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A05962
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Briefe directions unto a godly life wherein every Christian is furnished with most necessary helps for the furthering of him in a godly course here upon earth, that so he may attaine eternall happinesse in heaven. Written by Mr. Paul Bayne, minister of Gods Word, to Mr. Nicholas Iordane his brother.
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Baynes, Paul, d. 1617.
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1637
(1637)
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STC 1627; ESTC S115502
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73,675
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254
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may be objected Object that Paul himselfe seemed to want this for hee found no meanes to performe that which was good as he complaineth Rom. 7.18 I answer hereunto that He complaineth not that he had no promise of strength Answ or that hee had no faith in the same for he saith the contrary Phil. 4 13. but hee complaineth that for all the hope of helpe that he had yet the rebellion of his flesh did mightily strive and resist the spirit And this must every faithfull man looke for while he live NOw for the fountaine from whence a godly life doth proceed it is from the heart which therefore must bee purged and cleansed For this wee are to know that the heart of man before it be emptied is a dungeon of iniquity before it be inlightened a denne of darkenesse before it bee cleansed a puddle of filthinesse and that which Saint Iames speaketh of the tongue may much more be said of the heart that before it be tamed it is an unruly evill Now if such an heart bee the guide of our life how monstrous and loathsome must that life needs bee of necessity then the heart must be purged and changed This purging of the heart is a renewing in holinesse and righteousnesse by little and little of all true beleeuers they being first delivered and freed from the tyranny of sinne and feare of damnation for then doth sinne receive a deadly wound and the power thereof is abated and crucified which is shewed by the hatred of sinne and a delighting in goodnesse Although this change bee but weake at the first yet if it bee in truth in will and desire it is an infallible mark of Gods election and love towards him This grace is often dimmed and even choked in many because God doth strengthen and continue this gift of holinesse and sanctification as it is nourished esteemed set by and as men doe stirre it up in themselues by asking after it when they doe misse it and provoking themselves to pray for such good affections and cannot bee satisfied without them as David did Psal 43 5.103.1 Thus we ought to cherish and blow up the sparkles within us which will not ordinarily faile us especially for any long time except in time of temptation unlesse it bee through our default and folly As for the manner how this is done wee are to know it is the proper and wonderfull worke of God by the power of the holy Ghost Acts 15.9 Isa 11.2 He that hath with faith unfained an heart sanctified and purified from his naturall corruptions and wicked disposition as he is not to account it meane and little worth it being an euident worke of the Spirit so neither is hee to stand at a stay in this it being but the beginning of that worke which shall follow it But Object How doth God purge our hearts when as faith is said to doe it Acts. 15.9 1. Joh. 3.5 Answ Faith is truely said to doe it because that men not yet assured of the happines of heaven not knowing nor feeling any better delights doe seeke after those which their blinde and deceitfull hearts doe dreame of here on earth But as soone as they are assured of Gods favour through faith so soone are their hearts changed and their affections set another way so that faith may well bee said to purifie and cleanse the heart 1 Pet. 1.4 but not as the chiefe and highest cause for that is the holy Ghost but as the instrument Thus from faith and a pure heart doth arise a good conscience a sweet peace and holy security having received from God a mind to know him an heart to love him a will to please him and strength also in some measure acceptable to obey him From hence doth proceed that true repentance which is a purpose of the heart Acts 11.23 an inclination in the will Psal 119.44.57 and a continuall endeavouring in the life Acts 24.16 to cast off all evill and obey God both inwardly and outwardly according â—o the measure of knowledge in every one So that this sound purging of the â—eart is that strong foundation â—pon which only a good life comes â—o be builded For God will have â—ur whole heart not a piece of 〈◊〉 for that is neither beseeming his â—eatnesse neither fit for them to â—fer who receive so great good â—ings at his hands many indeed 〈◊〉 hardly brought to this and therefore all their faire shewes and colours doe vanish away and come to nothing for rash and hasty purposes are no sufficient foundations to beare up so great and weighty buildings as the whole course of their lives to bee wholly passed But if men at their first imbracing of the Gopsell did give their hearts wholly to the Lord then should God have more honour and themselves more abiding comfort NOw having shewed the ground and roote of a godly life viz. faith and a pure heart it remaines to speake of the parts of it which is a renouncing of all sinne and a care to walke in a new life And first of the former The party beleeving is brought to this power and grace that he is out of love with all ungodlinesse and not with some part or kinde onely but loatheth the whole course of iniquity which was his onely delight and pleasure before neither doth hee this in some good moode onely or when some shame or danger approach then to shew some mislâ—ke of it but in good advisement hee is resolved to cast off such behaviour as a loathsome and and ragged garment Hos 4.9 Eph. 4.24 Math 16.24 For want of this setled denying of our selves divers never attaine true godlinesse some never conceiving the Doctrine others forgetting and some scorning it but the most receiving it coldly and going about it preposterously Whereas the servants of God leave not sinne for a time nor by constraint for or company and feare c. but being at utter defiance with it doe abiure it for ever Nehem. 10.29 But in all these they trust not to their owne strength but daily considering what cause they have to doe so how infinitely they are bound to God to discharge it become firmely perswaded that God who hath made them willing will also make them able to do it Phil. 4.13 Rom. 9.31 and therfore although they see not that helpe present with their eyes yet they hope for that which they see not and therefore wait patiently for it till it can be granted them Thus both both faith and hope being nourished and strengthened in them from day to day they doe finde both will and desire strength though imperfect to accomplish to the peace of their hearts that which they set upon and attempted Indeed it is not obtained without striving but it is no iust cause of discouragement to us to take paine for so great a profit when we are sure of it before wee goe about it and if Object The faithfull doe not alwaies preuaile therein Answ As
