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

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Physicians observe a difference 'twixt the natural and preter-natural heat in mens bodies; the preter-natural heat, which ariseth from distemper, may be more for the present, but as it exceeds for measure, so it abates for time, because the natural heat is a more equal and moderate, and durable heat, every part hath an equal share, and it is not extreme, and yet it continues. Thus it is with Hypocrites and upright persons in the matter of obedience. The hypocrite may (in a kind of preter-natural heat) in a hot fit, in a present heat, fall upon hearing, and reading, and praying, and reforming of his Family, and upon leaving of this sin and that; and upon casting off this vain company and that, and upon associating of himself with this good company and that. B•t this hot fit does not last, the cold fit takes him again, and then he shakes hands with all his duties, and loses all his good inclinations, and lays aside all his warm resolutions.¹ Will the Hypocrite pray always? Ephraims goodness was as a morning Cloud, which soon vanisheth, and as the early dew which is soon dried up by the Sun-beams; they were both false and fickle, unsteady and unstable; constant only in inconstancy; their hearts were never right with God, for they were not steadfast in his Covenant. There are four times wherein an Hypocrite may express a great readiness and forwardness to Religious duties.

Physicians observe a difference 'twixt the natural and preter-natural heat in mens bodies; the preter-natural heat, which ariseth from distemper, may be more for the present, but as it exceeds for measure, so it abates for time, because the natural heat is a more equal and moderate, and durable heat, every part hath an equal share, and it is not extream, and yet it continues. Thus it is with Hypocrites and upright persons in the matter of obedience. The hypocrite may (in a kind of preter-natural heat) in a hot fit, in a present heat, fall upon hearing, and reading, and praying, and reforming of his Family, and upon leaving of this sin and that; and upon casting off this vain company and that, and upon associating of himself with this good company and that. B•t this hot fit does not last, the cold fit takes him again, and then he shakes hands with all his duties, and loses all his good inclinations, and layes aside all his warm resolutions.¹ Will the Hypocrite pray alwayes? Ephraims goodness was as a morning Cloud, which soon vanisheth, and as the early dew which is soon dryed up by the Sun-beams; they were both false and fickle, unsteady and unstable; constant only in inconstancy; their hearts were never right with God, for they were not stedfast in his Covenant. There are four times wherein an Hypocrite may express a great readiness and forwardness to Religious duties.

1Job 27.8, 9. Hosea 6.4. Psal. 78.36, 37.

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Fourthly, When others presence, counsel, and examples, have an influence upon them,¹ O now they keep close duties! Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the Priest; but when Jehoiada was dead, Joash serves Groves and Idols, and turns a deaf ear to those Prophets that testified against him, and gives Zechariah the Son of Jehoiada his Passport out of the World, for inveighing against his evil manners, and the wicked courses of his Princes and People. Whilst the good Judges lived, the Israelites kept close to the service of God, Judges 2.7. And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the Elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel. ²But when the good Judges were dead, the Israelites did what was right in their own eyes, every mans lust was his Law. Whilst Moses was present, there was no talking of a Golden Calf, but no sooner was his back turned, but the Israelites make a Golden Calf, and worship it when they had done, Exod. 32.1-9. &c.

Fourthly, When others presence, counsel, and examples, have an influence upon them,¹ O now they keep close duties! Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the dayes of Jehoiada the Priest; but when Jehoiada was dead, Joash serves Groves and Idols, and turns a deaf ear to those Prophets that testified against him, and gives Zechariah the Son of Jehoiada his Pasport out of the World, for inveighing against his evil manners, and the wicked courses of his Princes and People. Whilest the good Judges lived, the Israelites kept close to the service of God, Judges 2.7. And the people served the Lord all the dayes of Joshua, and all the dayes of the Elders that outlived Joshuah, who had seen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel. ²But when the good Judges were dead, the Israelites did what was right in their own eyes, every mans lust was his Law. Whilest Moses was present, there was no talking of a Golden Calf, but no sooner was his back turn'd, but the Israelites make a Golden Calf, and worship it when they had done, Exod. 32.1-9. &c.

