The Good of Early Obedience, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
Exhorts to perſeverance under the yoke of Christ, with arguments to preſs it, and directions to guide in it.
HAving put on the Yoke of Chriſt,Duty third. never caſt it off again. Having begun in the ſpirit do not end in the fleſh, He that puts his hand to the plough and looks back, is not fit for the Kingdom of God, Luk. 9.62. Art thou bound (as the Apoſtle ſaies in another caſe) ſeek not to be looſed. The Yoke of Chriſt is to be put on betimes, but never to be put off again. The goſpel, that puts this yoke upon us, is the everlaſting goſpel; not temporary, or ceſſant,Rev. 14.6. but a fixed rule for the whole life; and therefore we are to ſerve God in righteouſneſs and holineſs all our dayes. Luk, 1.74, 75.Let me propound ſome arguments to preſs this duty; and then ſome directions to help in it, and I ſhall diſmiſs this branch of the uſe.
1. Conſider the great advantage of a perſevering obedience; whether you look at the honour that attends it, or the peace that comes by it, or the ſafety that is in it, or the reward that is intailed upon it, the advantage is great on all theſe accounts.
1. It is your honour to perſevere in your obedience to Chriſt to the end. This is clearly intimated in that counſel of Chriſt to the Church of Philadelphia, Revel. 2.11. Hold that faſt which thou haſt that no man take thy crown. The Crown here ſome take for the crown of glory in heaven. Others take it for that honour God had put upon her ver. 9. I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan, who ſay they are Jews and are not—to come and worſhip before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. But I take her crown here, to be her perſeverance in faith and obedience to Chriſt; for perſeverance is a Chriſtians crown; it crowns all grace; therefore ſaith our Lord Chriſt, hold faſt that which thou haſt. That profeſſion thou haſt made, that grace thou haſt received, that obedience which thou haſt wrought, For I know thy works, thou haſt a little ſtrength, and haſt kept my word, and haſt not denyed my name. Hold faſt that which thou haſt; there is the counſel of Chriſt: and the argument he urgeth it upon is, leaſt ſhe ſhould loſe her Crown. Perſeverance in the wayes of Chriſt is the crown and honour of a Chriſtian.
2. If you reſpect the peace and comfort of your ſtate, nothing ſecures and promotes it more then your conſtancy in obedience As there is a peace which flows from juſtification, Rom. 5.1. ſo there is a peace reſulting from perſevering obedience. Great peace have they that love thy Law, Pſal. 119.165. He don't ſay only, that do it, but that love it; for he that loves it will do it, and never depart from it, Gal. 6.16. As many as walk according to this rule, peace ſhall be upon them and mercy. Conſtant obedience brings in conſtant peace and comfort.
3. It is of great advantage in point of ſafety. Righteouſneſs keepeth him that is upright in the way, but wickedneſs overthroweth the ſinner, Prov. 13.6. Ah what fools are ſinners, who run into ſin to avoid ſuffering; it is as if a man ſhould venture his head to ſave his hat: or ſink the Ship to avoid the ſtorm. It is He that keepeth the commandment that keepeth his own ſoul, Prov. 19.16. There is no ſafty but in the way of duty. We are ſure of Gods protection ſo long as we make conſcience of Gods precepts. So ſayes the Prophet, Iſa 33.15, 16. He that walketh uprightly—he ſhall dwell on high, his place of defence ſhall be the munitions of Rocks. And Prov. 1.33. Whoſo hearkneth to me ſhall dwell ſafely, and ſhall be quiet from fear of evil.
4. It is your advantage in point of reward. The promiſes are made to perſeverance. To them who by patient continuance in well doing ſeek for glory, and honour and immortality, eternal life, Rom 2.7. The date of your ſervice is ſhort, but eternity is the date of your recompence. So that great is the advantage of your keeping cloſe to Chriſt in the way of obedience, and therefore he that is righteous, let him be righteous ſtill, and he that is holy, let him be holy ſtill, Rev. 22.11.
2. Conſider on the other hand the danger and miſchief of Apoſtacy from Chriſt. As perſeverance in his ſervice is attended with great advantages; ſo caſting off his yoke hath in it very miſchievous effects; and that both with reſpect to Jeſus Chriſt and to our ſelves.
1. With reſpect to Chriſt. It is the greateſt reproach that can be laid upon Chriſt for any one that hath taken up his yoke to caſt it off again. For it is a leaving and rejecting him after choice, profeſſion, and experience.
