saluation and my tongue shall sing ioyfully of thy righteousnesse Open thou my lips oh Lord and my mouth shall shew forth thy prayse Moreover without this spirit wee could not loue God nor our neighbours because that the charitie of God is by it powred in our hearts as sayth the Apostle It is also the earnest the pledge token which God hath left to his children to assure them of eternall life Rom. 5. 2. Cor. 1. and of the rest of the joyes and comforts of the glory honour and of all that perfect and entire felicity which they ought finally to looke for in his kingdome not onely in regard of their soules but also of their bodies the which by the vertue and vigour of this spirit which is in them they shall be quickened at the day of the resurrection as was that of Iesus Christ as it is written 1. Cor. 15. The first man Adam was made a liuing soule and the last Adam was made a quickning spirit We may then well desire of God as did Dauid thaâ— hee would preserue vs this spirit and say to him as sayth the Prophet Psal 51. Creatâ— in me a cleane heart O God and renewe â— right spirit within me Cast me not away form thy presence and take not thine holy â—pirit from me Restore me to the ioye of â—hy saluation and stablish me with thy free spirit Let vs then diligently keepe our â—elues from grieuing it Exhortations and yet more from quenching of it by leading a disâ—olute and disordinate life 1. Thes 5. as many doe that are vicious and prophane hauing no regard to their guest who beâ—ng holy loueth all holynesse and cannot with a good eye behold any filthinesse or spot in those with whom it doth conuerse So that at the last if hee see â—hem to continue he is constrained to â—orsake them and to change his lodgâ—ng Which we see hath happened often and fresh in memory in these last warres where many hauing not as they should the conscience sound whole and for this reason 1. Tim. 1. being abandoned from the presence and ayde of this spirit which was departed from them haue made shipwracke of their faith and of all true piety to returne to their abhominations and to the filthynesse of Papistry Which we ought well to feare and to auoyd it follow the counsell of the Apostle who exciteth vs to crucifie our flesh Gal. 5. with all the affections and concupiscences thereof and to walke in spirit as we liue in spirit For as sayth the Apostle Ephe. 4. If wee are once filled with this spirit we shall flote vpon all the waues and floods of this world And shall neuer bee drowned nor suncke what stormes and tempests soeuer may stirre and threaten vs no more then a bushell or other wodden vesselâ— being vppon the water neuer goeth to the bottom being filled with wind Also wee being prouided and full of the spirit of God who is compared to the wind in the scripture can neuer bee ouerflowen nor couered vnder the waters being still vpheld by the hand of our God who will make vs to swimme on the top of the water as Noah and his children did during the deluge being inclosed in the Arke ¶ The first thing contrary to Faith is Ignorance How perilous the Ignorance of the truth to salvation is HAving deduced the things which are joyned and tyed to Faith it remaineth now to declare those that are contrary and opposite whereof Ignorance is the first for to haue faith it is needful that we haue a certain knowledge as well of God as of his goodnesse towards vs which wee cannot obtaine vnlesse wee first know his promises his alliance and Iesus Christ who is the procurer of it for those that ignore these things cannot any way bee faithfull As also the Apostle teacheth by the definition which hee giueth of Faith saying Heb. 11. Faith is a subsistence of things hoped for and a demonstration of things not seene And a little after By Faith wee vnderstand that the ages haue beene ordayned by the word of God to bee made a demonstration of invisible things Which sheweth well that we cannot beleeue the things that are reuealed vnto vs in the holy scripture but wee must haue a certaine knowledge of them and such a one as the Mathematicians may haue of their Theoremes by the mathematicke demonstrations the which being grounded vppon euident principles and and maximes cannot be but most certaine and jndubitable Also must Faith be grounded vpon the reuelation of the mysteries and secrets oâ— God contained in the scripture The grouÌ„d of Faith as welâ— of the old as of the new Testamant And for this reason all those that desire and pretend to be faithfull must be taughâ— and instructed in the scriptures ether by hearing or by reuelation or else by reading and meditation Otherwise theâ— are abused and deceaue themselues iâ— the opinion which they haue to beâ— Christians and faithful notwithstanding their jgnorance For as hath been said Faith cannot subsist without knowing the things which it belieueth and perswadeth it selfe as certaine and infallible Ierem. 31. Which is the cause that God willing to make a new allyance with hiâ— people promiseth them to bee theâ— God that is to say their Father protector tutour defendour buckler anâ— sufficiency prouided that the peoplâ— on their part will acknowledge him tâ— be such a one Iohn 18. Also Iesus Christ said tâ— this purpose that eternall life consistetâ— in that they acknowledge thee the onlâ— true God and him that thou hast senâ— Iesus Christ which are two euident notes to shew that we cannot be faithfull nor by faith hope for eternall life but we must know God and the good will which hee beareth vs and Iesus Christ who by his death and perfect obedience hath procured it for vs. Esay Censure of Ignorance for to vanquish and condemne the incredulity of the people of his time who were rebellious and obstinate in rejecting all the admonitions which were giuen them as well of their faults as of the meanes of their saluation hee sayd to them with a sower and sharpe reproch The Oxe knoweth his Lord Esay 1. and the Asse his Maisters manger But my people know not me at all Willing to giue the people to vnderstand which he had chosen and taken into his allyance that they were altogether prophane and vnfaithfull Osee 2. Ose likewise speaking of the cause for the which the people had been â—ed captiue sayd That they were extirminate banished exiled out of their country by reason of their jgnorance â—nd of the little duty that they had shewed in acknowledging God as they ought and his ordinances to be conformable vnto them and his graces and fauours to loue him to put their whole trust in him But Dauid sheweth that very clearely in the nynth Psalme when he sayth The Lord will
And even as in the time of the ancient people when walking by the horrible deserts of Arabia it happened that some one of them were bitten by Serpents to the end that of the poysoned byt death should not follow Nom. 21. hee lifted vp his eyes to behold the brasen Serpent that was set vp in the middle of the field and by the beholding of it was preserued from the daunger Iohn 3. so wee walking through the deserts of the world where happening that our desires sting vs with their venome and giue vs some mortall wound to be preserued from it the onely remedy is to lift vp the eyes of our Faith in the contemplation of Iesus Christ who is raysed aboue the heavens and to aske of God his Father in his name that he would quitte our debts as we quitte our debitours Of this obedience vertue and effect thereof is spoken in the Epistle to the Romaines chap. 5. verse 19. As by the disobedience of one man many haue beene made sinners also by the obedience of one many are made righteous Also in the 2. Epistle to the Corinthians chap. 1. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe not jmputing their sinnes vnto them Also in the Epistle to the Phillipians chapter 2. vers 7. He made himselfe of no reputation taking vpon him the forme of a servant and made himselfe in the likenesse of men and found in figure as a man he humbled himselfe made obedient to death even the death of the crosse And in the Epistle to the Hebrewes chap. 6. vers 11. Christ being become an high Priest of good things that should bee by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of his building Neither by the blood of Goates and Calues but by his owne bloud he entred once into the holy place and found eternal redemption And in the 10. chap. vers 8. having sayd before that sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offerings for sin thou wouldst not neither hadst pleasure therin which are offered by the Law Then sayth hee Loe I come to doe thy will O God he taketh then the first away to the end to establish the second By the which Will we are sanctified To wit by the obligation once done by the body of Iesus Christ It followeth in the definiton that of this Faith there commeth forth of the hearts of those that are justified a perpetuall peace joye and consolation Which is easie to be vnderstood for it is not possible that wee can bee assured and perswaded of the grace of God and of the remission of our sinnes of our salvation and of the everlasting blessing which Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs also of the justice and of the life and of a certaine hope of the Kingdome of Heaven and of that perfect and entire felicity which there waytes for vs for ever that we may feele in our hearts and in our consciences a peace a joye a rest a comfort and contentment vnseparable which is the cause that S. Paul in the Epistle to the Romaines chap. 5. verse 1. sayd Therefore being iustified by Faith we are at peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ and in the 14. chap. and 17. verse The kingdome of God is not meate and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost And Iesus Christ in S. Iohn chap. 16. verse 20. Verily verily I say vnto you that yee shall weepe and lament the world shall reioyce ye shall sorrow but your sorrow