The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX The …omplaint continued that this Calling is ſo much neglected, when ſuperſtition and ſin are embraced, and diligently followed.
SEcondly, How do men make Superſtition and Idolatry their buſineſs. Though they are carel…ſs about Divine inſtitutions, yet they are zealous for humane traditions. How zealous were the Phariſees for the inventions of their Elders. They called them Maſhlamathath, Completions or Perfections; eſteeming them both helpful to the obſervation of the Law of God, and alſo to the perfection of it. Superſtitious perſons do naturally think that their poſtures, geſtures, ceremonies, and additions do render the Worſhip of God more comely and more compleat; but truely ſuch embrace a cloud inſtead of Juno, worſhip the ſhadow of Chriſt, whilſt the Prince himſelf goeth unſaluted. Men are exceeding prone to, and earneſt for ſuch vain and falſe ways and worſhip; partly becauſe its pleaſing to corrupt ſpirits, who naturally love a fair ſhew in the fleſh. A pompous holineſs, ſutes beſt with a proud heart; partly becauſe theſe traditions were received from their Anceſtours; and as Auſtin obſerved in his time; Men were reſolved right or wrong to be followers of their Fathers. (Sutable to which Cicero ſaid, I will never forſake that way of Divine ſervice which I have received from my Fore-fathers, for any mans pleaſure, or by any mans perſwaſion) No not though Chriſt himſelf dyed to redeem them from their vain converſations, received by tradition from their Fathers, 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. hence, though they are ſo backward where God Commands, yet they are forward when men command. What an outcry doth Micah make for his Idol? What a privy ſearch doth Laban make for his Image? Gideon, muſt dye for throwing down the Alter of Baal. How earneſt are many for prieſts, Tapers, Altars, Sacrifices, Days, Meats, Conſervations, the Holy of Holies, Croſſing and Cringings. In theſe their zeal is hot, boyling over to the ſcalding of themſelves and others. Though this fervency is aptly compared to a Ship without Ballaſt, over-beared with Sails, which in a ſtrom caſts away all aboard her; they diſeſteem their eſtates and poſſeſſions in compariſon of Idolatry and Superſtition. Such perſons are not onelyonly liberal but laviſh; Jeroboam will be at great coſt for his Idols, they muſt be, not Iron or Brazen, no not Silver, but Golden Calves, not Guilded over, but Maſſie, molted Gold; they laviſh gold out of the bag, and weigh ſilver in the ballance, and hire a Gold-Smith, and he maketh it a God, and they fall down and Worſhip it. Iſa. 46.6. The Iſraelites will ſpare their Jewels for their Idols, Exod. 32.3. Micha's mother to make molten and graven Images will lay out eleven hundred ſhekels of ſilver, Judg. 17.2, 3. The Papiſts are ſo prodigal though it is the leſs wonder in them, becauſe they hold ſuch actions meritorious of Salvation, (and what would not a man give or do to be ſaved?) that not onelyonly their Churches but even Clorſters are ſtuck and ſtuft with coſtly, pearly preſents, to their ſuppoſed Saints. The Indians in the Iſle of Zeylon having a conſecrated Apes tooth got from them, offered an incredible maſs of treaſure to recover it. How many zealots that will hardly give a penny to the releif of a poor Chriſtian throw away pounds for the maintenance of Superſtition?
They ſlight their relations to further their idolatrous devotion. The ſuperſtitious Jews would ſacrifice their children to Moloch, 2 King. 17.17. Diodor Sic.The Carthaginians at one time (after they had received an overthrow by Agathocles) ſacrificed two hundred of their prime Nobility to appeaſe their incenſed Deity: Good God whether is nan fallen! to be more cruel then a Beaſt to the children of his own body? What ſlavery is it to ſerve Satan, and what liberty to ſerve thee?
Nay they will ſacrifice not onelyonly their Eſtates and children, but their lives and all their outward comforts to ſuperſtition: Verberari à dae mone mallebat quam à Deo coronari. Mendoz. in 1 Sam. 8.How did the worſhippers of Baal cut and lance themſelves. Ahaz ſacrificed to the gods of Damaſcus that ſmote him, 2 Chron. 28.23. So fervent he was that he choſe rather, in the ſervice of falſe gods to be ſcourged, then in the ſervice of the true God to be ſaved.Pur. Pilgrim. p. 1478.
