The Retired Mans Meditations, Title page – To the reader
THE Retired Mans Meditations, OR THE Myſterie and Power OF GODLINES Shining forth in the Living WORD, to the unmasking the Myſterie of Iniquity in the moſt Refined and Pureſt Forms. And withall preſenting to view,
I. The Riches and fulneſs of Chriſts Perſon as Mediator.
II. The Natural and Spiritual Man, in their proper Diſtinction.
III. The Reign and Kingdom of Chriſt, in the Nature, Limits, and extent thereof, as well in his Saints as over his Enemies.
IN WHICH Old Light is reſtored, and New Light Juſtified, Being the Witneſs which is given to this Age,
BY Henry Vane, Knight.
London, Printed by Robert White, and are to be ſold at the three Bibles, neer the Weſt end of Pauls, 1655.
TO THE READER.
THere is not any thing which lies more croſs to the buſie and boundleſs Spirit of Man, then that which takes him off the wing of his Natural deſire, and is as a bar unto that activity in him, which if permitted to run its courſe, makes his feet ſwift to his own deſtruction. For when ſuch a power is aſſumed and delighted in by man, to direct his own steps; the more he is gratified by God with a ſcope and freedom herein, the more is he left alone and ſingled out in a ſelf-ſufficiency of wiſdom and ſtrength, to be at his own diſpoſe, and reap the fruit of his many inventions.
The ſpringing up of this ſpirit in man at firſt, aſpiring herein to be as God, was that that caſt him down from his excellency, and gave him his Fall; ſetting up in him that great Idol, SELF-INTEREST, which hath ever ſince ſo skilfully inſinuated into the deſire and heart of every natural man, that by its influence, the whole world ſeems to be governed, as well in Religion as Civil policy, being able to bring that gain and advantage to the obſervers thereof, which as a powerful bait the Devil makes uſe of to bribe the conſcience, and by degrees to draw off the heart from God, and from ſincere love to all righteous and good principles, as in the exerciſe thereof they lie thwart to its deſigns.
Self, thus conſidered, is no other then the Spirit of man, luſting after the doing of his own will and procuring his own glory more then Gods, (a frame of ſpirit in direct contrariety to Chriſts, Iob. 5. 30. & c. 6. 38.) which inordinate affection is the covetouſneſs the Apoſtle calls idolatry, Col. 3. 5. as wel-knowing that the cheriſhing and upholding of this luſt in its credit, ſtrength and authority, is dearer to man then all other things: yea, then God himſelf. So as whilſt Communion with God, and the fruits of his preſence are found gainfull and ſupporting hereunto, man is content to part with the filthineſs of fleſh, and be waſhed from his old darling ſins, putting on the form of godlineſs: but when the croſs of Chriſt ſhews it ſelf, and comes forth as an enemy againſt it, then God muſt be dethroned, the ſon of God, and the true riches troden under foot; ſo that nothing muſt ſtand up, or be allowed competition herewith, but all muſt bow and do homage, or become the objects of its fierce wrath and diſpleaſure.
If ever this ſpirit creep into the pureſt Forms of Religion, in conjunction with worldly Government to back it, as the caſe may be, tis then got into its laſt ſtrong hold and chief place of defence, where ſitting as on a throne of iniquity, it frames miſchief by a Law, and in caſting the truth down to the ground, it practiſes and proſpers for a ſeaſon againſt the Saints of the moſt High, and againſt the Prince himſelf of this heavenly Hoſt, magnifying it ſelf, and bidding defiance to all adverſaries whatſoever.
Nevertheleſs the power and wiſdom of the croſs of Chriſt, is able to grapple with it, and in due time will viſibly undertake it and triumph over it. But foraſmuch as this ſelfiſh ſpirit is propheſied of, as that which ſhall be eminently in view in the laſt dayes, 2 Tim. 3. 2. as an immediate forerunner of Chriſts ſecond coming (called, Mark 13. 14. The abomination that maketh deſolate, deſcribed as being gotten into the holy place, and ſtanding where it ought not, even in the very Temple of God, clothed with a viſibility of Saintſhip) it does therefore behove us to ſtand upon our watch, armed with the whole armour of God againſt it; this being indeed the foundation of all that hypocriſie and apoſtacy, which the laſt days ſhall be filled with.
For this purpoſe, theſe Meditations on the WORD of Life are preſented to thee; ſetting forth evidently before thine eyes Ieſus Chriſt and him crucified, in whoſe grave this ſelf-exalting ſpirit is found among the dead, as conquered, and ſlain, either through the power of Faith in the true Saint; or by the rod of iron, daſhing and breaking in pieces all wilful reſiſters, as a potters veſſel.
Chriſt, as he is this WORD of Life, is Alpha and Omega, the firſt and the last. In which dignity and preheminence, he is not only him that is true; but hath the property and way of being known by himſelf, as the firſt and original patern of all true knowledge and diſcerning. So as they that have been with this Ieſus, trained up at his feet, under his immediate teachings, are able through him ſtrengthening them, to give a reaſon of their hope, whereof they need not be aſhamed.
