The Case and Cure of a Deserted Soul, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. 1 Queſt. Since all come ſhort of what they know they ſhould doe, and God imputes not that as ſin to them that are beleevers; How may a man know when his deficiency is imputed as a ſin to him?
Anſw. 1 WHen his defect is voluntary: he doth but little, Signes of ſinfull defects.& is not willing to do more, he knoweth he ſhould doe more, but his will is againſt it; God expects this at leaſt, When voluntary.that though his people be unable to doe all, yet they ſhould bee willing; hee will have all their hearts towards him: and this David gave in charge to his ſon Solomon. And thou Solomon my Son, know thou the God of thy father, and ſerve him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde; for the Lord ſearcheth all hearts, and underſtandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts; if thou ſeek him, he will be found of thee, but if thou forſake him, hee will caſt thee off for ever. 1 Chron. 28 9.
2 When you do leſſe then you have done: When leſſe done then hath beene, though the cauſe be the ſame.the ſame neceſſity ſtill urging, conſcience ſtill preſſing, opportunity ſtill ſerving, this was the ſin of that back-ſliding people. Apoc. 2.4. They fell from their firſt workes: Therefore Chriſt threatned to forſake them.
3 When you doe leſſe then thoſe that have like abilities, Leſſe then others.occaſions, engagements, opportunities; but much more clearely you ſin when others that have more ſtreightsdforeign. de Aſia dixit Ageſilaus in Plut., more encumbrances, leſſe abilities, leſſe meanes, leſſe advantages, ſhall exceed you in fruitfulneſſe, and all the wayes of godlineſſe and piety.
4 When you live not by what you doe, When you live not by what you doe.but luſts grow ſtrong, and grace weak, and all is worſe and worſe; as in the regiment of bodily health, when a man declines it is a ſigne he hath not a due care of his dyet, or reſt, or exerciſe, you muſt hold up life, the Church of Epheſus doubtleſſe was doing, but ſhee was ſtill a loſer, her ſpirit and ſtrength decayed, as it is with him that is in his trade, but doth not follow it to purpoſe, and ſo goeth back in his eſtate; according to the wiſe mans ſpeech: He becommeth poore that dealeth with a ſlack hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. Prov. 10.4. By much ſloth fulneſſe the building decayeth, and through idleneſſe of the hands the houſe droppeth through. Eccleſ. 10.18.
5 When God accepts not what you do, When God accepts not what you doe.when he is pleaſed with our wayes, he ſheweth his liking of them, ſometimes by a ſecret teſtimony, giving Joy, Our rejoycing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, not with fleſhly wiſdome, but by the grace of God we have had our converſation in the world, and more abundantly to you ward. 2 Cor. 1.12. Enoch had this teſtimony, that he pleaſed God. Heb. 11.4.5. ſometimes by rewarding, as hee did Phineas, Numb. 24.11, 12, 13. ſometimes by filling the heart with much ſpirituall life and vigour in the work, but where God accepts not, there is a damp upon the ſpirit, the duty goeth forth like the Raven out of the Ark, but returneth not as the dove with an Olive branch in the mouth, a man is no way bettered by what he doth.
6 Enquire into the reaſon why you do leſſe then God cals for, When the cauſe of defect is evill or inſufficient.and take a true account of thy ſelfe; aske thy heart what moves, and take a full anſwer from it; for you may diſcerne by the reaſon that it gives whether all bee well or no, no doubt but it will have ſomewhat to pretend, but weigh all in the ballance; if the reaſon be inſufficient, you are ſinfully deficient; as if you finde ſlothfulneſſe, loathneſſe to bee at ſo much paines, which was their fault, none ſtirreth up himſelfe to &c. Eſay 64.7. or if it be reſpects to thy luſts, thy needleſſe eaſe, ſuperfluous gaine, unneceſſary employment, unſeaſonable delight; theſe and ſuch like, robbing God of his due, leave a great guilt upon the ſoule.
Queſt. 2. Queſt. How a man may know hee doth his duty, when the heart is ſtill preſſed to more and more than is done.
Anſw. 1 Anſw. by Caution.By way of Caution.
Anſw. By way of Propoſition.
