Gods Husbandry, Sermon 2 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Containing the third vſe of the poynt, viz. an exhortation and direction how to keepe downe our corruptions, whileſt wee liue.
Vſe 3 BVt as wee ſhould moderately wiſh for death, We muſt labour to keepe downe our corruptions, by which wee ſhall eſcape many ſinnes.that death might be the death of ſinne; ſo likewiſe all the while wee doe liue, (knowing that wee cannot be free from ſinne perfectly) wee muſt increaſe our care of keeping downe our ſinnes, and ſtriuing after that perfect freedome which death will bring with it. For though we ſhall ſtill remaine ſo feeble, as to ſinne in many things, for all our labor to the contrary; yet our labour againſt corruption ſhall not be in vaine, becauſe by vertue of it, we ſhall make ſinne much weaker then elſe it would be, and ſaue our ſelues from many ſinnes which elſe wee ſhould fall into. A beſieged City keepes its gates faſt locked, and the walls well manned, and neuer giues ouer watching and warding, ſo long as the enemies army doth ingirt it: ſo though it receiue ſome damage, and loſe many men, yet the enemies army cannot breake in vponupon them, and take the City, and kill all the inhabitants, or make them captiues. Our corruptions incompaſſe our ſoules round; if we ceaſe to bee watchfull, and to be ready in armes, they will preuaile againſt our ſoules, and bring vsus to deſtruction, or very neere vntounto it, but by reſiſting with all diligence, wee ſhall be ſafe from this vtmoſt miſchiefe. Some diſeaſes will ſtay with mens bodies for terme of life, but by keeping good diet, and other good meanes, a man may ſaue himſelfe from much torment, and eſcape many a ſore fit, which cannot but follow from his careleſneſſe. So our ſpirituall maladies will breake forth leſſer and ſeldomer, and put vsus to leſſe miſery by farre, if wee keepe a good dyet, and vſe other good waies of helping our ſoules againſt them. Hee that goes in a foule way, ſhall meet with ſome ſpots of dirt, though he be neuer ſo wary in chuſing his wayes, yet he ſhall not be all mire and dirt, as he that is heedleſſe, and goes thorow thicke and thinne without making difference. Some ſtaines alſo our ſoules will gather, in our paſſage thorow this dirty world, but nothing ſo many and great, if we picke our way, as otherwiſe. Groſſe, foule, preſumptuous, infamous ſinnes may be ſhunned, all finnes may be leſſened, and cauſed to breake out ſeldomer, and in lower degrees, if conſidering our aptneſſe to them, wee beſtirre our ſelues to keepe them vnderunder. Be we wiſe therefore for our ſoules, as we would be for our bodies and ſtates, and ſeeing we cannot be without corruptions, let vsus hold them in ſubiection, as much as is poſſible; for who can tell to what height they may grow, and what miſchiefe they may doe vsus, if our diligence this way be wanting. But me thinkes it ſhould not be neceſſary to vſe more words in perſwading a Chriſtian man to ſtriue againſt his corruptions: they be ſo contrary to the life of grace that is in him, and ſo oppoſite to that new nature which the Lord hath infuſed into him in the time of his regeneration, that he can no more chuſe to oppoſe them in ſome meaſure, then a man can chuſe whether he will ſtriue againſt that that offers to ſtop his breath.
A man, out of an inſtinct of nature to preſerue himſelfe, ſtands ſo diſpoſed, that he findes himſelfe moued without deliberation, (euen out of an vndenyable principle that alwayes beareth ſway in his minde and will) to thruſt away from him things that offer to cut the body, or ſlay it, or rob it of life. The eye will winke and ſhut its lids when a man thinkes not of it, if any thing offer to come neere that might be offenſiue vntounto it. It is none otherwiſe in the life of grace: he that hath it, findes in himſelfe (euen as it were a maine principle that beareth rule in his whole ſoule, when he thinkes not of it in particular) that hee cannot but be an enemy vntounto ſinne, hee cannot but beare a grudge againſt it, and wiſh, and labour the rooting of it out of his heart, and holding it hard in, from breaking foorth in his actions. Alone there be diuers Saints of God that want skill to doe that which grace doth put in them a perpetuall inclination to doe. Wherefore I will be bold (not to make ſo large a diſcourſe of this matter as the thing requireth, but) to giuegive you ſome three or foure ſpecial directions, which in following, you ſhall finde your ſelues much helped againſt theſe remnants of ſinne which moue within you. The firſt rule is as followeth.
