An Offer of Farther Help to Suffering Saints, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Diſcovering the neceſſity of an Heart mortified to all Earthly and Temporal Enjoyments, in order to the right managing of a ſuffering condition: with ſeveral Directions for the attaining thereof.
THE next thing wherein your actual readineſs for Bonds or Death conſiſteth, is, in the mortification of your Affections to all Earthly Intereſts and Enjoyments, even the beſt and ſweeteſt of them: Till this be done, in ſome meaſure, you are not fit to be uſed in any ſuch ſervice for the Lord, 2 Tim. 2.21. The living World, is the very Life of Temptations: The travailing pains of Death, are ſtronger and ſharper upon none, than thoſe that are full of Senſe and Self. As you ſee in Nature, what Conflicts and Agonies ſtrong and lively perſons ſuffer when they die: When others, in whom Nature is decay'd and ſpent before-hand, die away without half that pain, even as a Bird in the ſhell. Corruption in the Saints, is like the Sap in green Wood, which reſiſteth the fire, and will not burn well, till it be dryed up. Prepared Paul had an Heart mortified in a very high degree, to all the Honour and Riches of the World, accounting them all but Trifles, Gal. 6.14. 1 Cor. 4.3, 4.
The need of this will be evinced by theſe five Conſiderations.
1. Unleſs the Heart be mortified to all Earthly enjoyments, they will appear great and glorious things in your eye and eſtimation: and if ſo, judge what a Task you will have, to deny and leave them all in a ſuffering hour. It is Corruption within, that puts the Luſter and Glory upon things without: It's the Carnal Eye onelyonly that gazes admiringly after them, 2 Cor. 5.16. And hence the Luſt is put, to expreſs the Affection, 1 John 2.16. becauſe all that inordinate affection we have to them, ariſes from our high eſtimation of them, and that eſtimation from our Luſts, that repreſent them as great and glorious: Therefore certainly, it will be difficult (if not impoſſible) to deny them, till they have loſt their glory in your Eye; and that they will never do, till thoſe Luſts within you, that put that Beauty and Neceſſity upon them, be firſt crucified. As for inſtance, What a Glory and Neceſſity doth the Pride of Men put upon the Honour and Credit of the World, ſo that they will rather chooſe to die, than ſurvive it! but to a mortified Soul it's a ſmall matter, 1 Cor. 4.3. So for Riches, how much are they adored, till our Luſts be mortified, and then they are eſteemed but Dung and Droſs, Phil. 3.8. 'Tis our Corruption that paints and gilds over theſe things: When theſe are crucified, thoſe will be lightly eſteemed.
2. Mortification of Corruptions, is that which recovers an healthful ſtate of Soul: Sin is to the Soul, what a Diſeaſe is to the Body; and Mortification is to ſin, what Phyſick is to a Diſeaſe. Hence thoſe that are but little mortified, are in a comparative ſenſe called Carnal, 1 Cor. 3.3. and Babes, verſ. 2. in reſpect of weakneſs. Now, ſuffering Work being ſome of the Chriſtians hardeſt Labour and Exerciſe, he cannot be fitted for it, until his Soul be in an healthful ſtate: A ſickly man cannot carry heavy Burdens, or endure hard Labours and Exerciſes: The ſick Souldier is left behind in his Quarters, or put into the Hoſpital, whileſt his Fellows are dividing the ſpoils, and obtaining glorious Victories in the Field. To this ſenſe ſome expound Rom. 8.13. If ye live after the Fleſh, ye ſhall die; but of ye, through the Spirit, mortifie the Deeds of the Body, ye ſhall live. Where, as Death is put to note a languiſhing ſtate of Soul, whileſt Mortification is neglected: So Life is put to expreſs an healthful and comfortable ſtate; vivere pro valere; ſo that upon this account alſo the neceſſity of it appears.
