The Parable of the Prodigal, Part 6
LUKE 15. 20.
And he aroſe and came to his Father: But when he was yet a great way off, his Father ſaw him, and had compaſſion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kiſſed him.
Theſe words contain in them two parts.
1. The very Life of true Repentance: Which conſiſts not in a bare Reſolution, but in an active and real Execution: I will ariſe, ſaid the Prodigal, and here he did ariſe; I will go to my Father, and here did come unto his Father; [He aroſe and came unto his Father.]
2. The gracious Acceptance of a real Penitent. The Graciouſneſs of it appears, 1. In the preſent obſervation of him; (when he was yet a great way off, his Father ſaw him:) the very intentions, much more the preſent actings of repentance, are quickly eyed and obſerved by a mercifull God. 2. In a preſent affection to him; (and had compaſſion:) the bowels of mercy will ſtir, when the heart of a ſinner is penitentially touched. 3. In a preſent Application: His Father ſaw him, and his Father pitied him; but this is not all, [His Father alſo ran, and fell on his neck, and kiſſed him.] Mercy runs, and Mercy embraceth, and Mercy cheareth the penitent ſinner. The firſt part affordeth us this Propoſition, viz.
That penitent intentions and reſolutions ſhould be accompanied with preſent executions and performances. The Text properly Doct. 5. Penitent Reſolutions ſhould be accompanied with preſent Executions.yields this; for the words of it are but the lively and written copy of the Prodigals private and conceived purpoſe, to leave his ſinfull courſes, and to come back to the obedience and ſervice of his Father. It is obſerved of Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 29. 3. That he opened the doors of the houſe of the Lord in the firſt year, and in the firſt monethmonth of his reign, and repaired them. The publick Reformation was the principal work, and it was the prime work too. So muſt it be with a true Penitent; as ſoon as God ſets up a Throne of Grace in him, preſently to act that Grace, in purging out of ſin, and walking in the paths of righteouſneſs. We read this in Joſiah, as ſoon as ever he heard the threatnings of God out of the Law, his heart melted, and humbled it ſelf, 2 Chron. 34. 19, 27. and inſtantly he gathered all the Elders of Judah and Jeruſalem, v. 29. and made a Covenant, v. 31. and they took away all the abominations out of all the Countreys, and turned back to ſerve the Lord their God, v. 33. This you ſee in Practiſe; you may ſee the ſame likewiſe in Precept, Joel 2. 12. Therefore, now turn unto me with all your heart, and with faſting, and with weeping, and with mourning. The Duty is charged upon them for fu… neſs in all the parts of Repentance; and for quickneſs, Now, turn, &c. For the better opening of this Aſſertion, premiſe with me a few particulars.
1. That the execution of a penitential reſolution, is nothing This is meant of the very practiſe of Repentance.elſe but an acting courſe, or the very practiſe of Repentance. When not onelyonly the Judgement approves of the parts and rules of Repentance, and the Will embraceth them with conſent and deſire, but the Endeavour alſo doth, as it were, copy them forth in the Converſation. I exerciſe my ſelf to have a good conſcience, ſaid the Apoſtle: So when the ſinner doth exerciſe Repentance, when he doth hate ſin indeed, and flies from it, and forſakes it indeed; and when he doth indeed walk in the ways of new obedience, becomes a very ſervant of righteouſneſs, and works the work of God, this is the execution, or the performance of a penitential purpoſe and reſolution. As walking is to a journey, or as writing is to a copy, or as fighting is to a war, that is penitential execution to penitential reſolution. It is but the Theory (as it were) drawn down and put forth; It is as the tree ſhooting out into bloſſoms and fruits: It is repentance in life, which is the life of repentance.
2. That preſentneſs of Execution is an undelayed acting. Our actions fall vvithin three ſpaces of time; either of the vvhichwhich is And of an undelayed acting.paſt (as vvhat vve have done;) or of that vvhichwhich is future (as that vvhichwhich ſhall be done;) or of that vvhichwhich is preſent (as that vvhichwhich is doing.) Look as true Marriage, it is not a future, but a preſent acceptation: So true Repentance is not a delayed, but a preſent reformation. Or as in Writing, the motion of the Pen and the forming of the Letter are ſimultaneous: Or as in a Clock, the vvheel doth move and the finger doth move: So in the buſineſs of Repentance; the purpoſe of amendment, ſhould at the ſame time drop out into the change of heart and vvays. To have repentance onelyonly in our purpoſes, is onelyonly to have water in a cloud, or phyſick in a glaſs, it is not yet to do it. Reſolutions may be for the future, but Executions are for the preſent act; an hearing while it is to day, and not hardning of the heart. As St. Paul, being called, vvent immediately up to Jeruſalem; ſo preſent execution of repentance is, vvhen we do not defer the penitential work; a not allowing of our ſelves in giving vvay to our ſins, no, not an hour, as the Apoſtle ſpake in another caſe.
