Works, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Means whereby Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness; A good Foundation: L…ving by Faith: Setting God always before our eyes.
I Come now to the second thing promised; namely, to lay down the Means, whereby Christians may come to make Religion their business.
First, If thou wouldst exercise thy self to Godliness, be sure that thou layest a good foundation in a renewed heart and nature. I begin with this, because it is the chiefest requisite, and the ba…is of all. Godliness must first spring up in the heart, before it can overflow in the life. Other means are like those parts of the body, the want of which may be supplied by others; but this is like the heart, which if wanting, nothing can make up its want. A dead man will as soon arise and walk, as an unsanctified person make Religion his business. Every thing will act according to that principle which is predominant in it: Though for a time it may by violence work contrary to its natural inclination, yet it will endeavour the removal of that force, and return to its old course. Fire moveth upwards, and earth downwards, both str…ving to overturn what standeth in their way, because the place of fire is above, of earth beneath. A river may be stopped and hindred in its current, but it will never cease till it hath overborn the dam, and attained its former passage. Water that is naturally sweet, may be made brackish by the over-flowing of salt water; but it will not leave till it hath workt out that saltness, and returneth to his natural sweetness; so every man whether good or bad, will act according to his nature, whether gracious or vicious. A good man may be hindred in his holy course by temptations, and the violence of the flesh; but because his nature is gracious he will never be at rest till he hath forcibly broke through those impediments, and got into his former way of Godliness. An evil man may step into the path of piety through the example of others, or good education, or some slender convictions of a natural conscience, but he will quickly be weary, he will not hold out in it; he will break through those obstacles, because his nature, the stream of his heart, runs another way.
The Heart of man is like the Spring of the Clock, which causeth the wheels to move right or wrong, well or ill; Hence it is that Gods precept is to this, Make you a new heart and a new spirit; and his promise of this, I will put my fear into their hearts, and they shall never depart away from me. The fear of God in the heart will bind thee fast to God in thy life. If the heart be throughly drawn to him, the tongue and hand will not depart from him. If the heart once set forward for God, all the members will follow after; the mouth will praise, the ears will attend to him, the eye will watch him, the seet will go after him; all the parts, like dutiful handmaids, in their places will wait on their Mistris. There was a great Master among the Jews, which bid his Schollars to consider and tell him, What was the best thing, or the best way, in which a man should always keep: One said, A good Companion was the best thing in the world; another said, A good Neighbour was the best thing he could wish; A third said, A wise man, or one that could for esee future things; A fourth said, A good eye, that is, a liberal disposition; At last came one Eleazer, and he said, A good heart is better then them all. True, said the Master, thou hast comprehended in two words all that the rest have said; For a good heart will make a man both contented, and a good companion, and a good neighbour, and help him to foresee things that are to come, that he may know what is on his part to be done. Indeed without this there can be no godliness; all professions and performances are but a shew, a shadow; and where there is this, there is all godliness in all manner of conversation. As the King of France said of Dover, that it was the key of England; and if his son, who then invaded the Britains, had not that, he had nothing; So it may be said of the heart, It is the key of the whole man; it opens and shuts the door to Godliness and Wickedness; and if grace hath not this, it hath nothing. The Philosopher when he would perswade the King to settle his residence in the midst of his Dominions, and thereby keep all his people the better in subjection, took a Bulls hide ready tanned, upon which when he stood on any side of it, still it rose up on the other; but when he stood on the middle, he kept down all alike. The onelyonly way to subdue sin, is to do it in the heart; that commands all; otherwise though one unruly passion may be kept down, another will rise up.
The Heart is the great Work-house where all sin is wrought, before its exposed to open view; Its the Mint where evil thoughts are coyned, before they are currant in our words or actions; Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, Matth. 15.19. that is the nest in which those Hornets breed. The heart is the original of sinful words, as well as sinful thoughts; Out of the heart proceed false witness, blasphemies, Matth. 15.19. They were in the heart before ever they were in the tongue. Its faid of the Weasel that it conceives at the ear, and brings forth at the mouth: Every sinner conceiveth at the heart, what he brings forth at the mouth. Such stinking breath comes from rotten inwards. The heart is the …sel of poisonous liquor, the tongue is but the tap to broach it; Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. The heart is the Forge also, where all our evil works as well as words are hammered out; Out of the heart proceed murthers, and thefts, and adulteries, and fornica…ions, Matth. 15.19. You will say that murthers and thefts are hand-sins, and that adulteries and fornication belong to the eye, and outward parts of the body; but alas, the heart is the womb wherein they are conceived and bred; the outward parts are but the Midwives to deliver the mother of those monsters, and to bring them into the world; An evil man, out of the evil treasure in his heart, bringeth forth evil things: There is no sin but is drest in the withdrawing room of the heart, before it appear on the stage of the life.
Apollidorus dreamed one night that the Scythians had taken him and flea'd off his skin,Plut. Moral. with an intent to boil him, and as he was lifting into the Cauldron, his heart said unto him, Its I that have brought thee to all this. There is a real truth in this, that the heart brings men both to all their sins, and all their sufferings. As the Chaos had the seed of all creatures, and wanted nothing but the motion of the good Spirit to produce them; so the heart hath the seed of all evil, and wanteth nothing but the motion of the evil spirit, and a fit opportunity to bring it forth.
It is in vain to go about an holy life, till the heart be made holy. The Pulse of the hand beats well or ill, according to the s…ate of the heart, and the inward vital parts. Our earthly members can never be mortified, unless the body of sin and death be destroyed. The foul bird of sin must be killed in the nest, the heart, or it can never be thrown on the dunghil, die in the life. Therefore the Holy Ghost calls on men to take away the cause, if they would have the effect to cease. O Ierusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness. Cleanse your hearts ye sinners, and purifie your hands ye double-minded; first the heart cleansed, then the hands, Ier. 4.14. Iames 4.7,8. If the chinks of the ship are unstopt, twill be to no purpose to labour at the Pump. It is not rubbing or scratching will cure the itch, but the blood, whose corruption is the cause of it, must be purified. When the water is foul at the bottom, no wonder that scum and filth appear at the top. There is no way to stop the issue of sin, but by drying up the matter that feeds it.
As Moses cast the tree into the bitter waters, and sweetned the Springs; And as Elijah cast salt into the fountain, and thereby healed the waters; so the salt of grace must be cast into the Spring, the fountain of the heart, or the streams of the life will never be sweet. Till trees are grafted, and their nature altered, all the fruit they bring forth is wilde and harsh, and little worth: Till the Christian is grafted into Christ, and a new and another nature be infused into him, all his fruit is unsavoury and unacceptable to God, vain and unprofitable to himself. Such a one is like a Cypress tree, fair to look on, but barren. Like a Painter, he may make a great stir about the colours and shadows of things, the form of Godliness, and shew all his wit, and art, and skill in expressing the outside, but wholly neglecteth the substance, and contemneth the inward parts, the power thereof.
