The True Way to the Tree of Life, Part · Section 6
VI. Direction
FUlly be convinced, O Natural Man, How impossible a thing it is for thee or for any of the Sons of Adam, to be effectually brought out of this Sinful and wretched state of Nature, into an holy and happy state of Grace, by any ability or sufficiency of our own, or by the Sole Assistance or influence of any meer Creature in the whole world.
This is a point of great Consequence. For clearing of it I shall endeavour to shew, 1, what Natural man cannot do for delivering himself out of his Sinful and wretched state of Nature. 2. What he can and ought to do, 3. How, for not doing, what he can and ought to do he shall justly perish for ever.
I, Natural man in order to his effectual Recovery out of his Sinful and wretched state of Nature, cannot do these things following. O Natural man thou canst do none of these things, viz.
1. Thou canst not Circumcise thineheart from its natural filthiness, Deut. 30. 16. nor take away thine heart of Stone, canst not remove the natural hardness of thine heart in unbelief, impenitency, and Sin: Nor free thy self from thy Death in Sins and trespasses. This is Gods peculiar work, Ezek. 36. 26. Eph 2. 1. 5.
2. Thou canst not furnish thy self with the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Grace, of Regeneration, of Renovation: nor with the Principle and Habits of Grace infused into the Soul, as Repentance unto Life, Faith unto Salvation, &c. These are not of ourselves, they are the proper Gifts of God, See Zech. 12. 10. Ezek 36. 26, 27. Act. 11. 18. and 5. 31. Eph. 2. 8.
3. Thou canst not Actuate, Exert and draw into Exercise the Principles and Habits of Divine Grace already infused and instilled into thy Soul: but by Gods special assisting and Co-operating Grace. Turn thou me, and I shall be turned,—Surely after that I was turned, I repented—. Ier. 31. 18, 19. —It is God that worketh in us (foreign both to will, and to do, of his good pleasur… ▪ Phil. 2. 13. Christ said;—without me ye can do nothing Ioh. 15. 5. Paul acknowledgeth;— not that we are …ufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves: but our sufficiency is of God. 2. Cor. 3. 5. Of God we must have Preventing Grace, that we may will: Subsequent Grace, that we may not will in vain. InrGratia pr… veniens, qu… velimus: subsequens, nè frustra velimus. D. J. Prideaux. Lect. 3. de Grat. universali. §. 4. p. 39. Augustines judgement, they are most sharply and vehemently to be resisted, who think, that without the help of God, by the very force of Humane will, they are able either to perfect righteousness, or to profit in tending thereunto. And elsewhere he speaks notably of Gods Preventing and following Grace;—He prevents us, that we may be healed: He will follow us, that being healed we may grow. He prevents us, that we may be called: He follows us, that we may be glorified. He prevents us, that we may live piously: He follows us, that we may live with him perpetually. For, without him we can do nothing.s—Misericordia ejus praevenit nos. Praevenit autem, ut sanemur: quia & subsequetur ut etiam Sanati vegetemur. Praevenit ut vocemur, subsequetur ut Glorificemur. Praevenit ut piè vivamus, subsequetur ut cum illo semper vivamus, quia sne illo nihil possumus facere. August. lib. de Natura & Gratia contra Pelagianos. cap. 32. Tom. 7.
6. Thou canst not subdue the reign and dominion of thy sins, casting them as into the depths of the Sea, mortifying them and crucifying them, Mi…. 7. 19. Rom. 8. 13. Gol. 3. 5. Nor canst thou finally purge and cleanse thy self so compleatly from all incident corruption, that neither spot nor wrinckle nor any such thing may remain. Eph. 5. 25, 26, 27. These are the singular works of God and of Jesus Christ by his Spirit, with, or without the means of Grace.
4. Thou canst not by any power of thine own, or by the help of any creature, Come unto Christ, so as to accept him for thine only Saviour; nor by Christ unto God, as thy God in Covenant: Except God himself, the Father of Jesus Christ draw thee. Ioh. 6. 44. But if he please effectually to draw thee, to draw thy mind, thy Conscience, T…y will, Thine Heart and Affections, then thou shalt not only come to him, but even run after him. Cant 1. 4.
5. Thou canst not of thy self seriously and sincerely, so as thereby to please God, so much as will or desire Jesus Christ, and God in him, in order to thine eternal happiness. For, 'Tis God that works in us to will as well as to do, Phil. 2. 13. 'Tis Gods Spirit that puts desires and groans into the heart: For, we know not what to pray for as we ought, what to will or desire as we ought, &c. Rom. 8. 26. 27.
2. Finally, Thou canst not of thyself do that which may be acceptable unto God, nor bring forth fruit unto God, without Christs special influence and assistance. Ioh. 15. 4, 5. Philip. 2. 13.
