The Saints Guide, Sermon 2 – Title page 3
THE CARNALL MANS CONDITION.
ROM. 1.18.
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven, againſt all ungoodlineſſe and unrighteouſneſſe of men, who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſſe.
IN the beginning of this Chapter, the Apoſtle Paul, by way of Preface, prepareth way for thoſe many excellent truths, that the Spirit of God had furniſhed him withall, to ſend to the Saints that were at Rome: And that thoſe Heavenly Myſteries might take the deeper roote in their hearts, and find the better acceptance with them, In the firſt place he cleareth the Authority of his Calling, and that he came not before he was ſent of God. ver. 1. Paul a Servant of Jeſus Chriſt, called to be an Apoſtle, ſeparated unto the Goſpell of God. And therefore being thus called, it became them to receive his doctrine, not as the notions of his owne braine, but as the Word of the immortall God.
Secondly, by way of inſinuation he prayſeth them for that good progreſſe, that they had made in the faith of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, verſe 8.
Thirdly, He diſcovers the tendernes of his love and affection towards them, and his unceſſant and unwearied deſire to doe them good, from the ninth to the ſixteenth verſe.
Fourthly, He laieth downe the maine point, the Criticall point, the hinge upon which all the reſt of his glorious building ſhould move, viz. That a man is juſtifyed in the Sight of God by faith and not by workes, which Propoſition he proveth, firſt by Scripture, ver. 17. The juſt ſhall live by faith.
Secondly, by force of Argument, in the words of the text, ſhewing that no man can ſtand righteous before God, by workes, becauſe the beſt workes that a man can doe of himſelfe, are wicked and unjuſt, and therefore puniſhed of God, for all men out of Chriſt ſtand guilty both of ungodlineſſe and unrighteouſnes, & ſo are ſubject to condemnation, therefore they muſt needs ſeek righteouſneſſe in ſome other: his Argument runneth thus. If no man by the workes of the Law can appeaſe the Wrath of God, then by the workes of the Law, no man can be ſaved, but by the workes of the law, no man can appeaſe the Wrath of God, therefore by the workes of the Law, no man can be ſaved, this he propounds in the text, and proſecutes in the Chapter following.
In the words of the text, we may obſerve in the generall theſe two parts.
Firſt, that carriage and diſpoſition of heart that is in wicked men, towards the Truth of God.
Secondly, Gods dealing with them, in requitall of that their carriage: they ſtand in oppoſition to the truth, Holding it in unrighteouſneſſe. God ſtands againſt them in a way of Wrath and Vengeance, they deale roughly with the truth, and God deales as rigorouſly with them. More particularly, here is firſt the ſubject, The Wrath of God, ſecondly, the object, Ungodly and unrighteous men, Thirdly, The Univerſality of it, in this word al, God doth not deal partially; but all, be they what they may be, that Hold the truth in unrighteouſneſſe, ſhall feele the Wrath of God, no ſinne how little ſoever it ſeemeth to a carnall eye, ſhall eſcape it.
Fourthly, The place from whence this Wrath ſhall come, that is, from Heaven.
Obſer. 1 From the Method that the Holy Ghoſt uſeth in placing ungodlineſſe, before unrighteouſneſſe, we may learne, That Sinnes againſt the firſt table, are ſinnes of a deeper dye, of a ſadder nature, then Sinnes againſt the ſecond table.
Obſer. 2 Secondly, in that it is ſaid, againſt ungodlineſſe, and not ungodly men, we learne, That Gods Wrath is not primarily, not principally, intended againſt mens perſons, but againſt their ſinnes and wicked wayes.
Obſer. 3 Thirdly, in that it is ſaid, they hold the truth in unrighteouſneſſe, we learne, That the Gentiles naturally had that ingrafted in them, whereby they might come, in ſome degree, to the Knowledge of God, of the Almighty Power, greatneſſe, goodneſſe, and everlaſting Nature of God, even by looking upon his Creatures, ſo that their own reaſon might condemn them, of their wickedneſſe both towards God and men.
For the clearer underſtanding of the words, wee are to conſider.
Firſt, What is ment by the wrath of God: The wrath of God is an act of Gods Juſtice, puniſhing wicked men, ſometimes it is put for the judgements themſelves, as plague, ſword, famine, and ſuch like; It is here ſet down in oppoſition to the Righteouſneſſe of God ſpoken of ver. 17. which is Gods mercifull goodneſſe, and gratious diſpenſations towards poore loſt men.
