Two Treatises, Part 2 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Motives, or encouragements unto this ſpirituall Combat.
AS the weapons of our warfare are not carnall, 2. Cor. i0.4but mighty through God, to the pulling downe of ſtrong holds: ſo fight we not as uncertainly, 1. Cor. 9.26.not as beating the ayre, but in the aſſured and certaine hope of a glorious and fruitful victory. Arguments whereby a Soldier may bee induced to fight.Many are the Arguments whereby a Soldier may bee ſtirred up to fight; deſire of revenge: fidelity to his King and Countrey; love to his Captaine and fellow-Soldiers; an ambitious deſire of honour; feare of preſent danger, and future ſhame, if the enemy be not reſiſted; The equity of the cauſe; Ignorance of the enemies ſtrength and forces: An enemies weakneſſe, and cowardiſe; remembrance of former Victory; with ſundry the like, but with moſt this is the main, even the love of gaine, the hope of an enſuing rich booty; probability of a goodly ſpoyle: The very ſame is the Chriſtian Soldiers condition. Many motives we have to induce us to mortifie our concupiſcene, whether habituall, or actuall: See the fourth Chapter.the fleſh with the inordinate luſts and affections thereof (as I have already ſhewed at large) but not any allureth us more (if ſo much) then the hope of profit; an aſſured expectation of many rare, ſweet, excellent and comfortable Fruits enſuing heereupon. To this end let me here offer a brief of them unto your view.
1.By fighting againſt our luſts, we obtain. We obtaine unſpeakable peace, and quietnes of ſoule, even that peace of conſcience that paſſeth all underſtanding. 1. Peace of conſcience. Phil. 4.7.Being at warre with our corruptions, we are at peace with our own ſoules: yea, moſt friends to our ſelves, when we are moſt foes with our Corruptions. As warre abroad,Simil. is found to be a preſent remedie againſt civill diſſentions of Subjects; ſo warre with ſinne is the cauſe of our tranquillity with our ſelves. A bloody warre doth often occaſion a ſettled peace; by warring againſt our Luſts wee reape this benefite. Did wee conſider, that nothing cauſeth the God of Heaven to ſrowne upon man, but ſin; that he is a conſuming fire, Heb. 19.31.and an everlaſting burning; that it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God; that a wounded Spirit none is able to beare; Pro. 18.14.that with the ungodly even the ſtones of the field, as in like manner all other creatures are at variance, would wee harbour within us any thing that might diſpleaſe God? would wee not cut off if it were our right hand, and pluck out our right eye, yea, part with our very Lives at his command?Note. how much more war againſt our earthly members, thereby to be reconciled to him? Did we but conſider the excellencie, utility, ſweetnes and worth of peace, whether outward or inward, ſpsrituall or corporall, with our ſelves or others, God or Man, wee would not thus ſerve our luſts and pleaſures, we would ſcorne to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon; we would willingly renounce if it were the whole World, rather then deprive our ſelves thereby of Gods favour, and the comfortable fruits of the ſame. Doe we warre againſt our Luſts? we are not at war with our Maker. Warre wee againſt our Luſts? our Soules dwell at reſt, our conſciences void of terror, amazement, diſquietment. Crucifie wee the Fleſh, with the affections and luſts thereof? wee ſhall have little or no leiſure to take cauſleſſe unkindneſſes, to pick needleſſe quarrels, and to provoke others againſt us by our injurious carriages; yea,Prov. i6.7. our wayes thus pleaſing to God, even our enemies ſhall become our friends.
2.We have dayly experience of Gods powerfull preſence. Wee have daily experience of Gods powerfull preſence accompanying us, whereby even we (of our ſelves poor ſilly weak creatures) doe maintaine warre againſt ſuch potent Adverſaries, yea further and further grow upon them, and put them to the worſt. What made the Iudges (whom God raiſed up to defend his People) to fight ſo valorouſly againſt the Enemy, but the certainty they had that GOD went along with them? Doth not the Captain of the Hoſt of the Lord ſtill accompany us to fight for us?Pſal. i8.29. By the Lord have not wee run through a troup, and by our God leaped over a Wall? Doth not God gird us with ſtrength, and make our way perfect? Maketh he not our feet like Hinds feet, and ſetteth us on high places? Teacheth not hee our hands to warre, ſo that a how of ſteele is broken with our armes? and ſhould we not then be encouraged to fight?A great wonder. Is it not wonderfull, that ſuch weake and ſilly Creatures as wee are, ſhould ſo prevaile over Sathan that powerfull Prince of darkneſſe, as not to yeeld to the ſmalleſt motion of Sinne with pleaſure; but (as the Marriners of the Sea by pumping cleare the Ship of the water,Simil. it draweth, leſt by the neglect therof, the ſame further and further encreaſing) the Ship ſhould ſinke) but earneſtly to oppoſe it, expelling the ſame, partly by not yeelding thereunto, or if upon the ſudden wee yeeld, by repenting thereof, and refuſing to yeeld obedience therunto, yea doing the contrary with pleaſure and thankſgiving to our gracious God, through whom wee are thus inabled in ſome meaſure to ſubdue our luſts? Oh the joy and gladneſſe abounding in our hearts, when our GOD ſtrengtheneth our hands to war by degrees to overcome thoſe invvard Beaſts, Serpents, Cockatrices, young Lyons, and Dragons!Indg. 4.2i. I aſſure my Soule that Iael rejoyced no more in taking the Smiths hammer, and therewith faſtning a naile in Siſera's temples,1 Sam. 17.51. and David in cutting off Goliahs head with his owne ſword: then the People of God boaſt of Gods power, and rejoyce in his Name, vvhen they overcome the wicked one, by quenching his temptations, which are like fiery darts to ſlay the ſoule; they rejoyce I ſay in that power of GOD inabling them (like Iudah as bold as Lyons to reſiſt their enemies,Gen. 49.9. and defend their right,Simil. Gen. 49.14. when others (like Iſſachar couching under burdens) are ſlaves unto Sathan and their owne luſts.
