The Heavenly Trade, Tract · Application 4 · Part 4 – Part 5
4th. Advice to ſuch as are fallen back in Religion.
Fourthly, A word to ſuch as have begun this Heavenly Trade, and are fallen back: This is the caſe of ſome, and may be of more in this hour of Temptation and Apoſtaſie: There are ſome have begun in the Spirit, and are now ending in the fleſh; who have made a fair ſhew, ſeem'd to be ſomewhat, and like blazing comets, drew the eyes of admirers on them for a time, and then fell down to the Earth. Some that have left the very form; others that have loſt the power and life of godlineſs: Many have laid down their Lamp; but more have ſpent their Oil, and are almoſt come to a ſnuff: Some have ſhut up ſhop, are quite gone, and have taken their leave of Religion, reſolving to return no more, unleſs ſafety, credit and intereſt return with them: Others yet ſtay, keep open ſhop, but have little goods; decay daily, and are upon the breaking hand; a waſte is on their intereſts, they have loſt their firſt love, decay'd in ſpirituals; faith, hope, love, zeal, delight in God, and livelineſs for him are quite loſt; as hath been demonſtrated in the uſe of Lamentation. The deſign of this head is only to offer ſome advice towards the recovery of decayed broken Traders: In which, as hitherto, for better illuſtration I ſhall keep to the metaphor in the Text.
Advice 1.
My firſt Advice to ſuch in order to their recovery, is to be deeply affected with their evil caſe.
Firſt, Conſider, 'tis no ſmall change for a perſon that hath lived well, been in reputation with God and men, fared deliciouſly, been uſed to the dainties of God's houſe, and delicacies of his love; have taſted the heavenly gift, and the powers of the world to come; now to be brought to penury, and ſcarce meet with a ſweet morſel from day to day; to be put off with husks and dry bones, and the crumbs that fall from their Lord's Table; to ſtand at his door, or to wait without for ſome ſcraps, when the friends of Chriſt, and Wiſdom's thriving Merchants, have their marrow and fat things; this is a great change.
For ſuch as were wont to have a place amongſt them that ſtand by, to converſe with the Father of Spirits, to be let into the Preſence chamber, and have the viſits of the Comforter, and ſpiritual fellowſhip of Saints: Now to be laid aſide, and ſcarcely look'd upon with a divine glance from day to day, no entercourſe with God, or fellowſhip with the Spirit, from one Lord's day to another, but to be only company for formaliſts and hypocrites, and ſuch as are without; this is a great change. O get thy heart deeply affected with it!
Secondly, Think alſo how unlovely, offenſive and diſpleaſing an object in the eyes of God, a withered, decayed Profeſſor is; his ſoul takes no pleaſure in him, Heb. 10. 38. He doth not care for the company of ſuch, they are a burden to him, he loves no more to ſee them, than men do dead corps in their houſes, and rotten trees in their garden; he bethinks the place they ſtand in as cumbring the ground, Luke 13. 7. he counts them unworthy of the Kingdom of God, having put their hand to the Plough, and then look back, Luke 6. 62. Nothing more troubles his ſoul, than a lukewarm temper, that was once burning in love, but now is neither hot nor cold; ſuch ride on the ſtomach of Chriſt, and make him down-right ſick, till he hath vomited them out into the dunghill from whence they came; and is not this matter of trouble to a ſenſible heart? Rev. 3. 16.
Thirdly, Such have little deſirableneſs in the eyes of men alſo. Who cares to deal with broken Merchants; or keep company with ſpendthrifts, that have waſted their eſtates, and are come to nothing? no more do gracious ſouls care for converſe with backſliders. Decayed Profeſſors are like broken veſſels in whom there is no pleaſure; and as a withered hand, or broken bone in the body, which hath loſt both its uſefulneſs and beauty. A broken Trader in Religion is valued by none; the men of the world cannot endure him, becauſe he hath been ſeemingly godly; and Saints cannot love him, becauſe he is not really gracious: Such, like Abſolom (when hung by the hair) lye between Heaven and Earth, as unworthy of either; and as a perſon held in a ſtrait paſſage, cannot go forward nor backward; he cannot go far enough to keep pace with the prophane, nor go back to fill up his place with the pious; the Saints reject him, the wicked will not receive him: In ſuch a pitiful caſe is a withered decayed ſoul, he hath no comelineſs in him for which he ſhould be deſired.
Fourthly, They are the greateſt loſers of any who break in Religion; for they not onelyonly loſe their own goods, but others alſo; their talents; graces, priviledges and experiences, are their Lord's goods, which they have waſted in riotous living; they loſe what they once had, what they ſeemed to have, or were fair for; and they loſe what they hope to have, Luke 16. 1. Mat. 25. 29. 2 Epiſt. Joh. v. 8. Gal. 3. 4. All their enjoyments, taſtes, comforts, frames, experiences, are loſt: All their profeſſion, faith, love, conſcience, are ſhipwrackt: All their duties, labours, ſufferings, come to nothing, if they are not recovered again to repentance. Here men eſtimate their loſſes to be great, from the quality, variety or abundance of the things they loſe; all which are yet but temporal; but the Treaſures that Profeſſors are in chaſe of, and which they ſhall ſurely have, if they be ſincere and faithful to the death, are eternal; of all which, by their backſlidings (if uncur'd) they are depriv'd: O who can count the ſum, and value the worth of thoſe glorious things they fall ſhort of, who fall back, and go down in Chriſtianity, till they come to nothing!
