Four Books on Matthew 11, Book 4 · Chapter 138
CHAP. CXXXVIII.
Containeth Six differences more of the former Point 5 A Carnal heart can take up and lay down duties when he will. 6 He hath eaſe in the remiſſneſs of his Spirit. 7 His eaſe is al alike. 8 The more eaſe he hath the more ſluggiſh he is. 9 He hath but one principle in the heart that acteth him both in the waies of God, and the waies of the world. 10. His eaſe comes from the performance of duties in his own Strength.
Fiftly, Another is this, A carnal heart finds eaſe, from the liberty of taking up and laying down the duty, it is eaſy becauſe he can take it up and lay it down when he will, if a beaſt have a yoke that he can ſhift the collar when he wil it is eaſy, when he can put in his head when he will, and ſlip out his head when he pleaſe, this is no grievouſneſs to the beaſt, ſo it is with carnal hearts, the waies of God are eaſy to them, why? becauſe ſomtimes they can take up duties, and ſomtimes lay them down, when they are in a good mood, then they can take up duties, and read, and pray; and the like if any thing vex and trouble them▪ then they can lay them down again; and ſomtimes when they liſt they can come and heare Sermons, and when they liſt they can go into bad company, go into the Tavern, and the like; but now a gracious heart finds the greateſt eaſe when it can be conſtant in the waies of God, when I can bring my heart to this, that there is an evenneſs and proportion between what I do at one time, and what I do at another time, there is the greateſt eaſe to a gracious heart, and indeed, there can be no true comfort in any holy duty where the heart is not conſtant, the conſtancy and the evenneſs of ſpirit, and the proportion that there is between one thing and another, is that that makes the waies of God eaſy unto the Saints. As in going in any way or common path if a man have one ledg long and another ſhort, or if the way be uneven, ſomtimes plain, ſomtimes rugged, ſomtimes down hill, and ſomtimes uphil, that is hard to a man in his walking; and ſo it is with the work of a Chriſtian, that that makes it difficult is this, Oh, I cannot find my heart in a conſtant evenneſs, were my heart ſo, then I ſhould find eaſe, but that which makes it moſt difficult, it is the unevenneſs of my heart, on the contrary, put now a carnal heart to this, to a conſtancy in any duty or work for God, O! it will cry out of wearineſs in Gods waies, perhaps he wil be content to be a while in holy duties, to hear a ſhort Sermon, and go away again, but to ſpend the whol Sabboth, that is weariſom to him; Nay perhaps he could be content to keep one Sabboth, but to keep Sabboth after Sabboth, that is burdenſom to him, and perhaps he could be content to pray one morning in his family, but to pray every morning, and every night, and to go on from morning to morning, and from day to day, and from week to week, and from yeare to yeare, Oh! this is weariſom, truly, we have no reaſon to grudge God any ſervice all our daies, but thus it is with a carnal heart.
