Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 11
Verse 11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.
HAving laid Doctrine for his ground, he follows now with Exhortation; both these go necessarily together to the doing of good, and may not be sundred: The Doctrine was about the great things that God had done for them, and therefore hereupon he Exhorts them to holiness, and purity of heart and life; before he shewed what God had done for them, now he shews their work; before he shewed that the end of those priviledges, was, that they should shew forth Gods vertues, now he shews how that should be done, namely, in laboring to be pure in heart and life in token of thankfulness, and so that being advanced to such dignities, they were not to be idle, but work for God, and walk according to the benefits bestowed: In this verse he exhorts to purity of heart, in the next to holiness in conversation, and these he joyns together.Holiness in heart and conversation must accompany one another. Holiness in general, is and must be the life of Gods people: These two parts of it, in heart and conversation, must go together, one as the Mother, the other the Offspring, that as the Root, this as the Branches; like two Twins that are born and dye, weep and laugh together. In vain doth any man boast of purity of heart, whiles his conversation is naught; In vain doth any man strive to have a good conversation, whiles his heart is suffered to boyl with corrupt lusts: First, he begins with cleansing the heart, as from whence must come good conversation, the onelyonly true discerner of the purity of the heart.
The parts of this Verse are two: 1. An Exhortation, where we have both the maner wherein its delivered, namely, by way of beseeching, and the matter exhorted to, namely, To abstain from filthy lusts; whereby we are to understand, not such sins as be acted by the body, but the lusts of the heart, for even body and soul is flesh naturally, that is, sinful and corrupt. Fleshly lusts, that is, sinful and carnal corrupt lusts; such as have place in the heart, ere they break out, from those we are to abstain, even to take heed they prevail not in us, but resist and mortifie the same. 2. The Reasons thereof, 1. Because they fight against the Soul. 2. They were and we are Pilgrims here; not of this world, therefore not to follow the lusts of this world, but to minde Heaven and be Spiritual.
Dearly beloved] We must know he dissembled not, but spake as he thought, and meant, and felt. Hence note,
What affection of love Ministers ought to bear to the people they have taken charge of:Observ. If people have chosen one,Ministers must love and affect their people. and entrusted him with their souls, he is then to be between God and them: O what a near conjuction, and what great love must there be! The Apostle writeth to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 4. 15.That he was their Father; and to the Galathians, Gal. 4. 19.That he travelled in birth till Christ was formed in them; 1 Thess. 2. 7, 8.and to the Thessalonians, That he was affectioned towards them, as a nurse cherisheth her children: He loved them at the heart root, and was content not onelyonly to take any pains for them, but to lose his life for their good,Iohn 10. 11. as a good Shepherd.
Love also being so necessary a duty in the people, as without which nothing can go aright as it should, and that most are full of self-love, but very cold in love to their neighbor; Ministers must be very much and often in perswading hereto, and the several parts thereof, consisting in giving, forgiving, patience and forbearance, and doing all good both to their souls and bodies, and that both by word and deed, and that not onelyonly by precept, but also patern.
But chiefly this is the Reason he should be so full of love to the people,Reason. that they may be moved the more by his Ministry, and it may prevail the more effectually with them; when they see that whether it be admonition or rebuke, yet it cometh from one that entirely loves them in the Lord, and is hungry of their souls, and desires above all to win and gain them to God, which would be above all riches to them; if not, our nature is sickly and full of self-love. If we think our selves not to be loved, we make little use of whatsoever we are taught, though this be indeed a fault in us, for the matter it self ought to move us: But as if the sick person knew the Physitian to be one, that besides his skill, bears him good will, it will make him willing to take physick of him; whereas if he thinks he bears him no good will, he cannot be brought to meddle with him, or take any thing of him; so its with them that are well or ill perswaded of their Pastors love towards them: Therefore the Minister ought to provide for this; for what is the joy of a Minister, but to see the fruit of his labors, and that he does good, and gains men home to God, sees knowledge and conscience wrought, and people converted? Oh, what man sows, and looks not to see it come up, grow, and have a crop? who plants a vineyard, and looks not for the fruit thereof? and shall we onelyonly lose the most precious labor, and seed, and study, and preach as we care not whether it do good or no, and never look after it? God forbid.
1. This teacheth Ministers their duty to love the people tenderly;Use 1. them,2 Cor. 12. 14. not theirs: By reason of the contrary, there's so little good done; some live altogether from them, others live with them, but so, that it were better they were further off.
2. It teacheth people to profit by that which they hear,Use 2. though not delivered haply with such hearty affection as it ought (for its Gods Word however) but especially look, that being delivered in love, and unfeigned care of your good, you take heed that you despise not the same, lest one day it rise up in judgement against you.
He had before described them as Believers and excellent ones, now here he calls them Beloved, yea, Dearly beloved. Hence note, That
The Saints,Observ. or they that be endued with Grace and the Image of God,The Saints are to be the objects of our love. are to be the objects of our love: This is worthy love, commands love wheresoever it be seen.
True, we must love all, because we know not who may be the Lords (haply even such as are yet bad) and love that part or parts of the Image of God we see in any; but where we see the true Image of Grace and Sanctification in any, they be the parties which are chiefly to be beloved: we are to do good to all, but especially to the houshold of Faith; we must love all, but brotherly kindeness is to the godly as our Brethren, yea fellow-members; yea, among Christians we must love them most, where we see most Grace, and be most familiar with them, affect them most, and most regard them.