1. Subjection to Chriſts yoke is an act of choice; for Chriſt forceth none into his ſervice. Now choice is of the beſt things. Of evils a man chooſeth the leaſt, but of good things a man chooſeth that which is beſt. So that he that chooſeth the ſervice of Chriſt doth therein acknowledge the goodneſs and beauty of his ways. And therefore for a man to caſt off his yoke is to repent of his choice. And this is a great reproach to Jeſus Chriſt for a man to chooſe his precepts, and afterwards to reject them.
2. Caſting off the yoke is a forſaking Chriſt after an open Profeſſion, for there can be no Apoſtacy, but by ſuch as have firſt owned Chriſt, and made a profeſſion of him; the drunkard, the unclean wretch &c. that hath been vile all his days, living in a courſe of ſin from his youth up, he can't be ſaid properly to be an Apoſtate; if he lives and dyes in his ſins and luſts, he may be ſaid to live and dye a Reprobate, but no Apoſtate. But he is an Apoſtate that hath known and owned the wayes of Chriſt, and afterward turned the back upon them; that hath given his neck to the Yoke of Chriſt, and then caſt it off again; that hath vomited up his filthineſs, and then turned to his own vomit again, 2 Pet. 2.22. Such an Apoſtate was Judas, Demas, &c. Now for a man to take up a profeſſed ſubjection to Chriſt, and then forſake him muſt needs be a great reproach, for he ſeems to ſay that he is not a good Maſter, it is no profit to ſerve him.
3. It is a leaving Chriſt after experience; for there is no man that hath taken up Chriſts Yoke, but hath ſeen an equity and goodneſs in his Precepts; he hath found ſome peace of Conſcience in ſo doing; he hath taſted ſomewhat of the Heavenly gift, and been made partaker of ſome operations of the Spirit, and taſted the good word of God, and the powers of the World to come. Heb. 6.4, 5. Now for a man to have experience of Chriſt, and then caſt him off, is the greateſt reproach that can be caſt upon him. The Apoſtle calls it a Crucifying the Son of God afreſh, and putting him to open ſhame. Heb. 6.6. It is a leſs evil to refuſe the firſt tenders of grace, then to reject Chriſt after he hath been profeſſed and own'd; the former may be from ignorance and prejudice, but to caſt him off upon tryal, argues his yoke to be uneaſy, and his Commandments grievous, he ſayes in the language of his action, there is not that good to be found in God as he expected, nor that comfort in his ways as was promiſed. And what greater contempt can be put upon Chriſt then this?
2. It hath miſchievous effects with reſpect to our ſelves.
(1.) It proves the unſoundneſs and hypocriſie of our hearts; and ſhews they were never right with God. They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made manifeſt that they were not all of us. 1 Joh. 2.19. He that at any time ſhall caſt off the yoke of Chriſt, ſhews that his heart was never right in taking of it up. In a Marriage relation love increaſes and firms the bond, but adulterous love is only hot while new.
(2.) Another miſchievous effect is in thoſe unſpeakable loſſes we ſuſtain by caſting off Chriſts yoke.
1. A loſs of all we have done or ſuffered for Chriſt, when the righteous turneth away from his righteouſneſs, and committeth iniquity, — all his Righteouſneſs that he hath done ſhall not be mentioned. Ezekiel 18.24. thy Faith, thy Prayers, thy Alms-deeds, thy Faſtings, thy ſtriving againſt ſin, thy zeal and fervour for Chriſt, will all come to nothing; it ſhall never be mentioned, all thy labour, and obedience, and duties are loſt, though they have been never ſo many and great. When a Nazarite under the Law had ſeparated himſelf to the Lord, if any defilement came upon him, all was loſt, and counted for nothing. Numb. 6.12. He ſhall conſecrate to the Lord the days of his ſeparation, (that is, he ſhall begin all again) but the days that were before ſhall be loſt, becauſe his ſeparation was defiled. So it is with profeſſors of Religion, if they draw back all is loſt; In Chriſtianis non initia quaeruntur, ſed finis. It is not only how we begin, but how we finiſh. And therefore it is excellent counſel the Apoſtle gives,2 Epiſt. Joh. ver. 8. 2 Epiſt. Joh. Look to your ſelves that ye loſe not thoſe things which yee have wrought.
