The Power of Godliness, Book 1 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. The seaventh property of a Godly life, viz. Willingness and Chearfullness. What therein is implied. Reasons to shew the necessity thereof. Signes or Evidences of a willing spirit. The Author thereof. The Means by which this Willingness and Chearfullness is to be preserved, and dullness and unwillingness removed.
Sponte facient quaecun{que} scientis, & non coacti. Art. Rhet. 1.10. 2 Cor 9.7. Psal. 119 …08. 1 Chro. 28 9. Heo 13.18. Psal. 1…0.3. Jud…. 5.2, 9. P…al. 47 9. Ez a 2.68. & 3.5. N…h. 11 2. 2 Cor. 8.11, 12 Ez…a 7 …5, 6. Exod. 25.2. & 35.21. Deut. 16.…0. 2 Chro. 29.31. 1 Chro. 29 3, 9, 14. Nehem. 1.11. …sal. 119.47. & 111.2. Isa. 62.4. 2 Chro. 17.6.Q. WHat is the seaventh Property of a Godly life?
A. It must be willing and chearfull. No man can be good unwillingly, though the thing he doth be good and commendable. God loveth a chearfull giver. Accept, I beseech thee [saith David] the free-will or voluntary offerings of my mouth. And thou Solomon my sonne, know thou the God of thy fathers, and serve him with a perfect heart, and willing minde.
Q. What is implied in this willingness?
A. First, An holy bent of will, affectionately following and lifting up it self to whatsoever God requires. Thy people are voluntaries, saith the Psalmist; that is, they most freely, willingly and liberally present themselves and their services unto thee. Thus the children of Israel were to bring offerings willingly for the matter of the Tabernacle: and David with his Princes offered willingly for the matter of the Temple; that is, with a free heart set to forward the work for the service of God. So Nehemiah prayeth, O Lord, I beseech thee, let thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy Name: that is, whose will is inclined and firmly set to walk in obedience before thee. And this seems to be that which elsewhere is called, the lifting up of the heart in the wayes of God. And this perpetuall disposition to the practise of godliness is alwayes required, not ever the practise of this or that particular duty. The Laws that enjoyne any actuall duty, doe bind us ad semper velle, but not ad semper agere: we are tied to iterate and resume them when need is, but not to continue the acts themselves without intermission. Secondly,Prov. 6.21. Esa. 55.2. Esa. 58.13. Psal. 40.8. Psal. 2.12. 1 Chro. 29.9. …sal. 37.4. Psal. 119.35. Psal. 119 14, 24. Job 27.10. Deut. 28.47. Psal. 54 6. Psal. 57.7. Rom. 1.15. Gen. 22.3. Mat. 4.19, 20, 2…, 22. Act. 21.13. 2 Chro. 17.16. Neh. 4.6. 2 Chro. 22.29 Ti…. 3.1. It notes delight and joy in the performance and exercise of all holy duties. If thou call the Sabbath a delight. I delight to doe thy will, O my God. Make me to go in the path of thy Commandements, for therein do I delight. And so we read, Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfullness and gladness of heart. Again, I will freely sacrifice unto thee. Thirdly, A willing minde will readily embrace all opportunities to put in practise what is commanded, and set upon it at the first call. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also. What wrought this in the Apostle; but care to wait for a fit season that he might come unto them by the will of God? Abraham being commanded to offer Isaac in sacrifice, riseth early to set forward towards the mount whereon he was to slay him. James and John being called of Christ, straightway left their father, their nets and ship, and followed him. Paul standing ready, not only to be bound, but also to die for the Lord Jesus, would not be perswaded from going to Jerusalem, though he knew that bands and imprisonment did abide him there. So we read of Amasiah the sonne of Zichri, that he willingly offered himself to the Lord, that is, with a most cheerfull and prompt minde he offered himself to fight the battels of God. Thus if the heart be to obedience, or be given to the work of obedience, an opportunity is gladly welcomed. Paul termes it, readiness to every good work. For this makes one towards God, as a true hearted friend is to him whom he intirely affecteth: an occasion is acceptable, whereby he may shew him kindness. This was in the Macedonians, whom in that particular Paul commends to the Corinthians for imitation, whenas even in extream poverty there was found in them a richness of liberality, a willingness even beyond their power, and a pressing upon the Apostle with great instance,2 Cor. 8.2, 3, 4. to receive that which they had raised for the necessity of the Saints.