Secondly, what is meant by truth: by truth here is ment, the remainder of light, that was left in Man kinde, after the fall, that rubbiſh that was left upon the fall of that firſt glorious building, that Common light, that is in every mans conſcience, ſince the fall of Adam that ſerves to ſhew him what God is, in His Power, Glory, Majeſty, and Bounty, and that he is to be worſhipped, by adoring and fearing of him above all, ſomtime truth is put for the efficacy and power of truth. Gal. 2.14. Paul reproveth Peter, and the reſt for not walking according to the truth of the Goſpell, becauſe the truth had not beene ſo efficatious with them, as to drive them from thoſe beggerly elements of the Ceremoniall Law, but they would have had the Gentiles for to have come up unto the Jewiſh practiſe.
Thirdly, What is ment by holding the truth in unrighteouſneſſe. To hold the truth of God in unrighteouſneſſe, is either by a kind of violence, and ſtrong hand, to ſuppreſſe it, and keep it back, as if men would impriſon it, leaſt it ſhould ſhine clearly abroad, when it is not onelyonly, not ſubmitted unto, followed and obeyed, but reſiſted, and gainſayed, and that which is point blank contrary to the direction of truth, is practiſed: or when it is fettered with ſome luſt, that hinders the powerfull opperation, and efficatiouſneſſe of it upon the ſoul, ſo that the word cannot perform that worke, which otherwiſe it would, in the heart of them to whom it is ſent.
Fourthly, What is ment by the word unrighteouſneſſe.
In ſome places of holy writ, it ſignifieth, onelyonly ſuch ſins as are committed againſt the ſecond Table, but in this place it ſignifieth, not onelyonly the violation of the Law of Nature, in reſpect of our dutie to men, but our violation of the Law of God, in regard of that homage and ſervice wee owe unto His Majeſtie, ſo that it implyeth all ſinfull diſtempers, and corruptions of heart, all irregular belchings out of the affections: Out of the words thus opened we may obſerve theſe Propoſitions.
Obſerv. 1. That much of God, of the power greatneſſe, and goodneſſe of God may bee known, and learned out of the book of the Creatures.
Obſerv. 2. That all wicked men, are enemies to, and oppoſers of the truth of God.
Obſerv. 3. The ground of this hinderance of, and oppoſition againſt the word of God, is from that corruption that is in their hearts.
Obſerv. 4. That all ſuch unrighteous ones, who oppoſe the word of truth, ſhall ſurely bear the wrath of God.
Doct. But I ſhall ſum up as much as I ſhall treat of at this time, in this one propoſition, viz.
That carnall and corrupt men, doe hinder the powerfull efficatiouſneſſe of the word of truth, from working upon their ſinfull hearts, prevailing with them, and ſubduing of them, as much as in them lyeth, by reaſon of that imbred corruption that is in their hearts.
It is true that truth is powerfull, and will prevail, and if the Spirit of God ſet it home upon the Conſcience, there is no heart ſo hard, but it will ſoften, no heart ſo proud but it will humble, & lay it lower then duſt as low as the nethermoſt hell in its own apprehenſion, and when God ſends his truth to ſubdue a corrupt heart, he doth not ſtand to aske the ſinner whether he be willing or no, to ſubmit to the word of truth, to put his ſhouldiers under the Government of Chriſt, for it is naturall to us ſince the fall of Adam, to run farther, and farther from God. Cain when he had ſlain his righteous brother, and was baniſhed from God, it is ſaid that hee dwelt in the Land of Nod, which ſignifieth wandring, for when he had once loſt fellowſhip, and communion with God, in whom alone ſoule ſatisfiing reſt is to be found, all the world was not ſufficiently to ſatisfie his immortall ſoule: as it was with him, ſo it is with us all by Nature, therefore the Lord is faine, not onelyonly to vouchſafe unto us meanes and helpes, and heavenly directions, to do our ſouls good, but likewiſe to conquer our wills to ſubmit thereunto, even to force us, to receive dirrection, how our ſoules may be happy for ever.
