The True Christians T est, Part 1 · Meditation 74
MEDITAT. LXXIV. Of Pride in Worldly Interest, and a Party.
NEar of Kin to Pride in Power and Preferment, is that carnal diſpoſition of ſeeking ones Worldly Intereſt and Grandeur, and preferring a Party, or the advancement of it, before the propagation of the Goſpel, and the advancement of true Godlineſs in the World.
Some men have ſo eſpous'd a Party, and are ſo addicted to a way, that nothing muſt ſtand before it. All that they can wrap and wring, is little enough to ſacrifice to this Bell: This muſt be carried on, let Peace or Purity ſtand or fall, let the Goſpel it ſelf ſink or ſwim.
The Faith delivered to the Saints does challenge indeed our Zeal, and we are required to contend earneſtly for it: But for the Phariſees to contend ſo vehemently for the Tradition of the Fathers, which were not contained in the Law, was a mad and carnal Zeal, Notorious Hypocriſie; eſpecially when in the mean time they neglected the weighty matters of the Law.
To prefer the advancement of a Party, or a worldly Intereſt, which God hath not conſecrated, before Peace, Order, Unity, before the propagation of the Goſpel, the advancement of true Godlineſs, and the ſalvation of Mens Souls, is to be a predominant Lover of the World. To ſay I am of Paul and I am of Apollos in contradiſtinction from Chriſt, is carnal, ſays Paul himſelf. And he was a very competent Judge; for he himſelf, whilſt unconverted, was unreaſonably and fiercely devoted to a party. But behold the vaſt difference between Carnal Saul, and Regenerate Paul; compare Act. 22. 3, 4, 5. with Phil. 1. 15, 16, 17, 18.
But who may be thought to be guilty of this foul fault: And what is it to be proud of Worldly Intereſt?
I anſwer, To be ſo addicted to an Intereſt or Party, as to prefer the proſecution of it, before the exerciſe of Juſtice, Charity, or Mercy; to violate any mans right to eſtabliſh our own party.
To prefer it before rhe exetciſe of Charity: To think that every man muſt needs be bann'd, excommunicated, forbidden, that follows not our way. This Chriſt condemns, in as plain words, as if he ſhould ſay, Let them preach the Goſpel, Let them caſt out Devils: I will not judge them, I will not forbid them, though they do not follow me. The Apoſtle Paul cry'd, let them Preach in Gods name, though they do not ſay, we are of Paul, Phil. 1. 18, and I ſuppoſe Cephas was of the ſame mind.
To prefer it before Mercy, what muſt all the World rather go to wrack, than our own Diana ſhall be ſpoken againſt? Muſt every man be ſtretcht longer or cut ſhorter, that will not exactly fit our bed? Muſt they be accounted not worthy to live, that do not live juſt as we do? If God will have Mercy rather than Sacrifice, then ſure rather than Ceremonies that are not of his appointing. It was fit indeed that the intereſt of Egypt ſhould be maintain'd, but it was not fit that the Iſraelitiſh Children ſhould be drown'd, to keep it from ſinking.
To be ſo addicted to an intereſt, as to uſe and encourage undue Inſtruments in the proſecution of it; to make Prieſts of the loweſt of the People, to ſtrengthen the Party with J…roboam; to make unlawful Matches or Leagues to ſtrengthen a Kingdom, with Aſa the King of Judah, and Jehoſhaphat his Son, both ſharply reproved for it by Hanani and Jehu, the Father and the Son, 2 Chron. 16. 7. and 19. 2.
To make Laws on purpoſe to make men Offenders. One Party by an Ordinance exclude all from their Imployment, that will do thus or thus; Another ſucceeding, Exclude all that will not. Good God! It is not Divine Truth and Charity, but Humane Intereſt that governs the World. When ſhall we leave off judging one another; and judge this rather, that no man put a ſtumbling Block in his Brothers way! It ſeems to be a bold thing for any Party of men to make the Terms of Communion ſtraiter than Chriſt Jeſus made them. Muſt all the Children be caſt out of the Family, that are not of the ſame ſhape and ſtature? Shall the Mother refuſe to Nurſe the Child that does not exactly reſemble her? If it reſemble the Father, it is a ſufficient argument of its being Legitimate; may, thoſe are accounted more Legitimate than the other. It is no good Maxim in Divinity, Partus ſequitur ventrem.
To admit of Sin for Political Ends; as either to oppreſs and impoveriſh a People, to keep them peaceable, as the King of Egypt did; or to hood-wink the People, and keep them in ignorance, that they may the more abſolutely depend upon the judgment of their dogma…cal Guides, as that Church does that is ſpiritually called Egypt. Such a kind of Carnal Wiſdom is it to tolerate Profaneneſs, to prevent Faction; to pull down Pulpits, for fear of Sedition; or Schools, for fear of Controverſies.
Who can ſufficiently lay to heart the miſeries and miſchiefs which Self intereſt hath brought upon the World! How many Lives have been ſacrific'd to the intereſt of a Triple Crown! It was ſaid once, Quantum lucri attulit iſta fabula Chriſti; Nay but, Quantas ſtrages & caedes iſta fabula Papae!
In ſhort, He that forbids a man to caſt out Devils, meerly becauſe he is not of his Party, and follows not him, prefers the Devil before God; and if that be not Idolatry, then I think there is none in Mat. 4. 9. Fall down and worſhip me. One would think an hearty Enemy to Satans Kingdom, (ſuch as Chriſt Jeſus was) ſhould almoſt do or ſuffer any thing in order to the ſubverſion of that Kingdom, the diſpoſſeſſion of unclean Spirits; I mean the converſion and ſalvation of precious Souls.
Do I look upon it as an unworthy act in Jonah, to to prefer his own Reputation, and the credit of his own Propheſie, before the Repentance of the Ninevites: And ſhall I dare to prefer my own Intereſt, or the Credit of my own Party or Opinion, before the Salvation of Souls? Do I look upon it as a carnal part in Jeſhua, to prefer the intereſt of his Maſter Moſes, before the Edification of the Lord's Congregation; and ſhall I dare to prefer the intereſt of any, though they ſit in Moſes's Chair, before the good of Souls?
Good Lord grant that I may have no interest, but the interest of Truth, Righteouſneſs, Peace, Purity! Oh how infinitely more worthy to be advanc'd is the interest of Christ, than our own ſorry name! Lord, come and take up the highest room and place in my heart, that I may prefer the glory of thy Name, the exerciſe of Grace, the advancement of Truth, the propagation of the Goſpel, the welfare of Souls, before m… chiefest Joys, my dearest Intereſts! And oh that th… would'st mightily prevail in the hearts of all men; th… whether they ſit in Moſes's Chair, they may be of Moſes's temper, wiſhing that all the Lord's People wee Prophets: Or whether they be Apoſtolical men, they may reſemble the great Apoſtle of the Gentiles, who rejoiced, and was reſolved to rejoice that Christ was preached, though the Preachers deſigned thereby to derogate from his fame, and to eclipſe it: Or whether they be private Chriſtians, they may follow Chriſt, who would not forbid them that ſhew'd Compaſſion to men, and oppos'd the Common Enemy, although they follow'd not him! Oh how ſweetly do theſe great and holy Perſons conſpire together with one another in the ſame pure and publick ſpirit! And oh would to God we all may conſpire with them!