The Intercourses of Divine Love Betwixt Christ and His Church, Sermon 40
Sermon XL.
Canticles 1. 6.
—But my own Vineyard I have not kept.
THe Spouſe (by which I underſtand the Church of Chriſt, and every particular believing Soul that is a true member of it) is yet apologizing for her blackneſs, or appearing blackneſs, from the cauſes of it, three of which ſhe hath already aſſigned. 1. Her afflictions, or perſecutions. The Sun hath looked upon me. 2. Her oppoſition from falſe Brethren. My Mothers Children were angry with me. 3. Her ſubmiſſion to Idolatrous or Superſtitious Rites. Or her too great intanglements in ſecular affairs. They made me (ſaith ſhe) the keeper of their Vineyards. She comes now to a fourth; Her own too much neligence. My own Vineyard I have not kept.
1. The Spouſe had hitherto not much charged her ſelf, ſhe had charged her blackneſs upon her afflictions and Perſecutions, & upon the oppoſition ſhe had met with from falſe Brethren, and upon her intanglement in Secular affairs, but was there no fault in her ſelf; here now ſhe comes to lay much of the blame upon her ſelf? My own Vineyard (faith ſhe) I have not kept. Gods diſpenſations of Providence to me (ſaith ſhe) have been ſome cauſe of my blackneſs: The oppoſition I have met with from falſe Brethren have yet been a greater cauſe, but the truth is (ſaith ſhe) notwithſtanding both theſe, had not the fault been my own, I had not been ſo black. I might have kept my Vineyard better then I have done. The truely gracious, and humble Soul will not as to its failings excuſe it ſelf wholly. It may charge ſomething upon forreign cauſes out of its ſelf, either from God or Satan or men, but will not diſcharge its own naughty and corrupt heart. The hypocrite chargeth God, and the Devil and men highly, but ſeldom chargeth himſelf, or if at all very faintly. The reaſon lyeth in the pride of his heart which will not ſuffer it to ſtoop ſo low as to give God glory, or to take any ſhame to its ſelf.
2. Secondly, Obſerve what words they are which theſe words immediately follow, They made me the keeper of the Vineyards, but my own Vineyard I have not kept. The Soul that is too much abroad is ordinarily too little at home, he or ſhe that muſt have an Oar in every ones Boat ſeldom hath his own Boat well governed; Such a Soul is like the gadding houſewife, whoſe own houſe rarely is well lookt after. This happeneth eſpecially when the Soul is much abroad about ſecular concerns; the Soul though it be of a Spiritual nature, yet is very capable of being laden with, and mired in thick Clay. No Soul is ſo careleſs of things of an Eternal concern, as thoſe Souls which are moſt careful and ſollicitous about things tranſitory, and periſhing. There is a kind of inconſiſtency betwixt the buſineſs of the world, and the buſineſs of Heaven, the prefent world, and that which is to come, Nor is any Church ſo neglective of the Vineyard, with which God hath betruſted it, as that Church that hath bowed down to impoſitions of falſe worſhip. But I ſhall not largely diſcourſe either of theſe points, though there be a good foundation in the text for it. There are vet two other.
3. Thirdly, It is the Spouſe that here complaineth, ſaying, My own Vineyard I have not kept. Hence obſerve, Even Gods own People are to ready to neglect the Vineyard with which God hath betruſted them.
4. Fourthly, In that ſhe aſſigneth this as one, and that no ſmall cauſe of her blackneſs, obſerve,
Prop. The Churches, or particular Chriſtians negligence in keeping of their own Vineyard, is one main cauſe of their appearing blackneſs. This includeth the other, I ſhall therefore diſcourſe them together; I ſhall handle this by inquiring,
1. What is the Spouſes own Vineyard. 2. Wherein the keeping of this Vineyard doth lye; 3. I ſhall ſhew you, That even the Spouſe of Chriſt is a…t to neglect her own Vineyard. 4. I ſhall ſhew you what the Ordinary cauſes of this negligence are. 5. Then I ſhall ſhew you how this doth cauſe her to appear black. After which I ſhall make ſome application of the diſcourſe.
