The mischiefs of self-ignorance and the benefits of self-acquaintance opened in divers sermons at…
The mischiefs of self-ignorance and the benefits of self-acquaintance opened in divers sermons at Dunstan's-West and published in answer to the accusations of some and the desires of others / by Richard Baxter.
Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by R. White for F. Tyton, 1662
[75], 504 p. · 122k words · Wing B1309 · ESTC R5644
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Since the writing of this Epistle, finding you under the afflicting hand of God, thought meet to remember you of what •ou know, that God thus traineth up his children for their Rest: whom he Loveth, •e chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth: If we endure chastening, God dealeth with us as with children: •nd if we be without chastisement whereof […] are partakers, then we are bastards and •ot sons, Heb. 12.6, 7, 8. The same flesh ••at would be pleased, will grudge when it […] displeased: and that which is our enticing enemy in prosperity, will be our disturbing enemy in adversity: As fleshly •inds misjudge of the law and service of •od, and cannot be subject because of the amity against him, Rom. 8.7. so do they misjudge of his chastisements: And so far […] they participate of this disease, the best ll be repining, and tempted to unworthy noughts of God. Even innocent nature oth to suffer; Christ himself saith, If it
be thy will, let this cup pass from me: An• nature so far as it is corrupted, is yet muc• more averse, because the Flesh is more inordinately desirous of its ease, and passion more turbulent when it is denied, and th• soul hath less apprehension and relish […] that Love of God, which is the cause an• End, and should sweeten all to a Reconciled well-composed mind: and it is also less satisfied in the will of God, and it is le•• subject to it: and patience is defective because of the weakness of the Graces th• should support us. Besides which also, tenderness of spirit, and overmuch sensibility, fears and trouble, are ordinary effect of the weak and tender nature of ma• especially of the more weak and tend•• sex: And when all these concur (t•• averseness of the most innocent nature, t•• remnants of sin, and the special tenderne•• of your nature and sex,) your burden and trial is much the greater, and yo• grief must needs be much the mo•• But, I beseech you, remember, that yo• have not to do with an Enemy, but a F••ther that knoweth what he doth, a•• meaneth you no hurt, but that which is t•• fittest means to your good, and to yo• scaping greater hurt; that loveth you […]
⟨image 23⟩
less in the greatest of your pain and danger, than in the greatest of your prosperity and peace:
SInce the writing of this Epistle, finding you under the afflicting hand of God, thought meet to remember you of what •ou know, that God thus traineth up his •hildren for their Rest: whom he Loveth, •e chasteneth, and scourgeth every son •hom he receiveth: If we endure chasten••g, God dealeth with us as with children: •nd if we be without chastisement whereof 〈…〉 are partakers, then we are bastards and •ot sons, Heb. 12.6, 7, 8. The same flesh ••at would be pleased, will grudge when it 〈…〉 displeased: and that which is our entice••g enemy in prosperity, will be our ••sturbing enemy in adversity: As fleshly •inds misjudge of the law and service of •od, and cannot be subject because of the •mity against him, Rom. 8.7. so do they ••sjudge of his chastisements: And so far 〈…〉 they participate of this disease, the best ••ll be repining, and tempted to unworthy •oughts of God. Even innocent nature •oth to suffer; Christ himself saith, If it ⟨image 23⟩be thy will, let this cup pass from me: An• nature so far as it is corrupted, is yet muc• more averse, because the Flesh is more in•ordinately desirous of its ease, and passio• more turbulent when it is denyed, and th• soul hath less apprehension and relish 〈…〉 that Love of God, which is the cause an• End, and should sweeten all to a Recon•ciled well-composed mind: and it is als• less satisfied in the will of God, and it is le•• subject to it: and patience is defective b••cause of the weakness of the Graces th• should support us. Besides which also, tenderness of spirit, and overmuch sensib••lity, fears and trouble, are ordinary effec• of the weak and tender nature of ma• especially of the more weak and tend•• sex: And when all these concur (t•• averseness of the most innocent nature, t•• remnants of sin, and the special tenderne•• of your nature and sex,) your burde• and tryal is much the greater, and yo• grief must needs be much the mo•• But, I beseech you, remember, that yo• have not to do with an Enemy, but a F••ther that knoweth what he doth, a•• meaneth you no hurt, but that which is t•• fittest means to your good, and to yo• scaping greater hurt; that loveth you 〈…〉⟨image 23⟩less in the greatest of your pain and danger, than in the greatest of your prosperity and peace:
