Body of Divinity, Book 7 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Of the Sanctification of the Will.
GODS great work in Conversion is in the Will, Isa. 1. 19. Revel. 22. 17. Ps. Voluntas est appetitus rationalis per quem homo sponte sua, & cum cognitione se movet ad bonum ass…quendum, sive illud sit verè bonum sive apparens. Molin Enodat. gravis. Quaest. de Lib. Arbitrio. Ezek. 38. 26. Deut. 30. 6. It is willing to be convinced, Psal 141. 5. Prov. 15. 31. The offers of Christ & grace are mainly made to the will, Rev. 22. 17. The complaints also of rejecting grace are of it, … would and you would not, Israel would none of me. Josh. 24. 22. Isa. 44. 5. Psal. 119. 30. Exod. 33. 5. Judg. 5. …. Psal. 57. 8.110. 3. Ephes. 1. 19. when ever he converts the soul he subdues the Will, 1 Chron. 28. 9. Phil. 2. 13. Grace is a resignation of our selves to the will of God, Rom. 6. 17. 2 Cor. 8. 10. Though the will of man be subdued in conversion, and made free, yet it is not perfectly made free, as a degree of blindnesse that remains in the Understanding, so a degree of bondage in the Will. The work of Conversion is never perfected till the will be gained, it begins in the mind, Ephes. 4. 23. but ends in the will, Deut. …0. 6. All liberty must proceed from Liberum judicium, a judgement of the understanding not mislead by sensitive objects. Aquinas.
The Will is renewed in a godly man in these particulars:
1. It is made flexible, so Paul when he was converted, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Psal. 40. 8. & 143. 10. This Will is broken which before was contumacious and stubborn, Isa. 11. 6.
2. Tender, it was hardened before, this is implied in that, a fat heart, that hath no sense or feeling, either of Gods displeasure or the fearful e…a…e it is in; the man converted hath a heart of flesh, Ezek. 36. 26. which is opposed there to a stony heart that is, senslesse and stupid.
3. It is moved upon pure motives for the holinesse of the precepts. David prizeth Gods Word above thousands of Gold and Silver; for the spiritual profit of it, it would quicken and enlarge his heart, support him in afflictions.
4. It is established and setled in a good way, the honest heart holds fast the Word of God, cleaves to the Lord with full purpose of heart.
5. It is made efficacious and fervent in holy things, their services are free-will offerings, 1 Chron. 29. 14. Rom. 7. 18.
6. In regard of its acts, 1. In its election and choice it is sanctified, preferring holy and eternal things before sinne and temporal, Heb. 11. Moses chose the reproaches of Christ before the treasures of Aegypt: Election is an act of the Will about the means, and answereth to consultation in the Understanding. 2. In its consent, it consents to God and Christ, Isa. 1. 19. 2 Cor. 11. 2. Rom. 7. 16. 3. In regard of the power it hath over the other faculties, for it commands the other powers of the soul, as on the understanding, to make it think and reason about this or that, 2 Pet. 3. 5. it sets the understanding on searching the truth and finding it out, and the Will delights it self in good things.
7. It is adorned with those habitual graces which are necessary for it.
1. Fiducial recumbency and trusting in God, the Will renewed rol… it self upon Jesus Christ, and hath confidence and boldnesse.
2. Love to God above all other things, therefore he saith, I will circumcise you, that you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.
3. A divine hope which keepeth up the soul in all difficulties, Lam. 3. 13.
Obedience is the vertue of the will by which it is flexible to Gods will in all things, and for his sake. Here Coeca obedientia, blinde absolute obedience is as necessary and commendable, as in Friars to their Superiours it is foolish and unreasonable▪ Vide Daven. Determ. Quaest. 6.
There is a two-fold Obedience:
1. Legal, so to keep Gods wayes as to do all which the ten Commandments require at all times, in all fulnesse, without any the least failing in matter or manner which was the bargain made with our first Parents Adam and Eve, and which by nature lies on us, Do this and live; such a keeping of the Law is utterly impossible, for Paul saith, That which the Law could not do in as much as it was weak through the flesh. The Law cannot bring us to heaven, because our flesh in breaking it disableth it from giving us the reward which is promised to absolute perfection, and by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified; if we could perform such an Obedience, we needed not any Mediator.
