8. 37. That is not only to ouercome these with faith and patience but to glorie in them and reioyce that wee are counted worthy to suffer shame for his name Acts 5. 41. And whereas the naturall man doth for these especially shunne true religion and the sincere profession therof which vsually brings the crosse and manifold troubles What a singular comfort is this that Gods childe may assure himselfe these afflictions how many and great soeuer yet they shall bee so farre ftom hurting him that they shall all turne to his good many waies and therefore that he hath iust matter of ioy and thankes though not for the paine and griefe which bee bitter but for the gaine which is sweet as Heb. 12. 11. Because this is not readilie receiued the Apostle in this Scripture Rom. 5. 3 c. doth vndertake to giue sufficient reason hereof namelie this that the firme beleeuer doth know that tribulation worketh patience patience experience Tribulation bringeth patience and experience hope c. In all which hee setteth forth certaine speciall fruites which Gods children reape by afflictions Namelie these That whereas we all are by nature like vntamed Heiffers neuer accustomed to the yoke who by bearing the yoke bee made gentle and willing to put their neckes vnder the yoke and quietly to beare it so Gods children being not acquainted with afflictions be much disquieted therwith at first But afterwards being more exercised with sundrie tribulations grow more acquainted and become more willing to beare them and quietly to endure them which alone is true patience Not to be furious or sencelesse but meekely to abide vnder Gods hand and so To hold their peace Psal 39. 9. because God who cannot erre hath done it The worth of this may herein bee seene in that so few haue well learned this Christian patience From hence ariseth another speciall fruit Patience brings experience namely experience That as Mariners at the first going to sea seeing the great waues and tossing of the ship looke still to bee swallowed vp and to perish but afterward by enduring many of these stormes grow to such experience of Gods power in preseruing them that they doe not so feare perishing as before but cheerefully endure them Euen so the faithfull how so euer at the first they begin to be dismayed with the manifold troubles they meet withall corruptions within and afflictions without reproches and iniuries by men of the world not the least yet afterwards by patient enduring of these they finde by proofe that God hath made them able to beare them and graciously deliuered them Whereby they grow to bee as trained souldiers better exercised both to beare and profite by them and so to waite for a good end and issue out of them which is the next benefite here mentioned namely hope whereof it is said Experience bringeth hope Experience worketh hope whereby is meant that as in all kinde of difficulties men hauing often found helpe and release doe gather thereout hope of like assistance for time to come Euen so likewise the often proofe and experience which the faithfull haue of Gods mightie power and readie helpe in all their trials and troubles both preseruing them vnder their heauie burthens and in due time and measure easing them and in the end fully releasing them The experience hereof I say makes them hope and looke for like helpe hereafter in time of need What sweet ease and refreshing this brings to a weary heart may be seene by that common and true prouerbe If it were not for hope hart would break And to goe no further the next words makes it manifest Where it is said Hope maketh not ashamed Vers 5. Hope makes not ashamed That is when wee bee sore distressed and see no apparent meanes of escaping or deliuerance naturally wee begin to faint and to bee confounded in our selues and so driuen to hide our heads for shame as not able to abide the reprochfull speeches which vsually passe vpon men so cast downe A cleere proofe whereof we haue in Iobs case Then if there bee any true hope grounded on Gods faithful promise of helpe in due time which is imbraced by faith then I say shall we be able to hold vp our heads and say with faithfull Iob Iob 13. 15. Though he kil me yet wil I trust in him Eph. 6. 17. For which cause this grace of hope is fitly compared to an helmet 1 Thess 5. 8. wherewith a man armed dares boldly hold vp his head and looke his enemy in the face This is the benefite which the beleeuer hath in all extremities which no other can enioy For they if they be not senselesse either struggle like a wilde beast in the net or sinke downe in despaire without any comfort If this be so let it bee then acknowledged to bee no common blessing to liue by faith which besides many others brings such patience experience hope and confidence in all our troubles The true cause of all which the Apostle here laieth downe to bee this Rom. 5. 5. Because the loue of God is shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which is giuen to vs meaning that as the loue of a friend is best tried and seene in greatest need so Gods loue vnto his children is most manifest in their greatest tribulations For wheras at other times God giues to his some sweet tastes of his fatherly loue Esa 63. 9. In all their troubles he is so troubled his bowels so moued that like a tender mother bee as it were dandles them in his lap and speaks so kindly to them yea not onely bemones them but helpes them euery way as need requires that now they see plainly how tenderly he loues them which grace is wrought in them by the holy Ghost which is giuen to all beleeuers All which cōmendeth Gods high fauour to these and so the most happy condition of them all and of them alone that liue by faith All which is contained in this one scripture Rom. 5. 7. which I haue but opened and not powred out all that herein is contained Now if this one boxe of Spikenard containe such store of sweet consolations what may wee thinke is to bee drawn out of al other scriptures I dare say a large volume for to say what I haue obserued all may see who will consider it that although the Lord in great wisdome loue regarding our frailty who are not more loth to read much then prone to forget what we reade hath set downe his will in vnimitable breuity yet he is very plentifull in laying forth his exceeding great precious promises 2 Pet. 1. 4. as S. Peter calleth them All which doe containe those blessings earthly and spirituall for this life and that to come which God hath prepared for all true beleeuers who onely being the iust possessors of these I thinke it sufficiently proueth that which I
8. Godlinesse is profitable for all things hauing promise of the life that now iâ— and of that which is to come And to the same purpose is that of the Prophet Psal 19. 11 In keeping of theÌ„ that is Gods commandements there is great reward None of anie grace will denie these but not remembring or not beleeuing them and so not regarding them and being drawn away by other more desired gaine despise this the greatest gaine and neglect the meanes which bring the same The true practise then of this rule is that when we feele a backwardnes to anie dutie which we know God requireth then to stirre vp our hearts by laying before vs how we shall honor God and our profession draw on and winne others to the like obedience stop the mouths of gain-sayers procure to our selues much peace comfort and credite amongst Gods seruants yea drawe downe all needfull blessings and keepe away many sore cheâ—ke of a guilty conscieÌ„ce many reproaches in the world heauy chastisemeÌ„ts which God layes vpon his owne children for their bold neglect of duties which hee requireth If these were as they should bee well remembred and regarded it would at least make vs willing to doe our vtmost to please God which yet is not enough to make vs able to doe what we would for that which Paul speaketh of himselfe Rom. 7. 19. we finde much more in our selues That the good we would doe we doe not such is our decay by Adams fall that as wee haue no knowledge of Gods will for the well guiding of our liues till he reueale it and haue no will thereto till God make vs vnwilling so more when we haue both these yet we finde no ability to performe that which is good There is neede therefore of a third rule to direct vs 3. rule to get ability how to get this ability to doe that good which wee know and desire and seeing all our sufficiency to doe any good 2. Cor. 3. 5. thought word or worke is of God and as before vpon an other occasion was shewed Without Christ we can doe nothing Ioh. 15. 5. and I am able to do all things through Christ which strengtheneth mee as the Apostle saith Phil. 4. 13. By these and the like is euident that all our strength to performe any duty in such sort as may be pleasing to God lieth in Christ and must be from him communicated to vs that wee by it may be able to doe the will of God Now wee haue already heard that the onely way to applie Christ to vs and so to draw grace and vertue from him to doe any good worke is faith whereby as we are vnited to him so we receiue from him all needfull grace to inable vs to such measure of obedience as God wil accept at our haÌ„ds And therfore whensoeuer we feele a true desire to doe the will of God in any thing but finde no abilitie thereto as to forgiue our enemies to bee more patient vnder the crosse to humble our selues before God in fasting to pray more feruently and with fruite and more consciâ—nablie to heare Gods word c. Our practise must bee as before for mortication so now for new obedience to flie to Christ and to lay holde on him by a true faith that through him wee shall bee able to doe all things and from him receiue all grace necessarie for the leading of a godly life which is a speciall part of this great benefite wee haue by faith that being of our selues so weake vnto euery good worke by faith in Christ wee may bee strengthened in grace Heb. 12. 28 Whereby wee may so serue God that wee may please him with reuerence and gâ—dly feare In which respect also I commend it to our dailie practise that thus liuing by faith our liues may bring more glorie to God good example and profite to our brethren with sweet comfort to our own soules both in life death For the better practise whereof 4. Rule to set vpon duties the fourth rule is also to be obserued namely With this knowledge desire and faith to set vpon the duties we most faile in to put to all our strength to doe the will of God in all things and that in such manner as may bee most acceptable through Christ To this end be all those exhortations vnto holy life in the Scriptures both in the writings of the Apostles and Prophets Mat. 5. 44. as to loue our enemies to blesse those that curse vs and the like many All which though iustly by God required of all men yet indeed caÌ„not be performed without faith which is the cause why they be so seldome and that very sleightly obeyed For as some will set vpon holy duties by their owne strength and not drawing by faith vertue from Christ do labor in vain so on the other side many idle professors dangerously deceiue themselues in saying they hope in Christ for power and strength to lead a better life and yet very idly neglect those labours which God commands whereby they might attaine to more grace and better obedience so that all those rules will bee found so necessarie that not one of them can bee spared but he that looketh for the comfort of a good conscience either in the ouercomming of his speciall sinnes or conscionable practise of his speciall duties must constantly obserue these rules by which I dare affirme to say no more his gaine shall answer all his paines And thus haue I as briefely as I can and plainly vpon the former occasion shewed how a true beleeuer may attaine vnto this great grace to leade a godly life in both the parts of it in dying to all sinne and liuing to all righteousnesse Which as no other can possibly attaine vnto so neither they all who beleeue to be saued by Christ doe enioy this benefite for though they be renewed in part and in some measure doe mortifie the flesh and make conscience of some duties both of holinesse and righteousnesse without which they could not proue themselues to haue any sauing faith yet either not knowing how to liue by faith so as thereby they might shine as lights in the darke world or not practising this knowledge they be not onely dimme lights but giue out bad example liuing many waies offensiuely to the reproch of their profession griefe of the godly and small peace or comfort to their owne consciences All which might bee well auoided and the contrary blessings enioyed if this liuing by faith were brought into daily vse By all which and the former benefites of liuing by faith laid together I hope may be sufficiently seene that there is no life comparable to this life of Faith yea rather none to bee desired besides this which only hath all the promises of this life present and that which is to come And therefore to conclude this former part of the Treatise Conclusion of first
