Discourses Upon Several Divine Subjects, Part 5
ECCLES. ix. v. 10.
Whatſoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.
WEre we to take the Meaſures of our moſt holy Profeſſion, as they are reach'd out to us in the Syſtems of ſome Chriſtian Rabbins, how prodigiouſly irrational and abſurd an Inſtitution would it appear to be? An Inſtitution both repugnant to the glorious Attributes of God, and alſo deſtructive to the Welfare and Happineſs of Mankind. They pronounced it a ſtate of abſolute Liberty and Emancipation, a perfect Diſcharge from all Duty and Obedience, a Charter only of Libertiniſm and Licentiouſneſs. Provided a Man be orthodox in his Notions, and ſound in his Faith, 'tis no matter how he lives, like an Angel or like a Devil, ſo apt are Men to abjure their Reaſon in complement to their Senſes; and rather than forſake their darling Vices, to ſhelter them under the Patronage even of the immaculate Jeſus.
But if we look upon Chriſtianity as our Great Maſter himſelf is pleas'd to hold the Perſpective, as he is all Fair, foreign,Pſal. 50.2. the Perfection of Beauty, and the Holy One of Iſrael, ſo would his Inſtitution appear to be a moſt fair and amiable Copy of his Eternal Beauty and Holineſs. It commands us not to reſt in a fruitleſs, barren, and dead Faith, but to evidence its Life and Reality by our Works. That we walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith we are called; turning from theſe Idols of our own Brains, theſe vain, fantaſtick Ideas of our carnal Imaginations, to ſerve truly and painfully the Living God. That we trifle not away our precious hours in Idleneſs and Impertinence; but work out our Salvation with all that Care and Solicitude a matter of ſuch moment requires, even with Fear and Trembling. It endeavour… by all the endearing Methods of everlaſting Love and Kindneſs to allure and charm us into the Practice of all Vertues, beſeeching us even by the Mercies of God, all thoſe ineffable Appearances of Goodneſs which take up the Wonder, the Praiſes, and the Adorations of the Sons of God in Glory, that we think no Sacrifices worthy of our Maker, but ſuch as are offer'd in the pureſt Fires, the moſt ardent and brighteſt Flames of Seraphick Love. That the Redeem'd of the Lord declare not his Glory in ſuch feeble Sounds and Voices, as are the faint Echoes of a diſtant Valley; but that they clap their hands together with Joy and Chearfulneſs, and ſing Praiſes to him luſtily, and with a good Courage. That our Souls, with all their Powers and Faculties, magnifie and ſet forth the admirable Greatneſs of the Lord, and our Minds alſo, or Spirits, rejoyce with Joy unſpeakable in God their Saviour. In a word, That we do not the Work of the Lord negligently, nor be remiſs and ſlothful in the great Buſineſs of our Souls; but always fervent in Spirit, vigorouſly induſtrious to improve all thoſe Talents, all thoſe golden Opportunities God intruſts us with, to our greateſt Advantage, with our utmoſt Diligence ſerving the Lord. Whatſoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.
The Reaſonableneſs of which Exhortation, I ſhall briefly repreſent to you from theſe following Conſiderations:
I. From the Nature of God.
II. From the Nature of our own Souls.
III. From the tranſcendent and ineſtimable Value of the Rewards that attend us. And,
IV. From the exceeding Brevity or Shortneſs of the time we are allow'd to work in.
1. From the Nature of God. Was God indeed ſuch a one as the Epicureans fanſi'd him to be; a Being taken up with the Fruition and Contemplation of his own Bleſſedneſs, and that would never vouchſafe to reſpect the humble Addreſſes and Supplications of his moſt faithful Servants, we ſhould have no great reaſon to wonder at that Coldneſs and Indifferency, that lukewarm and careleſs Behaviour which appears ſo viſibly in our Religious Performances. Nay, I could willingly conclude with the Wiſe *Senec. de Benef. lib. 4. cap. 4.Heathen, that nothing but pure Madneſs could induce Mankind to beſtow any Worſhip at all upon ſuch a Being, who, as though he was deaf as Baal, and helpleſs as Dagon, after all their Wreſtlings and Importunities would neither hear them, nor help them. But alas! we have no ſuch Pretence or Subterfuge for our Impiety. The God whom we ſerve, is indeed that Bleſſedneſs and Eternal Being that reſts upon his own Center, without the Aſſiſtance of any External Object, enjoying infinite Delight and Complacency from the ſolitary Contemplation of his own Eſſential Perfections. He dwells in the high and lofty Place, encircled with ſuch tranſcendent Rays of Light, that the brighteſt Seraphim veil their Faces, and at an awful diſtance adore his inacceſſible Glory. Yet do Mercy and Goodneſs ſo eſſentially ſit enthron'd with his glorious Majeſty, that even he, who thus inhabits Eternity, humbleth himſelf to behold the things that are done both in Heaven and Earth. The Lord looketh down from Heaven, ſays the *Pſal. 33.13.Pſalmiſt, and beholds all the Children of Men: from the habitation of his Dwelling he conſidereth all them that dwell upon the Earth. And the Philoſophick Orator, without the help of Revelation, Sit perſuaſum civibus, ſays he, and ſo on. i. e. Let all the Citizens aſſuredly know, that God takes particular notice what manner of Perſons we are, with what Mind and Devotion we perform the Acts of our Religious Worſhip, and that he will deal with every man according to his Works. He is not a petty Prince,1 King 20.13, 28. (as the Syrians profanely imagin'd) whoſe Knowledge and Soveraignty are confin'd only to a particular Province; but the Lord moſt High is terrible, he is a great King over all the Earth. Not only the ſhining Inhabitants of the Courts above, the innumerable and invincible Legions of Glorious Angels, but the inferiour Troops likewiſe of natural Cauſes ſerve under his Banner, and duly execute his Commands. He maketh the Spirits or Winds his Meſſengers, and the flaming Fires his Agents or Miniſters. The Clouds at his Command drop Fatneſs upon the Hills and Mountains, and the Valleys likewiſe by his Bleſſing ſtand in their Seaſon ſo thick with Corn, that they laugh and ſing. Yea, the moſt caſual and ſeemingly fortuitous Actions are order'd by his Wiſdom, and the Sun ſees nothing in all his Courſe ſo little and inconſiderable, but what falls under his Care and Providence. He feeds the young Ravens that call upon him; and the Lions roaring after their prey, do ſeek and receive their Meat from God. By him do the Roſe in Sharon and the Lily of the Valleys on play their fragrant Beauties? and the airy Choiriſters ſecurely ſit upon the Boughs and ſing, not one of them falling to the ground without our heavenly Father. Yea, the very Hairs of our Head, ſays our Lord, are all numbred. In ſhort, no Space, no Place, exludes his Preſence. He penetrates into the Center of our Spirits; enters the ſecret Chambers, the cloſeſt Receſſes and Retirements of our Hearts; yea, and diſcovers all our moſt ſecret Thoughts and Imaginations long before we our ſelves do, even before they are. He is about our Paths, and about our Beds, and ſpies out all our ways.