3. That there is a two-fold preſent execution of penitential purpoſes: One is immediate; or vvhen the purpoſe and the acting And of a preſent execution, either for immediateneſs, or ſeaſonableneſs.(vvithout diſtance of time) ſucceed one the other, there being no predominant impediment to the inſtantaneous execution of that penitential purpoſe. Another is ſeaſonable; vvhere, though twixt the purpoſe and the acting there may be ſome diſtance of time, yet the apprehenſion of the next occaſion may truly make the execution or practiſe to be preſent. As in the caſe of penitential reſtitution, it may ſo fall out, either through the inability of the eſtate, or the ſubjection of the perſon, that he cannot immediately reſtore; yet becauſe the penitent perſon in ſuch a caſe layes hold on the next opportunity and occaſion, his reſolution may be ſaid to be acted preſently, (i.) upon the next preſent time when God enables h…m to act his purpoſe of reſtoring: So that penitential Reſolution produceth preſent Execution; either for immediateneſs, as in moſt caſes; or for ſeaſonableneſs, as in ſome caſes.
4. That there is again a double penitential Execution of penitential And in execution; in endeavour, or in victory.Reſolution: One conſiſts in endeavour and application; when the perſon, without delays, addreſſeth or applieth himſelf to the ways by which ſins may be ſubdued and forſaken: Another conſiſts in victory and aſſecution, wherein the Penitent doth in ſome more eminent degree lead captivity captive. That penitential Execution whereof I ſpeak, properly and naturally conſiſts in the former. though it muſt aim and ſtrive after the latter alſo; (i.) when a perſon doth indeed reſolve to leave his ſins, and to ſerve the Lord in newneſs of life; this Reſolution doth actively excite him to be much in Prayer unto the Lord, and diligently to hearken to, and obſerve his Word, and to decline the occaſions which may give ſtrength to his corruptions: It cauſeth him to reſiſt evil motions, and to bewail them; it ſets him upon all ſorts of Duties and Ordinances, ſo that the perſon is now really working againſt ſin, and throughly working for God; he is in the ways of God, and according to the meaſure of grace received, working the works of God.
But why ſhould penitential Intentions be accompanied with preſent Executions or performances?
Sol. Reaſons for it are many. 1. That God who commands Reaſons for … God commands us to repent preſently.us to repent, commands us preſently to repent. The Time is under Precept, as well as the Work. Some Precepts bind us ſemper, but not ad ſemper; other Precepts bind us ſemper & ad ſemper too: When the Lord commands any man to repent, this is a Duty which concerns the whole courſe of his life; it takes hold of him as ſoon as ever he lives, and is become a ſinner; and concerns him, not onelyonly in his latter days, but all his days.
2. It is very dangerous to defer our penitential Executions or actings: Whether we conſider, 1. The Reſolutions themſelves; It is dangerous to delay.they are but accidental, and not natural things; not ſuch qualities (or rather motions) which ariſe from an in-bred principle, but are forenſical to our natures, and being not preſently cheriſhed by acting, like little ſparks of fire, may eaſily vaniſh, languiſh, and extinguiſh. We read of the Iſraelites, that they were an unſtedfaſt people in Covenant, and like a deceitfull Bow. Naked Reſolutions will never ripen and abide; if you will not go beyond your Reſolutions, you will quickly fall from your Reſolutions. 2. Our own hearts, ah! how deceitfull are they! how full of rebellion! how averſe to all good! Like the cold hearth to a little fire; how cunning to keep up Sin in the Throne! how willing to break aſunder all the bands of Obedience! with much adoe reſolving, with little adoe diſſolving thoſe reſolves again. Volebam (ſaith St. Auſtin) & nolebam; I would, and yet I would not; one while I would, and by and by I wouldnot. It is the Genius of cur ſinfull hearts, to apprehend the preſent time for ſin, and to crave the future time for repentance: Our worſt work we would do inſtantly, our beſt work we would do negligently: Good motions are like a Bird falling into our hands, which if we preſently catch not, ſhe inſtantly flees away. Gracious purpoſes in our hearts, are like warmth in the water; the impreſſion requires ſome degrees, and ſome blowing; but the receſſion is eaſie; the natural coldneſs in the water will inſtantly riſe up and expel that heat: if you be not watchfull, &c. 3. Extinguiſhing occaſions. Repentance, in all the parts of it, hath many enemies and hinderances, ſome within us, ſome without us: the Reſolutions are weak, but the Occaſions are ſtrong. Let the ſhip alone, and if the Pilot hath onelyonly a reſolution to ſail with, the next tide, or the next wind may carry the ſhip away. How ordinary is the experience, That the ſtrength of occaſions have beaten back, and put to flight many and many a reſolution? like a croſs wind, which hath carried back the ſhip unto the very harbour whence it came forth. Meer reſolutions are but unarmed Souldiers, or as unwalled Cities. You ſhall find much of this truth, That meet reſolutions are too weak for proper and ſudden occaſions. 4. Or the aſſiſtance of Grace To reſolve, and not to act, is one way whereby we quench the Spirit. The Spirit, you know, may be quenched many ways: Poſitively, as when we will walk in paths expreſly contrary to his motions; this is to throw water upon the fire: Negatively, when we do not follow nor cheriſh his motions; as you quench the fire, if you do not ſtir it, or blow it, or add more unto it. So when the Spirit of God ſhall deal thus far with us, as to convince us that our courſe is evil, and yet further, to excite a purpoſe in our hearts to deſiſt; but then we let the work lie ſtill, we do not ſt againſt that evil way, this may cauſe the Spirit of God to withdraw, to deſert the ſinner who doth deſert his counſel; who will be a Counſell our to him, who will walk in no counſel but his own.
