The Christians Charter, Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. Shewing the Duties of a Beleever by way of Retaliation.
THere are severall Duties which I would presse upon Beleevers; and they branch themselves into nine particulars.
1. Branch.1. Admire, and thankfully adore the love of God in setling this rich Charter upon you. How was David affected with Gods goodnesse? 2 Sam. 7.19. Thou hast spoken of thy servants House for a great while to come. So should we say, Lord, thou hast not only given us things present, but thou hast spoken of thy servants for a great while to come, nay, for ever. It will be a great part of our work in heaven to admire God: let us begin to do that work now which we shall be for ever doing. Adore free-grace; free-grace is the hinge on which all this turns; Every link in this golden chaine is richly enamell'd with free-grace; Free-grace hath provided us a plank after shipwrack. When things pas… were forfeited, God hath given us things to come. When we had lost Paradise, he hath provided heaven. Thus are we raised a step higher by our fall. Set the Crown upon the head of free-grace. O to what a Seraphicall frame of spirit should our hearts be raised! How should we joyn with Angels and Arch-Angels in blessing God for this! 'Tis well there is an eternity coming; and truly that will be little enough to praise God. Say as that sweet Singer of Israel,Ps. 103.1, Psal. 103.1. Blesse the Lord, O my soul; Or as the Original will bear, foreign. Bow the Knee, O my soul, before the Lord. Thus should a Christian say, All things in heaven and earth are mine; God hath setled this great portion upon me, Bow the Knee, O my soul, praise God with the best instrument, the heart; and let the instrument be screwed up to the highest, doe it with the whole heart. When God is tuning upon the string of mercy, a Christian should be tuning upon the string of Praise, I have given you but a taste of this new Wine: yet so full of Spirits it is, that a little of it should enflame the heart in thankfulnesse. Let me call upon you, who are the heirs apparent to this rich inheritance, Things present and to come; that you would get your hearts elevated, and wound up into a thankfull frame. 'Tis not an handsome posture, to see a Christian ever complaining when things go crosse. O do not so look upon your troubles, as to forget your mercies. Blesse God for what is to come: and to heighten your praises, consider God gives you not one… …hese things, but he gives y… …mself.Da mihi te Domine. It was Austins praye…. Lord, saith he, What ever thou hast given me, take all away, only give me thy self: You have not only the gift, but the Giver. O take the Harp and Violl; if you do not blesse God, who shall? where will God have his praise? he hath but a little in the World. Praise is in it self an high Angelical work, and requires the highest spirited Christians to perform it. Wicked men cannot praise God: they can say, God be thank'd; but as it is with the Hand-Diall, the finger of the Diall is at twelve, when the Diall hath not moved one minute. So, though the tongues of wicked men are forward in praise, yet their hearts stand still. Indeed, who can praise God for these glorious priviledges to come, but he that hath the Seale of the Spirit to assure him that all is his? O that I might perswade the people of God to be thank…ll, Make Gods Praise glorious *Psa. 62.1. Let mee tell you, God is much taken with this frame; Repentance is the joy of Heaven, and Thankfulnesse is the musick of Heaven: let not God want his musick; let it not bee said, God hath more Murmurers than Musicians; Who so offereth praise, glorifies me *Ps. 50. ult.
2. If all things to come are yours, live suitable to those glorious hopes: you that look for things to come, let mee tell you, God looks for something present from you; namely, that your lives be answerable to your hopes What manner of persons ought you to be? 2 Pet. 3.11. You have heard what manner of priviledges you shall have; I, but what manner of persons ought you to be? Those that look to differ from others in their Condition, must differre from them also in their Conversation. Wherefore beloved, seeing you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace without spot *2 Pet. 3.14. We would all be glad to be found of God in peace, then labour to bee found without spot. Spot not your faces, spot not your consciences; live as those who are the Citizens and Burgesses of this new Ierusalem above. Walk as Christ did upon earth. There are three steps in which we should follow Christ.