There be several things which may help to make the life fair in the eyes of men; but nothing will make it amiable in the eyes of God, unless the heart be changed and renewed. Indeed all the medicines which can be applied, without the sanctifying work of the Spirit, though they may cover, they can never cure the corruption and diseases of the soul. The best man without this is like a Serpent painted as it were without, but poysonous within. As the herb Biscort, he may have smooth and plain leaves, but a croked root. Or as a Pill, be guilded on the outside, when the whole mass and body of it is bitterness; It is one thing to be angry with sin upon a sudden discontent, as a Man may be with his Wife, whom he loves dearly; and another thing to hate sin, as that which we abhor to behold, and endeavour to destroy. A filthy heart, like a foul body, may seem for a while to be in good plight; but when the heats and colds of temptations appear, twill bewray it self. Some Insects lye in a deep sleep all the Winter, stir not, make no noise, that one would think them dead; but when the weather alters, and the Sun shines, they revive and shew themselves; So though lusts may seem dead in an unregenerate man, they are only laid asleep, and when opportunity is, will revive. Shame may hide sin, but it will not heal …n; Corruption often lyeth secret in the heart, when shame hindereth it from breaking out in s…abs and bo…ches in the life. Some court holiness as hard in shew, as Saul did Samuel, to be honoured before the people, when like him, they hate it in their hearts.
Fear may do somewhat to curb a vitiated nature, but it cannot cure it; The Bear dares hardly touch his desired honey, for fear of the stinging of the Bees; The Dog forbears the meat on the Table, not because he doth not love it, but because he is afraid of the Cudgel; Many leave some sin, in their outward actions, as Iacob parted with Benjamin, for fear they should starve if they kept it, who are as fond of it, as the Patriarch of his Child. This inward love of sin, is indeed its life, and that which is most dangerous and deadly to the soul. As an imposthume is most perillous for being inward; and private Rocks under water, split more vessels then those that appear above water; so sin raigning onelyonly in the heart, is oftentimes more hurtful then when it rageth in the life; Such civil persons go to Hell without much disturbance, being asleep in sin, yet not snoring, to the di…quieting of others; they are so far from being jogged or awaked, that they are many times praised and commended.
Example, Custom, and Education, may also help a man to make a fair shew in the flesh, but not to walk after the spirit; They may Prune and Lop sin, but never stubb it up by the roots. All that these can do, is to make a man like a grave, green and flourishing on the surface and superficies, when within there is nothing but noisomness and corruption. It hath often appeared that those means which the great Moralists have used to bridle their lusts and passions, have rather, like strong sents to Epileptick bodies, raised them, then recovered them. Indeed if the cheif fault were not in the vital parts, then outward applications might be effectual; but when the heart and lungs, and inwards are all corrupted, Plaisters applied to the face, or hands, or thighs, or sides, will do little good. When the fault is in the foundation of an house, it cannot be mended by Plaistering or rough-cast. A Leopard may be flea'd, but he is spotted still, because the spots are not onelyonly in the skin, but in the flesh, and bones, and sinews, and most inward parts. When the disease is accidental, as to lose the sight by the Small-Pox, or the like, there the Physick of morality may be advantagious; but where the disease is natural, as in the man that was born blind, there Physick will do no good; a miracle alone must restore such a one to his sight.
Unsanctified persons at best, act from themselves, and therefore for themselves. As the Kite, they may spread their wings, and soar aloft, as if they touched Heaven, when at the highest, their eyes are upon their prey upon earth. Lucullus told his guests, when he had feasted them liberally, and they had admired his bounty in their costly entertainment; Something my Friends is for your sakes, but the greatest part is for Lucullus his own sake. An unconverted person may do something, some small matter for the sake of Religion, from common gifts of illumination, &c. but the most that he doth is for his own sake, for that credit or profit which he expecteth thereby. If any thing be enjoyned which thwarteth his interest, he will reply with Ajax, when commanded to spare Vlysses, In other things I will obey the Gods, but not in this.
Reader, Make sure of this inward change; otherwise, though thy conversation may be specious, it can never be gracious, nor thy profession durable. If the house be built on loose earth, it will never stand long. When the principles are variable and uncertain, so will the practices be. If the arguments upon which thou takest upon thee the livery of Christ, and the grounds of thy engagement in his service, be not firm and constant, the love of God, and hope of eternal life, &c. such as the world and flesh cannot over-top, thou wilt throw up thy profession, and leave thy Master, when thou art offered in thy blind judgment a better service, though it be but the pleasures of sin for a season, with eternal pains at the end of them, for thy soul, and Saviour, and eternal salvation. How well may he prove a Bankrupt, who is worse then naught when he first sets up? I wonder not that many pofessors disown the Lord Jesus, when they were ignorant why they at any time owned him. He that takes up Religion on trust, will lay it down when it brings him into trouble. As the Celendine springeth and floweth at the comming of the Summer birds, but withereth at their departure; And the Corn that promiseth a good Harvest in the Blade, is blasted in the Ear, because its root is withered and naught; So the person that hath no sound foundation, though he seem to look high, will never hold out.
The Turnsel makes a shew for a time, with white velvet leaves, and yellow flowers, but fadeth away without bringing forth any fruit; Christ tells us, some which heard the word, though for a season they rejoyced in it, when tribulation came because of the word, were offended at it, because they had no root.
To prevent that sad Apostacy which many are guilty of to their eternal undoing, Friend, consider serionsly beforehand, what it will cost thee to be a Christian indeed. A foolish builder, that undertakes to raise a structure as high as Heaven, and pondereth not the charge thereof, gives over before he hath half finished it, and so loseth all his expence and labour. As in marriage one that is wise, and considereth the person, his portion, and his precepts, with the cares and burdens that are incident to that condition, for such must have trouble in the flesh, and after this, upon mature deliberation, accepteth him for an Husband, will stick and cleave to him loyally and faithfully, whatever befalls him; whereas a foolish Maid that hudleth up a match in haste, hand over head, promising her self nothing but delight and pleasure, when she comes to suffer poverty or imprisonment, or disgrace with her Husband, repenteth of her bargain, and forsakes the guide of her youth; So the Christian that hath duly pondered the excellencies in Christ; his misery without Christ, absolute necessity of Christ; what love, and joy, and peace, and endless bliss, God offereth with his Son; what Christ expecteth from all that will be married to him, even the denyal of themselves, the taking up of their Cross, the contempt of Father, Mother, Wife, Children, Estate, Life, and all for him, and after he hath duly considered all this, gives himself up to Christ, will be faithful unto death, and own the Lord Jesus Christ, whatever it may cost him, when the man that followeth Christ for the loaves, or for fashion, or on a sudden strikes a league with him, expecting nothing but comforts and joy in his contract, will quickly leave him, if called to suffer with him. He that followeth Christ, he knoweth not why, will forsake him, he knoweth not how.