12 Chron. 24.2, 17-23.
2Judges 17.6. Chap. 21.25.

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Secondly, To recover the Image of God again to the §2height of what we are able. The first Adam lost the Image of God by his disobedience. Now this Image of God we recover again in Christ our second Adam; but so, as that the more enlightened, the more holy, the more humble, the more heavenly, the more righteous, the more gracious, and the more obedient we are,¹ the more we recover of this Image of God, which consists in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Now saith the Believer, my intent is to recover that precious Image of God which I lost in the first Adam, and therefore do I labour to come up to the highest pitches of obedience, because the higher I rise in my obedience, the more I shall recover of the lost Image of God; I know that I lost this Image by partaking of the disobedience and pollution of the first Adam; and I know that I have recovered in part the same Image, by partaking of the obedience and holiness of the second Adam: And I yet further know, that the more holy and obedient I am, the more I shall be like to that God, that is holiness it self, and the more I shall recover of that blessed Image, which consists in perfect holiness.

Secondly, To recover the Image of God again to the §2heighth of what we are able. The first Adam lost the Image of God by his disobedience. Now this Image of God we recover again in Christ our second Adam; but so, as that the more enlightned, the more holy, the more humble, the more heavenly, the more righteous, the more gracious, and the more obedient we are,¹ the more we recover of this Image of God, which consists in knowledg, righteousness, and true holiness. Now saith the Believer, my intent is to recover that precious Image of God which I lost in the first Adam, and therefore do I labour to come up to the highest pitches of obedience, because the higher I rise in my obedience, the more I shall recover of the lost Image of God; I know that I lost this Image by partaking of the disobedience and pollution of the first Adam; and I know that I have recovered in part the same Image, by partaking of the obedience and holiness of the second Adam: And I yet further know, that the more holy and obedient I am, the more I shall be like to that God, that is holiness it self, and the more I shall recover of that blessed Image, which consists in perfect holiness.

1Ephes. 4.24.

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Seventhly, To keep down the body, and to bring it into §7subjection to the soul, 1 Cor. 9.27. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. By spiritual exercises the Apostle d d subdue his flesh to the obedience and discipline of the spirit; in former times they had several exercises, as wrestling, and running for the prize. Now, such as were slow, pursy, unwieldy, and lazy, were cashiered; they would not admit such to be of their society or company, who wrestled and run for the prize: Them that were admitted to those exercises, kept their bodies at an under, and did not pamper their bodies with dainties and delicates. To these the Apostle alludes, of idleness there comes no goodness; when the spirit is not acting in that which is good, that the flesh may be kept under, the flesh will take an advantage to be very active in those things that are evil, that the spirit may be kept under; the flesh is like an unruly beast, which through rest, idleness, and high feeding, grows wild and masterless. Now, the only way to tame this beast, is to work him hard; so the way of ways to keep the body under, is to keep up the soul as much as may be, in the full exercise of holiness and obedience; such as have most pampered their bodies,¹ have been the greatest enemies to their own souls; and how many are there this day, that pamper their bodies, but starve their souls? that adorn their bodies, but defiles their soul? that trick and trim up their bodies with gold, and silver, and silks, whilst their souls are naked of all grace, holiness and goodness? like the Laodiceans of old. The body it self, if you set too high a price upon it, will make a cheap soul; a man may be as happy in Russet, as in Tissue; and he is certainly an unhappy man, whose outside is his best side; our bodies are but dirt handsomely tempered, and artificially formed; we derive our pedigree from the dust, and are a kin to clay; and therefore we need not scruple the keeping of it under by holy ⟨p. 158⟩exercises, and by all ways of Gospel-obedience, &c.

