they bee most humbled come to God in Christ for pardon beleeuing that their imperfections should bee couered by the full and perfect satisfaction of Christ they might finde comfort in their weakest obedience and so bee more encouraged to serue God This then is that I would perswade all that would finde sound and lasting comfort in their praiers and other holy exercises Remedy in their best duties to beware of pride which accompanieth them and to that end euer to thinke of their failings to humble them and driue to Christ that so they may offer vp their sacrifice in faith and bee accepted On the other side when they be most deiected then to beware of despaire doubting and discouragement which bee vsuall companions of vs in the sense of our wants and to comfort our selues by faith in Christ in that wee know hee is as able and willing to cure great diseases as small to pardon our fowler falles as our lesser slippes In all which wee now see that which I intended how needfull it is to be stored and strengthened with faith that wee may finde comfort in our prayers and other holy exercises which I know is much wanting in many true hearted Christians for whose sake in speciall I write these and will now for their further comfort lay out some store of pretious promises which God our Father hath treasured vp in his word to this purpose that wee his children might bee imboldened to come with confidence to him in all our necessities Perusing these I finde that the farre greater number of them doe specially promise that God will accept our prayers grant our desires and doe not so expresly assure vs that God will assist vs and make vs able to pray which yet sundry promises doe God promiseth to make vs able to pray I will therefore heere gather such as expresly promise Gods helpe to teach vs to pray for that we are no lesse subiect to doubt of our ability to pray aright then of Gods readinesse to heare our poore and weake prayers Among all that comes first to minde which might serue in stead of all if we could hold it fast where the Apostle labouring to comfort the hearts of Gods children ouer all their corruptions and afflictions Rom. 8. 26. doth answer a great obiection which many a heauy heart makes namely this Many troubled that they cannot pray I am oft so distressed that I am not able to pray and how then may I looke for any helpe at Gods hand Thus it fareth oft with Gods children and those not of the weakest sort that their hearts bee so â—ore oppressed that they can doe nothing but sigh and groane not able to set aright their hearts to pray to God As wee reade of Hezekiah Esa 38. 14. that he like a Crane or Swallow did chatter and did mourne as a Doue not able to vtter his griefes to God The like we reade of Dauid oft Psal 32. how hee roared for griefe but could not come to make his moane to God and the like many Yea what more ordinary complaint doe wee heare made by many worthy Christians in their extremities then this to their friends O helpe me I cannot pray To this sore tentation the Apostle answers Rom. 8. 26. saying Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what wee should pray for 27. as we ought But the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings that cannot bee vttered And hee that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Wherein he freely confesseth that he and all the rest of Gods children doe know this by woefull experience that they in such cases know not what they should pray as they ought But yet for all this God hath not left vs comfortlesse for he hath giuen vs his own Spirit to succour and helpe vs as it were to beare that part of the burthe which is too heauy for vs to beare and whereas we cannot pray as we ought that selfe same Spirit shall by his power make vs able to pray with such feeling faith and feruencie as no words can expresse in such sort that God who both knowes and regards the secret desires of the heart beholding the worke of his Spirit doth graciously accept and approoue of those prayers of his children I make no doubt but this is the intent of the Apostle in this Scripture In which if there were no more is enough to comfort any poore afflicted soule against this temptation that they cannot pray In that God hath giuen vs his Spirit so to helpe vs that our poore prayers are said to be the prayers of Gods Spirit in vs which God cannot deny This I take to bee the cause why else-where we be called vpon to pray in the Spirit Eph. 6. 18. and in the holy Ghost Iude v. 20. that is as he doth teach vs not as any naturall gift can Where I note a speciall difference of true prayer from counterfeit Difference of prayers true and counterfeit which may be excellent in speech but wanting this breath of Gods Spirit it is but a dead sacrifice vnpleasing to God and vnprofitable to him that offereth it And therefore I aduise all who looke for comfort by their prayers more to labour for Spirit then speech in prayers And so much for this Scripture whereupon I haue stood the longer for that it may suffise in stead of all But seeing the Lord knowing our weakenesse hath in all ages of his Church comforted his people with the like it shal more confirme vs to heare more of these sweete promises To this may well be referred that which one of Iobs friends said to comfort him which doubtlesse was good comfort howsouer misapplyed when after some good exhortations he makes many moe gracious promises among all hee addes these For thou shalt haue thy delight in the Almightie Iob 22. and shalt lift vp thy face to God 21. and 6. Thou shalt make thy prayer vnto him 26. and he shall heare thee and thou shalt pay thy vowes c. 27. And in like manner doth another of Iobs friends say Hee shall pray vnto the Lord Iob 33. 26. and hee will be fauourable to him So Dauid in his time said For this shall euery one that is godly pray vnto thee Psal 32. 6. in the time when thou mayest be found Esa 58. 9. And the Prophet Esay makes such promises to the people in his time Then shalt thou call and the Lord will answer thou shalt cry and hee shall say Here I am So Ieremie Ier. 29. 12. Then shall yee call vpon mee and yee shall goe and pray vnto me and I will hearken to you 13. And yee shall seeke me and finde me when you shall search for me with all your heart Againe They shall come with
faire shew of faith and loue when in truth these bee not in them these be plaine Hypocrites so farre from happinesse as they be from sincerity 4. Lastly to end this point great euidence may bee had that our profession is sincere and not fained Obedience in matter and manner from our obedience to Gods Commaundements and that two wayes partly from the matter partly from the manner In eyther of which wee shall see apparant difference betweene the childe of God and him that is onely in shew For the former the true child of God from his heart hateth all sinne which hee knoweth to bee sinne yea those sinnes most which most annoye him and such as his corrupt nature is most inclinable vnto and contrarily in his heart desireth to please God in all things and so in truth laboureth chiefly to yeeld obedience to God in those duties to which naturally hee is most vnwilling and so indeed doth mortifie the flesh when it would most reigne ouer him The carnall Protestant on the other side will euer haue some sin so sweete that he hides it like sugar-candy â—â—der his tongue and cannot forgoe it and he must bee borne with in such sinnes as are most pleasing to his nature as the proud person in his pride the voluptuous in his pleasures the couetous in his sinfull gaine which shewes that their heart is false and doe leaue some sinne for by-respects for did they in truth hate sinne because it is sin and offendeth God they would hate one as well as another So againe hee that pretendeth conscience in some duties commanded and wilfully neglecteth others which hee knoweth God requireth of him and will by no meanes be brought to doe them his heart is vnsound respecting more his owne ease gaine and credit then Gods honour or fauour towards him As for example hee that will not forgiue an offence or debt and will not shew mercy and releeue by giuing and lending when hee knoweth hee ought And so for the first table he that wilfully neglects holy exercises of religion by himselfe and with his family which hee confesseth he should vse and will not sanctifie the Sabboth whch God commands these men and the like can haue no sound proofe or comfort that they be truly regenerated In all which I would not bee vnderstood of frailtie in neglecting the good commanded or doing the euill forbidden both which doe fall into Gods true children Rom. 7. 18. whose will is present to doe the will of God though through the strength of corruption and weakenesse of grace they much faile in either of these But I speake of such as set their hearts to sinne Psal 66. 18 as in the Psalm and their hearts rise against such duties so that they will not as they say be held vnder such slauery these bee hollow-hearted hypocrites what shew soeuer they make to the contrary in any case notwithstanding 5. Now for the other propertie of true obedience concerning the right manner thereof Manner this is the care of those who make conscience to please God that they content not themselues with the deed done as to heare Gods word to pray to giue 〈◊〉 and the like but they endeauour to doe all these in such a holy manner especially for the inward affection as God requireth and therefore bee as much humbled for their defects this way as if they had not done these duties at all whereas the hollow hearted Hypocrite so contenteth himselfe yea boasteth of the outward deede done that he thinkes himselfe wronged if hee bee not approoued of God and commended of men Witnesse these and such other voyces of theirs to God Esa 58. 3. Why haue we fasted and thou seest not wherefore haue wee afflicted our soules Luk. 18. 12 and thou takest no knowledge And againe I fast twice in the weeke I giue tythes of all that I possesse Take Saul for example saying 1 Sam. 15. 