Four Profitable Treatises, Treatise 2

Four Profitable Treatises · Treatise 2

p. 73The Spiritual Watch.

2 Tim. 4. 5.

Watch thou in all things

IN the verſes going before we have 1. The charge that the Apoſtle gives to Timothy, ver. 1. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that ſhall judge the quick and the dead. There are many duties we are loath to come unto, and are tempted from; ſo that we have need of all ſtrong cords to draw us to them.

2. We have the thing he gives him this charge for; and that is, ver. 2. Preach the word in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon, &c. which duty ſtrongly lyeth upon the Miniſters of the Goſpel, to hold forth the Word of God, to edifie and convert mens ſouls.

3. Here is the reaſon why he gives him this charge, and that is in the third and fourth verſes, For the time will come, when they will not endure ſound Doctrine, &c. The more danger there is among people, the more inſtant ſhould Miniſters p. 74be, to preach the Word unto the conſcience. Now in the verſe I have read unto you, the Apoſtle perſwades Timothy to watchfulneſſe; as who ſhould ſay, Though others be careleſs and negligent, yet I would have thee to be watchful, conſider, thou art a Watchman. Every Chriſtian is to watch over his own wayes, and thoſe that are committed to his charge: but Miniſters are watchmen over their people, therefore here is a double reaſon to move him to watchfulneſs; both in regard of his own ſoul, and the people he was ſet over, Mark. 13. 37. our Saviour ſaith, What I ſay to you, I ſay to all, Watch. And what Paul ſaith here to Timothy, I may ſay to all Chriſtians, Watch in all things.

For the better handling of this point, I will ſhew you,

Firſt, What it is to watch.

Secondly, The things we muſt watch.

Thirdly, The reaſons of it.

Firſt, What it is to watch. And to watch inWhat it is to watch, Literally. Scripture is taken two wayes, Literally, and Spiritually.

Firſt, Watching ſometimes is taken Literally, and then it ſignifies a waking, when the time, or nature calls not for ſleep; for there is a difference between watching, and waking: we are all awake at this time, or elſe ought to be, but yet we cannot be ſaid to watch; but this is to watch, when time or nature calls for ſleep. When a man awaketh all night, or the greateſt part of the night, as Luke 2. 8. The Shepherds were watching their flocks by night: And this is two fold, either Ordinary, or Extraordinary,

p. 75Ordinary watching is contrary to immoderateneſſeOrdinary. in ſleeping. As when a man is ſober in eating, and drinking, and other lawful things; ſo we ought to be ſober in our ſleep, for it is a dangerous thing, if we ſuffer immoderate ſleep to fall upon us.

Now Extraordinary watching is contrary toExtraordinary. ſleep it ſelf, as ordinary watching is contrary to ſleepineſſe; for it takes away our natural ſleep, which otherwiſe we are to have. And this is for two reaſons:

The firſt is for a Civil end, when we watch withFor a Civil end. thoſe that are ſick, as a duty of Charity; it is fit that thoſe that are well, ſhould break their natural ſleep and reſt, to be helpful to thoſe that are ſick; this is a Civil end.

Secondly, There is a Spiritual end of extraordinaryFor a Spiritual end. watching, and that is, when a man is not only moderate in ſleeping, but abates himſelf of that reſt he may lawfully take, for a Spiritual end. As Saint Peter ſaith, Watch unto prayer, 1 Pet. 4. 7. and the Church, Lament. 2. 19. watched to humble their ſouls under Gods hand. For ſometimes we have need to break our very natural reſt, for the good of our ſouls. Though we be never ſo careful, and conſcionable in the day time, yet it may ſo fall out, that the day will not be enough, but we muſt entrench upon the night alſo, to ſeek the Lord extraordinarily; but this watching is not here meant, though it be ſometimes required. But a Spiritual watching is ſpecially meant, whichSpiritually. includes three things in it.

Firſt, It doth note a readineſſe of minde to beIt implies proneneſs to be drowzy. drowzy; for as in natural and literal watching, p. 76it doth note a natural proneneſs to be drowzy, either through the darkneſſe of the night, or the heat of the weather, or the like; ſo this ſpiritual watching ſignifieth unto us, that we are naturally ſubject to be ſecure ſpiritually, and vain, and idle, and negligent, and have need to be rouzed up: for indeed all Commandments ſince the Fall, are ſuch as do not agree with our nature: as when he commands us to ſeek the Lord while he may be found, that intimates, that we are by nature apt to put it off, and to be careleſs of making our peace with God; and when the Lord ſaith, pray alwayes, it doth imply, how backward we are to that duty, how apt to neglect it, or to ſhuffle it over, and to be luke-warm in it: before the Fall when God did bid man do any thing, the bidding of him did imply, that if he were not careful, he was in a poſſibility of breaking the commandments; it did not argue a proneneſs to break them: but ſince the Fall, the commandements of God, whatſoever God hath commanded us to do, either for matter or manner of it, it implyeth, how backward to, and untoward we are in doing it.

Secondly, Watchfulneſſe doth imply a labourEndeavour to ſtir up our ſelves. and endeavour in our ſelves, to take off this ſinful proneneſſe to evil that is in us, and to be ſeriouſly ſtirred up, to look after our duty whatſoever it is, both towards God, and towards man, we ought to ſhake off all untowardneſſe of ſpirit, whereby we are unfit to watch; watchfulneſſe implyeth this alſo, Epheſ. 5. 14. Awake thou that ſleepeſt, and ſtand up from the dead: as who ſhould ſay, Shake off thy drowzineſſe, and labour to p. 77break off this folly of heart, whereby thou goeſt dreaming on, and rouze up thy ſpirit, and ſtand upon thy guard.