2. A loſs of that honour and reputation which doth ever attend ſincerity and perſeverance: as an Apoſtate loſes the profit and comfort of all his duties, ſo he loſes the honour of his profeſſion. Ye did run well, who hindered you? Gal. 5.7. Demas hath forſaken us, 2 Tim. 4.10.and imbraced this preſent world: it is recorded as an act of perpetual infamy and diſhonour. So Chriſt ſaith of him that begins to build, and is not able to finiſh, that all that behold it ſhall mock at him, ſaying, This man began to build and was not able to finiſh. Luk. 14.29, 30. The Crown of profeſſion is only ſecured by perſeverance, Hold faſt that which thou haſt that no man take thy Crown. Ne honorem perſeverantiae amittas. Gro.Revel. 3.11.
3. A loſs of gifts and parts, and of that expediteneſs for ſervice which we once had. When men withdraw from, and forſake Chriſt, he cauſes his Spirit in his wonted operations and influences to withdraw from, and forſake them; So that they are not the men they once were. How hath the experience of the preſent Age verified this. Do we not ſee many that once had great gifts of the Spirit for praying, teaching, and edifying of others, who by turning their backs upon Chriſt to a dead way of formal Worſhip, have ſinned away the gifts of the Spirit, and are now become utterly dead and lifeleſs? and thus is that of our Lord made good, Mark 4.25. He that hath not, (not improved) from him ſhall be taken away that which he hath. Thus Chriſt took away the Talent from the unprofitable ſervant. Mat. 25.28.
4. A loſs of that tenderneſs of Conſcience which is neceſſary to a true repentance; for when a man doth reject, and caſt off Chriſts yoke, uſually Conſcience is laid waſt, it is ſinned out of office, and ſo lets a man ſin on without check or controul. And how ſhall that man repent who hath ſinned away all tenderneſs of Conſcience? therefore the Apoſtle ſayes, It is impoſſible if ſuch fall away, to renew them again to Repentance. Heb. 6.4, 6.
5. A loſs of Heaven and the ſalvation of their ſouls. There are two ſorts of perſons that are for ever ſhut out of Heaven. Such as never believed, and ſuch as make Shipwrack of Faith. Such as never would take up the yoke of Chriſt, and ſuch as having taken it up, do finally caſt it off again. If you forſake God, he will forſake you; 2 Chron. 15.2.This is willful ſinning, and how dreadfully hath God expreſſed himſelf againſt this. Heb. 10.26. If we ſin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there remaineth no more Sacrifice for ſins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which ſhall devour the adverſaries: you therefore that have taken up the yoke of Chriſt, let that ſevere threatening of Chriſt faſten it for ever upon you. Mark 8.38. Whoſoever ſhall be aſhamed of me, and of my words in this adulterous and ſinful generation, of him ſhall the ſon of man be aſhamed when he cometh in the glory of the Father, with his Holy Angels.
Theſe are the Arguments, the Directions follow.
Direct. 1. Would you not caſt off Chriſts Yoke? Then do not be weary of his ſervice. Do not count it burdenſome. No man loves to bear what is burdenſome; it makes him weary; and wearyneſs cauſeth fainting. Hence that of the Apoſtle, Heb. 12.3. Conſider him that indured ſuch contradiction of ſinners againſt himſelf, leſt ye be weary and faint in your minds. There is a wearineſs from contrariety of Spirit to the work.Mal. 1.13. Ye have ſaid, what a wearineſs is it? And there is a wearineſs from deſpondency of Spirit under diſcouragements in the ways of God, by reaſon of contradictions and ſufferings: but nothing ſhould make us weary of Chriſts work.Gal. 6.9. Be not weary of well-doing. 2 Theſ. 3.13. Chriſt ſpeaks it to the commendation of that Church of Epheſus, Rev. 2:3. For my name ſake thou haſt laboured, and haſt not fainted. Scaliger ſayes, laſſitudo eſt deficientia virtutis moventis; Wearineſs is from a failure in the moving Principle, and that is the love of God in the heart: So that wearineſs in the work of God ſhews that the heart is not right with God.
Direct. 2. Look to your firſt undertaking in giving your ſelves up to Chriſt, that it be in ſincerity and uprightneſs of heart. How can that man hold out in the ſervice of Chriſt to the end that was not right in the beginning? Job ſayes of the Hypocrite, will he always call upon God? Job 27.10. No, he will not where the heart is not made right with God by renewing grace, it can never hold out long in the ways of Obedience: Sappy Timber in the building will quickly fail. Counterfeit Grace cannot laſt. There is ſomething in the beginning of the way, and ſomething in the end, that diſtinguiſhes every true Believer from a Hypocrite. He begins in ſincerity, and that never any hypocrite did: He perſeveres to the end, and that never any Hypocrite could.