Now then, O Natural man, seeing these things are utterly beyond the sphear of thine activity, 1. Presume not that thou canst be thine own Saviour or Deliverer out of thy Sinful and wretched state of Nature, by any Vniversal Grace or Freedom of will. 2. But deny thy self and all thy self-sufficiencies in this point utterly. 3. Seek for Recovery out of thy Natural state of Sin and misery, from the omnipotent God alone.
II. A meer Natural man, notwithstanding, is able to do many things and he ought to do them, in order to his Recovery out of his Sinful and wretched state of Nature. O thou Natural man God hath furnished thee with sundry Talents improvable in some measure to this End: These thou must not hide in a Napkin, or bury in the Earth▪ but oughtest to improve to the uttermost. Mat, 25. 14, to 31. with Luk. 19. 12. to 28. Particularly,
1. Thou art able to consider of many things very conducible to thy Recovery out of thy Natural state, Ezek. 18. 27▪ 28. Luk 15. 17. &c. These thou shouldst take into serious Consideration. As, 1. That thy Natural state is most Sinful and wretched, as was manifested. 2. That Every one living and dying in his Natural state, shall everlastingly perish without remedy. Mat. …8. 3. Ioh. 3. 3. 5. and 8. 24. Act. 4. 11, 12. 3. That no man can effectually and fully rescue himself out of his Natural state, by his own ability, Ioh. 1. 12. Phil. 2. 13. Eph. 2. 1. 5. 4. That, now as during this present life, man is to be recovered out of his Natural Condition, or never. 2 Cor. 6. 1. 2. Ecles. 9. 10. Heb. 9. 27. 5. That thy Soul is most precious: and no Treasures of this world, no Pleasures of Sin, no Pinacle of Earthly Honours, can countervail the loss of thy Soul, Mat. 16. 26.
2. Thou art able in some measure, to search, prove, and examine thy state and wayes, so as to be convinced of the badness of them, and danger of Continuing in them, 2 Cor. 13. 5. Lam. 3. 39. 40.
3. Thou hast ability, upon discovery of thy Sinful, wretched, and dangerous Condition, to humble thy self deeply in the sight of God, for it. Manasses in chains, did it, 2 Chron. 33. …1, 12. The Prodigal in misery resolved it▪ Luk. 15. 17. 18. 19.
4. Thou canst confess thine iniquities; upon Conviction vilest offendors have done it, as, Acham, Iosh. 7. 20. 21. King Pharaoh, Exod. 10. 16. 17. King Saul, 1 Sam. 15. 24. Judas, Mat. 27. 3, 4, 5.
5. Thou mayst in some sort forsake and turn from many iniquities: though not sincerely, nor from all entirely. Herod for a while did forbear to put John Baptist to death, though he mortally hated him for Her…dias sake, Mat. 14. 3. to 13. Haman vexed extreamly at Mordicai's not bowing, yet refrained himself from present Revenge, Est. 5. 9. 10. Pharisees abstained from many outward gross sins, Luk. 18. 11. Saul, whilst a Pharisee, was touching the law blameless, Phil. 3. 6. Iudas lived so inoffensively among the Apostles, that when Christ declared that one of them should betray him, none suspected Judas more then themselves, Mat. 26, 21. to 26. Ioh. 13. 21, 22, 23.
6. Thou art able to attend upon, and make use of, all the outward means of grace, ordinary and extraordinary. Meer Natural men, carnal men, have done thus much heretofore, and such may do the like hereafter. Canst not thou, O Natural man, hear the Word of God preached? when the three bad grounds, the three sorts of bad hearers did, Mat. 13. 19, &c. When Herod heard Iohn Baptist gladly, Mar. 6. 20. When Scribes and Pharisees heard Christ, Mat. 21. 45. When Iudas heard Jesus preach often. When Simon Magus heard Philip preaching, Act. 8. 12, 13. Canst not thou partake the Sacraments? when Simon the Sorcerer was baptized, Act. 8. 13. When the Corinthians came to the Lords Supper, though many unworthily, and smarted for it, 1 Cor. 11. 29, 30. Could they not have come better? Canst not thou pray after a sort? when the Mariners in… Ionas's ship prayed in the storm, Ionah 1. 5, 6. When Pharisees pray, Mat. 6. 5. and Luk. 18. 10, &c. Canst not thou sanctifie the Sabbath-day? when Scribes and Pharisees were so zealous against the breach and prophanation of the Sabbath, Mat. 12. 1, 2. Ioh. 5 16, 18. Canst not thou humble thy self with fasting? when Ahab did it, 1 King. 21. 27, 28. When the Heathen City Nineveh did it, Ionah 3. 5. to 10. When Pharisees did it often, Luk. 18. 10. 11. &c.
7. Finally, Thou canst O natural man, do much good, perform many religious Exercises and Christian duties, as our hearing reaped much Spiritual Benefit by the means of Grace. What other meer Natural men have done, thou maist do. As,
(1.) Thou maist give much Alms to the poor. So did the carnal Pharisees, Mat. 6. 1, 2. So the blinded Papists.
