The Sinfulness of Evil Thoughts, Treatise · Chapter 30
CHAP. XXX. The Third Uſe of Information in ſeverall particulars.
THE third uſe informes us of divers weighty points.
1. What a wide and vaſt difference there is between the lawes of men and the pure law of God: All thoſe fall far ſhort of this; they reach but the outward man, this the heart, ſpirit, conſcience, and the moſt hidden thoughts, Heb. 4. 12. Their Laws are Carnall, this Spirituall, holy, requiring truth in the inward parts. This applies Canons Rom. 7 14.and Engins to the mind, and forbids luſt in the firſt motions, checks the thought of Belial, 2 Cor. 10 4, 5. Rom. 7 7.or wickedneſſe (as it is cal'd) in the heart, Deut. 15. 9. The Laws of men require no more but to ſtrike the topſale, (in a civil behaviour) The Law of God boards every veſſel, cals for the bils of lading, makes a through ſearch in every Cabin, ſees what we are fraught with, and if it find any prohibited wares (not goods) or concealed armes for the uſe of the enemy, they are ſeized on, and the veſſell muſt yield or ſink. The Laws of men plant their Ordinance againſt the Enemies colours, ſet out upon the wals of the Caſtle; That of God undermines the foundations, and blows up all that ſtand in oppoſition. The Magiſtrate onelyonly provides, ne peccatum turbet, God, ne ſit; he ne peccatum reſiſtat, God ne reſtet. We may be Boni cives, mali Chriſtiani. We may obſerve the manner of the God of the land, as they ſaid, 2 Kings 17. 27. Yet not know or keep the Laws of the God of heaven. The Statutes of Omri, and Samaria are oft-times kept by Mit. 6. 16.thoſe who violate the Edicts of Sion, and of Chriſt. The Chriſtian therefore muſt not be a Statute Chriſtian, but a Scripture Chriſtian.
2. What a ſad difference there is between the holy Law of God, and our baſe hearts. His Law pure, we impure, that ſpirituall, we carnall. It was an uneven and uncomfortable match between beautifull, courteous, and vertuous Abigail, and that clown and ungracious churle Nabal, that between beautifull Moſes, and black Zipporah, but Gods Law and our hearts are worſe matched. But thoſe were the worſt matches in all the Scriptures, Gen. 6. 2, 4. when the Sons of God went in to the daughters of men, they begat that Gygantean and vicious race, which corrupted the whole earth; But this is the worſt match in the world, wherein the Law of God is married to the heart of man. For the motions of ſins which are by the law, do work in our members to bring forth fruit to death, Rom. 7. 6. and hereby is the whole Church corruptted.
The Tables of the Law were formerly engraven in ſtone, and put into an Ark… overlaid with pure Gold within and without, Exod. 25. 11. But the Tables of the Law and Covenant of Grace are now written in Gold, and put into a homely ark of ſtone.
3. What a difference there is between a godly and a wicked man, a ſincere perſon and a hypocrite, as much or more as between Solomons ſhields of beaten maſſy gold, and 1 King. 10. 17. and 14. 27.Rehoboams of braſſe, of like ſize and number. Copper and Gold differ not ſo much in colour as in their weight and worth; So tin and ſilver look alike, weigh not alike. The difference between man and man is not ſo much in favour, complexion, ſtature, or ſtate, as in the mind; not ſo much in diſeaſes, poverty, miſery as ſin; not ſo much in education, wit, reaſon, parts, or gifts, as graces. The godly for his outward aſpect is like to an old Church (Pauls for example) built of ordinary ſtone; without plain, but when you come in, you find there a comely inſide, handſome ſeats, and a convenient place to worſhip God in. The wicked for his outſide not much unlike, yet more fitly compared to a priſon (Newgate for example) built of fair ſtone, but within nothing to be found, but naſtineſſe, hunger, hardſhip, ill ſmels, and which is worſt of all, a company of Hell-birds, for their vile behaviour. In a word, the godly are like heaven, fair without, but the glory is all inviſible, and not to be imagined how great till you come within. And the wicked are like hell it ſelf, to which a broad and eaſie way doth lead, but it is bad to deſcribe, but worſe then you can imagine when you enter.
4. What a buſie work is it to be a Chriſtian, he hath more to do then to waſh Animum rege hunc fraenus hunc tu compeſce Catena. Horat.the outſide of the cup and platter, to make a covenant mith his eye, ear, hand, foot, mouth and to keep his mouth bridled, he muſt keep his heart bridled. Keep thy heart with all keeping, Prov. 4. 23. The God of truth requireth to be worſhipped in ſpirit and truth, Joh. 4. 24. in the inward parts. The cleanly Chriſtian is like thoſe neat Citizens who if they waſh and ſweep their doors to the ſtreet ſide, do waſh and rub, and keep the inſide cleanner; if they do but bruſh their outward garments, have their inner garments waſht, and the linnen which is next them; ſo the Chriſtian is to cleanſe his hands, but much more to purge and purify his heart.
