The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs ; published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]

CHAP. 19 A Fifth Ʋse: To see the misery of being alwaies unfit for service. A Sixt Ʋse: To teach us to long for Heaven. (Book 19)

USE 5.

BUt now in the next place: If Gods people find such a difference between themselves, that at somtimes it is far otherwise with them than at other times: Hence then, what a miserable thing is it to be alwaies down, and alwaies unfit for service? This is a thing that does not usually befal the people of God; though somtimes their hearts are down in comparison of other times; yet to be alwaies down, and unserviceable, this do not use to be the condition of the Servants of God:

this is a sad miserable condition to be so, as if you never felt the power of God upon your hearts, never felt the Spirit of God breathing upon you, never felt the grace of God stirring upon you; you come and hear the Word, and those Truths that are soul-quickning war∣ming Truths, that stir others, and their hearts lie lumpish as a Log that lies in a flash of water seven yeers together, and is never stirred by them. Like unto a vessel in a House, that is cast aside, and lies moulding and rotting, that is never imployed, nor fitted for any service, are these Vessels of Honor? In 2 Tim. 2.21. the Scripture speaks of Vessels that are in a great house, that are Vessels of honor; and he describes them that they are purged and fitted for the masters use, and pre∣pared for every good work: Now if a vessel lie alwaies moulding, and rotting, and never used, this is for the fire, and not for use: So those hearts that are alwaies moulding, and rotting, and never fit for service, they may fear they are vessels of dishonor, and for the fire.

Object. But may some say, I am afraid I am a vessel for the fire, for I cannot tell that ever I found my heart sit for any service that God called me to.

Answ. First, That heart that is sensible of unfitness, and is humbled before God for it; it hath not such an unfitness as to prepare it for the fire.

Secondly, It may be it is thy unthankfulness that makes thee say thou art never fit for service, because you are not fit for that degree you desire, you do not take notice of the work of Gods grace for the present.

Thirdly, May be now you are framing and fitting for service, if you be but making fit it is a signe you are not for the fire, if there be a vessel for the fire, there is no mending of it, but if the master of the house shall call for a vessel and require it to be cleansed, and washed, and there is some work about it, it is a signe it is not

for the fire, so may be God is fitting and prepareing you for service.

Fourthly, May be it is that you mistake your work, you do not know what the work is that God calls you to, you are alwaies unfit for such, and such service, but that is not the work that God calls you to for the pre∣sent, God calls you to a work of humiliation, and de∣pendance upon himself, and seeking of his face, and a work of patience, do not say you are unfit for the Masters use, because you are unfit for such and such a work; may be the time is not yet, for the espicial work that God intend to use you in.

USE, 6.

In the Last place: if there be such a difference between the hearts of Gods people, this may teach us to long for heaven, when our hearts shal be alwaies up there shal be such a difference from that estate we are now in, as it is more then we are able to imagine; and there shal be no fear of the loss of it, It is an observation of Mr. Bright∣man, upon the 19. Revel. 11. Comparing it with Reve. 4. and in Reve. 4.1. It is said, there was a door opened in Heaven, In Reve. 19.11. It is said, Hea∣ven was opened, not only a little door was opened, but the gates and walles of Heaven were opened. There is a great deal of difference in the estate of Gods people here, somtimes they have a little door opened to them in Heaven, sometimes the Heavens themselves are open∣ed to them, but a time wil come, when the Heavens shal not only be opened for them, but it shal be repleni∣shed with them, the cheife Glory of Heaven shal be the Saints there, and we shall take no pains to keep our hearts up; it were wel if our hearts were up alwaies, though with never so much pains, they shal as naturally worke after God, as the Sun doth naturally shine, and therefore let us comfort our selves in that time, let us strive and strugle a while, there is a time when our hearts shal be up, and we shall never take any pains.