1. As they be led by an ill Spirit,Use 1. who love either all alike, or those worst which shew most tokens of towardness in Religion, making as much or more account of a civil person, then of one truly Religious.
2. So let people strive to grow and exceed in grace,Use 2. that they may get the highest and largest room in their Ministers heart which be faithful, which howsoever the world makes little account of, yet they that are wise know, that their sentence and love is to be regarded, as the Testimony of the Church is a great matter, either for a man, or against a man; so of a Faithful Minister: and if such a one give a full and large Testimony of a man, its a Crown to his head above all his wealth; if his Testimony be against a man, or a weak doubtful Testimony, its an hard case: If a Minister have joy of a people, and may give a chearful account of them to God, its profitable for the people;Heb. 13. 17. The contrary is grievous.
I beseech you,] He had power to command them, being from God, in a thing for their own good, and so necessary, but he saw their toward disposition, therefore chose rather to use entreaty. Whence note, That
Its the duty of Gods Ministers to be wise in their delivery of the Word,Wisdom requisite in the Preachers of the Word. and when they see that loving beseechings and entreaties will be as profitable, and prevail as much, then so to do, rather then use any other course. True it is, the Minister hath power to command the people being in the person of God, and for their own good to flie from things hurtful, and follow things profitable for themselves: Paul might have commanded Philemon, Philem. 7, 8.but being perswaded of his forwardness,See 1 Tim. 5. 21. he rather entreated; so must we, as they that set in a joynt in a tender body,2 Tim. 4. 1, 2. stroke,Acts 13. 10. and stroke softly, and anoint the place, and so put it in the place ere the party be aware;Mat. 3. 7. and 23. 13. 2. yet upon occasion we may both command, and threaten, as the same Apostle elsewhere: and John the Baptist, and our Savior himself; as when we have to deal with stubborn and disobedient persons, or such as have fallen into foul sins, or are secure and dead-hearted, or are revolters and backsliders, then, I say, are we to deal more roundly and severely; knotty logs must have many and hard strokes, as a rough horse an hard rider; when we have to deal with toward and well disposed tender hearted ones, or afflicted, then are we to deal otherwise: and here is required the wisdom of the Spirit of God to discern what is meer, and this must be considered of before hand.
Abstain from fleshly lusts, What meant by fleshly lusts] Now of the matter of the Exhortation. By fleshly lusts are meant not onelyonly acts of sin breaking out in the body, but the inward lusts that are in the heart, though they should never break out, for even the heart and soul is flesh as well as the body, and fleshly, even corrupt and sinful, as the sinful lusts of unbelief, impatience, hardness of heart, hypocrisie, rebelling against that which is good, weariness in well doing, pride, anger, envy, self-love, covetousness, uncleanness, uncharitableness, and the like: These we must abstain from, even labor against, that they prevail not in us, yea to subdue them quite. Now in that he gives his Exhortation to such as they were, whom he before described, We may learn, That
There are remnants of sin abiding in the best of Gods Servants,Doctr. and will be while they be here;There are remnants of sin in the very best. They shall not lay down sin wholly, till they lay down this flesh: They are sanctified, but in part; through out,1 Cor. 13. 9. but not perfectly; corruption is not in one part, and grace in another, but grace and corruption joyned in every part and faculty of body and soul, and thus it hath ever been. Hence it is, that we scarce read of any in Scripture, but taxed for some infirmity and weakness, as Abraham with some little shifting for himself, when he said Sarah was his sister; Sarah for her unbelief, Moses for speaking unadvisedly, Job for cursing his day, Paul and Barnabas for being stirred the one against the other: And this the wise and good providence of God hath so appointed, for he could sanctifie us perfectly at the first, but its not meet, for then righteousness should not come onelyonly by Christ; for if we were not onelyonly perfectly justified by Christ, as we are, but also perfectly sanctified by his grace, then might we stand before God with confidence, and boldness in our own righteousness, and need not to have the righteousness of Christ continually imputed to us. Besides, the Lord would hereby humble us, that we should not be proud of any gifts or graces that he bestoweth on us, more then we had or others have, but be kept still humble: when we see these corrupt lusts sticking in our nature, which may more justly provoke wrath against us, then our good actions procure favor; as Paul, lest he should be lifted up through the abundance of revelations, had a prick in the flesh,2 Cor. 7. 12. even Satan working upon his corruption, and strongly tempting, and as it were boxing him to humble him: Therefore no man hath cause to be proud of any grace, not only because he hath nothing but the meer mercy of God, but also because (if he consider) he hath such remainders of sin still in him, as if they be laid in the Ballance with his graces, might be of more force to condemn him, then all his graces to procure favor to him. Further, hereby we are held continually in exercise, and made see our need of the Word, Sacraments, Prayer, and the help we have one of another while we live.
