Works, Chapter 21 – Chapter 22
CHAP. XXI. Rules for neceſſary actions, in reſpect of the meanes, and the order of the two Tables.
4 For the means. The beſt action may not be thruſt on by evil means Rom. 3.8NO action is ſo neceſſary as it muſt bee thruſt on by evil means. Wee muſt not do the least evil for the greateſt good, which was Lots ſin, to procure good by evil; neither yeeld to a leſs evil, to prevent a greater, in evils of ſin. In civil things, it is a moſt neceſſary thing to preſerve life; but not with a lie, uſury, ſabbath-breaking▪ or going to Witche…: Life is not ſo neceſſary, as without ſeparation to cleave to that which is good. In ſpiritual things to preach the word is ſo neceſſary, 1 Cor. 9.26.as Paul cries, Wo unto himſelf if hee do not, becauſe the flock of God depends upon him: But if I may not preach, unleſs I wound my conſcience, by compounding with hereticks, and blending truth with errour; I muſt never preach, but leave the care of the Church to God, who without my lie, will provide for the good of it. Thus Elijah fled and left his Miniſtry, becauſe hee could not exerciſe it, unleſs hee would have received Baals ceremonies, and flattered with the Baalites: And if hee had not thus forſaken his place, hee had forſaken the Church. Great Athanaſius chuſed rather to leave his Church, than to yeeld any thing to the Arrians. Act. 20.29.Saint Paul knew, that after hee went from Epheſus, grievous Wolves would come in, not ſparing the flock: And yet becauſe hee could not ſtay to preach, unleſs hee would have reſtored ſome phariſaical obſervations; and unleſs for peace ſake, hee would have yeeld…d to the rites and image of Diana, he left the place, becauſe he muſt not do the greateſt good by any evil meanes. Never let any think to thrive, by means which God hath accurſed, and upon which himſelf cannot pray for a bleſſing.
For the order of the two Tables.All neceſſary actions muſt bee done according to the order of the Tables, ever eſteeming the duties of the firſt Table, more neceſſary than they of the ſecond. This is Chriſts own rule, Matth. 22.38. This is the first and great Commandement, Duties of the firſt table muſt bee done firſt.and the ſecond is like to this, both in reſpect of the neceſſary binding, and of the end; for even theſe are a worſhip of God, if they bee performed in faith, and for his commandement ſake. Wherefore elſe did the Lord deliver two Tables, whereas hee might have put all into one, but that hee would prefer and claim the firſt place to duties that immediately concern his worſhip? From whence Divines gather that rule of Antinomy and truth, that when the two Tables are oppoſed, and both call for neceſſary duties, which both cannot bee done at the ſame time, the ſecond Table muſt give place to the firſt, as Act. 5.25. It is meet to obey God rather than man. Magiſtrates muſt bee obeyed; but the firſt Table derogates from the ſecond▪ when both cannot bee obſerved. So in the New Teſtament, Parents and friends are to bee loved; but if they bee not hated for Chriſt, when both cannot bee loved together, one cannot bee Chriſts Diſciple.
But here bee three Caveats:Three caveats.
1 That a ſpecial commandement is more neceſſary, and diſpenſeth with all the Ten: And it is a principle, that all commandements of both tables run with one exception, If God command not otherwiſe, Thou ſhall not kill, nor ſteal, unleſs God command Abraham to kill his ſon, and the Iſraelites to rob the A…gyptians. Thou ſhalt make no graven image, unleſs God command Moſes to make a Brazen Serpent. Thus obſervations of immediate commandements give all Sovereignty to God, who is to bee ſimply obeyed and acknowledged above his Law.
2 Moral duties muſt take place of all ceremonies: The rule of Divines is, that charity diſpenſeth with ceremony, according to that, Matth. 12.7.I will have mercy, and not ſacrifice, becauſe mercy is moral, and ſacrifice ceremonial. So Abimelech gave David the Shew-bread, which was not lawful, but in the caſe of neceſſary mercy. And it was ſuperſtition in the Jewes, that they would rather ſuffer their City to bee taken, Matth. 12.11.than fight upon the Sabbath day in their own defence. God allows an Oxe to bee pulled out of a ditch, Exod 12.16.and led to water, and allows a neceſſary proviſion for the body, unto which even Sabbath duties muſt give place.
