Vnprofitable Christians reproved.

The fourth and last sort of persons, that fall under the lash of a sharp and just reproof, is, unprofitable Christians, who, though they be sincere for the main, and have the root of the matter, yet have not yet arrived to this treasure: Alas, Sirs, there's none of us, but we have too much bad, and too little good treasure in our hearts. We cannot but know all the wickedness that our hearts are privy to, and cannot our consciences discover an emptiness & vacuity of good? Oh what a Chaos and confusion is in our hearts! and whence comes this? Have we not had meanes of gathering a large treasure? What have we done with all our Ordinances, Sermons, Sacraments, Mercies, Afflictions? If we had been diligent, we might have furnished our soules with truths, graces, comforts, and experiences: What could have been done more for us? And have we a treasure proportionable to our enjoyments? whence then are we so unfit for, and untoward in duties? so flight, dead, and trifling in performances? so unprepared for, and unprofitable under Ordinances? so unthankful for mercies, discontented under crosses? so weak in resisting temptations, subduing corruptions? so unwilling of, and unsuitable to communion of Saints? Oh whence is it, that we are so apt to sit loose from God? so little fit for fellowship with him, and so much at a distance from him? certainly the reason is obvious, we have not such a treasure as becomes Saints: Especially, the great reason why we are so little skilful in the heavenly duty of meditation, is the want of a treasure of holy thoughts, when we are alone, we cannot fix our mindes upon an heart-affecting subject, or at least cannot pursue it, til our hearts be deeply affected, but our thoughts are off and on, very inconsistent, incoherent, independent, like the rambling discourses of a Mad-man, or the ranging motions of a Spaniel, or like the eyes of a fool, [Note 1] that are in the ends of the Earth: We run from object to object in a moment, and one thought looks like a meer stranger on another, should our thoughts be patent, or an invisible notary that's acquainted with them, write them down, and repeat them to us, how should we blush and be confounded in the rehearsal? [Note 2] as it's recorded of Dr. Petter, that hearing the fellowes of the Colledge talk of trivial things, said nothing, but after they had done talking, he thus bespake them. And now my Masters, will you hear all your extravagant discourses, for I have strictly observed and marked what you said, and he told them every whit: So suppose some should present to our cares or eyes a relation of our wilde imaginations in one hours time, what a strange medley of non-sense would there be? we may say the Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity, Ps 94:11. When we have sum'd up all the traverses, reasonings, and discourses of the minde, we may write this at the bottome, as the total summe, All is vanity: nothing but vanity, yea vanity in the abstract. And what is the reason of all this, but a want of the forementioned treasure, a stock of truths, graces, comforts, experiences.

I shall propound these four considerations, briefly for the Saints conviction and humiliation:

1.Are not these spiritual things worth hoarding up? look about you, through the whole Creation, and see if you can finde any thing better to make a treasure of; David saith, I have seen an end of all perfection, Ps 119:96. All outward enjoyments are a scant Garment that cannot cover us, or rotten rags, and are soon worn out; but one part of this treasure, i. e. Gods Commandements, is of a large extent, hence saith that good Man; thy Commandements are exceeding broad, they reach from Heaven to Earth, from great to smal, to all sorts of sinners, to all the faculties of the soul, to and through all eternity, thus long and broad is the Christians treasure, where then can you mend your selves for a treasure? spiritual blessings have all dimensions of perfection, these are the cream and flower of all blessings, no other treasures avail in the day of wrath; if heavenly things be not worth looking after, what are? should not spiritual persons set their hearts on spiritual riches? Are not these most suitable to your immortal souls, and spiritual principles? Have not you been married to Christ, [Note 3] and can you be content to be without any part of your dowry? Are not you risen with Christ, and should you not then seek after things above? [Note 4] Are not the things of God Magnalia, great things of eternal concernment? and did you not prize them at an high rate at your first conviction? And was not that your Motto [non est mortale quod opto] I seek not, I pursue not mortal things, temporary, fading enjoyments? And are not these as much worth enquiring after now, as formerly? Yes certainly, these do not decay through age. [Note 5] It was the matters belonging to the old Covenant, or Legal-dispensation that decayed and waxed old, and so by degrees did vanish away. New-covenant mercies, are the sure mercies of David, [Note 6] and they are alwaies fresh and green. Hence saith the Church in Song 1:16.—Also our bed is green, i. e. Our mutual delights in each other are lively, sweet and satisfying, never glutting, as earthly delights are; [Note 7] He that drinks of these living waters shall never thirst, i. e. After muddie waters of earthly comforts, but shal more ardently thirst and pant after the living God; Well sirs, look to it, there's nothing worth desiring, but these heavenly Treasures: if you can finde any better, take it, much good may it do you, yet brag not of your bargain, til you see the issue.#

