seperaters from God and no ioyners to God therefore it must needs be loue and nothing but loue yea the infinite loue of God to vs in Christ Iesus that gathers vs and bindes vs vp within this Communion It is his loue to couer such a multitude of sinnes his loue to care for vs when wee were carelesse of our selues his loue to affect vs that hated him his loue to ouercome our monstrous euilnesse with his mercifull goodnesse his loue to rescue vs raise vs vp from the gates of Hell and to set vs in heauenly places his loue to assume vs that were cast-awayes in our selues to be associated with his blessed Maiestie this is such a loue indeed as is admirable infinite worthy of God who if he were not loue it selfe hee could not nor would not haue shewed forth such fauour vnto vs. The first Vse of this Doctrine is matter of Confutation Vse 1 against the Doctrine of Mans merits If loue be the bond of our Communion of God in Christ then there is no merit of Saints nor of Angels that could euer bee the cause of it no worke before or after Iustification doth merit this before Iustification God sets his loue vpon vs freely that is agreed vpon on both sides but after Iustification say the Papists we may deserue heauen No say we the loue of God is the bond of our Communion with God which as it brings vs to God so it tyes vs fast to him sanctifies vs and glorifies vs. Vse 2 The second Vse is for Instruction teaching vs that seeing all true beleeuers haue a true Interest in the loue of God they are all ioyned to God and the bond that tyes them to him is his Loue therefore all true beleeuers are seised and possest of the loue of God A matter worthy to be well considered of vs as that that will call vpon vs and prouoke vs to many holy Duties Fiue Duties to be learned from the loue of God to vs First therefore we must know and beleeue this that God loues vs 1 Iohn 4.16 We haue known Dutie 1 and beleeued saith the Apostle the loue that God hath in vs Let vs labour therefore to get some comfortable knowledge and perswasion in our hearts that God loues vs. Wicked men are vsually too forward and too presumptuous in this case they runne on in sinne and in their owne vilde courses not regarding Gods loue and yet they presume and and perswade themselues that God loues them and if any tell them the contrary they defie him On the other side Gods children they are too backeward They repent and pray against their sinnes and fight against them and striue after grace and yet they are hardly perswaded of Gods loue to them Therefore how shall wee know certainely that God loues vs Certaine signes marks that God loueth vs. I answere we may know it First in generall by this very point in hand if wee haue this Communion with God if wee be ingrafted into Christ if we be obedient to the Spirit if we be constant and conscionable in the vse of the Word Sacraments and prayer then certainely God loues vs and wee are within the compasse of this Bond. Secondly thou maist know it in particular by this Art thou pluckt out of thy sinnes hast thou parted with them for conscience sake hath thy master-sin receiued his deaths-wound within thee Is thy heart clensed in some true measure from thy wickednesse Oh then certainely God loues thee Psal 73.1 Surely God is good to such as are of a pure heart As it is the greatest signe that euer can be of Gods wrath vpon vs when he suffers vs to liue and to dye in our sinnes so there is no greater signe of his loue then this that our sinnes are cast out of vs and wee not suffered to liue in them Thirdly thou maist know it by thy loue to GOD if thou loue GOD it is most certaine that he loues thee and if God loues thee thou canst not but loue God But how may I know certainely that I loue God indeed for I may be deceiued in this as well as in the other I answere looke into thy Obedience if thou hast an obedient heart to God then thou louest God Iohn 14.21 where Christ expresseth both how we may know we loue God secondly how wee may know that hee loues vs If wee would know whether wee loue God looke into our obedience He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them is he that loueth mee And if we would know whether God loues vs let vs looke into our loue to him And he that loueth me shall be loued of my Father and I will loue him saith our Sauiour Fourthly wee may know Gods loue to vs by our chastisements Hebr. 12.6 Whom the Lord loueth he chasteneth but afflictions and chastisements are common to all good and bad to the wicked as well as to the godly I answere Afflictions are so indeed but chastisements are peculiar to Gods people onely But how shall I know whether mine be chastisements I answere out of the 10. verse When God chastiseth vs it is for our profit And what profit that wee might be partakers of his holinesse therefore if wee would know it to be a chastisement looke whether we profit by it to holinesse If wee grow in grace it is a certaine and most sensible yea and infallible signe of Gods loue I say both these together chastisements and profit by them is an infallible signe of Gods loue to thee If Gods hand be vpon thee in minde or body or goods any way or euery way if thou doest profit by it to holinesse and get grace thereby into thy heart then certainely God loues thee This is a sensible Argument and an infallible signe of it it must needs be much loue that turnes sower into sweet the sowernesse of thy chastisements into the sweetnesse of his grace Dutie 2 Another Dutie that we may learne hence is to bee thankefull to God for this his great loue Oh that we could in any measure worthily praise the Lord for this his great loue to vs It is worthy of more thankes then wee are able to giue wee should study therefore how to praise God for it stirre vp all the powers of thy Soule to this duty say with Dauid Psal 103.1 Oh my Soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy Name And that which Dauid would haue all Nations to doe that we must doe Psal 117.1 Praise the Lord Thy soule fares the better for this loue and all that is within thee fares the better for it and therefore stirre vp thy selfe and say Praise the Lord Oh my Soule for his loue towards thee and let all that is within me praise him for his loue say it with thy mouth and doe it with thy heart and let thy life say Amen to it and then this loue of God is well bestowed vpon thee Gods loue is