diseases evill children c. All which may often be avoided by the grace of God if sinne were taken heed of and resisted and if by labour and watchfulnesse the unruly heart were subdued Whereby the way we may observe how unwisely they doe who shun the sincere practice of religion that they may be freed from troubles when as Religion doth free a man from so many AS the faithfull are freed wholly from troubles so when they are in God delivereth them out of many when as the wicked remaine in theirs Pro. 11.8 Examples both of the Church in generall and of the faithfull in particular are sufficiently knowne to all that know any thing in the Scriptures all which are recorded not to shew onely that the faithfull have beene delivered out of trouble for that were no singular thing but common for the wicked but that they are delivered in the fatherly love of God as appeareth by the meanes which they used as prayer fasting c. This the wicked have never nor alwaies the godly Ob. The Fathers had particular promise for their deliverance but so hâ—ve not we An. In the maine and chiefest things God hath spoken as plainly and fully to us as to them wee may alwaies assure our selves that God hath a most tender and fatherly care over us and that hee will shew the same in the time of our need either by delivering us if he see it good and expedient or else by giving us that grace which shall be sufficient for us The not teaching or not believing of this doctrine causeth much uncheerfulnesse discontent in our troubles as grudging against God unlawfull shifting carnall feares c. wheras if it were otherwise much heavenly comfort might be reaped in our lives which now is wanting When it pleaseth the Lord to lay any afflictions upon his they may assure themselves it is for their exceeding good which perswasion if it be setled and the contrary power of carnall reason checked and suppressed we shall have wisdome to looke for afflictions daily and be ready to receive them from God thankfully and meekely this wisedome must be sought for of God Iam. 1.5 6. Now if wee would take good by afflictions we must first receive that word with full assent which is Rom. 8.28 All things worke for the best to those which love God and then consider seriously how great reason there is that wee should yeeld up our selves our wills and all that wee have unto God his will and thinke that good for us which God thinketh good for God sendeth afflictions to his Children 1 First That they may have experience of his love in delivering them 2 Secondly that they may have proofe of their faith and patience 3 Thirdly that they may not bee condemned with the world 4 Fourthly that they may bee purged from their sinnefull drosse 5 Fifthly to weane them from this world If these things bee knowne and beleeved of us wee shall find them so to our exceeding comsort and though sometimes in triall we may seeme to bee neglected or forgotten yet wee shall see at length that it is nothing so Ob. If afflictions shall turne to our good then wee need take no further thought about them Answ That promise doth not warrant us to be câ—relessâ— for if we behave our selves wilfully blockishly or foolishly in afflictions they will turne to our great hurt and vexation but if wee mingle that Scripture with faith it will cause us to receive all crosses from God as sent in love not to murmur at them but thankefully and patiently and also with examination of our selves if so bee that any sin hath brought evill upon us and then we shall have proofe of Gods grace in us experience of his favor towards us preservation from many sins increase of humiliation and thankfulnesse preparation for the bearing of greater with some comfort at least in the end and hope in the midst which shall not make us ashamed When we finde not this doctrine savorie and sweet to us nor the use of it in our afflictions let us not charge or challenge the Lord for it but consider what we have lost by unbeleefe NOw besides all the former priviledges severally there is one that respecteth them all of great price and that is increase and growing of all those graces for God giveth to his greater every way than they would have sometimes either expected or asked Col 1.9 An example whereof we may see in Moses if we compare his later times with his former and in the Apostles This priviledg if it be duly considered addeth great courage and yeeldeth much comfort to Gods children when they shall know that this grace is offered them of God even that like plants they should grow and increase in Gods House and as the Sunne they should shine more and more untill Midday And howsoever the Divell rayseth many occasions of fainting slâ—th deadnesse of spirit and earthly mindednesse neglecting of meanes c. yet may wee not be discouraged but presse forward depending on Gods promise and following his direction AS hee that maketh a good beginning shall increase grow in goodnesse so he that increaseth daily shall make a good end at length for all true believers shall continue to the end in a good and godly course Psa 37.37 Phil. 1.6 Ioh 6.39 10.28 which as in it selfe it is a great priviledge so is it the greater in thâ—t God maketh it knowne to his children and draweth their hearts to believe the same even when the see no ground for it in themselves 1 Pet. 4.5 1 Ioh. 5.13 1 Thes 5 9. This is a treasure invaluable mightily reviving gladding the hearts of Gods children and incouraging them with cheerfulnesse to follow the godly life and all meanes of proceeding in it For they which take occasion from this doctrine to waxe slothfull worldly idle vaine c. they know not what it meaneth but pervert that which they know not to their owne destruction The truth and certainty of this priviledge is not to be doubted of though wee see good men at their death to shew small tokens of grace and of a happy departure for there may be many impediments and howsoever it may seeme yet this is certaine of a good life commeth a good death Psalm 37.37 Sometime indeed for correction of some sin or for example the Lord may send such a death as is lesse comfortable as in Iosia 1 King 13.24 and in the Prophet that was sent to Ieroboam yea sometimes a good Christian may offer violence to himselfe not knowing what he doth yet being formerly of a holy and unrebukeable conversation he is not to be judged according to that one action how unwarrantable and dangerous soever in it selfe Much lesse ought persecution to seeme so grievous as that it could not stand with a good estate and finall perseverance especially seeing we have much incouragement to the suffering of it by examples promises and predictions