3. Penitential Executions, if preſent, will be more eaſie, and Preſent execution will be More eaſie.more comfortable. 1. They will be more eaſie. St. Auſtin had almoſt waſted his ſpirits with reſolutions and conflicts; Quamdiu, cras, cras, &c. and he thought it many times impoſſible for him ever to be rid of ſuch an inmate as ſin: But when his reſolution brake out into practiſe, then Facile & ſuave, the work grew eaſie and ſweet. When we come to the acting part, then the Lord will exert and put forth his power in our weakneſs: the acting and doing Chriſtian partakes of moſt aſſiſtance. Do we not find it thus in Prayer, and in many other Duties, which perhaps we look upon with much fear and ſuſpition? But when we are acting of them, how ſingularly doth the Lord enlarge our thoughts and affections? Why! this holds in the very Duty of Repentance; ſeta againſt thy ſins in good earneſt, ſet upon a holy courſe in good earneſt, thou ſhalt expermentally find, that it was thy owne deceitfull heart which repreſented the work with more difficulty; but now having taken upon thee the yoke of Chriſt, thou ſhalt find it eaſie, and that God can as well work in thee to do, as to will. 2. They More Comfortable.will be more comfortable. Meer purpoſes cannot ſpring up ſuch comforts as actings; nay, even weak actings yield a thouſand times more comfort than ſtrong reſolutions: All the ſap in the root doth not make the flower to ſmell ſweet, unleſs that ſap comes to a bloſſome. We cannot ſay our reſolutions are ſolid, if unactive. If they do not alter the courſe, for ought as we know yet, they may be but falſe flaſhes, occaſional impreſſions, not ſpringing from renewing Grace, (which will break out into practiſe,) but from ſervile cauſes, which may be ſufficient to ſtop a ſinner, and with Saul, to profeſs he will perſecute David no more: But when Execution attends Reſolution, now the heart may be confident, that there is a renewing Principle implanted, which carries the ſoul from one degree to another; from convictions to reſolutions, from reſolutions to actions, from actions to courſes with ſtedfaſtneſs and fruitfulneſs.
4. The Soul gets no ground by meer Reſolutions: It doth neither The ſoul gets no ground by meer reſolutitions.alter the inward frame, nor mend the outward life; that which is of no influence, is of no furtherance: if the reſolution be on…y a reſolution, it is but a dead thing.
Now I come to the Application of all this to our ſelves: You have ſeen that penitent reſolutions ſhould fall into preſent executions; Ʋſegood purpoſes ſhould be turned into quick practices The great enquiry will hence be, What do we? it is obſerved of ſome …quire whether it be ſo with us.Nations, that they are too ſoon in the Field, and of others, too long on the bench; too quick in action, and too long in conſultation. I confeſs, that Repentance ſhould begin …n deliberation, and it ſhould deſcend to reſolution; but there is more required to building then a preparation of wood and ſtone. Thou haſt reſolved to leave ſuch and ſuch a ſin (Oh! in thy laſt ſickneſs, in thy laſt croſs, in thy laſt diſtreſs of conſcience; at the laſt Sermon, didſt thou not reſolve upon it, I will never ſerve ſuch a luſt more, I will walk more conſcienciouſly before the Lord?) But what is done? ſhew me thy Repentance in the acting part, as well as in the contriving part; thou art ſtill held faſt with the Cords of the ſame luſts, and art wallowing ſtill in the ſame mire, and art lingering yet, and haſtes not to come out of thy ſinful wayes. Zacheus made haſte, and came down at once; do we do ſo? David thought on his wayes, and turned his feet unto Gods Luke. 19. 5. Pſal. 119. 59.Teſtimonies; he made haſte and delayed not to keep his Commandments; But may not the Lord ſay of us, as he did of the Iſraelites, How long will it be ere they believe me? ſo, how long will it be ere we turn indeed from our ſins to God? 'Tis true, ſome reſolutions there are working in us, oftentimes, but like the goodneſs of Ephraim and Judah: Oh, Ephraim what ſhall I do unto thee? Oh, Judah what ſhall I do unto thee? for your goodneſs is as a Morning Hoſ. 6. 4.Cloud, and as the early Dew it goeth away: So is it with many of us, we purpoſe and profeſs, but we fall back to our ſins ſtill; what we were, that we are; The time is not yet come (ſaid they) to build the houſe of God, Hag. 1. Our purpoſes are paſt, but our executions are ſtill, ſtill to come: Conſider of a few things. 1. Why do you reſolve at all, when yet you execute and act nothing at all. Reſolutio eſt opus Why do you reſolve at all without execution.imperfectum & Ordinabile; doth not reſolution tend to action? will God be mocked with meer purpoſes? or think you to charm and ſatisfie your conſciences alwayes upon frequent ſinnings, to multiply reſolutions only? Alas▪ if Repentance be not now done, it is not yet begun; ſo much as thou doſt, thou repent'ſt; if ſin be yet to be left, as yet it is not left; and then where art thou as yet, but in an impetitent condition? 