1. We are not to expect the perfection of any here;Use 1. though Gods Ministers are still to call on the people to grow towards it, yet they must rejoyce even in their proceedings to it, and bear with some weakness and wants; and people must not think their Ministers can be perfect without blemish, either knowing or suspecting some infirmity in them, to esteem meanly of them, or their Ministery, or gifts, so drowning all their graces, God forbid: Its well, 1. We know no sin our Minister lives in: 2. No corruption he yields to, but that he is in strife with his corruption, and counts it his burthen; this we should cover with the lap of our love: The contrary is in the world; If a Minister have any imperfection, though strived against by him, and seldom or never shewing it self, and have never so many good graces, yet the same shall still be cast in his face, and tost from one to another, and all his gifts neglected, and that oftentimes of those that live in soul sins, or are an hundred times more foully overtaken of the same, or some other: Husbands, look not for perfection in your Wives, nor Wives in your Husbands; thank God they be godly, hating all foul sins, and striving against corruptions, look for these, and cover them, else lovingly help to cure them in time convenient, but look on their graces: some man that is himself carnal, and hath a professing wife, so narrowly views her, as if he spy the least imperfection, its cast in her teeth, as if she should be perfect, though he be never so far off from perfection: Let none look for Christians that profess the Gospel, that they can be altogether without blame; yet let none take up this as a good excuse and shelter for them; yea, say they, Its true as the Preacher said to day (which I liked well) that we are all sinners; some make themselves so holy, and profess such zeal, as if they were without sin, or wiser then all their neighbors, when they be no less sinners then others: Well, let not these carnal or prophane and civil persons, think to scape away with this, or be hid in the number of sinners,Two sorts of sinners. and scape as well as others; God will finde two sorts of sinners, such as live and lie in sin, indeed workers of iniquity, and such as having been unfeignedly humbled, and obtained pardon of sin, and truly repented, have yet corruptions which they hate and strive against, and are heartily sorry when they have been at any time overtaken thereby; and yet the world bless themselves herein, What, are not all sinners I pray? yea, and you shall have them that will dilate of any infirmity that a Christian hath, and stretch it on the tenters, when themselves are polluted with foul sins.
2. We are to labor altogether against these corruptions of ours;Use 2. against our pride, self-love, unbelief, hypocrisie, earthliness, weariness of well-doing,Rom. 8. 13. and the like: All that are Christs, have crucisled the, er; flesh with the affections and lusts; Gal. 5. 24.We must mortifie our earthly members, and by the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the flesh; Col. 3. 5, 9.These things become not us that are set at liberty from sin, Rom. 6. 2.and be eudued with the Spirit; Gal. 5. 25.If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit: For us that are Christians to be led and overcome of our lusts, is base, as for a Prince to be led of a base person; and here is the power of Religion, and proof of a Christian, that denyeth himself and crucifieth his lusts, that not onelyonly keepeth his hand, but purifieth his heart, that hath it at command in some measure: We must labor to know these corruptions, and our own hearts, and which of these we are most prone unto, and discern of them, which many do not, but are most strangers at home, and have many corruptions which they discern not, for the heart is deceitful: Know both the ugliness and danger of them, then repent of them, be humbled for them, crave pardon heartily, unfeignedly, seek to mortifie them, apply the edge of the word against them, even any thing we read or hear out of the Scriptures to this purpose: Apply also the benefits of God, as means to subdue them, so also afflictiont; put on the whole Armor of God, and on every occasion set against them, pray against them also, especially when we humble our selves upon occasion of the Sacrament, &c. always be baiting at them, hacking at the roots of them, grieving we can prevail no further, crying and making our moan to God to help us; so shall we get mastery more and more (dealing faithfully) even over those that we thought sometimes we should never have prevailed against: In the mean time lets not be dismaid that we can get no more mastery, be humbled and yet comforted that we strive: But here is the great fault of many Christians, that suffer their corruptions to bear such sway in them, as they break out shamefully, and often to Gods dishonor, their own shame, and the Gospels infamy; where is our Christianity, when we be so proud, that we will contend, and being out, will never be reconciled, but break out into bitter speeches? so being so covetous, so lazy also in goodness, that either we neglect duty wholly, or slight it over carelesly.
Fleshly lusts,] Hereby are yet further meant all evil thoughts, and the least rebellings of this nature of ours, against the holy commandments of God: These are fruits of this concupiscence and evil nature of ours,Evil thoughts cast in by Satan or from our selves. and of the flesh, and are sins against God. But here know that evil thoughts be of two kindes, 1. Such as be cast in by Satan, as into Judas. 2. Such as arise from our own corrupt nature, as Christ said to his Disciples, Why do thoughts arise in your hearts? For the former, they either fasten upon our nature, and tarry to tickle us with a kinde of pleasure, or else are immediately cast out with deep detestation: If they tarry never so little to parley with our corrupt nature, they are our sins, as well as Satans; but if cast out immediatly, they are not, then are they our crosses, not our sins, but the Devils, and shal also be laid to his charge, not ours; for so he cast in thoughts into our Savior Christs minde of distrust, presumption, idolatry, &c. but they fastened not at all on his nature, therefore he was never the worse; so for us: for if any shall come and entice me to Murther or Treason, and I detest the very first motion thereof, Shall I be counted guilty? This is needful to be known, lest we be too much overwhelmed with grief, for these the Devil troubles every one withal at all times, and no man alive is free from many of them daily, if he did take notice thereof; but some men are troubled extraordinarily this way: God lets Satan loose at some time, and for some space to buffet them most grievously, and cast in bad thoughts of all kindes, but especially against God, most foul, unholy, prophane, and blasphemous thoughts not to be named; as that God is not holy, just, good, or deals hardly with some men, cannot do this or that, with other more vile then is meet to be named, which is sometimes the state of civil persons, sometimes of the true children of God, which are cast into their mindes as thick as hailstones, and are by some called the foul Temptation, by some the Temptation of Blasphemies: This doth so wonderfully perplex the parties, that it fills them not onelyonly with fears, but even drives them almost to despair, makes them weary of their lives, that they could wish themselves as far under ground as they are above; yea, many to think of making away themselves, haunting them in all places, night and day, that they cannot rest, so weakening their body and minde exceedingly; concerning this state, we must know it comes to pass by Gods providence, and permission to Satan thus to torment them.