Fifthly, Their caſe is dangerous alſo, and their wound hardly healed; not one of many that fall back in Religion, if they go far, recover again. Joh. 6. 66. From that time many of his Diſciples went back, and walked no more with him. When Judas, Simon Magus, Hymeneus, Alexander, Demas, went off from Chriſt, they returned no more: John tells us of ſome that went out from them, and thereby declared that they were not of them. 1 Joh. 2. 19. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. The Apoſtle ſpeaks not of ſuch as fall out of infirmity, falling in the way, which gracious ſouls may do, both falling into ſome ſin for a time, as Peter, and fall back by ſome abatements of grace, as the Church of Epheſus, yet be recovered; ſuch he intends not here; but thoſe that fall out of the way, both totally and finally, theſe recover no more.
Queſt. If perſons that fall back in Religion after a high profeſſion, may never be recovered again; how may one know if he find decaies, and falling back in Religion, whether he be one of thoſe that ſhall never be bealed or recovered more? This is my caſe, I find great declenſions in my ſoul and converſation, and I fear I ſhall never be reſtored, but wax worſe and worſe, and periſh at laſt.
Sol. 1. Firſt, Are not thy declenſions thy choice, upon judgment and conſent, but againſt the ſtanding bent of thy heart? the renewed purpoſes of thy ſoul through Chriſt: Thy errour is not thy aim, thou doſt not deliberately contrive thy departure from God, but haſt a ſecret would-not againſt every backſliding; then thy backſlidings ſhall be healed again, Pſal. 119. v. 10. Rom. 7. 19, 25.
Secondly, Are thy backſlidings and ſpiritual decaies thy ſoul-trouble, and reſtleſs burden, becauſe of thy diſtance from God as the God of grace, and Father of thy mercies; and becauſe of the injury thereby done to thy graces and inner man, and from an enmity in thy nature againſt ſin? Then there is hope in Iſrael concerning this, that thy backſlidings ſhall be healed, Rom. 7. 24. Pſal. 5. 1, 7. Luke 15. 21. Gal. 5. 17.
Thirdly, Are thy backſlidings after thy Effectual Calling, and thy ſincere choice of God to be thy peculiar and alone portion? Thou canſt appeal to the ſearcher of hearts, that thou haſt taken the Lord to be thy God and onelyonly Treaſure here, and to all eternity to be thy laſt end and chiefeſt good; and haſt taken Chriſt to be the onelyonly way, truth and life, thy Lord and righteouſneſs; and haſt made a full and actual ſurrender of thy ſelf and thy All to God in exchange, to be preſently, unreſervedly, and eternally his, and not thy own, to be led and governed by him onelyonly: If ſo, thy after-errours cannot make void this Covenant, but are under a promiſe of healing; ſuch cannot ſin unto death, becauſe the ſeed of God remaineth in them, 1 Joh. 3. 9. They are undertaken to be kept, that they ſhould not totally and finally depart from him, Jer. 31. 18. Iſa. 57. 18. Jer. 3. 14, 22. Hoſ. 14. 4. Jer. 32. 40.
Fourthly, Art thou reſtleſs in thy backſlidings, until the Lord doth heal thee? thou canſt give him no reſt till he eſtabliſh thy ſoul, and be as the dew to thy dry and barren heart: When God ſets a ſoul a crying, it's a ſign he will hear: Jer. 30. 15, 17. Iſa. 19. 22. A man (ſaith Mr. Dod) can never be in a bad condition, except he hath a hard heart, and cannot pray? Will he delight himſelf in the Almighty? Will he alwaies call upon God? Job 27. 10. Backſliders in heart are heartleſs in prayer; as they decay, ſo do they reſtrain prayer, Job 15. 4. Ye have ſaid, it is in vain to ſerve God, Mal. 3. 14. As ſin becomes more delightful, ſo duty becomes more burdenſom, cold and formal; but a gracious ſoul that ſhall be healed is importunate with God, and will not let him alone, Exod. 32. 10, 11. or let him go until he bleſs him, Gen. 32. 6. The worſe his condition is, the more fervent his cries are; the more his piety goes down, the more his prayers go up, Pſal. 6. 2. Such a ſoul ſhall be healed, who would be healed; where he works to will, he will work to do.
Fifthly, Are thy vitals ſound under all thy decaies? then thy conſumption is not mortal: Is thy heart ſincere? thou canſt not hide or reſerve iniquity, but walkeſt before God in truth; thy deſires after grace are not feigned, Pſal. 17. v. 1. Thy love to God is not pretended, liplove, but real; thy faith and love are not wholly gone, but maintained in the truth thereof, though abated; thou canſt not let God go, but haſt a ſecret reſt on him, and reſolved recumbence on his grace and faithfulneſs. There is hope of that tree, though it ſeems to be cut down, that it will ſprout again, and the tender branches thereof will not ceaſe, Job 14. 7.