that you have a Head in Heaven that was partaker with us of flesh and blood, that he might deliver us from our bondage which we are in through the fear of death, who was made perfect by suffering; and is not ashamed to call us Brethren; being in all things made like unto us, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, •o make reconciliation for our sins: who •n that he himself hath suffered being tempted, is able to succour them that are tempted, Heb. 2.10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18. We have not an High Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted or tried •s we are, but without sin: He that himself in the days of his flesh, did offer up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears to him that was able to save him from death, (Heb. 5.7.) will not be angry if his servants complain and cry •o him in their suffering: He that cried •ut, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me! will pity his poor distressed •embers, and not forsake them, when they •hink themselves forsaken; And if they ⟨image 24⟩go beyond their bounds in their complainings, he will not therefore disregard their moans; But he that honoured the patience of Job, though he so passionately curse• the day of his birth, will love the faith an• patience of his people, notwithstanding the mixtures of unbelief and impatience▪ He is ready with his gracious excuse▪Matth. 26.41. The spirit is willing, bu• the flesh is weak; And he considereth that our strength and flesh is not of stone or brass, Job 6.12. He will therefore revive the spirit of the contrite, and wi•• not contend for ever, nor be always wroth lest the spirit should fail before him, and the souls which he hath made, Isai. 57.15, 16. And though no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: yet the end is that he may make u• partakers of his Holiness; and afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby, Heb. 12.10, 11. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of Life, which God hath promised to them that love him, Jam. 1.12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord, and teachest him out of thy Law, that thou mayest ⟨image 24⟩give him rest from the days of adversity until the pit be digged for the wicked;
that you have a Head in Heaven that was partaker with us of flesh and blood, that he might deliver us from our bondage which we are in through the fear of death, who was made perfect by suffering; and is not ashamed to call us Bre•hren; being in all things made like unto us, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, •o make reconciliation for our sins: who •n that he himself hath suffered being tempted, is able to succour them that are •empted, Heb. 2.10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18. We have not an High Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted or tryed •s we are, but without sin: He that himself in the days of his flesh, did offer up prayers and supplications, with strong cry•ng and tears to him that was able to save him from death, (Heb. 5.7.) will not be angry if his servants complain and cry •o him in their suffering: He that cryed •ut, My God, My God, why hast thou for•aken me! will pitty his poor distressed •embers, and not forsake them, when they •hink themselves forsaken; And if they ⟨image 24⟩go beyond their bounds in their complainings, he will not therefore disregard their moans; But he that honoured the patience of Job, though he so passionately curse• the day of his birth, will love the faith an• patience of his people, notwithstanding the mixtures of unbelief and impatience▪ He is ready with his gracious excuse▪Matth. 26.41. The spirit is willing, bu• the flesh is weak; And he considereth that our strength and flesh is not of stone or brass,
Madam, if nothing in all the world be more certain, that that there is a God, who •s true and just, and delighteth in his people when they are lowest in the world: If no•hing be more sure than that there is a Heaven for persevering penitent believers: •hen are our Arguments for the comfort of Gods afflicted ones, no fancies, but fetched as from the highest excellencies, so •rom the surest realities that ever were presented to the understanding of a man: And though the best of Saints have been •ut to wrestle with the temptations that •rise from the adversity of Believers, and •he prosperity of the wicked; yet this is still •he result of all their perplexing thoughts; Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart: Though sometime their feet are almost gone, and their paths do well nigh slip, and they are ready to say, We have cleansed our hearts in vain, and washed our hands in innocency; for all the day are we plagued, and chastened every morning; yet they soon learn in the ⟨image 25⟩sanctuary of God, that the wicked are set in slippery places, and cast down into destruction, and brought to desolation as in a moment, and utterly consumed with terrors; as a dream when one awaketh, so the Lord when he awaketh, will despise their image, Psal. 73. But mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the End of that man is peace, Psal. 37.37. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil: But though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged: yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him, Eccles. 8.11, 12. If not here, yet certainly at last all shall say, Verily there is a Reward for the righteous, Psal. 58.11. Rest therefore in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: Commit your way to him: Trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass: For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever, Psal. 9.18. How happy are you that God doth thus save you from the temptations of prosperity, which you see befool and undo so many before your eyes! and that you are not left in the number of ⟨image 25⟩•hose, that are men of the world, which •ave their portion in this life! Psal. 17.14. •nd are given up to their own hearts lusts, •o walk in their own counsels, Psal. 81.12.
