The One Necessary Thing to be Sought, Dialogue 4
DIALOGUE. IV.
QUEST. I.
SInce we have had this occaſion to touch a little ſome of the great and weighty concernes of practicall religion, I muſt yet preſs you with ſome few propoſals, anent the preſent time we are fallen in, when ſuch ſad appearances and a faint almoſt every where now is, ſo as many are like to give over, as men aſtonished, and loſe both their heart and hand at once in the matter of duty.
ANSWER. We are indeed fallen in trying times. But conſider alſo 1. What great confirmations have been given in to the truth ere our night grew ſo dark, and have now loſt ſight of them all. 2. What kept the ſaints from ſinking an hundred years paſt, when to be burnt at the ſtake for the truth was one of the moſt uſuall leſſons of Chriſtianity; and to quite all for Jeſus Chriſt? Yea, whence was it, that their ſtrength and reſolution grew, as the tide grew ſtrong againſt them? 3. Look through the whole of the Scripture, and on the Churches condition under the New Teſtament, and I am ſure, nothing can be more clear than this, that the greateſt triumph that ever Jeſus Chriſt hath had in his followers, was not in calme and proſperous times from without, but when they were at the loweſt.
QU. II.
But how is it in ſuch times of abounding light, as theſe now are, that theſe great confirmations of the truth, which were then given in by the Saints, are now ſo rare, yea much unkuown to moſt of this generation?
ANS. The way of the Lord is ſtill the ſame, and in all times his word doth good to them that walk uprightly. But it may be clear. 1. How ſuch degrees of peace, comfort and aſſurance of the truth hath ſtill kept ſome proportion to ſome more remarkeable time and meaſure of the Saints ſufferings, the ſpirit of God and of glory then reſting upon them. 1 Pet. 4: 14. 2. Then was the life of faith, a following of the Lord fully, with a large venturing on hand in another manner known amongſt his followers, than it ſeemes to be at this day; and Oh! How rare a practice is it now to beleeve, when there are almoſt no ſenſible grounds to be comforting? 3 Though former ages had not that meaſure of light which is now, yet it may be ſeen how the aw and authority thereof was in another manner on the conſcience of Chriſtians, and their work to live religion, when there was no viſible inducement to profeſs the ſame, but for the truths ſake; but they endured, as ſeeing him who is inviſible, and did live and feed on the very marrow and ſubſtance of Religion in another manner, than ſeemes by the moſt of Profeſſors now to be underſtood.
QU. III.
VVhat might be the moſt effectuall mean for recovery, and to be led in the way of the promiſe of the Lords returning with theſe wonted ſignes of his preſence, when it ſeemes to be ſo dark and diſmall an hour now on the Church?
ANS I hope with ſome aſſurance I may offer theſe. 1. That ſuch as love the truth would with greateſt ſeriousneſs watch againſt the preſent publick, and prevailing evills of the times, to have their garments kept from the ſmalleſt touch and defilements thereof; I meane ſuch evills, after which the multitude moſt runs, where the countenance and favourable aſpect of great men ſeemes moſt to follow, and is a moſt remarkeable contagion in the time; for it is here the ſmalleſt acceſſion will draw deeper on the conſcience, & have a more difficult recovery than other perſonal infirmities, & a ſevere withſtanding thereto lead in to moſt ſenſible enjoyments of the Spirit of God. 2. Let us enquire where the Testimony of the preſent day to the truth doth moſt ly, which may be more peculiar to ſome of the Reformed Churches of Chriſt than others; for in a cloſs adherence thereto we may aſſuredly hope for the outletting of the ſpirit of God, from his own promiſe, of having a ſpecial reſpect thereto. Rev. 3: 10. and 12: 11; and herein should the truth ma…e you free. It hath been the bleſſed diſpoſall of the Lord, that this great intereſt of Chriſt in his being King and head over his Church, and the alone Lawgiver thereto, and that his Kingdome is not only within on the ſouls of the Elect, but over his Church, as a viſible Politick body diſtinct from all the Kingdomes of the earth, is that great truth, which the Church of Scotland hath now in theſe late times had most peculiarly aſſigned to witneſs for Yea this great truth we may ſee not there alone, but elſe where moſt viſibly oppoſed, & I hope will be owned, as the common cauſe of all the Reformed Churches, to whom thls crown and ſupremacy of their glorious head should be dearer, than all their intereſts within time. Great is that peace and joy will be found in a cloſs adherence thereto, a more large outpowring of the ſpirit might be hoped for to follow this Teſtimony, when it is now called for in the ſeaſon thereof. 3. What a hopfull preſage were it of the Lords returne in this day, if both private Chriſtians, and Miniſters of the Goſpell were found more preſt to bring into themſelves their deep acceſſion and share in the provoking cauſe of this great wrath now gone forth, and their being content to be abaſed and ly in the duſt, that the unſpotted righteouſneſs of God might shine forth? we might then aſſuredly hope for ſome more viſible ſignes of his preſence, and a more joint uniting in knowing both the cauſe and cure of our greateſt diſtempers. 