Obs. I. That great oppositions will and do arise against men in the work of entering into God’s rest; that is, as unto gospel faith and obedience.
First, The very first lessons of the gospel discourage many from look- ing any farther. So when our Saviour entertained the young man that came to him for instruction with the lesson of self-denial, he had no mind to hear any more, but “ went away sorrowful,” Matt. xix. 22. And the reasons hereof may be taken partly from the nature of the gospel itself, and partly from our own natures to whom the gospel is proposed. I shall but instance in that general consideration, which alone would bear the weight of this assertion ;—and this is, that in the gospel there is proposed unto us a “new way” of entering into the rest of God, of acceptation with him, of righteousness and salvation, which is contrary to our natural principle of self-righteousness, and seeking after it “as it were by the works of the law;” for this fills our hearts naturally with an enmity unto it and contempt of it, making us esteem it “foolish” and “weak,” no way able to effect what it proposeth and promiseth. But this would be too large a field to enter into at present, and I shall therefore insist only on some par- ticular instances, giving evidence to the proposition as laid down, These I shall take from among the precepts of the gospel, some whereof are very difficult unto our nature as it is weak, and all of them contrary unto it as it is corrupt.
1, Some gospel precepts are exceeding difficult unto our na- ture as itis weak. This our Saviour takes notice of when exhorting his disciples to watchfulness and prayer in an hour of temptation; he tells them that “ the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Matt. xxvi. 41; where by “ the flesh” he intendeth not that corrupt prin- ciple which is in us, that is often called by that name, but our nature in its whole composition with respect unto that weakness whence it is apt to suecumb and sink under difficult duties, To fix on one in-
340 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [cHAP. IV.
stance among many, of this nature is self-denial, so indispensably required of all in the gospel. The denial of our lusts and corrupt inclinations falls under another consideration, and must on other ac- counts have violence offered unto them, as afterwards; but in the first place we may weigh this precept as it. extends itself unto things in themselves lawful, and which have an exceeding suitableness unto our natures as weak and infirm. We are but dust, and God knows that we are but dust, Ps. cil. 14. And he hath in his providence provided many things, and allowed us the use of them, which are fitted and suited to our refreshment and relief in our pilgrimage. Such are houses, lands, possessions, the comfort of relations and friends, which he hath given us a right unto and an interest in. And as we are persuaded that, through the weakness and frailty of our natures, we do greatly stand in need of these things, so it is known how our hearts are apt to cleave unto them. But here this gospel precept of self-denial interposeth itself, and requireth two things of us:—
(1.) It requires an undervaluation of them, or at least introduceth a new affection over them and above them, which shall put the heart into a continual readiness and preparedness to part with them at the call and upon the occasions of the gospel, Matt. x. 37. Our ac- ceptance of Christ on gospel terms is like a man’s entrance into a marriage relation. It introduceth a new affection, that goes above and regulates all former affections; for “a man must forsake both father and mother, and cleave unto his wife.” All others are to be steered and regulated hereby. And he that by his acceptance of Christ would enter into rest, must subordinate all former affections to lawful things unto this new one, which will not abide in any heart but where it is supreme.
(2.) On sundry occasions which the profession of the gospel will present us withal, actually to relinquish and forego them, and to trust our persons, with all their weaknesses and frailties, to the pro- vision that Christ will make for them, Mark viii. 34-37. This is diffi- cult unto our nature, because of its weakness. It is apt to say, ‘ Let me be spared in this or that,—to make an intercession for a Zoar. ‘What shall become of me when all is lost and gone? What shall I do for rest, for ease, for liberty, for society, yea for food and rai- ment?’ Yet are all these to be conquered by faith, if we intend to enter into the rest of God. We condemn them of old who were afraid of giants and walled towns, which made them murmur and withdraw from their duty. These are our giants and fenced cities; —and, alas! how many are hindered. by them from inheriting the promise! The like may be said of that particular branch of the great duty of self-denial, in “taking up the cross,” or willingness to undergo all sorts of persecutions for the sake of Jesus Christ. Many