Madam, if nothing in all the world be more certain, that that there is a God, who •s true and just, and delighteth in his people when they are lowest in the world: If no•hing be more sure than that there is a Heaven for persevering penitent believers: •hen are our Arguments for the comfort of Gods afflicted ones, no fancies, but •etcht as from the highest excellencies, so •rom the surest realities that ever were presented to the understanding of a man: And though the best of Saints have been •ut to wrestle with the temptations that •rise from the adversity of Believers, and •he prosperity of the wicked; yet this is still •he result of all their perplexing thoughts; Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart: Though sometime their feet are almost gone, and their paths do well nigh slip, and they are ready to say, We have cleansed our hearts in vain, and washed our hands in innocency; for all the day are we plagued, and chastened every morning; yet they soon learn in the ⟨image 25⟩sanctuary of God, that the wicked are set in slippery places, and cast down into destruction, and brought to desolation as in a moment, and utterly consumed with terrors; as a dream when one awaketh, so the Lord when he awaketh, will despise their image, Psal. 73. But marke the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the End of that man is peace, Psal. 37.37. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil: But though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged: yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him, Eccles. 8.11, 12. If not here, yet certainly at last all shall say, Verily there is a Reward for the righteous, Psal. 58.11. Rest therefore in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: Commit your way to him: Trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass: For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever,
•nd must hear at last, Remember that thou •n thy life time receivedst thy good things] •ut that here you have your evils, and •hall be comforted when the now-prosperous wicked are tormented, Luke 16.25. •f heaven be enough to make you a felicity, •nd Eternity be long enough for your fruition of it, then never think hardly of God •or any of his chastisements: Lazarus re•enteth not there that he was poor: nor Job •hat he was covered with sores, nor David •hat he washed his couch with tears, and •hat his sore ran and ceased not: The longest of our sorrows will there be reviewed •s short in respect of our endless joys; •nd the sharpest of our pains as nothing •o those pleasures: Madam, experience •s well as faith assureth me, that it is good ••r us that we are afflicted; And though ••r the sake of others, I shall earnestly beseech the Lord, that he will not unseasonably remove such as you from this unworthy generation; yet I doubt not but •our removal, and sufferings in the way, •ill advantage you for your Everlasting ⟨image 26⟩Rest. And for my self, I desire, that my lo•• may still fall with those that follow Christ through tribulation, bearing the cross, and crucified to the world, and waiting for his appearance, desiring to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord; & not with those that are fed as beasts for the slaughter, and prosper a while in their iniquity, till sudden destruction come upon them, and at last their sins do find them out; when the wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God, Psal. 9.17. Numb. 32.23. 1 Thes. 5.3. Phil. 3.19. And that these words of life may be engraven upon my heart, [Psal. 63.3. Thy loving kindness is better than life] Psal. 73.26. [My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever,] Rom. 8.28. [All things work together for good to them that love God] Joh. 14.19. Because I live, ye shall live also.] Col. 3.3, 4. Our life is hid with Christ in God: When Christ who is our Life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in Glory:] and that I may be fit for the Title of the Beloved Apostle, Rev. 1.9. (though as a servant to you and the Church of God,)
•nd must hear at last, Remember that thou •n thy life time receivedst thy good things] •ut that here you have your evils, and •hall be comforted when the now-prospe•ous wicked are tormented, Luke 16.25. •f heaven be enough to make you a felicity, •nd Eternity be long enough for your frui••on of it, then never think hardly of God •or any of his chastisements: Lazarus re•enteth not there that he was poor: nor Job •hat he was covered with sores, nor David •hat he washed his couch with tears, and •hat his sore ran and ceased not: The long•st of our sorrows will there be reviewed •s short in respect of our endless joys; •nd the sharpest of our pains as nothing •o those pleasures: Madam, experience •s well as faith assureth me, that it is good ••r us that we are afflicted; And though ••r the sake of others, I shall earnestly •eseech the Lord, that he will not unseaso•ably remove such as you from this un•orthy generation; yet I doubt not but •our removal, and sufferings in the way, •ill advantage you for your Everlasting ⟨image 26⟩Rest. And for my self, I desire, that my lo•• may still fall with those that follow Christ through tribulation, bearing the cross, and crucified to the world, and waiting for his appearance, desiring to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord; & not with those that are fed as beasts for the slaughter, and prosper a while in their iniquity, till sudden destruction come upon them, and at last their sins do find them out; when the wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God,
AS I never desired any greater preferment in this world, than to have continued in the work of my Ministry among you, so I once thought my days would have been ended in that desired station: But we are unmeet to tell God how he shall dispose of us; or to foreknow what changes he intends to make. Though you are low in the world, and have not the Riches which cause mens estimation with the most, I see no probability that we should have been separated till death, could I but have obtained leave to preach for nothing.
