Remedy Against Trouble, Discourse · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
THAT I may do ſomething towards the helping of Chriſtians in the trial of their Spiritual ſtate, I will firſt premiſe ſome general Obſervations.
1ſt, Some perſons may have much advantage of others before their Converſion, and by reaſon of Natural Temper, Fleſhly Wiſdom, Education, Reſtraining Grace, or other things which keep them from the Polutions of the World, and bring them to a form of Godlineſs. Now it will be harder for ſuch to judge of their Spiritual ſtate, than for others. Sometimes the Nights are light by reaſon of the Moon ſhining; and it is not ſo eaſy then to diſcern whether it be Day: Yea, if the fore-part of the Night be dark, and the Moon riſe before morning, a man may think it Day before it is ſo: and having found his error, he may (that he may not be deceived again) be backward to believe that it is Day, when it is really ſo. In like manner ſome may (as I ſaid) be free from the more groſs Follies and Vanities of Youth; others may have been Profane and Wicked in their Younger Years; but through ſome Affliction, or ſome ſpecial Providence of God, or happening into ſome Religious Family, or into ſome place where the Word of God is Zealouſly and Faithfully Preached, their Conſciences are awakened, and they leave thoſe ſins which formerly they lived in, and there is a great change wrought in them, but not a ſaving-change: this is but as the light of the Moon before Day; hereby they may be deceived into a falſe opinion of their own ſtate; and when they come to ſee their own miſtake, may be more backward to believe a real thorough change in themſelves when it is wrought. There have been thoſe that have dated their Converſion after they have not only done much, but ſuffered much in the ſervice of Chriſt.
2dly, It may ſo happen, that perſons may at ſome times ſeem better or worſe than they are. We are upbraided by ſome for painting Hypocrites, or ſhewing what they may attain to, ſo as to repreſent them better than we can ordinarily find ſincere Chriſtians to be. And on the other hand in ſpeaking of the Infirmities of the Saints, we make them worſe than moſt Hypocrites. But as the Wiſe-man complains of it as a vanity upon the Earth, that there be juſt men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked, and wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous; So it is in their Morals;Eccleſ. 8.14. if we read 2 Sam. 11. we ſhould judge (looking no further) that David was a grievous Apoſtate, conſidering what profeſſion he had before made, which we may eaſily ſee in the 34. and 63. Pſalms, and that he had now ſung away care, that there was no fear of God before his eyes: but we ſee afterwards by the 51. Pſalm, that the root of the matter was in him, and his Grace did again flouriſh. We have other inſtances in Scripture, as Aſa, Peter. 2 Chron. 16. Matt. 26.70, 74. And on the other hand, we ſee what account Paul gives of himſelf,Phil. 3.5, 6. Tho he was then in the gall of bitterneſs and the bond of iniquity, and reckoned that he was then the chief of ſinners. So that in judging our ſelves or others, we muſt uſe much caution, and have reſpect not to our preſent frame or practice as it may be at ſome times, but to what is the ordinary habitual frame of our hearts, or courſe of our lives. Gold may ſometimes be ſo ſullied with ruſt and duſt, as it may look worſe than Copper doth ordinarily; and on the other hand, Copper may be ſo burniſhed and embelliſhed, that it may look more bright, and give a greater luſtre than moſt Gold doth. So that there is required both judgment and attention of mind, to diſtinguiſh the one from the other.
3dly, We muſt have reſpect to natural temper in judging our ſelves or others. As it is ſaid, A little Sugar will ſerve for ſweet Wine; and a little Grace makes much more ſhew in ſome than in others: it is true, all are defiled by original ſin. But whether there be, as the Philoſopher ſays, a certain Genius (as I may ſpeak) or diſpoſition to vertue, or rather ſomething like vertue; ſome mens natural temper is quick, and ſoon moved; others are as Doves or Lambs in their natural temper; but meekneſs in theſe Creatures not being from choice and judgment, is no vertue in them. In judging our ſelves, we muſt conſider how Grace falls in with Nature, or how it ſtrives againſt it. A gentle gale with the Tide or Stream, may make good riddance: but it muſt be a brisk gale to carry a Veſſel againſt them. One undertaking to tell what mens natural temper was, by his skill in Phyſiognomy, he being asked what he thought of a certain perſon, ſaid, he was of a very ill temper, and natural diſpoſition: thoſe preſent, derided him for being ſo miſtaken in his conjecture, they looking upon him as a perſon of ſuch an excellent temper. But he himſelf did vindicate the man, and told them he had judged right; for his natural temper was very bad, but he had corrected it by Philoſophy. Now there might be more of moral vertue in him, than in Veſpatian, who for the ſweetneſs of his Nature, was called the Darling of mankind. A little Grace will make a great ſhew in ſome Natures, when a far greater meaſure will make but a little ſhew in others, where it hath no help from Nature.
4thly, We muſt conſider the circumſtances wherein perſons are; what are their temptations on one hand, and their advantages on the other hand. Some enjoy more health than others, when it is not becauſe they have ſtronger bodies, or are of a more hail conſtitution; but it is by reaſon of their circumſtances; one can command his buſineſs, and that he goes out only at ſeaſonable times, or he is ſo accommodated as to ſecure himſelf againſt the injury of the weather; they work only ſo as may be for their health, and need not tire themſelves, or over-heat themſelves: they have wholſome Diet, and they have Cordials by them, to relieve or fortify Nature when it is too hard put to it. And by theſe means, thoſe who are more weakly, prevent ſickneſs; whereas others (tho they be naturally ſtronger) are forced to be out at all hours, in all weathers, to endure heats and colds, eat and drink what they can get, have little wholeſome diet; if they ayl any thing, have no Cordials or Remedies at hand to help themſelves. So it is with men in reſpect of their Souls; ſome have a competent Eſtate, and are put neither upon the temptations of adverſity, nor proſperity: while others (through ſtraits in their Eſtates) are put upon mean things, and ſometimes upon ſinful ſhifts. And others are rich, and in great places; and others are hardly able to judge of their temptations, how hard it is to be high in the World, and not highminded; to exerciſe ſobriety and temperance in plenty and abundance. Some have little to do in the World, abroad or at home, in trading or in their Families; have few to deal with, few Children or Servants; others muſt go into all companies, converſe with all ſorts of perſons, meet with provocations from ſome, temptations from others to comply with their ſinful humours for their own advantage: they may have unfaithful Servants, undutiful Children, and ſo more trial of their Grace, more exerciſe for it, and ſo may diſcover ſome weakneſs of Grace, tho not the want of it. So ſome may have the advantage of good converſation, may live in good Families or Neighbourhoods, where they have good examples to provoke them to love and to good works, and are oft called upon and admoniſhed if they fail in any thing: they may live under a lively Miniſtry, whoſe Sermons may be as nails to faſten, Eccleſ. 12.11.as goads to excite or quicken; they may have good books to read, and time and opportunity to read them, which is a great help to Chriſtians: whereas on the other hand, ſome perſons are caſt into prophane places, or Families, or company, where they meet with thoſe that will be drawing and enticing them to ſin, ſcoffing at them, threatning, diſcouraging them; and it may be ſuch as they have ſome dependance upon: they ſeldome hear an awaking Sermon, or ſound doctrine, 2 Tim. 4.3. Epheſ. 4.29.ſuch as may breed good nouriſhment; or ſuch diſcourſe as may miniſter grace to the hearers; ſeldom meet with a good book, or it may be if they do, cannot read it. It is true, we muſt hold faſt Chriſt's Name, and not deny his Faith, even where Satan dwells, and hath his ſeat. Rev. 2.13.But we cannot expect that Grace ſhould thrive much under ſuch Diſcouragements and Diſadvantages.