2.Are you in any danger of having too much of these things? Surely there's no [nimium or] superfluities in the internals of religion: in the outward part too much may be done (though not if a man keep to the Rule) so that in some respects one may be righteous over-much, [Note 8] i. e. in either a self-willed superstitious way, or else in an unseasonable or unmeasurable performance of religious duties, to tire out a tempted soul, and run the Christian off his legs: But for inward Graces, sanctified Knowledge, and real Holiness, there can never be an over-plus, or excesse, whiles you are on this side the Line, you'l be short of perfection; [Note 9] Let Festus-like sots say, that much learning makes professors mad; let us study to encrease and abound more and more in knowledge, faith, love, humility, experience; as Paul pressed forward, if by any meanes he might attain to the resurrection of the dead, forgetting what was behind, [Note 10] and reaching forth to what was before. Moses's Ark had staves for removing further. Jacob's Ladder had staires for ascending higher. Christians must sing the Song of degrees in this world, and should seek to be renewed day by day. [Note 11] We must not sit upon and be satisfied with our measure, but work hard to make it a Treasure: We must strive both for fulnesse of grace, and fulnesse of joy. Its possible a Christian may attain to a full assurance: yea, that joy unspeakable, and peace that passeth all understanding, that be may think he hath enough, as I have heard of a good soul that enjoyed such abundant tide of comfort, that he desired the Lord to stay his hand, least the Vessel should break (though this is not ordinary for every Believer, not at all times for any) so that some may possibly have as much comfort as they can desire. But I never read, or heard of that Saint that had too much grace, or so much as they desire: All have bewailed their defects, living and dying: and the best men have been most coverous of divine things, young and old; 'Tis said of good Mr. Herbert Palmer, when he was of the age of four or five yeares, that he would cry to go to his Lady-mother, that he might hear something of God. And of old Grynaeus (that savourie Germane Divine) 'Tis recorded, that when some persons were discoursing by his Deathbed, he lift up himself, saying, I shall dye with more comfort, if I may dye, learning something for the good of my soule. Now Sirs, who, or what are you? Are you wise enough, good enough? Are you affraid of being too like God? or of having too much of God in and with your soules? Are you loath to get too ready for, or too readily into Heaven? [Note 12] Alas, alas, You may call your estate into question, if you say you have grace enough, or are good enough, or if you slacken your endeavours to get more grace upon a conceit you have enough: 'tis as natural for a living Saint to call for grace, as for a livelie Childe to cry for food; insatiable desire after grace, is a clear test of the truth of grace; Oh shame thy selfe then for thy neglect, and humble thy soule for thy non-proficiencie.#