they bee most humbled come to God in Christ for pardon beleeuing that their imperfections should bee couered by the full and perfect satisfaction of Christ they might finde comfort in their weakest obedience and so bee more encouraged to serue God This then is that I would perswade all that would finde sound and lasting comfort in their praiers and other holy exercises Remedy in their best duties to beware of pride which accompanieth them and to that end euer to thinke of their failings to humble them and driue to Christ that so they may offer vp their sacrifice in faith and bee accepted On the other side when they be most deiected then to beware of despaire doubting and discouragement which bee vsuall companions of vs in the sense of our wants and to comfort our selues by faith in Christ in that wee know hee is as able and willing to cure great diseases as small to pardon our fowler falles as our lesser slippes In all which wee now see that which I intended how needfull it is to be stored and strengthened with faith that wee may finde comfort in our prayers and other holy exercises which I know is much wanting in many true hearted Christians for whose sake in speciall I write these and will now for their further comfort lay out some store of pretious promises which God our Father hath treasured vp in his word to this purpose that wee his children might bee imboldened to come with confidence to him in all our necessities Perusing these I finde that the farre greater number of them doe specially promise that God will accept our prayers grant our desires and doe not so expresly assure vs that God will assist vs and make vs able to pray which yet sundry promises doe God promiseth to make vs able to pray I will therefore heere gather such as expresly promise Gods helpe to teach vs to pray for that we are no lesse subiect to doubt of our ability to pray aright then of Gods readinesse to heare our poore and weake prayers Among all that comes first to minde which might serue in stead of all if we could hold it fast where the Apostle labouring to comfort the hearts of Gods children ouer all their corruptions and afflictions Rom. 8. 26. doth answer a great obiection which many a heauy heart makes namely this Many troubled that they cannot pray I am oft so distressed that I am not able to pray and how then may I looke for any helpe at Gods hand Thus it fareth oft with Gods children and those not of the weakest sort that their hearts bee so â—ore oppressed that they can doe nothing but sigh and groane not able to set aright their hearts to pray to God As wee reade of Hezekiah Esa 38. 14. that he like a Crane or Swallow did chatter and did mourne as a Doue not able to vtter his griefes to God The like we reade of Dauid oft Psal 32. how hee roared for griefe but could not come to make his moane to God and the like many Yea what more ordinary complaint doe wee heare made by many worthy Christians in their extremities then this to their friends O helpe me I cannot pray To this sore tentation the Apostle answers Rom. 8. 26. saying Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what wee should pray for 27. as we ought But the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings that cannot bee vttered And hee that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Wherein he freely confesseth that he and all the rest of Gods children doe know this by woefull experience that they in such cases know not what they should pray as they ought But yet for all this God hath not left vs comfortlesse for he hath giuen vs his own Spirit to succour and helpe vs as it were to beare that part of the burthe which is too heauy for vs to beare and whereas we cannot pray as we ought that selfe same Spirit shall by his power make vs able to pray with such feeling faith and feruencie as no words can expresse in such sort that God who both knowes and regards the secret desires of the heart beholding the worke of his Spirit doth graciously accept and approoue of those prayers of his children I make no doubt but this is the intent of the Apostle in this Scripture In which if there were no more is enough to comfort any poore afflicted soule against this temptation that they cannot pray In that God hath giuen vs his Spirit so to helpe vs that our poore prayers are said to be the prayers of Gods Spirit in vs which God cannot deny This I take to bee the cause why else-where we be called vpon to pray in the Spirit Eph. 6. 18. and in the holy Ghost Iude v. 20. that is as he doth teach vs not as any naturall gift can Where I note a speciall difference of true prayer from counterfeit Difference of prayers true and counterfeit which may be excellent in speech but wanting this breath of Gods Spirit it is but a dead sacrifice vnpleasing to God and vnprofitable to him that offereth it And therefore I aduise all who looke for comfort by their prayers more to labour for Spirit then speech in prayers And so much for this Scripture whereupon I haue stood the longer for that it may suffise in stead of all But seeing the Lord knowing our weakenesse hath in all ages of his Church comforted his people with the like it shal more confirme vs to heare more of these sweete promises To this may well be referred that which one of Iobs friends said to comfort him which doubtlesse was good comfort howsouer misapplyed when after some good exhortations he makes many moe gracious promises among all hee addes these For thou shalt haue thy delight in the Almightie Iob 22. and shalt lift vp thy face to God 21. and 6. Thou shalt make thy prayer vnto him 26. and he shall heare thee and thou shalt pay thy vowes c. 27. And in like manner doth another of Iobs friends say Hee shall pray vnto the Lord Iob 33. 26. and hee will be fauourable to him So Dauid in his time said For this shall euery one that is godly pray vnto thee Psal 32. 6. in the time when thou mayest be found Esa 58. 9. And the Prophet Esay makes such promises to the people in his time Then shalt thou call and the Lord will answer thou shalt cry and hee shall say Here I am So Ieremie Ier. 29. 12. Then shall yee call vpon mee and yee shall goe and pray vnto me and I will hearken to you 13. And yee shall seeke me and finde me when you shall search for me with all your heart Againe They shall come with
make our vse of all these three benefits by afflictions 1. That they be sent from God to be trialls to discover to our selues and others godly and wicked what strength of grace and sinne doth remaine in vs which is many waies profitable 2. To be effectuall purgations to wast and weaken those speciall corruptions which most hinder our soules health 3. And lastly to quicken all saving graces in vs and so every way to make vs better both to glorifie God in this life and to be glorified of him in the life to come The least of all which fruits of afflictions Vse of all these benefits by afflictions though it went alone if the profit and comfort it bringeth might be well prised would moue any good heart if lawfully they might to desire afflictions at least to be glad of them when the Lord our loving Father and wise Physitian doth send them to vs how much more then when as all these shall be joyned together should we rejoyce and blesse God for them There is no good Christian but he greatly desires to be more humbled in the sight of his manifold sinnes and to be comforted with the sweet feeling of Gods graces in him Yea much more desires he to be purged from these spirituall corruptions which take away his stomacke and strength that he can neither feed nor worke as his place requires And aboue all doth he covet spirituall graces that he might shine out in a godly life to the honour of his profession the winning of oothers and making sure his calling and election All which seeing they be procured by afflictious and hardly or never without them as that place 1 Pet. 4. 18. proveth And if the righteous be scarcely saved And this is the chiefe cause why none of Gods children are without them as Heb. 12. 6. 7. 8. me thinkes there is great reason why we should be thankfull to God for them and so labour to reape this fruit by them that we may say and sing with the Psalmist as it is sweetly expressed in the Meeter O hâ—ppie time may I well say when thou didst me correct For as a guide to learne thy lawes thy rodâ—â—d me direct So little cause haue Gods children to thinke their condition miserable because of afflictions that if we will beleeue and practise what the Apostle Paul professed and performed we must in a holy manner boast of our afflictions Rom. 5. 3. as a Souldier of his scarres got in battell And as a little before we heard 2 Cor. 12. 10. Paul did take pleasure in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses fâ—â— Christs sake Thus we see what comfort we may get out of Gods Word fitly applyed vnto vs by faith for the better bearing of all afflictions of what sort soever I might gather many other fruits of afflictions as some haue done but if all be well wayghed they may be referred to one of these three and so having sayd sufficient of the three former grounds of comfort in afflictions I will come to the fourth and last The fourth ground of comfort in afflictions which is to set out what helpe God hath promised vs in all our troubles that we may be able to beare them and in due season to giue vs a good issue out of them Concerning which it will be profitable to obserue that the Lord knowing our great weaknes to beare the crosse and how full of distrust we be that God will not be ready to helpe vs at least as we would both which are so often to be found in the liues of Gods faithfull servants in all ages as needs no further proofe the Lord I say well acquainted with this frailtie of his children hath most plentifully provided all sufficient helpe to support them and therefore made so many promises to be with them in all their troubles and succour them in all extremities that they shall never perish but in the end find a good end and issue out of them to his glory and their endlesse comfort Having pervsed these promises and gathered them out of the Scripture I may boldly say they doe farre exceed in number all the former so that it would be too tedious to set them down all I will therefore make choice of some of the chiefe that we may haue them ready for our vse against time of need Among all that is exceeding full of comfort which is written Rom. 8. 26. In which chapter the Apostle intending to teach that nothing should hinder the happines of those that be in Christ whereas there be but these two corruption and affliction hee first confutes the one from verse â— to â—7 and secondly the other concerning afflictions from verse 17. to 31. And whereas it might be obiected that though afflictions were profitable to those that could endure them yet oft they be so heauie that we cannot so much as cry to God for helpe as we ought hee answers that even then the spirit helpeth our infirmities c. meaning that when we begin to sincke as not able to stand vnder the burthen then Gods Spirit puts vnder his hand to support vs. Which is in so many words said Psal 37. 24. Though he fâ—ll he shall not vtterly be cast downe for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand Which is when hee doth by his Spirit strengthen vs with faith and patience to waite for Gods helpe one way or other either to rid vs out of our afflictions or make vs quietly to beaâ—e them so long as shal seem good to his heavenly wisedome to continue them For which cause our Saviour Christ fortelling his Disciples of many afflictions Iohn 14. 15. 16. which should befall them in the worlde among other incouragements hee oft tels them that he will send them his holy Spirit to be their comfoâ—â—r who shall be stronger in them then all their adversaries And to the same purpose 16. 33. telling them that in the world they should haue tribulation he bids them bee of good cheare for hee hath overcome the World Likewise the Apostle 2. Cor. 1. 3 4. to hearten the Corinthians to indure all troubles calleth God the God of all comfort who comforted him and all others in all their tribulations that they might be able to comfort others which are in any trouble The like is to be seene almost in all the holy Epistles in which the Saints be incouraged to suffer afflictions patiently But to proceede exceeding many be the places in which God promiseth to his people that he wil be a sure and speedy help in all troubles in due season ready to be found David had great experience thereof The booke of the Psalmes is full of those speeches God â—s my 〈◊〉 my tower my refuge my shield and buckler my health and strength and many moe all tending to this that looke what helpe any man in danger may find in any earthly meanes what soever God is the same much more
