The True Way to the Tree of Life, Part · Section 7
VII. Direction.
GReat cause thou hast then, O Natural man, upon all these foregoing Considerations, deeply to humble thy self before the LORD, for this thy sinful and wretched state of Nature, wherein thou remainest even until this very day. Luk. 15. 17, 18, 19, 21.
I. Hast thou not causes, more then enough, to humble thy self deeply before the Lord for this thy sinful and wretched state of Nature, wherein thou still remainest? For, Consider;
1. While thou art in this state of Nature, thou art in the state of damnation, Ioh. 3. 18, 36. Eph. 2. 1, 2, 3. And thou art posting apace to the place of execution, as fast as the wings of speedy time can carry thee? And wilt thou go laughing to Hell? Thou art condemned already, Joh. 3. 18. And will any condemned malefactor go merrily to the place of execution? Was it not Agag's folly to come in delicately to Samuel, as if the bitterness of death had been past, when he was presently to be hewed in pieces before the LORD? 1 Sam. 15. 32, 33. Art thou on the very pits brink of eternal perdition, and but a small puff of breath betwixt thee and Hell, and dost thou not tremble? Doth not thine heart ake? Is not thy soul round-beset with sorrow, even unto death?
2. While thou art un-humbled under this thy sinful and wretched state of Nature, thou continuest an un-cured, yea an unconvinced sinner. (1.) An un-cured sinner. For, humiliation usually precedes and procures reformation: As in Manasses, 2 Chron. 33. 12. to 17. In the Prodigal, Luk. 15. 17. to 22. In the penitent woman, Luk. 7. 37, 38, &c. In Saul, Act. 9. 6, &c. In Peter's Hearers, Act. 2. 37, &c. And in most. Bruising prepares for healing; wounding for binding up, Luk 4. 18. Burdening makes way for easing, Mat. 11. 28. Godly sorrow works repentance not to be repented of, 2 Cor. …. 10. (2.) Yea an un-convinced sinner. …or, humiliation, as it makes way for reformation, so it presupposeth a previous conviction. So then, conviction works humiliation, humiliation inclines to reformation. O do not thou still continue an un-cured sinner, yea an un-convinced sinner, by remaining an un-humbled sinner.
3. Thine humiliation before the LORD for thy sinful and wretched condition, will prove, A grateful sacrifice to God, A gainful exercise to thee. 1. A grateful sacrifice to God. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise, Psal. 51. 17. See 2 Chron. 33. 12, 13. and 15. 6, 7. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted, Mat. 5. 4. Bruised and broken hearts are fit cures for Christ, Luk 4. 18. Isa. 61. 1, 2. Yea, when sinners lament and grieve for their sins, Heaven is filled with joy, Luk. 15. 7, 10. Fletus peccatorum, triumphus Angelorum, Sinners tears, are the very triumph of Angels. 2. A gainful exercise to thee. Humiliation for thy sinful state, (1.) Will help thee to a deeper sense of thy sinfulness and wretchedness. As blots run abroad, and appear far larger, in wet paper. (2.) Will somewhat comfort thee, in that thou beginnest to mourn for that wherein thou didst formerly rejoyce; and to hate what thou didst formerly love, &c. (3.) Will notably prepare thee to true repentance and recovery, 2 Cor. 7. 10.
II. But when thou humblest thy self before God for thy sinful and wretched Natural state, humble thy self rightly, viz.
1. Humble thy self secretly,xIlle dolet verè, qui sine teste dolet. seriously and sincerely, without hypocrisie. Not as once Ahab of old did, 1 King. 21. 27, 29. Nor as usually the hypocritical Pharisees were wont to do, and after them, the Papists in their fastings, Mat. 6. 16. Only formally: But as penitent Manasseh did, 2. Chron. 33. 11, 12. As the praying Publican did, Luk 18. As the repenting Prodigal did, Luk. 15. As the relenting Woman did, Luk. 7. Cordially and really.
2. Humble thy self unto deepest self-loathing and self abhorrency. Consider the infinite holiness of God, Isa. 6. 3. Hab. 1. 13. The wonderful purity and perfection of his Word, Psal. 119. 140, 96. And thine own extream sinfulness, utterly repugnant unto both, Rom. 5. 12. Psal. 51. 5. Ioh. 3. 6. Rom. 3. 9. to 19. Eph. 2. 1, 2, 3. And then loath thy self, and even abhor thy self as in dust and ashes, Ezek. 36. 31. Iob 42. 6. accounting thy self, with humbled Paul, chief of sinners, 1 Tim. 1. 15.
3. Humble thy self so for thy sins, as to labour and be heavy laden with them, and quite weary of them, Mat. 11. 28. Be so pricked and wounded in heart for them, as to cry out to Gods messengers, Men and brethren what shall I do? Act. 2. 36, 37. Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Act. 16. 30. True humiliation for sin, will make thee earnestly long and desire to be rid of sin.
4. Humble thy self reformingly. So as to repent and turn from thine iniquities unto God. As did Manasseh, 2 Chron. 33. 12, &c. As did Saul, Act. 9. 6, 11, 20. That's right humiliation that works reformation. That's true godly-sorrow indeed, that works repentance not to be repented of, 2 Cor. 7. 10.
5. Humble thyself Continually, till thy God exalt thee and lift thee up with Comfort, and restore thee from thy Sinful and wretched state of Nature, into an holy and happy state of Grace. The Sinful woman never ceased hmbling herself at Christs feet, and washing his feet with tears; till Christ comforted her, and told her that her Sins, which were many, were forgiven her, Luk. 7. 47, 48. The Prodigal ceased not confessing his sin and humbling himself for it to his Father, as no more worthy to be called his Son: till the father called for the best robe to be put upon him, and expressed many other most affectionate acts of a most tender paternal love unto him. Luk. 15. 21. to 25.