Discourse of the Gospel of Peace, Tract 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
The true causes of oppositi…n, and unpeaceableness in the professed Christian world, and especially among the professors of Christianity.
THIS hath been partly agitated in Sect. 1. to which I must refer you, that I may not do the same thing over again. But I shall here add divers other causes which deserve to be seriously considered and laid to heart. It is no strange thing that the Gospel should meet with opposition from a people perfectly strangers to it, and such as are prepossessed with a veneration for that which the Gospel is a professed adversary unto, and cannot consist with, as it certainly cannot with Judaism and Heathenism in the same Creed or practice.
But that those who do not only acknowledg the light of nature common to all mankind, or the Scriptures of the Old Testament, common to the Jews and Christians; but the New Testament, with its Exposition of the Old, and are the professed Disciples of Christ; I say, that these should not only live at such a height of variance, but pretend all from the conduct of, and zeal for the Truths contained in the same professed common rule, is not more scandalous and lamentable in its effects, than monstrous in its own nature. Some of the principal causes of this cvil will appear in what follows.
SECT. I.
The first I shall mention is, That in the visible Church there is a mixture of sincere Believers of, and Votaries to the Rules of the Gospel, and such as are pretenders, outside professors, and very hypocrites.
Those Parables concerning the Kingdom ofMat. 13. 3, 24, 28. God, i. e. the visible Church: The Gospel being like a Net that takes of all sorts of Fishes, good and bad. The Parable of the Sower; of the field of Corn: All these import the mixtures of sincere Christians, and hypocrites in the visible Christian Church; and that its state shall continue so more or less, beyond the cure of the best men, and the means they can use, till the end of the world; then the angels shall make an exact, perfect, and eternal separation of the one into the Heaven of the blessed; of the other into the Hell of the accursed.
This mixture considered, and such as runs too much through it in all the parts and veins of it: How can it be expected that all should move in a quiet and peaceable order? The principles of the one and the other (notwithstanding the greatest unity in profession that can be imagined) are not only divers, but diametrically opposite, as believers and unbelievers, born of the flesh and of the spirit, such as are of the world, and their affections and designs governed by it; and such as are taken out of the world, their hearts set on the things above, and their designs and motions answerable; such who are sincerely and intirely resigned to God in Christ (which is the true Sanctification) and such who are inslaved to their corrupt humours and interest. In a word, such as are truly enlightned, and quickned by Divine grace; and such as are blind and dead in trespasses and sins. There will be a time indeed (for the mouth of the Lord hath spokenIsa. 11. 6, 7, 8, 9. it) when, The wolf shall lie down with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed their young ones, and shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw as the ox, and the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the coccatrice den; they shall not hurt nor destroy in all Gods holy mountain, i. e. Though the adversaries to the Saints shall retain their old natures, yet there shall be from the all-ruling power of God an effectual restraint laid upon them. Tho their hearts shall not be changed, their hands shall be chained by an extraordinary and Divine influence, which the Text intimates to us, For the earth shall be full of the knowledg of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea. The sense of which I suppose to be either that there shall be such an universal knowledg of the Lord as shall convince men of the interest and justice of at least an amicable correspondence with the sincere professors; and of the superfluity of naughtiness, the inhumanity that is in a feral brutish deportment; or, that the sanctifying knowledg of the Lord shall obtain so generally, as that the upright ones shall have so far the ascendant over others as to keep them quiet and peaceable, tho against their own natures and inclinations.
SECT. II.
In and among those that are sincere professors of Christianity, there are too many sources from whence naturally this disquietness arises.
1. Conversion and Sanctification is not so perfected, in those in whom it is real; and the principles of it radicated in their souls; but there are sad remains of corrupted nature in all the instances of it in the best of men, much more in those that are true Christians, but without an hyperbole the least of all Saints.
And these remains of corruption in them (tho under some restraints by Grace) will not be altogether still and idle. The flesh will be lusting against the spirit, and too often bringing good men into captivity to the Law of sin. So far as these lusts prevail, they will diffuse into Kingdoms, Cities, Families, Churches, all converses, those hateful fruits of disquietness, and most of all into their own souls, which are so near the spring-heads, and through a gracious tenderness most sensible of the disorder.
If those chief Apostles Peter and Paul, such eminent Saints, had sinful distempers in them to raiseGal. 2. 11. Act. 15. 39 a quarrel; and Paul and Silas fell out to a parting, what may be expected from the common rank of Christians? But let us all along take this with us, that it was none of the Gospel, none of their Christianity that was in the fault, but a defect in their compliance with it. Whence come wars and fightings among Jam. 4 1.you, come they not from your lusts, &c. This is spoken of real Christians.
