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diff --git a/44071-0.txt b/44071-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..276897c --- /dev/null +++ b/44071-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1280 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44071 *** + +Transcribers Note: The typesetting in the book was poor, all errors +have been retained as printed. + + + + [Illustration: G. L. Brown. S. Schoff. + + LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS AT PLIMOUTH 11th. DEC. 1620.] + + + + + THE + SIN AND DANGER + OF + SELF-LOVE + DESCRIBED, + IN A + SERMON + PREACHED + AT PLYMOUTH, IN NEW-ENGLAND, 1621, + BY + ROBERT CUSHMAN. + + WITH A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. + + BOSTON: + PUBLISHED BY CHARLES EWER, + AND FOR SALE BY CROCKER & BREWSTER, SAMUEL G. DRAKE, + LITTLE & BROWN, JAMES MUNROE & COMPANY, + BENJAMIN PERKINS, AND JAMES LORING. + + DEC. 22, 1846. + + + + + BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, + BY + HON. JOHN DAVIS, + + LATE JUDGE OF THE U. S. DISTRICT COURT, MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT. + + +ROBERT CUSHMAN, the author of the preceding discourse, was one +of the most distinguished characters among that collection of +worthies, who quitted England on account of their religious +difficulties, and settled with Mr. _John Robinson_, their pastor +in the city of Leyden, in Holland, in the year 1609. Proposing +afterwards a removal to America in the year 1617, Mr. Cushman and +Mr. John Carver, (afterwards the first Governor of New-Plymouth) +were sent over to England, as their agents, to agree with the +Virginia Company for a settlement, and to obtain, if possible, a +grant of liberty of conscience in their intended plantation, from +King James. + +From this negotiation though conducted on their part with great +discretion and ability, they returned unsuccessful to Leyden, in +May 1618. They met with no difficulty indeed with the Virginia +Company, who were willing to grant them sufficient territory, with +as ample privileges as they could bestow: but the pragmatical +James, the pretended vicegerent of the Deity, refused to grant +them that liberty in religious matters, which was their principal +object--when this persevering people finally determined to +transport themselves to this country, relying upon James's promise +that he would _connive_ at, though not expressly _tolerate_ them; +Mr. Cushman was again dispatched to England in February 1619, with +Mr. William Bradford, another of the company, to agree with the +Virginia Company on the terms of their removal and settlement. + +After much difficulty and delay, they obtained a patent in the +September following, upon which part of the Church at Leyden, with +their Elder Mr. Brewster determined to transport themselves as +soon as possible. Mr. Cushman was one of the agents in England to +procure money, shipping and other necessaries for the voyage, and +finally embarked with them at South-Hampton, August 5th, 1620. +But the ship, in which he sailed, proving leaky, and after twice +putting into port to repair, being finally condemned as unfit to +perform the voyage, Mr. Cushman with his family, and a number of +others were obliged, though reluctantly, to relinquish the voyage +for that time and returned to London. Those in the other ship +proceeded and made their final settlement at Plymouth in December +1620, where Mr. Cushman also arrived in the ship Fortune from +London, on the 10th of November 1621, but took passage in the +same ship back again, pursuant to the directions of the merchant +adventurers in London, (who fitted out the ship and by whose +assistance the first settlers were transported) to give them an +account of the plantation.[A] He sailed from Plymouth December +13th, 1621, and arriving on the coast of England, the ship, with +a cargo, valued at 500l. sterling, was taken by the French. Mr. +Cushman, with the crew, was carried into France; but arrived in +London in the February following. During his short residence at +Plymouth, though a mere lay character, he delivered the preceding +discourse, which was printed in London in 1622, and afterwards +re-printed in Boston in 1724. And though his name is not prefixed +to either edition, yet unquestionable tradition renders it certain +that he was the author, and even transmits to us a knowledge of +the spot where it was delivered. Mr. Cushman, though he constantly +corresponded with his friends here, and was very serviceable to +their interest in London--never returned to the country again, but +while preparing for it was removed to a better, in the year 1626. +The news of his death and Mr. Robinson's arrived at the same time +at Plymouth, by Captain Standish, and seem to have been equally +lamented by their bereaved and suffering friends there. He was +zealously engaged in the prosperity of the plantation, a man of +activity and enterprise, well versed in business, respectable in +point of intellectual abilities, well accomplished in scriptural +knowledge, an unaffected professor, and a steady sincere practiser +of religion. The design of the following discourse was to keep up +the noble flow of public spirit, which perhaps began then to abate, +but which was necessary for their preservation and security. + +[Footnote A: It seems to be a mistaken idea that Mr. Cushman +started in the smaller vessel, which put back on account of its +proving leaky. This mistake has arisen from the fact that Mr. C. +was left in England in 1620, and did not come over in the Mayflower +with the first emigrants. The fact is that Mr. Cushman procured +'the larger vessel,' the Mayflower, and its pilot at London and +left in that vessel; but in consequence of the unsoundness of the +smaller vessel, the Speedwell, it became necessary that part of +the pilgrims should be left behind, and consequently Mr. Cushman, +whom Gov. Bradford called 'the right hand with the adventurers,' +and who 'for divers years had managed all our business with them to +our great advantage,' was selected as one who would be best able +to keep together that portion of the flock left behind. Although +Mr. Cushman did not come over in the Mayflower, yet such was the +respect for him among those who did come, that his name is placed +at the head of those who came in that ship, in the allotment of +land at a time when he was not in New England. + N. B. S.] + +After the death of Mr. Cushman, his family came over to New +England. His son, Thomas Cushman, succeeded Mr. Brewster, as ruling +elder of the Church of Plymouth, being ordained to that office +in 1649. He was a man of good gifts, and frequently assisted in +carrying on the public worship, preaching, and catechising. For it +was one professed principle of that Church, in its first formation, +'to choose none for governing Elders, but such as were able to +teach.' He continued in this office till he died, in 1691, in the +eighty-fourth year of his age. + + + + + LETTER FROM JUDGE DAVIS. + + + BOSTON, DEC. 21, 1846. + +DEAR SIR: + +Having communicated to me your intention of publishing a new +edition of Robert Cushman's memorable discourse, delivered in +Plymouth, 1621, together with the memoir of the author, which I +prepared for the edition printed by Nathaniel Coverly in Plymouth, +in 1785; I take the liberty to advise you to follow for your +purpose that copy of the memoir which was inserted by the Rev. Dr. +Belknap in the second volume of his American Biography, with the +addition of some particulars respecting the family, especially of +elder Thomas Cushman, son of Robert Cushman, and who, like his +father, was held in high esteem by all his cotemporaries. + +The original memoir prepared for the Plymouth edition, was +anonymous. My highly esteemed friend the Rev. Dr. Belknap, in +giving it a place in his valuable work was pleased to announce the +name of the writer. + +The remarks on the discourse originally accompanying the memoir, +were prompted by views supposed to have been adopted by the +Plymouth pioneers respecting property and civil polity, in which +I was afterwards convinced I had made a mistake. I had adopted an +opinion corresponding with that of Dr. Robertson and other writers, +that misguided by their religious theories and in imitation of the +primitive christians, they voluntarily threw all their property +into a common stock. And that their difficulties and embarrassments +were greatly enhanced by adopting, and perseveringly adhering to an +impracticable system. But further inquiry induced the conviction +that this conjecture was erroneous, and that the severe pressure +they experienced, was in a great degree produced by the operation +of their articles of agreement with the adventurers in England, +which established a community of interest for seven years, and +prevented the holding in severalty the fruits of their industry +and enterprise. + +These views of the subject, and an acknowledgement of my previous +mistake, were expressed in a discourse delivered at Plymouth, in +the year 1800, on the anniversary of the landing of the fathers. +The Rev. Mr. Abbot of Beverly, afterwards, on a like occasion, +without any knowledge of the contents of that discourse, which was +not published, was led in his investigation of the subject, into +a similar conclusion, and fully vindicated the pilgrims from the +censures which had been expressed relative to this branch of their +proceedings. The onerous connection with the merchant adventurers +remained until 1627, when an amicable and satisfactory settlement +was made with them by a purchase of all their interest in the +concern. The sum contracted to be given for this purchase, was 1800 +pounds sterling, payable by instalments of 200 pounds annually. + +Thus says Governor Bradford in one of his letters: + + "All now is become our own, as we say in the proverb, + when our debts are paid. And doubtless this was a great + mercy of God unto us, and a great means of peace and + better subsistence, and wholly dashed all the plots and + devices of our enemies, both there and here, who daily + expected our ruin, dispersion and utter subversion by the + same; but their hopes were thus far prevented though with + great care and labor, we were left to struggle with the + payment of the money." + +Under these impressions I think it will be well for you to omit +the insertion of the remarks above mentioned on Mr. Cushman's +discourse. That discourse is a precious relic of ancient times, +the sound sense, good advice, and pious spirit, which it manifests, +will, it may be hoped, now, and in all future time, meet with +approval and beneficial acceptance in our community. + +The information contained in the note of your correspondent +respecting Mr. Cushman's embarcation, and the assignment of land +made to him in the colony, is believed to be correct. + + _Respectfully Your Ob't. Servant_, + J. DAVIS. + + To CHARLES EWER, Esq. + + + + + TO HIS LOVING FRIENDS THE ADVENTURERS FOR NEW-ENGLAND. + + TOGETHER + WITH ALL WELL-WILLERS, AND WELL-WISHERS THEREUNTO, + GRACE AND PEACE, &C. + + +NEW-ENGLAND, so called, not only (to avoid novelties) because +Captain _Smith_ hath so entitled it in his Description, but because +of the resemblance that is in it, of _England_ the native soil of +Englishmen; it being much what the same for heat and cold in Summer +and Winter, it being champaign ground, but no high mountains, +somewhat like the soil in _Kent_ and _Essex_; full of dales, and +meadow ground, full of rivers and sweet springs, as _England_ is. +But principally, so far as we can yet find, it is an island, and +near about the quantity of _England_, being cut out from the main +land in _America_, as _England_ is from the main of _Europe_, by a +great arm of the sea, which entereth in forty degrees, and runneth +up North West and by West, and goeth out either into the South-Sea, +or else into the Bay of _Canada_. The certainty whereof, and +secrets of which, we have not yet so found as that as eye-witnesses +we can make narration thereof, but if God give time and means, we +shall, ere long, discover both the extent of that river, together +with the secrets thereof; and so try what territories, habitations, +or commodities, may be found, either in it, or about it. + +It pertaineth not to my purpose to speak any thing either in +praise, or dispraise of the country; so it is by God's Providence, +that a few of us are there planted to our content, and have with +great charge and difficulty attained quiet and competent dwellings +there. And thus much I will say for the satisfaction of such as +have any thought of going hither to inhabit? That for men which +have a large heart, and look after great riches, ease, pleasures, +dainties, and jollity in this world (except they will live by other +men's sweat, or have great riches) I would not advise them to come +there, for as yet the country will afford no such matters: But if +there be any who are content to lay out their estates, spend their +time, labors, and endeavors, for the benefit of them that shall +come after, and in desire to further the gospel among those poor +heathens, quietly contenting themselves with such hardship and +difficulties, as by God's Providence shall fall upon them, being +yet young, and in their strength, such men I would advise and +encourage to go, for their ends cannot fail them. + +And if it should please God to punish his people in the Christian +countries of _Europe_, (for their coldness, carnality, wanton +abuse of the Gospel, contention, &c.) either by Turkish slavery, +or by popish tyranny which God forbid, yet if the time be come, +or shall come (as who knoweth) when Satan shall be let loose to +cast out his floods against them, (_Rev._ 12. 14. 15.) here is a +way opened for such as have wings to fly into this wilderness; and +as by the dispersion of the Jewish church through persecution, +the Lord brought in the fulness of the Gentiles, (_Act._ 11. 20, +21.) so who knoweth, whether now by tyranny and affliction, he +suffereth to come upon them, he will not by little and little chase +them even amongst the heathens, that so a light may rise up in the +dark, (_Luke_ 2. 32.) and the kingdom of Heaven be taken from them +which now have it, and given to a people that shall bring forth the +fruit of it. (_Mat._ 21. 43.) This I leave to the judgment of the +godly wise, being neither prophet nor son of a prophet, (_Amos_ 7. +14.) but considering God's dealing of old, (_2 Kings_ 17, 23.) and +seeing the name of Christian to be very great, but the true nature +thereof almost quite lost in all degrees and sects, I cannot think +but that there is some judgment not far off, and that God will +shortly, even of stones, raise up children unto _Abraham_. (_Mat._ +3. 5.) + +And who so rightly considereth what manner of entrance, abiding, +and proceedings, we have had among these poor heathens since we +came hither, will easily think, that God has some great work to do +towards them. + +They were wont to be the most cruel and treacherous people in all +these parts, even like lions, but to us they have been like lambs, +so kind, so submissive, and trusty, as a man may truly say, many +christians are not so kind, nor sincere. + +They were very much wasted of late, by reason of a great mortality +that fell amongst them three years since, which together with their +own civil dissentions and bloody wars, hath so wasted them, as I +think the twentieth person is scarce left alive, and those that +are left, have their courage much abated, and their countenance is +dejected, and they seem as a people affrighted. And though when +we came first into the Country, we were few, and many of us were +sick, and many died by reason of the cold and wet, it being the +depth of winter, and we having no houses, nor shelter, yet when +there was not six able persons among us, and that they came daily +to us by hundreds, with their _sachems_ or _kings_, and might in +one hour have made a dispatch of us, yet such a fear was upon them, +as that they never offered us the least injury in word or deed. +And by reason of one _Tisquanto_, that lives amongst us, that can +speak English, we have daily commerce with their kings, and can +know what is done or intended towards us among the savages; also +we can acquaint them with our courses and purposes, both human +and religious. And the greatest commander of the country, called +_Massasoit_, cometh often to visit us, tho' he lives 50 miles from +us, often sends us presents, he having with many other of their +governors, promised, yea, subscribed obedience to our sovereign +Lord King James, and for his cause to spend both strength and life. +And we for our parts, through God's grace, have with that equity, +justice, and compassion, carried ourselves towards them, as that +they have received much favor, help, and aid from us, but never the +least injury or wrong by us.