Heaven Upon Earth, Sermons · Sermons on 2 Corinthians 1.12 · Sermon 5
SERMON V.
2 COR. 1. 12. For our rejoycing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity, and godly sincerity, notwith fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, we have ha… our conversation in the world, and mor… abundantly to you-wards.
THere are many duties, and pieces of Christianity whereof the world neither knows the excellency, nor the difficulty; men are for the most part disposed to think, that Religion is a thing of very little worth, and very easiely come by, when they shall find it convenient for them, to look after somewhat of it; because they never set themselves seriously and in good earnest to practise it, nor to experience the choice and excellent advantages that come by it: And we verily suppose, that there are not two things in Religion less known and believed, then the difficulty of attaining to a well-grounded Testimony of a good Conscience; and the unspeakable excellency of it, with the great advantage that comes by it, when it is attained, and intertained.
We spoke before to you of the great refreshing, and joy which the well▪grounded Testimony of a good Conscience yeeldeth, and of the great difficulty that there is to attain, and come by it, as being the result of much diligence, labour, and pains in solid answering of many questions.
Before we proceed any further, there may arise here a Doubt or Objection, which would be cleared, and answered, viz. If a particular search, and examination, as to every action and duty be necessary, yea, if it be possible, ere the Conscience can give a good Testimony? and if so, how a person can possibly have peace, in reference to his bygone way, when, in seeking to review it, and to reflect upon it, he finds it impossible to examine every action, and the circumstances of it? We conceive it to be necessary, to answer this Doubt, or Objection, though we confesse, it is very difficult to do it, to full satisfaction, there being especially, extreams upon both sides, some being ready to take an undue liberty, and latitude to themselves, on the one hand, when any allowed qualifications are offered; and others being in hazard to faint, and be discouraged on the other hand, if the matter be kept in a peremptory state, without due qualifications and cautions; And yet we are sure, that the right preaching of the Gospel (if we could win at it) will neither louse reins to lawless and sinsul liberty to carnal persons; nor make sad the hearts of these that ate gracious and tender, nor put them on the rack, nor involve them into a labyrinth of inextricable intricacies, and perplexities. For answer then to the Doubt or Objection, 1. It is indeed expedient, so far as a Believer can win in self-examination, to reach his particular actions, and the particular steps, and circumstances of them, wherein Iob, and others of the Saints, have win a great length, and the expediency, if not necessity of it, appears from this, because, by this means, Believers win to more distinctnesse, and stayednesse in up-taking of their case. 2ly. We think that the distinct examination of all particulars in a mans life, and of the several questions that Conscience may propose concerning them, is not possible in it self; and therefore not simply necessary as to the makeing of this duty practicable; for if we could possibly (as we cannot) go through all our Actions, and all the circumstances of them, through out our whole way, it would take up more of our time to examine, then we have for practice: if we should be put to reflect particularly on every thing that we have done, on what hath been committed, and on what hath been omitted, and the several aggravations, and circumstances of every one of these, and to go through every one of them, according to the exact Rule, it would take us many dayes; yea, if the Conscience should give way to scruplousness in this, there should alwayes be an examination of our examination (which yet may, and in some cases ought to be) and so on in infinitum, that there should never be an end of this work, to the exclusion of others, clearly called for, which cannot be: That is not then (we conceive) the Lords end, in pressing on us this duty of Self-examination; whereby he designes to extricat the Souls of his People, out of disquietnesse, and not to involve them further in it. Yet 3ly. We say, that its necessary, as to Believers peace in their duty, that they examine the series of their way, though they cannot reach every particular action, or all its circumstances; and that they think no duty to be so clear, nor any sin to be so little, as resolvedly to passe it, without reflecting on it, so far as is possible: and in examining the series, and tract of their way, They would consider, 1. The matter of their actions, whether it was good and approven of God, or not. 2. The manner of them, Whether they have endeavoured to do things after the due order, and in the prescribed manner. 