3.Do you certainly know what treasure you may need? When you go a journey, you take money enough, because you cannot tell but you may be put to extraordinarie expences: and truly, in your journey to heaven, you may be put to unexpected charges: You little know what a day may bring forth: it may bring forth a burden for thy back; God may call you to sharp service in a way of dutie and difficultie: You are sure to go through a Purgatorie to glorie; the way to Heaven is strait and narrow, and you must croud hard to get in, and thrust through: through manifold temptations, and tribulations you must enter into Heaven; Its an irrevocable Decree of Heaven, that he that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution. We have had fair weather hitherto, but the greater storm is behind: we have not yet resisted to blood, [Note 13] but wee may be put to it: Be you sure, as long as the Devil is in Hell, and Antichrist on earth, there wil be persecutions raised against the Church in some part of it or other, yea, and his dying blows may prove the heaviest to the Reformed Churches: Woe to those that are unprovided for that sharp day; Oh, what piteous shirking wil there be to save the skin, and damn the soul? O Christians, get furnisht for this Encounter, wee little know whom it may reach, or how long the storm may last: You had need get strengthened with all might—unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse, [Note 14] least if your patience be short, and sufferings long, you fail in the way, and fall short of your Crown; What a sad plight are those Seamen in that made but a scant provision, and meet with a long Voyage: [Note 15] It was a good saying of Reverend Mr. Dod; That this is the difference betwixt a Christian thats provided for troubles, and one that is not; that the one are but blows on the Harnesse, but the other are blows on Flesh: Aelian saith, That in Lybia men slept with their Boots on because of the Scorpions, that they might not sting them: We had need also be well shod, or booted with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, [Note 16] i. e. with a disposition and resolution to walk in the most thornie way, and stinging company of wicked men, that wee may follow the Lamb which way soever hee goeth: We had need to count the cost in the profession of Religion, we do not know what God may call us to do, or to endure. Great services require great strength, that we may neither be weary of, nor weary in the Lords work, we must lay in much, that we may lay out much for God, we know not what God wil call us to use: When Israel was to goe out of Aegypt, Moses would take the Cattel, and not leave an hoof behind: For, saith he, we know not with what we must serve the Lord till we come thither, Exod 10:26. Therefore must they also borrow Jewels to be throughly furnished; [Note 17] and the Aegyptians were more willing to lend them, saith a Learned Man, because themselves were decked with Jewels, that they might be more acceptable to their fine-decked Deities; so you do not know with what sort of graces, or truths you must serve the Lord: onely let us get furnished with all instituted qualifications, that we may be so adorned and armed as the Lord may take pleasure in us, and that wee may get through-services and sufferings with glorie to God, credit to Religion, and comfort to our own soules: Those are unwise Christians, that lose their time, and are not furnished for the Tempests of a Sea-voyage; since no man knows what he must need.#

4.Neglect herein is a dishonour to God, and disparagement to the Treasures of Grace; Why art thou being the Kings Son, lean from day to day, said Jonadab to Ammon, 2 Sam. 13 4. So say I, whence proceeds this leannesse? Is there not meat enough at your Fathers Table? Store sufficient in your Masters Treasurie? Do not you disparage the meanes of your supply? and bring an ill report on the good Land? God is not an hard Master, but distributes liberally an abundant dole of Grace: why then are your soules no better liking in Religion? the reason is not in God, but in your selves: You are not straitened in him, but in your own bowels, [Note 18] as Paul in another case. Now, as a recompence of his Love and Munificence, be ye also inlarged: Indeed, it doth (as it were) ease Gods heart to be communicating, [Note 19] of his goodnesse; It did please him infinitely from Eternitie, to think of expending riches of grace upon Sinners in time: But he can be perfectly and perpetually happie without you, it doth chiefly concern you to fetch all from Him; that you also may be happie in the enjoyment of Him: Are you affraid of being happie? who, [Note 20] out foolish man would forsake his own mercies? Shall God set up an office of Grace in Christ, and will indigent soules take no notice of it? You cannot grieve him worse than to neglect his infinite condescention, and tender affection. If a mightie King should open his Treasures, and bid men come, and bring their baggs, and take as much as they desired, do you think they would neglect this occasion of enriching themselves? Surely no, they would rather fetch bag after bag, (for scarce is any weary of taking money) and with the poor woman in sacred story, borrow Vessels that may contain larger Treasures: The God of Heaven hath made a glorious Proclamation of scattering precious Treasures; Do you question, whether he intends as he speaketh? God forbid; Or, do you fear being welcome? Why, you are most welcome when you come for the greatest share; Do you fear unworthiness will hinder you? I say, sense of unworthiness will help you to be capable of greater Receits: Do you fear these Treasures of Heaven will be exhausted by the Myriads of soules that are supplyed therefrom? Know it Sirs, the Royal Exchequer is as rich this day, as it was when Christ was first promised, or the first man saved; these are riches of grace, an in-exhaustible Spring: distribution doth not impair its fulnesse, no more than the Suns shining doth rob it of its innate and native light; Oh then, why are our soules so poor and pining? The Lord humble us that we have no more, when there is so much to be had in our All-sufficient Treasurie.#