A Gospel Glass, Treatise · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Their miſcarriages about Heart-examination.
THe more that the Lord of Heaven chargeth us with a Duty, Profeſsors miſcarriages about Self-examination.the more inexcuſable are our neglects of it: There are few things more commanded us, than to try and examine our hearts and lives: 2 Cor. 13.5.Examine your ſelves, &c. Prove your ſelves, &c. We are apt to be ſtrangers to our ſelves, to cheat our ſelves with vain preſumptuous hopes, to reſt in notions; therefore foreign, Examine your ſelves, take an experimental knowledge of your ſelves: We are apt to prove others, and cenſure them; therefore foreign, Prove your own ſelves, begin at home, try your ſtate, try your actions, bring the mettal to the touchſtone, ſee whether it be ſound or counterfeit; try your Faith, whether it be temporary or ſaving; prove your Repentance, whether it be through or ſuperficial; examine your Love, whether it be ſincere or hypocritical; and your Obedience, whether it be univerſal or partial. Deut. 4.39.Know therefore, and conſider it in thine heart, make a return or anſwer to thine heart. Commune with thine own heart, Pſa. 4.4 1 Cor. 11.28. Lam. 3.40. Their omitting the Duty altogether,hold intelligence with it. Let a man examine himſelf. Let us ſearch and try our wayes. But yet notwithſtanding theſe Injunctions,
1. How many are there, that never ſet about this Duty? They will Pray, &c. but will not be perſwaded to look inward: They are as great ſtrangers to their own, as to others hearts. They are at no pains, to try in what ſtate they are: They will not try, Nor examining their Eſtates,whether they are new-born, or not; whether ſanctified, or not; whether a ſaving change hath paſt upon them, or not: They will not compare themſelves with the Characters, which are given by Miniſters and Books, to ſee whether they be in the gall of bitterneſs, or not, in the bond of iniquity, or not: They never examine what Juſtification, and juſtifying and ſaving Faith be, and whether they are juſtified, and ſhall be ſaved, like Gallio, Little caring for theſe things: They examine which way they may be greater in the World, how to add to the heap, how to load themſelves with thick clay, how to eſcape the wrath of man, how to prolong their dayes; but not how to prepare for Eternity, and how to make ſure of Heaven: You ask one another, what news from Navies, from Armies, from Court, from Country; but when did you ſpend one hour to ask your hearts this ſerious queſtion, O my Soul! what will become of thee, when thou leaveſt this earthly Tabernacle? We travel any where, but where we ſhould: We are better read in any Book, than in the ſealed Book of our own hearts: We are not at all for a perſonal treaty with our own Conſciences: We are too much prying into other mens hearts, but our eyes turn not inward: We know not how it is with our Souls, and what will become of them, and we have no mind to know ſuch matters.
As we commune not with our hearts about our States, Nor Actions.ſo we do not commune with them about our Actions, neither before, nor after the doing of them: Before we act, we do not adviſe with our Conſciences, whether, what we be about to do, be lawful or unlawful; and if lawful, whether expedient or inexpedient: After we have acted, whether our actions be good or evil. How many are contented, ſo the matter be good, but examine not themſelves about the manner, principles, ends, and motives? Though the Children of Iſrael knew, by the Word of the Lord, and from Abraham their Father, that Canaan was a Land flowing with milk and honey; yet they ſent Spies, and ſearched it, and thereby were confirmed: If men had never ſo much confidence of the goodneſs of their Prayers, &c. yet for Confirmation-ſake, they ſhould ſend down Spies into their hearts, to ſee the Cluſters of their Zeal and Affections, the utmoſt of the goodneſs of them: But alas! how many wholly neglect this neceſſary and poſſible Duty? If all were like theſe, God might take up his old complaint, No man cryed out, Jerem. 8.6.What have I done? Or, O my heart! What hath God done for thee?