Somtimes indeed the Saints are wounded and blacked with theſe fiery darts; The Saints gaine by their former falls.but they are never wholly over-come, nay even from hence doe they through Gods goodneſſe reap no ſmall advantage.Pſal. 68.i3. Have they lien among the pots? they reſt not till they be as the wings of a Dove, covered with ſilver, and her fethers with yellow gold. Find they themſelves in any ſort defiled? they run to the fountaine opened to the Houſe of DAVID for ſinne, Zech. 13.i.and for uncleanneſſe. Yea, as great Soldiers when their blood is once drawn, are the more inflamed with deſire of revenge: ſo are they further incouraged unto a ſwift purſuit of Sathan, that they may bruiſe his head, and of themſelves to take an holy revenge for their ſecurity and negligence in ſuffering the preſence of God (which is to them as the Nazarite haire unto SAMPSON) to bee taken from them. Doth Sathan watching his time, take them at unwares; as the Philiſtims ſhaved off SAMPSONS locks whilſt hee was aſleepe?Iudg. 16.19. Doe they at any time fall through lack of circumſpection? Through grace they lay the ſame to heart, and ſo redouble their forces, that they may overcome and tread downe that Prince of darkneſſe, Rom. 16.20.being perſwaded that the God of peace ſhall bruiſe Sathan under their feet ſhortly. Through grace do they profit by their haltings, not to halt any more, being carefull in the meane time that their haltings may bee healed:Heb. 12.13. therefore lift they up the hands that hung downe, and the feeble knees, and make ſtrait ſteps for their feet, leſt that which is lame be turned out of the way. They learne wiſedome by experience, as David did, when he perceived the falſhood of Saul his father in Law, he ever ſuſpected him thereafter, and laboured alwayes to avoid thoſe ſnares which hee laid for him:Iudg. i6.3. and Samſon when he took the dores of the gate of the City; and the two poſts, and went away with them, prevented the treachery of the Philiſtims (by whom once before he was deluded) which laid wait all night for him in the gate of the Citie, Gods Saints (I ſay) by their holy feare, watchings; experience of Sathans deepnes, and their owne vveakneſſe, learne to be more circumſpect. Oh the loving kindnes of God, The unſpeakable goodneſſe of God.vvho hath reveiled all the wiles of Leviathan, the peircing and crooked Serpent, his cruelty, his importunity, his vvatchfulneſſe, the divers vvayes whereby hee hideth the nature of ſinne, that the bitterneſſe thereof be not diſcovered, as alſo the naughtineſſe of our owne hearts, ready at all times to give him entertainement; if through his goodnes we did not watch over the ſame with all diligence. What a good God have wee, who not only fighteth for us, but alſo advertiſeth us of all the enemies of our ſalvation! Much vvas the King of Iſrael obliged to the Prophet of God, 2 Kin. 6.9.for revealing unto him the King of Arams purpoſes againſt him,Simil. as vvhereby he did more then once avoid the danger; but much more are vve to our gracious God for reveiling unto us by his faithfull Embaſſadors Sathans manifold guiles, vvho is at all times, and in every place, and with every luſt ready to deceive us; ſtanding at our right hand to bee our Adverſarie: yea for our ſakes fiercely rebuking him.Zech. 3.2. And the Lord ſaid unto Sathan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Sathan, even the Lord that hath choſen Ieruſalem rebuke thee: Js not this a brand pluckt out of the fire? Though wee at ſome times feare to be overcome; though wee may doubt that vve are indeed overcome; though vve may be as it were at the very laſt caſt even ready to faint and give over; yet through the power of God are wee ſo preſerved, that not any ſhall pluck us out of his hands; yea,Hoſ. 14.5. as the dew revives the withered herbs, the meditation of foregoing comforts ſhall ſo revive us, that our youth ſhall bee renewed like the Eagles. Oh for pitty,Pſal. i03.5. that our God ſhould thus by his powerfull preſence accompany us, and out of his affectioned love towards us, be ever arming us by his counſels, comforts, exhortations, threatnings, &c. and yet that wee ſhould at any time give place to the Divell, in making proviſion for the Fleſh, Rom. 14.13.to accompliſh the luſts thereof!