If thou art, Reader, to begin this work of entering thy self into Christs Army, I would advise thee to bethink thy self upon what grounds thou engagest in his quarrel; For Christians are not called to their spiritual war for love of fighting, as Cocks that fall to it upon sight of each other. Consider, the enemies thou art to fight against, how potent, and crafty, and cruel they are, continually seeking thy destruction; the Captain thou art to fight under, how wise he is to direct and command thee, how able to protect and defend thee; how faithful, and bountiful, to crown and reward thee; the excellency of the cause; it is for thy soul, thy God, thy Saviour, thy salvation; the dangers thou must encounter, and hardships thou willt be called to endure; the certainty of thy conquest; how impossible it is to miscarry in so just a quarrel, under such… an Almighty Captain, and then list thy self to fight the good fight of faith, and fear not but thou shalt be more then a conqueror, through him that loves thee.
Secondly, If thou wouldst exercise thy self to godliness, Live by Faith. The life of Faith, its the onelyonly life of holiness; and unbelief is the mother of all Apostacy. When God would perswade Abraham to sincere and singular godliness, he doth it by offering him sure footing for his faith, I am God Alsufficient, or the Almighty God; Walk before me, and be thou perfect, Gen. 17. 1. knowing that unless his faith were firm, his steps could never be even; If he had not beleived Gods power, he could not be evangelically perfect. And hence that father of the faithful became so eminent in obedience, from the strength of his faith. Its said of him, Isa. 41. 2. that he came to the foot of God. That Child was dutiful indeed, that when his Father did but stamp with his foot, left what ever he was about, though it were never so delightful or gainful to him, and ran to his Father, to know and obey his commands. Thus truly did Abraham, when God called him to turn his back upon his relations, and the place of his nativity; nay, to sacrifice his Isaac; the child of the promise, as well as of his love; he did not question Gods pleasure, nor quarrel with his precepts, but obeyed them presently, and all from his faith. His strong faith caused strong obedience, Heb. 11. Its observable, that all the noble and heroick acts of obedience of the Lords Worthies, mentioned in that little book of Martyrs, were performed under the conduct and command of faith.
Faith is one of the best Antidotes against the poison of prophaness, and one of the greatest helpes to holiness; None are more faithful to God, then they who have most faith in God. They who beleive, will be careful to maintain good works, Tit. 3. 8. As the natural heat is the life of the body, and as that increaseth with the radical moysture, strength and health abound; So Faith is the life of the soul; as that is strong or weak, his godliness is more or less. He that is highest in affiance, is highest in obedience. This is the strength of the soul; According to a Mans strength, such is his walk, either straight or stumbling; According to a mans Faith, such is his life, either even or crooked.
1. Faith destroyeth sin.
2. It enableth to live to God.
1. It killeth sin; If the Pulse of a Christian… hand or life beat uneven, it is because his Faith, which is his heart, doth faulter. This is the shield of the soul, which secures it against all assaults and dangers; Other peices of the Christians Armour, are serviceable to defend particular parts of the new man, as the Girdle of truth, the loyns; right…ousness, the brest; the Gospel of peace, the feet; but Faith is a Shield, moveable at pleasure, and surroundeth and guardeth the whole man; With favour wilt thou compass him, as with a Shield, Psa. 5. ult. Faith secureth the head from evil…principles. What sense denieth, and reason understandeth not, Faith beleiveth. Aristotle reading Moses concerning the Creation, is reported to say, Egregie dicis domine Moses, sed quomodo probas? Thou speakest nobly, but how dost thou prove it? The answer to him is easie, By Faith we believe that the world were made of God, Heb. 11. 2.
Faith clears up the understanding, and scattereth the mists of error. The pesence of this Sun disperseth those Clouds. Faith secureth the heart from evil purposes. Its the besome that sweepeth out such dust, and keeps the heart clean; Having their hearts purified by Faith, Act. 15. 9. Faith entertaineth the King of Saints into the heart, it sets him on the throne, and these traytours flye before him; His presence makes these Rebels to hide their heads. Who ever could find in his heart to hug sin, whilst he was viewing by faith his bleeding Saviour! Faith secureth the hand from evil practices. The Martyrs chose the flames, rather then the denial of their Master, and all because of their Faith. Those Worthies of the Lord, of whom the World was not worthy, through Faith stopped the mouths of Lyon-like lusts, quenched the violence of hellish fires, were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection, Heb. 11. 33, 34, 35. By Faith we stand, 2 Cor. 1. 24. As a Souldier under the protection of his Shield, stands his ground, and doth his duty, notwithstanding the shot that are made against him; So a Christian under the protection of Faith, keeps his place, and mindeth his work, whatsoever opposition he meets with. Faith, like Ioab, stabbeth this Abner under the fifth rib, it wounds fin mortally. Hope, like Saul, hath slain its thousands; but Faith, like David, its ten thousands; Whole Armies of Lusts have turned their backs at the sight of this Warriour; By Faith the walls of Ierico fall down; Whilst unbeleif liveth, no sin will dye; All iniquity sheltereth it self under the Banner of infidelity. If once the banks of Faith be broken down, a flood of wickedness will rush and flow in. What made Abraham deny his Wife, and expose her to such temptations and wickedness, but unbeleif? What made Isaac tread in his Fathers steps, and leave Rebecah to the Heathens luste, but unbeleif? What made David dishonour his God, by his uncomely carriage before Achish, and injure his soul by his unholy language, that he should one day perish by the hand of Saul, but unbeleif? What made Peter deny and forswear his Master, but unbeleif? These tares were sown by the enemy, when the husbandman Faith was asleep: had they believed the power and faithfulness of God to defend them in their dangers and distresses, without their lyes; and his grace and bounty to reward them largely for all their sufferings for his sake; had they believed that God when he called them to straights, would without any sinful means have brought them off safe on earth, or safe to Heaven, they would never have used such sinful shifts for their own safety. Faith would secure the soul against all those temptations, and prevent such sinister and sinful doings. He that beleiveth, maketh not haste. He will patiently wait Gods leasure, and submit to his pleasure, and not venture upon forbidden courses, and unlawful ways, to deliver himself out of distress.