2. Is not Repentance a great work? Why, then is it not thy preſent work? Thy Soul is embarked It not Repentance a great work, why not then thy preſent work?in that Veſſel; eternity depends upon a moment: That which muſt be done, why is it not quickly done? and if it be not preſently done, we may be eternally undone; why do we defer the doing of that? the beſt work ſhould have the beſt time and place. 3. Is not thy life a ſhorteſt breath? a thinneſt vapour? a flying Poſt? a gleaning ſhadow? every moment we Thy life is very ſhort.are dying; eat and dye, ſleep and dye: Should not our laſt work be our preſent work, when our laſt work may be our next work? 4. It cannot be leſs then preſumption, to put off the practical It is preſumption to put off the practical part of Rep…ntance.part of Repentance: Either you muſt preſume upon future life (which yet is a Cord that thou canſt not lengthen;) or you muſt preſume on future ſtrength (which is a marrow ſtill waſted by a lingring diſeaſe;) or you muſt preſume on Divine Grace, which may be an hand juſtly withdrawn, becauſe it was a mercy unjuſtly referred and delayed. 5. You will but harden your hearts the more, and skill the way of hypocriſie the more; for De…ay hardens the heart the more.thus to untwiſt your Cords, wherewith you have ſo often bound your ſelves, makes you to venture, and venture yet a little further; yet once more, till a little and a little inflames your Souls to much evil, and the cuſtome of ſinning wears out both the ſenſe of ſin, and reſolutions againſt it. 6. Laſtly, You do but aggravate your ſins the more, by naked and empty reſolutions againſt And aggravates our ſins by empty reſolutions againſt them.them; you do not hinder the courſe of it, and you do intenſively raiſe the gult of it; for ſinning againſt reſolution in a ſinning againſt expreſs light, and againſt a condemning light: A perſon who hath reſolved to leave ſuch a courſe, it is ſuppoſed that he not only knows it to be evil, but likewiſe condemns it as evil: Now it is a great aggravation of ſin to continue in it, with light revealing, and accuſing, and cutting.
Obj. But ſome may ſay, We hope, that though our Executions are not ſo full, yet they are real; the quality is there, though… the equality be not; ſomething we do, though not ſo much. Sol. To this I anſwer. 1. That it is moſt evident, that many perſons do not by practiſe and execution anſwer their reſolutions at all; their reſolution ariſe from ſuch grounds as will not hold out to an execution and practice: If one ſhould demand, what are become of the many ſick-bed reſolutions? of thoſe that you made, when the hand of God was upon you? you vowed much unto God (as he did in a ſtorm, &c.) but as the King ſaid of Mordecai, What hath been done to Mordecai for this? ſo what have you done to make good your reſolutions? I believe your hearts are ſpeechleſs, your conſciences do condemn you, that health hath been the time of more ſinning, though ſickneſs was the time of more reſolving. The ſame may be ſaid for others, whoſe conſciences have been more actively and fiercely ſtirring; Oh! if the Lord would abate that wrath, and cool that inflamed ſpirit, &c. yet what are the fruits of many ſuch reſolutions. As the Divel ſaid of Job, But now ſtretch forth thy hand, and he will curſe thee of thy face; ſo here on the contrary, as ſoon as the Lord takes off his hand, theſe are as ready to continue and proceed on in their ſins, as the Iſraelites were, when they were delivered out of the Land of Egypt, from the fiery furnace: Yea, and of others; is it not manifeſt that they are fare enough from preſent executions, when they voluntarily defer the acting part of Repentance to old age? Hereafter is time enough, &c.
2. Others perhaps do act and execute preſently, yet they are exceedingly out: For 1. Though it be preſently, yet it is partially; they act reſolutions, as Saul did his Sword, upon the meaneſt and pooreſt, not upon the greateſt; they do not anſwer their reſolutions to the full. Deal kindly with the young man for my ſake (ſaid David) So when many perſons come to execute their Reſolutions againſt ſin, they fail, they falter, they do not execute Agag; ſome pleaſant corruption (which will mar all) finds favour. 2. Though it be preſently, yet it is but preſently; the preſent execution of the purpoſe is but a preſent, a tranſient execution, an hanging down the head for a day or for a week; a buſie and earneſt reformation for a while, but this Aſſize (like ours here) is but for a few dayes, it breathes away; the heart turns again to ſin, and the next convenient occaſion is too prevalent, it carries away the Soul.