Among the Mahometans are a ſect called the Derviſes, whoſe ſharp and ſtrict penances exceed thoſe of the Papiſts; they live on the tops of hills, ſolitary, for contemplation, faſt till nature be almoſt decayed, have no cloaths but to cover their nakedneſs, wear ſuch maſſie fetters of iron upon their legs, that they can ſcarce ſtir, and yet go as faſt as they can with them many miles to viſit the Sepulchres of their deluded Saints. Al. oran.The Turks willingingly lay down their lives in their Wars to propagate their Religion, which their Prophet hath taught them muſt be done, non diſputando, ſed pugnando, not by diſputing with, but by deſtroying others. The unhappy Jeſuite (though his Religion be an heap of formalities, as the Turks a bundle of fooleries) is yet ſo zealous for it, that Campian could impudently in a Letter to Q. Elizabeths Council affirm, That as long as there was one Jeſuite left for Tiburn, they had vowed never to deſiſt endeavors to ſet up their Religion in this Nation. O devout ungodlineſs, or ungodly devotion! How few take ſuch pains to go to Heaven, as many do to go to Hell?
Alas what ſorrow doth this call for and command? that men ſhould be ſo hot and fiery in Will-worſhip, in falſe Worſhip, waſting their wealth, cutting and carving their bodies, as if they were made onelyonly to be their ſlaves, and themſelves to be the Tyrants over them; laying out ſo much coſt, and exerciſing ſo much cruelty, for that which is worſe then nothing, for that which will not onelyonly not profit them, but extreamly and eternally prejudice them; and in the interim the eaſie yoke of Chriſt is ſcorned, the power of Godlineſs ſlighted which might be minded with much more mildneſs and mercy to their outward and inward man.
It was a good meditation of a forequoted Author, Thoſe that travel in long pilgrimages to the holy Land, what a number of weary paces they meaſure? What a number of hard lodgings and known dangers they paſs? and at laſt when they are come within view of their journeys end, what a large tribute they pay at the Piſan Caſtle to the Turks? and when they are come thither, what ſee they but the bare ſepulchre wherein their Saviour lay, and the earth that he trode upon, to the encreaſe of a carnal Devotion? What labour ſhould I willingly undertake in my journey to the true Land of Promiſe, the celeſtial Jeruſalem, where I ſhall ſee and enjoy my Saviour himſelf? What tribute of pain or death ſhould I refuſe to pay …or my entrance not into his Sepulchre, but his Palace of glory, and that not to look upon, but to poſſeſs it.
Thirdly, As many make the World their main work, and others Superſtition their principal occ…pation, ſo moſt make wickedne their cheif, their conſtant trade and buſine. While ſanctity is but coldly entertained, but complemented with, ſin is laid in the boſome and heartily embraced; the turnings and windings that are in the ſinners way, are not eaſily to be obſerved; the pains which he takes to bring forth and breed up thoſe Birds which will peck out his own eyes, can neither be fully deſcribed, nor ſufficiently lamented. In what haſt and hurry is Abſolom for an Halter? what work doth luſt make in Ammon, to waſt his body, and ſend his ſoul to endleſs wo? How faſt doth Gehazi run after a Leproſ…e, as if he might come too late? How ſick and violent is Ahab for Naboths Vine yard? How fiercely doth Balaam ride even without raigns, after the wages of unrighteouſneſs? How eager and earneſt were Pharaoh, and his Egyptians, to fight againſt God? what a ſtir, what a do, they make to overtake deſtruction, and to ſink like Lead, in the midſt of the migthy waters Joſhua could ſtop the Sun in his courſe, but not Achan in his covetous career; Paul before his converſion (as one obſerves) followed the Saints with ſuch cloſe perſecution, and was ſo mad upon it, that like a tyred Wolf, wearied in worrying the flock, he lay panting for breath, and yet ſtill breathed out perſecution. In one Journey he travelled one hundred and ſixty miles (namely from Jeruſalem to Damaſcus) as an inquiſitour for private Hereſie. At Muſcleborough field many of the Scots ran away ſo faſt, that they fell down dead; truely ſo do men by ſin, run away a pace from God, even to the tyring of themſelves here, and tormenting themſelves hereafter. They run as faſt as if they feared that Hell would be full before they came thither.