Vnbeleif is the dung which makes the soyl of corrupt nature so fruitful in the unfruitful works of darkness. Whence cometh such immoderate love of a perishing world, but from want of Faith and Beleif of that transcendent glory that is to be revealed? Whence cometh such dulness and deadness in holy duties, but from unbelief, either of the holiness and jealousie of that God with whom we have to do, or of his goodness and mercy, that his reward will pay the charge of diligence in his work? Whence comes such cozening, and cheating, and over-reaching in dealings with men, that from distrust of Gods power and providence, as if he could not, or would not spread a Table for his Children in the most barren Wilderness? Whence comes that impatience and murmuring in adversity, but from want of Faith, which would encourage the heart in the Lord his God, in the saddest estate, and when the Fig-tree doth not blossom, nor the Vine yeild its fruit, enable the soul to rejoyce in the Lord, and be glad in the Rock of his salvation. Whence cometh such pride and carnal confidence in prosperity, but because men beleive not the meanness, and vanity, and emptiness of riches, and that divine mercy, not the merits of men are the original of them? There is no sin so monstrous but unbeleif will venture upon it. He that beleiveth not, will never be allured by divine promises, nor affrighted at divine threatnings, nor obey divine precepts, nor submit to divine providences. As Cicero said of Parricide, I may say of Unbeleif, Its a tee…ing vice, a well of wickedness; many sins are bound up in it. No wonder the Apostle gives such a serious warning, and so strict a charge against Infidelity, as the mother and nurse of all Apostacy; Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbeleif, whereby ye depart away from the living God, Heb. 3. 12. The superstitious Pagans thought that their Idol Vibilia kept them from erring out of their way: The religious Christian knoweth by experience, that his faith keeps him within the limits of his duty. Faith ingrafts the soul into Christ, and into the fellowship of his death, by which the old man is crucified, and the body of sin destroyed; that henceforth we should not serve sin, Rom. 6. 5,6,7,8. For therefore did Christ bear ou… sins in his body on the tree, that we might become dead to sin, 1 Pet. 1. 24.
Faith enableth the soul to conquer sin by enabling it to overcome the three grand provocations to sin; The World, the Flesh, and the Wicked one. There is neither of these enemies but Faith hath wounded mortally.
1. Faith enableth to overcome the World; the World indeed hath conquered millions; the greatest Souldiers have been slain by it. Alexander could subdue the Nations in it, but could not subdue his Affections to it; As great a conqueror as he was over it, he was its slave and vassal; for his ambition was still larger then his Dominions; But faith cloathing the Christian with the Sun, helps him to trample this Moon under his feet, This is your victory over the world, even your Faith, 1 Joh. 6.4.
The World hath two faces, the one… ugly and deformed, to…affright the Saint; the other comely and painted to allure him to sin; but Faith seeth how pittiful (onelyonly touching the body) her threatnings are; and how poor, onelyonly skin-deep her promises are, and makes the soul to disdain both.
It was by Faith, that Luther could say, Contemptus a me Romanus & favor, & furor, I scorn both Romes favour, and Romes fury; The worlds Furnace and Musick … are much alike to a Beleiver; he is blind and deaf, nay, dead to both; The special object of Faith, is the Cross of Christ, whereby, saith the Apostle, I am crucified to the world, and the world to me. Tickle a dead man, or lance him, its all one, he is sensible of neither. As Fabricius the Noble Roman told Pyrrhus, who one day tempted him with Gold, and the next day sought to terrifie him with Elephants, I was not yesterday moved with your money, nor to day with your beasts; So Basil when first offered preferment, and afterward threatened with imprisonment, if he would not deny Christ, and turn Arrian, to this purpose answered the Messenger, Such babies of preferment are fit to catch Children with, and such bug-bears of bonds and imprisonment, may fright your tender Gallants and Courtiers. Faith enableth the Christian to mount up to heaven, and thereby secures him from the baits and shots, the snares and lime-twigs which attend him on earth. Homer, saith Vlisses, caused himself to be bound to the Mast of the Ship, and every one of his fellows ears to be stopped with Wax, that they might not hearken to the Songs of the Syrens, and so be drowned in the Sea. Faith fastens the soul to Christ, and so ravisheth i…s ears with the glad tidings of pardon, and peace, and eternal life, that it is deaf to the worlds musick.
1. Faith enableth the soul to overcome the affrightments of the world. Faith like blown bladders, keepeth the soul from sinking in deep waters; Its a Target under which a soul is free from the hurt, though not from the smart of evil; Its the Ark wherein he rides triumphing, when the windows from above are opened and poure down, and the floods from beneath are broken up. In this strong Tower, the soul finds shelter; Faith, like Ioseph, layeth up in a time of plenty, against a time of scarcity; in a day of prosperity… against a day of adversity, and so feareth it the less.
Faith sheweth the Christian a place of refuge in the time of trouble. He shall hide thee, saith Faith, in the secret of his presence (i. e. cover thee with the warm wings of his providence) he shall keep thee secret in his Pavilion; (An allusion to Princes retiring rooms, which are sacred and secure places for their Favourites.) Nature teacheth all creatures to run in distress to that which they count their defence; The Conies run to the Rocks, the Goats to the Hills, the Ravenous Beasts to their De…s, the Child to his Mothers Armes. This grace discovereth to the soul, a Rock, a Refuge, a Fort, a Fortress, an High Tower, which makes him fearless of the worlds threatnings and bugbears. The lame and the blind, those most shiftless creatures, when they had got the strong hold of Sion over their heads, scorned the Host of David, 2 Sam. 5. 6, 7. The Egyptians that dwell in the fens, are much troubled with Gnats, therefore they sleep in High Towers, whither those Insects cannot flye. The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower, the righteous run unto it and are safe, Prov. 15. Such a soul is like a strong Tree, which no wind can shake; or like Mount Sion, which cannot be moved; Therefore he can sing when unbeleivers quake and tremble. Though the Earth be troubled, though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea, though the Waters roar, and the Mountains shake, yet we will not fear; The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, Psa. 46. 56. and 91. 2, 3. Faith is like the Cork in the Net, when the Lead wound sink the Net, the Cork keeps it above water. This Faith is the Anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfact, entering into that within the vail, and so stayeth the Saint against all the winds and waves of affliction. Faith or beleif of the resurrection, and that happiness which then should be enjoyed, was that which enabled Paul to dye daily, and to fight with Beasts at Ephesus, 1 Cor. 15. 30.
In the greatest distress, Faith can see deliverance; and when it is at the greatest distance, salute it, as Abraham did Christs day, afar off. When the weather is cloudy, it can see the Heaven begin to clear, and notwithstanding his present pain and poverty, cause the Christian to rejoyce in his hope of bliss and glory. The eye of Faith, looking to the recompence of reward, seeth afflictions with the Israel of God, much more eligible then the pleasures of sin.Drexel. Consid. AEtern…t. Symphorianus a Christian young man, after he was almost scourged to death, being draged to Execution at Augustodunum, met his Mother, not crying, or tearing her hair, but like an Holy Lady thus comforting him, Son, my Son, I say, Remember life eternal, look up to Heaven; Life is not taken from thee, but exchanged for a better; At which words of his Mother, he went on willingly to the Block, and exposed his Throat to the fatal Ax; One of the Dutch Martyrs feeling the flame coming to him, said, O what a small pain is this, to Heaven! Our blessed Saviour had an eye to the joy set before him, and thereby was encouraged to endure the Cross, and despise the shame; Indeed, if Faith spring a leak, then the waters break in, and the Christian sinks apace, as we see in Peters denial of his Master.
As Faith in the Promises, so also Faith in the Threatnings makes the Christian a Conquerour over the worlds affrightments, where the World threatens Bonds, and Whips, and Dungeo…s, and Death, if the Christian will not sin against God, and begins to stagger the soul. Take heed what thou dost, saith Faith, for God threateneth Fire, and Brimstone, and Chains, and Blackness of Darkness for ever, as the wages of all sin. Is the Wrath of an Infinite God, not more to be feared then of weak dying Men? Is the pains of a violent death, which will quickly be over, and the most the World can do against thee, comparable to the pains of eternal death? And thus Faith by the terror of this great Ordinance, drowns the noise of those small peices, that the soul is deaf to their report.
2. Faith enableth the soul to overcome the allurements of the world. If the world cannot terrifie the Saint with its fiery Furnace, to disown and deny his Saviour, it will seek to inchant him with its Musick, and thereby to make him deaf to the Call and Commands of Christ. Thus it served Ioseph; When it could not prevail on the left hand, by selling him for a slave, it tryeth him on the right hand, by setting a Dalilah to tickle him with pleasure; but by Faith he saw the Hook under the Bait, and durst not nibble at it, much less swallow it. Though the world like Iezabel, painteth her face, and tireth her hair, to render her amiable and lovely, and as a Srumpet, sheweth her naked Breasts of pleasure and profit, to entice the beleiver to go a Whoring after her; yet he vieweth by Faith the deformity of her person, under all her dawbery, and the dregginess and deceitfulness of her pleasures, notwithstanding their shew of clearness, and so rejects them with scorn and disdain. Pliny saith of Cato, that he took as much pleasure in the Honours he denied, as in those that he enjoyed. The beleiver can glory more in his refusal of glory for Christ, then unbeleivers in all their preferments. Indeed, if the Christian did consult with sense, or carnal reason, he would take the worlds present money, but the beleiver doth not consult with flesh and blood, like wise Abigal, knowing how much it will conduce to his advantage, he can part with his esta…e for God, and never make those Nabals privy to the design, lest they should hinder it.
Besides, Faith discovers pure Rivers of pleasures, more noble and excellent delights, to be the portion of those that refuse to grate their teeth with such kennel water. As man is a rational creature, he would sell his wares to them that will give most. Now Faith sheweth how infinitely God out-bids the world. Sense saith, The world offereth fair, it offereth comforts, sutable to thy flesh, such as they desire, and it offereth ready money, present possession: But saith Faith, God offereth thee better; The comforts he offereth are more excellent, being sutable, not as the Worlds, to a carnal brutish nature, but to an heavenly divine soul, and more durable, being eternal, when the pleasures of sin are but for a season. He that hopes for no better market, will take the present money offered him; But he that is assured of greater gains, will refuse the lesser. An unbeleiver who expects no better bargain then what this life affords him, may well take up with present pay, what ever it be; but the Beleiver who seeth the glory to be revealed, and fulness of joy in Heaven, and is assured that if he be faithful unto death, he shall receive that eternal crown of life, turns his eyes off the honours and comforts of this beggarly world. Those stars of creature joys do all disappear in the presence of this Sun. Gold bears little sway with the soul that knoweth his title to the new Ierusalem, that is paved with Gold, in which gold is trampled under foot; Those birds that flie aloft in the Firmament, are not so easily snared by the Fowlers Gins; Though the things of this world were glorious in his eyes, during his estate of unbeleif, yet now he hath discerned a world beyond the Moon, and sent Faith as a spie to search and coast that Country which hath brought word back, that its a good land flowing with Milk and Honey, and in it there is want of nothing, they have no glory, by reason of that glory that doth so infinitely exceed. When a man is below, things above seem small; the great Stars that are bigger then the Earth, seem not so big as a bushel, and things below seem great: but when a man is above, as upon the top of a Steeple, then things below seem little, he beholdeth men like Grashoppers. Were he conveyed to the highest hill in the World, men would not be discerned; great Kingdoms would be but small Cottages. Unbeleif sets a man below, here on earth, and so the things of Heaven are little in his eye; but Faith soars aloft, it carrieth the Christian up to Heaven, and then the whole earth is but a small spot in his eye. Ioseph bids the Patriarchs, Regard not your stuff, for the good of all the Land of Egypt is yours: So saith Faith to the Christian, Regard not the lumber and rubbish of this world, for all the great and good things of the other world are thine. Faith gives the soul a taste, the first fruits of Heaven; And as no man, having drunk old wine, desireth new, for he saith, the old is better; So no man, having tasted the wine of Heavens pleasures, desires carnal delights. A Pilgrim travelling to Ierusalem (saith one) came to a City where he saw a goodly Training and Mustering, there he had a mind to stay, but that he remembred that was not Ierusalem. He came to another City, where he saw gallant sports and pastimes, there he had some good will to abide, but that he remembred it was not Ierusalem. He came to a third, where were goodly buildings, Fair Ladies, curious Musick, &c. where also he had some thoughts of setling, but still he remembred it was not Ierusalem: So the beleiver, when the world offereth him great treasures, high honours, &c. may through the subtlety of his flesh, have a mind to embrace them, onelyonly seeing by Faith Ierusalem, where are greater treasures, higher honours, he slights and rejects them; By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; esteeming the reproaches of Christ, greater riches then the treasures of Egypt; for he had an eye to the recompence of reward.
Faith makes things future, present; it looketh into…Heaven and saith as David, before he had conquered those places, Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Heaven is mine, Eternal Life is mine, fulness of joy is mine, that Kingdom in comparison of which this whole world is a dunghil is mine, because God hath sworn by his holiness, that he will not lye unto his David, and whilst the soul by faith seeth and is assured of these felicities for their sake, it can trample under foot the worlds largest offers.
2. Faith enableth the Christian to conquer Satan; Though the wicked one be full of power and policy, yet Faith makes him flee like a Coward. Its said of the Crocodile, that he flyeth if resisted, but followeth those that fear and flee from him; Truly so doth Satan, Iam. 4. 8. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. But how must he be resisted? the Apostle Peter answers that question, whom resist stedfastly in the Faith, 1 Pet. 5. 9. The Crocodile cannot endure the sight or smell of saffron, therefore in Egypt they sow saffron to keep him away. Faith is this saffron, Cant. 4. 14. which drives away the Devil. Faith like little David, wounds the great Goliah of Hell. They overcame him (meaning the Devil) by the blood of the Lamb. The Wild Bull, say Naturalists, cannot endure a red colour, therefore the Hunter putteth on red garments, and standeth before a Tree, which the Bull runneth against with all his might, and the Hunter stepping aside, his hornes stick fast in the tree, whereby he is taken. The Christian by Faith in the blood of Christ, overcometh those infernal spirits who thought to overcome him. This is the onelyonly holy water, that will fright away the Devil. Our blessed Saviour in his speech to Peter, acquaints us how to subdue Satan; Peter, Peter, Satan hath desired to winnow thee as Wheat is winnowed, but I have prayed for thee, that thy Faith fail not. Which words imply, that whilst Peters Faith stood firm, he should not forsake Christ; whilst that was up, he could not be down; His Faith flagged before his courage failed, or he himself fell so fouly. A Tree is soon felled when the Root is once loosened; Faith roots the soul in Christ, and therein his safety consists; but as his Faith fails, so he is loosened from Christ, and thereby in danger of falling. The Christians strength lieth in his Faith, as Sampsons in his Hair; if the uncircumcised one can deprive us of this, he may make sport enough with us. Hence it is that Satans chiefest Guns are shot against the Royal Fort of Faith, knowing that that commandeth all; and if …e can make a breach there, he fears not but to enter with success. The first mine which he ever sprang, to blow up the first Adam and his Wife, and in them the whole race of mankind, was by weakning their faith; Hath God said, In the day ye eat thereof, ye shall dye? When he came to the second Adam, he endeavoured to slay him with the same sword; If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones, &c. And without question, his aim was more at Iobs Faith, then his Cattel, or Servants, or Children; he had a greater intent to have blown down that house of Iobs conscience, then that wherein his Sons and Daughters were feasting.
Therefore Reader, Above all take the shield of Faith, whereby thou mayst quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, Ephes. 6. 16. Goats in the Island of Creet, when they are stricken with a dart, do seek for the Hearb Dittany, which will cause the dart to fall out; Truly, such juice hath Faith, that it makes all the darts which Satan shoots at the Christian ineffectual.
3. Faith enableth to conquer the flesh. The great Apostle who lived by Faith, brought under his body, and crucified the flesh. Faith seeth the safety of the body to consist in its subordination to the soul, and that the onelyonly way to save the life, is at Gods call to lose it; By faith Abraham left his Kindred and Country, and obeyed, and went out, not knowing whither he went, Heb. 11. 8. Indeed, the flesh is the worst enemy of the three, partly in that it is so near us, always about us, so that we can as well flye from our selves as from it. A Traytour in the Bed chamber, is much more dangerous then one in open armes against us in the Field. A Snake in the bosome, is like to do more hurt then one under the grass; partly in that it knoweth our minds exactly, and so can temper its poison sutable to our Pallats; but Faith can discover its secret conspiracies, and prevent their execution. Though it dig its mines never so closely, and covertly, and craftily, Faith will find them out and countermine them.
2. Faith enableth (as to dye to sin, so) to live to God. The life of holiness doth so much depend on Faith, that its said to consist wholly in it. The just shall live by his Faith. Though he cannot live by sense, that upon which he lives being invisible; nor by reason, because his food is supernatural; yet he can live by faith, and make a good living of it too. As the body lives by the soul, so Religion lives by Faith. A mortal wound in faith, lets out the heart blood of all holiness. Tis faith that actuates and animates the new creature. Faith puts him upon high designs, and holy enterprises for God and his own soul. David saith, I beleive, therefore have I spoken; It may be said of a Christian, He beleiveth, therefore he speaks so much of God, for God, and to God. He beleiveth the unquestionable certainty, incomparable excellency, and eternity of that reward which is set before him, and therefore he prayeth, and watcheth, and readeth, and heareth, and denyeth himself, and worketh night and day that he may attain it. Ferdinando of Arragon, beleiving the report of Columbus, concerning the richness of the Indian Mines, and the likelyhood of his possessing them, was at great cost and charge in sending out men in Ships, and made them venture their lives, and labour hard to get those Golden and Silver veins. Faith beleiveth the report which the Gospel makes of the glory to be revealed, and the unsearchable riches in Christ, and the likelyhood, nay, certainty of his enjoying them, if he will but strive and labour, and use those means which God hath appointed, and this puts the soul upon its greatest industry and integrity, in the performance of what the word requireth, in order thereunto, and a resolution to obtain them, what ever it cost, or to dye in the undertaking.