The ſincere Chriſtian who would be approved of God is to adorn the inner man of the heart, 1 Pet. 3. 4. as old Sarah did, and to affect to be of the Kings daughters faſhion (the ſpouſe of Chriſt) all glorious within, Pſal. 45. 13. or to be in the Bridegrooms faſhion, whoſe outward garment was of four pieces, as all the other Iſraelites were, Deut. 22. 12. yet was his inner garment ſeamleſſe, woven throughout, and all one piece; Or like Solomons Temple, whoſe outſide was ſtone, inſide gold, eſpecially the Sanctum ſanctorum, 1 Kings 6. 30. whoſe very floor, as well as roof was gold within and without, or like his Chariot, the pillars whereof were of ſilver, but the bottom was of gold, Cant. 3. 10.
The ſincere ſoul muſt not onelyonly ſee he be the ſame within that without, like Noahs, or Moſes Arke, the one pitched within, as well as without, with pitch, for water-ſervice, Gen 6. 14.the other overlaid with gold within and without for Divine-ſervice; and be like the twelve Exod. 37. 2.Gates of the New Jeruſalem, each of which where one ſolid, entire pearl, Rev. 21. 21. But he ſhould rather ſtrive to be more within then he ſeems without, herein differing from other men, as much as the building and framing of Gods City doth from all other buildings in the world; We lay our foundations of courſe and rougher ſtone, but build up with fairer; But the holy Cities ſtreets was paved with gold, the wall was Jaſper, but the foundations exceeded all, The foundations of the wall were garniſhed with all manner of precious ſtones. Rev. 21. 18, 19. What a rare ſpeech was that of an Heathen? We ſhould alwaies ſo act and live, as if we were Sic certe vivendum est tanquam in conſpectu vivamus. Sic cogitandum tanquam aliquis in pectus intimum inſpicere poſſit. quid enim prodeſt ab homine aliquid eſse ſecretum, nihil Deo clauſum. Intereſt animis noſtris & mediis cogitationibus intervenit, Seneca.in open view, and ſo think, as if there were ſome one looking into our heart. For what doth it profit, to be hid from man, when nothing is to God. He ſteps into our mindes, and walkes in the midſt of our thoughts.
5. It informs us of another moſt ſad and weighty point, how far a hypocrite may go, and how high he may fly, yet at laſt fall low, and periſh in ſome unſuſpected ſin. There be many die of Occult and unknown diſeaſes, who are opened when they are dead, then it is ſeen what they died of, but then too late, but there be more die of unknown ſins, who would not have their hearts opened here as Lydias was, that they might have lived; But then it is too late, when they are dead and gone themſelves, to come to the knowled of it. Magus, next to Judas, is an example of an arch hypocrite, as any in all the Bible; he came on apace, of a late Sorcerer a new Profeſſor, and all the talk and news of Samaria, was of Simons converſion and extraordinary forwardneſſe and piety. He outſtrips them all, he hears, believes, is baptized, continueth with the godly, contributeth, wondereth Omnia facit, quae reliquos videt proeſtare, imo his majora, Aret. in loc.more then all the reſt, and ſits more cloſe to the Preacher. Who dips his hand uſually ſo ſoon in the diſh as the Traitor? Here if any were in Scripture, you may lively behold a falling ſtar, a waſhed ſwine, a painted ſepulchre, ſepulchre, the unclean ſpirit going out and returning, in his hopefull ſtepping forward, and mounting upward, and in his ſhamefull retreat, and dolefull declination.
1. How many ſteps are here of his aſcent, and hopefull exaltation, which ſhew him to be a ſtar, waſhed, painted, and the unclean ſpirit going out.
1. He heard.
2. Believed.
3. Was Baptized.
4. Joyned with the Church, and continued.
5. Wondered, Or was in a more than ordinary foreign.extacy or rapture, he was (at leaſt ſeemed to be) extraordinarily taken and affected with his new knowledge of the Goſpel truths, and his own ſtate.
6. He received the holy Ghoſt, in ſome, then common, yet now extraordinary (never ſanctifying) gifts. As may appear.
1. By that of Heb. 6. 4. where many are ſaid to be partakers of the holy Ghoſt, who do yet eternally miſcarry, partaking of the common gifts of the holy Spirit, whereof ſome were peculiar to thoſe times, as to ſpeak with tongues, to propheſie.
1. By interpreting Scripture written.
2. By foretelling things to come, as Agabus, yea Balaam did, who is ſaid to have the ſpirit come upon him, Num. 24. 3. and ſome gifts that are common to all ages, as illumination, conviction, elocution, utterance and acquaintance with the myſteries of Godlineſſe.
2. Many others have had the holy Ghoſt, as appears by that plea which will be made by many, Mat. 7. 22.
3. It is ſaid, they laid their hands on them, v. 17. and they all received the holy Ghoſt, of which number, Simon was one.
4. He offered them money, it is ſaid, v. 18. not to have the holy Ghoſt, which other believers had, but to have power to give (or ſell) the holy Ghoſt to others, which power was peculiar onelyonly to the Apoſtles.
