The Sinners Last Sentence, Chapter 43
CHAP. XLIII. Another cauſe of ſins of Omiſsion, Idleneſs, with the cure of it.
3. A Third cauſe of ſins of Omiſſion, is Idleneſs. Negative Holineſs requires no great pains; a man may forbear Drunkenneſs, ſwearing, lying, ſtealing, &c. without any great labour. A man may keep his Bed, or his Chair all day, and ſo do no hurt. Some men, as the Hiſtorian obſerves,Tacitus. are ſola ſocordia innocentes, do no miſchief (not becauſe they dare not, God having forbidden it, but) becauſe it would coſt them ſome pains to do it. Their Heads muſt work to plot and contrive it, and their Hands to manage and execute it. There is a ſluggiſh temper and poorneſs of ſpirit in many men, who prefer a mean quiet before a treaſure with labour. The Sluggard would do evil as other men, only he is unwilling to loſe his ſleep and eaſe, as they do to accompliſh their wicked deſigns; and he would do good as others, (I mean in regard of the matter of Duties) only he is loth to be at the labour. Negative godlineſs requires only a ſiting ſtill, and a forbearing to meddle with ſuch and ſuch things which God hath prohibited; but poſitive Godlineſs (if to any purpoſe) requires induſtry, and zeal, and activity, and the putting forth our ſtrength and ſpirits, which makes the idle Wretch take his leave of it. The ſlothful Servant could let his Talent lie ſtill in the Earth, and not lay it out in gaming and rioting, &c. and continue his ſlothfulneſs; but if he had improved it, in trading for his Maſters profit, he muſt have gone up and down, and taken pains.
It's eaſie to forbear curſing, and ſwearing, and blaſpheming the Name of God; theſe may ſuit well with a torpid idle perſon, but to call on the Name of God, to pray fervently, to pray without ceaſing, to lift up to the Soul in prayer, to pour out the heart, to ſtir up ones ſelf to wraſtle with God, to ſeek him with all the heart, with the whole heart; this will require ſome pains and labour, and this makes him forbear it. Again, it's no great pains for a man to keep himſelf from hearing laſcivious, vain, backbiting, or flattering, or evil Language; a man may but forbear coming into ſuch company, or depart from them, when he underſtandeth them about ſuch wickedneſs; but for a man to hear the Word of God, with reverence, as the Word of God; with meekneſs, as willing to be govern'd by it; with Faith, as believing all the Promiſes and Threatnings of it to be of unqueſtionable certainty, and with a reſolution to practiſe it, as knowing we ſhall be judged by it at the day of Chriſt; this will coſt ſome head and heart work, which the ſleepy Drone is unwilling to come to.
Again, the right performance of Duties in regard of the manner, requires much more pains than in regard of the matter; therefore they who take upon them a Form, deny the power of Godlineſs; and who are not guilty of external, are yet of internal Omiſſions. How many pray or mumble over a few words Morning and Evening to God, (and are pleaſed with it, as if therefore all were well, and think God pleaſed too,) who never trouble themſelves with minding that reverence, humility, uprightneſs, ſenſe of want, Faith in Chriſt, importunity of deſires which God expects in every prevalent Prayer; and the reaſon is, becauſe the former is ſo eaſie, and the latter ſo laborious.