Now then, conſidering the Nature of God, how ought our Souls, think ye, to be employ'd in his Worſhip and Service? Is this God, whoſe Majeſty fills Heaven and Earth, to be approach'd with flat and tepid Devotions? Is he fond of trifling impertinent Ceremonies? or to be pleas'd with Lip-Devotion and complemental Addreſſes? Certainly no. The Lame and the Blind (ſays the Prophet) ſuch impotent,Mal. 1.8. imperfect Services, if offer'd to an Earthly Governour, would moſt aſſuredly be rejected; much leſs then can they be grateful …o him, who is the Fountain of all Dominion and Soveraignty, the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, who reigns to all the Ends of the Earth. The matchleſs Excellency of his Nature (as many Learned Pagans have obſerv'd) calls for our beſt and nobleſt Performances, neither will he accept of any thing leſs than the Cream, the Flower and Strength of our Reaſon. We muſt nor pretend to honour him with our Lips, when our Hearts are far from him; but always approach him with the deepeſt Awe, Reverence, and Admiration; love and deſire him (as an exact and learned †Mr. Norris in his Reaſ. and Rel. pag. 39.Author ſpeaks) with the full Bent and Spring of our Souls; and fix and concenter upon him all our Paſſions and Affections. The Armies of Heaven, the glorious Troops of Angels, ſerve him thus. Their Wings know no wearineſs from continual Flying; their Voices are never hoarſe through loud and conſtant Allelujahs; but with unconceivable Alacrity and Joy they ſing and fly, and do his Will to all Eternity. 'Tis true, our preſent Incumbrances are many, our Wings are clipp'd, and we cannot run ſo nimbly as theſe bright Favourites of Heaven, yet ſuch is the Nature of our Souls, that even in this unhappy ſtate of Degeneracy, they may arrive to many degrees of their B…neſs and Alacrity. 'Tis impoſſible … we ſhould love and praiſe our Maker … theſe Spirits do, who with open Face behold his unfolded and eſſential Glo…: yet may our Spirits (if they are not wan…ing to themſelves) regain, in a great meaſure, their heavenly Nature and Activity. They need not be ſo oppreſs'd with the weight of the Body, not ſo confin'd to theſe Walls of Clay, but that they may frequently …o abroad, recover upon the Wing, mount into a purer Air, far above the …ttractions and Enchantments of Senſe, and converſe freely with God. And ſo I come to my Second Conſideration, which is, to repreſent to you the Reaſonableneſs of the Exhortation contain'd in the Text, from the Nature of our own Souls.
2. Sad indeed and deplorable are the Decays of our Primitive Beauty, and lamentable the Ruins of our Original Frame. God made Man upright; his whole Conſtitution was beautiful and harmonious, and his Soul (drawn, as it were, by the central Force of her native Seat) mov'd naturally towards Heaven. But if we view him in his preſent Condition, Quantum mutatus ab illo eſt! how is this glorious Creature changed! Clouds and Darkneſs (if I may ſo ſpeak) are continually round about him: Confuſion and Diſorder are the Habitation of his Seat. His Underſtanding is dark and cloudy; his Will crooked and perverſe; and he is become a ſtrange Contradiction to himſelf; being not able to do the things that he would. Wars and Tumults, inteſtine Broils and Commotions, ruffle and diſcompoſe him, and there is a Law in his Members impetuouſly fighting againſt, and frequently bringing into Captivity the Law of the Mind.
But though the Soul is thus ſhamefully fallen from her Primitive State of Excellency and Perfection; yet, how glorious is ſhe ſtill in compariſon of all the Creatures that are round about her? The glimmering Remains of her original Beauty, the very Twilight of her native Luſtre and Brightneſs, appears ſo wonderful and dazling, that ſhe is ſtill but a few degrees below the Angels of God. How ſwift are her Motions? how nimble her Thoughts? how brisk and active her Operations and Reflections? The ſwifteſt Morning-Ray paſſeth not ſo ſoon from Eaſt to Weſt, as ſhe flies through all the Airy Regions into the higheſt Heavens, and thence again deſcends through all the Ethereal Plains, to contemplate in their various Manſions the Workmanſhip of her Maker. How exalted are her Aſpirations? how boundleſs her Deſires? how vaſtly large and comprehenſive her Capacities? She weighs all the Excellencies of Nature in a Balance, and finds them wanting: her Appetites and Inclinations being no more to be ſatisfied with any Created Good, than an hungry Stomach with wiſe Sayings or excellent Diagrams.