Sixtly, The eaſe that a carnal heart hath, it is in his remiſſneſs in duty, in the remiſſneſs of his ſpirit, in his moderation that he pleads for, there lyes his eaſe, but for the other, the extenſion of duty, that he pleads not for; you ſhal have a carnal heart plead for holy duties, but with moderation, we muſt be moderate, and if we do ſomthing that God requires, though we be not ſo hot and fiery as others, I hope it is wel enough, doth not vertue conſiſt in the middle way? As I like not the profaneneſs of ſome men, that are Swearers, and drunkards, & whoremongers on the one ſide, ſo I do not like your preciſe men on the other ſide, ſo that his eaſe lyes in the remiſſneſs, in the lukewarmneſs of his ſpirit in holy duties. But now the eaſe of a gracious heart lyes in the exactneſs of his ſpirit, to come to the very top of holy duties. It is with a gracious heart, as it is with many fowls, you ſhall have many fowls that fly, when they are low, they flutter, and it is a trouble to them to get on high, but when they are aloft, then it is no trouble to them; ſo it is with a gracious heart, to get up his heart, is ſome trouble to him, but now when he hath got up his heart, then he is in his element, there he can fly ſwiftly, when he hath got up into the higheſt region, there he gets the moſt eaſe. It is quite otherwiſe with a carnal heart, when he pleads for moderation, this vertue of moderation that he pleads for, it is not a middle of participation, the middle in which virtu conſiſts; it is not a middle that doth participate of a degree of both the contraries, but a denying of the extreams of both, as the true virtue of liberality conſiſts not between prodigallity and covetouſneſs, but denies the extreams, of both, it will have nothing to do with either of both the etreames, but that which a carnal heart cal… for in moderation, is the mixture of both extreames together, and ſo makes up a religion of the mixture, as thus, there is open profaneneſs, that is one kind of extream, and there is deadneſs of ſpirit the other way, that that is oppoſite unto the open profaneneſs in wickedneſs of many people that of drunkennhſs, and uncleanneſs and the like they will none of this, And then there is the Strictneſs of power and life in the waies of God in the other way; that that is in their hearts is a deadneſs of ſpirit, there is a mixture, there is ſome profaneneſs of heart, though they would have ſomwhat of religion too, of that which is the hypocriſy not the power of religion, there is hipocriſy and profaneneſs, thoſe are the too extteams, he will not be a profane man in the groſſneſs of it, nor will he be ſtrict in the waies of God in the exactneſs of them, but mix them both, he will not be only profane, and only have a ſhew in religion, but he will retain ſome profaneneſs of heart; that is, though he wil not be drunk & prophane, yet he wil retain an inward prophaneneſs of heart, that is, when he comes to perform holy duties, he counts them but as common things, the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, he counts it as a common thing and ſo he hath a profaneneſs of heart when he comes to perform holy duties, and yet he will not be profane neither, and ſo he will have a mix…ure of both, and this makes up a civil man, and yet the civil man will cry out for both he thinks he is not an hipocrite, and he thinks he is not profane, but he is a middle man, a mixture of a profane perſon and a ſtrict perſon, he is between both: But now a gracious heart equally oppoſeth profaneneſs and hipocriſy, ſo that the right moderation, is ſuch a moderation as is a middle between two evills and partakes of none, the eaſe of a carnal heart lyes in his moderation of holy duties, and therefore thoſe duties that would lift up the heart high, thoſe are troubleſom unto him. As now, you ſhal find in ſome beaſts, a horſe that is a jade and tyred, wil go pretty well in ſome ſmoth way, but if he come to the leaſt riſing of a hill, Oh, how hard is it for ſuch a beaſt to draw? and how ready is he to ſtand ſtill? perhapps, when the way is down hill he will draw, but at no riſing or up-hil, now it is otherwiſe with a horſe of mettle, you ſhal find no difference between one way & another, nay, he will go better up-hill then down hill: So it is with Carnal hearts perhaps in ſome kind of things that may be ſuitable to them, and are ſmoth they may go apace, but in that that raiſeth his ſpirit, that that is uphill, Oh, that is difficult, but now a Godly heart, is lively, and ſpiritual, and joyful, and finds moſt quiet and eaſe when he riſeth higheſt.