The wicked man travelleth with pain all his days, Job 15.20. A wicked mans whole courſe, is ſpent in carking care, as the Seventy read it. He hath many ſharp throws, bitter pangs, before he can bring forth that hideous horible Monſter, Sin. Some Women are very long in labour, ſeveral days in pain; but a wilful Wicked man, travelleth with pain all his days; He works himſelf weary in digging deſcents into Hell, and labours harder at it then many do for Heaven. I remember Buntingus in his Itinerarium totius Sacrae Scripturae, when he comes to the Travails of Antiochus Epiphanius, that fierce enemy of Gods people, firſt relates the tedious journies (in all eight thouſand one hundred fifty three Miles) various hazards, deſperate dangers and difficulties, which this wicked wretch underwent to ſatisfie his malice, and gratifie his revengeful ſpirit, and then concludes thus. We ſee that the Wicked with more ſorrows, troubles and vexations, gain eternal damnation, then the juſt, though they ſuffer greivous affliction, obtain everlaſting Salvation. For amongſt all the Patriarchs, good Princes and Prophets, there is not found any that had ſo many long and tedious journies as this Antiochus, who continually oppreſſed his mind and conſcience with unprofitable vanities and wicked thoughts, and at length had a miſerable and terrible end.
Though God hath few diligent Servants, yet the Devil hath many drudging ſlaves that work hard at grinding in his Mill all their days. Their calling is a trade of corruption which they follow with diligence and conſtancy. They plow iniquity, ſow wickedneſs, and reap the ſame, Job 4.8. Alaſs what pains do they take to pollute themſelves ſpiritually, and periſh eternally? They Plow iniquity, Plowing is no eaſie, lazy work. We ſay of ſuch works as require much pains, a man were as good go to Plow all day; Theſe ſons of Belial, that will not ſtoop to the eaſie yoke of the Saviour, can ſubmit their proud Necks to the hard yoke of Satan, and follow his Plow willingly. Sin is their diet, their meat and drink, they eat the bread of violence, and drink the wine of deceit, Prov. 4.17. Nay it is their dainties their delicates, let me not eat of their dainties, Pſa. 141.4. Theſe Apiſh Monkies (who now and then act the part of Chriſtians without a principle of Chriſtianity) feed on Spiders, on Poyſon. Further, it is not onelyonly their nouriſhment in the day, but their refreſhment in the night, They cannot ſleep unleſs they cauſe ſome to fall, Prov. 4.16. Till their ſtomachs are gorged and glutted with the ſweet meats of ſin, and thereby their heads filled with filthy fumes and vapours ariſing thence, they can take no reſt. They love ſin above ſleep, and let them but riot, they will loſe their reſt. The Murderer riſeth with the light, to cut aſunder the ſilver thread of his Neighbours life. The Drunkard that helliſh good Husband, can be all night drinking healths to others, whilſt he leaves none to himſelf, how often doth his brains crow before break of day; the Chief and Adulterer love and long for darkneſs, to cover and countenance their curſed deeds, Job 24.14, 15, 16. Pro. 7.9. Once more. As ſin is their nouriſhment, their food and ſleep, ſo it is their Garment their Ornament. Pride compaſſeth them about as a chain, violence covereth them as a Garment, Pſa. 73.6. A chain of pearle doth not better become their Necks, nor the richeſt robes adorn their Backs, then ſin doth in their judgements become and ſute their ſouls. They glory in their ſhame; Plato ſaith of Protagoras, that he boaſted whereas he had lived …ixty years, he had ſpent Forty years in corrupting youth. They brag of that which they ought to bewayl.
They plot ſin with their heads, They conceive miſchief, Pſa. 7.14. they affect ſin with their hearts, their hearts are after their covetouſneſs, Ezek. 33. They act with their hands, what their heads forge, and their hearts favour; they do evil with both hands earneſtly. Micah 7.3. They work ſo hard till they are weary, thou haſt wearied thy ſelf in the multitude of thy counſels, Iſa. 47.13. Pliny ſaith of the Scorpion, that there is not one minute wherein he doth not put forth his ſting; theſe cannot ceaſe from ſin, 2 Pet. 2. they do even contend which of them ſhall exceed in ſin, as unhappy boys ſtrive who ſhall go fartheſt in the Dirt.