[A] We found the place where we live +empty, the people being all dead and gone away, and none living +near by 8 or 10 miles; and though in the time of some hardship we +found (travelling abroad) near 8 bushels of corn hid up in a cave, +and knew no owners of it, yet afterwards hearing of the owners of +it, we gave them (in their estimation) double the value of it. Our +care hath been to maintain peace amongst them, and have always set +ourselves against such of them as used any rebellion, or treachery +against their governors, and not only threatened such, but in some +sort paid them their due deserts; and when any of them are in want, +as often they are in the winter, when their corn is done, we supply +them to our power, and have them in our houses eating and drinking, +and warming themselves, which thing (though it be something a +trouble to us) yet because they should see and take knowledge of +our labors, order and diligence, both for this life and a better, +we are content to bear it, and we find in many of them, especially, +of the younger sort, such a tractable disposition, both to religion +and humanity, as that if we had means to apparel them, and wholly +to retain them with us (as their desire is) they would doubtless +in time prove serviceable to God and man, and if ever God send us +means we will bring up hundreds of their children, both to labor +and learning. + +[Footnote A: They offer us to dwell where we will.] + +But leaving to speak of them till a further occasion be offered; if +any shall marvel at the publishing of this treatise in _England_, +seeing there is no want of good books, but rather want of men to +use good books, let them know, that the especial end is, that we +may keep those motives in memory for ourselves, and those that +shall come after, to be a remedy against self love the bane of +all societies. And that we also might testify to our Christian +countrymen, who judge diversly of us, that though we be in a +heathen country, yet the grace of Christ is not quenched in us, but +we still hold and teach the same points of faith, mortification, +and sanctification, which we have heard and learned, in a most +ample and large manner in our own country. If any shall think it +too rude and unlearned for this curious age, let them know, that to +paint out the Gospel in plain and flat English, amongst a company +of plain Englishmen (as we are) is the best and most profitablest +teaching; and we will study plainness, not curiosity, neither in +things human, nor heavenly. If any error or unsoundness be in +it, (as who knoweth) impute it to that frail man which endited +it, which professeth to know nothing as he ought to know it. I +have not set down my name, partly because I seek no name, and +principally, because I would have nothing esteemed by names, for I +see a number of evils to arise through names, when the persons are +either famous, or infamous, and God and man is often injured; if +any good or profit arise to thee in the receiving of it, give God +the praise and esteem me as a son of _Adam_, subject to all such +frailties as other men are. + +And you my loving friends the adventurers to this plantation; as +your care has been, first to settle religion here, before either +profit or popularity, so I pray you, go on, to do it much more, and +be careful to send godly men, though they want some of that worldly +policy which this world hath in her own generation, and so though +you lose, the Lord shall gain. I rejoice greatly in your free and +ready minds to your powers, yea, and beyond your powers to further +this work, that you thus honor God with your riches, and I trust +you shall be repayed again double and treble in this world, yea, +and the memory of this action shall never die, but above all adding +unto this (as I trust you do) like freeness in all other God's +services both at home and abroad, you shall find reward with God, +ten thousand-fold surpassing all that you can do or think; be not +therefore discouraged, for no labor is lost, nor money spent which +is bestowed for God, your ends were good, your success is good, and +your profit is coming, even in this life, and in the life to come +much more: and what shall I say now, a word to men of understanding +sufficeth, pardon I pray you my boldness, read over the ensuing +treatise, and judge wisely of the poor weakling, and the Lord, the +God of land and sea, stretch out his arm of protection over you and +us, and over all our lawful and good enterprizes, either this, or +any other way. + + _Plymouth in New-England, December 12, 1621._ + + + + + A + SERMON + _Preached at_ PLYMOUTH, _in_ New England, 1621. + + + 1 CORINTHIANS, 10. 24. + + LET NO MAN SEEK HIS OWN: BUT EVERY MAN ANOTHER'S WEALTH. + +The occasion of these words of the Apostle _Paul_, was because of +the abuses which were in the Church of _Corinth_. Which abuses +arose chiefly through swelling pride, self-love and conceitedness, +for although this church was planted by _Paul_ and watered by +_Apollos_, and much increased by the Lord; yet the sower of +tares was not wanting to stir up evil workers and fleshly minded +hypocrites, under a shew of godliness, and with angel-like holiness +in appearance, to creep in amongst them to disturb their peace, try +their soundness, and prove their constancy. And this the Apostle +complains of very often: as first, in their carnal divisions, chap. +1. then in their extolling their eloquent teachers, and despising +_Paul_, chap. 4. Then in their offensive going to Law, before the +heathen judges, chap. 6. Then in eating things offered to idols, to +the destroying of the tender consciences of their brethren, chap. +8. Then in their insatiable love feasts, in the time and place +of their church meetings, the rich which could together feed to +fulness, despising and contemning the poor, that had not to lay it +on as they had, chap. 11. Finally in both the epistles, he very +often nippeth them for their pride, and self-love, straitness and +censoriousness, so that in the last chapter he willeth them again +and again to prove, try and examine themselves, to see whether +Christ were in them or not, for howsoever many of them seemed, as +thousands do at this day to soar aloft, and go with full sail to +Heaven: yet as men that row in boats, set their faces one way, +when yet their whole body goeth apace another way: so there are +many which set such a face upon religion, and have their mouth full +of great swelling words: as if they would even blow open the doors +of heaven, despising all humble minded and broken-hearted people, +as weak, simple, sottish, &c. when yet notwithstanding, these +blusterers, which seem to go so fast, and leave all others behind +them, if like these glosing _Corinthians_, they carry affectedly +their own glory with them, and seem thus to stand for the glory of +God. What do they else but join flesh to spirit, serving not God +for nought, but for wages, and so serving their bellies, whose end +will be damnation, except a speedy and sound remedy be thought of, +which remedy is even that which our Saviour teacheth the rich young +gallant, and which _Paul_ here prescribeth, in willing them not to +seek their own, but every man another's wealth, which physic is as +terrible to carnal professors, as abstinence from drink is to a man +that hath the dropsy; and it is a sure note, that a man is sick of +this disease of self-love, if this be grievous to him, as appeareth +in the man whom Christ bid sell that he had, and he went away very +sorrowful, yet surely this vein must be pricked, and this humor let +out, else it will spoil all, it will infect both soul and body, +yea, and the contagion of it is such (as we shall see anon) as will +even hazard the welfare of that society where self seekers and self +lovers are. + +As God then did direct this Apostle to lay down this brief +direction as a remedy for that evil in _Corinth_, so you may think +it is by God's special providence, that I am now to speak unto you +from this text: and say in your hearts, surely something is amiss +this way: let us know it and amend it. + +The parts of this text are two. 1. A _Dehortation_. 2. An +_Exhortation_. The Dehortation, _Let no man seek his own_. The +Exhortation, _But every man another's wealth_. + +In handling of which, I will first, open the words. Secondly, +gather the doctrine. Thirdly illustrate the doctrine by scriptures, +experience and reasons. Fourthly apply the same, to every one his +portion. + +The proper drift of the Apostle here is not to tax the +_Corinthians_, for seeking their own evil ends in evil actions, +but for aiming at themselves, and their own benefits in actions +lawful, and that appeareth in the former verse, where he saith, +_All things are lawful, &c._ viz. all such things as now we speak +of, to eat any of God's creatures, offered to idols or not, to +feast and be merry together, to shew love and kindness to this or +that person, &c. but when by such means we seek ourselves, and have +not a charitable loving and reverent regard of others, then they +are unexpedient, unprofitable, yea unlawful, and must be forborne, +and he that hath not learned to deny himself even the very use +of lawful things, when it tendeth to the contempt, reproach, +grief, offence and shame of his other brethren and associates, +hath learned nothing aright, but is, apparently, a man that seeks +himself, and against whom the Apostle here dealeth most properly. + +The manner of the speech, may seem as counsel left at liberty: as +Mat. 27. 