shall be turned into ioye A woman when she trauaileth hath sorow because her hower is come but so soone as shee is deliuered of the child shee remembreth no more the anguish for â—oye that a man is borne into the world And yee now therefore haue sorrow but I will see you againe and your hearts shall reioyce and your ioye no man taketh from you Dauid also to this purpose in the 126. Psalme sung They that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy They went weeping and carryed precious seed but they shall returne with ioye and bring their sheaues And in Esay chap. 51. Euerlasting gladnes shall be powred on your heads And S. Iohn in his Apocalips chap. 21. verse 4. And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shal be no more death neither sorrow neither crying neither shall there bee any more paine for the former things are gone And Dauid in the 36. Psalme How excellent is thy mercy O God therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadow of thy wings They shall be satisfied with the fatnes of thine house and thou shalt giue them drinke out of thy pleasures It followeth in the definition that this Faith is accompanyed with assurance against all dangers and tentations The which is added to jnstruct the faithfull man that when by faith he is vnited with God and receaued his protection and safegard Rom. 8. nothing can mishappen vnto him but all matters and accidents of what nature and quality soever they can be further him to salvation as sayth S. Peter 1. Pet. 3. Who is it shall hinder you if you follow that which is good And S. Paul Rom. 8. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifieth who is hee that condemneth it is Christ which dyed yea rather which is risen againe which is also on the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ shall tribulation or anguish or persecution either hunger either nakednesse either perill either Sword As it is written for thy sake are wee killed all the day long and are counted as sheepe to the slaughter Neuerthelesse in all these things we ouercome through him that loued vs for I am sure that neither death nor life neither Angels nor rule neither power neither things present neither things to come neither height nor depth neither any other creature shall be able to sâ—parate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Dauid also in the 27. Psalme sayth The Lord is my light and my saluation whome shall I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whome shall I bee affraide Though an hoast be pitched against mee I will not bee affrayd though warre be raysed against mee I will trust in God For in my trouble hee shall me hyde in his tabernacle in the secret place of his pauillion shall he hide me and set mee vp vpon a rocke Therefore will I offer in his Tabernacle sacrifices of ioye I will sing and praise the Lord. And in the 46. Psalme God is our hope and strength and helpe in troubles is ready to bee found Therefore will wee not feare though the earth bee mooued and though the mountaines fall into the middest of the Sea Though the waters thereof rage and bee troubled and the mountaines shake at the surges of
hath done or suffered for vs And in generall all that is needfull for vs to beleeue and wherevpon we ought to ground and settle the hope of the everlasting life and happinesse Wherevpon may be jnfered that the doctrine of the Pope and of all his Pastors and Muncks of Papistry cannot availe any thing to edifie our Faith the which is not setled vpon the jnventions foolish traditions and vaine jmaginations of men But vpon the pure word of God the which ought to be layd open in the church to the people purely and simply without any mingling of dreames ravenings of men As saith the Prophet Ieremie Ierm 14. You must not mingle the chaffe among the good graine nor the drosse among the fine Siluer nor the water with the good wine Peter also willeth that if any one speake in the assembly 1. Pet. 4. let him speake like the words of God S. Paul exhorteth his Disciple to preach the word of God without adding or changing 2. Tim. 4. for as it written by the Prophet Psalm 12. The words of the Lord are pure words euen as the siluer which from the earth is tryed and purified seuen times in the fire for which cause nothing may bee mingled with it but it must needs corrupt it The third cause to wit the formall of Faith is Iesus Christ for as much as he is our Christ that is to say our Mediatour and jntercessor For in this quality hee is as it were the forme of our Faith the which hee quickneth and giveth a being therevnto as doth the shape to the matter which it shapeth and vnto the which it is applyed Now as we see all things take their being and denomination of their forme as the fire is named by it forme the fishes the beasts the birds and all things in generall are called according to the forme which â—hey beare Also so is Faith and calleth it selfe Christian because that Iesus Christ who is the forme thereof and wee are also for this reason called Christians because that wee are provided therewith which causeth that through Iesus Christ â—e are regenerate to be new creatures Moreover it is he that hath kept the commandement of God It is he who vndergoing the wrath and the malediction of the threatnings of God hath delivered vs from them Finally it is he that obtayneth the blessing set downe in the promise made to Abraham and to his posterity and who in doing so hath beene a meanes that the law the threatnings and the promises which are the three principall parts of the scripture were accomplished in his person and by consequent the Faith thereof healthfull to all belieuers Whereby wee may say of Iesus Christ that hee is ths forme Faith the which cannot subsist without the efficacy of the word nor the word haue her efficacy without him Therefore is it that we may say that Iesus Christ contaynes all the causes and parâ—s of Faith in himselfe for divers respects First the efficient because that as God he produceth it in vs by his spirit As he did in Paul when going jnto Damascus he called him and in his mercy did change him in an jnstant and made him of a furious persecutor of the Church a faithfull servant vnto him and it Afterwards that hee is also the matter of our Faith by reason of those things which he hath suffered for vs by the which paying our raÌ„some he hath fully satisfied to the justice of God for all our jniquities Againe that he is the forme of our Faith in as much as he is the Mediatour and jntercessour who by his merite keepeth vs perpetually in the grace of God his Father in the which resteth all our life salvation and beatitude And to conclude that he is also the end thereof because it is hee vnto whome we ought wholy to referre and attribute the praise and glory of our salvation which are the reasons for the which it is sayd Iohn 1. that in him consists all fulnesse of gifts and graces of God Also that God the Father hath giuen vs all things with him that is to say not only life but also the meanes whereby wee may attaine therevnto And that in him are all treasures of the knowledge wisedome and other graces and blessings of our God Which considering S. Augustine saith That in our selues we are nothing and that in him we are all things And the Apostle to the Hebrues Who is the cheefe and the accomplisher of our Faith who insteed of the ioy which he had in hand hath indured the crosse hauing despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God The finall cause which is the fourth and last of Faith is the glory of God and the salvation of men for the mercy of God manifesting it selfe in the remission of our sinnes and his vertue in the execution and in the accomplishment of his promises and his justice in the paine which Iesus Christ did endure vppon the crosse for vs and his power in the discomfiting of our enemies and his wisedome by the which he hath by death brought life by sinne justice by jnfirmitie force by darknesse light by wounds healing by lowlinesse exaltation and by hell whither Iesus Christ did descend Paradice and the kingdome of Heaven being I say all the vertues of God manifested and layd open in Iesus Christ all christian men apprehending them by Faith haue matter and cause to prayse and glorifie God for God doing that which is sayd hath shewed how glorious and wonderfull his name was Men then believing these things in their hearts and publishing them with their mouths cannot better magnifie the workes vertues and miracles of our God then in doing it CHAP. VI. ¶ Of the effects of Faith wherof the first is the reconciliation betweene God and man HAving spoken of the causes of Faith it is also needfull to declare the effects thereof which are great and admirable the first is the reconciliation betweene GOD and vs. For when we were as farre from GOD as the East might bee from the West that there was no creature vpoÌ„ earth more miserable then man in this estate Esay 58. to draw vs out of it to set vs againe in the hope of his grace and of our saluation from the beginning after that our first parents out of whose loynes wee came were departed froÌ„ God through their rebellion and disobedience God to prevent their ruine which was all apparant and very neere pleased to rayse them againe being so fallen That of them should come the seede which should bruse the head of the Serpent Gen. 3. The which promise he repeated since to Abraham Gen. 12. promising that of him a child should be borne that should bring an vniuersall blessing vppon all the Nations of the earth and againe since hath likewise repeated it to Dauid assuring him that from him should descend a King whose raigne should be
