Pay thy Debts AND Live of the Rest.
Now there cryed a certain Woman of the Wives of the Sons of the Prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy Servant my Husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy Servant did fear the LORD: and the Creditor is come to take unto him my two Sons to be bond men.
And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine hand-maid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oyl.
Then he said, Go borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy Neighbours, even empty vessels, borrow not a few!
And when thou are come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee, and upon thy Sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, & thou shalt set aside that which is full.
[Page 2] So she went from him, and shut the door upon her, and upon her sons: who brought the vessels to her, and she powed out.
And it came to pass when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oyl stayed.
Then she came and told the man of God, and he said, Go, sell the oyl, and pay thy de [...], and live thou and thy children of the rest.
THE Words read consist of two general Parts; a [...]plaint, and the Answer to it.
1. We have the Pitiful complaint of a Poor distressed Widow, to the Prophet Elisha. She was a Prophets Widow; yet Poor in the World. Her Husband was a Good Man; yet he died in Debt, more than he was worth. Now, it seems, there was a Custom among the Jews, for Parents, who were Poor, and not able to Pay their Debts, to sell their Children to the Creditor for the Payment: Or, at least, the Creditor [Page 3]would take them as Bond-Servants, to Answer the Debt; taking Advantage of that Law, Exod. 21.2, 7. & Lev. 25.39. Of which Law or Practice, a certain Creditor, here in our Text, was taking the Advantage, and finding no Estate, was already come to take this Widows two Sons, as Bond-men. And to whom should the Widow of one of the Sons of the Prophets go, in her Distress, but to him that was a Father to them, and Interested himself in the concerns of their Families? To him therefore she Repairs, who had also observed this Good Womans Deceased Husbands Piety in Particular; which is a Plea to enforce her Suit, v. 1.
2. You may observe how readily, and with what Fatherly tenderness, the man of God receives the Complainant; and how Effectually he Relieves her Distress.
- (1.) He lends an Ear to her lamentable [Page 4] Cry; is touched at the heart to hear her sad Case, and moved, both in Sympathy with the distressed Widow, and in Commiseration towards her Fatherless Children. And Elisha said, What shall I do for thee? v. 2.
- (2.) He puts her into a way how to get out of Debt; and make a comfortable Living; without Selling either of her Sons into Bondage, v. 3. to the 7. Where you may observe yet more Particularly:
- [1] The Direction be gives, v. 3, 4, 7. Go borrow vessels—shut the Door— &c.
- [2] Her ready and exact compliance with the Word of Direction, and her good success herein, v. 5, 6.
But that which made her ready Obedience, Diligence and Exactness in following the Direction given, so valuable, was her Faith; it was the Obedience of Faith. She Believed, and therefore she thus acted. [Page 5]She did not tell the Holy Man of God that he mocked her, in bidding her fill so many vessels out of one, and larger out of a lesser: but does as she is bidden, and leaves the success to the Almighty. O Woman! Great was thy Faith! Nor is the Prophet's concern for a Poor Distressed Debtor, to be over looked, in the Doctrinal handling of the Text: for it is Exemplary. But the main thing considerable for our Present Instruction and Incouragement, is the Seasonable and Effectual care of Divine Providence, to Deliver the Distressed out of their Straits; by chalking out the way of Duty, and making it the Way of Relief. What is further necessary for Explication, and Accommodation of this Extraordinary, to more Common Cases, may fall in to be Considered, under some or other of the Seven following Doctrines, which the Seven [Page 6]Verses of our Text do, without any Wresting, yield; as freely as the Pot did its Oyl; until all the vessels were full. From the Out-cry here made, and the Occasion of it, We Infer, for our first Doctrine;
- DOCT. I. That it is a sad and lamentable thing to be doeply in Debt. (And, from the Instance here given, it also follows)
- DOCT. II. That this may be the Case of such as fear GOD.
- DOCT. III. Debts must be Paid, tho' all go for it. (The Prophets search for Goods, and her concealing nothing, with-holding nothing, shows it.)
- DOCT. IV. God can help His People out of Debt, tho' they owe more than they are worth. (He that can work Miracles can work Mercies.)
- [Page 7] DOCT. V. We may not expect help from the Lord, but as we follow His Direction, in the use of all Proper Means.
- DOCT. VI. If we [thus] believe and trust in God, He will enable us to Answer, both the Demands of our Creditors, and the Necessities of our Families: We shall have wherewith to Live Honestly, and Comfortably.
- DOCT. VII. Such as are Distressed by reason of Debt, are Objects of Pity and Charity; and Good People will Compassionate their Condition, and Consider what may be done for them.
To Each, in Order.
I. DOCT. That it is a sad and lamentable thing to be deeply in Debt.
[Page 8] It is so Represented by God, and found so to be, by Men.
1. The Word of God sets it forth as a sad thing to be in Debt. Men of Broken Fortunes, are Men of Restless Spirits; put to their Shifts, and not knowing what to do: 1 Sam 22.2. And every one that was in Debt, and every one that was Discontented gather themselves unto him; and be became a Captain over them: And there were with him about four hundred Men. 'Tis to be fear'd, These did not at first follow David, because he was a Man after Gods own heart: but as an Enteprizing Souldier, and Self banished Wanderer; One whose Case appeared Desperate; A sit Leader, as they thought, for Desperate Debtors. And they were willing to go seek their Fortune with him in the howling Wilderness, on desolate Mountains; in Dens and Caves of the Earth, and among wild Beasts, tho' they [Page 9]knew also that the W [...]ath of the King would pursue them: For they feared no Man no [...] Beast, so much as their angry [...]re [...]tors. In that Parable also of a certain King, (Mat. 18.23—) Who would take account of his Servants; does our LORD set forth the sad P [...]exities, and woful Consequents or being in Debt; For, When he had began [...]o Reckon, one was brought unto him which ought him ten thousand Talents. But for as much as he had not to Pay, his Lord commanded him to be Sold, and his Wife and Children and all that he had, and Payment to be made. The Servant therefore fell down and Worshipped him, Saying, Lord, have Patience with me, and I will Pay thee all.— Here we have one Debtor in a lamentable Plight; and, Presently, an other in a worse; for the Creditor laid hands on him, and took him by the Throat, Saying, Pay me what thou owest.— Nor could this miserable [Page 10] Debtor, tho' it was no great matter he Owed, find the least Compassion, or prevail for an Hours For bearance; but to Prison he must! and lie in Goal till Payment be made! Then, in the last Place (For not being concerned, here, with the main Scope of the Parable, I consider not the Connexion: I say, in the third and last Place) the Case of the Debtor is most Forlorn:— He is delivered to the Tormentors,— v. 34.
And thus, both in the Old Testament and the New, is the Case of a Debtor Represented as sad and lamentable, by God Himself; who also, frequently calls the worst thing in the World, by this Name; even our Sin, Forgive us our Debts, Mat. 6.12.
2. Such as are deeply in Debt, do feelingly La [...]ent the sadness of their Case. They must needs do so, unless they are [...]oast feeling. What [Page 11]their Self-bemoaning Complaints are, when they sit or walk alone; or as they lie musing on their Beds, we can't tell: Nor do we hear the Words of their Mind, when they talk with themselves, in a Multitude of short Parentheses, which interrupt not the sense of their daily Converse, in Conversation, at Home and Abroad. But, to their Familiars, they must, some times, ease their burdened Spirits: and from others they cannot always hide the Perturbations that are within.
He did not express his own Sentiments only, whom I have heard thus bewailing his Case; ‘How happy should I think my self, (said the Good Gentleman) were I in the Case of the Plainest Mechanick, or Day-labourer, that eats his own Bread, having Sweated for it; and then sweetly falls a sleep on his Flock-Bed, or perhaps Straw-Bed, and awakes again [Page 12]at Liberty, fearing no Officers Approach, nor Creditors unanswerable Demands: While I am perplexed, cruciated and distracted, on the Wreck of my own Tumultuary Thoughts.’
3. The Fore-cast and Circumspection of Others to shun this Infelicity; together with the Self-denial they Practice, and the hard Shifts they make to keep themselves clear of Debts and Bonds; is a further Evidence that this Doctrine is True: So that without so much as naming the many Temptations that accompany, and the long Train of sad Consequents that follow this Pernicious Guest, once Admitted and Entertained in our House. I pass to the Application.
I. USE. To be Out of Debt then is Matter of Thankfulness. In that,
1. This Freedom is, in it self, a Rich Enjoyment of Life, and attended with many Advantages. Tho' a [Page 13]Man has but a Competency, necessary Food and Raiment, plain and homely fare, but still his own; 'tis Comfortable; 'tis Honourable. And when, by the Blessing of God on the Diligence of his Hand, and Frugal Management, (For his God doth Instruct him how to order his Affairs with Discretion) he has something to spare, he can give of his Own to the Poor; whiles such as are deeply in Debt, and with-hold from the Creditor his Due, can but give away another Mans Goods without his leave; so not, therein, Lend to the Lord, who hates Robber [...] for an Offering: But will Repay the truly Charitable; and make him still more and more able to do Good in his Generation; which is the most Desirable thing in the World: I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice. Yea, the Disentangled Christian is at Liberty for both; He can also Wait on the Lord without Distraction, [Page 14]in the Publick and Private Duties of Religion; and in his Patience Possess his Soul.
