Two Treatises, Part 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Why the FLESH with the luſts and affections thereof is to be encountred.
NOt without cauſe are wee to encounter this our Enemie, and doe what in us lyeth to oppoſe it, reſiſt it, ſubdue it, deſtroy it, if either we conſider it, our ſelver, or others.
It, Reaſons why the Fleſh is to be encount…ed. From its nature.and that both in regard of the nature thereof, and effects produced thereby.
Its nature, vile, odious, abominable, vgly and loathſome, like the vomiting of a dogge, a Sowes wallowing in the mire. The Scripture doth accordingly decipher it by the names of filth, Iſa. 4.4. Zech. 3.3. 2 Cor. 7.1. 2 Pet. 2.20. Rom 6.19. Mat. 15.11.filthy garments, filthineſſe of the Fleſh and Spirit. The Worlds pollutions, uncleanneſſe, a defiling thing, and the like. Thus if a man ſhould view it even as it is, in its own proper colours, he could not but loath and abhorre the ſame.
Its effects, From its effects. Rom. 6.21. Shamefull.both ſhamefull, and hurtfull. Shamefull, as which maketh men and women its vaſſals and ſlaves (for to whomſoever we yeeld our ſelves ſervants to obey, Rom. 6.16.his ſervants we are to whom wee obey) coozening and deceiving them at its pleaſure;Heb. 3.13. proffering as largely as the Devill ſometime did Chriſt:Mat. 4.4. All theſe things will I give thee if thou wilt fall downe and worſhip mee. But in the meane time not being able to performe any whit of its promiſes: Hurtfull,Hurtfull. Iob. 20.5.6.7.8. &c. as whoſe pleaſure is onelyonly momentaneall, but bitterneſſe everlaſting, yea, which warreth againſt mens ſoules, bodies, poſterity, goods and good name. Soules, To our Soules.by blinding their underſtanding, reaſon, and judgement; and bringing them to a reprobate ſenſe: ſo that they will not bee brought to the knowledge of the truth,Pſal. 58 5. but are like the deafe Adder that ſtoppeth her eare, which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never ſo wiſely; Iſa. 30.9.even who will not heare the Law of the Lord. Hoſ. 4.11.So, by taking away their heart, i Tim. 6.10.and piercing them thorow with many ſorrowes. So by deſtroying their ſoules. Pro. 6.32.So by ſeducing the will and affections, and making them worſe and worſe, every unmortified Luſt being a wound in the Soule, a gaſh in the Conſcience: ſo by inclining the Soule to maintaine thoſe ſinnes, whereunto they themſelves are principally addicted: ſo by diſtempering their ſoules, that there's no peace therein, they themſelves diſquieting themſelves in vain, Pſal. 39.6.travelling in paine all the dayes of their life, Iob. i5.20.ſinne not ſuffering grace, as it were to manifeſt it ſelfe in the leaſt meaſure unto thoſe, but diſturbing them by unnaturall thoughts, as by the inſatiability of that whereunto it inciteth. The Sluggard muſt have a little more ſleepe, the Drunkard a little more drink; the covetous more money; the laſcivious more Concubines. So, by its importunitie which will admit no deniall, forcing them oftentimes to commit what in their judgement they doe not approve. So by promiſing them contentment which notwithſtanding they finde not, there being indeede neither pleaſure nor profit in ſinne. So by galling their Conſcience after the commiſſion thereof, whether in adverſity or proſperity, as the examples of Ahab about Naboths Vineyard;i King. 21.27. Dan 5.6. and Belſhazzar, when he drunk wine with his Concubins in the veſſels of the houſe of the Lord ſufficiently imply, whereby it commeth to paſſe that they feare when there is no cauſe of feare. Lev. 26.36.To our bodies.Bodies both directly and indirectly: directly,Pro. 23.29. as which occaſioneth bodily diſeaſes and diſtempers; as (in like manner) death it ſelfe:Deut. 28.21. Rom. 6.23. indirectly, by affecting or inflicting the minde, wherby the body cannot but be ſo diſquieted, that even in laughter the heart is ſorrowfull; Pro. i4.i3.and the end of that mirth is heavineſſe:Pro. i7.22. for amerry heart doth good like a medicine, but a broken ſpirit drieth the bones: as David found by experience.Pſal. 32.3.4. To our poſterity. Poſterity, as the examples of Pharaoh, Ahab, Ieroboam, Iehu, with others manifeſt, according to that of Moſes from the Lord.Deut. 28.18. If thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, &c. curſed ſhall be the fruit of thy body. In Hell, when many both Parents and Children ſhall meet, theſe may blame thoſe as the eſpeciall cauſe of their Condemnation. Goods both directly and indirectly,To our goods. directly, Pro. 6.26.as becauſe of the whoriſh Woman, a man is brought to a morſell of bread: whereof the Prodigall Sonne had particular experience.Luc. 15.16. Indirectly, as which bringeth a curſe upon the goods which they have painefully gotten by graceleſſe children. Unfaithfull ſervants, coſtly (tho fruitleſſe) Phyſicke, and ſuch like. So that often,Hag. 1.6. what they earne is put as it were in a bagge with holes, Eccleſ. 2.6.and what they painfully gather is heaped up to give to him that is good before God. Yea, ſometimes it falleth out that a man to whom God hath given riches, Eccleſ. 6.2.and treaſures, and honour, and he wanteth nothing to his ſoule of all that he deſireth; yet God giveth him not power to eate thereof, but a ſtrange man ſhall eat it, agreeable to that of Iob. Iob. 27.i6.17.Though he ſhould heape up ſilver as the duſt, and prepare rayment as the clay, he may prepare it, but the juſt ſhall put it on, and the innocent ſhall divide the ſilver. Iob. 20.i5.As a little before, Hee hath devoured ſubſtance, and hee ſhall vomit it; for God ſhall draw it out of his belly; yea, God maketh their Table a ſnare unto them. Pſal. 69.22. To our good name.Good name, according to that of the Wiſe man. The name of the wicked ſhall rot: Pro. 10.7.and that of Iob, He ſhall periſh for ever like his dung. Iob. 20.7.It makes them odious both to God and good men. Is not the Fleſh then with the luſts and affections therof to be encountred? Is not the ſame to be mortified, as in regard of its nature: ſo the wofull and dangerous effects of the ſame.
Our ſelves.Reaſons from our ſelves.
Firſt, becauſe wee have ſo promiſed and vowed in Baptiſme; as alſo often renewed the ſame at our participatiō of the Lords Supper, even to forſake the Devill, and all his workes, the pomps and vanities of the wicked world, and all the ſinfull luſts of the Fleſh. If then wee would not become forſworne and perjured perſons, as it were Souldiers forſaking their colours, caſting downe their weapons, and running away from their Captaine: we muſt faithfully keepe touch in the performance of our Covenant; accordingly arming our ſelves to this battell.
Secondly, becauſe wee are called with an holy Calling; i Pet. 1.14.As obedient children (ſaith Saint Peter) not faſhioning your ſelves according to the former luſts in your ignorance; but as he which hath called you is holy, ſo be yee holy in all manner of converſation. Becauſe it is written, be yee holy, for I am holy.
Thirdly, Becauſe we profeſſe our ſelves to bee the children of GOD, and ſo conſequently enemies unto our owne corruptions,Rom. 8 7. which are enmitie againſt GOD.
Fourthly, Rom. 8.13.becauſe If wee live after the Fleſh we ſhall die; but if through the Spirit, we doe mortifie the deeds of the body, we ſhall live.
Fiftly, Becauſe at the length we ſhall be victorious againſt the ſame. God will ſo accept of our weake endevours, that he will more enable us to hold on; yea, ſo ſtrengthen us, that through him wee ſhall do valiantly in crucifying this Old man, mortifying theſe earthly members, ſubduing this body of Sin, and putting to death this body of death. We are weake indeed in our ſelves,Rom. 8.3i. but if God be with us, who can prevaile againſt us? not Goliah againſt David, our gyant-like ſinnes againſt us, being under the Almighties protection, and clothed with the Armour of God.
