The Good of Early Obedience, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
More Objections againſt early Obedience anſwered
Object. 6. ANother ſtumbling block that hinders young Ones from taking up the Yoke of Chriſt, is the diverſity of opinions, and the many differences which are found among the profeſſors of Religion. I would take up the Yoke of Chriſt if I knew which was the right way. But how ſhall I that am young be able to judge? one is for this way, another is for that; one ſays, lo here is Chriſt, another ſays, lo he is there; Matt. 24.23.and Chriſt ſays, believe them not. One pleads for this Doctrine, another for that, a third denys both. One is for this way of Worſhip, another for that, another is neither for this nor that, but above all. So that I ſee whom to avoid, but I ſee not whom to follow. Therefore till Profeſſors are agreed, it is better to be of no ſide.
Anſw. I confeſs it is a great advantage which Satan takes to prejudice young ones againſt Religion, by the differences that are among the profeſſors of Religion. But I would have ſuch conſider five things.
1. A man may with as much reaſon diſclaim the light of the Sun, becauſe the Dials differ about the time of the Day, as diſclaim Religion becauſe of mens differing opinions about it. What is it in this World that men differ not about? all men differ in their reaſonings; ſhall I therefore abandon my reaſon and become a brute? all mens faces differ; ſhall I therefore renounce humanity, becauſe all are not of one complexion? all mens appetites and palates differ; ſhall I therefore refuſe my meat till all palates reliſh one thing? becauſe men differ in their faſhions; ſhall I therefore caſt off the uſe of rayment till all come to the ſame garb? how fooliſh and abſurd is this! and is it not the ſame, becauſe ſome men differ in ſome things of Religion, therefore to caſt off all Religion?
2. Is this any new thing? hath it not been ſo in all ages of the Church? if therefore Religion had been diſclaimed till the minds of all men had been united in the profeſſion of it, it had long ere this been ſhut out of the World. The Scripture tells you, there muſt be hereſies, 1 Cor. 11.19. it doth not ſay only, there will be hereſies, importing the certainty of them; but there muſt be hereſies, importing the neceſſity of them: And we have a double reaſon render'd for this in the Word.
Firſt, That they which are approved may be made manifeſt, 1 Cor. 11.19. they are the touchſtone of ſincerity. God loves to try the ſincerity of his Peoples Graces, this being the glory of every Chriſtian, and a diſpoſition highly pleaſing to God. Were there but one opinion in matters of Faith, one way of Worſhip among all Chriſtians, to owne this would be no great matter; but to owne and cleave to the truths of God againſt all the errours that oppoſe them, to ſtick to the pure Worſhip of God againſt all the humane Deviſings and Antichriſtian Impoſitions of men: this ſhews the power of faith, the zeal of love, the greatneſs of ſelf-denial, and the uprightneſs of the heart in all. As the Stars ſhine brighteſt in the darkeſt night, ſo do the Graces of the Saints (who are the lights of the world) appear in their greateſt luſtre under the darkneſs of falſe Worſhip and errour. That is one reaſon why there muſt be hereſies.
Secondly, Another is this, for the detecting and inſnaring of falſe hearted hypocrites. Hereby unſound Profeſſors are diſcovered; errour and hereſie have a great hand in detecting hypocriſie. This is a time of temptation in which they fall away.Matt. 13. So did they 1 John. 2.19. They went out from us (there's the diſcovery) but they were not of us (there's their hypocriſie) 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.
And as errours and hereſies ſerve to diſcover unſound profeſſors, ſo alſo to inſnare and deſtroy them; for there are damning opinions as well as damning practices. When men of bad lives and worſe hearts grow weary of the power of truth, God ſuffers corrupt Doctrines to ſpring up that may gratifie their luſts, and ſuit their vicious inclinations, and in a fond compliance herewith, truth ſuffers, luſt thrives, and the ſoul periſhes. This is the very reaſon rendered why God at the firſt appearing of Antichriſt in the World, gave men up to his damning deluſions; Becauſe they received not the love of the truth that they might be ſaved, for this cauſe God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſion, that they ſhould believe a lye, that they all may be damned who have not believed the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs, 2 Theſſ. 2. 10; 11, 12.
Thirdly, Conſider from whence theſe differences do ariſe; not from Religion it ſelf, which is in all matters of faith and practice direct and certain; the rule which is the word of God is the ſame to all, and gives perfect directions to guide us to life and bleſſedneſs. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the ſoul, the teſtimony of the Lord is ſure making wiſe the ſimple, the ſtatutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart, Pſal. 19.7, 8. And therefore the differences that are found among the profeſſors of Religion, are either from the different meaſures of knowledge to which Chriſtians have attained, or from their different capacities; or elſe (which is worſe) from the Pride and Luſts of ſome of its profeſſors, that will dare to be wiſe above what is written, ſetting their poſts by Gods poſts, and teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of men: would men but allow Chriſt to be head of the Church, and ſole Lord of Conſcience, and receive the word at his mouth, and ſtoop to his Authority, and not ſet up their wills and inventions for a rule of Worſhip, the moſt of our differences would be at an end.
Fourthly, All differences in Religion are not inconſiſtent with Salvation; indeed errours in the fundamental Principles of Godlineſs are damning; and therefore all ſincere Chriſtians ſhall be kept from falling into ſuch errour; they have received the ſpirit of truth to guide them into all truth neceſſary to ſalvation;John 16.13. but it is poſſible that good men may fall into many errours; you read of ſome that hold the foundation, who yet build wood, and hay, and stubble upon it; yet theſe ſhall be ſaved as holding the foundation, though their works ſhall be burned, 1 Cor. 3.12, 15.
There are many that were of differing opinions when here on Earth, who are all of one mind now in Heaven. Therefore he that condemns Religion becauſe of the differences of them that fear God, ſhall be condemned to Hell as abiding in the eſtate of them that fear him not.
Fifthly, If differences in Religion be the cauſe why you owne not Religion; then why do you not owne it ſo far as all good men are agreed in it? though there is difference in ſome things, yet there are many (and they the greateſt) things wherein they are all agreed. All are agreed that he that believes not, ſhall be damned; Mark 16.16.and why then do you not cloſe with Jeſus Chriſt? all are agreed that without ſincere repentance, and a ſound converſion there can be no Salvation; why then do ye not ſhake off your luſts, and turn from ſin to God? all are agreed of the neceſſity of fearing God, Eccleſ. 12.13. Tit. 2.12. Heb. 12.14.and keeping his Commandments, of living ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world; and that without holineſs no man ſhall ever ſee the Lord; and therefore why are not theſe things practiſed which have an univerſal conſent? if ſome leſſer matters are accounted doubtful and diſputable, yet theſe are things without all controverſie. Sin muſt be forſaken, ſelf muſt be denyed, luſt muſt be mortified, the world muſt be renounced, Chriſt muſt be your King and Lord, he muſt have his throne in your hearts, his commands muſt be obeyed, or you can never be ſaved. This is the plain way to Heaven, and there is no other but what runs into this. And to this you have the conſent of all good men that ever heard of the Goſpel.
Now if differing opinions about leſſer matters have kept you off from medling with them; why ſhould not univerſal conſent ingage you to mind theſe great and neceſſary things, whereon your Peace, your Life, your Souls, your Eternal Salvation and Happineſs do depend? eſpecially conſidering this, that if you neglect the great things of Salvation,Heb. 2.3. you can never hope to eſcape, nor find ſhelter from the wrath of God under ſo vain a plea as the differences about Religion.
Obj. 7. Another thing that hinders young ones from taking up the Yoke of Chriſt, is the eaſineſs of repenting and turning to God hereafter. God is full of mercy and will not refuſe or reject a penitent ſinner at any time, no though at the laſt hour; witneſs the thief upon the croſs; how little time had he for repentance, and yet he obtained mercy; and why may not I?
Anſw. This Thief may in a ſenſe, be ſaid to be a greater thief dead than living. The example of his repentance and converſion in a dying hour hath ſtole away many a purpoſe, many a ſeaſon of grace, many a reſolution, nay many a Soul, which hath taken incouragement from his late converſion to put off the great buſineſs of Salvation to the laſt.
Now to prevent this undoing and Soul-deſtroying miſchief, I would ſay ſix things concerning this example.
1. This is an example without a parallel, and therefore not to be urged in this caſe. God did this once (as one ſays) that none might deſpair, and but once that none might preſume. You have not ſuch another inſtance in all the Scripture, which is a ſtory of five thouſand Years, and yet in all that time we have but one inſtance of a man that repented when he came to dye; and will any man dare to adventure his Soul upon ſuch an inſtance as that? you read Acts 27.44. that the Ship wherein Paul failed was ran aground, and yet not one man loſt; ſome by ſwimming, and ſome on boards, and ſome on broken pieces of the Ship, they all eſcaped ſafe to land. Now would not that man be accounted a mad man that ſhould run his Veſſel a ground upon the incouragement of this ſucceſs?
2. It is a pattern without a precept. Where is any command that incourages the dedicating our youth to ſin and luſt, and our old age to repentance? is there any precept of God that indulges to a youthful remisneſs in the great buſineſs of Religion? no not one, but the quite contrary. I dare not deny but God may be found in the laſt hour, but no man ought therefore to put off ſeeking him till then; becauſe the rule is, Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh when thou ſhalt ſay I have no pleaſure in them, Ec. 12.1.
3. It is a precedent without a promiſe, ſhew me one promiſe that ever God made to accept ſuch a repentance as this. And therefore it is a very hopeleſs attempt, nay a down-right preſumption, to expect mercy without a promiſe of mercy, or in a way not promiſed, is preſumption.
4. It was a miraculous work upon a peculiar reaſon; to wit, to ſhew forth his Godhead, even when his humane nature was dying. There was never ſuch a concurrence of works of wonder in any age of the world as at that time; the Sun loſing his light; the Air darkened; the Earth quaking; the Rocks rent; the Graves opened; many Dead raiſed; and among the reſt this was one, a Thief, while hanging upon the Croſs converted; this was to manifeſt his deity under his greateſt ſuffering, and to take away the ignominy of his croſs: ſo that we may (as one ſays) almoſt as well expect a ſecond crucifying of Chriſt, as a ſecond converſion of this nature.
5. Was there not another Thief at the ſame time upon the Croſs? and yet he repented not, though he had much means to help him in the work; his fellow recanting of his ſin, becoming a true convert, reproving his ſin, calling him to repent, owning the Lord Chriſt, praying for mercy; yet notwithſtanding all this he repented not, but as he lived ſo he dyed, in his ſins and luſts. And therefore thou haſt greater cauſe to fear being caſt off with the impenitent Thief, than to be received to mercy with this ſignal Convert; eſpecially conſidering, that there is but this one inſtance in all the Bible, and for this one that was received to mercy, thouſands and thouſands have been caſt off.
6. This Thief upon the Croſs is an example pleaded but not imitated; and ſo we make that a dangerous temptation, which would otherwiſe be an incouraging inſtance. You that urge this for an example, do but imitate it, and then you'l make a right uſe of it. For we don't find that this Thief was ever called to believe till then; and therefore ſo ſoon as he heard of Chriſt he believes in him, and ventures his Soul upon his righteouſneſs. And God requires no more than that we would anſwer his call, and accept the firſt tenders of Grace. If God calls when it is late, he will accept late converſion, and therefore Chriſt takes that for an anſwer in Matt. 20.Matt. 20.6. when he asks them, why ſtand ye here all the day idle? and they anſwer, becauſe no man hath hired us; but as ſoon as he calls, they come. Do you come in and believe in Chriſt at the firſt call, as the Thief here did? if God calls not till the eleventh hour, he that comes in at the eleventh hour comes in good time; but he that is called at the firſt or third hour, may come too late if he puts it off till the eleventh: if thou dareſt ſinfully ſay, it is too ſoon to day, it may be God may judicially ſay, it is too late to morrow.
And therefore this inſtance of the Thief on the Croſs is moſt ignorantly and impertinently urged, which doth no way reach the caſe of impenitent ſinners under Goſpel Grace, and the daily and loud calls of God. The Thief never put off the work of repentance and converſion (that we find) to the laſt hour; this thou doſt. The Thief never purpoſed to repent hereafter, that he might thereby the better enjoy his luſts at preſent; this thou doſt. The Thief came into Chriſt at the firſt call; but thou haſt been often called and yet haſt refuſed to come, and therefore what is this inſtance to thee? it doth not at all concern thy caſe, it is falſly urged and vainly pleaded. And therefore inſtead of incouraging thy ſelf from this ſingle inſtance of the Thiefs being at laſt hour received to mercy, thou ſhouldſt conſider and tremble at that dreadful threatning of God againſt ſuch as ſlight and ſtand out againſt the calls and offers of mercy, Prov. 1. from the 24. verſe to the laſt. Becauſe I have called and ye refuſed, I have ſtretched out my hand and no man regarded; but ye have ſet at nought all my counſel, and would none of my reproof; I alſo will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh. And verſ. 28. They ſhall call upon me but I will not anſwer, they ſhall ſeek me early but they ſhall not find me. And verſ. 32. The turning away of the ſimple ſhall ſlay them; that is, their turning away from the calls of God and offers of Grace, will be their Condemnation at the laſt. And therefore remember this, it is ſeldome (if ever) that any adventure ſo near the brink of Hell, as to put off repentance and cloſing with Chriſt to the laſt hour, thinking to come off ſafe, but that they drop in at the laſt.