A Christian Library, Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Objection: But will some say, How shall we obtain this happy condition? It is not so easie a matter to become gracious, and to gain the favour of God, as you seem to make it.
I Answer Yes, this may easily be helped, if thou hast a mind to it. For as when a man would have those things to be on his right hand, which are now on his left: it is but turning himself, and the work is done: so do but turn your affections from earthly things, to things celestial and heavenly; the case will be so altered, that you will think your self, as a blind man restored to sight, a mad man to his senses, a prisoner set at liberty, a begger advanced to a vast estate, and as one vexed with an evil spirit, or troubled with a tormenting conscience, to such a blessed peace, as the world can neither give nor take away, John 14.27. As thus:
Would you quiet your clamorous conscience, that will not be friends with you, unlesse you be friends with God? The ayer is not so cleer, when the clowde is dissolved by rain, as the mind is, when the clowdes of our iniquities are dissolved by the rain, or tears of true repentance. These waters, are the red sea, wherein the whole Arm of our sinnes is drowned. As O the calm spirit of a godly man! his very dreams are divine.
When Ptolomy King of Aegypt, had posed the Seaventy Interpreters in order, and asked the nineteenth man, what would make one sleep quietly in the night: he told him the best way was, to have divine and celestial Meditations, and to use honest actions and recreations in the day time. The godly man enjoyes Heaven upon earth, peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost, 1 Thes. 1.6. Nor is joy lesse, when it is least expressed, (as it fares with grief) but as the windowes of the Temple were narrow without, but broad within; so is the joy of our hearts, greater than it does outwardly appear to the world.
Again, It is as false a slander as common, that when once a man imbraceth Religion, farewell all joy and delight. For virtue hath neither so crabbed a face, nor so stern a look, as men make her. Pleasure is not gone, when sinne is gone. It is not Isaac that is sacrificed, that is our laughter and mirth; but the Ramme, that is the bruitishnesse of it. The soul of joy, lies in the souls joy. What saies holy David? Be glad ye righteous, and rejoyce in the Lord; and be joyfull all ye that are upright in heart, Psal. 32.11. It was not the Eunuchs riches, nor honours, but his faith, which set him on his way rejoycing, Act. 8.39. In this rejoyce not, (saith our Saviour,) that the spirits are subdued unto you: but rather rejoyce, that your names are written in Heaven, Luke 10.20. Yea, there is even joy in grief, where the sorrow is for sinne.
Besides, how can men partake of that fountain of joy, and rejoyce not? He is no good Christian, that is not taken with the glory he shall have, and rejoyce that his name is written in the Book of life. The worldly man hath joy in prosperity, the Child of God in adversity. The believing Hebrews suffered with joy, the spoyling of their goods, knowing that they had in Heaven, a better and more enduring substance, Heb. 10.34. Yea, let the worst that can come, they are still merry and joyfull: as hath been observed in sundry of the Martyrs, who clapt their hands for joy, even in the midst of the flames. And reason good, when all things shall work to their good, that are good: and when the very draught, and abridgment of Heaven, is in every sanctified heart upon earth.
Then live religiously, and thou shalt both live and die comfortably: For live in grace, and die in peace, is a rule that never fails. Only this hinders our joy, our love to spiritual things is too defective; of worldly things too excessive. Earthly goods are earnestly and eagerly sought after; Heavenly not once thought upon. Much travell taken for the body, little or no care used for the soul. It would be otherwise, if with Paul at his conversion, they had those scales taken away from their eyes, by some godly Ananias, some faithfull Minister of the Gospel: which during their natural condition, covers their eyes from seeing things spiritual. It is a sad thing to see, what fools men are, that walk according to the flesh; and how they are gulled by the God of this world, and their own deceitfull hearts. The covetous man is like a mad man, that loves and is unmeasurably delighted, with the sight and gingling of those chains, wherewith he is fettered and tormented. He hugs them, (I mean his money) and adores them; and even makes them his god, that occasion him all his grief. But had he once tasted how good, and bountifull the Lord is, to those that set their delight on him, 1 Pet. 2.3. If he did grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ, 2 Pet. 3.18. If the Lord, would once incline his heart, unto his testimonies, and not to covetousnesse, Psal. 119.36. he should soon know and find, that things themselves are in the invisible world; in the world visible, but their shaddows only. That wicked men injoy whatsoever they have, viz. wealth, honour, wisdome, pleasure, &c. but as it were in a dream. They dream they are rich, wise, happy, and the like; as a begger may dream he is a King: Or one that is ready to starve, that he is richly furnished with all manner of meats and drinkes: but when once he is awake, he findes himself grossely mistaken. All worldly happinesse, hath its being only by opinion: whence St Luke calls all Agrippa's pomp, but a fancy, Act. 25.23. a meer conceit or supposition. The sweetnesse of sinne, is but as the sweetnesse of poyson: sweet only in the mouth, in the belly bitter and deadly. Stolen bread is sweet; sweet in the obtaining, bitter in the account and reckoning. Yea, this last dish, will spoyl all the feast; and make it but like a drop of pleasure, before a river of sorrow and displeasure: Whereas whatsoever the godly feel, is but as a drop of misery, before a river of mercy and glory.