Let a man frequently ſtirre vp in himſelfe thoughts of diſlike, grieſe, ſorrow, loathing,Directions to helpe againſt all ſinne. 1. Stirre vp in our ſelues often thoughts of ſorrow, diſlike of our ſelues for ſinnes paſt. deteſtation, and diſ-eſteeming himſelfe for the ſins he hath committed in any kind, and ſpecially for ſuch groſſer ſinnes as he hath falne into, and ſuch as he findes himſelfe moſt apt and likely to fall into againe. For hee that can make himſelfe vile in his owne eyes, for euils paſt, and can bring his heart to a due abhorring of himſelfe for wickedneſſes already perpetrated, and euen looke backe vponupon them with loathing and abomination, is moſt likely to be kept from running into them againe. For this is euen a puniſhing and chaſtiſing of himſelfe, and a taking of a moſt iuſt vengeance of himſelfe for them; and wee know that the force of puniſhment is, to bridle and reſtraine offenders, and keepe them from offending any more afterwards. In ſo doing, hee doth as one would ſay, whip and ſcourge his owne heart, and exerciſe ſeuerity againſt himſelfe, which cannot but cauſe him to ſtand alienated from the ſame faults afterwards, as he that is whipped or ſcourged by another, is thereby made more carefull, not to make bold in that kind againe. So the Prophet hauing offended through impatient repining againſt the proſperity of the ſinner, prouoketh himſelfe to an abhorring and abaſing of himſelfe for it, ſaying, So fooliſh was I, and vnwiſe, and euen as a beaſt before thee. And ſo Paul doth make himſelfe contemptible in his owne eyes for his perſecution of the Saints, ſaying, I am not worthy to be called an Apoſtle, becauſe I perſecuted the Saints of God. And Iob ſaith, I am vile, I hauehave ſpoken once and againe, but I will adde no more: and after againe, I abhor my ſelfe. And theſe thoughts and motions a Chriſtian man muſt not alone purſue with more largeneſſe and earneſtneſſe in his folemne and ſet meditations, as he ſhall finde opportunity; but muſt euer and anon (as he goeth about his ordinary affaires, and is conuerſant in worldly buſineſſes, and occaſioned by company, to call to remembrance any fault of his) bee ſaying within himſelfe, Ah vile ſinfull wretch and hate-worthy creature that I am, hauehave not I ſinned againſt God, and mine owne ſoule, in ſuch paſſionateneſſe, ſuch wantonneſſe, ſuch vniuſtice, and the like? O that I could euen deteſt my ſelfe for this; who but a very beaſt or foole, would hauehave been ſo often and ſo groſſely ouertaken? It is not poſſible to imagine, vnleſſe one doe take experience of his owne practice, how much the renewing of this holy anger againſt a mans ſelfe for ſinnes paſt, will ſtrengthen him againſt the ſame, and abate the power of thoſe corruptions of his heart, which brake foorth into ſuch rebellion. Wherefore doe thus often, many times, many ſcore times in a day, put thy ſelfe in mind, as occaſion ſhall offer it ſelfe, of thy former ſinnes, with a riſing of thy ſoule, againſt thy ſelfe, and with an holy kind of ſharpneſſe and tartneſſe, being euen out of louelove and conceit with thy ſelfe, ſaying, Ah vile creature, how could I finde in mine heart to do ſuch things? would any man hauehave thought it poſſible for any creature from whom all piety and reaſon both were not baniſhed, to runne out into ſuch words, ſuch deeds? and what is wanting to the length and largeneſſe of theſe cogitations throughout the day, in regard of the interruptions of other affaires, that labour to ſupply by their oftenneſſe, and by their earneſt working within thee, cloſing ſtill with a turning away of thy liking from them, and a wiſhing that thou hadſt neuer ſo offended God.
