Aspects of Piety 16
Other Aspects 1
With some sadness, Adams states at one point '… as there was never less wisdom in Greece than in the time of the seven wise men so never less piety among us than now, when upon good cause most is expected. (Works 2, p 179).
With some nostalgia he compares former times with Leah, ‘blear-eyed but fruitful’ and his won with Rachel, ‘fair, but barren’. From our vantage point the disappointment expressed may be hard to accept. The suggestion that piety was diligently sown cannot be gainsaid, however. Adams himself preaches not only sin, repentance and forgiveness but many other aspects of piety too.
Assurance has been identified as a crucial element in Puritan piety, both as a root and a fruit. Adams has a sermon called heaven made sure or the certainty of salvation on Psalm 35:3 (Works 1, pp 60-70) where he asserts '1. That salvation may be made sure to man. 2. That the best saints have desired to make their salvation sure.'
He carefully applies this second point, noting that there are degrees of assurance and that even ‘The wealthiest saints have suspected their poverty’ and ‘the richest in grace are yet ‘poorest in spirit’’. Somewhere he also says that ‘Sense of sin may be often great, and more felt than grace; yet not be more than grace.’ It is like when a person’s body is well but he his more aware of his finger aching. He puts it in perspective. (Puritan Golden Treasury, p 23). Assurance is not always immediate. There is also such a thing as a false assurance. Assurance comes ‘by word, by deed, and by seal’ – Scripture, good deeds and the inward witness. It is the sweetest comfort a man can know in this life. In various ways God speaks to the soul of the believer, speaking peace to his conscience and assurance of salvation to his soul.
Adams is very clear that conversion must lead to godliness. 'A sound conversion is proved by a good conversation. But tremble ye wicked; if ye have not fought in his camp, ye shall not shine in his court.' (Works 1, pp 362, 401)
'Good deeds are such things that no-one is saved for them, or without them.'
'We know there is a sun in heaven, yet we cannot see what matter it is made of, but perceive it only by the beams, light and heat. Election is a sun, the eyes of eagles cannot see it; yet we may find it in the heat of vocation, in the light of illumination, in the beams of good works.'
(Puritan Golden Treasury, pp 127, 88).
We cannot be perfect in this life but we must seek to be thoroughly sanctified (Works 3, p 78). Adams warns against the traditional triumvirate of foes, the world, the flesh and the devil (Works 1, p 401ff).
Worldliness is ‘too much oil which quencheth our lamp’; the flesh borrows the vessel of the heart and returns it ‘broken, lacerated, deformed, defaced’; the devil is a fisherman who ‘baits his hook according to the appetite of the fish'. (Cf Puritan Golden Treasury, p 290) 'then a cannibal who feeds on human flesh; a crafty fox first and then a strong lion (Works 1, pp 431 260 220 Works 2, p 211. Worth noting is Adams’ insistence that the devil does not know who is elect, Works 2, pp 53, 147).
As one would expect, Adams is a great advocate of prayer and of getting to know the all sufficient Word of God. (‘ … now to expect revelation of things by dreams were to entreat God to lend us a candle while we have the bright sun.’ Works 2, p 16). He is keen on kneeling for prayer. ‘Never tell me of a humble heart, where I see a stubborn knee.' (Puritan Golden Treasury, p 316).
'Without fear the good child may come to his kind father. … We believe in our Father, ability to give, never denying; wisdom to give, never repenting; goodness to give, never upbraiding. This makes us cry, not speak softly, as in fear, but loud, as in assurance. When the king has promised a boon, the subject comes with special security into the presence. Are we laden with sin … privy to imperfections … Do we fear some judgement … are we haunted with a temptation … full of thankfulness … ? We have the warrant of a Father, Pray, and be comforted.
'Shake off the dust of neglect from the cover, and wear out the leaves with turning; continually imploring the assistance of God’s Spirit, that you may read with understanding, understand with memory, and remember with comfort; that your soul’s closet may never be unstored of those heavenly receipts which may ease your griefs, cure your wounds, expel your sicknesses, preserve your healths, and keep you safe to the coming of Jesus Christ.'
With some sadness, Adams states at one point '… as there was never less wisdom in Greece than in the time of the seven wise men so never less piety among us than now, when upon good cause most is expected. (Works 2, p 179).
With some nostalgia he compares former times with Leah, ‘blear-eyed but fruitful’ and his won with Rachel, ‘fair, but barren’. From our vantage point the disappointment expressed may be hard to accept. The suggestion that piety was diligently sown cannot be gainsaid, however. Adams himself preaches not only sin, repentance and forgiveness but many other aspects of piety too.
Assurance has been identified as a crucial element in Puritan piety, both as a root and a fruit. Adams has a sermon called heaven made sure or the certainty of salvation on Psalm 35:3 (Works 1, pp 60-70) where he asserts '1. That salvation may be made sure to man. 2. That the best saints have desired to make their salvation sure.'
He carefully applies this second point, noting that there are degrees of assurance and that even ‘The wealthiest saints have suspected their poverty’ and ‘the richest in grace are yet ‘poorest in spirit’’. Somewhere he also says that ‘Sense of sin may be often great, and more felt than grace; yet not be more than grace.’ It is like when a person’s body is well but he his more aware of his finger aching. He puts it in perspective. (Puritan Golden Treasury, p 23). Assurance is not always immediate. There is also such a thing as a false assurance. Assurance comes ‘by word, by deed, and by seal’ – Scripture, good deeds and the inward witness. It is the sweetest comfort a man can know in this life. In various ways God speaks to the soul of the believer, speaking peace to his conscience and assurance of salvation to his soul.
Adams is very clear that conversion must lead to godliness. 'A sound conversion is proved by a good conversation. But tremble ye wicked; if ye have not fought in his camp, ye shall not shine in his court.' (Works 1, pp 362, 401)
'Good deeds are such things that no-one is saved for them, or without them.'
'We know there is a sun in heaven, yet we cannot see what matter it is made of, but perceive it only by the beams, light and heat. Election is a sun, the eyes of eagles cannot see it; yet we may find it in the heat of vocation, in the light of illumination, in the beams of good works.'
(Puritan Golden Treasury, pp 127, 88).
We cannot be perfect in this life but we must seek to be thoroughly sanctified (Works 3, p 78). Adams warns against the traditional triumvirate of foes, the world, the flesh and the devil (Works 1, p 401ff).
Worldliness is ‘too much oil which quencheth our lamp’; the flesh borrows the vessel of the heart and returns it ‘broken, lacerated, deformed, defaced’; the devil is a fisherman who ‘baits his hook according to the appetite of the fish'. (Cf Puritan Golden Treasury, p 290) 'then a cannibal who feeds on human flesh; a crafty fox first and then a strong lion (Works 1, pp 431 260 220 Works 2, p 211. Worth noting is Adams’ insistence that the devil does not know who is elect, Works 2, pp 53, 147).
As one would expect, Adams is a great advocate of prayer and of getting to know the all sufficient Word of God. (‘ … now to expect revelation of things by dreams were to entreat God to lend us a candle while we have the bright sun.’ Works 2, p 16). He is keen on kneeling for prayer. ‘Never tell me of a humble heart, where I see a stubborn knee.' (Puritan Golden Treasury, p 316).
'Without fear the good child may come to his kind father. … We believe in our Father, ability to give, never denying; wisdom to give, never repenting; goodness to give, never upbraiding. This makes us cry, not speak softly, as in fear, but loud, as in assurance. When the king has promised a boon, the subject comes with special security into the presence. Are we laden with sin … privy to imperfections … Do we fear some judgement … are we haunted with a temptation … full of thankfulness … ? We have the warrant of a Father, Pray, and be comforted.
'Shake off the dust of neglect from the cover, and wear out the leaves with turning; continually imploring the assistance of God’s Spirit, that you may read with understanding, understand with memory, and remember with comfort; that your soul’s closet may never be unstored of those heavenly receipts which may ease your griefs, cure your wounds, expel your sicknesses, preserve your healths, and keep you safe to the coming of Jesus Christ.'
(Works 3, p 105; Works 1, p 303).
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