The Abuse of Gods Grace, Chapter 3 · Section 6
SECT. 6.
6. THe means of Grace is turned into Wantonneſſe. This ſad 6. The means of Grace is turned into wantonneſſe.experience I ſhall give out in three things; ſhewing When the means of grace are abuſed; The evil of that abuſe; and What means of grace are abuſed.
1. When are the means of grace abuſed? They are ſo, 1. when they are ſet higher than they are. Means are made Mediators, ſet in the room of Chriſt, when an equall, yea a ſuperiour confidence is put in Inſtrumental inſtitutions. The hand and the courage of the Warriour is diſparaged, when the Sword is ſet up above him, and there be more confidence in a dead inſtrument than in a living agent. The Word, the Sword of the Spirit, is dead and ſucceſſeleſſe out of the ſtrong and living hand of the Spirit. It is a double and common wrong, both to the means of grace, and to Chriſt, when Chriſt is not eyed, ſought to, admired, truſted in by the means: The error not onelyonly of ignorant, prophane Chriſtians, that truſt in a bare Baptiſm, and a following of their Church to ſave them; but moſt real Chriſtians, ſome whereof more admire their Preachers than Jeſus Chriſt; more look after an impotent man with all the glory of his gifts, than the power, and the tranſcendently eminent endowments of the Lord Jeſus. The Apoſtle Paul taught a better leſſon, who although he planted and watered Churches, with miraculous ſucceſſe, owned his own nothingneſs, 2 Cor. 12. 11. abhorred the thoughts of ſelf-ſufficiency, 2 Cor. 3. 5. was jealous of robbing Chriſt of his glory, gave him the honour of his grace and power, that he was uſed as the exalted and bleſſed inſtrument to convert multitudes of ſinners, and ſave their ſoules. Rom. 15. 18, 19.2 When meās of grace are ſet lower then they are
2. When they are ſet lower than they are. Then they are ſo when they are accounted as uſeleſſe needleſſe things, as if heaven could be got without them, grace might be had and kept, though the means diſuſed. Nothing is more clear than that in ordinary diſpenſation (extraordinaries not being our rule) God hath confined grace and ſalvation to the uſe of means. Knowledge, Joh. 17. 3. The Goſpel preached, Rom. 1. 13. Baptiſm, 1 Pet. 3. 21. Prayer, Ro. 10. 13. The education of godly family guides, Gen. 18. 19. Excommunications, 1 Cor. 5. 5. The holy counſels and examples of Husbands and Wives one to another, 1 Cor. 7. 16. The means of grace to the reproach of the God of grace, are exceedingly undervalued, when the ſottiſh and conceited generation, that live without Ordinances, hold there is no dependance at all on holyneſſe and eternal happineſſe upon Gods inſtituted means. They are alſo ſet lower than they are, when encumbred, with Martha, about needleſſe things, in the brood of earthly cares and employments, neglect their attendances on heavenly means, and make their affaires below excuſes (as too many doe, to the diſhonour of their regenerate part, juſt as ſtudious worldlings) to put by heavenly exerciſes in the Worſhip of God.
3. When they are contradicted, and blaſphemed, as Paul's 3 Whē means of Grace are contradicted and blaſphemed.preaching was by the Jews, true Prayer by the Spirit, by unſpiritual, graceleſſe Atheiſts, that revile godly care of holy houſhold guides, to keep their children and ſervants in the knowledge, fear, and love of God, whoſe pious endeavours to ſave the ſoules of their families, condemning their wicked neighbours irreligion, is the occaſion, but not the cauſe, of their blaſpheming their Prayers, ſinging of Pſalmes, ſtrict keeping of the Sabboth, and week dayes, holy and righteous converſation; when the holy and heavenly inſtitutions of the Lord Jeſus are the markes at which ſonnes and daughters of Belial ſhoot the arrows of their bitter words, the meanes of grace are eminently abuſed.
