Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
IF you demand whence it is, and how it comes to paſſe that men are ſo backward in denying themſelves and their owne ends,Seven grounds of backwardneſſe in ſelf-deniall. 1. Self-prizing. and in ſubjecting themſelves and all that they have unto Chriſt. I anſwer of this there are ſeven grounds:
1. Mans overvaluing of himſelfe. Man is very prone to thinke of himſelfe above that which is convenient, to pride himſelfe in his endowments, abilities, to thinke of himſelfe as the Queene of Babylon did, that he is a iIſa. 47.Queene and no widow, wiſe and not ignorant, rich and not poore, full and not empty, holy and not prophane, free and not bound, as Goliah k1 Sam. 17.prided himſelfe in the talneſſe of his ſtature, and bigneſſe of his armour: ſo doth man pride himſelfe in his naturall, morall, and temporall habiliments and furniture, contrary to the charge of the Apoſtle, lRom 12 16Man is wiſe in his conceit, and will not ſtoop to wholſome inſtruction, he thinks himſelfe ſufficient for himſelfe, to guide himſelfe, to ſuſtaine himſelfe, to make himſelfe acceptable unto God. mGen 33 9.Eſau thought he had enough, and refuſed his brothers preſent: vaine man thinks he hath enough, wiſedome, faith, love, holineſſe enough; and therefore refuſeth the ſpirituall and heavenly preſence of Chriſt, his ordinances, benefits, graces, and all helps to happineſſe; he dreams that he is wiſe, when he is fooliſh, ſpirituall, when he is carnal, full when he is empty, like the nRev. ….17.Laodicean; and this diſables him to deny himſelfe, and ſubject himſelfe to Chriſt; he that ſuppoſeth he hath water enough at home in his owne ciſterne, will not goe to his neighbours well. Thoughts of ſelf-ſufficiency hinder men from going out of themſelves, and comming unto Chriſt: The Phariſees conceited ſo highly of their owne wiſedome, that they refuſed Chriſt and his doctrine; the whole puts not himſelfe under the hands of the Phyſitian to be dieted, lanced, and purged by him.
2. The overſwaying of corrupt and carnall luſts: Theſe overſway man,2. Overſwaying luſts. as a Maſter doth his ſervant, or a King his ſubject, they rule and reigne within man, and make man their o2 Pet. 2.10.ſervant; the ſervant (as S. Peter ſaith) of corruption; and as a ſervant is not his own man, but his Maſters, is guided by his Maſter, minds and intends his Maſter, ſeekes the pleaſing and profiting of his Maſter, is bound and cannot enter into the ſervice of another. Thus theſe men are not their owne men, but the ſervants of their luſts, moved, led, and guided by their luſts, minding and intending their luſts, ſeeking to pleaſe and profit their luſts, making proviſion for the fleſh to fulfill the lusts thereof: To theſe they are bound, and cannot put themſelves into Chriſts ſervice, they cannot take upon them Chriſts yoake; theſe overſway man as a lover is overſwayed by his love: Man is very indulgent to them as David to Abſalom, and as he charged the Captaines of his armies to deale gently with the young man Abſalom: ſo man is very loath to have his luſts roughly handled; he wiſhes that all the Prophets would propheſie ſmooth things and deceits; and as the ha…lot in Solomon cauſed the young man with her much faire pProv. 7.11, 22ſpeech to yeeld, and forced him with the ſlattering of her lips, ſo that he went after her as an oxe goeth to the ſlaughter: Thus theſe luſts with their flatteries, and fleſhly-ſeeming ſweetneſſe, and bewitching eloquence doe make the ſoule yeeld and follow them; and as ſtrange love in a wife takes away her matrimoniall love from her husband, and makes her regardleſſe of him, and diſobedient to him: Thus the indulgency and love of man to his luſts takes away his qIſa. 4.4. 1 Ioh. 2.15.love from Chriſt, makes him regardleſſe of Chriſt, and rebellious againſt Chriſt: Theſe luſts overſway man as a diſeaſe overſwayes the body, diſtempers the palate, deſtroyes the appetite, and makes the meat diſtaſtefull and irkſome: Thus doe theſe luſts diſtemper the foule, and make Chriſt and his word the bread of life and food of the ſoule unpleaſant, the very ſavour of death unto death. There is no poſſibility of ſelf-denyall and ſubjection unto Chriſt as long as the ſoule is overſwayed by any carnall luſts; the dominion of ſinne, and ſubjection unto Chriſt are incompatable, and inconſiſtent; Abner could not ſerve David untill he denied his ſervice and obedience to the houſe of Saul.