Secondly, And more particularly, It arises from the different sentiment of good men, of the mind of God in the Scriptures.
I dare be bold to say, that were it not for this, all contests would be for ever buried, or very shortlived among real Christians. That the Scriptures are by all professors of Christianity owned to be the Word of God, is an unspeakable mercy; for, thereby the standard of truth is preserved. That all sincere professors are willing to acknowledg it practically, is also a very happy consideration. Yet, while either ignorant defects in the knowledg of its sense, or erroneous determinations contrary to its sense, carry so great a party, and have some share in all; we must know how to separate causes and effects, or expect no such blessing as an universal peaceableness amongst all real Christians.
One only cure is left, which is to agree in aliquo tertio, i. e. to embrace that Gospel cure of the symptoms and effects of this disease in the eyes, which is, To forbear one another in love; to be of one heart, and one soul, with a non obstante to many different sentiments. And indeed God has not promised that babes and men shall ever in this world understand alike, but love and sorbearance he hath both commanded to all now, and hath promised shall be the blessing of the Saints in the days of the Churches glory in this world.
Thirdly, It arises from a false construction of each others sentiments, and commonly …rring on the worser side.
It is a fault among Christians (too notorious to need proof) to believe, and report of one another that they hold opinions which they do not; but it may be detested in their very hearts. And also that those opinions which are really theirs are false, when it may be they are true, or nearer the truth than their own. This breeds ill blood, and malignant spirits; alienates affections, and makes so much the greater soreness on the one part, because they know they are wronged and slandered. And indeed (as it too often happens) when once a contention and difference is raised, one part will be glad of any pretence true or false to speak evil of the other; and remove to a farther distance from brotherly love; and that which is worst of all, be very sorry if an evil report or surmise of the adverse party do not prove true.
I am afraid this is so Epidemical a disease, that too many better Christians in other respects, will …ind themselves touched with a taint of this peace-breaker. It is a truth that as to fact cannot be ref…lled. All that I must say in apology is, that I hop… when they come to see it in themselves, they will cry as loudly, crucifie it, as any other can do.
Fourthly, From an immod…rate zeal for the promoting or defending the interest of some doubtful and lesser truths.
I would be loth to be guilty of giving any discouragement to a godly zeal, at this time especially when 'tis so rare, and at so low an ebb. Yet I shall say of that zeal that, as where 'tis genuine and guided by a due proportion of light and discretion, 'tis the very sparkling beauty and cheerfulness of the Graces; so where 'tis adulterine, a wrong zeal, nothing is more mischievous and mons…rous.
The most beautiful faces (they say) look most terribly when anger possesses the features, and we all know that fire out of the Chimney is far worse than n…ne at all. It is good to be zealously affected (saithGal 4. 18. the Apostle) in a good matter. But a zeal not according to knowledg, or according to error, is too commonly a Jewish hard hearted zeal. I bear them Rom. 10. 2, 3.witness that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledg. The converted Jews had a zeal for the Law, to the prejudice of the Gospel, and the righteousness which is by faith. The unconverted Jews had so great a zeal for Moses against Christ, thatJoh. 16. 2. they thought they did God good service, by killing his Christian servants. Such an one was Saul in his ign…rant zeal, such were many of the Heathen in their Idolatrous zeal.
And this zeal where 'tis in a right path, may so far out-run its measure as to over-run many greater Truths, and run upon the very bellies of those who stand in their way, and whose knowledg, sobri…ty and grace far excels; and to destroy that Christian love and peace, without which Christianity it self looks more like a fury than the birth of the God and Gospel of love and peace.
The Scribes and Pharisees were branded as hypocrites, not for tything of Mint, Annis and Cummin, but for being more zealous for those minutes of Religion, than for its more weighty concerns of judgment, and the love of God. No truth is to be slighted, Luk. 11. 42.but may sometimes be concealed, and must always give way to greater and more weighty Truths, as to their agitations and interests. Christ taught his Disciples as they could bear. We can do nothing (saithJoh. 16. 12. the Apostle) against the truth, but for the truth, i. e. Our obligation in the discharge of our Ministry is so to circumstance it, as may most promote the truth, considered round, and taken together.
Sometimes men have let forth their zeal into the Channel of some one circumstantial or nonessential truth, so that they have been dry to all others. The contention about meats had well nigh this effect among some of the primo-primitive Christians. And I have known some among our selves, that have so far buried all truth in some one disputed non-essential, as to distinguish of persons as in or not in the truth, as they have espoused or rejected that, without farther explication.