God the father mooued by nothing but his free loue to mankinde lost hath made a deed of gift and grant of his Sonne Christ Iesus vnto mankinde that whosoeuer of all mankinde shall receiue this gift by a true and liuely faith hee shall not perish but haue euerlasting life which the same Apostle expresly saith 1. Ioh. 5. 11. This is the record that God hath giuen to vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne meaning that this it is which God hath witnessed for vs to beleeue which hee that doth not makes God a lyar and shall most iustly be condemned therefore this then is the first thing in true faith to be considered that euery soule to whom God sendeth this message of the Gospell doe truely beleeue and giue credit vnto it to bee true that God hath made grant of Christ to sinners so that if he accept this grant he shall bee saued This is that faith which in schooles is called historicall because it goeth no further then to giue assent and credit to the story of that which God speaketh to be true which one may beleeue for another and therefore this cannot be true iustifying faith and this may be in those that knowe they are bidden to the wedding yet refuse to come So that though this bee necessary to true iustifying faith yet it is not sufficient therfore in iustifying faith there is required another and more speciall work namely to receiue Christ and life in him offered in the Gospell which was the second generall point to bee considered in the nature of this iustifying faith Namely that beside the assent of the mind and iudgment to the truth of the Gospell The second speciall worke of faith is to receiue Christ offered vs in the Gospell wee giue consent with our heart and will and so willingly and gladly accept Gods gift of Christ whereby indeede he is become ours and we his and so we in him be made partakers of all things pertaining to life and godlinesse 2. Pet. 1. 3. as the Apostle Peter speaketh where I would haue this specially to be marked that hee saith this is by the knowledge or acknowledging of him which I vnderstand to be by true faith whereby we know and acknowledge Christ to be ours This I the rather obserue for that I see some honestly minded herein beguiled to imagine that a man may be a true member of Christ and so be iustified before he thus actually beleeue and thereby apprehend Christ I deny not but that some weake in faith may feare that they do not beleeue and that they haue not apprehended Christ when in deede they haue apprehended him though they feele it not who may be discerned partly by their heauinesse for want of sense of faith but especially by their loue they beare to God shewed manifold waies whereof we shall here more in the triall of faith But that he who neuer apprehended Christ by beleeuing should ordinarily bee a member of Christ I cannot see sure I am the Scripture constantly speaketh otherwise as Iohn 12. As many as receiued him Gal. 3 26. to them hee gaue power to bee the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue in his name Gal. 2. 20. And to like effect often that we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus That wee liue by faith of the Sonne of God That Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith Eph. 3. 17. In which and the like many it is euident that faith is the Instrument whereby wee receiue Christ our righteousnes and life And this is the constant opinion of all found Diuines so farre as I know Thus then we see that the very nature of faith consisteth in the true acceptation of Christ proclaimed in the Gospell How faith is gotten Now followeth to be considered how this faith is to be obtained and increased that so we may liue by it wherein wee haue these two points to be obserued 1. First 2. point what is the ground of faith 1. 2. Secondly 2. how faithis hereon builded But before this blocke at which so many stumble is to be remooued That wee yet speake not how a man that hath faith may know it to bee so whereof more in his place but how one that indeede hath not apprehended Christ by faith may attaine vnto it So that here onely we seeke the causes which beget this faith not the effects of faith which only prooue we haue it Many not discerning this difference doe much mistake Causes and effects of faith differing and being asked what caused them to beleeue they say because they haue truely repented and changed their course of life which if it proceede not from faith is not so much as a sound proofe of faith much lesse can it bee any cause to drawe them to beleeue By which mistaking it comes to passe that such persons building their faith vpon their life which is subiect to many changes can neuer haue sound and stedfast faith but a staggering vnconstant opiniō at the best We haue neede therefore to looke for a more sure ground whereon to build our faith which must stand against so many and mighty stormes wherewith it is so vsually assaulted The onely firme ground of this sauing faith is Gods truth reuealed in his word The onely ground of faith is Gods truth Reason why as is plainely taught Rom. 10. 17. So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God And so likewise it is saide of the Ephesians 1. 13. That they by hearing the word of truth the Gospell of saluation beleeued which is as manifest to reason in that there is not any thing in heauen or in earth which can testifie to vs such good will in God to saue vs but wee must haue Gods owne word to witnesse this vnto vs and all little enough It is a matter so incredible that the holy and iust God who cannot abide any iniquity Heb. 2. 2. but will certainely giue to euery sinne his due punishment yet of his owne free mercy hath giuen and granted to poore sinners eternall life Therefore hath the Lord so often and so euidently spoken no lesse that hee might thereby mooue vs to beleeue as 1. Ioh. 5. 11. expresly affirming This is that which is testified That God hath giuen vs eternall life and this life is in his sonne For our further confirmation wherein it is saide vers 7. that this is witnessed both by three witnesses in heauen The first the father the second the word that is the sonne of God the second person in Trinity the third the holy Ghost which three be one diuine nature and testifie the same things as also by three witnesses on earth all which be in euery true beleeuer and none els The first the spirit the second the water the third the blood which agree in one witnessing the same things wherby are meant By the first
in all his promises yet nothing is more common then in time of tryall to distrust and feare God will not be as good as his word at least whatsoeuer is said wee feare wee shall perish We need not seeke for proofe hereof which is so recorded in the liues of the most worthy seruants of God who are otherwise highly commended for their faith hee that hath any insight into himselfe may see too much of this in himselfe how ready wee are to call into question Gods truth when God deferreth the helpe we looked for To passe by all others and to see this in the matter we haue in hand from whence is it that so few of those that bee truly humbled in the sight of their miserie who know and desire Christ yea more who haue heard and in generall beleeued the Gospell that it is the glad tydings of saluation that Christ bids al that be heauie laden to come vnto him and hee will ease them what is the cause I say that so few of these doe so laie hold on Gods word as to beleeue and to rest assured of their saluation by Christ I know no better answer then this that when it comes to our selues wee cannot beleeue God will performe his word to vs some thing or other will bee obiected by our vnbeleeuing hearts why we may not beleeue Against all which we haue no other buckler to hold out but Gods truth Psal 31. 5. as Psal 91. 4. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler which is such that hee cannot lie nor deceiue To this end it is that God is called the God of truth Reu. 3. 14. Christ the faithfull and true witnesse Ioh. 14. 17. the holy Ghost the Spirit of truth Ephe. 1. 13. the Gospell the word of truth that when our faithlesse hearts shall stagger and doubt whether that shall bee which God hath spoken we may stay our selues vpon this immoueable rocke God is faithfull 1 Cor. 19. As often it is repeated to strengthen our weake faith This then remaineth for the setling of the heart of the weake in faith That so oft as doubts arise concerning his saluation by Christ whether God so loue him that he hath giuen him his only begotten Sonne that he beleeuing might not perish but haue euerlasting life hee hath no other thing in the world to perswade him but this that God who cannot lie hath said it and therefore he may and ought to beleeue that Christ and all his benefits are his wherein the more to moue him he is to laie before him both what a great sinne it is not to beleeue no lesse then to make God a lyer 1 Iohn 5. 10. as the Apostle John expresly speaketh Ioh. 3. 18. and also what fearefull punishment it procureth euen a certaine and remedilesse condemnation as our Sauiour himselfe denounceth By these and the like considerations is true faith both first begotten and afterwards increased in all those that shall be saued which I haue more fully laid open not only for that it is the most principall matter to bee regarded concerning true sauing faith namely how he that hath it not may attaine to it But also for that it is if not the least knowne and laboured for Many seeke for markes of faith in vaine yet least attained vnto For I haue obserued many very inquisitiue for some markes of faith who neuer so much as knew any thing which might draw them effectually to beleeue And therefore now to end this point concerning the right and orderly way whereby an vnbeleeuer is brought to true and sauing faith my aduise is to all that finde their faith weake and consequently their liues much out of frame that first they take good heed whereupon they build their faith Build faith onely on Gods truth and that only vpon Gods mercy and truth reuealed in the Gospell which neuer changing are a sure foundation and not vpon their owne change which oft is deceitfull and at best variable and indeed is onely an effect and fruit of Faith accordingly shewing the strength and weakenesse of our faith and can by no meanes be made any cause thereof Thus haue we seene both what this faith is whereby the iust doe liue and by what meanes it is attained Now lest any should gather out of the former that any man may by his owne indeuour vsing these meanes attaine to faith I thinke meet to adde this that although it be Gods will and commandement to all to whom hee sendeth his Gospell Faith is not in mans power but wrought by Gods Spirit that they should beleeue receiue Christ offered vnto them and therefore it is the dutie of euery one so to doe and it is their sinne and shall be their condemnation who doe not thus as hath beene said in all respects yet such is the corruption of all man-kinde by Adams fall that not one soule hath either will or power to receiue this grace in Christ offered vnto him Rom. 11. 32. For God hath shut vp all in vnbeliefe that he might haue mercy vpon al Act. 13. 48. and so many beleeued as were ordained to eternall life Eph. 2. 8. and Faith is the gift of God Ioh. 6. 44. and none can come to Christ except the Father draw him Which is wisely disposed by God that no man might haue cause to glory in himselfe but that the glory of mans saluation may bee giuen to God From whence it commeth that besides this common fauour of saluation in Christ tendred to all in the Gospell yea besides the common gifts of the Spirit which many receiue who neuer receiued Christ by faith As knowledge both of mans misery the remedy thereof sorrow for the one and desire of the other with such others besides these I say God doth giue his holy Spirit to all that shall be saued who doth inwardly draw and incline their hearts to beleeue Gods free and gracious promises and so thankfully to accept Christ offered vnto them whereby indeed they bee truely made partakers of Christ and all his benefites and thereby bee iustified and sanctified and shall be fully and euerlastingly glorified And thus is a poore sinner by Faith made the childe of God and heire of glorie Now before we proceed to our principall intention to shew how this Iustified man may liue by his faith It shall not be lost labour to shew how this may be knowne of any How it is knowne a man hath this faith that he hath this true faith and how euery true beleeuer may be able to proue that hee doth so this certaine and infallible knowledge in any man that hee hath true faith Riseth ioyntly from the causes effects therof not from either apart as shall bee shewed Vnder the causes I comprehend all that worke of God Causes of faith wherby he worketh faith in any which standeth especially in these three things 1.
