Chapter 2, A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a… by Thomas Brooks (1669) | AskReformation

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:326p. 143–144§3

Fourthly, Our obedience must be bottomed upon a divine §4command, because else we can never be able to bear up our hearts comfortably, courageously, confidently and resolutely, ⟨p. 144⟩under all the afflictions,¹ oppositions, temptations, persecutions and discouragements that we meet with in the ways of the Lord, and in doing the work of the Lord. All the Messages that the Prophets delivered, were still grounded upon a divine command,² Thus saith the Lord; and this steeled their spirits in the work of the Lord, this made them resolute and undaunted in the midst of all the afflictions and oppositions that they met with: And so 'twas a word of command that raised the spirits, and encouraged the hearts of the Apostles in the work of the Lord, in the face of all the oppositions, threatenings and buffetings that they met with from the civil powers. You know Absalom lays his bloody command upon his servants, as their highest encouragement to that bloody work of killing his brother Amnon, 2 Sam. 13.28. Now Absalom had commanded his servants, (his Assassins) saying, Mark ye now when Amnons heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant; or sons of valour, as the Hebrew runs. And so a Christian must lay the command of God before him, as his highest encouragement to do what God requires of him, &c.

Fourthly, Our obedience must be bottomed upon a divine §4command, because else we can never be able to bear up our hearts comfortably, couragiously, confidently and resolutely, ⟨p. 144⟩under all the afflictions,¹ oppositions, temptations, persecutions and discouragements that we meet with in the wayes of the Lord, and in doing the work of the Lord. All the Messages that the Prophets delivered, were still grounded upon a divine command,² Thus saith the Lord; and this steeled their spirits in the work of the Lord, this made them resolute and undaunted in the midst of all the afflictions and oppositions that they met with: And so 'twas a word of command that raised the spirits, and encouraged the hearts of the Apostles in the work of the Lord, in the face of all the oppositions, threatnings and buffetings that they met with from the civil powers. You know Absalom layes his bloudy command upon his servants, as their highest encouragement to that bloudy work of killing his brother Amnon, 2 Sam. 13.28. Now Absalom had commanded his servants, (his Assasines) saying, Mark ye now when Amnons heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be couragious, and be valiant; or sons of valour, as the Hebrew runs. And so a Christian must lay the command of God before him, as his highest encouragement to do what God requires of him, &c.

1Psal. 44 9—ult. Ezek. 28.12, 22.
2Acts 4.19, 20 . & 5.29.

:327p. 144–145§5

Fifthly and lastly, Our obedience must be bottomed and grounded upon the commands of God, to difference and distinguish our selves from all hypocrites, formalists, superstitious and profane persons, whose obedience is sometimes bottomed upon the Traditions of men, and sometimes upon the commandments of men. 'Twas the sin of the Ten Tribes, that they complied with the command of Jeroboam and his Princes,¹ to worship the Calves at Dan and Bethel; and for this the wrath of the Lord fell heavy upon them. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. And sometimes their obedience is bottomed upon the examples of men, sometimes their obedience is bottomed upon the examples of their forefathers and ancestors,² Jer. 10.3. The customs of the people are vain, &c. and sometimes upon the examples of great men. This was that which the Pharisees objected against believing on Christ; ⟨p. 145⟩Have any of the Rulers, or of the Pharisees believed on him? but this people who knoweth not the Law are cursed. And sometimes they bottom their obedience upon the example of the multitude. This was Demetrius his argument against Paul, ³on the behalf of Diana, that all Asia and the world did worship her; and therefore the doctrine of Paul, that they be no Gods which are made with hands was false, and not to be suffered. This hath always been, and is still the common plea of many, We do but as the most do; and sure a great many eyes can see more than one or two: And hereupon they exclaim against others for their singularity, because they won't do as the rest of their neighbours do. But,

