A Crystal Mirror, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Of the Hearts Treachery in proſperity.
1. NOw come we to a more particular diſcovery of the hearts treachery, and that in two grand reſpects, (1.) In reſpect of your ſtate and condition in this lower World; and (2.) in reſpect of your various actions, in order both to this and to a better world. Firſt of the firſt, to wit, your ſtate and condition in this world, which is twofold, 1. a Temporal, 2ly. a Spiritual ſtate; in both which your heart may deceive you, if you do not take heed to it, to keep it with all keepings, Prov. 4. 23. Now 1. of the Temporal ſtate, which is twofold; 1. the ſtate of proſperity, 2. the ſtate of adverſity: firſt of the firſt of theſe, to wit, the ſtate of Proſperity: 1. Of the Malady. 2. Of the Remedy. 1. The Malady, wherein the deceit of the heart is diſcovered in ſundry particulars; as the firſt Diſcovery is: Your deceitful heart may carry your ſoul (at ſome times) further off from God thereby; juſt as the Moon, which, the more Light ſhe receives from the Sun of the firmament, goes the further off from him; and ſometimes (when ſhe is in the full) the ſhadow of the Earth doth interpoſe itſelf, and ſo eclipſes and darkens her: even ſo man is as the Moon in the full (having fulneſs of all things) this oftentimes ſets his Soul further off from Chriſt, the ſun of righteouſneſs, Mal. 4. 2. for Fulneſs and Pride, or Haughtineſs, are coupled together as the Cauſe and the Effect, Ezek. 16. 49, 50. Fulneſs brings forth Haughtineſs, which is both the hate of Heaven, and the gate to Hell, yea the very firſt fire-brand that ſet Sodome on fire: That Pride is the product of Proſperity, appeareth from Pſal. 73. 5, 6. Job 15. 25, 26, 27. and 1 Tim. 6. 17. And proud man (made ſo by Proſperity) God beholdeth afar off, Pſal. 138. 6. They are got a great way from God, he drives them (as the Chaldee Paraphraſe there ſignifies) afar off from Heaven (as diſdaining to come near ſuch loathſome Lepers) and thruſts them down as low as to Hell at laſt: How oft alſo doth the interpoſition of earthly enjoyments (which is but a ſhadow) eclipſe and darken the Soul of man God-ward?
2. The ſecond Diſcovery is: In Proſperity the Soul of man is very prone to forget both his Mercies, and the God of his mercies; for, Fulneſs breeds Forgetfulneſs, Deut. 32. 15. and Saturity brings forth Security.
Luxuriant animi rebus plerunque ſeoundis;
Nec facilè eſt aequâ commoda mente pati.
Mercy is many times but a nine days wonder, and 'tis hard for (even) the choiceſt Soul to keep the ſenſe of a mercy (for any conſiderable time) warm upon the heart: whereas, we ſhould keep the loving-kindneſs of God in everlaſting remembrance; but alas, it is with us, as it is with children, eaten bread is ſoon forgotten, our luxuriant and wanton minds, ſoon forget Divine favours, as Pſal. 106. 13. [they haſted, they forgot, Hebr.] which is a great aggravation: forgetfulneſs ſhould (indeed) be a grave, wherein we ought to bury the Injuries done to us by Man, but not any of the loving kindneſſes done to us by God, Pſal. 103. 2.
The beſt uſe of a bad Memory, is to forget Injuries from man; but to forget the Benefits of God, is groſs Ingratitude: David felt ſome dulneſs and drowzineſs in this reſpect, and he therefore rowzeth up his own Soul to this Remembring-work. Oh, where is the man, the woman, that hath their hearts as much affected with Mercies, and that praiſes God as fervently for them, when they are ſtale and old Mercies, as while they are freſh and new, and but lately received!
3. The third Diſcovery is, In Proſperity the Soul of man is more prone to be corrupted, and to contract the ſcum of filthineſs; like the ſtanding pool, that will in proceſs of time ſtink of it ſelf, when running waters do retain their own native ſweetneſs: 'Twas Fulneſs that bred filthineſs in Iſrael (as well as forgetfulneſs) Jen. 5.7. It breeds this latter in good men, but the former always in bad men: Cores and Bacchus are great friends to Venus, &c. Thoſe worſhippers of Baal-peor firſt eat and drank, and then roſe up to play, to wit, with their Midianitiſh Miſtreſſes, 1 Cor. 10.7. Num. 25. 3. 18. If Moab be not powred from veſſel to veſſel, he will ſettle upon his lees, his taſte remaineth in him, and his ſcent is not changed, Jerem. 48. 11, 12. he hath had no changes, therefore he feareth not God, Pſal. 55. 19. and the proſperity of fools deſtroys them, Proverb. 1. 32. the Sun-ſhine thereof doth but ripen them for deſtruction. Bernard calls Proſperity [Miſericordiam omni indignatione crudellorem.] Mercy (given in wrath) hath abundance of wrath in it, and he had no minde to any ſuch Mercy: David carried it better when he watered his bed with tears, in the time of his perſecution, Pſal. 6. 6. than he did when he waſh'd his ſteps with butter (as Job 29. 6.) in the day of his proſperity. Iſrael had ſtrong Eſpouſal-loves to God, while they followed him in a land that was not ſown, Jerem. 2.2. 'Twas not ſo well with them, when they came to reſt in a Land that flowed with Milk and Honey, Deut. 32. 15. Proſperity is too ſtrong Wine for ſome weak Brains; and therefore 'tis ſuppoſed that Eliſhah muſt have a double portion (to that of Elijah) for he muſt be in favour with Kings, and great at Court, &c. which things are very hard to bear with an holy frame of heart, 2 Kin. 2.9.