4. When they are judged, and reſted in as the onelyonly evidences of grace. The more ignorant, carnall, morall, hypocriticall 4 Whē means are judged & reſted in as the only evidences of Grace.ſort of Chriſtians have no better arguments that they are in the ſtate of grace than this, they have the means of grace. It is an irrational concluſion, A patient hath good phyſick, therefore he ſhall recover; a dunce hath good books, and a good tutor, therefore he will be a ſcholar; a great Army is well furniſhed for war, therefore it ſhall overcome: The battel is not to the ſtrong, Eccleſ. 9. 11. As unſcripturall an inference it is, The means of grace are enjoyed, therefore the grace of the means is obtained. Capernaum was lifted up to heaven in means, and yet caſt to hell. Mat. 11. 23. Ordinances doe not confer grace, as fire doth heat, by their natural vertue; but as the Lord Chriſt healed the ſick by ſupernaturall. Grace is not in the means as cauſes, but by them as inſtruments. Should many men have no uſe of the means to plead for their ſpirituall eſtate, there would be nothing to ſpeak them really Chriſtian, but they would be left as naked heathens. It is not the having, but the ſaving uſing of means that will ſtand by us.
5. When they are made ſhelters of ſin, as dens are for Lyons, 5 Whē means are made a ſhelter of ſin.cloaths are for bodies. The Sacrifices and Temple were not to be a Sanctuary of Murder, Adultery, Falſe ſwearing, Idolatry. Jer. 7. 9, 10. Nor were the Phariſees to make long prayers, to cloak the devouring of widdows houſes, Luk. 20. 47. The Harlots beginning with Gods ſervices were poor fig leaves to cover her uncleanneſſe. Prov. 7. 14. Prayers in the morning, and evening, cold and barren, cannot palliate the licentious wickedneſſe that is between them. They may now quiet and ſtop the mouth of Conſcience, they cannot in the other world. It is the high diſhonour of the meanes of grace, when they are but names, not powers; when in attendances on them, there is but the colour, not the heat of Chriſtianity. A painted, gilded Chriſtian abuſeth the Ordinances, when he is dead under them hath no life, nor heat by them; he borrows from them a Sheeps-skin, when he is but a goat; when it is ſeen that heavenly meanes mend not helliſh hearts and lives, the ſeeming is Saint-like, but the converſation Devilliſh. This undoes two ſoules at once; The ſin ſhrowding pretender to Religion, and the prophane blaſphemer of the means of Grace. Both of them periſh as mock-gods; the one becauſe hee hath hypocritically uſed the meanes; the other, becauſe he hath blaſphemouſly railed at the means.
6. When they are uſed in vain; when there is no health by 6 When the meanes are uſed in vain.Gods phyſick, no converſion and reformation by Gods Word. In the courſe of the Miniſtry there is cunning and labouring in vain. The heavenly frequent fiegers of the Ordinances are raiſed from the Devils garriſons re infecta, Sathans ſtrong holds are kept undemoliſhed. 2 Cor. The reall kingdome of Sathan is in the appearing kingdom of Chriſt. Under Goſpel-ordinances men are worſe and worſe; this is a prophane diſparagement to the Ordinances of Chriſt; an unpleaſing ſpectacle to the holy God and his Angels, the Spirits grief, aggravation of ſin, and treaſuring up of wrath.
7. When they are totally neglected. Not onelyonly one, but all 7 When the meanes are totally neglected.the means of life and ſalvation are careleſly ſlighted, unworthily vilified, as if God, Chriſt, the Spirit, Grace, Heaven, Hell, were not worth the thinking of, ſuch contempt is caſt on the golden ciſterns of Grace. There are too many who proclaime their oppoſition to the God of Heaven, and the method of ſalvation, who are ſo far from the power, that they abhorre the very form of godlyneſſe, ſo little care for ſervice to Chriſt, that they deteſt the badges of his government. Theſe conſtantly prophane the Sabboth, are never found on their knees ſeeking God; hear no Sermons from year to year; care not for Sacraments; have no good family education; are hardened by their afflictions; deride holy examples; theſe are in Sathans full poſſeſſion, take the liberty of the times to be ignorant, and as to the Ordinances of Chriſt, quiet and reſolved Libertines. Be you intreated, that have ſeen the power, and beauty, and glory of God in his Sanctuary, and that have had the waters of life running into your thirſty ſoules through the precious pipes of divine Ordinances, that really value them above the world, ſtir up thoſe compaſſionate bowels, that the divine nature hath begotten in you, and if your counſels to Chriſtianize theſe Heathens will not prevaile, pray and weep them into poſſibilities of ſalvation, by attendance on the means of grace.
Secondly: The Evil of abuſing the means of Grace, laid to heart, might be ſome remedy to ſin.
1. This is a wrong to God that appointed them. Man cannot bear the violation of his houſhold orders, and will God bear it? if ſo the Laws of his family ſhould be contemned.
2. They wrong the Spirit that acts in them, either by turning their backs upon him, when he uſually affords his preſence in Gods wayes, or by reſiſting his gracious impulſes, his ſweet whiſpers, his terrible repreſentations of an accurſed loſt ſinner out of Chriſt, Acts 7. 51. Either they will not hear his inſpeakings, or diſregard them, both deſpiſe the Spirit of Grace.
3. They pleaſe the Devil, who hath either way graceleſſe ſoules in his poſſeſſion, either by not uſing the means at all, or in vain. Such abuſers of ſaving means, are an unpleaſing ſpectacle to the holy Angels, enemies to God, grieve the Spirit, and are the Devils triumph. Conſider,
Thirdly: What are thoſe means of grace that are turned into wantonneſſe? They are,
1. The holy Scriptures. In them alone eternal life is to be 1 The holy Scriptures are turned into Wantonneſs.found, Joh. 5. 39. They are ſtiled, the word of Grace. Act. 20. 32. Their abuſe is in their diſuſe, when either they that may have Bibles, have none, or if they have them, they ſuffer them to contract duſt on their ſhelves, laying them by as uſeleſs, are ſeldome, or never read; or in their ill uſe when they are read, without reverence, diligence, obſervance, or any reſolves, or good deſires and affections to follow the teachings of the Spirit without underſtanding, eſteem, remembrance, laying up, and laying out theſe heavenly treaſures in righteouſneſſe and holyneſſe. Again, in their ill uſe, when they are wreſted to errours, hereſies, looſeneſs, covetouſneſs, unrighteouſneſs. When Scripture is urged againſt Scripture, and the inſpirations of the Holy Ghoſt are urged againſt themſelves. Such ſcripture deprayers are their own deſtroyers. 2 Pet. 3. 16.2 The Miniſtry of the Goſpel is, when the Call, Perſon, and Meſſages of Miniſters are abuſed.
2. The Miniſtry of the Goſpel is an abuſed means, when both their perſon, calls and meſſages are uniuſtly deſpiſed, are accounted as offſcouring, are diſenabled from doing good to ſcoffing and malicious perſons, who either will not hear them, or with ſcornfull prejudices, amounting to no leſſe wickedneſs, in interpretation, than deſpiſing the Lord Jeſus, and calling upon inſolent contemners irremedileſs wrath.3 Sermons are means abuſed Vacuitatem timoris Dei & foreign ſequitur nauſea verbi divini, contemptus lacrarum concionum. Qurt ſunt qui ſacras conciones abſque ſecaritatis ſoporc attente, intelligenter & fructuoſe audjunt? Ah quam faſtidioſe etiam optimae conciones capiuntur?
3. Sermons are abuſed means; and they never are ſo, but when they are the ſad fruits and products of hearts void of Gods fear, and without repentance. No wonder if the divine word be loathed, and holy Sermons be contemned, when fearleſs, ſhameleſs, and faithleſs hearts have ſlight thoughts of them, and care little for them, as if they were but ſcare-crows for children, very fables, when ſound, heavenly meſſages are either not heard at all, or not attentively, not reverently, not underſtandingly, not wiſely, not fervently, not frequently, not perſeveringly, not fruitfully, not reſigningly, giving up the judgement to be captivated to the obedience of faith, the heart and life to the power of godlyneſs, but are heard with a contrary corrupt frame of heart, then is a means of grace abuſed.
4. Sacraments are abuſed means, when the ſupernatural grace 4 Sacraments are meanes abuſed.they ſignifie is not ſought for, regarded, nor obtained. Their holy, eternall obligations to ſound faith and heavenly converſation, who conſiders? As the Jews prophaned their Sacraments, looſe Chriſtians doe theirs. Thoſe reſted on the Circumciſion of the fleſh, and the outward Paſſeover; Jews without, and not within, wicked in hearts and lives. Theſe reſt on Baptiſmal Water, Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper, Christians without, and not within, unconverted, unſanctified in hearts and lives. Theſe doe prophane offered Sacramental grace, utterly voyd of Sacramental graces and lives. Theſe by their own confeſſions, are dedicated and devoted to Jeſus Chriſt, to forſake the fleſh, the devill, the pomp and vanities of this wicked world, and they doe nothing leſs. Theſe by taking the Bread and Wine, the lively repreſentations of the ſhed blood, and broken body of Jeſus Chriſt, are ſuppoſed, and obliged to have grace, and grow in it; but they neither have the beeing, nor growth of grace; prophanely take the bread of the Lord, with unbeleeving, impenitent hearts, but not the bread the Lord, with faith, repentance, Panem Domini, non panem Dominum. Auguſt.and other graces. It will not be the leaſt aggravation of Chriſtians wantonnizing with the grace of God. The wicked abuſe of the Sacraments, will prove them undeniable Libertines. What affinity is there between the cleanſing water of Baptiſme, and Baptized perſons, wallowing in the filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit, lying and delighting, like ſwine, in the mire, in the pollutions of the world? What agreement is there between a pretended feeding on the pure immortal food, Jeſus Chriſt, and feeding on Satans proviſions, the delicious luſts, and ſweet pleaſures of ſin? Is not this to turn the Table of the Lord into the Table of Devils, an holy into a prophane feaſt; as if the holy Supper were inſtituted to pamper and quicken, not ſtarve and mortifie corruption? How epidemicall and ſpreading is this abuſe? They are the words of an holy, affectionate Writer: Introſpicite in omnes Chriſtini orbis partes, & non negabitis paſſim apud mulios ſolutarem uſum Sacramentorum frigore. Otho Caſmannus.Look into all the parts of the Chriſtian world, and you will not deny many Chriſtians are remiſs and cold concerning the ſaving uſe of the Sacraments: Be they uſed or abuſed, there is rarely enquiring after their efficacy, or contempt; what good is got by them, or what defaming contradictions and wrongs there are againſt them?
5. Good Books are abuſed means: By them their holy Authors, 5. Good Books are means abuſed.though dead, ſpeak to the living: We have in them the laſting Monuments of pious Labors, the breathings of the Spirits, the experiences of Satans Wiles and Methods, the goings of God in his Sanctuary, the ſhewing forth of his Power and Glory in his living Temples, well-digeſted, and heavenly directions, to walk holily, ſafely, joyfully in the way to Heaven, frequent and paſſionate woings to receive the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſpiritual Eſpouſals; The neceſſity and excellency of Regeneration, and the iſſue of it, the new Creature; The unbottoming and diſcovery of the hearts deceits; kinde and affectionate warnings, in time, to get out of the ſtate of ſin and damnation, and be delivered from the wrath to come; yea further, ſerious heart-aking and wounding diſcourſes of the woful Eternity of Hells Torments, for the looſe and ungodly World; and raviſhing Diſcoveries of the bleſſed Eternity of Heavens Joys, for exact and Religious perſons, with much more that may be ſaid of the drawing excellencies of holy Writings of old and the preſent age: Now what is the uſe, indeed abuſe of theſe glorious gifts of the Spirits; the Births not onelyonly of underſtanding Brains, but holy Hearts; the waſters of Blood and Spirits precious time and labor in the Lords Workmen? Are not theſe things the ſad teſtimonies of their diſhonor? ſome never read Ʋtiles pii libri quam raro pervoluuntur.them, others very rarely; ſome rather judge and condemn ſtrict truths, too unpleaſing Priſons and Chains for their looſe hearts, then fall down before the power of their truth and holineſs; they rather come with Satans Index Expurgatorius, and by the ſpirit of error boldly blot out Heavenly Truths, and neither ſuffer them to come into their Creed nor Practice, then rejoyce at their Imprimatur, that the helps