The Middle Things, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
SECT. 1. Of Duties in general: And firſt, of the Equity of Duties.
NO ſooner is the ſoul tranſlated into the ſtate of grace, and crowned with thoſe glorious Priviledges, but immediately it cryes out, O Lord, what ſhall I now do for thee? how ſhall I now live to thee? Good reaſon, the ſoul ſhould now give up her ſelf to Chriſt, for ſhe knows, ſhe is not her own, but Chriſts. Can there be ſuch a heart in any Chriſtian, as now to caſt off Duty, and to continue in ſin, becauſe ſo much grace hath abounded? O no! The love of Chriſt conſtrains us (ſaith the Apoſtle) becauſe we thus judge, 2 Cor. 5.14, 15.— That he dyed for all, that they which live, ſhould not henceforth live unto themſelves, but unto him which dyed for them, and roſe again. There is a Principle of love now in the hearts of believers, and this love of Chriſt conſtrains them to live to Chriſt: Ye are now a choſen Generation, a royal Prieſthood, a holy Nation, 1 Pet. 2.9.a peculiar People, that ye ſhould ſhew forth the praiſes of Chriſt, who hath called you out of darkneſs into his marvellous light: What bleſſed Titles are theſe? and to what end? but that they who are ſo ennobled by Chriſt, may now adorn the Goſpel of Chriſt, and ſhew forth the praiſes of him who hath called them? 11.Dearly beloved (ſaith the Apoſtle) I beſeech you, as ſtrangers and pilgrims, abſtain now from fleſhly luſts, which war againſt the ſoul, having your converſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that whereas they ſpeak againſt you as evil doers, 12.13.17.19.they may by your good works which they ſhall behold, glorifie God in the day of viſitation. But what duties muſt they fall on? 1. Submit your ſelves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords ſake. 2. Honor all men. 3. Love the Brotherhood. 4. Fear God. 5. Honor the King. 6. Suffer wrongs: You have herein Chriſt for example, and you muſt do all for Chriſts ſake; or if theſe Duties will not contain all, Zachary tells us,Luk. 1 74, 75. that being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we muſt ſerve him without fear, in holineſs (in all Duties of the firſt Table) and righteouſneſs (in all Duties of the ſecond Table) all the days of our life. Indeed, how can we love Chriſt, and neglect duty to Chriſt?Iohn 14.15. If you love me (ſaith Chriſt) keep my Commandments; the love of Chriſt will conſtrain us to imbrace his Commandments, as a moſt precious treaſure. I hope aſſuredly, An ingenuous Confeſſion of Dr. Criſp our open adverſary; ſome that extol him may do well to remember it. See Dr. Criſp Aſſurance of Faith.that the God of grace and mercy will keep, by his power to Salvation, all thoſe perſons he doth deliver; and that he will ſow the ſeeds of grace in their hearts, that they may not ſin (i.) preſumingly. And I hope alſo, God will meet with ſuch as are diſturbers of the truth of Chriſt, and peace of the Goſpel, by their baſe and vile converſations: And I ſhall recommend to them the reading of the Epiſtle of Jude, where they may ſee the fearful wrath of God upon ſuch perſons as abuſe the grace of God to ſin. O let not the love of Chriſt thus manifeſted, be ſo baſely requited at your hands, ſeeing the Lord hath ſo freely loved you, & given Chriſt to you, that you might be to the praiſe of the glory of his grace, in a godly Chriſtian converſation, whereunto you are ordained. For you are Gods workmanſhip (ſaith the Apoſtle) created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good works, Eph. 2.10.which God hath before ordained, that you ſhould walk in them. And I beſeech you always to remember, That you cannot anſwer the free love of God towards you any other way, but by ſhewing it in a fruitful converſation in the world; conſidering that one end of your Redemption, that Chriſt who gave himſelf for you, might redeem you from all iniquity, and purifie you unto himſelf, Tit. 2 14.a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Here's good equity for Duties; the ſoul cannot conſider her deliverance by the blood of Chriſt, and by the Spirit of Chriſt, but ſhe cryes, What ſhall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? Pſal. 116.12.13.14.1….I will take the cup of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord: I will pay my vows unto the Lord, now in the preſence of all his people: O Lord, truly I am thy ſervant, I am thy ſervant and the ſon of thy handmaid; thou haſt looſed my bonds. For a man that hath a touch of the loving kindeneſs of Chriſt, and therefore ſtands ready to ſpeak forth the praiſe of the glory of his grace, that hath ſo freely ſaved him, it muſt needs be an acceptable ſervice to God in Chriſt.
SECT. 2. Of the Inſufficiency of Duties.
BUt alas, what are theſe Duties to my Lord? or what are theſe Duties in themſelves?
1. All the Duties of man, they are nothing at all unto God: Can a man be profitable unto God, Iob 22.2, 3.as he that is wiſe can be profitable unto himſelf? Is it any pleaſure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him, that thou makeſt thy ways perfect? If thou be righteous, what giveſt thou him? Iob 35.7.or what receiveth he from thine hand? O my ſoul, thou haſt ſaid unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: Pſal. 16.2.And what then? what recompence to God for this propriety? Nay, David is here non-pluſs'd, My goodneſs extendeth not to thee. All the ſervice of men and Angels, though they run parallel with the longeſt lines of eternity, are inſufficient recompence for my ſouls deliverance: When we have done all we can, ſtill we muſt ſay, We are unprofitable ſervants.Luke 17.10.
2. All the duties of man, as they are done by man, are in that reſpect ſinful: What is Duty, but mans tye to that which is due? or (if we follow the Latines) what is Duty, but obedience commanded by God, to be performed by man? Now wherein any thing is to be done as of man, therein is ſome mixture of ſin: All our righteouſneſs is as filthy rags, as a menſtruous cloth; Iſa 64.6.How? All our righteouſneſs? It is true, whileſt a Believers heart is overcaſt with groſs vapours, and is more then ordinarily dull in hearing, whileſt it flies low and ſlow in praying, and is ſomewhat ſtiff, and untoward in faſting above meaſure, ſuch Righteouſneſs goes uſually for ſin; but if a ſoul gets under full ſail; if it be filled with a ſtiff gale of the Spirit of Chriſt; if ſtoods of meltings flow from it; if it cry mightily, be ſwift to hear, be greedy in ſucking in Divine Truths, and be ſomewhat exact in obſerving practical righteous means, to mourn and pray luſtily, being helpt by the Spirit herein: Are ſuch Prayers, Mournings, and other Divine Exerciſes in any ſort ſinful? yes, as there is ſome mixture of mans infirmity in them; and in our beſt Duties there is ſome ſuch mixture: for all our righteouſneſs is as filthy rags, as menstruous clothes; I know who hath ſaid it, and yet I know not wherein to contradict it. Chriſtians may diſtinguiſh between that which is the Spirits, Dr. Criſp in his Sermon on Phil. 3.8. A known adverſary to the pure Doctrine of Duties.in works after renovation, and the whole work after they have done it: Now although the motions and aſſistance of the Spirit be pure, holy, and without skum in the ſpring, to wit, in it ſelf; yet by that time theſe motions and aſſiſtance have paſſed through the channels of their hearts, and have been mixed with their manifold corruptions in doing, even the whole work thereby becomes polluted. If this be ſo, that our beſt recompence to Chriſt for his loves be unprofitable to him, and ſinful as done by man, What ſhall I ſay? how muſt I carry (ſaith the ſoul) to my Redeemer?
SECT. 3. Of the healing of Duties.
