that a man hath and not according to that he hath not Answ. 1. This axiom and Scripture were never intended as a pillow for the lazy but a support to the weary nor to exempt us from our duty but to comfort us under our weakness What Parent will accept this answer from a negligent Child or what Master will be content of this excuse from a slothful servant offer it now to you Governour and imagine not it will pass with God which would be counted a mockery with men 2. God never accepts the Will for the Deed when the Deed may be done when the Idem cannot be paid the Tantundem shall serve yea and so far as the Deed can be done the will without it is but a mockery unto God But wherein an upright heart hath done its utmost in the use of all means and would do more this will is accepted for the Deed even as if thou hadst perfectly obeyed And so that Scripture cited is express in the case of charity It is accepted according to that a man hath So that a man must give according to that he hath or else his willing mind stands for nothing Now have you done your utmost against Distractions can you do no more If Death stood at the end of the Duty you could double your watch Plead not this till you have done your best 3. It is far from the quality of grace to sit down content in any defect or sin or to vouch the mercy of God to secure the soul in any transgression who when he is drest in his richest garments of mercy Exod. 34.7 Yet will not by any means clear the guilty No it is the Genius of true Grace to be restless under his deâ—ects if he cannot be rid of them to rowle up the stone though it tumble still upon him and cry out and roar under those diseases that are uncurable After the Apostle had told us Rom. 7.19 The good I would I do not but the Evil that I would not that I do He lyes not down and resolves to let it run but fights and strives and cryes O wretched man that I am Vers. 24. Si dixisti sufficit periisti If thou once sit down be content and say I 'le strive no more thou givest the field The Spirit withdraws with tears and Satan goes away with triumph 4. The Great Iehovah is so far from being content with such a frame that he hath plainly cursed all such as do the work of the Lord negligently or deceitfully Jer. 48.10 Though you neglect not the work of the Lord yet if you do it negligently you are in danger of the curse Every Distraction is a neglect in each wandring you deal deceitfully with God and for every of these in a Duty Gods Law pronounceth a Curse And is the Divine Curse inconsiderable with you who could digest an hundred curses though pronounced at your door by a provoked neighbour O how much more intolerable is it to be obnoxious to an hundred Curses from Heaven justly deserved and infallibly inflicted if Repentance prevent not It is not the work of the Lord will excuse you Nadab shall perish with his strange fire as well as if he had offered nothing at all Take heed of forgiving your selves when God forgives you not A negligent Duty is abomination to God And thus you have the most material Objections answered which is the fifth Point handled CHAP. VI. The Causes of Distractions with their Remedies SECT I. VVE shall now proceed unto the more Practical part of this Subject namely to find out and summ up the causes of this Epidemical Disease which is the Sixth Point to be handled The First Cause of Distractions in Gods service is Secret Atheism There is an Atheism of the Head Atheism of the heart and Atheism of the Life In the first The Fool hath said in his Head There is no God Psal. 14.1 Mark it is not He hath thought in his heart but says it by rote to himself rather as what he would have than what he doth believe And of him this is truly said That the speculative Atheist is the greatest Monster in the world except the Practical And our late Divisions by the help of our corrupt Natures have proselyted a considerable number to this desperate Opinion As if the different opinions about the ebbâ—ng and slowing of the Sea should render it doubtful whether the Sea did ebb and flow or the disputes about the manner of Vision should call our Sight it self into question You would think it a fond conclusion to say Because Philosophers argue much about the sensitive and vegitative Faculties of the Soul that there is no rational Soul at all in that these very velitations and debates do argue a rational Soul by and with which these points are disputed even so it is notorious madness to conclude from the variety and diversity of Opinions about Religion and Government that there is no God seeing you are supported by him while you dispute and argue about him Atheism of the Heart is whereby the Fool saith also in his Heart There is no God that is either secretly questions or but coldly assents to the existence of God or heartily wishes there were none at all And it is worth observation of both these that they are such as are obnoxious to the Divine Majesty by some misdemeanor The Felon wishes there were no Judge at all and even these are forced in some pangs to acknowledge him at some fright by thunder under some horrour of Consciâ—nce or in the point of death they are forced to give Iehovah his due And they also in any sudden fright or great extremity use to cry out O God O Lord as earnestly as others Atheism of the Life that 's described Tit. 1.14 They profess that they know God but in works they deny him Now both these latter do breed of the first and this last is most visible in our Distractions For if thou didst as verily believe God present in an Ordinance as he that sits next thee durst thou trifle so egregiously as thou dost The Minister looks at you and you dare not talk if you saw him that looks at you from Heaven you durst not straggle And therefore the more or less strong our belief is of God the more or less lively are we in our applications to him Oh the patience of God! that he can indure the Worm to doubt of him yea implicitely to deny him and not demonstrate himself by a Thunderbolt But the Countrey-man's ignorance of the Primum Mobile doth not nullifie it no more doth the Athiests Infidelity degrade the Primus Motor the Majesty of Heaven Heb. 11.6 He that cometh unto God must first believe that he is The Remedy of this Cause is Humbly to read the Scripture which is the most clear certain and convincing way to work Faith herein Prayer and the Bible have convinc'd more than
business with the Lord his God and he that 's busiâ— trifles not the more business the less distractions And therefore be advised all ye that intend for Heaven to get more grace It is as much as your duty to get the second grace as it was your duty to get the first grace and as the want of this would damn you so a want in that will displease God and that is as bad Quest. But how should a poor weak Christian get strong grace if I can get any grace it 's well for me a little grace is much for him that had none at all Answ. Though thou are a poor weak Christian yet that strong and blessed God whose thou art gives power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength Isa. 40.29 And though it 's well for thee to have any grace yet it 's better for thee to have more few folks are contented with a naked life but they would live well and comfortably they would be healthful and plentiful and will a little only of grace serve thy turâ— And though a little grace be well for him that had none yet it is not well for him that hath such means and motives for much grace as thou hast had And therefore I renew my counsel if ever you would attend upon God or injoy him hereafter without distraction strive for stronger grace And to obtain it 1. You must be upright and humble Upright for Iob 17.9 He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger The sound child grows the child painted on the wall thrives not so the sincere Christian he though he feel it not comes on and goes from strength to strength but the hypocrite he never grew for he never had a root And humble you must be The humble vallies grow God can never he thinks lay out too much upon an humble heart 2. You must manage the means of growth with your whole strength Attend upon the most edifying Ministry read the most profitable Books consort with the most lively growing Christians and particularly be frequent in the tryal of the state of your soul. Each week if possible call your selves to some account and strive to discern a weekly growth but if you cannot desist not from that work but try again Single out some special grace or duty to thrive in next week as for example the grace of Patience saving Knowledge the duty of an Husband Parent or Child And still be trying you will find one time or other what will fully pay you for your labour only observe he that thrives in the world takes pains and care and so in grace he that will grow must strive and sweat for it A little grace is worth a great deal of pains And thus you have the eighth Point to wit the Cure of Distractions if you will apply it but to what end are Rules unless ye will be ruled by them These helps cannot help you except you now faithfully put them in practice The plaister cures not in the box but laid on the sore And your charge be it if these do you no good Review them then and resolve by divine grace to practise them every one and the Lord of Heaven give his blessing CHAP. IX Encouragements under the burden of Distractions SECT I. BUT lest any honest Christian should by his frequent distractions be discouraged from his duties or in his holy duties I shall in the ninth place prevent such a temptation by laying down some Encouragements for those that groan under the burden of distractions And here I assert two things 1. That these distractions should not drive you from your duties You have been thinking perhaps it were better my service were undone than done so confusedly and our false hearts are secretly prone to accept any occasion to lay down our work but believe not the Devils rotten Divinity he takes on him to be tender lest God's name be taken in vain but this is to insinuate you the more but in this sense obedience is better than sacrifice thy obedience to his command is more pleasing to him than thy torn sacrifice And then it is a known case that the omission of a duty will never fit one for a duty better Luther's saying herein was the more I neglect the more unfit I am Indeed some ground will mend my lying still but that 's better ground than is in faln man's heart Ours is the ground that must be stirr'd and manured and quickned and then some fruit will come As one sin fits the heart for another so one duty fits the soul for another However it 's better to serve thy Master with a trembling hand than not at all and the Father takes well a well-intended work though it be unwillingly marred in the making 2. These distractions should not wholly discourage you in the performance of your duties Despise you they must discourage you they must not Our good Master would not have us draw heavily in his service It 's prophesied Psal. 138.5 They shall sing in the waies of the Lord. This is a sweet hearing God's work goes best on when we sing at it All the infirmities of a Christian laid together yet should not discourage him in his duty Si dixeris doleo sufficit And for your support I lay down these incouragements I. Distractions are consistent with grace Grace may live with them but not be lively long with them They are like the blew and yellow weeds that grow with the best corn that is Grace may live with them though it can never agree with them and therefore conclude not against thy self O I have no grace I am so pestred with these things surely no child of God hath such an heart For this is an epidemick distemper where-ever the hand of God hath sown good seed the enemy hath scattered these his tares amongst it Indeed there is no sin so crimson that is absolutely inconsistent with grace abate but that transcendent one the sin against the Holy Ghost Let no prophane heart make use hereof to hearten them in their sins a prophane heart I say for a gracious heart is of another temper Alas the worst of sins do sometimes peep into the best mens hearts yea may creep into them and lodge in them for a season How much more may a sudden thought break in which like lightning springs into the heart without any warning Do not therefore cry out when this or any other corruption steals into your hearts I am a lost man this cannot consist with grace but this should not consist with grace The former conclusion being made dejects the spirits but the latter wheâ—s the spirit of amendment It was foolishly done of Dinah Gen. 34 1. To rove about to see the Daughters of the Land it was not done like Iacob's Daughter but this was no argument for her to conclude O I am not Iacob's Daughter So thou hast an heart like Dinah
