doth not teach vs so to reioyce as if there were no further dangers to be feared no further opposition to be expected no further temptation to be endured no further enemies to be resisted but importeth that there is much fighting and wrastling much care and sorrow many perplexities and troubles yet to be forecast and looked for we may not then be secure as if there were nothing any more to trouble vs but we may be secure and without doubt of an happy issue and deliuerance from all troubles and this is the hope that we reioyce in Therfore Saint Augustine saith vpon Psal 37. Ioy that thou art redeemed but yet not in reall effect as touching hope bee secure 2. Pet. 1.10 here the Apostle giueth vs counsell rather to giue diligence to make our calling and election sure by good workes but it were idle and vaine to vse diligence if the assurance of our election and vocation could not be attained vnto without any extraordinary reuelation And this place sheweth that the election of God which is most certaine in him and in it selfe is made known and certaine to vs by good works whervnto God hath appointed vs not that it is grounded vpon our will or workes which are good but vpon his gracious decree by which before the world was made he chose vs and in time called vs and hath giuen his spirit by which we are made not onely willing but most thankefully to embrace his grace and to know his fatherly loue towards vs for if by his spirit we know that God is our father as Paul teacheth Rom. 8.15.16 we know also that we are predestinate to his inheritance in Christ which knowledge is confirmed by the works of obedience which are the fruites of the spirit of adoption But if we cannot know it as the Papists say but onely hope with such hope as is vncertaine and may be confounded in vaine should the Apostle exhort vs to make our election sure by good works 2. Cor. 13.5 proue your selues whether you are in the faith examine your selues knowe you not your owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates here the Apostle takes it for graunted that he which hath faith may know that he hath faith and sheweth that to prooue a mans selfe whether he be in the faith is to prooue whether Christ be in him because the faith of which he speaketh is that liuely faith wherby Christ dwelleth in our hearts And if Christ be in you saith Paul Rom. 8.10 the body is dead as touching sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnes sake which cannot be without repentance hope charity such other spirituall graces wherewith the spirit of Christ endueth them in whom Christ doth dwell He therefore that knoweth himselfe to be in the faith as the Apostle meaneth it knoweth Christ to be in himselfe he knoweth himselfe to be dead to sin and aliue to righteousnes and that he is not without repentance hope charitie and other vertues wrought in him by the spirit of Christ and consequently he knoweth and is assured of his election and saluation for faith is the faith of Gods elect Tit. 1.1 and Act. 13.48 so many beleeued as were ordained to saluation Rom. 8.38 I am perswaded that neither death not life c. therefore the Apostle was fully perswaded of his saluation in Christ otherwise to speake as if the Apostle were in doubt is a blasphemous vntruth for in many places he protesteth his assured hope and confidence as Philip. 1.23 desiring to be loosed and to be with Christ here he doubteth not but after his dissolution to be with Christ We haue the like confidēce notably expressed 2. Tim. 4.8 Henceforth is laid vp for mee the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous iudge shal giue me at that day c. this particle for me is the speech and language of faith So the Virgin Mary doth call Christ her Sauiour Luk. 1.47 and the theefe vpon the crosse said Lord remember mee c. Cap. 23.43 The like also Paul saith Gal. 2.20 that Christ gaue himselfe for me and in that it is repeated againe it sheweth the strength of his confidence Neither is this any singular priuiledge and prerogatiue in Paul but it is the common confidence of all the faithful Eph. 3.12 by whom we haue boldnes and entrance with confidence by faith in him here the Apostle speaketh not only as a teacher of the Church as an Apostle as a man of experience in which respect we ought to giue him credit but he ioyneth himselfe with many others as if he should say we haue boldnes meaning the rest of the Apostles the Ministers and all the faithful When a word is confirmed by the mouth of two or three witnesses we ought to giue credit but hauing here so great a cloud of witnesses we ought to beleeue it without all gaine-saying that a man may be assured of his saluation for entranae with boldnes is a fruit of iustification Rom. 5.1.2 1. Ioh. 3.14 We know we are translated from death to life that is to say we are free from death the wrath of God sinne and damnation translated vnto the fauour of God