the article of the resurrection was by Hymeneus and Philetus who erred concerning the truth thereof p v. 25. yet will God giue thē repentance to the acknowledging of the truth whō he will saue which by the grace of God shall spring againe out of that seede of faith that remaineth in them q Rom. 3.3 Shall our vnfaithfulnesse make the truth of God of none effect r 2 Tim. 2.12.13 It is a faithfull saying if wee deny him he will also deny vs. If wee beliue not if wee doubt and erre in some things for the time yet hee abideth faithfull and cannot deny himselfe For ſ v. 19. the foundation of God abideth sure and hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his And they who are once iustified with God being effectually called t Rom. 8.28 according to his purpose are neuer vniustified againe For howsoeuer their sinnes may be such as deserue no lesse by the law yet their persons being vnder grace in Christ u Iohn 5.24 they shall neuer come into condemnation but are passed from death to life Now * Rom. 8.10 although the spirit be life because of righteousnesse Resurrection yet the body is dead because of sinne a body of sinne and of death and therefore x Exue corpus istud quod circumfers vestimentum ignorantiae fundamentum prauitaetis vinculum corruptionis mortem viuam cadauer sensibile sepulchrum portatile domesticum surem Hermes in Pemandro the body from whence our corruption springs originally wherein it resides perpetually y Lex est non paena perire must bee dissolued the soule being separated by death or at least some way changed that it may be made a glorious body at the appearing of Iesus Christ Our z Quam deus manibus suis ad imaginem sui struxit quam de suo af statu ad viuacitatis suaesimilitudinem animauit quam incolatui fructui dominatui totius suae operationis praeposuit quam sacramentis disciplinisque vestiuit cuius munditias amat castigationes probat passiones sibi appreciat haeccine non resurget totiens dei Absit vt deus manuum suarum operam ingenii sui curam afflatus sui vaginam molitionissuae reginam liberalitatis suae haeraedem religionis suae sacerdotem testimonii sui militem Christisui sororem in aeternum destituat interitum Tertul. de resur carnis bodies are the worke of Gods hands as our soules are from him he made the first mans body of the dust of the earth and breathed into it the spirit of life and a Psal 139.15 he fashioneth our bodies belowe in the earth * Plato in Timoeo vt habet August de civ Dei 22. scribit animas non posse in aeternum esse sine corporibus Hinc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commenti sunt philosophi poetae metamorphosm * De circida Arcadescribit Aelianus quod magno desiderio sit mortuus inquiens sperare se conventurum ex Philosophis Pythagoram ex historicis Haecateum ex musicis Olympum ex poetis Homerum neither is man compleat longer then he consists both of soule and body Now b Iob. 14.15 God who hath a desire to the worke of his hands will recouer and saue the whole man make him to liue notwithstanding the malitious practise of Satan the murtherer to the contrary Whereof hee hath giuen euidence in the whole course of nature euening and morning winter and summer and in his speciall prouidence ouer his Church and people by their Miraculous deliuerances and recoueries from captiuity and desolation as it were from death therefore vsually called their c Isai 26.19 Ezech. 37. resurrection Doe wee not see how d Eccl. 1.4 one generation passeth and an other generation cometh but the earth abideth for euer as it were the common stage and theatre of nature so long as it endureth But when all parts are acted heauen and earth and all shall be dissolued For as all the parts so the vniverse the whole systeme of nature begunne with time continues in time which is the measure of motion vntill time that spends all hath spent it selfe when e Rev. 10.6 time and temporall things shall bee no more f 2. Pet. 3.13 But a new heauen a new earth eternall wherein dwelleth righteousnesse A folly it is that some aske g 1. Cor. 15 35 36. with what body shall wee come No question the same body else were it not a h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lucianus Pythagorāvena lem exponens quis emet quis esse supra homines affectat quisscire vniuersi concentum reviviscere resurrection The same body howsoeuer changed as in this life wee feed not wee slepe not but our bodies are altered our digested food supplying what nature had consumed we are not cured but our bodies are altered Physicke repairing what diseases had corrupted and wasted Insomuch that some haue doubted whether we be the same bodies in age as we were in youth As a ship is still the same that where it decaies hath new plancks clapt on vntill in every place all be changed so are our bodies And though all be dissolued into the first materials yet being againe put together by the same almighty hand which made all of nothing it is the same mans body the same body of the same soule whereby it was and euer shall be i Forma principium indiuiduationio indiuiduated howsoeuer it be widdowed for a time and wonderously changed in the end in the meane time vtterly putrified and corrupted As the first mans body who was made after the image of God and bare a maiesty