I Dare not but obey; though all the Duties in the world are inſufficient to recompence thoſe bowels of Gods mercies in Chriſt, I muſt not therefore caſt away Duties. It is true, I cannot but ſin in all I do, my beſt Duties (nakedly and barely conſidered in themſelves) are tainted, poyſoned, and mingled with ſin: But will it follow, That becauſe I cannot be more clean, therefore I muſt be more filthy then needs? Nay, O my ſoul, if thou art married to that Bridegroom Chriſt, Duties and all things elſe are clean to thee.Dr. Criſp on Phil. 3.8. The whole filth and dung of our works, through faith in Chriſt, is extracted by Chriſt, and he preſenting the ſame, purged by himſelf alone, they are accepted with God: In this reſpect there is an healing of Duties, if we be in Chriſt. Certainly, that fruit which cometh from a root of Faith,Pſal. 116.10. muſt needs be good fruit: I believe, therefore I ſpeak, ſaith the Pſalmiſt: O my ſoul, canſt thou ſay thus? I believe, therefore I pray; I believe, therefore I ſanctifie the Lords day; I believe, therefore I do all Duties of obedience: Thy obedience then is the fruit of Paradice, for it grows on the very Tree of Life.Mal. 4.2. Chriſt is The Sun of Righteouſneſs, that ariſeth with healing in his wings: Chriſt is that Sun, that by his heat of love extracts all the filth of ſin out of thy Duties performed; and ſo thy Duties are healed, the Spiritual part of them being preſented by the interceſſion of Chriſt, and the carnal defects covered by the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, in whom the Father is always well-pleaſed.
§. 1. Of the maner of healing our Duties.
NOw the maner (O my ſoul) how Chriſt heals our Duties, it is thus:
1. He takes our perſons, and carries them in to God the Father, in a moſt unperceivable way to us; he knows, that if our perſons be not firſt accepted, our Duties cannot be accepted: Love me, and love my Duty; hate me, and hate my Duty. It is true, that in the Covenant of Works, God firſt accepted of the work, and then of the perſon; but in the Covenant of Grace, God firſt accepts of the perſon, and then of the work: Now therefore, that our works (our Duties) may be accepted, Chriſt Ieſus our great High Prieſt firſt takes our perſons, and carries them into the preſence of God the Father: This was plainly ſhadowed out to us, by that of the High Prieſt,Exod. 28 29. who went into the holy of holieſt, with the Names of all the Tribes upon his breaſt.
2. As Chriſt takes our perſons, and carries them in to God the Father; ſo when we perform Duty, he obſerves what evil or failing there is in that Duty, and draws it out, before he preſents it to God the Father: As a childe that would preſent his father with a Poſie, he goes into the garden, and gathers flowers and weed… together; but coming to his mother, ſhe picks out the weeds, and bindes up the flowers by themſelves, and ſo it is preſented to the father. Thus we go to Duty, and we gather weeds and flowers together, but Chriſt comes, and picks out the weeds, and ſo preſents nothing but flowers to God the Father: Who may abide the day of his coming (ſaid the Prophet of Chriſt) and who ſhall ſtand when he appeareth? Mal. 3.2, 3, 4.for he is like a refiners fire, and like fullers ſope: And he ſhall ſit as a refiner and purifier of ſilver, and ſhall purifie the ſons of Levi, and purge them as gold and ſilver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteouſneſs; then ſhall the offerings of Judah and Jeruſalem be pleaſant unto the Lord: mark, Thou ſhall their offerings be pleaſant: then? when? When he had purged their ſacrifices and their offerings. Thus it was in the days of his fleſh, and much more now.
3. As Chriſt takes away the iniquity of our holy things, ſo he obſerves what good there is in any of our Duties, and with that he mingles his own Prayers, Interceſſions, Incenſe, and preſents all as one work mingled together unto God the Father: And another Angel (viz. the Angel of the Covenant) came and ſtood at the Altar, having a golden …c…ſer, Rev. 8.3, 4.and there was given to him much incenſe, that he ſhould offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar, which was before the Throne: And the ſmoke of the incenſe which came with the prayers of the Saints, aſcended up before God, out of the Angels hand.
§. 2. The Souls Quaere's in this caſe.
Quare. 1 1. IF this be ſo, O my ſoul, what is thy caſe? are not moſt of thy Duties performed with many fillings, infirmities, hardneſs of heart, ſtraitneſs of Spirit, diſtracting thoughts? and is there any healing for ſuch a Duty as this?
Anſw. O yes! For firſt, in every Duty we perform, there are two things; there is the ſacrifice, and there is the obedience in offering of the ſacrifice; the ſacrifice may be imperfect, and yet our obedience in offering the ſacrifice may be perfect with Goſpel perfection. Secondly, God deals with our Duties as with our perſons; though he finde a great deal of ungodlineſs in them, yet he imputes his righteouſneſs unto them, and ſo he juſtifies our Duties, which in our eyes are moſt ungodly. This indeed is a wonder; did we ever hear or read of any ſeal, that when it was ſet upon the wax, would change the wax into its own mettal? or did we ever hear or read of any ſtamp, that being ſet upon braſs, it would change the braſs into ſilver, or being ſet upon ſilver, it would change the ſilver into gold? O but when Chriſt comes unto a Duty, and ſets his own ſtamp, and his own righteouſneſs upon a Duty, that which was braſs before, (i.) full of failings, and much unrighteouſneſs, he changes it into ſilver, into gold; he onelyonly hath the Philoſophers Stone (as I may ſo ſpeak) and all that Chriſt toucheth, it preſently turns into gold; he turns all our Duties into golden Duties, and ſo preſents them unto God the Father.
Quare. 2 2. But how ſhould I know that Chriſt thus takes my Duties and heals them, and mingles them with his own incenſe, and carries them in unto God the Father?
Anſw. Conſider, didſt thou never finde a Spiritual fire come down (as it were) upon thy heart in Duty, or after Duty? In the times of the Old Teſtament, if they offered up a ſacrifice, and a material fire came down from heaven, and burnt up the ſacrifice to aſhes, it was a certain teſtimony that the ſacrifice was accepted: Now in the times of the Goſpel, we muſt not expect material fire to come down upon our Duties, but hath the Lord at any time cauſed an inward and Spiritual fire to fall down upon thy heart, warming thy Spirit in Duty? there the Lord ſpeaks thus much to thee, That thy ſacrifice is turned into aſhes, and it is accepted by Ieſus Chriſt.
Quare. 3 3. O but whence comes this fire now in theſe Goſpel times?
Anſw. It iſſues from the blood and interceſsions of Chriſt our Great high Prieſt; it is the efficacy of his blood, and power of his glorious interceſſion, that when thou feeleſt any good in Duties, doth at that very inſtant prevail with God the Father for what thou feeleſt: ſay then, Do I now in this Ordinance, or in this Duty, feel my heart warmed, or ſavingly affectect? O I ſee, I am bound to believe, that the Lord Jeſus who ſits in glory at the right hand of God, now, now he remembers me a poor worm on earth; now I feel the fruit of his death and interceſſion in Heaven; now I feel his spirit, power, grace, comfort, preſence, ſweetneſs; now I taſte, I drink, I enjoy, and am abundantly ſatisfied with his rivers of pleaſures: And if this preſence of Chriſt be ſo ſweet, what is himſelf then? O my ſoul, if ever thou doſt thus reliſh the blood and ſpirit of Chriſt upon thy ſpirit in Duties, go thy way, and give glory to God.
SECT. 4. No reſting in Duties.