2. These and all the other happy Fruits of this Exempt Case, are owing to the Lord, in continual Returns of Gratitude. For, is it not the Lord who gives all, and secures what He gives; stops up the Leaks in our Estates, and preserves us, not only from Ill-handling by others; but ev'n from the Ill-husbandry of our own Hands: who also Exempts us from Impoverishing Afflictions, or pays all Charges, and makes up our Losses. Now, all Thanks are owing to God for this; and if we Sacrifice to our own Nets, with-holding from the Lord His Due; How soon may we put Him upon Recovering His Glory by Distraint and making us to know the worth of such a Favour, by the want of it.
[Page 15] II. USE. By way of Cautionary Direction; Particularly to Young Beginners in the World: That they carefully shun a thing so sad and lamentable.
1. Shun, therefore, Bad Company and Idleness. Company-keeping will both Morally and Efficiently, Meritoriously and Effectually Undoe you, Much Time slips away in Ill Company, wherein nothing is gotten, and much is also spent; the Gains of what time has been profitably improved: A Mans business, the mean while, suffering not a little, for want of his Eye as well as Hand: And many a Rash thing done, when the Brain is heated, and the Heart made foolish: The Soul and Gods Glory all the while neglected, & much Sin committed; and so, impoverishing Judgements & blasting Strokes Procured: For God has not only foretold Vain Company-keepers what such [Page 16]a Course will bring them to; but also threatned what He will bring upon them. Prov. 6.6,—11. Go to the Ant, thou sluggard, confider her wayes, and be wise; which having no guide, overseer or ruler, provideth her meat in the Summer.— How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise—? Yet a little sleep, a littl [...] slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So shall thy Poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. Certainly, tho' sometimes, slowly, and alwayes irresistibly. Be not among Wine-bibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh. For the Drunkard & the Glutton shall come to Poverty, and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags, Prov. 23.20, 21. Chap. 28.19. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. Now the Event shall make appear which shall stand; the Word of God or the idle Companykeepers vain Hope.
[Page 17] 2. Proportion your Expences, to your Ability; Your layings Out, to your Incomes. Cut your Coat according to your Cloth: You must not make a Delicate Appetite, an ambitious Mind, or others Example (who have great Estates, or little Prudence, and less Conscience) the Rule, by which to measure your Garb, and House-keeping. No Man should desire to seem Richer or more Honourable than he really is; nor lavish out for the Present, What, hereafter, he shall wish, in his Necessities, he had reserved for his Relief. It's safest to under do: Store is no sore. Losses, Disappoinments, & Sickness may come; or Charges, otherwise grow on the Family. Be therefore very Frugal: Get what may be gotten; Save what may be sav'd: Gather up the Fragments which remain, that nothing be lost, Joh. 6.12. Mind that Word,— That Nothing [Page 18]be Lost. There is more in it than many ever did well consider. It is the Word of Him that shall Judge us all; and the Word by which the Wastful Person & Spendthrifts shall be Judged and Condemned: Joh. 12.48.—The Words that I have spoken shall Judge him in the last Day.
3. Depend not on Probable Gains or Increase, as if they were Certain: Say not, My Trade will bring me in so much a Week, and that is so much a Year; for thou mayest be taken off by Sickness to Morrow, or Lameness the next Day, or on the Third, by Distraction, Temptation, Corporal Blindness; or any one of a Thousand other wayes, in which Purposes are broken off. Sum not up, then, your Winters Work before the Spring. Reckon not on full Barns at Harvest, as soon as thou hast emptied thy Sacks in the Field. Leave also the Gain [Page 19]of thy Merchandize to the Disposal of Providence: Then you will in Purchasing, Building, &c. consider what you have in Hand (or as Good as in Possession) not what you have only in Hope; and so, rather keep within Bounds, then venture to the utmost Verge of your Ability: This is to sit down, and count the Cost, Luke 14.28.
III. USE. Is it sad! sad! to be in Mans Debt, and owe a little Money? What is it then, to be in GOD's Debt, and exposed to the Arrest of Divine Justice for the Millions of Millions that you Owe your Great Creditor, into whose Revenging hands you have forfeited your Lives and Souls; Yea, being Unbelievers, you are Cast and Condemned already, Joh. 3.18. And, This Night may thy Soul be required of thee: Then to Prison thou must go without Bail or Main Price. [Page 20]A Prison, where thou shalt not live on Bread and Water; but eat Fire and Brimstone; and drink the Dreggs of Divine Wrath and Fury without any Goal Delivery, or so much as the Remotest Hope thereof, Math. 5.25. For Ten hundred thousand Years Duration, twice told, cannot lessen the Debt one Farthing. In Pecuniary Debts, the Creditor can't come on a Man's Person after he is Dead: But He that has the Power of Death, which is the Devil and Satan, is Gods Goaler to seise and clap up in Prison such as die in Gods Debt. A Debtor may possibly, defraud his Creditor, abscond from Justice, or Bribe Injustice to Protect him; and, if nothing else will do, he can fly his Country; and may, Perhaps, get abundance of Riches in an other Land: But, Whither shall the Sinner fly from Gods Presence; or whom shall he get to Protect him from [Page 21]the Wrath of the Almighty? Thus having Prov'd it to be a Sad and Lamentable thing for a Man to be Deeply in Debt; and improved the first Doctrine both Temporally, and to this Spiritual Use; I Pass to the Second.
II. DOCT. Tho' it be a sad & lamentable thing to be in Debt; yet is it, sometimes, the very Case of such as Fear GOD.
This comes to pass thro' Divine Providence, and Humane Imprudence.
1. By the Providence of GOD; all whose Wayes and Works, as well as Word and Law, are Holy, Just and Good. The Supream Being Acts by Uncontroulable Prerogative; and in Unaccountable Soveraignty: But He is our Father, and, as Wisdom Directs, so Love is at the Bottom of all; and shall appear [Page 22]in the End. This Evil in the City, or Country, is of the Lord; by Impoverishing, Publick Calamities; or more particular Affictive Dispensations: Burnings, Ship arecks, and Debts, Cross Accidents; Disappointments, a thousand wayes, And, if any of Gods Co [...]ldren are Heirs to Estate; Involved, by the In prudent Management of their Predocessors, thro' Excessive he [...] cies, to be Paid; or otherwise, howsoever Entangled; this also is by the Providence of Gods
[...].
2. This Evil is not only and altogether of the Lord. His Providence is Sportless; but our Improvidence is not so: We are, often-times, the Faulty Gauses of our Miserable Entanglements. Good honest People are not alwayes Wise for this World, Luke 16. 8. They have neither skill to manage Business, nor Fore-sight-to prevent Damages: [Page 23]Are Credulous and Unwary: Meaning so honestly themselves and Speaking the Uprightness of their Hearts; they think this Man means as he says; that will be as good as his Word; and a third, that has Advantage against them, will never be so Barbarous as to improve it to their Ruine. They make losing Bargains: and, from misguided Compassion, or Overperswasion, are, perhaps, betrayed into Ruinous Sur [...]tiship: Prov. 2 [...].26, 27. Be not thou one of them that strike bands, or of them that are Su [...] ties for Debes. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should be take away thy Bed from under thee.
Now the Point, thus briefly Confirmed and Illustrated, is Improveable both for Caution &c Consolation.
[Page 24] 1. USE. For double Caution: That we neither Asperse the Providence of God; nor Rashly Censure our Neighbour.
1. We may not Presently Conclude our Neighbour either Deserted of God, or guilty in himself, because we see him Behind-hand in the World, fallen into Decay; in Debt and Insolvent: Remembring that this was the very Case of One that feared God above many, and was Noted for his Piety; ev'n this Son of the Prophets, and Child of God.
Are not the Circumstances of some Persons Peculiar?. They have more Chargeable Families, and yet a less Profitable Calling then many others; at least, their Trading brings them in but small Gains: and, Perhaps, they never had the Advantage of being before-hand, or so much as clear of Debt, to keep so. It's much easier to [Page 25]keep ones standing on this World of Glass & in these slippery Times; then, having lost Foot-hold, to get fixed; or being slidden clown the Hill, to get up again: 'Tis so in Temporals, as well as in Spirituals.
2. Yet must we not lay all on Providence; that so we may conceal, excuse or extenuate our own Imprudence: Imprudence, [...], and Negligence too, if not Extravagance, is sometimes to be charged home on a Man's Self; tho' he be otherwise Godly, in the Main.
II. USE. For Consolation to such as fear God; however Involved by His Providence, and their own Imprudence; or want of greater Frugality; which for the Future (we promise our selves) shall be mended. The Temptation, truly is Exercising, for the Present; Yet, why should you be Dejected?
Seeing,
[Page 26] 1. You have no other Spot, but that of Gods Children: Yea, How can you forbear Rejoycing?