sinne therefore resolue deliberately rather to be drawne in pieces then to be drawne to sinne againe Fourthly wee must make our resolutions in confidence of Gods promises and empty our selues of all power to doe any thing as of our selues Lastly wee must goe to God by prayer for his Spirit that he may frame thy resolutions within thee Say Lord thou hast giuen mee these good resolutions let thy Spirit worke and confirme them in my heart and then they shall stand sure and if we can preuaile with God by prayer to frame these resolutions in our hearts they shall be sure to stand Thirdly that we may be established in grace and perseuere therein wee must daily rippe vp our hearts and our reines before God wee must discouer our sinnes and corruptions and infirmities and wants to God Psal 16.8 I haue set the Lord euer before me because he is at my right hand I shall neuer be moued The way to keepe vs from falling is to walke openly and nakedly before the Lord without dissembling reseruations circumloquutions neuer bee either afraid or ashamed to tell GOD what thou wantest for so much as thou failest in making thy selfe throughly knowne to GOD so much thou euer giuest thy selfe to fall away from grace Fourthly to preserue vs from falling from grace we must watch continually ouer our owne hearts that we doe not fall Matth. 26.41 Our Sauiour prescribes it of purpose as a preseruation from falling Thy heart is deceitfull aboue all things watch thy heart therefore at euery turne lest it fall away But alasse what will our watchfulnesse doe Yes it is very effectuall when it is ioyned with prayer Watch to keepe thy selfe and pray to God to keepe thee and thou shalt be well kept Bring God vnto thy watch by thy prayer and then though thou be heauy and sleepy yet hee neuer slumbers nor sleepes he will surely keepe thee Fiftly if thou beest fallen rise vp againe without delay sleepe not till thou recouer thy selfe Reu. 2.5 Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent Hast thou sinned oh what hast thou done Get thee to God humble thy selfe before him confesse and bewaile thy sinnes with a broken heart take hold on the promise of grace in Christ renew thy vow and promise to God and see thou performe it to be more careful for euer after and this do speedily It is a great aduantage that sinne gets of vs by resting in vs like a sore that is let alone it festers and is harder to be cured Sixtly if we will hold out in the estate of grace we must labour to be constant in all duties of Relâ—gion in hearing the Word meditating conferring practising it in receiuing the Sacraments in companying with the godly and this we must do not in formality and for fashion or custome that is the very moath that eates out the life of all godlines when we think if the duty be done all is well no matter how but this makes a foule bracke in the estate of grace but let vs not do these things for custome or formality sake but let vs see that the life and power of godlinesse be in vs in the performance of them Lastly let vs be sure we be alwaies going forward for surely our not going forward is some degree or beginning of going backward Phil. 3.13 We must forget those things which are behinde and reach forward to those things which are before Labour to weaken thy sinnes and to strengthen thy graces and to be more frequent in good duties and so shall we goe forwards and not fall away And now we come to the Lords Supper let vs not be content to receiue it in the Elements but let vs see that the life and power of it be in our hearts and then they shall be a powerfull meanes to keepe and helpe forward the beleeuing Soule in the state of grace Here the promise of God is sealed vnto vs for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and here we binde our selues to God for new obedience and here we eate Christs flesh and drinke his bloud after a spirituall manner and so shall neuer dye saith our Sauiour but liue for euer And so this Sacrament is a powerfull meanes to confirme vs in this Doctrine that the hould that the faithfull haue in the loue of God through Iesus Christ is a sure hould c. FINIS THE SIXTH SERMON Vpon ROMANS 8. the two last Verses For I am perswaded that neither Death nor life c. AS God hath beene pleased to giue strength and opportunity we haue proceeded in the handling of this Scripture to these fiue points the first is contained in the Text by way of Intimation namely that there is a neere Communion betwixt God and all the faithfull in Iesus Christ intended in the word seperation Secondly we haue spoken of the Bond of this Communion which is the loue of God Thirdly we haue shewed both the ground of this Communion and of the Bond of it and that is Iesus Christ Fourthly we haue shewed the neere reference that is betwixt Christ and the faithfull hee is our Lord and we are his Subiects and Seruants Fiftly we haue shewed the safety of all the faithfull in the midst of all dangers which the Apostle auoucheth here That neither death nor life c. shall seperate vs from the loue of God the Children of God are and shall be in the loue of God let their enemies doe what they can Now we come to speake of the sixt point and that is the confident perswasion which the Apostle hath concerning this heauenly truth I am sure hee is sure of it First I will propound the Doctrine in that the Apostle saith I am perswaded or I am sure that all the faithfull shall continue in the loue of God without seperation the obseruation is this Doctrine Gods Children all true Beleeuers may and ought to haue a confident perswasion in themselues of their owne certainty and continuance in the state of grace and saluation for howsoeuer the perswasion here spoken of is a personall and a particular perswasion of Paul I am perswaded yet the matter which he is peswaded of is generall to all beleeuers I am perswaded saith he that nothing shall seperate vs and therefore the estate of all true beleeuers being in it selfe as firme and sure as Pauls was then their assurance must be in some measure answerable to his To set the Doctrine right that we may receiue it in the truth of the Apostles intendment and apply it to our selues rightly against despaire and yet without presumption Doctrine cleared for such exceptions as seeme to lye in the Text. we are first to cleare it of some exceptions and then to bound it within certaine bounds or limmits First of the exceptions I doe not meane such exceptions as are made against the Doctrine it selfe for of them we shall speake in the vses but of such as are made against this Scripture
we will not feare The Lord of hosts is with vs the God of Iacob is our refuge Psal 46.1.2.3 So it may comfort vs against all Sathans temptations the fiercest greatest and fearefullest that Sathan can assault vs withall Christ is our Lord and Master and can a Lord or Master see a faithfull Seruant of his wronged and oppressed by his enemy and not stretch forth his hand to helpe and rescue him If men will yet our Lord Christ will not nor cannot but the more fiercely wee are assaulted by our enemies the more ready will hee be to helpe vs. Therefore in the depth of temptation retire thy selfe to this sure Hold to Christ as to thy Lord and say vnto him Oh my Lord seest thou how I am oppressed with thy enemy and my enemy Wilt thou see me trodden vnder feete Vp Lord I pray thee fight for me suffer not my soule to be a prey to such a cursed enemy And surely if thou doest thus the Lord will be very ready to heare thee the God of peace will tread Satan vnder thy feet shortly Lastly it may comfort vs against death it selfe whosoeuer thou art that hast serued the Lord Christ in truth in thy life thou maist boldly put thy selfe vpon him as thy Lord at thy death hee whom thou hast serued all thy life will surely comfort thee at thy death and in death and after death therefore be not discouraged at death it is terrible and fearefull to Nature but let vs arme our selues for it before hand let vs before hand goe to Christ and let him be our Lord and then we may say to our soules at our death Oh my soule