The cause may be either to humble them to repentance for some coldness or slackness they are fallen into in the worship of God,The causes of evil thoughts from Satan. and their course which God thus punisheth, or else he punisheth the barrenness of their hearts, and idleness of their mindes, that care not how they spend away their time,How to be rid of them. their mindes roaving unprofitably, which God often chasteneth: the way for these to take, is 1. To examine themselves if there be any sin lies unrepented of, or not throughly repented of, to confess and crave pardon of it, and repent of it from the heart: If any coldness or slackness, or declining in care, or idleness of minde, and unprofitableness, then are we to pray against them, and keep our hearts still in hatred and detestation of them, and therein comfort our selves, that the Lord knoweth our hearts, and will not lay them to our charge. 2. Set light by them, let them go as they come, for the more we strive with them, the more we snarl and trouble our selves, and if we make a great matter of them, the Devil will still delight to vex us, but if we set light by them, he will the sooner be weary. 3. Let them avoid solitariness (which yet they so much desire) and keep in company rather, wherein the time may be spent in holy conference, singing of Psalms, and the like; but if they be alone, they must be very earnest in doing something thats good. 4. Though some may come after all those means used, yet we are to comfort our selves that God will not lay them to our charge; as if our Childe should be about our business, and some unhappy Wretches would not let him alone, but throw stones at him, pluck him away, trip up his heels, and he cry and complain to us he cannot do our work, will we be angry with him?How to discern them from those which arise from own nature. The Lord is much more equal and wise. Now to discern these foul temptations from those which do arise from our own nature, these notes may be observed, 1. That they come suddenly. 2. Violently, being even forced into us. 3. By their multitude, being as thick as hailstones. 4. That they come with such fears, as often cost sickness, faintness, and the like, which things usually be not of them that come of our selves, which also come more leisurely, and with more moderation. 5. Such as be in such a degree of blasphemy against God,See Perkins Cases of Consc. pag. 163. usually rise not of our selves, and seldom but in a Reprobate, or one that hath sinned against the Holy Ghost, as the Devil hath. 6. Such as are against nature, as to kill our selves, our wives or children: For the latter that arise from our nature they be sins, whether they tarry so long, as that they have got consent of will or not, or so much, as they have but inveigled the minde with some bait-like allurement, yea, but so as that either they do presently vanish so soon as they do arise, or be cast out by us, yet these I say be sins; if with consent against other Commandments, if without consent against the Tenth, which ransacketh the heart more narrowly then any of the other: Its true, the longer they stay, and the further they have prevailed, its the worse; but the least and first thought against the Law of God is a sin, and deserves the wrath of God; as all Impatient, Blasphemous, Unbelieving thoughts, all wandering thoughts when we be at the Word, Sacraments, Prayer, or any good duty, or any such on the Lords day: all ill thoughts, as that its in vain to serve God, &c. so also Disobedient, Angry, Revengeful, Unclean, Uncharitable thoughts; God made us pure without any, and may justly punish the contrary in us: These first of all come from Original sin, and who can bring good out of evil? These bring forth bad effects, and withdraw the heart from God, to consent to and commit evil: These are forbidden in the tenth Commandment; else what? This the heathen Philosophers never knew, nor Paul himself a learned Pharisee, till he was instructed in a more Spiritual understanding of the Law.
1. This confutes Papists,Use 1. which teach, That ill thoughts with consent, be the least sins, and that without consent, they are none: What is that then which Paul said,Rom 7. 7. I had not known that lust had heen sin, but by the Law; he knew that ill thoughts with consent were sins: This Doctrine of Rome doth derogate from Gods glory, and doth not humble a man to the purpose as it ought, neither letteth it him see a multitude of such sins for which there's cause he should be humbled.
2. This sets out the absolute perfection and purity of the Lord,Use 2. who requires the purity of the heart and thoughts, he made us perfect, and requires that we should love him with our whole hearts.
3. It serves notably to humble us on our knees every day to God,Use 3. for who knows how oft he offends this way? O the innumerable vain, foolish, idle, and bad thoughts that arise in our mindes in a day? how in a Sermon or Prayer-while, and on the Sabbath? O if God should deal with us in justice, he might condemn us for the least of these; we should repent us seriously of these, as of ill deeds: This is that made Paul cry out, O wretched man that I am; and that makes the dear servants of God hang down their heads, and humbles them continually; and when others think highly of them for their graces, they have matter to abase their vile nature and rebellious thoughts, whereof some tickle the minde, some get consent, and are then cast out as, some presently are repelled: But how infinite numbers of them come through our heads as motes in the Sun, as sparkles from a Fornace? The want of the knowledge of these, makes many a Christian when they look back at night, see little to repent of, which if they marked, they might finde: This is the Reason why civil persons be not humbled, even because they take no knowledge of these thoughts, whereof they have thousands on the Lords day, in the times of Duties, and against every Commandment, whereof they take no knowledge, or scarce of one of twenty; and those whereof they take knowledge, they think to be no sins, as long as they break not out into words and actions. Thought is free, as the world thinks, and judged at no Bar, pay no Tribute: True, not in mens Courts, because they cannot know them, but before God they are and will be called in question, who knows the thoughts, and requires to be loved with the whole heart.