Knowing,
2. That your Spiritual Debts, to the Law of Works, are all Paid by the Surety of a better Covenant; and you Owe not one Farthing to Revenging Justice. There is still a Debt of Gratitude; but Christ our Universal Sponsor, stands bound for the Discharge of that also. And, Who, now, shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? It is God that Justifyeth: Who is he that Condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea rather that is risen again; who is even at the Right Hand of God; who also maketh Intercession for us, Rom. 8.33, 34. Does the World accuse? Does Conscience accuse? Does Satan accuse; Yea; Does the Righteous Law, or Divine Justice it self accuse? Your Answer is Ready: Tis but turning to Christ [Page 27]and saying in Faith; But, Thou shalt Answer, LORD, for me.
There is yet another Word of Consolation, for Poor Debtors; It is this: 3. That seeing God brings His Own into Debt; doubtless there is good to be gotten by such a Dispensation of Providence.
In general; Its one of the Wayes by which God will Humble His People, and Prove them, that He may do them Good in their Latter End. This Thorny Way proves a Right Way to some, unto the Heavenly Canaan: Gods choice makes it so; for it is not a thing by us to be chosen. This, as well as other Thornes and Troubles in the Flesh, is Useful more wayes than One; but especially to Wean us from this Cursed World! Before Sin entered, it was a Blessed World! but since God Cursed the Ground for Adams Sin (ours in him) it has [Page 28]brought forth these, as well as every other Sort of Entangling and Pricking Briars and Thorns. Yet this is our Comfort; that we shall, not only get safe through all in a little time; but also get some Saving, and therefore Lasting Good, by them. If all things, then this sad thing shall work together for good to such as love God, being Called according to his Purpose. And these Spiritual Comforts are better than Silver or Gold; tho' they will not Pay our Pecuniary Debts; which yet, Must be Paid.
III. DOCT. Debts must be Paid tho' All go for it.
If all a Man has will Answer his Debts, he must be willing to dispose of it, to the best Advantage, for the Discharge of them, on the Demand of his Creditors. This is Abundantly Evident, both [Page 29]from Scripture and Reason: Rom. 13.6, 7, 8. — You Pay Tribute, because it is a due Debt. But this is to Rulers; therefore the Apostle adds; Render to all their Dues, v. 7. Even the whole of what is due; to this Creditor and that; one part after an other, till we Owe nothing to any Man, v. 8. Owe no Man any thing, but to love one another. Indeed Love can never be all Paid: We owe nevertheless to our Neighbour for what we have Paid him. Nor can I Love my Neighbour as my self; or do unto my Creditor as I would have my Debtor do unto me if I neglect to Pay my Debts; or Pay but some of them, and but partly Pay them; nor that in Season: For I my self would be Paid both in full, and in Season. The Rule I have mentioned is founded in Natural Reason: 'Tis one half of the Moral Law: Most Evident to the Light of Nature: So that if [Page 30]I were Reading a Lecture of Meral Philosophy, in a School of Ethnicks, I must needs gain this Self-evident Point on their Consciences. But if it needs further Sanction from the Gospel, Christ has not been wanting to Enforce it: Mat. 7.12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets. And truly, if the Laws of this Province are the Result of Reason & Wisdom, as well as Power and Authority, in our Councillors and other Legislators; then it follows from the Law-Book (not only from the Book of the Law and Gospel). That every Man ought Voluntarily to Pay his Debts; which else those Laws will Exact of him.
It may be further Argued; If it be our Duty readily to Lend, freely to Give away, and to help Others out of Debt (as in some [Page 31]Cases, it is, Deut. 15.7. Mat. 5.42. E [...]b. 4.28.) Then, no doubt, it is our Duty to Pay where we Owe, and Discharge our own Debts. Again; If Borrowing of our Neighbour (as the Empty Vessels, in our Text were borrowed) only for present use, we are obliged, in Justice as well as Gratitude, to Return what we have so Borrowed; because, tho' we had a [...]ight given as of using yet the right and property of the thing is still in the Lender: Hence it follows that we are equally bound to Pay what we have Ingaged; because the Sum or Matter of the Ingagement is really his, whose Debtor we are. If, in Bargains of Exchange (suppose it to be one Horse for another) we should be at willing to Deliver as Receive: Then Dobts by Book or Bond, to the Merchant, Trades man, Farmer, &c. are to be as chearfully Discharged to Indemnifie [Page 32]the Creditor as they were Contracted voluntarily, to our own (at leaft supposed) Advantage. Yet again; (for we are dull of learning so Plain a Lesson, not loving this Debt-Book; and must have Line upon Line:) If, having taken away what is another Mans, without his leave, Restitution must be made, or there is no Remission; then must we not detain another Mans Due, which is his in Right, as much as what he has in Possession. The Argument holds equally, in Case of a Pledge, or any thing whatsoever of our Neighbours, lawfully sallen into our Hands. I will add but two or three supposed Cases more in my Homely way, and such as are still Granted on all Hands, further to Confirm or Illustrate this Self-evident Truth, That Debts are Due; or, That Men are bound to Pay all their Debts. If, having Money in [Page 33]our hands, we are bound to Pay our Ferriage, our Entertainment on the Road, or what we otherwise take up, and where we Owe; then having Monies worth, House, Land, Stock, Goods, we are a-like bound (as this Widow was directed) to Sell, that we may Pay our Debts: And, (to have done with this Tedious, if not Needless Argumentation) If we Grant that any Part, (suppose a Quarter, or one Half) of what we Owe, should be Paid, on the Terms fore-mentioned; We cannot deny the Equity or Necessity of Discharging the whole: because the other three Quarters or last Half is as Due as the First. In short; Either a Debt is not Due, than which nothing can be more absurd, or it ought to be Paid; and if ever, why not then when it comes to be as Due as ever it can be? viz. In Debts by Bonds, or Equivalent Bargains at the Day [Page 34]Prefixed; and in Book Debts once in Three, Six, or Twelve Months; according to Agreement, the allowed Custom of Places, or Dealers, and according to the Golden Rule, first mention'd, of Doing as we would be done unto; and not Dealing as we would not be Dealt by: For the Rule holds both Affirmatively and Negatively; and is Applicable to Time as well as Thing. †
I. USE. Hence, Such as being deeply in Debt tho' not Insolvent, have been at their Wits End, not knowing which way in the World, at once to Answer the Demands of their Creditors, Conscience, and Family; are Instructed in their Duty; the Rule whereof, I will suppose them, on the hardest Terms, willing to comply with. Could they know what God would have them to do, would they not do it; tho' it were to Sell themselves [Page 35]out of House & Home? Yes: For they have a good Conscience, willing to live Honestly. And is it not Evident from what you have heard, That Debts must be Paid tho' All go for it: If all a man has will Answer his Debts, he must be willing to Dispose of it, to the best Advantage, for the Discharge of them; on the Creditors Demand. Sell all, to the very Clothes on their Back; which no Creditor will be so Barbarous as to strip them of: Yet, how they can keep their Chargeable Suite of Apparel, and lie in Debt from Year to Year, to the great wrong of their Creditors without the Injustice, & ev'n Beggary of wearing other Folks Clothes without their leave, is not very easy to be Understood.
Obj. If this Doctrine be put in Practice, we must come to Beggary, sure enough.
Ans. If God, in His Providence, [Page 36]has thus brought you; or if you, by Extravagance or imprudence have brought your selves to Poverty, Poor you must contentedly be, 'till the Blessing of God on your Diligence Enrich you. Some would fain be Rich whom God would have to be Poor; or, it may be, sees it beft & safest for them so to be: Its no Sin to be Poor; but to lie in Debt, is a Sin. Others would seem Rich, that are worth nothing: Let things, I beseech you, be as God would have them, and appear as they are. Why may not such as have nothing run Scores or Hundreds in Debt, to make a fair shew and flourish, for a while, with as much Honesty as you would fain still keep up your Port with what is. [...]ure, another Man's. Or why shall I not trust Providence for my [...] Br [...]d after I have given every [...]san his own, tho I should then have nothing left; as well [Page 37]as those who never had any thing before hand; yet committing themselves to God, in the way of well-doing, Verily they Live, and are Fed, Psal. 37.3. If you cant live at their Rate, and if it be not fit you should; God can Provide for you, according as the necessity of your Case shall Require; yea, He is Good & will do it: Nor shall you forfeit His Mercy by doing Justly. The greater Hazard you seem to run, for Conscience sake; the more you ingage His Goodness & Faithfulness. Would to God that I could prevail with you to make the Trial!
II. USE. What we've heard sharply Rebukes such as are well able to Pay their Debt, & [...] altogether negligent, at least, if not abstina [...]e [...] Refusing: This is dreadfully aggravated when they are Poor honest Labourers that are thus Defrauded and Oppressed [Page 38]pressed by the Rich: Jam. 5.4. Behold, the Hire of the Labourers—which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries—are entered into the Ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
III. USE. Lastly; What has been said Condem [...]eth, and may well Terrisie such as make haste to get into Debt, but take no due care to Pay what they Owe: Inftead thereof, they run further & further in; till, at length, they grow Desperate; And their Consciences, I fear, are seared, as with an hot Iron. If they have any Convictions, at any time, they know how to Drown them, by op'ning the sluce of their Throat, & letting in a Flood of Strong-drink. May not such, amidst their ill doings, do well to Pause a little, and consider these two Things.
