Mary Magdalenes Tears Wiped Off, Objection 18
OBJECT. XVIII.
But me thinketh (ſay you) I may do more good then I do.
SOLUTION.
26. COncerning the meaſure of welldoing, if it were in Moral poſitive precepts of Gods revealed Will, there needs nothing more be ſaid, but that of our Saviour, Theſe ought to be done, Matth. 23.23. But becauſe ſuch doubts or Scruples, that afflict your minde, are moſt likely to ariſe from thoſe duties, which are preſcribed only in groſs; but the Quotum or meaſure left to our own prudence to determine, as Faſting, Prayer, Alms, &c. I ſhall onelyonly inſiſt upon theſe, there being no tollerable doubt or ſcruple to be made concerning the other, which oblige ad ſemper, at all times, and in their full meaſure.
But you muſt take notice, that it is not poſſible that part cular Rules and Directions can be given to all Chriſtians, concerning theſe Duties, whereby all objections may be prevented: ſome what may be ſaid in general, which may ſerve ſo far to direct you, and all good Chriſtians, concerning theſe duties, that by obſerving them you may be left ſecure from all damnable omiſſions of any of theſe duties, and from any dangerous errors in performing them. Faſting is a duty when enjoyned by publike lawful Authority, and for Chriſtian ends, and to be performed in a charitable manner, is an indiſpenſable duty upon all, ſave ſuch, with whom that Authority doth actually diſpenſe, or may duly be ſuppoſed to be diſpenſable by ſuch an Authority. But for private Faſts, how frequently they are to be obſerved by every one, cannot be defined without ſome regard had to our conſtitution of Bodie, our calling, the uſual Contingencies of neceſſary affairs, &c. which may hinder the performance, or make it impertinent to our end. Publick Faſts are leſs lyable to errors in the performance, than private are: one reaſon amongſt others is, becauſe the management of every one for that time, is for the greateſt part left under publick circumſtances of Time, Perſons, Place, &c. which render the Duty more free from error and ſcruple in the Performance: Private aſts are ſeldom free from private faults and inconveniencies. Now becauſe the circumſtances of Complexion, Age, Sex, Contingencies, &c. are ſo variable; my judgment is, that few Chriſtians oblige themſelves by Vow, (but under a pecuniary mulct to the poor they may) to the obſervation of weekly, voluntary faſts, making thoſe the choiceſt opportunities, when they are moſt fit for thoſe duties. The beſt conjuncture is Prayer, Faſting and Alms together, (or in thoſe who have no corporal Alms, ſome ſpiritual Largeſs to the Souls of others, which all may give) theſe ſet a price upon the Service of God, and keep our Religion from being cheap and refuſe, and ſuch as coſts us nothing, but the expence of a little time and breath.
But by this I deſire not to be thought to diſcharge the weekly dayes of abſtinence appointed by the Church, or to commute for them, by the obſervation of a day of your own; for I look upon the Authority of the Church you were baptized in, as uncancell'd in point of obliging you, and all others, who call your ſelves the Sons and Daughters of the Church of England.
Theſe Cautions I ſhall recommend unto you, and others, in reference to the matter in hand. 1. The duties of our honeſt and neceſſary calling, (wherein men do undoubtedly ſerve God, when orderly and Chriſtianly performed) may, though not wholly ſuperſede, either out of our family, or private practiſe, any of theſe duties, yet moderate us in the practice of them. So much time ſpent in prayer, cannot in reaſon be expected, from one that ſubſiſts by his honeſt Calling, as from him that lives of a plentiful Revenue. 2. Diverſions and recreations ought not to govern us in of reſpect theſe duties: but if they be ſuch as require much of our time to the exerciſe of them (which I believe is not agreeable to Chriſtian principles) the ſeaſons muſt not be rob'd away from theſe duties, but from ſomething elſe, wherein we have a power to diſpenſe. I do not believe that an Hunting-Match, a Cittie-Viſit, or a Pack of Cards, &c. ought to exchange and alter the fitteſt, and uſual times, and hours for prayer, (though neceſſary employments, deeds of Mercy and Charity may) much leſs abbreviate or wholly diſpenſe with the duty. 3. If it happen that there be an opportunity of doing ſome dutie of Piety, (as publick Prayer or Sermon, &c.) in that place where you are enjoyn'd to be an Auditor & Member of the Congregation on the Lords day (or in any other place where you are, in caſe there be no Schiſm in the National Church) you may not abſent your ſelf only for ſuch Diverſions and Recreations; the reaſon is, not only for that a guilt of omiſſion, and alſo a ſcandal will follow from thence, but you may loſe an opportunity of doing, or receiving ſome good at that time, which you may not have tendred to you again. To laviſh away ones time is a very great imprudence (beſides a ſin) in any Chriſtian; but to loſe ſeaſons and opportunities is a very great piece of guilt, as well as folly. 4. In caſe you have bound your ſelf to any of theſe, in reſpect of the meaſure and frequency, either by Vow, or promiſe, or firm Reſolution (eſpecially if by way of Revenge for former faults, 2 Cor. 7. 11.) by all means, be as projectual as you may in the obſervation there of: aſſuring your ſelf, that as you ſhall meet with the more and greater oppoſitions after ſuch Vow, Promiſe or Reſolution, ſo you will finde much more trouble upon the not performance of the duty ſo vowed, promiſed, or reſolved on; becauſe the duty thereby becomes in its circumſtances to the hic and nunc of it, of the nature of Gods unchangeable precepts, and the ſin of unfaithfulneſs is added to the omiſſion of that duty by you. 5. You need not ſcruple the Condition or perſwaſion of the Perſon to whom you give in beſtowing of your Alms; if you perceive the Receiver thereof be ſuch, as by honeſt endeavours cannot provide for himſelf, and his Family in a way proportionable to the Dignity of mans Nature, you have a good aim to hit the mark of Charity; if nothing be probably ſuggeſted to the contrary, you may ſafely ſuppoſe any one that asketh, capable of your charitable Benevolence. 6. in giving ever have regard to that your Eye informs you, the poor Wretch ſtands moſt in need of, and which others are not ſo likely, or ſo well able to ſupply, as your ſelf. I need not mention to you any caution againſt vain glory, the forfeiture of your Reward in Heaven, upon our Saviours own caution againſt it, will be your daily Remembrancer thereof. 7. To conſtant Prayers and other holie Duties in your Familie, though there be no Poſitive command in Scripture for it, I believe you hold your ſelf obliged. Yet would I not have you ſo wedded to any form, as not being able to pleaſe your ſelf therein, you ſhould wholly diſcharge the Dutie it ſelf, that which beſt opens your Wants as a Chriſtian, and cometh home to the concernments of your own Family, is the moſt proper, and in all likelyhood may beſt ſuit with the temper and perſwaſion of everie Perſon in your Houſe; which in this Age we live in, may not be ſo unanimous, as you deſire. 8. In the performance of any of theſe (as of all other Duties) labour to ſhew your ſelf of an alacrious Spirit. For being they are Free will Offerings, (at leaſt manie Acts of them may be ſo) it is true in all the reſt, which the Apoſtle ſpeaks of one of them, God loveth a chearfull Giver. 2 Cor. 9.7. 9. I ſhall conclude with this caution (which I deſire you to make uſe of as a cordial, and not as a conſerve to make other things glib and palatable in ſwallowing) remember that there is great difference betwixt the certain puniſhment annext to the breach of Law, and a leſſer degree of Glory in the life to come, he that ſoweth plentifully, ſhall reap plentifully; 2 Cor. 9.6, 7. though where there is no ſowing at all, no Harveſt (in Juſtice) can be expected, yet where there is this ſpiritual ſowing the crop ſhall be anſwerable to what is ſown. Though it ſhould be every mans deſigne, to aim at the higheſt degree of Glory, and yet believe that he deſerves not the leaſt: yet I would have ſuch as are of your ſad temper to conſider; that there is no danger incurred, by being only capable of receiving a leſs reward then other men.