and washed in his bloud wee become as cleane and as white as snowe hauing neither spot nor wrinckle nor any thing else to bee reproued and condemned Now this Iustice by whose couering we escape the Iudgement of God is allowed vnto vs and applied by the Faith of Iesus Christ which is the cause that in Saint Iohn it is sayd that whoso beleeueth in him Ioh. 35. commeth not into Iudgment And for the which the Apostle to the Romanes speaking with great assurance sayth Rom. 8. who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifieth who is hee that condemneth It is Christ which died yea rather which is risen againe which is also on the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs Who shall separate vs from the loue of Iesus Christ shall tribulation or anguish or persecution eyther hunger eyther nakednesse eyther perill eyther Sword As it is written for thy sake are wee killed all the day long and are counted as sheepe for the slaughter neuerthelesse in all these things wee ouercome through him that loved vs For I am sure that neither death neither Life neither Angels nor rules neither Power neyther things present neithings to come Neyther height nor depth neither any other creature shal be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. If by Faith we are assured to be justified before him and that this consuming fire which maketh all the creatures of the world to shake when it is once enflamed can neither annoy nor consume vs That when we consider it narrowly ought quickly to take that feare from vs that we may haue of all dangers for that which is the fearefullest of all to wit the wrath and anger of God can neither offend nor make vs affraid following then the exhortation and example of the Apostle we ought not onely to be resolued against the feare of Death but also insult ouer it as he did in saying O death where is thy victorie 1. Cor. 15. O Sepulcre where is thy Sting Now the sting of Death is sin and the power of sinne is the Law But thanks be to God who giueth vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Then when wee shall see the day of Iudgement approch the which is fearefull to the Diuels and reprobates wee to the contrary ought to lift vp our heads being joyfull of his comming being well assured that it shall be the day of our full and entire redemption and deliuerance in the which we shall enioy all the goods which Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs and the fruite of our hope that is to say of the permanent and perfect happinesse which God hath reserued for his Children And if the children of Israell after they had passed the Riuer Iordan beginning to take possession of the Land which God had promised them had great occasion to reioyce and to comfort themselues so shall we haue when we shall see Iesus Christ appeare in his glory the second time and when we shall heare this pleasant and happie voice Math. 5. Come ye Blessed of my Father and possesse the Kingdome which hath been prepared for you from the beginning of the world ¶ The fowrth effect of Faith Mortification FAith also begets in vs mortification of the flesh and true repentance purifying our hearts as saith Saint Peter of disordinate passions Act. 10. lusts and â—ffections foolish loue auarice ambition and other like vanities Breife it â—s the meanes which God vseth to regenerate vs and to make vs new creaâ—ures and by consequent to cteate in vs â—ew thoughts new affections new â—peaches new actions and a new life Because it is accompanied with the Spiâ—it of God as it is written in Esay who â—eeing holy Esay 59. sanctifieth all those that â—re furnished therewith That is attributed to Faith because it is the Instrument wherewith hee serueth himselfe â—o regenerate man which we see in all â—hose that are faithfull who in a moâ—ent hauing been called and beleeued â—e word which was preached vnto â—hem haue been changed from carnall â—o spirituall and euen as a tree after â— hath been ingraffed bringeth other â—ind of fruite then it bare while it was wild Rom. 6. also by Faith ingraffed into Iesus Christ wee bring forth fruits through grace of an other kind then we did when â—ee walked in our owne wayes which we â—e in Zacheus Example Zacheus who beeing an insaciable â—ublican to heape goods vpon goods and to gather riches vppon Riches by hooke or by crooke without hauing any respect vnto Iustice and without bejng mooved to pitty the poverty of those which he ransomed cared for nothing so he might encrease and gather riches at any price Neverthelesse Iesus Christ having looked vppon him with his good eye and having vouchsafed to be his guest changed and transformed him jnto an other man so that of a covetous and lustfull man as hee was he became liberall and charitable and of one that was pittilesse and barbarous towards the poore and needy and those that had need of him he became gracious humane and tractable God did even change his heart in such sort that he did not content himselfe to restore fower fold to those that hee had ransommed but would giue and distribute the halfe of his goods to the poore We see that eveÌ„ in S. Mathew Mathew who bejng actiue and attentiue to gaine and to his profite when Iesus Christ had called him forgetting at the very jnstant that he heard his voyce all his desires and avarice forsooke his bancke his Apron his house and all his temporall commodities to follow him The Harlot likewise The harlot Luk. 7. whereof mention is made in S. Luke although shee were given over to all dissolution and steeped in all worldly and filthy pleasures neverthelesse bejng called to the Faith of the gospell she was presently so changed that one would haue sayd that her eyes had beene fountaines by reason of the aboundance of teares that ranne from them S. Peter also who was a great sinner as hee himselfe confessed and who onely amongst all his fellowes denyed Iesus Christ three severall times was in the end so strengthned by Faith that by reason of his constancy and firme jmmooueablenes hee was surnamed by the name of Peter S. Paul also who was a cruell blasphemer persecutor and furious and like a wild Bore Act. 9. Psal 80. who was broke jnto the Lords Vineyard to spoyle it and to devour vp all the branches having been called by Iesus Christ when hee went jnto Damascus there for to dissipate the Church wholy was so changed by Faith which God of his grace did jnspire in his heart that of a Wolfe that he was he became the greatest Pastor of his time in the Church and flocke of the Lord. Whereby wee see what is the power and force of Faith the which doth altogether
change those persons vnto whom it is given And although that this changing be not perfect all at once neverthelesse it advanceth every day by little and little in those that are truely faithfull 1. Cor 5. Ioh. 15. and who are curious altogether to purge the old Leuin which remayneth yet in them and to wash their feet as sayth Iesus Christ and to take the leeze out of the vessell vntill that it be quite empty and made cleane as we see that the Apostle did 1. Cor. 9. whome as he writeth to the Corinthians did runne in the listes to beare away the price and brought his body into slauery to the end that in some fashion after he had preached to others himselfe was not found vnreceaueable Phil. 3. which hee yet sayth elsewhere I trye if by any meanes I might attaine vnto the resurrection of the dead Not as though I had already attained it either were already perfect but I follow if that I may comprehend that for whose sake also I am comprehended of Christ Iesus Brethren I count not my selfe that I haue attained to it but one thing I doe I forget that which is behind and indeauour my selfe to that which is before And follow hard toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus The exercise of the truly faithfull It is the exercise of those that are truely faithfull continually to thinke vpon a new life and a true repentance In so much that it may be a studie and exercise in the which he continues from the beginning of his regeneration vntill the consummation and conclusion of his life in such sort that by the temptations wherewith he is jncessantly exercised and prooved hee may be refined like vnto Silver or Gold in a fournace and as for the conservation of the body it is requisite that it bee continually exercised and aboue all thinges purged of the superfluous humors and excrements which therin are gathered every day also it is necessary that the soule and conscience of the truly faithfull bee cleansed with continuall repentance and that it bee as much or more carefull to weede and plucke vp the evill hearbs which doe alwayes pollute his soule as is a good Gardiner to cleanse his Garden of all nettles thistles and other weeds which spring therein For the duety of a Christian man is to jmploy all his life to put off the old man and to put on the new which is an exercise that cannot bee done without great toyle and difficulty because that the old man is a robe so fastened and stitched to a Christian that a man cannot get it off but by peecemeale and the new man is an other robe so straight that it cannot be put on but with great labour and paine Yet must we strayne our jndeauours and shew that wee are faithfull Rom. 6. by the participation which we haue in the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ abstracting from his death a vertue to mortifie our flesh and the lusts thereof and an other of his resurrection to walke in newnesse of life and not to thinke that wee can participate in the righteousnes of Iesus Christ to obtaine the remission of our sinnes but we must also shew by effect the participatiō which we haue in the holynes of his Spirit For we cannot be just but we must be holy nor be holy but wee must be just because that Iesus Christ is never vnfurnished nor parted from his spirit and doth not justifie vs but at the same time and by the same meanes hee sanctifieth vs so that at the very jnstant that we are jncorporated in Iesus Christ for to be his members we are