49. And in our ordinary speech, we think they be but weak +charges, which are thus delivered, let a man do this, or let him +do that. But we must learn the apostle's modesty, and know that +whatsoever the terms seem to imply, yet even this and other the +like in this epistle, are most absolute charges: as, _Let a man +esteem of us, as the ministers of Christ_, _chap._ 41. That is, a +man ought so to esteem of us. _Let a man examine himself_, _1 Cor._ +11. 28. That is, as if he said, a man must examine himself. _Let +your women keep silence in the churches_, _1 Cor._ 14, 34. that is, +they ought so to do. + +The meaning then summarily is, as if he said, the bane of all these +mischiefs which arise among you is, that men are too cleaving to +themselves and their own matters, and disregard and contemn all +others: and therefore I charge you, let this self seeking be left +off, and turn the stream another way, namely, seek the good of your +brethren, please them, honor them, reverence them, for otherwise it +will never go well amongst you. + +_Obj._ But doth not the Apostle elsewhere say? _That he, which +careth not for his own, is worse than an infidel._ 1 _Tim._ 5. 8. + +_Ans._ True, but by (own) there, he meaneth properly, a man's +kindred, and here by (own) he meaneth properly a man's self. + +Secondly, he there especially taxeth such as were negligent in +their labors and callings, and so made themselves unable to give +relief and entertainment to such poor widows and orphans as were of +their own flesh and blood. + +Thirdly, be it so, that some man should even neglect his own self, +his own wife, children, friends, &c. And give that he had to +strangers, that were but some rare vice, in some one unnatural man, +and if this vice slay a thousand, self-love slayeth ten thousands. + +And this the wisdom of God did well foresee, and hath set no +caveats in the scriptures either to tax men, or forewarn them +from loving others, neither saith God any where, let no man seek +out the good of another, but let no man seek his own, and every +where in the scriptures he hath set watch words against self good, +self-profit, self-seeking, &c. And thus the sense being cleared, I +come to the doctrine. + +Doct. 1. _All men are too apt and ready to seek themselves too +much, and to prefer their own matters and causes beyond the due and +lawful measure, even to excess and offence against God, yea danger +of their own souls._ + +And this is true not only in wicked men which are given over of +God to vile lusts, as _Absalom_ in getting favor in his father's +court: _Jereboam_, in settling his kingdom fast in _Samaria_, +_Ahab_ in vehement seeking _Naboth's_ vineyard, but men, otherwise +godly, have through frailty been foiled herein, and many thousands +which have a shew of godliness, are lovers of themselves: _David_ +was about to seek himself when he was going to kill _Naball_: +_Asa_ in putting _Hanani_ in prison: _Josiah_ when he would go to +war with _Necho_, against the counsel of God, and reason; _Peter_ +when he dissembled about the ceremonies of the law, yea and _Paul_ +complains of all his followers (_Timothy_ excepted) that they +sought their own too inordinately. + + * * * * * + +And why else are these caveats in the scriptures, but to warn the +godly that they be not tainted herewith? as, _Look not every man +on his own things, but on the things of another: Love seeketh not +her own things. Be not desirous of vain glory, &c._ Philip. 2. 4. 1 +Cor. 13. 6. Gal. 5. 26. + +Yea and doth not experience teach, that even amongst professors +of religion, almost all the love and favor that is shewed unto +others is with a secret aim at themselves, they will take pains +to do a man good, provided that he will take twice so much for +them, they will give a penny so as it may advantage them a pound, +labor hard so as all the profit may come to themselves, else +they are heartless and feeble. The vain and corrupt heart of man +cannot better be resembled then by a belly-god, host, or innkeeper +which welcometh his guests with smilings, and salutations, and a +thousand welcomes, and rejoiceth greatly to have their company to +dice, cards, eat, drink, and be merry, but should not the box be +paid, the pot be filling, and the money telling, all this while, +the epicure's joy would soon be turned into sorrow, and his smiles +turned into frowns, and the door set open, and their absence +craved: even so men blow the bellows hard, when they have an iron +of their own a heating, work hard whilst their own house is in +building, dig hard whilst their own garden is in planting, but +is it so as the profit must go wholly or partly to others; their +hands wax feeble, their hearts wax faint, they grow churlish, and +give cross answers, like _Naball_, they are sour, discontent, and +nothing will please them. And where is that man to be found, that +will disperse abroad, and cast his bread upon the waters, that +will lend, looking for nothing again, that will do all duties to +other freely and cheerfully in conscience to God, and love unto +men, without his close and secret ends or aiming at himself; such +a man, out of doubt, is a black swan, a white crow almost, and yet +such shall stand before God with boldness at the last day, when +others which have sought themselves, though for love of themselves +they have sought heaven, yea, and through self-love persuaded +themselves they should find it, yet wanting love unto others, they +will be found as sounding brass, and as a tinkling cimbal, and +whilst they have neglected others, and not cared how others live, +so as themselves may fare well, they will be found amongst them, +that the Lord will say unto, _I know you not, depart ye cursed into +everlasting fire_, Mat. 25. 41. 42. + +But that I may not walk in generalities, the particular ways by +which men seek their own are these: First, such as are covetous, +seek their own by seeking riches, wealth, money, as _Felix_ +pretending love unto _Paul_, sent for him often, but it was in hope +of money. Many there are who say, _who will shew us any good_, +Psal. 4. 7. And pretend religion, as some of the Jews did the +keeping of the Sabbath, which yet cried out, when will the Sabbath +be done, that we may sell corn, and get gain; if a man can tell how +to get gold out of a flint, and silver out of the adamant, no pains +shall be spared, no time shall be neglected, for gold is their +hope, and the wedge of gold is their confidence, their hearts are +set upon the pelf of this world, and for love of it, all things are +let slip, even all duties to God or men, they care not how basely +they serve, how wretchedly they neglect all others, so as they may +get wealth: pinch who will, and wring who will; all times are alike +with them, and they run for the bribe and _Gehazie_; and this is +the first way that men seek their own. + +Now the contrary is seen in _Nehemiah_, who when the people were +hard put to it, and the land raw, he took not the duties which +were due to him being a magistrate, he bought no land, nor grew +rich, for it was no time: but he maintained at his table many of +his brethren the Jews, and so spent even his own proper goods. +And _Paul_ sought no man's gold nor silver, but though he had +authority, yet he took not bread of the churches, but labored with +his hands: and why? It was no time to take, some churches were poor +and stood in want, as _Thessalonica_, others were in danger to be +preyed upon by covetous belly-gods, as _Corinth_: and therefore he +saw it no fit time now to take any thing of them. + +And indeed here is the difference between a covetous worldling, +and an honest thrifty Christian, it is lawful sometimes for men to +gather wealth, and grow rich, even as there was a time for _Joseph_ +to store up corn, but a godly and sincere Christian will see when +this time is, and will not hoard up when he seeth others of his +brethren and associates to want, but then is a time, if he have any +thing to fetch it out and disperse it, but the covetous gathers +goods, he like _Achan_ covets all that he seeth; and neglects no +time, but gathers still and holds all fast, and if it were to save +the life of his brother, his bags must not be diminished, nor his +chests lighted, nor his field set to sale, gather as much as he +can, but it's death to diminish the least part of it. + +2. The second way by which men seek their own, is when they seek +ease, or pleasure, as the _Scribes_ and _Pharisees_, who would +not touch the burden with one of their fingers; for there is a +generation, which think to have more in this world then _Adam's_ +felicity in innocency, being born (as they think) to take their +pleasures, and their ease, let the roof of the house drop through, +they stir not; let the field be overgrown with weeds, they care +not, they must not foul their hand, nor wet their foot, it's enough +for them to say, Go you, not let us go, though never so much need; +such idle drones, are intollerable in a settled commonwealth, much +more in a commonwealth which is but as it were in the bud; of what +earth I pray thee art thou made, of any better than the other of +the sons of _Adam_? And canst thou see other of thy brethren toil +their hearts out, and thou sit idle at home, or takest thy pleasure +abroad? Remember the example of _Uriah_, who would not take his +ease nor his pleasure, though the King required him, and why? +Because his brethren, his associates, better men than himself (as +he esteemed them) were under hard labors and conditions, lay in the +field in tents, caves, &c. + +3. The third way is when men seek their own bellies, as some did +in the Apostles' times, which went about with new doctrines and +devices, knowing that the people had itching ears, and would +easily entertain and willingly feed such novelists, which brought +in dissensions, schisms, and contentions, and such were rocks, or +pillars in their love-feasts, as _Jude_ speaketh, _ver. 12._ They +were shadows in God's service, but when feasting came, then they +were substances, then they were in their element. And certainly +there are some men which shape even their religion, human state, +and all, even as the belly cheer is best, and that they must have, +else all heart and life is gone; let all conscience, care of others +go, let _Lazarus_ starve at the gate, let _Joseph's_ affliction +be increased, they must have their dishes, their dainties, or no +content. The contrary was seen in _Nehemiah_, who would not take +his large portion allotted to the governor, because he knew it went +short with others of his brethren; and _Uriah_ would not receive +the King's present, and go banquet with his wife, because he knew +the whole host his brethren were fain to snap short in the fields. + +And the difference between a temperate good man, and a belly-god +is this: A good man will not eat his morsels alone, especially, if +he have better than others, but if by God's providence, he have +gotten some meat which is better than ordinary, and better than +his other brethren, he can have no rest in himself, except he make +others partake with him. But a belly-god will slop all in his own +throat, yea, though his neighbor come in and behold him eat, yet +his griple-gut shameth not to swallow all. And this may be done +sometimes, as well in mean fare as in greater dainties, for all +countries afford not alike. + +4. The fourth way by which men seek their own, is by seeking +outward honor, fame and respect with men; as King _Saul_ when he +had lost all respect and favor with God, then thought to give +content to his heart by being honored before the Elders of the +people; and it is wonderful to see how some men are _desirous of +vain glory_, _Gal._ 5. 26. And how earnestly they seek praise, +favor, and respect with men, and can have no quiet longer than +their worldly favor lasteth, and that they will have what dishonor +soever come to God, or disgrace unto men, yea, they will disgrace, +reproach, and disdain others, to gain honor and advancement to +themselves, yea, they will make bold with the Scriptures and Word +of God, to wrest and wring, and slight it over for their credit's +sake. And let a man mark some men's talk, stories, discourses, +&c. and he shall see their whole drift is to extol and set out +themselves, and get praise and commendation of men. + +Now the contrary was seen in _Paul_, he saith, _He needed no +letters of commendations_, 2 Cor. 3. 2. And again, _He is +not affected with men's praise_, 1 Cor. 10. 12. And here is +indeed the difference between an humble-minded Christian, and a +proud self-lover; an humble man often hath praise, as _David_, +_Hezekiah_, and _Josiah_, but he seeks it not, he desires it not, +he is content to go without it, he loves not the praise of men, +for he knows it but froth and vanity: but a proud self-lover, he +seeks it still, get it or not get it, and if he get it he is fully +satisfied, if he get it not he hangs his head like a bull-rush, and +hath no comfort. + +5. The fifth way by which men seek their own, is _by seeking to +have their wills_; as the wrong doers in _Corinth_, who thought +it not enough to do wrong and harm to their brethren, but to +have their wills enough of them, drew them before the Heathen +magistrates. + +And truly some men are so prince-like, or rather Papal, that their +very will and word is become a law, and if they have said it, it +must be so, else there is no rest or quietness to be had, let never +so many reasons be brought to the contrary, it is but fighting with +the wind. They are like the obstinate Jews, who when against God's +law, and reason, they asked a King, though _Samuel_ shewed them +that it would turn in the end to their own smart, yet still held +the conclusion, and said, nay, _But we will have a King_, 1 Sam. +8. 19. Thus men are caught by their own words, and insnared by the +straitness of their own hearts, and it is death to them not to have +their wills, and howsoever sometimes (like _Jezebel_) they are cut +short of their purposes, yet self-willed men will strut and swell +like _Absalom_, saying neither _good nor bad_, 2 Sam. 13. 22. but +hope for the day, and threaten like prophane _Esau_, Gen. 27. 41. +Now the contrary is seen in _David_, though a prince, a captain, a +warrior, who having said, yea sworn, that he would kill _Nabal_, +and all his family that day, yet upon reasonable counsel given, and +that by a weak woman, he changed his mind, altered his purpose, +and returned, without striking one stroke, an example rare, and +worthy imitation; and when men are sick of will, let them think of +_David_, it was his grace and honor to go back from his word and +practice, when reason came. So was it _Herod's_ disgrace and shame +to hold his word and will against reason and conscience, _Math._ +14. 8, 9. + +_Quest._ But some men happily will say unto me, It is true, that +men seek their own by all these ways, _But what should be the +reason and cause of this? that men seek so earnestly themselves, in +seeking riches, honor, ease, belly-cheer, will, &c. something there +is that carrieth them_. + +_Ans._ True, and the reasons and causes are specially these three: + +First, pride and high conceitedness, when men overvalue themselves: +and this made _Absalom_ to seek his father's kingdom, because he +thought himself worthy of it. _2 Sam._ 15. 4. This made _Haman_ so +sore vexed, because _Mordecai_ bowed not to him, because he highly +valued himself, _Esther_, 3. 5. + +And surely that which a man valueth much, he giveth much respect +to, and so it is a sure sign that a man loves himself most when +he giveth most to himself; and some intolerable proud persons +even think all the world is for them, and all their purposes and +endeavors shew what a large conceit they have of themselves. + +Secondly, want of due consideration and valuation of other +men's endowments, abilities and deserts; when men pass those +things by, though they have both seen, heard, and felt them; as +_Pharaoh's_ butler forgot _Joseph's_ eminency when he was restored +to his place, _Gen._ 40. 23. So men used to write their own good +actions in brass, but other men's in ashes, never remembering nor +considering the pains, labor, good properties, &c. which others +have, and so they have no love to them, but only to themselves; as +if God had made all other men unreasonable beasts, and them only +reasonable men. + +Thirdly, want of heavenly conversation, and spiritual eye to +behold the glory, greatness, and majesty, and goodness of God; +as the Queen of _Sheba_, thought highly of her own glory, wisdom +and happiness, till she saw _Solomon's_ wisdom and glory, and +then she cried out, not of the happiness of her own servants, but +of his servants that stood before him, 1 _Kings_ 10. 7, 8. And +verily, if men were conversant courtiers in Heaven, they would +cry out with _Paul_, Rom. 11. 33. _Oh the depth of the riches, +wisdom, and knowledge of God, &c._ and would be ashamed of their +own sinfulness, nakedness and misery; for, as countrymen which +never saw the state of cities, nor the glory of courts, admire even +their own country Orders: And as the savages here which are clad in +skins, and creep in woods and holes, think their own brutish and +inhuman life the best, which if they saw and did rightly apprehend +the benefit of comely humanity, the sweetness of religion and +the service of God, they would even shamefully hide themselves +from the eye of all noble Christians. Even so, if men in serious +contemplation, by the eye of faith, would behold the glory of God, +and what great riches, beauty, fulness, perfection, power, dignity +and greatness is in God, they would leave admiring of themselves, +and seeking of themselves, and would say with _David, What am I? +And what is my father's house? that thou shouldest thus bless me?_ +2 Sam. 7. 18. Yea _What is man? or the son of man that thou so +regardest him?_ Psal. 8. 3. + +But it is time to come to apply these things more particularly to +ourselves, and see what Use is to be made of them: + +_Use 1._ Is it so, that God seeth a proneness in all the sons of +_Adam_, to seek themselves too much, and hath given them warnings +and watch-words thereof, as we have heard, and doth experience +confirm it? Then hence are reproved a number of men, who think +they can never shew love enough to themselves, nor seek their own +enough, but think all cost, charges, cherishing, praise, honor, +&c. too little for them, and no man needeth to say to them, as +_Peter_ did to Christ, _favor thy self_; but if they do a little +for another man, they account it a great matter, though it be but +a morsel of bread, or a single penny; but no varieties of dainties +is too good for them, no silk, purple, cloth, or stuff is too +good to clothe them, the poor man's idleness and ill husbandry is +oft thrown in his dish, but their own carnal delights and fleshy +wantonness is never thought upon: and why? Because they think even +God and man owes all to them, but they owe nothing to none. Why, +thou foolish and besotted man, hath not the Holy Ghost read it in +the very face of every son of _Adam_, that he is too apt to seek +his own, and art thou wiser than God, to think thou never seekest +thine own enough? or dreamest thou that thou art made of other, and +better mettle than other men are? Surely, I know no way to escape, +having of corruption to thy father, and the worm to thy sister and +brother. And if God had any where in all the Scriptures said, love +thyself, make much of thyself, provide for one, &c. there were +some reason for thee to take up the niggard's proverbs, _Every +man for himself, and God for us all; Charity beginneth at home, +&c._ But God never taught thee these things; No, they are Satan's +positions. Doth God ever commend a man for carnal love of himself? +Nay he brands it, and disgraceth it, as _self love, taking thought +for the flesh; loving of pleasure, &c._ Rom. 13. 14, 2 Tim. 34. + +_Obj._ _It is a point of good natural policy, for a man to care and +provide for himself._ + +_Ans._ Then the most fools have most natural policy, for you +see not the greatest drones and novices, either in church, or +commonwealth, to be the greatest scratchers and scrapers, and +gatherers of riches? Are they not also for the most part, best fed +and clad? And live they not most easily? What shall I say? Even +hogs, dogs, and brute beasts know their own ease, and can seek +that which is good for themselves; and what doth this shifting, +progging, and fat feeding which some use, more resemble any thing +than the fashion of hogs? And so let it be what natural policy it +will. + +_Use 2._ If God see this disease of self-love so dangerous in +us, then it standeth us all in hand to suspect ourselves, and so +to seek out the root of this disease, that it may be cured. If a +learned physician, shall see by our countenance and eye, that we +have some dangerous disease growing on us, our hearts will smite +us, and we will bethink ourselves where the most grief lieth, and +how it should come, whether with cold, heat, surfeit, over-flowing +of blood, or through grief, melancholy, or any such way, and every +man will bestir himself to get rid of it, and will prevent always +that which feeds the disease, and cherish all courses that would +destroy it. + +Now, how much more ought we to bestir ourselves, for this matter +of self love, since God himself hath cast all our waters, and felt +all our pulses, and pronounceth us all dangerously sick of this +disease? Believe it, God cannot lie, nor be deceived; He that made +the heart, doth not he know it? Let every man's heart smite him, +and let him fall to the examination of himself and see first, +whether he love not riches and worldly wealth too much, whether his +heart be not too jocund at the coming of it in, and too heavy at +the going of it out, for if you find it so there is great danger, +if thou canst not buy as if thou possessed not, and use this world +as though thou used it not, (_1 Cor._ 7. 30, 31.) thou art sick, +and had need to look to it. So, if thou lovest thine ease and +pleasure, see whether thou can be content to receive at God's hands +evil as well as good, (_Job_ 2. 10.) whether thou have learned as +well to abound as to want, (_Phil._ 4. 10.) as well to endure hard +labor, as to live at ease; and art as willing to go to the house of +mourning as to the house of mirth, (_Eccl._ 7. 6.) for, else, out +of doubt, thou lovest thy carnal pleasure and ease too much. + +Again, see whether thy heart cannot be as merry, and thy mind as +joyful, and thy countenance as cheerful, with coarse fare, with +pulse, with bread and water (if God offer thee no better, nor the +times afford other) as if thou had the greatest dainties: (_Dan._ +1. 15.) So also whether thou can be content as well with scorns +of men, when thou hast done well, as with their praises, so if +thou can with comfort and good conscience say, I pass little for +man's judgment; whether thou can do thy duty that God requireth, +and despise the shame, referring thyself unto God, for if thou be +disheartened, discouraged, and weakened in any duty because of +men's dispraises, its a sign thou lovest thyself too much. + +So for the will, if thou can be content to give way even from that +which thou hast said shall be, yea, vowed shall be, when better +reason cometh, and hast that reverence of other men, as that +when it standeth but upon a matter of will, thou art as willing +their wills should stand as thine, and art not sad, churlish, or +discontented, (_1 Kings_ 21. 4.) but cheerful in thine heart, +though thy will be crossed, it is a good sign, but if not, thou +art sick of a self-will, and must purge it out. I the rather press +these things, because I see many men both wise and religious, which +yet are so tainted with this pestilent self-love, as that it is in +them even as a dead fly to the apothecaries' ointment, spoiling +the efficacy of all their graces, making their lives uncomfortable +to themselves, and unprofitable to others, being neither fit for +church nor commonwealth, but have even their very souls in hazard +thereby, and therefore who can say too much against it. + +It is reported, that there are many men gone to that other +plantation in _Virginia_, which, whilst they lived in _England_, +seemed very religious, zealous, and conscionable; and have now lost +even the sap of grace, and edge to all goodness; and are become +mere worldlings. This testimony I believe to be partly true, and +amongst many causes of it, this self-love is not the least. It is +indeed a matter of some commendation for a man to remove himself +out of a thronged place into a wide wilderness; to take in hand +so long and dangerous a journey, to be an instrument to carry the +Gospel and humanity among the brutish heathen; but there may be +many goodly shews and glosses and yet a pad in the straw, men may +make a great appearance of respect unto God, and yet but dissemble +with him, having their own lusts carrying them: and, out of doubt, +men that have taken in hand hither to come, out of discontentment +in regard of their estates in _England_; and aiming at great +matters here, affecting it to be gentlemen, landed men, or hoping +for office, place, dignity, or fleshly liberty; let the shew be +what it will, the substance is naught, and that bird of self-love +which was hatched at home, if it be not looked to, will eat out +the life of all grace and goodness: and though men have escaped +the danger of the sea, and that cruel mortality, which swept away +so many of our loving friends and brethren; yet except they purge +out this self-love, a worse mischief is prepared for them: And who +knoweth whether God in mercy have delivered those just men which +here departed, from the evils to come; and from unreasonable men, +in whom there neither was, nor is, any comfort, but grief, sorrow, +affliction, and misery, till they cast out this spawn of self-love. + +But I have dwelt too long upon this first part; I come now to the +second, which concerns an Exhortation, as I shewed you, in the +Division. + +_But every man another's wealth._ + +In direct opposition, he should say, _Let every man seek +another's_, but the first part being compared with the latter, and +(_seek_) being taken out of the former and put to the latter, and +(_wealth_) taken out or rather implied, in the former, the whole +sentence is thus resolved, _Let no man seek his own wealth, but let +every man seek another's wealth_. + +And the word here translated _wealth_, is the same with that in +_Rom._ 13. 4, and may not be taken only for riches, as Englishmen +commonly understand it, but for all kinds of benefits, favors, +comforts either for soul or body; and so here again, as before you +must understand an Affirmative Commandment, as the Negative was +before: and least any should say, If I may not seek my own good, I +may do nothing; Yes saith _Paul_, I'll tell thee, thou shalt seek +the good of another, whereas now all thy seeking helps but one, by +this means thou shalt help many: and this is further enforced by +these two circumstances, (no man) may seek his own, be he rich, +learned, wise, &c. _But every man must seek the good of another_. + +The point of instruction is taken from the very letter and phrase, +viz. + +Doct. 2. _A man_ must _seek the good, the wealth, the profit of +others._ + +I say he _must_ seek it, he must seek the comfort, profit and +benefit of his neighbor, brother, associate, &c. His own good he +need not seek, it will offer itself to him every hour; but the good +of others must be sought, a man must not stay from doing good to +others till he is sought unto, pulled and hauled, (as it were) like +the unjust judge, for every benefit that is first craved, cometh +too late. And thus the ancient patriarchs did practice, when the +traveller and wayfaring men came by, they did not tarry till they +came and asked relief and refreshment, but sat at the gates to +watch for such, (_Judges_ 19. 20, 21) and looked in the streets to +find them, yea, set open their doors that they might freely and +boldly enter in. And howsoever, some may think this too large a +practice, since now the world is so full of people, yet I see not +but the more people there is, the larger charity ought to be. + +But be it so, as a man may neglect, in some sort the general +world, yet those to whom he is bound, either in natural, civil, +or religious bands, them he must seek how to do them good. A +notable example you have in _David_, who, because there was twixt +him and _Jonathan_ a band and covenant, therefore he enquired, +_Whether there was any left of the house of Saul, to whom he might +shew mercy for Jonathan's sake_, 2 Sam. 9.1. So this people of +_Corinth_, to whom _Paul_ writeth, they were in a spiritual league +and covenant in the _Gospel_, and so were a body. Now for one +member in the body to seek himself, and neglect all others were, as +if a man should clothe one arm or one leg of his body with gold and +purple, and let all the rest of the members go naked. _1 Cor. 12. +27._ + +Now brethren, I pray you, remember yourselves, and know, that you +are not in a retired monastical course, but have given your names +and promises one to another and covenanted here to cleave together +in the service of God, and the King; What then must you do? May +you live as retired hermits? and look after no body? Nay, you must +seek still the wealth of one another; and enquire as _David_, how +liveth such a man? How is he clad? How is he fed? He is my brother, +my associate; we ventured our lives together here, and had a hard +brunt of it and we are in league together. Is his labor harder than +mine? surely I will ease him; hath he no bed to lie on? why, I have +two, I'll lend him one; hath he no apparel? why, I have two suits, +I'll give him one of them; eats he coarse fare, bread and water, +and I have better, why, surely we will part stakes. He is as good a +man as I, and we are bound each to other, so that his wants must be +my wants, his sorrows my sorrows, his sickness my sickness, and his +welfare my welfare, for I am as he is. And such a sweet sympathy +were excellent, comfortable, yea, heavenly, and is the only maker +and conserver of churches and commonwealths, and where this is +wanting, ruin comes on quickly, as it did here in _Corinth_. + +But besides these motives, there are other reasons to provoke us +not only to do good one to another; but even to seek and search how +to do it. + +1. As first, to maintain modesty in all our associates, that of +hungry wanters, they become not bold beggars and impudent cravers; +for as one saith of women, that, when they have lost their +shamefacedness, they have lost half their honesty, so may it be +truly said of a man that when he hath lost his modesty, and puts +on a begging face, he hath lost his majesty, and the image of that +noble creature; and man should not beg and crave of man, but only +of God. True it is, that as Christ was fain to crave water of the +Samaritan woman, (_John_ 4. 5.) so men are forced to ask sometimes +rather than starve, but indeed in all societies it should be +offered them. Men often complain of men's boldness in asking, but +how cometh this to pass, but because the world have been so full +of self-lovers as no man would offer their money, meat, garments, +though they saw men hungry, harborless, poor, and naked in the +streets; and what is it that makes men brazen-faced, bold, brutish, +tumultuous, but because they are pinched with want, and see others +of their companions (which it may be have less deserved) to live in +prosperity and pleasure? + +2. It wonderfully encourageth men in their duties, when they see +the burthen equally borne; but when some withdraw themselves and +retire to their own particular ease, pleasure, or profit; what +heart can men have to go on in their business? when men are come +together to lift some weighty piece of timber or vessel; if one +stand still and do not lift, shall not the rest be weakened and +disheartened? Will not a few idle drones spoil the whole stock of +laborious bees: so one idle-belly, one murmurer, one complainer, +one self-lover will weaken and dishearten a whole colony. Great +matters have been brought to pass where men have cheerfully as +with one heart, hand, and shoulder, gone about it, both in wars, +buildings, and plantations, but where every man seeks himself, all +cometh to nothing. + +3. The present necessity requireth it, as it did in the days of the +_Jews_, returning from captivity, and as it was here in _Corinth_. +The country is yet raw, the land untilled, the cities not builded, +the cattle not settled, we are compassed about with a helpless and +idle people, the natives of the country, which cannot in any comely +or comfortable manner help themselves, much less us. We also have +been very chargeable to many of our loving friends, which helped +us hither, and now again supplied us, so that before we think of +gathering riches, we must even in conscience think of requiting +their charge, love and labor, and cursed be that profit and gain +which aimeth not at this. Besides, how many of our dear friends did +here die at our first entrance, many of them no doubt for want of +good lodging, shelter, and comfortable things, and many more may go +after them quickly, if care be not taken. Is this then a time for +men to begin to seek themselves? _Paul_ saith, that men in the last +days shall be lovers of themselves, (_2 Tim._ 3. 2.) but it is here +yet but the first days, and (as it were) the dawning of this new +world, it is now therefore no time for men to look to get riches, +brave clothes, dainty fare, but to look to present necessities; it +is now no time to pamper the flesh, live at ease, snatch, catch, +scrape, and pill, and hoard up, but rather to open the doors, the +chests, and vessels, and say, brother, neighbor, friend, what +want ye, any thing that I have? make bold with it, it is yours to +command, to do you good, to comfort and cherish you, and glad I am +that I have it for you. + +4. And even the example of God himself, whom we should follow +in all things within our power and capacity, may teach us this +lesson, for (with reverence to his Majesty be it spoken) he might +have kept all grace, goodness, and glory to himself, but he hath +communicated it to us, even as far as we are capable of it in this +life, and will communicate his glory in all fulness with his elect +in that life to come; even so his son Jesus Christ left his glory +eclipsed for a time, and abased himself to a poor and distressed +life in this world, that he might, by it, bring us to happiness in +the world to come. If God then have delighted in thus doing good +and relieving frail and miserable man, so far inferior to himself, +what delight ought man to have to relieve and comfort man, which is +equal to himself? + +5. Even as we deal with others, ourselves and others shall be +dealt withal. Carest thou not how others fare, how they toil, +are grieved, sick, pinched, cold, harborless, so as thou be in +health, livest at ease, warm in thy nest, farest well? The days +will come when thou shalt labor and none shall pity thee, be poor +and none relieve thee, be sick, and lie and die and none visit +thee, yea, and thy children shall lie and starve in the streets, +and none shall relieve them, for _it is the merciful that shall +obtain mercy_; Mat. 5. 