2. The backwardneſs of the beſt hereunto.How backward are a more refined ſort of Profeſſours to a compliance with this Duty? How oft have your Miniſters invited you, beſeeched you, to hold intelligence with your own hearts, and yet cannot prevail? How backward are the beſt to keep a ſtrict eye upon their little houſe within, to ſee what is done within thoſe doors? We are apter to ſtudy others lives, yea hearts, than our own. If the beſt knew, how much work lies within doors, they would not be ſo much abroad, as they are.
3. If we do examine our hearts, Not making uſe of the Word as the Rule.yet not by the Word of the Lord. God would have us to try and prove our ſelves; then there muſt be ſome meaſuring Line, ſome Standard, ſome Rule, to try our ſelves by; but herein we are hugely defective: We try our ſelves by ſome ſudden pangs, or by the good opinion of others concerning us, or by the lives of others, (we being in an Hoſpital, where every one almoſt is lame and defective) or by ſome other eaſie Rule, that we our ſelves frame unto our ſelves, and ſo miſerably cheat our ſelves. O! how loth are we, that the light of Gods Word ſhould be let down into the dark Cells of our hearts, for want whereof, there is much duſt unobſerved, and not ſwept away? How loth to try ſtates or actions by the Scripture, though thereby they muſt be tryed at the laſt day? He is a good Text-man, that compares Scripture with Scripture: and he is a good Chriſtian, that compares the Scripture and his own heart together, that credits his own heart only, when it hath the conſent of the Prophets and Apoſtles, making them Umpires in the deciſion of all his Soul-controverſies. Have recourſe to the Light that ſhines in a dark place: 2 Pet. 1.19.But alas! Who obeys this form of wholeſome words?
4. Being ſuperficial therein.How overly and ſuperficial are many in the examining themſelves by the Word? How few do examine their State, or their Actions fully? Though our hearts be very great Impoſtours, Jer. 17.9.deceitful above all things, great Supplanters, full of guile; though there be thouſands and thouſands of Luſts that lye hid in our hearts, and Deceits like the Sands on the Seaſhore, yet how careleſly do we ſet upon this work? We take no pains in it.
5. Being too ſeldome in it.How ſeldome are we in this work? Some deferr it till a Sacrament, and then perhaps the houſe is ſearched for the leaven: whereas we ſhould keep a petty Seſſions in our hearts every day, and do what we can to know the bottom of the projects, devices, workings of our heats. When going to Prayer, we ſhould examine our ſelves, whether we have clean hands, and pure hearts, whether we are double-minded; James 4.8.if ſo, there is no drawing nigh to God: And when we come off from the Duty, we ſhould conferr with our hearts, what enlargements, quicknings, meltings, humblings we had in the Duty; what promiſes, what threats were applyed by the Spirit; whether we ſaw the face of our Beloved, or not? When going to a Sermon, we ſhould examine in what poſture we are to meet with God, what Oyl we want, that we may be ſupplyed? When going to our Beds, we ſhould examine our hearts, how the day hath been ſpent, what ſins were committed, what Duties, and how diſcharged, what temptations were reſiſted, what mercies received, and what growth and increaſe of grace we have obtained? When going to Viſit, this Duty ſhould be taken up before and after: Before, thus, Wherein may I honour the Lord my God in ſuch company? what are their wants, that I may endeavour to ſupply them? what are their temptations and diſcouragements, that I may labour to ſupport them? what are their graces and beſt attainments, that I may profit by them? After, thus, O my heart! What good didſt thou do or receive in that company? waſt thou eyes to the blind, feet to the lame? didſt thou labour to bring thy Friends nearer to Jeſus Chriſt? or haſt thou more eſtranged and prejudiced them, from and againſt the way of truth? O my heart! Didſt thou take heed to thy wayes, that thou didst not ſin with thy tongue? Didſt thou keep thy mouth as with a bridle? When going into the Shop, or Field; yet with Iſaack thou art to meditate there, and conferr with God and thy heart, thus, O my heart! for whom doſt thou labour, for Self, or for God? whoſe Servant wilt thou be to day, the Worlds, or Chriſts? O my heart! How many ſnares are there in the World? what a dirty place …is the World? and how great is thy danger, if God prevent not by ſpecial grace? O my Soul! What need haſt thou of Almighty power to keep thee, that thou mayeſt retain thy ſweetneſs in ſalt waters?