4. This sets out the wonderful patience and abundant mercy of God,Use 4. that upon our repentance pardons so many thoughts.
5. Its our duty to prevent them to the uttermost of our power;Use 5. and to this purpose we must labor,How to prevent evil thoughts. 1. For the Spirit of God to be more and more abundant in us, to mortifie this corrupt nature of ours, that so this root being more and more killed, may send forth fewer shoots; this brand more and more quenched, may send forth the fewer sparkles. 2. To be ever doing some good, to be in our Calling or some thing answerable thereto; for if we be idle, the minde will be ranging: An idle person must needs have a corrupt heart, swarming with ill thoughts, for if the minde be not occupied about good, it will be about evil; its like Quicksilver, ever stirring: if we be riding, working alone, walking, waking in our beds, let our mindes be on some good: And in duties we must keep our mindes earnestly bent thereto, that being full already, there may be no place of by-thoughts; as when a vessel is full, no more can be poured in: Let's covenant with our eyes and ears, that they let in no ill thoughts, especially in holy duties, and on the Lords-day, shut up all windows and doors; so in praying, whether conceived, or read by our selves, or heard of another, our hearts must be set thereon, that to every Petition they may say, Amen. So in hearing the Word, we must be earnestly bent, and fix our eyes on the Preacher; and for the Lords-day, be wholly in doing good, and that earnestly: In the time of the Sacraments both joyn with the Prayers then used, and withal, have holy thoughts by way of preparation, and in the mean time have holy meditations about the matter present, as long as we can, then joyn in singing; it must needs be a weary toil to them that cannot. 3. To pray earnestly to God for his assistance, but labor what we can, all will not be prevented; therefore must we grieve for those that come, casting them out, and that speedily: They are as a flock of birds, that we cannot let from hovering over our heads, but may hinder from lighting on our heads; if we nip them betimes, then we prevent evil actions: The worst action was at first a thought, which if it had then been resisted and cast out, would not have proved so deadly, as we now finde by woful experience; for want of this, sin grows from one degree to another, till it be ripe: If we thus resist and cast them out, though they be our sins, God will not impute them, but pardon them in Christ, and this may comfort us; but yet because it were best not to be troubled with them, or commit them at all, we should even long to be with God, when having laid down our bodies, we shall be wholly freed from them: But in the mean time, let us thank God in Christ Jesus, and say, Its not I, but sin that dwelleth in me; when we do to the uttermost of our power prevent them, and those we cannot, yet we resist earnestly: The world make little account of thoughts, but let them flie out, and the heart range whither it will, whether on the Lords day, or at other times when duties are performed; and no marvel, for they make no conscience either of their words or actions, even on the Lords-day: But they shall one day be called before a Judge that knows them all, and made them without them, who will condemn them for them.
Which fight against the soul: The first Reason, and that of greatest force; that which fighteth against our principal part, we had need resist manfully, but thus do fleshly lusts: for 1. They hinder the good thoughts we should have in stead of them,How fleshly lusts fight against the soul. and so make us do duties untowardly. 2. They egge and entice us to evil, and steal away our hearts from God and his obedience; as an Adulterer enticeth and draweth a mans wife out of her husbands company, so do these draw us from God; and so pollute our souls, which made the Apostle to complain,Iam. 1. 14. That they rebelled against the law of his minde, and led him captive, Rom. 7. 19.he was yoked, and made to do the evil he would not, and so on the contrary. 3. They fight against the peace of our Consciences, for these make us guilty, and so hinder our quiet; for as well-doing breeds peace, so evil-doings disquiet. 4. They seek indeed the ruine and destruction of the soul,Rom. 6. 23. for the wages of the least of these is death: These not resisted, or not repented of, will surely cause damnation, and these in themselves deserve no less.
1. How ought we then to watch against these with all diligence,Use 1. as they keep watch that be besieged by Enemies?
2. Take away from them all means of nourishment,Use 2. and starve them, as besiegers do by their besieged adversaries.
3. Mortifie them all we can,Use 1. else they will destroy us: If we live after the flesh, Rom. 8. 13.we shall dye; It will not spare us, we therefore must not spare it, we must admit of no reconciliation, no ransom; this is holy and lawful revenge: But contrarily, there are not a few Christians 1. Which do not watch against their lusts and thoughts, but let them come and go at their pleasure, and take little or no notice of them, or not as though they sought their destruction; nay, how few once regard their thoughts, especially such as have no consent? How many come and go, and no account taken of them? 2. Which rather minister mat…er to their lusts for their nourishment, as to their pride, to anger, to wandring thoughts, by letting their eyes and ears be at liberty? 3. Which do not mortifie them, nay, bear with them, and speak favorably of them, and not as if they were deadly Enemies? Oh, people little think of the danger of these lusts, else they would otherwise do! If any lie in wait to hurt us in our bodies, we watch to resist them, and its wisdom; or if any come to rob us, we cry out, Oh, he seeks to rob me and get away my goods; or if one should sue us for part of our Land, What a stir and opposition do we make? What a madness is it then, that these which fight against our souls, we suffer to go in and out at their pleasure without any check, entertaining them rather as friends then enemies? If one should strike at our leg, we would fence it if we could, but if he drive at our head, then much more; If one would thrust us into the arm, we would avoyd all we can, but if he go about to stab us at the heart, then much more; so should we most of all for our souls: These lusts pretend friendship, but they are Enemies, fighting Enemies, an Host (as the word imports) against our souls: O let us be wiser, and deal with them as deadly Enemies! O our fault herein! If some come and tell us, this night some be pointed to rob us, or there is one lies in our field armed, threatning to kill us as we come that way: O I thank you good Neighbor, say we, that you would tell me, I shall love you while I live; but if any come and tell us of a Lust, Pride, Covetousness, Hastiness that is in us, he had need behave himself wisely in the doing of it, that shall have any thanks for his labor, nay, not one of many but will take it ill, and snuff, and think the worse of him: O what folly is this to bear with such deadly foes!
