A Second Guide to Heaven, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Part. 2. Ver. 4. But let a Man, &c.
THE proper means to rectifie mistake, and save our selves. Herein we may take notice of,
1. The Persons that ought to make use of this Prescription. Every man.
2. The matter or thing prescrib'd.
(1.) The Act; Let him prove
(2.) The Object with its specification, His work and his own work,
Obs. It's every Man's Duty and Concernment to prove his own work.
Heb. Set your heart on your ways.Proof. We have God's express Charge for it, Hag. 1.5, 7. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, thus saith Jehovah, Consider your ways, and then helps them in this work, consider what your carriage hath been towards God, and what his dealings have been with you. Want of serious consideration is the grand cause that most miscarry; they will not be at leasure to sit down and think how 'tis with them, whither they are going, and whether God approves of what they are about, and will at last say, Well done good and faithful Servant. The Apostle useth many words, 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your selves whether you be in faith; alas! most doubt not of it, but they are; ay, but prove your own selves; and again, know you not your own selves; and its such great concernment, that Christ must be in you, or you are reprobates. Not Christ's name on you, or Christ preached to you, or own'd by you enough, but Christ in you the hope of Glory; or else you are foreign not approv'd of God, Reprobates, cast away.
1. The Persons [every man] of what rank or condition soever he be. Magus, Rom. 13.3, 4. 2 Cor. 2.17. 1 Tim. 4.15, 16.must prove your own work, and Minus their own works, so must Parents, Children, Masters, and Servants. Each must mind their Places and Relations, and all their respective Duties.
But especially every man must prove his own work with respect to his Spiritual State, whether his work be such as is from a sound good Heart or no; whether he be in a saving condition, whether he is like to be sav'd or lost for ever.
Reasons. 1. Every Man is prone to deceive himself, every Man hurts and wounds himself, and is like to destroy himself; all the Devils in Hell and Men on Earth could not do this, if we did not help on; now its fit the Remedy should extend as far as the Malady, good and bad are apt to be mistaken, good men mistake and miscarry much, Bad men to all Eternity. This is Epidemical, an Universal disease. Some are wise for one thing, some skilful in other matters; some neglect their Shops, others their Cattle, some regardless about their Cloaths, many hurt their Friends, but all herein agree, in being apt to delude their Souls. This runs thorow all Mankind; Wise-men, Learned-Men, Stout-men, Poor-men, Trades-men, all sorts are busie in deceiving themselves.
2. Every Man must do this for himself, or none can; others may perswade to it, give Arguments, Counsels, lay down Rules, but each Man must do this for himself. The greatest Lord and Prince, the most dainty tender Lady, such as have all other things done for you, your Houses built, their Meat provided, their work in Field and House done by others, must do this each for themselves; or they are undone. Others cannot love God for us, hate Sin for us, believe in Christ for us, do good Works for us, no more then they can eat and drink for us, and we live by it, and get nourishment from it. The Master and Servant, the Mistress and Hand-maid must each pray for themselves, mortify their own Lusts; as they cannot do it for us, neither can they know how we do it, whether in sincerity, or Hypocrisie. We may be proud or filthy, or prophane in our thoughts, in splendid duties, who knows our Hearts? Who calls us to an account when we lie down, what we have done all the day, therefore had we great need to look to our selves.
3. Every one must give account to God himself, and for himself; who can answer for each other at that great and terrible day. You see every person is singled out by Death, here one, and there another. No company call'd to assist or Answer; a whole Family or Town layes a single Corps into the Grave, and all go each to their Houses, and the naked Soul appears alone before God's Tribunal to give an account. Every Man must dye for himself: David cries out, O Absolom, my Son, my Son, would God I had died for thee. No, David, no, that young Gallant must go himself, and answer for himself.
4. Every Man must have rejoycing in himself, or bear his own burden. Every one must go to Heaven or Hell for himself; I shall be undone or sav'd my self, and therefore it's fit I should try my own work.
2. The matter or thing prescrib'd, and therein,
(1.) The Act foreign the word imports many things.
(1.) To discern,Luk. 12.56. i. e. upon former observation to make a probable canjecture. How is it that you do not discern this time foreign cannot you guess that this time is near? Though we cannot fully know our hearts and wayes; yet if we are wise and watchful, we may give a shrewd guess. We do but guess at the distempers of our Body, and throw in Physick at all adventures sometimes, but we are sure of what is good for our Souls, and we may find out the Distemper, and the Cure. A Man that's running behind-hand in his Trade may soon guess it. But if men will never cast up their Accounts, looks over their Shops, &c. then are they cast into Prison e're they are aware of it; as many are into the Grave, into Hell, and will cast up nor account.
2. To prove by Trial or experience, Luk. 14.19. foreign. The Oxen, I go to prove them, i.e. make an experiment whether they will work or no. Thus should I go to prove them, i.e. make an experiment whether they will work or no. Thus should we try our Prayers by praying earnestly, try our Faith by the exercise of it. It's a blessed thing to have the sweetness of Love in loving God; to have the comfort, and evidence, and satisfaction of Humility and Meekness and Patience, in the use and exercise of them? it's much more than all we read or hear of it. What is it for me to read of Abraham's offering up his Son Isaac, of Job's Patience, of David's Prayers and Praises, and high exaltations of God and his word, unless I have those Graces, and can read the same Psalms, with the same Spirit and Heart. David is gone to Heaven, this is left for me, not barely to read, as Children their lesson, but breathe out my Soul, in, and with them. Can I say, As the Hart, Ps. 42.1.&c. So, not only David's Soul did, but my Soul now doth thirst after God, the living God, and so the 119 Psal. Why should you not endeavour to read it all over as the Psalm. Or that my ways were directed, and my Soul breaketh; or how I love thy Law. Would you prove your Hearts, your Tongues, your Lives, your Graces, your Duties, try them by use and exercise; see what you can do at the work of God. Many sad and dejected are still looking back for evidences; do you fear your want of Love, love God and Christ presently.Rom. 5.1. The Apostle seems to be actually exercising Grace in the presence of God; we are justified, have peace, have access, we now stand, and now rejoyce, and as to troubles,v. 3, 4, 5. they work present patience, and patience experience, foreign we experiment it, and have present hope of future Mercy, the love of God being now in our Hearts.
3.1 Tim. 3.10. foreign. To make enquiry in order to some Judgement to be passed hereupon. Thus Candidates of the Ministry are first to be proved, and such need to be qualified for the work with Gifts, and should consider their own Abilities, natural or acquir'd, before they be tryed by others. So we that hope for Heaven, should try our State and Work, before we appear before Gods search and tryal.
We should put searching questions to our selves, have I competent knowledge, have I done my Master's work on earth. Am I now ready to dye, can I upon good grounds rejoyce in hope of Glory. If you would search and judge your selves, you should not be judged, at least not condemned by the Lord. Pass a right Judgment on your selves; say not all is well, when it is not so.
The result of these Three Heads is this, He that would wisely, faithfully, and for his own good, prove his own work, he must, 1. Wisely observe. 2. Make experiment; and 3. Truly pass a Judgement on it.
4. The word, foreign is Metaphorical, taken from,
1. Gold-smiths, in trying and proving their Mettals. Criticks say, the word is proper to their mystery, and that the Holy Ghost alludes thereto, 1 Pet. 1.7. The Tryal of the Faith more precious than that of Gold by Fire; when it can bear the tryal of Afflictions and Persecutions, and that Jam. 1.12. Blessed is the Man that endureth temptation, 1 Cor. 3.13.14, 15.when he is tried. Goldsmiths prove their Mettals two ways, for two ends.
(1.) By the Fire, to separate and consume the Dross, and brighten and form the Gold. God casts his into his Furnace, and his end is to purge and take away sin, Isa. 27.9. That the Iniquity of Jacob may be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away the sin. Thus shall every Mans work be tryed by Fire at last.
2. By the Touch-stone, to discern good Mettal from counterfeit, Gold and Silver from Brass or Copper; The Mettal being prov'd, tryed, and found good, is foreign, allowed currant, and then hath the Kings Stamp on it. Persons that upon trial are found sincere, are foreign, 1 Cor. 11.19.foreign. Phil. 1.10. That the sincere may be made manifest; that ye may approve things that are Excellent, that ye may be sincere.
2. The Taste-trying Meats, such as are Savoury and Refreshing, unsavoury, Phil. 1.9, 10. Abound in all judgement, that you may approve; try or discern what is excellent and good, try the Spirits, whether false or sound: 1 John 4.1. foreign. 1 Thess. 5.1 2 Cor. 8.8. foreign.Prove all things, tast and try all things, and hold fast that which is good; and after this try your own Graces, prove the sincerity of their Love. Taste and see that the Lord is Gracious.
Having tasted now the result and moral of all this consists in,
1. A sincere impartial trial upon enquiry, Lam. 3.40. Let us search, and try our ways. This calls for serious consideration from resolution and hearty endeavours, to find out how 'tis with our Spiritual State; not put it off slightly, but labour to search to the bottom. Could Men be brought to this once, there were some hopes. Some slight superficial Enquiries you make, but not go to the bottom; not as by Fire, not bring all to the Touch-stone of Gods Word; not roll and chew it, till tast whether it be bitter or sweet.
2. An upright passing of Judgment according to Truth, when you find it dross and trash, let the fire consume it; throw what is filth and rotten to the dunghill. Say, thus I am, and thus I do, I am undone; I am not sound, all is out of order. Say (as Paul to another) My Heart is not right with God, I am in the gall of bitterness and bond of Iniquity; and set it home, till you feel it sink under it: Weep and refuse to be comforted. Say, what is all the World to me, when I am perishing, falling into Hell.
3. A judicious allowance upon good Evidence, Rom. 14.14. I know and am perswaded by the Lord Jesus, that it's not unclean: When I find I am indeed in the way of God, to hold on, and hold out, and not stagger; stand to it and own the fault, whosoever speaks against it. I know in whom I have believed and am perswaded, &c.
4. A Mans approving himself, and his Work.
1. To God, 1 Cor. 4.4, 5. I value not Mans judgement, he that judgeth me is the Lord. How often do good Men appeal to God? David Psal. 26. begin. Judge me O Lord; thou knowest thy Servant. 1 Chron. 17.18.O Blessed comfortable appeal: So did Jerimiah, Chr. 12.3. So Hezekiah, Remember Lord how I have walked; Thou knowest, said Peter, that I love thee. How often do Gods servants say, God is my Witness, and my Record is on high.
2. To other Men. Thus the Apostle Paul often appeals to his people to their very Consciences, as far as they could know and observe him, that his desire was to do them good. Thess. 2.1. Your selves know our entrance; v. 5. We us'd not flattering words, as ye know. We are made manifest in our Consciences; we are bid to keep Consciences void of offence towards Men, as well as towards God: And its well, when those that most know us, can speak best of us; the Hypocrite is the strangers Saint. Will thy nearest Relations know thee to be a Holy, humble good Man; thy Chil-know thy care over them, watchfulness, warning, counsel, Holy Example; and so the Servants and Neighbours, and those that have dealings with you in your Trades and Places.
3. To a Mans own Conscience, 2 Cor. 1.12. This is our Rejoycing, the testimony of our own Conscience. Some think that it's impossible,Cum alio sit animus, dicitiscientia, cum, se ipsum conscientia. but an Hypocrite must know his own Hypocrisie; how he deals doubly and falsely with God and Man. Now then, should but Conscience do its Work; that would deal plainly and faithfully. It's Gods Vicegerent in thy Breast. Say, when thou appearest to Man plausible and commendable; but what say'st thou Conscience, is all well, art thou sincere in what thou dost?
Secondly, The Object. His own Work. Two things must come under Trial.
1. The state of a Mans Person, whether he be born again or no; whether yet in a state of Nature, under the power of Sin, or brought over to God. 1 Cor. 11.28. Let a Man examine himself; not only as to Actual, but his Habitual fitness.
2. A Mans Work. foreign. Enallage numeri. Work for Works. Rev. 22.12. I come to give every Man according as his Work hath been. This must take in every thing that a Man Works. Whether such Works are wrought in the Heart, as thoughts and affections. Isa. 32.6. His Heart Works Iniquity. Or such as are outwardly discover'd, as his Words; for they are comprehended under Works, Mat. 12.36, 37. God judge according to your Words. Chap. 16.27. It's according to yuor Works. And all his Actions, which are of several kinds, and every one of them must come under Trial. e. gr.
1. Natural; such as are Eating and Drinking, using Apparel, Sleep, Recreations, and Labour, about our Bodies; for though those in themselves be things indifferent, i. e. neither morally good or evil, in the use and end of them as they are circumstantiated, they are not indifferent. We should enquire as to the matter of Food or Cloathing, whether what is proper as to the quantity, whether not too much Sleep, too much Drink, too much Food, as to the Season, whether we mind it not as Martha unseasonably; and as her also, as to the measure and manner, whether not too much troubled and careful about it;Mat. 6.25. enquire whether we do not take too great delight in it, promise our selves too much from it: We may undo our selves about these carefull innocent things. As more are kill'd with too much good Food and Drink, then with Poyson; so more are undone and lost eternally by too much care,In licitis perim{que} vis and delight about those lawfull things, then by Murder, or Whoredom, or Swearing: Men are not awar of the danger here. Whereas, other Sins slay their Thousands, this Worldliness kills its Ten Thousands. Now Men judge this Sin in coveting what is others; but I may have an Earthly Heart, and make up a Worldly Life by Worldly Cares and Fears, and Desires, and Hopes and Griefs, though it be about mine own Estate.
2. Civil, as about our Calling, Transactions, Relations &c. Here we must try our Work, whether we follow our Imployment in obedience to Gods Command; whether we are just and upright in our dealings, and dare not wrong; whether we are faithful and pitiful, and kind to others; whether we promote and rejoyce in others good, or envy and be-grudge them; whether we are good Parents, and watch over our Childrens Souls, as those that must give an account; whether dutifull Children, Religious Husbands and Wives. How many live together only to Eat and Drink, Sleep and Work together,Eph. 5. ult. Ch. 6. beg. Col. 3. ult. Ch. 4. beg. and not to Love together, to Pray together. What a dreadfull meeting will there be between wicked Parents and ungodly Children, between carnal Husbands and Wives, that it may be are living to each other, and to their Children, but no Love to God, nor toward others Souls: Live years together, and not one word of God or Heaven, or enquiry about each others Souls. Did Gods Word take place, what Blessed Magistrates, Ministers, Parents, Children, Masters and Servants should we have. If God should send a Messenger to enquire in Towns, Parishes and Families, how matters stand, what they do and speak all day. How few can give a plausible account to a self-judicious Man, with a great and terrible Messenger (I mean Death is coming, and he will not knock at door and crave admission, but will break in and drag you forth before the great God, and then and there must you give an account.
3. Sinful. These must never be approved, but must be searched out to promote our Repentance; but we should bring them to the Light,John 3.20, 21. that they may appear to be evil, and be exceeding sinful, and be reproved. We should aggravate our sins, and lye low before the Lord, be asham'd and confounded, God is very angry, when Men will not say, what have I done? Thou sayest, I have not sinned, I am innocent.Jer. 2.35. ch. 8.6. Says God, I heark'ned and heard, no man that repented. Were they ashamed? God answers, Nay, they were not at all ashamed. This is our great work to search out any secret wickedness, hide and conceal none; to judge and condemn our selves, that we may not be condemned of the Lord. David and Asaph, and other good Men's sins kept them humble and broken all their days. I have them still in mine Eye, and am humbled. Thus you may make a good use and improvement of such bad work, the more to condemn your selves, and justifie God, advance for Grace, and admire and prize Christ Jesus.
4. Good works. Here we should enquire whether our works be good, whether for matter and manner right, whether we are constant, and steadfast, and abounding,foreign without Hypocrisy. foreign her burning. chearful and sincere in doing good. Here we are to enquire not only that it's done, but how, Rom. 12.8. He that giveth let him do it with simplicity, he that ruleth, with diligence, he that sheweth mercy, with chearfulness. Let love be without dissimulation, ver. 11. Not sloathful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, ver. 12. rejoycing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, foreign from foreign, strong in Prayer.