also consecrated to God to be his temple where he dwelleth by his holy spirit ¶ The fift effect of Faith Obedience THe other effect which Faith produceth in vs is the obedience which wee striue to render to God when by Faith we haue been regenerated as S. Paul sheweth to the Romanes chap. 1. verse 5. sayjng By whome we haue receaued grace and Apostleship that obedience might be giuē vnto the Faith for his name among all the Gentiles It is also sayd in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Heb. 11. That Abraham by Faith when hee was called obeyed God to goe out into a place which he should receaue for inheritance and hee went out not knowing whither hee went which are two places that shew sufficiently that Faith beejng planted in our hearts it disposeth them to render perfect obedience to the will of God Also we see that the elect before they bee called and regenerated by Faith they are ordinarily called in the holy Scripture Rebels dissobedient and Enemies of God Ephe. 2. Rom. 5. But after their regeneration they are called Servants and the children of God by reason of the will and desire which they haue to obay and serue him Now there is nothing more pleasing and agreeable vnto God then obedience the which he preferres before all sacrifices whereof wee haue a notable example in Saul 1. Sam. 15. who was rejected and depriued of his kingdome with all his posterity vnto whome neuerthelesse it was established by the ordinance of God only because that he had disobeyed God preferred his owne opinion before the commandement which was given him wholly to destroy the Amalekites But one onely example might suffice to shew how pleasing obedience is to God that is to say that which Iesus Christ hath rendered to God his Father in our name Phil. 2. the which was of such great efficacy and weight with God that it hath blotted out the disobedience of our first parents and hath restored vs to a more happie estate then that of Adams was pittifull and miserable wherinto by his disobedience he had precipitate himselfe and all his posterity as S. Paul sheweth in the Epistle to the Romanes chap. 5. vers 19. As by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by that obedience of that one shall many also be made righteous And to the Phillipians chap. 2. vers 8. Hee humbled himselfe became obedient vnto the death euen to the death of the crosse wherfore God hath highly exalted him and giuen him a name aboue euery name That at the name of Iesus should euery knee bow both of things in Heauen and things in Earth and thinges vnder the Earth And that euery tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord vnto the glory of God the Father And in the Epistle to the Hebrewes chap. 10. vers 6. In burnt offrings and sinne offrings thou hast had no pleasure Then I sayd Loe I come in the beginning of the booke it is written of me that I should doe thy will O God Aboue when he had sayd Sacrifice and offring and burnt offrings and sin offrings thou wouldest not haue neither haddest pleasure therein which are offered by the Law Then sayd hee Loe I come to doe thy will
thou art the same and thy yeares shall not faile The Children of thy seruants shall continue and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight A firme conclusion Wee then what changing soeuer we see although it seeme vnto vs that the Heauens the Earth and all the Elements doe threaten vs and that all creatures seeme to haue conspired our rujne neuerthelesse we ought not to judge of the nature of God as of creatures but to be resolute that the nature of God is invariable and that in his counsels his words and all his workes he is constant and permanent for euer and abyding alwayes like vnto himselfe By reason whereof we ought not to esteeme him according to our jmaginations and thaâ— he seemeth to shew and represent him selfe vnto vs in the estate of his creatures but alwaies to apprend him such as he is manifested in his word ¶ Vaine feare contrary to Faith What such a feare is VAine feare is also a thing that is coÌ„trary to Faith whereof S. Peteâ— 1. Pet. 3. maketh mention when hee sayth Be not ye affraid for any terrour of them neither bee ye troubled And Iesus Chrisâ— sayth Mat. 10. Feare ye not them that kill the bodie but are not able to kill the soule bâ— rather feare him which is able to destroy both bodie and soule in hell Are not twâ— little Sparrowes sold for a farthing and onâ— of them shall not light on the ground without your Father yea euen the haires of youâ— head are numbred feare ye not therefore ye are of more value the many Sparrowes In this sentence wee must note manâ— things to strengthen our Faith Wherefore wee ought little to feare men First that the power of Tyrants and enemieâ— of the Church is limited and goeth noâ— farther then the leaue and permission that God giueth them to effect his For although that God sometimes to exercise his children giueth them power to vexe and torment them in their bodies he alwaies preserues their soules and doth not at all suffer that their furie reach so farre as to endamage them in any thing in matters concerning their saluation Although that sometimes we see many Princes so outragious and transported with furie that they vndertake against the ordinance and expresse will of God to kill if it were possible for them the soules of their subjects constrayning them to goe to the Masse and jdolatrie The other poynt which we ought to note is Remedy against vaiâ— feare that our enemies cannot euen offend vs in our bodies without his prouidence no more then the Sparrowes which cannot fall vpon the earth but God doth appoint it Seeing then that the children of God are more deare and precious vnto him then not onely one but many Sparrowes wee must resolue that whereas God suffereth that we should fall into the hands of tyrants to afflict vs by prison by confiscations by banishments by fire and water all this being conducted by the counsell and prouidence of God it cannot bee but profitable and healthfull vnto vs. And for the last poynt wee ought well to laye before vs that which hee sayth That the haires of our head are all counted Mat. 10. and that not one of them cannot be diminished but by the expresse will of our God who cannot seeing his jmmense and infinite goodnes giue any thing of the estate of all his elect but it must be for their good and saluation The other thing which ought to furnish vs against this feare is the charity of our God the which as sayth S. Peter being well apprehended in our hearts and meditated in our minds will alwaies chase away all casuall feares which may happen vnto vs to trouble vs. For knowing that God hauing once receaued vs into his fauour continueth it towards vs for euer Rom. 8. And that there is no creature whatsoeuer whether it be death life Angels principalities power nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature that is able to separate vs from the loue of God which hee beareth vs in Christ Iesus our Lord. What accident could happen vnto vs sufficient to astonish our hearts firmely perswaded of this dilection of our God There is yet another reason which ought wel to assure vs against all feares Third remedie that is to say the presence of our God who is neuer farre from vs but is alwayes at our right hand to vphold vs â—s sayth Dauid I will prayse the Lord Psal 16. who hath giuen me counsell my reines also teach mee in the nights I haue set the Lord alwaies before mee for hee is at my right hand therefore I shall not slide Wherefore my heart is glad and my tongue reioyceth my flesh also doth rest in hope For thou wilt not leaue my soule in the graue neither wilt thou suffer thine holie one to see corruption Exod. 4. Iere. 1. Mat. 28. It is the reason which God vsed to Moises to Ieremie and to all the Apostles to assure them against all feares and assaults which may bee giuen them by their enemies to hinder or stay them in the executon of their charge Feare not sayth he for I am with you They shall fight and giue you many assaults but I will maintaine you and place you euerie one like a furnished citie and like a Collom of Iron and like â— brasen wall vppon the earth against thâ— Kings of Iuda and her Princes against the high Priests and all the people of the earth that shall make warre against theâ— but they shall not ouercome thee for I aâ— with thee sayth the Lord to deliuer thee Let vs then thinke as saith S. Iohn 1. Iohn 2. That the word of God and his promise dwelling in our hearts by faith wee are strong anâ— inuincible against all temptations Besides 2. Tim. 1. That the spirit of God remaineth iâ— vs which is not a soft and weake spirit buâ— a spirit of force as saith the Apostle which will vphold vs against all temptations although that it seeme in appearance that we are verie infirme and weake But let vs thinke that the weake and feeble things of this world are sufficient to confound and beat down all the highest and the strongest that can be found and euen lead them prisoners in the obedience of Christ ¶ The euill conscience contrary to Faith THE euill conscience also Whence this contrarietie commeth is very contrary to Faith because it always â—ets the wrath of God before it and â—aith to the contrary doth alwaies set â—he grace of God before it For a man â—hat sinneth voluntarily although hee know that the reward of sinne is death and that the curse of the wrath of God are propounded in the law against all those that transgresse it That presupposed it is not possible but he must bee astonished and that in his heart he hath prickings gnawings and stingings which doe transperse it
superficies of the earth and the braÌ„ches of the trees bereft of leaues flowers and fruits that they were dead Nevertheles the rigour of the season past and the softnes of the spring time come againe wee see that the life was not alâ—ogether extinguished but only represâ—ed and shut vp for a time vntill the cold and frosts were past So we see in â—he Church that the faithfull who are â—he trees and plants of the orchard of God doe not alwaies shew their Faith and life which is in them Example as in the â—ime of Elyas although there were â— great number who had not bowâ—d the knee to Baal Neverthelesse â—et were they not in euidence Which â—eceaued the Prophet and made him â—alsely to thinke that he alone remained â—he seruant of God So it commeth often that the faithfull men shall not be knowne exteriourly by the works and actions of faith although it bee inclosed in their hearts and that vpon occasion when it presenteth they declare it according to the grace which God giueth them agitation of the spirit which mooueth them to doe it when time serueth ¶ The fift and last question whether true Faith can fall away The elect of God are preserued finally in Faith THe fift and last question is to wit whether faith can be quite taken away from the heart of him that hath receaued it of God Answere Faith is permanent vntill the end in him vnto whome God by his spirit and his word hath once truely communicated it And there is no slight nor teÌ„ptation whether of the diuell of the world of tyrants oâ— the flesh that can quite extinguish it when once it is kindled in the soule oâ— the faithfull man Error of the Scholemen And howsoeuer thâ— Schoolemen say that men truely faithfull are vncertaine of their perseuerance in faith yet must the Christian against their false erroneous opinioÌ„ hold resolutely by the scripture that that which God hath begunne in him by his Grace he will aduance it Psal 138. and will not desist from raysing and pursuing vntill such time as he hath fully accomplished it whereto all the passages and parcels of scripture following may serue First that of the Epistle of S. Paul to the Philippians Of perseuerance in Faith Phil. 1.6 I thanke my God hauing you in perfect memorie alwaies in all my prayers for you all praying with gladnesse because of the fellowship which ye haue in the Gospell from the first day vntill now And I am perswaded of this same thing that he that hath begunne this good worke in you will perform it vntil the day of Iesus Christ The Apostle confirming that also saith The foundation of God remaineth sure 2. Tim. 2. hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his and let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquity Also whome he predestinated Rom. 8. them also he called and whome he called them also he iustified and whome hee iustified them he also glorified Finally speaking of himselfe and of all the elect I am saith he perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor thinges to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus Christ also speaking to his sheepe saith in generall of all Iohn 10. That none can put them out of his hand and that they shall not perish euerlastingly and that hee will giue them euerlasting life and no man can hinder him in that And also Iohn 5. he sayth That all those which God his father hath giuen him shall come vnto him and that being come he will not cast them behind him for euer Moreouer seeing hee is neuer denied of any thing which he asked of God his Father Iohn 17. and that before his death hee prayed him solemnly for those that his Father hath giuen him whervpon may bee inferred certainely that all the elect that are comprehended in his prayer cannot faile to perseuere in Faith and finally by it be saued Luk. 22. When also speaking to S. Peter and exhorting him with his fellowes to stand vppon his gard least they should bee surprised by the lurking ambuscadoes of the diuell and not to fall into their nets he sayd vnto him That he had prayed for him to the end his Faith should not faile him that ought not only to be applied to S. Peter but to the whole Chruch vniversally which was presented vnto vs in his person and to the which for this reason that prayer did also appertaine When also speaking to the to the Pharisies he sayd vnto theÌ„ That all that God his Father had not planted Mat. 15. should be plucked vp he ment to say the contrary that no thing which his Father had planted as he did all the elect should be plucked vp doth not S. Iohn also say in his first Epistle 1. Iohn 5. That whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not that is to say to death because he is begotten of God he kepeth himselfe and that wicked one toucheth him not And also whosoeuer is borne of God doth not sinne for the seede of him remaineth in him and he cannot sinne because hee is borne of God Againe doth not Iesus Christ promise to whomesoeuer shall eate his flesh and drinke his bloud Iohn 6. which is done by Faith that hee shall dwell in him and hee reciprocally in him that shall eate it wherevppon it followeth that Iesus Christ who is the life dwelling in the Faithfull man who by Faith hath eaten his flesh cannot faile for this reason to liue eternally in him The prophets likewise confirme Esay 45. as Esay among others who speaking to Israell sayd That God saueth them with a perpetuall salvation Esay 51. and speaking to the elect sayth vnto them to comfort them Lift vppe your eyes to heauen and looke downe vppon the earth for the Heauens shall vanish like smoke and the earth shall be worne like a garment and the Inhabitants thereof shall likewise bee abolished but my saluation shall bee for euer and my justice shall neuer faile Ieremie also speaking in the name of God sayth of them That God loueeth them with an eternall loue And Ose speaking likewise of the marriage and alliance which God Ose 2. contracteth with them saith That it is for euer and that they must not feare that betweene him and his church there can euer come any diuorse nor libell of refusall Dauid also assureth vs of that in many places as in the 23. Psalme Thou doest annoynt my head with oyle and my cuppe runneth ouer Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercy shall followe mee all the daies of my life and I shall remaine a long season in the house of the Lord. And in the 30. Psalme Sing praises vnto the Lord yee his Saints and giue thankes before the remembrance
and falling from the Church and the doctrine therof did shew at last that in them there was no true faith Iames. 2. The fift kind of Faith is that which is called dead by S. Iames by reason of the likenesse it hath to a dead body for as after the separation of the soule the body which remaineth being dead hath neither mooving nor feeling also a dead faith hath no feeling of the benefits and graces of God to poyse and esteeme them according to their value wherein they are like vnto Hogs that eat vp the Mast which falleth from the Oake and neuer looke vp whence it commeth Those people are prophane who thinke neither on God nor Iesus Christ nor vpon his word nor vpon his Sacraments the which hee hath ordayned in his Church for the exercising nourishing and jncreasing of the faith of his children despise publike exhortations prayers thanksgivings and confessions Breefe they shew themselues in all their behaviours to bee Libertines and disordinate never having before their eyes nor in their memory the great debt which they owe vnto God for so many graces and favours by them receaved and which they daily receaue at his hands and as they are without feeling of the aboue-said things so are they vnprovided of all good motions For there is no man amongst thē that jmployeth him selfe to doe well nor confirme himselfe to the will of God but are rather contemners of all the admonitions and advertisments which are given them people altogether given to the world slaues to their flesh and to the lusts therof who neither serue God nor make shew of it If these people thinke they haue faith they deceaue themselues as doe those that call a carkas or a dead body a man CHAP. III. ¶ Of true Faith by the which Christians are iustified which is the sixt and last kind of Faith BEfore we enter into the diffinition of the true Faith which justifieth him that hath it we must take our subject a little higher and declare what is the office and dutie of a christian man which is to know what hee ought to wayt for from God and what God requireth of him That which the faithfull wayt for from God is their salvatiō everlasting life That God which requireth of him is a trust in his goodnes a feare of his Majestie and an obedience to his will The which three things are taught him by the word of God the which being divided into three parts that is to say the promises the commandements and the threatnings by the promises it teacheth the Christian man to trust in God and vppon him to set all his hope and to wayt from him all comfort ayde and blessing in all his affayres and necessities and by the commandements teacheth him what obedience he ought to render to God and the readinesse and great care which he ought to shew therein and by the threatnings the feare which he should haue to offend him and to doe or commit any thing that may displease him Now Faith sets before it selfe these three kinds of words And even as the object of the sight is the colour and the sound is the object to the hearing also the object of Faith is the word of God the which it looketh vppon continually ayming at it as at a marke and thereto bending her whole sight and her jntention from the which word shee can never so little stray but shee must loose her selfe because that to bee sure shee must of necessity rest vpon a word that is certaine and such a one as is the only word of God Therefore is it that honest folkes doe with good right condemne the faith of Papists who depend altogether of the Pope and beleeue jndifferently all that hee sayth vnto them and all that he teacheth them Because that beeing a lying and variable man filled with jgnorance as are others it cannot be but his word and his doctrine must bee doubtfull and subject to warranties But the Christian Faith which is assayled in so many sorts and which hath so many assaults to withstand and so many devises to prevent hath great need to bee vpheld by a word that is firme and which cannot bee easily shooke with all the temptations wherewith it is assayled Then for to know what Christian Faith is it is needfull to giue a breefe and succinct definition thereof CHAP. IIII. ¶ A definition of Faith THe Christian Faith is a certaine knowledge and firme perswasion which the elect by the vertue of the holy Ghost haue every one in themselues of the vndoubted verity of all the things contayned in the word of God as well in the old as in the new Testament joyned with a true and perfect trust of their salvarion propounded vnto them in the Evangelicall promise by the grace of God and ratyfied by the satisfaction made for their sinnes vnto his justice by the death and obedience of his sonne in their name wherevppon followeth in their hearts a perpetuall joye and consolation and an assurance against all dangers and temptations and a resolued will to walke before his face and to acknowledge towards him all their life time so great a benefit by a loue feare and obedience which they vowe vnto him and doe striue to render him for ever The which definition we must now declare in particulars We say first that Faith is a certaine knowledge of the word of God Psal 102. Rom. 3. 2. Cor. 1. Psal 100. Psal 138. because there is no other word wherevppon it may be well grounded to be assured and certaine seeing that God alone is jmmoueable and permanent for ever and true everlastingly so that in him there is never yea and no and it is one of the reasons for the which the Hebrewes named him Iehoua because it is his property to bee true and to maintaine his truth for ever alwayes to effect whatsoever he sayth and promiseth at the time by him appoynted All men then to be well jnformed and assured thereof ought to haue an expresse and cleare knowledge of the word of God which teacheth it vnto vs whereby wee may perceaue the great errour and abuse of the Pope and of his Cardinals Archbishops Bishops Curats and other Pastors of papistry who to deceue the simple people make thē belieue that to be faithful it is not required that they shold haue a clear distinct knowledge of the word of God and that it is sufficient that for that matter they referre themselues to their Pastors who shall answere for them before God But this surety is not sufficient for being their guides as blind or more blind then they are they cannot misse in following thē but they must both fall together according to the saying of Iesus Christ wherto may be joyned that which Esay faith Mat. 15. Esaie 29. What can a Booke profit a man if it be shut or if it bee open and bee in an vnknowen tongue and not vndestood It cannot
doe him any violence Also in the Church of God the first thing that was published was the remission of sinnes which is as it were a place of freedome into the which those malefactors that haue deserved death and the halter may retyre themselues to the end to be assured of their life and from the sentence and condemnation which the judge might giue against them if hee were not hindered froÌ„ it by reason of their refuge thither and that they are receaued into the protection and safegard of the King who is the Protector and warrant of the Church As then the Citie of Roome in her beginning was peopled but with theeues robbers murderers and people abandoned to all kinds of vices by the meanes of the place of Freedome which had beene opened for them by the founder of Rome so is the Church assembled compounded of jdolaters blasphemers prophaners drunkards rebels theeues adulterers murderers evill speakers detractours covetous ambitious and voluptuous persons ravishers robbers and other such like persons by the meanes of the remission of sinnes which hath been opened vnto them as a place of Freedome to retyre themselues in safty The which did Adam Abell Enoc Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob Samuel Gedeon Iephte Sampson Dauid the Prophets the faithfull and all the Saints that ever were Now this remission of sins is the ground of the hope of a christian man and of all consolation For seeing wee offend so many wayes and that wee cannot liue a moment and minute of an bower without having evill thoughts in our vnderstandings evill affections in our hearts evill words in our mouths evill actions in our hands and in all the members of our bodyes and a great vanity in all our sences What should we doe how should we escape wherevppon should we assure our salvation withot-the fayth which we haue of the remissiuon of our sinnes which is as it were a plaister a tent which wee apply euery day vpoÌ„ this moist corrupted wound of our nature and which festured doth alwaies drop without stenching drying cleaÌ„sing or healing by other means but by this onely remedy the which is altogether necessary for the conversation of our life and to hinder that the rottenesse spreading it selfe and ramping ouer all the parts thereof in the end should not cause vs to dye It is it which rayseth vs when we are fallen as sayth Dauid Psal 37. Though he fall he shall not be cut off for the Lord putteth vnder his hand I haue waited on the Lord Psal 130. my soule hath wayted and I haue trusted in his word My soule waiteth on the Lord more then the morning watch waiteth for the morning Let Israell wayt on the Lord for with the Lord is mercy and with him is great redemption And he shall redeeme Israell froÌ„ all his iniquities Psal 65.3 Wicked deeds haue preuailed against me but thou wilt be mercifull vnto our transgression This remission causeth that the faithfull do not sinne to the death for this seed of the grace of God of his promise and of his spirit wherewith he hath sealed our hearts causeth although that wee bee sinners that wee assure assure our selues notwitstanding our sinne and the corruption that is in vs that God who is jnfinite in goodnes and mercy maketh his grace to abound where sinne aboundeth Rom. 5. In this onely gift of the remission of our sinnes wee haue matter and argument to admyre and exalt the jmmense and jncomprehensible mercy of God which is never weary of giving vs grace for so many sinnes which we haue committed every day If a King had giuen halfe a dozen or a dozen of remissions to a murderer or other malefactor he would waxe weary at the last and although hee were the most benigne and pittifull of the world yet would he put him to death seeing his perseverance in dojng evill But our God doth not quitte vs 1 2 3 4 5 and 6. tallents parcels and debts which we owe him but 10. Thousand yea 10. Millions provided onely that wee confesse wee owe them vnto him and that we make it appeare that wee are sorry to bee so much jndebted vnto him The which we see in the parable of the bad servant wherof mention is made in S. Mathew chap. 18. and in the example of Dauid who wondering at the greatnesse of the goodnesse and mercy of God sayd in his prayse Psal 32. Then I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee neither hid I mine iniquity for â—o I thught I will confesse against my selfe my wickednes vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the punishment of my sin Therfore shall euery one that is godly make his prayer vnto thee in time when thou mayest bee found surely in the floud of great waters they shall not come neere him Conclusion this remission of sinnes is as a quittance vnto vs and a generall abolition of all that we may owe and of whatsoever we may be sought after for in the Chamber of Accompts of our God So that being furnished with it wee ought not to feare any whit to present our selues before the judgement of God with all assuraÌ„ce For there is no condeÌ„natioÌ„ for those that are in Iesus Christ as saith the Apostle Rom. 8.1 CHAP. VIII ¶ Of Iustification the third effect of Faith IT is time then to enter into the deduction of the third effect of Faith which is our justification the which is plainely declared in the Epistle to the Romanes chap. 3. vers 22. The righteousnesse of God commeth by the Faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vppon all them that beleeue There is no difference for all haue sinned and haue need of the glory of God but are justified freely by his grace through their redemption that is in Christ Iesus whome God hath set forth to bee a propitiation through Faith in his bloud to declare his righteousnes by forgiuing the sinnes that are past which God doth suffer to shew at this time his righteousnesse that he might bee just and the justifier of him that beleeueth on Iesus Which hee confirmeth in the fowrth alleadging that which Dauid saith towching the beatitude of man vnto whoÌ„e God alloweth justice without workes saying Psalm 32. Blessed is he whose vnrighteousnesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man vnto whome the Lord imputeth not sinne and in whose spirit there is no guile Whereupon wee must note that this terme of justifying signifieth to absolue in the holy Scripture and that man is justified before God when appearing before his throne and Iudgement seat he is absolved of all his crimes and sinnes which the law the Deuill and his owne conscience may set before him to cause him to be condemned which is done in the fauour of Iesus Christ Rom. 4. who cloathing vs with his righteousnesse is cause that our sinnes hidden vnder his cloake Psalm 32. do not appeare before God but to the contrary that being clensed