1. Whether Satan has not a Design upon them, to Ruine their Souls; while they are Ruining [Page 39]their own Bodies, & Credit, Eftates and Families. Be sure the Devil has much Advantage upon them ev'ry way. I know but of two sorts of Men in the Gospel World, that are more past Recovery than some of these last Described; and they are Blasphemers against the Holy Ghost, and Hereticks; for the former of which we must not knowingly Pray, and the latter, being given up to strong Delusins to believe a Lie, Sin out of Conscience. But now, as for these Desperate Wretches, with whom, in this last Use, I have to do; How has the Fowler of Hell wound, and wound, and wound them in his net, which encompasseth them with a seven-fold inclosure: If they think at any time of getting loose, it seems, ev'n to themselves impossible: The Truth is, they can't endure to Consider the Matter: And yet, if they would Consider but this one thing [Page 40]more, there might be Hope for them: viz.
2. Whether, if they go on thus to wrong their Bodies and Souls, Themselves & Families; their Creditors, their Country, their Profession & their God; whether, I say, they shall not have a sad Reckoning shortly, to make up with their Great Creditor, & His Book keeper, their own Conscience. The Merchant has a Book, the Shop-keeper has a Book, the Tradesman has a Book; wherein all they take up, & call or send for, is placed to their Accompt: And, are there not as many Books to be Op'ned at the Last Day? Conscience Writes in order to Witnessing; GOD Writes in order to Judgment: and does not Satan too Write, in order to Accusation? Methinks whiles God is thus Reasoning with thee out of His Word, of Unrighteousness, Intemperance, and Judgment to come [Page 41]your Stout Hearts should tremble: And if Conscience be indeed touched, never expect a more Convenient Season to call for these & such like Considerations: However, I must have done with them for this Time; leaving them, and such as they may most nearly concern, unto God and their own Conscience, while, I Pass to the Fourth Doctrine.
IV. DOCT. That God can help His People out of Debt, altho' they should owe more than they are worth.
Whether we consider it as an Act of Power, or as an Act of Bounty, God [can] do it: He can both find in His Heart to do it, and He can find a Way to do it. The Lords Hand is not shortned, nor His A [...]m weary: He can work Marvellously, Miraculously, now as well as for His Church & Children of Old; Particularly for the Poor [Page 42] D [...]btor, who Cries to Him for Help. He can take from His Rich Enemies, and give to His Indigent Children; Or incline His People to help one another. The Hearts of Rich Creditors are in His Hand; and they shall, when soever He is pleased to Move on their Hearts, Remit a part, or the whole of the Debt, to such honest Debtors as by His Providence are fallen into Decay, and become Insolvent; Or at leaft, by putting so plain and ingenuous an Acknowledgment into the Debtors Mouth, when he has touched his Conscience, and is sending him to make his humble Submission, as shall melt the Compassionate Heart of his Creditor, and procure a little longer forbearance, till all possible, goodmeans are further used, with more fervent Supplications for a Blessing. The Lord can order Unexpected Accessions to our Estate, in the Revolutions [Page 43]volutions of his Common Providence; or, by a special Blessing, increase our Little to Great Substance. You may think of other Wayes, not reducible to any of the Heads above hinted: And God has still other Wayes innumerable, unimmaginable; for in Wisdom as well as Bounty, not only in Spirituals, but in Temporals also, can He do exceeding abundantly above what we can ask or think.
I. USE. If this Doctrine be True, 'tis worthy of Credit: If it be from Heav'n, why should we not believe it?
Obj. We Question not either His Power or Wisdom; but the Purpose of His Will. He can help us out of Debt; but whether He be willing to do it, is Uncertain.
Ans. And is it so easy a thing to believe the Alsufficiency of GOD! We may, more easily be deceived in our selves, about our Faith. What [Page 44]did the Doubting Israelites say, (and are not we their Natural Brethren in Unbelief?) Psal. 78.19 Can God furnish a Table in the [Wilderness?] When they were in Egypt they had not call'd it in Question; And when they should get into the Plentiful Land of Canaan, they Question [...]d not but they should be Provided for: But, Can God furnish a Table (with Bread and F [...]esh) in the Welderness? If we Question not the Power of God; How is it that when Means seem to Fail, our Hearts & Hopes sail too? As if Omnipotence could not do as much for us by small, as greater Means; and work as well without as with Means; yea, quite above and contrary to Means. If thou canst believe, said Christ to One who requested of him to Help, if He could, Mark 9.22, 23. After this Example then (for so far the Father of the Dumb Child was right) [Page 45]let us Weep for our Unbelief, and cry first to have Help there; and then it shall be to us according to our Faith.
But you confess that you Doubt of Gods Willingness to help you out of Debt; and what Reason for that? Is not God your Father? And has not His Christ put an Argument into your Mouth, wherewith to Plead with Him? Mat. 7.11. If ye, being Evil, know how to give good Gifts to your Children; how much more shall your Heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him. But more of this under the next Doctrine. I shall only add here; that He has once helped you out of Debt, when you owed more than all this Visible World is worth, and had not one Farthing to Pay; and that in a way that no Man or Angel cou'd have tho't of; at a Price which a Thousand Worlds could not Equal, in Condescentions Unparallel'd, [Page 46]and infinitely above all Comparison; and all unasked: Now, having given us Christ; How shall be not with him also freely give us all things? Rom. 8.32. For ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that tho' he was Rich, yet, for your s [...]kes, he became Poor, that ye, thro' his Poverty, might he Rich. And after all this, can we Question His Readiness to Help us in our Temporal Straits? Did He Empty His Treasures, and go to Prison for us; and give his Back to the Smiters, and endure Hell-Torment, in His Conscience, for us: and can He, after all, deny that Relief we need; which is as easy to Him as a words Speaking, or the turn of a Hand.
II. USE. This Doctrine, Spi [...]itualized, may yield some Relief [...]o Distressed Consciences; Convinced of Sin, and having their Spiritual Debts set in order before them, not knowing, [Page 47]for the Present, but Divine Justice will take the Law of them: Guilt Binds them over to the Last Tribunal: They are condemned already, and foretold their Dcom, Mat. 25.41.—Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. They have tried every way of Escape, that they could think of; Evasions Excuses, Confession, Reformation Restitution, Abstinence, Strictness in Duty, Cries with Tears, for Mercy; yet no Relief: A dismal Prospect is before them of the Number and Aggravations of their Sins, the breadth and strictness of the Law, the black Horrors of Gods Prison, and the Judge Appearing Inexorable! Now here is what will effectually Salve all; God has laid help upon One who is Mighty to Save-Christ is able to Save to the Uttermost. It has pleased the Father that in him should [...]ll Ful [...]ss dwell. And him that [Page 48]comes unto him, he will in no wise cast out. He has Bottomless Treasures of Merit (Gold tried in the Fire) that are of no other Use to Him, but to Pay off believing Sinners Debts. So that unless thou Owest more than CHRIST is worth; thou haft nothing to Fear, tho' thou hast nothing to Pay; and nothing else to do, but to go to Christ as thy Surety and to the Father thro' Him, for a full Discharge: which, if thou finally Refusest to do Mercy [...]self cannot Save thee: But we Return to shew unto Literal and Temporal Debtors how the Lord is wont to Help out of Pecuniary Debts.
V. DOCT. We may not expect Help from GOD, but as we follow His Direction, in the Use of all Proper Means.
And,
1. We must do what we can, tho' it he never so little. But,
[Page 49] 2. If more can be done, in any Lawful and Expedient Way; we must not spare any Tho't, Pains, or Petience.
Reason 1. God does not Help in Spiritual Cases (where me [...] can do less) but by Means to be used by us: For, tho' He worketh in us to will and to do, of his good pleasure; yet must we Work out our own Salvation with Fear and Trembling.
Reas. 2. This also is His usual Way in all Temporal Cases, 1 Chron. 22.16, Arise therefore and be Doing, and the Lord be with thee. The Scriptures do abound with Examples to this Purpose, as much as in any one thing, that can readily be named. Jacob was industrious, and God blessed him. Do Good—and verily thou shalt be fed. Work with your Hands and ye shall be Supplied, and have where with to help others: Yea, and even in Miracles, that are Gods Work Peculiarly, Man must commonly do something, all that is [Page 50]within his compass: Lift up thy Rod: Speak to the Rock: Stretch forth thy hand over she Sea, and divide it: Prophesie to the Wind: Stretch forth thy [withered] hand. And when Christ had so many Thousand to feed and fill by Miracle; yet,— Bring me the five loaves and two fishes. So in the Instance of our Text; God does not make Money of the Stones, or Monies worth of Nothing; but increaseth the Pot of Oyl, which the Poor Debtor had in the House; and she and her Sons must be busily employed, in doing all that can be done by them. Then, lastly, to the very Case of Approving our selves honest in Paying our Debts: See 1 Thes. 4.11, 12.—Do your own Business— work with your hands (as we commanded you) that ye may walk bonestly— and have back of nothing.
Reas. 3. Otherwise God should seem to indulge Negligence when He requires [Page 51]Diligence; and so be Divided against Himself. It is the Diligent Hand that gathers in, because its works are blessed: Nor has the Blessing of God (tho' His Common Providence may) ever enriched, either the folded hand; or the hand stretched out in Deceit and Oppression.
And now, (not any further, and more Particularly to add, how it's most for Gods Glory, and Mans Good, we should help our selves, that God may help us) Before I Improve this, I would Doctrinally speak also to the next Point; and then Apply them together.
VI. DOCT. If we [thus] Believe and Trust in God, we shall not only live Honestly, but Comfortably: He will enable us to Answer both the Demands of our Creditors, and Necessities of our Families.
As in the Widows Case Related [Page 52]in the Text: She believed in the Lord, so her heart was quieted. She Believed His Prophet, and the works of her hands were prospered to Astonishment.
If we should, a little more Particularly, Review so wonderful an Example, Written afore-time for our Admonition, and Incouragement in these hard Times, it might contribute something toward the Illustration of the Truth in hand, and facilitate our Receiving of it.
It may help our Unbelief, to consider,
1. What this Pattern for Debtors did Not do. [...] did not Fret against God, who had smitten her good Husband by Death, and threatned her poor Fatherless Children with Bonds, who should have been the Comfort of her Solitude, and Support of her Age; and her self, to be left, for all what, at first view, appeared, not only a Widow and [Page 53]Childless, but Moneyless, & Friendless: yet we hear not [...] a Murmuring Word [...] proceed out of her Mouth; no, nor does she utter any Railing Speeches against the Creditor, how hard so ever he was in prosecuting her. She denies not the Debt, nor Refuseth to Pay. She makes no flattering Promises to the Person, into whose Books she was gotten so deep, of what she was neither likely, nor careful to Perform: Nor does she take any indirect or unwarrantable course, to Evade or Discharge what was Due.
2. Consider & Mark well what she did. She did as the Man of God Directed her. She was willing to Pay her Debt; and willing to part with all her Living (Alluding to Mark 12.44.) if that would have done: Ready & willing to hear & Practice her Duty, in this hard and dubious Case: for no sooner is she put in [Page 54]a way to get out of Debt, but out she goes, and about she runs, and sends a b [...]rrowing, from one House to another, gathering together all the Empty Vessels that could be had in the Neighbourhood: Then, that she may not Deviate, in the least Point, from the Directions given her; She Shuts the Door upon her self and two Sons; ordering one of them to be ready with an Empty Vessel, while his Brother is carefully setting a-side the Full. Her self, all the while, ftouping to the work of Pouring out the Precious Liquor, from the springing Jarr, 'till not an Empty Vessel is left; nor does she stop where the Oyl stayed, but goes to the Prophet again, that she may know further what God would have her to do; and accordingly makes her Ma [...]ket, doubtless, as quick as she could, and to the best Advantage; that she might clear with the Creditor, and put her self [Page 55]with her Children in a way to earn an honest livelihood, for the Future.
Q. Who wou'd not do more than all this for balf her Gain?
A. If thou Believest, as this Woman did; it shall doubtless be to thee according to thy Faith. The Hints of your Duty, that have been already given, & the more full & thorough Direction to be added, are [your] way out of Debt, as the above-mentioned was hers: and tho' the Practical Part of yours be a longer and rougher way; yet the Theory is more [...]easy. 'Tis harder to believe that one shall pour Barrels of Oyl out of a small Pot or Jarr, than to believe that our Diligent Hand shall not wait in vain on the Lord for His Blessing; who is as much inclined by His Gracious Nature, and Self-obliged by His free Promise, to help His needy & distressed Suppliants & Dependents, now, as ever, Nor should Miracles ever [Page 56]have ceased, in the Church, if ordinary Means, with some-times an Extraordinary Blessing, must needs have been Deficient.
How can we imagine the Father of Mercies Unwilling to make His Children easy & comfortable? Or that He will fail to deliver them out of Temptation, when that which they are chiefly concerned for, ev'n in this very Matter, is His Glory: They could bear Poverty contentedly, if they had where-with to live Honestly. Whilst they Plead God's Honour, & Religious Cause, which suffer by reason of their Inability to Render unto all their Dues; surely He will Regard and not despise their Prayer; for, He cannot deny Himself. Yea, He wou'd have us to know that besides the many Promises He has made; even our Confidence in him does as it were bring Him under further Obligations: 1 Chron. 5.20.—They [Page 57]cryed to God—and be was intreated of them, because they put their trust in Him. He shall help and deliver them —because they trust in him. E [...]n Generous Men will say, Such an one Depends on me for Succour and Supply; and I must not frustrate his Expectations: Now, shall Men, who are Evil, and when they are not obliged by any near Relation or express Promise, thus express themselves; and can the Fountain of all Goodness, whose begotten and beloved Children we are, at once forget to be Gracious, Fatherly and True? No, we shall find that it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in Man:—Better to trust in the Lord than to put confilence in Princes, Psal. 118.8, 9. Who often cast off their Dependants: Be sure they can give no such Security as God has done, that He will never leave us nor forsake us, Heb. 13.5. Yet, [Page 58]because we are apt to Stagger at the Promise thro' the weakness of our Faith, the Lord is pleased to confirm it by a Solemn Asseveration. Jer. 39.18. I will surely deliver thee—because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye ask the Father, in my Name, He will give it you—For the Father Himself loveth you. Joh. 16 23, 27. And may we not ask this very thing of the Father in Christ's Name, that a way may be found for the Discharge of our Debts, and Supply of our Wants? Then we may not Pray for [our] Daily Bread; for we can scarce eat our own Bread, till we have given every Man his own. And can a Father deny his Children Bread, when he has it by him? If that could be supposed, and more; even that the Tender Compassions of a Mother towards her sucking Child, the Son of her Womb, [Page 59]should fall; yet may we be sure of obtaining from the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, what we ask in His Name, by the Spirit of Adoption; especially when we enforce our Suit by the Double Plea of what Christ at our Surety, has Done and Suffered for the Glory of God; and what God has already done in our Favour, for His Dear Sons Sake.
1. The Son of God, Assuming our Nature, and acting in our stead has brought Immeasurable and F [...]erbesting Revenues of Riches, Honour und Glory to the Crown of Heaven. And as the Consideration of this may prevail with our backward Hear [...] to Believe, so we shall more certainly prevail with God for further Mercy, for these smaller Temporal Favours which He knows we need, and can so very easily give; while we urge,
2. That seeing He hath, on Christs [Page 60]Account, delivered us from going down to the Pit, and made us Heirs to an Eternal Inheritance; Pardoned Million of Sins, (so many of them Capital Crimes) and clothed as with a perfect Righteousness: In a Word, Crossed His Book of Accompts with us, and op'ned His Spiritual Stores unto us; seeing He has done all this; and will give us Heav'n in Possession, a few Dayes hence; surely He cannot deny His helping Hand to deliver us out of Debt, and put us in a way to live Honestly and Comfortably. But still I must suppose that you take the Precaution of the foregoing Doctrine with these Sweets; Not expecting Help of the Lord, but as you follow His Direction in the use of all proper Means. And now the way is open to a Fruitful Application of both together.
I. USE. Hence we find the Cause why some Persons lye in Debt, and [Page 61]get out, tho' they feel the misery of their lamentable case, and ev'n envy the Felicity of such as have kept themselves clear.
1. Either, God is carrying on a Controversy with them, for some known or unknown Sin; lived in, or unrepented of, and which, it may be, they can't bear to be told of. 2 Chron. 24.20. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Zechariah, the Son of Jehoidah, the Priest, which stood above the People, and said unto them; Thus saith GOD, Why transgress ye the Commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot Prosper? Because ye have forsaken the Lord, He hath also forsaken you. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones.—If, I regard Iniquity in my Heart, the Lord will not hear me. Psal. 66.18. Now, if neither your Prayers are heard, nor your Endeavours prospered, till you have searched out and removed the ground of Gods Controversy with [Page 62]you; no wonder that all your strugling sinks you the deeper into these Quick-sand: Beg of God, then, to shew you wherefore he contendeth with you; & having found out the Achan that has troubled your House, disturbed your Peace, and turned the Friendly Providence of God to fight against you; let Execution be done.—Get thee up, (saith the Lord to Joshua, when he was in humble Prostration, and fervent Importunity, making suit for Israels Prosperity) Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy Face, Israel hath sinned— Josh. 7.10, 11. Or else,
2. They trust in their own Wisdom, Providence and Diligence; not duly Relying on the Lord, in the way of Duty and Endeavour. Not needing any Directions from the Pulpit, for their Conduct in their Secular Business; which they understand better than any body can tell them: As if Second-Table-Duties were beyond the Minister's Line.
[Page 63] 3 Or, Perhaps (on the quite contrary) they Presume on the Help of Divine Providence, some way or other, to deliver them; tho' they neglect proper Means, or, at least, are not thorough in the use of them: Which leads to another Use.
II. USE. For Direction to Debtors; in Relation to their Duty towards God, their Creditors, themselves, and their Families.
