Institutes of the Christian Religion Abridged by Edmond Bunnie, Book · Book 3 · Chapter 6 – Chapter 10
Cap. 6. Of the life of a Chriſtian man: And firſt by what arguments the ſcripture exhorteth vsus therevnto.
GOing about to ſpeake of the life of a Chriſtian man, he ſheweth in the very beginning for what cauſe he knitteth the ſame to the declaratiō going before of regeneratiō, ye is to ſay, becauſe the marke of regeneration is ſuch, that in the life of the faithfull there ſhoulde appeare an agréement and conſent, betwene the righteouſnes of God, & their obedience, and ſo they ſhoulde confirme the adoption, wherby they are receiued to be children: then alſo hee expoundeth in what order he will ſpeake thereof.
2 The inſtruction of our life ſtandeth of two partes, as the ſcripture painteth it out to vsus: the firſt is, yt the louelove of righteouſneſſe be powred into our mindes. The other that wee may hauehave a preſcript rule, that may not ſuffer vsus to goe out of the way in following righteouſneſſe. In cōmendation of righteouſneſſe, the ſcripture hath very many and very good reaſons, whereof ſéeing ſome are generall, and ſome ſpeciall, hée deſcribeth one generall héere two wayes. Firſt, we muſt be holy, becauſe God is holy: for when we were ſcattered abroad like ſtraying ſhéepe, and diſperſed abrode in the maze of the world, hée gathered vsus togeather againe, to ioine vsus in one flocke with himſelfe: when wée heare mention made of our ioyning together with God, let vsus remember that holines muſt be ye bond. He admoniſheth vsus alſo to the end wée may be reckoned among the people of God, that wée dwell in the holy citie of Ieruſalem, which as he hath hallowed to himſelf, ſo it is not lawfull that yt be vnholily profaned by ye vncleannes of the inhabitants,Pſalm. 35.8 Pſal. 15.21.23 bicauſe it is not méete that ye ſanctuary wherin he dwelleth, ſhould be like a ſtable ful of filthineſſe.
3 Firſt, he ſetteth down the other generall, that is to ſay, that we may bée made like to Chriſte: ſecondly, hée calleth to minde many ſpeciall reaſons, if the Lord hath by adoption made vsus children, with this condition that our lyfe ſhould reſemble Chriſt, the bond of our adoption, or if we do not giuegive anew our ſelues to righteouſnes, we doe not only with moſt wicked breach of allegeance depart from our Creator, but alſo forſweare him to be our Sauiour.Mal. 1.6 Ephe. 5.1 1. Ioh. 3. 1 Heb. 10.25 1. Cor. 6 Ioh. 15.3 Col. 3. 1. Cor. 3 Sith God hath ſhewed him ſelf a Father vntounto vsus, we are worthie to be condemned of extreame vnthankfulnes, if we doe not ſhewe our ſelues to bee children: ſith Chriſte hath cleanſed vsus, with the waſhing of his bloud, and hath made vsus partakers of his clenſing by baptiſme, it is not ſéemely that wée ſhoulde bee ſpotted with newe filthineſſe: ſithe hée hath graffed vsus into his bodie, we muſt carefully take héede that we ſprinckle not any ſpot or blot vppon vsus that are his members: ſith he him ſelfe that is our head, is aſcended into heauen, it behoueth vsus, that laying away earthly affections, we do with all our heart aſpire to heauē ward: ſith the holy Ghoſt hath dedicated vsus temples to God, we muſt endeuour that Gods glorie may be honourably ſet out by vsus, and muſt not doe any thing whereby we may be prophaned with filthineſſe of ſinne: ſith both our ſoule and our bodie are ordained to a heauenly incorruption, and an vnperiſhing Crowne, we muſt diligētly trauell that the ſame may be kepte pure and vncorrupted vntounto the day of the Lorde.
4 Thoſe are not Chriſtians, which doe ſauour of nothing leſſe in their lyfe and manners,Ephe. 4.20 then of Chriſt, yea, they reproch Chriſt wonderfully.
5 Neyther doeth he acknowledge thē for Chriſtians onelyonly, whoſe manners breath nothing but an abſolute Goſpel, (which notwithſtanding is both to bée wiſhed and laboured for of eueryevery one:) but all thoſe which in pure ſimplicitie hauehave a deſire diligently to procéede in the way of the Lord.
Cap. 7. The ſum of a Chriſtiā life: where is entreated of the forſaking of our ſelues
THe firſt degrée is,Rom. 12.2 that man ſhall depart from him ſelfe, and apply him ſelfe wholly to the obeying of God. This renuing of mind all the Philoſophers were ignorant of,Rom. 23.8 Ephe. 4.22 Gal. 1.20 that they think that the gouernment of the minde is in all pointes moſt perfect.
2 Therevpon followeth that other, that we ſearch not the thinges that are our owne, but thoſe thinges which bée according to the will of the Lorde, and that make to the aduancement of his glorie: But where ſo euer the firſt degrée doeth not goe before, there eyther moſt filthie vices doe raunge without ſhame: or els if there bée any ſpice of vertue, it is corrupted with peruerſe deſire of glorie.
3 Hée layeth a generall deſcription thereof out of Paule,Tit. 2.11 but ſuche as more playnely hée may diuide the whole into certayne ſpeciall partes, Paule to loſe our myndes from all ſnares, calleth vsus backe to the hope of immortalitie, admoniſhyng vsus not to ſtryue in vayne, becauſe as Chriſte hath once appeared the Redéemer, ſo at his laſt comming he ſhal ſhew the fruit of the ſaluation that he hath purchaſed, and thus hee driueth away the entiſements that blinde vsus, and make vsus not to aſpire as wée ought to the heauenly glorie: yea he teacheth that wée muſt trauell, as men being from home in this worlde, that the heauenly inheritance be not loſt or fall away from vsus.
Rom. 12.20 Phi. 2.34 The forſaking of our ſelues, which is the firſt part, doeth partly reſpect our neighbours, but chiefly God. But as concerning our neighbours it is harde: becauſe it commaundeth chiefly two things of difficultie,1. Cor. 4.7 that is to ſay, that we preferre them before vsus in honour, that we faythfully employe our ſelues wholly to procure their commodities: here he firſt entreateth thereof.
1. Cor. 13.4 Heb. 15.165 And thē of the other, and by what arguments the Scripture doeth exhort vsus to the ſame part of our office.
Gal. 6.10 Luk. 17.3 Mat. 5.446 In perfourming theſe offices, firſt there is required patience, leaſt we wax weary with well doing: and by what arguments the ſame may be brought to paſſe, that patiently we may honour and louelove others, although they eyther bée vnworthie or hauehave euill deſerued of vsus.
7 This is no mortificatiō til we fulfil the dueties of charitie, although wée leaue none of them vndone, but doe it of a ſincere affection of louelove, for otherwiſe it is wont to happen that wée doe fill our dueties with arrogancie or with vpbrayding, or we ſubdue him whome we hauehave done good vntounto: as bounde to vsus, or hauing diſcharged one kinde of duetie, we think we are deliuered from the reſt.
8 The deniyng of our ſelues, in as much as it reſpecteth God, doeth chiefly frame vsus to quietnes of minde, and firſt in ſearching thoſe things which belong to this preſent life: where we muſt reſigne our ſelues and all that we hauehave to the will of the Lorde, and yelde him the affections of our heart to be tamed and ſubdued.
9 Therevpon it foloweth, that neyther we ſéeke euill gaines to enrich vsus, nor burn in immoderate deſire of earthly thinges, nor yet to be troubled,Pſal. 13… if the end anſwere not to our deſires.
10 Moreouer the quietneſſe and ſufferance which he hath ſpoken of, ought farther to be extended,Pſal. 79.12 that is to ſay, to all chaunces wherevnto this preſent lyfe is ſubiect, for this is very neceſſarie.
Cap. 8. Of the bearing of the Croſſe, which is a part of the forſaking of our ſelues.
EVery man ought to beare his owne croſſe, that is, to prepare themſelues to a harde, laborſome and vnquiet lyfe, and full of many and diuers kindes of incommodities. The heauenly Father taking beginning at Chriſt his only begotten Sonne, procéedeth with this order toward all his children.Mat. 16.24 Mat. 3.17 Rom. 8.2 Act. 14.22 Phi. 3.10 Therefore there commeth great comforte to vsus, that we communicate with Chriſtes paſſions.
2 We hauehave néede for many cauſes to liue vnderunder continuall croſſe: firſt that by this meanes the fooliſhe and vayne confidence of the fleſhe, be beaten down: and that we be exerciſed to humilitie,Pſal. 30.6 whereby we may the better reſorte to Gods grace.
3 By which only he playnely ſheweth howe much good is engendered.Rom. 5.3
4 Moreouer that our patience may be tried, and we enſtructed to obedience he briefly expoundeth both, we can vſe no other obedience towarde him than that God hath giuen vsus, which he maketh approued by witneſſes, and to ſet foorth the graces that he hath beſtowed vponupon his holy ones, that they ſhoulde not lye idlely hid within vsus. And therefore in bringing forth into opē ſhew the ſtrength of ſufferaunce and conſtancie,Gen. 12 1. Pet. 1.7 wherewith he hath furniſhed his ſeruantes, it is ſayde, that he tryeth their patience.
5 And the better to perceiue how neceſſary this obedience is, he alſo layeth foorth to be conſidered, howe wanton our fleſhe is, to ſhake of the yoke of God ſo ſoone as it hath béene but a little whyle dayntily and wantonly handeled.
1. Cor. 11.8 Pro. 3.11 Heb. 12.86 Thirdly, God doth afflict vsus to correct our faultes paſt, and to holde vsus in lawfull obedience towardes him, leaſt we bée condemned with the world.
Mat. ….107 Laſt of all, this is great comfort if wée ſuffer for righteouſnes ſake.
8 This kinde of croſſe is chiefly proper to the faythfull. Therfore ought we willingly and gladly to receiue at the hande of God, neyther yet is ſuch gladſomeneſſe to be required, which ſhould take away all bitternes and féeling of ſorow: but which may be ouercomme by valiantly reſiſting.
2. Cor. 14.8 Mat. 5.4 Lu. 22.449 He ſetteth a deſcription taken out of Paule, agaynſt the vanitie of the Stoikes, and ſetteth foorth the ſame by an example of Chriſt.
10 Leaſt the good minds ſhould therfore vtterly renounce the ſtudie of patience, becauſe they can not put of the naturall affection of ſorowe, he more fully ſheweth, that which before he lightly touched, what is the patience that is required of vsus. The ſcripture giueth to the holie ones this praiſe of patience, when they are troubled with hardneſſe of aduerſitie, that yet they be not ouercome nor throwne down with it: when they be ſo pricked with bitterneſſe, that they be alſo delighted with ſpirituall ioye, when they be ſo diſtreſſed with griefe, that yet they receyue courage agayne béeyng cheared with the comforte of God.Ioh. 21.15
11 By this which is ſpoken it appeareth what difference is betwéene the Philoſophicall and Chriſtianlike patience, the ſame bringeth no other reaſon but becauſe it muſt be ſo: but this doth ſo depend vponupon the cōſideratiō of Gods will, that to ſuffer griefe in this life he acknowledgeth it to be iuſt & healthful; and therefore doeth take it patiently.
Cap. 9. Of the meditation of the lyfe to come.
THis is the Lordes aduiſe when hée exerciſeth vsus with any croſſe to vſe vsus to the contempt of this preſent life: (which otherwiſe wold pleaſe vsus more than méete) and thenceforth to ſtirre vsus vp to the meditation of a life to come, that we finding héere nothing els but a ſtrife, may aſpire to heauen for releaſe of our labours.
2 Betwéene theſe two there is no meane: either the earth muſt become vile vntounto vsus, or holde vsus bounde with immoderat louelove of it. Moreouer becauſe it much auaileth with vsus, greatly to eſtéeme of our ſelues, we muſt therefore be now and then called away, leaſt wée be bewitched with ſuch allurements.
3 He faineth not ſuch a contempt of this preſēt life, which ſhould ether bréed hatred and ingratitude againſt God: for this life is of great eſtimation, & a ſingular gift of Gods goodnes.
4 This preſent life is ſo to be cōtemned,2. Cor. 5.6 Rom. 7.24 Phi. 1.23 that whatſoeuer we take from the wrongfull deſire thereof, we ought to adde it to the deſire of a better life: neither are we ſimply weary thereof, but when we make compariſon with a better Otherwiſe the place wherin ye Lord hath placed vsus, ought ſo long to be kept of vsus, till he call vsus away.
5 When we heare of the diſſoluing of vsus, it may quake naturall ſenſe: but the ſame infirmity muſt ſo be ouercomme with the deſire of a life to come, yt fayth ſhoulde compell vsus earneſtly to deſire that, which nature feareth. And no man hath well profited in Chriſtes Schoole, but he that looketh for, with ioy,2. Cor. 5.1. Rom. 8.19. Tit. 2.12. Luk. 22.18 both the day of his death, and alſo reſurrection, not only with wiſhing, but alſo with groning and ſighing, as a thing moſte happie of all other to be loked for.
6 The cauſe being taken as well frō the conſideration of this preſent lyfe,Rom. 8.37. 1. Cor. 15.16. Eſai. 25.18. Reu. 7.17. 1. Theſ. 1.6. Pſal. 73.2. as of the life to come.
Cap. 10. How we ought to vſe this preſent lyfe, and the helpes thereof.
WHat is the right vſe of earthly benefites, which is a thing not to be neglected in the framing an order of life. The ſame is deſcribed of ye Lord, when he teacheth that this life is a certaine pilgrimage, wherby we labour to the heauenly kingdome, for heerevppon it followeth, that ſo farre foorth wée muſte vſe his benefites, eyther to our neceſſitie or to our pleaſure, that they may be rather helpefull, than hurtfull to our courſe: Here therefore too much ſeueritie on the one ſide, but on the other, vnbrideled luſt muſt be taken héede of.
2 So God hath made all thinges for our commoditie,Pſal. 104.14 not only to prouide for our neceſſitie, but alſo for our delight and pleaſure.
3 It is vnnaturall Philoſophie then, which granteth no vſe of his creatures, but a neceſſary vſe. But on the other ſide, we muſt with no leſſe diligēce prouide a ſtay for the luſt of the fleſh; which if it be not brought into order, ouerfloweth wtout meaſure. To this brideling, firſt we muſt know that all things are made to this end,Rom. 13.14 yt we ſhould acknowledge the Authour, & giuegive him thanks, for his tender kindnes toward vsus: neyther of which they can doe, which immoderately doe abuſe theſe earthly befites.
1. Cor. 7.34 Secondly all theſe things ought ſo farre foorth to be contemned, as ſhalbée expedient to the perpetuall and liuely meditation of the heauenly kingdome: but this is vtterly extinguiſhed two wayes, by their ouermuche louelove: firſt by immoderate vſing the things wherin they aboūd, becauſe by that meanes they make of helpes, lettes and impedimentes. There is great carefulneſſe of trimming the body, and as great careleſneſſe of vertue: for they that are carefull of the bodie, are vnmindful of their ſoule.
5 Moreouer by gréeuouſly wanting, if they be abſent,Phi 4.12 or by immoderat deſiring: for this is a great hinderance to pietie. The ſcripture alſo tempereth the vſe of earthly things after another ſort, that is to ſay, whē it teacheth that they are ſo appointed for our vſe, that wée ſhall render an account of them, & that to him who hath condemned all abuſe with his owne mouth.
6 Laſt of all, the ſame alſo ſerueth to no ſmall purpoſe to iudge what is the right vſe of earthly things, becauſe the Lorde biddeth eueryevery one of vsus in all the doinges of his life to hauehave an eye to his calling, that we take nothing in hande raſhly, or with a doubtful conſcience. From the 11. Chapter to the 18.
Theſe eight Chapters of iuſtificatiō of Fayth, which followe, ſéeme to mée, that they may moſt aptly be knit together in this order: that firſt he doeth affirme the thing it ſelfe, in the 11. but the foure which next folow, by deſtroying righteouſnes by workes, doe confirme eueryevery thing according to that order which eueryevery one doeth ſhew in their titles: the twelfthe is of the diſcription of perfect righteouſnes, 13: and from two thinges which are to be taken héed of, 14. of the conſideration of the beginning and going forwarde of ſanctification in the regenerate, 15. from two wicked affectes which alwayes accompany righteouſnes of works. The thrée other, doe beate downe, firſt the ſlaunders, than the argumentes of the aduerſaries: firſt thoſe which are drawne from the promiſes either of the law or the Goſpel, 17. thā thoſe things whereby righteouſnes of workes is gathered by promiſed reward .18.