But alas! How ſeldome do we reflect on our words, or ſilence; on our speaking, or hearing; on our behaviour abroad, or at home? When do we conſider, what our affections were moſt ſet upon, in ſuch and ſuch a place, in ſuch an hour; and what our demeanour God-ward, and toward our Neighbour, was? We do not believe Bernard, who tells us, If we would examine our ſelves as oft as we need, Bern. in Cant.we muſt do it alwayes. And Chryſoſtomes paraphraſe and counſel on Pſalm 4. is of as little credit with us, Let this account be kept every day, have a little Book in thy Conſcience, and write therein thy daily tranſgreſsions, and when thou layeſt thee down on thy Bed, bring forth thy Book, and take an account of thy ſinnes.
6. Crowing weary of the work, before they have brought things to an iſsue.Do not we grow weary of this work, before it be brought to any conſiderable Iſſue? We flagg before we come to the up-ſhot. Still ſome were learning, and never came to the knowledge of the truth: And ſo ſome (pretend at leaſt to) be alwayes trying; but they hold not faſt: They try their hearts, as ſome did truths, till they be wholly ſceptical, as ignorant whether converted, or no, as ever: They know not more this year, than they did ſeven years ſince; but hang betwixt Heaven and Hell, in a dubious ſtate, for want of skill or pains to decide this matter. We are not reſolute and peremptory enough to have an account of our Souls, yea ſuch an one, as that we may have boldneſs in the preſence of Chriſt. When David thought on God, and was troubled, Pſa. 77.3, 6.he never gives over his heart, till he ended this controverſie: He communed with his heart, and made a diligent ſearch. We ſhould commune, till we know, whether we be natural or spiritual; and accordingly be humbled greatly, or greatly rejoyce in God our Saviour. But alas! This Age is ſtrangely dull and ſluggiſh: thoſe Duties, that will coſt expence of ſpirits, and call for the labour of the mind, we wholly omit, or do them very negligently. Reader, Could I but prevail with thee, to ſet in good earneſt upon Occaſional Meditation, and Heart-Examination, and Solemn Meditation, and Self-Tryal, I ſhould bleſs the Lord as long as I breath for this enterpriſe of mine. The ſearcher of hearts knoweth, that I took Pen in hand on this deſign, to labour with thee in order to inſide Duties, that thou might'ſt not be contented with a Form of Godlineſs, and reſt in the external part of Religion: that more work might be done within doors, in Cloſets, and Hearts. O that you would reform! Not paſs on to another Chapter. till you have engaged your ſlippery incconſtant hearts, to attend on this neceſſary Duty! Take a few Conſiderations to impell you.
1. Motives to this great duty, Heathens elſe will riſe up in judgment againſt us.The very Heathen will riſe up in judgement to condemn you, if you neglect this duty. A Roman Philoſopher every night, before he ſlept, would examine himſelf thus, Quod malum hodie ſaneſti, &c. What ſin haſt thou oppoſed? wherein art thou bettered? Cato alſo would daily at evening call to mind, what ever he had ſeen, read, or done that day. I uſe (ſaith Senica every evening) to plead my cauſe with my ſelf: when the candle is gone, and all ſilent, I review all that I have ſaid or done in the day: I hide nothing from mine own ſcrutiny: I paſs by nothing. Pithagoras gave alſo this ſevere rule to his Scholars, that they ſhould no night ſuffer ſleep to ſeize their ſenſes, till they had three times recalled the accidents and paſſages of the day, what evil have I committed? what good have I omitted? Except your Righteouſneſs, exceed the Righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees (ſaith Chriſt) (may not I ſay, of the Heathen) how can you hope for Salvation? O! how hath thine heart cheated thee with vain confidences? How haſt thou cryed, the Temple of the Lord: I have Abraham to my Father: whilſt moral Heathens have been better acquainted with their hearts, than thou art?
Yea, Senſitive creatures will elſe ſhame us.2. The very ſenſitive creatures may ſhame thee into the practiſe of this duty. Go thou ſluggard to all the ſouls of Heaven. Do they not ſit in the Sun, and view themſelves, look inward to themſelves, turn every feather to ſet it at rights? Do they not look over their feathers, and pick out and throw away that which is bad, and ſet others in their places, when miſplaced.
Nay, 3. We ſhall elſe be ſelf-condemned.You your ſelves will be judges of your ſelves. You take the glaſs, and what is amiſs in the hair; in the face, in the body, you rectifie by it: and what? no obſervation to be made of the faces of your Souls? O! take the word of God; and make uſe of this glaſs, which now is in thine hand: doth it diſcover no ſpots, no neglects, no failings? O! view thy ſelf, and humble thy ſelf, reflect on thy ſelf, and conſerr with thy ſelf, till thou art aſhamed, till thou abhorreſt and loatheſt thy ſelf before the Lord.
4. You have a ſure ſign of hypocriſie on you, The neglect of this duty a ſign of hypocriſie.whilſt this duty lies neglected; for all the upright have been very carefull to commune with their hearts, to ſearch their hearts, to make diligent ſearch, leſt any luſt ſhould be covered, as Rachel covered her Idols, or as Saul was hid in the ſtuff. Nothing is more deſired by a ſincere Soul, than to be throughly ſearched: examine me O Lord, Pſa. 26.2.as Artificers do whether their gold be weight or no: and prove me, as Artificers do their ſilver in the fire: try my reins and my heart, the moſt inward motions of my Soul: ſearch me more deeply and throughly than the world can do. Unfound hearts have one Dalilah, they have one houſe of Rimmon, that they cannot endure to be examined and found out: they are loath to ſearch too farr, leſt they ſhould ſee what they are unwilling to ſee, and ſo be put upon judgeing and condemning themſelves for that, which they love beyond an Eye, or an Hand.
5. The ſad conſequences of the neglect of this duty.O the ſad conſequences of the neglect of this duty! By this neglect your hearts will become careleſs, for that they are not call'd to an account, as Servants and Factors are wont, when their Maſters neglect to examine them. Hereby Sins will grow bolder with you, and the more eaſily beſet you; for that you examine not wherein their ſtrength lies, and which way they oftneſt prevail over you. Hereby the work of Repentance will be obſtructed; for that innumerable Sins, which you are daily guilty of, will paſs away unobſerved, with thoſe circumſtances attending them, which make them of the greater magnitude. Hereby your uncertainties about your ſpiritual eſtate will remain: it may be converted, it may be not, it may be a Son of God, it may be not, but a Child of Hell: it may be a Believer, it may be an Enemy to God, and …e of Gods curſe. Hence will follow great dejectedneſs under every Providence of God: no condition will pleaſe you, whilſt doubting and ſtaggering: you will be apt to fear whether your food be in mercy, your dayes in mercy, your liberty, yea the Goſpel in mercy to you: you will ſink under adverſity; for you cannot ſay, the Lord is my portion; you know not whether God will be your ſtrong Tower, Fortreſs, &c. you cannot manage any duty well, whilſt this lies neglected. Mica. 6.8.How can you walk before God with an humble heart, when you know not what your hearts are? How can you ſerve him with an upright heart, whilſt a ſtranger to this duty? The very Heathens knew how neceſſary this was to all their duties, and therefore diſcreetly cauſed to be writ over the Temple at Delphos, foreign, Know thy ſelf. Miſerable are the diſappointments that will attend Engliſh Profeſſours, unleſs they fall into a compliance with this duty: you will dye deluded: like the fooliſh Virgins, you will not know your undone condition, till it be too late: you lie deceived in matters of the greateſt and higheſt concernment: you are cheated hitherto in things of eternity: you are vexed, when deceived by a Friend, when ſupplanted by a Neighbour: O! how will it pierce your Souls, to be cheated by your ſelves? When we would exclaim againſt a Knave, we ſay, he will cozen his Father; the nearer the Relation, the more ſordid the Cheat: O! but here is one that lies in thy boſome, and thou and it, go to cheat each other continually. Let no man deceive himſelf: 1 Cor. 3.18.it ſeems we are apt to do ſo: But O! how great will your confuſion be when this deceit ſhall be manifeſted, when you ſhall ſee your ſelves fruſtrated of all your hopes, and the glory, your hearts promiſed you? How will you be confounded, when you ſhall ſay, we looked for Heaven; but behold Hell: we looked for Salvation; but behold Deſtruction: we looked to be made perfectly Happy; but (O how our hearts have cheated us!) we muſt be damned: we thought we had as good hearts as any, as true Faith, as ſound Repentance, as cordial love to God, as any of our Neighbours, as any Preciſians of the Countrey: we fools counted their life madneſs, &c. O! what daggers and ſwords will theſe fruſtrations be to you?
6. We and our hearts ſhall not alwayes be ſtrangers.If you be loth to ſee how it is with you now, how will you be able to behold what ſhall be ſeen at the day of Judgement? Though you now will not know your hearts; though you are ſo ſtately, as not to ſpeak with them, or loth to examine the dirty Corners; yet God is coming with his Fan: the books muſt be opened, and every page of thy heart will be unfolded; for God will bring to light every hidden work of diſhoneſty: God will pluck off the rough garment, which thou weareſt to deceive: thy inward parts, which are very wickedneſs, ſhall be made manifeſt: and then thou ſhalt be ſpeech-leſs, as if thou hadſt a muzle put upon thy mouth, as the word ſignifieth. Well, ſeeing murder will out (as we ſay) the ſecrets of the Soul muſt be brought forth, is it not better by judging our ſelves by a ſevere tryall and ſentence on our ſelves to prevent the wofullneſs of the laſt day? Judged we muſt, and ſhall be: is it not then thy wiſdome to judge thy ſelf here in thy Cloſet, that thou mayſt be judged by God with a judgement of Abſolution, and not of Condemnation? Is it nothing to have all thy unrepented and unforgiven ſins publiſhed on the houſe-top, made known to all the World, Ezek. 22.14.at the great day? How will thine heart endure then, when the Lord ſhall come to deal with thee? You will not ſee; but you ſhall ſee: Iſa. 26.11.You will not retire, the World lyes in your hearts, Buſineſs comes in, and takes up all your time and ſpirits: God is about to ſtrip you, to eaſe you of your Callings, you ſhall come naked to the Barr of God, you ſhall have no Family buſineſs to diſtract you: a fair tryal there ſhall be, but a ſad one for thee; Your ſins ſhall find you out. Numb. 32.23.You have had many Calls: once more I call upon you, in the Name of Chriſt, to examine your hearts, by the words of this Book, which you have, or ſhall read: And be ſure of it, If you will not nor try your ſelves by the Word, God will try you by his Works. Thus ſaith the Lord, Jer. 9.7.I will melt them, and try them: But how will God melt them, and try them? Shall I not viſit them for theſe things, ſaith the Lord: v. 9.Shall not my Soul be avenged on ſuch a Nation as this? For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, v. 10.and for the habitations of the wilderneſs a lamentation; becauſe they are burnt up, ſo that none can paſs through them, neither can men hear the voice of the Cattel, both the Fowl of the Heavens, and the Beaſts are fled, they are gone. And I will make Jeruſalem heaps, v. 11.and a Den of Dragons; and I will make the Cities of Judah deſolate, without an Inhabitant.