3. No ſmall glory doth redound unto God. No ſmall glory doth redound unto God.He that made the withered ſtick of Aaron to bring forth freſh flouriſhing Almonds, Num. i7.8.and made the poore mans withered hand to become whole,Mat. i2.i3. to the glory of his name; and in like manner opened the eyes of the blinde, Mar. 8.23.even the ſame powerfull God, by our dayly Mortification, and the ſubduing the remainder of corruption wherewith we are diſeaſed, defiled, wounded, getteth glory to himſelf, as who not only forgiveth our iniquities, Pſal. i03.3.but likewiſe healeth our infirmities. To vvhat end were wee created, but to ſet forth the glory of God? Delaying to mortifie our Luſts, we delay the performance of that duty, for which we came into the World:A neceſſary conſideration to further Gods glory. would wee but conſider that howſoever Sathan with his Adherents hath done vvhat in him lieth to hinder us from the remiſſion of our ſinnes, from renovation in Chriſts blood, from ſanctification of the Spirit, as in like manner he hath gone about to hinder the power of the Word, and bleſſing powred upon the Sacraments, and the Bleſſing that accompanieth the ſanctified fiery fornace of affliction; out of which the Children of God come like purified gold; yea, and would hinder deaths ſting to be taken away, and ſo us from lying downe void of ſinne, pure chaſt Virgins for Chriſt; and yet that hee is letted in every of thoſe his deſignes, would we by denying to mortifie our Luſts, thus rob God of his glory? i Sam. ii. 2.As the men of Iabeſh Gilead anſwered Nahaſh the Ammonite requiring that he might thruſt out all their righteyes, and lay it for a reproch upon all Iſrael. Give us ſeven dayes reſpite, that we may ſend meſſengers into all the Coaſts of Iſrael, and then if there bee no man to ſave us, we will come out to thee. So might we, Sathan endeavouring by his continued and reiterated temptations to draw us unto ſinne, that if we ſhould not be ſuccoured, we were unable to withſtand him. Simil.But as they were delivered on the ſeventh day: So inaſmuch as herein Sathan aimeth at the eternall reproch of our gracious God, and of his deare Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, and holy Spirit, with the ſhame of the holy Angels, our attenders, and our owne who are the Iſrael of GOD, ſeeking to pierce our ſoules and bodies thorow with the ſpeace of ſinne, 1 Sam. 18.11.as Saul caſt a ſpeare at David to have nailed him to the wall. Our gracious God, who is jealous of his owne glory will undoubtedly by inabling us to oppoſe this our ſpirituall Nahaſh, and our ſinnes his Ammonits, thus glorifie himſelfe. His head is already broken in the perſon of our Saviour: at ſundry times alſo he hath had notable foiles given him by Chriſts members, being no more able to prevaile againſt them, then Goliah againſt David; the Egyptions againſt the Iſraelites, the Canaanits againſt Ioſhua and his Succeſſors: What remaineth but that we ſhould ſtill continue the warre, untill in the full and finall Mortification of our luſt, to the everlaſting praiſe of Gods glory, hee be trod under foot; As Naamans ſervants unto him;2 King. 5.13. My father, if the Prophet had bid thee done ſom great thing, wouldſt thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he ſaith to thee, waſh and be cleane? So may I unto you. If the Lord would for the glory of his owne name require us, to part with our goods, good name, lives; yea even the ſalvation of our Soules; we ought willingly to aſſent thereunto, much more when for our further and more cōfortable fruition of thoſe requireth us, but to mortifie our Luſts.