1.Qu. 1. There is no man that liveth, be he believer or unbeliever, but were he ſenſible of it, hath a Vineyard committed to him by God to keep; It is his Soul: Nor is this interpretation of the Metaphor without ſome foundation in holy Writ, The Lord expreſſing the ſinful works of the Jews ſaith, Deut. 32. 32. Their Vine is of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of g…ll, & their cluſters are bitter: Their Wine is the poiſon of Dragons, and the cruel venom of Aſps. Works, you know are the fruit of the Soul as Wine, and Grapes, are the fruits of the Vine. As God when he firſt created man truſted him with a garden to keep, ſo he never breaths into man the breath of life, ſo as he becomes a living Soul, but he gives him a Soul to till, cultivate and take care of. The Soul of man, is a Soil naturally prone to bring forth weeds, briars and thorns, yet capable alſo to admit plantations of grace and vertue (for grace grows not naturally in the Soul more then the Vine doth in the Vineyard;) I might ſhew you many other particulars, by which this ſenſe of the Metaphor might be juſtifyed but I forbear that diſcourſe.
2. Secondly, You may here by Vineyard underſtand whatſoever God hath committed to a mans truſt to be kept, maintained, and looked after by him. Now all this, conſidering man ſingly, & perſonally, is ſummed up in two things; The profeſſion of faith; and the Profeſſion of holineſs. 1. A profeſſion of faith, both of the Doctrine of faith, and of the grace or habit of ſaith. It lyeth upon a Chriſtian to keep both. 2. The profeſſion of holineſs (which is indeed but the practice of faith, for that worketh by Love and the fruits of holineſs) muſt proceed from the root of faith. This is every Chriſtians Vineyard and indeed the Vineyard of his Soul, is not kept without the keeping of theſe. Hence David glorieth, that he kept the ways of the Lord, Pſal. 18. 21. Paul kept the faith, 2 Tim. 4. 7. David kept the Lords teſtimonies, his Law, his Precepts, his Word, Pſal. 11. 9. 22, 55, 56, 67. The Church of Philadelphia is commended for keeping the Lords Word, Revel. 3. 8. The word of his patience, v. 20. This is the Vineyard of every Chriſtian according to the more publick or private ſtation which he hath in the Church of God.
2. The Church of Chriſt hath a Vineyard alſo. Indeed the Church is her ſelf compared to a Vineyard, Iſa. 5. and in the parable of him who let out his Vineyards to huſbandmen (but in that ſenſe Chriſt is himſelf the Keeper of it;) OnelyOnly he lets it out to huſbandmen, intruſting certain Officers of his own appointment with the managery of the affairs of it, but himſelf hath ſuch a Superintendency upon it, and ſo keepeth it, that the gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt it. The Church hath a Vineyard to keep; what is this Vineyard, but the Doctrine of faith? The Ordinances of our great Lord for worſhip, and for diſcipline: Theſe are the Churches Vineyard. Paul ſpeaking of the Church of the Jews, ſaith, that unto them were committed the Oracles of God, Rom. 3. 2. Paul ſaith, the diſpenſation of the Goſpel was committed unto him, 1 Cor. 9 17. The word of reconciliation is ſaid to be committed to the Miniſters of the Goſpel, 2 Cor. 1. 19. The Goſpel was committed to Pauls truſt, 1 Tim. 1. 11. Hence Timothy is ſpoken to to keep that which was committed to his truſt, 1 Tim. 6. 20. The Church is therefore called, The pillar, and ground of truth, and is fitly compared to the Ark in which was laid up the Pot of Manna, ſignifying the word and truths of God. The two Tables containing the Laws for Worſhip, and our more ordinary converſation, and the rod of Aaron ſignifying the Government and diſcipline of the Church. The rules for theſe are laid up in the Church being part of thoſe Oracles of God which are committed to it. It is a task which God hath layed upon his Church to keep this Vineyard.