The Third and main thing: This watchfulneſsIt is an intentive Conſideration in all Caſes. doth include ſome further buſineſſe or duty to bedone that is not yet performed; for watchfulneſſe is an act to help forward ſome further act: As for example, We are bound to remember God in all our wayes; the want of this, is the reaſon we ſo often ſin againſt God; now if we did remember God, if we did remember his Holineſſe, if we did remember the greatneſſe of his Power, and the ſtrictneſſe of his Juſtice againſt Sin, if we did remember our Death, and what account we are to make before him, this would be a great help to keep us from ſin; now if we would remember this, a ſpecial way to help us, is to watch, as Acts 20. 31. Watch and remember, ſaith the Apoſtle; he being deſirous that they ſhould remember the admonitions and exhortations which he had propounded, he layes down this as a ſpecial means to help them hereunto, to watch: So we are to be watchful, that we may be ſober in eating and drinking, and all lawful things; for how ſuddenly do diſtempers break in upon us, unleſſe a man look to himſelf? now watchfulneſſe is an excellent help to Sobriety, 1 Theſſ. 5. 6. Let us watch and be ſober: We had need to watch whatſoever we go about, that we may be ſober in it; whatſoever wordly buſineſſe we go about in our Callings, we had need to have this watchfulneſſe, that we be not over-whelmed, and over head and ears in the world, that we may not be intemperate in our eating and drinking, that we may not give p. 78our ſelves too much liberty and freedom in talking and diſcourſing of the things here below; ſo we are bound to keep our garments, that our nakedneſſe may not be ſeen, that the ſins that are up and down in the world do not defile them, that the temptations, and alurements, and occaſions we meet withal, and the examples of the times, and ſuch like, do not take away our righteouſneſſe from us: now watchfulneſſe is an help hereunto, as we may ſee, Rev. 16. 15. the text ſaith, Bleſſed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments: So that watchfulneſſe is an excellent help for a further act to be done: when a man hath ſome duty or other to be done, which the Lord requires ſhould be done with care and diligence, watchfulneſſe is a help thereunto, as Hab. 2. 1. the Prophet knowing there was ſome Prophecy to be beſtowed upon them, the Prophet laboured to be in a fit caſe to receive it; and that he might ſo be, I will watch ſaith he: in a word, watchfulneſſe, is an intentive conſiderateneſſe of the heart, when a man doth conſider how he is to do every thing, leſt he be ſurpriſed either by Satan, or the world, or by his own ſubtil fleſh; when a man is conſiderative, and takes heed to himſelf, to his thoughts, and his words, and all his actions, as our Saviour ſaith, Take heed, Watch, and Pray, Mark. 13. 33. When he would deſcribe watchfulneſſe, what it is, he ſets another phraſe by it to open it to us, take heed, watch, and pray. There is a kind of heedleſſeneſſe that is apt to cleave to the heart, whereby the heart is careleſſe what ſnares are before it: now watchfulneſſe doth take off this, and maketh a man to take more heed in whatſoever he doth, ſo p. 79that there can be no opportunity of doing good, but he takes it; no good motion is ſuggeſted, but he lyeth at catch to receive it, for this is watchfulneſſe. Prov. 8. 33. Bleſſed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates: here you may ſee watchfulneſs is expreſſed, when a man comes into the preſence of Chriſt, waiting to hear whatſoever ſhall come from Chriſt, and there is nothing that drops from the Miniſter that concerns him, but he is ready to receive it; when a man waits to be ready to obey whatſoever commandment the Lord delivers, and to take heed to avoid whatſoever the Lord forbids. This is watchfulneſs.

Now the ſecond thing is, what we muſt watch? What we muſt watchI Anſwer, We muſt watch our ſelves, and all the duties of Religion, and time.

Firſt we muſt watch over our ſelves. Ponder Our Selvesthy pathes, ſaith the Wiſe man, Prov. 4. 26. as who ſhould ſay, Look to thy ſelf; take heed to every ſtep that it be ordered aright: How ſoon may a man be turned out of the way? How ſoon was David carried away into thoſe two great ſins of Murther and Adultery? How ſoon was Peter put beſids his Reſolution in the high Prieſts Hall, for want of watchfulneſs? If he had watched and remembred our Saviours item, he had never denied his Maſter: A man is marvellous ready to be carried away, therefore we muſt watch our ſelves.

Firſt, And in particular we muſt watch our own Our Thoughts.thoughts: naturally all our thoughts are idle and unprofitable, our minds are apt to ſpend themſelves upon that which will do us no good: we p. 80had need therefore to watch over our thoughts, Deut. 15. 9. Beware (ſaith the text) that there be not an evil thought in thy heart: Take heed that vain thoughts come not into thy mind, idle thoughts, or wordly thoughts will dead us, and dull us to the ſervice of God, and poyſon the heart, and no good thing can dwell in us; if we do not look unto our thoughts, the eyes of the Lord are upon our thoughts, therefore watch over thy thoughts.

Secondly, We ſhould watch over the Heart it Heart.ſelf: The heart is the very ſpring, there be the very iſſues of Life and Death, the actions flow from thence; therefore, Prov. 4. 23. the wiſeman ſaith, Keep thy heart with all keeping: as who ſhould ſay, Thy heart is deceitful and deſperate, it will make thee believe thou art going to heaven, when it leads thee to hell; if thou be never ſo well affected for a time, this heart will fly off, it is naturally ſo naught and reprobate to what is good; Therefore keep thy heart with all diligence.

Thirdly, Watch over thy Words: Pſal. 141. 3.Words. Set a watch, O Lord, before the door of my lips. We muſt watch our lips, and have a care that our words be agreeable to Gods Word, and ſeaſoned with ſalt, and that we ſhun all manner of communication, that doth not miniſter grace to the hearers; we muſt take heed leſt idle words proceed out of our mouths, for which we muſt give an account at the day of Judgement; how many times do ſuch words proceed out of our mouths that we would give a world to recal again? only becauſe we do not watch over our words, that p. 81they may be ſuch as may tend to edifying, and expreſſe the grace that is within?