4. If these inward lusts fight against the soul,Use 4. if these ill thoughts, yea the least of them be enemies to the soul, and must be resisted, What then do the ugly sins and abominable speeches and actions of the wicked? These wound and pierce the soul most deeply; their Oaths, Cursing, Drunkenness, Prophanation of the Sabbath, Whoredom, Oppression, Lying, gash the soul most fearfully, and kill it at last eternally: What mad people then be most of the World, which love and live in the practise of these, thus murthering their own souls? As the man that was possessed of a Devil broke all fetters, Mark 5. 4, 5.so do these; kept among the graves, so do these in Alehouses; cut himself with sharp stones, so do these with ugly sins: If a man seek to make away himself, stab himself, or cut his own throat, we say, He is beside himself, its time to binde him; when the World therefore gash themselves, and stab themselves with their vile sins, are they not mad, yea so much more then the others, as the soul is better then the body?
As strangers and pilgrims,] The second Reason. Hereby are meant such as are out of their own house, out of their own Nation▪ which he speaks not because they were out of Canaan, and dispersed in other countreys (in that sence he called them Strangers in the former Chapter) not in a worldly, but in a Spiritualsence, namely, in respect of the Kingdom of Heaven, which was their Countrey, and from which, wandring here in this world, they were absent. Hence Note, that
All Gods Servants and Believers are Pilgrims here in this world;Doctr. This is not their Countrey,Believers are here strangers and pilgrims. They have a far more excellent one that they are going to: Thus the Patriarchs counted themselves, and thus David; Gen. 47. 9.They are not of this World, Here they have no continuing City, Heb. 11. 13.They look for a building made without hands, Psal. 119. 19.They are Passengers going through a strange Countrey where they be not known:Iohn 15. 19. Here is but the beginning of their happiness,Heb. 13. 14. which they have mingled with much sorrow,2 Cor. 5. 1. but they have a fulnes of happines prepared,1 Iohn 3. 2. where they shall rest for ever without sin and sorrow, in the perfect fruition of all that's good. True, the wicked shall not tarry here ever, neither yet can they not be called Strangers here, because they have no better countrey nor place, for they shall go to Hell: Here therefore is all their hope, all the good that ever they shall have, that which followeth is fearful: Therefore no man needs envy at the prosperity of the wicked, their's that have most, seeing they have all here they are like to have: But Gods Servants after they have waded through this world, they shall come home, where they shall be with their Father and all their Brethren and Sisters in all happiness, and more then can be uttered.
If we be strangers in this world,Use. and Heaven our countrey, then our duty is to behave our selves so as strangers, for so do all true Citizens of Heaven walk in some measure: Many lay claim to Heaven, having no right thereto, as by their very walking in this world may appear. To discern the one from the other, consider these Notes:
1. A Pilgrim follows not the fashion of the Countrey he is in,Properties of Pilgrims. nor runs after every thing he sees other do; He observes some ride to Markets and Fairs, some running to Plays, others sitting in Alehouses drunk, others running to Bear-baiting, Bull-baiting, and the like; he regards none of them, but keeping his own Countrey fashion, goes on his way homewards; and if he happen to be drawn away by the sight of them, and linger a while, he repents himself, and saith,Applyed. What a fool was I? I have cast my self behinde; so do Gods Servants,Rom. 12. 4. they follow not the evil guises and maners of this world: The world swear, contemn the Word, and Ministers thereof, prophane the Sabbath, Rail, Curse, Whore, be Drunk, Backbite, Cozen, Dissemble, Lye, be Proud, and the like; these they will none of: These be proper to the men of this world, we may not meddle with these; and this is the Reason in the Text, We must abstain from fleshly lusts: Why? These be for worldings of this world to follow, we that are Spiritual may not follow fleshly lusts, but leave them to them that be but flesh; but our conversation must be Spiritual, Holy, according to the Laws of our Countrey, Zealous, Fervent, Pure, Chaste, Innocent, Merciful, Patient, Godly, and the like; To Love, Fear, Trust in God, Worship him, Delight in his Word and Saints, These be the fashions of Heaven our Countrey; therefore these we must follow,Tit. 2. 11, 12. and so the Gospel teacheth us to live.
2. A stranger lays not out his stock on House and Land, but trafficks in things transportable, that he can send home before, and carry out of the Countrey with him into his own: It were no wisdom to lay it out and spend his time about things he must leave behinde him:Applyed. So the true Christian Pilgrim, he spends not his time, nor sets his heart on things of this world, all which he must leave behinde, but trades in Grace, and purchaseth Pearls of Knowledge, Faith, Repentance,Mat. 6. 19. Patience, Peace, Joy, and the like, and Trafficks in the fruits of Faith,Iohn 6. 27. his good works, which he sends before him into his Countrey,Rev. 14. 13. and in such Graces as he shall carry with him: Oh, how many have taken much pains for belly, and back, and earth, but never prized the Pearl with the wise Merchant,Psal. 17. 14. nor the means how to come by it? These have the portion here.