Sixthly, If under all thy decaies thou findeſt a humble heart and contrite ſpirit; thy backſlidings make thee lie low before God, and to become more vile in thy own eyes every day; thy ſoul-poverty makes thee poor in ſpirit alſo, rating thy ſelf beneath the leaſt mercy, and judging thy ſelf unworthy of all that patience, priviledge and mercy ſhewn to thee; thou doſt not fret at afflicting providences, nor charge God fooliſhly, but beareſt his indignation, juſtifieſt his diſpleaſure, and wondereſt at his forbearance; then will revivings come again, and recovery after thy falling back, Dan. 9. 7, 23, 25. Mat. 5. 3. Iſa. 57. 15.
But on the other ſide, There are five dangerous ſymptoms of falling back that ſhall hardly be reſtored.
Firſt, If thy falling back be before thy falling in with Chriſt in truth; thy decaies before thy quickenings, then 'tis dangerous: If thy building were on the ſand, and the towring heights of thy frames and profeſſion from which thou art fal'n, were onelyonly ſtructures of thy own raiſing, in which the Sanctifying Spirit had no hand, then thy decaies are not likely to be repaired. Art thou a ſtranger to the new birth, and to any inward change upon thy ſoul? the principle of thy new profeſſion and actions is is ſtill an old heart: Thou never didſt take the Lord for thy God and onelyonly Treaſure, nor hadſt to this day any heart-union with the Lord Jeſus; then thy fall is dangerous, Mat. 7. 26, 27. 1 John 5. 14. 2 Tim. 3. 5.
Secondly, A falling off from the foundation is dangerous: When men depart from the Faith, turn to another Goſpel, and deny the Lord that bought them, fall from the Doctrine of Grace after enlightenings, to a Covenant of Works, laying the foundation of Salvation-hopes upon creature-performances and improvements, when they go from the Rule of Faith and Word of Truth, to natural light, and ſeducing ſpirits, which have not their evidence and approbation from the Scriptures. When perſons at once diſclaim dependency on the true foundation and diſpoſal by the Rule of Righteouſneſs 'tis much to be feared whether ſuch ſhall be reſtored, Gal. 1. 6. ch. 5. 4. Heb. 10. 26, 39. 2 Pet. 2. 15. Heb. 6. 4. 6.
Thirdly, When men make Merchandiſe of the Truth, and ſell their profeſſion for worldly intereſt, having loved the reward of iniquity, and made a ſwap of their Religion for advantageſake: This is a mighty provocation to the Spirit, when men can ſell themſelves to work wickedneſs, and value the great things of God's Law, of his Truth and Salvation at ſo low a rate; to part with them for a meſs of pottage, and the dirty Cabals of this world: 'Tis ſeldom that ſuch find repentance, though they ſeek it with tears: See Judas, Simon Magus, Balaam, Demas, Spira: What remarks of furious indignation God makes ſuch Apoſtates to be, who can part with their Religion for worldly intereſts! 2 Tim. 4. 10. 1 King. 21. 20. 2 Pet. 2. 3, 15. Acts 1. 18.
Fourthly, Backſliders in heart ſhall ſurely periſh, and be filled with their own ways, Prov. 14. 14. when falling back is upon choice, and with delight, like a deceitful Bow that is then at reſt when its ſtring is broken, Pſal. 78. 57. When a man caſts off Religion as one doth his burden, and a beaſt his yoke, Jer. 5. 5. and is glad he is rid of his troubleſome work, as one that is got out of priſon, Rom. 1. 32. This argues a ſpirit of Belial, and a dangerous ſtate: Many have taken up a Lamp upon conſtraint, for faſhion, or intereſt, or for companies-ſake, as the fooliſh Virgins did, Prov. 14. 14. Pſal. 78. 57. Jer. 5. 5. Mat. 25. 1. But when opportunity hath offered it ſelf for a fair riddance, they have ſoon appear'd what they were by their chearful returns to Egypt, and the broad way of error and looſeneſs, falling in with other intereſts, and finding pleaſure in it: Now the world, reputation and pleaſure take away the heart, and they are well-pleaſed with other Lovers: this is a bad ſign of a deſperate ſtate, of mariſh-ground that ſhall never be healed, Ezek. 47. 11.
Laſtly, When perſons are prejudic'd againſt the means of recovery, hate them that rebuke them in the gate, Amos 5. 10. ſhun the light, and cannot endure thoſe that would reclaim them from the error of their way, Joh. 3. 19. their hearts riſe againſt any attempts to reduce them, Amos 7. 10. cannot bear them that are good, ſlight and hate the people of God they formerly loved, avoiding their company; jeer and reproach thoſe Miniſters, people and ways they once took pleaſure in: this ſhews a dangerous ſtate, ſuch a perſons condition ſeems deſperate, and not far from the Chambers of death. O you that are fallen back in Religion! get your hearts affected with it: do you begin to decay? you know not where it will end: are you gone back? 'tis queſtionable whether ever you may return, and then what will your latter end be? your laſt ſtate will be worſe than your firſt; and if twice dead, you will be pluck'd up by the roots; if after ſhowers and dreſſings you decay, your end will be to be burned.