Qu. 2.What it is to keep it we may eaſily gather from an underſtanding what it is to keep a Vineyard or nurſery, or garden, &c. It ſignifies the keeping it clean from Weeds which would hinder the growth and flouriſhing of the plants, and return the place into its former incultivated ſtate and condition. To keep it with digging, planting, manuring, dreſſing, and cultivating, that it may yield that fruit, and profit to the Owner which he expects from it, and for which he at firſt planted it. Hence then may eaſily be concluded what it is both for a particular Chriſtian, and for a Church to keep its own Vineyard. The whole buſineſs lyeth in theſe 2 things.
1. It ſignifieth a Chriſtians keeping of his Soul from Errors, and from luſts, and corruptions. All motions and inclinations to ſin, are the Souls Weeds, and what the Souls of the beſt of men are too prone to, its natural fruit; and Quod Sponte prodit laeti… prodit, naturally Weeds grow faſter then induced plants. A particular Chriſtians care in keeping the Vineyard of his Soul lies in keeping his underſtanding and judgment untainted with Errour as to Doctrine, in keeping his will from cloſing with motions to ſin, whether from within, or without, and his conſcience ſprinkled from Evil works. So for the Church of Chriſt, her keeping her Vineyard lies in preſerving in all her members a purity of Doctrine in oppoſition to the impurity of corrupt opinions, and errors: A purity of Worſhip in oppoſition to all Superſtition and Will-Worſhip, and a purity of diſcipline.
2. Secondly, it implieth the Souls filling and furniſhing it ſelf with knowledge and Spiritual habits the plants which the Lord would have to ſtand, and to grow in all parts of his inheritance, and in every Soul that pretendeth any relation unto him. As the Gardiner, who is intruſted with the keeping of any of your Gardens doth not keep them as he ought, unleſs beſide the weeding of them, and purging them of Weeds and nettles, he alſo furniſheth them with uſeful plants and herbs, and keeps them duly cut and pruned, &c. So neither doth that man or woman keep the Vineyard of his own Soul, that doth not take care to grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and in all other good, and vertuous habits. So as to the Church, that Church doth not keep its own Vineyard, that doth not beſides purging itſelf of errors, and ſcandals, take care alſo that the truths of God be duly preached, and publiſhed, and the Ordinances of God purely adminiſtred. This is now for the Spouſe to keep, or not to keep her own Vineyard, now I ſay the Spouſe of Chriſt, whether the Individual Spouſe (which is every truly gracious Soul) or the collective Spouſe Which is the Church of God is very prone to neglect the keeping of its own Vineyard.
Qu. 3.This needeth no other Evidence, then the experience of all Chriſtians and all Churches, and that in all ages.
1. I ſay firſt the Experience of particular Chriſtians, for who liveth, and ſinneth not againſt God? The righteous falleth 7 times in a day; now though it be true, that many of the ſins of Gods people are ſins of pure infirmity; Either through ignorance or impotency, to reſiſt the temptation, yet both this ignorance and impotency are often occaſioned through a neglect, or not improvement of the means of knowledge and better information, and through our not preparing our ſelves to the Spiritual fight, putting on the whole Armor of God as we ought to have done; Avoiding occaſions to Sin, abſtaining from the appearances of Evil, and giving no advantage to the adverſary; all which are our duties and enjoined us by the Apoſtle.