4. What a bleſſed aſſay should this be to the Churches healing, if a greater onneſs amongſt the godly in theſe times, were with more deſire and intenſeneſs followed; who have this with ſuch expresneſs left by our great Maſter, not only for the credit of the goſpell, and promoting the intereſt thereof, but as a ſeale of our love and obedience to him? Oh! that ſo few are found with that ſuteable weight on their ſpirits to be concerned in this, as though this great duty of mutuall freedome, could not be managed with that humble ceding, and prudent tenderneſs to others, as might tend to a further cementing in love; yea to goe together in others hand without any jarre. Let the things of God have a preference to our own things, and our Maſters intereſt be dearer to us, than our ſelves; and Chriſtians will not then long be at ſo ſad a diſtance with others; both in their judgements and affections, but that bleſſed ſtrife ſhould moſt appear, how to ſtrive together, and not againſt other for the intereſt of Chriſt. Yea with this I muſt add, that which Chriſtians ſhould much ſtudy, and ſo natively reſolves in mutuall love and condeſcendence one to another, is humility, which when corruption cauſeth the mind to ſwell, will quickly help it to fall; and how ſad is it, that ſuch a name is not with greateſt abhorrence entertained, as that of a party, o… keeping in there with; what? is Chriſt divided? or is there any other head and leader than he? who is Paul? or who is Appollos? Or have we another intereſt, if we hope through grace to be accepted of him at his ſecond Coming, but his truth to contend for, which without any perſonall quarrell or bitterneſs, we ſhould with Levi know neither Father nor Brother? But oh! What we loſe oft in the very manner of our deport and following of duty, when there may be a ſerious aime on both ſides at one and the ſame ſcope, which calls much for a being alone, in a neer fellowſhip with God, to meet together with more advantage.
QU. IV.
But you ſee under what reproach the way of the Lord is at this day, and how much the Credit of the truth ſuffers by ſore and ſubtill reflections that are caſt thereon.
ANS. 1. What? doth this shake any, or render the truth doubtfull, if ever they knew the power and certainty thereof on their ſoul? for it is ſure, religion will never loſe weight with thoſe who know it in earneſt, under the greateſt cloud of detraction and contempt. 2. What can the furtheſt eſſayes of ſuch reach, who dare not avowedly deny the Scripture, but are enforced to own that which breaketh all their deſignes, ſince it is enough, the Teſtimony of God in his word is ſure? nor can the Sun ceaſe to shine, what ever thick vapours may darken the air a little to us. 3. Do but ask the greateſt Reproacher of godlineſs, what his thoughts are, when death is looking him in the face, if he will put this in his Teſtament, or adventure to ſeale ſuch a witneſs with his dying breath. O, is it not then, that the mockers are enforced to confeſs they now find religion to be a matter of earneſt which before they ſcoffed at.
QU. V.
But it ſeemes ſtrange, what quiet and confidence many ſuch, who are viſible haters of the truth, and of the power of Religion, own in their way?
ANSW. Friend, this is one of the ſad miſtakes moſt are in, but let me beſeech you, come a little more neer, and then ſee and judge what true peace and quiet ſuch have, what ever preſent ſhun-ſhine they may be under from the World. 1. Who are ſo oft at work, how to bridle their conſcience to frame diverſions, and find out ſome falſe grounds of peace, whilſt the truth of God upon any neer approach is ſo viſible a terrour to them, 2. Why do theſe hate a ſearching miniſtry ſo much, though the word name none? Is it not becauſe the light torments them, and they cannot ſtand before it? and are ſuch to be envied by any? 3. How is the ſenſe of guilt, and of their former way ſo affrighting upona ſurpriſing ſtrait, or a neer approach to death? or would you wiſh to dy with ſuch, on whoſe very countenance may be oft read, (let them conceale never ſo much,) theſe dreadfull preſages and fear of a judgment to come? 4. And is not wickedneſs a viſible puniſhment to it ſelf, which with ſuch a ſting and fear is haunted, as it may be ſeen, when they ſeek moſt to outdare their conſcience, they find it ſtronger than they, and whilſt no ground of fear or trouble is from without, yet a dreadfull ſound is in their ear, of what is to come? 5. Why are theſe under ſuch dread to be alone, and thus in any meaſure ſerious with their ſoul, to look but over their own caſe, and is this a deſireable peace or quiet? 6. And whence is it that ſo many, who have moſt derided holineſs in their day, are preſſed to enquire and call for ſome ſerious Miniſter of Chriſt; yea to deſire ſuch moſt, whom they hated before, when death once is dealing with them?