13. I haue performed the Commandements of the Lord. In which it is manifest they looke onely to the outward worke and so wash onely the outside of the cuppe but neuer looke to the heart and in what manner they performe these and all other holy duties Thus haue we seene some speciall markes whereby euery man who taketh vpon him the name and profession of a Christian may try himselfe and know whether his heart be vpright and his conuersion sound without which there can be no true comfort But hee that findeth these markes of Christs sheep vpon him though not so cleerely as some others may hee may haue boldnes before God and assure himselfe that he hath rightly receiued the grace of Gods Spirit So then to conclude this point how any man may certainely knowe by the causes and effects soundly wrought in him that hee hath true faith and thereby is a true member of Christ and sothe child of God and heire of life euerlasting I desire euery one wisely to laye all together and to raise vp their iudgement of their estate not vpon a peece or part therof but on the whole worke ioyned together which is onely auaileable to prooue any to be a house or Temple for the Holy Ghost to dwell in This I adde for their sakes who dangerously hazard their hope of happinesse vpon some one of these workes of Gods Spirit or more which may be in those that perish who haue many of these I say not in a sanctified manner but in a common sort as hath beene shewed already whereas this among all is one infallible marke of Gods regenerating and sanctifying Spirit that where he beginneth hee perfecteth his worke whom hee vniteth to Christ by faith he quickneth and purgeth so that faith without fruits is a dead stocke and all fruites not growing out of faith are but as wild and bitter grapes vnacceptable to God and vnprofitable to man Hauing hitherto shewed what true faith is How to liue by faith how it is wrought and how any man may knowe that this is truely wrought in him by God Spirit Now it followes to consider how hee that indeede harh this pretious faith may liue thereby which is the principall matter by me in this Treatise intended For the better vnderstanding and practise whereof wee are wisely to weigh these two things First thing What it is to liue by faith Secondly How this is attained For the former to liue by faith is this that God hauing made promise of all good things more then wee could aske or thinke that no good thing shall be wanting and whatsoeuer commeth shall be for our good Wee are so to beleeue that we thereby be aswell satisfied when we haue no meanes of helpe as if we had all that our hearts could desire which is to be seen both in earthly and spirituall matters As for example if a man should fall into any grieuous calamity as into a dangerous disease and should see no way of helpe yet if he beleeue that
doe as certainly communicate with the body and blood of Christ that is whole Christ all his merits in the Sacrament as â—ee with the rest of Gods people doe communicate in the bread and wine And to conclude with this testimony of the Apostle in the 12 chap. vers 13. Hee speaking of both Sacraments saith 1. Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit we all are baptized into one body whether we be Iâ—wes or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and haue beene all made to drinke into one spirit In which as in all the former we see that true grace is giuen to the outward seales not for that by the bare worke wrought the outward receiuing of the signes doth giue grace which is proper to Christ and his merits sealed by the outward signes but to teach and perswade that God for his part doth vnseparably ioyn these graces with the signes and as truely giue the one as the other The vse whereof is this ApplicatioÌ„ that What God hath ioyned we doe not separate but that we bee perswaded by all these witnesses that we receiuing these holy Sacraments according to Gods appointment shall as surely haue Christ and all his benefits to be ours as we haue the outward seales thereof were we thus perswaded wee would more cheerefully come to the Sacraments more carefully prepare our selues to be meete partakers of them and should finde more fruit by them then vsually most doe This then must be the labour of all that would enioy the benefit and comfort of Gods holy Sacraments so oft as they approach vnto them to set before them both the mercy of God in ordaining these for the strengthening of our faith and withall his faithfulnesse in freely bestowing on vs that which he offereth and sealeth vnto vs in these outward seales namely Christ and all his benefits to be ours for our present comfort quickning and strengthening and for our euerlasting saluatioÌ„ And this shall suffise for this third generall point how we may cheerfully serue the Lord in all good duties which he requireth of vs being assured by faith that he will both assist vs by his Spirit to performe them at least in some measure according to his will and also accept at our hands our poore and weake obedience which we shall offer vp vnto him in the name of his Sonne Christ Iesus THE FOVRTH GENERALL HEAD OF LIVING BY FAITH IS CONCERNING AFFLICTIONS WE are now in the fourth place come to afflictions which as they be the lot of Gods children so wee finde them heauie to beare and such as much hinder the comfort of many poore soules in such sort that if wee bee not heartned to beare them with patience and quietnesse we shall neuer be able to hold out our Christian course vnto the end with any comfort to our selues or good example to others Many hindred by afflictions Lamentable proofe heereof all ages haue affoorded In that many who in the faire sunne-shine of the Gospell made a good profession When troubles and persecutions came then they went backe and with Demas embraced this present world 2. Tim. 4. 10. 16. as many others did forsake Paul at his first answer before the Emperour at Rome Yea it 's often heard to bee the complaint of many a good Christian who serued God constantly and cheerefully in their health and quiet estate yet when sicknesse came and other crosses they were disquieted vnsetled and could not goe on as in times of peace and quietnesse And some good reason heereof there may be alleadged that howsoeuer the principal end of afflictions specially to the children of God is to make them better euery way yet by reason of naturall infirmitie which is so loath to suffer and can so hardly beare any affliction they cannot get their minds and hearts to be fit to any Christian duty no not to prayer as at some other time of peace they haue beene But rather bee prouoked to fretting impatience murmuring yea in greatest extremities to despaire and seeking many vnlawfull shifts to get out of their troubles these with sundry the like be the hurts which come by afflictions when we be not well armed to beare them and instructed how to make the right vse of them By all which we may see what neede we haue to bee strengthened against all the discouragements and other hinderances we meete withall in afflictions No helpe but by faith which wee shall plainly see can by no other meanes bee attained then by faith whereby we may boldly rest vpon God for his direction and assistance how to beare and profite by all our afflictions of what sort soeuer This is that which now I vndertake to shew how we may liue by faith in all afflictions so as they shall in no sort hinder vs in our course of Christianitie but rather further vs till we attaine vnto the end our course in Gods kingdome Wherein I intend to say lesse then otherwise I would for that since I tooke this work in hand I haue light vpon a Treatise of Mr. Bifield Mr. Bifield of promises called The Promises wherein he shewes both plainly and soundly how a godly Christian may support his heart with comfort against all the distresse which by reason of any afflictions or temptations can befall him in this life To which Treatise I referre all who desire to be further satisfied in this matter But seeing I had before I saw his booke gathered out of the Scriptures both those promises and many moe concerning afflictions I will proceede as I haue begun to shew the vse of faith in all manner of outward afflictions belonging to this naturall life how we may be armed to beare them patiently and made able to profite by them Of inward troubles in the three former points For inward and spirituall troubles of minde which arise from doubts of Gods fauour and of our saluation by Christ as also of such griefes as rise from our infirmities either vnablenesse to mortifie our sinnes or very weake performance of all holy duties I haue sufficiently spoken in the three former generall heads of this Treatise how we are to liue by faith in all of these Therefore heere onely I intend to gather out of the Scriptures such sweete comforts as God hath plentifully set downe for our comfort in all the outward crosses Now of outward whereto we be subject while we liue heere in this vale of teares that so we may better hold out vnto the end In setting downe whereof Order in handling afflictions to keepe some order for our better helpe in making vse of them Our first ground of comfort 1. ariseth from hence that all our afflictions come directly from God by what meanes soeuer The second is 2. to obserue in what manner the Lord doth afflict vs his children that is most wisely in all respects and most louingly 3. The third to what ends namely his owne glory
that knitting was within the contingent and changeahle liberty of his owne will but now we are brought to God in an euerlasting couenant of mercy by Faith in Christ who by taking the nature of man into vnitie of His person and not the person of any became a publike person to be Author of eternall saluation to all that receiue him and so gathering vs that were scattered from God into one head bringeth vs backe againe to God by a contrary way to that whereby we fell that is by cleauing to God by faith frō whom we fel by distrust A fit grace for the state of grace giuing the whole glory to God and emptying the soule of all selfe-sufficiency and inlarging it to receiue what is freely wrought and offered by an other thus wee come to haue the comfort and God the glory of mercy which sweete attribute mooued him to set all other attributes on worke to make vs happy Out of the bowels of his mercy as he chose vs to eternal saluatiō in Christ so vouchsafeth he all things necessary to life and godlinesse And as the same loue in God giueth vs heauen and furnisheth vs withall things needfull in the way vntill we come thither So the same Faith which layeth hold on the promises of necessary assistance comfort prouision and protection and this office it performeth in all the seuerall stations of this life vntill it hath brought vs vnto the enioying of Him in whose presenceis fulnes of ioy and pleasure for euermore Wee see that same loue in parents which mooueth them to gaue an inheritance to their sonnes mooueth them likewise to prouide for them and to traine them vp in experience of their fatherly care So it pleaseth our first and best Father besides the maine promise of saluation to giue vs many other rich and precious promises that in taste of his goidnesse and truth in these we may at length yeeld vp our soules to him as to our faith full Creator with the more assured comfort and the longer we liue heere be more rooted in Faith I know whom I haue trusted 2 Tim. 1. 12. saith aged S. Paul But alas how little is that we know of his waies because we obserue him no◠making good his word vnto vs. All his waies are mercy and truth Psal 25. 10. 12. 6. and euery word is a tryed word For the better helpe of Gods people to know there portion in those good things Psal 31. 19. which their Father not only layes vp for them for times to come but laies out for them heere as his Wisedome seeth fit this reuerend and holy man of God hath compiled this Treatise wherein he layeth open the veines of promises hidden in the Scriptures to the view of euery Christian and digesteth them in their order and withall sheweth their seuerall valew and vse for the beautifying of a holy life vvhich vvits-lesse exercised of themselues would not so vvell haue discerned For the benefiting by vvhich Treatise it vvill not bee inconuenient to know these foure things First that it supposeth a reader grounded in the knowledge of the nature and properties of God of Christ and his offices of the couenant of grace and such like because as in an arch one stone settles an other so there is such a linking together of points in diuinitie that one strengtheneth another For from vvhence hath Faith that efficacie but because it is that which is required in the couenant to lay hold on the free promise And vvhence haue the promises their strength but from the constant nature of Iehoua who giueth a being to his Word and is at peace with vs by the all-fufficient sacrifice of the Mediatour of the new couenant Words haue their validity from the authoritie of the speaker were not faith founded on the word of an infinite God so throughly appeased the soule would sinke in great temptations whereas now euen mountaines vanish before a beleeuing soule For what is all to Christ and vvho is able to subdue all to himselfe Hence it is that now we are by Faith safer then Adam in Paradise Phil. 3. 21. because we haue a promise which he wanted Safer it is to be as low as hell with a promise then as high in Paradise without it because Faith wrought by the power of God hath what strength God hath on whom it resteth and therefore worketh such wonders But howsoeuer the knowledge of these things serueth the argument in hand yet it must not be expected that hee should bee long in these things which are but coincident and should be foreknowne which I speake because some of weaker iudgement not considering the iust bounds of Treatises may expect larger handling of some things Whereas he hath laboured especially to furnish the argument in hand and not to load the discourse In the second place it must be knowne that the fruit of these things belong to such as are in Christ in whom all promises are yea and Amen made and performed Hee that by the immortall seed of the Word and Spirit is borne againe may claime a title to that he is borne vnto For cleering of this there be three degrees of promises one of saluation to absolute and personall obedience but this by reason of weakenesse of the flesh driueth vs to a despaire in our selues and so to the second promise of life by Christ This requireth nothing but receiuing by Faith which is wrought in those that are giuen to Christ whilst grace is offered the Spirit cloathing the words with a hidden and strong power and making them operatiue when they are commanded to beleeue their hearts are opened to beleeue To persons in this state are made a third kinde of promises of all that is needfull in this world vntill all promises end in performance of both these promises and the last especially this book speaketh of Thirdly it must be pressed vpon those that meane to profit that they resolue to come vnder Christs gouernment and be willing to be ledde by the Spirit into all reuealed truth Wisedome is easie to such as are willing and the victorie is as good as gotten when the will is brought from thraldome to base affections to resolue to bee guided for such a heart lyeth open to Gods gracious working and the Spirit readily closeth with such a spirit as putteth not barres of obstinacy Notwithstanding We must know in the fourth place that when we are at the best we shall yet be in such a conflicting state as that we shall long after that glorious libertie of the sonnes of God after we haue done the worke God hath giuen vs to doe For God will haue a difference betwixt heauen and earth and sharpen our desire of the comming of his kingdome which nothing doth so much especially in times of outward prosperitie as those tedious combates of the inner man and yet let this raise vp our spirits that it is so farre that this remainder should
That God by his word and Spirit first inlighteneth the vnderstanding truely to conceiue the doctrine of mans miserie and of his full recouerie by Christ 2. Secondly by the same meanes he worketh in his heart both such sound sorrow for his miserie and feruent desire after Christ the remedie that hee can neuer bee at quiet till hee inioy Christ 3. Thirdly God so manifesteth his loue in freelie offering Christ with all his benefites to him a poore sinner that thereby he drawes him so to giue credit to God therein that hee gladly accepts Christ offred vnto him These three workes of God whosoeuer findeth to haue beene wrought in himselfe hee may thereby know certainely hee hath faith But without these what change of life soeuer may be conceiued there can bee no certaintie of faith and therefore I againe aduise that this bee first and especially looked vnto for our comfort wherein that none be deceiued with shewes of these in stead of substance I take these to bee true notes of soundnesse For the first of inlightening there can be no doubt For the second of sorrow seeing the causes still remaine Triall of sorrow nametie corruption and affliction therefore this sorrow must continue to our liues end though in a different manner now mingled with comfort whereas the former before faith could haue none Whereas on the other side the sorrow that quite drieth vp was neuer sound as it is to bee seene in many who being once deepely afflicted and in great heauinesse for their miserable estate afterward comming to some comfort are growen so secure and senselesse that hauing no true griefe or remorse for their daily corruptions content themselues that they were once cast downe Whose liues as they bee â—â—ule and full of blottes so their ends be oft fearefull either senselesse or vncomfortable so dangerous it is to quench the spirit in any part Againe Triall of our desire for the triall of our desires after Christ to proue that they be not sudden flashes this is a certaine marke of soundnesse that the more wee taste of Christ the more we couet him As the Apostle Peter exhorteth all that be new borne â— Pet. 2. 1 2 If so bee they haue tasted how sweete the Lord is Mat. 5 6. this is that holy hunger after righteousnesse to which our Lord Iesus promiseth blessednes which many mistake for such a desire as going before all faith hath no promise of blessednesse And great reason there is hereof why all true beleeuers should more and more thus hunger after Christ for that whiles wee liue here we receiue but the first fruits onely and we haue but an earnest pennie of that fulnesse we shall haue and therefore wee cannot be fully satisfied with that we haue receiued but still desire more Lastly for the triall of the third worke of God Triall of faith whereby he worketh Faith that any may know God hath wrought this in him in deed and in truth and not in conceit and opinion wherein many be deceiued I take this to be most infallible in the weakest of those who may know they beleeue that though in temptations they be driuen from their hold yet afterward they returne vnto their rest and finde Gods holy Spirit drawing them yet to beleeue in God because of his word which though it be weake yet it is true faith and not that wauering which hath no faith in it As may bee laid open by a plaine comparison for the weaker sort In a paire of gold weights when they bee emptie either ballance will hang wauering and not rest on either side but if a graine bee put into one aboue the other it will weigh it downe yet so as the winde or a little iogge may lift it vp but if it bee let alone the graine will weigh it downe and so hold it so is it betweene weake faith and wauering When there is any credit giuen and so any resting on Gods word after temptation there is true faith but where there is nothing but a hanging in suspence and vncertaintie that is wauering Iames 1. 7. which cannot looke to obtaine any thing as the Apostle Iames speaketh Thus by the causes is euery one to trie himselfe whether true faith haue bin wrought in him which indeed are the more certaine proofes though not so easilie seene Now followe the proofes taken from the effects and fruits of faith Proofes from effect which be more manifest but not so certaine vnlesse it bee also as manifest that they come from faith To make this plaine to those for whose sakes I write these that is weake beleeuers The principall effects of Faith be Ioy and Loue Ioy in the benefit and loue to god the author of it These bee such as a man may easily see whether he hath them in him or no. But if any man can say hee hath ioy of his saluation and loues God for it to say nothing yet of the truth of these vnles he can proue that these grow out of the tree of Faith they can no more proue that hee hath faith then fruit growing on one tree can proue another tree to bee good For we shall see that both these and many other supposed fruits of Faith are nothing lesse but are bastard fruits and meere naturall affections I meane such as may bee in a naturall man not regenerated but onlie inlightened and wrought by such a working of the Spirit as may be in a reprobate and therefore neither these nor any other change of life can bee proofes of faith further then it is manifest they come from faith The ignorance of this deceiueth many who build their faith on these whereas true fruites grow from Faith But to come to the triall of our faith by the effects thereof Triall by the Spirit which though they be many yet may be all contained vnder this one of receiuing the Spirit not as a stranger to doe some worke and so to depart 1 Cor. 6. 19. but as an Inhabitant to dwell with vs for euer 1 Ioh. 2. 27 And therefore this is set downe as the vnseparable marke of true receiuing Christ which is onlie by Faith This is manifest in the Epistle of Iohn 1 Ioâ— 4. 1. Hereby we know that wee dwell in him and he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his Spirit and to like effect in the Galathians And because yee are sonnes Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts Gal. 3. 2. crying Abba Father Againe in Galathians 3. 2. which is as manifest by all experience when God vouchsafed effectually to call any to imbrace Christ hee sent immediatly vpon them his holy Spirit which at first was in extraordinarie manner as in the Acts Acts 10. 44 but afterwards in ordinary manner Eph. 1. 13. as in the Ephesians where it is said That they after they beleeued were sâ—aled with that
holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the praise of his glory So then euery one that will proue that he hath truely beleeued must be able to see and shew that he is thus sealed with the holy Spirit promised to all beleeuers The Spirit is knowne by his working How the Spirit is knowne which though manifold yet in this case may well be contained vnder these two Ioy and Loue as was before said in regard whereof this grace of the Spirit is not vnfitly compared to fire which hath two properties light and heate which though they bee vnseparable so that where fire is both these must needs bee yet they are not both alike sensible for oft the heare of fire may bee felt when no light can be seene so is it with these of Ioy Loue especially in weak beleeuers who though their faith bee so couered vnder their corruptions that they cannot oft times haue such sight thereof as might breed ioy and comfort in their saluation yet their loue to God can neuer bee so quenched that they shal feele no heate in it But if they shall bee well tried what hearts they beare to God it cannot bee hid but they beare a louing affection to him approuing of all that he doth to be well done yea though hee should condemne them being grieued for offending him and very desirous to please him All which and many the like be euident proofes of their true loue to God whereby they may proue that there is in them some perswasion of Gods loue towards them which cannot bee without true faith though faith in it selfe much lesse the ioy therein cannot bee seene And this I iudge to bee the cleerest proofe which a weake beleeuer may haue that he hath any faith which I deâ—iâ—e the more may bee regarded for that in my best experience I haue euer found nothing more auailable to comfort a truely afflicted conscience that is one whose heart is oppressed with sorrow for that seeing his miserie and desiring Christ his only remedie yet cannot beleeue at least cannot see he doth beleeue To returne then to these effects of Gods Spirit whereby it is manifest who hath the Spirit of God dwelling in him Euery one must examine his own heart what sound ioy and comfort hee hath of his saluation by Christ and what true loue he beareth to God for the same which two be as the two maine Armes of the tree of Life from whence doe issue and spring all other branches of a godly life From the former that is the Ioy of Faith doth grow all comfort in God that we shall receiue from him in due time and measure all needfull blessings From loue proceedeth a carefull conscience to yeeld God all cheerefull obedience both in dutie towards God and towards our neighbour in all which whosoeuer hath no part he may thereby know that as yet he hath not receiued Gods Spirit but on the other side if any man doe finde these in him and his heart doe not beguile him hee may haue boldnesse that he is a true liuing member of Christ But for so much as this is to too common that many bee deeply deceiued on both sides some and these the fewer and better sort mistrusting themselues that these are not in truth in them and so fearing they haue not truely receiued the Spirit and therefore are none of Christs when as in deed and in truth they haue both whose case is good though they see it not and so remaine vncomfortable Others the greater and worser sort doe flatter themselues they haue these and such other fruits of the Spirit and so haue true faith in Christ and saluation when indeed they haue none of these in truth but vaine shadowes of them It is a matter exceeding needfull to set downe some plaine and infallible markes of soundnesse whereby euery one may be able to discerne of his estate whether he haue rightly receiued the grace of God or no that hereby the sound hearted though weake and full of doubts may be quieted if not comforted and the proud hypocrites and presumptuous professor may bee discouered and discomforted wherein great care is to be had that the gate bee not made too wide to let in the Libertine and loose liuer or too straight to shut out the poorest and weakest beleeuer 1. One especiall marke of a sound heart I haue obserued chiefly in young Christians and weake beleeuers is a godly iâ—alousie of being deceiued with false faith Markes of soundnesse ioy and loue which maketh them carefull to examine themselues and willing to be tried by others yea they bee earnest with God to trie them to discouer to them the falsehood or weakenesse of their hearts that both may bee reformed Whereas on the other side the vnsound heart will not be tried but as he flatters himselfe all is well so he takes it very ill to be suspected by others 2. Another note that the grace we haue receiued is true and not counterset is this that vpon search finding that we haue some sorrow for our frailties and some desires of being cleansed by Christ and some faith and hope therein with some ioy and loue of God for the same yet we haue withall such a sight of our pouertie in all of these as makes vs often mourne for our wants and to thinke so meanely of our selues that we highly esteeme the graces of God in others and for our owne parts desire and labour for nothing more then to haue all these increased in vs. These and the like bee the humble thoughts and desires of those that haue truely tasted of Gods grace But they who thinke euery little pricke to be deepe wounding or carnall and worldly sorrow to be the true godly sorrow and their vaine wishes to be feruent desires their fantasies to be faith and so for all the rest of Gods gifts bestowed vpon them doe dote vpon them and their happinesse in them and so liue merrily casting away all mourning for their manifold corruptions and be very busie in censuring of others and aduancing themselues and now being full doe take their ease and grow sloathfull in holy exercises especially in priuat these I say and such like are farre from true regeneration and might if they were not blinded see their estate more dangerous then such as neuer saw the light 3. A third marke of a true Israelite such as Nathaniel was in whom was no guile may be this that he is the same inwardly and in deed which he is outwardly and in shew as the Apostle speaketh of the Iewe and of circumcision so may we of a Christian and of Baptisme Rom. 2. 28. That it must not be outward onely and in the flesh but inward of the heart in the spirit not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Whereby appeareth that all such who onely make a
we shall see there bee generall promises which all may and ought to apply to themselues Now for the better practise of this duty Meanes of application by meditation prayer that we may so apply Gods promises to ourselues that we may thereby haue our faith increased and we liue thereby we are to vse meditation prayer and that not slightly in common manner or seldome but often and earnestly with wisedome and conscience and all little enough so to keepe our faith aliue that it alone may vpholde vs Meditation when nothing els can Vnder this meditation I containe such a consideration of Gods promises as may leade vs to see what his good will and pleasure is what a fatherly care of our welfare hee hath and not onely how able but how willing also he is to help vs. And lest wee should bee dismayed first by our vnworthinesse we are to consider that all Gods fauour is free procured by none but that hee shewes mercy for his owne names sake which is oft so saide and alwaies vnderstood Or secondly for that some of those his promises are made to certain special men as Abraham Dauid Raul the like not belonging to vs we are to remember that whatsoeuer God promiseth to any one of his children not in any speciall or proper respect onely concerning such a person and for such a time as the promise to Abraham that in Isacke should his seede bee called Gen. 21. 12. and many other like promises which properly belonged to them onely to whom they were made But whatsoeuer God promiseth though particularly to one yet in no speciall respect but as a common fauour belonging to all Gods children That promise euery childe of God may and ought to apply to himselfe as if it had beene spoken by God to him in particular An euident proofe hereof wee haue in that promise made to Ioshua Iosua 1. 5. That God would neuer leaue him nor forsake him which the Authour to the Hebre 〈◊〉 13 5. is bolde to apply to those to whom he writ exhorting them that their conuersation bee without couetousnesse and to bee content with such things as they had and that vpon this reason Seeing God had promised that hee would not leaue them nor forsake them where wee see hee applyeth to all the faithfull that promise which was particularly made to Iosua So are wee to doe with all the promises made to any of the faithfull wherein we see no speciall limitation that it cannot belong to any other For further warrant hereof this may serue that the Apostle 〈…〉 Rom. 15. 4 Whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope And more specially seeing all the promises are yea and Amen in Christ 2. Cor. ◠20. that is they be all set out in Christ to bee offered and bestowed in a constant and vnchangeable manner Bez◠as a learned man wel expoundeth this place So that he that hath Christ hath an interest and right vnto all the promises of this life and that to come 1. Tim. 4. 8 As the Apostle speaketh of godlinesse which is the daughter of faith and cannot be without faith more then a child without a mother Therefore euery faithfull soule who cannot but be godly may assure himselfe to be true heire to all the promises which God hath made to his children in Christ and so farre may boldly apply them all to himselfe as if they were personally made to him And so much for the former part of the application of the promises to euery one his owne person Now for the second how to apply them yet more neerely to our present state and condition whatsouer 2. How to apply the promises seeing the Lord hath yeelded so much to our weakenesse as not onely in generall to make out his promises to all his children but to descend particularly to our seuerall estates and necessities bodily and spirituall that in what condition soeuer we be and whatsoeuer worke of his we shall vndertake hee hath made promises to his children To bee with them to succour and support them Psal 91. 15 10 84. 11. that no euill shall hurt them no good thing shall bee wanting Rom. 8. 28. and whatsoeuer doth come shal be for their good Seeing God I say doth oft more specially intaile his promises that is bequeath them to such and such persons as to the humble to the meeke to the hungry to the afflicted to the fatherlesse widdowe and the like many and so likewise to our prayers hearing of his word and all other holy exercises yea to all obedience to any of his commandements This shall bee our wisedome and is our duty more specially to weigh how these belong vnto vs and finding our selues so qualified and in such condition as the Lord made his promise vnto we may then much more confidently apply his promise to vs in such estate that so we may more comfortably beleeue and look for his helpe al-sufficient and in due season Which what quiet it will bring to any in distresse cannot be hid or doubted of And this is that which I haue conceiued to be the right way of application of Gods promises by this meditating wise considering of them that so wee may haue our vse of them But yet all this is not sufficient in regard of our great frailtie who be not onelie blind not able to search and see these promises and forgetfull as the Hebre wes Chap. 12. 5. of whom he saith They had forgotten the consolations But wee are as the two Disciples whereof Luke 24. 25. Slow of heart to beleeue what God promiseth to vs. Neither indeede can we beleeue first or last more then God by his Spirit shal worke in vs as both by Scripture and dailie experience is to bee seene how exceeding full of doubts we are when wee can see no meanes to put vs its hope of helpe 2. meanes of applying the promises is prayer but doe pittifully sinke downe in despaire In regard whereof our onelie refuge is to flye to God and to ply him with feruent prayer that he would by his Spirit both reueale vnto vs what be those precious promises which he hath made vnto his people in his holy word and likewise giue vnto vs wisedome rightlie to iudge of them and fitlie to apply them vnto our selues in euery estate we shall be in yea and about al to moue our hearts so to beleeue them that we may thereupon assure our selues of all needfull helpe in due time seeeing God al-sufficient and faithfull hath promised it and so with comfort and patience waite for the accomplishment thereof Which seeing it is so weakly attained euen by those that haue receiued some true and sauing grace as euerie one that will well weigh his owne practise may easilie see It sheweth full well that this dutie is
