Two Treatises, Part 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Neceſſary Caveats to bee obſerved in this ſpirituall Encounter.
AS in temporall Warfare, it is ordinary for the Generall of the Army to direct his Soldiers how to behave themſelves in the Battell,Directions no leſſe needfull in this ſpirituall, then they are in the corporal warfare. when, where, how, and againſt whom to fight; what Weapons to uſe, what courſes to take, to daunt the enemy: how to diſcerne and make uſe of advantages; againſt whom eſpecially to bend their forces: how to prevent the enemies Stratagems; and ſo in other particulars: no leſſe requiſite is this courſe in this our ſpirituall Warfare. 2 Sam. 21.15.Skilfull David may venture too farre to the endangering of his life:2 Sam. 11.16. wary Ʋriah may ſtep into the forefront of the Battell, and fall; when as another ſtanding had been fitter for him.1 King. 22.32. The Captains of the King of Syria may miſtake Jehoſophat for Ahab; 2 King. 14.12.Amaziah may provoke Iehoaſh to his owne overthrow;1 Sam. 4.3. the Iſraelites may ſo relye upon the Arke of GOD comming amongſt them, as if aſſuredly they ſhould bee ſaved from their enemies, that as wel they themſelves ſhall be vanquiſhed, as if taken by the enemie. Benhadad with his two and thirty Kings that helped him may be drunk,1 King. 20.16. not dreaming in their jollity that an handfull of Iſraelites ſhall vanquiſh both him, them, and their populous Armies. Thus may it befall us in encountering the Fleſh. Caveats therefore being preſcribed, accordingly muſt wee follow our preſcriptions.
The Caveats are theſe.The Caveats.
1.We muſt not be lets unto our ſelves in vanquiſhing our corruuption. Wee muſt not through our worldly mindedneſſe, or unneceſſary employment of our ſelves about the things of this world, be lets unto our ſelves in vanquiſhing our luſts, as ESAV deprived himſelfe of the bleſſing through his weariſome hunting; and the Gadarens bad CHRIST depart out of their bounds; Mat. 8.34.and the wicked Jewes cauſed God to depart frm the Temple.Ezek. 10. How can thoſe vanquiſh their luſts, which doe not ſo much as to this end ſet the leaſt time apart?
2.We muſt not caſt away our armour or in any ſort yeeld. Wee muſt not caſt away our Armour, or in any ſort yeeld; but ſtill keep firme our confidence in GOD; For, if any man draw backe, his Soule ſhall have no pleaſure in him: Heb. 10.38.Whereunto that of the Pſalmiſt agreeth. For loe, Pſalm. 73.27.they that are farre from thee ſhall periſh: thou haſt deſtroyed all them that goe a whoring from thee.
3.We muſt be wiſe in the application of Scripture unto our ſelves. We muſt not apply unto our falls of infirmity ſuch places of Scripture as are to be underſtood of theirs that ſinned preſamptuouſly (as that of Eli unto his Sonnes.1 Sam. 2.25. If a man ſinne againſt the Lord, who ſhall intreat for him?) or ſuch as are ſpoken of Reprobates; as that unto the Hebrewes, Heb. 6.4.It is impoſſible for thoſe who were once enlightened, and have taſted of the heavenly gift, &c. if they ſhall fall away, to renew them againe unto repentance. And againe,Heb. i0.26, If we ſinne wilfully after we have received the Knowledge of the Truth, there remaineth no more ſacrifice for ſinnes, but a certaine fearfull looking for of Judgement, and fiery indignation, which ſhall devoure the adverſaries. So that of Peter: 2 Pet. 2.20.For, if after they have eſcaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Ieſus Chriſt, they are againe entangled therin, and overcome, the latter end is worſe with them then the beginning, &c.
4.We muſt prepare for new contrary winds We muſt prepare our ſelves for new contrary winds to hinder us in our ſpirituall ſailing to Heaven: though already we have been aſſailed by divers: neither muſt thoſe ſo daunt us, as that we are not to imitate Chriſts Diſciples,Ioh. 6.19. who when through the vehemencie of the Tempeſt their Ship could not ſaile, endeavoured notwithſtanding to row. Though wee cannot goe on in the courſe of Godlines ſo ſwiftly as we would, we muſt notwithſtanding go on, tho in a ſmaller degree.
5.We muſt cry out againſt our ſinnes. When wee perceive our ſelves to be over maſtered by any temptation, and even forced as a forced woman; 2 Sam. 13.19.then muſt we with Thamar (forced by deceitfull Amnon in the privie Chamber of our heart) openly cry out againſt the Devill with a penitent heart, that the Lord may avenge our quarrell,2 Sam. 13.29. as Abſolon was ſtirred up to bee avenged of Amnon.
6.We muſt avoid ſecurity. We muſt beware of the falſe bed of ſecurity and deceitfulnes of ſin, (notwithſtanding our experience of Gods former preſence) leſt any wayes delighting therein, Cant. 3.2.wee bee driven to ſeeke Chriſt, but loſe our labour. Juſtly doth the Lord puniſh this ſinne of ſecurity by deſertion, then which what can be more grievous to the Saints? Grievous undoubtedly it was unto David, Pſal. 51.8.when being thus chaſtiſed, he cryed unto God, Make me to heare joy and gladneſſe, that the bones which thou haſt broken may rejoyce. Caſt me not away from thy preſence, and take not thy holy ſpirit from me. Reſtore unto me the joy of thy ſalvation, and uphold mee with thy free Spirit. Jonah was aſleep, but the ſtormy tempeſt, and ſtinking belly of the Whale awaked him. David was aſleep, but the ſword awaked him. Noah was aſleep, but Chams ſcorning awaked him.
In this bed lay the Iſraelits, but 70. years Captivity awaked them. Oh if wee could learne wiſdome by their folly, and their after repentance ſtirre us up unto repentance! If God thus puniſh his owne children for their ſecuritie, Note.what ſhall be the Portion of the wicked that are in a dead ſlumber? how ſudden and ſtrange, how fearfull and terrible, how horrible unutterable ſhall their wakening be? Such was Cains, Achitophels, Pharaohs, Indaſſes, Sauls, Abimilecks, Belſhazzars and divers others; how fearfull they were here, their ends ſhew; how lamentable their laſt ſhal be, when at the blaſt of the Trumpet they ſhall riſe out of their graves,Mat. 25.i2. that of the fooliſh Virgins may declare; woe, woe, woe; wofull is their condition when they ſhall behold the terrible Judge comming in flaming fire to render vengeance unto all ſuch as know not God, 2 Theſ. 1.8.neither obey the Goſpel of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. If the beginning of their ſorrows be ſo terrible, what will the end be? O who can expreſſe the the thouſandth part of that which they ſhall then feele? If their entrance into Hell be ſo fearfull, what are the fire, worme, blackneſſe of darkneſſe, perpetuall ſeparation from God, his Angels, and Children, and whatſoever might afford them any comfort? Then ſhall not we repent that God hath beene pleaſed heere to awake us by his gracious corrections, and mercifull viſitations out of the bed of ſecuritie: then ſhall our mouths bee filled with laughter for our deliverance out of the captivity of Babylon. Then ſhall not we forget to ſing our perpetuall Hallelujah, when we ſhall experimentally feele an actuall difference made between the wheat and the chaffe, the gold and the droſſe, the good fiſhes and the bad, the good ground and the evill, the fruitfull tree and the barren, the ſonnes and the baſtards, the ſheep and the goats, the good figges and the rotten, the womans ſeed and the Serpents, Gods children and Sathans. Then ſhal we with one mind and voice bleſſe the glorious Trinitie, that as our wakening differed from the wickeds, ſo alſo our Portion. Oh bleſſed bee our God,Pſal. i7.15. wee ſhall behold his face in righteouſneſſe, and ſhall bee ſatisfied when wee awake with his likenes.
7.All ſinnes have not the like proportion of labour in mortifying. Wee muſt not thinke that all ſins have the like proportion of labour in mortifying; the greateſt is to bee imployed about our inward inbred corruption, as being our greateſt and moſt deceitfull enemie, opening the dore to all the reſt.Ier. 39.3. Simil. As when the gates of Jeruſalem were made open for Nebuchadnezzar, all his Nobles, Servants, and Souldiers; in like manner entred thereat, ruining as well Jeruſalem it ſelfe, as the Temple of God which was the beauty thereof. So, if our hearts ſhall once admit that cruell Nebuchadnezzar the devill, ſuch a rout will alſo enter in, that thereby as well the powers of the ſoule as body, ſhall be captived, and more hardly uſed, then thoſe Kings whom Adonibezek kept in ſlavery;Iudg. i.7.8 when this is by Sathan miſuſed, defiled, or polluted, complaine wee unto God, as Gods people did of Antiochus Epiphanes for polluting their materiall Temple.Pſal. 79.1. O God, the Heathen are come into thine inheritance, thy holy Temple have they defiled, they have laid Ieruſalem on heapes. So ſhall wee finde that as Antiochus (notwithſtanding of his power and craft) was in Gods good time ſeverely puniſh'd, his pride abated, the pollutions of the Temple clenſed, Idolatry aboliſhed, Images broke in pieces, the blood of the Saints revenged, the Temple re-edified and gloriouſly adorned: ſo Sathan ſhall bee diſpoſſeſſed, and wee ſet at liberty.Ioh. 2.15. As Chriſts entry into the Temple of Ieruſalem was powerfull, to the caſting out of the buyers and ſellers, and overthrowing the Tables of the Money-changers, and ſeats of them that ſold Doves; ſo ſhall his entrance be into our ſoules to the ejection of Sathan who hath ſtollen thereinto. Then ſhall Satan with greater ſhame be excluded, together with the whole rabble or divelliſh hoſt of wicked thoughts by him brought in,2 Chron. 2. then Azariah was ſhut out of the Temple by the Lords Prieſts, for preſuming to offer incenſe in the houſe of the Lord.Note. Oh ſhameles impudent ſpirit, who hath beene thruſt out of Heaven,Iude 6. and compelled to depart out of men whom thou haſt poſſeſſed,Mat. 9.33. and when we were dead in ſinnes and treſpaſſes waſt through Gods mercy caſt out of us,Eph. 2.1. and ſince the firſt time of our converſion art hated and abhorred of us; and when the fiery flames of zeale and love were ſtrong in us, (we ſpeake it to Gods glory) haſt beene often vanquiſhed by us, and beene forced to flie from us; yea, through the power of our pittifull God, and his bleſſing on our prayers, watching, faſting, reading, meditating, on the ſweet Word of Life, conferring, retirednes, (whence have proceeded unſpeakable Joyes, yea rather unutterable Raviſhments, when wee could have ſaid with Peter, Mat. i7.4.It is good for us to be here, and which wee could aboundantly diſcover, if it were not leſt the ſenſe of the now want of them might wonderfully diſcourage us, or that others the Saints of God ſhould think that we glory in our ſelves) and ſuch like heavenly exerciſes haſt even trembled and quaked; how dareſt thou now thou caitife, thou hel hound, thou damned wretch, thus uſurp the ſeat of God, or defile his holy Temple? even this ſhall add unto thy torments. Now ſeeing that the full and abſolute poſſeſſion of the heart is that whereat Sathan mainly aymes; it muſt be your care O deare ſonnes and daughters of God, to keep the ſame with all diligence: Pro. 4.23.but if haply he hath already got poſſeſſion; you muſt by all means endeavour to get him diſpoſſeſſed, and thereafter ſtill to be clenſing and waſhing the ſame from the filthines he hath left behind, which being but a little neglected, will put you to a great deale of trouble; and as a root of bitternes quickly manifeſt it ſelfe in its pernicious fruits.
8.Of the firſt motions of ſinne wee muſt neither be too curious, nor altogether careleſſe. Touching the firſt motions unto ſinne in us, (getting grace to reſiſt the ſame indeed, though not without great griefe of minde) wee muſt neither be too curious, neither yet altogether careleſs thereof. Too curious, in a ſubſtantiall and deepe triall of them, moſt of them being ſo vaine and idle, as we cannot imagine whence they ſhould ariſe in us:To be too curious about them is harmful. Thus to do, were to goe about a worke both harmfull, impoſſible, unprofitable, and cumberſome: harmfull, as whereby we hinder our peace of Conſcience, and put off a better exerciſe, even the true triall of our heart, with the ſincere Circumciſion of the ſame: impoſſible, as who ſhall never bee able to comprehend their number, no more then wee are of the Starres of Heaven, or ſand which is by the Seaſhore: unprofitable, inaſmuch as when wee have done all that we can doe, they are inevitable; not the holieſt men of God, (extraordinary perſons) being freed therefrom: cumberſome, as which would continually employ us, ſo that we ſhould not performe any other dutie, how comfortable or profitable ſoever; the ſame being indeed as ſudden, ſo through Gods goodnes no leſs ſwiftly flying away:To be altogether careleſſe of them dangerous. Altogether careles, as which proceed from an heart in part unſanctified. By reaſon of them our tender Conſciences muſt at ſome times deepely lament, even that the houſe of the ſoule which ſhould be filled with the glory of God, is any wayes filled with ſuch ſmoke as ariſeth from the fiery fornace of the heart not wholly reformed.Simil. That they may be reſtrained, the Stone muſt bee put on the Wells mouth, our hearts encloſed as a Fountaine, not elſe to be opened, but when ſome ſprings of heavenly waters are to bee drawne from thence to refreſh the thirſtie ſoule, Gen. 29.i0.as Jacob when Rachel came to water her Fathers Sheep, removed the ſtone from the wells mouth, and after they were watered, put it on againe.
9.We muſt ask pardon for our ſecret ſinnes. Wee muſt not in any caſe neglect to aske pardon for our ſecret ſinnes which we drinke in, whereof wee are not aware, and which ſeldome come to bee remembred of us. As wee are to pray for the pardon of preſumptuous ſinnes, of the ſinnes of our youth, of ſinnes knowne; ſo are we to pray to be clenſed from ſecret faults, Pſal. i9.i2.ſinnes unknowne: though unknowne to us they enter in;Gen. 3i.30. yet as Jacob (upon Labans complaint that his Gods were ſtollen) ſuſpected no doubt that ſome of his had them,Gen. 35.2. and ſo could not reſt ſatisfied till they were delivered unto him, and hee had buried them;Simil. ſo may we ſuſpect that wee are guilty of no ſmall number of them, and accordingly pray to be forgiven them.
10.The fleſh not alwaies mortified when it ſeemeth ſo to be. We muſt not conceive that the fleſh is indeed mortified, when it ſeemeth ſo to be; for ſeemingly it may bee, when indeed it is not; as when the occaſion of ſinne is removed, when it is not violent: when its act is removed from one ſinne unto another; when through the feare of judgement it is reſtrained: when the ſtrength of nature is ſpent, &c. our evidence muſt be ſounded, then in thoſe, elſe it is but very ſlender.
11.Mortification muſt be continued. Having aſwell to our own as others thinking mortified our luſts, our worke is not then at an end. The heart is not ſo mortified, but there is ſtill ſinfull corruption in it, which requires continuall Mortification.
12.Faith in Chriſt muſt precede mortification. We muſt not conceive that firſt wee muſt be moritfied, and then lay hold on Chriſt for remiſſion of ſinnes: for till wee be (in ſome meaſure) aſſured of the pardon therof through Chriſt, we ſhall never ſoundly ſlay the ſame,Note. mortification being indeed a fruit of faith.
13.Luſts to be diſtinguiſhed the one from the other. In oppoſing our ſinfull and fleſhly luſte, wee muſt carefully diſtinguiſh betweene them and others; for all are not carnall, but ſome naturall, as others ſpirituall. Thoſe from theſe may be thus differenced.Fleſhly luſts how diſcerned. They are ever immoderate; They are for the moſt part unſavory and loathſome: They are unto fleſh and blood marvellous pleaſing, and give corruption a marvellous meaſure of Contentment. They leave nothing but vanitie and vexation of ſpirit behind them.
14. Howſoever, after many a fiery dart throwne at us, wee meet with many others, haply old ones made with a new deviſe; or it may bee new ones, wherewith wee were never before either acquainted or aſſaulted; Wee muſt not give over to fight even to the end.yet muſt not wee give over; but after the example of PAVL and other Worthies, fight the good fight, Gal. 6.9.not being at any time weary of wel-doing as who in due time ſhall reape if we faint nor. Had wee but grace thus to lay the matter to heart, that if wee fight not, we ſhall live in ſlavery under the divell, the world and the fleſh, of all others the greateſt, or rather the onelyonly ſlaves; but if we fight manfully, and perſevere therein, wee ſhall bee conquerors over all thoſe, and as victorious Kings trample Sathan under our feete; we would ſeeke to prevent our own miſery, and get an aſſured poſſeſſion of glory, gather courage in our decayed ſpirits, and luſtily goe on. Did we but call to mind how often the Lord hath beene pleaſed heretofore to help, the ſame,1 Sam. 7.1…. would be as Ebenezer unto the Iſraelites to encourage us againſt our ſpirituall Philiſtims. As the Iſraelites in after ages, reading how Joſhua had once before diſcomfited Amalek, Exo. 17.15.and of the Altar which Moſes did then build, calling it by the name of Jehovah Niſſi, that is, the Lord is my banner; could not but be encouraged hereby to have warres with them;Simil. ſo is it with Gods children calling to mind their former ſpirituall victories: of whom it may be more truely ſaid, then David did it of Saul and Ionathan: 2 Sam. 1.22.From the blood of the ſlain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Ionathan turned not back, and the ſword of Saul returned not empty. Note.They have greater joy and gladnes, with more pleaſure and contentment, in ſtriving againſt their corruption of nature, (which by degrees they ſtill leſſen and weaken) then the greateſt ſouldier hath to glut his ſword with the blood of his enemie. Strive wee againſt theſe beaſts (our beaſtly luſts) as Paul fought with the Beaſts of Epheſus; 1 Cor. 15.32. Beaſtly men either or both.thoſe were outward, but theſe are inward beaſts. If thoſe had prevailed, they would only have killed the body if theſe ſhould, they would deſtroy both body and ſoule: thoſe might have beene overcome with bodily weapons; theſe no otherwiſe but by the whole Armour of GOD, Faith, Hope, Repentance, the Word, Prayer, with the other pieces; yea, in fighting againſt theſe, Gods power is after an eſpeciall manner manifeſted. Quit we our ſelves then like men,Iudg. 16.39. ſo dealing with our luſts as Samſon with the Philiſtims, even by ſlaying moe of them hereafter, then heretofore wee have done; as hee moe at his death then in his life; yea,i Sam. 15.3. as Saul ſhould not have ſpared any one Amalekite, but utterly deſtroyed them all: ſo doe we deſtroy the whole brood of our ſinfull and fleſhly luſts, not ſparing any one of theſe curſed Amalekits. Thus of the Caveats to be obſerved in this our Warfare, and ſo of the 8. Particular.