7. and _the memory of the just shall be +blessed_ even in his seed; _Prov._ 10. and a merciful and loving +man when he dies, though he leave his children small and desolate, +yet every one is mercifully stirred up for the father's sake to +shew compassion, but the unkindness, currishness, and self-love +of a father, is through God's just judgment recompensed upon the +children with neglect and cruelty. + +6. Lastly, That we may draw to an end; A merciless man, and a man +without natural affection or love, is reckoned among such as are +given over of God to a reprobate mind, (_Rom._ 1. 30.) and (as it +were) transformed into a beast-like humor; for, what is man if he +be not sociable, kind, affable, free-hearted, liberal; he is a +beast in the shape of a man; or rather an infernal spirit, walking +amongst men, which makes the world a hell what in him lieth; for, +it is even a hell to live where there are such men: such the +Scriptures calleth _Nabals_, which signifieth _fools_, (_Psal._ +14. 1.) and decayed men, which have lost both the sap of grace +and nature; and such merciless men are called goats, and shall be +set at Christ's left hand at the last day, (_Math._ 25. 33.) _Oh +therefore seek the wealth one of another_. + +_Obj._ But some will say, _It is true, and it were well if men +would so do, but we see every man is so for himself, as that if I +should not do so, I should do full ill, for if I have it not of +my own, I may snap short sometimes, for I see no body showeth me +any kindness, nor giveth me any thing; if I have gold or silver, +that goeth for payment, and if I want it I may lie in the street, +therefore I had best keep that I have, and not be so liberal as you +would have me, except I saw others would be so towards me_. + +_Ans._ This Objection seemeth but equal and reasonable, as did the +Answer of _Nabal_ to _David's_ men, but it is most foolish and +carnal, as his also was; for, if we should measure our courses by +most men's practices, a man should never do any godly duty; for, +do not the most, yea, almost all, go the broad way that leadeth to +death and damnation, (_Luke._ 13. 23, 24.) Who then will follow a +multitude? It is the word of God, and the examples of the best men +that we must follow. And what if others will do nothing for thee, +but are unkind and unmerciful to thee? Knowest thou not that they +which will be the children of God must be kind to the unkind, +loving to their enemies, and bless those that curse them? (_Mat._ +5. 44, 47.) If all men were kind to thee, it were but _publicans'_ +righteousness to be kind to them? If all men be evil, wilt thou be +so too? When _David_ cried out, _Help Lord, for not a godly man is +left_, Psal. 12. 1. did he himself turn ungodly also? Nay, he was +rather the more strict. So, if love and charity be departed out of +this world, be thou one of them that shall first bring it in again. + +And let this be the first rule, which I will with two others +conclude for this time. + +1. Never measure thy course by the most, but by the best, yea, +and principally by God's word; Look not what others do to thee, +but consider what thou art to do to them: seek to please God, not +thyself. Did they in _Mat._ 25. 44. plead, that others did nothing +for them? No such matter, no such plea will stand before God, his +word is plain to the contrary, therefore, though all the world +should neglect thee, disregard thee, and contemn thee, yet remember +thou hast not to do with men, but with the highest God, and so thou +must do thy duty to them notwithstanding. + +2. And let there be no prodigal person to come forth and say, Give +me the portion of lands and goods that appertaineth to me, and let +me shift for myself; _Luke_ 15. 12. It is yet too soon to put men +to their shifts; _Israel_ was seven years in _Canaan_, before the +land was divided unto tribes, much longer before it was divided +unto families; and why wouldst thou have thy particular portion, +but because thou thinkest to live better than thy neighbor, and +scornest to live so meanly as he? but who, I pray thee, brought +this particularizing first into the world? Did not Satan, who was +not content to keep that equal state with his fellows, but would +set his throne above the stars? Did not he also entice man to +despise his general felicity and happiness, and go try particular +knowledge of good and evil; and nothing in this world doth more +resemble heavenly happiness, than for men to live as one, being of +one heart, and one soul; neither any thing more resembles hellish +horror, then for every man to shift for himself; for if it be a +good mind and practise, thus to affect particulars, _mine_ and +_thine_, then it should be best also for God to provide one heaven +for thee, and another for thy neighbor. + +_Object._ But some will say, _If all men will do their endeavors as +I do I could be content with this generality,--but many are idle +and slothful, and eat up others' labors, and therefore it is best +to part, and then every man may do his pleasure_. + +First, this, indeed, is the common plea of such as will endure no +inconveniences, and so for the hardness of men's hearts, God and +man doth often give way to that which is not best, nor perpetual, +but indeed if we take this course to change ordinances and +practices because of inconveniences, we shall have every day new +laws. + +Secondly, if others be idle and thou diligent, thy fellowship, +provocation, and example, may well help to cure that malady in +them, being together, but being asunder, shall they not be more +idle, and shall not gentry and beggary be quickly the glorious +ensigns of your commonwealth? + +Thirdly, construe things in the best part, be not too hasty to +say, men are idle and slothful, all men have not strength, skill, +faculty, spirit, and courage to work alike; it is thy glory and +credit, that thou canst do so well, and his shame and reproach, +that can do no better; and are not these sufficient rewards to you +both. + +Fourthly, if any be idle apparently, you have a law and governors +to execute the same, and to follow that rule of the Apostle, to +keep back their bread, and let them not eat, go not therefore +whispering, to charge men with idleness; but go to the governor and +prove them idle; and thou shall see them have their deserts. _Acts_ +19. 38. 2 _Thes._ 3. 10. _Deut._ 19. 15. + +And as you are a body together, so hang not together by skins and +gymocks, but labor to be jointed together and knit by flesh and +sinews; away with envy at the good of others, and rejoice in his +good, and sorrow for his evil. Let his joy be thy joy, and his +sorrow thy sorrow: Let his sickness be thy sickness: his hunger thy +hunger: his poverty thy poverty; and if you profess friendship, be +friends in adversity; for then a friend is known and tried, and not +before. + +3. Lay away all thought of former things and forget them, and +think upon the things that are; look not gapingly one upon other, +pleading your goodness, your birth, your life you lived, your +means you had and might have had; here you are by God's providence +under difficulties; be thankful to God, it is no worse, and take +it in good part that which is, and lift not up yourself because of +former privileges; when _Job_ was brought to the dung-hill, he sat +down upon it, _Job_ 2. 8. and when the Almighty had been bitter +to _Naomi_, she would be called _Marah_; consider therefore what +you are now, and whose you are; say not I could have lived thus, +and thus; but say thus and thus I must live: for God and natural +necessity requireth, if your difficulties be great, you had need +to cleave the faster together, and comfort and cheer up one another, +laboring to make each other's burden lighter; there is no grief +so tedious as a churlish companion and nothing makes sorrows easy +more than cheerful associates: bear ye therefore one another's +burthen, and be not a burthen one to another; avoid all factions, +frowardness, singularity and withdrawings, and cleave fast to the +Lord, and one to another continually; so shall you be a notable +precedent to these poor heathens, whose eyes are upon you, and who +very brutishly and cruelly do daily eat and consume one another, +through their emulations, ways and contentions; be you therefore +ashamed of it, and win them to peace both with yourselves, and one +another, by your peaceable examples, which will preach louder to +them, than if you could cry in their barbarous language; so also +shall you be an encouragement to many of your christian friends in +your native country, to come to you, when they hear of your peace, +love and kindness that is amongst you: but above all, it shall go +well with your souls, when that God of peace and unity shall come +to visit you with death as he hath done many of your associates, +you being found of him, not in murmurings, discontent and jars, but +in brotherly love, and peace, may be translated from this wandering +wilderness unto that joyful and heavenly Canaan. + + AMEN. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Sin and Danger of Self-Love, by Robert Cushman + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44071 *** |