A Book for Beginners, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Touching Doubts and Scruples.
IT will doe ſome ſervice, perhaps, to well-diſpoſed Souls, if I ſhew how eaſily ſome of their moſt common Scruples may be ſatisfied, (if they will but adviſe with God's Miniſters about them;) though I cannot inſiſt upon all the cauſes of their Doubtfulneſs. I will beſtow this Chapter therefore upon that buiſineſs.
I. We ordinarily hear this objected to us, when we tell men of their neglect of this Duty, I do not delight in that, nor in other holy Duties; and therefore to what purpoſe is it to doe them?
The plain Anſwer is this; If you prefer the doing of your Duty before your Pleaſure, or your Gain, then you cannot but take a rational ſatisfaction (if you underſtand your ſelf) in what you have done.
Nay, if you conſider it well, you will have a high Satisfaction; proportionable to the greatneſs of the Pleaſure, or the worldly Advantage, which you denied for God's ſake.
Who, you muſt remember, is ſatisfied in your doing what you can, (eſpecially when you are tempted another way;) and therefore ſo ſhould you be too:
Hoping that by conſtant practice of Vertue, He will give you that Delight in it which you deſire.
I am ſure this is the way to get it, if it be to be had.
II. Others complain of a great Dulneſs that is upon them in holy Duties; which makes them have no liſt to them.
This doth not differ much from the former; and therefore I ſhall onelyonly adde, that when you have taken all the pains with your ſelf which I have directed in the foregoing Chapter, you ought not to be troubled at your Dulneſs: but aſcribe it either to your natural Conſtitution, or to ſome preſent Indiſpoſition of body. Neither of which is in your power to remedy; but onelyonly to ſubmit unto and endure with patience.
In ſhort, let not this afflict you, much leſs hinder your Communicating; if by your receiving the Holy Communion, you find that you are made more carefull in your conſtant Duty.
III. But the greateſt Diſcouragement of all is this, I do not profit by the Holy Communion, nor grow one jot the better by receiving it ſo often. Which language is not more common, then it is, for the moſt part, cauſeleſs. For as many people think they do grow better, when they do not; ſo others think they do not, when they do: becauſe neither of them know what it is to be better.
Examine your ſelves therefore by your Duty to God and your Duty to your Neighbour; and try whether they be better performed or no, ſince you received the Holy Communion.
Let poor Servants, for inſtance, examine whether they order themſelves more lowly and reverently to all their betters; and be carefull to be juſt and faithfull; to govern their tongues alſo, and to abſtain from evil ſpeaking as well as ſtealing, &c. And more eſpecially, whether they grow more contented in that ſtate and condition of life, into which God hath been pleaſed to call them. Theſe are ſubſtantial ſigns of growing better, by which you make a true judgment of your ſelves: and either be rid of your Scruple, or know how to be rid of it, by endeavouring ſeriouſly to improve in ſuch Vertues.
In like manner, Children ſhould examine themſelves about the ſame Reverence and Lowlineſs; and whether they honour their Parents more then heretofore; and ſubmit themſelves to all their Governours, Teachers, and ſpiritual Paſtours, or Maſters.
And all Young people ſhould examine, whether they keep their Bodies more ſtrictly in temperance, ſobriety, and chaſtity; becauſe they have greateſt temptations to the Vices that are contrary to theſe Chriſtian Duties.
And here it will be fit to mention one thing of which many complain, that they are troubled with the motions of carnal Luſts, unto which Youth is naturally prone.
The Anſwer is, that it cannot be otherwiſe, if they be in health: and therefore there needs the greater care and diligence to preſerve themſelves pure and undefiled. Which they may doe, though they feel ſuch Motions, if ſo be they do not follow them, nor ſuffer themſelves to be led by them to any act which God hath forbidden.
That's all you promiſe in Baptiſm, to renounce the Luſts of the fleſh, ſo as not to follow them, nor be led by them. Luſts, that is, Deſires, you may have, and will feel, and they cannot be perfectly ſubdued: but they do not defile you, if they do not obtain your Conſent to them. And all you have to doe, is, to refuſe to follow them whether they would carry you; and to reſolve not to ſatisfy them in any way, but that which God allows.
And after the ſame manner you muſt examine your ſelves about your Duty to God. Whether you believe more heartily and firmly what Chriſt hath taught you in his Goſpel, and are verily perſuaded of it, ſo that you fear to offend Him; and eſteem his Promiſes far above all Riches; and think your ſelves exceeding rich in Faith and Hope, though otherwiſe you be poor and low in the World. Theſe are the beſt ſigns of improvement.