Beſides, for a man to examine his own heart frequently and impartially, and to call himſelf to a ſtrict account what he hath been and done in the World, and what is like to become of him, and to befal him for ever; for him to take the Looking-Glaſs of the Law of God, and therein to behold his Heart and Life, and having compared his practices with the Divine Precepts, which are exceeding broad, to accuſe, and judge, and condemn, and loath, and abhor himſelf; for him to lay himſelf low before the Lord, and to acknowledge and confeſs with ſhame, and anger, and grief, his filthineſs and wickedneſs, and to beg Pardon & Grace, as earneſtly as one that believes, if his requeſts be denied, his poor Soul is damned for ever. Friend, Friend, this is hard and painful work, and the idle man will not meddle. Once more, he that will be poſitively holy, muſt watch himſelf in all his ways, muſt watch for opportunities of Service to God; he muſt catch at them, and improve them, when he hath them put into his hand; he muſt ſtand always upon his guard, to defend himſelf againſt his enemies; and be as a Sparrow upon the houſe-top, to look about and conſider where he may pick up any ſpiritual food for his Soul; he muſt deſign, and ſtudy, and contrive how he may ſpend his time, and parts, and ſtrength, and eſtate to the beſt advantage of his Lord and Maſter; and think nothing too much, no pains, no labour, no not his blood for his Lord's Honour; and will a ſluggard that lieth with his hands in his boſom do this, or any part of this? Ah Friend, the ſleepy World dream of Happineſs upon eaſie terms, as if they could walk to Heaven in a pleaſant Meadow, or be carried to Heaven in a Down-bed; but it muſt not be, it cannot be; Difficilia quae pulchra. Canſt thou obtain any thing that is excellent, unleſs thou art diligent? Doth the Tradeſman get an Eſtate, who is not induſtrious to look after his Cuſtomers, his Books, and whatſoever concerns his Calling? Can he who ſits ſtill in his Chimney-corner, and neither minds buying in, nor ſelling out; nor takes care how things are order'd in his Shop, ever exſpect to be rich? Reader, if ever thou wilt make any thing of it, there is a neceſſity of ſhaking off this ſlothfulneſs. I muſt tell thee, an idle perſon is the Devils Cuſhion, his own burden, unlike and loathſome to God, and a wem in the Body Politick where he lives. To cure this, Reader, I muſt ſay to thee, as the Apoſtle to the Epheſians, Awake thou that ſleepeſt, ariſe from the dead, Epheſ. 5.14. Friend, thy work is not to be done ſleeping; God-work, Soul-work, Eternity-work is not to be done ſleeping. Labouring, wraſtling, fighting, ſtriving, running, are not to be done ſleeping, Joh. 6.27. Gen. 32.24. Matth. 6.13. 1 Cor. 9. Doſt thou think to attain everlaſting Pleaſures, and not to take pains? Doth God value his bliſsful Manſions at ſo low a rate, as to throw them away upon thoſe who ſlight them, and judge them unworthy their utmoſt endeavours? Is the price of Heaven fallen ſince the Redeemers being in the World? then it was, Seek firſt the Kingdom of God, and the Righteouſneſs thereof, Matth. 6.33. And ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate, Matth. 7.33. And labour for the meat that endureth to everlasting life, Matth. 6.27. And is it now laze and loyter, and be bleſſed for ever. Though God doth not exſpect from thee a natural price for his Son, that is impoſſible for Men or Angels to give; yet he doth exſpect that pactional price which he hath ſet down in his Word, as the condition of thoſe that ſhall have a part in him.
Reader, doſt thou know what pains the Merchant takes for corruptible Treaſures, how he ventures his life in a wooden-bottom, and a tempeſtuous Ocean, and is every moment in danger of death; how he ſails from Haven to Haven, diſpoſing and exchanging Commodities, trading and trafficking with perſons of divers Countries and Languages, and all to get a little wealth; and if worldly Pearls cannot be had without pains, doſt thou think the Pearl of great and ineſtimable price, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the fruits of his precious blood may be had for nothing. I tell thee, as God valued his Son at ſo high a rate, as to accept of his temporary ſufferings as fuller ſatisfaction to his Juſtice on the behalf of millions of Souls; than if they had fryed millions of millions of millions of years in Hell; ſo God will make thee value and prize him, if ever thou partake any benefit by him. And if thou once comeſt to know his worth, and to eſteem him accordingly; thou wilt think no toil, no ſweat; nay, no blood too good or too much for him.
