Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
IT may be yet further here demanded how a man may comfort himſelfe touching the truth of this holy and gracious worke of ſelf-denyall,bRom 7.…3. finding and feeling many luſts yet remaining and riſing up within him, and rebelling (as the Apoſtle ſaith) againſt the law of his mind, ſometimes captivating, overſwaying, and leading him away to the minding and ſeeking of himſelfe, and ſerving of his owne baſe affections.
To this I anſwer,Comforts in the work of Self-denyall againſt remaining luſts. 1. Troubleſomes of Luſt that in this caſe and eſtate a man may comfort himſelfe, and aſſure himſelfe of the truth of his ſelf-denyall.
1. By the trouble which remaining and rebelling luſts are unto the ſoule of man: If they be troubleſome to the ſoule, as the iIudg. 2.2, 3.Canaanites to Iſrael, as thornes in our ſides, and prickles in our eyes, as diſeaſes in our fleſh, and burthens on our backs, as rebels and mutinous perſons in a common-weale are a trouble to the common-weale. Though we are not fully freed from, yet we have truly denyed them; when ſinne is not ſweet as wine, but bitter as gall to our palate, not pleaſant as bread, but troubleſome as gravell to our teeth, not pleaſing as the wife of a mans boſom, but offenſive as a contentious and quarrelſome inmate; there the luſts of a man are denyed, they doe not raigne and beare dominion, they have not the full and peaceable poſſeſſion where they are a trouble. Paul was one that had in a very high meaſure denyed himſelfe, yet he complaines of ſinne, as of a kRom. 7.23, 24.law in his members rebelling againſt the law of his mind, and ſometimes leading him captive; yet this being a trouble to him, as a dead member to the body, as a mote to the eye, as a thorne to the foot, the Lord comforts him with the ſufficiency of his grace, My l2 Cor. 12.8.grace is ſufficient for thee.
2. By the godly griefe and ſorrow of the heart of man for the lusts yet remaining, and making warre within him.2. Godly griefe for remaining luſts. When the preſence and oppoſition of corruption makes man to ſorrow, as a woman in travell, untill his ſoule is delivered and diſcharged of them, to mourne as the Iſraelites lift up mIudg. 2.3.their voice and wept, becauſe the Canaanites continued among them, and to grieve for the preſence of ſinfull luſts in his heart, as Sarah was grieved for the preſence of the daughters of Heth in her houſe. When a mans ſorrow is continually nPſal. 38.17.before him, becauſe ſinne is continually within him; ſuch a man may aſſure himſelfe of his ſelfdenyall: He that hath a continuall godly ſorrow for his ſinne is not under the dominion of ſinne; true repentance argues an infallible denyall of corrupt and carnall affections.
3. Holy Conteſtation againſt luſts.3. By a holy, gracious, and conſtant Conteſtation againſt the luſts which remaine within him. He that feeles the Spirit, the regenerate part oGal. 5.17.ſtriving againſt the fleſh; as Rebeckah felt Jacob ſtriving againſt Eſau in her wombe: He that fights againſt his luſts,Exod. 17. as Joſhuah againſt the Amalekites; he that makes warre againſt his corruptions, as the houſe of David againſt the houſe of Saul, and prevailes and increaſeth his ſtrength,2 Sam 3.1. as the houſe of David did, may aſcertaine himſelfe of freedome from the Lordſhip, and power of his corruptions: He that warres againſt ſinne makes no proviſion for ſinne, any more then a man doth for the enemy againſt whom he wages warre: He that warres a good warfare againſt Satan, the world, and his owne luſts, holding faith and a good conſcience, is a bleſſed conquerour, hath won the conqueſt, though much aſſaulted by Satan, and his owne corruptions: It is not mans being aſſaulted by his luſts, but mans yeelding to his luſts, which argues abſence of ſelf-denyall.
4. Humiliation for want of humility.4 By mans humbling himſelfe for his want of humility, and tenderneſſe, and ſoftneſſe of heart; freely confeſſing the pride, ſelf-love, and high thoughts which he diſcerneth in himſelfe, ſhaming, and loathing himſelfe for the obſtinacy, haughtineſſe, and deceitfulneſſe of his heart; as David conſidering and feeling the pride and rebellion of Abſalon, p2 Sam. 15.30went weeping with his head covered and his feet bare: So man that feeles the pride and rebellion of his heart, muſt mourne, humble, and abaſe himſelfe before the Lord for it; the hypocrite is proud of his humility, the ſincere man is abaſed and aſhamed for the remainders of pride which he diſcerneth in himſelfe: The ſtate of him that is exalted with his gifts is very dangerous; the ſtate of him that is made vile in his owne eyes with the ſence of his corruptions, is hopefull and gracious. It is a bleſſed argument of ſelf-denyall, when the ſence of a mans ſecret ſelf-love, and lurking corruption doth abaſe him in his owne apprehenſion; pride and ſelf-love have no dominion as long as the ſoule is moved to humiliation by the ſight and ſence of them. He that abhorres, abaſes, and humbles himſelfe becauſe his heart is not more humble, is undoubtedly truly humbled, though his humility want ſome perfection.
5. By mans frequent and fervent prayer to be freed and throughly purged from all pride, ſelf-love, and ſinister respects: 5. Fervent prayer againſt pride and ſelf-love. Exod. 17.11.He cannot be a lover and ſervant of ſinne that prayes feelingly, fervently, and conſtantly againſt his ſinne: If Moſes hands be lifted up the Amalekites will fall; If the heart be conſtantly lifted up in holy and gracious prayer unto God; proud luſts and ſelf-reſpects will fall, prayer will ſurely bring them downe,Act. 12.5.7. and worke the heart to a very humble and gracious frame: The Church prayed, and Peter was ſet free from his fetters, from the ſouldiers, and Herods priſon, holy and earneſt prayer hath a very forcible operation to worke the ſoule to ſpirituall freedome from all ſorts of evill, to make it truly ſincere and humble, both in the inward diſpoſition, ſecret intention, and outward execution of every action: Certainly mans prayer is but lip-labour, no cordiall prayer but vaine babling, words of cuſtome, or of oſtentation, if they make not the heart ſincere and humble. He that knowes the holy, humble, conſtant, and earneſt way of his heart in ſecret prayer with God, may aſſure himſelfe of his ſelf-denyall before God.