3.3. Inordinate diſpoſition toward the creature. An inordinate dispoſition of the heart toward the Creature. The heart of man is inordinate towards the creature, in his opinion and judgement of the creature, judging it to be ſtrong as a mountaine, when it is weake as the ſand, to be full as the Sea, when it is empty as a broken …ſterne to be noble and honourable, when it is baſe and full of thraldome, to be permanent as the Sunne, when it vaniſheth like a meteor: The heart of man is inordinate about the creature, in his thoughts, of its filling it ſelfe with diſtracting and perplexing thoughts about it, making his bed a bed of thornes whereon he cannot ſleep; the heart of man is inordinate about the creature, in his purſuit of it, purſuing it as the choiſeſt and moſt deſirable object, in his truſt in it, building on it as a rocke that never ſinketh, in his love to it, his heart going after it, as the heart of the adulterer after the harlot, in the price he puts upon it, prizing it above Chriſt, as the men of Shechem did the bramble above the vine, in his ſorrow for the loſſe of it, as Micah grieved as a man undone for the loſſe of his Idoll, and in the promiſes he makes unto himſelfe from it, promiſing himſelfe like the rich man in the parable, fulneſſe of all peace, and contentment from his worldly abundance; and judging of Gods love towards him, according to that outward abundance which God beſtowes upon him; the heart of man being thus inordinately diſpoſed towards the creature, he cannot deny the creature, he cannot come fully and freely off from the creature, and ſubmit himſelfe to Chriſts Scepter; the Elders of rIudg. 11.Gilead came not to Jeptha, made him not their head, untill they ſaw their owne and Iſraels weakneſſe. Man never comes to Chriſt, never makes Chriſt his head, never truly and throughly ſubjects himſelfe to Chriſt, untill he ſees both his owne and the creatures weakneſſe, emptineſſe, and unworthineſſe.
4. Over-prizing man.4. An over-piercing of man. Man is very prone to over-prize man, the favour and countenance of man, the ſociety and fellowſhip of man, the praiſe and applauſe of man: Theſe are chaines and fetters which bind and imbondage man to man; and make man the ſ1 Cor. 7.24.ſervant of man, flatterers and admirers of vaine man, companions in evill with ſinfull man, inordinate haunters after the approbation and applauſe of idle man, doing many things contrary to Chriſt, for the winning and retention of this; he that is ambitious of the favour, fellowſhip, and praiſe of men, can never ſolace and ſatisfie himſelfe with the favour and approbation of Chriſt; he cannot ſubject himſelfe to Chriſt, and make him in ſtead of all friends, companions, applauders, and approvers to his ſoule. What hindered the parents of the blind man from profeſſing Chriſt, from making mention of Chriſt having done ſuch a miraculous curteſie to their childe; but their overprizing of man, they tIoh. 9.22.feared the Jewes, they were loth to diſpleaſe the Jewes, unwilling to loſe their place in the Synagogue among the Jewes. Why did not the Rulers, which with a dogmaticall and hiſtoricall faith beleeved in Chriſt, confeſſe Chriſt? why did they not deny all for Chriſt? why did they not openly profeſſe and exalt Chriſt? uIoh 13.42.4….becauſe of the Phariſees they did not confeſſe him, leaſt they ſhould be put out of the Synagogue, for they loved the praiſe of men more then the praiſe of God. We can never rightly value Chriſt, till we have learned to ſleight and undervalue man, the vaine and empty favour and applauſe of man. How wIoh. 5.44.can ye beleeve (ſaith Chriſt) how can ye embrace me, dedicate your ſelves to me, and partake of me: Which receive honour one of another, and ſeeke not the honour which commeth from God onelyonly; the ſoule never gaines ſweet and gracious communion with Chriſt, which eſteemeth and doats on the fellowſhip of ſinfull men. xLuk 14.26.He that cannot hate father and mother with a comparative hatred, that cannot reject the fellowſhip, friendſhip, and applauſe of carnall men for Chriſt, can never come to Chriſt, never be a true Diſciple of Chriſt, never have the ſweet enjoyment of Chriſt.
