Works, Chapter 5 · Section 1
SECT. I.
I Shall first lay down some Motives, and then shew wherein we should exercise our selves to Godliness when we are alone.
1. To quicken thee to exercise thy self to godliness in solitude.Motives. 1. The benefit of solitude. Consider, The benefit of solitude; well improved solitude is a good opportunity for godliness. Seneca was wont to say, that he seldom went into company, that he came not home worse then he went out. Society, as it hath much gain, so much perplexity; Solitude is a release to the soul that was imprisoned in Company. To be much in Company tires and wearies us; We are prone to count it a bondage, and the persons we associate with, our fetters; Retiring seasonably from them, sets us at liberty, and giveth us freedom to mount up to Heaven at our pleasure. Scipio would tell his friends, I have never better company, then when I have no company, for then can I freely entertain my own thoughts, and converse with all the learned that have been in former ages. Hierom speaks better, Sapiens nunquam solus esse potest …abet; enim secum omnes qui sunt & qui fuerunt boni — & si bominum sit inopia, loquitur cum Deo. A wise man can never be alone, for he hath ever with him all the good men that are, or have been, and if he find any want of men, he can converse with God. It was a custome among the Indians, when their King went to bed, to pray with piping acclamations, that he might have happy dreams, and withal, consult well for the good of his Subjects; As if… the silent, secret night had been a friend to wisdom. One of the best Kings that ever the world had, tells us, My reins instruct me in the night season, Psa. 16. 7. The sensual worldling is a stranger to such secrecy: It hath in some respects an advantage of society, it hath not those clamours nor distractions with it, which hinder us in our heavenly trade; As it hath fewer allurements to good, so it hath fewer impediments of good, and fewer suggestions to evil, and truly the grand Argument to good, which is, instar omnium, is not wanting to it; It hath the presence of God. Every godly man may say in a sense, as Christ did, when his Disciples were to leave him alone, I am not alone, because the Father is with me, Joh. 16. 32. It is reported of Numa, that after the death of his Wife Tatia, he left the City, and gave himself wholly to walk in Fields and Woods, consecrated to the gods, and thence was said to enjoy the goddess Egeria, and that she made him her Husband. Plut. in vit. Num. Though such stories are fabulous, yet its true of the Christian, that he enjoyeth much of his God when he is out of the worlds crowd. Lovers give and return the sweetest kisses and embraces, when they are together in secret. Isaac and Rebeckah thought themselves in secret, when they sported together. David had his Sweet-meats, and Heavenly Iunkets in the night, when the eyes of others were closed, and saw not the Charger which was sent from above, for his spiritual refreshment. His solitary meditations brought him more solace and comfort then the whole creation could, afford him; When I meditate on thee in my bed, and think of thee in the night watches; My soul is filled with marrow and fatness, Psa. 63. 6. Communion with God in secret, is an Heaven upon Earth; What food can compare with the hidden Manna? Some persons have excellent banquets in their Closets; That bread which the Saints eat in secret, how pleasant is it? Ah what stranger can imagine the joy, the melody, which even the secret tears of the Saints cause! Believers find rich mines of silver and gold in solitary places, they fetch up precious jewels out of secret holes, out of the bottom of the Ocean, where are no inhabitants. Naturalists observe that those fish are sweetest which lye hid. Saints have often sweet joy and refreshment in secret, they have meat to eat which the world knoweth not of. The Fig-tree, Olive, and Vine, would not leave their sweetness, fatness, and chearfulness, to be Kings over other trees. They that know what it is to enjoy God in secret, would not leave it or lose it to be Kings or Commanders over the whole World, Iudg. 9. 11,12,13.
One place where the Israelites pitched in their passage to Canaan, was called Iothatha, from Iatab and Batha, a pleasant Wilderness, or delectable Desart. A Christian hath many such stations in his travails to the Heavenly Canaan; When he is in a Wilderness alone, out of the noise of Pharoahs Court, and free from the clamours, and complainings of Gods Israel, by reason of Epyptian Task-masters; he hath the Pillar, the extraordinary presence of his God, which abundantly satisfieth and rejoyceth his soul. The highest Princes sometimes give their largest gifts to their favourites in private, to prevent that envy which publique notice or knowledge of them might occasion. Some Saints give their largest almes in secret, that their left hand scarce knoweth what their right hand doth; The great and holy God sendeth many a rich present, giveth many a large almes to his indigent friends when there is none by, to witness his bounty and charity. In the dead time of the night, when deep sleep seiseth on men, the earth receiveth many pleasant refreshing showres; The Children of God have many costly Collations, and much curious Musick, when no eye but their own seeth or tasteth the former, and no ear save theirs heareth the latter. The Prophet Hosea represents God thus, speaking of his people, Behold I will allure her, and bring her into the Wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her, Hos. 2. 14. Gods method is marvellous, he brings his Church into a Wilderness, and then turns it into a Canaan, causing it to flow with Milk and Honey. By Wilderness some understand a sorrowful, and others a solitary condition; but then God appears to her, the God of all consolation, for he speaks comfortably to her. He that chid her when she was in the crowd of the world, saying as they said, and doing as they did; when he hath her alone, reflecting upon her sins, and recollecting her self, will speak friendly and comfortably to her; In the Hebrew it is, I will speak to her heart; and surely his powerful satable speech will banish all her heaviness.
This invisible trade, brings in visible profit and comfort. Secret correspondence with allies, is most difficult, but exceeding gainful and delightful. Some curious mysteries are like Mines sprung under ground, the less they are known, the more efficacious and effectual they are. The open air or breath of men would soil the beauty and lustre of exact pictures. Christ calls his Spouse out of the worlds view and light, when he intends her the fullest seals of his love; Come my beloved, let us go forth into the fields; let us lodge in the Villages, let us get up early to the Vineyards, there will I give thee my loves, Cant. 7. 11, 12.
Mark, There in the Fields where no eye beholdeth the sweet meeting of our lips… the close embraces of our armes, the intimate conjunction of our hearts; there I will give thee my loves. Kings do not unbosome and open their hearts before a multitude. The favourite is acquainted with the richest secrets of state in private. O that I were … (saith Iob) as in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was with my Tabernacle, Job 29. 4.Quando secrete d…us erat in tabernaculo. Vulgar. foreign. Sept. As if he had said, (according to some) O that I were as in my former days, when God was secretly in my family, and gave me familiar visits, which the World took no notice of; when I had many reviving soliloquies about God, and refreshing colloquies with him. The Egyptian Laws placed the Image of silence in all those Temples where the Image of Se…apis their god stood, as if they might expect most of her favour, when they approached her privately, with as little noise as might be. Addresses to the true God in secret have been accompanied with great successe.
2Motive. The danger of neglect.2. Consider, If thou dost not exercise thy self to godliness in solitude, thou wilt be in great danger of running into sin, and contracting guilt on thy soul; The benefit of solitude rightly improved, may afford us comfort, but the danger of it commandeth our caution. A man in solitariness may be secure, because he seeth no visible enemies, but he is not therefore safe. We are no sooner alone, but armies of evil thoughts present themselves to us, and they will by force quarter with us, if the lodging rooms of our hearts be not taken up beforehand;Se…. Epist. 10. When the Virgin is alone, then she is in most danger of being ravisht. In our solitude we should not be without fear of spiritual rapes; Our danger will appear, if we consider three particulars.
1. Our minds are restless, and will be employed either upon what is good … or upon what is evil. The mind of man is as a Mill-wheel, continually turning about, and drenching in the waters; Our hearts are as a stirring child, that cannot endure to sit still. No Virgin hath so many Suitors for her love, as our minds for their thoughts. The Sun may as soon be stopped from his race, as the heart from its thinking. We are all in this respect like the Sea, which cannot rest, ever in motion; Is not he a foolish miller, that turnes the water which should grind his Corn, into the High-way, where it doth no good? And is not he a foolish Christian, that imployeth those thoughts about needless …oy's, which should help to provide him spiritual food? As the natural heat will be ever working; if it have not food to digest, it will prey upon the spirits, and destroy it self; so the mind of man will be always busie; if not in thinking of the excellencies of God, or the love of Christ, or the beauty and necessity of holiness, then in speculative wantonness, or contemplative wickedness, in ambitious fancies, or revengeful desires; We are like a Boat swimming against tide, there is no standing still; if the Oar be left that we go not forward, the Tide will carry us strongly backward; If the ground be not sown with good seed, it will of it self bring forth evil weeds.
2. Satan is subtle, and will not be wanting to fight us, when he finds us alone, and without any seconds to assist us. The Raven, which is called the Devils Bird, is observed to haunt Deserts, and solitary places; When the Spirit of God would speak a Ci…ty desolate, and without Inhabitants, he tells us, The Raven shall dwell in it. Isa. 34. 11.When Satan was to enter the List against Christ, and would try his utmost power and policy to overcome him, he takes him to a Mountain alone, Mat. 4. 8. The Scripture to shew the valour and strength of Christ, sets out his conquest and victory over the Devil on his own Dunghil in the Wilderness. When Christs Lambs are in the Desert alone, they may soon be a prey to this roaring Lion. Satan is a cunning suitor, and will be sure to watch the time when the Parents are from home, to wooe the Daughter, and steal away her affections. He that takes his leave of men, to withdraw himself, may be confident the Divel will come, though more bold then welcome, and sit with him. When we know of the coming of so bad a gnest, is it not good policy to forestal him, by f…ling the house before-hand with loving and beloved friends?
3. Our own …arnal hearts will strive to improve our solitude to draw us to sin. The Wife that lyeth in the bosome, takes the opportunity of the night, when she is alone with her Husband, to draw him to her mind, and to bend him to her will; though she were afraid or ashamed to mention or motion her evil desires before others, yet in secrecy she hath courage enough to do it, and often with success. Our flesh is nearer to us then our wives, more intimate with us, more powerful over us; how frequently doth it draw us to those sins in secret, which it dares not be so bold as to whisper to us in publique? They devise mischeif on their beds, Psa. 36. 4. When the good man is from home, and gone a journey, then the whorish woman commits adultery with strangers.
Reader, thou canst no sooner be alone, but thy corrupt heart will send thee many in wanton and theevish thoughts to bear thee company; they will come as Lot… daugters to him to the dead time of the night, and defile thy soul, and thou shalt like Lot, not know when they came in, nor when they went away. Thou little thinkest how subtle thy wicked thoughts are, how easily they will wind themselves into and out of thy mind, without giving warning, or being taken notice of. As the Serpent crept into Paradise secretly, so do sinful thoughts into our hearts; They conspire together against us as the adversaries of Iudah, and do as good as say; They shall neither know, nor see, till we come in the midst of them, and cause the work (of exercising themselves to godliness) to cease, Neh. 4. 11. As Gods Spirit hath filled his Prophets with excellent Revelations and visions in the night or day, when they have been alone; so our flesh filleth us with loathsome atheistical blasphemous thoughts oftentimes when we are by our selves. Children never dirty their hands and faces, or defile their cloaths more then when they get alone, from Parents and Servants. When thou art in solitude, thou hast no humane friend to watch over thee, and therefore haste the more need to watch narrowly over thy self. No Town hath such need of a Warder, no Peers gate of a Porter to keep out nasty beggers, as thy heart hath of watch and ward to keep out wicked thoughts.