thou hast serued the Lord Iesus Christ thus many yeares be not now afraid to goe to thy Lord and master home to his owne house and we may turne to the Lord and say Oh my Lord thou hast beene my protector many yeares now Lord helpe me for now I stand in more neede of thy helpe then euer I did before Lord receiue my soule now into thy mercifull hands and if thou doest thus assure thy selfe thou shalt not be more ready to commend thy soule to him then he will be ready to receiue it into his hands The third Vse is for matter of dutie teaching vs Vse 3 that seeing Christ is our Lord we must cary our selues to him as to our Lord in all dutie as good and faithfull seruants he that doth so is the right seruant of Iesus Christ the true and sound Christian The duties we are to performe to him are many we will reduce them to these two heads Doing and Suffering In both these we must conforme our selues to Christ as to our Lord. In doing First if Christ bee our Lord we must beleeue in him trust in him and rest vpon him Isa 26.4 Trust in the Lord for euer for in the Lord God is strength for euermore and therfore let vs be confident in him rowle our selues vpon him and know whom it is that wee haue trusted and hazzarded our soule vpon him Let vs trust in the Lord when we see nothing in the world but desolation he is a Lord and therefore can doe for vs what he will and he is our Lord and therefore he will doe for vs what he can And if he can do for vs what he will by his absolute power and will doe for vs what he can of his meere grace and goodnesse why should wee not beleeue in him and rest vpon him both in life and death Secondly if he be our Lord then wee must reuerence him as our Lord. Mal. 1.6 If I be a Lord where is my feare Psal 2.11.12 Serue the Lord in feare and reioyce in him with trembling Kisse the Sonne c. Let vs therefore reuerence him in his Nature Person Word Ordinances in our hearts liues and all our courses Let this feare be alwayes before our eyes that wee may neuer sinne against him It is a fault to be taxed in many Christians that they come to the Word and to the Sacraments with little reuerence to God none at all to man God will be honoured with an orderly zeale Thirdly if Christ be our Lord then wee must loue him as our Lord. Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule Our loue must be such to him as his loue was to vs that is not colde or little but maruellous great so that he shed his bloud for vs. Hath our Lord loued vs thus dearely to lay downe his life for vs then let vs loue him as dearely let vs lay downe our liues if we be called to it for him Fourthly if Christ be our Lord we must imitate him Iohn 13.13.14 Yee call me Lord and Master and yee say well for so I am if I then your Lord and master haue washed your feete yee ought also to wash one anothers feete and verse 15. For I haue giuen you an ensample c. Thus we should imitate Christ in loue and humilitie and other graces wee are much wanting in these Duties now in these dayes but if Christ be our Lord wee must shew our loue and humility as Christ did thinke scorne of nothing that is to be done for the Children of God Euery seruant will follow his Lord if it be but in an ill fashion then let vs imitate Christ in his graces and conforme our selues to his fashions Fiftly if Christ be our Lord wee must serue and obey him as our Lord wee must doe what hee commands and nothing else and we must doe it as hee commands it to be done and we must leaue vndone that he forbids We must not be seruants to men wee must serue other Lords as vnder our Lord Christ and in his name much lesse must wee serue our owne lusts or the world Christ is our Lord and wee will serue him and not the world nor our owne sinfull lusts Secondly in our sufferings we must conforme our selues to Christ Let vs know for certaine that wee must looke for affliction The seruant is not aboue his master Matth. 10.24 It is the nicenesse of many Christians that their finger must not ake they must not endure one temptation they would fain flie from afflictions but we must looke for them Did Christ goe from the Crosse to heauen and shall not wee goe the same way we must take vp our Crosse and follow him Secondly as we must looke for them so we must carry our selues with patience as he did in them who when he was reuiled reuiled not againe when he suffered he threatned not c. 1 Pet. 2.23 Leauing vs an example saith the Apostle that wee should follow his steps verse 21. And therefore let vs labour to be patient in the least affliction for hee is thy Lord that puts thee to it And let them be our owne afflictions and then we shall the better beare greater afflictions Christs afflictions Christ ware a Crowne of
true faith There was a time when Dauid said Psal 23.4 Though I should walke through the valley of the shadow of death I would feare none euill and there was a time when the same Dauid said Psal 31.22 that he was cast out of Gods sight here is a great difference betwixt Dauid in the strength of his faith and Davâ—d in the weakenesse of his faith And so it is with Gods Children there is a great difference of perswasion in one and the same Beleeuer at sundry times sometimes they sinne and that weakens their faith sometimes they are grieuously tempted and that weakens their faith sometâ—mes God withdrawes his spirit and that weakens their faith and sometimes they are negligent in the meanes that weakens their faith yet still in the true beleeuer there is faith true faith though a weake faith and when he is in such weakenesse he grieues and mournes and goes to God by prayer and by all means striues against it So we see that Gods Children may and ought to haue this confident perswasion Proofes Now wee come to the Proofes of the Doctrine Heb. 10.22 Let vs draw neere with a true heart in assurance of faith The Apostle stirres vp himselfe and all true Beleeuers to draw neere to God in prayer and other holy exercises and when they doe draw neere he inioynes them to bring these two speciall graces with them to mannage these duties withall First a true heart take heed we come not as Hypocrites with their lips onely but with a true heart Secondly with full assurance with full confidence and repose and resting on the mercy and promises of God The manner of the phrase is effectuall the word signifies in the originall full saile and it is a speech borrowed from a Ship at Sea that is vnder Sayle and hath Winde and Tide and all her Sailes spread that goes a long snugge in her course towards her Port with full sayle so should all true Beleeuers when they come to God and draw neere to him in prayer hearing the word or receiuing the Sacraments we must hoist vp all the Sayles of our Faith that we may be carryed along in the performance thereof in the strength and power of Gods Spirit as with winde and tyde and with full assurance as with full Saile euermore resting vpon the promises and mercies of God in Iesus Christ and being confidently perswaded of the loue of God to vs in him and this the Apostle exhorts to in this place and therefore all Gods Children may ought to attaine to it 1 Iohn 3.2 We are now the Sonnes of God but yet it is not manifest what wee shall hee and wee know that when he