3. Pilgrims will take and use all that may further them in their journey, as their Meat, Drink, Sleep, and whatsoever else; but what would hinder them,Applyed. they cast away, or meddle not with: So a true Christian useth all that will help him in his journey, the Word, Sacraments,Luke 21. 34. Prayer, and all such Spiritual Repasts, good Company, and such baitings and refreshings as God offers him in his way;Heb. 12. 1. as for worldly cares, or whatsoever presseth down, he avoids, as all sin which hinders in the way: He takes the benefit of the things of this life indeed, but sets not his heart on them, neither overloads himself with worldly businesses and cares, which might hinder him from good duties, or a right performance of them, much less that make him run into evil: For a man then goes on his journey to Heaven, when he awakes with God in the morning, assoon as it is convenient goes to Prayer, then to his calling in Faith, and through the day neglects no Spiritual duty, much less runs into evil of any kinde, but walks on uprightly, and with a good conscience useth the world as if he used it not:1 Cor. 7. 31. Such as regard not these, have no meaning to come to Heaven; For how should they come there? As men cannot go on in the earthly way without baits and refreshings, so neither the heavenly without these: They overload themselves so with worldly business and cares, that they cannot go one step towards Heaven. O how simply do many Christians walk in these days of Peace, not hasting at all to Heaven! for if they did, they would not take such loads on their shoulders, as make them go so stooping and staggering, as they can scarce go a right step all day long.
4. Pilgrims travelling towards their Countrey, will be asking the way,Ier. 6. 16. and desirous to know marks and notes,Applyed. whereby they may know when they are in their way,Luke 3. 10. upon the view whereof they are very glad.Acts 3. 37.
So Christians that minde to go to Heaven indeed, will be asking the way there: They will go to godly Ministers, and experienced Christians, and ask how they might know the way, and whether they be in the way, and then finding these and these marks in them; as, an hatred of all sin, a true desire in all things to please God, seeking God in secret, as well as openly, with a true love to God, his people and Word, they are not a little glad, but rejoyce therein above all riches: O how many deceive themselves, The way to heaven is straight, and few finde it: Most never ask the way, but go on at a venture; if they be in the way, so it is, if not, they shall shift as well as others; and most please themselves that they are in, without asking the way, as if it were a very hard matter to miss the way to Heaven, and which but few do miss.
5. Pilgrims will in a long dangerous way, through a Wilderness, where the path is narrow, where there are many by paths, little company to beat the path, and dangerous for wilde beasts, not onelyonly be asking the way, but because they know themselves apt to go astray (though they fare the harder) have and hire a guide continually to go along with them in the way, to be sure that they may not lose any time,Applyed. or grieve themselves by going out of the way at all, if it may be: So will every wise Christian besides asking, get a continual guide, which is the Word of God, to go along with him, to direct him in every particular through the day, yea his whole life: This David desired, and therefore did so often study and meditate in the statutes of God,Psal. 119. 11. That they might be a light to his pathes, and a lanthorn to his feet, and his Counsellors: This therefore we must read, hear, study, that it may dwell plentifully in our hearts, in all wisdom, that we step not awry for want of knowledge, or knowing the way, go contrary to our guides direction: we cannot in every particular action and our dealings go and ask counsel, therefore we must have the guide and counsellor within us, to teach us to Buy, Sell, Let, Hire, to deal with our Neighbors in Peace, Equity, Mercy, Truth: Therefore David prays, Lead me in thy way, Psal 25. 4.O Lord, and let thy good Spirit lead me into the Land of righteousness; Psal. 27. 11.as one that would not go a step, but as he was led by Gods Word and Spirit. The common sort therefore that dare do any thing, and never look for guide, hereby shew whether they are going: Gods Servants also herein are wonderfully to blame, that sometimes for want of knowledge, sometimes for want of care, go grosly out of their way; one step in the way, another out; in some things like Christians, in some things like worldlings; some actions good, some nothing less, When will such come to their journeys end? What travelling is this, backward and forward, and then backward again?
6. A Pilgrim, if he be told he is out of the way is glad, being grieved at his mistaking and loss of time, and returns with speed, and thanks him that told him; so also must Christians in their journey to Heaven:Applied. They that cannot at all endure to be admonished, nor haste to amend, are not in their way.
7. Pilgrims make much of their Fellow-travellers and Countreymen; if any be out of the way, they call them in again; if any faint, they stick to him and rub him, and with the Aqua vitae bottle that they carry along with them for such purposes, they comfort him, and go not from him, and leave him behinde them; they also chear up, and encourage one another, What chear my masters? go we merrily? &c. So do true Christian Pilgrims,Applyed. they love all that set their faces to Heaven-ward with them, they call in any wandring out of the way; If any be afflicted in Conscience for sin, or in Body, or otherwise with any cross, or hath met with hard measure from the world, and begins to be discouraged, when Landlord or some great men frown, or is fallen into some troubles, they encourage and hearten him with words of gracious consolation out of the Word, the Aqua vitae of Gods promises; But the world cannot abide them that go that way.