Strange divisions were among the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 34. Cap. 4. 6. ult.who should carry the bell for the best Preachers, I am of Paul, I of Apollo, I of Cephas; and the interests ran so high, that they were puffed up for one against another. Proud of their choice, and partial adh…r…n…es. It may be there was a difference in their Gifts, and Minist…rial abilities, but they and their Gifts were all for Christ, in the edi…ication of the Church. How foolish and childish a heat was this controv…rlie?
Proportion is a great word, and hath all wisdom lodg'd in it; to give to every thing its due measure. Could we arrive at this, all false or immoderate zeal, which is but a dark heat, would vanish, and the peace of the Gospel be rid of a …ierce and unreasonable adversary. Errors and vanities in Religion would lose their advantages which they obtain▪ when received for Truths and Duties, tho confessed… lesser ones. And sure I am that in all Controversies we shall see never the worse, nor have our light the less clear, for a calm, meek, and quiet spirit.
SECT. III.
Causes of disquietness arising in the minds of particul… persons when the Gospel enters into their consciences by its Convictions.
It is an ordinary thing to reproach the faithful Preaching of the Gospel of Peace and purity, with the troubles it raises in mens minds, and that it makes them distracted and melancholly. It may be so in its events, but either its Preachers are very imprudent in the dispensation of it, or the true cause of such sad effects, must be found in somewhat else, and not the Gospel. I shall therefore faithfully, and as briefly as I am able solve this knot, and shew how far the Gospel contributes to this unquietness of mind, and to its cure, and then leave thy Conscience to judg of its faultiness, or innocency in this matter.
First, It doth in faithfulness and good earnest discover to men the horrors and misery of their condition, in a state of corrupted nature, of alienation from, and e…nity to God and godliness.
It tells men plainly and convincingly, That all they inherit by their birthright from our first Parents, isRom. 5. 12 Psal. 51. 5. Job 11. 12. but sin, misery, error, impotence, folly, and an utter incapacity of being happy; and an exposedness every moment (while in that state) to the just wrath and severity of a wronged, affronted Almighty God: That all the world is become guilty before Rom. 3. 19. Joh. 3. 18. Rom. 6. 23 Eph. 2. 12.God, subject to the curse of the Law, condemned already to the wages of sin, which is death, eternal death. That they are in that state strangers to the Covenant of promise, not having any promise-security of being out of Hell another moment. Either let men deny the truth of all, or any of these things, and make their denial good, or not blame the Gospel for telling them so great Truths so nearly touching them. What wonder if these things startle and amaze men that have lived so long without the knowledg, or a serious sensible thought of them that have dropped into the stream of a b…nighted sensual world, and been carried down smoothly and insensibly with it all their days; without putting these great questions home to themselves, What am I? How came I into being? What errand was I sent into the world about, by that God whose wisdom cannot be supposed to raise such a FabrickJob 35. 10. as man, and have no design in it, but to leave it to take its own course, eat, and drink, and play, and sin, and die as the beasts without farther account of its matters?
Will you quarrel the Gospel for this? or your selves who would otherwise have slept on in this wretched state and course, till you had slept the sleep of eternal death, and …ever been awakened, but in unquenchable flames, out of which there is no redemption? you may as w…ll quarrel him as a foe to your peace, who warns you how near you are to a precipice, which you are blindly running unto, and within a step, of that you may alter your course; or who gives you notice of a leak sprung in the Ship, that carries your lives, and all your concerns in it, because it gives you the trouble of hard pumping; or that awakens you out of a dead sleep, when your house is on fire, and the flames ready to devour you, because he hath spoiled a good nap, or lost you a pleasant dream, and put you into a short affright.
Secondly, It disrests men by taking them off from false foundations of hope of the cure of their misery, and to an interest in Gods favour, and eternal life.
It is true that the Gospel doth as well awaken men from sleeping on a wrong pillow of security, as from an insensibleness of the misery of a state of sin. Our Lord Jesus himself warns us that we build not on the sands, but on a rock; that weMat. 7. 26. Rom. 8. 5. Joh. 3. 18. Rom. 3. 21 Phil. 3. 1, to 11. may not be buried alive in the ruins of our hopes, but may be able to stand in present trial, and in the last judgment. It tells us that if we live after the flesh (whatever our knowledg or professions may be) we shall die. That he that believeth not is condemned already. That a meer civil life, or moral righteousness, will not justifie us in the sight of God. No, nor our personal Evangelical righteousness, or real sanctification, by its own worth or value, but the righteousness of Christ embraced and relied on by faith. That such a faith in Christ as is without works in the adult, is not saving, but dead, and will leave us exposed to an eternal death. That all our knowledg, profession, and attendance on external Ordinances and Worship, is but a shadow without substance, a body without a soul, if not animated by a sincere disposedness to the obedience of faith, a real prevailing respect to all Gods Commandments, both of the first and second Table. That he that is offended at the Cross of Christ, orMat. 10. 38 sufferings in and for adherence to his duty, hath no Gospel-worthiness or meetness for the Kingdom of Heaven. That a Sacramental, or Symbolical regeneration by external washing, or baptism, without spiritual real sanctification, is no such regeneration1 Pet. 3. 21 as will secure salvation to us. That all who are of the visible Church (whether universal or particular) on earth, and not real Saints, under a realMat. 25. 2, to 8. change to holiness of heart and life, shall notwithstanding (if so living & dying) be shut out of Heaven.
But if these faithful admonitions of the Gospel cause disquietness in the minds of those who lean on these Bulrushes, and shelter themselves in such deceitful unwarranted refuges, let them not blame the Gospel for telling them their danger, and rowsing them up to a sincere effectual faith and holiness; but let them blame their wilful ignorance, error, laziness, love of the flesh's ease, and indulgence and real unbelief that takes up in such hypocrisies, for their disrest. The Gospel disturbs them but in those ways of peace that will be bitterness in the latter end, and would not have them bring forth an abortive birth which after high expectation and some travel is a double wo.Heb. 6. 10, 11, 12.
If men will presume that if they do not wrong their neighbour they are righteous persons, tho they make no conscience of repentance towards God, nor faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; 'tis as reasonable for such men to expect peace with God, as for malefactors that are in a Goal to expect to be acquitted by the Judg and the Law, merely because they have not wronged one anorher, tho they are Traytors to their Prince, and have trampled all his Laws under their feet.
Believe it, th…se who have received the light of the Gospel, and will not live a Gospel-life, they turn that light into fire in their own bosoms, arm Conscience against themselves, breed that worm that will eat out all their comforts, and by its continual corrodings begin a hell within. If they will hold the truth in unrighteousness, Conscience will break l…se upon them, and accuse and torment them. Whereas if they walked in the light of Gospel-precepts and promises, their little-case would be turned into those comforts, and that peace which passes all understanding, if not that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.
Thirdly, Where the Gospel is sincerely embraced, disquietness may arise from divers causes.
1. From the want of assurance of their sincerity, and Gods favour.
Saving faith, and the faith of assurance, are two things, as different as is true believing on Christ, and believing that we do believe. The first must needs be before the second, as the existence of a thing must be before we can know that it is. Many a good soul lives in doubt of the latter all her days. But where there is the former, the concerns for eternity are secure; for the Lord knoweth who are his, tho they do not. But if they understood the Gospel and themselves, all their tormenting doubts would soon vanish. They have a proof of Gods love in their souls, and the light of the Gospel tells them so, but their eyes are so dim through ignorance, melancholly, fear, suspition, or Satans temptation, that they cannot see it. No wonder these good hearts are unquiet for the present, while to them, or in their apprehensions they are free among the dead. But this is not the fault of the Gospel, but of their own ignorance of the truth.
2dly, From the motions and prevalencies of remaining corruptions. This is not only the cause of continual agitations in the soul, the spirit lusting against the flesh, and the flesh against the spirit; but besides that, all those motions of sin discover a sad source of sinful evil yet dwelling and abiding in us, and those motions and actuations of it are not only reluctancies, but rebellions against the Law of God, and spirit of Grace. The events are oftentimes to sins advantage, and we are led captive by it for a season: What I would, that I do not; but what Rom. 7. 15I hate, that do I.
But if men shall be offended at the Gospel of Peace, and object against its title as incongruous, upon these or the former considerations; it is without all shadow of justice; for all its tendencies are to a righteous, real, satisfying, and durable peace; and will certainly procure it where it meets with a full and due compliance. But so far as we are defective therein, the banks are broken down, and sin and miseries break in upon us. And to a sanctified observing spirit, the effects, but much more the cause cannot but be grievous.
To conclude, If it shall be said that then what hath been spoken in the behalf of the Gospel of Peace, is all idle and to no …urpose; because 'tis acknowledged that in the best there is, and will be that, which as long as they abide in flesh will resist, and obstruct its efficacy. I answer first, That as the ultimate design of the Gospel is to bring us to that state wherein our peace shall be compleat; so notwithstanding all the troubles that arise in the mean time to a sincere upright soul, this feli…ity of everlasting rest will be the certain issue. And for our present militating state, there are in it (while we vigorously press toward that mark) that kind and degree of peace which passes all understanding, with the present satisfaction that arises from the prospect and sense of that perfect peace, that Crown of Glory, Righteousness and Life, which we are nearer to, by every day that passes over our heads.
I must not leave this blessed and beautiful Doctrine, without some improvement. It being such a well of life and truth, we shall therefore let down our Pitcher, and draw from thence some rational conclusions for divers services.