1. Caution, Be liberal.be liberall; keepe your hearts open and full for God; though other things ſhould be done, yet the heart may and ought to hang moſt after God: theſe paths are more noble, more ſweet, more ſutable to a holy heart, a childe ſhould be willing to doe what his father bids him, though hee ſend him as David into the field to keep ſheep, but he had rather be in his fathers preſence: you ſhould alwayes come to God with delight in him, and go away wth deſire after him; as they ſay in meats, it is good to leave with an appetite, ſanety is hurtful, that friend is ſcarce welcome that is glad to be gone from us; tis a ſigne you have little love to God, when you come with unwillingneſſe, ſtay with wearineſſe, and goe out with gladniſſe, be ever bent towards him, account your duties, and converſe with him your pleaſant ſeaſons; let all other things be as your labour, this as your meale; bever think you do enough, ſay as David, I will yet praiſe him more and more. Pſal. 71.14.Rationall, elſe you may be oppreſſed.
2 Caution, be rationall: Take heed of being bound with more lawes then are impoſed by God, and of adding to the yoke which he puts upon you, there may be much deceit in this, in having the heart engaged to more than God requires: There are two things whild concurring with principles and diſpo… tions that are good and holy,Things oppreſſing may ven the ſoule with a kinde of ſpirituall oppreſsion and extortion.
1 An erroneous Conſcience: Cōſcience erroneous.as ſometimes it erres by exacting leſſe than … ſhould, and giving acquittances, when the debt is not fully diſcharged; ſo ſometimes it erres by going beyond its Commiſsion, and exacting above the bond A weak ſervant ſent to gather up his maſters debts may miſtake his buſineſs by misjudging of the ſummes, requiring an hūdred pound where the bōd is but for an hundred crownes: The ſpirit of a ma… is ſo apt to erre, that like water which is hardly kept within its bounds, if it tranſgreſſe not on the left hand by defect, it often miſtakes on the right had by exceſſe. Thus ſuperſtitious ſpirits do more then they need, and lye in the chaynes of their own making eMetum appellant Graeci foreign. Plut. de ſuperſtit., ſubjection themſelves to ordinances and wayes which God made not.
Superſtition is prodigall, and there is this quality in men, that in thoſe things which indeed are enjoyned of GOD they are deficient, but in their owne inventions abundant; they are loath that God ſhould carve for himſelfe, but if God will take it of their cu…ting, they will goe farre: So the Phariſees, who in a way of religion, were moſt irreligious, neglected judgement and mercy, Luke 11.42. but in traditions and rules of their owne coyning, they were very free and liberall: …apiſtry offends more by addition and multiplication in religion, then by ſubſtraction.
And as the ſuperſtitious, ſo the melancholy and fearefull ſpirit are often ready to goe beyond the line, and bring themſelves into inhabitable and unſufferable wayes of religion; where the ſunne of piety in a miſtaking and yeelding ſpirit, is ſo hot, that nothing can grow for it, nature is parched, ſtrength waſted, health impaired, eſtate neglected. I have knowne ſome that have thought themſelves ill imployed in any thing but in the exerciſes of religion; and when they have beene in their buſineſſe, or at meat, or in bed, have beene forced to lay by all and to go to prayer, or, &c.
2. Satan.Satan puts men upon more; as hee is ſometimes an Angell of darkneſſe withholding men from good, or drawing to evill; ſo hee is ſometimes as an angell of light exciting unto good: For, 1. It is his principle and conſtant rule, as much as hee can to ſaile with the winde, and to row with the tyde, to joyne himſelfe to the tempers and ſpirits of men in their owne way, and if hee finde principles and diſpoſitions not altogether ſo fit for his turne, i… hee cannot change them, hee will rather uſe them as he findes them, the… croſſe them: So he found in the Iewis a great zeale for the Law of Moſes, and he makes this uſe of it, to ſet them againſt the Goſpel: Saul alſo was one that made conſcience (as it ſeemeth) of ſeeking God before he went to battle, and hereupon Samuel not comming according to expectation, Satan puts him to offer ſacrifice himſelfe, and did it with that impetuouſneſſe and importunity, that though Saul knew it was not his office, yet the caſe ſtanding as it did, He forced himſelfe and offered the burnt offering. 1 Sam. 13.12.