3. What they proposed to themselves, as the general main end, and scope of their actions, whether it was the glory of God, o… not; we find much of the Saints Testimony of their Conscience, to be founded upon this; as we may see here, in Paul, We have had (sayes he) our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you wards, not with fleshly wisdom, &c. And in David, who …, Psal. 119▪ 59. I thought on my wayes▪ and turned my f…et into thy testimony; There is great difference betwixt a mans way, or path, and every particular step of his way or path; David proposes to himself the series of his way to be examined, and wherein he found himself faulty, he makes haste to go out of it, and turns his feet into Gods testimonies; He was endeavouring to be watchful in every step of his way while it was before him, to have it right; but when he reflects, it being impossible (as we have said) to look on every step of his way, and to examine it according to the Rule, he looks upon the series of it; on the matter, manner, and end of his walk, in the tract of his life; and in this respect, he sayeth, Psal. 18. 21. I have keeped the wayes of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. As Iob Chap. 23. also doth, My soot hath held his steps, his way have I keeped, and not declined. 4ly. Believers would not only look to their way; but there are some actions, and steps of their way, at some special times, that they would be more particular in the examination of, then at other times, and of every action, though they would not designedly seclude any, as God in providence calleth them to it, and points it out to be their duty; but there are (I say) some particular actions, that they are called to examine more then others: And for further clearing of this, I shal instance it in a few things, As 1. There are some things or actions and duties that more eminently concern a Believers peace, or disquietness; his peace if rightly gone about, and his disquietness if otherwise; Some things whereby God is in an especial manner honoured, and the Believer himself comforted, if he carry rightly; and God highly dishonoured, and the Believers Conscience greatly wounded, if he miscarry; we may instance it in these solemn Ordinances of the Lords Supper, of times of Humillation with Fasting, of publick, or secret personal Covenanting with the Lord▪ and the like; as here Paul reflects particularly on his Ministry among the Corinthians, and on his way in it, as being of great moment, and sayes, that it was more abundantly to them ward: thus it is in hearing the Word; in Prayer in our Families, and in secret; in conferring to edification on Sermons, after we have heard them, or to any spiritual purpose; in sanctifying the Lords Day, and such others; For in these Duties the rule binds some, nay more strickly; God being in them in a more especial manner honoured or dishonoured; and there is readier access to a challenge, if the person be wrong; and to peace and comfort, if right in these. 2ly. There are some things that are more tickle and difficult in respect either of the nature of them, or in respect of our particular inclination to miscarry in them; as for instance, when a man in providence hath been cast into a place and company, where he was crouded with snares and strong temptations, he would there examine more particularly, that nothing have stuck to him that may be ground of challenge against him; so in publick imployments, wherein men are exposed to many temptations and snares, especially when there is somewhat in their own tempratur…, inclination, or humour that disposeth to yield, comply, and miscarry; they would there be the more particular in their examination; thus David sayes, Ps. 18. That be had not wickedly departed from God; that he was upright before him, and had keeped himself from his iniquity; There were some sins that he was not in such hazard of, as he was of others; and as he hand guarded more against them, so he takes a more particular view of these sins that his natural temper inclined him most to, and that he was most in hazard of: which we would take notice of at all times, but especially in these times wherein men hazard on many things, hand over head, and as it were by guess: So when a man knows that his humour and temper disposes him to be rash and precipitant, hasty and passionate; when he hath been in company with others, when he may have had more than ordinary occasions of provocation, he would there more particularly look back and see what his way hath been, or what hath escaped him in such company.
3ly. A man would especially try and examine himself in reference to such sins as he hath been formerly given to, and against which he hath particularly engaged himself; and as the more solemn the…ty and engagement hath been, he should watch the more against them, so also examine the more, if he hath been in…angled i… them; so say the people of God, Ps. 44▪ 17▪ All this is come upon us, yet have we not forgotten thee, neither … we dealt falsly in thy Covenant; there were many particular sailings in their way, which doubtless they reflected on; but especially they try, how they had carryed in their engagements to God; because they knew that any more gross falling in these would have much influence on Gods dishonour, and on the wounding …f their own peace: Whatever we reflect on in our way, we would not neglect, nor omit our engagements to God, but would narrowly look back and examine, how these have been observed.