Tis by the sap, which from the root is derived through the bark to the branches, that makes them fruitful. Tis from …he strength which faith derives from Christ, that the Christian becomes so abundant in holiness; cut off the bark and the tree withereth. Take away faith, and no more good works. The extension of the branches, ariseth from the intension of the sap; and how shall that be conveyed but by the bark? Christ, like Ioseph, keeps the granaries, wherein is abundance of soul-food, and faith unlocks those Store-houses, and takes out supplies. As Pharoah when the Egyptians cryed to him for bread, said, Go ye to Joseph, and what he saith to you do: So God saith to Christians that call on him for Grace, Go ye to Christ by Faith, and he will relieve you. It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell; Here is
1. Fulness, abundance, not a drop, or a small degree of living water.
2. All fulness, a redundance, the fulness of a spring, a fountain, not of a vessel.
3. All fulness dwelling, abiding there to eternity; running over, and running ever. But you will say, What is a Christian the better sor it? I Answer, Of his fulness, by faith, We all receive grace for grace. As a Pipe from the River supplieth the house upon all occasions, and the several offices therein with water; so doth faith supply the Christian with grace from Christ, answerable to his several exigencies and necessities. Indeed, all the graces act valiantly in their several places, under the command of this General. Hence though fear, and love and heavenly mindedness were specially operative in many of the Patriarchs actions and passions for God, yet still the crown is set upon the head of faith, under whose banner and conduct they fought, Heb. 11. per tot. When this Champion, like Goliah is vanquished, the other graces, as the Philistines, are put to the rout. As dark clouds obscure the glorious stars, so doth unbeleif blemish the lustre of a Christians graces. If this shepherd, Faith, be smitten, other Graces, like …heep, are scattered. If this grace keep the field, the rest always keep their ground. The length of the days depends upon the shining of the sun; as this shines more or less, so the days are longer or shorter: The degrees and measures of other graces depend exceedingly upon this grace. The branches blossom answerable to the sap which they receive from the root. Other graces bud and blow according to the sap which they receive from faith.
For example sake; Repentance is more or less according to the degrees of faith. Tis the fiducial apprehension of divine love that mollifieth the stony hear… None mourn so much as they who apprehend God a father. The hot beams of divine grace and favour by faith united in the soul, thaw the most i…y heart; They shall see him whom they have pierced, (i.e. with an eye of faith) and mourn for him as one that mourneth for his onelyonly childe. Peter saw Christs love in his look, and then went out and wept bitterly.
2. Humility; We are never lower in our own eyes then when faith assures us that we are high in Gods favour. The Centurions humility seems to keep equal pace with his faith (though Christ saith of his faith, I have not found so great, no not in Israel) Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof; neither thought I my self worthy to come unto thee. When Nathan brought David word that God had a great respect for him, and would build him a sure house for ever; He presently crieth out, What am I, and what is my fathers house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? &c. 2 Sam. 7.18.
3. Love; The fire of love flames more or less according to the fuel which faith provides; To whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much. The knowledge of a pardon granted by such a Lord who hath all the reason in the world to loath the soul, turns it into a lump of love.
4. Ioy; Faith broacheth the pipe of the promises, and presenteth that wine which rejoyceth the heart of the new man; In whom beleiving, we rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.7.
5. Patience; He that beleiveth his bonds are good, that his estate is in safe hands, and that his forbearance doth abundantly encrease it, will wait quietly for the day of payment; He that beleiveth, maketh not haste. None quarrel or fret but from want of faith: Run with patience the race set before you; Looking at Iesus. If the Christian be weak, faith will give him the staff of the Word to lean on; if he be weary, faith will shew him his journeys end. Lo yonder is heaven, saith faith, hold out a little longer, your work is almost done. As the Eagle by stretching her self towards the Sun, through its heat hath her old feathers fallen off, new ones growing in their places, and her strength renewed; so the Christian cleaving to Jesus Christ, the Sun of righteousness, by faith, reneweth his strength as the Eagle, runneth and is not weary, walketh and is not faint; Its reported of the Chrystal, that there is a vertue in it to quicken all other precious stones; when it toucheth them, it puts a lustre and brightness on them; Its true of faith, it hath a vertue in it to enliven and quicken all other graces. These stars have the greatest influence, when in conjunction with this Sun.
As the Philosopher saith of water, foreign, It is of all things the best, most soveraign and precious, because its of universal influence in the life of man; so I may say of faith, it is of all graces most excellent, in regard of the universality of its influence, upon all duties, graces, providences, ordinances.
Tis by Faith that prayer becomes so prevalent; Whatsoever ye ask of the Father beleiving, ye shall receive, Joh. 16. 22. An unbeleiving prayer, is a Messenger without a tongue; no wonder if he dispatch not his errand, Heb. 11. 6, 7.
Tis by Faith that Scripture is so powerful. This sword of the Spirit doth no Execution, save in the hand of Faith. The word did not profit them, not being mingled with Faith in them that heard it, Heb. 4. 2.
Tis by Faith that the Lords Supper becomes so nourishing and strengthning; This is the hand that receiveth that flesh which is meat indeed; this is the mouth that eats it, this is the stomach that digests it; without this thou mayst receive the Elements, but not the sacrament, 1 Cor. 11. 25, 26. Unbeleivers like Waspes may sit upon the tops of these flowers, and seem to gather honey, but alas they are far from any such thing.
Tis by Faith that Crosses are turned into comforts, and afflictions into mercies. This like Mithridates, can digest poison, and get strength from the wrath and rage of Men and Devils, 1 Phil. 19. Heb. 11. 38.
Tis by Faith that Water is turned into wine, temporal mercies into spiritual advantages; Faith worketh by love, and draweth men with the Cords of love.
Tis by faith that men are so fruitful in their lives, Heb. 11. 32, 33. and so chearful in their deaths, Rom. 8. 37, 38. O Reader, above all thy gettings, get faith, and above all thy keepings keep faith; For, it must be faith that must keep thee from falling in an hour of temptation, and from fainting in an hour of persecution. The unbeleiver is fitly called an unreasonable man, because its unreasonable that the God of truth should not be credited, and that he, to whom it is impossible to lye, should be distrusted; and also an absurd man, because its absurd for a workman to go without his tools, which he shall every moment have need of. Its said of the Serpent, that of all her parts, she is most careful of her head, well knowing that though she be mangled and cut never so much in her body, yet if her head be whole, that will cure the wounds of all her other parts; Let thy great work be to …ecure thy faith, if that be whole all will be well, what ever decays there may be in other graces, this will help them to shoot forth again.
Thirdly, If thou wouldst exercise thy self to Godliness, set God always before thine eyes; Subjects will carry themselves handsomly and loyally when they are before their Soveraign; They who walk before God, will be upright. His eye is the best Marshal to keep the soul in a comely order. Let thine eye be ever on him, whose eye is ever on thee. The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good, Prov. 15. 9. Seneca perswaded his friend Lucilius for the keeping him within compass, to imagine that some grave man, as Laelius, did still look upon him; Reader, couldst thou walk ever as in Gods presence, thou wouldst keep close to his precepts. Consider, therefore that in all places, in all companies, at all times, the eye of God is on thee, and he takes exact notice of all thy thoughts, words and actions; that he knoweth thy natural parts; In his book were all thy members written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was not one of them, that he knoweth all thy moral passages, thou understandest my thoughts afar off, and art acquainted with all my ways; There is not a word in my tongue, but thou O Lord knowest it altogether; There is no drawing a curtain between God and thee; He seeth thee thorough and thorough, far more perfectly then thou canst the clearest Chrystal. Darkness hideth not from thee, but the night shineth as the day; to thee the darkness and the light are both alike. The darkness of the air may hide thee from men, and the darkness of thine understanding may hide thee from thy self; but there is no darkness nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity can hide themselves from him. Neither the ring of Gyges, nor the helmet of Pluto, can hide thee from Gods eye. Observe how strict God is in observing thy ways; Thou numbrest my steps, dost thou not watch over my sin? Job 14. 16. By steps is understood inward Motions, and outward actions, whatsoever is done either in the retiring room of the heart, or common hall of the life. To number the steps notes an exact account, we say of a man that goeth very leasurely and softly, Such a man telleth his steps. God is said to tell or number our steps, because he is so exact in his observation of, and so severe in his inquisition, into all our thoughts, words, and deeds. He is supposed to be void of shame, that doth not fear to sin before many witnesses; Though thou art in secret, consider, conscience is present, which is a thousand witnesses, and God who is a thousand consciences. The Italian was somewhat conceited, who wrote a supplication to Candle light, to disclose to him the secrets of his Kingdom. Its thought the light of the Candle seeth more wickedness then the light of the sun, but to God the day and night, darkness and light are both alike; he seeth all things, in all places, and at all times.
A Reverend divine had this written in his study, Nol… peccare manns videt; Angeli as…ant, Dia…olus accufab …. Conscientia testabitur, infernus cru… abit.It was a prety fancy of one that would have his chamber painted full of eyes, that which way soever he lookt, he might still have some eyes upon him, and he fancying himself according to the Moralists advice, always, Sub custode & Paedagogo, under the eye of a keeper, might be the more careful of his carriage. And it was a wise answer of Livius Drusus, when an Artist offered him so to convtrive his house,Tu vero … qui… in te artis est, ita compone domum meam ut ab omnibus conspici possit. Vellejus Paterculus. that he might do what he would, none should see him; No, saith Drusus, Contrive it so rather, that all may see me, for I am not ashamed to be seen. If the eyes of men, make even the vilest to forbear their beloved lusts for a while, that the Adulter watcheth for the twilight … and they that are drunk, are drunk in the night; how powerful will the eye and presence of God be with those that fear his anger, and know the sweetness of his favour? Moses forsook the sinful pleasures of Pharaohs Court, not fearing the wrath of the King, for he saw him that was invisible. A good commander causeth good government in a Town or City. This truth wrought home, and set close to the heart, would cause good orders, good government in it.
The thought of this Omnipresence of God, will affrighten thee from sin; Gehezi durst not ask or receive any part of Naamans Presents in his Masters presence, but when he had got out of Elisha's sight, then he tells his lye, and gives way to his lust;Turpe quid ausurus, te sine teste time. Mag…um nescio quid majus que quam cogitari potest numen est, cui vivendo operoram demus; Huic nos apbemus, nam nihil prodest inclusam esse conscientiam patemus Deo. Sen…e. Men never sin more freely, then when they presume upon secrecy. They break in peices thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage. They slay the Widow, and Stranger, and murder the Fatherless; yet they say, The Lord doth not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it, Psa. 94. 5, 6, 7. Eliphaz, though falsly, accused Iob as guilty of the same crime, upon the same account, Iob 22. 5, 6, 7, 13, 14. They who shut God out of their hearts, shut him also out of the world, through their atheism, and then are at liberty for all manner of wickedness; They who abounded in abominations, said, The Lord seeth us not, the Lord hath forsaken the earth, Ezek. 8. 9, 10, 12.
The wise man diswadeth from wickedness, upon the consideration of Gods eye and Omniscience; And why wilt thou my son be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosome of a stranger? For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings, Prov. 5… 20, 21. Ioseph saw God in the room, and therefore durst not yeild; but his Mistris saw none but Ioseph, and so was impudently alluring and tempting him to folly. I have read of two religious men, that took contrary courses with two lewd women, whom they were desirous to reclaim from their vicious course of life; One of the men told one of the women, that he was desirous to enjoy her company, so it might be with secrecy, and when she had brought him into a close room, that none could pry into, he told her, All the bars and bolts here, cannot keep God out; The other desired the other woman to company with him openly in the streets, which when she rejected as a mad request, he told her, It was better to do it in the eyes of a multitude then of God. How doth the Adulterer, or Drunkard, or Theif, when they come abroad at midnight, for the satisfaction of their lusts, sneak and steal away, when they spye the watch, or any persons who would be witness of their vices? and shall not the presence of that God who hates sin, who is resolved to punish it with hell-flames, make us ashamed or afraid to sin, and dare him to his face?
2. The thoughts of this Omnipresence of God, will quicken thee to holiness. The Souldiers of Israel and Iudah were prodigal of their blood, in the presence of their two Generals, 2 Sam. 2. 14. Servants will generally work hard whilst their Master stands by and looks on. Its said of Alexander, that his presence caused such courage in his Souldiers, Vt illo presente nullius hostium arma vel iner mes timuerunt, That when he was with them though they were unarmed, they feared not the weapons of any of their enemies. Our blessed Redeemer exhorteth to prayer in secret, upon this consideration, that God seeth and heareth it, Mat. 6. and to charity in secret, because, though the left hand knoweth not what the right hand doth, God knoweth what the right hand doth. Your Father which seeth in secret will reward you openly.
There is a story of Bishop Latimer, that he having in a Sermon at Court, much displeased the King (Henry 8.) was commanded to Preach again the next Lords day, and to recant his former sermon; according to appointment he cometh up, and prefaceth to his Sermon in this manner; Hugh Latimer, dost thou know this day to whom thou art to speak? even to the High and mighty Monarch, the Kings most excellent Majesty, who can take away thy life if thou offendest; therefore take heed how thou speakest a word which may displease, but (as if recalling himself, he proceeded) Hugh, Hugh, dost thou know from whom thou comest, upon whose message thou art sent, and who it is that is present with thee, and beholdeth all thy ways! even that Almighty God who can cast body and soul into Hell for ever; therefore look about thee, and be sure thou deliverest thy message faithfully; and so he went to his Text, and confirmed what he had spoken the day before, and urged it with the more vehemency then ordinary. The eye of God, as of the Sun, will call the Christian to his work. Those Countries that are governed by Viceroys seldom flourish or thrive so well as those Kingdoms where the Prince is present in person. Conscience, Gods Viceroy, may much quicken a Christian to holiness; but God the Prince himself much more; I have kept thy precepts, saith David, for all my ways are before thee.