7. He was deſirous of more gifts, more eminent, and Church-edifying gifts then he had already as it ſeems.
8. He would not be ſparing of his Purſe, but would let money go, ſo he might have ſpirituall gifts. He offered them money, foreign not foreign, in the ſingular number, as Acts 4. 37. but ſtore of money. This word is rendered riches, Mar. 10. 23.
9. He ſeemed ſomwhat affected with his ſad condition, ſo plainly layd before him, Trepidum fuiſſe non eſt dubium. O…atio pctri ad cor penetravit, ſauciavit conſcientiam, Arct. in locum.and ſo ſmartly ſet home by Peter. He trembled, ſaith Aretius, no queſtion, was pricked in his heart, and wounded and galled in Conſcience.
10. He is to be commended too, that he did not ſtorm and ſtomack at Peters reproof, (as many a one would have done) but ſeems to take it in good part.
11. He deſires the prayers of others on his behalf, which is very commendable, ſo Paul often, and the beſt of men have done.
12 He deſires they would pray for his ſoul, that none of thoſe evils might purſue and overtake him, but that he might be out of the ſtate of perdition, and out of this gall of bitterneſſe. Hitherto he runs well.
But Secondly, Obſerve him further, and you ſhall ſee the ſtar falling, that he was a ſwine ſtill, though waſhed, a Sepulchre, though painted, and the unclean ſpirit returning.
1. You may ſee here a change without a change, a ſeeming, but no reall change.
2. An outward change before an inward; in true godlineſſe, the inward goes firſt, then the outward, the hypocrite waſheth the outſide onelyonly.
3. Here was a change in profeſſion, none in diſpoſition; In principles, not affections.
4. He was changed in company, not alone when by himſelf.
5. He was changed in head, not in heart. Vulpes pilos mutavit, non mo…es.
6. His change was in gifts, not in grace; He had more of common gifts, of Knowledge, Utterance, Illumination, then of Conſcience and Sanctification.
7. He had more of unſound grace, then true, more Faith then Repentance, more Hiſtoricall Faith, then heart-purifying Faith: If Faith comes before his time, it is as dangerous as the Child born before the time; A too forward birth, is commonly followed with animmature death.
8. His graces were out of Order; Repentance ſhould have come firſt, and hath the ſcarler thread of Primogeniture tied about it; If Faith come out firſt, Gen. 38. 28, 29.it is as Pharez, it maketh a breach; Therefore for all his forward believing, Peter ſets him back to In ſpeech, as I may ſay, or his A. B. C. and bids him repent.
9. He kept a wondring in his head, when there was no wounding in his ſpirit, no humiliation, nor mortification of luſts.
10. He continued with them in publick, and made more ado to be with them at their meetings, then to be foreign, a Jew in ſecret, and to pray in private, as Paul did at his Rom. 2. 29.Converſion.
10. He deſired others not to ſpare their prayers, but he joyned not his own; Thy other mens ſins may ſooner deſtroy thee, then thy other mens pray…rs ſave thee, without thine own.
12. He onelyonly deſired to be delivered from hell, and the miſery of his ſin, not from the miſchief of his ſin. Pray, ſaith he, that none of theſe things come upon me.
Laſtly, He onelyonly deſired gifts for others, Verſe 20. that he might become eminent and famous, being equall to the Apoſtles.
So that, Beloved, we may ſee how far a man may go heaven-ward yet never come there. Hell is not onelyonly full of ſorcerers, adulterers, drunkards, ſwearers, and prophane ſwine; But there is many a hearer, profeſſor, believer, and convert, ſuch as they be: There are See my late T…eatiſe of Hypocriſy, ſhewing at large how far a Hypocrite may go.convictions, wiſhes, purpoſes, gifts, parts, yea faith and repentance, in Hell. The Faith of Ignorant men, Hope and deſires of Lazie men, the Knowledge of unſanctified men, and the Repentance of dying men, lead all to Hell. An over-ſudden Faith, and an over-late Repentance, are alike dangerous. Conviction without Converſion, Converſion without Reformation, Reformation without Renovation in the ſpirit of the mind purged from evil thoughts, and Faith without Repentance, all lead to Hell. Here was Conviction, Converſion,
Reformation, Faith, yet in the gall of bitterneſſe and bonds of iniquity.
It is never good doing things by halves, Profeſſion without through Conviction, Conviction without hearty Contrition, Contrition without true Converſion, Converſion without a Reformation, Reformation without a new Heart, the new Heart without the ill Thoughts repented of, and purged out, leave a Chriſtian half ſhort of Heaven.
Theſe ſudden changes are ſeldom good neither; a young Saul among the Prophets and an old Sorcerer among the Apoſtles, deſerve more to be obſerved then truſted. A ſudden believing, as I ſaid, and a late Repentance I am alwayes jealous of. When a man Will chop ſuddenly on Profeſſion in his life, or Repentance at his death, I may have ſome Charity towards him, but have no ground of Confidence of his good eſtate.