Seventhly, To keep down the body, and to bring it into §7subjection to the soul, 1 Cor. 9.27. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. By spiritual exercises the Apostle d d subdue his flesh to the obedience and discipline of the spirit; in former times they had several exercises, as wrestling, and running for the prize. Now, such as were slow, pursie, unweildy, and lazy, were cashiered; they would not admit such to be of their society or company, who wrestled and run for the prize: Them that were admitted to those exercises, kept their bodies at an under, and did not pamper their bodies with dainties and delicates. To these the Apostle alludes, of idleness there comes no goodness; when the spirit is not acting in that which is good, that the flesh may be kept under, the flesh will take an advantage to be very active in those things that are evil, that the spirit may be kept under; the flesh is like an unruly beast, which through rest, idleness, and high feeding, grows wild and masterless. Now, the only way to tame this beast, is to work him hard; so the way of wayes to keep the body under, is to keep up the soul as much as may be, in the full exercise of holiness and obedience; such as have most pampered their bodies,¹ have been the greatest enemies to their own souls; and how many are there this day, that pamper their bodies, but starve their souls? that adorn their bodies, but defiles their soul? that trick and trim up their bodies with gold, and silver, and silks, whilst their souls are naked of all grace, holiness and goodness? like the Laodiceans of old. The body it self, if you set too high a price upon it, will make a cheap soul; a man may be as happy in Russet, as in Tissue; and he is certainly an unhappy man, whose outside is his best side; our bodies are but dirt handsomly tempered, and artificially formed; we derive our pedigree from the dust, and are a kin to clay; and therefore we need not scruple the keeping of it under by holy ⟨p. 158⟩exercises, and by all wayes of Gospel-obedience, &c.

1Deut. 32.13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Jer. 5.7, 8, &c. Rev. 3 16, 17, 18.

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Eighthly, To the profit and advantage, both of sinners and Saints; 1. To convince sinners, to silence sinners, and to stop the mouths of sinners; let but one man that walks wisely, humbly, circumspectly, convincingly, exemplarily, blamelessly, come into a Town, a Parish, a Family, made up of drunkards, swearers, Sabbath-breakers, whore-masters, &c. and his holy walking, will convince them, and condemn them, 1 Pet. 2.12, 15. Chap. 3.13, 16. 2. To the profit, advantage and encouragement of the Saints. The strict exact walking Christian, provokes the slight loose Christian to mend his manners, and to order his steps and conversation aright; and the lively active Christian, puts the dull, heavy, sluggish Christian to a blush, and spurs and quickens him up to a more lively walking with God; and the warm, flaming, zealous, burning Christian, puts heat and warmth into the cold, formal, frozen Christian; and the free, liberal, bountiful Christian, provokes others to be free, noble, and liberal, for the supply of the necessities of the Saints, 2 Cor. 9.1, 2. Chap. 8.1, 2, 3, 4, 19, 20, &c.

Eighthly, To the profit and advantage, both of sinners and Saints; 1. To convince sinners, to silence sinners, and to stop the mouths of sinners; let but one man that walks wisely, humbly, circumspectly, convincingly, exemplarily, blamelesly, come into a Town, a Parish, a Family, made up of drunkards, swearers, Sabbath-breakers, whore-masters, &c. and his holy walking, will convince them, and condemn them, 1 Pet. 2.12, 15. Chap. 3.13, 16. 2. To the profit, advantage and encouragement of the Saints. The strict exact walking Christian, provokes the slight loose Christian to mend his manners, and to order his steps and conversation aright; and the lively active Christian, puts the dull, heavy, sluggish Christian to a blush, and spurs and quickens him up to a more lively walking with God; and the warm, flaming, zealous, burning Christian, puts heat and warmth into the cold, formal, frozen Christian; and the free, liberal, bountiful Christian, provokes others to be free, noble, and liberal, for the supply of the necessities of the Saints, 2 Cor. 9.1, 2. Chap. 8.1, 2, 3, 4, 19, 20, &c.