2 Satan hath in this way a great end, he brings men by it into great ſtraits; what have the Iews loſt by that miſguided zeale, and religious diſpoſition? and by this he wearieth and tyreth out the ſpirits of men in their way, and breeds in them a diſlike and wearineſſe in religion, riding the ſoule as it were out of breath; ſo we have knowne many very forward and active for a time, but now as wearied men they are laid down to reſt, and their life is gone. By this alſo he works ill effects on others, who by the rigorous courſes of men religious, looke upon religion as a tyrant; who is able to ſumme up his treacheres? what a plot was that which hee had at Corinth. His device was to get advantage upon them. 2 Cor. 2.11. and how? he ſeeth a zeale in the Church againſt the offender, and a mournfull ſpirit in the poore man, and now he drives on the Chariot, and works in the zealous ſpirit of the Church, that they may hold on in a ſevere way againſt him, that ſo, He might be ſwallowed up of overmuch ſorow. 2 Cor. 2.7.
Queſt. How a man may know when he is preſſed to good, that it is by Satan?
Anſw. Anſw. It is a ſign Satan puts on to good.The print of his foot will bee found where he hath been, and though he put upon good, yet it is ever in an ill way, as for inſtance he may be diſcerned;
1 When he divides piety from mercy, When piety and mercy are ſeparated.and carieth the ſoule on without care of the body; when God comes he comes with much goodneſſe, and as Iacob drave ſoftly as the children and cattle were able, Gen. 33.14. ſo he will not ſo put on the ſoul as to deſtroy the body, grace and the law are for the perfection of nature, not deſtruction; the religion that Satan deviſeth is hard and cruell: how did the Prieſts of Baal cut and launce themſelves, even till the blood poured out? 1 Kings 18.28. The Jewes learned of God to ſacrifice beaſts, but of Satan to ſacrifice their children; They burned their ſons and their daughters in the fire, which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart. Jer. 7.31. rather then his ſervants ſhall be oppreſſed, he will loſe his right. I will have mercy and not ſacrifice. Mat. 12.7.
Yet we muſt not preſſe this rule of mercy too far to an immoderate indulgence unto nature, the ſoule muſt not be too much loſer by the body, nor God for man, nor muſt this be extended to the baſe favouring and ſparing of our ſelves in times of perſecution; For he that ſo ſaves himſelfe, ſhall loſe himſelfe. Luke 9.24. If you ſend your ſervant upon buſineſſe of great concernment, and he fall ſick, and ſo do not what you expected, you excuſe him; but if hee ſay as the ſluggard, Prov. 20.4. the winde blew, and the ayre was ſtormy, and wet, and cold, you will not take this well. So when you cannot do him ſervice through diſproportion of your ſtrength to your work, he will beare with you; but what ever it coſts you from men and devils; when you know his will, as you are able you muſt obey.
2 When he divides betwixt piety and charity: When piety and charity ſeparated.as when the Jewes devoted ſo much to pious uſes, that they left nothing for their friends, no not for their parents; but when their father, and father in neceſſity asked reliefe, they ſaid, It is a gift by whatſoever thou maiſt be profited by me. Mat. 15.5. that is to ſay, that which thou askeſt for thy ſupply is given to another uſe, and I have nothing for thee. Again, when men walk in ſuch a way of religion, that they provide not for their families, which is ſo far from Chriſtianity, that the Apoſtle ſaith, He is worſe than an Infidel that provideth not for his family. 1 Tim. 5.8.
Again, when ſervants beſtow that time with God which belongs to man: God never demands of you that which is not yours, he never requires you to rob your maſters to pay him.
3 When without order and reaſon; When without order.as when you are put upon one duty in the ſeaſon of another: as when your calling, refreſhing, occaſions truly and neceſſarily call you one way, and yet conſcience driveth another; or when you are hearing, to be put upon reading; Again, when you are put upon extraordinary duties without extraordinary occaſion; or when put upon ſuch actions as belong not to your place; as Saul to offer ſacrifice, Vzziah to burne incenſe: Let this ſuffice for the firſt way of anſwering the queſtion.
The ſecond way of anſwering is by Propoſition.2 Anſw. to the main Queſt by propoſitiō.