Seventhly, A carnal heart, the eaſe that it hath in Gods waies, it is all a like aſwel one time as at another time, it is not ſo with the Saints, they have eaſe, but they do not find it all alike when indeed they can be conſtant in Gods waies, then they find conſtant eaſe, but becauſe ſometimes they find corruption prevail then indeed the waies of God are difficult, more difficult then at other times, when they find a temptation that overcomes their hearts, they find a great deal of difficulty before they can get it off, but this will diſcover many men to be naught, when you find your corruptions prevail, you can have as much eaſe as at other times, As ſuppoſe you have been the laſt week drunk, or have been committing uncleaneſs, or have been in Company, and you can come to the Sacrament on the Lords day, and joyne with the Miniſter when at prayer, you can come and put on your ſunday clothes (as you cal them) and ſit at the word, and it is as eaſy to you as any other thing, ſurely, now thy heart is but carnal, wert thou ſpiritual, if thy heart were conſcious of ſome ſin committed the week before when thou wert in company, Oh! when thou comeſt to the word, thou wouldeſt find the word as a dagger ſtuck to thy ſoul, thou wouldeſt find the preſence of God terrible to thee, in prayer, and in the word and Sacrament: but canſt thou give way to thy ſin in the week time, and God knows that thou haſt not been humbled before the Lords day, and yet canſt thou come and joyn in prayer, and the word, and Sacrament with eaſe, this is a ſign of a carnal heart, that thou art not acquainted with God or any of his waies: but it is otherwiſe with a gracious heart, he hath eaſe, the preſence of God is comfortable unto him ſo long as he can keep his reckoning even between God and his Soul, but if he ſhould give way to ſin, and draw the power of the devil upon him when he comes into the preſence of God, he finds the preſence of God terrible unto him.
Eightly, Another Difference between the eaſe of a carnal heart, and a gracious, heart is this: In the effect of it there are other manner of effects that are produced by the eaſe of a Gracious heart, than of any carnall heart: As thus, A carnall heart, the more eaſe he hath, the more ſluggiſh he is, and the more barren he is; but a gracious heart, the more eaſe it hath in Gods waies, the more fruitfull it is. As we ſay of States and Kingdomes, that peace in States and Kingdomes brings plenty, and ſo it doth, we have had experience of it, ſo peace in the Conſcience of one that is Gracious makes him plentifull in all good works, a heart that is truly Godly, is never ſo fruitfull in the waies of God, as when he hath the moſt eaſe and reſt in Gods waies; but now take a carnall heart, if his Conſcience be troubled, Oh, then he will ſet upon holy Duties, but if he be at eaſe and quiet, he grows more barren, and more ſluggiſh, by how much the more eaſe he hath. I do not know any one thing, to help you better to exam in your own hearts in a great caſe of Conſcience than this: How do I know when I have peace and quiet, whether it comes from preſumption, or from true Faith? I bleſs God, I have hope of Gods mercy, and ſo I have quiet in my Conſcience, well, but now here is the caſe of Conſcience, whether is this quiet that I have in my Conſcience from the hope I have of Gods mercy, from preſumption in me, or from true Faith? It concerns every one to get this caſe of Conſcience anſwered. Now I know no greater help for the anſwering this caſe of Conſcience, than this one thing that I have ſpoken of. Haſt thou quiet and eaſe? and haſt thou hope of Gods mercy? and doth that bring thee quiet? if it be but preſumption, it makes thee ſecure, it makes thee barren, and ſluggiſh: but on the other ſide, if thou haſt eaſe and quiet in thy Spirit, and thou findeſt, that the more that eaſe and quiet encreaſeth, the more fruitfull thou art in all good works, it makes thee the more active and ſtirring in all good works, this is a ſign that it comes from Faith; as you heard before, a gracious heart hath the more activeneſs in it the more eaſe it hath, now as his activeneſs in goodneſs cauſeth eaſineſs in his heart, ſo the eaſineſs in his heart cauſeth activeneſs in goodneſs, there is a mutuallneſs in theſe two, and indeed this latter is the more facile for people to exam in themſelves by, perhaps every one cannot group to that activeneſs of heart, but now hath it this power upon your hearts, that you are more fruitfull than before? This is the eaſe of a gracious heart, if it doth ſo.