But Gods Spirit doth not alwayes accompanie the Preaching of the word by its efficatious working, God many times ſtrives onelyonly by his word, and by the common workings of his Spirit, by inſtruction, by conviction, by correction, but carnall hearts reſiſt, withſtand, and as much as in them lieth, labour to keep the word of God out of their hearts; for the better underſtanding of this, conſider theſe particulers. Firſt, There is ſome relickes of the Law of God, left in the conſciences of heathens, though they be ſtrangers to the life of Faith, and covenant of grace, 2 Rom. 14.15. For the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law, they having not the Law are a Law unto themſelves, which ſhew the effect of the law written in their hearts, &c. Hence many heathens have written large Volums of vice, and vertue, and have made many good Judiciall Lawes, for the puniſhing of murder, adulterie, drunkenneſſe, and the like, with death it ſelfe, Conſcience keep many carnall men from the act of ſin, Conſcience ſtand over them with a whip, ſo that they dare not doe many things, they have a minde unto, and a longing after.
Secondly, the workes of Creation doe diſcover much of the power, wiſdome, and Soveraignitie of God.
But thirdly, the word of God is that which moſt cleerly diſcovers God in all his glorious attributes: Now though God diſcover himſelfe, by that light which he hath ſet in every mans Conſcience, by his workes of Creation, and providence, and likewiſe by the bright Miniſtery of his word, never ſo cleerly, and unqueſtionably, yet carnall hearts will not yeeld thereunto, nor glorifie God in giving credit to the truth, neither be thankfull unto him for theſe glorious mercies, but endeavour, what in them lieth, to ſhut out, and keep out that light that dar…eth into their ſoules, to quench the motions of the ſpirit, and to eclips the light of the Goſpel, when it ſhineth cleerer then the Sun at noone day, as it was with the Jews, Acts 7.51. When Steven brought the word neere to their hearts, and touched them to the quick, ſaith the text. 57.58. verſes, Then they gave a ſhout with a loud voice, and ſtopped their ears, and ran upon him violently all at once, and caſt him out of the City and ſtoned him: thus it was with the Sodomites, all the perſwaſions and entreaties of Lot could not prevaile with them, but they cry out away hence, he came as a ſtranger, and ſhall hee judge and rule? Gen. 19.9. As they ſaid to Lot ſo doth every carnall heart to the word of God, when a Miniſter cometh unto them with an unfeined deſire, to do their ſoules good, to guide them in the way to bleſſedneſſe, to woe them, entreat them, and beſeech them, to bee reconciled to God, and no longer to reſiſt his truth, blaſpheme his Name, pollute his holy things, to break off their ſinfull courſes, & to become as zealous for the wayes of God, and ſervants of God, as heretofore they have been for ſin, and Satan, in ſtead of yeelding to theſe bleſſed motions, they cry ſtand back, who made you judge, wee regard not your councell, we feare not your threatenings, and ſay in their hearts as they did, Iere. 18.12. We will walk after our owne immaginations, and do every man after the ſtoubberneſſe of his own wicked heart, thus they even take up armes againſt the Miniſters of God, and the truthes of God, when they come to pull them out of their carnall courſes.
For the better diſcoverie of the point, I will cleare it in theſe three particulars.
1. What is the Power of truth.
2. How wicked men hinder it.
3. The reaſon why they doe ſo hinder it.
Queſt. 1. Firſt, What is the power of truth, or what would it worke upon the ſoule, that wicked men oppoſe it?
Anſw. The worke and power of it will appeare in ſoure particulars. .
1. Firſt, it is a word of information, diſcovering things in their native, and proper collours, pulling off that vizard that carnall reaſon hath put upon them, Prov. 6.23. For the Commandement is a Lanthorn, an inſtruction, a light; A Light is uſefull in a darke and narrow way; ſo is the word of God to direct us, and informe us, how to walke in the narrow path that leadeth unto life, by this a man is informed, what is to be ſhunned, what to be followed, what is to be loved, what to be hated, A man cannot miſcarrie nor looſe his way, ſo long as he is directed by the Light of the truth: as the Sun ſheweth all the moates that be in the houſe, ſo this diſcovers all the corrupt corners that be in the ſoule, all that envie, pride, hypocriſie, blaſphemy, that lodgeth in the heart: Epheſ. 5.13. But all things when they are reproved of the light, are manifeſt, for it is light that maketh all things manifeſt; A man may there be reſolved in everie doubtfull caſe of conſcience, the ballance of the Sanctuarie is that wherein we ſhould weigh our thoughts, words, and workes.
