CHAPTER X.—Rules to try whether we be such as Christ will not quench
have ground of exercising mutually the spirit of wisdom and meekness.
1. This that we may the better do, let us put upon ourselves the spirit of Christ. The spirit of God carrieth a majesty with it. Corruption will hardly yield to corruption in another. Pride is intolerable to pride.
The weapons of this warfare must not be carnal, 2 Cor. 10:4. The great apostles would not set upon the work of the ministry, until they were 'clothed as it were with power from on high,' Luke 24:49. The Spirit will only work with his own tools. And we should think what affection Christ would carry to the party in this case. That great physician, as he had a quick eye and a healing tongue, so had he a gentle hand, and a tender heart.* 2. And secondly, put upon us the condition of him whom we deal withal: we are, or have been, or may be such: make the case our own, and withal consider in what near relation a Christian standeth unto us, even as a brother, a fellow-member, heir of the same salvation.
And therefore let us take upon ourselves a tender care of them every way; and especially in cherishing the peace of their consciences.
Conscience is a tender and delicate thing, and so must be used, It is like a lock, if the wards be troubled, it will be troublesome to open.*
CHAPTER X.
Rules to try whether we be such as Christ will not quench.
For trial, to let us see whether we be this smoking flax which Christ will not quench. In this trial remember these:—1. Rules. 2. Signs.
1. We must have two eyes, one to see imperfections in ourselves and others; the other to see what is good. 'I am black,' saith the church,
'but yet comely,' Cant. 1:5. Those ever want comfort that are much in quarrelling with themselves, and through their infirmities are prone to feed upon such bitter things, as will most nourish that distemper they are sick of. These delight to be looking on the dark side of the cloud only.
2. We must not judge of ourselves always according to present feeling; for in temptations we shall see nothing but smoke of distrustful thoughts. Fire may be raked up in the ashes, though not seen; life in the winter is hid in the root.
3. Take heed of false reasoning; as because our fire doth not blaze out as others, therefore we have no fire at all; and by false conclusions come to sin against the commandment in bearing false witness against ourselves. The prodigal would not say he was no son, but that he was not worthy to be called a son, Luke 15:19. We must neither trust to false evidence, nor deny true; for so we should dishonour the work of God's Spirit in us, and lose the help of that evidence which would cherish our love to Christ, and arm us against Satan's discouragements. Some are so faulty this way, as if they had been hired by Satan, the 'accuser of the brethren,' Rev. 12:10, to plead for him, in accusing themselves.
4. Know, for a ground of this, that in the covenant of grace, God requires the truth of grace, not any certain measure; and a spark of fire is fire as well as the whole element. Therefore we must look to grace in the spark as well as in the flame. All have not the like strong, yet the like precious faith, 2 Pet. 1:1, whereby they lay hold, and put
on, the perfect righteousness of Christ. A weak hand may receive a rich jewel; a few grapes will shew that the plant is a vine, and not a thorn. It is one thing to be wanting in grace, and another thing to want grace altogether. God knoweth we have nothing of ourselves, therefore in the covenant of grace he requireth no more than he giveth, and giveth what he requireth, and accepteth what he giveth:
'He that hath not a lamb may bring a pair of turtle doves,' Lev. 12:6.
What is the gospel itself but a merciful moderation, in which Christ's obedience is esteemed ours, and our sins laid upon him, and wherein
God of a judge becometh the father, pardoning our sins and accepting our obedience, though feeble and blemished! We are now brought to heaven under the covenant of grace by a way of love and mercy.
It will prove a special help to know distinctly the difference between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace, between Moses and Christ; Moses without all mercy breaketh all bruised reeds, and quencheth all smoking flax. For the law requireth, 1, personal; 2, perpetual; 3, perfect obedience; 4, and from a perfect heart; and that under a most terrible curse, and giveth no strength, a severe taskmaster, like Pharaoh's requiring the whole tale, and yet giving no straw. Christ cometh with blessing after blessing even upon those whom Moses had cursed, and with healing palm for those wounds which Moses had made.
The same duties are required in both covenants; as, 'to love the Lord with all our hearts, with all our souls,' &c., Deut. 6:5. In the* covenant of works, this must be taken in the rigour; but under the covenant of grace, as it is a sincere endeavour proportionable to grace received (and so it must be understood of Josias, and others, when it is said, 'they loved God with all their hearts,' &c.), it must have an evangelical mitigation.