shall be made manifest we shall be like him for wee shall see him as hee is The persons there spoken of are true beleeuers their present state is a blessed estate for they are the Sonnes of God Yea but what is their future estate who knowes what shal become of them hereafter The world knowes it not it doth not appeare to them what we shall be haply they thinke that we may fall away from grace and loose our adoption and be seperate from God yea but saith the Apostle We know better then so we know that when he shall appeare we shall be made like vnto him we know not onely our present estate but our future too we know we are now in a happy estate in the state of saluation for we are the Sons of God and though it appeare not to the world what we shall be yet we know are confidently perswaded that as we are in the state of saluation now so we shall continue firme in it we shall so liue and so dye and so rise againe at the last day this we know it is as sure as if it were done already When hee appeares we shall be like vnto him 1 Iohn 5.10.11 Hee that beleeueth in that Sonne of God hath the witnesse in himselfe c. What is this sauing truth which God doth witnesse and which euery beleeuer must be perswaded of It is this That God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life in his Sonne Iesus Christ which is the same in substance with that in the Doctrine that wee shall stand fast in the state of Gods loue to eternall life And what perswasion haue the children of God concerning this truth A true and sound perswasion such as he hath good warrant for in himselfe and in his owne heart He hath the witnesse of it in himselfe But what witnesse is this It may faile No it is not the witnesse of man but of God himselfe as verse 9.10 so that it is the witnesse of God in our hearts and therefore cannot deceiue vs See then if it be not a confident perswasion If we haue it not saith the Apostle we make God a lyar Rom. 4.21 being fully assured that he that had promised was able to doe it Here Abrahams faith is set before vs as a patterne for all true beleeuers and the strength of his faith is commended vnto vs by these two particulars each directly touching the point in hand one in the 20. verse that he was strong in faith doubted not if he was so perswaded as he doubted not it was a confident perswasion the other in the 21. verse that hee was fully assured that God which had promised was able to doe it there was the height of a confident perswasion this was Abrahams faith and that faith which he was iustified by verse 22. And lest any man should It was Abrahams faith indeed but that is too high a strain for vs to aime at No saith the Apostle in the 23. and 24. verses It is not written for him onely but for vs also where the Apostle imposeth the same dutie on vs that we also ought to bee strong in faith and not doubt of the promises of God but be fully assured that they shall be performed and made good vnto vs and this is to walke in the steps of the faith of our Father Abraham verse 12. And those are good children that follow so good a Father The Reasons of the point are these First the giuing the receiuing of the Spirit begets this perswasion Secondly the voyce of the Spirit in vs confirmes it Thirdly the nature of faith requires it Fourthly the fruits of the Spirit and of faith approue it Lastly the truth of Gods promises ratifie it and establish it First the giuing and receiuing of the Spirit begets Reason 1 this perswasion for in our conuersion to God marke these things well blessed is hee that heares and hath his part in them I say in our true Conuersion to God there is the Spirit giuen and receiued God giues his Spirit Man receiues it in the Act of Conuersion GOD neuer conuerts any man but he giues him his Spirit neither is there any man euer conuerted but he receiues the Spirit and this giuing and receiuing of the Spirit begets
in our Adoption Ephes 1.5 Who hath predestinated vs to be adopted through Iesus Christ in himselfe according to the good pleasure of his will Fourthly if we be in Christ wee are intitled vnto the continuance of his loue to vs for euer in our Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.2 Sanctified in Christ Iesus and Ephes 5 14. Christ is our sanctification hee is full of grace and truth Ioh. 1.14 Be thou in him and thou shalt receiue fulnesse of grace Eternall life is in him 1 Iohn 5.11 Be thou in him and thou shalt haue this life All the promises of God are yea and Amen in him 2 Cor. 1.20 they are his and in him they are ours they are made vnto vs in him and they are performed and made good vnto vs in him Againe if wee be in Christ all Gods blessings are ours Ephes 1.3 Blessed be God who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in Christ Therefore if we be in Christ wee are happy whatsoeuer our state be in the world if we be in afflictions being in Christ he will helpe vs to beare them if in temptations hee will strengthen vs against them if wee be fallen from God by our sinnes if wee be in Christ he will raise vs vp againe and renew our peace with God If wee be in Christ hee will be all in all vnto vs hee will pacifie Gods wrath for vs he will procure his fauour abolish sinne bring righteousnesse deliuer vs from hell and bring vs to heauen Blessed men are we if wee can rest on Christ Iesus as our al-sufficient Redeemer and Sauiour Vse 3 The third Vse teacheth vs therefore to labour to be in Christ But how shall I get to be in him why by faith beleeue in him as thy Sauiour and Redeemer and then thou hast gotten to be in him as euer thou lookest to haue any fauour or any loue at the hands of God get to be in Christ by faith Yea but is it in my power to get faith I doe not say it is in thy power but yet thou must get it it is thy duty to labour for it and certainely if the Lord would not assist thee with his power and inable thee to beleeue he would neuer command thee so often to beleeue in Christ Not that all men generally shall or can beleeue for this is against the reuealed will of God for all men haue not faith but that euery particular man and woman may comfortably and particularly conclude for him and her selfe that certainly God will giue grace and power to beleeue vpon the vse of the meanes for this agrees with Gods reuealed will the Commandements and promises of God being tendred generally to all and no exception can be found in the word against any one in particular This the Diuell puts into the hearts of men that when the Minister exhorts them to beleeue and to get Christ they reply They know not whether they can beleeue or no or whether they were euer ordained to beleeue or no and thus the Diuell keepes them at a bay all their life that they neuer beleeue nor indeauour to beleeue But make thou no question whether thou canst beleeue or no but vse the meanes and indeauour to beleeue for if thou dost not beleeue thou shalt surely be damned put it to the tryall it may be thine endeauours may take effect and then thou shalt surely be saued What madnesse were it in thee not to put thy selfe to the tryall by vsing the meanes Many men haue beleeued vpon the vse of them and why not thou But thou wilt say I cannot vse the meanes at all thou maist at least in