4. Through our remnant of corruptions mortified by grace, We obtain a continuall holy fear, out of the ſenſe of our owne weakneſſe.wee obtaine continuall feare, through ſenſe of continuall weakneſſe on our owne part; for certaine it is, that if the Lord ſhould leave us, but for a time; the very ſmalleſt temptation were of force to overcome the ſtrongeſt Chriſtian; Note.the leaſt fiery dart of Sathan, which hee taketh out of his owne Quiver, being indeed extreamly venimous, crooked and deceitfull. The Wine that Noah drunke deceived him, who notwithſtanding was not purpoſely exceſſive therein. Hee had ſtrength no doubt to have overcome a ſtronger temptation, if God had not left him for a ſeaſon: What a meane temptation was Davids looking on Bathſheba, the damoſels queſtioning of Peter, Dalilahs feigned teares unto Samſon? The Sins I confeſſe in which the Saints fall thereby, as alſo the diſhonour of Gods Name, and the Churches dammage through the ſame bee not ſmall; yet the LORD that brought light out of darkneſſe, Gods children profit by the ſins of others.doth even hereby worke for the good of others, as who learn from the ſame, that even the beſt are unable to ſtand by themſelves; and that if even the ſtrongeſt ſort of Gods Giants, bright ſhining Starres in the firmament of God; have notwithſtanding now and then ſlipt, yea fallen into groſſe and great ſins; they themſelves weake babes in compariſon of the other, muſt be ſomuch the more watchfull over their owne wayes, working out their owne Salvation with feare and trembling. Note.They are daily practiſed in the work of Mortification, doe not with Cham and Shemei, ſcoffe or raile at the falls or miſeries of the Saints; neither with the filthy flies feed upon the ſores of the Beaſt, leaving his whole parts,Simil. neither (as thoſe that vvould goe into a Chyrurgions Shop, and take a profitable Inſtrument, ſeruing to the cntting away of dead fleſh, and therewith kill themſelves) doe they enter into the great Book of Gods Scriptures, ſo wreſting every thing, that the Word of life becommeth unto them the ſavour of death; and Chriſt a ſtone of eaſe to his own, 1 Pet. 2.6.a precious ſtone, and a ſure Foundation; becommeth unto them a ſtumbling ſtone, and a Rock of offence; and the threatnings of the Word, which to the godly are terrours to terrifie them, and are ſaid in the Proverbs to be the corrections of the Lord, Pro. 17.i0.are ſcoffed at and counted but winde, Ier. 6.10. Ezek. 7.7.an eccho or ſound of an hill; but taking notice of their owne corruption, and how eaſily they themſelves may be thereby intrapped; they walke warily, alwayes taking heed leſt they alſo fall. Oh how many out of the faults of others gather poyſon, and not honey with Samſon out of the Lyons belly!Luk. 13.2. The Iewes in the dayes of Chriſt juſtified themſelves in compariſon of thoſe on whom the Towre of Shilo fell, but were willed of Chriſt, in like manner to repent. Others have fallen, how ſoone may wee? He that thinketh he ſtandeth, 1 Cor. 10.12.muſt take heed leſt hee fall. Too too many there are which imitate the falls of the Saints, i Sam. 3i.5.as Sauls Armour-bearer after the evill example of his Maſter, did in the like manner ſlay himſelfe.Simil. As Saul killed himſelfe with his ſword wherewith he had foughten againſt his Adverſaries,Many imitate the Saints fals, but do not with them repent. ſo are there not a few which uſe the falls of the Saints as ſwords to run their ſoules thorow, falling by their example, as though God would be as mercifull to them in their preſumptuous fearfull falls, as to thoſe who fell through the violent flood of forcible and ſuddaine temptations, or as though it lay in their hands to repent, as thoſe extraordinary perſons who had extraordinary repentance, given them of the Almighty that they might be examplars of Repentance: hereof though the Wicked make theſe ill uſes, or rather abuſes, yet are Gods Children, like good Husbands:Simil. They profit alwayes, both by the vertues of the Saints, and their infirmities; as good Husbands will make good uſe even of dongue. They learne, I ſay, hereby to worke out their owne ſalvation with feare and trembling. Note.They learne alſo to take heed they fall not when they ſuppoſe themſelves to ſtand; yea they alſo ſee a thouſand infirmities in themſelves which they would never have marked, if both they themſelves had not fallen in ſome, and obſerved to have fallen in the like.
5. We obtaine hereby a paſſage to ſlay our outward and actuall ſinnes: We obtain a paſſage to ſlay our outward actuall ſinnes.for when the Cockatrice is cruſhed in the ſhell, how ſhall it come to be a fiery flying Dragon? Simil.When the leakes of the Ship are ſtopped, and the water which came in thereat emptied out, how ſhall it ſinke? and if the defects of an houſe be repaired, it cannot ruine.
It is much more eaſie to quench the firſt ſparkles of fire, then vvhen they have increaſed into great Flames. Through curbing our inbred corruption we prevent many actuall rebellions.How to prevent actuall rebellions. Let wee the fire burn within, even give way unto our inbred luſts, (how well ſoever vve looke to the outſide) impoſſible it is, but that the flame vvil burſt forth in ſome one or other fleſhly Luſt;Mat. i2.34. for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh, and the corruption that is in the World is through Luſt.2 Pet. 1.4.
They that outvvardly lead a good life cannot but be well reformed.