Advice 2.
Secondly, If you would recover out of your waſting decays in this heavenly Trade, ſearch out the cauſes, and get them removed. There muſt needs be ſomething more than ordinary, when men who have a good Trade, which may be driven in the worſt of times, and will enſure advantage, if followed, do notwithſtanding fall back and decay: Such is Religion, it will maintain and enrich its followers, if they be not wanting to themſelves; there muſt needs be ſome great cauſes and miſcarriages then that doth caſt back the profeſſors of Chriſtianity, and bring a conſumption on their ſoul-proſperity: ſome of which may be theſe:
Firſt, When they enter upon this heavenly Trade, and have not a ſtock to ſet it up: Religion is a great thing, and cannot be carried on without a ſtock of ſaving-grace to maintain it: Common grace is not a ſutable ſtock for this ſpiritual Trade; it may help men to tranſact the external part, and common works of Religion; but cannot do the inward, ſecret, and choiceſt ſervices of godlineſs: A ſtranger intermeddles not with its joy, Prov. 14. 10. no, nor its work; They that are in the fleſh cannot pleaſe God, Rom. 8. 8. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, Rom. 14. 17. it lies not in outward duties, but righteouſneſs, peace and joy in the Holy Ghoſt; which no hypocrite can reach to. This ſpoils many, they take up a form of godlineſs without the power of it; and being ſtrangers to the work within, they cannot carry on the works of grace without, which this ſtate calls for; and ſo fall back, and come to nothing. When perſons get ſome knowledg, parts, frames, and temporary graces; they preſently take up a Lamp of profeſſion, and get into the company of the wiſe, climb up to the enjoyment of priviledges, and then ſit down contented, and fall aſleep; and when they come to temptations, and ſpiritual duties, to the work of faith, love, patience, ſelf-denial, mortification, and the like; having not grace to ſupport them, and a principle that ſuits ſuch work, they fall ſhort of duty, and into ſin, and ſo Trade, and fall away: Common grace is as a ſtanding-pool, which having not a ſpring to feed it, dries up when ſupplies ceaſe, and ſcorchings come; whereas true grace is as a well of water, that ſprings up to life eternal.
Secondly, Another thing that caſts back Traders, is this; when they ſet upon an employment, and have not skill to manage it: Every Art hath its principles, rules and myſteries by which it is carried on: to deviate from theſe, is to mar the excellency, and miſs the advantage of it: Irregular actions ſeldom thrive; ſo 'tis with the heavenly Trade, when perſons ſet upon it, and have not skill to order it to beſt advantage, no wonder if they proſper not, but fall back in godlineſs. Solomon directing to this heavenly Trade, adviſes to get wiſdom as the principal thing in order to it, Prov. 4. 7. And when the Apoſtle would further the Saints in holy walking, as the neceſſary way to it, he begs wiſdom for them, Col. 1. 9, 10. That ye may be filled with the knowledg of his will in all wiſdom and ſpiritual underſtanding: that ye may walk worthy of the Lord to all, well-pleaſing, being fruitful in every good work. Two things made David thrive ſo much in his proper publick work; Integrity of heart, and Underſtanding, Pſal. 78. 72. He fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulneſs of his hands: Some books read it in the plural number in the Greek; In skilfulneſſes, foreign, noting the great meaſure of wiſdom which men need who would proſper in their proper work, and order their adminiſtrations prudently, as might moſt further their ſpiritual welfare: The want of which wiſdom and prudence in Chriſtians to order every thing they do in their general and particular Callings, converſes, conditions and occurrences in the World to the beſt advantage of their ſouls, is one reaſon they thrive ſo little in their heavenly Trade: Wiſdom would teach men to prevent many ſnares and occaſions of evil, and inſtruct them how to get good from every thing they do, which would much advance their ſoul-profiting, for want of which they go back in ſpirituals, and decay apace.
Thirdly, This alſo caſts back Traders; when they are not diligent in the management of their Trade: A ſlothful ſoul ſuffers hunger, Prov. 19. 15. and by much ſloth the building decays; and through idleneſs of hand the houſe droppeth thorough, Eccleſ. 8. 10. They that will thrive in the World muſt be diligent, take all opportunities to carry on their work: The diligent hand maketh rich, but by ſlothfulneſs men are brought to a morſel of bread. So 'tis in Religion, when men let down their work, and do not follow it to purpoſe, they ſoon decay, and become ſpiritually poor; this is the bane of many this day: Religion is not their buſineſs; men do but little on the Lord's day, and ſcarce a ſtroke of work is done all the week after; hear they will, and when that is done, their work is done too: never think of what they hear, or put it to practice from one Lord's day to another: All the week their heads, hearts, hands, feet, time, ſtrength, diſcourſes, contrivances are wholly taken up about the World; and how can they chooſe but go down the hill, and waſte away in their ſoul-intereſts?