Its a great fault in Christians that they walk no more Pilgrim-like, love not one another, are not able or careful to admonish others, but let one another alone till the wicked cry out on them and the Gospel; and for Consolation, few are able, few careful to look thereto. The rich encourage not the poor, one heartens not on another, but every man goes by himself, and so are the weaker; as when the Brands are pluckt one from another, the heat departs: O we should cleave together as Burs, for we have both Devil and World against us!
8. A Pilgrim bears his troubles quietly, looking for no other whilest he is thus from home; though he be stopt here, stockt there, mockt at as he goes, yet he comforts himself with this, that he shall ere long be in his own Countrey where he is known, and loved, and shall meet with no more such, but all good usage that his heart can desire; So true Christians bear their troubles patiently,Applyed. if from the hand of God, or for his sake, sickness, losses, crosses, they look for no other in this vale and Pilgrimage: This comforts them that they shal one day come to Heaven, their resting place, where they shall live with God in all blessedness for ever; and if other troubles come one after another, they think them no other then they made account of, its Gods wisdom that it should be thus, that Heaven might be the sweeter, we might long the more for it, and be weaned from hence: If an Englishman should be highly advanced in a strange Countrey, he would the sooner forget his own; but in trouble, longs for his own, and is so glad of it, as many Souldiers having met with much hardness in other Countreys have fallen flat, when they arrived and set first foot in England again, and kissed the very ground, with O welcome sweet England! If Christians meet with hard measure from the world, they bear out in hope of Heaven;Iohn 15. 19. If they were of the world, the world would love them: They will not deny, but confess Christ, here suffer for him, that hereafter they may reign with him: Thus did the Prophets, Thus did the Apostles suffer; Therefore for those that being put to, and in danger of displeasure, or trouble, flinch, joyn with the world, and give over, they be no Pilgrims, they mean not Heaven in good earnest, for if they did, they would not lose it for a few troubles: Its therefore a sign they doubt whether they have any resting place or countrey provided for them or not, for else they would not lose it, and men cannot have Heaven both here and hereafter:2 Cor. 5. 1. But the true Pilgrim is confident he undergoes troubles constantly and boldly, as knowing that he hath a countrey which will pay for all.
9. A Pilgrim longs to be at home; So doth and must every true Christian;Applyed. we are taught to pray, Thy Kingdom come; and the Church prayeth,Matth. 6. 10. Come Lord Jesus; & St. Paul, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ; and old Simeon, Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace: Then they shall be free from sin, from sorrow, shall be with God in perfect happiness for ever: O if we were in Heaven but one minute, we would not be here again to have every one a Kingdom; nay, if we knew what Heaven were, and that it were for us, we would be sick till we came at it.
The best and precisest are not of this minde for ought I see,Object. but if they be sick they send for the Physitian.
We may,Sol. nay dare do no other, though we were never so willing to dye, we may not break the Lords prison by doing any ill to our selves, or neglecting any good to our selves, or the use of any lawful means; If he set open the door, then we may go out, but not break away, but be content so long here to stay, as God shall see meet: The world cannot abide to think of death, or of the day of Judgement, would buy them off, yea but to be deferred, with much money, an ill sign; nay, many of Gods Servants be much to blame, some so addicted to the world, as not willing to part with it: O ye be of little faith! Its base that any thing here should take up our affections from longing to be with our true Inheritance: Nay, thus some Christians are held lingring indeed, and that for wife and childrens sake especially; namely, to see them brought up, and kept from evil courses, seeing often the contrary, through the want of Parents, the wrack of many children.
As for the most part, this argueth weakness of faith in Gods providence, especially if their desire be excessive, for God can provide for them without us; moderately to desire life for this cause, or only to do God some other service, is tolerable; always provided, that it be the love of nothing here below that detaineth our affections, but that we so esteem of the world, and all that is in it, as we see no cause in it, why it should take up our hearts, and make us linger here: The causes that should make us desire to be hence, should be sin, and the desire to be with God; sin to chase us hence, and the love of God and Heaven, the excellency of that place and state should allure us thither: Some desire to be gone, but its most ignorantly and desperately, for its onelyonly because they be in trouble, full of pain, have many crosses: Thus many make away with themselves, others impatiently wish to be gone; poor mad fools, not knowing what is a coming, onelyonly looking to be eased of the present grief: O our poor folly also, and the earthliness of many of Gods people that are not wearied hence by sin, and by their corrupt nature, and continual spring of sin, that they cannot be rid of, but annoys them daily and continually! Therefore God is pleased to send them sorrows and pains, and with a week or fortnights pain, they are made willing to dye, that were not so before: A great fault of sundry Christians that have their hands and heads so full of business, as they cannot desire to be gone, nay, had need of a twelve-moneths warning to set their matters right: This is not Pilgrim-like, they may hap not have a week;2 Cor. 5▪ 2. therefore so walk, as you may ever be willing to be gone, and be ever of this minde,Phil. 1. 23. that to be gone is most happy, and most to be desired.
10. Pilgrims, the nearer their Journeys end, they are the gladder; So ought Christians that have passed many years and are grown old,Applyed. to thank God highly that now their salvation is nearer then when they first believed it, & that they would not their time were to begin again, and that they were yong again, &c. but thank God they draw nearer the shore, where they shall arrive at the Haven of rest: Ancient Christians near their end, have this advantage, that they have almost past the Pikes; yong ones know not what remaineth for them; yea, every day a Christian at night should thank God, that hath brought him safely one days journey nearer his end then in the morning: Many think they grow old too soon, too fast; if they could make their years stand still as Joshua's Sun, they would be glad.