QU. VI.
But whilſt the times we are now fallen in are ſo remarkeably ſad and afflicting, what can the righteous do, or would most help against the imbittering troubles and griefs of a Chriſtian life?
ANSW. Let us conſider 1. How much of the Scripture is peculiarly writ for the afflicted, and ſuch as have no viſible help or comfort. 2. That the very nature of affliction and trouble is ſo far changed in its being ſanctifiedly exerciſing, as in ſtead of poiſon to be made medicinal. 3. Are not the Chriſtians ſaddeſt hours on as ſwift a courſe, as their time; and each hour and day putting by ſome part of its appointed meaſure? Yea though ſome thouſands of croſſes ſhould be allotted you, they will come to one at laſt, 4. A few hours under the pain of a wounded Spirit, and the terrours of the wrath of God, would make ſuch to reckon a freedome from this, (though with the ſoreſt of outward affliction) were a ſweet calme and deliverance. 5. Is not a ſanctified croſs, without any bounds ſet to the meaſure thereof, one of the moſt expreſs Scripture ſignes of the love of God to his own, the want whereof might indeed be the Chriſtians ſoreſt trial, leſt his ſhare be with the World, and ſuch were Baſtards, not Sons? 6. If you can read the moſt dark and ſaddeſt providence with that Commentar of the Scripture thereon, you will then know how the Saints afflictions ſtand for bleſſings; Matth. 5: ver. 10, 11. and diverſe temptations to be a ſolide ground of joy and comfort, Jam. 1: ver. 2. 7. Conſider but in the ſaddeſt affliction, how much ſadder this might have been, and that they are not thus a ſcandal to the generation of the righteous. 8; What if a…l our life had been a continued tract of grief, bitterneſs and trouble, and but rarely the leaſt of outward comforts dropt in, and ſo much only given as to keep from ſinking? Oh! durſt ſuch quarrel, who knew of an eternity of joy in the cloſe? 9. It was a right way the Lord led his people in, when he led them through a labyrinth of ſore troubles in the wilderneſs, Pſal. 107: ver. 7. and is there ſhewed as an embleme of the journeying ſtate of the Church and each of the Saints here. 10. One ſight of that glorious Land which is above, with the firſt moment of the afflicted Chriſtians entry there, will compenſe to the furtheſt a life time of ſorrowes and grief. 11. Is it not here the faith and patience of the Saints muſt ſhine forth, the trial whereof is a more invaluable thing, than all the treaſures of the earth. 12. The ſeaſon of enduring, you know, is but ſhort, which for all eternity will never meet the Chriſtian again; and Oh! would you loſe even the leaſt of ſuch an opportunity, not in the trial of your faith and patience only, but of your love to Jeſus Chriſt, that tribulation and diſtreſs was not able to ſeparat betwixt him and you? Rom. 8: ver. 39. And your tried love under ſoreſt outward preſſures may be reported in Heaven and recorded there. I ſhall but adde, how ſweet muſt that be to a Chriſtian, when he can ſay, Let my beloved come and eat of his pleaſant fruits, Cant. 4. ver. 16. which to them had moſt pain and wreſtlings in bringing forth.
QU. VII.
VVhat are theſe pleaſant fruits, which can be found under the croſs, and the many imbittering griefs and troubles of a Chriſtians life?
ANSW. It is ſure, no ſeaſon hath been more remarkeable for ſowing to the Spirit and bringing forth much fruit for the Lord, than a time of the croſs, and moſt ſearching trials that way; and theſe have been known to ſuch as were ſuteably exerciſed thereby; the gain and pleaſure whereof hath made the remembrance of their ſaddeſt hours ſweet. 1. When contrition and tenderneſs, and ſoft walking before the Lord hath followed thereon; for ſuch are his delight, in whom he takes greateſt pleaſure, Eſai. 58: 15. 2. Humility, and the Chriſtians geting his Spirit kept low, is ſuch a fruit, as may make their reckoning ſweet on any other loſs; the way to know how to abound, is to know how to be abaſed. Phil. 4: 12. and this is one of the peculiar ends of afflicting Providences, to hide pride for men. Job. 33. 17. Obleſſed they who are no leſs concerned to hide it from themſelves. 3. Is it not a pleaſant fruit, where, by the croſs Jeſus Chriſt is more endeared to his people, and thus precious unto them; their ſoul cleaving to him in deſire and love, even when their ſoul cleaveth to the duſt by a humbling rod? O what a rent and tribute is this, which in the Chriſtians ſaddeſt hours only can be payed into their bleſſed Maſter? 4. A through reſignation and ſurrender to the Lord and his diſpoſal, is a rare and choice improvement of the Croſs. Yea it is then found, a Chriſtian to be neereſt his mercy, and his burden moſt ſenſibly grow light; and that this makes a ſpeedy ripening for times of refreſhment from the preſence of the Lord. 5. This great fruit is then to be ſought after, by beleeving in hope, when it is againſt hope, which is one of the higheſt pieces of ſervice for giving Glory to God, that a Chriſtian here can be called to, and thus for putting to their ſeale, that God is true. 6. It is at the loweſt Chriſtians have the moſt remarkeable advantage, by patient enduring for being more than conquerours through him that hath loved them. Rom. 8: v. 37. yea that thus the power of Chriſt resting upon them, may have in ſuch a greater triumph, and over a more formidable party, than ever Alexander or Caeſar could boaſt of in all their conqueſts.
QU. VIII.
VVhilst it may be ſtrange, how ſmall a proportion the practice of most in theſe times ſeeme to have to their light, and mens uſual converſe with religion more about the uppermost boughs, than to ly neer the great and weighty things thereof; what might most help to put ſome deeper impreſſion and weight of a Chriſtians work on him, and provoke to ſeriouſneſs, by having ſome greatest truths most frequently kept in ſight?
ANSW. You know, it is not the moſt marvellous things of Religion, nor if one ſhould riſe from the dead could deeeply work upon the heart without the Spirit of God. But I muſt tell you what was the deſire of a Judicious Father to a hopleſs ſon, when he was a dying, that he would but once a day take half an hour alone by himſelf, which upon trial and ſome deep reflection, afterward that young man had, what this deſire might meane, was bleſſed to be a mean of his recovery: Oh! If moſt who are profeſſed Chriſtians were but once this length, that beſide ſome retirement to prayer, they could but for a few moments be alone once a day to conſider theſe truths, which I ſhall here inſtance. 1. What were deſireable and comforting in the ſtate of man, if it looked not higher than things ſeen, or his preſent abode in the world? 2. How ſwiſtly are the enjoyments of the earth, and delights of the fleſh gone and periſhed in the preſent uſe thereof? 3. O what ſhould this be to think ſeriouſly on, that the Goſpel is an undoubted reality, and ſo far hath the Holy God been mindful of man and magniſied him, yea even beyond fallen Angels, that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould have come down to the world to make a purchaſs of ſuch to himſelf, and ſave them from the wrath that is to come? 4. That the import of the Goſpel is no leſs than an eternity of Glory, even to the meaneſt of the Saints; and what a bleſſed ſtrait were this for a Chriſtian; how to divide his wondering betwixt that which is now paſt, in the great work of Redemption, and that which is to come, in the full manifeſtation of Glory. 5. Let us think more frequently on this alſo, that the pooreſt now on the earth hath an immortal ſoul, that is of a more excellent nature, and more ineſtimable value, than theſe viſible Heavens, the Sun, Moon, and Stars; yea ſuch, as no leſs than the blood of the Son of God revealed in our Nature could ranſome from wrath, and yet we put ſo ſmall a price thereon. 5. That it is ſure, ſo great and ſolemne a buſines as Death is before us, and we muſt know ſhortly what it means, and to enter into another world. O what will this once be, and ſhould it not now deeply concerne each, that death come not on all at once, by more frequent and ſerious converſe therewith? 6. Let us but now bring neer our thoughts what thoughts we ſhall have of the world, when our eyes are ſhuting upon it, never to enjoy this any more? And what thoughts that marvellous change muſt cauſe on mens ſpirits, when once entred into endleſs eternity? 7. How marvellous is this, that may cauſe our hearts to faile with wondering on ſome neer converſe therewith, that not only there is ſuch a hope as to be for ever in Heaven, but that our nature ſhould be ſo far advanced, even above the Nature of Angels, in that unconceiveable Union with the divine Nature conjoined for ever, in our bleſſed head and Redeemer. 8. And what ſhould this be to think on, that our Bodies, when laid in the duſt, ſhall not only be aſſuredly raiſed, but made like to the glorious Body of Chriſt, Phil. 3: 21?
End of the text · Robert Flemming, The One Necessary Thing to be Sought (1679)