Comfort and Counsel for Dejected Souls, Section 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. 4.
Satisfaction unto ſuch as fear, that all that which is in them, is rather from education, then regeneration.
THis was the fourth fear which I touched upon;Caſe. and the ſatisfaction hereof, is to be indeavoured next: now for ſuch ſouls as are dejected, and do diſcover themſelves in this fear, that which I ſhall ſpeak unto them ſhall be in three ſteps. As
1 Generally,Satisfaction. I deſire ſuch dejected ſoules as cry out, Oh all that which is in them is but civillity, and education, and the like, I ſay, I deſire ſuch to conſider three things, as,
Firſt, What it is which in truth doth act them, and carry them on in the things of Chriſt? Is it only their head, or is it not principally their heart? Education doth ſeldome ingage conſcience: It may, and doth bring into a cuſtome, and this it doth meerly upon head-principall, i.e. a knowledge that ſuch or ſuch a duty is to be done, and that Parents or Tutors have done it &c. But now to be brought into the wayes of godlineſſe upon heart principles (as I may call them) i.e. to do ſuch or ſuch a duty upon conſcience, as finding an ingagement there to them; this goes farther then education. Conſider then, doſt not thou find a heart-ingagement to the things of Chriſt: ſo that thou haſt ſome love to, and in what thou doſt, and a hatred to, and griefe in the contrary: Surely, if it be ſo, here is ſomething more, and higher then education. Then
Secondly, Conſider what if thy naturall relations were dead, or (which is worſe) oppoſite to the things of Chriſt. Suppoſe this, and ſearch, what wouldeſt thou be or doe then?2 Chro. 24. Joaſh his goodneſſe of education it dyed with his Tutour Jehoiadah: Its ſaid Joaſh did that which was right in the ſight of the Lord, all the dayes of Jehoiadah the Prieſt. But after the death of Jehoiadah, we finde that Joaſh doth not onelyonly leave off that which was right in the ſight of the Lord; but he ſerved Groves and Idolls; yea, and he ſlew Iehoiada's ſonne, for teſtifying againſt him. Now then ſuppoſe thy Parents and Tutor's dead: nay, ſuppoſe ſuch a ſad thing, that all of thy relations were enemyes to the wayes of Chriſt, and that they ſhould and did hate, at leſt ſlight, and ſcorn all that were godly. Upon this aske thy heart what it would or doth ſay to this; Is not the very ſuppoſition of this ſad to thy ſoule? And doth not thy ſoule ſay: Oh that thou couldſt weepe teares of blood over the ſoules of thy relations? Does not thy heart ſay, however they are, or doe, yet thou, and thy houſe will ſerve the Lord. Doth not the ſpirit (upon thy appeale) bear witneſſe with thy ſpirit, that let Father, Mother, Husband, Wife, Maſter, &c. do what they will, yet thou (by the helpe of Chriſt) will pray for them, and with full purpoſe of heart will cleave to him. Now if it be ſo, why art thou caſt down? why art thou affraid, that thou haſt no more then education.
Surely a ſoul thus quallified (as I have hinted) goes far beyond education. If thou hadſt nothing but what thou hadſt from thy relations in education, thou couldeſt not act further or againſt them (as is ſuppoſed) in Religion. Therefore
Thirdly, Conſider O ſoule (that ſayſt thou feareſt thou haſt no more then education,) I ſay conſider, canſt not thou ſay, that albeit education did firſt ſet thee in the way of godlineſſe: yet ſince that time, thy ſoule hath met with that which would have done it (if that had not?) and doth exceedingly confirme thee in it. Education is (or may bee) likened to that report which the Samaritan woman made to her neighbours of Chriſt.Joh. 4. Tis true, her report brings them to Chriſt, but Chriſts words confirmed them, inſomuch as that they told her, now we beleeve, not becauſe of thy ſaying, for we have heard him our ſelves; ſo canſt not thou ſay: Tis true, all that at firſt thou hadſt was but Education; that is, that which thou hadſt from Parents, Friends, &c. But now thou haſt ſomething more; now thou canſt ſay thou loveſt Chriſt and his wayes; not becauſe thou wert brought up in the knowledge of him and his wayes; but becauſe thou haſt ſince taſted him to be ſweet, and found his ways pleaſant. I doubt not but that many ſoules can ſay this, and why then are they diſquieted for feare they have no more then education?