Religion is one continued work, which allows of no intermiſſion, but hath its work every day, and in every thing; break but one link of this golden chain of godlineſs, and it weakens the whole. O the ſlothfulneſs of Chriſtians at this day in their ſoul-buſineſſes! every day is fill'd up with neglects; neglect of prayer, neglect of reading, meditation, conference, heartwatching, grace-cheriſhing-work, forget this duty; paſs by another, cold, ſleighty, formal in all; this ſpoils the proſperity of ſouls. The Galatians began well, but did not hold out, they were ſoon weary, Gal. 5. 7. Moſt mens journey to Heaven is full of ſtops, and that which makes it moſt miſerable, their lets are of themſelves: Who hath hindred you? Mens ſtays are within in their own hearts, they have no heart to do good, Hoſ. 7. 11. Love to Religion is almoſt gone, and this makes men weary in theſe pleaſant ways: while affections hold, ſouls are never weary; but when the heart is gone, then every thing is a burden; ſuch will do no more than needs they muſt to quiet conſcience, and preſerve peace and credit; and this ſtarves godlineſs.
Fourthly, Great and frequent loſſes in mens Trades tend to breaking; and ſo it is in Religion: Chriſtians through their ſloth, formality and unwatchfulneſs ſuſtain many and great loſſes of ſpiritual mercies, and this brings them low. A Chriſtian the other day, it may be, had his graces flouriſhing, his heart warm, his affections quick and lively, his conſcience pure and tender, his will flexible, and fix'd on God and things ſpiritual, 2 Ep. Joh. 8. and a good frame throughout his whole ſoul: but now through his careleſneſs all is loſt again, Gal. 3. 4. One time he loſes the favour and comfortable preſence of God, Pſal. 51. 12. another time he loſes a ſweet ſerenity of ſpirit, and peace with God; then light and convictions are gone; another time enjoyments and experiences are gone; now his deſires after God are loſt, then his ſtrength is devoured; now temptations prey upon the ſoul, and then corruptions make a waſte upon it: come to Ordinances, Sermons, Sacraments, and after a great deal of prayer, care, and ſtriving, a little grace and comfort is obtain'd; but through want of watchfulneſs all loſt again: it may be before it ſtirs out of the place, or recovers home to his habitation; the next company, diſcourſe, occaſion, takes away all.
Another time God brings the ſoul into the fire of ſome great affliction, ſickneſs, ſuffering, loſſes; and there melts it into ſome holy frames, humility, faith, love, obedience takes off ſome droſs, puts on ſome beauty, imparts ſome ſouladvantage; but immediately upon a change of the perſon's condition, when new mercy, health and comfort returns, all the good is loſt again. Now through theſe many and great loſſes in ſpirituals, which gracious ſouls ſuſtain, they are brought very low, and come to be ſoon poor and beggerly.
Fifthly, Great waſtes, and large expences, help to make Traders poor apace; when they turn ſpendthrifts, and prodigals, living above their eſtates; when their layings out are more than their comings in, this muſt needs bring them low: It undid the Steward; He waſted his Maſters goods, Luke 16. 1. So 'tis with Wiſdom's Merchants alſo, when they turn prodigals of their graces, mercies, parts, ſtrength, time, and other goods committed to them, ſpending them on their luſts and carnal contentments, then they ſoon find an alteration.
O, at what a rate do men live in point of time! and at what vaſt expences of their ſhort day upon things of no value, talking, eating, drinking, ſleeping, trifling, ſinning away their precious time, as if they had no employment for it, or no better work to do: Little do ſouls think what a ſmall pittance of day-light they have allow'd for their vaſt concerns, and multitude of great employments; and what madneſs 'tis to be ſo prodigal of this little inch of precious time. O the hours, and days, and years that profeſſing Chriſtians ſpend to no purpoſe! in vain thoughts, fooliſh talking, impertinent converſes, unprofitable duties and labours, which when they ſhall be all reckon'd up by the great Creditor, and a bill of waſtes put into the hands of conſcience, and the total ſumm of theſe expences read; what amazing ſenſe! what dreadful impreſs! and fretful ſting will this beget when perſons come to die! As the Queen ſaid, If her heart were ript open, Cales would be found written in it: So if their hearts could then be as legible as their expreſſions, men might read this there in black, and capital letters, Loſt time, Loſt time.
How great alſo are mens waſtes of graces and peace, wiſdom and capacities, and all for the obtaining of ſome poor, empty, inſignificant comforts, which periſh with the uſing: There are no locuſts (Chriſtians) like your curſed luſts, which have devoured your precious things; your affections, time, ſtrength and graces; what convictions, reſolutions, hopeful frames, conſcience-tenderneſs, talents, capacities, priviledges, ordinances, providences, have the ſervice of thy baſe luſts, and contentment of thy carnal mind conſumed! and this hath brought thy ſoul to ſuch ſtraits and diſtreſſing exigencies.