Q. What reasons may shew the necessity of this willingness?
A. 1. God requires the heart, and will respect nothing that is done, what shew soever it makes, if that be not given unto him. A free disposition is so necessary, that nothing can please God if that be wanting A Magistrate in his place, whatsoever he shall doe, is of no account with God,Jer. 9.3. 1 Cor. 9.17. 1 Pet. 5.2. if he may be accused like those of whom Jeremie complained, to have no courage for the truth. A Minister in preaching shall have no reward, unless he do it willingly: If he do it more by constraint, then of a ready mind, the Lord doth not regard his course. In giving, it is the cheerfull giver whom God loves. In hearing, it is the swift hearer whom he takes notice of. This is the giving a mans self to God, 2 Cor. 9.7. Jam. 1.19. Rom. 6 13. 2 Cor 8.5.spoken of by the Apostle. Man looks to no more then the outward act, neither can he; but God who trieth the heart and reins, observes with what spirit and affection every thing is done, and measures the action accordingly. 2. To be freely, willingly and cheerfully disposed in the wayes of holy obedience towards God, is a speciall blessing, with all earnestness to be desired.Psal. 51.12. This was the very thing which David craved, Establish me with thy free spirit. His desire must be a rule to ours, and his suing for it, is a sufficient proof that it is excellent. He knew he could not stand without the Lords sustaining; and assurance to be upheld by God he could not have, unless he found in himself such a kind of liberall and ingenuous spirit. For where duties are not done freely, they can never be performed constantly. If the will be not set upon the duty taken in hand, a small thing will unsetle and turn us by. It is impossible to continue, if a setled purpose of obeying be wanting in us. 3.Isa. 64.5. The Lord meeteth them that with joy apply themselves to work righteousness; that is, he favoureth and respecteth them, will be ready to help and succour them. 4. Amongst men free kindness is twice acceptable: for the mind doubleth the value of the gift. It pleaseth the master that his servant is willing and cheerfull about his business; he cannot endure to see him sullen, lumpish and dead-hearted. The will is more respected of God then the work; and the heart then the labour of the hand. The traveller delighteth in a free Horse, which needs not the spur. The Tutors love is to the diligent willing Scholar, who is ready to his book before he be called or compelled. God loveth them that offer themselves heartily unto his service,2 Cor. 8.5. and stand ever prepared to goe when he sendeth,Isa. 6.8. to come when he calleth. I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will goe for us? Then I said, here am I, send me. Act. 21.13. Drus. Praeter. lib. 2. cap. 7. sect. 2 p. 60. Cant. 1.4. …sal. 119 32.What do ye mean to weep and to break my heart? for I am ready (firmly or stedfastly prepared,) not only to be bound, but also to die for the Name of the Lord Jesus. 5. This is the voice of the Spouse; Draw me, we will runne after thee: I will runne the way of thy Commandements, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. These sentences declare, with what alacrity and open-heartedness the servants of God give themselves unto the obedience of his Law, when their heart is enlarged with wisdome, comfort and love. And that they might yeeld more free and ready obedience, their continuall prayer is, that God will enable and establish them by his free Spirit still more and more. Their desire is fervent, but strength faileth to do what they desire; whence proceed most earnest requests to be set at liberty. 6. Willingness makes the work of obedience easie and delightsome. Nothing is tedious to a loving minde. The free heart swalloweth many difficulties with little adoe. They which affect heartily, long after, and delight to goe up to the house of God;Psal. 84.5, 6 Vise Tremel. & Jun. 1… hunc l… Herisbach ibid. Calvin in Psal. 84.7. that make God their stay, and study to compose their wayes according to his precepts, who are said to have the wayes of God in their hearts: they will not think much to passe through dry and thirsty places, or to endure vehement storms and tempests, that they might come unto God. They that be hearty and stout worshippers of God, will goe forward not only through soft, pleasant and delightfull wayes, but parching desarts, and rough, sharp, craggie places, that they might appear before God. Yea, they will rather digge pits, or make cisterns with great labour, then the driness of the region should hinder their journey. No difficulties, no obstacles can hinder them, but they will come cheerfully through the thirsty desarts to celebrate the holy assemblies. The holy Ghost witnesseth,Act. 20.23, 24. That bonds and afflictions abide me in every City, But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto my self, so that I might finish my course with joy.
