t That is, ' marks.' — G.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 12. 271
have distinct rules from God's rule. Well, well ! you have kindled a fire ; walk in the light of your own fire, but bo sure you shall lie down in sorrow.
It is the pji'eatcst judgment that God can shew in this world, to give us up to our own wits, to our own devices ; for we shall wind, and turn, and work our own ruin. And that is the heil of hell in hell, wlien the soul there shall think with itself, I brought myself hither. God will be exceed- ingly justified when men by their own wit shall damn themselves ; when God hath revealed to man, and taught them, this is the way, ' 0 man, I have shewed thee what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee,' Deut. X. 12. He hath revealed it in his word, do this and do that, and he hath given conscience to help ; and yet out of policy to contrive thy owa pleasures, and profits, and advantages in the world, thou hast done the contrary. When a man's soul shall reason thus. My own wit brought me hither ; I am damned by wit, I am damned by policy. A poor policy it is that brings a man to damnation !
Therefore we should beg of God above all things, that he would not deliver us up to ourselves. As St Austin hath a good speech, ' Lord, fi-ee me from myself, from my own devices and policy' (tt). The devil himself is not such an enemy, as I said, as our own carnal wit; for it is that that betrays us to Satan. Satan could do us no harm unless he had a friend within us. Therefore beg of God above all things, Lord, give me not up to my own brain, to my own devices (for man is a beast by his own know- ledge) ; but let thy wisdom and thy will be my rule.
Use 2. Again, if so be that we ought not to make this carnal, fleshly wisdom the rule of oui* life, then let us have a negative voice reachj jrresently for it. Whensoever we find any carnal suggestion in our hearts, say nay to it presently, deny it presently, have a jealousy presently. When any plot ariseth that is not warrantable by the word of God, and that is con- trary to conscience and to simplicity and sincerity, presently deny it ; con- sult not with flesh and blood, as St Paul saith of himself, ' I consulted not with flesh and blood,' Gal. i. 16.
And when you have anything to do, considering that this is not the rule you are to live by, or when you have anything to resist, when you have anything to suffer, consider what God requires ; consider what is for the peace of conscience ; consider what is for the good of yourselves, and for the good of the church ; consult with these advisers, with these intelli- gencers, and not with flesh and blood. Consider not what is for your profit, for your pleasure, for your ease ; but resolve against them. Get the truth of God so planted in j^our hearts that it may cany you through aU these impediments, and all these suggestions whatsoever.
Use 3. And because we cannot do this without a change, we cannot have a disposition contrary to carnal wisdom without a change (for except a man be born anew, except he be a new creature, he cannot have holy aims), you must labour therefore more and more to have the spirit of your mind renewed, and to r/row in assurance of a better estate. For what makes men carnally to project for this world ? They are not sure of a better. They reason thus Avith themselves : It may be I may have heaven, it may be not. I am sure of the pleasures present, of the profits present, although, alas ! it be but for a sliort time. Whereas, if thy soul were enlightened with heavenly light, and thou wert convinced of the excellent estate of God's children in this world in the state of grace, that a Christian is incomparably above aU men in the first-fruits of heaven, in the peace of conscience, and
272 COBIMENTAHY ON
'joy in the Holy Ghost,' Rom. xiv. 17, which is ahovc all prosperity, and nil i)r()lit whatsoever ; and that in heaven, which is ahove our capacity and reach, every way they shall he happy. If men were convinced of this, certainly they would not prostitute their pates to work so worldlily. If they were sure of heaven, they would not so plod for the earth.
Let us therefore labour to fjrow daily in the assurance of salvation ; beg of God his Spirit to have your minds enlightened.
Use 4. And withal, to join both together, to see the vavili/ of all earthly thiriffs, tvhich set carnal uisilom on vork. For, first, outward things they work i;pon the sense, upon the outward man. Profits and pleasures are out- ward things, and therefore they work upon sense, they work upon opinion. In opinion they be so, as indeed worldly things are more in opinion than in truth. A carnal wordly man, he thinks poverty a hell, he thudcs it is such a misery. It is not so.