Secondly, as it is a word of information, ſo it is a word of quickening, a vigorous powerfull word, which not onelyonly ſheweth the way, and pointeth to the right path, but enableth a man to walke in that path in the ſtrength thereof, ſo that he walketh on cheerefully in Heaven way, notwithſtanding all the rubs, and oppoſitions that he meeteth withall in the world; It is not onelyonly as the Sun to ſhew us the right way, but as a ſtrong ſtreame to carrie us on in that way, David, Pſal. 119.50. ſpeaking of the word of God, ſaith, It is my comfort in my trouble, for thy promiſe hath quickened mee.
Thirdly, The word hath a drawing power in it, ſaith the Church, Cant. 1.3. Draw mee and I will run after thee. The Church confeſſeth that ſhee cannot come to Chriſt, except ſhee be drawne, now the word of God hath ſuch a drawing power in it, though corruption be ſtrong, and the Outward man heavy, yet it will lead a man on in the right way that he ſhould walke.
4. Fourthly, it is a word of conviction, it is powerfull to overthrow all the gainſayings of man, it hath a ſoveraigne, ſupreame Authority in it, to beare downe all carnall reaſonings, when the Lord is pleaſed to accompanie it. 2. Cor. 10.4. The weapons of our warefare, are not carnall, feeble and weake, but mighty thorough God to the pulling downe of ſtrong holds. There is a mighty operation in the truth, hence ſaith the Apoſtle, 2. Cor. 13.8. We cannot doe anie thing againſt the truth, but for the truth. So that truth is powerfull, and though corruption be ſtrong, the world inticing, and the Divell enſnaring, yet if the Lord be pleaſed to ſet the truth home upon the ſoule, either to informe it, or to quicken it, or to draw it on in Heaven waies, or to convince it, all theſe avocations, and pull backs, ſhall not hinder it; thus we ſee the truth wil work.
Queſt. Secondly, How doth a carnall man hinder the powerfull working of this word, that is may not prevaile with his ſoule, the word would have the Soule, but the Soule will have its ſinnes: And its oppoſition againſt the truth doth appeare in theſe foure particulars.
Anſw. 1. Firſt, a carnall heart is marvellous unwilling, and altogether indiſpoſed to liſten to the Truth of God, ſo as to be inſtructed therein, and examine himſelfe thereby, it is tendious to fleſh and blood to waite upon the truth, it is not willing to know its duty, to know what the word ſaith in ſuch, and ſuch caſes, leaſt it ſhould pull ſome of his ſweete morſells from betwixt his teeth, cut off his right hand, pull out his right eye, ſome boſome ſinnes that are as neere and deare unto him as either of them, therefore he is willing to be a ſtranger to the Truth of God, and though Manna from Heaven lyeth at his doore, yet he will not ſtep out to gather it in, men naturally ſtop their eares agaainſt the truth Eſay 30.10. They ſay to the Seers ſee not, and to the Prophets propheſie not right things, ſpeake to us ſmooth things, propheſie deceits; Get thee out of the way, turne aſide out of the path, cauſe the holy one of Iſrael to ceaſe from before us: So Job. 21.14. They ſay alſo unto God depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes; They deſire nothing more then to be exempt from all ſubjection unto God, that in Acts. 28.27. is likewiſe here conſiderable, For the heart of this people is waxed fat, and their cares are dull of hearing, and with their eyes have they winked, leaſt they ſhould ſee with their eyes, and heare with their cares, and underſtand with their hearts, and ſhould returne that I might heale them. Winked with their eyes, that is, they made as though they ſaw not, that which they did ſee, againſt their wills, carnall men are loath to know the truth, if they doe ſearch for it, it is onelyonly as a Coward doth for his Enemy, with a hope not to finde him, yea with a feare leſt he ſhould find him; So a naturall man is fearefull to ſearch, and loath to find the truth, but if the truth doe glanſe in, and conſcience begin to recoile, then, he ſeekes out for ſome merry company, that may help him to ſmother theſe motions of the Spirit, as Saul ſent for David to play before him, when the evill Spirit came upon him. We uſe to draw a Curtaine before the Sun when it ſhineth too bright in our eyes, ſo ſaith every carnall heart when the word ſhineth in his ſoule, Oh, draw a Curtaine before it, let me heare no more of this, leaſt it drive me out of wits, I would have Chriſt, but I would have the world alſo, if God would but allow me ſuch a finne, meaning his boſome corrruption, I would willingly come up unto him, in every thing elſe that he ſhould require at my hands, thus conſcience puts them to doe ſomthing, and the word hath ſome ſlightly worke upon them, like the ſeede that fell in the ſtonie ground, but yet they will not part with their Dalilah Corruptions, but when it toucheth the covetous mans gaine, the voluptuous mans pleaſure, then they crie out, draw a Curtaine before it.