Q. What are the Signs or Evidences of Willingness?
A. 1. Our praying unto God for such a spirit, out of the sensibleness of our naturall slavery and bondage unto sinne. When a man is aware of the forwardness of his nature unto evil, and of the strong bent thereof unto sinne, and feels that of himself he hath no heart to the things which God commands, his very stomack (in a manner) is against them; and so accordingly begs earnestly of God,Psal 119.32, 40. that he would, as David saith, enlarge his heart, and quicken him in his righteousness, this is a good evidence, that at the least God is beginning in him the work of a free and liberall spirit. For God prepares his people to that good, which he means to bestow on them, by stirring up in them a sensibleness of the necessity of it, and a fervency and desire of truth to enjoy it. Certainly; a free spirit is, as it were, a breeding in a man, when he begins to be displeased with the proneness of his disposition unto evil, and is discontented with himself that good duties are such a burden to him, and so thereupon prayeth God to turn him about quite, that holy services may be as pleasing unto him, as by the bent of nature evil is;Rom. 6.18. that he may become, as Paul saith, the servant of righteousness; and may be as cheerfull at the command thereof, as the servants of the Centurion were at his appointment, whose beck they obeyed without delay. 2. A free spirit is discerned by an easiness to be perswaded to good duties. To a willing minde there is no need of many arguments. The making it to appear that the business is necessary and good, such as God requires, approves, and will be much pleased with, if it be done according to his will, is a sufficient motive. How easily was Paul perswaded at Antioch, to deal unto the people present, the Gospel of God? the Rulers of the Synagogue sent to him and Barnabas, to request them if they had any word of exhortation to deliver it: the text saith, Then Paul stood up, &c.Act. 13.15, 16. 1 Thes. 2.8. This was an evidence of that which in this business he calleth his good-will: so farre was he from looking to be pressed with multiplicity of arguments, or from needing to be wrought upon by importunity, that he was rather glad of the occasion. It is an evil sign when there must be so much urging before a man can be brought to an inclination towards that which ought to be done. A word is enough to a cheerfull spirit. An Horse of mettall is more quickened with the sound of a wand, than a dull jade with many smitings of the spurres I would not perswade to rashness, I know it is possible for a man to be overhasty, and zeal not guided by knowledge may soon out-carry. Let every man be sure first, that the matter is good and necessary; and when that is once made plain to a mans conscience in the sight of God, if yet there be much adoe to work him unto practice, it is a sign of an illiberall and servile spirit. It is a dull jade that will go no longer than the spurre is in his side. 3. A man shall judg of himself in this point, by his going on in a good way, even when he is not egged on by ordinary outward provocations; nay when perhaps, in stead of them he meets with discouragements. As for example; suppose a good duty, to which a man is not bound by any humane Law, nor urged by any over-ruling authority, nor pressed by the perswasions of such as have interest in him, nor invited by the hope of any profits or praise, or approbation with the world; nay, it may be these things are against him herein, Law seems to inhibit, authority gives no countenance, friends, instead of perswading, labour to withdraw, there is like to be some prejudice to profit, there is possibility of being exercised with reproach, and of losing esteem and reputation amongst men; here is a time for a free spirit to shew it self. He that in this case is so in love with the duty, and so desirous to approve himself unto God, that he holds on constantly, having no egging on, but variety of withdrawments, him will I terme a free spirited man. 4. The ingenuous or free person, deviseth ingenuous things, and in ingenuous things doth he insist or persevere.Isa. 32.8. Their thoughts and cogitations doe resemble the temper of the heart; as streams do the quality of the fountain whence they spring. And not only so, but they have the same will and affections to godliness, they continue constant in their good course, and grow more and more. It is an easie matter to counterfeit the free person for a time; many also think they have quit themselves well, when they have gone a little way, specially if they suffer any disgrace for weldoing; but they grow fainthearted by and by, and change their mindes: whereas on the contrary true willingness is not an hours bird, as we say, but growes on to perfection. Those that are indued therewith, persevere therein constantly; their freeness is not by fits and starts; neither are they like a seething pot, that is now ready to boyl over, and by and by stands as still as a stone.
