Obs. 2. That one icay, whereby the xmregenerate jmrt in us hinders this communion ivith Christ, and the shining of a believer in a Christian course, is by false pretences, reasons, and excuses. ' I have washed my feet; I have put off my coat,' &c.
The flesh never wants excuses and pretences (there was never any yet came to heU, but they had some seeming pretence for their coming thither) to shift and shuffle off duties. There was never yet any careless, sinful course but it had the flesh to justify it vdth one reason or other ; and there- fore it is good to understand the sophistical shifts- of the flesh, and pre- tences and shows which it hath. And as it is good to know the truth of God, and of Christ revealed in his word, so is it to know the falseness and deceitfulness of our own hearts. They are both mysteries almost alike, hard to be known. Labour we then more and more to know the falsehood of our own disposition, and to know the truth of God. To give instance in a few particulars. You see in the church the difficulty of her communion with Christ comes from the idle pretences and excuses she hath. Every one hath his several pretexts, as his state and condition is. We think we should be losers if we give ourselves to that degree of goodness which others do ; whereas God doth curse those blessings which men get with neglect of duty to him. If we seek ' first the kingdom of heaven, all other things that are good for us shall be cast upon us,' Mat. \i. 33.
Obj. Thou shalt lose the favour of such a one ?
.4ns. Never care for that favour thou canst not keep with God's favour. The favour of man is a snare. Take heed of that favour that snares thee. Thou losest their favour and company, but thou gainest the favoiu' of Christ, and company of angels.
Obj. But they will rail on thee, and reproach thee with thy old sins ?
Am. Care not, ' God will do thee good for that,' as David said when Shimei cursed him, 2 Sam. xvi. 12.
* That is, ' expedients.' — G.
88 BOWELS OPENED. [SeBMON YII.
Obj. But I shall lose my pleasure ?
A71S. 0 ! but such pleasures end in death. They are hut pleasures of sin for a season, and thou shalt not lose by the change. ' The ways of wisdom are pleasant ways,' Prov. iii. 17. One day religiously spent in keeping of a good conscience, what a sweet farewell hath it ! Joy is in the habitation of the righteous. It becomes the righteous to be joyful. However outwardly it seems, yet there is a paradise within. Many such objections the flesh makes. Some take scandal at the prosperity of the wicked, and affliction of the saints, and from hence take occasion to rot in their dregs of sin. But what saith Christ ? ' Happy is the man who is not ofiended in me,' Mat. xi. 6. As for the prosperity of the wicked, envy them not. They stand in slippery places, and flourish like a green bay tree, but presently they vanish. Take no oflence at them, nor at the cross. Look not at this, but at the ensuing comfort. * Blessed are they that sufier for right- eousness sake,' 1 Pet. iii. 14. Bind such words to your head as your crown. God reserves the best comforts to the worst times ; his people never find it otherwise.
Obj. Ay, but if I be thus precise, the times are so bad, I shall be alone.
Am. Complain not of the times, when thou makest them worse. Thou shouldst make the times better. The worse the times are, the better be thou ; for this is thy gloiy, to be good in an evil generation. This was Lot's glory, 2 Pet. ii. 7. Paul tells what ill times they were ; but, saith he, ' our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for a Saviour,' Phil. iii. 20. "What brings destruction on God's people, but their joining with the wicked ? When they joined with the children of men, then came the flood. These and the like pretences keep men altogether from good- ness, or else from such a measure as may bring honom' to God and comfort to themselves.
Ip Or if men be great, why, this is not honourable to do thus, as you know what Michal said to David, ' How glorious was the king of Israel this day ! like a fool,' &c., 2 Sam. vi. 20. To attend upon the word of God with reverence, to make conscience of religion. Oh ! it stands not with greatness, &c. But the Spirit of God answereth this in him, ' I will yet be more vile for God,' verse 22. It is a man's honour here to stand for God and for good things ; and it is our honour that God will honour us so much.
Those likewise that are worldly have excuses also. 'Alas ! I must tend my calling.' And they have Scripture for it too. ' He that provides not for his family is worse than an infidel,' 1 Tim. v. 8, as if God had set up any callings to hinder the calling of Christianity ; as if that were not the greatest calling, and the best part that will abide with us for ever ; as if it were not the part of a Christian to redeem time from his calling to the duties of Christianity. I have no time, saith the worldling ; what wiU you have me to do ? Why, what time had David, when he meditated on the law of God day and night ? Ps. i. 2. He was a king. The king is bound to study the Scriptures. And yet whose employment is greater than the emplovment of the chief magistrate ? Deut. xvii. 18, 19.