Of Quenching the Spirit, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
The tenth effect of Quenching the Spirit. It hinders mens Peace. It hinders mens peace with God. They are not at peace with him. Hee is not at peace with them. The evil of this. It is from quenching the spirit. Their misery in this respect. It hinders peace with themselves. The evil of this, and of quenching the spirit in this respect. This speaks to two sorts of Persons. It hinders their peace with men. It hinders their peace with the creatures.
SECT. 1.
10. IT hinders your Peace. It loseth you much peace and comfort; it loseth you the best peace and comfort; the sweetest, the most satisfactory, and necessary peace and comfort. The peace of God, that peace of God that passeth all understanding, that should keep and garison your hearts and mindes, through Jesus Christ. Phil. 4.7. To be spiritually minded, i. e. to exercise the graces, and follow the motions of the spirit, this (saith the Apostle) is life and peace; Rom. 8.6. On the contrary, to suffer the gifts and graces of the spirit to lye idle, in cold and unactive habits, and to neglect the motions of the spirit, which (as you have heard) are waies whereby the Spirit is quenched, this is death and trouble.
SECT. 2.
Oh if you would follow God fully, and not quench the Spirit, then you should bee full of joy, of joy unspeakable and full of glory; you should enjoy a perpetual Sabbath, a continual Jubilee. Great peace have they that love thy Law, and nothing shall offend them, saith the Psalmist, Psal. 119.165. And, this is love that we keep his Commandements, and his Commandements are not grievous, saith the Apostle, 1 John 5.3. Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Such a friendly salutation, such a welcome embracement is there, when ever they meet together. Psal. 35.10. Therefore, saith God, O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandements (and so not quencht the spirit) then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the Sea, Isa. 48.18. Thus it would be if you did not quench the Spirit: but when you have quencht the Spirit, then for peace you have great bitterness, Isa. 38.17. Therefore saith Christ, Oh that thou hadst known, even thou in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eye., Luk. 19.42. There is no peace, saith the Lord, to the wicked. Isa. 48.22. The way of peace they know not, and there is no judgement in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace, Isaiah 59.8. Thus you see that quenching of the spirit hinders your peace. And it hinders,
1. Your peace with God.
2. Your peace with your selves.
3. Your peace with men. And
4. Your peace with the creatures.
SECT. 3.
1. Your peace with God. So that as you are not at peace with him, so hee is not at peace with you. That you are not at peace with him, is evident when you quench the Spirit for it argues your disobeying and striving against the spirit, and therefore he is not at peace with you. They rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit, therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and fought against them. Isa. 63.10. For this cause God turns to be your enemy, and fights against you.
SECT. 4.
Now what an evil is this? Better have all the world for an Enemy than God. As hee is the best of friends, so the worst of Enemies. What is it to bee at peace with men, and not with God? God is not reconciled to thee, nor ever will be, so long as thou quenchest the spirit. If thou rebellest and vexest his holy spirit, he becomes thine enemy and fights against thee. God hath a controversie with thee, which will not bee taken up, so long as thou continuest to quench the spirit, as thou dost. Do never so much, still the old controversie remains; thou art not agreed with thy adversary. Thou know'st what God hath against thee, and hee will come upon thee for it, sooner or later. There are great preparations making, hee hath whet his Sword, and prepared the instruments of Death, Psal. 7.12, 13. and thou dost continually treasure up wrath against the day of wrath, &c. Rom. 2.5. and therefore such a day there will be. Thou goest on quenching of the spirit still, and when the fire of the spirit is utterly extinct, then the fire of Gods wrath is kindled against thee, and will, thou knowest not how soon, break forth upon thee. Therefore pray never so much, hear never so much, do never so many duties, all is one, it avails thee nothing, so long as thy quenching the Spirit remains. Thou sendest messengers to God one after another, saying, Is it peace? Is it peace? but God answers, what peace? what hath such an one as thou to do with peace? Thy Messengers turn not again, but God comes on a pace, and oh! what wilt thou do when hee comes? Hee is on his way, the way of his revenges, and what wilt thou do, when he shall come upon thee?
SECT. 5.
Oh why dost thou not think of taking up the controversie? why dost thou not give all diligence to agree with thy adversary? wilt thou still continue striving with, and wrestling against the Spirit? what dost think will come of it at last? Oh! when once God comes to take vengeance, his wrath is such, as can neither be avoided, nor endured. God fights against thee with the Sword of his mouth, Rev. 2.16. and hee will ere long fight against thee with the Sword of his hand. Thou knowest God hath somewhat against thee, Rev. 2.4. because thou hast left thy first love, and yet thou dost not repent, nor do thy first works. Oh! why dost thou not consider? God is turned away from thee already; and wherefore is that, but to turn against thee, and to do thee hurt and consume thee, after he hath done thee good? Josh. 24.20.
