Expositions Upon Matthew 1-10, Treatise · Chapter 6 · Section 16
On the contrary I'le give you ſome ſigns this ſin reigns not.
1 When we hunger and thirſt after an heavenly frame of heart, and groan under the frequency of earthly thoughts, and fewneſs of heavenly; here worldlineſs reigns not, but the ſoul may be bleſſed, though it be too worldly. Bleſſed are they that hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs, Mat. 5.6.
2 When, though we have too much worldlineſs in us, yet upon ſerious examination we find an habit to part with all lands and goods for the Lord, if they come in competition. Thus the diſciples, Matth. 19.27. But the Young man could not do this, ver. 22.
3 When we can come cheerfully and willingly to a work of mercy, to the ability God gives us, 2 Cor. 8.2, 3. The Macedonians were ready, to and beyond their power, praying Paul with much intreaty to take the care hereof.
4 When our ſoveraign affection and converſation is in heaven, Phil. 3.20. Col. 3.1. In all our converſings let Saints look to heaven as the city whereto they belong. All earthly things are deſired by ſuch in reference to Heaven and a good conſcience.
5 When we diſaffect Worldly affections. The fleſh ſometimes puts a godly man upon too eager purſuement of earthly things, and ſometimes upon ſome unworthy covetous prank, or penurious ſcraping; now when we can go to God and pray againſt theſe affections with a real hatred of them, as David did, Pſalm 119.36. Incline not my heart to covetouſneſs, here worldlineſs reigns not.
6 When we deſire to be convinced of the Quantum or meaſure that God would have us to forgo, for ſuch a godly uſe or good cauſe; for example, in ſuch cauſe of Religion, as to the late Diſtreſſes of the poor Proteſtants in Piedmont, I part with ſo much as my proportion comes to and the generality of godly people give, yet, could I be convinced that God required a greater proportion of me, I would chearfully let it go even to the laſt Groat; and what though my children have ſo much leſs, yet Gods bleſſing is enough for them, and I will not damn my ſoul in the omiſſion of any known duty to make them rich. Moreover, the ſame command that bindes me to my children, ties me to other relations, to ſuccour them, though not in ſuch a meaſure.
Matth. 6.25. Therefore I ſay unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye ſhall eat, or what ye ſhall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye ſhall put on. Is not the Life more than Meat, and the Body than Raiment?
Here is a ſecond argument againſt worldlineſs and carking cares, taken from the greater to the leſs; he that hath given the greater will give the leſs; now your Father hath given you the greater, he hath given you your life and body, therefore will he give you the leſs, which is meat and raiment. He gave the greater without thy care, therefore without thy carking he will give the latter. Withall Chriſt puts us in minde of the Authour of our Life and Body, we are to look beyond our Parents.
We are not to think as if Chriſt forbad here a provident diligence and labour to procure things needfull for us and ours, as the ancient Euchites, who would always pray, but never work; but he forbids a fearfull diſtruſtfull heart-dividing care, Pſalm 34.9, 10. Fear the Lord, ye his Saints, for there is no want to them that fear him, Pſalm 84.11. 1 Tim. 4.8. Hence Chriſt uſeth the word foreign, becauſe foreign, becauſe the deſire of gathering riches divides the minde, and as it were diſtracts it, and cuts it into divers thoughts. This is that Luke calls foreign, to hang like a Meteor in the Air, to hang betwixt Heaven and Earth.
In the words alſo there is a ſilent Objection thus.
Though I muſt not labour for ſuperfluities, yet muſt I labour for things which nature deſires, and which muſt ſerve me for my life, and then when I have got that I will be no more deſirous of outward things. To this Chriſt anſwers, You think too meanly of Gods goodneſs, he both can and will provide us of things needfull though we ſhould onelyonly by the by look at thoſe things we want, and ſhould give our mindes wholly or for the greater part to godlineſs, John 6.27.
Obſ. Chriſtians ought to lay aſide all diſtruſtfull heart-dividing carking and ſollicitude for the things of this life.
Reaſ. 1 Becauſe we have God that cares for us, 1 Peter 5.7. Caſting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. Children caſt their care upon their fathers, who lay up for their children, 2 Cor. 12.14. So let us, Phil. 2.20, 21. Thus is it done with us in all our life, we ſleeping and being quiet and ſecure, all things are given us; we caring and being ſollicitous nothing is given, Luth. Tom. 3.383.
