Philadelphia, Treatise · Chapter 27 – Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVII.
FInally let me give two or three rules for a Chriſtians carriages in the time of the worlds hatred.
1. Beware of giving juſt cauſe by thy carriage to wicked men, to exaſperate their hatred againſt thee: if they hate thee, let it be for Chriſt, for Righteouſneſs ſake, and for well-doing. You are not hated for Chriſt, if you give any cauſe to the Adverſaries of Religion to revile you. 1 Pet. 2 11.12. Abſtain from fleſhly luſts that war againſt the ſoul, having your converſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that whereas they ſpeak againſt you as evil-doers, they may by their good works which they ſhall behold, glorifie God in the day of viſitation. And 1 Pet. 3.14. If ye ſuffer for righteouſneſs ſake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terrour, neither be troubled, but ſanctifie the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an anſwer to every man that asketh you a reaſon of the hope that is in you with meekneſs and fear; having a good conſcience, that whereas they ſpeak evil of you as of evil doers, they may be aſhamed that falſly accuſe your good converſation in Chriſt. Chriſtians ſhould labour ſo to walk, that they may have nothing to cover their malice withall; but that it may be manifeſt to their Conſciences, and to the eyes of others, that they hate them, and ſet themſelves againſt them for Righteouſneſs-ſake, and that their Adverſaries may be aſhamed. Then are men brought to ſhame, when things that are ſhameful are laid open; but when Chriſtians by worldlineſs, or diſtempers, or by playing the buſy body, &c. do give them ſomething to cover their malice againſt them withall, they keep them from being aſhamed. But when a Chriſtian walketh unblameably and watchfully, he uncovereth the ſhame of their malice againſt him, making it to appear, that it is for Righteouſneſs-ſake; and ſo cauſeth the ſhame of it to reflect upon their own faces, inſomuch that many times their own Conſciences do condemn them them, for ſuch as fight againſt God, which may be a means of their Converſion or reſtraint.
2. Carry your ſelves meekly towards them, when they are moſt maliciouſly and furiouſly bent againſt you. Two Angels coming into the ſtreets of Sodom in the Evening, were entertained by Lot. And in likelihood they appeared in the form of men, ſhewed themſelves in a ſhape ſurpaſſing in Beauty, whereupon theſe wicked Sodomites boiling with filthy and unnaturall luſt, deſired to abuſe them, contrary to the Law of Nature, taking them to be mortal men; and obſerving into what houſe they entered between Supper and Bed-time, they aſſaulted his houſe, and called upon him to bring forth his gueſts, that they might deal with them according to their filthy Luſt. Now mark the carriage of Righteous L…t in this caſe, Gen. 19.6, 7, 8. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and ſhut the door after him, and ſaid, I pray you Brethren do not ſo wickedly: Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man…; let me I pray you bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes, only unto theſe men do nothing; for therefore came they under the ſhadow of my roof. Now it muſt be confeſſed that here was a great failing in this carriage of Lot, which muſt not be imitated by any means, that to ſave his gueſts from being unnaturally abuſed, he would expoſe his Daughters to the beaſtly luſts of the Sodomites, which was ſo much the greater, in …hat (as appeareth afterwards) they were duplicate page duplicate page contracted, and ſo it was a great injury to their husbands, that had eſpouſed, though not yet married them. But this was partly out of want of Knowledg, as it ſeemeth; for then many Truths were not ſo cleared as now they are: partly it was out of weakneſs: the unlawfulneſs of Polygamy, and ſo the unlawfulneſs of doing evil that good might come, or yeelding to ſome ſin to prevent a greater ſin (as in this caſe). Theſe and the like truths were not ſo clear…y opened to the godly (it ſeemeth as now) they are, partly it was out of weakneſs of Faith, that he did not reſt upon God, who had ways enough to keep him out of ſo great a ſtrait without any ſuch indirect and unlawful means as appeared afterwards: and partly out of a ſudden confuſed haſte, being beſet with a mighty number of men, deſperately wicked, and enflamed with violent and raging luſt, ſo that not having time to retire his thoughts, and compoſe his Spirit, and to take things better into conſideration, he ſell upon this unwarrantable ſhift. I am perſwaded, he had much rather have loſt his heart-blood, if that would have ſatisfied them; but he thought nothing would ſave his gueſts, unleſs theſe wretches filthy luſts had ſome other Objects to feed upon.
But paſſing by his great overſight and infirmity, let us take notice of his carriage otherwiſe: and that ye ſhall find was full of Love unto his gueſts according to the Law of Hoſpitality, full of deteſtation againſt ſuch foul unnnatural wickedneſs, full of meekneſs towards theſe Sodomites, as appeareth in his ſpeech fore-mentioned. He gave them never a bitter word, he only ſought to keep them from this ſin.
CHAP. XXVIII.
NOw (to conduct) let me exhort every Chriſtian to maintain a watchful eye over their Love, that it wax not cold in theſe evil-times. Our Saviour long ſince propheſied of the latter times, that becauſe iniquity ſhall abound, the love of many ſhall wax cold, Mat. 24.12. That there ſhould be a flood of iniquity, and a froſt of love. The times wherein we live, tell us, that iniquity doth abound, I had almoſt ſaid, it cannot abound more; now then let brotherly love continaee, Heb. 13.1. This Love (like that Fire under the Law) came down from Heaven, therefore preſerve it; we had need be very careful, for ſinful times are cooling times: Sin is as apt to quench Love, as Water to quench the Fire. Theſe objects of Love are continually the ſame: When Love goes away, the power, the zeal, the practice of religion goes away. It is an argument your Love is truly divine, if you keep it flaming in the worſt of times. It you ſuffer your Love to God and his people to decay, you will loſe all the good that ever you have done. If your Love decay, all the people of God with whom you have taken ſweet counſel together, prayed together, faſted together, all theſe ſhall riſe up in judgment againſt you. Oh think what manner of damnation yours will be; ye ſhall feel the moſt dreadful effects of Gods eternal hatred, who have ſuffered your Love to Gods ways and people to dye within you. Oh if your Love decay, it is not eaſily recovered again; and to recover your firſt Love, you muſt repent, and do your firſt works, it will coſt you much labour, much ſighing, much ſorrow of heart before you can recover your former degrees of Love. Take heed of a ſlaviſh fear of wicked men; St. Paul oppoſeth the ſpirit of fear to the ſpirit of Love, 2 Tim. 1.17. Be not too familiar with thoſe that are unſetled in the truth. Many had loved more, had they diſputed leſs. Set your hearts on the things of the world; Demas forſook the fellowſhip of the Saints, becauſe he embraced this preſent world.
FINIS.