2. Nor Secondly either is there, or ever was any Church of God upon the Earth, that kept its own Vineyard as it ought to have done. The Church of the Jews was the only Church God had upon the Earth until the time of John the Baptiſt. Whoſoever readeth their ſtory, in the Books of Moſes, the Books of Kings and Chronicles, or in the Writings of the Prophets, will find that they did not keep their own Vineyard. Never had any Church a truſt more clearly committed to them, they could have no long diſputes about any thing of the revealed will of God, if any queſtion did ariſe they had an infallible rule, Deut. 17. for the determination of it; yet (as I told you before) as the ten Tribes made a total defection after the reigns of David and Solomon, both whoſe reigns made up but 80 years in the latter part of which, (in Solomon's time,) towards the latter end of his Reign; they alſo admitted very great corruptions) ſo in the Kingdom of Judah they loſt what was committed to their truſt many times and ſeldom kept it 60 years together in any degrees of purity. So that in Joſiahs time the Book of the law was thrown about and hid in the rubbiſh, and found by the repairers of the houſe of the Lord, as you find in the ſtory of the Book of the Kings. Now that this was their moſt wilful neglect, appeareth by their frequent reductions though not perfect, to the Divine rule. When Aſa, Jehoſaphat, Hezekiah, Joaſh, Joſiah, attempted it, and the plain revelation which they had of the will of God, both from the letter of the law, their way for deciſion of doubts about it, and the Prophets which God favoured them with, all the while that Kingdom remained. After that Church was deſtroyed, and the Chriſtian Church ſet up, all the Apoſtolical Epiſtles give a proof of the proneneſs of Churches to neglect the keeping of their own Vineyards, and of the Lords Watchmen to ſleep while the Enemy ſowed tares. The ſame is alſo Evidenced by all Eccleſiaſtical hiſtory, and from the Hiſtory of all modern Churches, their Deviations in Doctrine, Worſhip & Diſcipline, &c. teſtify it.
Qu. 4.Nor is the reaſon of this aptneſs in us to neglect the keeping of our own Vineyards, hard to be aſſigned.
1. The firſt is the laboriouſneſs of the work, and the croſneſs of it to the genius of Fleſh and blood. For a Chriſtian to keep his heart with all diligence is no eaſy work, it lies much in a Chriſtians denial of himſelf, taking up the Croſs, mortifying his members, as to which, our fleſh inceſſantly cries in the language of Peter, Maſter, ſpare thy ſelf. So that he who doth it rows (as we ſay) both againſt wind and tide. It requires much knowledge and judgment to keep a mans ſelf unſpotted from errors, but a great degree of ſelf denial for any man to keep himſelf unſpotted from the pollution of the World through luſt; upon this account it is that our Saviour compareth the way …o heaven to a narrow way, a ſtrait gate. And tells us that it is as eaſy for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle as for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. Our work is compared by our Saviour to a cutting off the right hand, and plucking out of a right Eye. In works of great labour, and difficnlty, we are very prone (you know) to be remiſs, and negligent.
2. But this is not all; The native corruption and inclination in mans heart to deviate from the holy and right ways of God is a great cauſe. I muſt confeſs that as to the Churches keeping its Vineyard I cannot apprehend ſuch a difficulty in it. As to truth a man indeed cannot believe what he liſteth, but the Church notwithſtanding this may keep the Doctrine of ſaith; if particular Perſons that are otherwiſe perſuaded, in ſome points then the reſt of the Church is, would but learn what the Apoſtle directs in that caſe; Haſt thou ſaith? have it to thy ſelf, Rom. 14. and not think themſelves obliged to publiſh to the diſturbance of a Church what is their own particular opinion. As to Ordinances relating to Worſhip and Government, what difficulty can there be in keeping ſtrictly to the Divine rule and doing that alone which Gods Word requireth? the queſtions concerning that would be very few, if men did not lay hold upon ſome general paſſages, and apply them to their own fancies. Were men but fixed in this to adhere to the Divine rule without diminiſhing it, or without adding to it, unleſs in caſes where ſuch additions are apparently neceſſary, certainly this were all to be required in order to the Churches keeping its own Vineyard as to the Ordinances committed to it. But the corruption of mans heart, inclining him to interpret the will of God in a conſiſtency to his own reaſon, makes all the difficulty in the Churches keeping the Doctrine of faith. And the wild humour that hath always poſſeſt men to Worſhip God according to their own fancies, and to create decencies, and matters of order, according to their own pleaſure, and to conform their Altars to that of Damaſcus, hath been all along in the ſtory of the Church, the cauſe of the Churches neglecting to keeps its proper Vineyard.