and methods of godly lives, printed in Paper, might be printed in their hearts: Others do, with the Books they read, as with the Sermons they hear, lend them an eye, an ear, a few ſlighty careleſs thoughts, but do never with Mary, ponder ſaving Counſels in their hearts: Some when they read Divine Treatiſes, labor to pick what errors they can, and like Spiders, ſuck poyſon out of the ſweeteſt hearbs, wherefore they intermix worldly Luſts, the ſaving of their Diana and Palladium, the corrupt Idols of their hearts; Their darling Peccata in delici is.Benjamins, their ſweet feaſting and feaſted ſins; and theſe muſt comment on the Text they read: If precious heart-purifying, life-reforming, ſin-reproving, and conſcience-ſmiting diſcourſes, croſs error and looſneſs, then away with the Book, it is ſtark naught: Others would read Books, but valued onelyonly by the ſtandard of a fooliſh Wit, accounting of Books by lofty Strains, fine gaudy Phraſes, not the golden maſſy worth of the matter, the Heavenly Treaſures ſet forth in a grave and ſober ſignificant Language, plain, yet eloquent expreſſion. I ſhall enlarge this point, with an hearty advice, to them that have a minde and time to read Books, let them take heed what they read; Satan (I fear) hath the liberty of the Preſs, as well as Jeſus Chriſt: There are Books of Libertiniſm abroad: It had been well for ſome, had they never been publiſhed in the world, whoſe mindes are dangerouſly infected, without infinite mercy, to their deſtruction: In the other World, what if undone ſouls, by wicked Books, ſhould wiſh the eyes of their fleſh had been blinde, and ears deaf, that they could have neither read nor heard of Printed Error and Looſneſs, to their deſtruction: The Devil hath his market and merchants, fooliſh Chapmen are deceived, and take the bad ware of darkneſs for light, fleſh for ſpirit: O ye ſimple gulled People of this Nation, cheated almoſt of your Chriſtianity and Civility, unleſs ye will be fooliſh and proud, take the advice of your learned godly Miniſters, of ſettled, ſollid, experienced Chriſtians, and ask them what Books you ſhould read. A few words of counſel I have to you that are jocund, merry ones, boon Companions, if you read this Section, I beſeech you, in the bowels of Jeſus Chriſt, as you tender your Salvation, and the glory of God, ſpend your time better; It will never repent you, when you die, you have left your covetous paſſionate Gaming, the too frequent delights of the fleſh, you drench, almoſt drown your ſouls in, for the chooſing, reading, meditating on Books of Mortification, Heavenly-mindedneſs, and preparation for Death and Eternity: I am ſure you cannot deny it now, rationally; I am moſt ſure your awakened mindes cannot deny it on your death-beds, that your diligent reading of Dike, of the deceitfulneſs of the heart; Baxters everlaſting reſt; Greenham, Bolton, Preſton, Perkins, &c. and ſuch Books as thoſe were incomparably better to be read, then wanton Play-Books, Romances, debauching Amorous Writings: If you will not believe me now, whether you will or no you ſhall in the other World: Read, O read what will fit you for Heaven; for your ſouls ſake, do not by reading vain, frothy, written delight, and read your ſelves into Hell.
6. Prayer is an abuſed means, when this holy piece of Divine 6. Prayer is a means abuſed.Worſhip, the moſt ſweet and frequent way of converſe with God about Heavenly affairs, is totally neglected: When men come unto God without any ſerious thoughts of his Reverend Majeſty, ruſhing to the Throne of Grace, as to a Theater, a Market, a merry Meeting: When there are attempts of drawing nigh before infinite Purity, with impure hearts and unclean hands, after hot purſuit of the World, and fervency in the ſervice of carnal Luſts, there is bold approach unto Gods preſence, as if God would regard their Prayers, who regard iniquity in their hearts: When Supplicants do not ſo much pray, as complement; in good earneſt, not Petition God, but mock him, declaiming againſt the ſins they love, unwilling to part with the Luſts they chide, that God ſhould take them at their words: One would think that hears zealous arraignment, and ſevere condemnings of ſome ſins in Prayer, would think the hatred of them were implacable, and the forſaking of them would be everlaſting, when at the ſame time there is a ſtrong habitual league with them; yea after many hard words, a ſecuring of them, living and delighting in them: Theſe, and many more affronts, are put upon this Heavenly means of Grace, Prayer.