1. Propoſition. There are bounds of duties of godlineſſe: Godlineſs hath bounds.for the law is full of reaſon; now reaſon requires no action without limits, if it bid a man eat, give, labour, &c. it together with the matter includes the meaſure; if a maſter bid his ſervant goe, and ſay not whither, and how far; how can the ſervant obey, whē he knoweth not his maſters minde? if I would have an houſe built, or a garment made; except I appoint the bounds and meaſure, how can the artificer fit my deſire?
Now there are bounds for extenſion of actions
Now there are bounds for limitation of actions
The bounds of extenſion ſhew how far you are to goe:Firſt for extenſion. And I will in generall lay downe three rules to finde this out, how much you muſt doe?
1 Ability and opportunity: Ability and opportunity.Where much is given much is required, and to whom men have given much, of him they aske more. Luke 12.48. Where God ſoweth much he will reap much; that may be enough from one, which is too little from another; yea, that may bee abundance in one, which is ſcant in another; he that had but two talents did well with praiſe, in gaining other two; but if he that had had five talents had done no more, he had not had ſuch praiſefNon perpendit Deus quantum, ſed ex quanto. Beda in Mar. c. 12.: Where God gives much grace and large opportunities, ſuch muſt doe much; you that have much knowledge, ſpirituall engagements, fulneſſe of the world, much time, know, that you ſhould be more with God then others, holineſſe is your trade, and your cloſets are your ſhops, and every day is a Sabbath to you, and this is a great favour, that God hath freed you from inferiour drudgery, to employ you in more noble things in the Court: which are happieſt, they that are in the Kitchin, or they that attend upon the Prince? if then you ſee others that are poore and held to work hard for a meane living, more lively, more frequent, more abundant in duties then your ſelves; know now you walk not by rule.
2 Sufficiency for the good ſtate of the ſoule; 2 Sufficiency for the good ſtate of the ſoulas the body muſt have ſo much food, reſt, exerciſe allowed to it as may uphold it. You muſt doe ſo much as may,
1 Keep the ſoul in life, 1. Life.when you grow weak, dull, languid, you doe not enough.
2 To keep the ſoule in health: 2. Peace.the health of the body is the peace and concord of all things in it ſelfe; ſuch alſo is the health of the ſoule, you muſt put forth your ſelves ſo far as to keep the ſoule from moleſtation. If leſſe done then ſhould be, a threefold moleſtation followeth.A threefold moleſtation comes by doing leſſe then that which God cals for.
1 A reſtleſſe accuſation of heart: Conſcience will not be quiet till God have his due, Reſtleſſe accuſationbut it will dog you with unceſſant vexative reproofes; it is like David lived not in a totall neglect of repentance and humbling himſelfe after his ſin, but till he came to the work in earneſt he had no quiet. Pſal. 32.3.
2 A ſtrong pulling and drawing of heart; Diſtraction.where the heart is ſet towards God, it cannot be quiet but in him, and where the diſpoſition and motion of a thing are at variance, this breeds diſturbance; when nature is not ſatisfied it is unquiet, how will the ſtomach pull when it is not fed?
3 An impetuouſneſſe of luſts: Impetuous corruptions.the field of the ſluggard will be overgrown with weeds; as when you keep the body too ſhort of her due, it breeds painfull diſeaſes: ſo luſts grow when you doe not enough; when you doe leaſt, Satan doth moſt; your night is his day, when you remit hee intends his forces.
3 Occaſions. Occaſions are boūds.You muſt proportion your labours according unto them, ſometimes your ordinary courſe is not enough; as in times of ſtrong tentations, violent corruptions, great afflictions, inward affrightments, publique feares and calamities. As in the naturall ſtate of man, ſometimes it is neceſſary to allow more reſt, and more food; and in the civill ſtate, if a man be growne poore he works the harder, if a Kingdome be in danger it doubles her care, and endeavours of her converſation. So Paul when the meſſenger of Satan was ſent to buffet him, Prayed thrice. 2 Cor. 12. When Peter was in priſon, Prayer without ceaſing was made for him. Acts 12.5. Bzra hearing of the great ſin of the people, rent his garments and mantle, plucked off the haire of his head, and of his beard, and ſate aſtonied till the evening ſacrifice. Ezra 9.4. In ſuch caſes the body muſt give way and all things elſe, onelyonly wee muſt looke to three things.