The first Head of Directions may Reser, more immediately to God. And,
Dir. 1. As your being thus Entangled is a Penal Evil, you must Acknowledge and submit to the Aflicting Hand of God therein. Amos 3.6. Remembring that you are Indebted to His Mercy, that it is no worse; and more still, for any Hope, that it shall be better; most of all for that He has (so would we sain Hope) given you an Heart, bent to Discharge [Page 64]Duty, in this sad Case, to God and man, to your selves and Families; be the issue what it will; and I am sure it can't but be well. If thou dost well, shalt thou not be accepted?
Dir. 2. Give God the glory of His Power and Riches, Rev. 5.12. As One Able to do exceeding abundantly above what we can either ask or think: and say; tho' I can't tell what He [will] do, as to my present, perplexed Circumstances; yet I know that he can do every thing: Is any thing too hard for God? Sometimes Faith, only in the Power of God, has been the Condition of Relief, Proposed and Accepted: Believe ye that I am able—If thou wilt thou canst make me clean, Mat. 8.2. Chap. 9.28. However, Give unto the Lord the Glory due unto his Name, for His Power and Alsufficiency.
Dir. 3. Refer the whole matter to His Wisdom & Goodness. You may be sure He can neither mistake your case, [Page 65]nor Hurt such as trust in Him, Jer. 25.6. Leave the Matter, I say, with the Lord; yet not with a cold Indifferency; for, Faith without Operation is Dead; as well as Presumptuous, when it wants Submission. Plead with God, and Fill your Mouth with Arguments. Plead your Covenant. Relation to Him, and His Gracious Promises to You: Plead the Interest of His Glory, and Religious Cause, which are concerned nearly. Tell the Lord, you desire to be at Liberty to Serve Him without Distraction, & to do Good in your Generation. But the best Plea of all, (as was hinted before) and the most Prevalent way in the World of arguing with God, is to Plead for Christ's Sake, urging both what our Surety, our near Kinsman has done for Golds Glory; and what God has been pleased already to do for us on Christ's Account.
[Page 66] The Second Head of Directions, Relates to your Creditors: To avoid Hard Censures, on the one Hand; and Soft Flatteries, on the other.
Dir 1. Censure not your Creditors too hardly, tho' they should, be somewhat severe upon you. Put your self into their Case: Would you not have your just Due? It may be your Case is indeed theirs: They are Debtors as well as you; and have Creditors as sharp on them:— However it is hard for them, and unreasonable in you, that they should be out of their Money from one Year to another: that they should not be allowed to do what they will with their own; and that you should live upon them, whether they will or no.
Dir. 2 Don't, by any means Flatter your Creditors with fair Promises, or plausible Pretences, of what you are either unable, or unwilling, and never likely to make good unto [...]h [...]m: This Deceit [Page 67]will but the more Exasperate them, when the Fallacy appears. But Resolve to Deal Honestly; at least, thus far; to tell them the plain Truth: Or, if you conceal any thing, which you are not obliged presently to Discover; let it be in order to that further Liberty, which you are resolved to improve for their Interest. In a word, be Honest, as far as your Estate will go; what ever comes of it.
Q. May I not keep my Estate in my Hands, and improve it, in order to the Gradual Discharge of my Debts?
A. 1. With the Creditors Allowance you may; having any tolerable Prospect of doing something to Purpose.
2. But you may not live and spend on your wasting Estate, which is not so much yours as his to whom you owe it. Much less may you be Ambitious of putting on State, as formerly, or as others; 'till at last you shall have nothing left. You must Pay [Page 68]while you can, & as much as you can, and as fast as you can; till you owe no man any thing but to love one another. For this Apostolical Injunction is one of the Fundamental Laws of the Blessed Jesus His Religion. And if you have nothing else left you, when all your Debts are Paid, but Charity to your Neighbour, and Hope for your self; and that only for the next Life; yet are you Rich and Happy, being out of Debt tho' out of Credit too. All the World can't Chear a Man, like. the Testimony of a good Conscience; Heb. 13 18—We trust we have a good Conscience, willing to live Honestly: And this was the Apostles rejoycing, 2 Cor. 1.12. A Peaceable & Quiet Life is the Effect of all Godliness & Honesty, 1 Tim. 2.2. And the Work of Righteuosness shall be Peace, and the Effect of Righteousness, Quietness & Assurance for ever, Isai. 32. V. 17.
[Page 69] Obj. But what shall they do who owe much, and have nothing to Pay?
A. They must Pay Submission, for the present, and promise more substantial Payment as soon as ever they shall be Able. In the mean time, they must willingly Fare hard, as well as Work hard; and Pray hard too; that they may be as Good as their Promise. But this brings us to, The Third and Last Head of Directions; which has more Direct Reference to our selves and Families.
Dir. 1. You would do well to Search and Try your Hearts and Ways, that you may Discover how far your Sins of Omission or Practice, Personally or Relativel, Considered have Efficiently and Meritoriously procured this Infelicity, this sad Perplexity, that now Distresseth you: Waiting on God, as Elihu Directs Poor Job, Ch. 34.31, 32. Surely tis meet to be said [Page 70]unto God, I have born Chactisement, I will not Offend any more, that which I see not teach thou me; if I have done Iniquity, I will do no more.
Therefore,
Dir. 2. Flatter not your selves with Vain Hopes of Disentangling your selves by any Unwarrantable Methods of Getting: Ezek. 22.12, 13—Thou hast Greedily Gained of thy Neighbour, by Extortion; and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. Behold therefore, I have smitten mine Hand at thy Disbonest Gain, which thou hast made,— Either, by the Blast of God, it shall Wither away, Job. 4.9 Hag. 1.9. Or, which is worse, it shall bring a Curse on what was otherwise given by Providence, and gotten by Honest Labour and Traffick: Yea, the Curse shall get into your very Bowels, and Burn as it were Fire. Who would run his Fingers into a Burning Crucible, for Gold; or buy Goods, how Cheap soever, that [Page 71]just come out of an House Infected with the Plague? There are many Ways of Dishonesty; Be Warned against them all: Venture not on any thing that is Dubious: But there is One Thing which, without Doubt, is a Breach of many Laws and Rules at Once, which I must therefore Warn you to Shun, by Resisting all Temptations to it, how Plausible and Urgent soever. And I will Borrow a Trumpet, because I have none so Shrill, or certain in Sound, as what I find Sounded by a Faithful Watchman; who, standing on the Walls of our Jerusalem, in the End of our former Wars, discovered and gave Solemn Warning of this Danger, in the following Words; ‘And when, alas, when will our Indian Traders Apply to themselves that Commination in Hab. 2 15. Wo to him that gives his Neighbour Drink; that puttest thy [Page 72]Bottle (thy Rhum-Bottle) to him, and makest him Drunken also. While there has been a most Observable Blessing of God on the Preachers of Truth to the Indians, all the World may Observe a Judgment of God upon the Sellers of Drink to the Indians. I pray, what have the Estates of such Men generally come to? Do; Trade on; ye Merchants of Souls, or more truly, ye Butchers of Souls; till the Judgments of God have caused you to Trade your selves into Beggary at the last! But know that the Blood of Souls will be found on your Skirts. It is not very long ago, that an unusual Accident in a Part of this Province did Affright the Neighbours into some Serious Thoughts of this Matter. Several Indigns were made horribly Drunk by the Drink which the English had Sold unto them. [Page 73]Returning home over a little Ferry, Eight of them were Drown'd; and Three Months after they were Drown'd (from December to March) one of their Dead Bodies came ashore, very near the Place, where they had been Supplied with their Drink; and lying on the Shore, it Bled so Plentifully, as to Discolour the Water and Sand aboutit. Upon which the Considerable Spectators tho't on that Scripture, The Stone shall cry out of the Wall, against him that gives his Neighbour Drink. They tho't there was a loud Cry of Blood! Blood! against some Wicked English in this Matter.’
May not the Cutler, as Warrantably Sell a Sword to a Mad-Man, or the Apothecary, Rats-Bane to a Poor Tempted Wretch, that he verily thinks, intends to Poyson himself, as for any to Sell Rhum to the Indians (or English [Page 74]either) when they may be sure they will Wrong their Bodies, their Souls and their God, with it.
Dir. 3. Being thus Resubved, that you will have nothing to do with plainly Sinful, or Questionable and Unsafe Methods of Deliverance; and to Practice according to the Seven Preceding Directions so far as you are convinced that they are according to the Word of God and Right Reason; tho' the common Practice of the Country be quite otherwise. I say, being [...]h [...] Fixed in your Reselution to [...] the Way of Duty (while others are either Sirting down in Despair, or using Carna. Policy) Perplex not your selves about Events; but wait for a Good Issus; Which, (1) May be much sooner than you oan easily Believo [...]. Or, (2) If at should be a longer time, you have present Peace, and the conain F [...]u [...] of Waiting will be Preciou & Lasting to your [...] and your. Yea [...] if you [Page 75]should Die in Debt, that can't shut you out of Heaven any more than it did one of the Sons of the Prophet [...], who left his Fatherless Children with God. And his Widow, by Trusting in the Lord, in the Way of Duty, got wherewith to Clear all, and live Woll. Yet such asleave their Families under a Load of Debt, Disproportionable to their Estates; know not what Trouble they Entail.