(2.) Thou maist show much kindness and favour to Gods people, to Christians, &c. So did Cyrus to the Jews, Ezra 1. 1, 2. Artaxerxes to Ezra, Ezra 7. 11. to 27. Ahashuerus to Mordecai and the Jews, Esth. 6. and 7. and 8. and 9. and 10. So Maximinus the Emperour, under Gods heavy judgements, his bowels rotting, innumerable worms crawling from him, &c. ceased his cruel persecutions of Christians, and made a Law for their peace, liberty and publick meetings.tEuseb. Hist. Eccl. lib. 8. cap. 27, 28, 29.
(3.) Thou maist have Gods faithful Ministers in high esteem, maist reverence them, and hear them gladly. As Ioash did Iehoiadah, 2 Chron. 24. 2, 4, &c. Herod did Iohn Baptist, Mar. 6. 20. Simon Magus did Philip, Act. 8. 13. And as the Officers of the chief Priests and Pharisees sent to take Christ, were wonderfully taken with Christ, Joh. 7. 32, 45, 46.
(4) Thou maist desire the prayers of Gods Ministers and people for thee. As Pharaoh desired the prayers of Moses and Aaron, Exod. 9. 27, 28. and 10. 16, 17, 18. King Ieroboam desired the prayers of the man of God for his withered hand, 1 King. 13. 4, 6. And Simon Magus begg'd the prayers of Peter and the Apostles for himself, that the evils feared might not come upon him, Act. 28. 24.
(5.) Thou maist wish thy self in as happy a condition, especially in death, as Gods people. So did Balaam, Numb. 23. 10. And maist not only wish, but pray to God. So did the Pharisees, Mat. 6. 5. and 23. 14. Luk. 18. 10.
(6.) Thou maist profess the Christian Faith and Religion. So did the five foolish Virgins, who had lamps, Mat. 25. 3, &c. Simon Magus, Act. 8. 13. Ananias and Saphira his Wife, Act. 5. 1. to 11. And Iulian the Emperour for a season, but afterwards became a woful Apostate, and cruel persecutor of Christians.uTheod. Hist. lib. 3. cap. 25.
Yea, thou maist believe for a time, as the Hearers resembled to the rocky or stony ground, are said to do, Luk. 8. 13.
(7.) Thou maist also proceed to practice, and do many things. As did Herod, Mar. 6. 20. Nay, what can a true Christian do, but an hypocrite (who is the Christians Ape) may imitate it? Yea, the Natural man may seem to do, with much zeal and affection. The stony ground heard with joy, Mat. 13. 20, 21. How zealous seemed Ioash about repairing of the Temple? 2 Chron. 24. 4, &c. And Iehu in rooting out of Ahab's house, and destroying of Baal's Idolatry out of Israel? 2 King. 10. 16, &c.
III. These things the Natural man may do, and ought to do, in order to his recovery out of his Natural state of sin and misery. Thou therefore, O Natural man, if thou dost not these things which thou canst do, and oughtst to do, in order to thy recovery, (though neither these things, nor any thing else which thou canst do, is sufficient) thou shalt justly perish in thy sinful and wretched state of Nature for evermore. For,
1. All these abilities which God hath furnished thee withall, what are they but as so many Talents wherewith the Lord hath betrusted thee, that thou shouldst imploy them to thy Lord and Master's honour, and thine own eternal benefit? Mat. 25. 14. to 31. Luk. 19. 12, 13. Now Talents are not to be buried in the earth, or hid in a Napkin.
2. A day of account will certainly come, when God will reckon with every one, how they have imploy'd their talents, Mat. 25. 19, &c. and happy those souls that shall be able to give a good and clear account at that day.
3. He that diligently and fruitfully imploys his talents received, is in the ready way of having his talents and gifts augmented, Mat. 25. 28, 29. Mar. 4. 25. Mat. 13. 12. Luk. 8. 18. He that faithfully doth what he is able, shall be enabled to do much more.
4. If thou dost not in order to thy recovery what thou art able to do, thou wilt be found willingly, if not wilfully, guilty of thine eternal perdition in thy Natural state of sin and misery, Ezek 18. 31. and 33. 11. Ah! what a crying sin is murder? Gen. 41. 10. What a roaring sin then is self-murder, wilful self-murder both of body and soul for ever?
5. Finally, If thou dost not towards thy recovery what thou art able, if thou improvest not thy talents what thou canst, God will account thee an unprofitable, a slothful and wicked servant, will cause thy talent to be taken from the, and thy self to be cast into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, Mat. 25. 26, 28, 30.
Now go, O Natural man, do to the utmost thou art able towards the rescuing of thy self from thy sinful and wretched state of Nature, else thou'…t be guilty of thine own eternal destruction. And yet when thou hast done all thou art able, all this will not fully and compleatly effect thy recovery.