Q. Hath man this Freedom or Willingness unto good of himself?
A. The regenerate have a freedome to do that which is acceptable unto God: but they must never forget that they obtained not this freedome by their own merits, but by the benefit of God. For he fashioned them anew, and instead of stony hearts, hath put into them an heart of flesh.
Q. Is this Liberty or Willingness of the Saints perfect in this life?
A. By the power of the Holy Ghost the corruption of the will and affections is broken and made feeble, that it is not able to hinder the making of a right choice; but it is not quite taken away. And forasmuch as this lust, so long as we live here, cannot utterly be consumed; therefore it comes to passe, that this liberty which is given unto the godly, to do things which may please God, is not perfect and absol…e, but weak and maimed.
Q. By what Meanes is this Willingness to be preserved and upholden?
A. First, Labour to humble and shame thy self for dullness and sloth in the service of God, considering thy former readiness to serve sinne and Satan. O my soul, why art thou so backward to doe what thy God and Saviour doth rerequire of thee? Why seems his work tedious and irksome? Thou hast not served sinne, nor obeyed the lusts of the flesh in this manner? Thou hast drunken in the puddle waters of iniquity with great pleasure and delight; thou hast willingly followed the inticements of Satan; to do wickedly hath liked thee well. What love hast thou borne to pastime, pleasure, the vanities of this life? What time hast thou wasted about them? What contentment hast thou taken in them? how earnest hast thou been in pursuit of them? What? is the slavery of sinne better then the liberty of grace? Hadst thou rather be the droyl of Satan, then the free-man of Jesus Christ? It is enough and too much that heretofore thou hast lived to the lusts of the flesh, and to have wrought evil in the sight of God, for the time that remaines give thy selfe to the will of God, and that with so much the more willingness, by how much thou hast turned aside after folly. Secondly, Consider what great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he hath magnified his mercy towards thee.1 Sam. 12.24. Kindness enflames love, and provokes to willing submission. How hath the Lord respected thee above all thou couldst desire, or art able to comprehend? He formed thee in the wombe; hath fed, cloathed, defended thee ever since thou wast born. He gave his Sonne to die for thy redemption, and in him is pleased to take thee for his adopted sonne. Seeing God hath thus honoured thee with his favours above all thou canst conceive; shouldst not thou be carefull to honour him with thy willing obedience? What good thou enjoyest is all of his free grace; and what is more equall, then that thou imploy thy strength, thoughts, and all the power thou art enriched withall,Mat. 11.30. 1 Joh. 5.3. to his glory? Thirdly, the yoke of Christ is easie; his Commandements are not grievous. In the Word nothing is commanded, but what is pleasant and delightsome. The service which God requireth is liberall, not slavish. Did we truly bethinke our selves what is matter of delight, we should finde greater joy in nothing then in obedience. Again, faith worketh by love, which maketh heavy things to seeme light and sweet. Feare causeth the most easie burden to feel grievous and unsupportable: but nothing is hard to a willing minde. Furthermore, when we set upon the performance of any holy duty, the Lord is present to assist and strengthen us by his blessed Spirit in the doing of it.2 Thes. 3.5. 