1. In sanctity: his was an holy life;Joh. 8.46. Which of you convinceth me of sinne? Though he was made sin, yet he knew no sinne. The very divels acknowledged his holinesse: we know thee who thou art, The holy One of God. Oh be like Christ; tread in his steps. In the Sacrament, wee shew forth the Lords death *1 Cor. 11 26.: And in an holy conversation wee shew forth his life. The holy oyle, wherewith the Vessels of the Sanctuary were to be consecrated, was compounded of the purest ingredients *Exod. 30 32., which was a Type and Embleme of that Sanctity which should rest upon the godly; their hearts and lives should be consecrated with the holy oyle of the Spirit. How doth it discredit and as it were intomb the honor of religion when men profess they look for heaven, yet there is nothing of heaven in them; if there be light in the lanthorn, it will shine out: and if grace be in the heart, it will shine forth in the conversation. It is a great sinne in these times to be bewailed, the looseness of Professors: even those that we hope (by the rule of charity) have the sap of grace in their heart, yet do not give forth such a sweet savour in their lives: How many under the Notion of Christian Liberty, degenerate into Libertinisme. The carrage of some that go for Saints is such, that it would make men afraid to embrace Religion. What Chrysostome saith of the Contentions of the Church in his time; (If, saith he, a Gentile should come and say, I would bee made a Christian; yet when hee sees such a spirit of Dissension among them; one of Paul, and another of Apollo, such are the diversity of opinions, that hee knowes not which to chuse, but must returne to his Gentilism againe:) The same may I say of the loosenesse, if not scandals of some Professors; If a stranger should come from beyond Sea, and see the miscarriages of many, their Covetousnesse, their Licentiousnesse; had hee no other Bible to read in, but the lives of some Professors, hee would turne back again, and resolve never to be made a Christian. Pudet haec opprobria nobis—. What a shame is this? Did Christ walk thus when hee was upon earth? His life was a pattern of Sanctity! You that are Professors, your sinnes are sinnes of unkindnesse, they go nearest to Christs heart. Do you live as those who have hope of things to come? is Christ preparing Heaven for you, and are you preparing Warre against him? Is this your kindnesse to your friend? O consider how you wound Religion; Your sinnes are worse then others. A staine in a black cloth is not so easily seen or taken notice of; but a spot in a piece of Scarlet, every ones eye is upon it. The sinnes of wicked men are not so much wondred at, they can do no other, theirs is a spot in black; but a sinne in a Professor, this is like a spot in a bright Scarlet, every ones eye is upon it▪ this wounds the honour of Religion: The deviation of the godly is as odious as the devotion of the prophane. Oh that there were such a lustre and majesty of holinesse in the lives of Professors, that others might say, These look as if they had been with Jesus, they live as if they were in Heaven already. Aaron must not onelyonly have Bels▪ but Pomegranates, which were for savour, as the other were for sound. It is not enough to discourse of godlinesse, or to make a noise by a Profession: What are these Bels without the Pomegranates, viz. a life that casts a savour in the Church of God?
2. Walk as Christ did, in Humility. His life was a pattern of Humility. He was the Heir of Heaven, the God-head was in him, yet he washeth his Disciples feet Iohn 13.6. He poured water into a Bason, and began to wash his Disciples feet, and to wipe them with the Towel. No wonder it is said, that he came in the form of a servant; he stands here with his Bason of water and a Towel; nay he did not onelyonly humble himself to the Disciples feet, but he humbled himself to the death, even the death of the cross, Phil. 2.8. Tread in this step of Christ▪ be humble; the humble Saint looks like a Citizen of heaven. Humility is the vail of a Christian: Christs Bride never looks more beautifull in his eye, than when she hath on this vail▪ Be ye clothed with humility *1 Pet. 5.5. Humility, as it hides anothers error, so it hides its own graces; grace shines brightest thorow the Mask of humility. Moses face shined,Exod. 34.29. but he wist not that it shined. What are all our duties without humility? Incense smells sweetest when it is beaten small *Species aromaticae cûm in pulverem rediguntur, suavissimè redolent.; when the Incense of our duties is beaten small, then it sends forth its most fragrant perfume. Humility studies its own unworthinesse, it looks with one eye upon grace, to keep the heart chearful, and with the other eye upon sinne, to keep it humble. Better is that sinne which humbles me, then that duty which makes me proud! Humility gives all to Christ; as Ioab when he had gotten a victory, sends for King David, that he might carry away the Crown of it: So doth the humble Christian, when he hath gotten the victory over a corruption, he sets the Crown upon the head of Christ: if he hath strength to go thorow duties, he writes Christ and free grace upon all. I laboured more abundantly then they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me, 1 Cor. 15.10. You that look for things above, let me tell you, the way to ascend is to descend; the lower the tree roots, the higher it shoots up: would you shoot up in glory, would you be tall Cedars in the Kingdome of God? be deeply rooted in Humility. Humility is compar'd by some of the Fathers to a Valley; we must walk to heaven thorow this valley of Humility. Humility is such a precious Herb, as growes not in the garden of Philosophy; that is rather Humanity, then Humility. Humility distinguisheth Christs Spouse from harlots. Hypocrites grow in knowledge; but not in humility.foreign. Knowledge puffs up, 1 Cor. 8.1. 'Tis a Metaphor taken from a pair of Bellowes, that are blown up and fill'd with winde. He that is proud of his knowledge, the Devil cares not how much he knows. It is observable in the old law that God hated the very resemblance of the sinne of pride, he would have no honey mingled in their offering; Ye shall burne no leaven, nor any honey in any offering of the Lord made by fire *Lev. 2.1…. Indeed, leaven is soure, but what is there in honey that should offend? why no honey? because honey when it is mingled with meale or flower, maketh it to rise, and swell, therefore the people of Israel must mingle no honey in their offering. This was to let us see how God hated the resemblance of this sinne of pride. Be humble.