3. Your Corruptions muſt be mortified, elſe they will be raging and violent in the time of Temptation, and like a Torrent, ſweep away all your Convictions and Reſolutions. It's ſin unmortified within, that makes the Heart like Gun-powder; ſo that when the Sparkles of Temptation fly about it, (and they fall thick in a ſuffering hour) they do but touch and take. Hence, the Corruptions of the World are ſaid to be through Luſt, 2 Pet. 1.4. With theſe internal unmortified Luſts, the Tempter holds correſpondence: and theſe be the Traytors that deliver up our Souls into his hands.
4. Unleſs you be diligent and ſucceſsful in this Work, though you ſhould ſuffer, yet not like Chriſtians, you will but diſgrace Religion, and the Cauſe for which you ſuffer: For it's not ſimple ſuffering, but ſuffering as a Chriſtian, that reflects Credit on Religion, and finds acceptation with God. If you be envious, fretful, diſcontented, and revengeful, under your ſufferings, what Honour will this bring to Chriſt? Is not this altogether unlike the Example of your Lord? Iſa. 53.7. and the behaviour of ſuffering Saints? 1 Cor. 4.13. Yet thus it will be, if your Pride, Paſſion, and Revenge, be not firſt ſubdued: For what are the breakings forth of ſuch diſtempers of Spirit, but as the fluſhes of Heat in the Face from an ill-affected Liver? Moſt certain it is, that all theſe Evils are in your Natures … and as certain it is, they will riſe like Mud and filth from the bottome of a Lake, when ſome eminen… Trial ſhall rake you to the bottome; Natura vexat… prodit ſeipſam.
5. Laſtly, Mortification muſt be ſtudied and ply'd with diligence; elſe you will find many Longings and Hankerings after Earthly Enjoyments and Comforts, which will prove a ſnare to you: What is ſin, but the corrupt and vitiated appetite of the Creature, to things that are Earthly and ſenſual, reliſhing more ſweetneſs and delight in them, than in the bleſſed God? And what is Sanctification, but the rectifying of theſe inordinate affections, and placing them in their proper Object? A regenerate and mortified Chriſtian taſts not half that ſweetneſs in forbidden fruits that another doth: Set but Money before Judas, and ſee how eagerly he catches at it. — What will ye give me, and I will betray him. Set but Life, Liberty, or any ſuch Bait before an unmortified Heart, and how impotent is he to withſtand them, as offered in a Temptation. On theſe unmortified Luſts! how do they make men hanker, long, and their Lips water (as we uſe to ſay) after theſe things? This makes them break Priſon, decline ſufferings, though upon the baſeſt tearms: Whereas a mortified Chriſtian can ſee all theſe things ſet before him, yea offered to him, and refuſe them, Heb. 10.35. It is with them much as it was with old Barzillai, 2 Sam. 19.35. when Nature is decayed, they find but little pleaſure in natural actions, Eccleſ. 12.1. And look as the Body of ſin decays and languiſhes, ſo do theſe Longings alſo: It weans the Soul from them all, and enables it to live very comfortably without them, Pſal. 131.1. Phil. 4.12. There needs no more to be ſaid, to evince the neceſſity of Mortification, and diſcover what influence it hath into a Chriſtians readineſs for ſufferings.
It remains therefore, that I open to you ſome of the principal Corruptions, about which it moſtly concerns you, to beſtow pains e're ſufferings come. Now look as there are four principal Enjoyments, in which you are like to be tryed, viz. Eſtate, Name, Liberty, Life; ſo the Chriſtians Work in ſuffering times, lies in mortifying theſe four ſpecial Corruptions, viz. Firſt, The Love of the World. Secondly, Ambition. Thirdly, Inordinate affectation of freedome and pleaſure. Fourthly, Exceſſive love of life.
1. For the love of this World, away with it, crucifie it, crucifie it: Down with this Idol, and let it be dethroned in all that intend to abide with Chriſt in the hour of Temptation: How elſe will you take the ſpoiling of your goods? How will you be able to part with all for Chriſt, as theſe bleſſed Souls did? It grieves my heart to ſee how many Profeſſors of Religion are carryed captive at the Chariot Wheels of a bewitching World. Oh! good had it been for many Profeſſors, if they had never taſted ſo much of the ſweetneſs of it. Sirs, I beg you, for the Lords ſake, down with it in your Eſtimations, down with it in your Affections, elſe Temptations will down with you e're long. I ſhall offer five or ſix Helps for the crucifying of it.