2 From our experience we have had of Gods goodneſs: he that hath given us the greater will alſo give us the leſs, he hath given us a body, therefore he will give us meat to ſuſtain it, and raiment to cover it from the cold. The allegement of maintenance for life is but too oft a ſpecious pretence for our covetouſneſs.
Object. But there are lawfull cares we muſt have.
Anſw. True, there are, 1 For ſpirituals, ſuch a care had Mary, Luke 10.41. Paul had the care of all the Churches upon him, 2 Cor. 11.28. The Philippians had care to miniſter to Paul, Phil. 4.10. A godly Biſhop is to take care of the Church, 1 Tim. 3.5. yea every Chriſtian muſt be full of care to maintain good works, Titus 3.8. yea this care is a fruit of repentance, 2 Cor. 7.12. None ſo full of theſe cares as a Chriſtian, 1 Cor. 7.32. Who cares for the things of the Lord.
2 There are cares for temporals, 1 Cor. 7.33. He that is maried careth for the World, how he may pleaſe his Wiſe. Joſeph took care to provide Corn for Egypt. If we have not a lawfull care, we are worſe than Infidels, 1 Tim. 5.8. God teaches us this care from the ſilly Piſmire, Prov. 6.6. Who provides her Meat in the Summer and Harveſt.
Queſt. But what cares are they which are unlawfull?
Anſw. Diſtracting heart-dividing cares. Paul would have us attend upon the Lord without diſtraction, 1 Cor. 7.35.
Theſe diſtracting cares conſiſt in three things.
1 In a doubtfulneſs of the ſucceſs, notwithſtanding we uſe lawfull endeavours; the Promiſe is, In all thy ways acknowledg him, and he ſhall direct thy ſteps, Prov. 3.6.
2 When earthly cares ſhall crowd in in holy duties, Luke 8.14. The cares of the World choak the Word, or cauſe us to neglect holy duties, as in Martha, Luke 10.40.
3 When we ſhall be immoderately thoughfull for livelihood for us and ours, ſo that our hearts become troubled with fear of want.
Uſe 1 Humiliation to Saints who have ſo many diſtracting cares upon them. Would we compare our few cares for Heaven, and our many cares for a livelihood, how ſhould we be cloathed with ſhame? Theſe ſeize on us in the morning and go to bed with us at night. God takes care of thee, who made thee, who cared for thee before thou waſt. We care for our ſelves, as if he that made us preſently went away, leaving us in our own hands. Aug.
1 Theſe dividing cares of thine ariſe from remainders of unbelief in thee, for men of eminent faith have been little troubled therewith, Dan. 3.17. We are not carefull to anſwer thee, O King, in this matter, if it be ſo, our God whom we ſerve is able to deliver us, ſaid the Three Children.
2 Whatever burden thou haſt thou art commanded to caſt it upon God, Pſalm 37.5. Commit thy way unto the Lord, truſt alſo in him, and he ſhall bring it to paſs. Thou art not to take Gods work from him; thy work is dependance, Gods work is proviſion. Pſalm 55.18. Caſt thy burden on the Lord, he ſhall ſuſtain thee.
3 The care and proviſion God makes for all creatures, Pſalm 104.10. to v. 31. he ſends Springs into Valleys, cauſes Graſs to grow for Cattel, makes Trees for Birds to neſt in, the Rocks and Hills a Refuge for Goats and Conies. Lions ſeek their Meat from God, v. 27, 28. Theſe wait all upon thee that thou mayeſt give them their Meat in due ſeaſon; that thou giveſt them they gather, Pſalm 147.9. He giveth to the Beaſt his Food, and to the young Ravens which cry. Matth. 10.29, 30.
4 It's Gods good pleaſure to give you the Kingdom of Heaven, much more will he give you things of this life, Luke 12.32. Fear not, little Flock, it's your Fathers good pleaſure to give you the Kingdom.
5 The vanity and miſchief of diſtracting cares: the vanity of them is ſeen, becauſe all our carking will not better our condition. Do what thou canſt thou ſhalt not be rich, whom God will have to be poor, Luth. Tom. 3.266. And their miſchief is ſeen in that they ſurcharge the heart, as Meat and Drink immoderately taken do the ſtomach, Luke 21.34.
2 Exhortation. To endeavour the riddance of theſe ſinfull cares.