ANd yet be wary, O my ſoul: It was Luthers ſaying, Take heed not onelyonly of thy ſins, but alſo of thy good Duties; they are apt (by reaſon of our corruption) to bring men into themſelves, and this is very dangerous. Certainly, a man may not onelyonly exclude Chriſt from his ſoul by groſs ſins, but by ſelf-confidence: You are they which juſtifie your ſelves, Luke 16.15.ſaid Chriſt to the Phariſees. Take a prophane man, what makes him drink, ſwear, cozen, game, whore? Is there no God to puniſh? Is there no Hell hot enough to torment? Are there no Plagues to confound him? Yes: Why ſins he then? Oh! he prays to God for forgiveneſs; he ſorrows, and repents in ſecret (as he ſaith) and this bears him out in his lewd prancks. Take a Moral man, he knows he hath his failings, and his ſins, as the beſt have, and is overtaken ſometimes as the beſt are; Why doth he not remove theſe ſins then? Why is he not more humbled under his ſins? The Reaſon is, he conſtantly obſerves Evening and Morning prayer, and then he craves forgiveneſs for his failings, by which courſe he hopes to make his peace with God: And hence he ſinneth without fear, and riſeth out of his fall into ſin without ſorrow; he maintains his ſins by his Duties.
Take a Profeſſor, ſuch a one as may be exceedingly troubled about his ſins, as endeavors very much after Mourning, Repenting, Reforming, and others commend him for a diligent Chriſtian, Do you not ſee how he mourns, and weeps, and prays? and now the wind is over, the tempeſt down, and there is a great calm in his ſoul, how comes he to this quiet? Oh! his affections were inlarged, he hath reached ſo high, as to a very proportion of repentance, and tears, and ſorrow, and faſting, &c. and this hath given him eaſe, this hath took away the burthen, and laid his ſoul at reſt: O poor ſoul, is this all the remedy to rid thee of the ſting and guilt of ſin? Haſt thou no more pantings, but onelyonly after bitterneſs, heavineſs, mourning, melting, extraordinary inlargements? Why then, let me tell thee, all thy righteouſneſs (though it were more perfect then it is) is but a filthy rag. Iſa. 64.6.Couldſt thou weep thy heart out, ſhould thy heart melt like wax,Shepherds ſincere Convert. diſſolve into water; Couldst thou deſire and pray till heaven and earth ſhook▪ till thou hadst worn thy tongue to the ſtumps; Couldst thou faſt till thy skin and bones cleave together; Couldst thou promiſe and purpoſe with full reſolution to be better; Couldst thou reform thy heart, head, life, tongue, ſome, nay all ſins; Couldst thou live like an Angel, ſhine like a Sun, walk up and down the world like a diſtreſſed Pilgrim; Coulst thou dye ten thouſand deaths, lie at the fire back in Hell ſo many many millions of years, as there be piles of graſs on the earth, or ſands on the ſea ſhore, or ſtars in heaven, or motes in the Sun; I tell thee, not one ſpark of Gods wrath againſt thy ſins, can be quenched by all theſe Duties, nor by any of theſe ſorrows or tears.
It was Auſtins ſaying, though it ſounds harſh, that Repentance damns more then Sin; meaning, that thouſands did periſh by reſting therein: It is no digging within our ſelves, for power to leave ſin, to be more holy, and humble, and religious, and conſciencious, and ſo to think to work out our ſelves in time out of this ſtate: The words which the Prophet put into Iſraels mouth, if they would truly turn unto God,Hoſ. 14.2. were theſe, — Aſhur ſhall not ſave us, we will not ride upon horſes, q.d. We will truſt no more to theſe outward means, we will not ſave our ſelves by our graces, or our abilities.
But how ſhall any man know, that he reſts in his Duties?
I anſwer, By theſe ſigns following:
Signs of mans reſting in Duties. Shepherds ſincere Convert.1. It is a ſign that a man reſts in his Duties, if he never found it a hard matter to come out of his Duties: Examine, if thou never yet ſaweſt, if thou canſt not tell the time when thou didſt reſt in Duties, and then didſt groan to be delivered from theſe intanglements, thou haſt juſt cauſe to fear.
2. It is a ſign that a man reſts in Duties, if he exceedingly prize the bare performance of Duties; thoſe Duties that carry thee out of thy ſelf unto Chriſt, make thee to prize Chriſt: Now tell me, Doſt thou glory in thy ſelf? Doſt thou ſay, Now I am ſome body? I was before ignorant, forgetful, hard-hearted, but now I underſtand better, now I can ſorrow for my ſins, I can pray with ſome life, now I have done very well. Alas poor ſoul! if thou reſteſt here, if thou thus inhanceſt the price of Duties, that thou beginn'ſt to dote on them, then do I pronounce from God,Ph…l. 3.8. That thou doſt reſt in Duties: Theſe things (ſaith Paul) I accounted gain (i. before his converſion) but now I account them loſs: This is the reaſon why a childe of God commonly after his prayers doubts much of Gods love towards him; whereas another man that falls ſhort of him, never ſo much as queſtions his eſtate: The firſt ſeeth much rottenneſs and vileneſs in his beſt Duties, and ſo adjudgeth meanly of himſelf; but the other is ignorant of any ſuch vileneſs, and therefore he prizeth and eſteems highly of them.
3. It is a ſign that a man reſts in his duties, if he never came to be ſenſible of their poverty, and utter emptineſs of any good in them. Didſt thou never feel thy ſelf in this maner? Oh! I am as ignorant as any beaſt, as vile as any devil; what a neſt and litter of ſin and rebellion works in my heart? I once thought, at leaſt, my heart and deſires were good, but now I feel no spiritual life; O dead heart, I am the pooreſt, vileſt, baſeſt and blindeſt creature that ever lived! If thou never feeleſt thy ſelf thus, thou never cameſt out of thy Duties.
4. It is a ſign that a man reſts in his Duties, if he gain no Evangelical Righteouſneſs by Duties (i.) if he prize not, deſire not, delight not in union with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: Hence a childe of God asks himſelf after Sermon, after Prayer, after Sacrament, What have I gained of Chriſt? Have I got more knowledge of Chriſt? more admiring of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? on the contrary, a carnal heart, that reſts in his Duties, asketh onelyonly, What have I done? Luke 18.12.I thank God (ſaid the Phariſee) I am not as other men are, — I faſt twice in the week I give tythes of all that I poſſeſs: So, I pray, and hear, and reform, and ſorrow for ſin, therefore I think verily I ſhall be ſaved; no ſuch matter: let a man have a Bucket of Gold, doth he think to get water, becauſe he hath a Bucket; no, no, he muſt let it down into the well, and draw up water with it: So muſt thou let down all thy Duties into the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and draw life, and light from his fulneſs, otherwiſe (though thy Duties be golden Duties) thou ſhalt periſh without Chriſt.
SECT. 5. Of the Uſe and Ends of Duties.
ANd canſt thou not, O my Soul, be ſaved by thy Duties? to what end ſhouldſt thou pray, or hear, or ſorrow, or repent, or meditate, or examine, or confer? I anſwer, There are many ends and purpoſes, for which Chriſtians may, and muſt perform Duties.
1. That herein, and hereby, they may expreſs their obedience to Gods will:1 Theſſ. 5.16, 17, 18. Rejoyce evermore, pray without ceaſing, in every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Chriſt Jeſus concerning you (ſaith the Apoſtle;) and this was the ground of Davids inference,Pſal. 119 4, 5. Thou haſt commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently: And what then? O that my ways were directed to keep thy ſtatutes.
2. That God the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt may be honored by the performance of theſe Duties: Herein is my Father glorified, Iohn 15.8.that you bear much fruit; and as the Apoſtle, Ye are a choſen Generation, 1 Pet. 2 9.a royal Prieſthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar People, that ye ſhould ſhew forth the praiſes of him who hath called you out of darkneſs into his marvellous light; Abraham believed, and gave God glory: So we ſhould pray, and meditate, and hear, and all ſhould tend to the glory of God. Indeed, Hypocrites ayms are at other ends, by giving alms, and praying, Mat. 6.2.5.16.and faſting, that they may have glory of men,— That they may be ſeen of men, — That they may appear unto men,—But the childe of God ayms at the glory of God. I confeſs, it s Gods grace to account of mans Duty as his glory, ſeeing it is ſo defective.