SECT. 6.
Thou might'st have God for thy friend as wel as others, God smiling upon thee as well as others, but thou quenchest the spirit, and that hinders. Oh! how doth God offer peace unto thee? hath given his Son, the Prince of peace; sent his Ministers, the Ambassadors of peace; preacht the Word, the Gospel of peace; and yet there is no peace for thee, God will not make peace with thee, and meerly because of thy quenching of the spirit. Why dost thou not therefore consider? There being no peace with God, thou canst not but think that advantages will be taken against thee, especially seeing thou givest so many: and that God will act as an Enemy, especially seeing he labours so much for peace, and thou continually slightest it. Oh how may God complain, as David, When I am for peace, they are for war; for striving against, and quenching of the spirit! Dost think God will bear this alwaies? God being thine enemy, fearful things must be lookt for; For, as when God is a Friend he will set all his Attributes a work, his wisdome, power, &c. to do such an one good; so when he is an Enemy, he will set them a work to do such an one hurt. Therefore there remains nothing, but a certain fearful looking for, of judgement and fiery indignation to devour thee as an adversary. For such thou art if thou bee not reconciled. For God is not an adversary to any but those that are adversaries to him; and such are those, that by contesting and striving, by rebelling and sinning against light and good motions, quench the spirit. And seeing thou art so froward, as thus to quench the spirit, remember what hee hath said, With the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward, Psal. 18.26, And therefore though God spare thee long, yet, seeing the controversie is not taken up, it is all one, for at length God will come upon thee, and then, woe unto thee, hee will smite the head of all such as go on still in their trespasses, Psal. 68.21.
SECT. 7.
Now whence is this? Is it not from thy quenching of the spirit? for if the spirit were not quenched, God would bee Friends; but the spirit being quenched, hee is vexed, yea, vexed to the very heart, Gen. 6.6. and therefore is thy Enemy. God is out with thee for the sin of thy nature; by nature thou art a childe of wrath, Ephes. 2.3.— but since, hee hath come and offered peace, and that not only externally, in the Ministry of the word, but internally also, in the treaties of the spirit. The spirit comes, and leaves the truth upon record in the Conscience; Oh Sinners, saith he, Know, that though I might justly damn, yet I am willing to pardon thee, so that thou wilt repent, and therefore turn thee, turn thee, why wilt thou dye? But now, seeing thou wilt nor turn, hee is much more thy enemy than before; he is an enemy to thee, not onelyonly for sin against the Law (as before) but now for sin against the Gospel. Now thou sinnest against the Gospel, despisest the riches of grace, Rom. 2.4. and therefore hee is much more thine enemy now, than ever before. Before 'twas only for sin against the Covenant of works; but now for sinning against the Gospel, the Covenant of grace.
SECT. 8.
Oh the wretched condition then that thou art in! Is it not fearful to have God for an enemy? Well, but whence is it? why thou maist thank quenching of the spirit for it. What is it to have Men or Devils enemies in comparison of God? when a man is thine enemy, thou judgest of the danger of thy condition, according to the greatness of his power, which thou art no way able to match; But who knoweth the power of Gods anger? according to his fear, so is his wrath. If a man be able to take vengeance, thou fearest; to be sure God is, yea, and will too; and then what will become of thee? Is any able to deliver out of his hand? canst thou deliver thy self? canst thou bee delivered by any besides? will crying mercy, serve, after so many quenchings of the spirit? Is it no more than so, thinkest thou? what! slight mercy all thy life long, and then think to have it for a wish at last? Oh strange! wherefore then dost thou not consider? why dost thou not bethink thy self? now that thou art so much for peace with man, how is it that thou art no more for peace with God? Peace thou would'st have, but peace in a way of sin; peace with God, and peace with thy lusts, which will not be. And therefore he hath taken away his peace from thee, even loving kindenesses and mercies, Jer. 16.5. Yea, he hath removed thy Soul far off from peace, Lamen. 3.17. And this leads unto a second particular. For it hinders,
SECT. 9.
2. Peace with thy self, peace of Conscience. The spirit comforts divers waies, but no way when it is quenched. The spirit doth not bear witness for thee, but against thee. Enoch walked with God, and had this testimony, that he pleased God, Heb. 11.5. but thou on the contrary walkest contrary to God, and therefore canst have no other testimony, but that thou displeasest God. Now therefore Conscience accuseth, now thy own spirit, now the evil spirit terrifieth thee; as when the spirit departed from Saul, the evil spirit came presently and troubled him. Thou hast no peace in this case that is from the spirit. No peace, but what is a curse and a judgement to have. No abiding peace, but a peace (if any) that will easily bee broken. All the while I kept silence, saith David, (viz. against convictions and motions of the spirit, striving with him to confess) my bones waxed old, my moisture was turned into the drought of summer, Psal. 32.3, 4. And if it be not so, it will be, with thee, when ever Conscience comes to be awakened.