Drunkard walk and hard words indure and hard shift make to feed that sensless lust who would digest the life of a covetous worldling hard fare hard work hard journeys for what may be consumed in two hours to say nothing of the life of the envious the ambitious the malicious man whose daily bread is mingled not only with sweat but gall and bitterness and yet who hears them complain of difficulty or throw off their designs for hardness And is it not far better to conquer difficulties for Heaven than Hell and venture upon hardship for Christ and thine own soul than for Satan and thy damnation especially when Love to the service of God would make this yoke as easie as transgressors labour is to them 4. Though it be hard to keep off these Distractions yet it is necessary It must be done Good Mary would not by any business be Distracted in her attendance on Christ Luk. 10.42 and He resolves therein that she did the One needful thing Poor men find it hard to work six dayes together but there being a necessity of it there 's no excuse they could find twenty put offs but it must be done work or starve We have the same Dilemma Pray or perish and that 's not half a Prayer that 's fill'd with Distractions 5. Though it be hard yet it is sweet Prov. 3.17 Her wayes are wayes of Pleasantness and this is one of them You shall ever observe the more wandring the heart the more wearisome the Duty a Divided heart can taste but partial comfort and fulness of joy follows where the full bent of the soul goes before Our common experience tells us what peace what joy what confidence what suavity fills the heart when we have though with some difficulty approached the Lord enjoyed him and attended on him without Distraction What is more hard to the brain and body than study for pains a Schollar would choose the Plough before it the brain the back the heart and spirits are pained and spent yet no employment so sweet the mind and brain and heart refreshed and a right Schollar would hardly change employments with a Prince so sweet so ravishing is this hard employment Even so it is with Prayer or any holy Ordinance the sweetness of a watchfull serious frame doth fully compensate the difficulty thereof 6. Custome and Practice will make it much easier He that executes the law on vagrants though at first he were pestred with them will after a while with ease be delivered of them so that resolved Christian who keeps up his watch and ward awhile shall find it each day easier than other to attend on God without these vagrant thoughts Use and custome makes the hardest things easie As a wise man that converses in the midst of his observing enemies by use is inured to all caution and can easily avoid all dangerous words or behaviour though it be hard he is used to it so practice will wonderfully facillitate this hard duty You once thought it impossible for you to Pray but practice hath made you perfect The same spirit by the same help can and will perfect you in this This is one of those Infirmities the spirit of God will help SECT III. Object 3. THe Commonness of these Distractions No man but is full of them All serious Christians complain of them What is so ordinary cannot be very evil these vanities that every one hath I cannot expect to be without and therefore must be content Answ. 1. This must be answered with Grief Every man is full of them and every Good man is sick with them If every mans body were gone after his soul this would sometimes be an empty Congregation Every solemn look hath not a serious heart and there are but few that make a business of Prayer And this is a lamentable thing that we can hold a discourse with man or crave a kindness or drive a bargain without a wandring thought till our face be set towards God and that we begin a duty of Worship and then or ever we are aware our Soul is slipt off her Chariot wheels and our sight of God is lost 2. And yet some watchful Christians as we observed before have got a good riddance of them to accuse others is a poor excuse to you As their humility teaches them to complain of the worst so your charity should cause you to think the best no doubt they that are sick of them do by degrees get Physick against them and grow better 3. By this Plea all sins might be justified Thus swearing might be advanced before Praying for it is more common than Prayer Revenge is more common than Forgiveness but this is no excuse for it He that will do as the most do must go whither most go Exod. 23.2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil no nor to think evil If thou wilt be Christ's Disciple thou must be serious and attentive though the whole Congregation trifle True sanctity is not grounded on mens practice but on Gods precept Make no apologies but such as you can stand to before the face of God What a poor plea will it be to say I was drunk for company I stragled from God for company Get thee to Hell for company that which will be no mitigation of your pain is no extenuation of your crime If many displease the Lord you have more need to please him if many play you have more need to work and rather choose to be saved with a few than damned with a crowd 4. In such an universal loytering thy care will be more acceptable Loyalty is doubly valued and rewarded where Rebellion is general and one dutiful Child is cherisht among many disobedient Isa. 66.2 To this man will I look to him that is poor and contrite and trembleth at my word The Great Iehova there overlooks Heaven and Earth and the House of his rest to fix his blessed eye on this man or woman that when he comes to a Sermon doth not dare not trifle but trembles at the word and that feels every sentence at his heart When Gallants come into the Congregation then Man looks but when the poor trembling Hearer comes in then God looks The Angels gaze at such guests as vain people do at Silks and Fashions O it s a rare sight to see a Christian in earnest to behold an humble man converse with God the Host of Heaven rise up and are taken with it If therefore it be so common to be distracted in Duties do thou disdain to be in the common fashion get quickly into the Mode of Heaven SECT IV. Object 4. GOd will accept the will for the Deed I would be free from these temptations but in this life I cannot and therefore shall sit down content God is merciful though you are strict And he hath said 2 Cor. 8.12 If there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to