From whence we may know, when we work as we should do or no, that is, when we do what we do out of inward principles, when we fall not upon that which is good, only because we are so bred, or because such or such whom we respect do so, or because we will maintain a side, so making religion a fixction; but out of judgment, when what we do that is good, we first judge it in ourselves so to be ; and what we abstain from that is ill, we fii'st judge it to be ill from an inward judgment. A sound Christian, as he enjoyeth the better part, so hath first made choice of it with Mary, Luke X. 42 ; he established all his thoughts by counsel, Prov. xx. 18. God indeed useth carnal men to very good service, but without a thorough altering and conviction of their judgment. =''- He worketh by them, but not in them, therefore the}'' do neither approve the good they do, nor hate the evU thev abstain fi-om.
[Chapter XXI. — Where true ivisdom and judgment is, there Christ sets up
his government.]
The second branch is, that wheresoever true wisdom and judgment is, there Christ hath set vip his government ; because where wisdom is, it directs us not only to understand, but to order our ways aright. Where Christ by his Spirit as a prophet teaches, he likewise as a king by his Spirit subdueth the heart to obedience of what is taught. This is that teaching which is promised of God, when not only the brain, but the heart itself, is taught : when men do not only know what they should do, but are taught the very doing of it; they are not only taught that they should love, fear, and obey, but they are taught love itself, and fear and obedience itself. Christ sets ■ up his chair in the veiy heart, and alters the frame of that, and makes his subjects good, together with teaching of them to be good. Other princes can make good laws, but they ' cannot write them in their people's hearts,' Jer. xxxii. 40. This is Christ's prerogative, he infuseth into his subjects his own Spirit, ' Upon him there doth not only rest the spirit of wisdom and understanding, but likewise the spirit of the fear of the Lord,' Isa. xi. 2. The knowledge which we have of him from himself, is a transforming know- ledge, 2 Cor. iii. 18. The same Spirit that cnlighteneth the mind, inspireth gracious inclinations into the will and affections, and infuseth strength into the whole man. As a gracious man judgeth as he should, so he aflectcth and doth as he judgeth, his life is a commentary of his inward * ' Judgmenta.' in A and B.
AND SMOKING FLAX. §3
man ; there is a sweet hannony betwixt God's trath, his judgment, and his whole conversation. The heart of a Chi-istian is Hke Jerusalem when it was at the best, a city compact within itself, Psa. cxii. 3 ; where are setup the thrones of judgment, Ps. cxxii. 5. Judgment should have a throne in the heart of every Christian. Not that judgment alone will work a change, there must be grace to alter the bent and sway of the will, before it will yield to be wi'ought upon by the understanding. But God hath so joined these together, as that whensoever he doth savingly shine upon the under- standing, he giveth a soft and pliable heart ; for without a work upon the heart by the Spirit of God, it will follow its own inclination to that which it afiecteth, whatsoever the judgment shall say to the contrary : there is no connatural proportion betwixt an unsanctified heart and a sanctified judg- ment. For the heart imaltered will not give leave to the judgment coldly and soberly to conclude what is best : as the sick man whilst his aguish distemper corrupteth his taste, is rather desirous to please that, than to hearken what the physician shall speak. Judgment hath not power over itself where the will is unsubdued, for the will and aifections bribe it to give sentence for them, when any profit or pleasure shall come in competition with that which the judgment in general only shall think to be good ; and, therefore, it is for the most part in the power of the heart, what the under- standing shall judge and determine in particular things. Where gi-ace hath brought the heart under, there unruly passions do not cast such a mist before the understanding, but that in particular it seeththat which is best ; and base respects, springing from self-love, do not alter the case, and bias the judgment into a contrary way ; but that which is good in itself shall be good unto us, although it cross our particular worldly interests.
Use. The right concei^-ing of this hath an iniiuence into practice, which hath drawn me to a more full explanation : this will teach us the right method of godliness, to begin with judgment, and then to beg of God, together with illumination, holy inchnations of our will and affections, that so a perfect government may be set up in our hearts, and that our ' know- ledge may be with all judgment,' Phil. i. 9, that is, with experience and feeling. When the judgment of Christ is set up in our judgments, and thence, by the Spirit of Christ, brought into our hearts, then it is in its pro- per place and throne ; and until then, truth doth us no good, but helpeth to condemn us. The life of a Christian is a regular hfe, and he that walketh by the rule. Gal. vi. 16, of the new creature, peace shall be upon him : ' he that despiseth his way and loveth to live at large, seeking all liberty to the flesh, shall die,' Prov. xix. 16. And it is made good by St Paul,' ' If we live after the flesh, we shall die,' Eom. viii. 13.