master their strongest corruptions For here the Apostle finding no where out of Christ any sufficient power to deliuer him out of this captiuitie to sinne and death by the hand of faith hee layeth holde vpon Christ assuring himselfe vpon Christs promise 2. Cor. 12 9 That his grace should be sufficient for him and that his power should be magnified in his weaknesse Therefore hee should not bee left in his enemies hands but in due time to be set at libertie more freely to serue the Lord. This is that I commend to the practise of euery true beleeuer that whensoeuer hee feeles his corruptions too hard for him that he cannot by all his endeauors get the masterie ouer them then to flye to Christ and by true faith to applye his promises for the mortifying of sinne that thereby hee may receiue power from Christ more to crucifie the olde man with his members For our better performance whereof I will a little digresse though not farre from my purpose briefly to set out the readiest and the surest way which I know to mortifie any sin which standeth in the diligent exercise of these 4 rules following First 4. rules of mortification that whereas wee bee all blind by nature that wee see not our sinnes and so full of pride and selfe-loue that wee thinke better of our selues then there is cause euery one who will mortifie his sinne must labour by all good meanes to finde out what bee his chiefest sinnes most displeasing â—o God These meanes be 1. A true examination of our selues in euery commandement 2. Secondly a carefull obseruation of all our wayes and as men doe trace the creatures in the time of snowe so to marke our steppes in time of temptation as our impatience when wee be prouoked and so for all other sinnes as pride and couetousnesse c. 3. Thirdly a seeking and receiuing admonition from such as spye our infirmities 4. And fourthly earnest praier to God to discouer our chiefest imperfections By all which and the like faithfully vsed wee shall finde out wherein we haue most need to be reformed that so vpon sight thereof wee may better applye all our endeauours for our recouerie The second rule is 2. rule to be weary of our sins when wee haue found out our sinne then to get our hearts to be weary of the same and willing to be cured of it which shall be if we consider the great hurt it brings vs partly in keeping good things from vs and partly in pulling downe vpon vs so many euills vpon soule and body our selues and others belonging to vs. To set out these in particulars would not be hard but it would carry mee too farre from my matter intended It shall suffice to remember in this case that all our woe comes from our sinnes as both Scripture reason and continuall experience doe shewe which if it were well weighed would make vs more weary of our sinne then of our sicknesse or other affliction and breede in vs much more feruent desires to bee cured And therefore this must bee another daily consideration both what bitter fruites our sinnes bring foorth and that from thence all the woes we meete withall doth spring The third and most principall rule is 3. rule is to get power froÌ„ Christ That for so much as such is our frailtie that when we haue got some true sight of our principall corruptions and therewithall some loathing of them with an earnest desire to be ridde of them yet wee haue no ability in our selues to mortifie them but All our sufficiency is of God and without Christ wee can doe nothing as is oft said but neuer sufficientlie regarded Therefore hereupon especially dependeth all our power to mortifie sinne that we by faith doe drawe from Christ that power and vertue which is in him to change our crabbed and sowre nature that wee may bee sweete and pleasant grapes for the Lord our God This is that especially which I ayme at to perswade all that faine would get more mastery ouer their strong corruptions and vnrulie affections namely to do as the woman in the Gospel Who hauing an issue of blood twelue yeers and had suffered many things of the Physitions Mar. 5. 25. and had spent all that she had and was nothing better but rather grew worse when she heard of Iesus came in the preasse behind him and touched his garment for she said if I may but touch him I shall be whole and straight way the fountaine of her blood was dryed vp and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague Euen so must we all who haue had many foule issues of sinne of pride hypocrisie security presumption wrathfulnesse vncleanenesse worldlinesse and the like many and haue taken great paines and beene nothing the better but rather growne worser for so must it needes be till we come to Christ doe wee what possiblie wee can such I say must come to Christ and touch him by a true faith and then shall they feele vertue to come from him to drye vp this fountaine of their corruptions Oh that this might be brought more into tryall what would be the difference betweene this and all other practises for the mortifying of the flesh which without this shall bee found insufficient if not deceiueable for where shal be found any vertue to kill sinne in our nature but in Christ in our nature Can mans reason will or resolution suffise to draw him to forsake his so pleasing and profitable sinnes as hee supposeth If this might bee in some outward actions in respect of men yet this cannot bee in the heart to please God which is onely the worke of Gods Spirit in true beleeuers How this is to be done hath beene before declared here onely I commend the vse of this liuing by faith without which as there is no true mortification of any sinne whatsoeuer so by this wee shall surely obtaine power against the oldest and strongest corruptions in our nature Whereunto if one thing be added I well see not what should be wanting to the mortification of them all at least in such measure as God will accept of and wee may haue comfort in which is the fourth rule by mee intended 4. rule of mortifying sinne namely That hauing receiued 1. a true sight of sinne 2. a willing minde to bee cured of it 3. power from Christ for the subduing of it then in the last place that with this furniture we enter the battaile and with good courage set against al the assaults of Sathan all the allurements of this world and all the euill lusts of our owne hearts Eph. 4. 27. That we giue not place to the diuell Iam. 4. 7. but resist him rather 1. Pet. 5. 9. stedfast in faith as wee oft be exhorted and that vpon promise that hee shall flie from vs which is the same whereto the Apostle exhorts and perswades by many arguments To
sinners Mat. 22. 9 10 may be seene in his gracious inuitation of the vnworthiest to come to the wedding of his Son yea more by his beseeching sinners to be reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5. 20 and by the many and weighty arguments he vseth to perswade men to beleeue by the great rewards earthly and spirituall temporall and eternall which all beleeuers shall enioy and by the fearefull woes which shall fall on all vnbeleeuers both in this life and that to come Ioh. 7. 38. 3. 18. as plentifully is to bee seene throughout the Scriptures Out of all this mee thinkes a poore distressed sinner might thus stirre vp himselfe to beleeue If this bee certaine Note that God would not haue me perish but is very willing to saue me and therfore hath not onely prouided all sufficient meanes to bring mee thereto and made such a generall pardon as may assure mee I am contained vnder it yea seeing I now know that I am inuited and called to come to Christ and intreated to bee friends with God then may I be bold to come and assure my self I shal be welcome Yea further if I will not forgoe all these rich rewards tendered vnto me and pull vpon my selfe most iustly all those woes which God hath threatned against all despisers of his mercies then must I gladly accept Gods mercy offered to mee and if I finde my vnbeleeuing heart to draw back then must I ply the Lord with feruent and constant prayers that hee would draw mee by his Spirit to come to Christ and so to rest vpon him for my saluation And thus much for the generall promises both in regard of the matters promised and of the persons to whom they bee proclaimed that euery one who heares them may claime his part in them Speciall benefits Now to come to those speciall benefites which we receiue in Christ which belong to this first point how our faith is to bee strengthened in the assurance of our saluation by Christ I intend to referre all that I haue to say herein to these two 1. our Justification and 2. the fruites immediately growing from thence which I gather out of the Apostle Rom. 5. 1. to bee these three 1. Reconciliation 2. Adoption 3. Hope of Glory Concerning Iustification Iustification it is euident by the Scripture that all our saluation depends vpon it that whosoeuer shall bee saued must be iustified and therefore of necessity he that is not iustified must needs bee condemned it behooueth then euery one who lookes for saluation well to conceiue what it is to be iustified in Gods sight and then to make sure worke that hee may attaine it yea and know it also that hee is iustified without which is no comfort or hope of happinesse To be iustified before God is to be made righteous that is not onely without all sinne but hauing all that righteousnes which God in his holy law requireth as Rom. 2. 13. So was Adam and Eue by creation Eccl. 7. 31. God made man righteous Heb. 7. 26. So was Christ Such an high Priest it became vs to haue who is holy harmelesse vndefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the heauens Besides these not one of the whole stocke of mankinde was thus righteous but euery soule young and old was is and euer shall be in this world voyde of this righteousnesse and full of all vnrighteousnesse As Rom. 3. 