That God by his word and Spirit first inlighteneth the vnderstanding truely to conceiue the doctrine of mans miserie and of his full recouerie by Christ 2. Secondly by the same meanes he worketh in his heart both such sound sorrow for his miserie and feruent desire after Christ the remedie that hee can neuer bee at quiet till hee inioy Christ 3. Thirdly God so manifesteth his loue in freelie offering Christ with all his benefites to him a poore sinner that thereby he drawes him so to giue credit to God therein that hee gladly accepts Christ offred vnto him These three workes of God whosoeuer findeth to haue beene wrought in himselfe hee may thereby know certainely hee hath faith But without these what change of life soeuer may be conceiued there can bee no certaintie of faith and therefore I againe aduise that this bee first and especially looked vnto for our comfort wherein that none be deceiued with shewes of these in stead of substance I take these to bee true notes of soundnesse For the first of inlightening there can be no doubt For the second of sorrow seeing the causes still remaine Triall of sorrow nametie corruption and affliction therefore this sorrow must continue to our liues end though in a different manner now mingled with comfort whereas the former before faith could haue none Whereas on the other side the sorrow that quite drieth vp was neuer sound as it is to bee seene in many who being once deepely afflicted and in great heauinesse for their miserable estate afterward comming to some comfort are growen so secure and senselesse that hauing no true griefe or remorse for their daily corruptions content themselues that they were once cast downe Whose liues as they bee â—â—ule and full of blottes so their ends be oft fearefull either senselesse or vncomfortable so dangerous it is to quench the spirit in any part Againe Triall of our desire for the triall of our desires after Christ to proue that they be not sudden flashes this is a certaine marke of soundnesse that the more wee taste of Christ the more we couet him As the Apostle Peter exhorteth all that be new borne â— Pet. 2. 1 2 If so bee they haue tasted how sweete the Lord is Mat. 5 6. this is that holy hunger after righteousnesse to which our Lord Iesus promiseth blessednes which many mistake for such a desire as going before all faith hath no promise of blessednesse And great reason there is hereof why all true beleeuers should more and more thus hunger after Christ for that whiles wee liue here we receiue but the first fruits onely and we haue but an earnest pennie of that fulnesse we shall haue and therefore wee cannot be fully satisfied with that we haue receiued but still desire more Lastly for the triall of the third worke of God Triall of faith whereby he worketh Faith that any may know God hath wrought this in him in deed and in truth and not in conceit and opinion wherein many be deceiued I take this to be most infallible in the weakest of those who may know they beleeue that though in temptations they be driuen from their hold yet afterward they returne vnto their rest and finde Gods holy Spirit drawing them yet to beleeue in God because of his word which though it be weake yet it is true faith and not that wauering which hath no faith in it As may bee laid open by a plaine comparison for the weaker sort In a paire of gold weights when they bee emptie either ballance will hang wauering and not rest on either side but if a graine bee put into one aboue the other it will weigh it downe yet so as the winde or a little iogge may lift it vp but if it bee let alone the graine will weigh it downe and so hold it so is it betweene weake faith and wauering When there is any credit giuen and so any resting on Gods word after temptation there is true faith but where there is nothing but a hanging in suspence and vncertaintie that is wauering Iames 1. 7. which cannot looke to obtaine any thing as the Apostle Iames speaketh Thus by the causes is euery one to trie himselfe whether true faith haue bin wrought in him which indeed are the more certaine proofes though not so easilie seene Now followe the proofes taken from the effects and fruits of faith Proofes from effect which be more manifest but not so certaine vnlesse it bee also as manifest that they come from faith To make this plaine to those for whose sakes I write these that is weake beleeuers The principall effects of Faith be Ioy and Loue Ioy in the benefit and loue to god the author of it These bee such as a man may easily see whether he hath them in him or no. But if any man can say hee hath ioy of his saluation and loues God for it to say nothing yet of the truth of these vnles he can proue that these grow out of the tree of Faith they can no more proue that hee hath faith then fruit growing on one tree can proue another tree to bee good For we shall see that both these and many other supposed fruits of Faith are nothing lesse but are bastard fruits and meere naturall affections I meane such as may bee in a naturall man not regenerated but onlie inlightened and wrought by such a working of the Spirit as may be in a reprobate and therefore neither these nor any other change of life can bee proofes of faith further then it is manifest they come from faith The ignorance of this deceiueth many who build their faith on these whereas true fruites grow from Faith But to come to the triall of our faith by the effects thereof Triall by the Spirit which though they be many yet may be all contained vnder this one of receiuing the Spirit not as a stranger to doe some worke and so to depart 1 Cor. 6. 19. but as an Inhabitant to dwell with vs for euer 1 Ioh. 2. 27 And therefore this is set downe as the vnseparable marke of true receiuing Christ which is onlie by Faith This is manifest in the Epistle of Iohn 1 Ioâ— 4. 1. Hereby we know that wee dwell in him and he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his Spirit and to like effect in the Galathians And because yee are sonnes Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts Gal. 3. 2. crying Abba Father Againe in Galathians 3. 2. which is as manifest by all experience when God vouchsafed effectually to call any to imbrace Christ hee sent immediatly vpon them his holy Spirit which at first was in extraordinarie manner as in the Acts Acts 10. 44 but afterwards in ordinary manner Eph. 1. 13. as in the Ephesians where it is said That they after they beleeued were sâ—aled with that
put on the whole armour of God Eph. 6. 11. that wee may bee able to stand against the 〈◊〉 of the deuill 1 Tim. 6. 12 and elsewhere â— Cor. 16. 13. to fight the good fight of faith to 〈◊〉 and stand fast in the faith to quite vs like men and to bee strong In all which and many the like this is required that all they who haue by faith receiued Christ and so from and in him all needfull grace whereby 〈…〉 enabled to withstand all their spirituall enemies That they I say should manfully 〈◊〉 the Lords battels and 〈◊〉 through sloathfulnesse not cowardlinesse shrinke backe and giue way to their enemies which would bee their ouerthrowe as daily experience sheweth Heerein many faile On the other side many rashly rushing into the battell vnarmed and so are soare foiled which is the common errour of those who wanting faith both resolue to leaue such sinnes as bring them to terrour before God and shame before men and doe also many wayes bind themselues thereto as to leaue badde company dicing carding drinking and worse yet oft they preuaile not and if they doe it is farre from true mortification and so indeede are neuer the neerer to true comfort So needefull therefore it is for all that may hope for victory in this spirituall battell first to get this Armour and then to fight And thus haue I shewed the best way I know for the ouercomming of our seuerall corruptions and all other spirituall enemies which seeing it cannot bee attained to but by faith For this is the victory that ouercommeth the world 1. Ioh. 5. 4. euen our faith it well prooueth the point I intend and so commends this precious gift of faith that any who euer felt or feares the wounds of sinne and hath tasted and desires the reioycing of a good conscience whereof 2. of Corinth 1. 12. shall see cause enough to perswade him aboue all to take vp oft and againe as the word signifieth The shield of faith Eph. 6. 16. The same may be saide for the other part of sanctification namely that all to our ability to leade a godly life and comfortably to performe all good duties to God and man is no other way attained then by faith as it hath beene already and might more plentifully be prooued by Scriptures and experience if neede so required But I will onely adde this for helpe of the weaker to shewe them how by the helpe of the former rules fitly vsed they may be able in some good measure to practise all holy duties and specially such in which they most faile First 4. rules for practise of all duties euery one is to inquire and by all meanes hee may to learne 1. to know our duties what be the special duties which God requireth at his hands either in his generall calling of Christianity or speciall place wherein God hath set him and what be the gifts and graces wherein he is most weake that so hee may more earnestly labour for the attaining of them which knowledge shall bee as a light to guide him in the right way to heauen Whereas otherwise men are in darknesse and can neuer possibly leade a godly life and though they may haue some desires to take a better course yet this ignorance will so blind them they shal not find the way which is one chiefe cause why the liues of manie professing religion are so barren that little more can be seene then bare leaues of profession Most thinke it enough to auoid grosse offences and to practise common duties of religion and righteousnesse but to know how to please God in all things this is too precise and more then needes whereas the best of Gods children seeing and bewailing their blindnes do oft and earnestly seeke to God to giue them knowledge and vnderstanding Rom. 12. 1. what the good will of God is 〈◊〉 and perfect Psal 119. The example of Dauid is sufficient in this case how vnceâ—â—antlie hee prayed to God To teach him his 〈◊〉 to giue hiâ— vnderstanding who yet had as much knowledge of his duty as any other The great neede and vse of this knowledge what God would haue vs to doe in our places and in our seuerall estates of prosperitie and aduersitie may easily bee seene by all that haue any care to please God who shall find theÌ„selues to seek in many things both what to do how to carry themselues And therefore I aduise all who may looke for any comfort of an holy life carefully to examine themselues in what duties they be most failing either in not doing them or doing them amisse And for their helpe to doe as before was taught in the first rule of mortification â—ow to find out our chiefest sinnes so here to know what is the chiefest worke God would haue vs to doe and in what manner it ought to be done that this may be euer as a light to shew vs the good way wherein God would haue vs to walke This is the first rule to bee obserued for the well ordering of our whole life which though it be so necessary that there can be no good life without it yet it is not sufacient And therefore in the next place 2. rule to get a willing mind wee are to labour to get our hearts ready and willing to doe such good things as wee know God requires for wee are not more ignorant what God would haue vs to do and in what manner then vnwilling to doe either as our daily practise prooueth especially to do more then vsually is done which the Lord knowth is very poorely performed for to let passe the carnall ProtestaÌ„t hypocrite who do al to halfes and for shew this will be found in those that haue some truth that though they make conscience of some duties yet are very hardly brought to others which bee more laborious or more crossing their corrupt nature in their credit profite or pleasure Hence it is that many are so negligent and slight in reading priuate prayer meditating instructing of their families sanctification of the Sabboth so hardly brought to sobrietie and and true liberalitie But of all how seldome can the most of vs be brought to humble our selues in fasting and prayer though wee haue neuer so many and iust causes to pull vs often hereunto both for our selues and others in publike and priuate These and the like prooue this rule to bee most needefull to gette our hearts more willing to euery known dutie The way whereby this is obtained is an often and aduised consideration of the great gaine which comes by a conscionable discharge of these duties that belong vnto vs in bringing glorie to God profit to others and peace to their owne soules all which is more commonlie confessed then soundly enioyed of manie true beleeuers Of this gaine well spake the Apostle 1. Tim. 6. 6. saying Godlinesse with contentment is great gaine and chap. 4.
part wherein I haue as plainly as I can set out first what true faith is how it is gotten how any may know that they haue true Faith And secondly what it is to liue by Faith how this is attained by a wise application of Gods promises and herewith the manifold and singular benefites arising from hence I doe in the Lord with all instance beseech all such who hauing any true faith in Christ and desire to adorne it with an holy life and yet vpon beter examination of their waies doe finde their profession to haue beene of little good vse to others and of as small comfort to themselues to speake nothing of their offensiue life before mentioned I intreat all such I say but to make triall of this aduice I giue to learne to liue by Faith to this end to follow this direction here set downe till they shall bee able better to guide themselues And so my hope and prayer shall be that God will let them see such fruit of their labour as shall bring them more true comfort daily then in many daies and to some more then in any daie of their life past which I humbly beseech the Lord to grant both to my selfe and them euen for his Christs sake THE SECOND part of this Treatise containing A direction how to apply Gods promises to our particular occasions FOr the better vnderstanding and practise of this dutie of particular application of Gods promises to our seuerall necessities that so we may thereby liue by faith which is the chiefe thing by me intended in this Treatise we are aduisedly to consider the nature and kindes of these promises which be the foundation of our faith that so wee may more soundly applie them to our seuerall occasions and vses â—y Gods promises I vnderstand generally all those declarations of Gods will wherin he offers to vs in his word any good thing to enioy Gods promises what As on the other side by threats are meant those declarations of his will wherein he denounceth any euill against vs for sin Both which be plentifully set downe in the holy Scriptures to these ends that by his promises hee might allure and draw vs to beleeue and obey his will and by his threatnings hee might feare vs from sinne Gods will reuealed two waies first absolutely In all which God doth declare his will after a double manner either absolutely or conditionally Absosolutely what hee will most certainely doe any thing to the contrary notwithstanding As for example That there shall be no more waters of a â—â—ood to destroy all flesh And in this same time I wil come Gen. 9. 15. Sarah shalâ— haue a son Rom. 9. 9. which the Apostle saith is a word of promise of this sort be aâ—â— Gods promises concerning saluation made vnto the elect which cannot be made voide by any means whatsoeuer The other manner wherby God doth reueale his will is not absolute but as it is comonly said to be conditionall Conditionally which is when God declareth his will what hee wil doe if we do our part els not this conditional promise wel vnderstood may be borne otherwise misunderstood it destroies the nature of the free and gracious promise of the Gospell in this respect confounds the Law and the Gospell taking away a chiefe difference betweene the Couenant of workes wherein God promised life vpon condition of doing all that was written in the law without which condition performed on our parts God did not couenant to giue life and the couenant of grace wherein God freely promised not only life but to giue grace to receiue this life as Jer. 31. from vers 31. to 35. reade the place The like Ezek. 36. 24 c. A new heart also will I giue you c. In which and the like many is no condition required on our parts but God himselfe makes capable of this grace whom he pleaseth How these are by vs to bee applied afterwards I will shew But now seeing very many yea the most of the free gracious promises of the Gospell be propounded with some condition either expressed or necessarily vnderstod 〈…〉 wisely to consider of them as first in this and the like many the condition or dutie required is expressed Iohn 3. 15. Whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Secondly in others the dutie required for the attaining the thing promised is necessarily vnderstood Mat. 18. 11. The Sonne of Man is come to saue that which is lost Iohn 1. 29. Behold the Lâ—â—be of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world And the like many In all which Faith is necessarily vnderstood for the obtaining of the benefite promised But yet in all these Faith is no condition properly so called mouing God to promise life although in some sort it may bee called a condition because the promise of life is made to persons qualified with Faith for first faith it selfe is part of the thing promised and no man can beleeue except it bee giuen him and therefore an impossible condition to bee performed of our selues And to say as it is Faith doâ—h apply the fruite and benefite of the promise to the beleeuer who alone shall enioy the thing promised and doth not restraine the offer of grace which is generall to all to whom the Gospell comes who as they haue no faith before they heare the promise made to them so after hearing this promise made to them if they beleeue not they shall bee condemned for not beleeuing as John 3. 1â— Thus then I conceiue all conditionall promises of the Gospell are to bee taken that God doth freely offer mercie in what kinde soeuer and for the enioying thereof requires some dutie of obedience at our hands Now we must first beleeue and so obey and then enioy the thing promised so that there 〈…〉 beleeuing but all 〈…〉 promise and our obedience only is an effect of our faith and so a proofe of Faith no cause to moue vs to beleeue As for example If you forgiue you shall be forgiuen Mat. 6. 14. God freely offers pardon to vs and requires that wee beleeuing shew mercy to others As we reade in the parable Math 18. 32. I forgaue thee all the debt because thou desiredst me shouldest not thou also haue compassion on thy fellow seruant euen as I had pittie on thee So then he that beleeues to finde mercy is thereby moued to shew mercy and certainely hee that shewes no mercie in deed receiued none Besides this An other consideration there is an other consideration of Gods promises which standes in the diuers qualitie of the things promised whereof some be wholly necessarie for our saluation and offered without any restraint Simply necessarie and are so to be beleeued as Faith and Repentance Other things though good in themselues yet are not alwaies good for vs but we may be saued without them and in some case
better want them then haue them as health wealth peace and all earthlie blessings yea many common gifts of the Spirit at least the measure of them as excellent wit memorie knowledge of heauenlie things courage liberalitie gentlenesse c. all of these be promised with limitation With limitation so farre as they be good for vs and no further and so farre onely are to bee desired and beleeued Another needfull consideration of Gods promises that wee may better make our vse of them is this that God doth proclame in the Gospell his Sonne Christ and all his benefites generally to all Generall promises offered to all and euery soule to whom the Gospell comes so that euery one who heareth the Gospell ought to beleeue which if he doe not which none can without speciall grace yet this is his sin and shall be his condemnation for wilfull refusing mercie offered And therefore euerie one that will not perish must beleeue that there is such mercie in God as he offereth and that God is able willing and faithfull to performe his promise that so beleeuing hee may enioy the benefite of which otherwise hee depriueth himselfe This therefore I doe before hand make knowne that seeing many worthie promises be thus generally propounded and set out that wee might by beleeuing bee made partakers of Christ therefore none doe shut out themselues and so bring vpon themselues more iust damnation as Iohn 3. 18. is plainlie expressed Hee that beleeues not is condemned alreadie ver 19. This is the condemnation that light is come into the world c. There bee also many speciall promises made to speciall persons performing such duties as to Faith and trust in God to confession of sinne to prayer and so to all obedience for God requires no dutie but there is a Reward belonging thereto though not alwaies expressed which reward though it may moue the heart to desire it yet it cannot beget Faith but the truth of the promiser must draw vs to beleeue and our beliefe of hauing the reward which we desire will moue to obedience And therefore euerie one who heares such rewards promised must bee thereby moued to beleeue Secondly to obey as was before said These well considered will better guide the weaker sort to applie and make the right vse of all the promises in the Scripture which may any way concerne them Now then because these promises be exceeding many wee must needs bring them to some order and that as plaine and short as may be lest the weaker memories be ouer-loaden and so their vnderstanding confounded by many diuisions as is too oft seene I cannot thinke of any more easie way to teach the full vse of our faith in euery part of our liues then to laie open the most principall matters in which we are most subiect to doubt and feare that seeing our diseases we may more fitly applie the remedie Ouerlooking the whole course of life Order I obserue these sixe speciall occasions of doubting wherein we haue most need to be releeued by Faith 1. First and aboue all 6. Choise heads we are most subiect to doubt whether we be in the state of grace and so of the number of those that shall be saued by Christ 2. Secondly how wee shall be able to ouercome our strong corruptions and temptations 3. Thirdly how to get grace to praie heare the word and to performe all duties to God and man in faith so as God will accept them 4. Fourthly how to endure and profite by all afflictions and persecutions 5. Fiftly how to be prouided for of all things needfull for this naturall life 6. Sixtly how wee shall hold out to the end All which may bee drawne to two heads first for our spirituall life secondly for this bodilie life In both which were wee so strengthened in Faith as to rest vpon God for all sufficient releefe I well see not what might be much wanting to make vs reioyce alwaies in the Lord and sure I am no other state in this life herewith were to be compared Let vs therefore come to particulars and see how in all of these wee may gather out of Gods word strength of Faith and so comfort to our soules for the better finishing of our warfare in this life and more full assurance of our finall victorie and glorie hereafter in and through our Lord Iesus And now to begin with that First point wherein we liue by Faith is for assurance of our saluation which as it is first in order so is it in degree aboue all to be most sought for seeing vpon it all the rest doe depend and yet we are vsually in nothing more wanting namely to be sure of our saluation by Christ vnder which I doe containe especiallie our Iustification by which we be made Gods children All which as wee haue alreadie heard is to be had alone in Christ and to be made ours only by Faith Titus 3. 5 not by any workes of righteousnesse which wee haue done Whereof although there hath beene in the former part of this Treatise so much said as might suffise for this point to shew how this Faith is attained yet seeing the Lord hath left vs so many promises in the holie Scriptures speciallie in the new Testament wherein Christ who was before shadowed in Types is more cleerelie reuealed for which cause I doe chiefly cite these And seeing this is my maine scope to teach the weake beleeuer how hee may by these promises dailie nourish his faith specially in time of tentation I hope it will be found no lost labour to gather some store of these promises and to shew the right vse of them To come then to the practise of this first point how wee may dailie come to more certaintie that wee bee reconciled to God and so his adopted children and heires of saluation we are to remember Double â—ertentie that there is a twofold certaintie or assurance of Gods fauour 1. Of faith one the certaintie which comes by Faith alone 2. Sense the only staie wherof is Gods word The other is the certaintie of sense when as we haue some spirituall feeling of Gods fauour manifested to vs by his manifold graces bestowed on vs which be so many tokens and testimonies of his Fatherlie loue A cleare resemblance whereof may bee that which Ioab said to Dauid 2 Sam. 14. 22. To day thy seruant knoweth that I haue found grace in thy sight my Lord O King in that the King hath fulfilled the request of his seruant Wherein wee see Ioab was more assured of the Kings fauour by granting his request Both these assurances be expresly coupled in that one sentence of the Apostle Iohn 1 Iohn 2. 3. And hereby wee doe know that wee know him if wee keepe his Commandements Meaning that the conscionable indeuour to keepe Gods Commandements makes vs to know certainely that wee truely beleeue and haue the true certaintie of