righteousnes and eternall life The certaine vnfallible and vndoubted assurance thereof is expressed by the verbe of the tense fully past for he doth not say we know that we shal passe but that we haue passed from death to life The like place is Ioh. 5.24 shall not come into condemnation but hath passed from death to life and againe Eph. 2.6 hath raised vs vp together and made vs sit together in the heauenly places in Christ Iesus 1. Ioh. 5.19 we know that we are of God therefore we may be assured of the fauour of God and that we are in the state of grace The Apostle speaketh not in the third or second person but in the first person wee know putting himselfe in the number now the Apostle was sure hee had the spirit of God for if the Apostles Paul and Iohn could pronounce certainely of others 1. Ioh. 2.14 that they knew the Father that they were strong and the word of God did abide in them and that they had ouercome the wicked and blessed Paul 1. Thes 4.8 of the Thessalonians that God had giuen vnto them his holy spirit as also 2. Thess 2.13 that God had chosen them to saluation much more were they certaine of themselues 1. Ioh. 5.10 he that beleeueth in the sonne of God hath the witnes in himselfe Saint Iohn penned his first Epistle that he might shew vnto the Church of God a way how they might ordinarily and fully be assured of the loue of God of eternal life and therefore he affoards vs many pregnant testimonies for this purpose Ioh. 2.3 Hereby wee know that we haue knowne him if we keepe his commandements v. 5. he that hath his word in him is the loue of God perfect indeed hereby we know that
blaspheme Christ Beza in Pa. homil 31. but not regarded among Christians The Israelites who were notorious Idolaters proclaimed a fast to shew how they detested the blasphemy which was obiected to Naboth 1. Kin. 21. but we that hate Idolatrie doe not hate blasphemy nay rather we glory in our abusing the holy name of our God Iam. 2.19 The deuills feare and tremble Pilate when he heard that Christ was the sonne of God Ioh. 19.8 was afraid but many are worse then Pilate nay worse then the deuills themselues customably and securely without all feare and regard of Gods Maiestie blaspheme and reuile the liuing God The land mourneth because of oathes Ier. 23.10 but many laugh it out and make but a pastime to take the name of God in vaine If a mortall man be held deare vnto vs we take not his name in vaine we will not endure that any make a scorne of him and when a matter of play and mockerie is proposed we cannot suffer with patience that he be brought in as on the stage for we take this to be his infamie and discredit And shall he haue greater priuiledge then the liuing God whose name commeth in our mouthes in our bargaines and pastimes c. It is a vice which ill beseemeth those that make profession of christianitie for a Christians speech should bee powdered with salt Col. 4.6 and not with blasphemies it should minister grace to the hearers Ephes 4.29 and not be as a contagious leptosie to infect the weake nor like thornes and swords to vexe and grieue the strong Psal 55.21 for howsoeuer euill men make nothing of it to here Gods name dishonoured yet if those who truely feared the Lord and be zealous of his glorie heare these blasphemies their heart quaketh their ioynts tremble and their haire standeth vp an ende Ecclus. 27.14 Salomon Eccles. 9.2 maketh it a true note of a faithfull man to haue a reuerent respect of an oath so he pinneth it as a badge vpon a wicked mans sleeue that hee maketh no conscience of customable swearing Sixtly to haue an earnest desire that Christ should come to iudgement Apoc. 22.20 the Church faith Euen so come Lord Iesus and Christ in his prayer hath taught vs to haue this affection when wee pray Matth. 6.10 Lord let thy kingdom come Now that this is a note of them that are elected to saluation appeareth 2. Tim. 4.8 where it is said that a crowne of righteousnesse is laid vp for all them that loue his appearing Rom. 8.23 They who haue the first fruites of the spirit do euen sigh in themselues waiting for the adoption euen the redemption of their bodies when as their corruption shal put on incorruption c. 1. Cor. 15.53 Christ hath told vs that his children at his comming shall looke vp and lift vp their heads Luk. 21.28 And on the other side that the kingdomes of the earth shal mourne Matth. 24.30 and that the prophane worldlings shall say to the mountaines Fall on vs and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the lambe Apoc. 6.16 Naturally we abhorre to thinke of this fearefull daie and tremble with feare when mention is made thereof as Felix did Act. 24.26 because by our sinnes we haue deserued euerlasting death Rom. 6.23 but when the spirit of God by the ministerie of the word hath begotten faith in vs whereby we apply vnto our selues Christ with all his merits by whom we are reconciled vnto God then do we earnestly desire the comming of Christ our Sauiour to iudgement 1. Thess 1.9 You knowe saith blessed Paul what entring wee had and how we turned you from idols vnto God and to looke for his sonne from heauen no sooner were they turned to God but they waited for his sonne Hereby the faithfull are marked as by their propertie euen such as with the good seruants expect their Masters comming Matth. 