disordinately taking pleasure to doe evill and seeking the occasions and the meanes to follow and satisfie our worldly desires and appetites we should not be freed but should shew thereby that wee are yet slaues to sinne and that wee did not participate any whit in the benefits of Iesus Christ who came into the world to no other end but to deliuer vs from the miserable seruitude of sinne and set our consciences vppon full and entire libertie Wee must then endeavour and jmploye our selues with all our might to liue well to shew that wee are francke and free and that our condition is no more servile as it was in the time of our jgnorāce 1. Cor. 15. Instruction to holines of life Is it not a thing more than reasonable that we that are regenerate by the grace of god by the Faith of Iesus Christ who is the Adam that is to say the celestiall man should beare his jmage and his apparant token not onely in the forehead of our bodies but also in our whole life and in all our actions And we must to shew that we are children of Abraham and by consequent heires of the promise which was made him resemble the starres of Heauen in light Gen. 15. in brightnesse and in puritie the which may bee manifest to all the world not onely in prosperity that is to say when things happen to our minds and that the daies are faire and cleare but also in adversitie when the night seemeth very darke vnto vs and the darknesse spread vpon vs and all our affaires having beene created and since bought and redeemed by the grace of God to the end that God might bee glorified in vs. We must then withdraw our selues out of all myre and filthines and from all thinges in generall that might bee an occasion to the jgnorant and vnfaithfull to blaspheme the name of God Rom. 2. by reason of our wicked life and conversation But what if as sayth the Prophet the just can liue no otherwise but by faith because the reward of sinne is death must we not necessarily if wee bee faithfull and desire to come to life abstaine from all those things which may bring vs to death Abac. 2. Rom. 6. The Prophet asketh Psal 15. Who is he that shall conuerse in the Tabernacle of the Lord and that shall be so happie as to haue a sure habitation in his holy mountaine He answereth He that walketh vprightly and worketh righteousnes and speaketh the truth in his heart He that slandereth not with his tongue nor doth euill to his neighbours nor receaueth a false report against his neighbour Which he yet repeateth elsewhere saying Psal 24. Who shall ascend into the mountaine of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place Euen he that hath innocent hands and a pure heart which hath not lift vp his mind vnto vanitie nor sworne deceitfully He shall receaue blessing from the Lord and righteousnes from the God of his saluation This is the generation of them that seeke him This is Iacob Then must all Christians to shew that they are true not hipocrites nor dissimulate studie and exercise themselues to follow vertue and to flye from and detest vice and that they endeauour to resemble Gods Angels otherwise they are but shame and scandall in the house of God to dishonour it the which should bee adorned and hung with all holinesse as it is written in the 93. Psalme Thy testimonies are very true holynesse becommeth thine house O Lord Miserie of the hipocrites and prophane persons for euer Such kind of folke thē as liue wickedly in the Church of god are like so many warts in a body which serue but to disfigure it and as rottonnesse in a peece of timber Wee must not thinke that wee can dwell long in Iesus Christ who is the true sappe of the vine if we beare no fruit for he that is barren and fruitlesse Iohn 15. is cast away and dryeth then is gathered together and cast into the fire where it burneth It is that which we ought to vnderstand if we doe not our duty to doe well and to withdraw our selues from all jniquitie as much as possible we can For to be able to rule the state of our life so well that we should not offend in any thing which is commanded vs of God in his law Rom. 7. it were jmpossible for vs to attaine to such perfection in this world But aa sayth S. Ambrose vpon S. Luke Our perfection consisteth more in affection then in effect As the Apostle sayth to the Romanes That the will is present with him but that hee findes not the meanes to performe that which is good It is then a great shame to a body that is in the Church of God to make profession of his religion in words and shew only if his life and manners be nor correspondant to the words which he hath in his mouth to the semblance which he maketh to be a Christian man as the Prophet sheweth very well in the 50. Psalme Call vpon me in the day of trouble so will I deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me But to the wicked he sayth What hast thou to doe to declare mine ordinances that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest to bee reformed and hast cast my words behind thee For when thou seest a theefe thou runnest with him and thou art partaker with the adulterers Thou giuest thy mouth to euill and with thy tongue thou forgettest deceit Thou sittest c. To whom they are like Such people are like vnto a musty vessell wherein the good wine bejng filled it marreth and corrupteth presently or to a stinking channell by the which the faire cleare water which passeth through it corrupteth and stinketh Also doe all the graces of God which are powred vppon such persons they are so farre from waxing better thereby and amendment by the receit of them that to the contrary they grow worse and worse and it had been good for them that they had neuer tasted the good woord of God nor the heauenly guift nor the powers of the age to come because that it by reason they haue abused thereof serueth them for nothing but to keepe them the farther from God and to bind them to a more greeuous condemnation seejng that in themselues they crucifie the sonne of God and expose him to opprobry for the earth which often drinketh the raine that falleth on it and bringeth forth fruite to those that fill it receaueth the blessing of God but that which bringeth foorth Thornes and Thistles is rejected and neere vnto the curse whose end tendeth to be burned The second thing ioyned to Faith THe other thing which is inseparably joyned to Faith is Charitie Charity inseparably cōpanied with Faith and the loue which wee beare first to God louing him with all our heart with all our strength with all
cannot bee but in such persons as are dowed with faith in Christ becausâ— that the one proceedeth of the other and is set vppon the same foundations Therefore also S. Paul prayed for the faithfull that God would open the eyeâ— of their vnderstandings to the end they might comprehend the hope of his vocation and the riches of the glory oâ— his inheritance among the Saints aâ— hath beene already shewed Let vs therâ— conclude seeing we are called to the hope of that euerlasting happie and glorious life no lesse then to belieue in Iesus Christ that hee sinneth no lesse that doth not in patience hope wayte for this celestiall inheritance then the other that beleeueth not in Iesus Christ The grouÌ„d of ChristiaÌ„ Hope Now seeing we are called to the hope of these euerlasting goods things they are then promised to vs that belieue in Iesus Christ And therefore it is reason that our hope should abyde grounded vpon the promises of God and all that which concerning them namely vpon Iesus Christ in whome they are ratified whom we accept for a sauiour These promises of eternall felicity to the belieuers are confirmed vnto them 1. By the solemne oath or vow of God which is added therevnto 2. By the precious bloud of Iesus Christ which is the seale thereof 3. By the admirable right according to the which it hath pleased God to adopt vs for his children and heires 4. By the holy spirit of the promise who hath marked all the faithfull for the possession of this inheriâ—ance in whose hearts the diuine promises are hidden and which dwelleth â—n them as an assured earnest or pledge â—f the inheritance promised and kept â—n Heauen 5. By the eternall immooâ—able and free election according to the which the Apostle affirmeth that all the â—elieuers in Christ were predestinated â—ot onely because they should be adopâ—ed to be called iustified and sanctified â—ut also to be sanctified 6. By the arâ—icle of the resurrection and ascension of â—he Lord and of his sitting at the right â—and of God his father which sheweth â—he truth of the promises made to him â—or our saluation and the power of the promise for that which God was able to effect in our head he wil also be able to doe it in his members as in effect he will accomplish it We haue the proofe thereof in that he quickened vs when we were dead in sinne he quickneth vs euery day by his grace hee hath raised and doth raise vs in newnesse of life Also in the resurrection of Iesus Christ set soone after at the right hand of the father So then seeing wee are called to the hope of this promised inheritance and which wee ought to waight with patience seeing it is commanded vs to hope so because of Iesus Christ seeing he that hath promised it vnto vs is True and Almighty to effect his promise let vs conclude that the hope which we haue to obtaine the celestiall inheritance is assured and most certaine euery way 7. For assurance of strengthening we haue our conformitie with our head in his sufferings and in the patience of his afflictions insomuch as we maintaine one selfe-same cause to wit the confession of the truth and profession of the Gospell Wherevpon the Apostle sayth that if wee suffer with Iesus Christ we shal also raigne with him 2. Tim. 2.12 Also Wee boast euen in tribulations knowing that tribulation bringeth patience and patience experience and experience hope Rom. 5.3.4 Also he ioyneth the resurrection of Christ to his death declareth that if we be dead with him wee beleeue that we shal also liue with him Ephe. 1.20 RoÌ„ 9.8 So theÌ„ persecutioÌ„ for righteousnesse is a most assured testimonie to the