Two Treatises, Part 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. The Application of the foregoing matter.
HAving diſcovered the Enemy to be encountred; ſhewed that it is to bee encountered, laid open by whom it is to bee encountred; ſet forth the reaſons why it is to bee encountred; declared after what manner it is to bee encountred: deſcribed the meanes whereby it may bee encountred; made knowne the Motives or Encouragements whereby we may bee ſtirred up to encounter it; propounded ſuch neceſſary Caveats as are to bee obſerved in this ſpirituall Combate; as alſo manifeſted by what ſignes we may diſcerne when wee prevaile againſt it: What remaineth, but that as the Lord encouraged Moſes to fight againſt Og the King of Baſhan (feare him not, Numb. 21.34.for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land, and thou ſhalt doe to him as thou didſt to Sihon King of the Amorttes which dwelt at Heſhbon) and Moſes encouraged Ioſhua from the Lord,Deut. 31.23. (Be ſtrong, and be of a good courage; for thou ſhalt bring the children of Iſrael into the Land which J ſware unto them; and I will be with thee) as the Lord himſelfe after the death of Moſes; Ioſh. 1.9.(Be ſtrong and of a good courage, bee not affraid, neither be thou diſmayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee whitherſoever thou goeſt) and Ioſhua the Captaines and men of Warre that went with him,Ioſh. 10.24. (Come neere put your feet upon the necks of theſe Kings; Ioſh. 10.25.feare not nor be diſmai'd, be ſtrong and of a good courage: for thus ſhall the Lord doe to all your enemies, againſt whom you fight;) and Deborah Barak to fight againſt Siſera; Iudg. 4.14.(up, for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Siſera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee?) and the Philiſtms one another to fight againſt the Jſraelites; 1 Sam. 4.9.(Bee ſtrong, and quit your ſelves like men, O ye Philiſtims, that ye be not ſervants unto the Hebrewes, as they have beene to you, quit your ſelves like men, and fight;) and Iahaziel the ſonne of Zechariah a Levit did encourage Judah, the inhabitants of Ieruſalem, and King Iehoſaphat; 2. Chr. 20.15.(Be not affraid nor diſmayed by reaſon of this great multitude: for the battell is not yours, but Gods, 2. Chr. 20.17.&c. Feare not, nor be diſmayed; to morrow go out againſt them; for the Lord will be with you.) So ſending every one of you to fight the Lords Battels, by warring againſt your own Luſts; I ſhould in his name the more to incite you hereunto, and further incourage you herein, conclude all with a word of Exhortation.
What Argument might not be uſed for your encouragement?Arguments inciting us us to warre againſt our luſts.
Neceſſitie. Neceſſity.What more needfull? Doth not GOD command it, whoſe will both is and muſt be a Law unto us? Is not the Fleſh ſtill plotting our deſtruction? Are we not the further endangered, the more we yeeld unto it? Shall not our luſts be ſnares and traps unto us, ſcourages in our ſides, and thornes in our eyes, if wee make any covenant with them? Are wee not thereby further and further defiled? Doe we not thereby further and further grieve the good Spirit of God? Is not our communion, familiaritie and acquaintance with God, further and further interrupted? Are we not therby further and further drawn to the commiſſion of groſſe and grievous ſins? Will not this root of bitternes dayly produce in us moſt bitter fruits? Will not God be angry at our continuance herein? Can it be otherwiſe but that hee ſhould inflict upon us heavy and fearfull judgements by reaſon of the ſame?Rom. 8.i3. If wee live after the fleſh, ſhall we not die? Shall we not both here and hereafter be puniſhed as perjured perſons; Rebels againſt the GOD of Heaven; contemners of his Admonitions; deſpiſers of CHRISTS death, and treaders under foot of his moſt precious blood; grievers of the Spirit; breakers of the hearts of Gods children? ſtumbling blocks unto the Ʋngodly?
Equitie. Equitie.What more juſt or lawfull? Is not ſinne Gods enemie? Is it not a murtherer of the Lord of glory? Doth it not daily luſt againſt the Spirit? Is it not one of the maine enemies of our ſoules ſalvation? Doth it not dayly provoke and ſtirre us up to the breach of Gods Lawes? Is it not a meere coozener and deceiver? will it not beguile us in the end? Shall wee not utterly miſſe of our hopes, if we truſt to its offers, and follow its allurements? will it not requite us with loſſe in ſtead of profit, torment in ſtead of pleaſure, ſhame in ſtead of credit, paine in ſtead of eaſe, miſery in ſtead of happines, and Hell in ſtead of Heaven?
Ʋtilitie. Vtilitie.What more profitable? Doe we not hereby obtaine tranquillity of minde, and dayly peace of conſcience? have we not hereby dayly experience of GODS powerfull preſence accompanying Us? Doth not continuall glory redound unto the Majeſtie of the moſt high hereby? Is there not maintained in us an holy feare and ſuſpition of our own weakneſſe, whereby wee are humble-minded? Doe we not by oppoſing our inward corruption, prevent and ſtay many outward actuall ſinnes? Shall not have leſſe to doe in the end of our journey if all our dayes we be breaking up our fallow ground? Shall wee no hereby by attaine unto an higher and higher deteſtation of ſinne? Shall wee not hereby make conſcience even of the leaſt, of the ſmalleſt ſinnes, as being breaches of Gods Law? Shall wee not hereby be aſſured of Gods love towards in Chriſt as well in the pardon and forgiveneſſe of our ſinnes, as our continuance in the deteſtation and mortification of the ſame?
Credit. Credit.What can procure more? Shall wee not hereby be eſteemed of God, reverenced of the Angels, honoured of all good men? I may adde,Mar. 6.20. that as Herod bare no ſmall reſpect unto Iohn the Baptiſt (a patterne of the doctrine of mortification which hee urged upon others) ſo even the wicked will in their judgement (whatſoever they doe in their practiſe) approve of one that is throughly mortified. Thus ſhall it be done to the man who mortifyeth his luſts; hee ſhall be honoured of all; as in heaven moſt of all.
Ʋndoubted furtherance and helpe from others, Vndoubted furthrance and helpe.new ſtrength and courage put in ourſelves.
What the Lord ſaid unto Ioſhua touching his enemies,Ioſh 1.5. There ſhall not any man be able to ſtand before thee all the dayes of thy life: as I was with Moſes; ſo I will bee with thee: I will not faile thee nor forſake thee. Saith not he the like unto our ſoules touching our luſts, that they ſhall not ſtand before us? hee will goe along with us; hee will not faile us or forſake us? Doth not hee goe along with us? doth not hee fight for us? hath not that great Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah bound that ſtrong one,Rev. 5.5. and ſpoiled him,Col. 2.15. ſetting us at liberty?Gal. 5.17. luſteth not the Spirit againſt the fleſh on our behalf? are not alſo the Angels miniſtring Spirits ſent forth for our good?Heb. 1.14. Do not they pitch their Tents round about our Tabernacle? Have we not in like manner the benefit of the Prayers of all Gods people? yea more particularly (as Ʋ riah ſaid unto David, 2 Sam. 11.11,The Ark and Iſrael and Iudah abide in Tents, and my Lord Ioab, and the ſervants of my Lord are encamped in the open field. Simil.Shall I then goe into mine houſe to eate and to drinke and to lie with my wife? as thou liveſt, and as thy ſoule liveth, I will not doe this thing) there are ſome which doe even ſympathize with us in this Warfare, joyning with us as it were hand in hand, and ſetting their foot unto ours, being no leſſe carefull of us (but rather more) then we are of our ſelves; which do even dayly humble themſelves before God on our behalfe, crying, calling, praying, knocking, begging, interceding,Exod. 17.12. and with Moſes ſtedfaſtly lifting up their hands, that we may prevaile againſt our ſpirituall Amalehites.
Certaine victory. Certaine victory.Not any duly and truly mortifying the fleſh, with its luſts and affections, either heretofore hath beene, or hereafter ſhall bee overcome thereby,Tit. 1.2. God that cannot lie hath promiſed, Rom. 8.33.that if we doe through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the body, we ſhall live. As Ioſhua unto the people,Ioſh. 23.10. One man of you ſhall chaſe a thouſand; for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you as he hath promiſed you. So may I ſay unto all ſuch as ſhall in truth war againſt their Iuſts, though you had ten thouſand of them in you, you ſhall chaſe them away; for the Lord your God fighteth for you. Iudg. 1.12.It was the Angels ſpeech unto Gideon, The Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour. It is no leſſe true, even of the weakeſt Chriſtian that doth in truth oppoſe his luſts; who may therefore triumph in the words of David. Pſ. 60.22.Through God wee ſhall doe valiantly, for hee ſhall tread down our enemies: and of Paul, If God bee for us, Rom. 8.31.who can bee againſt us?
Heaven it ſelfe. Heaven it ſelfe.I have fought a good fight, (ſaith S. Paul) I have finiſhed my courſe, 2 Tim. 4.7.J have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for mee a Crowne of righteouſneſſe, which the Lord the righteous Judge ſhall give me at that day; and not to me onelyonly, but to them alſo that love his appearing. Oh the promiſes of great reward, if we ſhall fight luſtily and perſevere therein!
Whatſoever wee have beene heretofore, ſet we our ſelves now againſt our luſts. The foregoing time of our ignorāce, Act. 17.30.God hath graciouſly winked at, but now commaundeth he all men every where to repent. Some J know are men, yea mighty men of valour, others babes in Chriſt, his young and tender lambes: let not thoſe waxe careleſſe, but go on in their might, that they may be ſaved from their ſpirituall Midianites; and let theſe labour for ſtrength and courage, caſting all their care on God, who careth for them.1 Pet. 5.7.
O Jeruſalem, Ier. 4.14.waſh thine heart from wickedneſſe, that thou maiſt be ſaved: how long ſhall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? 2 Cor. 7.1.Oh let us clenſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſſe in the feare of God. Rom. 6.12.Let not ſinne reigne in your mortall body, that ye ſhould obey it in the luſts thereof. Neither yeeld yee your members as inſtruments of unrighteouſneſſe unto ſinne; but yeeld your ſelves unto God, as thoſe that are alive from the dead, and your members as inſtruments of righteouſneſſe unto God. Rom. i3.i2.The night is far ſpent, the day is at hand; let us therefore caſt off the works of darknes, and let us put on the Armour of light; Rom. i3.i3.let us walke honeſtly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenneſſe, not in chambering and wantonneſſe, not in ſtrife and envying, but put ye on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and make not proviſion for the fleſh, to fulfill the luſts thereof. Ep…h. 4.17.This J ſay therefore, and teſtifie in the Lord, that ye henceforth walke not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the underſtanding darkned, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, becauſe of the blindneſſe of their heart, who being paſt feeling, have given themſelves over unto laſciviouſneſſe, to work all uncleannes with greedines. Col. 3.5.Mortifie your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanneſſe, inordinate affection, evill concupiſcence, and covetouſneſſe which is Idolatry; for which things ſake the wrath of God commeth on the children of diſobedience. Jn the which ye alſo walked ſometime when ye lived in them. Eph. 4.22.Put off concerning the former converſation the old man which is corrupt, according to the deceitfull luſts; and be renewed in the Spirit of your mind; putting on that new man which after God is created in righteouſnes and true holines: Tit. 2.11.for the grace of God that bringeth ſalvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodlines and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly in this preſent world. Heb. 13.12.Take heed brethren, leſt there be in any of you an evill heart of unbeliefe, in departing from the living God; but exhort one another dayly, while it is called to day, leſt any of you be hardened, through the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne, Heb. 12.12.lift up the hands which hang downe, and the feeble knees; and make ſtraight pathes for your feet, leſt that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather bee healed: looke diligently, leſt any man faile of the grace of God, leſt any root of bitterneſſe ſpringing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. 1 Pet. 4.2.For as much as Chriſt hath ſuffered for us in the fleſh, arme your ſelves likewiſe with the ſame minde, for he that hath ſuffered in the fleſh hath ceaſed from ſinne, that he no longer ſhould live the reſt of his time in the fleſh to the luſts of men, but to the will of God; for the time paſt of our life may ſuffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in laſciviouſneſſe, luſts, exceſſe of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries, wherein they thinke it ſtrange that you runne not with them to the ſame exceſſe of riot, ſpeaking evill of you. 1 Pet. 2.11.Dearly beloved, I beſeech you, as ſtrangers and pilgrims to abſtaine from fleſhly luſts which warre againſt the ſoule; 1 Pet. 2.12.having your converſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that whereas they ſpeake evill againſt you, as evill doers, they may by your good workes which they ſhall behold, glorifie God in the day of viſitation.
Finally, my brethren, be ſtrong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Eph. 6.10.11.Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to ſtand againſt the wiles of the Devill; for we wreſtle not againſt fleſh and blood, but againſt principalities, againſt powers, againſt the rulers of the darkneſſe of this world, againſt ſpirituall wickedneſſe in high places; wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withſtand in the evill day, and having done all, to ſtand. Stand therefore having your loynes girt about with truth, and having on the breſt-plate of righteouſneſſe, and your feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpell of peace; above all taking the ſhield of faith, wherewith ye ſhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; and take the helmet of ſalvation, and the ſword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying alwayes with all prayer and ſupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perſeverance. Thus ſhall our corruption bee weakned, our fleſh ſubdued, our old man crucified, the body of ſinne deſtroyed, our conſciences quieted, Gods Commandment obeyed, himſelfe well pleaſed, our ſelves both in ſoule and body here and hereafter really and truly bleſſed.Iude 24. Now unto him that is able to keepe us from falling, and to preſent us faultleſſe before the preſence of his glory with exceeding joy: To the onelyonly wiſe God our Saviour, be glory and majeſty, dominion and power now and ever. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Alexander Simson, Two Treatises (1658)