A Gospel Glass, Treatise · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Their ignorance of Chriſt: their ſerving their turns of Chriſt: their making baſe capitulations with Chriſt.
1. HOw many are ignorant of Chriſt, Too too many Ignorant of Chriſt.and of what uſe he is to periſhing Souls? They know no more the Gift of God, than the Samaritan Woman did: they know not what an excellent gift Chriſt is, John 4.10.that he is the Fountain of living Water, and therefore ask nothing of him. It is one thing to hear of a Chriſt, and another thing to know Chriſt. How few know Chriſt to be their only Life? If you did believe, that he that hath the Son, hath life; 1 Jo. 5.12.and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life: And that who ſo findeth me (Chriſt) findeth life, and ſhall obtain favour of the Lord: Prov. 8.35, 36.But he that ſinneth againſt me (Chriſt) wrongeth his own Soul; all they that hate me (Chriſt) love death: Upon ſuch a Conviction, what would you not give for Life? Eſau will part with his Birth-right, to preſerve his Life. The Woman will part with all her Estate, to recover health, and to ſecure her ſelf from the grave. Of all bleſſings we value Life moſtly, but few have ſuch eſteems of Chriſt. Few can ſay, as Paul, What things were gain to me, thoſe I counted loſs for Chriſt: Phil. 3.7, 8, 9.yea doubtleſs, and I count all things but loſs, for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus my Lord; for whom I have ſuffered the loſs of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Chriſt; and be found in him, not having mine own righteouſneſs, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 2.2.the righteouſneſs which is of God by faith. I determined not to know any thing, ſave Jeſus Chriſt, and him crucified. Pſal. 73.25.Or with David, Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon Earth that I deſire beſides thee. Few look on Chriſt as the Original of their Life, that they muſt live, move. and have their being in Chriſt, and from Chriſt alone; that they are dead without him; and hence their deſires are not after him. If you knew, that you want Chriſt more than Bread and Water, then would you cry out, Lord, give me Chriſt, None but Chriſt, None but Chriſt, in him is my help, in him is my ſalvation. He is the Authour of all our good affections, and of all our gracious abilities; but alaſs! blind man ſees him not in his uſefulneſs. Cant. 5.9What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved? He hath no form nor comelineſs; Iſa. 53.2, 3.and when we ſhall ſee him, there is no beauty, that we ſhould deſire him. He is despiſed and rejected of men. Men muſt dye, and be damned, without a Chriſt; but they know it not, they know no good that Chriſt is, and no good that Chriſt brings.
Secondly, Many ſerve their turns of Chriſt.How many ſerve their turns of Chriſt, cloſe with Chriſt for their own ends? When men have ſerved their turnes, one of another, away they goe: ſo theſe, troubles they have, and eaſe they would have; they have ſtayed off from Chriſt as long as they could; they have tryed worldly Comforts, they will not do; they have tryed Duties, they will give no reſt; and therefore, in the terrours of their Spirits, they muſt have Chriſt, ſo much of him, as may give them quiet and reſt. Men are weary of the bands and ſetters, wherein they are held under the Law; they would fain be delivered from Sathan that torments them, and from the ſins that now ſtare them in the face; they groan under the weight of the wrath of God, but not under the body of ſin; Sathan as a Tormentour is un-welcome, but as a Tempter is ſtill liked well enough. O! I am afraid I ſhall to Hell. O! if there be no other way to eſcape, but through Chriſt, O! then for a Chriſt, then Sermons and Miniſters are welcome, in hopes of bringing in (not ſo much a Chriſt, as) peace, and comfort to the troubled Spirit. So that men uſe Chriſt as ſick men take meat, not for love of it, or liking to it (for their Stomachs riſe againſt it) but for fear of death, which makes them force themſelves to eat. Though many come to Chriſt, it is by conſtraint, not willingly; not with delight, not as an healthy man comes to a full table, to feed with pleaſure. Many to avoid a greater miſchief, to avoid damnation, to avoid eternal torments will to Chriſt in their ſore extremities: they will then make large confeſſions, take up great reſolutions againſt their ſins, pray to God, and with vehemency and conſtancy, ſo as they never prayed before; but upon eaſe to the impoſtumed matter, upon recoveries out of their troubles, they become if not profane, yet worldly and negligent of Chriſt, his Perſon, his Laws, his Concernments. They have of Chriſt what they came for: They come to Chriſt, as ſome come to Shops, not to have all in the Shop, but what they immediately want: They want comfort, and therefore they venture as the Leapers to the Camp of the Syrians, they had no love to them, they counted them their Enemies; but if we stay here, we periſh; or as Ladies uſe Litters, to carry