3. That Duties may be as Evidences of Gods everlaſting love to them who are in Chriſt Jeſus: They cannot ſave, but they let the foul into Chriſt, and follow, and accompany ſuch a man as ſhall be ſaved. We hear of ſome that boaſt of joys, feeling, gifts, Spirit, Sheph. ibid.and Grace; but if they walk in the commiſſion of any one ſin, or in the omiſſion of any one known duty, or in the ſlovenly illfavored performance of Duties, they can have no aſſurance (ſay what they pleaſe) without ſlattering of themſelves: If theſe things be in you (ſaith Peter) and abound, 2 Pet. 1.8, 9, 10.they will make you that you ſhall never be barren, or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and he that lacketh theſe things is blinde:— Wherefore, Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election ſure. Duties bring you in to Chriſt, and are Evidences when you are in Chriſt, that the Lord and mercy is yours, even as at the Sacrament, the Elements of Bread and Wine are outward ſigns to bring Chriſt and the heart together; indeed, the heart muſt not reſt in theſe ſigns, but when the ſoul is let in to Chriſt, then Faith muſt let go the outward Elements, and cloſe, and treat immediately with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. So Grace and Duties are ſigns inward, and whiles men make uſe of them onelyonly, as bare ſigns, to let them come in unto Chriſt, and their rejoycing is not in them, but in Chriſt, their confidence is not pitcht upon them, but upon Chriſt, there is and will be no danger at all in making ſuch uſe of ſigns; eſpecially ſeeing in nature, the effect is a ſign of the cauſe: Neither is it more derogatory to Free-grace, or to Chriſts honor, for God to make ſuch effects Signs of our union with him, then it was to make outward Signs of his preſence: It's true, theſe are not full teſtimonies without the Spirit of Chriſt.
4. That they that uſe and exerciſe Duties may obtain the Promiſes:1 Tim. 4 8. Godlineſs is profitable unto all things (ſaith the Apoſtle) having the promiſes of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. There are many Promiſes ſcattered up and down in the Word, and hereby if God be not a debtor unto thee, yet he is to himſelf, and to his own faithfulneſs. Reddis debita, nulli debens, cryed Auſtine; Thou Lord payeſt debts, and oweſt to none; it was free for thee before thou hadst promiſed, whether to to give me heaven, or no: but now the word is out of thy mouth, I uſe Duties as means, though I adhere onelyonly to thee, and to thy faithfulneſs, who haſt promiſed. To prevent miſtake, Duties are conſidered in a double relation: Firſt, as ſervices, in reſpect of the command; and Secondly, as means to obtain and procure bleſſings at Gods hands, in relation to his promiſe: Now the moſt in the world perform Duties as acts of obedience onelyonly, and ſo reſt in the preſent performance; but if we do them in Faith, we ſhall have an eye to the Promiſe, and look on Duties as means to obtain ſome mercy, yea, Salvation it ſelf at Gods hands, Phil. 2.12.Phil. 2.12. Romans 10.10.Rom. 10.10. 2 Cor. 7.10.2 Cor. 7.10. 1 Pet. 1.9.1 Pet. 1.9.
But is not this to be ſaved by Duties?
No ſuch thing: For herein we ſpeak not of Duties originally, or per ſe, but inſtrumentally, and with relation to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; not as meritorious cauſes, but as ſubordinate means of our ſalvation in the name of Chriſt: The beſt of Duties carry no ſuch luſtre, beauty, and Energetical vertue in their own faces and natures; they are but meer empty pits, and dry chanels (of themſelves) though never ſo curiouſly cut out, but Chriſt fills them (and as ſome deſire Miniſters to do) ſo I am willing for my part to ſay and expreſs thus much of Chriſt, Dr. Criſp on Phil. 3.8.that the people may clearly underſtand and remember ſo much, and be guided explicitely to the Fountain it ſelf, Chriſt alone.
5. That theſe Duties may turn to our comforts: Not ſo, as to put confidence in them, to take comfort from them as a cauſe; that cannot be, for who can look upon any thing he doth with that boldneſs? but as the teſtimony of Gods eternal love to us.2 King. 20.3. Thus Hezekiah, not as a proud Phariſee, but as a thankful acknowledger of what was in him, prayed, I beſeech thee, O Lord, remember me, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy ſight: Some ſuppoſe, that ſuch a temptation as this might fall on Hezekiah, that when he had labored to demoliſh all thoſe Superſtitions, and now became dangerouſly ſick, that he had not done well; and therefore he comforts himſelf in his heart, That he did thoſe things with a perfect heart, not abſolutely, but comparatively perfect: We may therefore take comfort from Duties, not ſo as to reſt in them, but ſo as to praiſe God thereby. It's a good way, neſciendo ſcire, in not knowing, to know, that ſo we may praiſe God for them; and ſciendo neſcire, in knowing, not to know, that ſo we may be humble in our ſelves.
6. That others might receive good, and thereby be occaſioned to glorifie God:Tit. 3.8. Mat. 5.16. Theſe things are good, and profitable unto men, ſaith the Apoſtle; and, Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in heaven. Chriſt doth not here encourage vain glory, but he propounds the true ends of our viſible holineſs; for godlineſs being light, it ought not (in ſuitable Duties) to be hid under a buſhel: My goodneſs extendeth not to thee, Pſal. 16.2, 3.but to the Saints that are on the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Hierome ſaid of Auguſtine, That he loved Chriſt dwelling in Auguſtine; ſo ought we to walk, that others may love Chriſt dwelling in us.
There's an Exhortation to wives, ſo to walk, 1 Pet. 3.1.that their huſbands may he won to the Lord: Sweet ſoul, it may be thou prayeſt for thy husband, in a carnal condition, thou deſireſt him to go to hear ſuch a Miniſter, ſuch a Sermon; go on in theſe Duties, adding this to the reſt, See that thy life alſo may convert him.