1 Thes. 3.13. The Lord will direct our hearts into the love of God. That labour which is tedious to the weak and sickly, is no way grievous to the strong and lusty. The work of God is a weariness to the unregenerate, that are led by their lusts: but to the regenerate, in whose heart the Law is engraven, who is continually supported and guided by the Spirit, it is meate and drink to finish the work whereunto he is called. True it is, the faithfull shall feel the flesh rebelling against the Spirit: but by the power of faith in Christ they shall overcome the world, and be more then Conquerours. Lastly, The comfort of well-doing is so great, as may animate and encourage therein. For he that exerciseth himself in the Law of God, hath the witness of a good conscience to plead for him against all accusations, to cheere him in all conditions. Fourthly, Remember thou art in Gods presence, his eye is upon all thy waies. Ps. 119.167, 168. My soul (saith David) hath kept thy Testimonies, and I love them exceedingly; one reason he gives thereof; for all my waies are before thee. Thus he exhorteth Solomon his Sonne to serve the God of his Father with a willing minde, for the Lord trieth the heart and reines. With what readiness will men doe Offices of kindness to their Neighbours, whilest present in their sight, whatsoever they think or speak of it behind their backes. Thou canst not goe heavily, uncheerfully about the works of God, but he doth espie it. With this Meditation quicken thy self, to do what thou dost with all thy power. Fifthly, Call to minde the rich and ample Promises that God who is true and faithfull, hath made unto them that walke before him with all their hearts. Eye hath not seene, eare hath not heard, it is not possible for the heart to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him. Who would not runne speedily and with good courage to winne such an excellent prize? Sixthly, Earnest Prayer is the preserver of willingness: for after we are effectually drawn and changed by the spirit of grace, we still need a second and third, yea perpetuall favour from God, that even to the last gaspe, at all times, in every moment the faithfull soul should cry, Draw me. They that seeme most obedient are so refractary, and the swiftest are so sluggish, that if God doe not continually hale them forward, they will sit still or goe backward.
Q. Do not the godly finde much dulnesse and backwardness in themselves?
A. They finde much untowardnesse in themselves at all times: for the corruption which they carry about with them is a continuall clogge that presseth down, that they cannot runne speedily the race that is set before them. But at some times thy feele more unwillingness and inability to do good then at another. For the Lord to let us see what we are in our selves, doth sometimes leave us to our selves, and withdraw the effectuall operation of his Spirit, and then we, as things that can move no longer then they are moved of another, do presently grow stiffe, or fall away. For remedy of this heartlesness we must consider the causes of it: for in the most it proceeds from security, earthlymindedness, conceit of selfe-sufficiency, delight in sinne, slight performance of holy duties, a course in lesser sinne, or some fall into grosser evill: And then it must be amended by serious humiliation, hearty repentance, and fervent Prayer;Psal. 51.12. as the Prophet perceiving that sinne had gotten a great power upon him, and that his affections were so secretly ensnared with it, that he had no such pleasure, he took no such felicity in the performance of holy services, as he was wont: they were irksome and burdensome unto him, he went on in a kinde of dull, and heavy, and unlusty manner with them, as one weary of this untoward and sluggish disposition which he had cast himselfe into by grievous forgetfulness: he bewayleth his offence with much bitterness, and prayeth for a more free kinde of mettall to be wrought into him, that he might finde himself cheerfull, and glad, and of a lively spirit, in the doing of the things which God commands. But in some it springeth from excessive sorrow, abjectnesse of minde, deep fears, length of temptation that hath wasted the spirits: In these it is remedied by a due consideration of Gods free love and mercy towards them, and holy courage and resolution to waite upon his gracious Promises. Limmes benummed with cold are quickened with heate: a dejected spirit is cheered with good words. If sorrow oppresse, courage and joy will revive and strengthen.