4. False Inferences from Christ’s Work

BY working them to make falſe inferences, from thoſe bleſſed and glorious things that Chriſt hath done; As that Jeſus Chriſt hath done all for us; therefore there is nothing for us to doe, but to joy, and rejoyce, he hath perfectly juſtified us, and fulfilled the Law, and ſatisfied divine Juſtice, and pacified his Fathers wrath, and is gone to Heaven to prepare a place for us, and in the mean time, to intercede for us; and therefore away with praying, and mourning, and hearing, &c. Ah! what a world of Profeſſors hath Satan drawn in theſe dayes, from religious ſervices, by working them to make ſuch ſad, wilde, and ſtrange inferences, from the ſweet and excellent things, that the Lord Jeſus hath done for his beloved ones.

THe firſt Remedie againſt this device³⁶³ of Satan, is, to dwell as much on thoſe Scriptures that ſhew you the duties and ſervices that Chriſt requires of you, as upon thoſe Scriptures that declare³⁶⁴ to you, the precious and glorious things that Chriſt hath done for you. ‘Tis a ſad, and a dangerous thing, to have two eyes to behold our dignity, and priviledges, and not one eye to ſee our duties, and ſervices. I ſhould look with one eye upon the choiſe and excellent things that Chriſt hath done for me, to raiſe up my heart, to love Chriſt with the pureſt love, and to joy in Chriſt, with the ſtrongeſt joy, and to lift up Chriſt above all, who hath made himſelf to be my all. And I ſhould look with the other eye upon thoſe ſervices and duties, that the Scriptures require of thoſe, for whom Chriſt hath done ſuch bleſſed things, as upon that of the Apoſtle; What, know yee not that your body³⁶⁵ is the Temple of the holy Ghoſt which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your owne? For ye are bought with a price: p. 160 therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your ſpirit, which are Gods. And that³⁶⁶ therefore my beloved brethren, be yee ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. And that, And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due³⁶⁷ ſeaſon we ſhall reape, if we faint not. And that of the Apoſtle, rejoyce alwayes, and pray without ceaſing; and that in the Philippians: Worke out your ſalvation with³⁶⁸ feare and trembling; and that, This doe till I come; and that, Let us conſider one another, to provoke one another to love, and to good workes; not forſaking the aſſembling of our ſelves together, as the mannor of ſome³⁶⁹ is, but exhorting one another, and ſo much the more, as you ſee the day approaching. Now a ſoule that would not be drawn away by this device of Satan, hee muſt not look with a ſquint eye upon theſe bleſſed Scriptures, and abundance more of like import; but he muſt dwell upon them, he muſt make theſe Scriptures to be his chiefeſt, and his choiſeſt companions, and this will be a happy meanes to keep him cloſe to Chriſt, and his ſervice in theſe times, wherein many turn their backs upon Chriſt, under pretence of being highly intereſted in the great and glorious things that have been acted by Chriſt, &c.

1. 363. 1. Remedie. [dropped from the edition]
2. 364. Tertullian hath this expreſſion of the fulneſſe of the Scriptures (Adoro plenitudinem Scripturarum) I adore the fulneſſe of the Scripture. Gregory calls the Scripture (cor & animam Dei: the heart & ſoule of God and who will not then dwell on it?
3. 365. 1 Cor. 6. 19, 20.
4. 366. 1 Cor. 15. 58.
5. 367. Gal. 6. 9. 2.
6. 368. Phil. 2 12, 13 1 Cor. 11. 26. Heb 10. 24, 25.
7. 369. The Jews were much in turning over the leaves of the Scripture; but they did not weigh the matter of them, John 5. 39. You ſearch the Scripture, Gr. there ſeemeth to be indicative, rather then imperative.