Secondly, A carnall heart is alwayes ready to raiſe an evill report of the bleſſed truth of God, that ſo it may appear deformed to the eyes of them that begin to expreſſe ſome deſire after it, they deal with it as the ſpies did with the Land of Canaan, Num. 13.32. So they brought up an evill report of the Land which they had ſearched, unto the Children of Iſrael, ſaying the Land which we have gone to ſearch is a Land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof, &c. The Gyants were ſo cruell that they eat up one another, and thoſe that came amongſt them; upon this report the Children of Iſrael murmoured againſt Moſes and Aaron, and they wiſhed themſelves in Egypt again, Exo. 14.2. They would willingly have been in Canaan, they ſtill cryed out for the Land that flowed with milk and hony, but they were not willing to encounter with any hardſhip by the way, when once they heard of Gyants, then the Leekes and Garlick of Egypt, was preferred before the delicacies of the Land of Canaan, when Chriſt feed his followers, many flocked after him, but it was more for love to the loaves, then to his Doctrine, John 6.26. Many would bee happy that are not willing to be holy, when once they are called upon to deny themſelves, to crucifie their beloved ſinnes, to forſake all, yea life it ſelf for the truth, then they cry out it is a heard ſaying and who can bear it, and then they ſcandalize the wayes of God, and the truth of God, and raiſe evill reports of them.
Object. Is it then in our power to make the word effectuall?
Anſw. No, but it is your power to doe more then you doe, your legs may as well earry you to the word, as to an Ale-houſe, your ears may heare the word as well as idle tales, you may ſing as well Pſalmes as idle ſongs, you may read good books, as well as Play-books, doe you what you are able to doe, put all your ſtrength, and diligence unto it, and then caſt your ſelves upon God, and tell his Majeſty, that faine you would forſake every evill way, but of your ſelfe you are not able, and though the ſpirit bee ſomewhat willing yet the fleſh is weak, and that you have a baſe deceitfull heart that is ready to embrace every occaſion of ſinning, that lyeth in the way, beſeech him therefore not onelyonly to begin, but to conſummate every good work within you; Though it be not in mens power to ſave themſelves, yet their owne Conſciences will tell them, that they might do more then they do. Luke 7.29.30. The Publicans juſtified God, (that is ſaid that hee was faithfull and mercifull) Being Baptized with the baptiſme of John, but the Phariſees, and Lawyers rejected the councell of God, againſt themſelves, (or to their owne hurt) and were not Baptized of John; terms of grace and Salvation, were offered both to Publicanes, and Phariſees, the one reject the good councell of God given, the other accept of it; therefore when we ſee others called, converted by the ſame meanes we live under, wee ſhould blame our ſelves, and reflect upon our ſouls, and ſay, the word would have enlightened me, had I not contemned it, it would have quickened mee had I not gainſayed it, I was almoſt converted, I had ſome taſtes of Heaven and happineſſe, but, oh, wretch that I was, company came, thoughts of the world came and choaked it, the Lord hath oftentimes knocked at my heart but I would not ſet open the doores of my ſoul that the King of glory might come in.