But now has God enrich'd our Minds with theſe noble Powers to proſecute the Delights or Intereſts of this World, and to beſtow ſome faſhionable and perfunctory Attendance only on his Service and Obedience? No, theſe vaſt, capacious Spirits, that can take in and lodge ſo many Truths together without Confuſion or Diſorder; that are ſo reſtleſs and indefatigable in their Search after Happineſs, and can no where acquieſce, or terminate their Deſires upon any Created Good, are deſign'd for the higheſt and moſt exalted Entertainments. Not for theſe diſproportionate Objects of Senſe, the faeculent Pleaſures of the Body, (which the contracted Faculties of Brutes are able even in their utmoſt Intention to comprehend) but for Joys truly Angelical and Divine; for Communion and Fellowſhip with God himſelf by Prayers and Praiſes here, and for the moſt intimate Fruition of his Beatifick and Eſſential Glories in Heaven hereafter. How unworthily then do we behave our ſelves towards them, when we decoy them down into earthly Enjoyments? How do we cramp and ſtreighten their Faculties? contract and leſſen their aſpiring Strength and Vivacity? Their natural Motion, you ſee, is towards Heaven, and they graſp at nothing leſs than Glory, and Honour, and Immortality. Let us not then confine them to the Earth, when they are ready to take Wing, and fly towards Heaven. Let us not enſlave them to poor and beggarly Objects, when their Capacities diſpoſe them for the Fruition of the Beſt Being, the Life of Angels. When through the Aſſiſtances of Religion they are advanc'd to their true Elevation, they'll immediately aſcend above the Magnetiſm of ſecular Entertainments. They will then be poſſeſt with ſuch lively and raviſhing Apprehenſions of the Divine Beauty, as will oblige them, for his ſake, utterly to diſcard and renounce all their other Loves. Though there be threeſcore Queens, and fourſcore Concubines, and Virgins without number, yet their Love, their Undefil'd, will be but one. In a word, They'll collect and concenter all the ſcatter'd Rays of their Affections into this one Point, delight and ſolace themſelves only in the Lord their God, and ſing and give Praiſe to him with Fervour and Alacrity as the Angels do, who joyfully wait his Call, and ſtand with Wings ſtretch'd out, ready to fly when he commands.
3. I am to repreſent to you the Reaſonableneſs of the Exhortation contain'd in the Text, from the Conſideration of the tranſcendent and ineſtimable Value of the Rewards that attend us. foreign. We are engag'd, ſays the Philoſopher, in a great Conflict, a Divine Enterprize, 'tis for a Kingdom and for Liberty; for the Liberty even of the Sons of God, and for the Kingdom of Heaven. As we were not redeem'd by corruptible things, ſuch as Gold, Silver, or precious Stones; ſo neither is our purchas'd Inheritance of ſo trifling and inconſiderable a value. The Liberty of the Sons of God is an Eternal Emancipation from Sin and Miſery, from the Sollicitations of our Senſes, the Importunities of Satan, and from all the Diſadvantages and Incumbrances of this mortal State. Have you ſeen the Cedars or the Fir-Trees, which from a little Seed riſe ſo high, and ſpread their Branches ſo wide? Juſt ſo will it fare with Man in the State of Regeneration; infinitely beyond his preſent Self will his Perfections be. Here the Corruptible Body preſſeth down the Soul, and the Earthly Tabernacle weighs down the Mind, which otherwiſe would muſe of many things. But there will our Spirits, to their endleſs Joy and Comfort, find their Garments lighter; this unweildy Clog of Fleſh and Blood being made fit to ſerve them in their briskeſt Motions, and even to vye with the ſwifteſt Seraph that flies in the Regions of Light and Glory. Here though we ſometimes travel with Vigour and Alacrity in the way that leads to Sion; yet in an inſtant ſuch Fogs and Vapours riſe from our terrene and ſenſual Affections, as caſt a cold Damp over all our Faculties, and make us heartleſs and unactive as the Earth we tread on. But there we ſhall be all Life, and Spirit, and Wing, entirely freed from the Viciſſitudes of Mortality, and bath our active and ſprightly Plumes in the Silver Streams of Eternal Joy and Delight. Here Satan ſometimes mixeth himſelf among the Children of God, and many enter into the Choirs of the Saints, who know not how to chant their raviſhing Melody, the Songs of Sion. But in the Bleſſed Conſort above, every Soul will be