4ly. Men would especially try and examine themselves in these things that cause, or occasion Challenges to them; if there be a particular challenge for any thing, that is sure a particular Call, narrowly to try that thing, whether we have been right in i… or not; I do not say b…t a challenge may be, where there is no just ground for it (and we may be called to try, where we are not to take with a Challenge, where there is no ground for it) but often we are wise behind the hand, and precipitant; and when we have not adverted before hand to prevent the ground of a challenge, the challenge then comes to put us particularly to examine, and try what hath been right or wrong in our carriage in such a particular. 5ly. What may occasion, or probably bring on some cross, should put a man to try▪ that when the cross comes he may have peace, in so f…r that he hath not medied with such a thing without a clear Calling▪ 6ly. That which probably may be a cause, or at least …n occasion of contending with, or of reproach from, or of offence to others, would put us narrowly to examine; because in all such things, a mans peace will be notably tryed: and we take this to be the reason, why the Apostle instanceth here so particularly in his Ministry amongst the Corinthians, because his carriage in it was controverted by the false Teachers there, as if he had not been faithful, zealous, and single in it. Lastly, When we speak of Believers more particular trying of their way, we mean not only as to these things that are more dark and unclear, but also as to these that are most clear; for even in these, after exact examination, we may find out ground of challenge for what is wrong in our end, or in our manner of doing; and distinct ground of peace, for what is right; that we may be able with some solid confidence to say, this was wrong, and I have reason to be humbled for it; and this was right, and I may be quieted and comforted in it.
5ly. Observe, That though it be a difficult thing to win to a well grounded refreshing testimony of a good Conscience, yet by a tender Believer, it is through grace attainable; Paul speaketh of it here, not only as a thing that he aimed at, but as that which he attained; the experience also of many of the Saints does prove, that it hath been win at; as we may see in Iob, David, Hezekiah, and others: It is moreover clear from the effects that have followed on it in them, such as peace, joy, and rejoyceing; all which clearly hold forth so much, that a Believer in his walk may win to a well grounded, and heart-chearing testimony of Conscience for him; if he be tender and watchful in his way to keep a good Conscience, and diligent in self-examination, and sincere and impartial in putting things to a proof, whether they be right or wrong.
The use of this Doctrine serves for instruction, to let us see, that to win at such a Testimony of our Conscience is possible; and from the consideration of the possibility of it, it serves also to encourage us to seek after it: If Conscience be made of self-examination, it is not a heartless, hopeless, and desperat business, as many take it to be, who think (and it may be they have just ground for that thought, having so evil a Conscience) that it neither will, nor can speak good to them; but it will certainly speak, when there is ground for it.
6ly. Observe, That a Believer who hath the testimony of a good Conscience, would take with it, acknowledge it, and rejoice in it; Paul having, and finding this restimony of his Conscience, ownes it, expresseth, professeth, and avoucheth it. That which I mean here is this, that a Believer would no less take with Conscience its testimony, when it speaks for him, then he takes with a Challenge when it speaks against him; and would be as well comforted by the one, as he is humbled under the other: the experience of the Saints clears and confirms this, Hezekiah▪ David, Paul here, and others of the Godly have comforted themselves from the testimony of a good Conscience: we will not, we dare not say, that it is either the greatest or most ordinary fault; but we are sure, it is a fault incident to Believers, that they do not (when studying to have a good Conscience in all things) take more with, acknowledge, and comfort themselves in the testimony of their Conscience; partly thinking that it is presumption for them to own it, or to comfort themselves in it, partly thinking that something else is more suitable for them; and that it becomes them rather to be humbled, because of the many evils that they find themselves to be guilty of, then to be thus comforted; thinking that they have never sufficient ground for a testimony of Conscience for them; which were very hard for Believers to conclude, for it were on the matter to deny that they have any thing of the grace of God in truth; for as far as Grace is in exercise, they have ground for this Testimony of their Conscience for them, and so good ground to be comforted, and made joyful from it.
