Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Impiety of three ſorts opened. 1. Non-regarders of welfare of Goſpell.IN this as in a glaſſe we may with open face behold the great impiety and ſhamefull prophaneneſſe of three ſorts of men. 1. Such as have no regard, nor deſire unto, no pleaſure nor delight in the proſperity and welfare of Christs Kingdome and Gospell: Like Gallio, they care for none of theſe things, it is a matter indifferent unto them, whether the Goſpell ſinke or ſwim, whither Chriſts Kingdome ſtand or fall, flouriſh or wither; the Lord ſaith of the wilde Aſſe. wIob 39.6, 7, 8.I have made the wilderneſſe his houſe, and the barren land his dwelling: He… ſcorneth the multitude of the City, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver, the range of the mountaines is his paſture, and he ſeareheth after every greene thing: Such wilde Aſſes are theſe men, the wilderneſſe of the world is their habitation, they regard not, they deſire nor with David to xPſal. 24.4.dwell in the houſe of the Lord; they delight in a barren land, where are no waters, and wels of ſalvation; they regard not the yPſal. 23.2.greene paſtures of holy and heavenly doctrine, in which the Lord feeds the ſoules of his people: They thirſt not after the ſtill waters of the Goſpell, and ſweet conſolations of the Spirit, with which God refreſheth the ſoules of his children, they ſcorne the multitude of the citizens of the new Jeruſalem, the holy aſſemblies of Gods people; They zPſal. 41.4.goe not to the houſe of God with the voice of joy and praiſe, with the multitude that keeps it holy day, neither regard they the voice of the ſpirituall driver, they eſteeme not the voice of Gods Miniſter endeavouring to drive them from the world unto Gods Church, from ſinne to holineſſe, and from Satan unto Chriſt, the range of the mountaines is their paſture, they ſeeke no food for their ſoules but worldly vanities, they looke after no treaſure but earthly ſubſtance; they care not what become of Chriſt and his Goſpell, if it goe well with them according to the world. The Harp and the Ʋioll, aIſa. 5.12.the Tabret and pipe (ſaith the Lord by the Prophet) and the wine are in their feaſts, but they regard not the works of the Lord, neither conſider they the operation of his hands. Such men are blind, Grounds of this evill.and ſee not the beauties of Chriſt and his Goſpell, and therefore as it is a thing indifferent to the blind, whether the Sun riſe or ſet, ſhine or be eclipſed: ſo it is all one to theſe men, whether the Sunne of Righteouſneſſe in the Goſpell, riſe or ſet, ſhine or ſhine not, they neither rejoyce at Chriſts comming, or grieve at Chriſts departing. Such men are unſenſible of the want of Chriſt, and therefore doe no more regard Chriſts preſence in the Goſpell, then a diſeaſed man that feeles not his ſickneſſe, regards the preſence of a Phyſitian. Such men are earthly minded, altogether taken up with the world, and therefore are uncapable of Chriſt, unable to relliſh any ſweetneſſe in Chriſt, or to give him any audience in his Goſpell. Eliah ſpake mockingly of Baal, to his worſhippers, b1 Kin. 18.27.Cry aloud, for he is a God, neither he is a talking, or he is a purſuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he ſleepeth and muſt be awaked; and they cryed aloud from the morning to the evening, but there was neither voice nor any to anſwer, nor any that regarded. We may truly ſay of theſe, they are men, but they are either a talking of the world, or purſuing of the world, with ſuch earneſtneſſe, or fallen into ſuch a ſinfull ſleep and ſlumber, that they cannot heare; and though the Miniſter lift up his voice like a trumpet, and cry aloud, yet there is no voice, nor anſwer of faith and obedience, nor any regard ſhewed by them to Chriſt and his Goſpell: Such men are halting Iſraelites, and lukewarme Laodiceans, void of all true love to Chriſt, and far from all Chriſtian zeale for Chriſt. Solon reputed him no good citizen, who in a civill diſſenſion riſen in the City did adhere to neither party: Such as cleave not to Chriſt and the Goſpell in the diſſention and oppoſition of the world are no true citizens of the new Jeruſalem. He that is not with me is againſt me (ſaith Chriſt) he that ſtands not on Chriſts ſide ſtands on Satans ſide,cMat. 12.30. he that ſerves not God ſerves Mammon, he that hath not communion with Chriſt, hath communion with the world. Chriſt lookes upon all ſuch as are not zealous for him, as on enemies againſt him,dRev. ….16. and he will ſpew them out of his mouth at laſt as foule abomination.