harmonious, and skilfully contribute its part to the full Muſick of Heaven. The glorious Company of the Apoſtles, the goodly Fellowſhip of the Prophets, the noble Army of Martyrs, together with the ſeveral Orders of glorious Angels, will ſtand about the Throne; with one Heart and one Voice giving glory to him who ſits thereupon, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. They ſhall wear Crowns on their Heads more bright and glittering, than thoſe of the Mightieſt Oppreſſors; and thoſe immortal Palms they ſhall carry in their hands, declare, That Death is Swallowed up in victory. They ſhall no longer ſtand behind the Wall of Partition, nor be debarr'd by a thick Houſe of Clay, from beholding the ultimate Object of their Love and Praiſe; but all intervening Obſtacles and Impediments ſhall be remov'd, foreign,Pſal. 84.7. and that Summum Bonum, that Fountain of Life and Bleſſedneſs, that Primitive and Original Beauty, the God of Gods himſelf, appear in his Eſſential Luſtre and Brightneſs, to every one of them in Sion. In ſhort, 'Tis in vain to attempt the painting of this Bleſſed State by Rhetorical Colours: no Words, no Thoughts, can reach it; yea, the bold, licentious Metaphors even of Poets themſelves, fall infinitely ſhort of its Greatneſs and Excellency. Eye hath not ſeen, ſays St. Paul, nor ear heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Now then can we think this Bleſſed State deſign'd for them that are at Eaſe in Sion? who reſt in the Notional Conſiderations of the Goodneſs of their Maker, and therefore lie ſecurely diſſolv'd in the ſofteſt Careſſes of Luxury and Voluptuouſneſs? No. We muſt be conformable to our Lord in the Likeneſs of his Death, before we can be ſo in the Likeneſs of his Reſurrection. We muſt crucifie the Old Man, and utterly aboliſh the whole Body of Sin, and by our conſtant and uniform Practice of an Univerſal Righteouſneſs, ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate. We muſt labour with all our Might to make our Calling and Election ſure, and preſs with all poſſible Vehemence towards the Mark for the prize of the High Calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus. If theſe Corruptible Crowns, the fading momentary Honours of this Life; if (I ſay) the tranſient Favour of a Prince, and the vain, uncertain Plaudite's and Hoſanna's of the Crowd cannot be juſtly atchiev'd without Toll and Labour; then ſurely we cannot expect that theſe immortal Honours, the Approbation of God himſelf, the Applauſe of his Holy Angels, and the Crown of Immortality, can be obtain'd at a cheaper Rate. This were to proſtitute the Divine Favours, to vilifie the Pearl of Price, and inſufferably to debaſe that Glory which cannot be comprehended but by the Circle of Eternity. Nothing then, but Conſtancy and Perſeverance, can crown the Chriſtian Hero, and ſet on his Head an immortal Diadem. Be faithful unto the End, ſaith our Lord, and I will give thee the Crown of Life: and again, To him that overcometh, I will grant to ſit down with me on my Throne, even as I alſo overcame, and am ſat down with my Father on his Throne. Lift up the Hands then that hang down, and ſtrengthen the feeble Knees. Behold, Thy Saviour holds out to thee a Crown of Glory, and invites thee to partake of his immortal Joys. He calls thee to the bliſsful Choir of Angels, and to the glorious Society of Juſt Men made perfect, who following him in White Robes, do nothing but ſing and love to all Eternity. Alas! could we but hear ſome Echoes of thoſe Songs wherewith they make the Paradiſe of God, the Place of his happy Reſidence, the Seat of his Eternal Empire, the Heaven of Heavens continually reſound; ſome Remains of thoſe Voices, that Symphony and Joy wherewith the Saints above triumph in the Praiſes and ſolemn Adoration of the King of Spirits, how would they inflame our Deſires to be join'd with them? O how amiable ſhould we think thoſe Dwellings of the Lord of Hoſts? Our Souls would moſt paſſionately deſire and long to enter into the Courts of the Lord, and to go and ſing with thoſe glorious Beings the Praiſes of the Living God. We ſhould chooſe rather to be Door-Keepers, the very meaneſt Perſons of all that Bleſſed Company in the Houſe of God, than to enjoy for ever the utmoſt Liberality of Created Nature in the Tents of Wickedneſs. We ſhould think nothing too much to part with for that Bleſſed Inheritance, but readily ſell all that we have for that Pearl of Price, that ineſtimable Treaſure, thoſe ſolid and ſubſtantial Glories of the Kingdom of Heaven. In a word, we ſhould chearfully follow the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles, Martyrs, and Confeſſors, through all the Stages of Mortification and Self-denial; moſt gladly encount'ring all the Tribulations, Hardſhips, and Difficulties the World or Satan can bring upon us, that we might at laſt attain to that ineffable Glory. But,
Laſtly, I come to repreſent to you, the Reaſonableneſs of the Exhortation contain'd in the Text, from the Conſideration of the exceeding Brevity or Shortneſs of the Time we are allow'd to work in. Man is like a thing of nought, ſays the Pſalmiſt, his time paſſeth away like a Shadow, that neceſſarily diſappears when the Sun leaves our Horizon, and may alſo fall ſhort of that Period by the Interpoſition of a Cloud. He carries within himſelf the Cauſes of a neceſſary and ſpeedy Diſſolution, and is alſo liable to ten thouſand Accidents without, that may haſten his Ruin. Nay, though by the good Providence of God he happily eſcapes all theſe, and arrives to his utmoſt Period, that natural Term, which is ſet him by the Temperament of the Firſt Qualities; yet what an airy, fleting, and fantaſtick Appearance is he? Our Life is but a Vapour, ſays St. James, which appears and dances up and down a few Minutes over the places that gave it Birth, and then vaniſheth, and ſinks back into its primitive Night and Darkneſs. The Day wears away apace, our Sun haſtens to go down, the Shadows every Moment encreaſe, and the Hours of Darkneſs come on, that long Night of Silence and Solitude, wherein no Man can work. It is appointed for all men once to die, ſays the *Heb. 9.27.Apoſtle, and then for ever to ceaſe from labouring and improving their State; for immediately follows Judgment, which conſigns them either with Lazarus to the Refreſhments and Conſolations of Abraham's Boſom, or to the diſmal Dwellings of Dives in everlaſting Burnings.
†Phaedon. c. 45. p. 178. in Dialog. ſelect. Edit. Cantab.Plato indeed, and from him the Romaniſts at this day, talk much of an intermediate State, where Satisfaction may be made for ſome Miſcarriages of our Lives here. But in all the Word of God, there is not ſo much as one place that countenanceth this Opinion. 'Tis not the Doctrine of God, but the Invention of Men; the weak and beggarly Element of this World, not the Revelation of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt: He only commands us to be therefore prepar'd continually for our Laſt Hour, becauſe we then enter upon a ſtate eternal and immutable: that private particular Sentence which paſſeth upon the Soul at her Departure from the Body, being to be openly renew'd and confirm'd upon the whole Man at the General Day of Judgment. How ought then this Conſideration to alarm all the dormant Powers and Faculties of our Souls, and to wind them up to the higheſt pitch of Action in this momentous Affair? How careful, I ſay, ſhould we be by a prudent Management and Husbandry of theſe fleting Moments, to ſecure to our ſelves a happy Portion in the Regions of Eternity? If we miſpend theſe Days of Probation, you ſee there remain no more. If we neglect theſe preſent Opportunities, we are loſt for ever. And what a diſmal Reflection (think ye) will this be in the other World, when we ſhall remember, that Mercy was frequently offer'd us, and that we as frequently rejected it? and that for the little imperfect Services of a few Days, our Maker graciouſly offer'd to place a Crown of Eternal Glory upon our Heads? Alas! This is the chief Ingredient of that bitter Cup which afflicts and torments the Damn'd for ever and ever. This that diſmal Thought, which raiſeth the Storms and Tempeſts in the Kingdom of Darkneſs below. Once they might have been ſav'd; once they had their Day, and they refus'd the Light when it ſhin'd. Their God was gracious and merciful to them, but they were cruel to themſelves. He offer'd them Mercy, but they would never accept it. He call'd them to Life, but they obſtinately choſe Death. No Tortures ſo exquiſite, as ſuch Reflections. No Laſhes ſo ſevere, as the Upbraidings of ſuch an enraged Conſcience. Theſe (I ſay) are the Snakes that twiſt about their Heads, and ſting, and hiſs, and make them roar to all Eternity.
From which miſerable State, God in Mercy preſerve us all, through the Merits and Mediation of Jeſus the Beloved. To whom, &c.