Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

Besides this, as there must be a moulding of the heart, and fitting it for exercise, so there must be a removing of ¹impediments that hinder. Therefore we see in that place, 2 Tim. 2. 21. If any man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Masters use, and prepared to every good work. There is a certain rustiness that cleaves to the wheels of the soul, that it moves not nimbly and readily in the doing the works we are called to do, this rust must be rubbed off. There be impediments of divers sorts: worldly-mindedness is a ⟨p. 221⟩great impediment and hindrance. And so cares, and pleasures, and lusts, those that are called thorns, that hinder growth: all these impediments, this uncircumcision of heart, these hinder from working, and these must be removed before we can be ready to do it.

1. 12. Removing of impediments.

We see in Psal. 51. saith David there, Lord deliver me ¹from blood guiltiness; this sin that I have committed, and my tongue shall sing joyfully of thy righteousness: open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. The meaning is this, David found that that was the sin wherewith his soul was hindered, that it made him unfit, so that though there were a fountain of grace in his heart, yet it was not able to flow forth, but was stopped up (as it were;) therefore he prays to God to open his mouth. How should it be opened? by removing that sin, by taken away that indisposition which that sin had brought on his mind.

We see in Psal. 51. saith David there, Lord deliver me ¹from blood guiltiness; this sin that I have committed, and my tongue shall sing joyfully of thy righteousness: open my lips, and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. The meaning is this, David found that that was the sin wherewith his soul was hindred, that it made him unfit, so that though there were a fountain of grace in his heart, yet it was not able to flow forth, but was stopped up (as it were;) therefore he prayes to God to open his mouth. How should it be opened? by removing that sin, by taken away that indisposition which that sin had brought on his mind.

1. 1Psal. 51.

As we see a fountain may be stopped up with mud, or dirt, or stones, or any thing, remove these, and the fountain is open, and when it is open, it is ready to flow out. So then there must be a removing the impediments: let every man see what it is that hinders him, when there is a fountain of grace, when it flows not out readily. If a man be not ready to good works, there is some impediment that must be removed.

1. 13. To beg the Holy Ghost to help us.
2. 2Simile.

But further there are certain duties that more immediately fit and prepare us, that is, the communion of Saints, ¹that whets, and warms us, and stirs up the grace of God in us. So likewise prayer: be much in prayer, and in the communion of Saints, and that will make a man strong, it will make him ready to use his strength, and the grace he hath. But I hasten.

1. 14. Prayer and communion of Saints.

The main thing that I have to commend to you to stir you up to use your strength to do the Lords work, and ¹to use the grace you have upon all occasions for his advantage, it is this consideration, to deny your selves, and to seek the things of Jesus Christ; that is the last thing I will pitch on: for that is all in all. What is the reason that a man useth not the strength he hath? because he seeks his own things, and not the things of Jesus Christ. If the heart were brought to this to deny it self, and to neglect its own things, and to seek the things that are Jesus Christs, he would be ready then to stir up his strength; he would be ready then to run, and to go to do any service to the Lord. You have that in Phillip. 2. I ²have no man like minded that will faithfully care for your things, for every man seeks his own, and not the things that are Jesus Christs. Now to heal that disease in your selves, to bring your hearts to a quite contrary temper, not to seek your own things but the things that are Christs, labour to have this wrought on your hearts, and that is it that will most immediately prepare you, and enable you to use your strength for the Lord upon all occasions.

The main thing that I have to commend to you to stir you up to use your strength to do the Lords work, and ¹to use the grace you have upon all occasions for his advantage, it is this consideration, to deny your selves, and to seek the things of Jesus Christ; that is the last thing I will pitch on: for that is all in all. What is the reason that a man useth not the strength he hath? because he seeks his own things, and not the things of Jesus Christ. If the heart were brought to this to deny it self, and to neglect its own things, and to seek the things that are Jesus Christs, he would be ready then to stir up his stength; he would be ready then to run, and to go to do any service to the Lord. You have that in Phillip. 2. I ²have no man like minded that will faithfully care for your things, for every man seeks his own, and not the things that are Iesus Christs. Now to heal that disease in your selves, to bring your hearts to a quite contrary temper, not to seek your own things but the things that are Christs, labor to have this wrought on your hearts, and that is it that will most immediately prepare you, and inable you to use your strength for the Lord upon all occasions.

1. 15. To seek the things that are Jesus Christs.
2. 2Phillip. 2.

You will say, how shall we do this?¹

1. 1Quest.