1 That we judge rightly of neceſſities.
2 That our time that we ſpend in duties be our owne.
3. That we offer not too much violence to nature.
2. There are bounds for limitation.There are bounds for limitation and it is needfull to know and minde them, for we may overdoe, and offend in exceſſe.
Object. Can a man doe too much gIn co non poteſt eſſe nimium, quod eſſe maximum debet.or is there any exceſſe in that which is good?
Anſw. 1. When it is ſaid there is no exceſſe in religion, you muſt underſtand it rather in reſpect of affection then action hInterior actus charitatis habet rationem ſinis, quiae ultimum bonum hominis conſiſtit in hoc, quod anima Deo inhaereat, exteriores autem actus ſunt ſicut ad fidem, & ideo ſunt commenſurandi, & ſecundū charitatē, & ſecundum rationem. Aqu. 2.2. q. 27.3.6.: though a man may exceed in the one, yet he cannot in the other; as you cannot love God too muchiVerus amor nullū novit habere modum. Prop. eleg. 3. modus diligendi Deū eſt ſine modo diligere. Ber. de diligendo Deum, or deſire him too much, or hate ſinne too much or ſorrow for it too much; if it be objected that if the affections ſhould be very farre extended, it might deſtroy nature, as we commonly ſee it in mourne full ſpirits, and David found it ſo, Pſal. 13. Pſal. 32, &c. I ſay, that godly ſorrow never did hurt, but ſometimes God drops in bitterneſſe and mingles it with it, to the afflicting of the ſoule; and as water that runnes through mines hath a tincture and touch of them, ſo ſorrow meetes with much in us, by which accidentally it becomes hurtfull; but godly ſorrow in it ſelfe, is as all other grace for the perfection of nature, and ſo farre from being an oppreſsion of it, that unto me it is not altogether improbable that it ſhall be in heaven; for if our memories abide there to recollect the waies of this life, and our underſtanding, and will, be fully taken up in the ſight and fruition of God, then I propound this to be conſidered, ſince a litle ſight & taſt of God in the world doe worke ſorrow for ſinne, whether an abundant-ſight and full taſt will not alſo doe it in heaven, when a man ſhall remember (which I doubt not) his ſinnes againſt ſo good a God.
2. The goodneſſe of an action lyeth not onelyonly in the matter but in the meaſure, it muſt have its juſt proportion, as in giving almes, he that would be truly liberall muſt not onelyonly take care, what, but how much, for as it muſt be proportioned to the neceſsity of the poore; ſo it muſt be alſo to his owne ability; there are limits in all duties,That there are ſuch bounds appeares, by, 1. Multiplicity of dutyes. take here three Conſiderations: 1. There are various dutyes, therefore I muſt not be all in one, or in a few with neglect of the reſt, nor in the worſhip of God, I muſt not lay out all my ſelfe, ſo that man ſhall not have his due, for God that hath appointed a ſervice immediatly to himſelfe, hath alſo required a ſervice mediatly to be performed; that is to ſay, hath conſigned ſomewhat to man, to be paid to him as a King, ſo requires honour and ſervice to himſelf, that he will have ſome alſo to be conferred upon his attendants; this is the fault of thoſe that are unreaſonable in religion, affecting a Monaſtick and retyred life, upon pretence of beſtowing all upon God: but religion conſiſts of duties to be performed, ſome to God, and ſome to man; and as the boat cannot move rightly, when the Oares on one ſide onelyonly are plyed; or as the Foule if ſhe uſe onelyonly one wing cannot flye up; ſo religion will not profit, which hath one hand wrapped up, that ſhould be towards man in all offices of charity, though the other be uſed towards God, … all offices of piety: For this the Iewes were blamed who were liberall in their kinde towards God, Wherewith ſhall I come before the Lord and bow my ſelfe before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a yeare old? will the Lord be pleaſed with thouſands of Rams, or with ten thouſands of rivers of oyle, &c. Micah 6.6, 7. Here are large offers unto God, but they neglected Iudgement and mercy to their brethren, therefore how doth the Lord anſwer them? He hath ſhewed thee oh wan what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee but to doe juſtly, and to himble thy ſelfe to walke with thy God, verſe 8 and the Apoſtle hath the like. 1 Cor. 13.3.
