The Usefulness and Excellency of Christ, Section 15 – Section 16
SECT. 15.
Of Brutishnesse, the fourth Let.
4. THere is much brutishnesse likewise 4. Let. Brutishnes.in the hearts of a great many men and women, which keeps them from Christ: For as the bruit beasts are all for grasse, and care not for roses, so are they altogether for their victuals and belly cheare, and sensuall delights, as that they doe not at all regard Christ. See Luke 14. 20. how one of the guests there invited to the great supper, doth upon this very ground refuse to come, I have married a wife, saith he, and therefore, I cannot come. Marke, I cannot come peremptorily, whereas the former desired to be excused onelyonly, which plainly shewes, how hard it is for a *Luxuriosi enim per tertium intelliguntur. Durand. Ration. l. 6. fol. 157.luxurious person to come to Christ, who is the good cheare of that great supper; wherefore be divorced, I pray you from luxury, which is the wife there meant, and withdraw your selves but a little from your pleasures, sports, meat, drinke, and carnall company; and then consider of this businesse which doth so much concerne the eternall welfare of your never dying soules, for then and not till then there is hope that you will care more for Christ then ever you did yet. Take one *Considerations of eternity. p. 244.Theodorus for an example, when as a great festival day was kept through all Egypt, a great feast was at his fathers house, and many were invited to it, some of whom did dance, and others laugh, and were merry, he retired himselfe into his closet, and expostulated with himselfe thus: unhappy Theodore, is it according to Christian religion to passe from delights to delights! either I am much deceived, or else Christ hath shewed us another way into the kingdome of heaven; whereupon, as he prayed, that God would not suffer him to die eternally, and wept, in comes his mother and telleth him, that he is looked for; but he excusing himselfe send her away againe, saying that he was not well in his stomacke. Thus being alone, he conferred with God and himselfe about eternity, and of his former course what am I? or what have I been? or how will it be with me hereafter? there are divers helps to heaven: I'le goe that way which is most convenient for me, but my friends will grieve at it? what then? but must I doe it now in my youth? that is hard; so it is indeed to flesh and bloud; but experience hath taught that late services are seldome good. Therefore, Now, but I have been tenderly brought up, shall I be able to live so strictly? I hope I shall, but it is a hard matter to strive against custome: I have hitherto lived like a nobleman, and shall I now live like a poore man? Theodore, what thinkest thou? canst thou doe so? I'le strive what I may, Christ is gone but a little before me, shall not I follow him? Therefore farewell all the world, and the things that are in it, I care not for you, farwell, I say all, but welcome eternity, thou art the onelyonly thing I seeke after, my soule longeth after thee, there is nothing that I desire in comparison of thee. With that bent of cogitations he resolved to become one of Pachomius his schollars, and did so, saith my author, and as he did thus leave a feast, and all, and mused on eternity, and reasoned the matter with his owne soule, when he was alone, and so welcomed eternity, and resolved to be a follower of Pachomius: so say I, doe you in like manner, first retire your selves, setting apart one whole day of fasting at least, and then, secondly, reason the matter with your selves concerning Christ, that so you may yet embrace and welcome Christ, and become his followers and disciples, which the Lord in mercy grant that it may be so.
SECT. 16.
Of Bitternesse, the fifth Let.
THe fifth impediment is bitternesse. 5. Let is Bitternesse.For as a rose of its quality is *Galen l 7. simpl. Medicam.bitter: so Christ is somewhat bitter too, or seemes to be so in regard, 1. of the law, whose bitternesse he that will come to Christ, must taste of Gal. 3. 24. before he can taste how sweet the Lord Christ is, Psal. 34. 8. 2. in regard of those bitter troubles and persecutions, which attend those that will live godly in Christ, 2 Tim. 3. 12. and retard and hinder many from comming to Christ; but that must not discourage you, my dearly beloved: For as the bitternesse is great first, and the troubles many, that such must taste of, who come to Christ: so the comforts and the sweetnesses to be found in Christ both here and hereafter are great, and many, yea, infinitely greater, and more then all your greatest and manifold discomforts can possibly be; for so saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 1. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. See also, Esa. 7. 22. also, 1 Pet. 1. 8. and 2 Cor. 4. 17. Oh that you did but know what it is to be in Christ, and with Christ; and oh that you could but taste once and feele what some have felt and tasted, even that joy unspeakable and full of glory! For then you would never complaine of any bitternesse, that is in Christ, even as he that tastes and takes roses conserved with sugar, never complaineth of any bitternesse, that he finds in the same roses, because their bitternesse is taken away by the abundance of sugar which sweetneth them: Nay, you would rather cry out (with Peter in Christs transfiguration) Lord, it is good for us to be here, Matth. 17. 4. and therefore I pray you consider what I say, and tell me no more of that bitternesse which Christ himselfe will take away with the abundance of sugred comforts, whererewith he will oversweeten all your discomforts.