Secondly,2. Renew often in thy ſelfe a reſolution of no more committing thy moſt pleaſing ſinnes. let a good man hold alwayes faſt within himſelfe a reſolution of not committing ſuch and ſuch ſinnes as he is moſt apt to commit, and in regard of his condition, calling, place, bodily temper, or the like, is moſt in danger to commit; and let him often reuiue in himſelfe alſo thoughts and motions to that end, ſaying within himſelfe, Wel, through Gods gracious aſſiſtance, what euer come of mee, I will no more tranſgreſſe the Law of God, and diſpleaſe him in ſuch and ſuch offences. Should the creature wrong the Creator, and the child doe iniury to the father? Nothing is more vnreaſonable then that I ſhould for any thing, ſinne againſt my ſtrength and my Redeemer: of my ſelfe I cannot ceaſe to ſinne; but God will worke in mee both the will and the deed: and doubtleſſe by his help I will not ſinne in ſuch kind, meaſure, manner, any more. I will no more bee ſo bitterly wrathfull, nor vſe ſuch vndecent geſtures and ſpeeches in my paſſion. I will no more bee ſo fooliſhly wanton, nor vſe ſuch euill and defiling ſpeeches and behauiours. I will neuer be ſo impatient and diſcontented againe. The Apoſtle Peter preſcribeth this remedy againſt ſin, and vſeth the phraſe of being arm'd with it, becauſe a Chriſtian ſoule, ſo long as it remaineth peremptory in this reſolution, is like a ſouldier clad in ſtrong harneſſe, who though he bee ſmitten at and receiueth a blow, yet through the faithfulneſſe of his armour is defended from the piercing of the weapon, and from the wound. If Satan, or the fleſh ſuggeſt a motion, or preſent an occaſion of doing ſuch euils, as a man hath often ſaid within himſelfe, Well, by Gods grace nothing ſhall euer make me doe it; the will hauing bent it ſelfe fully againſt ſuch things in generall, flings away from this particular motion, and reiecteth it with diſdaine. Wherefore Saint Peter (as I was in ſaying) commendeth this matter vntounto vsus, in theſe words: For as much as Chriſt hath ſuffered for vsus in the fleſh, arme your ſelues with the ſame minde, that he who hath ſuffered in the fleſh, hath ceaſed from ſinne, that hee no longer ſhould liue the reſt of his time in the fleſh, to the luſts of men, but to the will of God. You ſee how a Chriſtian ſhould goe fenced; well, I will no longer follow ſin, nor doe after the corrupt luſts of men, but the holy will of God. And you ſee alſo by what argument, preſſed vponupon himſelfe, a Chriſtian ſhould fortifie this ſettled determination in himſelfe, namely, becauſe Chriſt hath ſuffered for vsus.
And this determination muſt not alone bee proſecuted more plentifully and earneſtly in our ſettled and ſolemne meditations, but perpetually alſo renewed and confirmed, euen as wee goe about our other affaires: for a mans hand may be working in his calling, and his heart drawing it ſelfe to the maine worke of his calling of Chriſtianity, by lifting vp it ſelfe with ſuch thoughts as occaſion may offer it ſelfe. Surely that ſinne that ſlew Chriſt Ieſus our Lord, is too vile a thing in it ſelfe, too hatefull to God, too hurtfull to the committer, for a Chriſtian man to liue in, or once to practiſe: and therefore what-euer may befall, I will not commit ſuch, and ſuch, and ſuch a ſinne, naming that, that the preſent occaſion ſhall giuegive him moſt cauſe to name, or that his heart hath moſt reaſon to be moſt carefull of ſhunning. And this a good man ſhould doe, not once, twice, or thrice in a weeke, but euer and anon, twenty, and twice twenty times in a day, in halfe a day. For though we liue in the world, yet our maine buſineſſe is to trauell towards heauen; and therefore the ſoule muſt take all occaſions of furniſhing it ſelfe with thoughts that tend to further it in that iourney.
