Right Thoughts, Part 2 · Section 2 – Section 8
Sect. II.
… our ſelves. Rom. 12.3. Low thoughts of our ſelves. 2 Cor. 11.11. With high thoughts of the Grace of God in and toward us.IN thinking of OUR SELVES, for no man to think of Himſelf more highly then he ought to think, but to think ſoberly, as God hath dealt to every man the meaſure of Faith: not boaſting beyond his meaſure, nor yet denying the grace of God that is given to him. The great Apoſtle ſpeaks thus of himſelf, in Nothing am I behind the very chiefeſt of the Apoſtles, though I be nothing. He hath high thoughts of the Grace of God, yet low thoughts of Himſelf; Not I, but the Grace of God with me.
1 Cor. 15.10. Self performances. Luke 17.10.And as we muſt think thus of what we are at the beſt, ſo alſo of the beſt that we can do; We are taught to ſay, and therefore to think, that when we have done all, we are unprofitable ſervants.
Carnal ſelf to be denyed. Mat. 16.24. In its wiſdom. 1 Cor. 1.10. and 2.14. Prov. 3.5. Will. Gal. 5.17. 1 Pet. 2.11. Righteouſneſſes, Iſaiah 64 6. Rom. 3.20. Job 10.20. and ver. 31. Strength. Rom. 5.6.And if we muſt think thus of our Regenerate ſelf, what can we think of Carnal ſelf, but that it is to be denyed, (if any man will be my Diſciple, let him deny himſelf) denied in its Wiſdom, which is Fooliſhneſs for the Natural Ma… receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them; and therefore we muſt not think of leaning to our own underſtandings: in its Will, which is wickedneſs, and perverſe Rebellion, for the Fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit, and theſe luſtings war againſt the Soul; in its Righteouſneſſes, which are Rottenneſs and filthy rags, for no Fleſh can be juſtified in the ſight of God, and if we ſhould ſay we are Righteous, our own lips would prove us perverſe, and our own cloths would abhor us; And finally in its ſtrength, which is weakneſs, for whilſt we were ungodly (ſaith the Apoſtle) at that time we were without ſtrength, and we have already ſeen, if we will think rightly of our ſelves, we muſt think that we are not ſufficient, as of our ſelves, ſo much as to think one good thought. And therefore we are to think in all this,Eccleſ. 7.29. Rom. 3.12. Verſe 23. How is the Gold become Droſs? Man that was made upright, Oh how is He come ſhort of the Glory of God, and altogether become unprofitable! His Deſtruction is of Himſelf, but his help of the mere Mercy, and Free Grace of God,Hoſea 13.9. Rom. 9.16. for it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that ſheweth Mercy.
But yet we are to think of our ſelves, Job 10.3, 8.as to our Natural Beings, that we are the works of Gods hands, though thus defiled and defaced by our ſins; that Our Bodies are yet capable, by Grace,1 Cor. 6.19. to be made Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, and therefore that we are to poſſeſſe theſe our Veſſels in Honour and Sanctification; 1 Theſ. 4.4.And that our Souls are more worth then as many Worlds, for what ſhall a man give in exchange for his Soul! Mat. 16.26.That in neither are we our own. But in both bought with a price, 1 Cor. 6.19, 20. Self-love the ſtandard of Love to others. Lev. 19.18.and therefore that we are to glorifie God both in our Bodies and in our Souls, for both are Gods.
For certain it is, there is a SELF that is to be tendred, as well as a Self that is to be denyed; nay the Love that we owe to It is made, both by Moſes and Chriſt, the Rule or Standard of our loving our Neighbour, which is called the ſecond great Commandment like unto the firſt, which is (Love God, Mat. 22.93.) Thou ſhalt love thy Neighbour as thy SELF; Firſt GOD, and then our SELF, and then our Neighbour as our Self; For the Rule hath a natural priority to the thing Ruled; And therefore we are to THINK thus of our ſelves, 1 Cor. 6.18.that for a man to ſin againſt HIS OWN Body, (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks) or to wrong HIS OWN Soul (as it is in the Proverbs) being againſt that LOVE which Scripture makes the Standard of our loving one another,Prov. 8.36. Sinning againſt our ſelves, greater then to ſin againſt o…hers. is by ſo much greater then our ſinning againſt, or wronging others; for Charity may and muſt begin at home, though it muſt not end there. And therefore as we have already intimated, that ſelf deceipt is the worſt deceipt, and ſelf-Murder the worſt kind of Murder, ſo I might add that in this (as in ſome other Reſpects, as is largely obſerved by Mr. Capel in his choice and rare Treatiſe of Temptations) SELF Pollution is a more hainous kind of pollution, then many perhaps are aware of, and ſo in other caſes.
And therefore we are to THINK All thoſe SELF-Tormentings uſed by IDOLATERS of an elder Date (as was the manner of the Prieſts of Baal to cut themſelves, 1 King. 18.28.till the blood guſhed upon them) or by others of a later Edition, yea and All thoſe SELF-Neglectings ſo much magnified by a new Sect of Self-…uſtitiaries ſprung up lately amongſt us, whoſe Religion lyes ſo much in Touch not, 1 Cor. 2.21, 22. Verſe 20. Verſe 23.taſte not, handle not, &c. after the Doctrines and Commandments of Men; as the Apoſtle concludes them to be unſcriptural, when he calls them Worldly Rudiments, though he confeſſeth them to have a ſhew of wiſdom in Will Worſhip, foreign.and humility and NEGLECTING the Body, (or not ſparing the Body) not in any Honour to the ſatisfying of the Fleſh; ſo are we, I ſay (by the ſame Apoſtolical Authority) to think them UNNATURAL,Eph. 5.28, 29. for he expreſly ſaith, He that loves his Wife loves HIMSELF, for no man ever yet hated his OWN Fleſh, but nouriſheth and cheriſheth it, even as the Lord the Church. So that we are to think theſe things ſo far from juſtifying us in the ſight of God, as that he condemns them, and will condemn all that truſt unto them.
Sect. III.
Right thoughts of others. 1 Cor. 4.1.IN Thinking of OTHERS, ſome are ſhort in eſtimating ſome men, Let a man therefore (ſaith the Apoſtle) ſo account of us as of the Miniſters of Chriſt, Not under what was written. 1 Cor 3.5. Nor above. Chapter 4.6. Others better then our ſelves. Philip. 2.3. Acts 12.21. …ude 8. …ccleſ. 19 20.and Stewards of the myſteries of God. Some think too highly of ſome, (therefore ſaith he again,) Who then is Paul, or who is Apollos, but Miniſters by whom ye believed? and this was ſpoken, That they might learn in them not to think of Men above what was written, and not be puffed up for one againſt another. On both hands there are great Evils; We may think others better then our ſelves, but none better then the word declareth. 'Tis a great ſin to cry up the Greateſt, as the people did Herod, And on the other hand, to deſpiſe DOMINION; or to Curſe the KING in our very THOUGHT.
Sect. IV.
