The Abuse of Gods Grace, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Containing an uſe of Caution.
THE Symptomes of this too common ſpiritual diſeaſe Uſe 4 for caution.depraving the Grace of God being layd downe, both in the groſſe and cloſe foreign diſcerning indications thereof, it will next be needfull to lay down ſome cautions, touching the groſſe Abuſe of Gods Grace, concerning the cloſe wronging of it, and touching the differences between the injuring of Gods Grace, in a Regenerate and Unregenerate perſon, though this ſin be in all, it is not alike in every one: This ſin is in the preſent fruits of it more hainous, and in the event more perilous to ſome then others. The next uſe then will be the fourth in order, Caution, 1. To them who groſly. 2. To them who clofely Abuſe Gods Grace.
1. To them who are groſſe abuſers of Gods Grace, let them hearken to four things.
SECT. 1.
BEware that you put not off the triall of turning the Grace of, Beware thou put not off the tryall of turning the g…ace of God into wantonneſſe.God into Wantonneſſe, too many are hardned in their apparent indignities to the Grace of God, by delaying the tryall, as diſeaſed perſons put off inquiry into their mortall diſeaſes, and careleſſe Stewards their looſe carriages, their unfaithfull ſquandring away their Lords goods, ſpend-thrift Tradeſmen the cracle Eſtates, yet though the open, looſe, doctrinall, and practicall enemies of Gods Grace never try themſelves whether they have evidently turned the Goſpel Antidotes into poyſon, and in open hoſtility oppoſed that Grace they ſeemed to own, yet God tryes them every moment: poſſibly, Reader, thou art the groſſe profaner of Gods Grace, if thou canſt hardly be perſwaded, thou art ſuch a notorious Libertine as indeed thou art, I beſeech thee take ſome paines with thine owne precious ſoul, that this dreadfull ſtain and guilt may be purged and pardoned. O that I could on my knees, paſſionately begg it at the Throne of Grace, that thou wouldſt ſee the foule ugly countenance of thy notorious looſe heart and life, in the large glaſſe ſet before thee. I beſeech thee in the name of the Lord Jeſus, for Gods ſake, whoſe Grace thou haſt depraved, for Chriſts ſake, who ſo dearely bought Grace thou haſt deſpiſed, for the Spirits ſake, whoſe gracious motions thou haſt reſiſted, for the Goſpel ſake, whoſe gracious Call thou haſt refuſed, for thy Soules ſake, which will infallibly be damned, if thou doſt not repent of thy moſt evident Abuſe of Grace. Study the eleven Sections of the tenth Chapter of this Treatiſe, read them not over ſlightly, mingle them, fortifie them with Faith, that they are reall Truths, never leave queſtioning thy Soule, Thus, Soule! Art not thou guilty? is not this charge drawn up againſt thee? O thou art guilty, thou art guilty, Art thou caſt in the Court of Conſcience for a wicked wanton Libertine? Then further I intreat thee, never leave the ſad thoughts of thy wofull eſtate, till they worke on thee fear and trembling, and then further awaken thy ſecure heart with theſe ſad, what iff's? What if thou ſhouldſt die ſuddenly? What if thou ſhouldſt ſhortly be forced into the preſence of thine angry Judge, whoſe Grace thou haſt many thouſand times deſperately abuſed? What if now I reſiſt the movings of the Spirit of Grace, and hee never ſtir up a thought of Repentance in me more? What if in the other World the avenging remembrance of my wanton ſportings in ſin and mocking my plain dealing inſtructers, more torment my wounded conſcience, than all the Tortures of Tyrants have tender bodies? What if God laugh at my deſtruction who have laught at the Counſells of Reformation? Then go further, and thus upbraid thy ſelfe, ſaying, O monſter of men and Women! O wonder the Earth hath not ſwallowed mee up quick, as weary of ſuch a burden! O marvell that I am not in Hell! O fool! O wretch! O beaſt! O mad one! worſe then a Devill! He never had the time nor offer of Grace, The grace of God teacheth to deny ungodlineſſe: I have an Atheiſticall heart, and have led an ungoldly life; the grace of God teacheth to deny worldly luſ…s, and I have made proviſions for them and pampered them; the Grace of God teacheth to live godly, but I have been ſo far from leading a godly life, that I have not only hated the power, but the form of godlineſſe in my family, The grace of God teacheth to live righteouſly, but I am guilty of unrighteous dealings, with my neighbours name and eſtate, The grace of God teacheth to live ſoberly, but I have been a wanton intemperate Glutton and Drunkard, and an uncleane incontinent perſon, if theſe thoughts, and ſuch as theſe O looſe Reader, ſhall put in thee reſolves in the ſtrength of Chriſt to repent of the worſt of pardonable ſins, the g…oſſe Abuſe of Grace, if they ſhall bring thee on thy knees, if thou ſhalt cry mightily to God, to repent to give thee a better heart, to honour that Grace of God and Jeſus Chriſt which alone muſt ſave thee, if ever thou be ſaved, when thou ſhalt lye on thy Death Bed, thou wilt never repent of following this Counſell, delay not to ſearch, try and amend thy looſe heart and life, leſt thy Libertiniſme prove thine everlaſting ruine.
SECT. 2.
2. TAke heed of denying the proof of groſſe afronts to Gods Take heed of denying the proof of groſs affronts to Gods grace.grace, ſuch as have been named, herein the guilty plead innocent, though they oppoſe Goſpel merits and mercies, to calling upon God, they will ſay they though they do not, though the Grace they pray for be never received into their hearts, nor is ſeen in their lives, yet think they, yea they affirme the contrary, though they ſhroud unrighteous and oppreſſive courſes, under the Grace of God, they will not owne the charge, though Lord have mercy on me, and God give me his Grace, be thought dayly ſatisfaction for dayly reigning ſinnes in their account, yet this will not be be beleeved, and ſo other ſymptomes of palpable wrong to Gods grace, are rarely credited. This wickedneſſe was among the Jewes, though the manifeſt tokens of impiety and cruelty were upon them they denyed it, the Prophet was put to it to convince their injuries to Gods grace, in abuſing the Prophets their ſoule Phyſitians, by ocular demonſtrations, Si fur deprehenſus fuerit, non poterit negare neque occultare ſce. lus ſuum. Calv. Judaei resperſi ſanguine uſque ad extremas partes veſtium, crimen veſtrum plus quam notum eſt, non E. tantum rebelles fuiſtis doctrinae meae, ſed crudeliter prophetas meos occidiſtis, Calv. in loc.the Theef is aſhamed when he is found, ſo the Jewes were taken in the open acts of wickedneſſe, Alſo in thy skirts is found the blood of the ſouls of the poor Innocents, Jer. 2. 26. As innocent Blood on the out-ſide of the Murtherers garments, demonſtrates cruelty; ſo their open butchering of the Prophets, and yet thou ſayeſt, I am innocent, v. 35. Again, How canſt thou ſay, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim, Jer. 2. 23. Thus the open enemies of Gods grace, that will not be perſwaded, though they be perſwaded they are guilty, are impudent denyers of their wickedneſs, as Thieves and Murtherers deprehended in the Fact, like Frantick men in a Feavor, that talk idly, rage, have sk…lding fleſh, ſpirits inflamed, cannot ſleep, and yet ſay they are well; like men that have the Plague ſores in their faces and hands too, very viſible, yet deny the infection: Take heed of denying the palpable ſymptomes of wronging Gods grace: This miſchief comes on it. As the mortally diſeaſed, that denies his danger, will not ſeek out for, nor welcome the Phyſitian, ſo nor theſe be capable of healing grace.
SECT. 3.
3. SEe to it that you ſlight not the conviction: It is a ſmall 3. Slight not the conviction.matter to offer open injury to Gods grace? Is it a light matter to have the fearful marks of the ſpiritual & eternal death, without ſound repentance? Is it the maner of condemned perſons ſlight the convictions of death? Wantons before it, are ſerious ſpirit-ſmitten, and wounded after it. When Phyſitians tell their Patients they are dead in their diſeaſe, if ſuch and ſuch means be not uſed and bleſſed; Are not men uſually deeply affected with ſuch ſad news? O ſinner, thou haſt the groſſe Characters of abuſing grace upon thee! Thou haſt the viſible marks of death upon thee! The Lord affect thine heart with thy condition, that thou maiſt ſee it, be converted, and repent.
SECT. 4.
4. REfuſe not to put ſad and ſerious queſtions to thy ſoul, 4. Refuſe not to put ſad and ſerious Queſtions to thy ſoul.theſe eight eſpecially.
1. Queſtion. Shall I make a mock of God and Chriſt? This I doe, If I profeſſe my ſelf a friend of Grace, and kick againſt it, and ſay, Hail Maſter, to Chriſt the Author of Grace, and betray the honour and power of Grace. I am one of thoſe mockers the Apoſtle Peter and Jude propheſied of, May not God mock at my deſtruction, ſurely he ſcorns the ſcorner, Prov. 3. 24.
2. Queſtion. Shall I be the worſt of enemies? David charged his pretended friends, with higher guilt then his open enemies, Pſalm 55. 14. Chriſt will not bear it, that his name ſhould be wounded in the Houſe of his friends. The Duke of Florence ſaid, he read, He was to forgive his enemies, not his friends. Turks, Infidels, are not ſuch deeply guilty enemies againſt Jeſus Chriſt, as prophane Chriſtians, that openly abuſe his Goſpel-grace, and Baptiſmal-mercy. Such friends, without deep Humiliation and Repentance, Chriſt will not forgive. When Judas prophanely uſhered in his open Treaſon againſt his profeſſed Lord, with an Hail Maſter, and a kiſs, Matth. 26. 49. Chriſts immediate word was (Friend) And Jeſus ſaid unto him, Friend, Wherefore art thou come? v. 5 c. As if he had ſaid, I am betrayed by a profeſſed Friend; A tearm of Exprobration and juſt Condemnation. Chriſt forgave not this falſe Friend: He dyed impenitently in the abuſe of his grace, and had not Faith to believe his betrayed innocent blood ſhould heal the Traytor.
3. Queſtion. Shall I have the heavieſt wrath in Hell? Capernaum, Bethſaida's high abuſe of Grace, ſhould have more intolerable vengeance, then Sodoms wantonneſſe againſt nature, Mat. 10. 15. The leaſt of Hell will be intolerable. If I periſh under groſſe abuſe of Grace, the Oven of Eternal fiery Wrath will be heated ſeven times hotter for me, then for Heathens: Ah ſoul-hater, and ſelf-deſtroyer! Shall I caſt my ſelf into hotteſt eternal flames?
4. Queſtion. Shall my mouth be ſtopt in the accounting-day? Can theſe thoughts be born without Spirit-woundings, when inlightned conſcience ſhall ſay, I wanted not offered convincing means, of the neceſſity, beauty, advantage of Grace: I hated the life of garce, and conſumed the time of grace, in playing the wanton, not working by the light of grace: All under means of grace, are invited to the Goſpel Wedding-feaſt of the Son of God, and to come in fitting Wedding-cloaths, that the Feaſt-maker and the Feaſt be not diſparaged. Every gueſt pretends to come handſome, in ſitting Ornaments; but the abuſive gueſt that is found without his Wedding-garment, will be ſpeechleſſe, Ista veſtis nuptialis quaſi Bicolor, rubra ſanguine, Alba ſanctitate.Matth. 22. 12, 15. This Wedding-garment is party-coloured, red, and white; Red, in the Blood of the Lamb; White, in the ſanctifying grace of the Spirit.
5. Queſtion. Shall I be kicking againſt the Bowels of mercy? foreign, At ille Capiſtratus, Piſcator.It was a ſad charge, I have nouriſhed and brought up children, and they have rebelled againſt me, Iſa. 1. 2. Is there nothing for wanton feet to ſpurn at, but a Fathers Bowels? Do you ſay, Our Father which art in Heaven? and when ever you ſay ſo, profeſſe God your Father, and ſpit in his loving face, foreign. What thou my Son, Caeſars Son, ſt…b him in the Senate? Shall Gods Sons, in large profeſſion, ſtab his name, and cauſe him to be reproached in the world, by groſs abuſe of his grace?
6. Queſtion. Shall I make ſport and triumph for Devils? It was Davids grief, by Saul and Jonathans death, the uncircumciſed Philiſtines would rejoyce and triumph, 2 Sam. 1. 20. The uncircumciſed, infernal Philiſtines, rejoyce and triumph at the wrongs of grace. Davids enemies watched for, and were glad at heart, at his halting, Pſal. 38. 16, 17. His wellfare was their grief, his falls their Songs: Theſe inviſible enemies of Mankinde, triumph, when any that own the Chriſtian name, and the grace of the Goſpel, groſly prophane both.
7. Queſtion. Shall I tread under foot the Son of God? Heb. 10. 29. Strong, thriving, wanton luſts, are the impure feet, that tread under foot the Son of God, in his humbling Incarnation, who came into the world, to deſtroy the works of the Devil, in his bitter Paſſion; who died as a Ranſome, to redeem from the reign of his Sin, in his Soveraign Dominion; who is a ruling Lord over all he ſaves: The groſs abuſe of his Grace, plainly, what in it lyeth, declares that he was Man in vain, died in vain, and that he is but a Precarious titular Lord and King.
8. Queſtion. How ſhall I look the Judge in the face? The time is coming, when he ſhal appear in terrible flames of Wrath: How dreadfully will he judge, when the precious ends wherefore in his Fathers Counſel, and his own Covenant, he was judged to death, are not obtained, but abuſed? If David commenced a War againſt Hanun, the King of the Ammonites, becauſe he abuſed the Meſſage and Meſſengers of kindneſſe, ſent in Embaſſage to comfort him; who inſtead of loving entertainment, were ſhaved, had their Garments cut off in the midſt, ſhamefully and ungratefully diſmiſſed, 1 Chron. 19. 4. What a dreadful and eternal War will the Lord Jeſus commence againſt thoſe Hanunites, unworthy the name Chriſtian, who abuſe the Meſſages and Meſſengers of Goſpel-kindneſſe and grace, to open, prophane licentiouſneſſe?
Lay all theſe Queries to heart, and let them ſtick on, O groſly looſe Reader! till they have produced Fears, Aſtoniſhments, Prayers for Amendment, and Reſolutions, by the help of Gods grace, not to live a notorious Libertine for the future, againſt the call and honor of Grace.
SECT. 5.
2. Vſe of Caution, is concerning the cloſe wronging of Gods 5. Second part of the uſe againſt cloſe wronging of grace.grace.
1. Take heed of wreſting Goſpel-grace, to the allowance of the leaſt ſin: Holy Paul durſt not do it in his own perſon. The grace of God was abundant in him through Faith and Love, 1 Tim. 1. 14. and though through the power of this grace, he was no abſolute Perfectiſt, yet an univerſal Enemy of ſin, the root and branches of it, leaſt and greateſt had his diſallowance and abhorrence, Rom. 7. 15. David too, that had a large ſhare in Gods grace, his ſweet experience, Thou art my Portion, O Lord, Pſal. 119. 57. Thou haſt dealt well with thy ſervant, according to thy word, 65. was ſo devoted to the fear of God, 38. as this produced an hatred of vain thoughts, 113. and every falſe way, 128. and therefore hid Gods Word in his heart, that he might not in the leaſt willingly ſin againſt him: The choice ſubject of ſaving grace may not continue in the leaſt ſin, becauſe grace abounds: When Believers finde inward perſwaſion in their ſpirits, to adventure on little ſins, on vain thoughts, ſmall inordination in Creature-deſires and affections, yielding to dulneſs and deadneſs in Holy Duties, pride of Apparel, ſelf-lifting thoughts of ſpiritual Precedency: This perſwaſion cometh not of him that calleth them, Gal. 5. 8. The grace of God doeth neither father nor nurſe the leaſt ſin, but commands and inables to be holy in all maner of converſation.
SECT. 6.
2. BEware of judging wantonneſs againſt Grace, by a falſe 6. Beware of judging wantonneſs againſt grace, by afalſe rule.rule: The example of the beſt, Others good Opinion, The judgement of thine own heart, are not true Rules to judge abuſe of Gods grace by.
1. Not the example of the beſt: Though the Apoſtle bad the Philipians be followers of him and them that traced the Apoſtles ſteps, Phil. 3. 17. yet elſewhere he limits his counſel, Be ye followers of me, as I am of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 11. 1. They are both joyned, 1 Theſſ. 1. 6. Ye became followers of us, and of the Lord; of us, as we followed the Lord: The Lord is ſub-joyned to correct the eaſie & common error of following the beſt of men; ſometimes in Doctrinal, ſometimes in practical Error. Even Paul, the brighteſt Star in the Churches Firmament, had his Eclipſe: He is not to be followed in all things; though the warieſt goer, he ſtept awry: He that wrote in his Epiſtles againſt bitterneſs of ſpirit, yet in the difference between him and Barnabas, diſcovered therein ſome diſtemper: Barnabas would have had Mark go with Paul to viſit the Brethren in every City, where they had Preached the Word, but Paul refuſed his Company, and the contention was ſharp between them, Acts 15. 39. there was a Paroxiſm, a bitter fit between them. Theſe golden Ciſterns, Paul and Barnabas, that were wont to ſend out ſweet Waters, now ſent out bitter: Barnabas, a Son of Conſolation, was in too hot contention; Paul, a man of meekneſſe, ſweetneſſe, gentleneſſe, whoſe tongue uſually dropt as the Honey-comb, now breathed gall. Follow the eminenteſt of Saints in ſome things, you will wrong the grace of God: 'Tis one of Satans perſwaſive wiles: Do you not ſee ſuch choice ſervants of God ſpeak and do ſuch things, uſe ſuch Faſhions and worldly delights? No danger in this and that Diſh, they are your Taſters: If the Geſtures, words and actions of the beſt, be well weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary, they will ſometimes be found too light, too wanton: So the Theſſalonians were examples to all the Believers in Macedonia and Achaia, 1 Theſſ. 1. 7. not in everything, but in their ſucceſsful ſound of the Goſpel-Trumpet, ver. 8. and in their eminent reforming-faith, turning them from Idols unto God; but examine ſome of theſe Converts in other things, and they were to be declined, not followed: We hear there are ſome, that walk among you diſorderly, working not foreign. Deſid… pro ſactitate venditant. Marlo. Veriſimile eſt hoc fucorum genus quoddā fuiſſe otioſ… monachatus, ſemen, Marl. Ʋt hin c conſolemar, non ut vitiis noſtris patrocinemur.at all, but are buſie-bodies, 2 Theſſ. 3. 13. Workers round about (as the word imports) the round of whoſe life was to carry tales, diſcontented at their condition, living on others Purſes, caſting off induſtry in their particular Calling, accounting their idleneſſe holineſſe; and under pretence of the Goſpel, (like the late upſtart Sect) and obedience to the ſpirit, living lazily: Now did Satan lay the ſeed of idle Monaſteries, under colour of heavenly converſation, laying by earthly Callings and Relations: The beſt of men are no Adaequate rule of life: Their faireſt Copies have ſome blurs: Their face of converſation, like the Moons, hath ſome ſports: Their infirmities are to comfort the diſconſolate in their falls, not to Patronize the leaſt preſumption.
2. Not others good opinion: The moſt acute Chriſtian cannot look into thy heart, and ſee all the wanton pranks there, that prove hidden Libertiniſm: Thou maiſt have a ſerious, accurate out-ſide, and a looſe inſide; be like ſome Houſes, fair without, but ſluttiſh within: After they that ſee thee, judge thee exact, thou haſt no reaſon to reſt in their charity, when thy conſcience either doth, or may tell thee, thou haſt a filthy heart: Beſides, beholders of thee may be unfaithful, and to pleaſe thee, diſpleaſe God; ſee wantonneſs in thee, and either bury it in ſilence, or cover it with flattery, and bely their opinion of thee; praiſe thee ſtrict, when they know thee looſe, and be a falſe glaſs to repreſent thine outward ill behavior, either through cowardize or advantage: Others good opinion, is no true rule to judge of wantonneſs in the matters of grace.