4. The fourth Diſcovery is, The Soul of man is ſoon overcharged in Proſperity, Luke 21. 34. Chriſt (himſelf) gives this caution to his own dear Diſciples, well knowing that the ſtanding (of the beſt of fallen Mankinde) is but a ſlippery ſtanding, and a very little thing will over-charge and overturn them. If this might befall thoſe green trees, what can dry trees (ſuch as we are) expect? Small Veſſels cannot carry great Sails, but be in danger of over-whelming; neither is every little boat fit to launch out into the wide Ocean of worldly Felicity. There is (truely) danger to be without danger; and Chriſts Lambs moſtly thrive beſt upon ſhort (not over-grown) Paſtures: The intoxicating Cup of Pomp and Proſperity did hurt (even holy David (2 Sam. 11. 1. 11.) and godly Hezekiah (2 Chron. 32. 31.) when over-charged with it.
Alas, what are the beſt when left to themſelves, and in the counſel of their own hands and hearts? good David did that bad act at that time, which he would not have done in Sauls time, and which Ʋriah (one of his worthyes) would not do in his time: the beſt are too apt to furfeit of too much of the world; abundance of the things of this life, is like fiſh that is full of bones, which while Children eat too greedily, they are in danger of choaking with it.
5. The fifth Diſcovery is, The Soul of man is more expoſed to the temptations of Satan in Proſperity than in Adverſity; 'tis ſaid that Neptune kills more by Calms upon Sands, than by Storms upon Rocks: And yet Sea-room here is your danger, unleſs (with bleſſed Paul) you have learnt to abound, as well as to be in want, Phil. 4. 12, 13. for then is the Soul moſt ſecure, and leaſt ſtands upon its watch (as at other times) yea, and is the greateſt object of Satan's malice. Oh how maliciouſly did the devil ſay to God, [Doth Job ſerve God for nought? haſt thou not bleſt him with all Proſperity? Job 1. 9, 10.] God delighteth in the proſperity of his ſervants, Pſal▪ 35. 27. But Satan ſtomachs it exceedingly, and therefore ſpeaks angrily to God, that Joh might ſerve God well enough for ſuch price and pay, and that he (himſelf) could finde never a gap in the hedge (of Divine Protection) that was round about him and his; he could make never a breach, which he would gladly have done: But if you neglect your watch never ſo little in your Proſperity (as you will be very prone to do) then breaks in your Adverſary, and comes over the gap to ſpoil you. Ambroſe elegantly illuſtrates this truth by the Oiſter, which, while ſhe is toſſed and turmoiled by (her Enemy) the Crab in the ſalt-waters, keeps her ſhells ſo cloſe together, that ſhe ſecures her ſelf from all danger of being (then) devoured; but when ſhe lies ſecurely upon the ſhore without fear of her foe, ſhe opens her ſelf (then) to the warm Sun; which while ſhe is in doing, then cometh the Crab, and puts a ſtone between the lips of her ſhells, thruſts in her Claws, and eaſily, (as well as ſafely) draws out the fiſh: even ſo, the Soul, that is toſſed to and fro by the crabbed adverſary, upon the briniſh waters of affliction, ſhuts up the heart and mouth cloſe for fear of offending, Pſal. 39. 1, 2. but in the ſunſhine of peace and proſperity, the heart opens, and is without a covering; then the Spiritual adverſary finds free paſſage, entrance, and entertainment.
6. The ſixth diſcovery is, the Soul of man is prone in proſperity to grow lazy in its devotion: The warmeſt Prayers are ever in the winter of adverſity, Hoſ. 5. 15. Iſa. 26. 16. Summer-prayers are but yawning, perfunctory, and ſuperficial devotion, not powred out with connatural violence: The Kingdom of Heaven is not ſtormed.
The Jews in their Ceiled houſes, were regardleſs of the Houſe of prayer, Hagg. 1. 4. as their beds were too ſoft, ſo their hearts were too hard for any due devotion; but Prayer is moſtly the Daughter of Calamity, as it is the Mother of Comfort. Affliction exciteth Devotion, as a pair of bellows blows up the fire: Chriſt in his Agony prayed more earneſtly, Luk. 22. 44. And Martha (with her Siſter Mary) ſent Meſſengers to Jeſus, when their Brother [Lazarus] was viſited with ſickneſs, Joh. 11. 3. Thus alſo under Gods Viſitations we do moſtly viſit God, in ſending our Meſſengers of continued groans and earneſt Prayers to him, whom we much neglect in our proſperity; and therefore how juſtly may God ſay to us, as Jephthah ſaid to his Countrymen, [Do ye now come to me in your diſtreſs?] when in your proſperity ye ſaid to me [Depart from us] Judg. 11. 2. 7. God may ſay as much to moſt of us, who ſeldome ſeek to him, before plain need drives us.
7. Having firſt diſcovered the Malady, the ſecond work is a word of the Remedy, in ſome following Rules and Directions, as ſpecial helps againſt the hearts treachery, in a time of proſperity: 1. Direction is, in proſperity you muſt (with holy Job) greatly fear adverſity, Job. 3. 25. for God (ſaith Solomon) hath ſet the one over againſt the other, Eccleſ. 7. 14. he hath ſet them (as it were) in Aequilibrio, in an equal balance; the one is up at one time, and the other at another time: there is a viciſſitude of all created beings; there is foul weather, as well as fair; night as well as day; and Winter as well as Summer: You muſt expect Sickneſs, as well as enjoy Health, and Adverſity as well as Proſperity: You may not ſay with David, [My mountain is ſo ſtrong I ſhall never be moved,] Pſal. 30. 6. for even the ſtrongeſt mountains melt at Gods preſence, Judg. 5. 5. Pſal. 114. 3, 4, 6, 7. either when God ſhews you the preſence of his anger, or only hides from you the preſence of his favour: God goes (as it were) in a circle with David in that 30th Pſalm, and the various Providences that he was (at ſeveral times) under, made (as it were) a piece of checkered work, the black of Miſery, as well as the white of Mercy. There is no man, no thing, that can ſay [I am] but God, whoſe Name it is, Exod. 3. 14. and who only is Unchangeable, Hebr. 13. 8. If God finde that Proſperity makes us too light and frothy in his ballance, then (as there is need) he makes us heavy with Affliction, 1 Pet. 1. 6.
8. The ſecond Direction is, Be ſure that in your Proſperity you forget not divine Threatnings, as you are apt in your Adverſity to forget divine Promiſes. As the higher that the River riſeth, the higher doth riſe the Boat that ſwims in it: So the Minde of man (as the Boat) is apt to be lifted up with an high and proſperous eſtate, as Obad. 3. Hab. 2. 4. (whereas in Proſperity you ſhould ever have your Minde below your Means, and in Adverſity above them.) Now there is no better way to keep down the Minde below the Means, than by making a beleeving Uſe of Divine Threatnings, which ſhall certainly come to paſs: It cannot be otherwiſe but your heart will be lifted up above your brethren (as Deut. 17. 20.) in proſperity, unleſs you be preſerved from it by beleeving that God is as certain in accompliſhing his Threatnings, as he is in fulfilling his Promiſes: If you take the Jewels of his Mercies, and make Idols of them (as Iſrael did in the Wilderneſs, Exod. 32. 2, 3, 4.) or if you abuſe any of his Corn or his Wine, or any of his Flax or his Wool, (as Iſrael did in Canaan, Hoſ. 2. 8, 9.) you muſt know, that God will not take it well at your hands; no, he hath threatned there to take them from you; you ſhall no longer be truſted (as a Steward) with them.
9. The third Direction or help is, Look upon Proſperity as harder to bear with an holy frame of heart, than is Adverſity: But when Pharaoh ſaw there was reſpite, he hardened his heart, Exo. 8.15. If you be Proſperity-proof (as the Walls of ſome Caſtles are ſaid to be Cannon-proof, and the Armour of ſome Captains is ſaid to be Muſquet-proof) then you need not fear Adverſity: If Adverſity hath (in all) killed its Thouſands, ſure I am, Proſperity hath killed its ten Thouſands: [Nulla Infoelicitas frangit, quem nulla Foelicitas corrumpit] No Adverſity can break him, whom no Proſperity can corrupt: Through peace (and proſperity) Satan deſtroyeth many, Dan. 8. 25. as the Grecians did Troy with their peaceable pretences of entertaining the Trojan horſe: The ſame Manna melted by the heat of the Sun, which otherwiſe would endure to be baked in an Oven-fire: Take heed that the warm Sun-ſhine of proſperity melt not away your very ſeeming to be religious, Jam. 1. 26. and you become only as the Morning-dew, Hoſ. 6. 4. when the hot-fire of perſecution does not ſhrink you in: Luther uſes this Proverb, [Bonos ferre dies, oſſa requirit valde robuſta;] the ſence whereof is, It requires more ſtrength to carry well under good, than under evil days: Travellers caſt ſtones at laden, not at fruitleſs trees. So doth Satan, Job 1.2.7.
10. The fourth Help or direction is, In Proſperity be joyful, to wit, in God and Godlineſs, Eccleſ. 7. 14. [beiom tobah heieh betob,] In a good day be you in good, Hebr. which implies, You muſt (1) be in a good frame: (2) Take a good courſe: And (3) be of good cheer, or be joyful, Delighting your ſelf in Gods great goodneſs to you, Neh. 9. 25. You muſt look beyond Mercies, at the God of your Mercies, and be both thankful to him, and joyful in him; Let him that rejoyceth, rejoyce in the Lord, 1 Cor. 1. 31. Jer. 9. 23. Pſal. 33.1. Phil. 3.1. and 4. 4. Zech. 10. 7. Iſal. 41. 16. If you be in ſuch a good frame, and (breaking off ſinful courſes) you take a good courſe (to wit, to be fruitful, Acts 9. 31.) this may lengthen out your tranquillity, Dan. 4. 27. If you ſerve your God in the abundance of all things, Deut. 28.47. The more Wages God gives you, the more Work he expects from you: For Solomon's Altar was four times as big as that of Moſes, and Ezekiel's Temple was ten times as big as that of Solomon's; to teach you, that where God gives much, he alſo expects much. The better man you are in your Temporal eſtate, the better man you ſhould be in your Spiritual too. If you fail herein, God may Curſe your bleſſings, Malac. 2. 2. and blaſt your hopes, making you aſhamed of your revenues, through his fierce anger, Jerem. 12. 13. cauſing you to know the worth of Mercy, by the want of it; yea and deſtroying you, after he hath done you good, Joſh. 24. 20.
11. The fifth Help and Direction is, Put your whole truſt in God, (and not any part of your truſt in uncertain Riches, Mark 10. 24.) in the day of your Proſperity; this is harder to do, than in the day of Adverſity: For moſt rich men think themſelves ſimply the ſafer and the better by their Riches, and ſo make their Gold (as it were) their God, and have a kinde of Confidence and Hope in them, Job 31.24, 25. While the Mammoniſt ſaith to his Gold, [Thou art my confidence] he (as it were) bows the knee (at leaſt of his heart) and worſhips before his golden god, ſaying to it, If thou fail me, I muſt needs periſh; this the Apoſtle expounds, calling it a truſting in uncertain Riches, 1 Tim. 6. 17. which is (plainly) a Creature-confidence, and no better than flat Idolatry, Col. 3.5. and ſpiritual Adultery, Jam. 4.4. yea and enmity with God, in a ſence both active and paſſive; for it maketh a man (or this Mammoniſt) in his own perſon actually to hate God, and (reciprocally) to be hated by God, for ſo doing: Now, who would buy Gold at ſo dear a rate? Upon this account 'tis harder to truſt God in proſperity, than in Adverſity; for in the former the creature interpoſeth betwixt God and you, and therein you are apt to ſtay and ſtick faſt, and to go no further; whereby your truſt in God is eclipſed, as the Moon is by the Interpoſition of the ſhadow of the Earth, and the Sun is by the Interpoſition of the body of the Moon 'twixt us and him: in the firſt, God's goodneſs (only) draws you; but in the ſecond your own Neceſſity drives you to God.
12. The ſixth and laſt Direction is, Look upon all your Plenty and Proſperity (that you do enjoy) with no other than a Pilgrims eye, and uſe all with no other than with a Pilgrims heart: This David did, acknowledging himſelf but a Stranger and a Sojourner (even in the beſt and moſt flouriſhing eſtate that ever he was in) 1 Chron. 29.15. looking through all his Riches and Honours, at God the giver of them, ver. 12. Who giveth all things richly to enjoy, 1 Tim. 6.17, 18, 19. Prov. 10. 22. Pſal. 75. 6, 7. and therefore hath a Right and Soveraignty to take from you (at pleaſure,) as well as to give to you, Job 1. 21. You muſt (both) uſe and looſe all with a God-bleſſing heart, knowing that Pilgrims are ſubject to many miſeries and moleſtations, both Satanical and ſecular; and that the property (of all) is God's, even while the poſſeſſion is yours. This the Patriarchs acknowledged, Gen. 47. 9. Hebr. 11. 13. and the Apoſtles, Hebr. 13. 14. and Prophets, Pſal. 39. 12.