20. Therefore by the workes of the law shall no flesh be iustified in his sight It followeth then that all that shall be saued must bee iustified another way and that is this by hauing that perfect righteousnes which was in Christ alone to bee accounted theirs as if it had been in themselues Not intending to enter into any further discours hereof which may bee seene in sundry Treatises written of this argument all our care must bee to get this grace in Christ whereby we shal assuredly be saued The Scripture is cleare that this is obtained by faith and no way else as besides sundry other scriptures the Apostle both soundly and plentifully prooueth Rom. 3. Gal. 3. reade the places in which wee shall see not onely the truth of the doctrine but many motiues to beleeue and imbrace this grace wrought by Christ for vs and by him freely offered vnto vs that we might receaue it to our comfort To this purpose is that which is said Rom. 3. vers 21. 22. But now is the righteousnesse of God made manifest without the Law hauing witnesse of the Law and the Prophets to wit the righteousnesse of God by the faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vpon all that beleeue And so forward to the end of the chapter wherein for our purpose this is chiefly to be considered That as none are partakers of this benefite of Iustification in Christ but beleeuers so seeing none can beleeue to enioy this but such as know that God freely and faithfully offers it to them therefore it is here and elsewhere oft reuealed that as all haue sinned and are depriued of the glory of God so are they iustified feeely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Which as I said cannot bee vnderstood that all doe receiue this mercie of Iustification purchased by Christ but that as Christ hath wrought it so God doth indifferently offer it in the Gospell to all which is more manifested by the words following verse 25. Whom God hath set forth to bee a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse by the forgiuenesse of sinnes that are passed c. The vse to bee made of these Vse and the like for the strengthening of our Faith in the assurance of our saluation by Christ is this that euery one who would beleeue doe set before him on the one side his owne sinfulnesse and cursednesse to be such that he is no way able to make any satisfaction whereby he might be deliuered on the other side that Christ hath made a full satisfaction vnto his Father for him a miserable sinner and freely offers it to him which if hee beleeue it shall be accepted for him and he thereby saued that this may draw him to renounce all hope in himselfe and so to relie vpon Christ for his Iustification and saluation This shall be more manifest in the parts of Iustification Parts of iustification which are forgiuenesse of sinnes Forgiuenes of sinne and imputation of righteousnesse and more especially in the former forgiuenesse of sinne which so vnseparably bringing in the latter imputation of righteousnesse the Scripture doth most labour to assure vs of And for this cause all blessednesse is worthily placed herein both by the Prophet Dauid and the Apostle Paul saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen Psal 32. 1 2. and whose sinnes are couered Rom. 4. 7 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne That it may driue
any storme wee shall bee sure to escape shipwracke and so in the end arriue at our desired port of euerlasting saluation Thus haue I now shewed as briefly and plainely as I could how euery one who is troubled with vnbeleefe about the cercainety of his saluation namely whether such as he so void of all grace and so full of all sinne may be bold to beleeue and thereby be assured to be saued by Christ and to this end that his sinne is quite forgiuen and hee accepted as righteous in Gods sight so reconciled to God and adopted to be Gods child that hee may reioyce in hope of the glory of God how such an one I say may get and dayly increase this assurance of faith that there is no condemnation to him belonging but that he hath euerlasting life and is passed from death to life then which what can be more welcome and comfortable to a troubled conscience I well see not And therefore as oft before I exhort all that feele this weaknes of faith concerning their saluation aboue all to obserue these and such other Scriptures whereof there bee many wherein Christ and saluation be offered to poore sinners Obserue Scriptures concerning Christ that they who haue as good right to them as any may not for any thing they see in themselues put these promises from them as not made to them But rather in admiration of Gods wonderfull goodnesse mercy and compassion vpon such vnworthy wretches to giue glory to God in beleeuing and accepting this mercy so freely offered which they must doe before they shall see such a true change of heart life in them as they earnestly desire for want wherof they thinke they ought not to beleeue which is to such if not the onely yet the chiefest lette and hinderance from faith whereas on the other side when it shal please Gods spirit by these his free promises to drawe them to beleeue and though weakely yet truely to stay themselues vpon Gods great mercy so reuealed to them then assuredly shall they see and feele this change in their hearts that they know not what to say or thinke of Gods mercy in pardoning such as they feele themselues to be This cannot but breede an vnfained loue in them to God with an earnest desire and true purpose to glorifie him which be the chiefe parts of a holy life and surest proofes of sauing faith which can no more want these then a true fire can be without heate though too many carnal Gospellers think otherwise and so miserably perish Hauing thus seene how wee are by Gods promises to get and increase our assurance by faith that we be Gods children Now it followes that wee consider what be the markes of God children Assurance by the fruits of faith whereby we may be further assured thereof Among which markes seeing faith it selfe is the first and surest proofe that we be Gods children and to this end many pretious promises bee made to such as doe already beleeue as the former promises were made to beget and increase faith It is meete that wee take some view of these not for the strengthening of our faith but that by our faith bee it small or great we may haue a sensible assurance of our saluation To which purpose may this serue that we who beleeue in Christ are so oft said to bee blessed as our Sauiour said to Thomas Blessed are they who haue not seene Ioh. 20. 29. and yet haue beleeued Mat. 13. 16. 16 17. and againe to his Disciples Blessed are your eyes for they see c and likewise to Peter Blessed art thou Simon Bar Iona for flesh and blood hath not reuealed it vnto thee but my father which is in heauen and the like many to the same end also it is said That he who beleeueth shall be saued Mr. k. 16. 16 That the Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth Rom. 1. 16. 10. 9. Againe If thou confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt beleeue in thy heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt besaued and againe Whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ Ioh. 3. 15. 16 shall not perish but haue euerlasting life yea hath euerlasting life 5. 24. Ioh. ◠47. and is passed from death to life Againe 12. 46. 11. 26. I am come a light into the world that whosoeuer beleeueth in me shall not abide in darkenes and though he were dead yet shall hee liue and shall neuer dye The same also is intended in these Scriptures in which forgiuenesse of sinnes righteousnesse and iustification are promised to beleeuers Act. 10. 45. Rom. 10. 4. Act. 13. 30. Rom. 4. 5. 5. 1. Gal. 3. 26. So likewise it is saide Ioh. 1. 12. Wee are made the children of God by faith and as many as receiued him to them hee gaue power to be the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue in his name Lastly to heape vp no more of this kinde to this end is that Christ shall come to bee glorified in his Saints 1. Thes 〈◊〉 10. and be made maruellous in all them that beleeue c. In all these and many the like promiises made to such as doe truely beleeue in Christ may euidently appeare that if any doe know and can prooue themselues to bee in the faith 2 Cor. 13. 5. as the Apostle speaketh by this he may be infallibly assured of his saluation Wherein seeing the greatest part of professours of Christian Religion bee deceiued saying they haue faith when in truth they haue none it highly behooues such as looke for better comfort aboue all to beware their hearts doe not beguile them herein 2. Pet. 1. 10. and to bestowe all study to make their calling and election sure that they may know that Christ dwels in them otherwise they cannot bee approued neither by themselues nor any others to bee in the state of grace Thus much for faith it selfe whereby we may certenly know that we be Gods children heires of saluation and cannot perish We are now further to see some speciall fruits of our faith which be the effects of Gods Spirit in al true beleeuers be so many marks whereby they doe know themselues and be knowne to others that they be Gods sheep so be further euidences and assurances that they be Gods children and shall be saued In which respect Assurance by the fruites of faith this gift of Gods Spirit to beleeuers is called a seale Ephesians 1. 13. Where the Apostle setting out the conuersation of the Ephesians 1. by the gift of the spirit layes downe both these euidences first of their faith secondly of this gift of the spirit saying In whō ye also haue obtained inheritance after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospell of your saluation wherein also after yee beleeued yee were sealed with the Spirit of promise which is the earnest
of the old man and weapons of vnrighteousnesse but rather yeelding themselues vnto God as those that are aliue from the dead and their members as instruments of righteousnesse vnto God And wheras this might iustly bee obiected Alasse how shall wee who by nature are so vnable to resist so mighty a Tyrant as sin is who hath ouercome all mankinde Christ onely excepted euer be able so to withstand sin For answer whereto the Apostle brings a most comfortable promise vnto all that be not vnder the Law Verse 14. but vnder grace that is who be not still vnder the condemnation and tyranny of the Lawe whereby it reignes ouer all vnregenerat but by true receiuing of Christ by faith are now deliuered from that bondage so brought into the liberty of Gods children which he saith is to be vnder grace whereof the Apostle speaks more fully Rom. 6. 1. Of these he saith That sinne shall not haue dominion ouer them meaning that although these doe still carry sinne that is corruption of nature which continually fights against the grace of God in thē yet the corruption and sinnefull nature shall neuer any more reigne as in times past it did and so haue the full victory ouer them But they by the grace of Gods Spirit reigning in them shall daily more and more ouercome this their sinnefull nature and in the end get a glorious conquest ouer it and all other their spirituall enemies This one Scripture if there were no more is sufficient if it be truelie weighed and beleeued to comfort euery childe of God ouer all his sinnes that though they bee neuer so many or neuer so great and of long continuance yet being here assured the roote of sinne shall be killed ver 18. 