to beleeue and for an example to set before them Gods dealing with the Ephesians of whom the Apostle saith Eph. 2. 3. That when they were dead in trespasses and sinnes which is as bad as may bee yet hee heapes more of their wofull condition verse 2. 11. 12. yet these were quickned in Christ so likewise the Colossians Col. 1. 21. being before their conuersion strangers and enemies because their mindes were set on euill workes were reconciled to God c. And to say the truth so is it with all that bee conuerted as Paul testifieth of himselfe and all other beleeuers before their effectuall calling that they had their conuersation in times past in the lusts of their flesh in fulfilling the will of the flesh of the minde and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others All which if a poore sinner shall consider that others in as bad a state as he and many farre worse were receiued to mercy and that God doth in mercy as freely offer it to him as them and is as faithfull as euer to performe what he saith this doubtlesse will in time moue him to expect like mercy at Gods hands if hee shall with patience waite the Lords leisure and neuer giue ouer earnest supplication to God to draw him and daily meditation on Gods mercy Thus will I leaue this point hauing said more then I purposed Peace only I desire to be considered that vnder this reconciliation I containe that peace which Christ makes betweene God and vs whereof Rom. 5. 1. Eph. 2. 17. and elsewhere oft that it may bee referred to this head Now we come to the second fruite of our Iustification which is Adoption Adoption whereby I vnderstand that high fauour of God whereby hee maketh those who be iustified by Christ and so reconciled his owne children and heires of all his blessings If Dauid thought it no small preferment to bee sonne in Law to King Saul 1 Sam. 18. 23. what may bee thought of this And therefore the Apostle Iohn calleth all to an admiration of that vnspeakeable loue of God in calling vs to be the sonnes of God 1 Ioh. 3. 1. Wherein we haue to consider not only the excellencie of this estate but the certainetie of it without which we could haue no comfort by it This certaintie appeares as in this that God hath called all true beleeuers to be his sonnes so further in the next verse where he saith Dearely beloued now are we the sonnes of God though as he saith is appeares not what wee shall bee To this purpose well serueth that gracious promise which the Apostle citeth out of the Prophet Hosea And it shall be in the place where it was said vnto them Rom. 9. 26. yee are not my people that there they shall bee called the children of the liuing God So likewise when the Lord promiseth to such as shall separate themselues from the wicked And I will bee a Father vnto you 2 Cor. 6. 18. and yee shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almightie Reu. 21. 7. Againe Hee that ouercommeth shall inherit all things And I will be his God and hee shall be my sonne these promises must be the cause of our faith and our faith the cause of our obedience as hath beene said And therefore it is said Yee are all the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus Gal. 3. 26. And yet much more to our present purpose is that excellent Scripture Gal. 4. 4 5 6 7. which containes much for the strengthening of our faith in this whole point of the assurance of our saluation therfore I rehearse it all But when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman and made vnder the Law that hee might redeeme them which were vnder the Law that we might receiue the adoption of sonnes And because ye are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts which cryeth Abba Father Wherein to passe ouer all the rest this is euident that a maine end why God sent his Sonne to redeeme vs miserable sinners who are by nature vnder the curse of the Law was this that wee might by this redemption by Christ bee made Gods children and as the Apostle saith Rom. 8. 17. If children then also heires euen the heires of God and coheires with Christ as it followeth in the former Scripture Gal. 4. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a seruant but a sonne now if thou bee a son thou art also an heire of God through Christ If this be so as the deuill himselfe cannot denie who can sufficiently admire and magnifie the bountifulnesse and loue of God to man Vse by so great a price to purchase so high a dignitie Tit. 3. 4. as the Apostle John calls it that wee should be the sonnes of God Ioh. 1. 12. and partakers with Christ of all his glory in his Fathers kingdome But me thinkes I heare some one say It is true this is a most blessed estate if a man might bee assured it were his owne but seeing the Scripture oft witnesseth that they be but few who attaine this fauour Obiection how may I who am so vnworthy so full of sinne and voide of grace euer hope to bee a partaker hereof This beeing so great an obiection and so common whereby many be kept from beleeuing it is meete to be well answered It hath two partes first that so fewe come to bee Gods children to which I answer first the fault hereof is not in God who as oft hath beene said hath so largly proclaimed life in the Gospel to euery sinner Again if there were an almes of great value cast among many which a few onely could enioy what scrambling is there who could get it A memorable story of late yeares I will relate to be a witnes against all such wicked seruants Mat. 25. 26 and slothfull as our Sauiour calls them who hearing that a few shall bee saued will let others striue for it and be content to goe without it themselues which is indeede and so the Lord will count it a flatte despising of his mercy offered vnto them A rich woman gaue at her death a dole of sixe pence to the poore that came to Leaden Hall in London for which there was such striuing that many were troden to death how shall these rise in iudgement against our dainty idle ambitious couetous and voluptuous worldlings who euery one in their kinde striue extreamely for their desires but take no paines to be saued But to leaue these and to come to the second part of the obiection which concerns a better sort and farre neerer saluation who be kepr backe by their vnworthinesse whom as I much pitty for their vncomfortablenesse so can I no lesse blame for their ignorance that after so long preaching of the Gospell wherein all the mercies of God be
to God mâ—st attaine this by faith without which as all we doe is sinne Heb. 11. 6. so the Scripture speakes plainely Without faith it is impossible to please God And yet how few be they who haue attained this grace so to liue by faith as thereby to drawe from Christ continuall increase of spirituall strength better to performe all holy obedience and daily to get more comfort that this their obedience shall bee acceptable to God! Two branches of this 1. how to get grace 2. how to be accepted Wherein wee haue these two speciall branches to bee considered How we may get this grace to leade a godly life or how wee may haue comfort that this shall be accepted For the former Some chiefe failings in euery commaÌ„dement that wee may better see how vnable wee bee of our selues to performe all holy obedience and so bee more willing to embrace the remedy I desire euery one carefully to examine himselfe by the Lawe of God how exceedingly he faileth in euery one of them 1. As for example in the first commandement In not walking with God not resting vpon him for relief in all his necessities nor so delighting in him as to count nothing too deare for him and that he is not more afraid to displease God then any in the world besides 2. In the second commaundement how slacke and slight hee is in all the worship of God both priuate and publike as namely in priuate praier which yet for the most part is in greatest vse As for reading the scriptures and other godly bookes how seldome meditation alone and conference with others how little thought vpon So likewise for the publike what carelesse and vnfruitfull hearing praying singing and receiuing of the Sacraments 3. In the third commandement How backeward he is lifting vp the name of God so as he might by all his behauiour bring God into better esteeme with those with whom he conuerseth 4. In the fourth commandement What adoe he hath to keepe his whole man imployed about the true sanctification of the Lords Sabbath In all which whosoeuer shall conscionably consider his waies I nothing doubt but he shall see iust cause to complaine of his want of faith whereby alone hee should receiue power from Christ and his Spirit much more effectually to performe all these holy duties to God The like defect shall be found vpon due examination in all duties of righteousnesse in the second table which God requireth both in regard of our selues and our neighbour As in the fifth commandement I wish euery one duely to waigh how badly hee dischargeth the dutie of his speciall place either in the Family Church or Common-wealth both such as are set aboue others and such as be below gouernours and gouerned and then he shall well see what neede he hath of faith to enable him to a better performance of those duties which his place requireth 6. In the sixt commandement How carelesse he is both in auoiding those things which hurt the life and health of body and soule both of himselfe and others and in vsing all good meanes for the preseruation of both And much more wanting in bearing and forgiuing wrongs in louing his enemies and ouercomming euill with goodnesse 7. In the seauenth commandement likewise What little watch and meanes are vsed to keepe both soule and body chaste and so to auoide all allurements to vncleannesse soberly vsing all our senses and their delights 8. In the eight commandement How hee failes in getting his goods iustly and so vsing them holily to Gods honour mercifully to the releefe of his neighbour and wisely to his owne good of soule and body 9. In the ninth commandement How carelesse he is as to auoide all blemishing of his owne good name or his neighbours any manner of way and so to preserue either and to recouer them being wounded by such meanes as God hath appointed 10. In the tenth commandement How hardly he can bring his heart to loue his neighbour as himselfe and to be as loath to hurt him as his owne selfe and to seeke his neighbours good as his owne Thus haue I briefely drawne out of the Commandements some of the chiefest duties which we cannot deny but that as wee are bound to performe them and desire so to doe so we faile much in the practise of them neither possibly can we doe better till we receiue grace from Christ to enable vs thereunto These being so manifest I hope I shall not neede to say any thing more to perswade any true Christian to labour for the increase of this pretious gift of faith whereby he may get power from Christ better to obey God in all that he shall require at his hands And therefore I would now set vpon this worke which is my chiefe intent to gather some speciall promises and to shew the right vse of Faith for our helpe in this behalfe But that I remember there is an other branch of this matter 2. Branch of this third point how our obedience may be accepted namely how we may doe all our workes in faith that God will accept thereof Wherein it will be no hard matter to shew that we are for the most part as much if not more failing then in the former as both reason and experience will prooue For a meere naturall man voide of all sauing grace may be drawne by selfe-loue for his owne good or by feare of danger that might befall him to doe many good things Mark 6. 20. as wee reade of Herod 2 King 10. 30. Iehu 2 Chron. 25. 2. Amaziah who did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a perfect heart But to bee perswaded vpon good ground that God will accept our weake and sinfull obedience for perfect as if it were without fault this requires true grace yea a greater measure then many a weake beleeuer can attaine From hence it specially ariseth that sundry true hearted Christians Many discouraged by their infirmities very conscionable in their conuersation be yet much discouraged and by reason of the infirmities of their best duties haue little comfort in any thing they doe and so loose if not all yet much fruit of great labour so that it cannot be but welcome instruction to them to heare and learne how they may be assured that their weake obedience shall be pleasing to God as if it were without fault In both which I will doe my best to draw out of the welles of saluation the holy Scriptures such sweete promises as shall abundantly satisfie the thirstie soule whose chiefe desire is nothing more then to haue grace whereby they may serue God acceptably with reuerence and godly feare Heb. 12. 28. And first to begin with the former How wee may be sure wee shall want no grace that we may assure our selues wee shall not want any needfull grace for the leading of a godly life the Lord hath