But for prosecuting and clearing of this; we shall give you some Rules or Cautions, which may serve as so many Directions to walk by in this matter, for preventing of mistakes; The First whereof is this, that the testimony of a good Conscience to sojourning and militant Saints, doth nor flow from perfection in holiness; otherwise David, Paul, Hezekiah, & others, would never have had it: but it flows from reflecting on the general tract of a mans way, and his finding it to be in some measure straight before the Lord; as we see it did in David, Ps. 18. 21, 22. and I…b 23. 11, 12. Though in particular steps they had their own failings.
The 2d. is, That the testimony of a good Conscience may be, where there are challenges for sin; there may be in one and the same Believer, a just challenge for what is wrong, and a good Testimony for what is right; and as he should not on the one hand refuse to take with the challenge, so he should not on the other decline embracing the good testimony: as the Lord teaches plainly in his way of dealing with the Churches of Asia, Revel. 2. and 3. Where, when he reproves them for what is wrong, he also commends them for what is right; teaching Believers thereby to distinguish well betwixt these two; and so to take with a challenge from Conscience for that wherein they are wrong, as not to refuse its testimony for them when they are right; for the Conscience will always have somewhat to say to such in reference to both these▪ they that resolve (as it were) to admit only of challenges, and of nothing but pure challenges, suppose themselves to be lying still in their natural and unrenewed state; and they that would be at an absolute and entire good testimony without any challenges at all, must look for that only in Heaven; where all the godly will most certainly have it to their joy unspeakable, and eminently full of glory; and it is a very shrewd evidence of an unsound state; and of a persons being under the power of delusion, to imagine, that he hath only such a testimony alwayes, without any challenges for sin at all, while he hath still a corrupt nature within him, as all other mortals have.
The 3d. is▪ That in the self same action, a Christian may, and readily will have both a challenge and a testimony; a challenge for something wrong and a testimony for something right therein; according to that word of Nehemiah, chap. 1. Hear the prayer of thy Servant, and of thy servants who desire to fear thy name; He, no doubt wanted not challenges for short-comings, yet he had a Testimony from his desire to fear Gods name; And Heb. 13. 18. The Apostle sayeth, we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly, and yet there was so much corruption remaining in the eminently holy man, as to raise challenges on him, as we see, Rom. 7. But he severs what is right in his own condition, from what is wrong; we would not therefore think, that we cannot have a good Testimony from our Conscience, except there be absolut purity in the duty, or action; This were, as if a man should say, I have no faith, because I have a mixture of unbelief with it; or I have no sincerity, because I have a mixture of hypocrisie with it: we know that Saints use to distinguish, and put a difference betwixt these, as that poor man did, who sayes, Mark 9. I believe, Lord, help my unbelief; as another may say, I have much hypocrisie, yet I have some … with it; as David doth on the matter, Psal. 51.
The Fourth is, That there may be a good Testimony of the Conscience, in a particular action, when as to the action, complexly considered, a Believer may see ground to be humbled; there being two parts in him, the renewed, and un-renewed part; sometimes the corrupt and un-renewed part may so restrain him, that he cannot do that which he would; and yet he may have some peace here, in as far as according to the renewed part, he allowes not himself in that prevailing of the corrupt and un▪ renewed part, but is afflicted with, and protests against the same; so the Apostle sayes, Rom. 7. 15, 16, 17. That which I do, I allow not; …or what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I; if then I do that which I would not, I consent …nto the law that it is good, and it is no more I that do it▪ but sin that dwelleth in me, for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not; He wants not ground of challenge from the un renewed part; yet he hath pea…e on this account, that he can & doth warrantably distinguish betwixt the law of his mind and the law of his members; and he maintains the peace of a good Conscience in some respect, not as to his being free from all guilt, in respect of his un renewed, or corrupt part; but in respect of the opposition which the renewed part made unto it; in respect of his corruption he looks at, and cryes out of himself, as a sinful miserable and wretched man; and yet in respect of his grace, he looks at, and proclaims himself to be a happy man through Christ Jesus, and on that account heartily thanks God: I grant that Believers have need of much singlenesse, and selfdenyal here; yet they cannot have peace, unless they thus distinguish; and by the way (which might be a distinct doctrine) let me say, that a Believers not admitting of the Testimony of his Conscience for him, when he hath ground for it, is the cause of much heartlesness, and a mighty obstruction of his peace, comfort and joy; when he knowes not, how to wail out the Testimony of a good Conscience, from a croud, and heap (as it were) of challenges for much guilt.