III. USE. What we have heard may give us some light in the Way of getting our Spiritual Debts Crossed out of God's Book.
1. As we cannot Deny, so we may not Excuse or Extenuate our Debts to God; but Acknowbedge. them to the Extent. How, First of all, we Sinned in the Garden, and thereby not only lost our Original Righteousness, but corrupted our whole Nature, & contracted Aversations from all that is Holy, Just & Good; and [Page 76]as Universal a Disposition to all Impiety and Iniquity: yea and both Heigtned too (which is dreadful to think of) because of the Divine Injunctions and Prohibitions Rom. 7.7.—14. And then, we must be as free and as full in Consessing of, and Contrition for our Numberless, Actual Transgressions, the Dents that we have Personally Contracted, by Sins of Childhood, Youch and Riper Years; against Law or Gospel; in I bought Word, Deed; whether more Secretly, or Openly Perpetrated: Omi [...]o [...] and Failings in Regard of the Duties of both our Callings and every Relation and Condition; as to Matter, Manner, or End: Our Own and our Ob [...]. Mon's Sins, Made O [...] by ou [...] furthering, or not [...]indering, not Rep [...]oveing, not Bewalling—And all aggr [...]va [...] from the Means and Mercies [...] we have Abuf [...]d; Solemn [...] [Page 77]fr [...]quent Warnings slighted, Repeated, gracious Offers Refused; Conscience Violated; the Spiris Quenched, and the Blood of the Covenant Trampled under Foot. And on such Heads as these must we Expatiate, in our Confessions.
2. Sentence being already past according to Law, and Judgment entred up, (Joh. 3.18.) Having, Pleaded Guilty, we must Justifie the Sentence, and Acknowbedge Judgment.
3. As we have nothing to Pay, and there is no other Sponsor in Heavean or Earth but Christ (as was intimated in Sp [...]ritualizing the Fourth Doctrine) so we can expect no Relief throught this One Mediator; if we are Neglignet and Dilatory.
- (1.) We must be willing to do our Utmost. Abstaining from the External Acts of Sin, and Praying for an Inward Principle of Grace; Avoiding Occasions of, and Resisting Temptations, to our Bosom Sin [Page 78]especially: Using the Means of Grace more Universally, Constantly and Diligently; begging Incessantly, and with all Importunity for a Blessing, and waiting for a Gracious Answer. But when we have done all this, and much more; we must have a care how we set down one Farthing Paid; while we are thus Industriously only Seeking after and beseeching our Surety, who is to have the sole Honour of Responding our Accompt.
- (2.) Remembring always that Delays are Dangerous For,
- [1.] Does not Death frequently Prevent Delaying Sinners? And a Purpose of Repentance To Morrow, will not Save thee from Hell, if thy Soul shou'd be required of thee this Night.
- [2.] Nor can we leave our Spiritual Debts to be Discharged by our Heirs, or Successors, after our Decease.
- [Page 79] [3.] Our Accompt does not stand the same in God's Book, from One Year to another: but besides thousands of subjoyned Articles, Daily, for New Opportunities, and Mercies taken up, and mispent; the Former are by Impenitence persisted in, Increased in Value, tho' not in Number: so that there will be Interest upon Interest to Pay for old Book-Debts, besides our Running continually further and further on a New Score, till at last, the Tempter will change his Note, from, No haste yet! it's Time enough! to, All's in Vain, it's now too late.
If this be a Digression, it's time to Return, and Consider what may be further said and done, that Poor Debtors may have some Relief under, and deliverance out of their Distress.
VII. DOCT. Such as are Distressed by reason of Debts, are Objects of Pity and Charity; and Good People will Compassionate their Condition, and Consider what may be done for them. As Good Elisha Here.
Debtors are of two Sorts.
1. Some are Diminished & brought Low by the Holy Pravidence of God; who are Chargeable, neither with Slothfulness nor Prodigality: Now, These are the most Proper Objects of Charity.
2. Others have made themselves Poor by bearkening to Satans Temptations, following after vain Persons, living in Pride and Luxury; running into Debt, to support these and other Chargeable Lusts, without Care or Conscience how they should get out again. And even these too, are to be Pitied; for their Case is no less Sad, but a great deal more Lamentable than [Page 81]that which the former sort are in; who are not only Redeemed from the Curse of the Law; but, having received the Adoption of Sons, are under the Gare and Promise of a Father, who does interest himself in all their Concerns, even the smallest of their Domestick Affairs: and is both Able and Willing to Support them under, and Deliver them out of their Deepest Plunges, and the most Inextricable Labyrinths of their Temporal as well as Spiritual State: While these Double Debtors, if they go on a little longer (as on they seem Resolved to go) the Great Law-giver and Judge will send His Officers, both to take into safe Custody their Bodies, so as to have them forth-coming at the General Goal-delivery of the Grave; and to Cast their Souls and Bodies into a worse Prison, out of which they can, by no means come, till they have Paid the Uttermost Farthing. [Page 82]They must Suffer & Sweat it out in Hell: even their Money-Debts, that they have Sinfully Contracted, and never made any Conscience of Discharging, must thus be Paid at laft. To these then, if we have any Bowels of Compassion, let it appear Speedily, or it will be neither Seasonable nor Beneficial.
Q. But, How are we to express our Pity to such?
A. 1. Not by putting Weapons into their hands, till they are come to themselves; for Madness is in their Hearts. To Give or Lend them, unless, in Extremity, to keep them from Perishing, is but to Fortifie Satans interest in them.
2. By Praying for them, and giving Counsel to them; if they are not altogether turned into Dogs and Swine. And when sense of Misery shall compel them to Seek the Remedy, in good earnest; then these Returning Prodigals will come under the [Page 83]Former Denomination, at least so far, as to be Subjects capable of our Help and Succour. And when God has forgiven them, well may their Brethren forget all past Extravagancy, tho' they will find it hard to forgive themselves, and must remember what they have been and done, and lest undone, and set their hearts upon, to keep them Humble, Watchful, Prayerful.
Q But you will still be Inquis [...]tive, What may further be done for these Supposed Penitents, now joyned with the other, [...] Criminal, or Honest and Innocent Debtors?
A [...] with God, that what has been [...] the fore going D [...]ctrines [...] and H [...]p them. We have been [...]st now D [...]cted to Pray for them; and in our Prayers joy us humbly Beseech the Lord to ble [...], th [...]se C [...]un [...]s and [...] unto them; and sind out a way for their [...]. If Christians [Page 84]did less allow themselves in mutual Consures; and more abound in Prayers one for another; We should better Answer the worthy Name by which we are called, find more inward Peace and Comfort, and be Fellow-He [...]per, as III. Joh. 5, to the II.
2. Be Helpful also by more Particular Advice, suiting their Vartous Cases. God has given more Wisdom and Fore-sight to some than to others, and these Gifts are not Y [...]rs, [...]ut the Churches; not for your se [...]es only, but for the Use of your B [...] thren. You can't say but, in some other Respects, you have, or ma [...] have need of them; and they must not say that they have no need of you in the Prosent Case: For, Th [Mystica] Body is not one Member but many. And the Eye cannot say to the Hand. I have no need of thee: nor again, be Head to the Feet, We have no need of you, 1 Cor. 12.14, 21. [Page 85]Go then to thy Weaker Brother; at lest now in this Time of Tempration Disanimated; His weak hands han [...]ing down, thro' Discouragement, not knowing which way in the World to turn: Go to him, and give him a little Wise and Friendly Advice. Don't you think, sometimes, What might be done to good Pu [...]pose, were. You in their Circumstances? They Perhaps are Bewildred and only need a Pilot; and your Conduct wou'd be as acceptable as seasonable: However give a Word of Counsel; that's Cheap, and Pray God to give you Prudence in giving it, them Hearts to take it, and His Blessing with it. You know not what Good you may do. I am not setting Busy-Bodi sin other mens Matters a-work; but stirring up the modest & backward (who are commonly the best Qualisied for such a work) only [Page 86]to Interpose in some singular and almost Desperate Cases.
Again,
3. Let such as are Able to do more, not stop here; but Press on their own Consciences that Law in, Levit. 25.35, 36, 37. (with the Morality of it, which is still Obligatory) And if thy Brother be w [...]xen Poor and fallen in Decay with thee; then thou shalt Relieve him: Yea though he be a Stranger or Sojourner, that he may live with thee. Take thou no Usury of him, or Increase: but fear thy God; That thy Brother may Live with thee. Thou shall not give him thy Money upon Usury, nor lend him thy Victuals for Increase. A late Expositor's Remark on the Place is this; ‘Poor Debtors must not be Oppressed. If thy Brother be waxen Poor, and have occasion to borrow Money of thee for the necessary Support of his Family, take thou no Usury of him either for Money or Victuals. [Page 87]And thus far this Law binds still; but could never be tho't binding where Money is borrow'd for Purchase of Lands, Trade, or other Improvements, for there 'tis Reasonable that the Lender share with the Borrower in the Profit. The Law here is plainly intended for the Relief of the Poor, to whom it is sometimes as great a Charity to Lend freely, as to Give.’