22. hee may then quietly rest his soule in peace that all the fruits and branches shall in time quite wither for certainety whereof this is twise repeated But the Lord knowing how hardly we be brought to be perswaded hereof especially when we be vnder captiuity of any sin as of vnbeliefe pride anger worldlinesse and the like hath much laboured in his word to comfort vs herein that though the battell be sore and our strength small yet his grace shall bee sufficient for vs and his power shall bee made perfect in weakenesse 2. Cor. 12. 7 8 9. as was said to Paul in his wrestling against some priuie corruption which he felt a pricke in his flesh to be sent as a messenger of Sathan to buffet him least he should be exalted aboue measure by the aboundance of reuelations which though spoken to him yet indeede belongs to all in his case and therefore euery poore soule who feeles his sinne too hard for him that when he would doe well euill is present with him hee is to lay holde on this promise that Gods grace shall bee sufficient for him and Gods strength shall bee made perfect in his weakenesse That so complaining with the Apostle O wretched man that I am Rom. 7. 24. who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death hee may comfortably cheere vp his heart with him saying verse 25. I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lord that through the power of the Spirit of Christ he shall subdue that body of sin which otherwise would carry him headlong to death and destruction both of body and soule for euer This the Prophet Micah notably expresseth Mich. 7. 18 hauing highly magnified the mercy of God in pardoning iniquity and passing by the transgression of his people hee addeth this He wil turne again he will haue compassion vpon vs he wil subdue our iniquities c. The Apostle also layeth out this matter at large how the Christian souldiour being armed with the whole armour of God Eph. 6. may bee able to stand in the euill day and hauing done all to stand that is being furnished with those excellent graces of the Spirit which he afterwards names he may manfully fight the Lords battell against sinne and Sathan and so hold out to the end of the battell that he shall stand vp as conquerour when sinne and Sathan shall fall as vanquished Beholde what encouragements the Lord giues against all our fearefulnesse in our spiritual battell which if wee could remember would put more spirit into vs to fight against our sinnes like men and not to faint or flye like cowards And yet these bee not the tenth of these gracious promises which the Lord hath made to this end that wee faint not when we see the force of the enemy Of this sort be all those Scriptures which setting out the rich benefites wee receiue in Christ among the rest mention our sanctification by him whereby is meant that Christ hauing taken our humane nature and sanctified it by his holy Spirit we being made one with him doe receiue the selfe same spirit though in measure to sanctifie vs Ioh. 17. 29. that is to make vs holy Whereunto these two be necessary first the killing of all sinne in vs and secondly the quickning of vs to newnesse of life 1. Cor. 1. 30 Of the latter more in the next point of the former heere concerning which this is oft repeated that Christ shall saue his people from their sin Mat. 1. 21. which as it is true in the matter of our iustification for the forgiuenesse of our sinne so it is also true in this point of our sanctification for deliuering vs from the power of sinne And so are all those generall speeches to be vnderstood that Christ is the lambe of God Ioh. 1. 29. 39. which taketh away the sinne of the world That hee hath loued vs Reu. 1. 5. and washed vs from our sinnes in his owne blood 1 Ioh. 1. 7. That the blood of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all our sinne Act. 3. 26. That God hath sent his Sonne Iesus to blesse vs in turning euery one of vs from our iniquities And the like many in all which this must needes bee contained that one great benefite wee enioy by Christ is that we who bee members of him are cleansed as from the guiltinesse of sinne that it shall not bee imputed so from the filthinesse of sinne that it shall not preuaile ouer vs. For more manifest proofe whereof this grace of mortification is expresly promised in sundry places Gal. 5. 16. as Walke in the Spirit and yee shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh Likewise the Apostle Iohn ioyning together both our iustification and sanctification 1 Ioh. 1. 9 sayeth If wee confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse so doth the Apostle Paul to Titus Tit. 2. 11. hauing shewed that the grace of God which bringeth saluation doth also teach men to deny vngodlines and worldly lusts he addeth this that Christ gaue himselfe for vs 14. that hee might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purifie
expressely said so much Psal 84. 11. For the Lord God is a Sunne and shield The Lord will giue grace and glory no good thing will he with-hold from them that walke vprightly Which being so generall I nothing doubt but it includes this grace of holinesse among the rest To this end also doth the Lord so often promise to sanctifie and make holy his people as Exod. 19. 6. 31. 13. Leu. 20. 8. 21. 8. 22. 32. Deut. 22. 8. 9. Esa 4. 3. 35. 8. Joel 3. 17. I spare to set downe the words which they that list may easily reade Againe to the same end God promiseth to make his people fruitfull and so compareth himselfe to a good husband-man as in the 15. of Iohn I am the Vine and my Father is the husbandman Euery branch that beareth not fruit he taketh away and euery branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruite So Esa 27. 2 3. In that day sing yee vnto her a vineyard of red wine I the Lord doe keepe it I will water it euery moment least any hurt it I will keepe it night and day and Psal 92. 14. They shall still bring foorth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing This also is meant where the Lord as a good shepheard saith he will feede his people that they may be fat that is abounding in grace as Psal 23. Ezek. 34. 13 14 15. and Psal 36. 8. They shall bee abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house and thou shalt make them drinke of the riuer of thy pleasures c. This grace of God to leade a godly life is likewise intended in many other promises God giues strength as where it is said That God will giue strength to his people which as it is in some places meant against enemies bodily or spirituall so in other to walke in the waies of the Lord c. Esa 45. 24. Surely shall one say In the Lord haue I righteousnesse and strength Zach. 10. 12. And I will strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walke vp and downe in his Name saith the Lord and the like That God hath wrought all our workes in vs. Esa 26. 12. and so the Apostle Phil. 4. 13. I can doe all things through Christ who strengtheneth me But to this purpose be most plaine those promises where God saith Hee will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seede to loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule that thou mayest liue Deut. 30. 6. God makes able to obey And to the like effect verse 8. And thou shalt returne and obey the voice of the Lord and doe all his commandements which I command thee this day which is here made a promise of God to them what hee would make them able to performe as may appeare by Hosea 3. 5. and 14. 7. and Ierem. 24. 7. where the like promise is made And so Ezek. 11. 19 20. And I will giue them one heart and I will put a new spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will giue them a heart of flesh That they may walke in my statutes and keepe my ordinances and doe them and they shall be my people and I will be their God The like is repeated 36. 27. and 37. 24. Thus wee may see in these Scriptures and many 〈◊〉 of like sort Vse of these generall promises for sanctification how the Lord seeing the frailtie of his children both in obeying his will and in beleeuing that euer they shall be able to attaine thereunto hath for their comfort herein giuen many pretious promises in generall containing all grace needfull to the leading of a godly life which euery childe of God may boldly apply to himselfe in this manner seeing God who is faithfull hath said to all his people that he will giue grace that hee will sanctifie them and make them fruitfull satisfie them with the fatnesse of his house make them strong to walke in his waies and giue them a new heart to feare him for euer and to walke in his statutes and to keepe his ordinances and to doe them c. therefore I may boldly assure my selfe though I be neuer so weake yet through Christ I shall be able to doe all things For he hath wrought and will worke all our workes 2 Cor. 12. 9. and his grace shall be sufficient for vs. Yea we may say as Esa 45. 24. In the Lord haue I righteousnesse and strength If thus we would call to minde what God hath spoken for our comfort in this kinde it would well hearten vs to set vpon any dutie which the Lord shall require at our hands with confidence that we shall be able so to performe it as he will approoue and say Matth. 25. 21. It is well done good and faithfull seruant Whereas otherwise if wee looke vpon the difficultie of the worke and our owne insufficiency to euery good dutie we shall haue no heart to set vpon it but either quite giue it ouer or very vnfruitfully and vncomfortably goe about it as the manner of most is whereby God hath small honour and themselues as little comfort in all their profession This might suffice Particular graces to encourage vs cheerefully to set vpon a godly life in all the parts of it if we were not so vntoward to it in our selues and had not so many discouragements from others and so full of vnbeleefe towards God But because of all these the Lord in loue is constrained to take more paines with vs and not onely thus in general to promise vs his helpe but he descends to particulars and where he sees vs most mistrustful there he doth more specially promise his helpe that so we might more willingly serue him And first whereas we be all ignorant euen after regeneration in many things what is Gods will and how to performe such things as God requireth as may bee seene in those speciall duties before named in euery commandement and this hath beene of old and is at this day the complaint of the godly and so their oft and earnest prayer to God to teach them as that one booke of the Psalmes and therein that one Psal 119. doth shew wherein this prayer is oft repeated For these causes it is so oft said God will teach vs. that the Lord will teach his people As in that famous prophesie of the dayes of the Gospell where the zeale and faith of Gods people is foreshewed that they called vpon one another to frequent the publike assemblies vpō this ground That God would teach them his waies and they would walke in his pathes Esa 2. 3. Mich. 4. 2. So Psal 25. 8 9. He will teach sinners in the way and the meeke he will teach his way So Esa 54. 13. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord. And to this purpose that is special 1.