2. Diſtinguiſh of actions, Diverſity.ſome are …aſionall, they are to continue onelyonly during the occaſion, as feaſting in ſome time of great rejoyeing, faſting in ſome time of great mourning; ſome are ſubſer…ient, and introductory to others, as ſtudying to preaching, conſideration to prayer, examination to the Sacrament: Now as a man muſt not alwaies abide in the porch, ſo he is not to thruſt out the maine duty, by continuing in the ſubſirvient duty, as many doe excuſe themſelves from preaching, upon pretence of ſtill fitting themſelves for the work, and ſo they are like men that gather timber and ſtones all their dayes, but never build; in theſe preparatory dutyes a man muſt have a care of his endiQuae ſunt ad finem, babent modum ex co quod ſunt fini proportionata. Aqu 2.2. q. 27. a. 6., and wiſely order his way; and take this rule, when the heart is in ſome good meaſure quickned, then you have the end of that duty, and ſo in the fulneſſe of your ſpirt muſt goe forth to meet the Lord in faith and confidence of acceptance.
3. You muſt take heed of unfitting your ſelves by one duty for another, eſpecially by the leſſe, for the more principall, as to draw out your ſpirits ſo far… in beginning of the day in prayer, another dutyes of like alloy, as to indiſpoſe and diſable your ſelves for the worke of the day.
In all dutyes of godlineſſe you m… be limitted by calling, condition, ability, occaſion, opportunity: It is ve… had to divide betwixt theſe things, …d to give piety her due, other things her due, and it is impoſſible punctual…to direct every man in this, how farre ſhould goe. But let theſe generall rules be conſidered. And obſerve this, that worldly reſpects, indulgence to nature, care of employments, obſervance …ſoccaſions, reſpect to our affaires, moſt commonly gaine upon piety, as the Seas gaine upon the land; theſe things are preſent, and ſutable to nature, therefore they draw to them with much ſtrength, and often get Benjamins portion, and …re better ſerved than the reſt, they are …yed to our fleſh and kindred, often …ive better uſage than better friends; …ake heed of this, the childrens bread is …tiobe given to dogges; Nabal will be …oah to give his bread and his wine to David, nature will be apt to hold faſt, and to be niggardly to piety, therefore …on muſt as wiſe Umpires moderate on …oth ſides, and take heed the leane Kine at not up the fat; how many ſoules are …ke Anatomies and Skellitons, whoſe outward man in ſtrength, pleaſure, wealth, are like the Kine of Baſhan.
2. Propoſition: There is a prudence directing as well in meaſure as matter and manner.Propoſition: There is a prak… in Chriſtians directing them, as well meaſure, as matter and maner of action and the ſame light uſually ſets bounds, that ſheweth the duty; Pr…de dwells with wiſdome, Prov. 8.12. … that God in whom theſe are united d… not part them in his diſpenſation grace to man, He hath abounded town us in all wiſedome and prudence, Eph. 1. The renovation of our mindes make know what the good and acceptable will God is, Rom. 12.2. a good underſtand… have all they that doe his Commandement Pſal. 111.10. and a good man guider affaires with Iudgement. Pſal. 112. Prudence is of univerſall uſe, in ſo m… that ſome Philoſophers have tho… there is no other vertue, but that … is that which doth all, and as the … paſſing by ſeverall Countries, get … rall names, ſo this prudence in reſpect ſeverall objects, is called tempera… fortitude, juſtice, &c. But I ſhould other ſay that other vertues are exttive, and this directive, and ſo it is needfull to the ſoule, as the eye in the body, all the graces are as, ſeverall members; but how ſhall they move right if the eye be wanting? God hath not built any ſhip to lade it with ſuch treaſure as is in his Saints, and ſent it to Sea without this Pylot; all creatures have their inſtincts to guide them to their ends, and the beaſt knoweth not onelyonly what, but how much to eate, drinke, reſt; and he that hath given this to all other creatures, would not make this new creature the godly, as a world without the Sunne to give light unto it: Wiſedome is the glory of a man, and puts the beauty and crowne upon every action; except a man worke by this rule, how crooked and unſhapen will his actions be? though Zeale conceive, Yet men erre ſometimes, bec.yet if prudence form not the conception, the birth will prove a monſter: It may be ſaid, how is it then that men erre ſo much,Prudence is imperfect. ſome doing too little, ſome too much, and that men know not well how to guide themſelves? I anſwer: 1. There is a falſe gnide.Their prudence is imperfect. 2. There is a ſelfe guide in every man. 3. Satan perverting.Satan perverts the ſoul by his counſels. 4. The is a great fault in men. Men faulty.1. Inconſider… not hearkning to the counſels of vi… dome, or not conſulting with … 2. Some ſpirits are too violent, part by a naturall vigour and heate, (and … deed all that is not grace that ſeeme grace; when the temper of the ſpirit is not regular according to rule, it is … right) partly out of exceſsive feare which are apt to hurry the ſoule as the windes do the Ship.