Thirdly,3. Obſerue, and reſolutely and ſpeedily reſist euill or idle motions. a Chriſtian ought euer to keepe a moſt wakefull eye ouer the motions that ſtirre in his minde, that ſo ſoone as euer any ſinfull or friuolous fancies begin to ſteale or breake in vponupon him, he may make ſpeedy and reſolute reſiſtance, by raiſing vp ſome holy affection of loathing the fault, griefe for it, anger againſt it; or elſe reuerence of Gods holy preſence, feare of his fierce anger, trembling at his iuſt threats, or elſe by ſending vp ſome preſent and ſhort requeſt vntounto God, for the aſſiſtance of his Spirit, ſaying, Lord, helpe me with thy grace, ſhould I euer doe ſo vile or fruitleſſe things? nay, ſhould I ſuffer the cogitations of them to dwell in my ſoule? God forbid. Lord, ſtrengthen me by thy Spirit, that I may not diſhonour and offend thee by ſuch words, ſuch actions. Thus the Spirit by luſting againſt the fleſh, ſhall mortifie the deeds of the fleſh. Yea, and if it ſo fall out that theſe ſhorter eiaculations, or briefe petitions of the ſoule will not ſerue the turne, but that the motions grow more thicke or vehement, and the heart begins almoſt to conſent vntounto them, and ſo we find our ſelues on the loſing hand, (for when once the will hath giuen ground, by either thinking, Why ſhould I not doe it? or by making but a faint refuſall, a mans ſoule is foyled; and if occaſion bee not for the preſent committing of it, yet the next time occaſion doth come, vnleſſe he hauehave gotten more ſtrength, and armed his will more ſtrongly, he will ſoone bee drawne to commit it;) I ſay, when wee thus perceiue corruption ſtrong, and grace weake, we muſt take ſo much care of our ſoules, as if it bee poſſible to lay all other things aſide, and in the ſolemneſt manner fall on praying to God for ſtrength againſt that corruption: but if other occaſions ſtand ſo auerſe, that we cannot hauehave time or place to make a ſolemne prayer, yet we muſt double and redouble the deſires and grones of our heart, thinking within our ſelues, O heauenly Father, thou ſeeſt I am weake, and I feele I am yeelding, and ſinne is ready to get the vpper hand; O ſtrengthen me with grace, ſtrengthen me with thy power, and let thy Spirit rule in me, & cruſh downe theſe foule paſſions, for thy mercy ſake; and if yet the euill thought follow him, as oft it will, he muſt not be weary of renewing the ſame requeſts, ſaying, O I muſt not yeeld, I will not yeeld, but, Lord, without thee I cannot reſiſt; Lord, beat downe for me theſe wicked deſires and inclinations, according to thy promiſe, and ſo ſtill (though it cannot be without exceeding much weariſomeneſſe of Spirit) continuing to raiſe vp holy wiſhes and holy affections, (ſeeking and taking the firſt opportunity of getting alone to his ſolemne prayers) he ſhall be made ſtrong in Ieſus Chriſt, and in the power of his might, and ſhall bee a conqueror ouer the tentation. For (brethren) we muſt conceiue the caſe to ſtand thus with all the members of Chriſt; without him they can doe nothing, and all their ſufficiency is of him: he doth indeed implant in