3. Thirdly, It is much cauſed from the mixture of the world in our converſation. This is true both as to the neglect of the particular Chriſtian, & as to the neglect of the Church alſo. As to the particular Chriſtian; we are but fleſh, and have ſenſes to be gratified with pleaſures, profits, honour, &c. as well as with the ſupply of our neceſſities: We live in, and converſe with the world, which is full of objects, that gratifie our ſenſitive appetite in theſe things; theſe are continual temptations to us to remit at leaſt the care of our own ſouls, & to neglect our own Vineyards. The Church alſo while it is militant here on Earth, & conſidered as Viſible, hath in it a great mixture of the world, though not of the Pagen world, (there muſt be a profeſſion of Chriſt in all the Members of the Viſible Church) yet, of that world which lyeth in wickedneſs, and it is this mixture of Hypocrites, with ſuch as are the ſincere Servants of God, that cauſeth the Church's neglect of its Vineyard. All the remiſsneſs in a Church of its care as to the Doctrine, Worſhip, and Diſcipline of Chriſt, proceedeth from this mixture of perſons, who are no more than Viſible, with ſuch as are ſincere, and true Members of the Church of Chriſt.
4. A fourth cauſe of this neglect, is mens fooliſh preſumptions, that they are well enough. The work of every particular Perſon in keeping the Vineyard of his own Soul, is ſo contrary to the grain of fleſh, and blood, that not only the natural man, but even the Sanctified man (in regard of that corruption which is yet in him) is ready to take up with ſhort meaſures of it, and to think his Vineyard is well enough kept when indeed it is not; men are loth to be righteous over much, and are very apt to think that a little is enough. We are very apt to think that we do enough duty, and conſider not the mark which we are to preſs after, the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt. It is ſomething natural to us to think we may not only do, but over-do what God requireth of us, when alas! when we have done all we can we are unprofitable ſervants, ſervants, ſo that what we do is but our duty, unprofitable ſervants, ſo that what we do cometh much ſhort of our duty. Perfection is what we are all bound to aim at and ſtrive after, but withal it is what no man attaineth; not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect (ſaith the Apoſtle.) You know in works that are not naturally pleaſing to us we are well pleaſed to think we have done enough. Thus it is in the buſineſs of Religion, and holineſs, they are things which pleaſe not fleſh and blood; ſo as we are well pleaſed when we can Satisfy our ſelves, and think that we need do no more nor go any further, and as it is with particular Chriſtians ſo it is with Churches, all which have not Paſtors, and Governours according to Gods own heart, nor are all the members of them, members of Chriſt. Now thoſe who are not ſo are no great lovers of, nor zealous for the perfection of purity, but can take up with meaſures ſhort of thoſe which Chriſt hath made, and given. Hence is that neglect of the keeping their own Vineyards which is but too obvious in all Churches; and hence are thoſe obvious declinations in that duty which men owe to God, and in the purity of Churches every Age is ſtill declining, and growing worſe then the former, whiles a party in the Church ſtill ſtudyeth more and more to wriggle their neck out of the yoke of Chriſt, and to get rid of ſome ingrateful things to fleſh and blood, which a former Age retained. For as no particular Perſon at firſt runs up to the higheſt degree of wickedneſs, ſo ſeldom doth any Church at firſt Apoſtatize, to that degree, but gradually declineth.
Qu. 5.None ſhall need to enquire, whence it is that this Neglect of our own Vineyards, maketh us to appear thus black, who but conſidereth that this Neglect is contrary to the Divine rule, which obligeth us to keep our hearts with all diligence, Prov. 423. to ſtrive after perfection, and to go on unto it: and alſo obligeth all Churches, to keep that which is committed to their truſt, to keep the Lords Word, &c. There is no medium in this caſe betwixt black and white. The Whiteneſs, beauty and glory of a Chriſtian lyeth in his holding faſt of his profeſſion, both of faith and holineſs, his keeping cloſe to the divine rule, and here in alſo lyeth the whiteneſs, and beauty of thoſe aſſemblyes of Chriſtians which we call Churches and the more, or leſs, both of a Chriſtians, and of a Churches beauty, and whiteneſs lyeth in his, or their more or leſs conformity to the divine rule, which being granted, their neglect of this muſt neceſſarily render them black and make them to appear ſo to others.
Uſe 1.This diſcourſe may in the firſt place let us ſee, the weakneſs of our faith, in our different apprehenſions of our worldly, and ſpiritual concernments. Certainly had we the ſame perſuaſions, that we have Souls, as that we have Bodies, as quick apprehenſions of the danger of our Souls miſcarriage, as we have of our bodily dangers; had we but a firm perſuaſion of the excellency of our Souls, above our Bodies we ſhould have an equal, if not a greater care, to keep this Vineyard of our immortal Soul, as we have to keep our Bodies; but have we ſo? It is true there are ſome in the World, that are lazy, and ſlothful as to their outward concerns, they will rather ſteal, or beg, then work, but theſe are but few in compariſon of others, God hath given men a body to look after, with what diligence doth he keep that? he riſeth up early, lyeth down late, and eateth the bread of carefulneſs, and all this for the keeping of his body, but for this Vineyard of the Soul of man, how few are they that look after it? how little is the diligence that is uſed in keeping of that? who attendeth the health of his Soul with that diligence that he attendeth his bodily health? or the maintenance and food of his Soul, with the ſame diligence that he attendeth his bodily food and ſuſtenance? or the adorning of his Soul, with the ſame care and diligence that he attendeth the adorning of his body? What doth this argue? doth it not ſpeak either that men have no great opinion that they have immortal Souls, or that they have no great opinion of the price, and value of them, or that they do not think there is ſo much care neceſſary for the keeping of them?
Uſe 2.We may obſerve from hence, upon what the blackneſs of particular Souls, and Churches, is principally to be charged. There may be ſome blame to be laid upon forrein cauſes. Temptations from the World and the Devil, but the greateſt blame muſt be laid upon our ſelves. Did we keep our watch ſo ſtrictly as we might keep it, Temptations could have no ſuch power upon us as they have, the Devil and the world can do no more then ſtrike fire, the tinder that receiveth it muſt be in our own box; when the Prince of the World came to Chriſt, he could do nothing againſt him, becauſe he found nothing in him. If the Devil found nothing in our Souls he could do nothing againſt them but only diſturb them. The like may be ſaid for the corruptions of Churches; If the husbandmen did not ſleep the Enemy could not ſow ſo many tares. All corruptions, in the Doctrine of faith, in matters of Worſhip and diſcipline, have crept in by the Officers of Churches not keeping their own Vineyards. The man of ſin, the Weſtern Antichriſt, had never ſo hacknyed the Weſtern Churches, if they had not like Iſſachar Couched under the burden, and bowed their necks down to the Yoke.
Uſe 3.I ſhall ſhut up this diſcourſe with a few Words of Exhortation to all to keep their own Vineyards. I ſhall not here ſpeak to the duty of husbandmen (Spiritual husbandmen) to keep the Vineyard of the Church; it were a Proper diſcourſe from the Doctrine, but I am not in a proper auditory. And beſides would every particular Chriſtian but keep the Vineyard of his own Soul, the care of Magiſtrates, and Miniſters who are the keepers of Chriſts Vineyard might be leſs. Chriſtians woful remiſſneſs, and neglect in keeping the more particular Vineyards of their own Souls, is that which makes the work of the keepers of the more publick Vineyard of the Church ſo difficult and almoſt unpracticable to them. Let me therefore only lay a little ſtreſs here, as we ſay, if every man would ſweep his own door the ſtreet would be clean: So it is true if every one would look to the Vineyard of his own particular Soul, or his particular family, the Church of God would be clean, for that is made up but of particular families, and particular Souls. When theſe Vineyards are kept, the more publick Vineyard which is made up of theſe muſt alſo be kept. Wherein the keeping of our Vineyards lyeth you have heard, viz. 1. In the keeping of it clear of weeds and noxious plants. 2. In the cultivation, and manuring ſuch plants as are fit for it. In theſe two things lyeth the keeping of Gardens and Vineyards amongſt men: in theſe two things lyeth the keeping of our Vineyards in a metaphorical & more ſpiritual ſenſe, you whom God hath truſted with the care of others, have a larger Vineyard then thoſe that are ſolute. The Wife is a part of the Husbands Vineyard, Children are their parents Vineyard, Servants are their Maſters Vineyard. Every mans family is his Vineyard. If any be ſingle his Soul is his Vineyard. The keeping of your Vineyards lyeth in a keeping of them free from Scandal, not ſuffering ſin upon any that ſtand in any relation to you; we ought not to do it as to our neighbour, much leſs as to any that are our neighbours in theneareſt and ſtricteſt ſenſe, and who ſtand in neareſt concernment to us. David reſolved to walk within his houſe with a perfect heart—that the faithful in the land ſhould dwell with him, and that he that walked in a perfect way ſhould ſerve him, that he that wrought deceit ſhould not dwell within his houſe, he that telleth lyes ſhould not abide in his ſight, Pſal. 101. 2, 7, 8. Abraham commanded his Children, and his houſhold after him, to keep the way of the Lord, to do juſtice, and judgment, Gen. 18. 19. For you that have only the Vineyards of your own Souls to keep, neglect them not; I will preſs this upon you with 2 conſiderations which I ſhall recommend to you.
1. The firſt ſhall be, The value of the Vineyards with which God hath betruſted to you. The Vineyards are Souls, either your own Souls, or the Souls of others, or both. Which way ſoever you conſider a Soul, whether as a Spiritual being, or as a reaſonable being, indued with noble faculties, or as an immortal being that cannot periſh with the body, as that part of man, which beareth the moſt lively impreſs of the image of God, as that which was purchaſed by the blood of Chriſt, and which is the habitation of God through the Spirit in which the holy Spirit may dwell, that which is ordained to an Eternity either of happineſs or miſery; which way ſoever you look upon your own Souls, or the Souls of thoſe who are committed to your truſts, they are noble Vineyards. Reaſon teacheth us to take the beſt care of our beſt and moſt excellent things, I have thought it often a moſt unreaſonable vanity of ſome Gentlemen, to take a great deal more care of the managery, of an horſe or hawk then of their Sons. It is every whit as great, if not a much greater vanity, to take a greater care of the bodies, and outward concerns of their relations, then of their Souls. What can be laid in ballance with a Soul which will not be found too light for it? what ſhall be offered in exchange for it, and not rejected as of too low a conſideration? Of what value think you that muſt be which was bought with the blood of him who was the Son of God? Conſider of what value the profeſſion of your faith, and the practice of holineſs is; your faith is called precious faith, and of holineſs, it is ſaid that without it none ſhall ſee the Lord.
2. Secondly. Conſider who it is that hath betruſted you with Ezek. 18. 4.them. Behold (ſaith God) All Souls are mine, It is God that hath given unto us the truſt of our own Souls and the truſts of others Souls for all Souls are originally Gods. He breaths the Soul into the body of a man, he puts Souls into mens families, I beſeech you conſider here theſe particulars: 1. That every Perſon of reputation and honour valueth a truſt, and thinks it beneath a man, not to diſcharge a truſt he undertakes with ſome degrees of faithfulneſs. We ſee in our daily experience, that as men naturally Love to be truſted, ſo they have a kind of natural religion, for the keeping and diſcharging of it. This is what makes men conſciencious as to the wills of Perſons that are dead. All Souls are truſts, our particular Souls are truſts, the Souls of our relations are truſts to us. The property of all Souls is Gods, the truſt of them is in us, I wiſh this were but well thought on; the wicked men mentioned by the Pſalmiſt ſaid, our lips are our own, who is Lord over us? Pſal. 12. 4. men think that they may do what they will with what they have a full propriety in. This is a great cauſe of mens neglect of their Souls, they dream too much of an abſolute property they have in them, they ſay, their Souls are their own. Who is Lord over them? would men conſider their Souls a little more as truſts they would take a ſtricter care of them. 2. Tho we naturally value all truſts, yet ſuch as our Superiours or near friends commit to us we yet value more. A dread of our Superiours makes us to value and take care of what they have committed to our truſt a love to our friends makes us value theirs; our Souls, and the Souls of thoſe that are in relation to us, are a truſt committed to us by the Lord of the whole Earth by Chriſt who hath dyed for us. So that here is both the relation of a Superiour and of a friend in the caſe, obliging us to take a due care for the keeping of our Vineyards. 3. The more eyes we have upon us, obſerving how we manage our truſt, the more careful we are (ordinarily) as to the managery of it. This is a truſt as to which God who hath entruſted us, hath an Eye to us how we diſcharge it; this needeth no great proof, whoſo believeth Gods Omniſciency, and conſidereth the obſerving Eye which God keepeth upon all men, and all their actions, ſo as they are all written in a Book, muſt know and believe this. Laſtly the more accountable we are for any truſt, the more we take our ſelves obliged to keep it with all diligence. The truſt of every mans Soul is a truſt for which he muſt account, Rom. 14. 