and experience prooue then no meruaile that so few attaine to this excellent grace of reioycing when faith it selfe is so weake if not wanting I do wish therefore all such to thinke with themselues what the Lord should intend in making so many promises of this one thing but to make vs see these two things first that there can be no holding out in a Christian course without this ioy secondly that by reason of the many euills that befall vs in this life it is very hard and so very rare to get much more to keepe this ioy that by both these they may be stirred vp to labour to enioy this ioy of the Holy Ghost wherby they may finde what is the excellencie of this estate aboue all the estates in the whole world besides and be so far from enuying the wicked in their greatest prosperity as rather to pitty them for that like fooles and children they forgoe such treasure for very toyes and bables Now the way to attaine this ioye is besides earnest praier vnto God for it to bee much in meditation as vpon the manie and most iust causes God hath giuen to all beleeuers to reioice so also vpon these excellent promises wherein God hath bound himselfe to worke this grace in them by his holie Spirit for if we well weigh them all we shall see that the Lords meaning is not onelie to giue them matter of reioicing but whereas it too oft falles out that they who should reioice and haue good good cause so to doe bee so held downe with the burthen of corruption or affliction that they cannot lift vp their hands with ioy but waste their daies in sorrow This is also Gods worke to open their eies to see and to mooue their hearts and drawe them by his Spirit to be affected with his fauours that they with the Prophet Dauid may finde more ioy in the light of Gods countenance then the wicked haue in all their prosperity And thus much for this point how a true beleeuer may attaine this blessed estate of liuing ioyfullie what euer doth befall him which how much it is to be desired all may see though they bee fewe who take the right way to get it The next grace of the heart which God requireth of all those Of the loue of God whom he hath adopted in Christ to bee his children Deut. 6. 5. is that they should loue him with all their heart with all their soule with all their might which that wee ought to doe is not denyed of any except Atheists people without God but of those that yeeld it ought to be there bee in generall two sorts one that deceiue themselues in thinking they doe well loue God when as indeede they doe not truely and heartily loue him but onely say they loue him or if they doe it is but very slightlie and carnallie because all goes well with them Some say they loue God and doe not who are to bee conuinced by their loose liues and little conscience to keepe Gods commaundements that they doe not as they say truely loue God And these especiallie are to bee vrged by the many commandements of God to loue him sincerely and feruently and to bee mooued hereto by these weighty arguments which are so plentifully vsed in the holy scripture to perswade vs vnfeinedlie to loue God There is another sort who looking into their liues and there finding so many infirmities and failings in all duties to God and man Others feare they doe not loue yet doe doe thence conclude they haue not the loue of God in them and thereby be much kept downe both from that comfort and confidence they might haue in their holy profession These be the persons with whom I chieflie deale who haue neede to be hartened first by this that the sight of their want of loue to God Comforts to such as grieue for want of loue breeding in them heartie griefe for the same is an euident token there is some true loue in them else would they not be so disquieted for want of this loue of God And secondly this must comfort them that hee who hath giuen them to will and desire this grace Phil. 2. 13. 1. 6. will also giue them ability to doe and hee that hath begun the good worke will also perfect it for so is his promise yea he hath said at least to all and euery such And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart Deut. 306. and the heart of thy seed to loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule that thou maiest liue which one promise if there be no more is al-sufficient to perswade those that will beleeue God on his word that God who knowes how polluted our hearts be and vnable to loue him so throughly as we ought will cleanse our hearts and so sanctifie them that wee shall bee able by his grace so to loue him as hee will approoue It is onely vnbeliefe which keepes from that holy boldnesse which made Paul to say I can doe al things through Christ who strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. Although I doe not reade any other so expresse promise that God will make vs to loue him yet seeing the manifestation of Gods loue to vs doth as certainlie breed loue in vs to him again as the kindling of a fire wil bring foorth heate therefore all the many testimonies which God giues of his loue to vs must be so many perswasions that wee shall loue him Therefore it is said We loue him Vse because he first loued vs. Let vs therefore get as many arguments of Gods loue to vs and doubt we not but it will kindle in vs some like loue to him againe Likewise all the rich rewards which throughout the Scripture bee promised to those that loue God are so manie incouragements to this duty and so much for this The next is the feare of God God promiseth to make vs feare him whereby speciallie I vnderstand that holy affection whereby wee bee made so to stand in awe of God as to bee very vnwilling to displease him and on the other side to be as ready to please him both in eschewing euill and doing good How excellent a grace this is of what singular vse in our whole life how oft and earnestly it is commanded how practised by Gods worthy seruants and how wanting in many professours and weake in others it is all these though worthy good consideration yet seeing they would carry me too farre from my purpose I passe them by and will bend my speech to such as knowing all these â—eele and complaine of the want of this grace and desire it and labour for it by often prayer and other holy meanes yet through weaknesse of faith cannot attaine to such a measure of this feare as might keepe them in such awe that they durst not either doe that which God forbids or leaue vndone that which he commands
speciall blessings promised to the Lords people if they would hearken to his voyce and obserue and doe all his commandements and to conclude with that sweet promise Psal 84. 11. For the Lord God is a Sunne and shield the Lord will giue grace and glory no good thing will hee withhold from them that walke vprightly Out of these promises and the like many Vse we may boldly assure our selues that although by reason of our corruption still dwelling in vs we can neuer offer vp any sacrifice to God without blemish and spot for which God might iustly reiect all which we offer vnto him yet wee offering them vp in the name of Christ they shall be accepted and rewarded Were wee well perswaded heereof it would put life into vs and make vs performe all holy duties much more cheerefully and constantly which through want of this faith are at least more vncomfortably performed by vs. I leaue the deeper consideration of both these to the conscience of euery one who will take triall of himselfe namely what small comfort he findes in any of his spirituall seruices and on the other side what a comfort it would be if he might be assured that God would both assist him and accept them at his hand Whereof seeing he hath God so firmely bound by promise that he cannot without great sinne wrong to God and to his owne owne soule call this into question I therefore exhort all who see their weakenesse in this kinde to take speciall notice of these and such like promises and so euery one apply them to himselfe in all time of neede that he may more cheerefully set vpon all holy duties and more conscionably performe them to the glory of God and his owne comfort and the good incouragement of others This which hath beene said in speciall for prayer and so in generall for all our sacrifices may well bee applyed to the Word and Sacraments yea to all priuate exercises of religion yea to all workes of mercy which be all of them sacrifices which God hath commanded and promised to accept at our hands Yet seeing woefull experience bewrayeth that too too many and those not of the worst sort doe finde small comfort in the ordinary ministery of the Word and receiuing the holy Sacraments Word I will doe my best indeauour to redresse this sore euill and shew how any who will bee guided by Gods word may more cheerefully set vpon these holy duties and so reape more fruite and comfort by them I cannot be ignorant of this that there be many causes of this vnfruitfulnesse and vncomfortablenesse in these holy seruices of God both in the Minister and people especially in the preaching of the word when he doth not apply himselfe to the capacitie and best edification of the hearers wherein there is much failing many waies and this not the least that where many good doctrines and vses are deliuered yet there is not such a conuincing of the conscience as might constraine the hearer to confesse his guiltinesse and to make conscience to yeeld better obedience to that which is taught him In the people also there is great carelesnesse in preparing themselues before they come dulnesse and wandring of minde when they bee at the word with like neglect of meditating on what they heard By any of which much more by all the Word is made vnfruitfull But to treat of these is beyond my scope and matter intended which is chiefely to helpe such as uing a true desire care to profit by Gods holy ordinances yet be so discouraged by their many infirmities in the vse of them that they haue small comfort in them and would if they durst forbeare the vse of them The principall cause heereof which I obserue is this that they too much looking into themselues where they finde no abilitie to do what they would and not looking sufficiently to God in whom is all their helpe they enioy not that fruit and comfort in Gods seruice which they desire For remedy whereof I know no better way then to bee acquainted with Gods promises made to such as shall hearken to his Word and receiue the holy Sacraments the seales of the Word that by these they may be cōforted that God will blesse his owne ordinances to their edification and saluation First for the hearing of the word that which the Prophet Esay speaketh might suffise to perswade any who will giue credite to his report that it shall not be lost labour to hearken to Gods word The place is worthy speciall obseruation Esa 55. 1. Hoe euery one that thirsteth come yee to the waters and he that hath no money come yee buy and eate yea come buy wine and milke without money and without price Wherefore doe yee spend money for that which is not bread 2. and your labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently vnto me and eate yee that which is good and let your soule delight it selfe in fatnesse Encline your care and come vnto mee 3. heare and your soule shall liue and I will make an euerlasting couenant with you euen the sure mercies of Dauid In this Scripture to passe by many other profitable matters which may be collected these for our purpose must bee obserued First how freely the Lord offereth sauing grace to such as haue none nor any thing whereby they might purchase it Secondly he setteth out the way wherby they may enioy it namely a diligent hearing and beleeuing Gods word To which end hee thirdly makes most sweete promises that their soule shall liue that is they shall be quickned in Christ and in him the seede of Dauid bee made partakers of those mercies which shall neuer decay From hence what encouragement may any poore soule take to hearken to Gods word when hee may vpon so good ground assure himselfe that hereby hee shall attaine vnto saluation and all needfull graces for this life This is notably confirmed by all these Scriptures which testifie That the word is able to saue our soules as Iam. 1. 21. Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse and receiue with meeknesse the ingrafted word which is able to saue your soules So Paul exhorting Timothy to many excellent duties among the rest giues this 1 Tim. 4. 16 Take heede to thy selfe and vnto the doctrine continue therein for in doing this thou shalt both saue thy selfe and them that heare thee Againe speaking to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Act. 20. 33. saith And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you vp to giue you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified So likewise to the Corinthians hee saith 1 Cor 1. 21 It pleased God by the foolishnes of preaching to saue them that beleeue All which Scriptures and many other to like effect Vse doe euidently confirme vnto vs that as there is no saluation
worke of grace in vs will never giue it over till he hath fully finished it Heb. 12. 2. for as he is the author of our faith so is he the finisher of it Ioh. 10. 29. And he is stronger then all so that none shall be able to plucke vs out of his hand Be then of good cheare thou poore soule who findest some worke of grace begun in thee yet feeling thine owne infirmities and oft oppressed with many and sore tentations and beholding or hearing of the fals of many great professours art much shaken and filled with feares of falling away for assure thy selfe 1 Pet. 1. 23. that being borne againe not of corruptible seeâ— but of incorruptible by the word of God which liueth and abideth for ever it is not possible thou shouldst perish or ever loose that faith and grace which is begun in thee neither canst thou sin vnto death as I vnderstand the Apostle 1 Iohn 5. 16. seeing this immortall seed remaineth in thee And this I will adde for the comfort of all such as be troubled with these feares that they shall never hold out to the end and thereby be stirred vp to be more diligent in the vse of the meanes ordained for their growth in grace and perseverance therein that I never did know or heare of any such to fall away but vsually they who finally fall away are such as be secure and presume of Gods mercy that they shall stand when others fall and take this withall that then we be strongest when we be weakest that is when feeling our own weaknes and distrusting our selues we run to God and relie vpon him in all our necessities which is that I haue laboured to effect in all this treatise The summe whereof I will in few words set downe as for the helpe of memory so for the quickning of our spirits more to labour for this happie life by faith which both in life and death will be our chiefe comfort For so much as the liues and deaths of the most professours of Christian Religion doe shew that few attaine either that comfort of salvation or conscience of holy conversation which God hath prepared for true beleevers My maine scope hath bin to redresse this sore evill and to this end I haue shewed that this blessednesse is enjoyed onely by living by faith and what saving faith is how it s gotten and how we may know that we haue it both by the causes and effects ioyned together not seperated Wherein seeing many be deceived on either side some presuming others mistrusting there be plaine markes of soundnesse set downe whereby every one may try himselfe In the next place we are taught how to liue by faith herein what it is to liue by faith and how this is obtained which is by due application of Gods promises whereto is required serious meditation and prayer wherin seeing few be so fervent as in this case ought to be the singular gaine hereof is largely layd downe both for consolation and for reformation of our liues and herein foure rules which be of excellent vse The second part of this treatise is a direction how to apply to our particular necessities Gods promises which being of divers sorts absolute or conditionall simply necessary or with limitation generall or speciall are all accordingly to be considered All of these being so exceeding many to bring them to some easie order for our better vse of them all they be drawne to six heads to which all may be well referred The first whereof concernes the assurance of our salvation by Christ herein first such generall promises as containe all the benefits by Christ In the next place is more specially shewed how we may be more assured by faith of our iustification in both the parts thereof 1. the forgiuenesse of sinne 2. the imputation of righteousnesse And likewise of the fruits of these which be 1. our Reconciliation 2. our Adoption 3. hope of glory For further proofe that we be Gods children we haue assurance by sense when we see the spirit of God working in vs such graces as cannot be in truth in any but such as shall be saved Among which 1. Faith it selfe is chiefe 2. The gift of the spirit 3. Sincere obedience 4. Promises made to many particular graces as to the loue of God and of our neighbour to the feare of God And so to all other fruits of faith which be markes of salvation And because many weake yet true beleevers haue no feeling of their faith and thereby be sore discouraged there be foure markes of true faith where it cannot be seene Sundry other promises of Gods favour to strengthen our faith The second generall head of these promises for the strengthning of our faith concerneth the mortification of our corrupt nature wâ—erein our faith being so weake we haue manifold incouragements to assure vs of a full and finall victory The generall promises that God will cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnes may suffice for all particulars The third generall head of promises is to assure vs of all needfull grace to lead a godly life herein 1. how to obtaine this grace 2. to assure vs our weake obedience shall be accepted In what speciall duties in every Commandement we be most failing Generall promises that we shall want no saving grace with the right vse of these For our further helpe God hath made many promises of particular graces 1. that he will teach vs. 2. that he will set our hearts in frame 3. that he will giue vs faith trust hope ioy which few attaine to for want of faith to loue and feare him with the right vse of all Whereas we fayle much in all holy exercises God promiseth he will both assist vs and accept vs in them as in prayer few prayers made in faith This is to be referred to all spirituall Sacrifices Whereas there is much vnfruitfulnesse in the exercises of the Word and Sacramants even in such as haue true grace through want of faith the remedy is to apply Gods promises which be many especially when they goe to these duties The Sacraments be much more abused the remedie is to consider Gods faithfulnesse in the seales The fourth head concerneth afflictions whereby many be discouraged no helpe but by faith Foure grounds of comfort 1. All afflictions come from God and that to all of his children 2. In what manner God afflicteth his most wisely most lovingly his wisedome is in the meetnes of the correction and in the just measure and continuance thereof Gods loving tender dealing with his is plentifully set out vnto vs for our comfort 3. the excellent ends and fruits of afflictions generall is blessednesse 3. speciall benefits by afflictions 1. they be trialls of our strength and weaknesse many iudge amisse and be misiâ—dged by others 2. benefit by afflictions is we be purged from our corruptions 3. by these Gods graces in vs be quickned specially faith and patience All
which benefits being so desired and not attained without afflictions should make vs reioyce in them 4. comfort in afflictions God will helpe vs and deliver vs. The fift head is that we shall not want any earthly blessing needful 1. generall promises 2. particular 1. long life 2 health 3 wealth vnder welfare many other be contained 4. good name 5. and lastly for our posteritie â— that God will increase them 2. abundantly blesse them The sixt and last head of promises for our living by faith is for Perseverance which being not onely doubted of but gaine sayd God hath spoken much for our comfort on which we are oft to meditate that we may hold out to the end and so overcomming we may enioy al those rich promises mentioned in the second and third chapters of the Revelation This is the summe of that which more at large according to my poore abilitie I haue layd out in this Treatise what I haue sought herein I must leaue to him who knowes and shall judge even my intention as well as my actions what may bee the profit heereby to Gods people the effects shall shew And this I may say that had I not conceived good hope thereof I shuld never haue spent so many yeares about it And if I had not beene much encouraged by sundry men of good esteeme in our Church who perusing it after a sort charged me not to bury my labours but to communicate them to all that will receiue them mine owne meane conceit of my selfe and labours would haue kept them still close from so publike a view and censure Now to shut vp all Exhortation to labour for faith I doe instantly beseech in the Lord every soule who truely lamenteth his want of comfort in Gods favour in all his necessities and weaknes of obedience in all duties required both which doe principally arise from the want and weaknesse of faith that they would aboue all as the Apostle himselfe exhorteth Ephes 6. 16 labour to get and striue to maintaine this precious grace of saving faith in such manner and by such meanes as in this treatise hath beene set downe And for the better attaining herevnto their owne experience shall shew how needfull it shall be to make this a daily practise to meditate vpon Gods promises specially such as most concerne their present condition and to this end to commit to memory To learne speciall promises and to learne without Booke one or two principall promises for every purpose as I haue set them downe or themselues may obserue that so they may haue them readie for their vse As for example when they would goe to Prayer thinke seriously of that promise Rom. 8 26. Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it selfe maketh intercessionâ—er vs with groanings which cannot be vttered Vers 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Or that of Iames. 1. 5. If any of you lacke wisedome let him aske of God who giueth liberally to all men and vpbraideth not and it shall be given him I make no doubt but the due consideration what God hath sayd in either of these will put life into any Christian heart more comfortably to set himselfe to this holy dutie The like is to be done when we goe about our callings Psal 121. 8. The Lord shall preserue thy going out and thy coÌ„ming in from this time forth and for evermore So when any crosse befalleth vs remember that vnvaluable promise Rom. 8. 29. Also we know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God to them who are the called according to his purpose And that 1 Cor. 10. 13. There hath no tentation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you be able but will with the tentation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to beare it The same is to be sayd for the rest as more largely hath beene handled To this end I doe advise every one to set apart some time every day if there be no just hinderance to this dutie of nourishing their faith To set apart some time every day by prayer and meditation on Gods promises which although I feare it bee rarely practised yet I dare commend it to be of admirable gain to all good purposes and holy practises of Christianitie even in dayes of prosperitie though more specially in times of adversitie And herein the more to stirre vp all who desire to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living I will adde this of mine owne experience both in my selfe and others not a few with whose state I haue beene acquainted that as there can be no sound comfort in any part of our life without faith yet nothing more hard to keepe in life then true faith so this is the chiefe cause why so few find that good assurance of their salvation that comfort in afflictions that power against their corruptioÌ„s that growth in grace which full well they might if the fault were not in themselues for that they doe not make this a dayly practise to examine themselues whether they bee in the faith 2. Cor. 13 5. as the Apostle exhorteth that so finding their weaknes they might bee stirred vp more constantly and painefully to striue for the maintenance of their faith whereof they shall haue such dayly vse that without it there can be no proceeding but rather a dayly decay in all Christianity In consideration of all which I make this my last suite to all such onely to make triall of this dutie of dayly nourshing and in creasing their faith which if they shall endeavour not slightly but carefully with knowledge and conscience I make no doubt but that they shall find at least so much as shal incourage them to goe forward till they shal be further satisfied onely we must referre to God both the time when and the measure how much it shall seeme good to his wisedome to bestow on vs. And for my part I will not cease to pray vnto God for them all that he would fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of faith with power So be it FINIS