Hooinh egzainiomnh, or, A treatise of holy dedication both personal and domestick the latter of which is (in special) recommended to the citizens of London, upon their entring into their new habitations / by Tho. Jacomb ...

CHAP. 3. Personal Dedication Applied. The rarity of it lamented. Enquiries about it, as to our selves.

HAving shown you, what it is, it remains, that now I should make some Application of it.

And 1. Let me lament and bewail the rarity of this self-dedication. [Ʋse 1] O that my heart might dissolve into tears, that my bowels might yearn, that rivers of waters might run down my eyes, because of this: O that every se∣rious Christian would be much affect∣ed and inwardly afflicted, upon this consideration, that there are but few, very few, who do sincerely, heartily, en∣tirely dedicate themselves, and their All to God. O that O could feel my self in an holy agony of spirit, now I am writing, and whenever I think of this heart-cutting, heart-piercing truth. Sometimes, as I walk in the Streets, where I see so many faces, meet so

many persons running up and down about their secular affairs, have in my eye such shoals and multitudes of men and women; sometimes, when I go into the Assemblies, where God is wor∣shipped, and there see the places throng'd with great numbers of people, attending upon holy ordinances, I cannot but sadly consider and cry out, O how few of all these, have in good ear∣nest dedicated themselves to the Lord! O that there should be so many Crea∣tures, and so few New-creatures. O that so many should be so busied about the world, who yet live in a total neg∣lect of God; O that so many, should seem externally to own religion, who yet make no conscience of self-dedica∣tion; (which is the very soul and spirit of religion:) Surely this is a lamenta∣tion, and shall be for a lamentation.

Blessed be God, (through the effi∣cacious operations of his grace,) there are some in the world, who do give up themselves to him; who act and live self-dedication, in all the parts and branches of it; let the world be what it will, God will have a people in it, and Christ shall have a seed in it: and

if so, then there shall be always some self-devoting souls to God. I do not question, but even now, in this City, in this Nation, there are many thou∣sands, who have solemnly dedicated themselves▪ they are the Lords, and they will be so; and 'tis well for us it is so, for, Except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. There is a cluster that hath new wine in it, upon which there is a blessing, to secure the whole land from ruin & deso∣lation. But these (comparatively) are but a remnant, a small remnant; but as one cluster in the Vine; they are a very little flock: 'tis but here and there, one of a City, two of a family, a very few, who thus dedicate them∣selves to God: As 'tis in the City at present, here and there you have an House built, but the far greatest part of it, lies in ruines and rubbish: so here, here and there you may meet with a person, who hath done that, which I am speaking of, but the most lie in the rubbish, in the misery of the faln and non-dedicated state. True in∣deed,

if the external form and professi∣on would serve the turn, then this de∣dication would not be so rare, but this will not do it. There's a great diffe∣rence 'twixt the form and the truth; betwixt what appears and what is. As there is (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) a form of knowledge, (Rom. 2.20.) And (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) a form of godliness, (2 Tim. 3.5.) So there is (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) a form of dedication. All profess, that in Baptism, they have dedicated them∣selves to God, and so they have; the dedication must not be denied, only it must be made good; if it be not, I make it but a form, and it will not pro∣fit me. The first baptismal dedication, without subsequent, personal, actual dedication, is not sufficient; nay, the former without the latter will ra∣ther do us hurt than good. And yet here is the all of most mens dedication. O if personal dedication be such a thing, as hath been opened, (and certainly it is so) then there are but few, that are acquainted with it; this makes the number of self-devoting Christians, to sink and fall like the souldiers of Gideon. God speaks to

the Jews, to run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, to seek in the broad places thereof, to see, if they could find a man, that did execute judgment, and sought the truth, and he would pardon it. May not we run to and fro, to find out a man, who doth intirely give up himself to God, who lives in a bles∣sed surrender of himself to the will of God, who is fixed and resolved for God, (and so I might go over all the other branches of self-dedication,) and scarce be able to find such an one. Every man in the world dedicates himself to something; but O 'tis the sin and folly of men, they mis-object and mis-place their dedication: 'tis self, sin, the world, that the generality de∣dicate themselves to; 'tis but here and there a man, who doth this, to the holy, ever living, ever blessed God. O that the practices of men did not too visibly proclaim this: O that this sad truth was not too legible in the courses and conversations of besotted sinners! Even where they have made their renunciation, even there they make their dedication: instead of re∣nouncing the world, the flesh, the De∣vil,

they devote themselves to these. No tears are sufficient to bewail this folly and wickedness, that is so mani∣fest to every observing eye. Pray lay it to heart, and mourn much over it before the Lord, you that have any sense of Gods honour, of the value and preciousness of immortal souls.

Did I not fear, that this discourse would too much swell upon my Hands, as I would speak much more to further Humiliation, upon the ac∣count of such as are unregenerate; so I would also speak something to further humiliation, in the Saints themselves, upon their own account. I hope ma∣ny such may happen to read, what here in the sincerity of my heart, I offer to their serious consideration: thus then very briefly: You have de∣dicated your selves to God; but was there not a time, when you were just as others are? when you did just as others do? when you walked according to the course of this world? when you lay in the common state, and lived the common life? was there not a time, when you your selves also, were foolish, disobedi∣ent, deceived, serving divers lusts and

pleasures? Did you not spend many years, under the power of the natural enmity to God? Was it not long be∣fore you would be perswaded to yield up your selves to him? Did you not long withstand Gods claim and title? Was not God fain to put forth his Almighty power, to conquer the re∣nitency and reluctancy of corrupti∣on? If God had left you to your selves, had ye to this very day, given up your selves to him? Did you not side with Satan and Sin and the world for many years against God? And now you have dedicated your selves to the Lord, (being over-powred by the holy violence of his grace,) is your dedica∣tion so full, so entire, so ingenious, so Evan∣gelical, so fixed, as it should be? Have you been true to it, and walked answerably to it? Ask your selves these questions, and deal in secret with your own souls, and I assure you, you will find matter of deep humiliation, even as to your selves, as well as to others, who yet stand it out against God, and have

done, nothing in personal dedicati∣on.

Secondly, [Ʋse 2] Are there so few, who have dedicated themselves to God? Then it concerns every one to enquire, whether he be in the number of these few; whether he be one of the Herd, or one of the little flock; whether he hath pass'd under this Holy Dedicati∣on, or not. O call your selves ad scrutinium, enter upon the most so∣lemn and serious enquiry about this; let there be self-examination about self-dedication; let every man prove his own work, (and so too, his own dedi∣cation,) then shall he have rejoycing in himself alone, and not in another: This is a question worthy of the most seri∣ous thoughts of men professing the Gospel, Have I dedicated my self to God? Have I in good earnest dedicated my self to God? Am I not mistaken in this, upon which all Religion here, & salvation hereafter doth depend? I am a Christian no farther, than as this is done by me; and therefore is it in re∣ality done by me? I beseech you, look your faces a little in the glass of the

word, and suffer conscience to bring in its verdict, and judge accordingly.

Methinks it might be easie to con∣vince some, (and these some are too many, the Lord knows,) that they have not dedicated themselves to God: As to them, 'tis not a doubtful case, there's scarce any ground of examina∣tion, for 'tis as clear as the light of the Sun at mid-day, that they are al∣together strangers to this Act: I speak to you, who give up your selves to the fancies, humors, opinions, ex∣amples, lusts of men; who care not how you displease God, if you may but please man; who can dispense with the commands of God, if you may but gratifie the lusts of men; nay, who can add sin to sin, if you see it doth but please man; (this was He∣rods case, Acts 12.3.) Have you dedi∣cated your selves to God? To you, that are temporizers; who are what the times are, when they are good, you are good, when they are bad, you are bad; you that calculate your Religi∣on by the times wherein you live, and set your Watch, not by the Sun, (the divine and infallible rule of the word,)

but by the fashions of the Age, upon which you are cast; you that have a fides Ephemeris, (as Tertullian calls it) a Religion for every day, which you can put on and off, as you do your clothes; you that are meer Polypusses in the things of God, to receive the colour and tincture of what is next, let it be what it will; you that are of a Samaritane spirit, to be Jews, and ally'd to them, when they flourish, and enemies to them when they are low; you that are like to those, of whom our Histories report; they were Protestants in King Edwards days, Papists in Queen Maries days, and Protestants again in Queen Elizabeths days; you that can sail and turn with every wind, meer Weather-cocks in Re∣ligion, surviving Ecebolii; Have you dedicated your selves to God? To you, who are all for self, for self ease, self love, self pleasing, self interest, self ad∣vancement; you that terminate all in self, and make that your centre; you that instead of making self the matter of your dedication, make it the term and object of your dedication; instead of the dedicating of it to God, you de∣dicate

all to it; Have you dedicated your selves to God? To you, that readi∣ly prostitute your selves to a course of sin, to all vicious and unholy pra∣ctices; you that sell your selves to wickedness; that give your selves over unto lasciviousness, to work all unclean∣ness with greediness; you that do in ef∣fect say to sin, we are thine; you that are drunkards, swearers, cursers, Adul∣terers, Sabbath-profaners, &c. Have you dedicated your selves to God? To you, who are immers'd in the world; you that steep your selves in pleasures and sensual delights; who mind no∣thing but eating, drinking, gaming, &c. and with-hold not your heart from any joy, (let it be what it will:) you that mind earthly things, that let the fervor of your spirits, the torrent of your desires, the strength of your en∣deavours run out after riches, profits, honors, preferments, worldly acco∣modations; you that instead of forsa∣king the world for God, can forsake God for the world, (as Demas did;) you that place your happiness in these sublunary things; Have you dedicated your selves to God? To you, who give

up your selves to Satan; may be you are not by the Church given up to Sa∣tan, (which is usually interpreted of excommunication,) 1 Cor. 5.5. 1 Tim. 1. ult. But, which is much worse, (as the disease is worse than the remedy,) you give up your selves to him; you readily obey this Prince of the power of the air, that ruleth in the chidren of disobedience; you are taken captive by him at his will; he bids you go and you go, come and you come, no soon∣er doth he tempt, but you fall in with the temptation, all the day long you are doing his work, and promoting his interest in the world; Have you dedicated your selves to God? To you, who go to the Church on the Lords day, and attend upon the worship of God on the Lords day; and all the week after neglect God, scarce a word of God, (unless it be in taking his name in vain,) scarce a secret prayer, scarce the reading of one Chapter in the Bible, all the week after; Have you dedicated your selves to God? Away, away, for shame do not pre∣tend to this high and holy Dedication; your case is so evident, that you

scarce are within the verge or compass of self-examination; 'tis notorious, you have not dedicated your selves; pray never pretend to it.

But there are others, who are spun of a finer thread, who bid fairer for Heaven; they are free from those works of the flesh, which are (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) manifest, and which proclaim to all the world Non-dedication; they make a fair profession, are unblamable in their conversation, make Conscience of performing holy duties; and many good things are done by them; surely these have dedicated themselves to God: O that it was so indeed! O that all, who carry it fairly in the sight of men, were sincere in their self-dedication to God! But are there not thousands, that come up to this, and are professors, and live under Church-priviledges, and are well thought of by the people of God; and yet for all this, their dedication is not hearty and thorough, and upon this de∣fect, they shall miscarry to all eterni∣ty. How should this awaken all plau∣sible, out-side-Christians, with the ut∣most diligence, to search, how things stand betwixt God and them, as to this matter.

As to evidences, (for the help of such as shall desire to fall upon exa∣mination,) I shall not need to expa∣tiate upon that Argument; having shown what self-dedication is, by that every man may know, whether he be come up to it, yea or no. Read over the particulars, in which it lies, and as you go along, make such reflexions as these are. O my soul tell me, have I given my self to God? Have I ever by a deed of gift, signed and sealed, made over my self to God? Have I given him my heart? my love, joy, delight, desires, ah, and my life too? Is my will melted into his will? Is there an obediential, submissive frame of spirit in me? Am I upon serious deliberati∣on, come to an issue, to resolve for God? Is my resolution, like the Laws of the Medes and Persians, never to be altered? Do I carry it as a person, who is impropriated, set apart for God and his service? Have I entred into co∣venant with God, and bound my self to the performance of all the conditions thereof? Is the glory of God dear to me? ••s this the great end of my life, that the great God may be honoured by

such a worm as I am? O my soul, far∣ther I ask thee; do I value God more than all, and set an higher rate upon him, than upon all the world besides? Is his favour more to me, than life, do I dread his anger more than death? Is this my greatest ambition, to live in the fruition of God, and in constant communion with him? And for other things, can I be content to have them or to want them, as God shall see best? Do I fear every sin, be it never so little? Do I baulk no duty, be it never so hard? Do I shun no cross, be it ne∣ver so heavy? (when God calls me to it:) Is it the will of God, that hath the regency and superiority in me? Will I suffer nothing to stand in competiti∣on with my Lord and Master? Have I got victory over all my spiritual ene∣mies? Is sin mortified, self dethroned, the world laid low in my heart? Can I be, do, suffer any thing for God and my dear Redeemer? Do I like salvati∣on in Gods way, and upon his terms? Do I cleave to God with full purpose of heart? Do I love whatever I see of God, and all that belong to God? Have I been savingly convinced of the

excellency of God and of his ways? Have I made over my self to him perso∣nally considered, to the Father, to be commanded, governed by him; to the Son to be redeemed, justified, saved by him, (in the way of faith and obedi∣ence:) to the Holy Ghost, to be renew∣ed, sanctified, guided, led, acted by him? I say, thus deal with your souls upon these interrogatories, and by the answer of Conscience, you will be able to say something, as to the thing en∣quired after, whether you have indeed dedicated your selves to God? I beg pardon, that I pass over these things, thus briefly; and may be too, I have not spoke so distinctly to them as I should have done; as to the first, I would fain shorten this works as much as I can, and I shall have occasion more to enlarge in some other Heads: as to the second, the enquiring, seri∣ous, awakened Christian, minds mat∣ter more than Method.

Notes

• Psal. 119.136.
• Ezek. 19.14.
• Isa. 53 10.
• Isa. 1.9.
• Isa. 65.8.
• Luke 12.32.
• Jer. 3.14.
• Jer. 5.1.
• E••h 2 2.
• Tit. 3 3.
• Rom. 8.7.
• Eph. 1.19.
• Ne arbitreris istam asperam, mo∣lestdmque violentiam, dulcis est, suavis est, ipsa suavitas te trahit. Aug. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Chrysost. Non cogit nolen∣tem sed volentem trahit. Aug.
• Gal. 6.4.
• Polypus mutat colorem ad si∣militudinem loci. Plin. Hist. Nat. l. 9. c. 29.
• 1 King. 21.20.
• Eph. 4.19.
• Eccles. 2.10.
• Phil. 3.19.
• 2 Tim. 4.10.
• Ephes. 2.2.
• 2 Tim. 2.26.
• Non est vera Religio, quae cum Templo relinquitur. Lactant.
• Gal. 5.19.
• Esth. 1.19.
• 1 Pet. 3.21.