7. That Duties may carry us to the Lord Jeſus,Heb. 7.25. the onelyonly Savior; he alone is able to ſave them to the uttermoſt that come unto God by him (i.) in the uſe of the means: Hear a Sermon to carry thee to the Lord Jeſus; Faſt, and pray,Shepherd ibid. and get a full tide of affections in them, to carry thee to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt (i.) to get a more love of him, more acquaintance with him, more union in him, and communion with him; uſe thy Duties, as Noahs Dove did her wings, to carry thee to the Ark of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, where onelyonly there is reſt: If ſhe had never uſed her wings, ſhe had faln in the waters; and if ſhe had not returned to the Ark, ſhe had found no reſt: So, if thou ſhalt uſe no Duties, but caſt them all off, thou art ſure to periſh; and if they convey thee not to Chriſt, thou mayeſt lie down in ſorrow: or as it is with a poor man, that is to get over a great water for a treaſure on the other ſide, though he cannot fetch the Boat, he calls for it, and uſeth it, to carry him over to the treaſure: So Chriſt is in heaven, and thou on earth, he doth not come to thee, and thou canſt not get to him, now call for a Boat; though there is no grace, no good, no ſalvation in a pithleſs Duty, yet uſe it to carry thee over to the treaſure, The Lord Jeſus Chriſt: When thou comeſt to hear, ſay, Have over, Lord, by this Sermon; when thou comeſt to pray, ſay. Have over, Lord, by this Prayer to a Savior: But this is the miſery of people, like fooliſh Lovers, when they are to woo for the Lady, they fall in love with her Handmaid, that is onelyonly to lead them to her: So men fall in love with, and dote upon their own Duties, and reſt contented with the naked performance of them, which are onelyonly Handmaids, to lead the ſoul unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
8. That the Lord Chriſt may be exalted, and advanced by Duties. The main end of Duties, is the glory of him who hath Redeemed us with the price of his blood, and by the power of his Spirit; this ſets the Crown on his head: Behold King Solomon, Cant. 3.11.with the Crown wherewith his mother crowned him. How many perform Duties, not to ſet the Crown on Chriſts head, but to ſet the Crown on their own heads? So do hypocrites, that ſeek their own praiſe, and credit, and profit; ſo do all, eſpecially that do any thing with a conceit of meriting at Gods hands. Now this is the main end of right obedience, That the Crown may be ſet on Chriſts head, that he who is King of Saints, may have the honor given him, due to his Kingly Office. In this reſpect, I cannot blame them who blame others, for crying up, and magnifying mans works in their own name. To ſay that Chriſt is always ſuppoſed as principal,Dr. Criſp in Phil. 3.8. is no ſufficient Apology: For why onelyonly ſuppoſed? why not he named, as well as Duties, and Righteouſneſs? Certainly, it is not good maners (to ſay no worſe) to forget him, whiles his poor Inſtruments are ſo highly remembred. When Servants bring Preſents from their Maſters to any, they do not ſay, I beſtow ſuch and ſuch a thing on you, but, My Maſter ſends it you; if he ſhould take it on himſelf, he ſhould go for an arrogant fellow: nor will it ſalve the matter, when he is taxed for ſuch arrogancy, to ſay, My Maſter ſhould have been ſuppoſed, when he gave no hint of him. Me think it were comely (ſaith the Author rightly in this) in extolling of Mans Righteouſneſs, explicitely to aſcribe all the praiſe to the glory of Chriſt, Mr. Burges Vindiciae legir.and his grace: And, I ſee not (ſaith another ingeniouſly) but that Miniſters may be humbled, that they have preſſed religious Duties, but not ſo as to ſet up Chriſt: and hereby people have been content with Duties, and Sacraments, though no Chriſt in them: but as veſſels were to be of pure Gold in the Temple, ſo ought all our Duties to be of pure and meer Chriſt for acceptation. Again, If Bernard ſaid, He did not love to read Tully, becauſe he could not read the Name of Chriſt there; how much rather may we ſay, That in many Sermons, in many a mans Miniſtery, the drift and end of all his preaching is not, that Chriſt may be advanced. And again, Let Christ be the matter of our Righteouſneſs and Comfort, more then he hath been; you know the poſts that were not ſprinkled with blood, were ſure to be deſtroyed, and ſo are all thoſe perſons and duties that have not Chriſt upon them. How ſweet is the harmony of Diſſenting Brethren? Me thinks, I would not loſe a ſhred of that gold which both Authors (ſo ſtrongly my heart beats and pants after unity) give out to be weight in the Ballance of the Sanctuary: It is obſerved by the former, That when the Church grew into credit, then Religio peperit Divinitas & filia devoravit matrem; I may as truly ſay, Chriſtus peperit Juſtitiam, & filia devoravit matrem: juſt as if a King ſhould promote a Favorite, and then he ſhould be ſo applauded for his uſefulneſs to the Subjects, that the King muſt be dethroned, and he Crowned in his place: — In all exigences, wants and extremities, how few followers hath Chriſt himſelf? how rarely are men ſent to ſhelter themſelves under the ſhadow of his wings? In the mean while, what hideous outcryes for Prayers, Mournings, Faſtings, &c. to help men at a dead lift? What ſending and poſting to them in extremities, as if they kept a Court by themſelves? for Chriſt is ſeldom heard of, at leaſt not ſet up ſo high as to do all; and that this Righteouſneſs is but meerly his miniſtring ſervant: What the Apoſtle ſaid of himſelf, I may as truly ſay of the beſt Righteouſneſs beſt aſſiſted, What is Prayer, Mourning, Faſting, Hearing, but miniſters by whom ye believed, and received mercy? 1 Cor. 3.5.and if but as miniſters at beſt, ſhall they be greater then the Lord? Let me not be miſtaken, I intend no derogation to Righteouſneſs, but the bringing of it into it's own place, namely, that it is to be uſed as that, where according to Chriſts directions we may meet with him, from whoſe hands alone we may expect whatever we pant after, according to his will; reſerving a ſubmiſſion to be diſpoſed of otherwiſe, if he ſee fit. Again, it is not the Spiritualneſs, nor the fervency in the performance of Duties that carries it, but when Duties are performed as to the Lord, and for the Lord, and not to and for our ſelves; O my ſoul, in reſpect of all theſe ends, uſe and exerciſe Duties, but be ſure of Chriſt in all, above all, more then all: O let Chriſt have the Crown ſet on his head, give him all the glory. Caſt not away Duties, but caſt them down at the feet of Jeſus Chriſt, as the Twenty four Elders caſt their Crowns, ſaying, Thou art worthy, Rev. 4.11.O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou haſt created all things (all Duties) and for thy pleaſure they are and were created.
SECT. 6. Of the Saints abilities or power to do Duties.
Obj. Pſal. 77.10.BƲt alas, how ſhould I perform my Duty? by nature I am dead, and except God give me an heart and ſtrength, what can I do? There is no power in my hands, I am nothing in my ſelf, and therefore till God come, or naked Chriſt come, I will ſit down in diſcouragements; Let God do all, I ſee I have no ability at all, &c.
Anſ. What ſayeſt thou (O my ſoul?) ſurely this is thine infirmity; theſe concluſions are ill drawn from a true Principle: It is true, all is of God, and by nature I am dead; but it is ill urged in this caſe, for that the Regenerate have in them a Seed, a Spiritual Principle, a power to do good: Firſt, becauſe ſuch are living, and all life is a power to act. 2. Elſe there is no ſpecifical difference betwixt a man regenerate and unregenerate, if both were ſtill dead, and without ſtrength. 3. Grace is a renewing of that image of God and Holineſs which we loſt in Adam; but that was a power to do what God required,Eph. 4.24. therefore ſo far as that image is repaired, ſo far there is power. 4. Elſe we ſhould not have as much benefit by the ſecond Adam, as we had by the firſt: for the firſt would have communicated his power to do good, and being corrupted, doth communicate power to do ſin; therefore much more by Chriſt have we a life, a power to do good in our meaſure.
Obj. Iohn 15.5. Sol. foreign ſco…ſm a me. Calv. Iohn 15.5.It may be objected, Without me ye can do nothing.
The meaning is, Except ye be implanted into me, ye can do nothing: The word [Without me] ſignifieth, Seperate from me, or apart from me; and intimateth this onelyonly, That till we are knit unto Chriſt, we are but dead, and barren branches, and ſo Chriſt explains himſelf, As the branch cannot bring forth fruit of it ſelf, except it abide in the Vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Obj. Phil 2.13.It may be objected again, It is God that worketh, both to will and to do of his good pleaſure.
Sol. This denies not that the Saints have in them A ſeed, a spring, a principle of life, a power; but on the contrary, it affirms, That they have a power, onelyonly that this power is of God: We ſhould work out our ſalvation in humility, not boaſting in our own ſelves, for all is received of God: More fully, God is ſaid to work the will and the deed, 1. By giving a principle of Spiritual life, habitual grace, a renewed frame of heart. 2. By exciting and ſtrengthning this grace: and both theſe are ever afforded to the Saints, onelyonly the latter is more or leſs, according to his pleaſure: So that in the worſt times, a Believer hath power to do good, though not alike at all times; and this power we muſt uſe, and put forth our ſelves as we are able, or we cannot with reaſon expect his help. A Ship hath inſtruments of motion (though not an internal principle) and if the Mariner would have help by the winds, he muſt looſe his Cables, and hoiſe his Sails; ſo muſt we, or elſe we may lie ſtill.