Friend, ponder the work of poſitive Godlineſs, and then judge whether diligence be not requiſite. Cloſet-Duties, as praying, reading, ſelf-examining, and Family-Duties muſt daily be performed, and that with life and vigor, and all the Soul, and all the ſtrength: Thy earthly Calling muſt be followed with heavenly affections; and whilſt thy Occupation is amongſt men, thy Converſation muſt be with God. In all Companies, and at all Seaſons, and in all Conditions, thou art to be in the fear of God, and watchful over thy ſelf, that thou doſt nothing to diſpleaſe him, and ſolicitous how thou mayſt do that which is moſt pleaſing to him. Thou muſt love God with all thy heart, when he ſeems moſt angry with thee; and truſt in his goodneſs, when he inflicts never ſo great or ſo many evils on thee. Thy duty is to believe in a crucified Chriſt, and ſo venture thy Soul on the death of another, upon the bare warrant of Scripture; thou art required to deny, and bemoan, and abhor thy ſelf, as near and dear as thou art to thy ſelf, to mortifie thy earthly members, and to cut off thy right hand, and pluck out thy right eye. Not a Relation, not a Condition, not an Ordinance, not a Providence, but calls for Duties, ſuitable Duties to be performed, and not one of theſe Duties but calls for ſuitable Graces to be exerciſed. Beſides, ere theſe Duties can be performed, and theſe Graces exerciſed, many ſtrong and ſturdy luſts muſt be ſubdued; the allurements on one hand of a flattering, gaudy, giddy, ſkin-deep World, as Babies to pleaſe Children, trampled on; and its afrightments, as Cloths ſtuft with ſtraw, to ſcare Birds, muſt be deſpiſed. I, and all the Powers and Policies of Hell combated with, and conquered. And, Friend, can all this be done with thy hands in thy Pocket, or without pains. It's in vain to think of freedom from Omiſſions, whilſt thou lieſt on the bed of Security. Water corrupteth, and breeds venemous Creatures, whilſt it ſtandeth ſtill; it is preſerved ſweet by motion, as we experience in running-ſtreams. The unuſed Iron ruſteth, whilſt that which is uſed groweth daily more bright. Neither Nature nor Art will afford us any thing that is good without labour. The ground will not yield its fruit, unleſs the Huſbandman dung, and plow, and dreſs, and harrow it. Can any Artiſt make an excellent Clock, or Watch, or curious Veſſel without pains? And wilt thou preſume of Holineſs and Heaven without it? The Heavens are ever in motion for the benefit of this lower World, and never ſtand ſtill but by a Miracle. The Earth is always labouring to bring forth fruit for our profit and delight, and never idle and barren, but as curſed of God for mans ſin. Adam in his eſtate of Innocency, was by God himſelf taught a Leſſon of Induſtry, and commanded to till the ground. Our bleſſed Saviour was not idle; but when he undertook the work of mans Redemption, went up and down doing good, denying himſelf his ſleep. A great while before day he was at prayer, Mark 1. and he prayed all night. He denied himſelf his Food when he was hungry, and diſappointed of Food at the Figg-Tree; he goeth not to an houſe to eat, but to the Synagogue to preach. He denied himſelf his eaſe and pleaſure, and all to follow his buſineſs, Joh. 9.4. As he ſaid, ſo he did; I muſt work the work of him that ſent me whilſt it is day. And did Chriſt contend, and fight, and ſtrive, and wraſtle night and day before he was crown'd, or could enjoy the Joy ſet before him; and doſt thou think to have all for nothing?
Reader, to conclude this Head conſider, Rom. 12.11. Not ſlothful in buſineſs, fervent in Spirit, ſerving the Lord. Where we have the Duty (I am perſwading thee to) commanded by the Apoſtle (in regard of its great weight, extraordinary difficulty, or backwardneſs to it,) both ways: 1. Negatively, not ſlothful in buſineſs; i. e. you will do nothing at it if ye be ſleepy or ſlothful; the buſineſs is not ſuch as may be done in a dream. As idleneſs is the burial of our perſons, ſo ſlothfulneſs is the burial of our actions. It's bad to be ſlow at our buſineſs, but much worſe to be ſlothful. 2. Affirmatively, fervent in Spirit; this is the greateſt diligence poſſible. Fervency is the heat and height of the Affections, and is as contrary to ſlothfulneſs as fire to water. When the powers and faculties of the Soul are wound up to their higheſt pitch in the Service of God; then a man may be ſaid to be fervent in Spirit. The labour of the body is nothing to the labour of the brains, and the ſweating of the outward man is little to the induſtry of the inward man. He that hath the heart of a man, may command his purſe and hands, and what he hath. Fervency of Spirit, or intenſion of Mind about any buſineſs, will call in his time, and wealth, and ſtrength, and all to its aſſiſtance.
2. The Duty is urged by an high and weighty reaſon, ſerving the Lord. It's the Majeſty, Excellency, Purity, and boundleſs Perfection of the Object, which requires ſuch warmth, and life, and heat, and fervency of Spirit in thoſe that adore him. Though we may make bold with our fellow-duſt and aſhes, with thoſe that are of the ſame make and mould with our ſelves; yet the moſt High, he whoſe Name alone is Excellent, the God of the Spirits of all Fleſh, to whom the whole Creation is leſs than nothing; he is not to be made bold with. His immenſe Being and Perfections command the higheſt and the hotteſt affections. The greateſt Prince muſt not be put off with leſs than the greateſt Preſent.