2. Oppoſers of Goſpell 2 Sam. 3.1.2. A ſecond ſort, are ſuch as oppoſe Chriſts Gospell and Kingdome. The houſe of Saul made long war againſt the houſe of David. There is a family of prophane Saulites, that make dLuk. 19.14.continuall oppoſition againſt the Goſpell and Kingdome of Chriſt, they will not have Chriſt rule over them, they take ePſal. 2.2.counſell againſt the Lord and his Christ, and ſay, come let us breake their bonds aſunder, and caſt away their cords from us.Grounds of oppoſing the Goſpell. Some are ſuperſtitious, and as the Philiſtines would not ſuffer the Arke to ſtand upon the right hand of their Dagon, no more will they ſuffer Chriſt and the Goſpell to have preheminence above their traditions and deviſes; ſome are covetous, and as Jeſſe ſet David behind the ewes, ſo doe theſe men ſet Chriſt and his word behind the world, below their earthly imployments, and undertakings; ſome are ambitious, and as Joſephs brethren conſpired againſt him, becauſe they were loth to vaile and bow to him. Thus proud men conſpire and combine againſt Chriſt and the Goſpell, being loth to deny, and humble themſelves, and put their necks under Chriſts yoke; ſome are under the power of prophaneneſſe; with Ahab they ſell themſelves to commit wickedneſſe, they are impatient of reproofe, and therefore impriſon the Prophet of the Lord; Chriſt comming in the power of his Goſpell is very uncomfortable, and terrible to ſuch as are under the power of their corruption; ſome are prophanely iealous, leaſt the ſetting up of Chriſt and his Kingdome will croſſe their profit, and eclipſe their honour and credit amongſt men; and therefore they ſeeke to ſuppreſſe the Goſpell, as f1 Sam. 18.29. & 19.1.Saul ſought to ſuppreſſe David: This moved gAct. 19 24.Demetrius to accuſe Paul, and this cauſed hMat. 2.Herod ſecretly to plot the death of Chriſt. Chriſt and his Goſpell have ever met with many oppoſitions from the world.
3. A third ſort,3 Grievers at proſperity of the Goſpell. are ſuch as grieve at the proſperity and welfare of the Gospell and Kingdome of Chriſt. When Nehemiah came to repaire the wals of Jeruſalem, Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite grieved iNeh. 2.10.exceedingly that there was a man come to ſeeke the welfare of the children of Iſrael. It is a great griefe to many ill affected men, that beare evill will to Sion, to heare that God raiſeth up any to repaire and build up Chriſts Church and Kingdome, to ſeeke the ſpirituall welfare of his children. The Pſalmiſt having mentioned and ſet forth the felicity and proſperity of the faithfull ſervants of God: In the multiplication of their ſeed, in the increaſe of their wealth, in the Lords diſpenſation of joy in heavineſſe, of ſafety in dangers, of deliverance in diſtreſſes, of exaltation after all oppoſitions to Gods Church and children; concludes thus, The kPſal. 112.10.wicked ſhall ſee it and be grieved, he ſhall gnaſh with his teeth, and melt away, the deſire of the wicked ſhall periſh. Wicked men are more grieved at good mens proſperity, then at their owne miſery. It is a ſure argument of raigning prophaneneſſe to ſorrow for the welfare of the righteous. All lH…ſt. 5 13.Hamans honours and preferments availe him nothing while he ſees Mordecai ſitting in the gate. Wicked men often loſe the comfort of all their owne earthly fulneſſe, whiles they behold the proſperity and welfare of Gods Church and righteous ſervants: The exaltation of Chriſts Kingdome, and flouriſhing of the Goſpell doth fill ſome men with ſuch vexation, that all their wealth, honours, and high places ſeeme to them as nothing: No doubt it much troubled the Philiſtines to ſee the m1 Sam. 5.4.5.Arke of the Lord ſtand upright, and Dagon broken to a ſtump. It is a great trouble to many people to ſee the Kingdome of Chriſt ſtand, and the Goſpell to flouriſh, and the Dagon of ſuperſtition, uſury, drunkenneſſe, &c. diſgraced, ſhamed, and caſt to ground; the Prieſts, the Captaine of the Temple, and the Sadduces, were nAct. 4.1.2.grieved that the Diſciples taught the people, and preached through Ieſus the reſurrection from the dead, and the two Prophets in the Revelation are ſaid to oRev. 10.10.torment them that dwell on the earth. The glorious ſhining of the Sunne is a trouble to diſeaſed eyes, the bright and cleare ſhining of the truth is a torment to prophane, and ungracious ſoules; ſuch as grieve not for their ſin, grieve at the Goſpell, the meanes of mortifying ſin; ſuch as moſt rejoyce in ſuperſtition, prophaneneſſe, and the vanities of the world, are moſt grieved and troubled at the powerfull preaching of the Goſpell. O how great is mans blindneſſe! how ſtrange is mans perverſeneſſe! that he ſhould be moſt grieved and troubled at the preſence of that, which God hath ordained to be the inſtrument of mans greateſt honour, profit, and comfort.