outward conformity But I cannot vse them as I should I answere doe it as thou canst doe thy best and so put thy selfe and thine indeauours vpon Gods mercy and humble thy selfe before the Lord for thy weakenesse vntowardnesse and hardnesse to beleeue Vse 4 The fourth Vse teacheth vs the plentifulnesse infinitenesse and abundance of Gods loue to Christ that had loue enough in him for all the beleeuing world beside In him all the nations of the earth the chosen and beleeuers are blessed in his loue they are loued in his righteousnesse all the beleeuers in the world are accounted righteous in his worthinesse they are accounted and made worthy of life and saluation This was infinite loue that God poured on his head as the Oyle on the head of Aron that runs downe to the skirts of his cloathing so Gods loue in Christ descends and runs downe on all the faithfull that now are or euer shall be to the worlds end And therefore first let vs consider of it and blesse God for it that hath poured out such infinite loue for the vse and benefit of the Church Thus the Apostle doth Ephes 1.3 Blessed be God who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in Christ secondly let vs consider it and magnifie and honour the Lord Iesus Christ that is capable worthy and that is the store-house of such an infinite treasure so doth the Church in the Can. 1.2 Thy name is as an oyntment poured out c. Thirdly consider it and reioyce in it for thy selfe that thou art a true Beleeuer and that thou hast thy part and portion in this ouer-flowing loue of God for thy acceptance and saluation Ephes 2.3.4.5 God that is rich in mercy through his great loue wherewith hee loued vs euen when wee were dead by sinnes hath quickned vs together in Christ by whose grace yee are saued The Apostle would haue vs to reioyce in this that God so loued Christ that in him hee hath raised vs vp from the state of sinne to the state of grace and saluation Fiftly is Christ the ground of Gods loue to vs Vse 5 then this commends vnto vs the wonderfull loue that God beares to his Church in Christ Iesus First it is a most tender and affectionate loue Secondly it is most holy Thirdly it is most perfect Fourthly it is vnchangeable Lastly it is most comfortable First it is a most tender loue and affection that God beares to vs in Christ the bowels of our Lord Iesus Christ are marueilous deare tender and pretious to God and therefore the loue that God beares to vs in the tender bowels of his owne blessed Sonne must needes be marueilous deare tender and affectionate Zach. 2.8 Hee that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye Why are wee so tender to God Why because hee tenders vs in the tender bowels of Iesus Christ Secondly it is a most holy loue our most holy God loues vs in his most holy Sonne Iesus Christ that holy one of God God doth not loue vs as many a wicked Father loues his Childe in his euill and wanton courses no that is prophane and carnall loue but hee loues vs with a holy loue in Christ so farre as we are washed from our sinnes in the bloud of Christ and as we be made conformable vnto Christ so farre as we
thornes and was stroke vpon that Crowne to adde affliction to his afflictions so we must looke for many thornes many afflictions and for affliction to be added to affliction But yet be of good cheere Christ will recompence all with a Crowne of Glory Let vs apply this to the Sacrament We come heere to the Lords Table this is a great honour to vs therefore let vs be thankefull for it Secondly let it comfort vs that if we come in repentance we shall haue our comfort sealed vp vnto vs to our hands to our mouthes and to our hearts Againe we professe Christ to be our Lord then let vs examine whether we feare him loue him and obey him as our Lord. Alasse wee must all confesse we come short in these duties let vs acknowledge this vnto him and let vs say Lord though we deserue not to be thy seruants yet thou art our Lord and let vs come with more faith and feare and loue and with more resolution to obey him better then euer we haue done If this Sacrament Seale vnto vs that Christ is our Lord it must also seale vnto vs that we are his seruants and then we must not honor him for an houre while we are here but all our life time If thou be the seruant of Christ he is thy Lord but if thou serue the world or thy belly or thy pleasure or any thing else and not the Lord Iesus in the truth of thine heart then he is none of thy Lord nor thou art none of his seruant And therefore when thou shalt come and knocke say Lord Lord open vnto me he will answere thee away from me thou art none of my seruant therefore let vs subiect our selues vnto him in all obedience both in doing and suffering as vnto our Lord and so he will recompence vs with grace here and with glory hereafter FINIS THE FIFTH SERMON Vpon ROMANS 8. the two last Verses For I am perswaded or I am sure that neither Death nor life nor Angels c. IN handling this Scripture as GOD in mercy hath giuen strength wee haue proceeded thus farre First wee haue shewed the dependance of the verses with the former then we shewed the meaning of the words in themselues After that we cast this Scripture for our better instruction and memory into this mould and shewed that it did empty it selfe into these seauen particulars First that which is implyed namely that there is a Communion betwixt God and the faithfull Secondly that which is exprest namely the bond of this Communion and that is the loue of God Thirdly the Apostle shewes the ground of this Communion and of this bond too and that is Iesus Christ Fourthly hee shewes that the faithfull haue a neere interest in Christ Iesus and this he sets forth by a terme of neere Relation our Lord Thus farre we haue proceeded already The fifth point is that the Apostle auoucheth the safety of all the faithfull in the middest of all dangers that they are subiect to nothing shall seperate vs from the loue of God And this he inlargeth in many particulars as by and by we shall see This is the fifth thing then that we are to consider of namely the safty of the State of Gods children in the midst of all dangers wee will propound the the Doctrine thus The hould that the faithfull haue in the loue of God through Iesus Christ it is a sure hould Doctrine the estate of grace that they are in is an vndefeasable estate nothing can void them nothing can depriue them of it Consider well the words of the obseruauation the very words whereof are in effect the very words of this Scripture and the whole matter of the obseruation is the whole matter of this Scripture For that which we haue spoken heretofore touching our Communion with God the bond of it Gods loue the ground of both Iesus Christ c. haue beene but preparations to this Truth and these points which follow touching the Apostle his certainty he hath and the vse he makes of it are but inferences from this truth This is the truth it selfe that is here peremptorily and precisely affirmed that nothing shall seperate the faithfull from the loue of God to them in Iesus Christ nor from the estate of grace that they are in And this the Apostle contents not himselfe onely to affirme in the generall but withall confirmes it in particular by a sufficient reckoning vp of all the parts of the Aduersarie power that is or can be against vs Death shall not nor life shall not nor Angels c. nor any other creature nothing shall seperate vs not any one of these dangers asunder no nor all of them ioyned together no nor any other added to them nor any other Creature put what you will to them nothing shall seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus and to put the matter out of all shew of doubt he saith not onely they shall not seperate vs but he puts it vpon an impossibâ—lity they shall not be able to seperate vs let them ioyne all their powers together and doe what they can they shall neuer be able to doe it Thus we see the Doctrine is naturally raised and the Apostle presseth it as the maine matter of the Scripture Explication I will speake somewhat as our order is for Explication of the Doctrine and therein I will handle but this one point Because the Doctrine speakes of the loue of God and of the state of grace we must know what it is to be in that state of the loue of God and the estate of grace for either it hath been our state or now is or hereafter shall be our estate else we can neuer be saued therefore before we shew that wee cannot fall away from this state it is needfull to shew what it is to be in it The estate of the loue of God and the state of grace is to be throughly reconciled to God through the precious bloud of Iesus Christ whereby we are iustified from all our sinnes and entred into a course of true sanctification It is called the estate of Gods loue in opposition to the estate of Gods wrath wherein we are all by nature Ephes 2.3 In this state of wrath God lookes downe from heauen vpon vs in mercy and receiues vs freely into his loue through Iesus Christ and so wee are translated out of the estate of Gods wrath into the estate of his loue It is called the estate of grace in opposition to the state of sinne that we are all in Rom. 3.28 All haue sinned c. In this sinfull state the Lord lookes downe from Heauen in mercy vpon vs and in Iesus Christ bestowes vpon vs the sauing grace of Iustification forgiuing vs all our sinnes and the grace of Sanctification making vs new creatures and so translates vs out of the state of sinne into the state of grace These things wee must
Ioh. 6.39 And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all that he hath giuen mee I should lose nothing but should raise it vp at the last day now the will of God is vnresistable Rom 9.19 Who hath resisted his will And therefore the faithfull cannot fall away Fiftly Gods promise is for vs and that is vnchangeable God not onely promiseth grace but perseuerance in grace as Ier. 32.39.40 And I will giue them one heart I will make an euerlasting Couenant with them I will put my feare into their hearts and they shall not depart from me Here is a promise not of grace onely but of perseuerance in grace and Gods promise is vnchangeable 2 Cor. 1.20 they are yea and Amen It is impossible that God should lye Heb. 6.18 and therefore seeing God hath promised that we shall stand fast it is impossible that euer we should fall away Lastly Christs intercession is for vs and that is vnfaillable Luke 22.32 I haue praide that thy faith may not faile that is that thou maist neuer fall from faith But this is particular for Peter no it is generall for all as well as he Ioh. 17.9.20 I pray for them I pray not for the world I pray not for these alone but for them also that shall beleeue in me through their word he prayes for all beleeuers now Christs prayer is alwayes heard Iohn 11.4 Father I know that thou hearest me alwaies therefore the faithfull cannot fall away The first Vse of this point is matter of confutation against those that hold that the Saints may vtterly fall from grace It is held both by the Papists and the Lutherans as also by the Arminians both at home and abroad they hold that Saints may vtterly fall away from grace I will aske these men that are so peremptory in this point this question whether they can shew me any one place in the Book of God that doth directly and expresly affirme that a true Beleeuer may vtterly fall away from grace They cannot some of themselues confesse they cannot then I answere them that we can shew many expresse places to the contrary directly affirming the impossibility of falling away and they haue not one for the possibility of it therefore wee may quickly iudge where the truth is Yea but say they there is many exhortations to the faithfull for that end that they should not fall away as 1 Cor. 10.12 Heb. 12.15 c. and these should be in vaine except there were some possibility that they might fall I answere such exhortations there are and they are directed to mixt congregations that consisted as well of Hypocrites that might fall away as well as of true Beleeuers that might not fall away and so they are not in vaine in respect of these Hypocrites neither were they in vaine in respect of Gods Children but of singular vse in respect of them too for thereby they were stirred vp to shake off security and to be more diâ—igent in the wayes of God for if wee fall into sinne and negligence and security it is the high-way of falling from God Yea but say they there are many examples as of Hymeneus Phileâ—us and Demas c. that were true beleeuers and yet fell away I answere they can shew me neuer one example of any that fell away finally but such as were hypocrites I will say confidently that he that fals vtterly away from grace was neuer but an hypocrite no true beleeuer can fall away I dare say it because Christ hath said it before me Math. 7.26.27 The foolish man built his house vpon the sands and when the stormes came it fell Doest thou see a man build him an house and it fall certainely that man built vpon the sands that is onely vpon the profession of sauing faith hee had neuer true sauing faith in CHRIST but his owne foolish perswasion the true beleeuer builds vpon the Rocke CHRIST and therefore his house can neuer fall To establish our Iudgements herein let vs hould fast these two positions First that hypocrites and counterfeits may and doe fall away finally Matth. 