amongst the creatures was changed by sinne and became subiect to manifold diseases to shame to death and yet was still the same body so through death our bodies shall haue the vtmost of that change and yet bee raised the same bodyes and changed againe k 1 Cor. 15.42.43.44 from weaknesse to power from corruption to incorruption from dishonour to glory l Phil. 3.21 for they shall bee fashioned like vnto Christ his glorious body As the pure spirits of wine or the spirits of life in a man are bodies spirituall bodies and the quintescence of any mettall or minerall extracted from the grosse elements is of a celestiall nature and yet both it and the spirits are bodies the same bodyes purified sublimated in like manner though farre more excellent shall bee the resurrection of our bodies when God hath as it were distilled them through natures great lymbecke of what forme soeuer whether through the earth or water or bowels of beasts or by fire as all that remaines at the last day and shall extract a glorious body that shall inherit immortality m 1 Cor. 13.51 We shall not all sleepe but we must all be changed some way or other n v. 4◠for as we
the just shall liue by his faith The state of Grace for it shall bee vnto him according to his faith which is of life from God the father in Christ Iesus his sonne our saviour by the Holy Ghost quickning the Holy e Habet popusus Dei plenitudinem suam quāvis magna pars hominū salvantis gratiā aut repellat aut negligat in electis tamen praescitis atque ab omnium gegeneralitate discretis specialis quaedā censetur vniversalitas vt detoto mundo totus mundus liberatus de omnibushominibus omnes homines videantur assumpti Ambr. de vocat Gent. lib. 1 c. 3. Catholique Church which is his body f Eph. 1.23 the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all A life of grace here by reconciliation and communion with God and a life of glory hereafter thorough the forgiuenesse of sinnes and resurrection of our bodies to eternall life The g 1. Pet. 3.7 grace of life in Christ worketh in vs a life of grace by his spirit For the sanctifying graces of GOD rest not in the habit but are in action h 1. Thess 1.3 The worke of faith the labour of loue the patience of hope i Heb. 11. By faith A bell by faith Abraham by faith every one of the holy men in the cloud of witnesses did some notable worke which did evidēce their faith to be indeed as they professed k v. 16. Wherefore God was not ashamed to be called their God l Iam. 2.22 Faith wrought with their works for m Heb. 11.6 without faith it is impossible to please God n Iam. 2.22 by workes was their faith made perfect For the perfection of vertue consists in action So must o c. 1.4 Patience haue her perfect worke p 1. Ioh. 3.18 So must loue be not in word neither in tongue but in deede and in trueth q Iam 2.15.16 If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of dayly foode and one of you say vnto them depart in peace bee you warmed and filled notwithstanding you giue them not those things which are needfull to the body what doth it profit r 20.26 Faith without workes is dead and so is loue no faith indeede but a bolde presumption no loue indeede but a meere pretence ſ Iam. 2.18 Shew mee thy faith by thy workes but do thy workes before God in faith By faith our selues are iustified before God by good workes our faith and profession are iustified and approved vnto men For thereby it appeares that wee are in the faith and that our faith is in God t Tit. 3.8 This therefore is a faithfull saying that they which haue beleeued in God bee carefull to maintaine good workes u Iam. 2.26 For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith whithout workes is dead also And if our faith be dead whereby wee liue how dead are we * Iud 12. twice dead plucked vp by the roots x Rom 3.4 5. C. We are justified by a liuely faith sayth Saint Paul y Iam 2. We are not iustified by a dead faith saith St Iames wherefore little children z 1. Iohn 3.7 Let no man deceiue you saith St Iohn Hee that doth righteousnesse is righteous even as hee is righteous a 1. Tim 1.14 Now the grace of our Lord is exceeding abundant with faith and loue which are in Christ Iesus b 2. Pet 1.3 According as his Divine power hath giuen vnto vs all things that pertaine vnto life godlines through the knowledge of him that hath called vs to glory and vertue Now although the whole Church and euery true member thereof whom the Father hath chosen whom the Sonne hath redeemed whom the Holy Ghost hath effectually called through sanctificatiō sprinkling of the bloud of Iesus bee holy in Gods account although God bee glorified in his Saints here vpō earth by their blessed cōmunion with him with all men in loue wherby they are also highly dignified in a manner diefied c 2 Pet. 1.4 being made partakers of the divine nature so that they doe far excell al the world besides d 1 Iohn 5.19 that lieth in wickednes e In hac vita multi sine crimine nullus vero esse sine peccatis valet Greg. in Moral Vae etiam laudabili hominū vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. l. 9. confes c. 13. Nemosine peccato Negare hoc sacrilegium est Solus enim Deus sine peccato est Confiteri hoc Deo immunitatis remedium est Ambros in Ps 118. v. vlt. yet whē all