IN Thinking of CREATED COMFORTS,Of created comforts. 1 Tim. 4.4. All good. Gen. 32.10. Our ſelves unworthy of the leaſt, yet the greateſt not enough. Pſal. 4 6. Without Chriſt. Phil. 3.7, 8. Happineſs not having, but in having ſanctified. 1 Tim. 4.4. Job 31.25, 27. as the Apoſtle Paul, every Creature of God is good, &c. and of our ſelves in reſpect of them, as Jacob, I am not worthy of the leaſt of all thy mercies; yet not to think them the chief good, or the beſt of them good enough for the precious ſoul to ſit down with. Many will ſay, who will ſhew us any good? But Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance, &c. Yea doubtleſs, and I account all things but loſs, and do count them but foreign, Dogs meat, not Mans meat.) All things of all ſorts, civil advantages, Church priviledges, &c. as nothing for the Soul without Chriſt) that I may win Chriſt. Theſe, I ſay, were his thoughts of the higheſt humane attainments, of Outward Church Priviledges, of Creature Enjoyments in the World; And ſo not to think Him happy that hath them, but that hath a ſanctified title to them and ſanctified uſe of them, If they be ſanctified by the Word and Prayer. If I rejoyced becauſe my Wealth was great, and becauſe my Hand had gotten much, and my Hand hath been ſecretly enticed, or my Mouth kiſſed my hand; He did not think himſelf to be the better or the happier, for being the wealthier; 'twas the gain of the heart,Heavenly treaſure true. Job 23.12. not the Gettings of the Hand that Job eſtimated to be true treaſure. I have eſteemed the words of his mouth, more then my appointed portion, ſo the Margin, then my neceſſary Food, ſo the Text. No doubt he accounted that good too, but not the chief good, Pſal. 49.8.not a ſuffici…nt good for his Soul, for the Redemption of the Soul is precious, It ceaſeth for ever. And (Alas!Whole world not worth a Soul, Mat. 16.26. thinks a Man that knows the worth of a Soul,) what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and looſe his own Soul?
Sect. V.
Right thoughts of Ordinances, what Mat. 23.19.IN thinking of ORDINANCES, as the good wayes of God, to be gone in, not reſted in: He thinks not ſo greatly of the Gift, as of the Altar ſanctifying the Gift; of his attendances upon them, as they are performances of his own, but as appointments of God, for the Communication of Himſelf to the Soul. One thing have I deſired of the Lord, Good wayes to be gone, not reſted in. Pſal. 27.4.that will I ſeek after, that I may dwell in the Houſe of the Lord all the dayes of my life, to ſee the beauty of the Lord, &c. not the beauty of the Houſe (though that was very beautiful) and to inquire in his Temple; not onelyonly the way to his Temple, but to the ſight and fruition of him in his Temple.
Sect. VI.
Right thoughts of ſin, what. Greateſt evil. Job 32.21. Iſaiah 33.24.IN thinking of SIN, as the only contrary to the Supream good: Therefore Jobs Friends would have faſtened it on him, as a Brand of in-ſincerity, that he had choſen Sin rather then Affliction. The inhabitants ſhall not ſay I am ſick, for the people that dwell there ſhall be forgiven their Iniquity. They ſhall think all well, when ſin is done away. Sin, in a good mans Thoughts, is the very Gall of bitterneſs, the very core of all troubles, the very ſting of Death it ſelf,1 Cor. 15.56. Heart-ſin worſt. Heb. 12.15. 1 King. 8.38. Jer. 17.9. Rom. 7.23. …rom. 9.5. Hiba…. 2.5. and the very Hell of Hell. And as he thinks Sin the worſt of Evils, ſo Heart-ſin the worſt of ſins, that Root of bitterneſs, that Plague of the heart, that deſperately wicked thing, that cannot ceaſe to Sin, that Law in the Members that wearies them to commit Iniquity, yet it ſelf is unweariable, and unſatiable as Death and Hell, (and therefore called the Body of death) which never ſaith it is enough. 'Tis this evil that makes good men cry out of themſelvs as of the chief of Sinners! Rom. 7.24.For whatſoever they know of others, as to other Evils, they know more of this by themſelves then by all the World. 'Tis this Evil that makes many a man thought humble by others, cry O my pride! counted mortified by others,Spiritual wickedneſs. cry O my potent paſſion! my ſtrong corruption! my unruly Luſts! how many a man is there of unblemiſht life, that is weary at heart of his own Heart, yea of his very Life, becauſe of the evil of his Heart: his ſpiritual pride, filthineſs of Spirit, Earthly-mindedneſs, 2 Cor. 7 …1. James 4.1.Spirits luſting to envy, with the ſpiritual wickedneſſes abroad in the world, as Hypocriſie, Hereſie, &c.
