Gods Husbandry, Sermon 2 · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Containing the firſt vſe of the laſt poynt, viz. a terrour to them that grow worſe.
NOw this poynt concerning the branches bringing forth more fruit, Vſe 1 Terrour to them that decay rather.ſerueth to diſcouer the vnhappineſſe of thoſe men, in whom no ſuch growth is found, but the quite contrary, viz. that are grown backwards and falne behinde hand, being more feeble in all graces, and ſcant in all good workes, then formerly they were wont to be. And thus, alacke, it is with many a man. Time was, when they were frequent in hearing the Word of God, and could not bee kept from it by any meanes: now their hunger after it is turned into fulneſſe, and the leaſt occaſion that is, will detaine them from it; yea, rather then faile, they will quarrell with the Miniſter, (either for ſome poynt of doctrine which hee teacheth contrary to their minds, or for ſome faultineſſe in the manner of teaching, or for ſome miſ-behauiour of life, or for ſome thing or other, againſt which they can alleage any probable ſhew of quarrell) rather then that they will not ſeeme to themſelues to hauehave cauſe of not caring to come to heare. They were wont to reade much, and pray often, and take time to meditate vponupon thoſe things which they had heard; but now all theſe things are either quite laid aſide, or very ſeldome performed: once they were abundant in workes of mercy, now they are ſcant and ſparing: formerly they were liuely in their ſeruices, now little leſſe then dead: and ſo it is with them, that any man which hath occaſion of conuerſing with them, may plainly perceiue them to be changed from better to worſe. O, this is a lamentable condition, hauing its originall in the ouergrowth of voluptuouſneſſe, worldlineſſe, pride, or ſome other like carnall affection, and ſhall hauehave its iſſue either in ſome grieuous ſinne, or heauy calamity, or both, euen though they bee Gods children. I dare not ſay, brethren, that it may not befall a true Chriſtian, thus to fade for a ſeaſon, (and yet the withering of the blade is a ſore ſigne of a ſtony ground:) But this I dare ſay, that vnleſſe they doe ſeaſonably recouer themſelues, and returne to their former goodneſſe, or more, the Lord will ſurely chaſtiſe them in grieuous manner, ſending ſome or other heauy calamity vponupon them, either inward or outward; or if hee doe not ſo fetch them home againe, this decay of ſeeming graces, is in truth the firſt degree of the cutting off of Hypocrites. So long as a man continues thus in the wane, hee can inioy no comfortable aſſurance of himſelfe, nor can other men maintaine any full perſwaſion of him that hee was vpright, but he muſt needs be ſubiect to the miſery of being alwayes queſtioned both in the opinion of others, and in the account of his owne heart, for matter of his intireneſſe and truth; and ſo though it were raſhneſſe to ſay, that all they are diſſemblers that fare in this manner; (for a man may recouer himſelfe, as I ſhewed aboue,) yet this may one ſafely ſay of ſuch, that they are ſo like to diſſemblers, as neither others, nor ſcarce themſelues can diſtinguiſh them from Hypocrites. Indeed there is one note of difference betwixt the winter of a true branch, and the withering of a dead, which we will anon ſhew vntounto you: but yet this note of difference will afford but a ſmall quantity of comfort to them with whom it is winter. Let that man therefore, whoſe ſoule is guilty of ſuch decreaſe in piety, ſee, and take notice of its vnhappineſſe. Wofull is the eſtate of him, that if he be not an Hypocrite, yet is now become ſo neere in likeneſſe to that euill brood, as his owne heart will hardly bee perſwaded to take him for better. I will ſhew you a true note of diſtinction betwixt a liuing branch, … the decayes that it may ſuffer, and a dead branch thus beginning to be cut off from the Vine, that wee may not leaue the vpright hearted deſtitute of that comfort which appertaineth vntounto him, euen though he be at his worſt that euer hee can. The falſe hearted man doth likely pleaſe himſelfe in his growing backward, conceiting that he was too forward before, but is now growne ſober, and ſtayed, and wiſe; though indeed, what he formerly did, was no more then he ought to hauehave done, and ſo he ſatisfieth, yea and magnifyeth himſelfe in his lamentable decayes. But the true Chriſtian is exceeding