Works of Joseph Hall, Section 23
SECT. XXIII.
The ſubordinate rules of Tranquillitie. 1. For actions.OVt of this maine ground once ſetled in the heart (like as ſo many riuers from one common ſea) flow thoſe ſubordinate reſolutions, which we require as neceſſary to our peace, whether in reſpect of our actions, or our eſtate. For our actions, there muſt be a ſecret vow paſſed in the ſoule, both of conſtant refraining from whatſoeuer may offend that maieſtie we reſt vponupon; and aboue this, of true and canonicall obedience to God, without all care of difficultie, and in ſpight of all contradictions of nature. Not out of the confidence of our owne power, impotent men, who are we, that we ſhould either vow or performe? But as he ſaid; GiueGive what thou bidſt, and bid what thou wilt. Hence the courage of Moſes durſt venture his hand to take vp the crawling & hiſſing Serpent. Hence Peter durſt walk vponupon the pauement of the waues. Hence that heroicall ſpirit of Luther (a man made of metall fit for ſo great a worke) durſt reſolue and profeſſe to enter into that fore-warned Citie, though there had bin as many Deuils in their ſtreets as tiles on their houſes. Both theſe vowes as wee once ſolemnly made by others; ſo, for our peace we muſt renew in our ſelues. Thus the experienced minde both knowing that it hath met with a good friend, and withall what the price of a friend is; cannot but be carefull to retaine him, & warie of diſpleaſing, and therefore to cut off all dangers of variance, voluntarily takes a double oath of allegeance of it ſelfe to God; which neither benefit ſhall induce vsus to breake, if we might gaine a world, nor feare vrge vsus thereto, though we muſt loſe our ſelues. The wauering heart that finds continuall combats in it ſelfe betwixt Pleaſure and Conſcience, ſo equally matched that neither gets the day, is not yet capable of peace; and whether euer ouercommeth, is troubled both with reſiſtance and victorie. Barren Rebecca found more caſe, than when her twins ſtruggled in her wombe. If Iacob had beene there alone, ſhe had not complained of that painfull contention: One while Pleaſure holds the Fort, and conſcience aſſaults it; which when it hath entred at laſt by ſtrong hand, after many batteries of iudgements denounced; ere long Pleaſure either corrupts the watch, or by ſome cunning ſtratagem, findes way to recouer her firſt hold. So, one part is euer attempting, and euer reſiſting. Betwixt both, the heart cannot hauehave peace, becauſe it reſolues not. For while the ſoule is held in ſuſpence, it cannot enioy the pleaſure it vſeth; becauſe it is halfe taken vp with feare; onelyonly a ſtrong and reſolute repulſe of pleaſure is truly pleaſant; for therein the Conſcience, (filling vsus with heauenly delight) maketh ſweet triumphs in it ſelfe; as being now the Lord of his owne dominions, and knowing what to truſt to. No man knowes the pleaſure of this thought, I hauehave done well, but he that hath felt it: and he that hath felt it, contemnes all pleaſure to it. It is a falſe ſlander raiſed on Chriſtianitie, that it maketh men dumpiſh and melancholicke: for therefore are we heauie, becauſe we are not enough Chriſtians. We hauehave religion enough to miſlike pleaſures, not enough to ouercome them. But if we be once conquerors ouer our ſelues, and hauehave deuoted our ſelues wholly to God, there can be nothing but heauenly mirth in the ſoule. Loe here, yee Philoſophers, the true muſicke of Heauen, which the good heart continually heareth, and anſwers it in the iuſt meaſures of ioy. Others may talke of mirth, as a thing they hauehave heard of, or vainely fancied; onelyonly the Chriſtian feeles it; and in compariſon thereof ſcorneth the idle, ribaldiſh, and ſcurrilous mirth of the prophane.