The ſecond Remedie againſt this Device³⁷⁰ of Satan, is, to conſider, that the great and glorious things that Jeſus Chriſt hath done, and is a doing for us, ſhould be ſo far from taking us off from religious ſervices, and pious performances, that they ſhould be the greateſt motives and encouragements to the performance of them that may be, as the Scriptures do abundantly evidence. I³⁷¹ will only inſtance in ſome, as that, That we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies, might ſerve him without feare; in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe before him all the dayes of our lives; Chriſt hath freed you from all your Enemies, from the curſe of the Law, the predominant damnatory power of ſin, the wrath of God, the ſting of death, and the torments of hell; but what is the end and deſign of Chriſt in doing theſe great and marvellous things for his people? ‘tis not that they ſhould throw off duties of righteouſneſſe and holineſſe, but that their hearts may be the more free, and ſweet in all holy duties, and heavenly ſervices: So the Apoſtle; I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people: And I will be a Father unto you, and yee ſhall be my ſonnes and daughters, ſaith the Lord Almighty (mark what follows) Having therefore theſe promiſes (dearly beloved) let us cleanſe our p. 164 ſelves from all filthineſſe of the fleſh, and ſpirit, perfecting holineſſe in the feare of the Lord. And againe, The grace of God that³⁷² bringeth ſalvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us, that denying all ungodlinſſe, and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world; Looking for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious³⁷³ appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who gave him ſelfe for us, that he might redeeme us from all iniquity, and purifie unto himſelfe a peculiar people, zealous of good workes. Ah ſoules! I know no ſuch arguments to worke you to a lively and conſtant performance of all heavenly ſervices, like thoſe that are drawn from the conſideration of the great and glorious things that Chriſt hath done for you; and if ſuch arguments will not take yee, and win upon yee, I doe think the throwing of hell fire in your faces will never do it.

1. 370. 2. Remedie. [dropped from the edition]
2. 371. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Luke 1. 74, 75. This I am ſure of, that all mans happines here is his holineſſe, and his holineſſe ſhall hereafter be his happineſs, Chriſt hath therefore broke the Devils yoke from off our necks, that his Father might have better ſervice from our hearts. 2 Cor. 6. 6. 17, 18. ch. 7. 1. compared.
3. 372. Yit. 2. 11, 12, 13, 14.
4. 373. Tace lingua loquere vita, talk not of a good life, but let thy life ſpeak. Your actions in paſſing paſs not away; for every good work is a grain of ſeed for eternall life.

The third Remedie againſt this device³⁷⁴ of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that thoſe precious ſouls which Jeſus Chriſt³⁷⁵ hath done, and ſuffered as much for, as he hath for you, have been exceeding active and lively in all religious ſervices, and heavenly performances; he did as much, and ſuffered as much for David,³⁷⁶ as for you, and yet, who more in praying, and prayſing God then David? ſeven p. 165 times a day will I praiſe the Lord; who more in the ſtudying, and meditating on the word, then David. Thy law is my meditation day and night. The ſame truth you may run, and read in Jacob, Moſes. Job, Daniel, and in the reſt of the holy Prophets, and Apoſtles, for whom Chriſt hath done as much for, as for you; ah! how have all thoſe Worthies abounded in works of righteouſneſſe, and holineſſe, to the praiſe of free grace? Certainly Satan hath got the upper hand of thoſe ſouls, that do argue thus;³⁷⁷ Chriſt hath done ſuch and ſuch glorious things for us: therefore wee need not make any care or conſcience of doing ſuch and ſuch religious ſervices, as men ſay the word calls for; if this Logick be not from Hell, what is? ah! were the holy Prophets and Apoſtles alive, to heare ſuch Logick come out of the mouths of ſuch as profeſſe themſelves to be intereſted in the great and glorious things that Jeſus Chriſt hath done for his choſen ones; how would they bluſh to look upon ſuch ſouls? and how would their hearts grieve, and break within them, to heare the language, and to obſerve the actings of ſuch ſoules.

1. 374. 3. Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
2. 375. The Saints Motto in all ages hath been (Laboremus) let’s be doing.
3. 376. God loves (curriſtas, not quariſtas) the runner, not the queſtioner, or diſputer, ſaith Luther.
4. 377. The day is at hand when God will require of men non quid legerint, ſed quid egerint, nec quid dixerint, ſed quomodo vixerint. He that talks of heaven, but doth not the will of God, is like him that gazed upon the Moon, but fell into the pit.