3. Not the judgement of thine own heart: It is deceitful, and not more dangerous then fooliſh, to reſt in it: What wiſe man will truſt in a common infamous Knave? The old man, in the beſt of men, is a Wanton and Impoſtor: It will call wickedneſs, Saint-ſhip; looſneſſe, ſtrictneſſe; deformity, beauty; confuſion, order; diſtemper, health; the fleſh, the ſpirit; deluſions of Satan, the impulſes of the holy Spirit: 'Tis eaſie and frequent, to miſconſter looſe paſſion, zeal, and ſelf-glory, for Gods glory: In judging the abuſes of Gods grace, lean not to thine own underſtanding, meaſure all by the golden line of the Sanctuary.
SECT. 7.
3. AFter the ſweeteſt taſte of Gods grace, fear the danger of 7. Beware of ſecurity.wantonneſſe: Beware of ſecurity, after inward Tranquility. After Aaron and the Iſraelites had pleaſed and filled themſelves, at their Idolatrous Feaſt, they plaid the Wantons, They ſat down to eat and drink, and roſe up to play, Exod. 12. 6. It is too ſad experience, after the Iſrael of God have pleaſed and refreſhed themſelves in Goſpel-feaſts, they play the Wantons, betray their nakedneſs, intemperately frolick about the Creatures, leap over Goſpel-hedges, are irregular in lawful things, yea ſometimes adventure on unlawful, and all Cum Privilegio, under the favorable allowance of ſweet grace: Thus the Corinthians promoted in Temporals and Spirituals, rich in goods, gifts, and conceited graces; when full, and reigning as Kings, played the Wantons in haughty puffings, in vainglorious boaſtings, in crying up ſome, in decrying others, I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, Are ye not carnal? 1 Cor. 4. v. 6, 7, 18, 19. 1 Cor. 3, 3, 4. I ſhall not caſt ſuch dirt on the fair face of grace, nor ſo aſperſe the Generation of the Righteous, as to ſay, or ſtain my ſoul with ſuch a thought, that the abuſe of grace, is the leſſon Grace teacheth: 'Tis denying, not fulfilling worldly Luſts which grace teacheth: Libertiniſm is a Baſtard Iſſue, laid at the door of Grace, which it neither can, nor will father. The Generation of the righteous, as ſuch, ſhut the doors unto, but open not to wanton enticements: Looſneſſe from Goſpel-Principles, and againſt them, is the fruit of the fleſh, nor the ſpirit.
SECT. 8.
4. BE not content with a ſlight humiliation, for cloſe abuſe 8. Be not content with a ſlight humiliation for cloſe abuſe of Gods grace.When Moſes told the Iſraelites of their murmuring againſt God, deſpiſing Canaans pleaſant Land, and wanton whoredomes, Numb. 14. 27, 31, 33. They mourned greatly, 39. In the ſenſe of Gods wrath, ſo chriſtian, when thou readeſt over the forementioned ſymptomes, of leſſe diſcerned, though abominable wrongs of Gods grace, mourne greatly for them. If the Apoſtle Paul, that could not openly be charged with common abuſing grace, that felt the inward ordinary power of it in his ſoule, that found in ſweet experience the grace of God was not in vain, 1 Cor. 15. 10. that exerciſed a conſcience void of offence to God and man, yet in paſſionate exclamation, cryed out, O wretched man, for the remaines of ſin, which the glorious Non leviter & frigide fed …nagno cum ſenſu, Petergrace of God kept under, and ſtill abated, what cauſe, O beleevers, have you not in light tranſient touches of greif, but abiding ſorrowes, to bewaile the cloſe indignities you have put upon the grace of god.