VeR. 14.] SERMOXS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. 283
delays ; but when we are acted and quickened by the mighty Spirit, then ' draw us, and we will run after thee/ Cant. i. 4. AYhen the Spirit puts forth its force upon the soul, such as are drawn by the Holy Ghost, they are not in jest, as carnal men are, but in earnest ; they do not dally with religion, but make it their great business to surprise heaven, and carry on constant communion with God : Mat. xi. 12, ' The kingdom of heaven suifereth violence, and the violent take it by force.' tlse 1. Information.
1. That grace is no enemy to good works. Libertinism is ancient and natural. Christ died to improve piety; not to lessen it, but to raise it to the highest, to make us zealous of good works, that we might be carried on to heaven with full sails ; therefore he that grows looser, less watchful against sin, less diligent in the exercise of holiness, less frequent in communion with God, less humble and penitent after committing of sin, offers the greatest abuse to grace that may be, and perverts its natural use. There is no freezing by the fire ; we may freeze indeed by painted fire, that may make us contract chilliness and drowsiness, but true grace is a fire that warms and inflames our affections. Christ came to make us more cheerful and lively, but not slack, careless, and cold,
2. It informs us what little reason the world hath to cry out upon zealots, for Christ died to make us ^T^Xeora?, ' zealous of good works.' Men that are only contented with a brain religion, speculative notions, theycannot endure heats and fervours ; they would have a religion to talk of, but not to live by ; therefore they are cold and indifferent ; and when the children of God offer a holy violence to the kingdom of heaven, they become a matter of scorn and opposition to them. And besides, formal men cannot endure to be outstripped, and therefore malign what they will not imitate ; as those that are at the bottom of the hill fret at those that are at the top ; and men of a lazy and slow pace envy them that are more zealous, strict, and holy : but they have little cause to envy them, for Christ died to make us zealous of good works.
3. It informs us, if we would expect any benefit by Christ's death, we must be zealous of good works, and more warm in the service of God. A cold christian will have but cold comfort. For whom did Christ die ? For those that are zealous of good works : Mat. xi. 12, * The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.' It is an allusionto Exod. xix. 23, 24, where there was a rail about the mount of God, that the people might not break through ; but when John the Baptist began to discover the grace of God, and pointed to the Lamb of God, then the kingdom of God suffered violence, men began to break through and press upon God ; there is a free access to God, and men are earnest and will not be denied entrance : Mat. v. 20, ' Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.' It is not cold prayers, and yawning devotions, and drowsy wishes, when men are half asleep, that will serve in this case ; heaven is gotten by force, and surprised by onset and storm ; it signifies breaking through the rail, and all restraints that are set to keep us off from God.
Use 2. To stir us up to this zeal of good works. In a dead and drowsy age we need an alarum. Knowledge hath now devoured
284 SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. [SeR. XXII.
practice in these decaying times. Seneca complains men are altogether studious for filling their brains, not warming their hearts ; and when once men became more learned, they were less good. The world is altogether for storing the head with notions, empty and airy strains ; so that if Christ should come amongst us, he would find few zealous, but a company of lazy christians that live at a low cheap rate of Christianity. High-flown we are indeed in our fancies, in notions and pretences, but low and flat in practice and conversation. Usually thus it is in the time of the church's prosperity ; like a river, it loseth in depth what it gains in breadth. Then it hath many friends, but their love is not so strong nor so hot as at other times. Salvian complains, Multiijil.icatis Jidei jyojndis, fides diminuta est ; et crescentihus filiis, mater agrotat, dx. — When professors were multiplied, their faith was lessened ; and as a mother grows the weaker the more children she bears, so doth religion grow weaker and weaker ; when every one takes up a cold profession, they learn formality one of another. And he goes on. Quantum copice accessit, tantum disciplince recessU ; as a large body is less active. In audito genere processus et recessus, crescens simul et decrescens — When the church increaseth in multitude, and decreaseth in vigour and strength, it loseth in spirit what it enjoyeth in temporal felicity. Thus it often falls out with the church of God that, when religion is fair, many take up the profession ; but alas ! it is but weak and spiritless, without any life and vigour. Therefore, in such a drowsy age and dead times, we need alarums and quickening excitations to awaken our zeal again for solid piety, for those good works that are commended to us in the scri{)ture. Therefore let us inquire what kind of enforcements and considerations are likely to be most operative to press us to this zeal and care of good works.