them over the dirt; or as we uſe a Penthouſe, during the Storm, and then Farewell; or as Paſſengers the Boat, they cry vehemently a Boat, a Boat, and as ſoon as they are Fetryed over the deep, farewel to the Boat, they think no more of it. When he ſlew them, then they ſought him: Pſal. 78.34.and they returned and enquired early after God. Then, never before, and never after. Undoubtedly, multitudes have been affrighted to Chriſt, who were never truly and throughly converted to him, and have left their Sins from compulſion of their judgement, not from the propenſion of their will; not from any love they have borne to Chriſt: they love to be ſafe, but ſtill hate to be holy. O! O! how many are herein deluded, who have pretended a great deal of love to Chriſt, whilſt baſe Self, the love of pleaſure and eaſe, and to be exempted from horrours and fears, hath been the Bias that hath drawn them to Chriſt? I appeal to thy Conſcience, whether Chriſt be valued, be look'd after, ſave in a ſtrait? When trouble is upon thee, then this Phyſician is ſent for; but when the pang is over, the Phyſicians company is too chargeable, is no way deſirable; the ſooner he turns his back, the better. When Women are great with Child, and when, Men and Women both, hear it thunder, and ſee it lighten, when the Arrows of the Lord fly thick, and a great mortality is ſweeping many to the Grave, O! then how ſhall I get Chriſt? then Books are read, Sermons heard and valued, Prayers not neglected; but when the fears of death are over, Pſal. 4.6. Epheſ. 5.16.O! then who will ſhew us any good? Then Redeem loſt time, not for God and Souls, but for the World; then head and ears in the world again, then ſecret Prayer is neglected; then the Bible lies in a duſty corner, not viewed, till the next ſtorm ariſe; and then Chriſt muſt be awakened with, Maſter, Mark 4.38.careſt thou not that we periſh? I will tell you what your Miniſters have told you before, Sin and the World were your Companions in days of health, eaſe and peace; and Chriſt your deſire in cloudy days. Is it not ſo? If Chriſt in the day as well as in the night, lies chief between thy breaſts, thou haſt cauſe to ſay, Bleſs the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me bleſs his Holy Name. But I fear moſt pitch on Chriſt for themſelves, and not for Chriſt. Chriſt in the time of Contagion ſhall go for ſomething; but Chriſt in dayes of health and eaſe ſhall be valued no more than a meer Chimara, a Cipher, a Nothing. It is one thing to take Chriſt to pacifie the Conſcience and another to take him to purify the heart. An unquiet Conſcience is to moſt a greater burden, than an inſenſible, ſeared, and polluted Conſcience, than an impure heart. Oh! Repent of thy juglings with Chriſt. Pſa. 78.36.They did flatter him with their mouths, and they lied unto him with their tongues. They pretend to come to Chriſt, in order to ſervice and obedience, when all the while they ſerve themſelves on Chriſt.Baſe Capitulations with Chriſt.
Thirdly, How many have baſe Capitulations with Chriſt? Many come running to Chriſt, and ask him, (as the man in the Goſpel) Good Maſter, what ſhall I do, Mark 10.17.21, 22that I may inherit eternal life? Chriſt tells him and them, Gee thy way, ſell whatſoever thou haſt, and give to the poor, and thou ſhalt have treaſure in Heaven, and come, take up the Croſs, and follow me; But as he, ſo they are diſcontented, And he was ſad at that ſaying, and went away grieved, for he had great Poſſeſſions. Undoubtedly many Hypocrites have ſome glimpſe of Chriſts glory, and they run to Chriſt, whilſt others deride him; but they like not the Price that Chriſt ſets; They would have Chriſt on their own terms. Chriſts terms are to have the Heart; My Son, Prov. 23.26.give me thy heart: Do not lend it only, but give; give it chearfully, give it preſently, give me it now: Now, that it is called to day, To day, Heb. 3.7, 8.if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Give me thy heart, to be framed and faſhioned by me, to be ſtamped and ſealed by me; be no longer thine own: I will not be content thou lend me thy heart for a Sabbath, or for a day of Prayer, and then that thou call for thine heart again, and beſtow it upon thy luſts; give me thine heart, and do not ſell it for baſe ends, for baſe reſpects; give me thine heart, do not keep it to thy ſelf; lay up and leave thine heart in my hand, for me to keep it for thee. But alaſs! how ſhamefully do we break with Chriſt? We would live as we liſt, and do as we liſt. We are content to give Chriſt the body, the outward man, the ear, the tongue, the head, &c. but we reſerve our heatts for the ſervice of the World and of Sin: or if we are perſwaded to give the heart; yet it is but a devided heart, not the whole heart, but a piece of it. Mat. 22.37.Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, ſaith Chriſt; but Pride, Covetouſneſs, and Voluptuouſneſs would fain have a ſhare; hence no …l cloſings between Chriſt and many Profeſſors; Chriſt and they part. They, as ſome Cuſtomers, ſeem to commend the wares, but they like their money better. Few ſee themſelves ſo miſerable without a Chriſt, as to come up to the price. Their curſed Leagues with baſe Luſts bind them ſo faſt in Chains, that they cannot, they will not come up to Chriſts propoſals, to Chriſts demands; they will treat with Chriſt on no other terms, unleſs they may have the pleaſures of Sin, and may fulfill the luſts of the fleſh; but if Conſcience be diſquieted, and troubleſome, then they make new offers; they will leave many ſins, they will except but one; There is but one exception they have, and if that may be accepted, then they are Chriſts; they have but one reſerve. Theſe Swine are contented to eſcape the pollutions of the World, 2 Pet. 2.20, 22.through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, ſo they may have one mire to return to, and wallow in. If Chriſt will ſtoop to theſe terms, then welcome Chriſt; if one ſin and Chriſt may ſhare the heart betwixt them, the man is contented; but few are contented, that every knee ſhould bow, that every ſin be parted from. The Lord be mercifull to me, If I bow in the houſe of Rimmon. No, ſaith Chriſt, All, or none. If the Conſcience be not quiet upon this; then, as Marriners throw overboard their goods, their Jewels, their Bales of Silk, and other pleaſant wares in a Tempeſt, to eaſe the Veſſel, which they wiſh for in a C…lm, and labour to fetch up again, if it be poſſible, when the Storm is over: So many Profeſſours will part from all the practice of ſin, throw all over-board, as the Marriners did Jonah, though much againſt their wills, in hopes of riding out the ſtorm, 2 Pet. 21.22.and then wiſh for their luſts again, yea with the Dog, return unto the Vomit, and with the Sow to wallow in the Mirc. Doubtleſs many, (like him, who had a mind to his Kinſman's land, and would have paid the purchaſe-money, but liked not the terms of marrying Ruth.) They would have Chriſt buy the purchaſe of their duties: they hope by the Stock of Prayers, Tears, and Obedience to purchaſe Chriſt; but will not match with Chriſt, and have the Inheritance by that way of conveyance. That man liked Ruth's means, but not Ruth's perſon, and many like ſomewhat of Chriſt, but not his Perſon, not all of Chriſt: they like Chriſt's pleaſant Summers, but not his pinching Winters; love and like his Heaven, but not his ſevere Commandements; they like his Sacrifice, but not his Service. Many Pedling Cuſtomers Chriſt hath, but few, very few, who will come roundly up to Chriſts offers, and take all off his hands. They would take off his Mercy, his Peace, his Righteouſneſs; but not his Spirit, his Grace, his Holineſs, &c. What ſaith Chriſt? If you will have my Comforts, you muſt have Me too; if my Pardons, my Perſon too; you muſt take Me, as well as Mine; you muſt have Me, as well as my Heaven. This makes many go away ſorrowfull. Again, If you will have me (ſaith Chriſt) you muſt be at ſome coſt, at ſome pains and trouble to enjoy me: nothing of Me, or Mine is got without difficulty and induſtry; your cold Prayers muſt not ſuffice, your lazy hearings are not enough: you muſt watch your hearts all the day long, you muſt make a Covenant with your eyes, and keep your lips, as with a bridle. Are ye ſo contented? Oh! no (ſaith the ſlothfull Profeſſour) I would go to Heaven on a Feather-bed, I would be contented to Pray now and then, Morning and Evening, ſo I may be at my own diſpoſe all the following hours. Hearken (O Daughter) and conſider and encline thine ear; Pſal. 45.10, 11.forget alſo thine own people, and thy Fathers houſe. So ſhall the King greatly deſire thy beauty; for he is thy Lord, and worſhip thou him. Three Alls I expect you part with (ſaith Chriſt.) 1. All your ſinfull luſts, all the wayes of the old Adam: Our Fathers houſe. Ever ſince Adams apoſtaſy, God and man have parted houſes. Ever ſince, our Fathers houſe is an houſe of ill manners, Iſa. 55.7.an houſe of ſin and wickedneſs. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 2. All your worldly advantages. By faith Moſes when he was come to years, Hebr. 11.24, 25, 26.refuſed to be called the Son of Pharaoh's daughter; chooſing rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon; eſteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treaſures in Egypt; for he had reſpect unto the recompence of the reward. If any man come to me, Luk. 14.26.and hate not his Father and Mother, and Wife, and Children, and Brethren, and Siſters, yea and his own life alſo, he cannot be my Diſciple. He that hath all theſe muſt be ready to part with all; they are joyn'd not diſjunctively, but copulatively. 3. All ſelf, ſelf-will, ſelf-righteouſneſs, ſelf-ſufficiencies, ſelf-confidences, and ſelf-ſe…ſings. But, Oh! how do many pretenders to Chriſt hate theſe Propoſals? I can tell you what many of your tearms are; I will have a Chriſt, if I may live as I liſt, and love as I liſt, and walk as I liſt; Ile indent with Chriſt to make much of him when my Conſcience gnaws and troubles me, ſo I may but diſmiſs him, when I have ſung Lullaby to Conſcience.