*11. And now methinks, I hear one saying within himself, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Alas! why not quite? Is it that we want the art of address, that we do not touch the right spring of your soul? But sure our cause has weight enough to bear itself out, and to supply any defect in the management of it. For is there not truth and reason enough in religion, to gain a reasonable creature? Or can any motive have a greater force or persuasion, than the joys of heaven and the pains of hell? Or do you question whether God be able to reward your entire love and compleat obedience? If you indeed believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, as even your indifferent way of serving him seems to suppose, then you must needs think it wisdom, to lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees; to be heartily and thoroughly religious, and not to be guilty of so inconsistent a folly as to take some pains all your life for heaven, and yet go at last to hell.
12. Considering then the insufficiency, the absurdity, and the unhappiness of a half religion, let us instantly labour to fill up the things that are behind, that are wanting to the measure of our righteousness. Let us earnestly endeavour to bring ourselves under the full power and influence of religion, that it may have its due work upon our hearts and lives, that we may be perfect, entire, and wanting nothing: always imploring the Holy Spirit of God, by the victorious sweetness of his divine grace, to give the last finishing to that holy birth, he is forming in us, that it may come to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that so, according to the apostle’s wish, we may be both almost, and altogether Christians!
CHAPTER III.
Of the subordinate means that serve to assist us in keeping the commandments of God.
1.WE have seen that the immediate means to happiness are the commandments of God. We come now to consider the subordinate means to it, which serve to assist us in the keeping of those commandments. And these are of two sorts: either such as are appointed and commanded by God, or such as are recommended by human prudence.
2. Of the first sort is prayer. This is a glorious means, to withdraw our thoughts, and affections from sensible objects, and to fix them upon God and the things of heaven: to stir up in us a sense of our wants and infirmities, and to quicken our desires of what we pray for: to maintain a religious warmth in our minds, and to keep up there a spirit of devotion, the flame of which would soon be extinct without the breathings of prayer to fan it, and give it motion: to nourish our communion with God, and make us continually mindful of him, in whom we live, move, and have our being. It is also a key to open the store-houses of God’s treasures to us, whereby we may obtain a supply of all our wants, and particularly grace to help in time of need, to enable us to resist all temptations.
3. A prudent Christian will therefore pray often: for temporal things conditionally, as not knowing whether, or how far these may be for his good, or serve as means to his end. But for spiritual, such as pardon of sin, and grace to leave it, he will pray not only with greater earnestness, but also absolutely, and without any condition, because he knows that God would have all men to be saved, to attain the happiness for which he made them; and that those (if he be not wanting to himself) are certain means to his salvation.
4. Reading of the scriptures is the next means which God has ordained to assist us in keeping his commandments. And an excellent means it is, both to enlighten our understanding, and to compose our minds into a religious temper. All scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. And therefore every prudent Christian gives all attendance to reading it. And that not out of curiosity, or for speculation only, but with a practical design, to learn and do the whole will of God. And accordingly he will not lay them aside, when he thinks he understands them, but will renew and continue his perusal of them, for his constant and greater edification. His delight will ever be in the law of the Lord, and in his law will he meditate day and night.
5. A third means of religion appointed by God, is the hearing the word preached. This is a standing provision which God has made for the edification of his church; therefore a prudent Christian, who never thinks himself too wise to learn, or too good to be better, and who never omits any means that may bring him nearer his end, is careful to pay his due attendance to it, humbly waiting for the grace and blessing of God in the use of his own ordinance.