The fourth Remedy againſt this device³⁷⁸ of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider this, p. 164 that thoſe that doe not walk in ways of righteouſneſſe and holines (that do not wait upon God in the ſeveral duties and ſervices that are commanded by him) cannot have that evidence to their own ſoules of their righteouſneſſe before God, of their fellowſhip and communion³⁷⁹ on with God, of their bleſſedneſſe here, and their happineſſe hereafter, as thoſe ſoules have, that love and delight in the wayes of the Lord, that are always beſt, when they are moſt in the works and ſervice of the Lord. Little children (ſaith the Apoſtle) let no man deceive you; he that doth righteouſneſſe, is righteous even as he is righteous. In this (ſaith the ſame Apoſtle) the children of God are manifeſt, and the children of the Devill; whoſoever doth not righteouſneſſe is not of God, neither hee³⁸⁰ that loveth not his brother. If ye know that he is righteous (ſaith the ſame Apoſtle) ye know that every one that doth righteouſneſſe is born of him. He that ſaith I know him, and keepeth not his commandements, is a lyer, and the truth is not in him. But who ſoever keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected, hereby know we that we are in him. He that ſaith he abideth in him, ought himſelfe alſo to walke, even as he³⁸¹ walked. If wee ſay that we have fellowſhip with him, and walk in darkneſſe, we lie, and doe not the truth; but if we walk in the light p. 165 as he is in the light, wee have fellowſhip one with another; and the blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſin, ſaith the ſame Apoſtle. So James in his ſecond chapter; What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man ſay he hath faith, and have no workes, can faith ſave him? i. e. it cannot; for as the body without the ſpirit is dead, ſo faith without works is dead. To looke after holy and heavenly works, is the beſt way to preſerve the ſoule from being deceived, and deluded by Satans deluſions, and by ſudden flaſhes of joy and comfort, holy works being a more ſenſible and conſtant pledge of the precious ſpirit, begetting and maintaining in the ſoule more ſolid, pure, clear, ſtrong and laſting joy. Ah ſouls! as you would have in your ſelves a conſtant, and bleſſed evidence of your fellowſhip with the Father, and the Sonne; and of the truth of grace, and of your future happineſſe; look that you cleave cloſe to holy ſervices, and that you turne not your backs upon religious duties.

1. 378. 4. Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
2. 379. Certainly ‘tis one thing to judg by our graces, another thing to reſt, or put our truſt in them. There is a great deal of difference betwixt declaring and deſerving.
3. 380. As Davids daughters were known by their garments of divers colours, ſo are Gods children by their piety and ſanctity.
4. 381. A Chriſtians embleme ſhould be an houſe walking towards Heaven▪ High words ſurely make a man neither holy, nor juſt; but a vertuous life, a circumſpect walking makes him deare to God. A tree that is not fruitful is for the fire. Chriſtianity is not a talking, but a walking with God, who will not be put off with words, if he miſſe of fruit, he will take up his axe, and then the ſoul is cut off for ever.

The fifth Remedy againſt this device³⁸² of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that³⁸³ there are other choice and glorious ends for the Saints performance of religious duties, then for the juſtifying of their perſons before God, or for their ſatiſfying of the Law, or juſtice of God, p. 168 or for the purchaſing of the pardon of ſin, &c. viz. to teſtifie their juſtification; a good tree cannot but bring forth good fruit, to teſtifie their love to God, and their ſincere obedience to the commands of God, to teſtifie their deliverance from ſpirituall bondage, to evidence the indwellings³⁸⁴ of the ſpirit, to ſtop the mouths of the worſt of men, and to glad thoſe righteous ſouls, that God would not have ſadded. Theſe, and abundance of other choiſe ends there be, why thoſe that have an intereſt in the glorious doings of Chriſt, ſhould notwithſtanding that, keep cloſe to the holy duties, and religious ſervices that are commanded³⁸⁵ by Chriſt. And if theſe conſiderations will not prevail with you, to wait upon God in holy and heavenly duties, I am afraid, if one ſhould riſe from the dead, his arguments would not win upon you, but you would hold on in your ſins, and neglect his ſervice, though you loſt your ſoules for ever, &c.

1. 382. 5 Remedie. [dropped from the edition]
2. 383. ‘Tis a precious truth never to be forgotten (Quod non actibus, ſed finibus penſantur officia) that duties are eſteemed not by their acts, but by their ends.
3. 384. Finis movet ad agendum, the end moves to doing.
4. 385. Tene menſuram & reſpice ſinem, keep thy ſelfe within compaſſe, and have an eye always to the end of thy life and actions was Maximimilians the Emperours Motto.