All the rubs which are layd in their way, do rather increaſe their rage then hinder their riot. When God would ſtop the ſtream of their luſts by his prohibitions, laws, judgements, like waters dammed up, they ſwell the more, and like the poſſeſſed perſon break all thoſe cords in peices. When Paul chides the Epheſians for their Idolatry, they cry out for it with the greater vehemency. When Steven had reproved the Jews for their cruelty, they were cut the to heart and gnaſh upon him with their teeth. Acts 7.54, 57. When Ahaz. was hampered in affliction, like a mad Dog he bites at his Chain, and ſins yet more in his diſtreſs, againſt the Lord. When the ſinners tide of nature is thwarted and croft by the winds of reproof or ſome judgement, what a ſtorm is preſently raiſed? how doth he like the Sea preſently diſcover and foam out his own ſhame. Though God command, intreat, perſwade, threaten, promiſe, yet all this Phyſick doth often but move and ſtir, not remove nor purge away their ill humours. O how deadly is that diſeaſe which no phyſick can cure? and how tough is that wood which no wedge can cleave? The bird will beware of the pitfal in which ſhe bath been caught, and the beaſt of the ſnare in which he hath been taken, but brutiſh man more fooliſh then beaſts, will not be parted from ſin though he have been ſharply puniſhed for it.
The Wicked are eſtranged from the womb they go aſtray as ſoon as they are born, ſpeaking Lies; Their poiſon is like the poyſon of a Serpent, they are like the deaf Adder that ſtoppeth her ears, which will not hearken to the voyce of Charmers, charming never ſo wiſely, Pſa. 58.3, 4, 5. The Serpent when ſhe begins to feel the Charmer, clappeth one ear preſently to the ground, and ſtoppeth the other ear with her tail, although by hearkening to the Charmer (as ſome obſerve) ſhe would be provoked to ſpit out her poyſon, and renew h…r age. So hot is man upon his Harlot ſin, that he is deaf to all that would counſel him to the contrary, he ſtoppeth his ear, hardeneth his heart, ſtifneth his neck, againſt the thunders of the Law, the ſtill voice of the Goſpel, the motions of the Spirit, and the convictions of his own conſcience. When ſin calls they run through thick and thin for haſt, when the World commands how readily do they hearken, how quickly do they hear, how faithfully do they obey? but when the bleſſed God cryeth to them, chargeth them by his unqueſtionable authority, beſeecheth them for their own unchangeable felicity, they (like ſtatues of men rather then living creatures) ſtand ſtill and ſtir not at all. Other things move ſwiftly to their centers, Stones fall tumbling downward, Sparks fly apace upward, Conies run with ſpeed to their burrows, Rivers with violence to the Ocean, and yet filly man hangs off from his maker; that neither intreaties, nor threatnings, nor the word, nor the Works of God, nor hope of Heaven, nor fear of Hell, can quicken or haſten him to his happineſs. Who would imagine that a reaſonable ſouly ſhould act ſo much againſt ſenſe and reaſon? Where is the Saint that is not ſhamed by the very damned, ſinners drive furiouſly (like Jehu) againſt their God, their Soveraign, but Saints like Egyptians drive heavily though they are marching in the road to the Heavenly Canaan. Ah who preſſeth towards the mark, for the price of the high calling? Who works ſo hard to be preferd to the beatifical viſion, as wicked men do to be puniſht with eternal deſtruction? they ſweat at ſowing in the Devils field, when all they ſhall reap thereby will be damnation, and thou freezeſt in ſeeking Gods favour when the fruit thereof will bee everlaſting Salvation.
O Reader, Conſider and mourn, that the deceitful world (who will leave their lovers in the greateſt danger) ſhould have ſuch hot and violent woers; that Superſtition ſhould be ſo greedily caught at, though like Hemlock, it makes them run mad that eat it, and ends often in deſperation; nay that the loathſom monſter Sin (whoſe Father is the Devil, whoſe ſervice is perfect ſlavery, whoſe Joynture is blackneſs of darkneſs for ever) ſhould have ſo many and ſuch eager, earneſt Suitors; and …et Godlineſs (whoſe birth is noble from Heaven, whoſe perſon is lovely, the beautiful image of the bleſſed God, whoſe portion is large, no leſs then Eternal life) ſhould be by moſt wholly ſlighted, and it beſt but coldly courted. Surely this ought to be for a lamentation. Good God whither did man go when he departed away from thee!
The ancient men wept when they ſaw the foundation of the Second Temple laid, conſidering how far it came ſhort of the glory and beauty of the Firſt, Ezra 3.12. What cauſe have we then to weep floods of tears when we ponder how ſhort man is, nay how contrary man is to his primitive purity and perfection. Godlineſs was then his buſineſs but is now his burthen; Sin was then loathed as his bane, but is now loved as his daily bread.