Fourthly, Again, we ſhould watch over our Senſes, we ſhould make a covenant with our eyes, Senſes. Eyes.as Job ſpeaks chap. 31. 1. not to look upon a maid; when our eyes are looking up and down, though they be not caught with adultery, or ſuch groſsſins, yet there is danger to be caught one vvay or other; for when a man looks upon the objects of the world, as good, and the like, how ready is his mind to be carryed after it? men are led by their eyes, they carry the mind and heart with them, therefore we ſhould have a care, that whatſoever comes to our eyes, we make a good uſe of.

Fiftly, Again, we ſhould ſet a watch before ourEars. Ears, we ſhould take heed what we hear, when we come in company, left we be infected by what is ſpoken; we ſhould have an hedge about our ears, to ſtop them from unſavoury things. Doth not the ear taſte words, ſaith Job? we ſhould have taſting ears, that ſhould be able to taſt and reliſh the good words that are ſpoken, and hate the contrary, and diſtaſt them.

Laſtly, We ſhould watch our ſelves, over the Whole ſelves.whole man: Only take heed to thy ſelfe, Deut. 4. 9. As who ſhould ſay, This is the only thing; have a care of, watch over thy ſelf, leſt thy ſelf undoe thy ſelf; there is no enemie ſo dangerous unto us as our ſelves: the Divel in hell cannot do us ſo much miſchief. How many corruptions are there in us, to draw us from God, and incite us unto ſin? There are abundance of corruptions lying in the heart of man, to make a man unfit for any p. 82thing that is good; that is, idleneſſe in the underſtanding, it cannot abide to take pains, and exerciſe it ſelf in Divine matters. There is in the will and affections, covetouſneſs, and abundance of corrupt inclinations, that if a man look not to, it will break forth: So that this is the thing we muſt watch over, our ſelves.

Secondly, We are to watch over the duties of Religion; as for example, we are to watch unto Duties of Religion.prayer, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Pet. 4. 7. we are to watch to meditating, and reading, and hearing of the Word of God. Otherwiſe though we do them for the matter of them, yet we cannot for the right form, and manner of them: though our hearts be in a pretty good tune for the preſent, yet we cannot hold this frame, if we watch not thereunto. Rev. 3. 3. is an excellent place, If you will not watch, ſaith the Text, and hold faſt, I will come againſt thee as a thief in the night: As who ſhould ſay, Stir up thy ſelf and watch, that thou maiſt hold faſt; if thou haſt got any hatred of ſin in thy heart, hold it faſt; if ſtrength againſt corruption, hold it faſt. How ſhall I do that? why watch ſaith he, or elſe Chriſt wil come againſt thee as a thief. If a book be in a mans hand when he is drowzy, it will fall out, he cannot hold it faſt; So when a mans heart is drowzy, and ſecure it will let go comfort, and any thing that God hath beſtowed for the good of the ſoul; therefore we ought to watch: if we have any ſweet diſpoſition of heart, to go on in the Service of God, and in the duties of Religion, we may go on if we be watchful. And now to branch this into particulars.

p. 83Firſt, We muſt watch before the Duty.

Secondly, We muſt watch in the Duty.

Thirdly, We muſt watch after the Duty.Before Duty.

Firſt, We muſt watch before the Duty. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, Exod. 20. 8 So I may ſay, remember Prayer, to keep it holy; remember Meditation, to keep it holy; remember all the duties of Religion, to keep them holy, and perform them in an holy manner: think of them before you go about the performance of them; we cannot pray unleſs we watch unto prayer, unleſs we be careful, and have our eyes in our heads, before we go about the duty.

In the morning as ſoon as we awake, we ſhould think of prayer; and when tempted to ſin, we ſhould think of prayer. If I ſin, how can I pray unto God? I have ever and anon need to poure out my prayers before God; now if I commit theſe and theſe ſins, how can I look up to heaven, when my conſcience doth reproach me for ſin? So when we hear the word of God, look to thy foot when thou comeſt into the houſe of God, Eccleſ. 5. 1. that is, Before thou goeſt into the Houſe of God to hear the Word of Salvation, ſee into thine own heart, think whoſe word it is thou heareſt; and that thou goeſt to hear the Word, that ſhall judge thee at the laſt day. When thou comeſt into the preſence of God, take heed leſt thou heareſt as fools hear; and take heed leſt thou prayeſt as fools pray; and comeſt to the Sacrament, as fools uſe to come; we ſhould watch before the duty, that all things may be in a readineſſe, before we come to the performance p. 84of it, that we may prevent all things that may hinder us, & be fitted with all things that may help forward the duty; that time, place and all advantages may meet together for the better doing of it.

Then ſecondly, We muſt watch in the duty, asIn Duty. well as before the duty. As the Apoſtle ſpeaks concerning prayer, ſo I may ſay concerning all other duties, Continue in prayer, and watch therein with thanksgiving, Col. 4. 2. As we are to watch before, that we may have preparation, ſo we muſt watch in the duty, that we may rightly diſcharge it; for though a man hath been watchful before the duty, and hath been prepared in ſome meaſure, and fitted, yet you are not without danger. But when you are in prayer, and when you are at the Lords Table, or any other duty; for all your former preparation, if you be not watchful now, you may fail in ſome kind or other, and ſo mar the duty; therefore we ſhould watch in the duty, that our hearts may be waking in it, and our mind attentive upon it, that our hearts may be fixed upon that we are about; my heart is fixed, my heart is fixed, ſaith the Prophet David; he was a joyful man, he repeats it again and again; as if a man ſhould be jocund, and ſay, I have got it, I have got it. We ſhould get hearts fixed upon the duty, that ſo we may not have wavering hearts, half off, and half on the duty; but that the whole man may be employed about it.