3 Neceſſity (wee ſay) hath no law, but that is to bee underſtood in mans laws, when ſome ſudden caſe falleth out, ſo as the inferiour cannot have recourſe to the Law-maker, that then hee may interpret the law himſelf, and break the letter of it, to follow the reaſon and intent of it; as in caſe of the murder of a thief. But in the Law of God, one onelyonly caſe doth diſpenſe with it, and that is when neceſſity ſo altereth a fact, as it taketh away from it all reaſon of ſinning: As for example; it is not lawful to marry ones ſiſter, but in the beginning of the world extreme neceſſity altered this fact, and gave diſpenſation. So it is not lawful to take away that which is anothers but extreme neceſsity makes it lawful, becauſe it is not anothers any longer, ſeeing the Law of nature it ſelf maketh ſome things common in ſuch extream neceſsity. On the Sabbath wee muſt hold our ſelves ſtrictly to Gods worſhip, but if an houſe bee on fire, wee may leave it without ſin. Note the equity of that Law, Deut. 23.24, 25.
CHAP. XXII. Rules of Wiſdome for neceſsary actions in reſpect of the ſcope and binding of them.
ALL neceſſary actions, as they muſt begin with Gods will, 1 Scope. God muſt be the end of all our actions.ſo they muſt end with his glory. The end and ſcope of all our actions muſt bee God.
1 Becauſe hee made all things for himſelf.
2 He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning from whom all is, and the end for whom, and unto whom all muſt bee referred.
3 If in all indifferent things Gods glory muſt bee aimed at, mu…h more in neceſſary: But ſo it is in indifferent things, as eating, drinking, &c. 1 Cor. 10.31. and Rom. 14.6. Hee that eateth, eateth to the Lord, or ought ſo to do.
4 The very Heathens had a glimmering hereof, profeſſing that they were not born for themſelves, but partly their friends, partly their Country, and partly God. But the Scripture ſpeaks more plainly, that wee owe all our ſelves to God. Something indeed wee owe to our neighbour, but that is in, 2 Binding neceſſity duti s muſt be d ne, whatever follow.and for God.
In the neceſſary duties of Religion, or our calling, wee muſt hold our ſelves bound to do them, whatſoever follow.
Two things commonly hinder us herein, which wee muſt arm our ſelves againſt.
The firſt is fear of mens Judgements, faces, offence, and cenſures; but wee muſt tread this underfoot, if wee have a comman…m…t and calling to do any thing, as Paul did, 1 Cor. 4.3. I paſs little to bee judged of any man: Neither feared hee any perſecution or trouble, ſo hee might finiſh his courſe with joy. Jeremy muſt make his brow of braſs, to ſpeak the word of the Lord, Chap. 1. verſ. 17. A Chriſtian muſt prepare to paſs through good report, and bad report, and to count neither liberty nor life dear unto him. Daniel would open his window, Daniel 6.10.and pray as hee was wont, even when his life was ſought after.
Secondly▪ events of a…tions do often and much trouble us: For remedy whereof ob… …ve two rules.
1 That of the Wiſe man, Eccleſ. 11.4. Hee that obſerves the wind ſhall not ſ…w: It is a fo…liſh Husbandman, who for ſight of a cloud, forbears either his ſeed time or harveſt: So for ſowing works of mercy, hee that ſticks in doubts, and ſaith, I may bee poor, or old, long diſeaſed, full of children, or perſecuted for the Goſpel, and muſt provide for one, neglects his ſeed-time by looking at winds and clouds. So many a carnal Goſpeller ſaith, If I ſhould go ſo often to Church as ſome, and bee ſo forward in Religion, I ſhould loſe much profit, and incur much rebukes and reproaches.
Therefore ſecondly, wee muſt learn to leave events and ſucceſſes to God; for it is not in man to direct his ſteps, God diſpoſeth as hee pleaſeth. The Saints of God are often fruſtrate of their godly p…rpoſes, as David in purpoſing and preparing to build an houſe for the Lord. But firſt, they loſe nothing, if they do their du…y. Secondly, Gods over-ruling hand will diſpoſe all to the beſt; therefore there let them reſt.