3. Be like Christ in Charity; Christs life was a life of charity; he breath'd nothing but love; he was full of this sweet perfume: as his Person was lovely *Cant. 5.16., so was his Disposition, he was compos'd all of love: his lips dropp'd honey, his side dropp'd blood, his heart dropp'd love. You that expect these glorious things to come, live as Christ did, live in love: Oh that this spice might send out its fragrant smell among Christians! We know we are passed from death to life, because we love the brethren *1 Joh. 3.14.. Dost thou love the Person of Christ, and hate the picture? He that loves him who doth beget, loves him also that is begotten *1 Joh. 5.1. There are two Devils which are not fully cast out of Gods own people, The devil of vaine glory, and the devil of uncharitablenesse. Are we not Fellow-Citizens? Doe wee not all expect the same Heaven? Nay, are we not Brethren? which should be a sufficient bond to knit us together in amity. We have all the same Father, God; We are borne of the same Mother, the Church; we are begotten of the same seed, the Word; We suck the same brests, the Promises; Wee feed at the same Board, the Table of the Lord; We wear the same cloathing, the Robe of Christ's Righteousnesse; We are partners in the same glory, the inheritance of the Saints in light. And shall we not love? There is indeed a blessed strife, when the Saints strive for the faith: but this is a strife that consists of unity; Striving together for the faith of the Gospel, Phil. 1.27 *foreign.. You that look for things to come, live suitably to your hopes: Walke as Christ did, that some of his beams may shine in you, and his life may be as it were copied out in yours.
3. The third duty is,3. Branch. If things to come are a Beleevers, be content though you have the lesse of things present: Having food and rayment, let us be therewith content *1 Tim. 6.8.. Oh what a rich estate hath a Beleever! he is to be valued according to that which is in reversion. Things to come are his. If you were to take an estimate of a man's Estate, would you value it by that which hee hath in his House, or by his Land? Perhaps he hath little in his house, little money, or plate; but he is a landed man, There lies his Estate. While we are in this House of Clay, we have but little. Many a Christian can hardly keepe life and soule together; but, hee is a landed man, things to come are his; then be content with the lesse of things present: If wee have but a small fore-crop, we shall have a great after-crop; it is sufficient if we have but enough to beare our charges till we come to Heaven. An Heire that hath a great Estate beyond Sea, though hee hath but a little money for his voyage thither, he will bee content. If a Christian hath but enough to pay for his passage, till he comes at Heaven, it is sufficient; as Seneca said to his friend Polibius *Fas tibi non est de fortuna conqueri, salvo Caesare. Sen., Never complaine of thy hard fortune, as long as Caesar is thy friend. So I say to a Beleever, Never complaine as long as Christ is thy friend; hee is preparing the Heavenly Mansions for thee. If thou complainest of any thing, let it be of thy complaining. Should not Hagar have been content, though the water were spent in her Bottle, when there was a Well so neare? God hath made a Deed of gift, he hath given Christ to a Believer, and in him all things, things present and to come, Grace and Glory *Psal. 84.11.; is not here enough to make him content? But, saith the Christian, I want present comforts. Consider, the Angels in Heaven are rich, yet they have no money; thou hast things to come, Angels riches, such as cannot stand with reprobation; bee content then with the lesse of things present. The Philosophers, who never understood one syllable of this Charter, did contemne riches, and preferr'd a contemplative life; what poore contemplations were those? certainly a man that lives by faith, may have more sweet content in his soule by the meditation of things to come, then a worldly man by the enjoying things present.