Thirdly, We ſhould be watchful after the duty, that we may not loſe the benefit, and reward of the duty, leſt the ſubtilties of Satan, and the wiles p. 85of our own hearts, do rob us of the fruits of it; though a man hears very attentively, and pray, and perform all other duties very enlargedly, yet when he hath done all, he may loſe the comfort and reward of the duty. Therefore when we hear the word, we ſhould watch over our hearts, that the ſouls of the ayre may not pluck it out again, that if we have any quickning, we may not loſe it again; if we have heard any thing that hath helpeld us forward in Grace, we ſhould take heed that we loſe not the ground again; As the Publican, as ſoone as he had prayed to God, and performed an Ordinance aright, how careful was he not to loſe the benefit thereof? He went to the Temple to pray, and he was watchful before the duty; thinking, I am now going to pray, and power out my ſoul before God. He was watchful in the duty, for you may ſee how humbly, and feelingly, and penitently he did pray; ſtanding a far off, and ſmiting upon his breſt, and not lifting up his eyes to heaven, bewailing the hardneſs of his own heart, and rowzing it up, Lord be merciful to me a ſinner: and when he had done this, he was careful afterwards, for the Text ſaith, Luk. 18. 14. As he had prayed for mercy, ſo he was careful to carry it along with him. He prayed that he might be juſtified, and as he prayed for it, ſo he was careful to carry home juſtification in his boſome. So when we are at a Sermon, we ſhould watch, that we may go home quickned, and bettered: and when we are at conference, we ſhould watch that we may return home with the firuit, and benefit of the duty; So for all other Ordinances, we ſhould be careful p. 86and watchful, that we may not loſe the reward, for the Divel is crafty, and our own hearts are ready to betray us, therefore we had need be watchful; and that is the ſecond thing, we ſhould watch, the duties of Religion.

Thirdly, We ſhould watch times and ſeaſons; Time. Preſent time.God knows what miſerable things are a coming, therefore what time the Lord allots us, we had need improve it to the beſt advantage, that we may redeem the time. How many hours do run from us, before we are aware? How many dayes, and months, and years, have we let ſlip away, and we are little the better? Our time is a ſpecial thing, and therefore we had need to watch it, that we may improve it to the beſt advantage, that we may be no longer fools, but wiſe in the imploying of it.

Secondly, We ſhould watch all the times of Time of Gods wrath.Gods anger and diſpleaſure; it is a miſerable thing when a man paſſeth on like a fool, and Gods anger come forth, and a man is not provided, hath not a defence for it. There be dayes of anger, and viſitation, when God comes to viſit people for their ſins; to viſit a pariſh, to viſit a family, to viſit a perſon; and what a woful thing is it, for a man to be drowzy and negligent, when Gods anger burſts forth, and ſo he hath no evidence of comfort to his ſoul; he knows not how to meet God in the field? But when the wrath of God breaks out in any kind upon his Goods, or Wife, or Children, or Body, or Friends, or any thing, he is at a loſſe, and knows not what to do; he is fain to ſink under the hand of God, and hath no refuge to flie unto; therefore we ſhould p. 87watch againſt the day of Gods anger.

Thirdly, We ſhould watch over the times of Time of Grace.Grace, for there be gracious and acceptable times, as the Apoſtle calls them, 2 Cor. 6. 21. Many times good motions come in: Now if we do not watch, to keep them, and nouriſh them in our hearts, the Lord will paſſe us by at another time, and we ſhall not be moved. Sometimes God affects thy heart at a Sermon, and puts in a good reſolution to forſake ſin, and lead a new life; now have a care to keep theſe reſolutions, and let them not periſh in thee, and go out like lightning. The Lord hath given many a bleſſed ſeaſon, and oportunity of mercy, the water was moved, if he would have but ſtepped in, if he would but have taken hold of the mercy, he might have had it; but afterwards, he may go mourning, and thirſting, and longing, and never have the mercy offered more; and it is well if he can be humbled for miſſing of that mercy, by his neglect, and watch for the future the times of Grace.

Again we ſhould watch the times of Death; Death.we are all mortal men, muſt die, and Bleſſed is that ſervant, whom his Lord when he cometh ſhall find him ſo doing, Mat. 24. 5. If any of us ſhould dye, before we are converted, and brought home to God, we periſh for ever: Whoſoever thou art, if thou die in thy ſins with thy dead, hard, unſanctified, unregenerate heart, thou art damned, thou goeſt to Hell. Therefore watch for the coming of death, that ſo when it comes, it may not be the King of Terrours, and an amazement to thy heart.

Againe, We muſt watch for the day of Judgment; p. 88Judgment.as Death leaves us, ſo Judgment will find us: Therefore we ſhould conſider with our ſelves ſeriouſly, the ſtrictneſſe of the account we are to give at the dreadful day of the Son of man, when all works ſhall be brought to a Touch-ſtone, and all ſecrets ſhall be Preached on the Houſe top. It is an excellent thing, when a man doth conſider theſe things before hand; when a man hath looked upon his thoughts, for they ſhall be Judged; and upon his ſpeeches, and upon all his wayes, for they ſhall all be brought before the Judgment Seat of God; and according as a man hath done, ſuch reward he ſhall receive for evermore.

The next thing, is, the Reaſons why we are to Reaſons.Watch.

And the Firſt Reaſon is, Becauſe we are marvellous Our proneneſs to be drowzy.prone to be Drowzy in Spiritual things. In temporal things we are watchful enough; for Covetouſneſſe, and Pride, and the like, we are very watchful, but in Spiritual things, how ſubject are we to Drowzyneſs? Paul himſelf was fain to complain, I know that in me, that is, in my fleſh, dwelleth no good thing, Rom. 7. 18. Is thy heart better then Saint Pauls? If he were left to himſelf, he ſhould be as miſerable, and proud, and untoward as another; and have as vile an heart as another: and therefore that made him watch. Therefore we had need to watch, for how loath are we to be brought to watch? and how unwilling to take ſuch an hard piece of ſervice to do? we are marvellous apt to be ſecure. If Jonah had watched, if he had had a watch over his heart, he would have gone to Nineveh; but for p. 89want of watchfulneſſe, he ran away. Cant. 5. 2. I ſleep, ſaith the Church, it was not like the ſleep of the wicked, and ungodly, for her heart waked, but ſhe was aſleep, ſhe was proud, and marvellous ſecure; there was a great deal of untowardneſſe of ſpirit grew upon her: And as we are untoward to that which is good, ſo we are prone to that which is evil; we are glued naturally to the world, and the things of this life, it is an eaſie thing to draw us away into evill, therefore we had need to watch. As it is ſaid of the Diſciples of Chriſt in regard of temporal drowzineſs, ſo it is with us, in regard of Spiritual drowzineſs, Mat. 26. 43. He came and found them aſleep again, for their eyes were heavy: Though Chriſt had awakened them, and jogged them, yet they were aſleep again, for their eyes were heavy; So though the Lord hath awakened us, even now we were awakened by a Croſſe, by Sickneſſe, by a Sermon, by a Reproof, ſomething or other God hath been pleaſed to waken us by; but all on the ſuddain we fall aſleep again, for our hearts are very heavy: as it is with an heavy brain, what a doe he hath to keep himſelf awake? though he pinch himſelf, and rowze up himſelf, yet he hath much adoe to keep his eyes open; ſo the heart of man is ſo drowzy, that he hath much adoe to keep any Grace alive in himſelf; we are ſo apt to be ſo ſecure, that we had need to watch. Zech. 4. 1. the Prophet complains of the drowzineſs of his heart, The Angel that talked with me, came again and waked me, as a man is wakened out of his ſleep: when God was talking with him, he fell into a ſleep. So when we are in Prayer, we have much p. 90adoe to hold out in the duty, we have ſuch vile natures, and curſed diſpoſitions. How ought we then to watch over our ſelves?

Secondly, Another reaſon why we ſhould be watchful, is, becauſe our life is a Warfare, andChriſtians life is a Warfare. we do not lie like two Armies in a field, removed one from the other; but we lie in the midſt of our enemies round about us, and ſo they are ready to ſurpriſe us. The greateſt means of doing us miſchief,The world an enemy. are moſt commonly thoſe things we have need of; as our meat, and drink, and affaires, and callings; we cannot go to prayer, but worldly thoughts are ready to intangle us; we cannot go to the Houſe of God, but a man is in danger to be intrapped. There is danger in every thing we go about, by reaſon of the worlds powerful enticements, therefore we had need to ſtand upon our Guard, and be careful, for elſe how can we avoid to be ſuprized, and led away? this is the reaſon, why ſo many ſink into Perdition: Many that have given good hopes, many that have promiſed excellent things, have come to nothing, but have fallen away as the fall of a leafe. Whence comes this, but becauſe they have not been careful and watchful?

The Divel is watchful, to inſnare and intrap us,The Divel therefore we ſhould watch to avoid his ſnares; As the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Pet. 5. 8. Be ſober and watchful, for your Adverſary, the Divel, goeth about like a roaring Lion, ſeeking whom he may devour: The Divel is alwayes buſie, and therefore we had need watch and buſie our ſelves, and be careful at all times: when we are ſecure, and conſider not God, and conſider not the good of our Souls, and the p. 75peace of our Conſciences; Satan preſently hath advantage againſt us: If the Divel had any thing elſe to do, it were ſomething, but the Divel hath nothing to do, but to hurt us, and lay Siege againſt us; All his practice, from the beginning of the world to this day, is to go roaming and ranging up and down to do miſchief, it is all his employment, from the beginning of the day to the end thereof; If he get us alone, he will enſnare us there; if not there, he will enſnare us in company; if he cannot get us there, he will get us in a Sermon, and if any thing falls againſt our luſts, he will cauſe our hearts to riſe againſt it. Now when we do not watch over our ſelves, we are led away by Satan, therefore we had need be careful, for the Divel is alwayes watchful, therefore we ſhould labour to be alwayes provided to reſiſt him.

Again, we have the fleſh that is continually about us, it is an enemy within us, it is that which doth betray us to the World, and the Divel, even our own hearts do betray us, and therefore we had need be careful; we have enemies from without, and our own hearts within, and all to undo us. Take a man that is in a good way, and hath all means, and helps to make him Godly, though there be no temptation from without, yet he may de damned from his own heart, if he be not delivered from it. Jam. 1. 14. Every man is tempted by his own luſts, and Jam. 4. 5. The Spirit that is within us luſteth to envy, and covetouſneſs, and ſecurity, and vanity, and carnal eaſe, it luſts after theſe things, and therefore we had need to watch.

p. 92A Third reaſon is, Becauſe it will do us a great The certain advantage of watchfulneſs.deal of good: for as if we do not watch we are eaſily ſurprized, ſo if we do watch it is an eaſie thing to ſtand: all our miſcarriages in the duties of Religion, lye in ſecurity; whereas if we were watchful, and would walk with eyes in our heads, and would conſider the ſnares that be laid for us, and conſider Gods threatnings, and Commandments, the duties of Religion would be eaſie: For if we do not watch the Divel, and the World, and the Fleſh have advantage againſt us; but if we do watch, this is as it were a fence to the heart, to hedge a man in to keep him ſafe. Rev. 3. 2. there is an excellent place, Be watchful, and ſtrengthen the things that remain; it is the ſtrength of the ſoul. When a man watcheth, let a man have but a little grace, ſuppoſe a man be marvellouſly fallen off, and hath but a little good remaining, a few graces in him; a little faith, a little hope, a little ſanctified deſire; he hath but a little ſtrength to go on againſt ſin, if a man doth but now watch, if a man do but husband this little, how ſtrong will he be? A little Faith is able to overcome all the Divels in Hell, well managed: a little hope is able to keep a man above water from ſinking: a little ſtrength is able to maintain the Combate: a little affection to goodneſs, if a man have a careful heart to improve it to the uttermoſt, will go a great way; if a man did but watch, it would ſtrengthen the things that remaine. Though a man were never ſo infeebled, and come to never ſo low an ebb, watchfulneſſe is a ſtay and ſtrength to the heart.