Ninthly, And then the eaſe that a carnall heart hath in the waies of God is from hence, becauſe he hath but only one principle in his heart, when he is in the waies of God, and when he is in the waies of the world, he is acted but by the ſame principle in both, there is not a contrary principle in his heart, one that carries him one way, and another that carries him another way: but the eaſe of a gracious heart, is this, that he finds a ſtronger principle, that overcomes a contrary principle of corruption in him, there lies his eaſe, a carnall heart goes on and performes Duties, and hath not divers principles in his heart to cary him this way or that way, but hath only one principle, a carnal principle that carries him on to ſerve his own ends, and ſomtimes he can ſerve his ends in one thing, & ſomtimes in another thing, but one that is Godly finds eaſe from hence, from the power of Gods Grace that doth overcome his corruption, I find a ſtirring in my heart, but I thank God I can get the victory, the eaſe of a Godly heart comes from the victory that it gets, but it is not ſo with a carnall heart, your civill men do not find eaſe from their victory, becauſe what they do is not ſuitable to them, but a Godly man finds that there is a principle of Grace that oppoſeth the principle of luſt and corruption, and therefore can ſay ſince I ſet my heart towards God and his waies, I have found more corruption than before ſtirring, but I thank God I have got victory over them, I find a conqueſt gotten over the corruption that is ſtirring in my Soul, and that is my eaſe, another man, he finds no corruption ſtirring in his heart, and therefore no marvell if he find eaſe, but now a Godly man finds a contrary principle to that which is good ſtirring in his heart, and then finds Gods Grace coming in upon his heart to help him againſt that corruption, and this brings eaſe and quiet to him.
Tenthly, And then the laſt is this, That the eaſe the one hath comes from this, that all that he doth he preformes in his own ſtrength, and he doth not ſee any need of any further ſtrength than that which he hath in himſelelf, to enable him to perform Duties, and ſo he finds eaſe: As a man finds his Trade to be eaſie if he trades with his own ſtock, and hath nothing but his own ſtock to trade with, and trades in no higher things then what himſelf can reach unto, whereas another man, that muſt have the ſtocks of other men to trade with, finds a great deal more trouble that ſees his trade requires more ſtock than his own. It is ſo with a Gracious heart, he ſets upon duty ſo, as needs he finds he more ſtock than his own, his trade is beyond his own ſtrength: but now a Godly heart when he comes to want ſtrength, he fetcheth ſtrength from Chriſt, he fetcheth ſtrength from the Covenant of Grace, he fetcheth ſtrength from the Promiſe, and when he hath got ſtrength from Chriſt, from the Covenant of Grace, from the Promiſe Oh, now he finds reſt and eaſe in his Duty, and you ſhall ſee the reaſon of it in the next Point, why the Sants finds difficulties, many times they will think to be trading with their own ſtrength, and their own ſtocks, whenas the things they trade about is beyond their own ſtrength, but now when they can look higher and ſee a fulneſs in Jeſus Chriſt, in the Mediator of the new Covenant, and of his fulneſs we muſt receive Grace for Grace, and fetcheth ſtrength from this, Oh! then here is quiet and eaſe, when the Soul comes to trade with another ſtock. Obſerve this, you will find it as certain as can be, all thoſe that are meer civill People, that find it ſo eaſie to go on in the waies of God, they were never ſenſible of any need they have of any more ſtrength than their own, whereas the Yoke of Chriſt is heavier than any naturall ſtrength is able to bear, and therefore if you find eaſe, in that you have ſtrength of your own to perform it, Certainly, it is not the Yoke of Chriſt. But now, when you find your own ſtrength too ſhort, when you go to perform any Duty, and find a great deal of difficulty, you can go to Chriſt, and to the Covenant of Grace, and to the Promiſe, and there fetch in ſtrength, you have eaſe and quiet. Oh, that you were acquainted with this Myſtery of Godlineſs, that when you go out to perform Duties, and you find them difficult and hard, that then you can go out to Chriſt, and the Covenannt of Grace, and the Promiſe, and fetch ſtrength from them to perform Duties, this is the eaſe of a Godly heart, when it finds eaſe in Gods waies after this manner; and all you that are acquainted with this Myſtery of Godlineſs, know that whatſoever eaſe you have found hitherto, it is not the eaſe of a Gracious heart, but rather of a carnal heart.