3 Propoſition, Third Propoſition: It is ſafer to exceed then to come ſhortit is ſafer to extend you ſelves by over-abounding, then to c… ſhort; it ſavours of a better ſpirit wh… a man is free, though in exceſſe, the when he is ſlack and back ward; and is not ſo much evil by abounding ſo… what to pinch the fleſh, as by abating ſuffer loſſe in the ſpirit; the things the concern the body are not of ſuch va… as thoſe that concerne the ſoule, … ſo much the more cauſe you have … ther to leane to the right hand, because as there is a greater worth in the w… on the right hand, ſo there is uſually diſpoſition inclining rather to the … hand. Few men offend in paſſing their bounds. More men are found defective in giving almes, then exceſſive, and ſo where one is in any way of piety carried with too full a gale, an hundred lye becalmed; where one piece is more than weight, many are found too light.
4 Propoſition, Fourth Propoſition: A man muſt not make his diſpoſition a rule alway. Which in three caſes is hardly bounded.That a man muſt not be ruled by his own diſpoſition, but muſt ſeek arule to walk by; for in ſome men the heart hangs with perpetuall hungring, after converſe with God, that if there were nothing to limit them, they would ſcarce doe any thing elſe; and there are three things draw the heart ſtill unto God:
1 Great comforts in meeting God in duty; Great comforts.theſe make the ſoule to ſay as David; It is good for me to draw neare to God. Pſal. 73.28. When God opens himſelfe and his treaſures, and lets in his people to his preſence, and feaſts them with ſpirituall and joyfull ſights, and taſts, this makes them loath to leave, but they hang unto duties as the child to the breaſt, and finding ſo ſweet a conjunction of plenty and ſweetneſſe, are filled with delight, and are ready to ſay to all things elſe, as Abraham to his ſervant when he went up to the mount, Stay thou in the valley; the ſpouſe vns with her beloved, and found him as a apple tree among the trees of the forreſt whoſe fruit was ſweet unto her taſte, hee led her into his wine-cellar, and ſhe was raviſhed with his love, and greatly ſolaced in his ſweet embraces, and now ſee what care ſhee takes to keep that which ſhe joyed to have, and feared to loſe: I charge you oh ye daughters of leruſalem, that ye ſtir not up, nor wake my beloved till he pleaſe. Cant. 2.7. But in ſuch a caſe, it is a point of obedience and ſelf-deniall for a man to leave his banquet; to do that which he is called to; and we ſhould ſo prefer God to all our comforts, as to bee content to come downe with Moſes from the Mount, when he hath buſineſſe for us below.
2 Love to God: Great love.this is of a living and large diſpoſition, and apt to draw the heart much out; he that loves come as a friend, he loves to come and converſe with God, and even then when his neceſſities are not urgent, yet his heart is drawing heaven-wards, as the wife loves to be with her husband, &c.
3 Neceſsitouſneſſe of ſpirit; Great neceſſities.when one is ſenſible of great wants, great corruptions, tentations, feares, then he is apt to be over-ſolicitous and active, eſpecially when ſuch an afflicted ſpirit, hath either both of theſe two things.
1 An opinion that all good lyeth in duties: When men thinke that a hard heart may be ſoftned, a ſtiffe heart bowed, a corrupt heart changed, and all good attained by labour and ſweate; men that know what it is to want, theſe will worke even their ſoules out of breath, and are ſo carried with deſire of the good, that they are not ſenſible of the labour: But remember all lyeth in Chriſt, and therefore you muſt ſeek it from Chriſt by the meanes; if you make duty and endeavour your refuge, you are deceived.