2. But to draw nearer to our ſelves; however we have been defective Ʋſe 2. Let us ſet upon a preſent execution.to anſwer our manifold reſolutions by preſent executions and practices; yet now let us for the time to come, as he ſaid of words, ſo I of purpoſes, vertere propoſita in Opera; Not be like Clouds, ſeeming to be full of Water, but to pour down: Let us act the parts of Penitents, as the Prophet ſaid to the hovering Iſraelites, if God be God, ſerve him; ſo here, if Repentance be a neceſſary duty to be performed, let us then act it, act it preſently. For this, I will only propound two things. 1. The Motives. 2. The Means for a preſent Execution. 1. The Motives.
1. A preſent Execution is the trueſt part of Repentance: At the Motives. A preſent execution is the trueſt part of Repentance.beſt, you are but in a preparation, in a meer diſpoſition towards Repentance, until you act it; it is not ſo much what you would be, as what you are; what you intend, as what you practiſe, that will give the moſt real teſtimony of your Repentance. 2. A preſent execution, it is the ſafeſt part of repentance: Of the two, he is in the more ſure condition, who reſolves to leave a wicked And the ſafeſt part of Repentance.life, and doth indeed forſake it; and reſolves to lead a holy life, and doth indeed enterprize it; than he who reſolves on both, but practiſeth neither. The doer of good is a thouſand times more ſure then the reſolver: ſomething in ſome caſes may be ſaid to ſtay a perſon from his reſolutions; yet if nothing comes of the reſolutions, I aſſure you the ſcales will hang trembling: but action doth more fully determine the eſtate, and the Scripture is more clear for the ſpiritual eſtate, as it lies in practiſe, then as it lies in purpoſe. 3. A preſent execution, it is the comfortableſt part; While repentance lies only in reſolution, it is but as a Tree in And the comfortableſt part of Repentance.the Winter, perhaps well rooted, but it lives dry; but when repentance breaks out into action, it is as a Tree in the Spring, well rooted, well flowered, and well ſmelling too. There is more comfort to do, then to intend to do; indeed to ceaſe a ſinful courſe, and indeed to walk an holy life, this opens all the comforts of of the promiſes, draws down the favour of God, aſſures us more of intereſt in Chriſt, excuſeth more in the conſcience, reviveth more in all occurrences. 4. A preſent execution, it is the wiſeſt part; we cannot ſay what we ſhall do to morrow, when we cannot aſſure And the wiſeſt part.our ſelves, what, and where we ſhall be to morrow: He is wiſeſt for Divine Glory, and for his own happineſs, who acts an immediate duty of ſalvation, upon preſent terms. There are four things which declare wiſdome; One to ſow in ſeaſon; Another, to ſail in ſeaſon; A third, to accept and receive the Word of Grace in ſeaſon; A fourth to act repentance in ſeaſon, even now while it is called to day.
2. The means: If we would execute our pen…tential reſolutions, then we muſt 1. Take heed of the impediments of this Meanes.preſent Execution. 2. Make uſe of the helps and furtherances of it.
1. The impediments of a preſent execution are many.Take heed of the Impediments. Imb…cillity of Reſolution.
1. Imbecility of reſolution: Debile fundamentum fallit opus; if the foundation be weak, how can the building be ſtrong? the houſe which was built on a Rock, did ſtand; but that which was erected on the Sands, fell down: Where reſolutions are either weakly raiſed on ſtrong grounds, or ſuddenly raiſed on weak and mutable occaſions, there is either no execution, or uncertain; for no effect doth exceed the virtue of his cauſe: Thou haſt almoſt perſwaded me to be a Chriſtian; this left King Agrippa ſtill in Heatheniſme. You will never go through with the work, if you attain not to a thorow reſolution; when you have an heart that goes and comes, you will have only fits of repentance, which will come and go: Of two things be ſure, if ever you would penitentially act to purpoſe; One that you ſee ſtrong and prevalent reaſons to change your courſe of life, ſuch as may not be over topped by any arguments that ſin may ſuggeſt hereafter; they are the ſpirits in the brain, which confer to motion in the Hands and Legs: Another, that you reſolve not on deceitful and fallible grounds. If your reſolutions be upon Motives, either mutable, or conditional; you may be troubled with much temptation, but you will never advance in much penitential actions.
2. Servile fear: When we ſo exalt the opinions of men, and their Tongues, and their Power; what will they think of me? Servile fear.how will they nick-name, and diſgrace me? what may befall me? who can tell what miſchief they may do unto me? Theſe are the Froſts which nip the buds, and the Winds which bind the Ship, and the Remora's which hold the Children ſtill in the birth. We love the opinions of men, to be well thought on; and the Tongues of men to be well ſpoken of; and the reſpects of men to be countenanced, and encouraged: A croſs way makes us ſtart; Zedekiah would not obey the Lord, leaſt the Princes ſhould laugh at him; and many of the Jews durſt not confeſs Chriſt, for fear of the Scribes and Pha…iſees. For a man who enjoyes friends, and eaſe, and eſtate, and abundance in all ſorts, to thruſt out into a Sea, to enter into a holy and ſtrict courſe of Life, wherein he ſhall be ſure to be ſcorned as the off-ſcouring of the world, be trampled upon as the more in the ſtreets, be torne in his name by the teeth of wild beaſts, ſuffer ſhip-wrack in his liberty, in his plenty, in his body; Why? theſe apprehenſions are e…ough to quell and to keep in all forwardneſs, all action; as Spira confeſſeth, That they wrought on him when he denyed the profeſſion of the Truth of Chriſt. Therefore if you would deſcend into the preſent execution of penitential purpoſes, you muſt not be ſlaviſhly affected unto man; you muſt not fear the power of man, nor be a…hamed of the Croſs of Chriſt; you muſt put your ſhoulder under the Croſs, and the contempts of men under your feet: I am ready (ſaith Paul, Acts 21. 13) not to be bound only, but alſo to dye at Jeruſalem for the Name of the Lord Jeſus. If ye be reproached for the Name of Chriſt, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God reſteth upon you, ſaith S. Peter, 1 Pet. 4. 14. I will not fear what man can do unto me, ſaid David. Who art thou, that thou ſhouldſt be afraid of a man that ſhall die, and of the ſon of man who ſhall be made as graſs? and forgetteſt the Lord thy Maker, and haſt feared continually becauſe of the fury of the oppreſſor, as if he were ready to deſtroy? and where is the fury of the oppreſſor? Iſa. 51. 12, 13.
3. Deſpair of performance: Why, ſay we, as good never a Diſpair of performance.whit as never the better. It is not poſſible that ever we ſhould get hands to conquer all theſe ſins, or feet to walk in all theſe wayes which are ſo holy, ſo many, ſo ſtrict, ſo difficult. We cannot find words to pray, nay, God knows, ſometimes not hearts; the motions of ſin are thick and ſtrong, and ableevery moment to lead us captive; we have made ſome aſſay, but alas, the work proves ſo harſh, ſo uncomfortable, ſo unproſperous; we are without all ſtrength, we ſhall never break all theſe bonds of ſin, nor tread through all theſe pathes of holy duties. Thus as death cloſeth up our eyes, ſo doth deſpair ſhut up all our actions; where there is no hope to finiſh, there will be no heart to begin: But let us reject ſuch deſpairing deluſions; what hath been done may be done; what God commands to do, he can enable to do; and what he promiſeth that we ſhall do, that he will make and cauſe us do: But God hath commanded us to leave all our ſinful courſes, and to lead a life of holineſs; God hath promiſed grace ſufficient to forſake an evill way and to walk in a good way, I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes, and you ſhall keep my judgments and do them, Ezek. 36. 27. If God gives ſtrength to work, why ſhould we with-hold hearts to work? Da Domine quod jubes, & jube quod vis, ſaid S. Auſtin: Lord, give what thou commandeſt, and then command what thou wilt. Seriouſly conſider any one penitential work, for which God hath not promiſed grace and ſtrength to perform. Many have travelled in this penitential Work, and have found it very feiſable and paſſable: How many are this day in heaven? and how many are walking towards heaven? all of them prove, that it is not impoſſible to execute penitential reſolutions.
4. Hypocriſie and guile of heart: Where the heart is falſe, Hypocriſie.there the performance is faint; if the work be not done in the heart, it will never be done in the life; the work is beſt done in the life, which is firſt done in the heart. They in Jeremiah had rotten hearts, they did not cordially intend to leave their own wayes, and therefore when they were put to it indeed, they would not yield to walk in the wayes which God preſcribed. Where an holy way is not throughly approved, and where an evil way is not throughly hated, there may be many flaſhes, but there will never be ſolid performances or courſes: Yet a little ſleep, yet a little ſlumber, yet a little folding of the hands, ſaid the Sluggard, who loved ſleep and idleneſs, Prov. 6. 10. So where our affections are hank…ing about a ſin, there is ever, at the leaſt, a ſlowneſs to leave that ſin: Modo, modo, ſaid S. Auſtin, when motions came into him to forſake his …nclean Luſts, they anſwered, Shortly, ſhortly; Hereafter, hereafter; and this modo, modo, vvas ſine modo; this putting off from day to day, would have continued ſo all the dayes of his life. Therefore if you vvould execute your penitential reſolutions, take heed of corrupt affections; if they again prevail upon you, they vvill aſſuredly intangle and hinder you, they mar the judgment, and cloſe vvith temptations, and hinder actions. Oh how ſuddenly vvill they quench your ſpirits, alter your judgments, put aſide your duties, extenuate your purpoſes, bring you into further bondage, confirm your unwillingneſs, excite your fears, raiſe up diſcouragements, and all to fruſtrate the preſent executions of your former reſolutions. Corrupt affections are the very gates of ſin, the Bane of holineſs, the Quenchers of reſolutions, and the Impediments of all good performances.
5. Worldly cares: Our Saviout ſaith, That the ſeed which fell among thornes was chaoked, Luke 8. 7. And what was it which Worldly cares.did choa… it? ſee verſ. 14. The cares, and riches, and pleaſures of this Life, There are two things which worldly cares do choak viz. Heavenly directions of the word, and Heavenly reſolutions of the heart; ſo that neither the one nor the other do come unto perfection, Holy performance or action, it is the end or perfection of all knowledg and reſolution, and worldly cares ſtifle both. You have many a man who comes to the word, and hears the terrours of God and his wrath revealed againſt his unrighteounſneſs, inſomuch that his ſoul (with Felix) trembles under the ſtrokes of divine juſtice; Or he hears how happy and bleſſed the condition and life of holineſs is; what heavens of mercies, what rivers of comforts, what excuſations and peace of Conſcience, what bleſſings in life, what ſupports in death, what rewards after death it ſhall procure to perſons; upon the one and the other he is ſtirred up to the ſenſe of his ſins, to the admiration of Holineſs; to a condemnation of his evil courſe, to a reſolution for a better. But then it is with him as with ſome ſhip, ſometimes as ſoon as it is putting out of the Harbor, it ſtrikes upon a rock, or falls into the ſands, and loſeth all the precious lading: Or as with Corn ſown and let fall in an open and ſolid place, where the Birds come down and inſtantly pick it up; ſo is it here with this man, the world meets him again at the Church door, or at his own door, and all theſe impreſſions and reſolutions are ſpilt and gone; Worldly engagements take preſent poſſeſſion of his thoughts, and all the ſervice of his affections, ſo that he hath no time to conſider what God did ſpeak or work in him; no time ſecretly to beg of God to write thoſe truths in his heart, to keep all this in the purpoſe of his heart, to give him the Spirit of Grace and ſtrength to walk in the wayes of God revealed now unto him. When you turn the courſe of the water another way, the Mill cannot ſtir; ſo when men turn the courſe of their thoughts and affections to ſecular and vain imployments, all reſolutions ſtand ſtill, they have nothing now to elicit or draw them on and out into any holy or careful diligence of obedience and performance: The Oxen and the Farm, &c. took them quite off, and they made excuſes (.i.) for the preſent they had other engagements: therefore take heed of worldly cares. It is impoſſible that you ſhould be much in the actings of any Grace, if you be very much in the ſervice of worldly cares.
6. Laſtly, Preſumptuous Confidence is alſo an Impediment to the Preſumptuous confidence.preſent executions of good reſolutions; whether it be of future time, hereafter ſhall ſerve the turn; it is not wiſdom to be ſo forward; ſoft and fair will go far; we have day enough yet before us; a year, two or ten hence; after ſuch a buſineſs is effected, or (which is worſe) after the pleaſures of ſuch a ſin is a little more taſted. Or of Future ability: This is a work which we will do at pleaſure and at leiſure: when we ſee the ſcouts, the forerunners of the army, then we will buckle on our armor: when we eſpy the harbingers of death approaching, old age, ſickneſs, weakneſs, diſeaſes, then we will think of heaven, and forſake hell: what need we be troubling our ſelves to be doing of that a long time, which we can diſpatch at any time? if we have but time to ſay, Lord have mercy upon me, what would ye more? Or of Future Mercy: Wherefore hath God Mercy but for ſinners? and he hath ſaid, That if at any time a ſinner convert he will have mercy: We have found him kind unto us all our dayes, and doubt not of his fatherly compaſſion at the laſt. Thus do men poſt of all penitential executions, and for ever endanger their ſouls. Alas! for future time, whoſe is it? Seneca the Heathen could ſee more truth then this: Solum tempus preſens noſtrum: No time is ours but the preſent. Thou carrieſt thy life in thy hands, thy breath in thy noſtrils, and ſeeſt more Graves made for the young then for the aged. And as for thy future ability, why doſt thou ſo groſly befool thy ſelf? knoweſt thou not that preſent Neglects cauſe stronger Indiſpoſitions? Qui non eſt hodie, cras minus aptus erit, the Schoolboy will teach thee. Every man by more ſinning grows more ſinful, and therefore moſt unapt and averſe to good. And then Future Mercy, it is of all things the moſt uncertain to pardon ſin, where preſent mercy leaves us not to repentance from ſin: it is all one as if thou ſhouldſt thus argue, God will hereafter pardon me, and therefore for the preſent I will ſin againſt him, diſobey, diſhonour, vex, and grieve, and abuſe him. Theſe are the principal impediments to a preſent expectation of penitential reſolutions, and are to be declined by us. I now proceed to the helps and furtherances to a preſent Helps.execution of penitential… reſolutions, which are theſe, amongſt many.
1. Solid Conviction of a ſinful eſtate: This will put us upon a preſent Execution. When the Soul is brought to an experimental Solid conviction of a ſinful ſtate.ſenſe of the vileneſs and bitterneſs of ſin, it will not then lye hovering; Were I beſt to give up this courſe, or ſhall I go on in it ſtill? No, but when the Soul is indeed wounded, the wayes ſhall without delay be reformed; take a perſon in ſome judicial, and cloſe conviction of ſin, upon a ſick and dying bed, how forward is a perſon then to change and better his courſes; much more do ſolid and evangelical convictions ſweetly diſpoſe, and incline the heart to the forſaking of an evil, and walking in a good way. They in Acts 2. 37. were pricked in their hearts, and what did this work in them? they cry out preſently, Men and brethren what ſhall we do? So Saul was ſtruck to the ground, and was aſtoniſhed, and trembled, and then preſently cries out, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Act. 9. 4, 6. Outward afflictions you ſee many times do put on men to alter and reform their wayes; of much greater force are inward afflictions of ſpirit. Go on yet in ſin! God forbid! ſhall I continue in ſin any longer, who, if I make not haſte, may loſe all mercy, and drop into Hell it ſelf? what I feel is much, what I deſerve, I cannot bear.
2. Holy Wiſdome: To know times and ſeaſons, is an high Holy wiſdome.part of Wiſdome; Walk not as fools, but as wiſe, redeeming the time, (ſaith the Apoſtle) Eph. 5. 15, 16. There are four things which ſolid Wiſdome teacheth a man; One is, to look to the beſt part; Another, to make choice of the beſt good; A third, to walk in the beſt wayes; A fourth is to do all this in the firſt place, and ſureſt time: Have I any thing more near to me, then my ſoul? more concerning my ſoul then God? more concerning God, then walking before him? Where am I, if I loſe my Soul? what am I, if I enjoy not God? whether run I, if I continue in ſin? if my ſoul be neareſt, and God choiceſt, and his wayes ſafeſt, why do I demur? what, ſhould I take time, or put off the doing of that which is ever beſt done, when it is done? If I will live yet in ſin, for ought I know, I may then dye in ſin; and if I dye in ſin, I muſt for ever periſh for ſin; Why ſhould I not? Do I not admit the preſent loſs of that, which elſe may be the eternal loſs of my Soul? But if I ſet into an holy life, this is the very path of God, the image of Glory, the Ark of ſafety, and the pledg of an happy eternity. Why ſhould I be ſo ſafety, and the pledg of an happy eternity. Why ſhould I be ſo fooliſh, to be miſerably bad, who in a moment may be aſſuredly bleſſed? any wiſdome will teach me to leave a wicked life, for an holy and good; which hath made me to know, that mercy is beter then miſery; and that Heaven is better then Hell.
3. Chriſtian Courage: If we will not act the wayes of Heaven, till we ſee all difficulties removed, and all dangers Chriſtian courage.ſecured, we ſhall never enter into thoſe wayes: but when the love of Chriſt hath inflamed our hearts with a right zeal of his Glory, aſſuredly, we will be ding: Modo magnificetur Chriſtus, I muſt bring ſome Glory to my God, &c. Luther feared not to go to the Diet at Worms, had there been as many divels, as tiles on the houſes: What do you tell S. Paul of bonds, or ſpeak to the couragious Chriſtian of diſcouragements; I have ſworn, and will perform it (ſaith David) that I will keep thy righteous ſtatutes. S. Jerom would not only renounce, but throw off, and trample upon father and mother for Chriſt: What do you ſpeak of poverty, of diſgraces, of loſſes, of want, of ſelfdenials in eaſe, in pleaſures? &c. He who will be good, can loſe nothing but that which will loſe him; and get that which he ſhould never have gotten, had he not been good indeed.
4. A precious eſtimation and affection after Gods honour: Ah! A precious eſtimation of Gods honour.did we in any holy meaſure comprehend the height, and bredth, and depth of his favour in Chriſt; would we not ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate? ſhould not the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffer violence? What to ſand upon a ſinful pleaſure, or profit, or way, and to loſe a good, gracious, bountiful God: What ſinful luſt, pleaſure, way would we ſtand upon? What holy courſe or way would we ſet upon? would we be ſlow to ſee the face of God, and live? would we not ſpeedily ſet our ſelves in the wayes of his countenance? Zacheus being deſirous to ſee Chriſt, upon his call, made haſte and came down. Luke 19. 6.
5. A tender fear of God: This alſo cauſeth a preſent execution of our purpoſes. You read what it wrought in Joſiah, in Noah, in others. When the heart apprehends its way to be evil, and the diſpleaſure of God to hang over it, and his threatnings all in armour, &c. Oh, I dare not go on to offend any longer!
6. A right belief in God: Whether you take it in the threats, as they of Niniveh believed the preaching of Jonah, and A tender fear of God.preſently humbled and reformed themſelves and wayes, chap. 3. 5. Promiſes of ſweeteſt mercy made unto real penitents, that full, free, ſoon mercy ſhall be had: Why? if thoſe be believed, they will draw off the ſoul from a ſinful courſe A right Belief in God.unto a good courſe. The Apoſtle therefore beſeecheth the Romans, by the mercies of God to be transformed, Rom. 12. 1. O this, that God offers and aſſures me of mercy, and now I may have it if I will now reform, a puts the ſoul to the preſent work; To day I will hear his voice, for to day is the day of mercy, this is an acceptable ſeaſon, now I may be made happy for ever.