4. Labour for such an high degree of faith,4. Branch. as to make these things to come, present. Faith and Hope are two Sisters, and are very like, they differ thus; Hope looks at the excellency of the Promise, faith at the certainty of it: now faith looking at the infallible truth of him that promiseth, thus it makes things to come present. Faith doth antedate glory, it doth substantiate things not seen *Heb. 11.1.: Faith alters the Tenses, it puts the Future into the Present Tense, Psalm. 60.6. Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, Ephraim is the strength of my head, &c. Those places were not yet subdued, but God had spoken in his holinesse, he had made David a promise, and he beleeved it, therefore hee looked upon them as already subdued: Gilead is mine, &c. So saith faith, God hath spoken in his holinesse, hee hath made me a promise of things to come, therefore Heaven is mine already. When one hath the reversion of an house, saith hee, This house is mine, Oh that wee had this Art of Faith, thus to anticipate Heaven, and make things to come present. Thou who art a Beleever, Heaven is thine now; thy head is already glorified; nay, heaven is begun in thee, thou hast some of those joyes which are the primitiae, the first-fruits of it. A Christian by the eye of faith, through the Perspective-glass of the promise, may see into Heaven. Faith sees the Promise fulfilled before it be fulfilled. Faith sets to its hand: Item, Received so much, before it be paid. Had we a vigorous faith, we might be in Heaven before our time: That which a weake beleever hopes for, a strong beleever doth in some kinde possesse. Oh that wee could often take a prospect of the Heavenly Paradise: Walke about Sihon, and go round about her, tell the towers thereof, mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her Palaces *Psal. 48.12, 13: So, Walke into the Heavenly Mount, see what a glorious situation it is, go tell her Towers, see what an inheritance you have; see your beauty and Nobility, behold your Scutchion: Oh that wee could thus breath our faith up this Mount of Heaven every day. Do not say, All this shall be mine; but, It is mine already: my Head is there, my faith is there, my heart is there: could we thus living up to the height of our faith, reallize and antedate things to come, how would all present thing vanish! if a man could live in the Sunne, the earth would not appear: when Saint Paul had been wrapped up into the third Heaven, the earth did hardly appeare ever after: see how he scornes it, I am crucified to the world: it was a dead thing to him, hee had begun Heaven already; thus it is with a man that is Heavenlized. You Saints that are earthly, the eye of your faith is blood-shot: it is the character of a sinner, he cannot see afarre off *foreign., 2 Pet. 1.9. like a man who hath bad eyes, that can see but just before him. Faith carries the heart up to Heaven, and brings Heaven downe into the heart.
5. Branch.5. If all things to come are yours, then walke chearfully with God, put on your white robes: hath a Beleever a title to Heaven? what, and sad? Wee rejoyce in hope of the glory of God, Rom. 5.2. It is but a while, 'tis but putting off the earthly clothes of our body, and wee shall bee clothed with the bright robes of glory, and can a Beleever bee sad? See how Christ doth secretly check his Disciples for this, Luke 24.17. What manner of communications are these, while you walke and are sad? What, sad and Christ risen? So I say to beleevers; Things to come are yours: why walke ye and are sad? let them bee out of heart, who are out of hope. Oh rejoyce in God: when the lead of the flesh begins to sink, let the cork of faith swim above! How doth the heir rejoyce in hope of the Inheritance! How doth the Apprentice rejoyce to think of coming out of his time! Here we are kept under by sinne, and a childe of God is forced sometimes to do the devils work, but shortly death will make us free; there is an eternall Jubile coming, therefore rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God. Can wicked men rejoyce that have their portion in this life, and cannot hee rejoyce that hath a reversion of Heaven? Are the waters of Abanah and Pharpar like to the waters of Iordan? O ye Saints, think into what a blessed condition you are now brought! is it not a sweet thing to have God appeas'd? is it not a matter of joy to be an heire of the promise? Adam in Paradise had choice of all the trees, one only excepted. The Promises are the trees of life, thou may'st walk in the garden of the Bible, and pluck from all these trees. Who should rejoyce if not a Christian? he hath never so much cause to be sad, as he hath to bee chearfull.
Object. 1.Object. 1. But my sinnes trouble me.
Answ.Answ. 'Tis true: That sinne will not forsake thee, is matter of sadnesse; but that thou hast forsaken sinne, is matter of joy: Sinne is a talent of lead. That thou canst not runne so fast as thou would'st in the wayes of God, is matter of sadnesse: but that thou goest without halting, (in regard of uprightnesse,) this is matter of joy; and for your comfort remember, shortly you shall sinne no more, all things shall be yours but sinne.
