The Danger of Being Almost a Christian, Conclusion
CONCLUSION. Some Directions how to avoid this evil temper.
BUt you wil ſay, How ſhal I do to avoid this evil frame and temper which you have diſcovered? what ſhall we do that we may not be half Chriſtians? I ſhall ſhut up the application of this Doctrine, with a few directions to you that deſire to be Chriſtians indeed.
1. Direct. If thou wouldeſt be altogether a chriſtian, then labour to be very exact in thy firſt works of Chriſtianity; if thou wouldeſt build high, be ſure to lay the foundation wel; make a good beginning, if ever thou wouldeſt ſee a good end. It was the Lords advice to the church of Epheſus, Rev. 2.5. and there can be no better given. Do thy firſt works, labour to revive the ſenſe of ſin which thou hadſt at firſt, and call to mind how apprehenſive thou wert of thy need of Chriſt; renew thy cloſe with Chriſt, and chooſe him afreſh as if thou hadſt never choſen him: Be ofen in theſe firſt works; for though half chriſtians are defective in many things, yet the ground and reaſon of all their defects lies in this, that they were never right and ſound in the beginning. Their firſt works of cloſing with Chriſt, and humbling their ſouls for ſin, was never truly performed yet; and whatever is built where the foundation is weak will fall.
2. Direct. Study Goſpel perfection, for know God requires a perfection now under the Goſpel, as well as he did under the Law; though that perfection which the Law requires, cannot be attained now by any, yet there is another perfection ſuited to the Goſpel, and to thy ſtate and condition required (viz. Firſt a perfection of Deſire.
Secondly of deſign; it is not a bare deſire, but of deſires combined and ſtrongly contriving to attain the end.
Thirdly, Of indeavours; theſe deſigns are not the bare ſecret workings of the thoughts, and the idle thoughts of the ſluggard, who would have his work done, if it could be done with thinking while he lies and ſtretches himſelf upon his bed; but theſe deſigns muſt be brought forth into act, and back'd with all the uſe of the means which may further and facilitate ſuch a work.
Fourthly, There is a perfection of ſelf reſignation; though thou canſt not ſerve the Lord perfectly with any member of the body, or any faculty of the ſoul, yet thou muſt reſign all theſe to the Lord, to labour to ſerve the Lord, both actively and paſvely, by and with all theſe.
3. Direct. Keep a deep and tender ſenſe of thy own failings to humble thee, and to quicken thee to look after this perfection; for nothing makes men ſit down ſhort of this, but pride of ſpirit, and want of a due ſearch and inquiry into their own defections; it was this which made Paul preſs forward, Phil. 3.12, 13, 14. I count not that I have yet apprehended, and ſurely, thou wilt ſo account of thy ſelf; if thou doeſt but take an account of thy daily failings; but pride of ſpirit and an overſight of our own ſpiritual wants and weakneſſes, makes us ſit down ſhort of the mark, as high conceited Laodicea did, Rev. 3.17.
4. Direct. Bee much in eying of Jeſus Chriſt, who is thy true pattern, by whom thou art to walke, and to whom thou oughteſt to be conformed, 1 Jo. 2.6. Hee that ſays that he abides in Chriſt, ought to walk even as Chriſt walked. Nothing doth ſo much ſtint and ſtreighten the ſpirits of men, as the looking too low, and mean examples of holineſſe; but ſurely if we did look to the Lord Jeſus, whoſe life is layed before us ſo eminently in the word, we ſhould ſee cauſe enough to bee humbled when we are at higheſt, and not ſit down under any attainments, ſeeing we fall ſhort ſo far of him who is our pattern.
5. Direct. Be ſure to make conſcience of the inward and hidden part of duties, make Conſcience of that which no eye ſees but the Lords. Men may ſee the outward acts, and the external ornaments as flouriſhes of gifts and parts, but have thou a chief care to exerciſe grace in every thing; for this is that which makes thee paſſe for a Chriſtian before God, whatever makes thee ſeem ſuch before men. If thou doeſt thus, thy veſſel ſhall not be found empty at laſt, nor thou be condemned for an empty outſide profeſſor.
6. Direct. Never think thy ſelf enough a Chriſtian, ſo long as thou findeſt any ſo much a Chriſtian as thy ſelf. You know when men run in a race together, a man does not content himſelf to run as faſt as others, but if any comes up with him, or neer him, it makes him ſtrive, and put forth all his ſtrength in running, that hee may keep ſtill in the head of the company, and lead the way to all. He fears if any one ſhould come up with him, that hee would take the prize from him; thus it ſhould be with a Chriſtian, who ſhould thus run, if he would obtain, 1 Cor. 9.24. not as it were to get a prize with others, but a price from all others.
Laſtly, whatever thy condition be, or how great ſoever thy attainments are, yet labour to bee much more a chriſtian then thou art; if thou ſhouldeſt excel all others, yet then make it thy buſineſſe to excel thy ſelf; ſo ſhalt thou be ſure not to fall under the weight of this heavy word, which hath been ſpoken to thoſe who are but almoſt Chriſtians.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Chishull, The Danger of Being Almost a Christian (1657)