To come up therefore one ſtep further in order to the quieting of ſouls caſt down; and diſquieted with this fear, I ſhall offer ſome three Inquiries unto them. As now
Firſt, In caſe you ſhould deſiſt, and leave off from the wayes of Chriſt in which you have been educated: Inquire, what would your condition be, and how your heart would take it▪ See, would, or could your heart be quiet: Should you (thinke ye) be in a comfortable condition. Nay, doth not the feare of apoſtacy trouble you? Doe not you tremble to thinke leſt you ſhould fall? Surely, had you no more then education, you would not bee perplexed with theſe thoughts. Its all one to a Jacke wound up by a mans hand, whether it move, or ſtand ſtill; and its all one to one principled no higher then education, whether he prayes or no, heares or no &c. if the hand of educatiours wind him not up, he can bee quiet and ſtill; But where life is, there motion muſt bee, otherwiſe the creature groanes: And ſurely, if upon an inquiry this way, thou find ceſſation, or apoſtacy would be as death to thee, thou needſt not much feare, but there is a life of regeneration, and ſomething higher then education in thee.
Secondly, Inquire what thy thoughts are upon doing of holy duties: are thy thoughts then ſelfeſwolne, i.e. art conceited of ſelfe,Tis foreign. as ſome great one: or rather doſt not ſee, thou art an unprofitable ſervant? and haſt done but what (nay, not ſo much as) thou oughteſt? Surely, though education may, and do puffe up, yet its regeneration that humbles and pulls down. Adde hereunto
Thirdly, Make inquiry after thy aime in holy actings. Is it to be, and do as others? is it to comply with friends, relations, &c. or is it to have communion with Chriſt? Is it to hold forth the praiſes of him who hath called you out of darkneſſe to light? Is not this thy aime to approve thy ſelfe to God? Its true, education may, and doth make many do duties, to approve themſelves to Parents, Tutors, &c. But its regeneration, which makes this the end of holy actings, to approve on's ſoule to God. Education, may cauſe a miniſter to preach, and a Chriſtian to practiſe, to be approved of by men: But its regeneration which puts on Timothy to ſtudy to ſhew himſelfe approved unto God. as tis 1 Tim 3.15.
Wherefore O ſoule why art thou caſt down? why ſayeſt or feareſt thou, that all which thou haſt is onelyonly education? Sith if thou ſhouldeſt leave off, thou couldſt not be quiet: And yet while thou acteſt, thou dareſt not boaſt… and all that thou aimeſt at, is above men: Surely, theſe things, are more then education, But
To adde one thing more: Suppoſe it be as thou feareſt: Suppoſe as yet education is thy all, and that all thy principles are parentine: I ſay ſuppoſe this,
Queſt. What then, what if thy feare bee more then a feare, a reallity, what then Oh ſoule?
Anſw. What then? why then I may well ſit ſadly, as I do, and be diſquieted more then I am, I may not onelyonly be caſt down, but reſolve never to riſe; why, if I have no more then education wo is me! for I am undone, &c.
Reply. Stay ſoul! not ſo ſad! If it ſhould be that as yet you have no more then education, yet remember,
Firſt, Good actings are laudable in themſelves. Holy practiſes are commendable from any principles: The young man that told Chriſt he had kept all the commandements from his childhood; had no more then education: and yet tis ſaid, Chriſt looked upon him, and loved him, Mark. 10.21. I thinke it was but a conceit of Origen, that ſaid Chriſt kiſſed him: yet I thinke it may be truly collected, Chriſt was pleaſed with his practiſe, though he pittied his principles: your actings are laudable and lovely, though your principles be as yet but very low: And beſides this, remember.
Secondly, Chriſt can raiſe your principles up to your actings when he pleaſeth. Do you continue with open ſayles, though rowing and lugging with the Oares of education: The ſpirit blowes where, and when he liſteth. He may principle thy actions, and fill thy ſailes (ere thou art aware) you know who ſaid, ere ever I was aware, my ſoul made me like the chariots of my willing people, Cant. 6.12. I will not ſay Timothy had grace, and was ſanctified from the womb, yet I know he was well educated, his unfained faith firſt dwelt in his Grandmother Lois, and in his mother Eunice (as tis 2 Tim. 1.5.) Chriſt ſanctified his education, and why may be not ſanctifie thine.
Why then art thou diſquieted (O ſoule) as fearing thou haſt no more then education? It may be but a feare: or if it ſhould be reall, yet there is you ſee, hope and comfort for this thing.