weary of his going downe the wind for his ſoule. It is a clog to his ſoule to find himſelfe worſe then he was; yea, if hee ſeeme to himſelfe but to ſtand at a ſtay, it is an anguiſh vntounto him, and his life is tedious, when hee findes not that life of Religion and goodneſſe in himſelfe that once he felt. Now then, if your decayes bee by you thus felt and bewailed, if they be an heauy load and burthen to you, very troubleſome and diſcontentfull to your minds, you may hauehave bin true-hearted, for all theſe faintings and ſwoones, and yet your caſe is much to be pityed: for the Lord muſt be at paines to prune you, that you may bring forth more fruit, becauſe it is nothing elſe (as I ſaid before) but the ouer-growing of ſome corrupt luſt that hath brought you to this euill paſſe. But if any amongſt you bee ſo falne away from his former ſhewes or beginnings of piety, that he be well apayd with this his backwardneſſe, and take it for his glory, that hee is now growne luke-warme, ſo boaſting in his ſhame; let that man know, that hee was but an hypocrite before, and that this is a beginning of his cutting off from the Vine; yea and that his eſtate is not recouerable, without exceeding much labour and paines. Take notice therefore, I intreat eueryevery ſoule amongſt you, whether it bee decayed, and in what manner it ſtands affected vnderunder theſe decayes, that you may accordingly cenſure your ſelues, and fruitfully accept this reproofe of the Word. For, giuegive me leaue a little to reaſon with you on Gods behalfe: What vnfaithfulneſſe, what niggardize, what churliſhneſſe hauehave you found in the God of heauen now alate, that you ſhoul bee leſſe zealous and carefull in doing him ſeruice, then you were formerly accuſtomed? Is God grown worſe to you, yt you are ſo changed towards him? Is the Word of God leſſe mighty to bring you to ſaluation? Is prayer leſſe effectuall to draw good things from heauen? Are holy meditations leſſe comfortable to the ſoule? Are the exerciſes of repeutance, and of godly ſorrow leſſe gainfull, that you doe now beſtow leſſe time and care in theſe duties, then in former ſeaſon? or is the feare and louelove of God, humility, faith, mercy, bounty, zeale, leſſe pleaſing to God, leſſe beautifull, leſſe ſweet, leſſe profitable in it ſelfe and to the poſſeſſours, then once it was, that you hauehave now ſuffred your ſelues to be leſſe ſtudious of any of thē? O conſider how extremely you do diſhonour God and goodneſſe, and indamage your ſelues, and diſcourage others by this your going backe in the way of goodneſſe. Conſider how wrongfull it is to the whole Church, and how eueryevery way exceeding ſcandalous, if your decayes be publike, that you are waxen leſſe good then you were. Lay theſe things to heart, and put not off a reproofe lightly. Conſider with your ſelues what corruption it is, that as a bad humour becomming exceſſiue, hath brought your ſoules into this conſumption. Lament before God your ſhamefull folly, in bringing the eſtate of your ſoules behinde, and ceaſe not confeſſing, bewailing, and praying, till you find your ſelues quickened and reſtored. Aſſure your ſelues, that if you hauehave been any other then arrant Hypocrites, and dry branches, who being cut off, are caſt out and wither, till they bee gathered vp to burne; you muſt ſometime or other take the paines of thus reſtoring your ſelues to your ancient fruitfulneſſe. Were it not as good accept of this admonition, as tarry longer, and make the worke harder by delayes? If words will not bring you to a ſence of your miſery, in that your ſoules are ſo ill affected, you ſhall compell the Lord to become ſeuere in chaſtiſements; for much rather had he to make you ſmart, then to ſee you periſh. See, ſee the ſickneſſe of thy ſoule, which hath made thee to grow weake and feeble in all inward graces and holy duties, and ſuffer not thy ſelfe to be ſo hardened, that the hearing of theſe words ſhould bee in vaine vntounto thee. Shew thy ſelfe not to hauehave been a diſſembler in thy former forwardnes, by ſuffering thy ſelfe to be reſtored to it againe by this exhortation. Make it appeare, that all was not falſe which did aforetime ſeeme to be in thee, by recouering thy firſt eſtate, and doing thy firſt workes. O now yeeld to the call of the liuing God, and let theſe words of his in his own ordinance, be as a good reſtoratiue to thy ſick ſoule, to make it whole & ſtrong again.