Object. 2.Object. 2. But we are bid to mourn.
Answ.Answ. I would not speak against holy mourning; while we carry fire about us, we must carry water; as long as the fire of sinne burns in our brests, we must carry tears to quench it. But consider, 1. Spirituall joy and mourning may stand together; sometimes it rains and shines at once: when there is a shower in the eyes, there may be sunshine in the heart: in religion, mourning and musick are not inconsistent. 2. The end why God makes us sad, is to make us rejoyce; he doth not require sorrow for sorrow, but it is ordain'd to be sal & condimentum, as sauce to make our joy relish the better: we sowe in tears, that we may reap in joy: 3. The swetest joy is from the sourest tears: Christ made the best wine of water *Joh. 2.: the purest and most excellent joy is made of the waters of true repentance: the Bee gathers the best honey off the bitterest herbs: Tears are the breeders of spirituall joy. When Hannah had wept, she went away, and was no more sad. Those clouds are very uncomfortable that never have any sunshine: That mourning which dies the soul all in sable, viz. that hath no place for rejoycing, I shall rather think it despair, then true remorse; The same God who hath bid us mourn, hath also bid us rejoyce, Phil 4.4. 'Tis an excellent temper to be serious, yet chearfull. Jesus Christ loves the sanguine complexion: joy puts liveliness and activity into a Christian, it oyls the wheels of the affections; an heavy mind makes a dull action: the joy of the Lord is your strength *Neh. 8.10.. The pensive melancholy Christian doth disparage the glory of Heaven: What will others say? Here is one that speaks of things to come, and of a Crown laid up, but sure he doth not believe it: see how sad he is! what ado is here to make a child of God chearfull! shall we need bid an Heire rejoyce in the Estate befallen him? let me tell you You who refuse consolation, are not fit persons to praise God: 'Tis a kind of Solecisme, to praise God with a sad heart: I will sing praises, Psal 108. v. 1. 'Tis more proper to sing praises, then to weep them. Rejoyce, O Christian, lift up thy crest, triumph in the hope of these foreign, things to come: it is not enough that there be joy within the firmament of a Christians heart but it must shine out in his countenance.
Sixth Duty. If all things to come are a believers,6. Branch. let him not envy them who have only things present. God often wrings out the waters of a full cup to wicked men, but there are dregs at the bottom. Indeed, the prosperity of sinners is a great temptation: David stumbled at it, and had almost fallen; Psal. 73. My feet had well nigh slipt: It is not matter of envy but pity, to see men thrive in a way of sinne; a fool is in gay cloaths, but do you envy him? a man under a sentence, going up the ladder, do you envy him? They that will be rich fall into temptations and a snare, Quis aerario, qui… ple…is loculis invide…? Sen.1 Tim. 6.9. Do you envy a man who is fallen into a snare? wicked men have that guilt which imbitters their comforts, so that they may be said to want what they have *foreign.: as a man who hath great possessions, yet having a fit of the Stone or Gout, while he is in that torment he may be said not to have them, because the comfort of them is taken away. A believer hath better things then these; things to come: Wicked men have a Crowne of unrighteousness, he hath a Crown of righteousness; they have robes (and perhaps stained with the blood of innocents) *Jer. 19.3., he hath the bright robe of glory. Envy not the oppressour, and choose none of his wayes: *Prov. 3.31.better is sanctified adversity, then successefull impiety.
Seventh Duty. Be supported in want of spirituall comfort:7. Branch. spiri…uall joy is a sweet thing … is the spiced wine that … lips of them who are asleep to speak: *Cant. 7.9this is the hidden Mannah, the bunch of grapes that growes upon the true vine; this is the Saints banqueting stuffe; how sweet is it to have Word▪ and Spirit, and Conscience speaking peace! in the mouth of these three witnesses faith is confirmed. But, saith the poor soul that goes mourning, It is not so with me, I have not the Privy Seale of Heaven, I want assurance. Well, do not give over waiting. We read, Iohn 6.19. the Disciples were in the ship, and there arose a great storm, And when they had rowed about twenty five, or thirty furlongs, they see Iesus. This, O Christian, may bee thy case, there is a tempest of sorrow risen in thy heart; and thou hast rowed from one Ordinance to another, and hast no comfort: Well, bee not discouraged, do not give over rowing; thou hast rowed but three or foure furlongs, perhaps when thou hast rowed twenty five or thirty furlongs, thou may'st see Jesus, and have a comfortable evidence of his love; but suppose thou shouldest row all thy life long, and not have assurance, there are tw… things should support the heart in want of spirituall joy.