But yet though he think Sin (Root and Branch) to be the greateſt Evil,Yet no ſin ſo great an Evil as Chriſt a good. Heb. 7.25. yet not ſo great an evil as Jeſus Chriſt is a Good; nor ſo mighty (though mighty) to deſtroy, as He is (Almighty) able to ſave, He thinks Sins demerits great, Chriſts merits greater, whereby he is not only ſecured from Hell, but to be ſaved in Heaven. And therefore He may plead even the greatneſs of his ſin, as an argument for his Pardon, Pſal. 25.11.becauſe He thinks the great Salvation to be ſo much the greater, that it triumphs moſt in the ſpoils of the proudeſt ſins, in the thing wherein they have dealt proudly, to be ſtill above them. When Sin groweth up unto the Heavens, Ezek. 9.6. Pſal. …08.4. 1 John 4.4.Gods mercy (in his Son) is above the Heavens; As when the wicked one is great that is in World, yet greater is he that is in the Saints, than he that is in the World.
Sect. VII.
IN thinking of HOLINESS,Of holineſs. Iſaiah 2.8. not only way to, but part of happineſs. Pſal. 119.11. Philip. 3.20. 1 John 5.3. Mat. 11.30. not only as the high way to (as the Prophet calls it,) but alſo a principal part of Happineſs; the Duties of holineſs, to be the Beauties thereof; Its Practiſe, Priviledge, Its Performances, great Rewards: Its inchoation, an Heaven upon Earth; Its Conſummation and perfection, the very Heaven of Heaven: And therefore Its Commandments not grievous, Its Yoke eaſie, Its Burden light.
Of Affliction not ſo evil as ſ…. Good to the good. Pſ lm 119.67, 71. H…b…. 1.12.11. Verſe 10. Profitable, 1 King. 17.18. Monitors of our frowardneſs, but Fruits of Gods Faithfulneſs and Love. Pſal. 119.75. Rev. 3.19. John 16.33. Chriſts Legacy, Mat. 10.25. For many good ends.Sect. VIII.
IN thinking of AFFLICTIONS, though Evil, not ſo Evil as Sin, and therefore their being Sanctified deſirable, rather and more then their removal Evil in themſelves, yet good to the good, and for the making of them Better; Its good for me that I have been afflicted; before, I went aſtray, but now I have learnt thy Precepts: ſharp and bitter twigs, bearing ſweet Fruit, peaceable Fruits of Righteouſneſs: A Fathers Rod, not for his Pleaſure, but VERILY for our Profit, that we may be partakers of his holineſs. Remembrancers of our Sin, yet not ſo much products of his Juſtice, Power, and ſoveraignty, as Fruits of his Faithfulneſs: I know O Lord that thou in Faithfulneſs haſt afflicted me) Tokens of his Love (as many as I love I chaſten,) Payments of our Legacy left us by Our crucified Lord, a little before his Death (in the World you ſhall have tribulation) and confirmed thereby (For if they did ſo in the green Tree, If ſuch things befal the Maſter, 'tis ſufficient for the Servant to be as his Maſter, and as his Lord) And all to make Man more humble in himſelf, more awful of God, more careful to pleaſe him, more fearful to offend him, more conformable to Chriſts ſufferings, more contemplative of his ſufferings, more compaſſionate and fellow-feeling as to others, Sin more bitter, Chriſt more ſweet, the World more contemptible, Death more deſirable, Heaven more delightful, and glorious Grace more admirable in the Saints,2 Cor. 4.8, 9. thus troubled on everyſide, yet not diſtreſſed; caſt down, but not deſtroyed; a burning Buſh, yet not conſumed; in a fiery Furnace, yet receiving no hurt; nay more, that the very fiery Chariot of affliction ſhould be preſt for the ſervice of carrying them to Heaven, their very tribulations made the door for their entring into the Kingdom of God. Acts 14.22. Iames 5.11. and 1.2.And therefore the Scripture counts them hapyy which endure, and teacheth us to count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations.