A Treatise of Self-Denial, Chapter 4 · Section 2 · Subsection 2 · Sub-subsection 8
The Eighth Direction.
8 Never go to the uttermost extent of your lawful Liberty. Virtus conſiſtit in medio, Vertue lyes in the middle betwixt two extreams, there is a twofold middle.
1 Of participation, when that in the middle partakes of both the extreams, as luke-warm betwixt hot and cold, it partakes ſomething of both, but this is not the middle here meant; there is another, and that is,
2 Of abnegation, when that in the middle partakes of neither. This is the middle here meant when wee are neither in the defect, nor in the exceſs in the uſe of our lawful liberty. Wee ſhould ſin, not to uſe things indifferent at all, and ſo likewiſe to over uſe them. It is dangerous being in the extreams. He that would not fall into the River, muſt not go too near the brink. Hee that will go as far as hee may go, is in danger to go further than hee ſhould go. If wee go one mile in the way of lawful, take heed wee go not two in the way of non-expedient. All things are lawful for mee (ſaith Paul) but all things are not expedient, 1 Cor. 10.23. There are many things indifferent, and we may lawſully uſe them, but we may ſin in uſing them, if wee obſerve not the rule of expediency. This is the rule to be obſerved in the uſe of things lawful in themſelves. How much is expedient? ſo far wee may go in the uſe of them, but no further. It is not enough that the things bee lawful in themſelves, but are they expedient? are they neceſſary? Here many perſons foulely erre, that care for no more but to know that ſuch things bee lawful they will have them, they will make uſe of them, though in the uſe of them they bee ſcandalous. They think becauſe there is no hurt in them, they may take liberty to ſatisfie their luſſs in them. There is much danger in this, and the rather, becauſe of the pretence of liberty. It was the complaint of old, Licitis perimus omnes, many ſin exceedingly, and go to hell for ſinning in the uſe of things lawful and indifferent. Though the things bee lawful in themſelves, yet when men ſhall let out their hearts inordinately upon them, and ſpend ſo much time in giving themſelves pleaſure and contentment in them, that they indiſpoſe themſelves for the ſervice of God, they ſin exceedingly in the uſe of them. That which is ſaid of the Law, may bee ſaid of ſports and pleaſures, and other things that are indifferent. The Law is good if a man uſe it lawfully, 1 Tim. 1.8. So theſe are good if wee uſe them lawfully. God hath given us liberty to uſe them, but not to uſe them as wee pleaſe. Brethren (ſaith the Apoſtle) yee have been called unto liberty, onelyonly uſe not your liberty for an occaſion to the fleſh, Gal. 5.13. This then ſhews how neceſſary this Direction is in order to Self-denial. Wee muſt not onelyonly abſtain from thoſe things that are abſolutely unlawful, and ſo deny our ſelves, but wee muſt alſo watch over our ſelves in the uſe of thoſe things that are lawful, if wee do not, the fleſh, that is, Self, will take an occaſion thereby to carry us on to thoſe things that are abſolutely unlawful. A man that is peremptorily bent to go to the uttermoſt bound, would go further if hee could, and oft-times by Gods permiſſion hee doth, and then hee is in thraldome; for the end of our liberty, is the beginning of our bondage. Take heed therefore you do not too much indulge your ſelves in the uſe of things lawful. Let your moderation be known unto all men, the Lord is at hand. It is lawful to marry, to rejoyce, to uſe this world, &c. But this I ſay brethren, the time is ſhort. It remaineth that both they that have wives bee as though they had none, and they that weep as though they wept not, and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not, and they that buy as though they poſſeſſed not, and they that uſe this world as not abuſing it, 1 Cor. 7.29.