1. Supporter.1. God denies comfort to exercise grace. We are impatient if we have not comfort presently; and truly, did we carve for our selves, we should often cut the worst piece; a Christian would ever bee upon Mount Tabor, looking into Canaan, he is loath to come downe into the valley, and be in trials, agonies, temptations, as if God could not love us except hee had us in his armes: God will have us without comfort sometimes; to make us row against tyde, beleeve against hope. Of what use were the Starres, if the Sunne did alwayes shine? how could patience have it's perfect work, how could repentance' if we were alwayes upon the Mount of joy? Rachel is more fair, but Leah is more fruitfull; comfort is fair to look upon, but grace is better then comfort. A Christian should rather pray for a fruitfull heart then fair weather; oftentimes when God lets downe comfort into the heart, wee begin to let down care. As it is with Musicians, before they have money, they will play you many a sweet lesson; but as soone as you throw them down money, they are gone, you heare no more of them: Before joy & assurance, oh the sweet musick of Prayer and Repentance! but whē God throws down the comforts of his Spirit, we either begin to leave off duty; or at least slacken the strings of our Vial, & grow remiss in it: thou art taken with the mony, but God is taken with the musick; thou art taken with comfort, but God is more taken with thy faith: when there is too much sunshine, oftentimes there follows a drought in our graces.
2. Supporter.2. The second thing to support the heart, is, Things to come are yours: it is but staying a while, and you shall be brim-full of comfort: now a beleever is an heir of this joy, let him stay but while he is of age, and hee shall bee fully possessed of the joyes of Heaven. For the present, God leaves a seed of comfort in the heart, *1 Joh. 3.9the seed of God; there's a time shortly coming when we shall have the full flower; We shall drink of the fruit of the vine in the Kingdome of Heaven *Mat. 26.29.. As Paul said of Onesimus, Philem. v. 15. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou mightest receive him for ever: so I say of the comforts of Gods Spirit, they may bee withdrawn for a season, that we may have them for ever: there's a time coming when we shall bathe our selves in the rivers of divine pleasure.
8. The next duty is,8. Branch▪ If all Christs things are ours, then all our things must be Christs; this is Lex Talionis, justice and equity require it. There's a joynt interest between Christ and a believer: Christ saith, All mine are thine, things present, and things to come; then the heart of a believer must echo back to Christ, Lord, whatsoever I have is for thee; my parts, my estate; it was the saying of a reverend Father▪ Lord, thou art my all, and my all is thine *Anselm.. Oh be willing to spend, and be spent; do, and suffer for Christ.
1. Let us to our power advance the Honour and Interest of Jesus Christ: Alas, what is all that we can do? If a King should bestow upon another a Million per annum, with this proviso, that in lieu of his acknowledgement he should pay a Peppercorn every year to the King, what proportion were there between this mans rent and his revenue? Alas, we are but unprofitable servants *Luk. 17.10., all that we can do for Christ is not so much as this peppercorn; yet up and be doing: Christ hates complements: we must not only bow the knee to him, but with the Wise men *Mat. 2.11, present him with gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrhe. Be not like the sonnes of Belial, who brought their King no presents *1 Sam. 10. ult.. But, saith the Christian, I am poor, and can do little for Christ. Canst thou not make a Deed of gift, and bestow thy love upon Christ? In the Law, he that could not bring a Lamb for an offering, if he brought but two Turtle-doves, it was sufficient. The woman in the Gospel that threw in but her two mites, yet it was accepted *Mar. 12.42.. God is not angry with any man because he hath but one Talent, but because he doth not trade it.
2. Suffer for Christ, be willing to sell all, nay, to lose all for Christ: we may be losers for him, we shall never be losers by him; if he calls him for our blood, let us not deny it; we have no such blood to shed for Christ as he hath shed for us. It was Luthers saying, That in the cause of God he was cont…nt, totius mundi odium & impetum sustinere; to indure the odium and fury of the whole world. Basil affirmes of the Primitive Saints, they had so much courage in their sufferings, that many of the Heathens seeing their Heroick zeal, turned Christians; they snatched up torments as so many Crowns. Oh think nothing too dear for Christ. We that look for things to come, should be wiling to part with things present for Christ.