faithfull that they shall participate in the glory of their head and euerlasting life From thence it commeth that the Apostle reioyceth with the Phillippians because it hath been giuen vnto them for Christs sake not onely to beleeue in him but also to suffer for him Phil. 1.29 Wrighting to the Thessalonians we our selues sayth hee boast of you in the Churches of God because of your patience and Faith in all the persecutions and afflictions which you vndergoe the which are a manifest demonstration of the judgement of God that you may be reputed worthy of his Kingdome For the which also you suffer 2. Thessa 1.4.5 The same point of doctrine is treated in the 12. Chap. of the Epistle to the Hebrues And as it was needefull that the head of the Church should suffer and by the way of the crosse enter into glory also it is fitting that by many tribulations the members of his bodie should enter into the Kingdome of heauen Let vs then conclude that the sufferings for Iesus Christ doe maruailously confirme the hope of his raigne Hope is a singular guift Besides as Faith is a singuler gift of God so is hope for as much as by patience the beleeuers wayte for these great good things which haue been promised them Therefore S. Paul wished fervently that the Faithfull might haue the eyes of their vnderstanding opened to knowe what was the hope of their vocation and the excellencie of the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the Saints Ephe. 1.18 Let vs then also pray vnto the Lord that hee would more and more confirme in our hearts the hope of eternall life Let vs hope that hee will do it seeing his gifts and his calling is without repentance and that he goeth on to the end with the good worke which hee hath begun in his elect Let vs yet consider that the nature of hope agreeth altogether with that of Faith That is to say it is assured perpetuall liuely of efficacie in those that are regenerate hoping in God Seeing that hope proceedeth and dependeth of Faith which maintayneth it necessaryly hope is such as Faith is so that the faithfull truely hoping although that shooke with diuers sorts of temptations it neuer falleth by despairing altogether because that christian hope is setled vppon the solide and firme foundations aboue spoken of not vppon humane strength dignities or promises Such a hope is not idle but â—ssured of the felicitie she coÌ„taineth the â—aithfull in dutie causeth them to purâ—ue and desire to effect that which they â—now to be agreable to the Lord that â—hey do gently support afflictions â—aies and gates to attaine and enter inâ—o paradice that they know by their owne experience that affliction bringeth patience and patience experience and experience hope which maketh not ashamed Rom. 5.3 For those that hope in the Lord cannot bee confounded wherevpon it followeth that hope dependeth not of vs nor of our merits otherwise it were nothing but shame and confusion to vs. Summarie of the doctrine of Hope Let vs yet make some exact summarie of the doctrine towching christian hope The word of hope is taken in two sorts by a figuratiue and proper manner of speaking Figured in three
Those that wayte vpon the Lord â—her new strength their wings growe â—aine like Eagles they shall rune and shall â— waxe weary they shall walke and shall â— labour at all Esay 40.31 So then â—thout the knowledge of Iesus Christ â—e trust in him and viuification by the â—ly spirit men cannot desire to doe â—od workes lesse effect and acâ—…mplish them Therefore they abuse â—…emselues daungerously that thinke â—at the Pagans vnbeleeuers and proâ—e men whose hearts are not purified â— the truth of the Gospell accepted by â—th and who doe not beleeue in the â—nne of God manifested to the Church â— the doctrine of the Prophets Evanâ—elists and Apostles can doe workes â—easing and agreeable to God And â—ose that maintaine that the naturall â—an can of his owne will render obedience to God and others who jmaginâ— a concurrance of the value of the worâ— man and of the workes with the dignâ—ty and perfection of him that commaâ—deth them and those that without câ—ryng whether the person pleaseth Goâ— or no teach that what he doth thinkinâ— he doth well it is agreeable to God 〈◊〉 farre that it is euen to boast themselueâ— before the seate of his justice of thâ— which they speake most vnworthily â— without a convenient respect of the satisfaction obedience and justice of Iesus Christ confounding miserably thâ— cause of saluation with the demonstration of the grace receaued and the sigâ— of justification 3. How good woorkes please god 3. It is demanded how good workâ— please God Ans They please becausâ— of Iesus Christ in whome those thaâ— please God are elected and welbeloued To speake this more amply wee musâ— first remember that the party that doâ— the good works is already reconciled â— agreeable vnto God by the meanes oâ— his onely Sonne Secondly that such a party justified by faith during his abyding in the world cannot satisfie to all that which the diuine law requireth To the contrary it cryeth euery day vnto the Lord pardon mee my sinnes Thirdly the party justified deploreth with Dauid and S. Paul his misery before God resisteth his euill affections growing from day to day in those that are least jmparfect prayeth that God would not impute so many filthinesses and jmperfections which appeare on euery side vnto him In the fowrth place although that the partie iustified by Faith acknowledgeth his defaults this neuerthelesse abides resolute in him that God requireth obedience although jmperfect and that the same is pleasing vnto him for the loue of Iesus Christ as sayth S. Peter you are an holy Priesthoode to offer vppe spirituall sacrifice acceptable to GOD by Iesus Christ 1. Peter chap. 2. vers 5. It followeth vppon that which we haue now sayd that our obedience doth not please by reason of the worke done or for any worthinesse that is therein or because it is done which it is not either be reason of the degree or ranck of the partie that did the worke For the good woorkes of Cornelius the Centurion did please God no lesse then the good workes of S. Peter the Apostle 4. Why we ought to doe good workes As for the fowrth point many vnderstanding that man is iustified before God by Faith onely without works do make iniquity of the causes which ought to inflame and prick vs forward to good works This question must be answered by the scriptures which propound three important causes to wit The necessitie of them Necessitie Dignitie Reward Let vs breefely speake of these three Necessitie is distinguished into fiue articles to wit of Commandement of dutie of Faith of repentance and of exemption from punishment euery one which ought sufficiently to stirre vs vppe to do well First the creature must necessarily obay to the Cteator Then when the Lord seriously and seuerely commandeth that wee obay him who seeth not that Christians ought of all necessitie to studie to do good works Walke sayth hee Ezech. 20.19 in my commaundements and S. Paul This is the will of God that is to say your sanctification 1. Thessalo 4.3 In regard of the necessity of the dutie the Apostle noteth it Rom. 8.12 in these words Wee are debtours not to the flesh to liue according to the flesh For if you liue according to the flesh you die but if by the spirit you mortifie the deeds of the body you liue Also 1. Corinth 6.19 Know you not that your body is the Temple of the holy ghost which is in you the which you haue of God and are not your owne for you were bought with a price then glorifie God in your body and in your spirit for they are Gods It is commanded to all the faithfull carefully to keepe and entertaine Faith S. Paul sheweth the necessity thereof saying 1. Tim. 1.18.19 Fight a good fight hauing faith and a good conscience which some haue put away and as concerning faith haue made shipwracke And in the 5. chap. ver 8. If there be any that prouideth not for his own and namely for them of his houshold he denieth the faith and is worse then an infidell The necessity of repentance is conformed by this protestation of the Lord As surely as I liue I desire not the death of a sinner but that he turne from his wickednesse and liue When a sinner leaueth his wicked course he is quickned by the holy Ghost to the end he may walke in newnesse of life for regeneration the beginning of that life which is a new light and a restauration of the jmage of God in those that are justified As for the necessity to auoyd his chastisements Dauid giueth vs warning jnough therof when hee sayth God chastiseth the sonnes of men because of their iniquities Psal 89.33 The second cause named Dignity The dignitie of them consisteth in this poynt that the belieuers are the children of God temples of the holy Ghost pallaices wherein Christ dwelleth whose members and co-heires they are What a wickednesse were it if they should resemble the enemie of their Sauiour What danger it is to defile the Temple of the Lord bearing therein the filthinesse of Satan And what crueltie to driue away the holy Ghost out of his accustomed lodging Seeing then that the propertie of the children of God is to follow their heauenly father who cryeth vnto them Bee yee holy as I am holy and that they are eleuated and called to be holy who seeth not that it soueraignely appertaineth vnto the Saints during their soiourning in this world to doe good woorkes The â—…ware of them The third cause called Reward oftentimes promised to those that are obedient Moyses shall be a witnesse thereof vnto vs of whome the Apostle saith Heb. 11.26 That in his labours hee had a respect vnto the recompence of reward The children of God are not mercenaries and life euerlasting is not a reward of varlets but an inheritance of children the recompence which they expect is of the good will of him that loued them from before