Fourthly, Again if we do not watch, we cannot p. 93ſo much as pray to God to forgive us, our conſciencesWe cannot elſe expect help or pardon. tell us, unleſſe the Lord ſave us, we cannot be ſaved; now how can we expect that God ſhould ſave us, if we do not pray unto him? and we cannot pray to him to ſave us, unleſſe we watch: it is to tempt God, to pray to him to preſerve us from evil, when we do not watch over our ſelves; it is to tempt God, to pray to him to quicken us, when vve deaden our ſelves; to intreat God to give us an holy mind, vvhen vve our ſelves let in vain thoughts. Therefore ſee vvhat Chriſt ſpeaks Mar. 14. 38. Watch & pray, that ye fall not into temptation: as vvho ſhould ſay, You cannot pray that you may not enter into temptation, you tempt God if you intreat him to do any thing, if you do not vvatch over your ovvn ſouls. Though a man hath no Activity to do any good, yet God vvill have him be vvatchful; if he mean to purifie a man, he vvill make him purifie himſelf; if he mean to keep him from pride, he vvill make his ovvn heart reſiſt pride: therefore watch, that thou enter not into temptation, if thou mean to pray to God, not to lead thee into temptation.

But you will ſay, All a mans watching will Object.do no good, except God watcheth over him, Pſal. 127. 1. Except the Lord keep the City, the Watchmen watch in vain.

I anſwer, 'Tis true indeed, unleſſe the LordAnſw. keeps a mans ſoul, all a mans watching is nothing. But I tell thee, If thou watcheſt, thou haſt two watchers, thou haſt God to watch over thee, and thy ſelf to watch over thee; thou haſt God to watch over thee, and keep thee in all thy wayes, p. 94and then thou watcheſt over thy ſelf, and art ſuſtained by God, ſo that thou haſt two watchers, God above, and thy own ſoul within thee employed about this work.

A Fourth reaſon is, Becauſe this is the very Gods appointmentmeans preſcribed by God to do us good: It is the very remedy that the Lord of heaven hath appointed unto us to ſave us from danger, and keep us from falling; the Lord hath ſanctified this means to this very end and purpoſe: therefore when our Saviour Chriſt would diſſwade his people from carking and caring for the things of this life, Luke 21. 36. ſee what means he preſcribeth and layeth down to do it, Be watchful (ſaith he) and pray: the world is ready to get in, therefore watch (ſaith he) and pray alwayes, that you may be accounted worthy to eſcape theſe things: So that we ſee this the means preſcribed by God himſelf, to eſcape the falling into ſin.

Fifthly, Again, We ſhould be ſo much theNone can Watch for us. more careful in this watch, becauſe no other can watch for us: in outward things one man may watch, while another ſleepeth; as in ſailing, when all the reſt are aſleep, there is one watcheth; ſo in war, when all the Souldiers lye in their tents aſleep, it may be ſome few are watching, that the reſt may take their reſt: but it is not ſo in regard of our ſouls, one man cannot watch while another man ſleeps, but every man muſt watch over his own heart: If we do not watch our own ſouls, we ſhall periſh; and if we do not periſh everlaſtingly, we ſhall have miſerable temptations, and evils, and many inconveniences we ſhall be expoſed unto.

p. 91But ſome may ſay, Are not Miniſters to watch Object.over us? How then is every man to watch over himſelf? Miniſters are watchmen: Son of man, I have made thee a watchman over the houſe of Iſrael, ſaith the Lord to the Prophet Ezekiel, and Heb. 13. 17. The Apoſtle ſpeaking of Miniſters, ſaith, They watch for your ſouls?

I Anſwer, The word in the Original is not for Anſw.your ſouls, but over your ſouls; to watch for a man, is to watch for another that he may not watch; as when a man watcheth for his neighbor that his neighbour may not watch: but the Miniſters are not ſo to watch for the people, that the people may not watch; but the Miniſters are to watch over the people, that they may watch: as when a man watcheth Deer, or Hawkes, he watcheth them, that they may watch and not ſleep, that ſo he may tame them: as a man that watcheth with a man which is ſick of the Lethargy, which is ſuch a Diſeaſe, that if a man be let ſleep, he goeth away in his ſleep, therefore their friends ſtand about them, to watch over them, that they may not ſleep, knowing that if they do ſleep, their lives are hazarded; and if they ſee them but to ſlumber, they awaken them, leſt in their ſleep they die, and go away: So it is with the Miniſters of the Goſpel, we ought to watch over your ſouls, that you may not ſleep: for you are all ſick of the Lethargy of ſin, and if ye ſleep, you go away, if you be not careful for heaven, and heavenly things; if you follow vanity and ſecurity of heart, and do not take heed to avoid ſin, your ſouls will die, therefore the Miniſters are to watch over you, and keep you from ſleeping, p. 96and ſhew you the danger of it, and labour to awaken you, and keep your eyes waking.