9.9. Lastly, If all things to come are ours, be content to wait for these Great Priviledges: it is not incongruous to long for Christs appearing, and yet to wait for it: you see the glory a beleever shall be invested with; but though the Lord gives a great portion, he may set a long day for the paiment. David had the promise of a Crown, but it was long before he came to weare it. God will not deny, yet he may delay his promise, to teach us to wait: 'tis but a short-spirited faith that cannot waite. The husbandman waites for the seed: there is a seed of Glory sowne in a beleevers heart, waite till it spring up into a harvest. Truly, it is an hard thing to waite for these things to come; so many discouragements from without, so many distempers from within, that the Christian is willing to be at home: therefore we need patience, Heb. 10 36. For yee have need of patience. But how shall we get it? nourish faith; ver. 35. Cast not away your confidence. Patience is nothing else but faith spun out; if you would lengthen patience, be sure to strengthen faith.
There's a great deale of reason why a beleever should be content to wait for Heaven. 1. God is faithfull who promiseth *Heb. 10.23.: Gods Word is security enough to venture upon, his Bond is as good as ready money: all the world hangs upon the word of his power▪ and cannot our faith hang upon the word of his promise? we have his hand and seal, nay, his Oath. 2. While we are waiting, God is tuning and fitting us for glory; Giving thanks to the Father▪ who hath made us meet for the inheritance, Col. 1.12. we must be made meet. Perhaps our hearts are not humble enough, not patient enough; our faith is but in its swadling bands, we should be content to wait a while, till we have gotten such a vigorous faith as will carry us full-sail to Heaven. As there is a fitting of vessels for hell, Rom. 9.22. so there is a ripening and a preparing of the vessels of mercy, ver. 23. A Christian should be willing to wait for glory till he be fit to take his degree. 3. While we are waiting, our glory is encreasing; while wee are laying out for God, he is laying up for us, 2 Tim. 4.8, If we suffer for God, the heavier our Crosse, the heavier shall bee our Crown. Would a Christian be in the Meridian of glory, would he have his robes shine bright, let him stay here and do service; God will reward us, though not for our works, yet according to our works *Mar. 16.27.: the longer We stay for the principall, the greater will the interest be. 4. Wait for these things to come out of ingenuity: The longer a Christian lives, the more glory he may bring to God. Faith is an ingenuous grace, as it hath one eye at the reward, so it hath another eye at duty▪ The time of life is the only time we have to work for God. Heaven is a place of receiving, this of doing. Hence the Apostle being enflamed with divine love, though he could with all his heart bee with Christ, yet hee was content to live a while longer, that he might build up souls, and make the Crown flourish upon the head of Christ *Phil. 1.24.: 'Tis self-love saith, Who will shew us any good? divine love saith, How may I do good? The prodigal son could say, Father, give me my portion; he thought more of his portion, then his duty. A gracious spirit is content to stay out of Heaven a while, that he may be a means to bring others thither. He whose heart hath been divinely touched with the love of God, his care is not so much for receiving the talents of gold, as for improving the talents of grace. Oh wait a while, learne of the Saints of old, they waited: if we cannot wait now, what would we have done in the times of the long-liv'd Patriarchs? look upon worldly men, they wait for preferment; shall they wait for earth, and cannot we wait for Heaven? If a man hath the reversion of a Lordship or Manor when such a Lease is out will he not wait for it? We have the reversion of Heaven when the lease of life is run out, and shall we not wait? Look upon wicked men, they wait for an opportunity to sin; the adulterer waits for the twilight *Job 24.15.; sinners lye in wait for their own blood, Prov. 1.18. Shall men wait for their damnation and shall not we be content to wait for our salvation? Wait without murmuring, wait without fainting; the things we expect are infinitly more then we can hope for. And let me adde one caution; wait on the Lord, and keep his waies, Psal. 37.34. while we are waiting, let us take heed of wavering. Go not a step out of Gods way, though a Lyon be in the way, avoid not duty to meet with safety: keep Gods highway, the good old way, Jer. 6.16. the way which is paved with holiness, Isa. 35.8. and an high-way shall be there, and it shall be called the way of holiness: avoid *Ps. 125.5crooked pathes, take heed of turning to the left hand, lest you be set on the left hand. Sin doth crosse our hopes, it barracadoes up our way; a man may as well expect to find Heaven in hell, as in a sinful way
My last Use is to such as have only things present, Use ult.that they would labour for things to come. You have seen the blessed condition of a man in Christ, never rest till this be yours: Alas, what are the great possessions of the earth? the world hath vanity written upon the frontispiece; there's a transiency and a deficiency in these things. What is Honour' but a rattle to still mens ambition? it is like the Meteor which lives in the ayr, so doth this in the breath of other men *Hon…r est in honora…te.: it's like a gale of wind which carries the ship; sometimes this wind is down, a man hath lost his Honor, and lives to see himself intombed: som…mes this wind is too high: how many have been blown to hell while they have been sailing with the wind of popular applause! Honor is but magnum nihil *Sen., a glorious fancy, Acts 25.23 *foreign.. It doth not make a man really the better, but often the worse: a man swell'd with honour (wanting grace) is like a dropsyman whose bigness is his disease.