When ſouls live above their capacities and proportion; that's caſting back, when perſons have little, and yet live high; have but a little light, and yet ſpend that too in works of darkneſs; have but a ſhort day, and yet ſo many hours of that one day conſumed in vanity; this is to live above thy eſtate, and will be ſoon impoveriſhing: When men have but a little grace and ſtrength, and yet adventure upon great temptations, and run into ſoul-ruining dangers, ruſh into vain company, ſet upon entangling affairs, and take much buſineſs on their hands, and yet have but a little portion of Wiſdom and Grace to manage them; this is to live above thy eſtate in Chriſtianity. To be low of ſtature, and yet high in conceit, of little ſpiritual worth, and yet think highly, and ſpeak highly of thy ſelf, and to expect eſtimation from others alſo, is to live above thy eſtate.
To have nothing to maintain thee but what comes in by thy ſoul labours; no longer work, no longer eat; thy daily bread depends upon thy daily work; ſo poor, and yet in this condition to expect an eaſie life, to lie down to ſlumber, to dwell careleſly, and ſet thy hand but by fits and ſtarts to thy work: This is to live above thy ſpiritual eſtate, and will ſoon bring thee to breaking in this Heavenly Trade.
Sixthly, Great debts are breaking, and will caſt men back in Wiſdom's Merchandiſe; when men owe more than they are worth, and know not how to pay it; run further on book every day, till their credit will paſs no longer; they have often promiſed payment, but ſtill fail'd, and now their word will not paſs, they can get no more goods, Creditours will not truſt them, but begin to ſuſpect them, and threaten to take them up, then men ſhut up ſhop and break: This alſo is pernicious to Heavenly Traders, when they become unfaithful to God and men, run on ſcore for mercy, but never pay or render to God again; are deep in debt to God for divine goodneſs; receive one mercy after another, one talent after another, and make no returns of any; God ſees not principal or intereſt, but they remain fruitleſs and unthankful under all; make promiſes of better improvements, but ſtill break them: Come to Sacraments, and renew their Covenant with God, and go away and break it again; make promiſes to God under affliction, that if he will deliver them this once, they will never grieve and provoke him more as they have done; make large engagements, if God will hear this prayer, and give that mercy; but when their turn is ſerv'd, forget God, and break all their vows again; be ready to paſs their word on every occaſion, and then look after it no more; this begets a jealouſie in the Lord of Hoſts, that he will truſt them no more, Deut. 32. 21. but hold his hand. and part with no more goods, but threatens to take them up, and to caſt their ſouls into priſon; begins to ſue them in the Court of Conſcience, and to out-law them at the bar of Juſtice, to ſeize on what they have; then away goes peace, joy, hope, and then comes breaking. Theſe are ſome of thoſe reaſons why Chriſtians go back in Religion, and decay in their Heavenly Trade. O Chriſtians! bring the plummet to the line, and thy heart and life to the ballance, and try from which of theſe comes thy ſoul-decaies, and then get it to bear upon thy heart, till thou art fully convinc'd of thy evil, and willing on any terms to obtain remedy.
Advice 3.
Thirdly, Compound with your Creditour; get your peace made with God through Chriſt; make haſte to prevent a ſeizure on your perſon and goods by a timely compoſition. Agree with your adverſary while you are in the way with him, leſt at any time he deliver thee to the Judge, and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer, and thou be caſt into priſon, Mat. 5. 25. 'Tis a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an ever-living God, who is a conſuming fire, Heb. 10. 31. ch. 12. 29. O tremble in the ſenſe of his righteous Judgment, and force not the Lord by thy delaies to commence a ſuit againſt thee, and to make an entry upon all that thou haſt; but go humble thy ſelf, and make ſure thy friend, Prov. 6. 3. Fall down before thy Creditour, and ſue for terms of reconciliation; caſt thy ſelf at the feet of mercy, confeſſing thy ſin: Pay the debt thou canſt not; go beg remiſſion, and offer a Surety to diſcharge the ſcore, even ſuch a one as the Father himſelf is well pleaſed with: Thy Creditour muſt be ſatisfied or thou art undone; but this you can never do: Away to a Mediatour to obtain terms, and to procure your peace; make Chriſt your friend, who is able to ſatisfie all the Father's demand, to croſs the book and ſend your diſcharge by the Spirit of Grace, who can witneſs the pardon of all your ſins to your conſciences: Come to him in the ſenſe of your folly, bearing your ſhame. Forſake your waſting waies, and with the prodigal return from your harlots to your Father's houſe, rating your ſelves beneath the leaſt of his mercies, and conſenting to the meaneſt condition, ſo he would but take you in again, Luke 15. 17, 18, 20, 21. Subſcribe all his terms, and make a new ſurrender of your ſelf and your All to Chriſt, to be no more your own, but more entirely his than ever, Jer. 50. 5. Enter into a new Covenant with God in Chriſt, taking him for your Surety, and fetching all your abilities to fulfil it from him, and get thy ſoul more firmly bound to the Lord in it by the bond of the Spirit.
Advice 4.
Fourthly, Set up no more for your ſelves, but enter your ſelves Factors for Chriſt. It may be you traded formerly for your ſelves, and that broke you; if you would prevent that danger for the future, you muſt be no more for your ſelves, but for him; trading as his Factours, not your own.
Now three things are required in a Factor, which muſt be obſerved alſo by wiſdom's Merchants, if ever they will drive a thriving Trade in Godlineſs.