7. Education is an abuſed means: When lewd children and 7. Education is an abuſed means.ſervants are not taken with the holy Counſels, and exemplary Piety of their godly Guides; Some either expreſly hate inſtruction and correction, or do but diſſemble holineſs, who while they are in ſtrict Families, eternally conform to Holy Orders, like the Fiſh Polipus, that can turn it ſelf into the colour of the Rock; but when out of the Parents Wing, and the Maſters Government, are no more the children and ſervants they were, than a Player is a King when he is off the Stage, or an Ape in mans apparrel, is a man when undreſſed: How will houſhold Governors, warnings and chaſtizings, prayers and tears, ſweeteſt wooings, and drawing promiſes to rebellious children, and graceleſs ſervants, that they may minde the marchleſs intereſt of Gods glory, and their own ſalvation, riſe up in judgement againſt them in the accounting Day, when it will appear, exacteſt educations have been abuſed.
8. Scriptural convictions are an abuſed means: There are 8. Scriptural convictions are abuſed means.not a few that know their duties and their ſins: It is as clear as noon-light, that their intemperancies, incontinences, unrighteous dealings, oathes, lies, neglect of Prayer, are ſins: From a rouzing Sermon they can go home with ſmitten hearts, grant that Sermon-Truths have been arrows directed to the breaſt of their dead corruption, and in vaniſhing fits, and moods of appearing goods, promiſe to leave their drunken company, oathes, lies, and worldlineſs, yea, weep over their confeſſed wickedneſs; but after theſe ſuddain moods and pangs of piety are vaniſhed, the convinced ſinner is as jovial, drunken, falſe in his dealing, mad on his reprieved, not mortified Luſts, his ſleeping, not dead corruptions, as if his ſins had never ſtared him in the conſcience, and been repreſented to him, as that which unforſaken would ruine him: Theſe do the works of darkneſs by Goſpel-light, go without miraculous converſion, and exact repentance, with open eyes to Hell: and knowing their Maſters will, but doing it not, ſhall be beaten with ſharper Eternal ſtripes, then ignorant Heathens, and blinde vulgar Papiſts. O inlightned Chriſtians, bleſs God for your light, but fear and tremble, leſt the wickedneſs of looſe hearts and ungodly converſation, be greatned by your clear informations: They who by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jeſus Chriſt, have eſcaped the pollutions of the world, and are (out of choice and delight) again intangled in them: It had been better they had never known the way of righteouſneſs, then after they have known it, to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them, 2 Pet. 2. 20, 21.
9. Afflictions are an abuſed means: They ought to be the diſcipline 9. Afflictions are abuſed meanes.of vertue, the purgatory of corruption, Iſa. 27. 9. the teachers of neglected holy duties, Pſal. 94. 12. The reducers of fooliſh wandring ſinners into their wits and way, Luke 15. 17. Wearers from the worlds ſweet dugs, 2 Cor. 4. 16, 17. Strikers of holy awe of the Divine preſence, in daring ſpirits, 1 Sam. 6. 20. Snuffers of the candle of well inſtructed reaſon, that it may give a clearer light to the inferior faculties, Job 33. 16, 19. Monitors, not to commit Vexatio dat intellectum, Mercerus.over again the old ſins, John 5. 15. Abaſers of proud ſpirits, Job 33. 17, 19. Converters of departed ſouls, Pſalm 119. 67. Inſtrumental Saviours of loſt ſinners, 2 Chron. 33. 12, 13. When the Lords rods are ſpent in vain: Theſe Heavenly ends of afflictions are not attained, but hearts as hard as an anvile, take no gracious impreſſions of Gods blows: In Gods afflicting Furnace, there is no golden refinings of Grace, no purging the droſs of corruption: The ill humors of camal luſts and affections, and looſe manners under his Phyſick are more incurable; unbettered afflicted ones will not be purged, but revolt more and more: Then afflictions, the means of Grace, are abuſed.