The True Christians T est, Part 1 · Meditation 37 – Meditation 38
MEDITAT. XXXVII. Of thoſe that offend in the undue ſeaſon of ſeeking the World.
THey offend in the ſeaſon of ſeeking the world, who follow their worldly Employments in any ſeaſon that ought to be devoted to the ſervice of God by his ſpecial command.
Concerning the ſpecial ſeaſon of Prayer, we have nothing certain that I know of, though it is moſt proper and ſeemly to begin every day with God; moſt reaſonable that the devout ejaculation of Thankſgiving or Supplication, ſhould take place of worldly Cares and Contrivances, and ſhould keep houſe in the ſoul at night, when they are all diſmiſt. A Dog is a mans ſervant, which he turns out of doors at night, when he takes his children to bed with him; the Dog may not enter in in the morning without leave, till the door be opened for him; whereas the Children get up, and come into the houſe when they pleaſe.
We do indeed read of the hour of Prayer, but it is hard to ſay, which hour it was; or if we could, Where is the Divine Authority, the ſtamp of God for the obſervation of it?
But the Lord's day is certain, known, commanded to be obſerved: They that then ordinarily prefer the management of worldly buſineſs, before the worſhip of God, appear to be Lovers of the world.
I know we muſt allow here for the works of neceſſity and mercy, theſe are to take place of the Sabbath. The preſervation of Life, though it be but of a Beaſt, is an act of mercy, which God himſelf prefers before Sacrifice; and ſo did the Lord of the Sabbath, by his example, teach us to do.
A Phyſician is excuſable in travelling to relieve his Patient, ſo that it be, in the ſight of God, rather in merciful Care, than worldly Covetouſneſs: But if the expectation and deſire of a Fee be moſt predominant, it is in vain to pretend neceſſity, God ſhall find it out; before him it will bear them out but badly, to plead, The Law allow'd it.
But who ſhall excuſe the Lawyers, and other men that travel Journies upon ordinary occaſions, and upon buſineſs of light moment, and violate the Lord's day to ſave a little money, or a little labor, or for more convenient diſpatch of worldly buſineſs.
To contrive to take a Sermon in their way, to be at Church at ſuch a place by ſuch an hour, I doubt will not ſalve the matter before a jealous God. Chriſt ſays, Ye cannot ſerve God and Mammon: But theſe ingenious Worldlings have found out a way to do it. They can travel a good days journey, of 20 or 30 miles perhaps, and yet contrive to be at ſome Church twice the ſame day: Then they ſay to God, Lo there is that which is thine; the reſt is my own, Why may I not make the beſt uſe of it? Thus they divide the day betwixt God and the world. But whether he that requires a whole day for his ſervice, will accept ſuch partnerſhip, viderint illi, it is good to conſider well of it.
MEDITAT. XXXVIII. Of Worldly Confidence.
AFter Injuſtice, comes worldly Confidence to be condemn'd. Truſt and Confidence is a part of Worſhip; Worldly Confidence therefore is Idolatry: Yea, it is Blaſphemy to reſt in and upon the Creature, inaſmuch as God alone is the Reſt of Souls, and the Confidence of the Ends of the Earth.
To confide in the duration of Riches, is a piece of Foolery, becauſe they are winged, and ſo uncertain; Thou Fool, this night, &c. But this is not the Folly that I mean.
To truſt in Riches, to r…poſe ones ſelf upon them▪ therefore to account our ſelves happy or ſafe, becauſe we have them, to rejoice mainly in them, crying, Be merry, Thou hast Goods laid up for many years: This is the worldly Confidence that God has ſo often curſed, baffled, and forbidden.
God ſhall deſtroy thee for ever, ſayes the Pſalmiſt, (Pſal. 52.) The righteous ſhall laugh at him, (ſaying) Lo this is the man that made not God his ſtrength, but truſted in the abundance of his riches!
Job reckons it amongſt the higheſt of wickedneſſes, to ſay to Gold, Thou art my Hope; or to the fine Gold, Thou art my confidence, Job 31. 24.
They that truſt in Riches, Riches ſhall not profit them; either to bribe the Enemy, who ſhall deſpiſe their Silver and Gold, as the Prophet ſpeaks; or to purchaſe health in time of ſickneſs: ſtrength and ſwiftneſs ſhall not avail; God will baffle theſe, by making the Enemy ſwifter and ſtronger to purſue: Ye ſaid, we will ride upon the ſwift; therefore ſhall they that purſue you be ſwift, Iſa. 30. 16.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they do not trust in uncertain riches, ſays the Apoſtle. Lord, what a ſtrange thing is Man! He muſt not only be admoniſh'd, but charg'd: Why, what's the matter? That he do not truſt in Riches, uncertain Riches. Why, if they be uncertain, there is no danger of truſting in them: Yes, they are uncertain, and he knows it, yet he muſt be charg'd not to truſt in them.
It were endleſs to give an account of the diſappointments of thoſe that have rely'd upon, and thought themſelves ſafe in their temporal Proſperity and worldly Riches, out of Sacred and Prophane Hiſtory; or of the Princes of the Earth, that have been miſerably befool'd with the number and ſtrength of Men, Horſes and Ships, wherein they have confided, more than in the Lord of Hoſts.