The Firſt Uſe is, To condemne the infinite ſecurity Ʋſe. Condemning the general neglect of Watchfulneſſe.that is grown upon people: that though it be ſo excellent a duty for a man to watch, yet where is the man almoſt, that is careful of it? They put this duty over to God, as if it did not belong to them, they will watch over outward things, for plowing, and ſowing, and reaping, and the like; but for the good of their ſouls, they never acquaint themſelves with this watching; their hearts are like the wilderneſſe, as the wilderneſſe is open for all wild-beaſts, ſo their hearts are open for all temptations, that is the reaſon they have ſuch dead hearts, and cold affections, that is the reaſon they look ſo little after ſalvation and eternal life, becauſe people never look after this duty of watchfulneſs; nay, they are ſo far from watching how to be ſaved, that they watch how the divel may take them; when a man ſins, he wiſheth the Divel would help him to more ſin: a covetous man is ſo far from watching over his ſin, that he would have more opportunities, and more occaſions of getting; the Devil cannot come faſt enough to fill his heart with theſe things: So if a man be given to pleaſure, he thinks he cannot have enough, but would have more ſtill. Thus people would have the Divel put more corn into the hopper: they are ſo far from watching for good, that they watch for evil, they deviſe evil upon their beds, as the Prophet Micah ſpeaks, they are poſſeſſed with the ſpirit of ſlumber, they have eyes and ſee not, they have eares and hear not, hearts and underſtand not; they do not know what p. 97watchfulneſſe is, if they do, they are the leſſe excuſable, becauſe they practice it not, they do not watch and wake unto Prayer, that they may not enter into temptation, but are carried away with the world and ſin.

The Second Uſe is, To them that are Godly in Reproving the godly's too great neglect.ſome meaſure; that we cannot ſay they altogether do not watch, yet how negligent are they in this duty? Many Chriſtians are there among us that have ſome goodneſſe in them, yet how doth this duty lye unpractiſed? whence come all the vanities in our minds, and untowardneſſe in the Ordinances of God? whence comes all unfruitfulneſs in our meetings, and unſettledneſſe in our Conſciences? it is becauſe we do not watch: Whence comes it that we are no more ready to good duties? When we are called forth on the ſudden to pray or do any thing for the good of Gods Church and People, that we are ſo unfit to do it, and ſo backward; it is for want of watchfulneſs. Nay, what is the reaſon that we perform not the Worſhip of God in our Families better, but becauſe we do not watch, the very regenerate themſelves, what a world of miſchief do they do to their own ſouls, for want of this duty of watchfulneſs? How do they ſwell in ſin, and are ſlack in goodneſſe, and ſlubber over Gods ſervice? How do they favour themſelves too too much, and ſuffer the diſhonour of God, by the wicked? and ſuffer their own hearts to diſhonour him too too much.

Thirdly, The next Ʋſe ſhall be to ſhew you the Directing how to watch.Rules that are to be obſerved in watching, and the Rules are theſe: If you would watch over your ſelves.

p. 98Firſt, Count watchfulneſſe your very life, andAccount watchfulneſs our life. think if you let watchfulneſſe go, you let your life go; for if once watchfulneſs go, hovv dead are you in Prayer, and hearing the Word of God? So that the ſecurity of the heart, vvill be the death of the heart; vvherefore if vve vvould go on in vvatching, let us labour to keep this Holy diſpoſition; count it your very lives, and think vvith your ſelves, I let Life go, if I let Watchfulneſſe go. We uſe to ſay of Sleep, that it is the brother of Death, and 1 Theſ. 5. 6. vve may ſee the Phraſe uſed by the Apoſtle; vvhere vvaking is put for living, and ſleeping, for dying, that is the meaning of the vvords. So that as ſleep, natural ſleep, doth lively repreſent death; ſo it is vvith Spiritual ſleep, vvhichwhich is the death of the ſoul. Therefore doſt thou find thy ſelf to be out of frame, and not vvatch over thy vvayes? then think vvith thy ſelf that thou art a dead man, and take up thy vvatch as faſt as thou canſt again.

Secondly, Thou muſt let thy watch ſtand Catholically, Watching in al thingsuniverſally in all duties, and all times; vvatch thereunto, and perſevere therein; vve muſt not only watch, but Perſevere. Be careful in the morning how vve may begin our vvatch; in the day, hovv vve may ſpend it; at night, hovv vve may end it. So vve muſt vvatch in all duties; vvhen vve go to Prayer, vve muſt vvatch in prayer; vvhen you go about your Callings, vvatch about them; vvhen vve are alone, vve ſhould be vvatchful; and vvhen vve are in Company, vve ſhould be vvatchful, for the Divel, and our ovvn ſouls, plot a great deal of miſchief againſt us, vve p. 99muſt vvatch in all places; in our houſes, and vvithout doors, and in the fields; vve are ſtill in danger vvhereſoever vve are.

Thirdly, We ſhould proportion our watch, according Proportioning it to what we are about.as the duty is we take in hand, ſo our vvatching may bee; there is one kind of vvatching for one kind of duty, another for another. If vve be to go about our callings, then our vvatching muſt be againſt diſtruſtfulneſſe, and covetouſneſs, and diſtracting cares; that ſo vve may not be over head and ears in the vvorld. If our duty be prayer, vve muſt have an eye to the promiſes, and take hold on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and come in his mediation and his onelyonly. So vvhatſoever duty it be, if it be hearing of the Word of God, there is a vvatchfulneſs to be proportionable to it. A man ſhould think, the vvord vvill do me no good, unleſſe the Lord meet vvith my luſts: I have an unmortified heart, and unleſſe the Lord vvork upon me, I ſhall never lie dovvn under him. Therefore vve ſhould be vvatchful, that vve may practice, and be able to apply vvhatſoever is ſpoken to us; vve are to keep a due vvatchfulneſs, for that vvhichwhich is due to one thing is not due to another; that vvhichwhich is ſufficient for one, is not for another.Avoiding hinderances.

Fourthly, Take heed of all things that may hinder Watchfulneſſe.

And firſt, Take heed of vain Company. If vveVain company. will be watchful, we muſt exerciſe our ſelves vvith thoſe that are godly. To be vvith ſecure Chriſtians, is the vvay to be ſecure; this vvill hinder a man: A man had better be alone, then be in bad Company, as the Prophet David ſaith, p. 100Pſal. 102. 7. I watch and am alone as a Sparrow on the houſe top: he was alone, and yet he was watching. A man when he is alone may be watching, rather then when he is in ſuch Company: a man can never look to himſelf well, unleſſe he prize the Communion of Saints.