24.45 such as looke for him Heb. 9.28 such as loue his appearing 2. Tim. 4.8 such as beeing wise virgins and louing spouses prepare themselues and euerie thing needefull for the bridegromes comming Matth. 25.4 and such as beeing strangers and pilgrims vpon earth haue their eies still toward their countrey who while they liue on earth yet haue their conuersation in heauen from whence they looke for a Sauiour Philip. 3.20 The sonnes of the Church begotten by the Gospel cannot but waite for the adoption of sonnes Rom. 8.19.23 The Church is sicke of loue after him whome her soule loueth Can. 2.5 The common voice of the spouse is Amen vnto the promise of Christs comming Apoc. 22.21 The bride saith come and doubleth her desire and ardencie saying Amen Amen Neuer thinke then that the heart is right affected vntill thou finde in it this desire and breathing after Christ thy life for this is a speciall note of discerning betweene the godly and the wicked the one hath the spirit which saith Come the other shake at the mention of his comming the one longeth that these shadowes flie away and that day breake on them Cant. 2.17 the other can no more desire his comming then the guiltie fellon can desire the comming and presence of the Iudge Some there are that beleeue not nor wait not for the day of Christ but deale as the Israelites did with Caleb and Iosua Numb 14.7 concerning the promised land who when they told the people that it was a good and a fat land and that if the Lord loued them he would giue it them and seat them in it they rebelliously bad stone them with stones but behold presently Gods sentence passed vpon them that they should neuer see that land ver 23. Such liue like the Sadduces who said that there is no resurrection nor angel nor spirit Acts. 23.8 Such was that Cardinall of Burbon who professed that he would not giue his part in Paris for his part in Paradise Such was that Pope who all his life could not be perswaded whether there was an heauen or hell and therefore at his death blasphemously vttered these words Now shall I know whether there be a God aâ— hell or any immortalitie of the soule and shortly after knew it to his cost Others are fallen asleepe with the euill seruant while their master maketh stay of his comming and in one dead sleepe of sinne or other out of which they will not be awakened wast out their dayes as though their soules should for euer sleep after death Others call on the Lord Iesus to come but neuer till they be cast on their death bed their hearts nor mouthes neuer harbour such requests in their life time and therefore in all likelihood they are vnsound Therefore call to minde the commandement of God Luk. 12.36 Be ye like men that waite for their master when he will returne from the wedding herein is put a difference betweene the godly and the wicked It was euer a marke of good men to wait for Christs
this estate and yet when all hath beene said that can be it is nothing in comparison of that which the thing is in it selfe and we shall find it to be when we shall lay downe this bodie of corruption and bee cloathed vpon with perfect glory Learne therefore what a wonderfull blessing we haue obtained by Christ By nature we are wrapped in the guilt of sin subiect to the stipend of sinne subdued vnder the curse of the lawe and lie right vnder the whole wrath and displeasure of God Our sinnes proclaimed vs Rebels to God through heauen and earth banished vs out of our countrey set hell gates open for vs and gaue vs into the hands of Sathan as an hangman to execute Gods sentence of eternall death passed against vs yea further hopeles wee were in this wofull condition for Gods displeasure was so kindled against vs as men and angels could not reconcile him the law was so transgressed that all men and angels could neuer satisfie nor make vp the breach the sentence was so seuere as all men and angels could neuer haue stood vnder iâ— the execution so certen as the verie gybbet was euer standing in our sight in the horrors of our soules and terrors of our accusing consciences wee seemed to walke and bee left in the midst of ten thousand deaths but nowe when no meanes was left to pacifie God offended to satisfie the lawe transgressed to remake the sentence denounced the Sonne of God must come from the bosome of his father and become obedient both to the performing of the whole will of his Father as also to the ignominious death of the crosse that so becomming a curse for vs as that execrable kind of death betokened wee might haue God well pleased with vs as he is with him we might present him his lawe perfectly fulfilled not in our persons but in our nature and in his owne person for vs we might pleade the paiment of all our debts and by this our surety sue out our full discharge because the vtmost farthing is fully paid haue our right in the tree of life and might enter in thorough the gates into the citie Apoc. 22.14 This blessed tree is in the middest of the Paradise of God the leaues of the tree are not onely for shadowe but also to heale the nations with and it hath both leaues and fruites to satisfie our hunger and twelue manner of fruits euerie moneth brought forth to satisfie our pleasure and it groweth by a riuer side cleare as chrystall proceeding out of the throne of God so that it cannot possibly wither Apoc. 22. Let vs beseech God who hath planted is with his owne right hand that we may liue to 〈◊〉 how wholesome and pleasant that tâ—… is And considering that we looke for life euerlasting after this life let vs not deceiue our selues lingring and deferring the time to the last gaspe but let vs lay the foundation of life eternall in our selues in this world and haue the earnest thereof laid vp in our hearts Now this is done if we repent vs heartily of all our sinnes and seeke to be assured in conscience that God the father of Christ is our father God the sonne our redeemer and God the holy Ghost our comforter Ioh. 17.3 this is eternall life that they know thee to be the onely God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ yea let vs proceed further yet endeauouring to say with Paul Gal. 2.20 Thus I liue yes not I now but Christ liueth in mee and in that I nowe liue in the flesh I liue by the faith in the sonne of God who hath loued me hath giuen himselfe for me when we can thus say in truth of heart wee haue in vs the verie seede of eternall life Lastly here we may consider the wonderfull madnes of worldly men who only haue regard to the state of this life cast all their care on the world and neuer so much as life up their hearts and thoughts vnto heauen The ende of Christ comming in the flesh was principally for our soules by taking away the sinnes of the world and after for our bodies by remoouing corporall infirmities Matth. 9.2.6 but it is not thus with the sonnes of men now they neglect the care of their soules but they make prouision for the lusts of the flesh with all possible diligence As the prodigall sonne forsooke his fathers house for a strange countrey his fathers fauour and inheritance for a bagge of money father kinred and friends for vnhonest and vncourteous harlots and the bread in his fathers house for the huskes of beanes which the swine abroad fed vpon and his soule desired So the worldlings forsake God for this present world heauen for earth euerlasting pleasure at Gods right hand for the pleasures of sin for a season It is a iust iudgement that earthly riches do deceiue our hearts when heauenly riches do not delight vs that the outward things should carie vs away wheÌ„ heauenly things cannot so much preuaile with vs. If a man hauing two houses the one but an homely cottage and the other a princely pallace should leaue the better and take all the care for the dressing and beautifying of the first would not euerie man say he were a madde man now God hath prepared for vs two houses the one is this our bodie which wee beare about vs which is an house of clay Iob. 4.19 the other house is the third heauen Iob. 14.2 which is the dwelling place of the holy Saints and Angels therefore what spirituall madnesse is it to employ all our cares for the maintenance of this house of clay which is but dust and to haue no regard of the blessed estate of the second house which is prepared for vs in heauen The three Apostles when they had seene some part of the glory of Christ in his transfiguration vpon the mount Tabor were so mooued that they said Matth. 17.4 Master it is good for vs to bee here What then would we do if we should conuerse in heauen and there behold the Maiestie of God and the glorie of Christ would not euen the apprehension thereof allure vs to wish to dwell there and to forget and despise the earth But our earthly talk and communication our worldly course of life and the corruptions of the flesh that beare so much sway in vs due manifestly shew how little wee are conuersant in heauen and consequently doe testifie that we are burgesses of earth and not of heauen All faithful beleeuers do know and are assured that at the seperation of the soule and the body the soule shal be exalted to heauen with Christ now as this seperation daily doth by death draw nearer and nearer to the faithfull so doth the kingdome also come vpon them Therefore how carefull should we be to amend our liues to despise these earthly vanityes and to prepare ourselues to make our entry into heauen Now in that we haue bin sufficiently