And for riches (the silver goddess which men a dore,) what are they? 1. They are vain: I gathered me silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of Kings and of the Provinces, Eccl. 2.8. and behold, all was vanity, vers. 11. That must needs bee vain which cannot fill the heart. Covetousness is a drie drunkenness; the more men have, the more they thirst;Eò majora cupimus, quò majora habemus. like the fire, the more fuell is thrown into it, the more it is inflamed.
2. They are uncertain, 1 Timothy 6.17. they are ever upon the wing: Outward comforts, as one saith*Plato., are Dei ludibria, quae sursum ac deorsum suo coelo feruntur, like Tennis-bals, which are bandied up and downe from one to another. 3. They are vexing: It was a fruit of the curse, Genesis. 3.18. Thorns and thistles shall the earth brin… forth: The comforts of this life have more or lesse of the Thorn in them: They are sweet-briar: Riches may well be called Thorns, they pierce both head and heart, the one with care of getting, the other with griefe in parting with them. 4. They are dangerous, they oft turn to the hurt of the owner, Ecclesiastes 5.13. they are*Bern. dulce venenum; a sweet poison; how many have pull'd down their soules to build up an estate! A ship may bee so loaded with gold and silver that it sinks; A gift blindes the eye *Deut. 6.19., the same may bee said of riches, the golden dust of the world puts out the eye of the soule, that men neither know God nor themselves: Iudas (as Tertullian thinks) was pretty honest till he carried the bag*Usque ad … …ssici…m.. It's hard to bee in office, and not put conscience out of office; oh what are these present things in comparison of things to come! Christ who had all riches, scorn'd these earthly riches▪ hee was borne poore, the Manger was his cradle, the Cobwebs his curtaines: hee lived poore, Hee had not where to lay his head *Mat 8.20▪; hee died poore; for as Austin observes, when Christ died, hee made no Will, hee had no Crown-lands, only his coate was left, and that the Souldiers parted among them; and his Funeral was suitable, for as he was borne in another mans house, so hee was buried in another mans Tombe. To shew how hee did contemne earthly dignities and possessions. His Kingdome was not of this world: Suppose an houre of adversity come, can these present things quiet the minde in trouble? riches are call'd thick clay *Hab. 2.6, which will sooner breake the backe, then lighten the heart: When pangs of Conscience and pangs of Death come, and no hope of things to come, what peace can the world give at such a time? surely it can yield no more comfort then a silken stockin to a man whose legge is out of joynt; a fresh colour delights the eye, but if the eye be sore, this colour will not heale it; Riches availe not in the day of wrath *Prov. 11.4.. Thou canst not hold thy wedge of gold as a Screene to keepe off the fire of Gods justice: Let this sound a retreate to call us off from the immoderate pursuite of present things, to labour for things to come; what are these neather springs to the upper springs? As Abraham said, Lord, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless *Gen. 15.12.? So say, Lord, what wilt thou give mee, seeing I go Christlesse? Luther did solemnly protest, God should not put him off with these things: Valde protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo *Luther.: Oh labour for those blessings in heavenly places *Eph. 1.3.. Things present are pleasing, but not permanent; be not content with a few gifts: Abraham gave unto the sons of the Concubines gifts, and sent them away; but unto Isaac, Abraham gave all that he had *Gen. 25.5. Reprobates may have a few jewels and ear-rings which God scatters with an indifferent hand, these with the sons of the Concubines are put off with gifts, but labout you for the portion *Ps. 119.57, that portion which the Saints and Angels are spending upon, and can never spend: get by faith into Christ, and then all is yours; so saith the Apostle, All things are yours, and ye are Christs.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Watson, The Christians Charter (1654)