Secondly, A man ſhould be ſober; Take heed of Spiritual drunkenneſſe.Spiritual Drunkenneſs: Take heed of the cares of this life, and that you be not immoderate in any lawful thing; we ſhould ſtand upon our guard, and keep our hearts with all manner of keeping; if our hearts grow drowzy and idle, and if we neglect Sobriety, then we are gone, therefore in Scripture theſe are put together, be ſober, and watch, 1 Theſſ. 5. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 8. I do not mean Drunkenneſſe with Wine, for there is a Drunkenneſſe, and not with Wine, as the Prophet ſpeaks, a man may be drunk with the love of the Creature: if thou loveſt thy eaſe too well, or any thing in the world too well, thou art drunk with it, thy heart is giddy, thou art no more able to Pray, or do any thing that's good, then a drunken man is.

Fifthly, If thou wilt Watch, then ſet the Lord Setting God before our eyes.alwayes before thy eyes: Set the watchman of Iſrael before thy face, God is called a watcher, Dan. 4. 23. Now if thou wilt watch over thy ſelf, ſet God before thy face, as David did, Pſal. 16. 8. I have ſet God before mine eyes; ſo alwayes ſet the Lord before thine eyes.

Now I come to the laſt thing, which is an Ʋſe Ʋſe. Exhorting to watchfulneſſe. Motivesof Exhortation; To exhort us to be careful of this Duty, and there is great need of it.

Firſt, We all deſire to do well. Now how can p. 101we do well at laſt, unleſs we watch well all our life Becauſe otherwiſe it will be ill with us at laſt.time? VVhat is the reaſon that many are without comfort, not like the Servants of God, full of horrour, and fear, and quaking? it is becauſe they do not watch, as it was with the Five wiſe Virgins, they were ſomething wiſe, not like the fooliſh, but they ſlumbred too; Now when the bridegroom came, there was a cry; they made an outcry, and a skrieking, and an howling, they were undone, the bridegroom was come: one would have thought, they ſhould have rejoyced that the bridegroom was come. What godly Chriſtians, and Religious People, when the bridegroom comes to fall a howling and a crying? This was becauſe they ſlumbred, whereas if a man be watchful over his life, and careful to keep an humble heart, and to honour God, and ſtudy how to die comfortably at laſt, he may rejoyce at the coming of the bridegroom; but becauſe they were in a ſlumber, there was a cry, therefore as the Apoſtle Peter ſaith, 1 Pet. 4. 7. The end of all things is at hand, therefore be ſober, and watch unto prayer; the Apoſtle brings this as an Argument: ſo I may ſay, the e… of all things is at hand, therefore be ſober, and watch; as a Traveller, when the day is almoſt ſpent, and he hath a great way to go, he puts ſpurs to his Horſe, and rides the faſter; ſo the end of all things is at hand, therefore we had need to be the more diligent and watchful, that we may have all things ready; the end comes upon us: We have had the Goſpel a long time, and God knows how ſoon we ſhall have an end thereof; therefore how ought we to be careful, as a man that is to write a Letter, may p. 102be at firſt he is ſomething careleſſe, and writes his lines ſomething broad, but when he comes near to the end, and hath a great dea! to write, he writes his lines cloſe, and crowds them together: So now when we are coming towards an end, we cannot look that God ſhould alvvayes ſtrive with us, we ſhould now therefore labour to write cloſe, and to make our Duties thick, and to be enquiring after Grace, whereſoever we come, we think the time is long, but we may juſtly fear it is ſhorter then we imagine; as when an hour-glaſs is almoſt out, a man that ſits below, will think there is a great deal to run, but the ſand is hollow, and is run out before a man is aware; ſo the Lord ſo carries himſelf towards people, that they may think there is a great deal of Patience more, and a great deal of Mercy more to be extended towards them, but when all comes to all, they ſhall find it lyes hollow, and will be out before they are aware.

Secondly, Conſider how ſickly and diſeaſed our Becauſe our ſouls are ſickly.Souls are; how apt they are to fall into ſin: Sickly men are moſt careful; Now our Souls are ſick of ſin, ſick of Pride, ſick of Covetouſneſſe, and Earthly-mindedneſſe, eaſily carried away with the ſins of the times; they are ſick of proneneſſe to do evil, and indiſpoſedneſſe to that which is good, therefore we had need to watch over our ſouls, we had need be our own Porters. Matth. 13. 34. our Saviour Chriſt doth compare every Chriſtian to a Porter; The Lord of the houſe takes a great journey, and commands the Porter to watch: We ſhould all be Porters, and keep the gates of our Souls, for we are alwayes in danger.

p. 103Thirdly, Conſider that God hath awakened many We are already awakened.of us already, and therefore it is a miſerable thing for us to ſleep again: wicked and ungodly men that were never converted, and healed, and awakened, and wrought upon, they go to Hell and damnation in a ſleepy ſecurity; but when a man hath been once awakened, and hath ſhaken off ſleep, and God hath made him look about him, to ſee how he might be ſaved; if this man fall a ſleep again, it is a moſt miſerable thing; the latter end of that man will be worſe then his beginning.

Fourthly, Conſider the badneſſe of the Times, Badneſs of the times, and careleſſneſs of the moſt.and Places, and Families we live in; they are all ſecure, and therefore we had need be ſo much the more vvatchful; and you knovv it is a very hard thing, for a man not to do as others do; therefore the Apoſtle, 1 Theſſ. 5. 6. vvould not have them ſleep as others do, as vvho ſhould ſay, Others do ſo; and therefore you have ſo much the more need to look to your ſelves, that you may not do as others do.