If indeed their life be truly good, comming like good fruit from a good tree; then as the ſame is pleaſing and acceptable to God; ſo doth it neceſſarily imply the hearts reformation, but being onelyonly good in appearance and ſhow, the ſundry ſorts of vertues wherewith it is covered, or rather hypocritically coloured, doe but make the ſame more deteſtable to God. When the Fountaine is polluted,Simil. can the ſtreams be wholſome? Becauſe the Apples of Sodom are outwardly goodly and beautifull, muſt it needs follow that they are not duſt within? Becauſe the Scituation of a Citie is pleaſant, 2 Kin. 2.i9.muſt it needs therfore be granted, that the water is not naught; or the land barren? Who will call the froth of the Sea good for the whiteneſſe thereof, or a foule wall pleaſant becauſe overcaſt with lime? or a Black-amore faire though farded all over? Where there is inward ſanctification, there is indeed outward reformation; but this without that is meerely counterfeit, in which regard worſe is by farre the condition of hypocrites, then that of Atheiſts, as to whom many woes belong;Math. 23.29. Woe, woe, woe, with a witneſſe.
6. We ſhall have leſſe to doe in the end of our journey, We ſhall have leſſe to doe in the end of our journey.if all our dayes we be breaking up our fallow ground. Oh how comfortable is this if wee would duely weigh it in the juſt ballance of the Sanctuary! If we have from time to time taken a particular accompt of our own wayes:How to judge our ſelves every day. If we have at the leaſt twice every day cenſured the falſe deceitfull treacherous heart, and her dolefull traine of earthly members: if we have arraigned the traitor and her followers, the eye, the eare, the tongue, the hand, the foot: if wee have demanded them in Gods ſteed, whether they have beene all the day gathering or ſcattering for God, or againſt him, upward or downward, glorifying God or diſhonouring him; at home working in our fathers ſervice, or wandring with Dinah from our fathers houſe; Gen. 34.1.when the anſwere comes as in the preſence of God, it will either be accuſing or excuſing, or deceiving (if wee be not the more circumſpect, and jealous over our ſelves upon conſideration of by-paſt deceitfulneſſe) or flatte…ing. Now we (as I ſaid before) being in the roome of of God, muſt give and pronounce a right and juſt ſentence,Simil. every day and night; for as it is with them that juſtifie the wicked, Pro. 17.15.and condemne the righteous, both are abomination to God, ſo to condemne our ſelves that day, when Gods Spirit hath bin working with us in every good worke and dutie (though on our part in great weakneſſe and infirmitie, as well in abſtaining from evill, as performing of that which is good) is no ſmall injury to God, as vvho hereby hides his manifold benefits beſtowed upon us, and thus either in cenſuring the diſpenſation of his grace, (becauſe it is not according to our wiſhes, or according to our ſenſe and feeling, or as we have received of his Majeſtie in times paſt, or as others receive) or not acknowledging the ſame with thankſgiving. How dangerous it is for us raſhly to condemne our ſelves.Thus I ſay to judge our ſelves, as it is dangerous: So is it no leſſe unprofitable, neither furthers it our Spirit in progreſſe to Life eternall; nor doth it provoke the good Spirit of God to help us, ſince his Majeſtie getteth ſuch an evill reward at our hand; nor get we hereby our conſciences pacified, either yet obtaine our hearts deſire. It were beſt then as is manifeſt by the light of the Word (and I have found by experience deare bought) to let our ſoules keepe ſilence to God, and to thank his Majeſtie every day for the leaſt meaſure of grace; Note.for indeed the leaſt blaſt of the winde of the Spirit, is not onelyonly miraculous, and above deſerving, but alſo above the higheſt meaſure of thankſgiving, either in this world, or in the world to come. Let then murmuring depart, and thankſgiving keepe her roome, whereby we ſhall obtaine as greater peace of conſcience, ſo greater encreaſe of grace, to Gods both approbation and acceptation.
Againe,What we are to doe when the Conſcience doth juſtly accuſe us for crimes committed. if after triall the conſcience doth juſtly accuſe us in ſuch and ſuch points of blemiſhes inwardly and outwardly unknowne to any; in ward, unknowne either to Angels or Devils; outward, unperceived even by the moſt judicious Spirits (for of groſſe ſinnes or ſuch others, as holy men of God would judge worthy of cenſure, I doe not now ſpeake) wee are in no wayes to flatter or juſtifie our ſelves. In theſe blacks and blemiſhes I would counſell thee poore ſoule not to flatter thy ſelfe but deeply to accuſe thy ſelfe, with great remorſe. Thus cenſuring thy ſelfe, thus repenting for the ſinnes of the day paſt, yea the ſinnes of thy beſt, holieſt, and moſt zealous actions, thou ſhalt goe to bed with the voice of joy and gladnes, of praiſes and thankſgivings. After that thou haſt felt and uttered that which Ieremy ſpeaks.Ier. 3.22. It is of the Lords mercies that we are not conſumed, becauſe his compaſſions faile not; They are new every morning; thou lieſt downe with an aſſurance of pardon; thou lieſt downe as it were without ſinne; as who both grieveſt for thy ſinnes committed, and reſolveſt to lead a new life. Haſt thou performed this?Pſal. 127.2. joyfull will thy nights reſt be unto thee, God giving his beloved ſleepe; They certainly that have taſted this, and of this wil ſay Amen to it.
But this tryall is yet to be abridged into a narrower roome.An exact and compendious forme of ſelfe examination. Ere the evening come, we may not onelyonly forget the dayes wandrings, as in like manner the good influences of Gods goodneſſe towards us; but alſo wee may be many times hinder'd from this great, neceſſary, profitable, and commendable triall, what by our ſelves through ſleepines, and what by others; it being likewiſe a maine policie of Sathan to make us put the ſame off from one time to another, whence it commeth to paſſe, that the worke becommeth more difficult (this dongue requiring to be ſwept out every day, and we unable to remember two or three dayes wandrings) It is then moſt requiſite for the good both of ſoule and body, for the obtaining of that precious jewell tranquillitie of mind, for the weakning and overthrow of the Divels forces, to turne dayes into houres, as houres into minutes. If in praying, reading, conferring, Meditation, hearing of Gods word, and the like, wee be unfaith full,The delay of ſelfe tryall how dangerous. by the leaſt delay of this ſelf-triall, and ſelfjudging, Sathan getteth too much advantage towards the troubling of our tender Conſciences, contrarily. If at all times, in all places, in all companies, and upon every occaſion, out of our particular ſecret, ſeparate walking with God; we ſhall take our ſelves to doe, demanding of our ſelves as it were, What we ſaid? What we thought? Whether we edified our ſelves and others? Whether wee glorified GOD or not? Whether we remembred our ſelves, the Church, our end, the great day, our heavenly inheritance, though but by one ejaculation, or ſome Pilgrims looks; wee ſhould quikly perceive the benefit, much good would it worke to our ſelves and others. Thus ſhould we find vvhat good wee have received by others; how we have been affected with the company of the ungodly (as whether wee have vexed our ſoules or not, whether we have reproved ſin with boldnes, or failed herein:) in vvhat ſtate our conſcience ſtandeth, as whether or not wee have had mercy to keepe the ſame undefiled; and the tenderneſſe thereof continued, the ſame being in us both at home and abroad, as a ſweet companion. Hereunto if we be attentive; thus if wee doe employ our time, gathering withall the good things vvhichwhich wee have ſeene and heard abroad; as in like manner making uſe of all good provocations to ſharpen us, (though this ſort of iron to ſharpen iron is very rare) the good which we ſhall reap hereby by will much eaſe our ſoules, and augment our ſpirituall treaſure. Thus if wee would doe (I will not boaſt or whiſper that I have exactly thus done, yet others have with all their might endevored herein, and mind through the aſſiſtance of Gods good Spirit ſo to doe unto the end of their Chriſtian Race) wee ſhould thus doing get great aboundance of extraordinary Chriſtian joyes and raviſhments, as pledges, or the earneſt of the Spirit given to us, under the hope of the fulneſſe of eternall joyes. If we have left off thoſe glorious exerciſes, (not any wayes hindring either praying, reading meditating, or any other ſpirituall worke in the Vineyard; but rather much furthering the ſame) If I ſay we have omitted them, doe we blame our ſelves, if vve have gotten dumb tongues in ſtead of open, withered harts, in ſtead of mollified, dirt for gold, blindnes for eye-ſalve, poverty of grace for riches, beggerly cloathes for rayment of white linnen; for a feaſting, a troubled conſcience, a ſhew of godlines, for the power therof; ſmall mire and dew in place of great waters, ſenſleſneſſe for watchfulnes, and tender feelings. If this be thy ſtate, dolefull is thy change, fearfull this deſertion. Thou muſt repent in time, getting thy heart and endeavours inlarged, mightily and ſincerely renewing thy Covenant with God, vvhereby thou ſhalt at the length perceive why the Lord hath abſented himſelfe ſo long; and againe enjoy his ſweet preſence, and the glorious tokens of his affectioned love.
7.Wee doe further and further hate ſinne. We obtaine hereby a further & further hatred of ſin, an higher and higher deteſtation thereof, with all the ſeverall ſorts of the ſame. In the Ceremoniall law the ſame was ſhadowed under leproſies uncleaniſſues, uncleane birds beaſts, foules, leprous garments, as alſo by the uncleanneſſe of men and women, Levit. 11.12, 13, &c.vvhoſoever was defiled by any of thoſe was to be purified from his uncleanneſſe. In the verity are all theſe figures accompliſhed; Let us caſt off the work of darknes (ſaith the Apoſtle) and make no proviſion for the fleſh to fulfill the luſts thereof. Rom. 13.12.14.He ſaith not, caſt off the worke, but the workes of darkneſſe, not the luſts, but the luſts of the fleſh. So elſewhere, hee ſaith not, purge out one part of the old leven, but purge out the old leven, 1 Cor. 5.7.that is every part, the remnant crummes thereof, like to that where he ſaith that I may preſent you as a chaſte Virgin to Chriſt. 2 Cor. 1i.2.Will the Lord Ieſus look upon any uncleane perſon? Shall it bee perfected where it was not begun? So the ſame Apoſtle;Eph. 4.22. Put off concerning the former converſation the old man, which is not a part of ſinne, but all the old garment thereof, as men when they goe to bed put off all their cloaths, or thoſe that caſt away an old, ragged, torne, and worne garment, whereof they are aſhamed, and never intend to put on againe) and put on that new man which after God is created in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe, Eph. 4.24.even all the parts, not one part alone of the garment; we are to abſtain even from all appearance of evill, 1 Theſſ. 5.22.23.and to bee ſo ſanctified, that our whole Spirit and ſoule, and body be preſented blameleſſe unto the comming of our Lord IESVS CHRIST; wee muſt abſtaine even from the garment ſpotted with blood. Simil.As the Nethinims left not in the Temple of Solomon any uncleane thing not ſwept away: So muſt every one of us be a ſpirituall Nethinim in our owne ſoule, to ſweepe away all uncleannes; yea, the leaſt idle thought;Math. 12.42.8. for it is not a King like Solomon that comes into this Temple, but one in every reſpect greater then Solomon the Soveraign of the whole World, vvho neither will nor can abide any uncleanneſſe. His houſe,Note. his bed, his garden, his tabernacle, his temple, (a Chriſtian Soule is all thoſe) cannot be too neatly and cleanly kept. Deſerveth not ſuch a gueſt who is purer then the Heavens, and abideth not where impuritie is entertained: deſerveth not he (I ſay) to dwell in a pure heart peculiar to himſelfe? yea, ſo jealous he is, that hee cannot indure that any other ſhould come there, and being the great high Prieſt himſelfe with the ſeven eyes, cannot bee deceived with a ſhew of puritie; but (unlike unto the jealous Husband in Numb.) knoweth both when, how, Num. 5.i2.and by whom his bed hath beene polluted. If our Saviours firſt comming required preparation of his way in our hearts, Math. 3.3.and his continuall preſence vvith us; namely, ſince he vvent to Heaven, and married us to himſelfe, Hoſ. 2.19.in merciemercy, truth and compaſsion, the like; how then ſhould we think to bee arrayed, who are continually called to the marriage of the Lamb? If this ſtanding continually by the preaching of the Word and Sacraments, benefits, promiſes, corrections, &c requireth ſuch preparation; deſerveth not his laſt comming greateſt preparation of all,2 Pet. 3.i0.11. when the Elements ſhall be diſſolved, and the Earth burnt with fire (which notwithſtanding never ſinned, but was ſubjected to vanitie for our ſinnes? What manner of perſons ought we to be in all holy converſation and godlines? Alaſſe for pitty, wee weigh not ſuch counſels and directions, preſcribing us to caſt away all our Idols, (as Rachel, Leah, Gen. 35.4.and the family of Iacob gave them to be buried ere ever they went to Bethel.) Alas, I ſay, and ſo may we all, wee have journyed to Gods Bethel vvith our Idols of abomination, taking hold on the horns of the Altar vvith hypocriticall Adonijah, 1 King 1.50. and 2.28.and bloody Joab; yea, which is worſe, we think to come to the Bethel of Bethels, GODS holy Houſe in Heaven, notwithſtanding we reſerve yet ſome Idols not caſt away, which are of us ſecretly vvorſhipped, putting as it were a wall betweene God and us, as did the Idolaters mentioned by Ezekiel. Ezek. 8.7.If ſuch were their ſecret, how great think wee were their open abominations?Sathans policie. O ſtrange policie of the Prince of darkneſſe, by whom thouſands are brought through the wicked imaginations of their heart, under that fearfull woe; even who call evil good, Iſa. 5.20.and good evill, that put darknes for light, and light for darknes; that put bitter for ſweet, and ſweet for bitter! how are they deceived with the falſe, arrogant, and perverſe opinion of their owne heart, about true repentance inward and outward? dreaming be like, that actuall abſtinence from actuall ſinnes is ſound and ſincere Repentance. Mar. 6.20.What availed it Herod to abſtain from many actuall ſinnes, in the meane time retaining one Idol, his ſinne of Adultery, or Inceſt? Iſa. i.1i.i2.13.14.What availed it the Jewes to continue their Sacrifices, obſerve the new Moones, and Sabbaths, offer incenſe, &c. in the mean time living in hypocriſie? Could the Lord away with the ſame? were not both themſelves, and their whole Worſhip abomination in his ſight?The intention of the heart not ſufficient of it ſelfe. Neither is it enough to alledge the intention of the heart, if in the meane time their converſation be ſinfull:Iam. 3.15. ſuch wiſedome commeth from beneath. He that abhors one ſinne will abhorre all; Note.and they that rightly have reſpect to one of Gods commandements, as they are Gods commandements, will have reſpect to them all; as hee that breaks one, breaks all; for the Commandements are ſo linked together, that if one be broke, all will diſſolve, except that one be repaired:Simil, and as they that broke one of the Acts of the Medes and Perſians (though unrighteouſly decreed) were put to death;Dan. 6.15. and they that maintaine any one Rebell, Simil.are accounted of as if they had maintained all the Kings enemies, (as accordingly Abimilech the Prieſt with all his Fathers Houſe were ſlain by Saul, 1 Sam. 22.18.for his ſuppoſed Conſpiracie with David, in giving him of the Shew-bread, and Goliahs ſword) and they that break any one Statute, are as well liable unto the Kings cenſure, as if they had broke them all;1 King. 2.46. (as Shemei found by experience through his going out of Ieruſalem, contrary unto Solomons direction) ſo are all thoſe liable unto the ſeverity of Gods juſtice,The danger even of one ſinne unrepented of. which doe wittingly and willingly maintaine in themſelves any one raigning boſome ſinne. May not an houſe ſet on fire in any one part, bee at the length burnt to aſhes, as well as if it had beene ſet on fire in ſundry places? will not one cord as well hang a thiefe, as many? may not Saul be as really ſlain by his one (one) ſword, 1 Sam. 31.4,as hee had beene if every Philiſtim had given him a ſtab with a ſeverall one? nay, further: May not a Naile in the hand of Iael as well deſtroy Siſera, Iudg. 4.21.as Baraks Sword or Speare could have done? a ſtone out of a ſling, no leſſe fell mighty Goliah to the ground,1 Sam. 17.49. then his owne ſword cut off his owne head? May not a man as well bee drowned in a pond or pit of water, as in the middle of the Ocean? I may yet deſcend lower. May not an haire throttle one? a flie choke one? a crum of bread occaſion a mans death? It is thus with ſinne, with every ſin, with the ſmal leſt ſinne, even the leaſt wandring thought, the leaſt idle word, the ſmalleſt ſinne (if any can be ſo truely termed) deſerveth Hell fire.
8. We doe hereby attaine unto a true hatred of ſinne, We hate ſin for ſin, or as it is a breach of Gods Lawes.not ſo much for the puniſhment thereof, as for it ſelfe. For even Reprobates, though they hate not ſinne as ſinne, or becauſe it is a tranſgreſſion of Gods Law; yet may they hate it in reſpect of the puniſhment enſuing thereupon: and ſo in outward appearance ſeeme haters of ſinne. But Sathan herein, howſoever with the Painter he draweth the colour of the fire; yet cannot he paint the heat thereof:The ungodly not true haters of ſinne. though his Inſtruments ſeeme haters of ſinne; yet are they not ſo in truth, but for by reſpects. They doe not hate ſinne for ſinne, as the Saints do in heart, and outwardly teſtifie in word and deed. Mortification like circumciſion.This preciſe Mortification anſwers very prettily to the Figure of Circumciſion: as all the fore-skin was put away; ſo will not the Lord have any one ſinne to remaine in his Saints unmortified: which they are not accordingly to oppoſe, hate, and perſecute unto the death. This ſort of true Repentance, as it is prophecied in the Perſon of the penitent Idolaters; Iſa. 27.9.ſo is it verily accompliſhed in all penitent ſinners, to whom our God makes all ſinne (and that for ſinne) ſo odious and deteſtable both inwardly and outwardly, that they caſt it away like a menſtruous clout, crying againſt their Sinnes, hence away, in token of their extream indignation therat. We underſtand that the Jews in ſigne of that inward hatred that they had at our Lord and Saviour without a cauſe, cried, Away with him, away with him, Luc. 23.18.we out of this ſhould gather an infinite and endleſs hatred againſt ſin,The Iewes hatred of Chriſt an Argument to work in us hatred of ſinne. as through which our Lord taking upon him our ſinnes, ſuffered all this. We muſt even ſo hate it as to caſt it out, to afford it no entertainment, and from our very hearts to cry againſt it, Hence, away, away with it: yea, dayly and hourly to run unto God by Prayer for the aſſiſtance of his Spirit againſt the ſame;Note. that if thoſe pricks of the Fleſh may not wholly be removed, and we wholly rid of this Old man during our abode heere in this vale of miſery;Rom. 6.12. yet that ſinne may not ſo reigne in our mortall bodies that we ſhould obey it in the luſts thereof.
Thus ye ſee, that howſoever our good God is pleaſed to leave even in his deareſt Saints ſome dregs of corruption (as the Canaanites were left in the land,Iude 2.3. for the further triall of the Iſraelites) yet as out of the belly of the Lyon Samſon had honey,Iudg. 14.8. ſo even out of them, and in the dayly mortifying of them, the Saints gather no ſmall ſtore of fruitfull benefits, and heavenly comforts, ſweeter then the honey and the honey-combe. Thus of the motives or encouragements which wee have unto this ſpirituall Combat; and ſo of the ſeventh Particular.