[2.] All this hath been done by them who have perished. Many who are now in hell have done all these things, and went down to the pit with the burden of their profession and duties at their back. I could reckon up instances. And let me but try this foundation, which safely I may,- — namely, that whatever excellencies have been found in hypocrites and perishing souls, may all meet in one, and yet he be an hypocrite still, — and I shall merit easily the best [repute] of mere profession. Take the zeal of Jehu, the hearing of Herod, the praying of the Pharisee, the fasting of the Jews, Isa. Iviii., the joy of the stony ground, and you may dress up a perishing soul to a proportion of profession beyond what the most of us attain unto.
[3.] It is useless in the world. I shall freely say, Take away this humble walking, and all profession is a thing of nought ; it doth no good at all in the world. Is it for the advantage of mankind, that a man should have credit and repute in religion, and cannot give an instance scarce that any man, high or low, rich or poor, hath been the better for him in the world? that they who should do good to all, do good to none at all? Is this being fruitful in the gospel? is this studying the good works that are profitable to all? — is this doing good to mankind in the places wherein we are?
[4.] This is the readiest way for a man to deceive himself to eter- nity. He that would go down to the pit in peace, let him keep up duties in his family and closet ; let him hear as often as he can have an opportunity; let him speak often of good things; let him leave the company of profane and ignorant men, until he have obtained a great repute for religion ; let him preach and labour to make others better than he is himself; and, in the meantime, neglect to humble his heart to walk with God in a manifest holiness and usefulness, and he will not fail of his end.
Let me not be mistaken. God forbid I should countenance pro- fane men in their contempt of the ways of God, and the reproaches of hypocrisy that they are ready to cast upon the best of the saints of God ; I say, God forbid. Nor let me be interpreted in the least to plead for men who satisfy themselves in a righteousness without these things, — whom I look upon as men ignorant wholly of the mystery of God and the Father, and of Christ, and evidently uninterested in the covenant of grace. No ; this is all I aim at, — I would not have profes- sors natter themselves in a vain, empty profession, when the fruits they bear of envy, hatred, pride, folly, proclaim that their hearts are not humbled to walk with God. Will, then, these, or any of these things, stand in competition with that which we propose for the great con- cernment of souls? Doubtless, in comparison of it, they are all a thing of nought.
Use 1. Is humble walking with God our great concernment? Let
OF WALKING HUMBLY WITH GOD. 129
us make it our business and our work to bring our hearts unto it all our days. What do we, running out of the way all the day long, spending our strength for that which is not bread ? My business is not, — whether I be rich or poor, wise or unwise, learned or ignorant ; whether I shall live or die ; whether there shall be peace or war with the nations; whether my house shall flourish or wither; whether my gifts be many or few, great or small, whether I have good repute or bad repute in the world ; — but only, whether I walk humbly with God or not. As it is with me in this respect, so is my present condition, — so will be my future acceptation. I have tired myself about many things ; — this one is necessary. What doth the Lord my God require of me, but this? What cloth Christ call for, but this? What doth the whole sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost tend to, but that I may walk humbly with God?
Give me leave to name a motive or two unto it: —
( ! .) In humble walking with God we shall find peace in every condi- tion. '■' Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." "Let war come on the nation, — I shall have peace. Let a consumption come on my estate, — I shall have peace. Let nearest relations be taken away, — I shall have peace." The soul that sets up its rest, and makes it its great concernment to walk humbly with God, is brought to his foot, bent to his will, is ready for his dis- posal; and whatever God does in the world with himself, his, or others, he hath peace and quietness in it. His own will is gone, the will of God is his choice; his great concernment lies not in anything that can perish, that can be lost.