Consider that there is a necessity lies upon you to do ¹it.

1. 1Answ.

And if there did not a necessity lie on you, yet it were best for you to do it.

And if it were not best for thee, yet Christ hath deserved it at thy hands, he is worthy of it that thou shouldest not seek thy own things, but the things of Jesus Christ. These things we will a little enlarge, and so end.

And if it were not best for thee, yet Christ hath deserved it at thy hands, he is worthy of it that thou shouldest not seek thy own things, but the things of Jesus Christ. These things we will a little inlarge, and so end.

First, I say there is a necessity lies on thee to do it. It ¹is true, if thou wert thy own master, if a man were sui juris, he might do with himself what he would; he might seek his own things: but if thou be none of thine own, if thou have hired thy self to Christ, if thou have sold thy self to him, thou art his; and if thou be his, there is a necessity lies on thee now to seek his things, and not thine own. A woman, while she is a maid or a widow, she may dispose of her self as she will, she may seek her own things, and stand upon her own bottom: but when she is married once she must please her husband, and be obedient to him. I say when thou art Christs once (for I speak to those that profess themselves to be his; those that have strength, and need nothing but to stir it up) other men may do what they will, as it is said, when there was no King in Israel every man did what was good in his own eyes. But when thou hast put thy self under his yoke, and accepted him for thy King, thou must live by the laws of his Kingdom, and be subject to thy Prince. When thou hast taken Christ for thy King, (as every man hath that is once entered into Covenant with him) I say there is a necessity lies upon thee. Christ saith plainly to thee; he saith to every man if thou wilt be mine, I will tell thee before what thou shalt do, thou must deny thy self, and take up thy cross and follow me. Choose whether thou wilt enter into my service, and make the match or no, but if thou wilt be my disciple, this thou must do: so when thou art once his disciple thou art bound to it, thou art not now left to thy Liberty.

First, I say there is a necessity lies on thee to do it. It ¹is true, if thou wert thy own master, if a man were sui juris, he might do with himself what he would; he might seek his own things: but if thou be none of thine own, if thou have hired thy self to Christ, if thou have sold thy self to him, thou art his; and if thou be his, there is a necessity lies on thee now to seek his things, and not thine own. A woman, while shee is a maid or a widow, shee may dispose of her self as shee will, shee may seek her own things, and stand upon her own bottom: but when she is married once she must please her husband, and be obedient to him. I say when thou art Christs once (for I speak to those that profess themselves to be his; those that have strength, and need nothing but to stir it up) other men may do what they will, as it is said, when there was no King in Israel every man did what was good in his own eyes. But when thou hast put thy self under his yoak, and accepted him for thy King, thou must live by the laws of his Kingdom, and be subject to thy Prince. When thou hast taken Christ for thy King, (as every man hath that is once entred into Covenant with him) I say there is a necessity lies upon thee. Christ saith plainly to thee; he saith to every man if thou wilt be mine, I will tell thee before what thou shalt do, thou must deny thy self, and take up thy cross and follow me. Choose whether thou wilt enter into my service, and make the match or no, but if thou wilt be my disciple, this thou must do: so when thou art once his disciple thou art bound to it, thou art not now left to thy Liberty.

1. 11. There is a necessity so to do.

And besides if there were not this necessity put upon thee, yet secondly it is best for thee, and indeed that is that which moves every one of us. It is best for th• not to seek thine own, The reason why men seek their own is because they think it best. I say it is best for thee not to seek thine own. For you know there are two ways for a man to provide for himself; one is by looking immediately to himself, and seeking the things that belong to his profit, and credit, and pleasure. The other is by neglecting himself, and by serving the Lord, and committing it to him. Now consider which is the most compendious way to a mans happiness. I say it is the next way, the best policy for a man to provide for himself, even out of self-love, it is for him not to seek his own things but the things that are Christs. For there are but two ways for a man to do good to himself. The one is direct, when his end is to do good to himself, that is his object, he goes about without any more ado; The other is when he doth it by way of reflection, that is when he serves God and men faithfully, and leaves it to him to serve him. This is the best way for a man to look to himself to serve God, not to seek his own things but the things that are Christs, why? because he cannot do as much for himself as Christ can.