13.21 But true beleeuers can neuer fall finally from GOD Both these are affirmed 1 Iohn 2.19 They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had beene of vs they would no doubt haue continued with vs. Secondly that true beleeuers may fall from the sence of GODS loue and from the exercise of Faith and Loue and obedience and other graces from some degree of Faith and from some degree of GODS loue and from the exercise of grace as in the case of spirituall desertion temptation specially by sinne but they can neuer fall from faith nor from the loue of GOD it selfe nor from the life of grace or at the least where they doe fall they neither fall wholly nor finally the whole power that is in them is not carryed after sinne but there is some resistance A child of God in the case of sin hates that he doth he cannot fall wholly the seede of God is still within him 1 Iohn 3.19 and that will reuiue againe nor he cannot fall finally because that seede is immortall 1 Pet. 1.23 and therefore can neuer die They that are in the state of grace heare a voyce behind them saying This is the way walke in it Isa 30.21 they haue the guidance of Gods Spirit whereby they are preserued from euill and fitted for euery good dutie so that they cannot fall wholly nor finally And yet they may haue such falles as are fearefull and which they may rue for euer as wee may see in Dauids fall Psalme 51. These two positions well considered are a sufficient preseruatiue to keepe vs from this errour Vse 2 The second Vse is for reproofe of those that abuse this Doctrine to Gods dishonour and their owne destruction Some abuse it to carnall Security They heare this Doctrine that true beleeuers cannot vtterly fall away and therefore they grow secure and carelesse of their wayes and cast off the feare of God guie themselues ouer to their own lusts gracelesse and wretchlesse persons they are to abuse such a heauenly Doctrine What is this but to turne the grace of God into wantonnesse Iude 4 And marke what censure the Apostle passeth on them in that place vngodly men they are ordained to condemnation A child that hath a good father whom he knowes will not see him want nor perish shall this child therefore waste and ryot and bezzell away all his state and runne himselfe into debt and danger hee cares not how It were a wicked childe that would doe thus a good and true-hearted child to his father would neuer doe it It was the diuels temptation to our Sauiour Luke 4.9.10 that he should cast himselfe downe headlong An impudent perswasion to the Sonne of God What is his reason whereupon he perswades him thus to cast away himselfe forsooth because he had the promise of Gods protection for they
shall beare thee in their hands so that thou shalt not dash thy foote against a stone as if he should say thou maist doe what thou list thou art sure to be safe Shall we giue our selues ouer to sinne to desperate and wicked courses because wee haue Gods promise not vtterly to fall from grace God forbid This was the Diuels Diuinity and it is a diuellish practise whosoeuer imitates it and so let vs esteeme of it and abhorre it in our selues and others Oh beloued we must consider that the same grace of God whereby we are saued the same grace doth preserue vs from sinne and quickens vs vp to good duties It is the Apostles words Titus 2.11.12 The same grace of God that brings Saluation to vs makes vs also deny all vngodlinesse and wordly lusts and to liue soberly c. Therefore whosoeuer thou art that professest thy selfe to be a beleeuer and yet hast no care nor conscience to abstaine from sinne and to lead a godly life it is a strong presumption against thee that thou neuer yet hadst any true touch of sauing grace Others abuse it to Pride They haue a high conceite of themselues and are lifted vp in their hearts as if they did stand by their owne strength and power A fearefull sinne for hereby they robbe God of the honour of their saluation to ascribe it to themselues And it is an vsuall and iust thing with God to recompence such abhominable pride with a shamefull fall Iohn 18. It was the secret pride of Peters heart and confidence of his owne strength that made him say that though all the world should forsake Christ yet he would not yea though he dyed with him hee would not forsake him which was iustly recompenced with that shamefull and fearefull fall that he was the only man that not only forsooke him but denyed him and forswore him too that Peter might after be warned and we by his example neuer to thinke of standing by our owne strength but wholly and onely on the power of God who is all in all in it Let vs waite vpon God in the humblenesse of our soules and by faith and confidence put him in trust with our state and let vs doe the best we can to keepe in the state of grace but yet let vs giue the whole glory of our preseruation to God alone Vse 3 The third Vse is matter of exhortation to stirre vp Gods children to hould fast by God Hould fast till I come saith our Sauiour It is not a vaine exhortation for what God bids vs do he makes vs willing and able to doe in some measure therefore we are to hould fast by God and to goe on cheerefully in the state of grace and neuer be daunted with a seruile feare for any enemy we must hould fast by God notwithstanding his promise that we shall perseuere which is the cause of our standing yet we must hould fast by faith as the instrument and meanes vnder God whereby we stand for this doth not acquit vs from but binde vs more firmely to doe our best endeauour to maintaine our state Where Gods promise and mans endeauour are ioyned together that being the cause and this the foundation and meanes how sweetly doe they concurre and worke together And therefore we must vse all meanes for the establishing of our selues in grace when we are once entred into that estate which state we must labour to be sure that we are in and not flatter our selues and then we must labour to vse all good meanes to be established in it First Meanes to bee vsed that we may perseuere in grace we must lay a sure foundation or ground if euer wee will hold out in the estate of grace else wee shall quickely decay See that thy saith in Christ be true and sound grounded on the Word and promises of God and the infallible testimonies of Gods Spirit that cryes Abba Father within thee And let thy repentance be vnfained not a few teares but euen the breaking of thy heart And let thy conuersion be through be not halfe a Christian and see all thou doest be done in truth and then thou hast laid a good and sure foundation Luke 6.48 Hee that will lay a good foundation must digge deepe and so his building will stand firme And so if wee will haue our building stand firme with GOD wee must digge deepe we must be men of deepe meditations on our owne miseries and on Gods mercies and promises and in Christs sufferings and merits Wee must haue a deepe forrow for our owne sinnes and not a slight and shallow remembrance of them and then wee will not willingly be drawne to sinne againe while we liue therefore we must haue a deepe sorrow for sinne and a deepe sighing for grace and a deepe Impression of the Word in our hearts we must not be hearers and speakers of it and rememberers of it onely but it must dwell plentifully in vs it must transforme our hearts into the obedience of it If euer we looke to lay a good foundation in God wee must digge deepe Matth. 13.5.6 The Corne that was sowen in the stony ground came vp quickely perished quickly because it had no depth of earth Our ordinary hearers are quicke and apt to speake of that they heare but the Word hath no depth of rooting in their hearts and therefore they quickely fall away be sure therefore that thou dig deepe and that that which thou buildest vpon be deepe in thy heart Secondly that we may hold out in the state of grace there must be a firme resolution in vs to stand fast whatsoeuer come of it and for lacke of this many haue fallen shamefully away In Act. 11.23 Barnabas exhorted all that with purpose of heart they would continue in the Lord we must be resolute to deny our selues to leaue our sinnes to fight against our corruptions and to endure temptations and to loose all yea our liues and all rather then to loose our hould in God many there are that make resolutions to leade a holy life but either they are passionate or colde no maruell though such resolutions neuer hold out many make resolutions in a passion and they will neuer hold Deut. 5.27.29 The people said vnto Moses Goe thou neare and heare all that the Lord our God saith and declare thou vnto vs and we will heare it and doe it But what saith God Oh that there were such an heart in my people to feare mee and to keepe all my Commandements alway We make many good resolutions But oh that there were such an heart in vs to doe as we say Fiue rules to be obserued in our resolutions that they may be firme Now that our resolutions may stand First to doe them in the feare of God as in Gods presence and hearing Secondly doe it heartily from thy heart Thirdly doe it from a mature deliberation and not in a fit or passion thou hast felt the smart of