Direct. 3. Practiſe daily the duty of Mortification of ſin, not this, or that, or another ſin; but every ſin, for if there be any one Luſt indulged in the heart, that one Luſt will at one time or other make the yoke of Chriſt an offence to you. Therefore they that are Chriſts have Crucified the Fleſh with the affections and luſts. Gal. 5.24.
Direct. 4. Labour for weanedneſs of heart to all carnal and worldly intereſts, that you may be able to ſay with David, Pſal. 131.2. My Soul is even as a weaned child. While our reſpects to worldly advantages are kept up in their ſtrength, we are ſure to miſcarry when a temptation comes. This was Balaams bane, he loved the wages of unrighteouſneſs. 2 Pet. 2.15.And this cauſed Demas his downfall; Demas hath forſaken me, having loved this preſent world. 2 Tim. 4.10. This Scripture hath occaſioned a great queſtion, and that is, whether Demas was a good man or an Hypocrite? whether his Apoſtacy was final, or whether he did repent of his fall?
Some are of opinion that he was a good man; and that though the love of the world prevailed upon him, to leave the Apoſtle Paul in his troubles, and to mind his preſent advantages, yet he afterward repented of his ſin, and returned to the Apoſtle again. And the ground of this opinion is from two Scriptures. One is, Col. 4.14. Luke the beloved Phyſitian, and Demas greet you, the other is Philemon 24. There ſalute thee Epaphras my Fellow-Priſoner in Chriſt Jeſus, Marcus, Ariſtarcus, Demas. Therefore ſay they, Demas his fall was but partial; and though he fell, yet he aroſe again.
But how weakly this opinion is founded appears in this; that both thoſe Epiſtles to the Coloſſians and Philemon were written before this ſecond Epiſtle to Timothy; which was written when Paul was in Bonds at Rome the ſecond time, as the concluſion of the Epiſtle (which was but a few Months before his death) doth make manifeſt. And he tells you (ver. 6.) The time of my departure is at hand. And if ſo, then thoſe ſalutations of Demas to the Coloſſians, and to Philemon, were written while Demas was a Profeſſor, and before his fall; and therefore can be no proof of his riſing again by Repentance. In all probability therefore Demas was but an Hypocrite, who made a profeſſion for carnal ends; and ſuch a one can never perſevere in the ways of Chriſt. He may follow him ſo long as Chriſts way and his lye together; but where the way parts there the Soul departs from Chriſt. From that time many of the Diſciples went back, and walked no more with him. Joh. 6.66.
Direct. 5. Preſerve tenderneſs of Conſcience. This is an excellent remedy againſt back-ſliding. It binds wherever God binds; and gives every Precept its full force upon the Soul. It conſults neither ſafety nor danger; but Gods honour, and its own peace. Nothing ſtands in competition in ſuch a heart with the authority of God, and the ſecuring his favour. Keep Conſcience tender, and that will keep thy path pure, no man makes ſhipwrack of Faith, but he firſt violenceth Conſcience. So ſayes the Apoſtle, Holding Faith, and a good Conſcience, which ſome having put away, concerning Faith have made ſhipwrack. 1 Tim. 1.29.
Direct. 6. Live much in the lively exerciſe of Faith. The Apoſtle ſaith in one place, we walk by Faith, 2 Cor. 5.7. that ſpeaks its influence into our Obedience. And he ſayes in another place, we ſtand by faith. 2 Cor. 1.24. which imports its influence into our perſeverance. In nature ſtanding is before walking; but in grace walking is before ſtanding. Obedience muſt be before perſeverance, but both obedience and perſeverance are by Faith. We walk by faith, and we ſtand by faith. All Apoſtacy from Chriſt is the fruit of unbelief? Heb. 3.12. Take heed Brethren, leſt there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Nothing can keep the heart cloſe to duty in all conditions, but Faith firmly fixed upon the Authority of the Precepts, and the good of the promiſes. By faith Abraham when he was called to go out — obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Heb. 11.8. Faith is an excellent Grace, not only for the undertaking of duty, but alſo for perſevering in it; There are but 2 things that make perſeverance in the ſervice of Chriſt difficult.
Some good which we can't not part with.
Some evil which we know not how to undergo.
Now there is no good but Faith can part with at Gods command. By faith Abraham when he was tryed, offered up Iſaac; and he that had received the promiſes, offered up his only begotten Son. Heb. 11.17. And there is no evil but Faith will undergo at Gods call; Through faith they were ſtoned, they were ſawn aſunder, were tempted, were ſlain with the Sword, &c. Hebrews 11.37. Faith fetches conſtant ſupplies from Chriſt as head of the body; and he is not only a head of guidance for the way we are to walk in; but a head of influence for ſtrength to walk in it; Therefore it is ſaid, Iſa. 40.31. They that wait upon the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength, they ſhall mount up with wings as Eagles, they ſhall run and not be weary, and they ſhall walk and not faint.
Direct. 7. Take heed of firſt declenſions, and watch daily againſt them. Apoſtacy begins in little decays at firſt: nemo repente fit turpiſſimus. A breach of waters which is but little at firſt, may end in a great deluge. Many a fair houſe goes to utter ruine, which timely repairs might have prevented at a ſmall charge. A little breach made in the Conſcience grows wider and wider. It is eaſier to cruſh the egg, then to kill the ſerpent. And therefore it concerns us to watch againſt firſt declinings. Is your Spiritual fervour abated? doth love decay? is duty omitted? doth Conſcience grow leſs tender? This, if let alone, and not timely remedyed, will end in a caſting off the Yoke of Chriſt. Hence that counſel of Chriſt to the Church of Sardis, Rev. 3.2. Be watchful, and ſtrengthen the things which remain, that are ready to dye.
Direct. 8. Remember the terms of the Covenant you are in with God, and renew them often by a fixed and ſetled reſolution. There is no man takes up Chriſts Yoke but he doth therein enter into a Covenant with God: and this Covenant ſtands in mutual agreements and promiſes. God promiſes that he will be our God; and we promiſe to be his people. He Covenants to teach, and guide, and rule us by his Laws; and we Covenant to take him for our Lord; to hearken to him, and obey his voice in all he commands us. He ingageth that he will never turn away from us to do us good. Jer. 32.40. And we ingage that we will never depart from him; but will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. Mic. 4.5.
So that there is an Everlaſting obligation lyes upon you to duty and obedience. You have ſworn and cannot go back. As David ſayes, I have ſworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Pſal. 119.106. Now one part of the Covenant is to anſwer another; you look that God ſhould always bleſs you, and provide for your good: and God looks that you ſhould always ſerve him, and promote his Glory. You expect that God ſhould perform all his promiſes of Mercy and Bleſſings; and God expects you ſhould be true to all your promiſes of Obedience and ſubjection. For he ſaid ſurely they are my people, children that will not lye, ſo he was their Saviour. Iſa. 63.8. Now therefore renew your reſolutions of ſervice and ſubjection. Cleave to the Lord with full purpoſe of heart.Act. 11.23. Reſolve (in the ſtrength of Chriſt) never to caſt off his Yoke, nor count his Commandments grievous. You cannot rationally expect the Bleſſings of the Covenant, unleſs you perform the conditions of the Covenant. The ſtipulation on our part muſt anſwer that of Gods. And therefore as ever you would have God to be your God and Guide unto death,Pſ. 48.14. Rom. 14.18. reſolve living and dying to be the Lords.
Direct. 9. Maintain a holy filial fear, of God in the world, this is an excellent preſervative againſt Apoſtacy, By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil, Solomon ſayes, Prov. 16.6. and he tells you Chap. 14.27. The fear of the Lord is the fountain of life, whereby men depart from the ſnares of death. And backſliding from Chriſt is one of the great ſnares of death.
Direct. 10. Think much of the day of recompences, and of the glorious reward of perſeverance in that day. Be thou faithful to the death, and I will give thee a Crown of life. Rev. 2.10. non incipientibus ſed perſeverantibus corona tribuitur. It is not mercenary ſervice to quicken our ſelves to obedience by the hope of a recompence. Omnis amor mercedis non eſt mercenarius. It is ſaid of Moſes, he had reſpect to the recompence of reward. Heb. 11.26. And David ſayes, I have hoped for thy ſalvation, and done thy Commandments. Pſal. 119.166. He incouraged himſelf to duty by the hope of Glory. And it is ſaid of Chriſt himſelf, that for the joy that was ſet before him he indured the Croſs. Heb. 12.2. Hope of that glorious recompence is of great force to quicken us to perſeverance. And to the ſame end doth the Apoſtle urge it, 1 Cor. 15.58. Wherefore my beloved Brethren, be ye ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, foraſmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.