Now that which we are to do, is, —
Firſt, To ſtir up our ſelves; for God hath promiſed to meet us, and to reach out his hand to help us, if we be not wanting to our ſelves: It is certain, a godly man cannot by his own endeavors alone raiſe up his ſoul, nor recover his loſs, though he ſhould lay Mountain upon Mountain, and pile endeavors upon endeavors; yet as endeavors without God cannot, ſo God without endeavors will not help us herein, and therefore labor we to quicken our ſelves (i.) work we upon our own hearts, by our underſtandings; as the ſtriking of the Flint and Steel together begetteth fire, ſo the meeting of theſe two faculties, having an internal life in them, do quicken the ſoul. Thus we ſee David pleading with himſelf, ſometimes chiding, Why art thou caſt down, O my ſoul, and why art thou diſquieted within me? Pſal. 42.5. Pſal 103.1.ſometimes exciting himſelf to Duty, Praiſe the Lord, O my ſoul, and all that is within me, praiſe his holy Name: ſometimes comforting himſelf in God, Turn to thy reſt, O my ſoul, Pſal. 116.7.for God hath dealt bountifully with thee: It was an uſual thing for him to talk with himſelf, and he found ſo much good in this way, that he puts all upon it, Commune with your own hearts upon your beds, Pſal. 4 4.and be ſtill; the underſtanding is to the heart, as the ſtomack to the body, all is fed by it: Set therefore upon our hearts with quickning thoughts: for as rubbing and chafing the hands with hot Oyls, is a means to recover them, when they are benumb'd; ſo the plying of the heart with ſtirring thoughts, and inforcing arguments, is a means to revive it: And amongſt all thoughts, there are none more prevalent, then Of ſins paſt, Of Heaven, Hell, Eternity, Love of Chriſt, theſe are ſtrong Cordials to chear up the Spirits.
2. To fall on the Duty; for if we be doing, he will work with us, in us, and for us. Is it thus (O my ſoul) that thy heart is ſtirred, rowzed, revived? then ſet to thy hands, idle beggars muſt be whipped, he that will not work, muſt not eat: Remember, we have a life in us, if we be in Chriſt; and as we have a life, ſo there is a never-failing preſence of the Spirit, to attend that power which we have: If then we put forth our ſelves to that we are able, and as far as our power extends, God will draw near to us. It is true, that which we want is out of our reach, we are not able to make crooked things to become ſtraight, to lay thoſe ſwelling Mountains of Corruption level, but yet we muſt ſet to the work: Joſhua could not with the ſtrength of Rams horns ſounding, caſt down the walls of Jericho, but yet he muſt ſet upon the work; when the Midianites fall, there muſt be The Sword of the Lord, Iudg. 7.18.and Gideon: The father holdeth an Apple to the childe, the childe cannot reach it, yet his ſhort arm muſt be put forth, and then the father, whoſe arm is long enough, will reach it to him; we muſt be doing, and yet when all is done, our hearts muſt learn habitually to ſay, Not I, but Chriſt in me: Let us ſtill intereſt Chriſt in all we do, as the efficient-final cauſe.
SECT. 7. Of the Saints delights in Duties.
Mat. 11.30.MY yoke is eaſie, and my burthen is light, ſaith Chriſt; and that which makes it ſo, is, The delights which the Saints have in Gods ſervice:Pſal. 119.14.16.24.47.117.143. I have delighted in the way of thy teſtimonies, ſaith David: I have? yes, and I will delight in thy ſtatutes: I will? yes, and Thy teſtimonies are my delight: They are? yes, and My delight ſhall be in thy Commandments: They ſhall be? how long? even to perpetuity it ſelf; I will delight continually in thy ſtatutes. Theſe are the ſtrings David beats upon, and they make heavenly Muſick; Muſick even cheering him in the midſt of his ſorrows:92. Trouble and anguiſh are upon me, yet are thy Commandments my delight: and, Ʋnleſs thy Law had been my delight, I ſhould have periſhed in my affliction.
Now the reaſon why Gods people finde ſuch delight in Duties, is, 1. Becauſe in Duties they come to ſee the face of God in Chriſt: Hence Duties are called The face or preſence of God; Exod. 23.17.the Worſhip of the Jews was called, An appearing before God: David breathes out his deſires in the ſame expreſſion, When ſhall I come and appear before God? Pſal. 42.2.The Queen of Sheba counted it an high favor to ſtand before Solomon, What high favor then is this to ſtand before Jeſus Chriſt, and to hear wiſdom it ſelf ſpeak to our ſouls? 2. Becauſe in Duties they have converſes, and communion with God, who is the God of all Conſolation; and with the Spirit of God, who is called the Comforter: Now as a man that walks amongſt Perfumes, muſt needs ſmell of the Perfume; ſo they that converſe with the God of all joy, muſt needs be filled with all joy: and therefore David calls God His exceeding joy. The Saints look upon Duties (the Word,Pſal. 43 4. Sacraments, Prayers, &c.) as Bridges to give them a paſſage to God, as Boats to carry them into the boſom of Chriſt, as means to bring them into more intimate communion with their heavenly Father, and therefore are they ſo much taken with them: When they go to the Word, they go as one goes to hear news of a friend; when they go to Pray, they go to talk with a friend; when they go to Read, they go to read a Letter from a friend; when they go to receive, they go to Sup with a friend: They look upon Duties and Ordinances, as thoſe things whereby they have to do with God and Chriſt, and therefore are Duties ſo precious. Indeed, to them who have to do with nothing but Duty in Duty, but Prayer in Prayer, but Hearing in Hearing, to them Duties are dead, and dry, and ſpiritleſs things; but they that have to do with God and Chriſt in Duty, to them Duties are paſſing ſweet and precious. This ſeems a Riddle to unregenerate men, they wonder what the Saints finde in Duties, where the ſweetneſs, what the comfort is, what ſecret golden Mines they finde in theſe diggings, when themſelves finde nothing, but burthenſom Stones, and Clay: Oh! the Saints meet with Chriſt in Duties, and therefore they cannot but finde great treaſure: Davids ſoul was athirſt, not for a Kingdom, but for God, for the living God, Pſal. 42.2. It is the higheſt reward,Pſal. 42.2. the very wages which the Saints look for in Duties, to finde God in them:Pſal. 65.4. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chooſeſt, and cauſeſt to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy Courts: We ſhall be ſatisfied with the goodneſs of thy houſe, even of thy holy Temple.
A good Caveat in theſe days, when ſo many do cry down Duties: What, My Brethren, Shall we look upon that as our burthen, which is our delight? our bondage, which is our Priviledge? What is the happineſs of a glorified Saint, but that he is always under the line of love, ever in the contemplation of, and converſes with God? And ſhall that be thought our burthen here, which is our glory hereafter? Take heed of this; take heed you do not think it an hell, a pain, a vexation, to be in God-approaching, and Chriſt-meeting Duties. I know wearineſs may be upon the fleſh, there are weakneſſes, and diſtempers there, but chide them away, entertain them not: Number it among your choyſeſt Priviledges, Comforts, Delights, to converſe with God in Chriſt: Conſider if there be an Heaven, it is the very preſence of this God in Chriſt. Hence they who meet with God in duty, uſually finde their hearts ſweetly refreſhed, as if Heaven were in them:Pſal. 16.11. For in thy preſence there is fulneſs of joy, and at thy right hand there are pleaſures evermore.