… ly. Observe; That whoever would found peace and joy on the Testimony of his Conscience, would be sure, that it be a well grounded Testimony; therefore Paul in asserting the Testimony of his Conscience here, and his rejoycing on that ground, proves, that he had suf… ground, and warrand for his doing so; and brings … proofs of it viz. That, in simplicity, and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom▪ but by the grace of God he h…d his conversation in the world, and more aboundant…y to them ward; and indeed, if we consider, 1. of wha… …ighty concernment it is, and how great and … a building is built on it, we will find there is much need to have the ground well, and deeply laid. 2ly. If we consider what Rains, Floods and winds of Tentations, Troubles and challenges may descend, bea… and blow upon our building, and put it to the tryal… whether it be founded, and be built on the Rock, or on the Sand; we had need to look well on what ground we build, and that it be solid, and durable; we find, many that will have a sort of peace in health and prosperity, who, when sickness, adversity and death come, have their peace to seek, having been all the while but building (as it were) castles in the air. 3ly. If we consider, how easie, and ordinary it is for people here to go wrong, to be mistaken, and to think that all is well; when, alace! it is nothing so, but all quite wrong, it sayes, we had need to be sicker; …t cryes aloud to us, to look about us, and to make sure, solid, and sicker work.
For further prosecuting of this point, I shall, 1. shew how persons may suppose, that they have a good Testimony of their Conscience without a ground, or upon seeming grounds, without any solidity, or reality. 2ly. I shall shew what grounds will not bear this Testimony of a good Conscience. 3ly. I shall shew what grounds may bear it, or what may be the characters of a warrantable and well-grounded testimony of a good Conscience; most of all which we will find to be in this Text; to our discourses on which we resolve at this time to put an end.
For the First, viz. That people may suppose that they have the Testimony of a good Conscience without a ground, or on but seeming grounds; which is incident not only to natural men, but even sometimes to Believers themselves in some respect; men may gather a conclusion of peace from unsound grounds, and speak peace to themselves, when God has not spoken peace to them; There is a generation, sayes Solomon, Prov. 30. v. 12. that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness; a generation that foolishly fancy themselves to be right, when yet they are quite wrong: which we suppose comes to pass ordinarily, in these Four cases, or from these Four grounds. 1. When … haive holinesse, and do a piece, or part of their duty and work, but go not stitch-through with it, thinking they need not to be so full, so exact, and so precise, as the command calls for (which it may be they secretly judge to be too severe and rig…d) as it was with King Saul, who, when Samu…l came to him, after the slaughter of the Am…lekites, 1 Sam. 15. goes out to meet him, and sayes to him, Blessed be thou of the Lord, I have performed the commandment of the Lord; and when Samuel answers him, what means then the bleating of the sheep in min… …, and the …owing of the oxen which I …ear? Saul replyes, They have brought them from the Amalekites to be a sacrifice to the Lord; He thought that he had …ufficiently keept the commandment of the Lord, though he had preserved an A…ag, and some …ew of the best beasts, especially for such an use: Thus often natural men, if they do (as it were) two parts, or half of their duty, think they have done enough; and that they may have peace o… that ground. 2ly. When persons think that they mean well, and have an honest aim and design; and will (it may be) be ready to disput on that ground, with any that would find fault with them, and confidently assert that they have done well▪ as Saul does with Samuel, in that same Chapter, who sayes, yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and performed the commandment of the Lord; And that I have reserved these few sheep and oxen, I meant well, it was not from any greed or covetousnesse but to be a sacrifice for the Lora; what, sayes Samuel▪ hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? to obey is better then sacrifice, &c. That which many men call a good mind, or meaning, …s often the cut-throat of their peace, and hardneth them against just challenges. 3ly. When men are ignorant of the Law of God, it makes them to have peace, when they have no ground …or it; such are ready to think, that they have given o…edience to Gods commands, and that they have the Testimony of a good Conscience, because they know not the extent, and spiritual meaning of the Law of God; as we may see in that man spoken of, Matth. 19. who said, all these have I keeped from my youth up; He did no… grosly dissemble when he said so, but he was ignorant (as I said … now) of the spiritual meaning and extent of the Law; he thought he was not covetous, if he did no… oppress, and knew not what it was to post-pone all things in the world to God, and that he was bound in some cases, and as he called him to it, to quite all, and to follow Christ; and therefore turns his back on Christ, when he is put to the tryal: how many will have a great deal of peace, such as it is, after they have prayed, bee… hearing a Sermon? resting on the … performance, when in the mean time, they never discerned what it was to perform these duties spiritually; they fancy that they are not guilty of breaking the first …, if they have not down-right worshipped any other God but the true God, and know no spiritual …; that they are not guilty of murder, if they shed no man… blood, and know not, that rash anger is … breach of that command, and murder before God; and so in other commands. 4ly. When providence seems to countenance some particular in mens hand, and it goes with them; they are ready to think in that case, they have the Testimony of their Conscience, and so speak peace to themselves; as we see in Micah, when he has made his Teraphim, Ephod, and mol…en image, and meets with a vagrant Levit coming along, who … to stay with him; Now (sayes he) I know that the Lord will do me good, s…ing I have a Levit to be my Priest; He looks on providences furnishing him with a Priest, as Gods approving of his making these images: we will also find in Rachel and Leah, two instances of this, Gen. 30. Rachel in her barrenness gives Bilhah her maid to Iacob, and when she had brought forth a Son, she sayes, God hath judge… me, and beard my voice; But Leah, when she hath given her maid to him, is more express, and clear, while she sayes, after Zilpahs bringing forth a Son, God hath gives me my hire, because I have given my maid to my husband; It is very rare for people, when they seem to be countenanced in such or such a particular, that they have a great mind for, so to reflect on their way, as not sadly to mistake; there may be something of this, even in Believers, in so far as they have unmortified corruption in them; all which sayes, that we have great need, and are so much the more concerned to study to be impartial, and single, in grounding the Testimony of our Conscience, that we mistake it not; For providence coun… us in a particular will not, if there be no more, prove us to be right in it; God not having given us that, as our Rule to walk by, but the law and testimony; by which the Conscience being well informed, and giving its Testimony accordingly; that is the alone Testimony which can yield solid peace and joy.
For the 2d. thing, viz. Some false grounds (even beside these) that men use to rest upon; we shall name these four, that are very unsound, and unsicker, and they are implyed in the Text. The 1. is implyed in Godly sincerity: for clearing of which, ye would take notice, that there may be a moral sincerity in mens practices that is not godly sincerity; which is opposit to more gross counterfeiting and dissembling; This we find to have been in Abimelech, Gen. 20. who said to God, In the integrity of my heart have I done this; The man said not one thing, when he intended another; this moral sincerity will not prove a solid ground of the Testimony of a good Conscience; therefore we see that God plagues A…imelech, notwithstanding his moral honesty and sincerity; it is true, it may extenuat, and in some respect excuse a mans fault, as it does Pauls persecution, who did it ignorantly, and out of unbelief, and the Iews their zeal, which was not according to knowledge; but as the thing it self was not warrantable, so no such thing can be a solid ground of peace; therefore the Iews zeal does not warrand them in that they did; nor Pauls persecution to be no sin, as neither the one nor the other, nor both of them together, warrand these spoken of, 1 Iohn 16. who, in killing the servants of Christ, thought they did God good service; the matter must be right, otherwayes there can never be ground for a good Testimony of the Conscience; There is somewhat of this kind of sincerity in many Merchants and Tradesmen, which makes them, if they be any way morally honest in their dealings, to think, that they have Religion enough, and sufficient ground for a good Testimony from their Conscience; but alace, this will not do the business, nor obtain such a Testimony; it is not sure for nought, that Paul puts in this word for a ground of his Testimony, Godly Sincerity.
The 2d. False ground is implyed in these words, not with fl…eshly wisdom; wherein ye may take notice, 1. that there is a fleshly wisdom, providence, or policy, whereby many men square their actions and wayes so, as the mean they pitch on may re…ch their end; and they may carry the matter so smoothly and handsomely, as not openly to offend, though they make but little Conscience, in the choice of means: but its not from a principle of Conscience, it is but worldly wisdom, which will come to nought. 2ly. Ye may notice here, that though this may keep a man sometimes from outward trouble, and in a sort of quietnesse of mind, and may yeeld him some ground of expectation to gain his point; yet it will not give him solid peace, nor be the ground of a good Testimony from his Conscience: …ndeed, where a tender well informed Conscience rules, and bears sway, natural wisdom is a serviceable and useful hand- maid; but when a man designs a good end to be compassed by fleshly wisdom, without consulting Conscience in it; though he should succeed, it will never give him peace. Therefore when Paul comes to Corinth to preach the Gospel, he declares that he will not preach nor disput to make a shew of his learning, or scholarcraft, nor to draw peoples respect and applause to himself, as the false teachers did; but with holy simplicity, he plainly i…structs them in the knowledge of the truth, and reproves impartially their faults, and so commits the su…cess to God: Thus a Minister may sinfully follow this rule or guide of fleshly wisdom, to come by a good end, to wit, the keeping of people from casting at his Ministry; these false teachers that were in Corinth, who did not (it may be) preach gross errours, and might possibly think they had some good end, yet in their preaching, through much fleshly wisdom, they …ought themselves, and made it their great work to gain the peoples respect and applause, by conniving at their …aults, rather than to profit them, and to gain their Souls: wo, wo to such Ministers, who wink at the sins of their hearers, that they may infinua… themselves on them, and court their favours: but closly to our point, we say, that though men should have never so good an end, fleshly wisdom, and carnal policy will never minister ground of a good Testimony from their Conscience unto them.
A th…rd false ground is implyed in these words, But by the grace of God, viz, as the principle of his actions and walk; which insi…uats first, that there are some good things which men may do, not from a principle of grace, but it may be from a meerly moral principle of pity, or a principle of natural courage, or the like; wherein however beneficial and acceptable these things may be to particular persons, or to humane societies, yet they can lay no solid ground of peace. 2. It insinuates that the thing that makes a man acceptable, and furnishes a good testimony to his Conscience, is, when he doth things from a principle of grace swaying and strengthning him; and where this principle is not, Conscience can …ever give a well grounded testimony to a man, suppose …e should Preach and Dispute for the Truth, and give his body to be burnt for it, therefore Paul sayes, that it was by the grace of God that he had his conversation in the world, and to them-ward.
A fourth false ground, that will not bear out a man is, when he only puts hand to some things, or duties of Religion, without d…signing and endeavouring in the whole strain and tract of his way to perfect holiness in the fear of God, and to be pure as Christ is pure; and without allowing himself in any sin, or in the neglect, or misper…ormance of any known Duty; and the reason of the unsoundness of this ground is, that if a truly tender Conscience put a man to one duty, it will put him to all duties; and if it put him to abstain from one sin, it will put him to indeavour to abst…in from all sins; and Paul here gathers not his testimony from one action or two▪ but from the tract of his Conversation.
Now if we lay by …ll these seeming and false grounds, it will be found that many, yea most persons have but an empty and …oom testimony, and a very ill grounded and unwarrantable peace.
For the third thing we proposed to be spoke to, viz. The grounds of a good testimony; we have them from the Text here in five or six steps, supposing the matter to be right, as all along we have done; The first is, singleness in a mans end, that he be not seeking himself, but Gods honour mainly; which is implyed in that word simplicity; a single end conduces much to a mans peace; its a sine quo non to a joyful testimony of the Conscience, and the first step to it here. The second is, godly sincerity, which is not only opposit to more gross hypocri…ie, dissembling and coun…erfeiting, but contradistinguished also from meerly moral sincerity; its not only to be honest before men and (to say so) before the Conscience, but also before God; I was also upright before him, and in his eye sight, sayes David, Psal. 18. See to this purpose, Luke 1 verse 6. and verse 75. and what the same Apostle sayes in the following Chapter, verse last. But as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ; this godly sincerity in a word is, when through grace a man walks so as he may be approven and commended by God, and not by his own Conscience only, let be by men, by whom to be judged either this or that way, is but a small thing as the Apostle speaks, 1 Cor. 4 3. Sincerity puts a man to aim at holiness and a conformity to God, and suffers him not to think it enough to have no challenge, but to try if there be ground for it. A third ground (which is negative) is in the next words, not with fleshly wisdom, but (as he said) with spiritual wisdom, with that wisdom which is from above; for though …leshly wisdom be decryed, yet so is not spiritual wisdom; it being a great help to a circumspect Christian walk, as we shew from these words, Eph. 5. Walk circumspectly not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time; and it is nothing else but a spiritually watchful and frugal catching hold of, and improving every opportunity of doing good, and of appearing for God, and the promoting of his interest within us and without us, as he calls us to it; wisely to observe, and watchfully to guard against whatever may be a diversion to us from our main work, and to strick in with what may further us in it, so that nothing may wound or marr our peace; Thus holy Iob hath some peace from this, I was not (sayeth he) in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet, yet trouble came; It is some ease to his mind, to reflect on his spiritually wise, and thrifty improving of his time, when his great trouble fell on him, That he was not secure, but praying, and offering sacrifice for himself, and his family. A fourth ground is, the acting and exercising of grace, by the grace of God, (sayeth the Apostle) That is, I had more then a natural principle exercised in my doing of duty; I did not things in my own strength, but God was depended on, and acknowledged, and his help sought and found: where we may take notice, that the right improving of grace, is the main ground of the good Testimony of a good Conscience, and a no…able help to attain it; not only the having of our nature renewed▪ but our having grace in exercise; to be praying in the spirit, praising in the spirit, hearing in Faith, and walking up and down in his name; not lippening to our selves, and to our own strength, but to him and to the strength of his Grace. A fifth ground is, That when all this is in some measure win at, a man be making Conscience of examining, and searching himself, and reflecting on his way, that he may know that it is so; for though Paul had his conversation by the grace of God, in simplicity, not in fleshly wisdom &c. yet he had not this joyful testimony of his Conscience till he put it to proof, and found it to be so indeed; and if he had not done this, he had not had Consciences good Testimony. A 6th and last ground is, when all this is done, that a man be denyed to it, and lay the weight of it only upon, and give the commendation of it altogether to the grace of God; that he single himself out▪ and exclude himself from having any praise of that which he hath attained to; therefore the Apostle here attributes all to grace; as he doth in like manner. 1. Cor. 15. v. 10. I laboured, sayes …e, more abundantly then they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me: and by the grace of God, I am what I am; he takes indeed a large Testimony to himself, for the Corint…ians their edif…cation; but attributes all to the grace of God: Now when we speak of acknowledging Gods grace, we would not have it done complementingly, or for fostering of pride or vanity, because of its being dispensed to us; but it would be done humbly and soberly; for a little spiritual pride, conceit and vanity, in reflecting upon what men have, or do this way, will be as a dead Flee, that will make this Box of savoury and precious oyntment to send forth a stinking smel; as we s…e in the proud Pharisee, who vainly and vauntingly said, I thank thee that I am not like this Publican; There is nothing more necessary for keeping the Testimony of a good Conscience clear, then to be very humble under it, and much denyed to it.