5. A carnall iudging and miſtaking of Chriſt. 5. Miſtaking of Chriſt.Men doe not diſcerne nor conceive of Chriſt aright, they learne not Chriſt as the yEph 4.27.truth is in him, they misjudge the knowledge of Chriſt, eſteeming it, z1 Cor. 2.14.fooliſhneſſe, vaine, idle, unprofitable knowledge, whereas this is aPhil. 3.8.excellent and ſuperlative knowledge, tranſcending all the knowledge and wiſedome of the world, as the Sunne the gloe-worme, they diſcerne not the love of Chriſt any more then the dead doe the warmth of the Sunne, being bEph. 4.19.alienated from the life of God, and paſt feeling, they taſte not any ſweetneſſe, they feele not any comfort in Chriſts love, whereas his love is ſweeter then cCant. 1.3.wine, and better then life, their ſoules are not married to Chriſt, Chriſt is not brought into the chamber of their hearts, as the bridegroome into the chamber of the bride, but ſtands afarre off, as a ſtranger whoſe love they know not, they diſcerne not the dIſa. 53.1.beauties of Chriſt, they ſee no comelineſſe in him, they doe not ſee him in his ordinances ſhining as a Sunne, ſweetly and gloriouſly triumphing as a King; his beauties are hidden from their eyes, they judge of Chriſt as Samuel did of the ſonnes of Jeſſe, according to the e1 Sam. 16.outward appearance, they diſcerne not the fulneſſe of Chriſt, he ſeemes to them a ſIſa. 53.2.dry tree, their ſoules never found any ſatisfaction in him, he is a ſealed well whereof they never dranke, and a hidden Manna of whom they did never eat, they diſcerne not the diſpenſations of Chriſt, they ſuppoſe that he diſpenſeth nothing but ſorrowes, feares, terrours, and anguiſh to the ſoules of men, whereas he diſpenſeth love, peace, comfort, making for them a feaſt of gIſa. 25.6.fat things, of marrow, and of wine well refined upon the lees, filling them with all hRom. 15.13.ioy in beleeving, they diſcerne not Chriſts purpoſe in humbling the ſoules of his ſervants, they perceive not how he gives them light in darkneſſe, how he makes them rejoyce with i1 Pet. 1.7, 8.ioy glorious, and unſpeakable, when they ſuppoſe them to be of all men moſt miſerable; they diſcerne not the contentments which Chriſt giveth to them that loſe and leave all for him; they perceive not that kMat. 19.29.hundred fold more which Chriſt giveth them, in beſtowing himſelfe upon them, being infinitely more to them then all friends, honours, riches, and whatſoever worldly comforts; as the pearle in the parable,lMat. 13.…0. was much more to the Merchant then all that he gave, though he gave all that he had for it. Men thus miſtaking and misjudging Chriſt, thinke diſhonourably of Chriſt, eſteeme him no better then another mCant. 5.9.beloved, no better then gold, ſilver, honour, the covetous and ambitious mans beloved; and man will never leave much for that wherein he diſcerneth little, or no worth: we ſhall never be able to ſubject our ſelves to Chriſt, untill we have rightly learned the worth of Chriſt; he that knowes the comfortable diſpenſations of Chriſt in the time of Chriſtian ſuffering, will chuſe to live with Chriſt in the deepeſt outward miſery, rather then live without Chriſt, in the greateſt worldly proſperity, peace and plenty.
6. A corrupt framing and deviſing of falſe Chriſts, 6. Corrupt deviſing of falſe Chriſts.and falſe wayes to life and peace. Some frame unto themſelves a carnall Chriſt, placing all his worſhip, and their ſervice in a carnall and bodily attendance upon his ordinances; they thinke it enough to nIer. 7.10.come and ſtand before him in his houſe, in this they ſtay and looke no further, they ſuppoſe the having of the outward ordinances is the having of Chriſt; ſome frame unto themſelves a ceremoniall and ſuperſtitious Chriſt, embracing the traditions of men, and being very ſevere and frequent in the obſervation of humane deviſes, they bleſſe themſelves as the onelyonly true worſhippers of Chriſt; ſome frame unto themſelves a licentious Christ, ſuch a Chriſt as died to bring redemption to man, but requires no obedience from Man, this is the Libertines Chriſt, and all theſe ſuppoſe they have Chriſt when yet they have him not; and as he that is full is loath to beg, and the full ſtomacke oProv. 27.7.loatheth the honey-combe: ſo theſe ſuppoſing that they have Chriſt, are full of Chriſt, though yet they have him not; as he in Solomon made himſelfe rich when yet he pProv. 13.7.had nothing; they are loath either to deny themſelves, or to ſeeke any further for Chriſt: He that falſly faines himſelfe to have Chriſt, is of all others moſt uneaſily drawne and wrought home to Chriſt: The heathen man could ſay, Many might have been wiſe, if they had not already thought themſelves wiſe; and ſo many might have Chriſt, if they were not perſwaded they had already gotten Chriſt.
7. Ignorance of the nature and ſweetneſſe of Christs yoake, 7. Ignorance of nature of Chriſts yoke.and of the comfort of living under the command of Christ. Men know not how good and pleaſant the ſervice of Chriſt is, how full of joy and contentment the fruition of Chriſt is; they imagine that Chriſts yoake is an yron yoake, Chriſts way a way of thornes, and the day of a Chriſtian as a day of clouds and darkneſſe; they know not that Chriſts yoake is made qMat. 11.29.eaſie through grace, that his wayes are wayes of rProv. 3.17.peace, and his paths paths of pleaſantneſſe; they know not the ſ2 Cor. 1.11.ioy and reioycing ariſing from the having of our converſation in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity; they ſee not the Sun of love that ſhines upon the heads of the righteous, they drinke not of that tPſal 46 4.river of comforts which refreſheth the city of the Lord, they feed not upon the uPſal 23.2.greene paſtures, nor taſte of the ſtill waters, by which Chriſt leadeth and pa…ureth his flocke; they never knew the peace, confidence, ſecurity, ſatisfaction, ſafety and glory derived to the ſoule from the participation of Chriſt, and therefore they will not put their neckes under Chriſts yoake.