their ſoules, at their firſt regenerating, an ability of turning away their wills from euill things, and of departing from iniquity, but yet ſo, that there is neceſſary to their performing of theſe holy actions, a ſpeciall cooperation of his ſanctifying Spirit; and they muſt know that they doe good, and ſhunne euill by a borrowed power, not a power originally in themſelues, and by a borrowed power giuen of grace aboue nature, not dwelling in their nature of it ſelfe. And whileſt they doe acknowledge this dependance vponupon the Lord, by making him their refuge in the time of tentation; and therefore doe not alone ſtirre vp their owne ſtrength, and ſet their owne good affections and deſires on working: but withall, ſend to heauen for aid, and (as vtterly diſtruſting themſelues) implore preſent aſſiſtance from God: (becauſe they doe indeed giuegive honour vntounto God) they ſeldome faile to get the victory: but when in theſe ſpirituall encounters they ſatisfie themſelues with their owne endeuours, and thinke it ſufficient to ſet their owne ſpirituall ſtrength on worke, forgetting to beg helpe of Gods holy Spirit, becauſe this is a manifeſt demonſtration of ſelfe-confidence, and of a ſpirituall kind of ſelfe-conceitedneſſe; therefore the Lord, to make them know themſelues, doth withdraw his ſpeciall grace, and ſo, (after a few faint reſiſtances) becauſe they renew not their ſtrength by running vntounto him their ſtrength, they are in ſome degrees or other plainly foyled and ouerthrowne. Wherefore we muſt know, that when wee finde the fleſh to abate nothing of his forwardneſſe to euill, by our oppoſing good purpoſes and thoughts againſt it, (yea rather, that it ſeemeth to grow more violent as water, the current of which is ſtopped) then I ſay we muſt know, that the Lord doth now of purpoſe turne Satan, with our corruptions vponupon vsus, that we might find our frailty, and betake ourſelues wholly to him and his might; and then as hauing a ſpeciall calling to ſeeke to God, we muſt, as I ſaid aboue, not waxe faint, but double and redouble our deſires; and if that will not ſerue, ſo ſoone as wee can poſſibly get opportunity, addreſſe our ſelues to ſolemne inuocation.
Thus doing, wee follow the example of the Apoſtle Paul, who when he was moleſted with a thorne in his fleſh, (me thinkes that ſhould denote ſome troubleſome corruption of his owne heart, which is ſaid to be giuen vntounto him: becauſe euen poyſon may be giuen in a receit by the skilfull Phyſician) did preſently apply himſelfe to God in prayer for the remouall of it, and ſo was anſwered, that Gods grace ſhould bee ſufficient for him. Wherefore neither let thy thoughts and firſt motions of thy ſoule paſſe away vnobſerued or vnreſiſted: neither yet reſiſt them alone in thine owne ſtrength, but ſpy them out ſpeedily, and preſently oppugne them, partly by ſetting on worke the grace already receiued, partly by requiring a new ſupply of grace: and hee that will make this practice familiar and eaſie to himſelfe by vſe of doing, ſhall finde by proofe, the vnſpeakeable good that will come of it to his ſoule.
Laſtly,4. Deny to our ſelues things otherwiſe lawful, that doe occaſion our corruptions to grow ſtrong. the Chriſtian man that would preuaile againſt his corruptions, muſt deny to himſelfe thoſe things which being otherwiſe in themſelues lawfull, doe yet become vntounto himſelfe, through his corruption, occaſions of euill in any kinde. For ſuch is the finfulneſſe of mans euill heart, that euen that which is not in it ſelfe ſinfull, may giuegive an aduantage to his ſinfulneſſe, and draw him to the committing of ſinne. Theſe things when his experience hath diſcouered vntounto him, hee muſt carefully ſhunne and auoyd, and not ſuffer his ouer-free vſe of his liberty to become a ſnare vntounto him. Diuers exerciſes, ſports, meetings, times, places, and other like there are, of which a man cannot ſay preciſely that they bee ſinnes, yet they doe ſo ſtrongly worke vponupon the naughtineſſe of the heart, that they doe euen tempt and draw the heart vntounto euill: theſe hee that will not reſtraine himſelfe from, ſhall neuer be able to keepe himſelfe vnſpotted of the world, but ſhal be, euen with a kind of force & violence, haled to the committing of wickedneſſe againſt his firmeſt reſolution to the contrary. In vſing thē, a man doth euen lay himſelfe open, & tempt luſt and Satan to tempt him, and tempt the Lord of heauen through his vnbridledneſſe of heart, to deliuer him vp into the hands of tentation; and then how ſhall he chuſe but bee vanquiſhed and ouercome thereof? Wherefore our Sauiour tels vsus, that if our hand or foot offend vsus, we muſt cut them off and caſt them from vsus; yea, if the very eye offend vsus, we muſt pull it out and fling it away. His meaning ſeemeth to be, not alone that all, euen the deareſt things that are ſinnes, muſt be abandoned, but euen alſo, that things which allure, prouoke, and ſollicite vsus to ſinne, becauſe of the weakeneſſe of our ſoules, muſt bee likewiſe renounced and forſaken, for all their delightfulneſſe or profit. For hee that doth not ſo much louelove holineſſe and innocency, that for the attaining thereof hee can be content to abridge himſelfe of ſome part of his lawfull liberty, ſhall neuer reach to any ſoundneſſe and perfection of holineſſe. Euen as a weake and crazie body, if hee make no choyce of his food, but will indifferently fill his ſtomack with any kind of meate that liketh his appetite, ſhall ſo increaſe the ill humours of his body, and ſo ſtrengthen his naturall diſeaſes, that it will bee impoſſible for him to eſcape diuers terrible pangs of them, as experience ſhewes vsus in bodies ſubiect to the Gowt, or Collick, or to a conſumption, or to the like malady: ſo rightly fareth it with our infirme and ſicke ſoules, ſome ſinleſſe ſports, ſome company not in it ſelfe, or to any other vnlawfull: ſome liberty not to be condemned as wicked, will yet ſo confirme and ſtrengthen certaine peculiar diſtempers of ſome mans ſoule more then of others, that the inioying of ſuch contents will proue exceeding miſchieuous, and doe him an hundred times more harme, then the content thereof can be worth vntounto him. Bee we therefore as wary and cautelous for our ſpirituall health, as for our naturall: Let vsus ſet bounds to our ſelues euen in the vſe of our lawfull liberty in things indifferent, and not pleaſe our ſenſes and fancies, to the wounding and hurting of our ſoules.
Now brethren, theſe are the moſt needfull directions for the ouermaſtering of the euils of our inward man, which I thought fit to commend vntounto you. He that will follow them, ſhall finde a ſenſible decay of the body of death; he ſhall find the fleſh more and more ſubdued vntounto the Spirit; hee ſhall finde himſelfe able to preuaile againſt thoſe paſſions and luſts, that he had ſometimes thought impoſſible to bee preuailed againſt; he ſhall be kept from many groſſe faults, and many dangerous our-ſtrayings, and ſhall far leſſe frequently, and leſſe violently be foyled of his ſpirituall enemy, then without them, it will prooue or ſeeme poſſible. Yea in thus pruning himſelfe, he ſhall ſaue the Husbandman a labour of pruning, and keepe himſelfe at eaſe from many burthenſome croſſes that muſt needs come vponupon him otherwiſe. Conſider therefore of thine owne infirmity, conſider that thou art in part alone ſanctified; conſider that ſinne is not quite and cleane taken from thy ſoule, but alone depoſed from that tyrannicall dominion which once it did exerciſe ouer thy ſoule: conſider that Satan watcheth all aduantages to catch thee in a ſnare, and to bring thee backe againe to folly; and becauſe thou art not fully perfect, bee content to deuoure the paines of helping thy ſelfe againſt thine imperfections; which if thou wilt not be perſwaded to doe, know that thou ſhalt euen inforce the Lord to compell thee, as it were, by foule meanes, to the doing of that, without which hee doth well know that thou canſt not bee ſafe, namely, of fighting againſt the fleſhly luſts that fight againſt thy ſoule.