Being on this account encouraged, and having an opportunity miniſtred through the retiredneſs of my condition; I judged it my duty, amongſt that variety of witneſs in the things of God, which is at this day given forth, to bear alſo my part, and ſtand up in my lot, taking this age to record, that I am herein free from the blood of all men; as not having ſhunned to declare unto them the Counſels and truths of God, that have obtained a large entrance and reception in my heart, as a ſeed there ſowen, which is ſpringing up to a perfect day.
The Warrant and Rule for this practice, is ſo expreſs and undeniable, that it needs only the mentioning, Rom. 10. 10. where it is ſaid, with the heart man believeth unto righteouſneſs, and with the mouth confeſsion is made unto ſalvation. And Chriſt ſays of himſelf, For this cauſe was I born and came into the world, that I might bear witneſs to the Truth. And to this Paul exhorts Timothy, ſaying, Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art alſo called, and hast profeſſed a good profeſsion before many witneſſes: And this in imitation of Chriſt himſelf; who before Pontius Pilate, witneſſed a good Confeſsion.
Yet how ungrateful a thing is it to fleſh and blood, in the beſt of us, to be bearing that witneſs which ſeems to carry contention in it, with the whole earth? Jer. 15. 10. ſending forth a fire upon all that is earthly, to conſume the falſe Reſts, wherein Profeſſors themſelves are apt to take up, even in that wherein we are allowed only to be as Sojourners. Yea, what ſtreights are we in, as ſtreightned between two, either to render our ſelvs guilty of the blood of men, in the Age wherein we live by holding our peace? or elſe to endanger the making our ſelves a prey by ſpeaking, ſo as to become hatred in the houſe of our God, Hoſ. 9. 8. and be accounted fools and madmen, yea, ſpectacles and wonders even in Iſrael?
But the precious faith here witneſſed unto, teaches us to glory in tribulation, to endure great hardſhip, as good ſouldiers of Ieſus Chriſt, and a great fight of afflictions (till men become weary of reproaching and wondering) as thoſe to whom it is given, not only to believe, but to ſuffer for Christs name ſake.
Hereby the true Believer prevails over his greateſt oppoſitions, and is born up when he fights with beaſts at Epheſus; or with abſurd and unreaſonable men, who, not having faith, are in their encounters with that which they know not, compared to bruit beaſts: with whom to maintain a right combate, the true witneſſes of Jeſus Chriſt, take not upon them to diſpute out their faith into unprofitable janglings, from the nicety of words, and the wilfull miſtake of ſincere intentions; but do content themſelves to be for the uſe, to which Chriſt deſigns them, as GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS to hold forth and bear that light which will by its own evidence and demonſtration, clear up it ſelf in its proper time; and in the mean ſeaſon, ſhelter and defend thoſe that own it, ſtanding in very little need of the wit, eloquence and abilities of men, to back and ſuſtain it: over all which, the power of the croſs is by Paul brought in triumphing, when he ſays: Where is the wiſe? where is the Scribe? where is the diſputer and great reaſoner of this world? hath not God made fooliſh the very wiſdom of this world? 1 Cor. 1. 20.
And indeed, experience in theſe days of ours (as well as what former times have afforded) hath ſet before our eyes in very legible & broad Characters, this generation of unreaſonable men, 2 Theſ. 3. 2. ſo long ago complained of by the Apoſtle, who not having faith, are led by degrees, through the frowardneſs of their legal ſpirits, to oppoſe it, till they come in the way of Gods juſt Judgement, to loſe the right uſe of their very natural powers of mind, as to ſober and ingenious reaſonings, and become abſurd, like thoſe teachers of the Law, 1 Tim. 1. 7. who were famous for ſtrife and jangling, but neither underſtood what they ſaid, nor whereof they affirmed. Theſe the ſame Apoſtle, Phil. 3. 2. ſtiles Dogs, evil workers, and the CONCISION: that are very keen and ſharp in barking, biting and devouring, (wherein, if they find they cannot do hurt enough themſelves, they will be calling out to others for aſsiſtance) but know not how to carry themſelves like men or reaſonable creatures, towards thoſe who are the true circumciſion, and worſhip God in the Spirit, rejoycing in Chriſt Ieſus, and having no confidence in the fleſh, ver. 3.
Of theſe the Scripture bids us beware; more to ſigniſie to the Faithful witneſſes of Chriſt before hand what they are to expect, then in the leaſt to weaken them in the diſcharge of their duty; even to the offering up of themſelves, if need be, in the ſervice of the faith which they profeſs. For truth hath leaſt cauſe of anything to be diſcouraged by oppoſition; ſince it is able to cloath the lovers thereof with the whole armour of light, by way of defence, even againſt the gates of hell it ſelf.
And ſince the days are haſtning faſt, wherein there is nothing covered, that ſhall not be revealed; neither hid that ſhall not be made known; ſo as that which hath been ſpoken in the Cloſets and in darkneſs, ſhall be heard in the light, and proclaimed on the houſe tops, Luke 12. 2, 3. why ſhould the true Believer and righteous man be afraid to preſent the moſt inward thoughts of his heart, in characters to be read and ſeen of all, in aſſured expectation, that the Lord will come to execute judgement, and convince the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds, and hard ſpeeches againſt him? Surely, ſuch a fear as this, belongs more properly to the hypocrite, who looks fair to the eyes of men: but God knoweth his heart, and ſeeth it full of blackneſs and corruption, who therefore by his own immediate ſtroke, will in his due time lay ſuch open alſo to the ſight of others, Iob 34. 26.
To conclude then, Thou art deſired (who ever thou art that ſhalt think fit to peruſe this Treatiſe) not to be prejudiced at the firſt view, or by taking things in parcels, without a full and ſerious weighing of the whole; but by a diligent ſearch and peruſal of the Scriptures, whereon the things here witneſſed unto, are grounded, to examine whether they are ſo or no. And if then thou ſhalt finde a harmony and conſiſtency reſulting & ſpringing up to thee, as well from the inward as outward Word; this leiſurely Survey unto which thou art invited, will be found to have been of no ſmall advantage to thee, in thy making a right judgement hereof. And if ſome of the Chapters that are more Theoretical, in the begining of this Treatiſe, (as well through ſublimity of the ſubject-matter therein handled, as the narrowneſs and inſufficiency of expreſsion) be thought knotty and abſtruſe: the other, which are more practical and ſpeak directly to the works of God in the conſciences of men (as the ſeveral draughts and copies of what was firſt requiſite to be repreſented to thy view and contemplation, in Himſelf, the original patern, Head and root of all) will (I perſwade my-ſelf) be found very eaſie and familiar; ſpecially, to thoſe that are experimental; who as they travel farther into this diſcourſe, will come out of the deep waters of the manifeſtation of Divine glory in God himſelf, into ſuch ſhallows as are more ſuited to humane capacity; where not only the true Saint, but even the natural man, and that, under different diſpenſations (one coming over the head of the other, as ſuperior and more excellent) and in the ſeveral meaſures and degrees of proficiency and growth under each, may not only finde his legs, and feel the ground under him, but ſee his face as in a glaſs, finding himſelf repreſented to himſelf, as to his preſent ſtate and appearance; or as to the proper principles, in the prevailing power and activity whereof, he lives.
And if it be objected, that it were more ſuitable to the Laws of method, firſt to have propounded what is more obvious, in way of condeſcenſion to the loweſt capacities, and ſo to have handed the Reader along into greater deeps;
The Anſwer is plain to any intelligent Reader, which is, that the matter requires and enforces this Method I have uſed, (which therefore I conceive to be more genuine and natural) beſides that no true and right proſpect can be given or taken of the Copy, till the original hath been firſt in our eye, as the top-ſtone whence only we may be enabled to a more ſafe and un-erring intuition into the whole Fabrick.
If the newneſs of many things thou meeteſt with, offend thee, conſider with thy ſelf, what unſearchable riches are to be found in the WORD of God, whoſe beſt wine is kept for the laſt; when Chriſt ſhall be admired in all thoſe that do believe, amongſt whom, he that is feeble at that day, ſhall be as David, and the houſe of David ſhall be as God, as the Angel of the Lord before them, Zach. 12. 8. and this by the means of the WORD, who as a myſterie has lain hid in God; from the foundation of the world, and is no new Commandment; but that which was in and from the beginning; the old Commandment, appearing only new, becauſe the darkneſs in which it hath been a long time veiled, is paſsing away and far ſpent, ſo as the true light now ſhines in Ieſus Chriſt, according to the revelation of the myſterie, which was kept ſecret ſince the world began; but is now made manifeſt, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets, according to the Commandment of the everlaſting God, made known to all Nations for the obedience of Faith, Rom 16. 25, 26.
Again, if thou findeſt the language rough, tedious and unapt to convey the diſcovery of ſuch excellent glory, as is ſhining forth in the face of this living WORD of God; quarrel not with the treaſure for the earthlineſs of the veſſel through which it paſſes; but allow ſomething, as remembring that thy ſelf alſo art in the body, and confined: and be ready and willing in thy place to ſupply what is deficient, my deſign having been more to intend the knowledge of things, then the elegancy of words.
Laſtly, if in the opening of myſtical and dark propheſies, that which principally is aimed at and applied throughout, in this Diſcourſe, be the inward and ſpiritual meaning of them: Know, that it is not to exclude thereby their literal and hiſtorical ſenſe, but to ſhew how well both may ſtand together. In which caſe, ſuch Eſſays deſerve to be born with, conſidering how much of the one ſort is made extant by many pens already, and how little of the other. Farewel,
I am thine, in the love and ſervice of the truth, H. V. From Belleau, April 20. 1655.