Obj. 1 But if there be ſuch delight in Duties, what is the reaſon that wicked men account it a weariſomneſs, and burthen, and ſnuff at it: Mal. 1.13.Behold, what a wearineſs is it? and ye have ſnuffed at it, ſaith the Lord.
Anſ. A wicked man cannot delight in Gods ſervice, becauſe it is above his capacity: Whiles he is at Duty, he is like a fiſh out of his Element; the Duty is heavenly and Spiritual, but he is worldly and natural, no wonder therefore he delights not in it. But more particularly, a wicked man delights not in Duties, —
1. Becauſe of his ignorance of the worth and excellency of Duties, he cannot poſſibly delight in what he knows not: So much as we know, ſo much we deſire and delight, and no more.
2. Becauſe of his infidelity: Faith is the main organ of comfort, and therefore no wonder (as it was ſaid of the Jews) if the word preached do not profit him, Heb. 4.2.not being mixed with faith in him that heard it.
3. Becauſe of the abſence of the all-ſeeing and quickning Spirit: It is the Spirit that quickneth, the fleſh profiteth nothing; Ioh 6.63.the words that I ſpeak to you are Spirit and life: As the Body is dead without the Spirit, ſo Duties without Chriſts quickning Spirit, are dead and lifeleſs.
Obj. 2 But if there be ſuch delight in Duties, what is the reaſon that the Saints themſelves do miſs of their comforts in Duties
Anſ. I anſwer, 1. There are none of Gods people but they do ſometimes or other finde comfort, either in Duties, or from Duties. 2. If at any time they miſs of comfort, it is becauſe they do not meet with God, whom they came to converſe withal: As when a man goes to meet with a friend, and meets him not, he comes away ſadded in his Spirit; ſo when a childe of God comes to ſome Duty, hoping to enjoy ſweet communion with God in it, and then fails of his expectation, this muſt needs fill him full of ſadneſs. It was an excellent ſpeech of Bernard, I never go from God without God; happy Chriſtian,Nunquam abs te recedo Domine ſinc te. that when he goes to converſe with God in ſome Duty, can ſay, I never go from God without God; I never go to God, but I meet with God; and, I never go from God, but I carry God with me.
Obj. 3 But if no comfort, no delight without God in our Duties, What then is my caſe, that have no ſence, no feeling of Gods preſence in Duties? When I have done all I can, methinks I cannot finde God, I cannot meet with Chriſt.
Anſ. I anſwer, Haſt thou indeed no ſence of Gods preſence, and yet haſt thou a ſence of Gods want? It is good then to obſerve the different effects of Gods preſence, or elſe thou mayeſt wrong God, as well as thy ſelf; to ſay he was not with thee, when yet he was: As 1. There are manifeſt and evident fruits of Gods preſence in Duties; as, Much liberty of Spirit, much Joy, much Peace, aſſurance of Faith. 2. There are more inward and reſerved fruits of his preſence; as, Sence of want, ſorrow for want, deſire of enjoyment, willingneſs unto further Duties, to finde that which we want in ſome other: In the former, God is with us, and we know he is with us; in the latter, God is with us, and we know not ſo much: This was the caſe of the two Diſciples going to Emmaus, Their eyes were holden, Luke 24.16.that they could not know Chriſt; yet afterwards when they did know him, they remembred, that they had ſufficient evidence of his preſence, even when they knew him not,Luke 24.32. Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and opened to us the Scriptures? Now whence was that fire, but from the Spirit of Chriſt conveyed in his Word?
Obj. 4 But what is the reaſon that Gods people do ſometimes miſs of Gods comfortable preſence in Duties?
Anſ. I anſwer, They miſs of Gods comfortable preſence, 1. Becauſe (it may be) they bring no veſſels at all to hold the Conſolations of God; I mean, no hunger after Gods preſence in the Ordinance: or 2. Becauſe they bring veſſels ſo little, and ſo narrow-mouthed, that they will hold but very little water; I mean, they bring ſo little hunger after God, that God will not vouchſafe to ſatisfie it: or 3. Becauſe they bring their ordinary hearts, their carnal and worldly hearts to heavenly and Spiritual Duties, hearts unſuitable to the Duties, hearts unſenſible of the Duties: Thus a man findes no ſweetneſs in his meat; the reaſon is not, Becauſe his meat is unſavory, but Becauſe his taſte is diſtempered; the Ordinances are ſometimes ſweet, and wound always be ſo, were the ſouls pallate always in the ſame temper: or 4. Becauſe there is ſome Achan unſtoned, ſome ſin unrepented of that eclipſeth the light of Gods countenance, ſome Spiritual obſtructions; theſe, and ſuch like are the cauſes, why the Saints ſometimes miſs of their comforts. — But the fault is never in the Duty, which is brim-full of rare and raviſhing comfort;Beatum me predicarem, &c. Sed rara hora, brevis mora, oh ſi duraret. Bernard. that as Bernard relates the ſtory of himſelf, Sometimes when he went to his Prayers, he found himſelf dull, and heavy; but after he had ſtrugled a little with his dulneſs, all on a ſudden he was viſited with the viſitations of the Almighty: I ſhould account my ſelf happy (ſaid he) if theſe viſitations would always laſt; but Oh, it continues but a while! And Auſtine relates this ſtory of himſelf, that Ʋpon a time, when he and his Mother Monica were diſcourſing together about the joys of Heaven, and the comforts of Gods Spirit, they were ſo filled with joy, that Auſtine uſeth theſe words,Quàm mundus eviluit cum omnibus ſuis delectationibus. Auguſt. Lord, thou knoweſt in that day, how vilely we did eſteem of the world, with all his delights. — The comforts of the world are not worthy to be named that day that we ſpeak of theſe comforts: O the pure, the undefiled comforts and delights that are to be found in Duties, when God is found in them: Can a man who is cold, come to the fire and not be warmed? Can he that is in the dark, come into the open Sun and not be enlightened? God is the ſpring of Comfort, and therefore ſurely our hearts will be comforted, if we meet with God in our Duties.
SECT. 8. Of the eſſential Requiſites in Duties.
BUt what are they we call Duties? or what are thoſe eſſential Requiſites (O my ſoul) in Duties? Many by Duties intend nothing but that which is external and ſenſible, as Coming to the Church, and receiving of Sacraments, &c.
I anſwer, Theſe are like clothes upon a dead man, that cannot warm him, becauſe there is no life within: The ſoul of all Duties is that which is internal, or eſſential; In which reſpect three ingredients are neceſſary, viz.
That they be
From God.
Through God.
To God.
1. From God: It is of the very eſſence of a Duty, that it be commanded by God. Hence in one Chapter we read thirteen ſeveral times, I am the Lord; q. d. ſuch and ſuch Commands I injoyn you: Would you know the grounds? I am the Lord, Lev. 19.a God of ſoveraign Power and Authority, and my Will it is that ſuch Duties be done. Look to this (O my ſoul) in thy Duties, know the Commands, and do them, becauſe they are commanded: If thou doſt them, and yet knoweſt not that God commands them, this is no true obedience; or if thou knoweſt they are commanded, but yet doſt them not becauſe they are commanded, or in Conſcience to his Command, neither is this obedience to God. In all Duties rightly performed, there muſt be a knowledge of, and an eye to the will of our God, Rom. 12.2. Eph. 5.17.Rom. 12.2. Eph. 5.17.
2. Through God (i.)
Through the Spirit, who doth Spiritualize them.
Through Chriſt, who preſents them, and makes them acceptable to God.
1. Through the Spirit of God: Now the Spirit works on our Spirits, ſtirs up the regenerate part to the performance of our Duties; and therefore look how much there is of the Inner man, of the regenerate part, of the holy Spirit in Duty, ſo far it is ſanctified, ſo far it is accepted, and no further. God is my witneſs (ſaith Paul) whom I ſerve with my Spirit in the Goſpel of his Son: Rom. 1.9.In every ſervice we perform, our Spirit ſtirred up by Gods Spirit, muſt needs have a hand in it, or it is but the body and carcaſe of a right ſervice: The ſoul, will, and affection, muſt go together with our Duties (that I mean by our Spirit) or the vitals are wanting. Ex. gr. If a man come to confeſs his ſins, and yet ſlights them inwardly in his heart; if a man pray for reconciliation with God, and yet have no longing, and ſighing in his heart after it; if he earneſtly ask grace, or the Spirit of Mortification, and yet his heart doth not inwardly ſeek it, Now he prays not in the Spirit, and therefore God will not accept it; For God is a Spirit, Iohn 4.24.and they that worſhip him, muſt worſhip him in Spirit and in Truth: In Spirit (i.) not onelyonly in the underſtanding and minde (Prayer is not a work of wit, or of memory) but alſo in will and affection: When all within us is opened, and explicate, and expoſed to the view of the Lord; when we call in all our thoughts and affections, and recollect them together, as the lines in the Centre, or as the Sun-beams in a Burning-glaſs, That makes Prayer to be hot and fervent; whereas otherwiſe it is but a cold and diſſipated thing, that hath no ſtrength or efficacy in it.
Queſt. If this spiritualneſs in Duties be ſo neceſſary, how is it that the Saints have ſo much of earth and fleſh ordinarily in their Duties?
Anſ. I anſwer, In every regenerate man there is both Fleſh and Spirit; It may be the Fleſh lies uppermoſt, and the Spirit lies in the bottom, ſo that a man, though a Saint, may hear carnally, receive carnally, pray carnally, that is, when the fleſh hath gotten the upper hand, as in ſome fits it may, when the minde is filled with worldly ſorrow, worldly rejoycing, and worldly deſires; ſuch Duties the Lord regards not, be the man never ſo holy: But if the regenerate part be acted and ſtirred up by Gods Spirit, and the Fleſh that always hinders, be removed by the ſame Spirit, then are the Saints able to do their Duties to God in Chriſt Jeſus Spiritually.
2. Through Chriſt: For Chriſt perfects, perfumes, and preſents our Duties to his heavenly Father; as Duties come from us, they ſavor of fleſh, but the Angel of the Covenant mingleth much Incenſe with them, Rev. 8.3.and ſo he offers them upon the golden Altar, which is before the Throne. Here is ſweet comfort (O my ſoul) What though thy Duties are weak, and cold, and confuſed, full of diſtempers, and damps? yet through Chriſt they are fortified, and enlivened, with his pacifying perfection, and interceſſory Spirit: Through Chriſt they are perfumed with the precious odours of his freſh-bleeding Merits, and bleſſed Mediation, and ſo they are made acceptable to God, that he may receive them, that he may not refuſe and reject them.
Obſerve here a double Interceſſor:
One is the Spirit, that helps our infirmities.
The other is Chriſt, that makes them acceptable to God.
3. To God: (i.) to ſet forth his Glory, and Free-grace; for as his Name is blaſphemed when we walk in wickedneſs, ſo it is glorified in doing our Duties: This is the end of all our Duties, indeed of all our doings; Whether ye eat or drink, 1 Cor. 10.31.or whatſoever ye do, do all to the glory of God: One Duty ſanctifying Chriſt and Free-grace in the heart, is more then a thouſand. Yong Chriſtians it may be do more works, but not as works of grace; the more Evangelical our works are, and the more to God (for that is the end of the Goſpel, to honor Chriſt and Free-grace) the better they are: We are of the Circumciſion, who rejoyce in the Lord Jeſus, worſhip God in the Spirit, Phil. 3.3.and have no confidence in the fleſh.
SECT. 9. Of the kindes of Duties in ſeveral diviſions.
THeſe Duties ſome have diſtributed according to their ſeveral objects, God, our Neighbor, and our ſelves: 1. The Lord claims our Love, Fear, Honor, and Obedience. 2. Our Neighbor claims our Duty, Courteſie, Bounty: And for our ſelves, we muſt 1. Inſtruſt the Ʋnderſtanding: 2. Bridle the Will: 3. Moderate the Affections. Others in retribution to Chriſt, give us another ſcheame of ſuch Duties, as they call meer Goſpel-Duties. So it is our Duty, 1. To think and muſe much on Chriſt, and upon his loves towards us. 2. To ſpeak much of Chriſt, and to commend him to others: When the Spouſe was asked,Cant. 5.9.16. What her beloved was above others? ſhe ſets him forth in every part of him, and concludes with this, He is altogether lovely. 3. To be oft in the company of Chriſt, and to grow up thereby into a familiar acquaintance with him. Now Chriſt is with us here but two theſe ways, Either in his Ordinances, or Providences, by his holy Spirit: So that to be oft in Chriſts company, is to be much in his Word, in Prayer, in Sacraments, in Chriſtian communion, in Meditation, in examination of our hearts, in his Providences of mercies, Croſſes and Tryals. 4. To do much for Chriſt, and that willingly: This is love indeed, To keep his Commandments, 1 Ioh. 5.3.and thoſe are not grievous. 5. To ſuffer and endure any evil for Chriſt: What tell you me (ſaith Paul) of bonds and impriſonments? Acts. 21.13.I am ready, not onelyonly to be bound, but to dye for the ſake of Chriſt at Jeruſalem. My life is not dear to me, Rom. 8.36.that I may finiſh my courſe with joy: For thy ſake we are killed all the day long. No queſtion theſe Heads will include all ſorts of Duties: But the method I ſhall proſecute (wherein I deſire to confound Duties, Ordinances, and Means, whereby a Chriſtian walks on in the holy path) I have otherwiſe digeſted thus:
The Duties of a Chriſtian are either of
The firſt kinde, as Watchfulneſs.
The ſecond kinde: And theſe have reference—
Either
onelyonly to
Secret Ordinances, as
Self-examination.
Experiences.
Evidences.
Meditation.
Life of Faith.
Private Ordinances, either
In one Family, as Family-Duties.
In more Families joyned, as Chriſtian Society.
Publike Ordinances, as
Hearing the Word.
Receiving the Sacraments.
Joyntly to all three, and they are either
Ordinary, as
Praying.
Reading the Word.
Extraordinary, as
Faſting.
Feaſting.
Obj. It may be objected, That in this Analyſis there is not that expreſs mention of Chriſt; and the reaſon why ſome vilifie Duties, is becauſe the very Name of Chriſt is not in them.
Sol. But I anſwer, If the Name be awanting, yet Chriſt is not. I have heard of many that have ſtood much in appearance for Jeſus Chriſt, ſo that they would bow, and do homage to the very ſound and ſyllables of his Name, and yet none more enemies unto Chriſt then they, being the very limbs of Antichriſt: Many (ſaith Chriſt) will ſay to me in that day, Lord, Lord, Mat 7.22.have we not propheſied in thy name, and in thy name have caſt out devils, and in thy name have done many wonderful works? 23.24.(as if the name of Chriſt had been a Spell) And then will I profeſs unto them, I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity; and thereupon he concludes, that he onelyonly is a wiſe man, 25and builds upon the rock who hears Chriſts ſayings, and doth them. Hence learn (O my ſoul) that he that preſſeth to the practice of the word of Chriſt, he preacheth Chriſt, he ſets up Chriſt, though he do not directly name Chriſt, or though his Text be not literally of Chriſt; even as a man may have no other ſubject of his Sermon but Chriſt, and yet betray Chriſt. Thus much of Duties in general.