Sacred Therapy, Book 3 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Of the converts suspecting his aiming at circumspect walking, shall be found in him scrupulosity.
SOmetime it cometh to passe, that the convert, being under hard exercise before his consolation, doth put on the whole armour of God, and studieth to walk circumspectly for a while, but after a time he becometh somewhat weary of the yoke, suspecting he hath given too much way unto scrupulosity, whereupon he becometh more remisse and slack in his watchfulnesse and diligence, laying aside the armour of God, as David laid aside the armour of King Saul, wherewith he was not accustomed.
For satisfying himself in this course, I presuppone he maketh use of three pretended reasons. The first is, because it is impossible for any man to attain to such circumspection in his carriage as becometh him: for, it is no lesse then to aim at perfect obedience of the law, which the Apostle hath declared to be impossible, because of the weaknesse of the flesh, Rom. 8. 3. The next pretended reason is, because this bending of a mans spirit maketh the conscience unquiet, that a man cannot injoy the peace of God granted in the Gospel. The third pretended reason is, because it doth restrain christian liberty in many things lawfull, so as a man can neither make use of recreation of body, or mind without scruple; and here we must beware on the one hand lest we give way to any degree of mis-regarding the law, which is the error of the Antinomians; and on the other hand, lest we insnare the conscience of converts, and hinder them in the lawfull use of what God doth allow unto them.
2. For remedy of this evil, let the convert know that there is a necessity of aiming at circumspect walking. This duty is indispensable: for, if a chink be opened here in the vessel for the least entry of water, it may ere long fill and sink the whole ship: for, the command standeth unmoveable, …h…b. 12. 14. Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. And, 1 Pet. 1. 15. As he that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. And, Mat. 5. 48. Christ hath said, Be ye perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect.
This ground being laid, let us examine these three pretended reasons. As to the first, albeit the attaining unto the perfect obedience of the Law in this life be impossible, because of the infirmity of corrupt nature; yet, the aiming at the perfect obedience of Gods Commands is both possible and profitable, and he who aimeth at perfection of obedience in this life, shall attain it fully in the life to come. It is one thing to give perfect obedience unto the Law, for in many things we do sin all of us; another thing to endeavour, according to the measure of grace given, to obey the Law perfectly. For, God, who hath loosed converts, fled to Christ, from the convenant of Works or the covenant of the Law, he hath not loosed his subjects from obedience to the Law-giver, he hath not abolished the ten Commands, he hath not loosed the duties of the redeemed and converted souls, but by receiving them in favour through faith in Christ, he doth augment their obligation to serve the Lord their Redeemer, so much more chearfully and carefully, as the grace is large in forgiving them their sins, and translating them from the slavery of sin and Sathan, into the kingdom of Christ.
Again, albeit it be true, that it is impossible to attain perfect obedience unto the Law, yet there is great advantage to be had by circumspect walking and aiming at perfect obedience: for, this, 1. doth glorifie our heavenly Father, when we strive to be conform to his will and to have respect to all his commands. 2. This endeavour adorneth the Gospel and profession of our most holy faith, whereby we lay hold on the grace of free justification, that we may become the servants of righteousnesse indeed. 3. This endeavour beareth witnesse of our since… desire to serve God with all our heart, albeit we attain not to the perfection of obedience in this life. 4. This endeavour giveth unto us daily, new mater of humiliation, when in our aiming at our duty, we come very short of our mark we shoot at. 5. This endeavour and short-coming, for all we can do, maketh us despair of seeking justification by works before God, and to esteem highly, and make use by faith, of Christs satisfaction for us imputed to us for righteousnesse, which is a garment able to hide our imperfections and nakednesse. 6. This endeavour to walk circumspectly, puts us to the exercise of all christian graces, and to strive with others and with our selves, to perfect holinesse in the fear of God.
3. As for the second pretended reason, that this endeavour, to walk circumspectly, may make the conscience unquiet, it puts a foul aspersion on the holy precept of the Apostle, Ephes. 5. 15, 16, 17. who hath declared this to be a mans wisdom, and so a good mean of making his conscience quiet, and to establish in it the peace of God: For, by this endeavour, to walk circumspectly, believers in Christ are assured, that they are without the reach of condemnation, because they walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8. 1. Secondly, this endeavour is the evidence of a good conscience, which accompanyeth true faith, and in a maner, doth guard the conscience from just challenges which might trouble the same. Thirdly, by this endeavour, the believer is, by a holy necessity, forced to cleave closse unto Christ, to converse with him in heaven, that the pollution of daily sin may be washen away, by new application of Christs expiarory sacrifice to the believer, and that Christ may let forth more strength to him to walk in the way of commanded duties, and so the convert may stand in the grace of God. Thus the peace of God, offered and covenanted in the Gospel, is preserved in him, so long as this endeavour, to walk circumspectly, is entertained.
4. As for the third pretended reason against circumspect walking, as if by it Christian-liberty shall be crossed and cut short, it is a false pretense; for, the contrair is true, that Christian-liberty is not hurt, but helped and preserved, by circumspect walking: for, this is true Christian-liberty, to have allowance of the use of the benefits which God doth bestow with his blessing, so far as may serve our well-fare; seing it is not a point of Christian-liberty, licentiously, by intemperance, to abuse Gods benefits, and turn them to our own hurt. Wherefore, let our heart be all day in the fear of God, that we may, in lawfull manner, make use of lawfull things; neither doth the study of holinesse make recreations of body and mind unlawfull, but restraineth immoderat and untimeous use of things lawfull. All that Christian liberty granteth unto us, is, that whether we eat or drink, or what lawfull thing else we do, we do all for the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10. 31. that is, so as we may be strengthened and set forward, to glorifie God in Christ in necessar duties. As for the maner and measure to be keeped in the use of things lawfull, prudence must be asked of God, who will direct us in this as in other Christian duties.