Firſt, Conſider your Eſpouſals to Chriſt, and how you have choſen and profeſſed him for your Lord and Husband: Therefore, your doting upon the World, is no leſs than Adultery againſt Chriſt, James 4.4. If Chriſt be your Husband, he muſt be a Covering to your Eyes; an unchaſte Glance upon the World wounds him.
Secondly, The more you prize it, the more you will be tormented by it: Did you prize and love it leſs, it would diſquiet and vex you leſs: It's our doating on it, that makes it draw blood at parting.
Thirdly, Get true Scripture-notions of the World, and rectifie your Judgments and Affections by them: If you will have the true Picture and Repreſentation of it drawn by the Hand of God himſelf, ſee 1 John 2.16. It's nothing elſe but Luſt that puts that Lnſter upon it: It hath but a Phantaſtick Glory, and that alſo paſſeth away: What is become of them that ruffled it out in the World but one hundred years ago? What could the World do for them? Are they not all gone down to the ſides of the Pit? But he that doth the will of God abideth for ever.
Fourthly, Study and contemplate Chriſt, and the things above more: This would vail all its Glory, and kill it at the Root, Phil. 3.18, 19. Juſt as a man that hath been gazing upon the Sun, when he takes off his Eye from that bright and glorious Creature, and looks to the Earth, there is a Vail of Darkneſs overſpreading the Face of it, that he can ſee nothing. I wonder how ſuch as pretend to live above, and enjoy communion with God, can ever reliſh ſuch ſweetneſs in the World, or have their Hearts enticed and captivated by it?
Fifthly, Remember always, that by your love and delight in worldly things, you furniſh the Devil with the chiefeſt Bait he hath to catch, and deſtroy your Souls. Alas! were your Hearts but dead to theſe things, he would want an Handle to catch hold on. What hath he more to offer you, and tempt you off from Chriſt with, but a little Money? … ſome ſuch poor Temporal Rewards: And how …tle would that Soul be moved by ſuch a Tempta…on, that looks on it all but as Dirt.
Sixthly, Laſtly take notice of the approaches of Eternity; Remember you are almoſt at the end of …ime: and when you come to lanch out into that …ndleſs Ocean, how will theſe things look then? It ſeems glorious, whileſt you are in the chace and …urſuit of it; but, upon a Death-bed, you will o…ertake and come up with it, and then you'l ſee what a deceitful and vain thing it is: Stand by the …eds of dying men, and hear how they ſpeak of it. On the difference betwixt our apprehenſions then, and now! Thus labour to wean off your Affections, and crucifie them to the World.
2. Mortifie your Ambition, and vain Affectaetion of the Repute and Credit of the World: Oh ſtand not on ſo vain a thing as this! judge it but a ſmall thing to be judged of man, to have your Names caſt out as evil: Let not Scoffs and Reproaches be ſuch terrible things to you. It is, without doubt, a great Trial; elſe the Holy Ghoſt had not added a peculiar Epithete to it, which is not given to any other of the ſufferings of the Saints: not cruel Tortures, nor cruel Stonings, Burnings, ſlayings with the Sword; but cruel mockings, Heb. 11.36.
Yet learn to be dead and unaffected with theſe things; ſet the reproaching World as light, and as low as it ſets you: Deſpiſe the ſhame, as your Maſter Chriſt did, Heb. 12.2. and to promote Mortification in this, take theſe Helps:
1. Conſider this is no new or ſtrange thing that hath hapned to you: The holieſt of men have paſt through the like, if not worſe Tryals, Heb. 10.33. Pſal. 44.14. Reproaches have been the Lot of the beſt men. They called Athanaſius; Sathanaſius; Cyprianus, Coprianus, a gatherer of Dung; Bleſſed Paul a peſtilent fellow: Doctor Story threw a Faggot at ſweet Mr. Denlyes Face, as he was ſinging a Pſalm in the midſt of the flames, ſaying, I have ſpoiled a good old Song.
2. It may be Religion hath been reproached and ſcoffed at for your ſakes; and if ſo, think it not much to be reproached for Religions ſake.