vpon these First If I must doubt of my saluation then my loue cannot be so intire to God as it ought How can I loue God so heartily when I doubt whether he loues me or no But if I know that God loues mee If I be confident in that then am I carried with the strength of my loue to him againe 1 Iohn 4.10 Hereby is loue not that we loued God but that he loued vs. Secondly our prayers will be but faint prayers I shall pray but faintly if I doubt whether God will heare me or no. Iames 1.6.7 Aske in faith and wauer not neither let that man thinke that hee shall receiue any thing of the Lord. Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer you desire when you pray beleeue that you shall haue it and it shall be done vnto you If we beleeue that God will heare vs this makes vs to pray earnestly but if we come wauering and doubting we shall haue little heart to pray nay wee shall not receiue saith the Apostle Iames. Thirdly our spirituall fight must needs be vncomfortable we shall hardly endure and stand out the combate if we doubt of the victory but if once we know that we shall ouercome that will make vs to fight to the knees in blood In the 7. of Iudges Gideon was fearefull at the first to fight against the Midianites but when God had promised him the victory then verse 15. he saith to the people Vp for the Lord hath deliuered into your hands the hoast of Midian and so it is with vs in our spirituall fight If we beleeue that we shall ouercome we will vp and fight manfully against all our spirituall enemies Fourthly our peace of conscience will be vnsetled What setled peace can there be of doubtings Againe our hope cannot be a liuely hope if we doubt of our saluation 1 Thess 5.8.9 Put on the Brest-plate of faith and loue and the hope of saluation for an Helmet for God hath not appointed vs vnto wrath but to obtaine saluation by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ If wee doubted whether God had appointed vs vnto wrath and not to saluation we should haue little comfort to put on hope of saluation for an helmet but if we be perswaded of our saluation then wee would put it on with good comfort Againe our patience will be heartlesse when wee haue no certainety of a Crowne Iames 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tryed he shall receiue the Crowne of life If once we beleeue that we shall receiue the Crowne of life we will endure all tryals patiently Again our repentance wil be but an hourly repentance if we haue not a good perswasion to find mercy Mar. 1.13 Repent and beleeue the Gospell We must beleeue the Gospell else we cannot repent Lastly faith mixt with feares and doubtings is but a small and a little faith Math. 8.26 Why are yee fearefull O yee of little faith And so in the whole course of grace all the duties of Gods seruice will be much dampt in vs if we goe not along with this full Sayle this full perswasion Yea but say the Papists where doe you finde in any place in all the Scripture that it is written that euery particular man by name shall be saued Is there any among you named in the Scripture If it be not written there how can it be beleeued I answere we haue as good cause to beleeue as if our names were set downe in Scripture God hath made his promises vpon such and such quallifications if I then finde these in my selfe I may build vpon Gods promises that they are made to me As if the King should proclaime that aâ—l his true-hearted Subiects should haue such and such fauours why if I finde I haue a true heart to the King I may conclude that I am there meant as well as if I were there named and so it is betwixt God and vs God saith in his word that whosoeuer beleeues and repents shall be surely saued then say I I beleeue and repent in my poore measure therefore I conclude that I shal be saued For the first Proposition the aduersaries agree with vs that whosoeuer beleeues and repents shall be saued but to the second they say how doe you know that you beleeue and repent I answere faith is an act and therefore may be known of the beleeuer as he that sees doth know he sees and he that heares doth know he heares c. and is not our beliefe a matter of our vnderstanding as well as of our will Therefore euery one that beleeues knowes that he doth beleeue it is a very vntoward faith that is without knowledge of it and he a goodly beleeuer that knowes not whether he beleeues or no. Math. 9.28 Iesus asketh the blinde men beleeue ye that I am able to doe this and they said vnto him yea Lord and so Ioh. 9.35.38 he asked the blinde man whom he had cured Dost thou beleeue in the Sonne of God Verse 38. He said Lord I beleeue Euery true beleeuer knowes and can truely say he doth beleeue Againe we may know we haue faith by the proper effects of faith which is a godly life Lastly we may know it by the Spirit bearing witnesse to our Spirits Rom. 8.16 And there cannot but be certainty of faith where there is the sence of faith by the Spirit Vse 2 The second Vse is for reproofe of some amongst vs that mince this matter of assurance We hope well say they that we shall be saued but we are not sure of it Doe you hope well It is fit you should and if your hope be a true hope it will neuer make you ashamed But let vs examine it doe you hope to be saued without ground or vpon some good ground If without ground then it is a vaine and foolish hope that will deceiue thee if vpon good ground then know that there is no true ground for hope but faith Faith is the ground of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 and therefore if we hope to be saued we beleeue we shall be saued for true hope is as certaine as faith Heb. 6.9 If we beleeue certainely wee hope certainely so much faith as we haue so much hope we haue and so much hope as wee haue so much faith we haue and therefore labour to know the ground of thy hope Why dost thou hope thou shalt be saued why because thou beleeuest thou shalt be saued The last Vse is to teach euery one of vs to labour Vse 3 for this confidence it is worth our labour it is the sweetest comfort that euer we can haue liuing or dying to know certainly that our sinnes are forgiuen vs in Christ and that we are perfectly in the fauour of God and haue true right and interest to heauen We looke into our Euidences for our Lands and make all sure for them much more should we make sure for our estate in grace and interest in heauen we had need