2. Evangelical, a true striving to perform the former Obedience, it is an upright and hearty endeavour after the fore-named perfect Obedience. For the Gospel doth not abolish the Law from being the rule of our life, but alone from being the means of our Justification, and so from bringing the malediction of the Law upon us, but it establisheth the Law as a rule of good life, tying and inabling us to labour with uprightnesse and sincerity to perform all things written in the Law in all perfection. The Obedience of the Law excludes all defects, that of the Gospel all wilful defects and allowed sins.
This Obedience is two-fold:
1. Counterseit, false and feigned, when the will in some things yeelds to Gods will, not because it is his will, but because his will doth not much crosse the motions of theirs, this is the obedience of hypocrites.
2. True and hearty, when for Gods own sake principally the will frames it self in all things to stoop unto him.
Of this there are two degrees, one perfect when the will is wholly carried after Gods will without any gainsaying, with the full sway and whole swinge of it, this was only in Adam.
2. Imperfect, when the will opposeth it self to its own disobedient inclinations, and doth consent to obey, and is displeased with its own disobedience.
We must all set our selves to yeeld true obedience to God, How often and earnestlyJoh. 14. 15, 20, 21, 23, 31. 1 Joh. 2. 5. & 5. 3. There is a three-fold obedience, 1. Voti, of a mans desires, but comes short in his actions. 2. Of conformity▪ when in some measure my actions answer. 3. Of resignation, when ones will is given up to God, and that with delight. doth Moses inculcate this, Deut. 4. 1. & 5. 1. If ye love me, keep my Commandments, saith Christ. Peter saith, We must yeeld our selves to God as those that are risen from the dead, meaning quickened in soul by vertue of Christs Resurrection, 1 King. 2. 3, 4.
Reasons. First, From God.
1. In regard of his right to rule, he is the author of our being and continuance, he hath also redeemed us, wherefore it is pressed on the people of Israel, that they ought to obey God above all people, because he redeemed them out of the hand of Pharaoh.
Secondly, His fitnesse to rule:
1. He is most wise and just to make good, righteous and equal Laws.
2. Most careful to observe the carriage of men.
3. Most bountiful to reward obedience.
4. Most severe to punish disobedience.
Thirdly, He hath done us already so much good, and laden us with so many benefits that we are ingaged.
Fourthly, To this adde the excellency of his holy Nature for wisdome and goodnesse.
Secondly, From our selves: Who are
1. Subject to him, as being his Children, Servants, Subjects.
2. Foolish and weak in our selves, subject to many enemies, dangers.
Thirdly, From the Commandments which we must obey:
1. They are most just, as holding perfect agreement with right reason and equity, teaching us to give God and man his own.
2. They are fitted to our good as well as to Gods glory, confusion would follow if every one might hate and kill whom he would.
3. Obedience is most necessary, acceptable, profitable and possible, praying,Psal. 40. 8. Rom. 12. 2. Ephes. 5. 17. hearing, knowledge of God, faith.
The rule of it must be the Word of God, the extent, the whole Law in every point, Deut. 28. 58. Levit. 19. ult. Psal. 119. 6. Act. 13. 22. Col. 4. 12. the whole will of God, the form of it is conformity to the Word and will of God. The end, principal, that we may honour and please God, Mat. 5. 16. As you have received of us how you ought to walk and please God, saith Paul.
The Properties of it:
1. Generality or Universality, it must be entire, Luk. 1. 6.
2. Constancy, I will incline my heart to thy testimonies alwayes to the end.
3. Sincerity, it must be grounded on Gods authority and aim at his glory.
Motives to Obedience:
Consider, 1. The Majesty and Excellency of him whose servants you are, He is the King of Kings. Constantinus, Valentinianus, Theodosius three Emperors, called themselves Vasallos Christi. Moses My servant, Peter, Paul a servant of Christ.
2. The honourablenesse of the work, His service is perfect freedom.
3. The great priviledges and reward of this service.
II. Means:
1. Take notice of and be abased in the sense of our own disobedience.
2. Pray to God to give his Spirit to encline our hearts to his testimonies.
3. Consider the necessity, fruit, excellency and equity of Obedience.