And besides if there were not this necessity put upon thee, yet secondly it is best for thee, and indeed that is that which moves every one of us. It is best for th• not to seek thine own, The reason why men seek their own is because they think it best. I say it is best for thee not to seek thine own. For you know there are two wayes for a man to provide for himself; one is by looking immediately to himself, and seeking the things that belong to his profit, and credit, and pleasure. The other is by neglecting himself, and by serving the Lord, and committing it to him. Now consider which is the most compendious way to a mans happiness. I say it is the next way, the best policie for a man to provide for himself, even out of self-love, it is for him not to seek his own things but the things that are Christs. For there are but two wayes for a man to do good to himself. The one is direct, when his end is to do good to himself, that is his object, he goes about without any more ado; The other is when he doth it by way of reflexion, that is when he serves God and men faithfully, and leaves it to him to serve him. This is the best way for a man to look to himself to serve God, not to seek his own things but the things that are Christs, why? because he cannot do as much for himself as Christ can.

Think in all the needs thou hast, how little thou canst do for thy self. When thou art sick, thou canst not heal thy self: when thou art at the point of death, thou canst not deliver thy self. When thou hast business to do, thou canst not bring thine enterprises to pass. When thou art in a doubtful case, thou knowest not how to advise thy self. God is only wise. Go through all the business thou hast need of; God only is able to do it.

Think in all the needs thou hast, how little thou canst do for thy self. When thou art sick, thou canst not heal thy self: when thou art at the point of death, thou canst not deliver thy self. When thou hast businesse to do, thou canst not bring thine enterprizes to passe. When thou art in a doubtful case, thou knowest not how to advise thy self. God is onely wise. Go through all the business thou hast need of; God onely is able to do it.

Besides, if thou go to seek happiness in thy self, if thou seek thy own things, know that thou seekest that which is not to be had there; that is the way to undo thy self: because it is not in the nature of the creature; the happiness of the creature stands not in its own compass, but in ⟨p. 225⟩another without it self: therefore if thou seek happiness in thy self thou art undone by it. As if a glass be left to it self, and be not held up, it falls, and breaks in pieces. That is the nature of every creature, if it go about to stand on its own bottom, it is the way to break it asunder, to undo it.

Besides, if thou go to seek happiness in thy self, if thou seek thy own things, know that thou seekest that which is not to be had there; that is the way to undo thy self: because it is not in the nature of the creature; the happiness of the creature stands not in its own compass, but in ⟨p. 225⟩another without it self: therefore if thou seek happiness in thy self thou art undone by it. As if a glass be left to it self, and be not held up, it falls, and breaks in pieces. That is the nature of every creature, if it go about to stand on its own bottom, it is the way to break it assunder, to undo it.

Besides, consider what an unreasonable thing it is, thou mayest not seek thy self. It is true God may seek himself, and his own end; he is the utmost cause, there is none before him; there is no end beyond him, he may therefore do all for his own end, for his own glory, he may seek his own things. But thou art a creature, and every creature stands in subordination to somewhat above it: therefore thy happiness is in seeking another's end; if thou seek thy own end, thou turnest the course of nature; therefore thou art bound to do it.

Besides, consider what an unreasonable thing it is, thou mayest not seek thy self. It is true God may seek himself, and his own end; he is the utmost cause, there is none before him; there is no end beyond him, he may therefore do all for his own end, for his own glory, he may seek his own things. But thou art a creature, and every creature stands in subordination to somewhat above it: therefore thy happiness is in seeking anothers end; if thou seek thy own end, thou turnest the course of nature; therefore thou art bound to do it.

Again, when thou seekest thy self and thine own things, what dost thou please? Thy flesh, thy disease, thou givest it that it calls for, that will destroy thee. He that hearkeneth to and gratifies his disease, strengthens his disease and kills himself. So, when a man hearkens to himself, to his own lusts and desires that the flesh requires of him, (for whatsoever is contrary to this grace here, is but the flesh, that the more thou hearkenest to, thou strengthenest that which will be thy destruction; because thou dost not withdraw from it that fuel that it desires: Therefore it is best for thee in all respects, not to seek thy own things but the things of Christ.

Again, when thou seekest thy self and thine own things, what dost thou please? Thy flesh, thy disease, thou givest it that it calls for, that will destroy thee. He that hearkeneth to and gratifies his disease, strengthens his disease and kills himself. So, when a man hearkens to himself, to his own lusts and desires that the flesh requires of him, (for whatsoever is contrary to this grace here, is but the flesh, that the more thou hearkenest to, thou strengthenest that wihch will be thy destruction; because thou dost not withdraw from it that fuel that it desires: Therefore it is best for thee in all respects, not to seek thy own things but the things of Christ.