all that thou canſt, ſay thou art an unprofitable Servant, and haſt done no more; nay, not ſo much as was thy duty, Luke 17.10. And take heed of reſting in, or truſting to any thing but Chriſt for Juſtification or Salvation; truſt not to thy duties, for they will deceive thee; and prove like Egyptian Reeds, not only break, but run into thy hand; they were never appointed for this end, to truſt to them; let the Papiſts brag never ſo much of their Works of Supererogation, or of their Merits; let the Ignorant Perſon brag of his good meaning, his good heart, and his good ſerving God; let the Civil Man brag of his paying every Man his own, and upright dealing; and the almoſt Chriſtian of his Repenting, Returning, and Reforming; alas! all this will deceive them, this is not the Blood of Chriſt, we muſt have ſome better ſhelter to keep off the ſtorms of God's fiery Indignation: the Prophet tells us, all our Righteouſneſs is as filthy Rags, or a menſtruous Cloath, Iſa. 6.6. And will God, think you, delight in this? The Heart, which is the Fountain, is Corrupt, and never cleanſed from Original Corruption; and can we think the ſtreams thence iſſuing can be ſweet? This bitter Root ſends many branches of Actual ſin, which mix themſelves with our beſt duties, and make them abominable in the Eyes of God: Theſe are the dead Flyes that ſpoyl all the Oyntment; we cannot do a duty, but we ſpoyl it in the doing: and if we could, unleſs we could do every duty thus to the end of our Lives, what Advantage ſhould we have by that one? We muſt Live free from evil thoughts, vain words, and evil Actions, or we cannot ſtand approved by God; nay, if we could do ſo, and Live free from the leaſt Tranſgreſſion for the future, this will not diſcharge us of our fore-paſt Debt; will the conſtant payment of Rent for the future, clear up the arreares that are behind? 'Tis a vain thing to think to be ſaved by our own good works, or juſtified by our good duties: Alas! they are too much defiled with ſin, and ſelf to be ſatisfactory to God; and yet how ready are Men to lay hold upon any thing that will give them the leaſt hope, and truſt to good hearts, and good duties, and good meanings, when there is no ſuch thing; and loath they are to come out of themſelves, confeſs themſelves to be ſuch Bankrupts, as indeed they are; but the vanity of theſe hopes, I ſhall give you in the words of an able Divine, who ſpeaks fully to my purpoſe; who tells thee, that thou canſt not bring in perfect Righteouſneſs into the preſence of God, and haſt no Chriſt to truſt unto; thou muſt deſire and pray till Heaven and Earth ſhake; till thou haſt worn thy Tongue to the ſtumps, endeavour as much as thou canſt, and others commend thee for an exact Chriſtian; mourn in ſome Wilderneſs till dooms day, dig thy Grave with thy nails, weep Buckets full of hourly Tears, till thou canſt weep no more; Faſt and Pray, till thy skin and bones cleave together; promiſe, and purpoſe with full reſolution to be better; yea, reform thy Head, Heart, Life, and Tongue; leave ſome, nay, all ſin; Live like an Angel, ſhine like a Sun, walk up and down the World like a diſtreſſed Pilgrim; ſo that all that ſee thee may commend, and admire thee; dye ten thouſand Deaths, lye at the Fire back of Hell as many millions of Years as there are Graſs piles upon the Earth, Sands on the Sea ſhore, Stars in Heaven, or Motes in the Sun. I tell thee, not one ſpark of Gods wrath will be quenched by all theſe Duties, for they are not the Blood of Chriſt, &c. Shepherd, Sincere Convert.