2 If there be an opinion that God will not accept leſſe; this is the caſe of many, they have been at prayer, and that not only in ſincerity, but with importunity, and with a full tyde of ſpirit, and yet they are afraid to betake themſelves to their employments, out of opinion that they have not done that which is ſufficient, but that their occaſion and neceſſity cals for more ſtill: but herein men have under-thoughts of God, as if he were like the gods of the heathen that did not heare, or as if hee were hard to be entreated.
For a cloſe of this buſineſſe I will in a briefe view preſent ſome things that are conſiderable in way of ſatisfaction in ſuch caſes.Farther conſiderations to cleare the queſtion.
1 Diſtinguiſh between occaſions, and duties ordinary and extraordinary; Diſtinguiſh betwixt duties ordinary and extraordinary.for as when an extraordinary or great perſon comes, all ſtand by and give him place, which we will not if an ordinary and common man come: ſo affaires and things of the world and nature doe ſtand for their own and will not be ſet aſide for ordinary duties, to waite at the cloſet dore, as when an extraordinary ſervice is performed. Your time is divided betwixt heaven and earth, therefore you muſt not only give to both, but with equality, each muſt have his owne.
2 There is a time to waite as well as to work; Know there is a time to waite as well as to work.when you have preſented your ſuites with what ſtrength you are able, now faith muſt come in and lay hold upon the promiſe, and you ought to beleeve that God heareth; for you have his word. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his eares are open to their prayers. Pſal. 34.15. Remember you come not to God to obtain a promiſe and grant, but it is obtained in Chriſt; you muſt only ſue it out by prayer, and whatſoever you aske in Chriſts name beleeving, you ſhall receive it. Mat. 21.22. ſo Davids practiſe, he begins often with prayer, but ends with praiſe; it is want of faith that cauſeth unquietneſſe, though you ſhould not reſt in your duties, yet you ſhould reſt in the promiſe; if God heare not at firſt, yet he will heare at laſt, yea he heares when you thinke hee heares not. But you muſt give God time, that is all he requires, the thing ſhall be yours, but the time is his, doe with your prayers as with your ſeed, be patient til God come, Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it untill he receive the early and the latter rain. Ja. 5.7. Be ye alſo patient, ſtabliſh your hearts, for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh. When you have preferred a petition to the King, you do not fall preſently to write another, but you waite a time convenient, and then you move again; ſo doe with God, the doore is open, you may come again in due time, but live by faith, and reſt upon him as upon one that cannot faile you; yea though you in weakneſſe ſhould have hard thoughts of him, though it may keep you long from the accompliſhment of your deſire, yet not alwayes: If we beleeve not, yet hee abideth faithfull, he cannot deny himſelfe. 2 Tim. 2.13.
3 Then a Chriſtian may conceive he walkes approvedly in the path of piety, Then a man walks well when he liveth and groweth.when his ſoule is held up in life, and when hee groweth up in Chriſt, when God bleſſeth his labours it is a ſigne hee accepts them, and though you cannot finde a growth upward in joy, and peace, and triumph of ſpirit, yet ſee if you grow not downward in humility, hungring, mourning, zeale; and ſee if all grace be not more and more radicated and confirmed in you. I have beene haply too large in this digreſsion, but I have done it for the ſatisfaction of ſuch as walk heavily, not knowing their bounds; I return now to the direction which was to improve divine aſsiſtance when you have it, when God comes to fetch you to him, if you put him off as the Church did, Cant. 5.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. you may loſe him as ſhe did; ſometimes God comes as the Angell to Lot, and with a mighty power draweth on his people, and will not leave them; but at othertimes he ſo moves them, that the working of his power doth not effectually carry on the ſoule, but leaves them at their choice; and now when the winde ſerveth, if we hoiſe not ſaile, we may be becalmed: therefore accept the ſeaſon of grace, and be doing: and I ſay to you as David to Solomon; Bee ſtrong and of good courage, and doe, feare not, nor be diſmayed, for the Lord God even my God will be with thee, he will not faile thee nor forſake thee untill thou haſt finiſhed all the work for the ſervice of the houſe of the Lord. 1 Chron. 28.10.