Thirdly, A Carnall heart doth oppoſe the good word of God, ſo that it works not upon his ſoul, by reſiſting the work of conviction, when the word of God hath had ſome powerfull work upon the ſoul, that the ſinner is a wakened, and his conſcience rouſed up within him, that hee cannot but ſay, I am the man, theſe are my ſinnes, which (finleſſe the Lord in mercy prevent it) will ſurely be my ruine now carnall reaſon endeavours either to extenuate the ſins, or to villifie the word of God, and the truth of it, which is the ground of all oppoſition againſt the word, for if men did indeed beleeve that it was the word of an Almighty God, and that every curſe therein denounced, ſhould ſurely fall upon the heads of thoſe that tranſgreſſe thoſe Ordinances divine, they durſt not ſinne againſt the plaine commands thereof as they doe. When Balack ſent to Baalam to curſe the people of God (thinking him to be a Witch, and therefore whom hee bleſſed was bleſſed, and whom he curſed were curſed) God ſaith to Baalam, thou ſhalt not goe with them, therefore hee went not; But when Balack ſent more honorable men then they, and promiſeth him promotion; then ſaith the poore ſinfull covetous wretch, Stay all night, and I will ſee what the Lord will ſay, when as the Lord had peremtorily ſaid thou ſhalt not goe with them, yet his affections were lingering after the houſe-full of gold, therefore he hoped that God would have changed his minde, and thus hee tempted God, to require him contrary to his commandement, a low eſteeme that hee had of the word of God was the cauſe of that fearfull ſin. Now how many be there that follow the wayes of Baalam as the Apoſtle Jude ſpeaketh, who are willing to obey the commands of God ſo long as it may ſtand with their profit, and hononr, but when ſuch a try all comes, as that by lying and deceit, they may get gain, as hear a houſe full of gold proffered, then they look for a deſpenſation, then they caſt the Commandments behinde their backes: Many a Vſurer, that findes the ſweetneſſe of it, and is reſolved to continue in that ſin, hee will ſtudie all the Arguments that hee can to palliate it, and readily catch hold of every thing that may ſeeme in the leaſt manner to countenance it, but oh, how hardly can he be brought to give ear to what the word of God ſaith againſt it. When Moſes ſtood before Pharaoh, and his rod, by the immediate finger of God was turned into a Serpent, Pharaoh doth not ſit kowne under the Miracle, but to make it of light eſteem, he ſends for his Magicians, who turne likewiſe their rods into Serpents, but Moſes his rod devoured theirs, Yet ſaith the text Pharaohs heart was hardned, ſo it is with every carnall heart, when the word cometh home, and convinceth him, and fills his ſoul with terrour, and trouble, then he ſend his Magicians, carnall reaſonings, and though the word of God doth eat up all thoſe reaſonings, yet the carnall heart goeth away ſatisfied, and with Pharaoh groweth harder and harder.
Fourthly, and laſtly, if by carnall reaſon they cannot defeat the truth, then they fall to down right oppoſition of it, laying violent hands upon it, and in deſpite of the truth doe whatſoever their own wicked hearts ſuggeſt, as it was with the Children of Iſrael, when their proud hearts prompted them to aske a King, Samuel makes a gracious Sermon unto them to diſwade them from it, and hee ſhewes them the manner of their King, and how he ſhould enſlave them, and make their ſonnes and their daughters & all that they had to be at his diſpoſing; not that Kings have any ſuch Authority by their office, but being he was to reigne in Gods wrath, therefore hee ſhould uſurpe this power on his brethren) but the people would not hear the voyce of Samuel, but did ſay, Nay, but there ſhall be a King over us: So it is with every carnall heart, when the word cometh ſo cloſe home to his Conſcience, that he cannot evade it, yet out of a deſperate madneſſe, he ſaith, I will not obey it, but let all ſuch know, that though the command of God prevail not with them, to convert them here, yet it ſhall one day prevail over them, to damne them for ever, Mat. 25.46. Theſe ſhall go into everlaſting paine. The reaſons of the point follow.
Firſt, Carnall men do thus oppoſe the truth, as hath been ſhewed, becauſe they are unwilling for to have their ſins diſcovered, and removed, there ſinnes are as deare unto them as their lives, as the life of their precious ſouls (which are more worth then all the world) and will not a man ſtrive for his life? Now when the word of God comes to pluck the cup from the drunkard, the whore from the Adulterer, pleaſure from the voluptuous man, they part with them as they would part with their lives, they will rather ſuffer their ſinnes to kill their immortall ſouls, then the word to kill their ſins.
Secondly, Becauſe a carnall minded man, cannot take pleaſure in any thing if he be debarred of his liberty of ſinning, he accounts it a plague & vexation to live under a ſtirring Miniſtery, or in a Godly family, where he dares not wallow in ſinne as he would, Oh, how tedious is it; Hence how will he rejoyce, when the Godly, (who are the Pillars of the Land) are removed, Revel. 11.10. When the two witneſſes are killed, Then they that dwell upon the earth, ſhall rejoyce over them, and be glad, and ſhall ſend gifts one to another: becauſe theſe two Prophets vexed them that dwelt on the earth; The Goſpell of Chriſt is not onelyonly a ſtumbling block but an affliction to the world, and the Miniſtery thereof, is the ſavour of death unto death to thoſe that periſh. 2. Cor. 2.16.