1. To trade upon anothers Stock.
2. To be regulated by anothers Advice.
3. To drive on anothers Intereſt.
Firſt, If you will be Chriſt's Factours, you muſt trade upon his ſtock; you muſt not onelyonly take all your goods from him, but as his; not onelyonly fetch in your graces, abilities, skill, ſucceſs from him, but uſe and improve them as his, not as your own. Joh. 1. 16. Of his fulneſs have all we received grace for grace. 'Twas not onelyonly part of his fulneſs before it was received, but 'tis his grace after reception. Col. 1. 19. It pleaſed the Father that in him ſhould all fulneſs dwell: not onelyonly the fulneſs of the Divine Nature, but the fulneſs of habitual grace, both which are in Chriſt; the latter is chiefly intended here, which dwells in Chriſt as in a head, not for himſelf onelyonly, but for his body, as beams in the Sun, and water in the Fountain for the uſe of man. The Father hath laid up all that grace that Believers need here and for ever in the Lord Jeſus, as in a Treaſury, or Truſtee's hand, for their uſe; or made it over to him not onelyonly as a deed of gift, but as a purchaſe which he hath bought by his blood for the good and uſe of his children: 'Tis his fulneſs, right and intereſt, but for their uſe and advantage, but ſo as the property and diſpoſal be ſtill his. Fal'n man hath for ever forfeited his credit with God ſince his firſt defection, to become any more the diſpoſer of his intereſts and inheritance, or be intruſted again with his own portion. God deals with ſaved ſouls as parents do with prodigal children, ſecures their eſtates in the hand of a Feoffee. Believers Treaſures are laid up in Chriſt, that ſo grace as well as glory, ſanctification and ſalvation may be ſure to them, and not liable to forfeiture or loſs; to be diſpoſed of, and parted with by them as they pleaſe, but be certainly and eternally theirs, that ſo they may come to Chriſt for all they need, as heirs under age, who have no more in hand than what they want, but muſt come to their Overſeers for all they have uſe of; and not only as ſuch, but as Stewards alſo that muſt be accountable for what they have, and how they beſtow it.
Poor decay'd ſouls, Would you recover your loſſes, and renew your Trade? then you muſt come to Chriſt's fulneſs, and be beholding to his free grace for all you need. Do you want grace for your duties, places, tryals, ſufferings? come to Chriſt's fulneſs for your ſupplies; ſend to him by the hand of prayer an intimation of all your wants: Make known your requeſts to him. Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and ſupplication, with thankſgiving, let your requeſts be made known to God. Ceaſe not from following God in the Name of Chriſt with requeſts, till the Spirit meet you with returns. The Lord Jeſus hath ordained his people to receive their ſupplies, ſallaries, and ſtipends from Heaven in the Court of Requeſts. Matth. 7. 7. Ask, and you ſhall receive. All things whatever you ſhall ask in prayer believing you ſhall receive, Matt. 21. 22. Seek it by prayer, receive it by faith: Go to Chriſt in the promiſes for all you want, judging him faithful who hath promiſed, Heb. 11. 11. God's Word is as good as preſent pay, and ſhall be fulfilled by him (who cannot lye) to all that by faith receive it, and wait for its performance. All his promiſes are in Chriſt Yea and Amen, 2 Cor. 1. 20. Who came down from Heaven to confirm them with his blood, and is returned to Heaven to fulfil them by his interceſſion, Heb. 7. 25. You may boldly adventure on divine aſſurance, and ſhall not be aſham'd, if you ſincerely roll on Chriſt in his Word. Be well acquainted with the promiſes, clear up your intereſt in them by believing, and expect their fulfilling through Chriſt. It may be thy graces are low, thy corruptions high, guilt heavy, fears many, refuge fails, thy prayers not anſwered, no good news from Heaven or Earth; thou prayeſt, hopeſt, waiteſt, but no anſwer; in this caſe nothing but firm reliance on divine faithfulneſs, can keep thy head above water.
Are you in wants? go to that promiſe, My God ſhall ſupply all your wants, Phil. 4. 19. God will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly, Pſal. 84. v. 11. Do you find changes in your ſpirits, and frames, and condition? See that word, Believe in the Lord your God, and you ſhall be eſtabliſhed; believe his Prophets, and you ſhall proſper, 2 Chron. 20. 20. Are corruptions high? apply that word, He will turn again, he will have compaſſion upon us, he will ſubdue our iniquities, Mic. 7. 19. Sin ſhall have no dominion over you; for you are not under the Law, but under grace, Rom. 6. 14. Who gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, Titus 2. 14. For this purpoſe the Son of God was manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the works of the Devil, Joh. 3. 8. I will ſave her that halteth, Zeph. 3. 19. When thou ſeeſt nothing but witherings and dyings in thy ſoul, apply theſe promiſes; So wilt thou recover me, and make me to live, Iſa. 38. 16. The righteous ſhall flouriſh like the Palm-tree, he ſhall grow like the Cedars of Lebanon: Thoſe that be planted in the houſe of the Lord, ſhall flouriſh in the Courts of our God, thy ſhall ſtill bring forth fruit in old age; they ſhall be fat and flouriſhing, Pſal. 92. 11, 12, 13, 14. I will be as the dew to Iſrael, he ſhall grow as the Lilly, and caſt forth his roots as Lebanon: they that dwell under his ſhadow ſhall return, and ſhall revive as the corn, Hoſ. 14. 5, 6, 7. They that wait on the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength, Iſa. 40. 31. In theſe and ſuch like promiſes, as in wagons ſent of purpoſe to fetch you, go over to your Joſeph, and get them laden with the riches of his Kingdom, that you may be relieved and carried on in your Trading for Heaven, improving theſe not as yours, but as your Lord's goods: That's the firſt, Trade upon Chriſt's Stock.