12. So then every one of us ſhall give an account of himſelf unto God we muſt give an account to him who is ready to judge both the quick and the dead, 1 Pet. 4 5. of what muſt we give an account, but of our Souls? their Elicit & Imperate acts, the Apoſtle tells us that it is the duty of Paſtors and Governours of Churches, to watch for Souls becauſe they muſt give an account. Certainly it is as much the duty of every particular Chriſtian to watch over his own Soul, becauſe his Soul is a truſt, of which he muſt give an account to him that is ready to come to judge both the quick and the dead. Nor are we only to give an account of our Souls, but of the Souls committed to our charge. This the Apoſtle telleth us plainly, Heb. 13. 17. as to thoſe who are Governors, and Paſtors of Churches, and God told it Ezechiel, Ezech. 3. 18. Son of man (ſaith he) I have made thee a watch-man to the houſe of Iſrael—v. 18. When I ſay unto the wicked thou ſhalt ſurely die, and thou giveſt him not warning, nor ſpeakeſt to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to ſave his Life, the ſame wicked man ſhall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand. (This is that which made Chryſoſtom think that there were but a few Miniſters that would be ſaved.) But it is as true concerning Superiors in other relations; God never bringeth a wife into the boſom of any husband, nor addeth a Child or Servant to any family, but he ſaith to the husband of that wife, to the Parent of that Child or thoſe Children, to the Maſter of thoſe Servants, All Souls are mine. The Souls of theſe Perſons I commit to thy truſt, if thou doeſt not warn them from ſinful courſes, if thou doeſt not walk towards them as a man of knowledge, and bring them up in the nurture, and admonition of the Lord, they ſhall die in their ignorance, in their iniquity, but their Souls will I require at thy hand. A conſideration which if duly weighed by the Sons of men, would awaken men to another kind of Government of their families, and another kind of inſtruction of them then I fear is ordinarily to be found in families.
2. I ſhall add but one thing more; The better any man keepeth the Vineyard of his own Soul, or the Vineyard of his family, the more fruit he ſhall reap from it. His Vintage will be the better, there is little fruit to be expected from a neglected Vine. Our Vineyards, thoſe I mean of our own Souls and the Souls of others under our truſt, do not only bring forth fruit to the honour and Glory of God but unto our ſelves, and that very conſiderable, 1. In our peace of Conſcience here in this Life. 2. In that glory which is the object of our future hopes. The fruit of righteouſneſs is peace and quietneſs, and aſſurance for ever. Keep your Vineyards, that you may drink the ſweet fruit and wine thereof, that joy, and peace which is the fruit of believing, and of an holy life and converſation. This will be very pleaſant to us while we live, much more, when we come to die. Lord Remember (ſaith Ezekiah upon his ſick bed) how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart. Conſcience checks us for nothing, but the neglect of ſome Vineyard or other, which the Lord hath intruſted us with. 2. Your glory hereafter will be the more. I know there is a queſtion in Divinity whether there ſhall be any degrees of glory? It is hard to ſhew you wherein the glory of one Saint ſhall excel another, but I think it is plain enough that there ſhall be differences of glory in Saints that ſhall be glorified, and if ſo, doubtleſs thoſe that have beſt kept their own Vineyards, ſhall have the largeſt penny. And thoſe that have beſt diſcharged their truſts to the Souls of others, ſhall have the larger ſhare in glory. He that winneth Souls is wiſe. And the Prophet Daniel tells us that thoſe who turn many to righteouſneſs ſhall ſhine as the Stars for ever and ever.