Fifthly and lastly, Our obedience must be bottomed and grounded upon the commands of God, to difference and distinguish our selves from all hypocrites, formalists, superstitious and prophane persons, whose obedience is sometimes bottomed upon the Traditions of men, and sometimes upon the commandments of men. 'Twas the sin of the Ten Tribes, that they complyed with the command of Jeroboam and his Princes,¹ to worship the Calves at Dan and Bethel; and for this the wrath of the Lord fell heavy upon them. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. And sometimes their obedience is bottomed upon the examples of men, sometimes their obedience is bottomed upon the examples of their forefathers and ancestors,² Jer. 10.3. The customs of the people are vain, &c. and sometimes upon the examples of great men. This was that which the Pharisees objected against believing on Christ; ⟨p. 145⟩Have any of the Rulers, or of the Pharisees believed on him? but this people who knoweth not the Law are cursed. And sometimes they bottom their obedience upon the example of the multitude. This was Demetrius his argument against Paul, ³on the behalf of Diana, that all Asia and the world did worship her; and therefore the doctrine of Paul, that they be no Gods which are made with hands was falfe, and not to be suffered. This hath alwayes been, and is still the common plea of many, We do but as the most do; and sure a great many eyes can see more than one or two: And hereupon they exclaim against others for their singularity, because they won't do as the rest of their neighbours do. But,

1Isa. 29.13, 14. Mat. 15.1 to 10. Mark 7.8 to 10. Hos. 5.11, 12.
2Jer. 44, 17, 18, &c. Joh. 7.48, 49.
3Acts 19.26, 27.

:328p. 145–146§5

Thirdly, That obedience that springs from faith, is a growing §3obedience, 'tis an abounding obedience; such a man's desires, will, study and labour, is to get up to the highest pitch of obedience, to get up to the highest round in Jacob's ladder, Rev. 2.19. I know thy work, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. The Angel of the Church of Thyatira, ¹is commended, First, for his love. 2. For his charity. 3. For his faith. And, 4. For his patience: And in the general course of his life, he daily became more excellent; for his latter works were more than the first, that is, they were more manifest proofs of his constancy, and more worthy of praise than the first. This faithful Pastor is commended for his holy progress in grace and holiness. So Paul, Phil. 3.12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Ver. 13. Brethren, I count not my self to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Ver. 14. I press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The Greek word [Greek or Hebrew], doth emphatically import, a pressing, with an eager pursuit after the mark: It is the same word that signifies to persecute, because the earnestness of his spirit in pressing toward the mark, now is the same that it was in the persecution of ⟨p. 146⟩those that pressed toward the mark before. Look, as good runners, when they come near unto the mark, stretch out their heads, and hands, and whole bodies, to take hold of them that run with them, or of the mark that is before them; so he in his whole race so laboured unto that which was before, as if he were still stretching out his arms to take hold of it. If such a man might have his choice, he would be the most humble, the most holy, the most heavenly, the most mortified, the most patient, the most contented, the most thankful, the most fruitful, the most active, the most zealous, and the most self-denying Christian in the world;² if he might have his choice, he would be holy as God is holy, and perfect as his heavenly father is perfect;

Thirdly, That obedience that springs from faith, is a growing §3obedience, 'tis an abounding obedience; such a man's desires, will, study and labour, is to get up to the highest pitch of obedience, to get up to the highest round in Jacob's ladder, Rev. 2.19. I know thy work, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. The Angel of the Church of Thyatira, ¹is commended, First, for his love. 2. For his charity. 3. For his faith. And, 4. For his patience: And in the general course of his life, he daily became more excellent; for his latter works were more than the first, that is, they were more manifest proofs of his constancy, and more worthy of praise than the first. This faithful Pastor is commended for his holy progress in grace and holiness. So Paul, Phil. 3.12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Ver. 13. Brethren, I count not my self to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Ver. 14. I press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The Greek word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, doth emphatically import, a pressing, with an eager pursuit after the mark: It is the same word that signifies to persecute, because the earnestness of his spirit in pressing toward the mark, now is the same that it was in the persecution of ⟨p. 146⟩those that pressed toward the mark before. Look, as good runners, when they come near unto the mark, stretch out their heads, and hands, and whole bodies, to take hold of them that run with them, or of the mark that is before them; so he in his whole race so laboured unto that which was before, as if he were still stretching out his arms to take hold of it. If such a man might have his choice, he would be the most humble, the most holy, the most heavenly, the most mortified, the most patient, the most contented, the most thankful, the most fruitful, the most active, the most zealous, and the most self-denying Christian in the world;² if he might have his choice, he would be holy as God is holy, and perfect as his heavenly father is perfect;

1'Tis not every believers happiness always to make a progress in grace. Solomon and Asa, and others, run retrograde. Saints have their winter seasons; they have their decaying times, and withering times, as well as their thriving times, their flourishing times, Rev. 2.4.
21 Pet. 1.15, 16. Mat. 5.

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he would do the will of God on earth, as those Princes of glory, the Angels, do it now in heaven, viz. freely, readily, cheerfully, delightfully, universally, reverentially, and unweariedly, &c. if he might have his choice,¹ he would exercise every grace, and perform every duty, with all his might; he sees so much excellency and beauty in God and Christ, that he can't be at rest till he be swallowed up in the enjoyment of them; he sees so much excellency in grace, that nothing but perfection of grace will satisfy him; he makes perfection not only his utmost end, but he also labours after perfection with his utmost strength and endeavours. When God is made the one of a mans desires, the one of a mans affections, the one of a mans life and comfort, then will he be the one of a mans endeavours too. That obedience that springs from faith (when 'tis not winter-time with a Christian) is a fruitful obedience, 'tis an abounding obedience, 'tis a progressive obedience. Look, as the mercy and favour of God to a believer, is not stinted nor limited, so the obedience of a believer to God is not stinted or limited; but now the obedience of hypocrites is always stinted and limited; this command they will obey, but not that; this duty they will do, but not that; this work they will attend, but not that, &c.

he would do the will of God on earth, as those Princes of glory, the Angels, do it now in heaven, viz. freely, readily, cheerfully, delightfully, universally, reverentially, and unweariedly, &c. if he might have his choice,¹ he would exercise every grace, and perform every duty, with all his might; he sees so much excellency and beauty in God and Christ, that he can't be at rest till he be swallowed up in the enjoyment of them; he sees so much excellency in grace, that nothing but perfection of grace will satisfie him; he makes perfection not only his utmost end, but he also labours after perfection with his utmost strength and endeavours. When God is made the one of a mans desires, the one of a mans affections, the one of a mans life and comfort, then will he be the one of a mans endeavours too. That obedience that springs from faith (when 'tis not winter-time with a Christian) is a fruitful obedience, 'tis an abounding obedience, 'tis a progressive obedience. Look, as the mercy and favour of God to a believer, is not stinted nor limited, so the obedience of a believer to God is not stinted or limited; but now the obedience of hypocrites is alwayes stinted and limited; this command they will obey, but not that; this duty they will do, but not that; this work they will attend, but not that, &c.

1Eccl. 9.10.

:331p. 147–148§4

And the Lord said unto Jehu, because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast ⟨p. 148⟩done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation, shall sit on the throne of Israel. And yet because his heart was not in his obedience, and because he did not purely act for God, but for himself, that he might bring about his own designs, he met with a revenge instead of a reward; as you may see in that, Hos. 1.4. And the Lord, said unto him, call his name Jezreel, for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu. Jehu's heart was not in his obedience, he had a dispensatory conscience; for though he rooted out Baals worship, yet the golden Calves must still continue: He destroyed Idolaters, but not Idolatry; and this carnal policy brought down vengeance and misery upon him and his posterity. Artaxerxes goes far, Ezra 7.23. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done. To what a height doth this Heathen Prince rise? He will do anything for God, he will do every thing for God that he requires. But mark, what is that which moves him to it? Is it love to God? is it delight in God? O no! all his obedience proceeded from nothing but fear of wrath and vengeance, as is evident in the latter part of the verse; For why should there be wrath upon the Realm of the King, and of his Sons? Or, as the Hebrew runs, Why should there be boiling or foaming anger, great indignation? As it is rendered and made the utmost degree of divine displeasure, in that Deut. 29.28. Some read these words, Against the Realm of the King and his Sons, as distinct one from another, and not depending one upon another, thus; Against the Realm, the King and his Sons; and this reading the Original will bear: And this reading shows, That as the King feared God's wrath against himself, so also against his Realm and Children; and accordingly he was the more studious and careful to escape it; blind nature was afraid of divine wrath,¹ and therefore was the more sedulous to prevent it. O, but now a true child of God, he has the Law of God written, not only in his understanding, but also in his heart and affections; and this is that which makes his obedience to be pleasing and delightful to him;

And the Lord said unto Jehu, because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast ⟨p. 148⟩done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation, shall sit on the throne of Israel. And yet because his heart was not in his obedience, and because he did not purely act for God, but for himself, that he might bring about his own designs, he met with a revenge instead of a reward; as you may see in that, Hos. 1.4. And the Lord, said unto him, call his name Jezreel, for yet a little while, and I will avenge the bloud of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu. Jehu's heart was not in his obedience, he had a dispensatory conscience; for though he rooted out Baals worship, yet the golden Calves must still continue: He destroyed Idolaters, but not Idolatry; and this carnal policy brought down vengeance and misery upon him and his posterity. Artaxerxes goes far, Ezra 7.23. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done. To what a highth doth this Heathen Prince rise? He will do anything for God, he will do every thing for God that he requires. But mark, what is that which moves him to it? Is it love to God? is it delight in God? O no! all his obedience proceeded from nothing but fear of wrath and vengeance, as is evident in the latter part of the verse; For why should there be wrath upon the Realm of the King, and of his Sons? Or, as the Hebrew runs, Why should there be boyling or foaming anger, great indignation? As it is rendred and made the utmost degree of divine displeasure, in that Deut. 29.28. Some read these words, Against the Realm of the King and his Sons, as distinct one from another, and not depending one upon another, thus; Against the Realm, the King and his Sons; and this reading the Original will bear: And this reading shews, That as the King feared God's wrath against himself, so also against his Realm and Children; and accordingly he was the more studious and careful to escape it; blind nature was afraid of divine wrath,¹ and therefore was the more sedulous to prevent it. O, but now a true child of God, he has the Law of God written, not only in his understanding, but also in his heart and affections; and this is that which makes his obedience to be pleasing and delightful to him;

1ezek. 26.25, 26, 27.•zek. 26.25, 26, 27.

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so that if he might be free from the injunctions and directions of the Word (with the servant ⟨p. 149⟩in the Law) he would not value such a liberty;¹ he would not swear, nor lye, nor be drunk, nor whore, nor dissemble, nor cheat, nor run into all excess of riot if he might, because in his soul he has a principle of grace, and an inward contrariety and antipathy against it;² he would not cease to hear, to read, to pray, to meditate if he might, because his soul takes a delight & sweet complacency in these things; there is a principle within him agreeable to the precept without him, which makes all religious performances to be easy and pleasurable to him. Look, as the eye delights in seeing, and the ear in hearing, so a gracious heart (except when 'tis under a cloud of desertion, or in the School of temptation, or under some grievous tormenting afflictions, or sadly worsted by some prevalent corruption) delights in obeying: Actions of nature, you know, are actions of delight; and so are all those actions that spring from a new nature, a divine nature, &c.

so that if he might be free from the injunctions and directions of the Word (with the servant ⟨p. 149⟩in the Law) he would not value such a liberty;¹ he would not swear, nor lye, nor be drunk, nor whore, nor dissemble, nor cheat, nor run into all excess of riot if he might, because in his soul he has a principle of grace, and an inward contrariety and antipathy against it;² he would not cease to hear, to read, to pray, to meditate if he might, because his soul takes a delight & sweet complacency in these things; there is a principle within him agreeable to the precept without him, which makes all religious performances to be easie and pleasurable to him. Look, as the eye delights in seeing, and the ear in hearing, so a gracious heart (except when 'tis under a cloud of dissertion, or in the School of temptation, or under some grievous tormenting afflictions, or sadly worsted by some prevalent corruption) delights in obeying: Actions of nature, you know, are actions of delight; and so are all those actions that spring from a new nature, a divine nature, &c.

1Exod. 21.4, 5, 6, &c.
2Eccl. 9.2.

:334p. 149–150§5

Sixthly, That obedience that springs from faith, is a constant §6obedience, 'tis a fixed and resolved obedience, not in respect of practise and continued acts (for in many things we ⟨p. 150⟩offend all. ¹There is not a just man upon the earth, that doth good and sinneth not: Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? There is no man that sinneth not; If we say we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us.) &c. But in respect of a Christians sincere desires, bent of will, purpose of heart, resolution of soul, and faithful endeavours, Psal. 119.20. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Ver. 112. I have inclined my heart to keep thy Statutes alway, even to the end. Ver. 33. Teach me, O Lord! the way of thy Statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end. Job 17.9. The righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands, shall be stronger and stronger. So Isa. 40.29, 30, 31. Job 2.3. Mark, the renewed man hath at all times a desire to fear the name of the Lord, Neh. 1.11. A will to live honestly at all times. Heb. 13.18. And it hath some endeavours and exercise of Spirit, to keep always a conscience void of offence towards God and men, Acts 24.16. The Israelites in their marches toward the holy Land, were many times interrupted by divers enemies; but yet they advanced in their course, as soon as they could get rid of their enemies: So though the believer be many times interrupted in the course of his obedience, by many fierce temptations, and strange working of corruptions; yet after the temptation is over, the believer returns to the course of obedience with greater forwardness,² and with redoubled strength and courage, and in the end perfects his course of holiness in the fear of the Lord. Mark, the appearing motion, and walking of an unregenerate man in a way of righteousness and holiness, is but artificial from the engine of hypocrisy, and self-interest, like the flying of Ar•hitus his artificial Dove; and therefore having no inward principle of life, it en•••eth not; but the motion and walking of a man, renewed by grace in ways of holiness and righteousness, is like the natural living motion of birds, it continues as long as life continues, and as every thing in motion, the nearer it comes to the centre, the more swiftly it moves:

Sixthly, That obedience that springs from faith, is a constant §6obedience, 'tis a fixed and resolved obedience, not in respect of practise and continued acts (for in many things we ⟨p. 150⟩offend all. ¹There is not a just man upon the earth, that doth good and sinneth not: Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? There is no man that sinneth not; If we say we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us.) &c. But in respect of a Christians sincere desires, bent of will, purpose of heart, resolution of soul, and faithful endeavours, Psal. 119.20. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Ver. 112. I have enclined my heart to keep thy Statutes alway, even to the end. Ver. 33. Teach me, O Lord! the way of thy Statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end. Job 17.9. The righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands, shall be stronger and stronger. So Isa. 40.29, 30, 31. Job 2.3. Mark, the renewed man hath at all times a desire to fear the name of the Lord, Neh. 1.11. A will to live honestly at all times. Heb. 13.18. And it hath some endeavours and exercise of Spirit, to keep always a conscience void of offence towards God and men, Acts 24.16. The Israelites in their marches toward the holy Land, were many times interrupted by divers enemies; but yet they advanced in their course, as soon as they could get rid of their enemies: So though the believer be many times interrupted in the course of his obedience, by many fierce temptations, and strange working of corruptions; yet after the temptation is over, the believer returns to the course of obedienc• with greater forwardness,² and with redoubled strength and courage, and in the end perfects his course of holiness in the fear of the Lord. Mark, the appearing motion, and walking of an unregenerate man in a way of righteousness and holiness, is but artificial from the engine of hypocrisie, and self-interest, like the flying of Arhitus his artificial Dove; and therefore having no inward principle of life, it eneth not; but the motion and walking of a man, renewed by grace in wayes of holiness and righteousness, is like the natural living motion of birds, it continues as long as life continues, and as every thing in motion, the nearer it comes to the center, the more swiftly it moves: