(3.) Again, The laws of men. What are the laws, if they be good, but particular determinations of the will of God. We ought to have reverent conceits of the laws, for they do but bring God's generals to particulars, if they be good laws. If they have not their derivation from God's laws, they are naught;* but, if they backf that in anything, they are nothing * That is, ' naughty,' = wicked. — G. f That is, ' support.'— G.
502 KING David's epitaph.
but a particular determining of the general rules in God's word, to give every man bis due, &c. Tberefore in many cases we may know what the will of God is, by the good laws of the kingdom which bind the conscience to obedience. There is no disobedience to men's laws, but where there is disobedience to God's laws first, which hath stablished men's laws. I
(4.) And then, in some particulars, when it doth not appear what we should do, the example of good people, of tlie ivisest and best in tlie rank and place where ux live, till we know the contrary. The best way is to rest in their judgment, to follow the advice of others, the direction of friends, or the laws and customs, and not to be refractory and opposite, except there be reason to the contrary. For man's spirit is a divine thing. It must alway be led with some reason, but with this reservation, a man may keep to others till it appear otherwise, till he see other light and direction to take this course. This is the disposition that should be in every peaceable man. These be some outward helps to know the will of God in particular actions.
2. The imcard helps to hnoiv uhat God's ivill in imrticular is, together with the word of God unfolded.
(1.) The Spirit of God, which is as a voice behind us, saying, * This is the way, walk in it,' Isa. xxx. 21. Wherefore serves the blessed Spirit but to be a counsellor ? as Isa. ix. 7. Christ, he is the blessed counsellor. How comes he to be so ? Not immediately by himself, but by his Spirit. All things he doth to his church is by his Spirit. He fills his church with his Spirit. Now the children of God, having this Spirit of counsel to advise them in particulars, they are ' led with the Spirit.' This is one inward help, and a main one. And surely, if we would give way to the blessed guidance of God's Spirit, and not grieve, and quench, and resist the Spirit, the Spirit of God would be ready to direct us upon all occasions. We should be guided in particular actions with a better Spirit than our own. And this Spirit we may have by prayer. God will give the Spirit to them that beg him, Luke xi. 13.
(2.) Then another inward help is particular grace, which God gives to his claildren. Particular prudence to speak words and to do actions in season, that everything may be beautiful in its time. There is sapience, wisdom, and prudence : ' I Wisdom dwell with prudence,' Prov. viii. 12. It is the wisdom of a man to understand his way, what to do in particular, or what not to do. It is prudence or discretion to discern of ditferences. Now that grace of God is in some measure given to all his children. He makes them wise to understand their own way. They are not so wise, perhaps, for other things. It is not their way. God lets some men go with a less measure of discretion to heaven than others ; because he hath less work for them to do. But every man hath as much as will bring him to heaven. The less he hath himself, the more he shall have of others. Some men are excellent in gifts of wisdom. They can tell you generals out of the book of God excellent well. But come to directions in par- ticular, and you shall have meaner men of better discretion than they. Either we have it ourselves, or else God will associate us, and by his provi- dence cast us upon other acquaintance that have a greater measure of this grace that he will have us acquainted with. God gives every one of his a spirit to discern what to speak, how to advise, how to comfort, what to do. And the meanest Christian is more in this, for religious actions, than the greatest man in the world that hath not the Spirit of God ; for he can tell
KING David's epitaph. 503
in particular how to bear afflictions, and how to enjoy prosperity ; because the Spirit directs him what to do.
(3.) Again, God hath jmt into every man a conscience. Wherefore serves conscience, but especially to direct in particulars. There is a faculty of the soul that we call a treasury, a preserving faculty, that is to lay up general rules out of the word of God, and directions out of good books, and from the counsel of other men. It is a faculty to treasure up rules. Therefore it hath the name of preserving. But there is a conscience under this. That being sanctified by the Spirit of God, and being directed in general by the word of God, it directs in particular. Conscience tells us, This in particular you ought to do ; this you have done ; in this particular you have done well, in this you have done ill. So conscience is put in us to check or direct us in particular. It is God's vicar in every man, together with the Spirit. Conscience, together with the Spirit, is a great help to know God's will in particulars. If men would not be too bold with conscience, conscience, together with God's Spirit, would be faithful to them. Conscience may say, as Reuben said to his brethren when they were in misery, ' Did not I tell you, do no hurt to the lad ? ' Gen. xlii. 21 ; deal not so hardly with Joseph as to cast him into the pit. So many men do many things amiss. Conscience may say, Did not I tell you this before ? it was naught,* and yet you would needs do it. Yes, certainly; and when conscience is not hearkened unto as a director, it will scourge as a judge. It hath many offices, and it is good to keep this conscience in its office ; to let conscience do its full duty, let conscience direct us to the full. Certainly, if we would hearken to this vicegerent in our hearts, this little god that God hath placed there in mercy to guide our lives in par- ticular, it would be better with us than it is. We should end our days with more comfort, and give a better reckoning than we can.