Sixtly, becauſe the more we yeeld unto our luſts, Pro. 30.i5.the more will they inſult over us; being ſo unreaſonable that they are never ſatisfied; like the horſleech whereof the Wiſeman ſpeaketh, that the more it is given, the more it craves, and is never ſatisfied: like the fire, which the more is caſt into it, burneth the more: yea,2 Per. 1.4. notwithſtanding whatſoever corruption is in the World hath proceeded from luſt, yet is not contented, but ſtill deſireth to corrupt more. If thou give it an inch, it will take an ell: if it can get but in its head; it wil quickly wind in its whole body. If it once take poſſeſſion of the Soule, it will not be an eaſie matter to diſpoſſeſſe the ſame: entertaineſt thou it in any meaſure? it will quickly force thee to give it good entertainment.
Others, GOD.Reaſons from others. GOD.
Firſt, becauſe Sinne is Gods enemie. Every Luſt hath in it the ſeed of Rebellion, and as it increaſeth, ſo rebellion increaſeth.
Secondly, becauſe the ſame grieveth him, as which oppoſeth his Mercy, Truth, Patience, love, and every thing elſe in him,Simil. if we muſt not doe that which will grieve our earthly Parents, much leſſe that which grieveth the God of Heaven.
Thirdly, becauſe he enjoyneth us to performe this Dutie, whoſe Commandements doe not admit of a Diſpenſation: yea, binde our Conſciences, and impoſe upon our Soules a neceſſity of doing what he commands.
Chriſt.CHRIST.
Whoſe death through our ſinfull luſts is deſpiſed, his worke of Redemption vilified, his moſt precious blood troad under foot, and himſelfe as it were pull'd downe from Heaven, and crucified afreſh.
The Spirit.SPIRIT.
Who is hereby extreamly both tempted, grieved and quenched, yea forced to withdraw it ſelfe (as it were) and to forbeare thoſe comfortable operations, which it did once worke for our good, inſomuch as at length wee ſhall have no feeling of it, and ſcarce bee able to diſcerne whether it bee in us at all, yea or no.
The holy Angels.The holy Angels.
Who rejoycing at the converſion of ſinners, doe therefore grieve at their impenitencie.
The Saints departed.The Saints departed.
As whoſe conſummation of bliſſe is through us hindered; for if wee belong unto God, they without us cannot be glorified; if Reprobates, our ſinnes muſt be ripe, and come to the height ere everlaſting judgements ſhall bee inflicted on us, till which time neither can they be perfectly glorified.
Alive.Alive.
As who grieve at our impieties, mourne for the abominations by us committed.
The wicked.The wicked.
Firſt, becauſe they walke after their luſts,Col. 3.7. whoſe lives are not fit patternes for our imitation.
Secondly, becauſe through our wickedneſſe, they will be the more encouraged to goe on in Sinne, as the Iſraelites by the evill example of Elies Sonnes.1 Sam. 2.17. To which purpoſe the Lord by the Prophet Ieremiah. Ier. 2.33.Why trimmeſt thou thy way to ſeeke love? therfore haſt thou alſo taught the wicked ones thy wayes.
The Creatures.The creatures. Hoſ. 4.2.
As upon whom judgements are inflicted for mens ſinnes and which being for our cauſe made ſubject to vanitie, Rom. 8.20.21.groane for the day of Redemption: when they ſhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
I may adde,
The Devill himſelfe.The Devil himſelfe.
As who ſhall thus diſpleaſe him, Gods adverſary, and our moſt deadly enemy.
Yea elſe;
Notwithſtanding of our outward Profeſſion, our Religion is but vaine;Rom. 2.29. for hee is not a Iew which is one outwardly, neither is that Circumciſion which is outward in the Fleſh; but he is a Iew which is one inwardly, and Circumciſion is that of the heart, in the Spirit, whoſe praiſe is not of men, but of God. Thus why the Fleſh with the luſts and affections thereof is to be encountred: and ſo of the fourth particular.