Thirdly, carnall men doe thus oppoſe the truth, becauſe it will not allow them any fin, my of their ſweete morſells. they would be willing to part with thoſe finnes that they are not much inclined unto; the young man in the Goſpell went far, and Herod reformed many things, and Agrippa was almoſt perſwaded to be a Chriſtian, but when it came to their boſome corruption there they ſtick, Demetrious and his fellow-crafismen raiſe ſedition againſt Paul, when he once began to confute the opinion which men had of Dianas Image, by which craft they got their gaine, for gaine cloaked with a ſhew of Religion, is the very cauſe whereof Idolatry is ſtoutly, and ſtubbornly defended.
Uſe 1 For examination, Is is ſo that corrupt hearts doe hinder the word from working effectually upon them, then let us examine our ſelves, whether the Commandments of the Lord are not greiveous unto us, whether we could not wiſh that many of them, that forbid ſuch, and ſuch, of our beloved ſinnes, were not rayſed out of the Booke of God, whether we doe not thinke God a hard Maſter, and that he layeth too ſtrick a charge, and tye upon us. If it be thus with us, it is an undoubted argument that our hearts are earnall, deceitfull above all, and deſperately wicked, as Jeremiah ſpeakes. There is indeed in the beſt of Gods Children ſome ſecret reſiſting againſt the truth, becauſe there will be fleſh, as well as ſpirit in them, ſo long as they are on this ſide the grave, but when it ſtirres, they lie not downe under it, but fall out with their owne hearts, and take up Armes againſt thoſe enemies of their peace and happineſſe, it is one thing to have ſinne remaining, another thing to have ſinne ruling.
Now this truth meeteth eſpecially with two ſorts of falſe-hearted men.
1. Diſcreete hypocrites.
2. Subtile hypocrites
1. Diſcreete hypocrites: Diſcretion indeed ſimply conſidered in it ſelfe, is a bleſſed worke of Gods Spirit, wrot in the hearts of his people, and is alwayes acting upon good grounds, in a good matter, and to a right end; But there is a worldly diſcretion that lodgeth in hypocriticall hearts which turnes to the deſtruction of many a ſoule, therefore I call ſuch a one a diſcreete hipocrite, one that will alwayes indeavour to be on the ſtrongeſt ſide, one that will joyne with the moſt, though it be with the worſt, one that according to the Proverb, Will hunt with the Hound, and run with the Hare, one that regards not whether the Cauſe of Chriſt ſinke or ſwime, ſo he may ſave himſelfe, one that thinks them all madde men that will ſuffer for Religion, or for conſcience ſake, that want his diſcretion, and will not turne with the winde, as he doth, he is one that can be zealous for the Glory of God, ſo long as it runnes a long with his owne advantage, as John; falſe hearted John was very zealous in executing the Lords Command, in cutting off the houſe of Ahab root… and branch, that ſo he might ſettle himſelfe the faſter in the Kingdome: But when it cometh to the touch that he muſt either forſake Chriſt, or the world, then De… like, he follows this preſent world, his religion ebbs, and flows with the Current of the times he lives in, with the wicked he can ſhew himſelfe wicked, with the righteous he can ſhew himſelfe righteous, be hath his religion as it were in a ſer…e, he can ſet it higher and lower, according as the times goe, he can ſerve God upon any termes, after any faſhion, he indeavours to pleaſe all, that ſo he may get himſelfe a name amongſt men, when as the Lord will ſpue hins out of his mouth becauſe he is neither hot nor cold, Rev. 3.16. This is a diſcreete hypocrite.
Secondly, the ſubtile hypocrite, one that pretends nothing but love, and likeing to religion, as if he made it the aime, and end of his courſe, one that would not be knowne to thinke, much leſſe to ſpeake any thing againſt the truth, when in the meane while his owne heart knowes, that he is a ſecres Vnderminer of it, he pretends he ſeekes after the Liberty of the Goſpell, when he ſeekes his owne carnall liberty, like Saul, who pretended that he kept alive the cheife of the Cattle, for ſacrifice, when it was meerely out of a covetous humour that he did it; Further he is one that will pretend marvellous humility, he will ſeeme to be content to doe any thing, to ſuffer any thing for the truth, and all this out of a vaine oſtentation, he ſeekes himſelfe in all, and though he can denie himſelfe in ſome lawfull comforts, yet it is onelyonly out of a ſelfe end that he doeth it, and therefore it is not acceptable with the Lord, ſaith David, Pſal. 119.6. I ſhall not be aſhamed nor confounded when I have reſpect to all thy Commandements, Now this hypocrite hath not reſpect to all Gods Commandements therefore he ſhall ſurely be confounded.
Uſe 2 Is for Conſolation to all thoſe who finde that their hearts be levell to the rule of the word, who are willing to let goe all beloved finnes, (though never ſo pleaſant and profitable) and worldly ends whatſoever, yea to give up their all, yea their life it ſelfe when God ſhall call for it, this may be a ground of unſpeakable comfort unto them, for they finde that diſtinguiſhing Caracter in their ſoules, which cannot be found in the hearts of any hypocrites in the world: Conſider therefore with thy ſelfe, how thou canſt ſtoope as well to the Commands, as to the Promiſes of the word, canſt ſubmit to every bleſſed truth, art willing both to know it, and to practiſe it, and to delight thy ſelfe in it day and night: Is there any ſoule here, whoſe Conſcience beares him witneſſe, that it is thus with him, that he is willing not onelyonly to heare, but likewiſe to entertaine every Truth of God, even thoſe that are moſt contrary to fleſh and bloud, and that he can ſay in the uprightneſſe of his ſpirit as before the Lord, be there any more Truths of the Lord to be diſcovered, Oh! that I might heare them, and come to underſtand them, how willingly would I come up unto them, and put them in practice; that can ſay with the holy man Job, Surely it is meet… to be ſayd unto God I have borne chaſtiſement, and I will not offend any more, that which I ſee not, teach thou mee, and if I have done Iniquitie I will doe ſo no more. Such a man as can thus love, and thus entertaine the truth; he is a Free-man of Heaven, one of the bleſſed Company of Saints and Angells, John 8.32. And yee ſhall know the truth, and the truth ſhall make you free. This was the joy of the Apoſtle, 3. Epiſt. John 4. I have no greater joy then to heave that my Children walke in the truth. If it was ſo great a matter of joy to him that he had beene an Inſtrument to worke this bleſſed worke upon other mens ſoules, how much greater cauſe of joy haſt thou, that it is wrought upon thy ſoule; God himſelfe loveth the truth, and requireth truth in the inward parts, He delighteth alſo to reward the lovers of it: Doſt thou love the Truth of Chriſt? then it will give the ſame teſtimonie of thee, as it did to Demetrius. 3. Epiſt. of Joh. 12. Demetrius hath a good report of the truth it ſelf, And if the Truth report well of thee, Fear not what the world, what thy freinds, or enemies ſay of thee, for the teſtimony of the truth will be a comfort unto thee when all falſe witneſſes ſhall ſtand aſide, and thou ſhalt be able to lift up thine head, when thoſe that have derided the truth, and thee for the truths ſake, ſhall hang downe their heads, and have their hearts to faile within them. Then this ſhall be a comfort to a poore ſoule, when his conſcience ſhall beare him witneſſe, that although he hath had manie weakneſſes, yet there was never any truth made knowne unto his ſoule, but he was willing to entertaine it, never any ſinne was diſcovered to his ſoule, to be a ſinne, but inſtantly he loathed it, then the Truth ſhall ſtand up and ſay I beare witneſſe Lord, that he loved mee, entertained mee, and delighted in mee, though he indured bitter perſecutions for my ſake, and ſo the truth ſhall make him free, the devill ſhall not have any thing to lay to his charge, and God the Father, God the Sonne, and God the bleſſed Spirit ſhall be ready to imbrace ſuch a Soule, for God is a God of Truth, Chriſt is the Word of Truth, and the Holy Ghoſt is the Spirit of Truth; Therefore labour after the Truth, let not your hearts any longer oppoſe its efficatious working upon your ſoules, but unceſſantly intreat the God of Truth, to ſet every truth that you ſhall heare home upon your hearts.
FINIS.
THE PLANTATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS. Set forth in a Sermon on Pſalme 1.3.
BY THOMAS HOOKER, late of Chelmesford in Eſſex, Now Miniſter of the Goſpell in NEW-ENGLAND.
LONDON. Printed for John Stafford, dwelling in the Alley againſt Brides Church, 1646.