SECT. 10.
But it may be Conscience is awakened already; and therefore tell me, art thou not full of fears? full of pains and disquietments? art thou not like the troubled Sea that cannot rest, but casts forth mire and dirt? Isa. 57.20. There's no peace, saith my God, to the wicked; and so none to thee while thou quenchest the spirit. Art never safe, never at ease, never at rest. Dost duties, but hast no comfort, no satisfaction in them, because Conscience ever and anon is hinting that thy heart is not right. Hast enjoyments, but no comfort in them, because Conscience tells all this is nothing, they will be but so many Bills of Indictment against thee at the last. Dost eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy wine with trembling, because Conscience tells thee, God doth not accept of thy work? Art afraid of evil tidings,
1. Before they come; art afraid there will be bad news?
2. After they come, thy heart failing thee for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, as Luk. 21.26. If thou dost but hear the bell toll, or ring out for any one, 'tis as if it were a passing bell for thy self. If thou dost but hear of some disease in the Town, art presently surprized with fearfulness, and thinkest every thing will infect thee. When Sermon-time comes, art afraid to go, least thou shouldst hear thy sentence of condemnation. When Prayer-time comes, art afraid to pray, because Conscience tells thee, God will not hear thee. What! thou pray? saith Conscience: Such an one as thou? saith Satan, thou that so opposest the spirit? shall such an one ever look to be heard?
SECT. 11.
Now whence is this? do not deny thy experience: Is it not because thou slightest such and such good motions of the spirit? neglectest such and such duties of the Word? duties in the closet? duties in the family? duties in thy particular calling? Now then consider, is not this evil, to be thus tormented? thus vexed? thus disquieted? If thou canst see an evil in the effect, why then see what evil there is in the cause. Is pain evil, and is not that evil which causeth it? That which breaks the peace of a Kingdome is counted a great evil, and should not that which breaks the peace of Conscience bee accounted so too? Oh! what tumults and insurrections doth it cause in thy soul! Oh the sad daies and nights that thou hast when the spirit is quenched! Conscience is ever and anon putting thee in minde of thy hypocrisie and unsoundness; tells thee what thou art, and what is like to become of thee. Thy own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backsliding shall reprove thee: Know therefore and see, that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of Hosts, Jer. 2.19. Thou goest to duty, and Conscience tells thee, 'tis not acceptable. Oh the strangeness 'twixt God and thy Soul! Thou canst not come with boldness into his presence, he doth not smile upon thee, doth not lift up the light of his countenance upon thee. Having not his quickning presence (as when thou hast quenched the spirit, thou hast not) thou hast not his comforting presence neither. Thou hangest down the head, being afraid to look Saints in the face. Thou com'st with fear and with trembling, into the company of thy Brethren; and o…ely because of a sense of guilt, because thou hast a misgiving Conscience. Nothing that thou hast, nothing that thou dost, is any comfort to thee: and thou c…rest not for the society and communion of Saints, but art grown sullen, sottish, stupid.
SECT 12.
This must needs be the effect of thy quenching of the Spirit. If means be neglected, and grace not exercised, the spirit must needs bee quenched. Grace decaies, and if grace decay, the evidence of it decaies too. It is all one not to be, and not to appear to be in this case; thou thinkest there is none, because thou seest none. Again, if the motions of the spirit be neglected, and disobeyed, the spirit withdraws, and then grace cannot bee seen; for it shines but with a borrowed light, so that in this case, thou hast not the light of Gods spirit, nor of thy own neither. And oh the sad fears that thou art now in! Oh …he horrours and astonishments that ever and anon seize upon thee! The sorrows of death compass thee about, the pains of hell …t hold upon thee. Oh the horrible pains and disquietments of thy conscience! by reason whereof thou liest tossing and tumbling upon thy bed, wishing when it is night, would God it were day, &c. Hast no heart to duties or ordinances; but as a Child when he knows his Father is angry, keeps out of the way; so thou shunnest the presence of God. Oh the grief and sadness that seizeth upon thee! the shame and confusion of face that covereth thee! thou hangest down the head, art afraid and ashamed to look up.
SECT. 13.