‘The same Argument is used to Enforce this Precept, that Prefaceth all the Ten Commandments, v. 38. I am the Lord your God which brought you out of Aegypt.’ And for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thy Hand unto, Deut. 15.10. Prov. 19 17. He that hath Pity on the Poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. Then shall the King say to them on His Right Hand, Come ye Blessed of my Father, Inherit the Kingdom [Page 88]prepared for you from the Foundation of the World. For in Feeding, Cloathing, and Comforting my needy and Imprisoned Members, Ye have done it unto Me.—Which is the Sum of the Reason given, of that Glorious Sentence, in the G [...]eat Dar, when it will be worth something to be Owned thus, and Crowned before Angels and Men, by our D [...]ar and Dread Soveraign. And I need not tell you that these three Scriptures, last mentioned, as well as that out of Leviticus, are Applicable to the Present Case, of Relieving Poor Debtors. I speak not of the Devils Poor, who have spent their Time, Strength and Estates in his Service; and now he has given them Poverty and Disgrace as their Wages: Part in Hand; till they shall Receive their full Earnings, when their Work is done. Rev. 18.7. Unless they are Returning Prodigals, as we before Distinguished.
[Page 89] I. USE. What we have heard under this last Doctrine, Reproves two Sorts of Persons.
1. Such as are so far from having put on, as the Elect of God, Bowels of Mercy; that they have even put off Humanity it self, and show no Compassion to their Fellow Creatures, how Miserable so ever they are Circumstanced; though, in all Probability, next door to utter Ruine. These care for none but themselves. And because they are Resolf'd to Contribute nothing towards the Relief of any; They make one General Sentence in the Judgment of Uncharitableness, to serve Indifferently for all Poor Distr [...]ssed Debtors; Either they are Foolish, or Prodigal; or else their seeming Honesly and Prety is but a Cover for their Hyp [...]is [...]; and some hidden Iniquity has B [...]asted their Ettare: When, its very likely, God is but trying [Page 90]the distressed Debtors Faith and Patience, and others Charity. But supposing the worst; Is not a Self-Destroyer to be Pitied? Are we not All such? Hes. 13.9.
2. They also are worthy of Rebuke, whi are Guilty of Foolish and Ruinous Pity on the other Hand. These would have the Distressed Help'd in their Estates to the Hazzard of their Souls; Or put in a way to Advance their Pri [...]ate Interest, tho' never so much to the Prejudice and Disadvantage of the Publick.
II. USE. Is it Singular Charity to help People out of Debt, and to put them in a way to Live H [...]nest y and Comfortably? Then let not such as they be Stirred up to Irgage in so God W [...]rk, be Corsur [...]d U [...]c [...]aritanly The Motion may be of God: And if such are Incouraged may not one, or two or a few do a great [...]eal of good? If any thing will make [Page 91]Men Good Husbands, what I now Reser to is not altogether unlikely to do it; if it be Safely and Prudently Managed: It may put new Life and Courage into such as were quite Dead-hearted, and keep Men from growing Desperate. Yet are such Helpers liable to Hard Censures, from such as are thus helped, or others, thro' Envy and Uncharitableness.
1. As if they sought themselves only. Indeed they had need look well to their End; Otherwise they have no Reward of their Heavenly Father: But How can I Judge of another Mans Principles & Ends? This is Gods Prerogative, who sees into the Heart.
2. As if they Endangered their Estates. And here, truly needs all the Precaution Imaginable. And I had need Repeat to you that Cantion of Wisdom, Prov. 22.26, 27. Be not thou one of them that strike Hands, or of them that are Sureties for Debts. [Page 92]If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy Bed from under thee? In which two things are Obvious.
(1.) That we Venture not so much, as that the loss of is should Ruine us.
(2.) That we Venture not at all, where there is not a Probability at least, of Attaining some good End. Much less to Ruine our Estates and Families, (a piece of Injustice worse than Paganism) by Encumbring our selves with the Debts of Impenitent Prodigals; with whom we cannot Associate our selves or Contract any Intimacy, without very great Hazzard; ‘for as they often need, so they will Urge and Press their Friends to be Bound for them, that they may (as one Expresseth it) Cheat their Neighbour, to feed their Lusts; and by keeping up a little longer, may do the more damage at last, to those that give them Credit.’ But 'tis time for me to hasten unto,
The Conclusion.
If I did, after the Divine Influences had fixed my Thoughts on this Subject, Raise your Expectations of an Answer to the Case [What shall Distressed Debtors do that they may Libe Honettly and Comfortably?] It was on no worse a Design than to Allure you, more Generally, to the Posts of Wisdoms Doors; where you may expect an Answer of Peace from Him that having Promised, can Command the Blessing, on the Scriptural Methods that have been Proposed, to which I shall only Add Two or Three Things by way of more Indesinite Improvement of the Doctrines; or for,
General Application.
1. If you bring not what you have Heard Home upon your Consciences, it cannot Answer the End Proposed. There must be a Personal Application of what has been Spoken: Conscience must be very Plain, and say to whom it may Concern, Thou art the Man. Thus and thus thou hast Done: This and that thou hast to do: Herein Deny thy Self; therein beware of the Tempter. This is laying & binding the Plaister on the Sore, the Wound being search'd; and this is taking down the Pills, one after another; which is a good Step towards a Cure: but if the Plaister stick not, or the Pills be only chewed, and spit out, because they are Bitter; what good can either do? Nor is this enough; for, (to follow the Metaphor) besides the Renewed [Page 95]Application of Proper Medicines; Abstinence from hurtful Meats, Drinks or Fruits; and all care to avoid taking Cold: And in some Cases Wakefulness and much Exercise: I say besides all this, which requires that the Patient be Active also; there must, in Our Mystical Cure, be Constant Tho'tfulness, and a Mind rightly disposed. Physick will work whether you think of it or not; Balsome will, by its innate, sanative Quality, Heal the Flesh; tho' the Heart be set against God and His Church; and the wounded Man desires to be made whole, only that he may shew his Enmity to both, by renewing the Fight: But in the Present Case Faith and Sincerity are necessary Ingredients; for who will ever stop his Ears against the Dictates of Carnal Reason, (which are so Contradictory to the Directions given) till the Wisdom of the Fleshly Mind be [Page 96]brought into Subjection to Faith, and before the Single Eye of Sincerity discover the Light of Spiritual Reason, in the Methods of Divine Wisdom, fetched out of the Sacred Dispensatory of the Scriptures. A Compound of Scripture mixed with Faith that Works by Love, and Honest Simplicity with Godly Sincerity, is a Receipt that has never once fail'd.
2. Make Conscience of Something else, or you'l never trouble your Consciences much about Paying your Debts. Indeed God may begin here, and Convince the Sinner of Unrighteousness towards his Neighbour, so leading him up, by this one Stream, to the Fountain of all Impiety & Iniquity: But you must Examine your selves whether you be in the Faith; The Spirit Convinces of the Sin of Unbelief, Job. 16.9. Come to an Accompt with your Self first, about your Spiritual Debts, and then [Page 97] Reckon with God thro' Christ: The Credit God has given Him, on His Book, over against the Believing Penitent's former Large and Black Accompt, is infinitely more than sufficient to Ballance all. And in a Word, Make Conscience, hence forward, of Discharging Duty towards God, your Neighbour, and your own Souls, in Every thing; or you are truly Conscientious, with Godly Sincerity, in Nothing.
3. On Supposition that your Case is not Reached, as to some Singular Circumstances of it, in any thing that has been said; It seems Advisable that you make it a Case of Conscience; and lay it Speedily before some Able Divine; and Skilfull Casuist, for an Answer. But this is spoken on Presumption also that you are willing to Know and Do your Duty. Otherwise I must further Reason with you out of the Scriptures. Know you not, [Page 98](saith the Apostle) that the Unrighteous shall not Inherit the Kingdom of God? What is all our Out-side show of Religion, and seeming. Devotion towards God worth, if we are Unjust and Dishonest in our Dealings with Man? What doth it Profit, my Brethren, tho' a man say be has Faith, and have not Works, Can Faith Save him? Good God! If this be so; And, If the Righteous are scarcely Saved, Where shall Thousands (were it only for this Branch of Unrighteousness, Careless lying in Debt) Where shall so many Thousands of Ungodly Sinners as ar [...] to be found in the Gospel World; where shall they, if timely Repentance prevent not, at last Appear?
Q. Is there any Hope for One that can't be willing to Know and Do his Duty; Laments his Unwillingness, and jet is Unwilling still?
[Page 99] A. Yes, a great deal more, than of Him that needs no Instructor, nor ever is heard to Complain of a [...]nd Mind and obstinate Will. Your Way is short, You must carry your Prejudie'd Mind, Reluctant Will, and Carnal Heart to the Lord Jesus; as we carry broken Tools, or disorder'd Engines to the Artificer that made them, to get 'em Mended and Rectified; and it is but for Christ to say, I will, be ye clean, and move Regularly; and the Clock work of our Souls is all in Good Order presently; Psall 110 v. 3. Thy People shall be Willing in the day of thy Power.