3. It's much better to be reproached by men for diſcharging Duty, than by your own Conſciences for the neglect of it: If all be quiet within, never be moved at the noiſe and clamour without: If you have a good Roof over your Head, be not troubled though the Winds and ſtorms bluſter abroad, 1 Pet. 4.14. Take heed what you do, and then be heedleſs what the World ſayes.
4. Always remember, that you neither ſtand or fall at the Worlds Judgment, and therefore have the leſs reaſon to be troubled at it, 1 Cor. 4.3. If your condition were to be caſt to Eternity by it, it were ſomewhat.
5. There is a worth and excellency in the Reproaches of Chriſt, as bad as they ſeem; and ſuch an excellency, as is not to be matched by any Earthly Enjoyment, Heb. 11.26. The Reproaches of Chriſt are of more worth, than the Treaſures of Egypt, though Egypt then was the Magazeen of the World for Treaſures. The Apoſtles counted them their honours, Acts 5.41. When Ludovicus Marſacus, a Knight of France, ſaw thoſe that were to ſuffer with him in their Chains, and that they put none upon him, becauſe of the Nobility of his Birth, he ſaid to the Executioner, Cur me non que que torque donas, & illuſtris illius ordinis militem non creas? Why do you not honour me with a Chain too, and create me a Knight of that Noble Order?
6. Laſtly, ſhould Scoffs and Reproaches ſcar you from Chriſt and Duty; then, though you ſhould eſcape the Reproaches of men, yet ſhall you fall under the everlaſting Contempt of God, Angels, and good Men. Therefore, Fear ye not the Reproaches of men that ſhall die, nor be afraid of their Revilings, for the Moth ſhall eat them up like a Garment, and the W…rm ſhall eat them like Wooll; but my Righteouſneſs ſhall be for ever, and my Salvation from Generation to Generation, Iſa. 51.7, 8.
3. Mortifie your inordinate affectation of liberty, pleaſure, and delicate living: O let not a Priſon ſeem ſo formidable to you. It's true, as Chriſt told Peter, Joh. 21.18. When thou waſt young, thou girledſt thy ſelf, and walkedſt whither thou wouldſt; but then thou ſhalt be old, thou ſhalt ſtretch forth thy hands, mother ſhall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldeſt not. You have now your liberty to go whither you will, and it's a precious mercy if well improved: The Birds of the Air (as one ſaith) had rather be in the Woods at liberty, though lean: and hungry, than in a Golden Cage with the richeſt fare. But yet if God will call you to deny this alſo for Chriſt, ſee that you be ready to be bound as Paul was, and receive the Chain and Bonds of Chriſt with thankſgiving: To which end, conſider,
1. That the affliction, in ſuch caſes of Reſtraint, is more from within, than from without you: There's no place but may be delectable to you, if your heart be heavenly, and the preſence of God be engaged with you. What a ſweet Night had Jacob at Bethel? Paul and Silas in the Stocks? See that precious Letter of Pomponius Algerius.
Tranſtulit in caelum Chriſti praeſentia clauſtrum Quid faciet caelo? quae caelum jam creat antro.
It's your own Unblelief and Impatiency, that gives you more trouble than the Condition.
2. No Keeper can keep the Comforter from you, if you be the Lords Priſoners, Act. 16. If they could bar out the Spirit from you, it would be a diſmal place indeed: But ordinarily, there the Saints have their cleareſt Viſions of God, and ſweeteſt preſence of the Spirit: You are the Lords Free-men, whileſt Mens Priſoners: All the World cannot deveſt you of the ſtate of liberty Chriſt hath purchaſed for you, John 8.36.
3. Though a Priſon look ſad and diſmal, yet it is not Hell: Oh bleſſe God for that; that's a ſad Priſon indeed! Beloved, Men have their Priſons, and God hath his: Gods Priſon is a terrible Priſon indeed; Thouſands are now there in Chains, 1 Pet. 3.19. and there you deſerved to have been ſent long ago: If God exchange an Hell for a Priſon, have you any cauſe to complain?
4. How obdure and cruel ſoever men are to you, yet the Lord Jeſus is kind and tender-hearted to his Priſoners: he puts the kindneſſes that any ſhew them upon his own account, Mat. 25.36. He looks down from Heaven to hear the ſighings and groanings of his Priſoners, Pſal. 102.20. He will tenderly ſympathize with you in all your Priſon-Straights, and Troubles.
5. A Priſon hath been hanſel'd and perfumed by the beſt and holieſt of men in all Ages, 1 Kings 22.27. Jer. 32.2. Mat. 4.12. Acts 5.18. Acts 26.10. God hath made it a ſetled School of Diſcipline to them.
6. Should you, to avoid a Priſon, commit a ſin, inſtead of being Man's Priſoner, you ſhall be clapt up by God: for he hath a Priſon for your Souls even in this World, Pſal. 142.7. and this is ten thouſand times more dreadful, than any Dungeon in the World. Oh it's a dark Priſon! not a Cranny to let in one Beam of Gods Countenance upon your poor Souls. What a ſad exchange have you made then?
7. Conſider, what a ground of Comfort GOD hath laid in that Word, Rev. 2.10. to obviate the Fears and Terrours incident to us in ſuch a condition: God hath limited Satan and his Inſtruments, both for time, number, and all circumſtances of the tryal.
8. Laſtly, You do not know what a Mercy may be in it: It may be a time of retirement from the World, and the Clamours and Diſtractions that are abroad. Theſe days of Impriſonment may be your Holy-days; as a Priſoner of Chriſt once called them.
4. Get an Heart mortified to the exceſſive and …ordinate love of life: This, I confeſs, is the higheſt and hardeſt point of Self-denial, becauſe it wraps up …ll other Self-Intereſts in it. But yet conſider,
Firſt, Though Life be very dear, yet Jeſus Chriſt … ten thouſand times dearer than thy Life: If thou …e a Saint, he is the Life of thy Life, and the length …f thy days; and in compariſon of him, and his glo…y, Saints ſhould, and have deſpiſed and ſlighted their Lives, Luke 14.26. Rev. 12.11.
Secondly, Die you muſt; and if by ſhrinking from Chriſt, you ſhould protract a miſerable Life …or a few days longer, in the mean time loſing that …hich is better than life, Pſal. 63.3. Mat. 10.39. Oh …hen you lie upon your Death-bed, you will wiſh, that you had obeyed Gods Call, and ſo have departed in peace.
Thirdly, If you have cordially covenanted with Chriſt (as all ſincere Believers have done) then have you yielded up your lives to him, to be diſpoſed for his glory, Rom. 14.7. So that look, as Chriſt both lived and dyed for you; ſo, to you to live is Chriſt: And all the excellency you ſee in life, conſiſts in that reference and ſubſerviency it hath to his glory. I ſay then, if you have underſtandingly and cordially tranſacted in a Covenant-way with him, your care will not be, ſo much how to ſhun Death, as by what Death you may moſt glorifie God, John 21.19. And certainly, you can never lay them down upon a more honourable or comfortable account than in his cauſe, and for his ſake. It was a great trouble to Luther, that he carryed his bloud to his Grave.
Fourthly, To die for Chriſt, is one of the higheſt Teſtifications of your love to Chriſt, that you are capable of, John 13.37. Yea, 'tis ſuch a Teſtification of your Love to the Lord Jeſus, as Angels are not capable of making.
Fifthly, Why ſhould you decline even a violent death for Chriſt, when as the bitterneſs of death is paſt, and there is no Hell following the pale Horſe? It cannot ſeparate you from Chriſt, Rom. 8.38.
Sixthly, Think what a death Chriſt ſuffered for you: in which the fulneſs of the Wrath both of God and Man met together, ſo that he was ſore amazed; yet with deſire, did he deſire it for your ſakes.
7. Laſtly, Think what a life you ſhall have with Chriſt, as ſoon as this is deliver'd up to, and for him, 2 Tim. 2.12. It is but wink, and you ſhall ſee God.
Oh that theſe things might provoke you to fol… on, and ply the Work of Mortification.