But being forbidden to preach the Gospel in that Diocese, I must thankfully take the liberty which shall anywhere else be vouchsafed me: And while I may enjoy it, I take it not for my duty to be over querulous, though the wound that is made by ⟨image 27⟩my separation from you be very deep. And though to strangers it will seem probable that such severity had never been exercised against me, but for some heinous crime, yet to you that have known me, I shall need to say but little in my defence. The great crime which is openly charged on me, and for which I am thought unworthy to preach the Gospel, (even where there is no other to preach) is a matter that you are unacquainted with, and therefore, as you have heard me publicly accused of it, I am bound to render you such an account as is necessary to your just information and satisfaction.
But being forbidden to preach the Gospel in that Diocess, I must thankfully take the liberty which shall anywhere else be vouchsafed me: And while I may enjoy it, I take it not for my duty to be over querulous, though the wound that is made by ⟨image 27⟩my separation from you be very deep. And though to strangers it will seem probable that such severity had never been exercised against me, but for some heynous crime, yet to you that have known me, I shall need to say but little in my defence. The great crime which is openly charged on me, and for which I am thought unworthy to preach the Gospel, (even where there is no other to preach) is a matter that you are unacquainted with, and therefore, as you have heard me publikely accused of it, I am bound to render you such an account as is necessary to your just information and satisfaction.
It pleased the Kings Majesty, (in the prosecution of his most Christian resolution, of uniting his differing subjects by the way of mutual approaches and abatements) to grant a Commission to twelve Bishops and nine assistants on the one side, and to one Bishop and eleven other Divines and nine assistants on the other side, to treat about such alterations of the Liturgy, as are necessary to the satisfying of tender consciences, and to the restoring of unity and peace. My experiences in a former Treaty (for Reconciliation in matter of Discipline) made me entreat those to ⟨image 27⟩whom the nomination on the one side was committed, to excuse me from the service which I knew would prove troublesome to my self, and ungrateful to others; but I could not prevail. (But the Work it self, I very much approved, as to be done by fitter and more acceptable persons.) Being commanded by the Kings Commission, I took it to be my duty to be faithful, and to plead for such Alterations as I knew were necessary to the assigned ends; thinking it to be treachery to his Majesty that entrusted us, and to the Church and cause for which we were entrusted, if under pretence of making such Alterations as were necessary to the two forementioned ends, I should have silently yielded to have [No Alterations] or [next to none.] In the conclusion (when the chief work was done by writing) a Committee of each part, was appointed to manage a Disputation in presence (by writing also.) Therein those of the other part formed an Argument, whose Major proposition was to this sense (for I have no copy) [Whatsoever book enjoineth nothing but what is of it self lawful, and by lawful authority, enjoineth nothing that is sinful:] We denied this proposition; and at last gave divers Reasons ⟨image 28⟩of our denial; among which one was that [It may be unlawful by Accident, and therefore sinful] You now know my crime; It is my concurring with learned, reverend Brethren, to give this Reason of our denial of a proposition: Yet they are not forbidden to preach for it, (and I hope shall not be;) but only I. You have publicly heard, from a mouth that should speak nothing but the words of Charity, Truth, and Soberness, (especially there) that this was [a desperate shift that men at the last extremity are forced to] and inferring [that then neither God nor man can enjoin without sin.]
It pleased the Kings Majesty, (in the prosecution of his most Christian resolution, of uniting his differing subjects by the way of mutual approaches and abatements) to grant a Commission to twelve Bishops and nine assistants on the one side, and to one Bishop and eleven other Divines and nine assistants on the other side, to treat about such alterations of the Liturgie, as are necessary to the satisfying of tender consciences, and to the restoring of unity and peace. My experiences in a former Treaty (for Reconciliation in matter of Discipline) made me intreat those to ⟨image 27⟩whom the nomination on the one side was committed, to excuse me from the service which I knew would prove troublesome to my self, and ungrateful to others; but I could not prevail. (But the Work it self, I very much approved, as to be done by fitter and more acceptable persons.) Being commanded by the Kings Commission, I took it to be my duty to be faithful, and to plead for such Alterations as I knew were necessary to the assigned ends; thinking it to be treachery to his Majesty that entrusted us, and to the Church and cause for which we were entrusted, if under pretence of making such Alterations as were necessary to the two forementioned ends, I should have silently yielded to have [No Alterations] or [next to none.] In the conclusion (when the chief work was done by writing) a Committee of each part, was appointed to manage a Disputation in presence (by writing also.) Therein those of the other part formed an Argument, whose Major proposition was to this sense (for I have no copy) [Whatsoever book enjoyneth nothing but what is of it self lawful, and by lawful authority, enjoyneth nothing that is sinful:] We denyed this proposition; and at last gave divers Reasons ⟨image 28⟩of our denyal; among which one was that [It may be unlawful by Accident, and therefore sinful] You now know my crime; It is my concurring with learned, reverend Brethren, to give this Reason of our denyal of a proposition: Yet they are not forbidden to preach for it, (and I hope shall not be;) but only I. You have publikely heard, from a mouth that should speak nothing but the words of Charity, Truth, and Soberness, (especially there) that this was [a desperate shift that men at the last extremity are forced to] and inferring [that then neither God nor man can enjoyn without sin.]
In City and Country this soundeth forth to my reproach. I should take it for an act of clemency to have been smitten professedly for nothing, and that it might not have been thought necessary to afflict me by a defamation, that so I might seem justly afflicted by a prohibition to preach the Gospel. But indeed is there in these words of ours so great a crime? Though we doubted not but they knew that our Assertion made not Every evil accident, to be such as made an Imposition unlawful, yet we expressed this by word to them at that time, for fear of being misreported: ⟨image 28⟩and I told it to the Right Reverend Bishop when he forbade me to preach, and gave this as a reason: And I must confess I am still guilty of so much weakness, as to be confident that some things not evil of themselves, may have Accidents so evil, as may make it a sin to him that shall command them. Is this opinion inconsistent with all Government? Yea I must confess my self guilty of so much greater weakness, as that I thought I should never have found a man on earth, that had the ordinary reason of a man, that had made question of it; yea I shall say more then that which hath offended, viz. that whenever the commanding or forbidding of a thing indifferent is like to occasion more hurt than good, and this may be foreseen, the commanding or forbidding it is a sin. But yet this is not the Assertion that I am chargeable with, but that [some Accidents there may be that may make the Imposition sinful;] If I may ask it without accusing others, how would my crime have been denominated if I had said the contrary? Should I not have been judged unmeet to live in any Governed society? It is not unlawful of it self to command out a Navy to Sea: But if it were foreseen that ⟨image 29⟩they would fall into the enemies hands, or were like to perish by any accident, and the necessity of sending them were small, or none, it were a sin to send them. It is not of it self unlawful to sell poison, or to give a knife to another, or to bid another do it: but if it were foreseen that they will be used to poison or kill the buyer, it is unlawful; and I think the Law would make him believe it that were guilty▪ It is not of it self unlawful to light a candle or set fire on a straw;
In City and Country this soundeth forth to my reproach. I should take it for an act of clemency to have been smitten professedly for nothing, and that it might not have been thought necessary to afflict me by a defamation, that so I might seem justly afflicted by a prohibition to preach the Gospel. But indeed is there in these words of ours so great a crime? Though we doubted not but they knew that our Assertion made not Every evil accident, to be such as made an Imposition unlawful, yet we exprest this by word to them at that time, for fear of being misreported: ⟨image 28⟩and I told it to the Right Reverend Bishop when he forbad me to preach, and gave this as a reason: And I must confess I am still guilty of so much weakness, as to be confident that some things not evil of themselves, may have Accidents so evil, as may make it a sin to him that shall command them. Is this opinion inconsistent with all Government? Yea I must confess my self guilty of so much greater weakness, as that I thought I should never have found a man on earth, that had the ordinary reason of a man, that had made question of it; yea I shall say more then that which hath offended, viz. that whenever the commanding or forbidding of a thing indifferent is like to occasion more hurt than good, and this may be foreseen, the commanding or forbidding it is a sin. But yet this is not the Assertion that I am chargeable with, but that [some Accidents there may be that may make the Imposition sinful;] If I may ask it without accusing others, how would my crime have been denominated if I had said the contrary? Should I not have been judged unmeet to live in any Governed society? It is not unlawful of it self to command out a Navy to Sea: But if it were foreseen that ⟨image 29⟩they would fall into the enemies hands, or were like to perish by any accident, and the necessity of sending them were small, or none, it were a sin to send them. It is not of it self unlawful to sell poyson, or to give a knife to another, or to bid another do it: but if it were foreseen that they will be used to poyson or kill the buyer, it is unlawful; and I think the Law would make him believe it that were guilty▪ It is not of it self unlawful to light a candle or set fire on a straw;
But if it may be foreknown, that by another's negligence or wilfulness, it is like to set fire on the City, or to give fire to a train and store of Gunpowder, that is under the Parliament house, when the King and Parliament are there: I crave the Bishops pardon, for believing that it were sinful to do it, or command it: Yea or not to hinder it (in any such case,) when Qui non vetat peccare cum potest, jubet. Yea though going to Gods public worship be of it self so far from being a sin, as that it is a duty, yet I think it is a sin to command it to all in time of a raging pestilence, or when they should be defending the City against the assault of an enemy. It may rather be then a duty to prohibit it. I think Paul spake ⟨image 29⟩not any thing inconsistent with the Government of God or man, when he bid both the Rulers and people of the Church, not to destroy him with their meat for whom Christ dyed: and when he saith that he hath not his Power to destruction, but to Edification. Yea there are Evil Accidents of a thing not evil of it self, that are caused by the Commander: and it is my opinion that they may prove his command unlawful.
But if it may be foreknown, that by anothers negligence or wilfulness, it is like to set fire on the City, or to give fire to a train and store of Gunpowder, that is under the Parliament house, when the King and Parliament are there: I crave the Bishops pardon, for believing that it were sinfull to do it, or command it: Yea or not to hinder it (in any such case,) when Qui non vetat peccare cum potest, jubet. Yea though going to Gods publike worship be of it self so far from being a sin, as that it is a duty, yet I think it is a sin to command it to all in time of a raging pestilence, or when they should be defending the City against the assault of an enemy. It may rather be then a duty to prohibite it. I think Paul spake ⟨image 29⟩not any thing inconsistent with the Government of God or man, when he bid both the Rulers and people of the Church, not to destroy him with their meat for whom Christ dyed: and when he saith that he hath not his Power to destruction, but to Edification. Yea there are Evil Accidents of a thing not evil of it self, that are caused by the Commander: and it is my opinion that they may prove his commad unlawful.
But what need I use any other Instances then that which was the matter of our dispute? Suppose it never so lawful of it self to kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament, if it be imposed by a penalty that is incomparably beyond the proportion of the offence, that penalty is an Accident of the command, and maketh it by accident sinful in the Commander: If a Prince should have Subjects so weak as that all of them thought it a sin against the example of Christ, and the Canons of the general Councils, and many hundred years practice of the Church to kneel in the act of Receiving on the Lords days, if he should make a Law that all should be put to death that would not kneel, when he foreknew that their consciences would command them all, or most of them, to die rather than ⟨image 30⟩obey, would any man deny this command to be unlawful by this accident? Whether the penalty of ejecting Ministers that dare not put away all that kneel, and of casting out all the people that scruple it, from the Church, be too great for such a circumstance, (and so in the rest,) and whether this, with the lamentable state of many congregations, and the divisions that will follow, being all foreseen, do prove the Impositions unlawful which were then in question, is a case that I had then a clearer call to speak to, then I have now. Only I may say that the ejection of the servants of Christ from the Communion of his Church, and of his faithful Ministers from their sacred work, when too many Congregations have none but insufficient or scandalous teachers, or no preaching Ministers at all, will appear a matter of very great moment, in the day of our Accounts, and such as should not be done upon any but a Necessary cause, where the benefit is greater then this hurt (and all the rest) amounts to.
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⟨p. 12⟩
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Job 6.12
. He will therefore revive the spirit of the contrite, and wi•• not contend for ever, nor be alwaies wroth lest the spirit should faile before him, and the souls which he hath made,
. And though no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: yet the end is that he may make u• partakers of his Holiness; and afterwar• it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby,
. How happy are you that God doth thus save you from the temptations of prosperity, which you see befool and undo so many before your eyes! and that you are not left in the number of
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•hose, that are men of the world, which •ave their portion in this life! Psal. 17.14. •nd are given up to their own hearts lusts, •o walk in their own counsels, Psal. 81.12.
. Our life is hid with Christ in God: When Christ who is our Life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in Glory:] and that I may be fit for the Title of the Beloved Apostle,