is done we beleeue confesse that we haue stil need of farther grace mercy euen the forgiuenes of our sins if by any meanes we may attaine the resurrection of our bodies to eternall life Wherfore as on the one side f 1 Iohn 1.6 If we say that wee haue fellowship with God walke in darknes we lye doe not the truth So on the other side g V. 8. If we say that we haue no sin wee deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs. But if we confesse our sins he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sins to cleanse vs frō all vnrighteousnes If any man think that being of the Church in the cōmunion of Saints hee needeth not the forgiuenesse of sins to the last let him also raise his own body frō death to life h Phil. 3.20 21. But wee looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it maybe fashioned like vnto his glorious body inheriting eternal life Which begins so soon as we beleeue i Iohn 5.25 for the houre is come that the dead heare the voice of the son of God they that heare it liue neuer ends nor shall euer be quite interrupted by sin nor death k V. 24. For he that beleeueth hath euerlasting life shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life The briefe of all is The praise of the glory of Gods grace that l Habak 2. The iust shall liue by his faith which the Prophet Habakucke receiued of God like as Moses receiued the Law namely vpon his watch-towre with expresse charge m v. 2. to write it and to make it plaine on tables And the Apostle hath giuen vs the constat thereof purposely n Gal. 3. comparing the two covenants together o v. 11. That no man is justified by the Law in the sight of GOD it is manifest For the Iust shall liue by faith p v. 12. And the Law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall liue in them q Rom. 3.27 Where is boasting now It is excluded By what Law By the Law of workes Nay but by the Law of faith r 1 Cor. 1.31 That according
therefore his will is a law to vs and our obedience is true loue vnto him And weebeing many are thereby knit together in one body holding the vnity of the spirit in this bonde of peace Wherefore as wee vowe in baptisme that we will keepe Gods holy will commandements and walke in the same all the daies of our life so by this other sacrament wee renew the same vow so often as wee receiue it repenting our sinnes past the transgressions of that righteous law resoluing and stedfastly purposing thorough Gods grace to leade a new life in all thankfull obedience vnto him and true loue and charity amongst our selues Wherevpon we receaue the blessed sacrament of Christs body blood most deepely binding our selues thereby to performe the same and in the assured faith of Gods grace and helpe that wee may walke in the strength of this spirituall food the way of life by the law prescribed vnto vs. When first the couenant was confirmed by Moses with the Israelites at Horeb The Law conditioned God gaue them the law they accepted saying a Exod. 19.8 all the words which the Lord hath commanded wee will doe and be obedient And when he renewed the same couenant with them in the land of Moab they gaue their faith that they would obey And so doe wee b Deut. 26.17.18 They avouched the Lord to be their God and so doe we the Father Son Holy ghost and God auoucheth the holy catholike Church as then he did them to be his people They promised to walke in his waies and to keepe his commandements and his iudgements as they expected his blessing c c. 27. they bound themselues with an oath and with a curse all which in effect wee likewise doe to liue as becometh his saints euen as wee expect his mercy to forgiue vs our sinnes and the power of his grace to bring vs to ternall life Wherevnto we binde our selues by vow and consignation and as it were by contesseration in the sacraments The law was not only giuen and required by God but approued accepted by them in their hearts to doe it as their mouthes professed In which respect Moses said d Deut. 30.14 the word is very nigh thee in thy mouth and in thine heart that thou maist doe it Howbeit they breake their faith giuen and their spirit was not stedfast with God a Ps 78.37 Their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his couenant But now hauing renewed his couenant as he promised b Gal. 3.7 with the children of Abraham that are by faith the holy catholike Church that they shall be his people and that he will be their God c Ier. 31.33 Lex dei in cordibus scribitur non quia per naturam praeventa sit gratia sed quia per gratiam reparata est natura August de ver a innocent cap. 258. hee puts his law in their inward parts and in their hearts he writes it euen the communion of saints thorough faith that worketh by loue For beleeuing in Christ Iesus we doe thereby acknowledge that the Law is holy iust and good Holy in respect of the things commanded else were not wee sinfull who haue disobayed nor needed wee a mediatour Iust in respect of the penalty inflicted else why should Christ haue dyed that wee might be deliuered Good in respect of the end purposed life to the doer Which Christ hath done and liues for euer and wee also by faith in him If the same minde be in vs that was in Christ Iesus to be obedient to the will of God vnto the death d Cant. 8.6 Loue is stronger then death The couenant indissoluble that neither life nor death can dissolue the communion betwixt God his church or any true member thereof Whom hee hath set as aseale vpon his heart as a seale vpon his arme to loue and to defend for euer For so hee saith e Heb. 13.5 I will neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee f c. 6.7 And being willing more abundantly to shew vnto the heires of promise the immutability of his counsell he hath confirmed his word by the sacraments in his blood g v. 8. That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye wee might haue a strong consolation who haue fled for refuge to lay holde vpon the hope set before vs. We may therefore be bolde vpon it if need be to lay downe our liues for his sake in whom our life is hid with God knowing that euen in death wee shall be more then h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.37 conquerours thorough him that loued vs. i Mat. 20.22.23 Can ye drink saith Christ of the cuppe wherof I shall drinke and can yee bee baptized with the baptisme wherwith I shall be baptized And they said we can And hee said yee shall So must all a 2. Tim. 3.12 Act. 14.22 suffer affliction some way or other that will liue Godly It is the portion of our cuppe and calling conditioned by God vndertaken by vs in these sacraments whereby we are assured that b 2. Tim. 2.12 if we suffer with him wee shall raigne with him Wee are baptized into the death of Christ And the holy communion is not only a sacrament of the grace of life vnto vs but a sacrifice of vs vnto God and a protestation of our seruice vnto him euen vnto the death after the example of Christ Iesus In c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Monumenta salutaris passionis Basil in cannonditur 1 Cor. 11.26 commemoration of whose meritorious sufferings with a thankfull remembrance thereof wee c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Monumenta salutaris passionis Basil in cannonditur 1 Cor. 11.26 se◠forth his death vntill he come d Rom. 12.1 offer vp our selues a liuing sacrifice holy acceptable vnto God thorough Iesus Christ consecrating vowing our selues whatsoeuer we are whatsoeuer we haue wholy to his seruice who hath redeemed vs. e 2 Cor. 5.14.15 For the loue of Christ constraineth vs because we thus iudge that if one dyed for all then were all dead and that hee dyed for all that they which liue should not henceforth liue vnto themselues but vnto him that died for them and rose againe f Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let vs offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruite of our lips giuing thankes to his name v. 16. not forgetting to doe good and to communicate for with such sacrifice God is well pleased CAP. II. Faith working by loue according to the Lawe The Law established by faith Gods law our prayer Faith in the Trinity denies not the vnity of God Christ the only image of God to bee worshipped by faith in his name By Prophanenesse Hypocrisie Blasphemy the name of God vnhallowed The Christian sabbath of the holy catholike Church The sabbath not
they who most presume of their workes whilest they liue are glad if they haue the grace to dye in the faith renouncing all merit of workes to fly vnto the throne of grace for mercy h Iud. 20. v. 21. And yee beloned saith Saint Iude building vp your selues on your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost keepe your selues in the loue of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternall life Yet is not our saluation the lesse certaine because the finall accomplishment thereof is expected by hope and is not presently put into our owne hands For as our faith is so is our hope i Heb. 11.1 faith being the ground of things hoped for and the reason of the hope that is in vs both of them therefore are firme and sure because built vpon the rocke Christ Iesus k Mat. 16.18 Vpon this rocke as Saint Peter beleeued and confessed Thou l v. 16. art Christ the sonne of the liuing God the holy catholicke Church is built m v. 18. against which the gates of hell shall not preuaile but that euery true member thereof liuing and dying in the communion of saints shall notwithstanding sin death attaine by forgiuenesse of sinnes and the resurrection of the body eternall life And therefore n Rom. 5.2 wee reioice in hope of the glory of God as if wee had already attained To beleeue and hope as a Christian is not as the termes are vulgarly vsed and may perhaps sound in prophane eares to haue an vncertaine opinion and doubtfull expectation which indeed can bee no better in the things of men subiect to falshood and vanity But it is to be certainely assured fully perswaded and firmely resolued o 2 Tim. 1.12 knowing whom wee haue trusted that he is able to keepe that which wee haue committed to him against that day No weake nor vncertaine hold but p Heb. 6.19 an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast entring into that which is within the vaile whither the fore runner euen Iesus is entred for vs. Faithfull hope is such an assurance q Rom. 8. as Saint Paul professeth by the helpe of Gods spirit knit together and firmely bound vp with that r 28.29.30 golden chaine of the certanity of saluation in Christ Iesus Wherevpon with a bold confidence he bids defiance to all the enimies of grace ſ v. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect c. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angells nor Principalities nor powers nor things preset nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. As our faith and affiance is more and more fixed in God thorough Iesus Christ by his spirit and approued vnto him by loue in well doing so is t Si quis credit etdiligit bene agendo prae ceptis obtemperando efficit vt etiam speret se ad id quod credit esse ventutum August de doctor Christ l. 1. cap. 37. the assurance of our saluation more and more confirmed in vs. For true u 1. Tim. 4.8 godlinesse hath the promises both of this life and of that which is to come Of this life * Mat. 6.33 Seeke ye first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all these things shill be administred vnto you And for the life to come x Pl. 50.23 To him that ordereth his conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God Therefore as wee beleeue so wee pray in hope which is our last refuge that our heauenly Father who knoweth whereof we stand in need will in his ordinary prouidence giue vs things needfull for this life to whom hee hath giuen grace first to seeke his kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Est autem duplici honoris muneris genere homo affectus quod ipsesolus poenitentiâ veniam peccatorum impetrat et eius vnius corpus quamvis mortale caducum aeternll immortale redditur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quorum alterum quod ad corpus pertinet propter animum alterum quod ad animum propter corpus consecutus est Nemesius lib. de natura hominis c. 1. And that he will freely and fully forgine vs our daily sinnes and trespasses of his meere grace in Christ Iesus remembring whereof wee are made to whom he giues this grace for his sake to forgiue one another Farther wee beleeue and pray in hope that he will guid and keepe vs ever hereafter by his spirit in the way everlasting though it please him to lead vs thorough manifold temptations and that he will deliuer vs in the end from all evill even from death it selfe and from him that hath the power thereof that is the Divell by the resurrection of our bodies to the eternall praise of his kingdome power and glory in the life to come z The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me Thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever Forsake not the workes of thine owne hands Bread the a Lev. 26.26 staffe of life Our daily bread being the most necessary of all temporall things implies the rest It was God his decree that in b Gen. 3.19 the sweat of our browes wee should eat our bread and it is the Apostles iniunction in the name of the Lord Iesus c 2. Thes 3.10 that if any man will not work he shall not eat wherevpon hee exhorteth every one d V. 12. with quietnesse to worke and to eat his owne bread Although it bee our bread our owne bread yet it is Gods gift without whose blessing e Ps 127.2 it is in vaine to rise vp early and so late to take rest to eat the bread of carefulnesse f Iam. 4.2 Yee lust and haue not yee kill desire to haue and cannot obtaine yee fight and warre and yet yee haue not because yee aske not yee aske and receaue not because yee aske amisse that you may consume it on your lusts which should bee for our dayly and necessary vse Some haue not of their own to eat g Ps 128.2 But thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands O well is thee and happy shalt thou be others haue not the h Eccles 4.8 power to eat of their own either not the health or not the heart i 5.19 this is also the gift of God And he giues it power to k Ps 104.15 strengthen mans heart and to sustaine our life from day to day Therefore it is called l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 6.11 daily bread adsubstantiall or supersubstantiall bread because being digested into our bodies it adds daily beyond its owne nature and substance thorough the blessing of God to our substance what the labour of life daily consumes What is there in
bread to make blood flesh and spirits But God giues it vertue and power beyond the nature and substance thereof to doe vs good speaking a blessing on it for our vse m Deut. 8.3 Mat. 4.4 Wherefore man shall not liue by bread only but by euery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God n 1. Tim. 4.5 Prov. 30.8 And it is sanctified and made convenient for vs by the word of o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honestum hoc insuper Deum iâ—itio comae prandii inuocari Diotogenes lib. de sâ—â—ctiltate God and prayer Yet it sustaines vs but from day to day for it is but daily bread and not as the tree of life whereof if the man had eaten hee should haue liued for euer The Manna which God gaue the Israelites from heauen it was but daily bread it would not ordinarily keepe vntill the morrow and p Ioh. 6.49 they that did eat thereof are dead Such is the condition of this life and the things thereof q 1. Cor. 15.19 And if in this life only wee had hope then were wee of all men most miserable Wherefore our r Ioh. 6.27 labour must bee not so much for the food that perisheth but for the meat which endureth to eternall life the supersubstantiall bread indeed Å¿ Cant. 8.7 aboue all the substance of our house t Ps 119.14 and to bee reioyced in aboue all substance Which Christ giues vnto vs for him hath the Father sealed u Ioh. 6.51 I am the liuing bread saith he which came downe from heauen if any man eat of this bread he shall liue for euer Gods prouidence doth not exclude ours in the vse of ordinary meanes but requires it directs and giues a blessing therevnto both in the things of this life and for a better But this is our folly we will either doe all our selues or no thing And commonly we can be content to leaue all to God for the world to come but in the things of this world we will bee our owne caruers Of the two * Luc. 16.8 the children of this world are in their generation wiser then the children of light They will provide for this life and we must provide x V. 9. that we may be receaued into everlasting habitations Wherin finding how short our store comes of such a purchase how vnworthy Gods grace we walk Forgiuenes of sins how ill we deserue thorough our owne corruption vtterly distrusting and disclaiming our selues wee flye againe vnto the throne of grace for pardon of our sins protection in temptations and rescue in the end from all evill Who can forgiue sinnes but God only against whom we sinne and doe euill in his sight For howsoeuer wee trespasse wrong Omniamandata Dei facta deputantur quando quiequid non fit ignoscitur Aug. l. 1. Retrac c. 19. and giue offence one to another which we may and must forgiue so farre as concernes vs yet can no man forgiue the sinne which is the transgression of the law but hee only who is the law-giuer He forgiues y Ps 32.5 the iniquity of our sin z Exod. 34 7. The Lord the Lord forgiuing iniquity transgression and sinne And he forgiues * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our debts the obligations of sinne penalties for sinne to whom we are so much bound in duty and by whose law we stand bound ouer vnto death a Rom. 6.23 the iust wages of sinne b Ps 49.7.8 None can by any meanes redeeme his brother or giue a ransome to God for him For it cost more to redeeme their soules so that he must let that alone for euer c Isa 43.25 But I even I am hee saith God that blotteth out all thy transgressions for mine owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes For when the offence is pardoned the d Impium est à Dto diminidiaem sperare veniam August punishment is remitted because it is the forgiuenesse of our debts the penalties of sinne When Christ cured any of their diseases he vsed to say e Mat. 9.6 Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee For they are the cause of all our maladies the remission whereof is therefore a present and a perfect remedy f Ps 103.3 4. God forgiueth all our sinnes and healeth all our infirmities so that they shall not tend to destruction in eternall death the iust wages of sinne and our due debt for the same g Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enimies we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more being reconciled shall we be saued by his life By whose grace we obtaine the forgiunesse not only of h Rom 3.25 sinnes past before grace thorough the forbearance of God but of our i Quotidianae incuâ— sionis Orabant autem vtiq iam fideles iam apostoli NaÌ„ ista oratio Dominica magis fidelibus datur Si debita illa tantummedò dicerentur quae per baptismum dimittuntur catechumenis congeueret magis orare Dimitte nobis debita nostra Aug. in Ps 142. daily sinnes and trespasses for which he hath taught vs as duely to aske pardon as for our daily bread with faith to obtaine k Rom. 5.16 For not as it was by one that sinned so is the gift for the iudgement was by one to condemnation but the free gift is of many offences to iustification euen so many and so long as we haue grace to beleeue and repent Iustification a terme in law denoting an act of the iudge not any habit in the party iustified being once passed vpon vs in grace l Rom. 8.28 according to his eternall purpose is neuer reversed but standeth more firme then the law of the Medes and Persians howsoever it be often reacted confirmed It was purposed of God to every one of his elect in his counsell from everlasting it was purchased and procured for them in the fulnesse of time by the death and passion of Christ Iesus It is published and proclaimed throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospell it is testified and applied to every penitent beleeuers conscience in the sight of God by his spirit and is sealed by the Sacraments and being apprehended by faith is often m Multò firmior est fides quaÌ„ reponit poenitentia Lactant. l. 5. c. 14. renued by repentance Whereby every poore publican that with true faith and repentance cryes God mercy n Luk. 18.14 goes away more iustified theÌ„ any proud Pharisee that iustifies himselfe o Iob. 33.23.24 And if there be a messenger an interpreter one of a thousand to shew vnto man his righteousnesse in his greatest a gonie and distresse God is gracious vnto him and saith deliuer him from going downe to the pit for I haue founde a ransome for him p Mat. 18.18 Whatsoeuer is loosed on earth it is loosed in heauen for it is God that doth it and