And it must needs be thus, for
1. The spirit suspends his testimony.
2. Sets home threatnings.
3. Makes impressions of wrath.
4. Leaves Conscience and Satan, to accuse and torment thee.
Oh how art thou now like the troubled Sea! what Storms and Tempests are in thy breast? But how can it be otherwise? For when thou quenchest the spirit, thou grievest the spirit, and then the spirit will not speak peace. Thou wondrest thou hast no more peace; Oh! consider, is it not hence, that thou quenchest the spirit? Sinnest against light? dost not exercise grace? dost not perform duties? 'Twould be a wonder thou should'st have any peace in such a condition. If thou hast any, it will not last. Every act of quenching the spirit, is a deadly wound to thy peace, which thou feelest not alwaies for the present, but thou dost afterwards. Thou might'st enjoy thy self as much as any, if thou would'st but follow the motions of the spirit; but thou dost not, and therefore hast no more comfort in thy self; but what ever troubles thee, art troubled at thy self most. Oh what an enemy art thou to thy self! why, what ayles thee? who, or what is it that molests thee? Is it not thy own doing? has not thy wickedness, thy quenching of the spirit procured this unto thee? Conscience tells thee of such a sin thou shouldst not commit; but thou committest it, and then peace is gone, as soon as ever it is committed: The spirit calls upon thee for such a duty, but thou neglectest it, and then peace is gone as soon as ever it is neglected. And now thou callest in question all from the beginning to this day: art ready to curse the day wherein thou wert born. Knowest not whether thou shalt go, to Heaven, or to Hell; darest not think of Judgement, or if thou dost, a fit of trembling (such as Foelix was surpriz'd with) presently comes upon thee. Now as 'tis in a State or Kingdome, if the peace of the State or Kingdome be broken, it is accounted a great evil, and that both in respect of evils fear'd and felt; then all things hang in doubt before us, all goes to ruine, there is no thriving or flourishing of any thing, as in times of peace: So 'tis in the Soul, when peace of Conscience is broken. And why then canst thou not see what an evil there is in that, that is the cause of it? Oh thy misery! when all is in peace without, then thou hast no peace within: when all the Countrey round about is quiet, then thou art in miserable trouble. But besides, when there is trouble without, thou hast trouble within too, without are fightings, within are fears, and this is far worse than outward trouble. Let trouble without be never so great, yet if all bee quiet within, a man can say and sing, as Psal. 46.1, 2. but a wounded spirit who can bear? A little wind within, in the bowels of the earth, will cause a great earthquake, whereas all the four winds without cannot stir it. Solomon saith, It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. It may bee said also, it is better to dwell there, than in a palace with a brawling Conscience. Oh what duties dost thou perform in the mean time? is it not meerly in form? and for fashions sake, because thou would'st honour thy self before the people, that thou hearest, and prayest and performest other duties of Religion? for thou dost not think they are accepted, yet thou holdest on still, but 'tis to no purpose. Oh why dost thou not consider of making thy peace? wilt thou still go on in this condition? why dost thou not leave off thy quenching of the spirit, that thou mightest be at peace and have rest? Oh the folly and madness that thou art guilty of, that sufferest so much as thou dost, and yet hast not an heart to leave off that, that is the cause of thy trouble! Consider, an house divided against it self, will not long stand.
SECT. 14.
This speaks to two sorts.
1. Some that never had this peace; it hinders such from attaining it.
2. Some that have had it; it hinders such from retaining it.
Some take up with a false peace, promising themselves, as Deut. 29.12. but see, 1 Thes. 5.3. Thou sayest thou wilt go and satisfie such a lust, let the Minister say what he will to the contrary, but let me say to thee now, as the Prophet did to Ahab, If thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. 1 King. 22.28. Thus you have the second particular, that quenching the spirit hinders mens peace with themselves.
A word, and but a word of the third and fourth particular, and I have done.
SECT. 15.
3. Then, having lost thy peace with God and thine own Conscience, thou art not at peace with me, nor they with thee.
1. Not thou with them, but art quarrelling with every one upon every occasion (Wife, Children, Servants, Neighbours, cannot please thee) art discontented, enviest, grievest, fretest, vexest, if thou bee never so little crost. And
2. Men are not at peace with thee. When a mans waies please the Lord, even his enemies shall be at peace with him; but when they are alwaies grievous (as by quenching of the spirit they are) then God stirs up adversaries against him, as he did against Solomon. Thou lookest upon it as a great evil, that such an one should do thee an injury, hinder thee in thy design, by speaking or acting against thee; but consider, whether it be not because of thy quenching of the spirit. Was it wont to be so when thou kept'st close to God? or if it was at any time so then, could'st thou not take comfort and encouragement to thy self notwithstanding? But since thy quenching of the spirit, it is otherwise, and there is nothing to comfort or encourage thee, God being thy enemy too, Isa. 63.10.
SECT. 16.
4. By quenching the spirit, thou losest peace with the creatures. If thou didst not quench the spirit, thou should'st then be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field should be at peace with thee. Job 5.23. God would make a covenant for thee, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground. Hos. 2.18. but now by thy quenching of the spirit, they are made thy enemies. The lightning blasts thy Corn, the fire burns down thy House, &c. See then what an evil this quenching of the spirit is, in that it hinders thy peace.