Secondly, Follow his inſtructions, be guided by his order in the management of your Heavenly Trade: Take Letters of Advice from your Creditour, how to lay out his moneys, and how to diſpoſe of his goods. Prov. 3. 5. Lean not to your own underſtanding, which is the moſt cloſe and ſubtil kind of Idolatry (ſaith Cartwright) Seek not after your own heart, and your own eyes, after which ye uſe to go a whoring, Numb. 15. 39. Man is mightily propenſe ſince his firſt defection from God, to take the Scepter into his own hand, and to become the governour of his own waies: But this God cannot bear, as being inconſiſtent with his Supremacy, and that State alſo into which man is by grace redeemed; which is an abſolute devotedneſs unto God, 2 Cor. 8. 5. Ye have likewiſe choſen the Lord to be your Law-giver and King, if you are his, and are now upon your own conſent determinable by his pleaſure in every thing you do: The rectitude of every action lies in a conformity to his will, who is your Lord and Soveraign. And as the eyes of a Handmaid wait on her Miſtreſs; ſo ſhould Believers on Chriſt for direction in all they do, Pſal. 122. 3. Chriſtians, your former irregularities in the proſecution of your Heavenly Trade, have almoſt loſt you, and caſt you back: O be more obſervant of Divine Inſtructions for the future! follow your advice, walk by Rule: As you have received how you ought to walk, and to pleaſe God; ſo abound more and more, 1 Theſ. 4. 1. Beg Wiſdom of God to know his Will in every thing, to do that which is well-pleaſing in his ſight, having a warrant for every action you perform both civil and religious; this will be your comfort now, and your peace in the day of your accounts.
Thirdly, Drive on his intereſt, not your own. Rom. 14. 7. For none of us liveth to himſelf. God can more juſtly ſay what Laban did to Jacob concerning his children and goods; Theſe daughters are my daughters, and theſe children are my children, and theſe cattel are my cattel; and all that thou ſeeſt is mine, Gen. 31. 43. The cattel on a thouſand hills are his, Pſal. 50. 10. with the corn, wine, wooll and flax, Hoſ. 2. 9. Both the improvement as well as principal are his, Mat. 25. 27. He hath right to the exerciſe and fruit of your graces and duties, with all that you enjoy and do: Put Chriſt's mark on all your goods; whatever you gain by his talents, put on his account, and let your disburſments be expended to his uſe. Seek not your own things, your credit, peace, comfort, intereſt, but in ſubordination to him: If the Lord by his Word calls for any of your enjoyments, you muſt let them go: If by his Providence he takes off any comfort, murmure not, ſay, 'tis the Lord, Let him do what he will with his own, Mat. 20. verſe 15.
Advice 5.
Fifthly, Follow your Trade better than you have done; remember how former careleſneſs, formality, ſloth, hypocriſie, have undone you, and amend. The ſlothful ſoul is as the door on his hinges, Prov. 26. 14. that never makes any progreſs in Religion, or comes to any excellency in grace. No Chriſtian (ſaith Mr. Sedgwick) is ſo able in the habits of grace, as he who is conſcienciouſly frequent in the practice or exerciſe of grace. [Chriſt's Counſel to his languiſhing Church] Would you recover your ſtate, and come to any eminency in godlineſs, then make Religion your buſineſs: That ſleightineſs of ſpirit in the way of God, which loſt you at firſt, will never reſtore you. The recovery of a faint ſoul (ſaith the ſame Author) will never be effected by faint workings: You did fall into your decayed ſtate by remiſſive actings, and think you, that which was not able to keep up your graces from ſinking, can now quicken and raiſe them being ſunk. [Chriſt's Counſel to his languiſhing Church, p. 148.] If negligence did caſt you back, diligence muſt help to recover you: Take more pains with your hearts; follow your work of godlineſs every day, and in every place; Be early and late in your ſhops of duty, and in the warehouſe of your hearts: Beware of ſpiritual ſloth, and ſoul-loſſes; take heed of unfaithfulneſs with God, conſcience, or others; keep touch with your Creditour; be tender of your vows to God and men; keep from prodigality; live not above your condition; waſte not precious time, parts and grace in vain; walk ſtrictly in the whole courſe of your life, keeping your ſelves from iniquity, and in the Love of God. Looking for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, Jude v. 21. Tit. 2. 13.
5th. Branch of Exhortation to good Traders in Religion.
Laſtly, You, whoever you are that drive on this Heavenly Merchandiſe, and have any good Trading in Religion, be you exhorted