Ioh. 2. 27. where speaking of the spirit giuen to all the faithfull hee saith But the annointing which ye haue receiued of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same annointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and euen as it hath taught you yee shall abide in him Many moe promises to this effect might be alleadged Out of them all Vse thus we may conclude Seeing Christ doth bid vs come to him and so to annoint our eyes with eye-salue that we may see Reu. 3. 18. and God hath made so many promises to teach vs and that his Spirit shall leade vs into all truth Ioh. 16. 13. therefore be our ignorance neuer so great and our capacitie neuer so small yet we shall not want so much spirituall knowledge as God seeth meete And therefore we may with confidence come to God for it and vsing the meanes as he hath appointed we shall not misse This may suffice for knowledge Now for abilitie God will set our hearts in frame to walke according to our knowledge enough hath beene said in the generall Where also we heard that God will giue vnto his a new heart which is the fountaine of all obedience and may be a singular comfort to all those who being acquainted with the vntowardnesse of their hearts to any holy dutie specially to some doe mistrust nothing more then this how to get a good heart and so to keepe it who for their comfort are to set before them all those promises wherein God hath said that hee will change their hearts whereof I spake a little before vpon occasion that God would make his people able to obey his statutes and doe his commandements which cannot be without a new heart and none can haue that but from God for it is not in man to set his heart aright but this is Gods gift As besides the former Scriptures that is manifest Ierem. 31. 33. Where the Prophet speaking of the new Testament which God would make to his people vnder the Gospell saith I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts c. which is twice repeated in the Epist to the Hebrewes 8. 10. 10. 16. which is also intended Acts 15. 9. where it is said of the Gentiles to whom Peter preached that God purified their hearts by faith and in the next chapter that the Lord opened the heart of Lydia Act. 16. 14. Againe 2 Cor. 1. 22. that God hath giuen the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts 2 Thess 2. 17. and 4. 6. that God hath shined into our hearts that God comforteth our hearts Phil. 4. 7. keepes our hearts stablisheth them directs them 2 Thes 3. 4. and the like many From whence wee may safely gather this Vse That though our hearts bee neuer so corrupt so hardned and shut vp so darkned distressed declining fainting and wandring out of the right way yet that God as he hath promised will certainly succour vs in all and both set and keepe our hearts in frame that they may be fit for all such seruices as it shall please the Lord to set vs about This I doubt not will be welcome newes to all sound hearted professours who so much see and bewaile their naughtie and vnbeleeuing hearts that they may comfortably rest vpon God that he will by his holy Spirit so guide their hearts that they may be seruiceable to him Thus much for the heart in generall Now seeing the Lord contents not himselfe herewith but comes more particularly to the well ordering of our affections of ioy loue feare trust and the like we shall finde it vsefull for vs to apply to our selues these promises to hearten vs against all our doubts concerning these affections which are as the hands and feete of our soules by which we worke and be carried to euery dutie that being well furnished with these we shall be more apt and ready to euery good worke And whereas among these God giues faith trust and hope there are none more profitable then Faith trust and hope which three though they haue some speciall difference one from the other 1 Tim. 2. 8. yet they be neuer parted Eccle. 5. 1. and bee vsually contained one within another and so we will take them together Of these the Scripture exceeding oft witnesseth that God giues these to all those whom hee meanes to saue As Iude verse 3. saith of Faith that it was once giuen to the Saints the like Eph. 2. 8. And Heb. 12. 2. Christ is said to be the Author and finisher of our faith and so his Apostles prayed to him Lord increase our faith and Rom. 12. 13. that God hath dealt to euery man the measure of faith So likewise for trust and confidence in God it is said of Gods people Esa 10. 20. that they shall stay vpon the Lord the holy one of Israel and 14. 32. That the Lord hath founded Sion and the poore of his people shall trust in it and 17. 7. At that day shall a man looke to his Maker and his eyes shall haue respect to the holy One of Israel and Jer. 3. 19. Thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not turne away from me Zep. 3. 12. And for Hope Dauid oft professeth Psal 71. 5. 22. 10. that God was his hope and his trust euen from his youth and God made him hope euen from his mothers wombe 65. 5. Yea more that God is the hope of all the ends of the earth c. Did we well consider on the one side Vse of these what neede we haue of those three graces throughout our whole life as may easily be seene by that which hath beene said in this whole Treatise and on the other side how exceedingly we faile in them all in times of triall we would then with both hands lay hold on these promises wherein God giues and by his Word and Spirit doth work these in the hearts of all his children and therefore so oft as wee feele our hearts to faile let vs with Dauid comfort our hearts in the Lord Psal 73. 26. and say My flesh and my heart faile me but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer And seeing the Lord Iesus is both Author and finisher of our Faith let vs rest in hope that hee who hath begun the good worke of faith in our hearts will finish it and so pray with the Apostle 2. Thess 1. 11. that God would fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the Worke of Faith with power Come wee now to the next grace in the heart God promiseth Ioy. the first fruit of our faith which is Ioy I meane spirituall ioy which is called ioy in the Lord and ioy in the holy Ghost In thinking whereof I cannot but wonder in comparing together what God hath
promised and how little we enioy for howsoeuer it cannot be denied but in these daies of peace many haue ioy enough and too much too yet this vpon search shall be found to be carnall and fleeting not that spirituall and lasting ioy which God bestoweth on those whom hee loues It may euidently appeare by Gods word that as a father would haue his children to liue cheerefully so would God and therefore doth hee so much call vpon them to reioyce as plentifully is to be seene in the bookes of the Psalmes Prophets and Apostles That one for many may serue Reioyce in the Lord alway Phil. 4. 4. and againe I say reioyce Which if there were no more might let vs see Gods mind that he would haue vs not now and then sometimes to reioyce that is when all goes well with vs for so the hypocrites doe but alwaies euen in afflictions as the Apostle Iames exhorts My brethren Iam. 1. 2. count it all ioy when ye fall into diuers temptations Which is not simply for the afflictions but for the good wee are assured they shall bring to vs as is said Rom. 8. 28. That all things worke together for our good Few attaine ioy But yet they be but few who attaine vnto this blessed estate to reioyce alwaies in the Lord as any one may well perceiue if he shal consider either how seldome his heart is rauished with admiration of Gods goodnesse towards him so vnworthy and so to stirre vp his soule with the Prophet Dauid to praise the Lord which must needs be where the heart is well affected with this ioy as there can bee no true thankes where this ioy is not oâ— how often his heart is disquieted when any thing crosseth his will and desire which would not be if the heart were filled with this spirituall ioy which would make bitter things sweete It shall be therefore our wisedome to hearken to Gods word wherein we shall see how plentifully the Lord hath prepared this pleasant fruit of the Spirit and promised it to all the true members of Christ that so they may claime their part therein This is notably set out vnto vs in the booke of the Psalmes As first Psal 19. 8. The statutes of the Lord are right reioycing the heart Psal 23. 4. Thy rod and thy staffe they comfort mee 36. 8. 9. Thou shalt make them drinke of the riuer of thy pleasure for with thee is the fountaine of Life and in thy light shall we see light 89. 15 16. Blessed are the people that know the ioyfull sound they shall walke O Lord in the light of thy countenance In thy name shall they reioyce all the day and in thy righteousnesse shall they be exalted So Psal 45. 15. Speaking of the members of the Church saith With gladnesse and reioycing shall they be brought they shall enter into the Kings pallace Psal 64. 10. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust in the Lord and all the vpright in heart shall glory Psal 68. 3. But let the righteous be glad let them reioyce before God yea let them exceedingly reioyce 97. 11. 12. Light is sowne for the righteous and gladnesse for the vpright in heart Reioyce in the Lord ye righteous and giue thankes at the remembrance of his holines 118. 15. The voice of reioycing and saluation is in the tabernacle of the righteous The right hand of the Lord doth valiantly 126. 5 6. They that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy Hee that goeth foorth and weepeth bearing pretious seed shall doubtlesse come againe with reioycing bringing his sheanes with him 132. 16 I will cloathe her priests with saluation and her Saints shall shout aloud for ioy It were not hard to gather many more out of the Psalmes Likewise the bookes of the Prophets be full of these Notable is that sweet song of Esai 12. 2. 3. Behold God is my saluation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jeâ—ouah is my strength and my song he is become my saluation Therefore with ioy shall yee drawe waters out of the wells of saluation Esa 24 14. They shall lift vp their voyce they shall sing for the Maiesty of the Lord. Esa 29. 19. The meeke also shall increase their ioy in the Lord and the poore among men shall reioyce in the holy one of Israel Esa 35. The whole chapter is full of heauenly comforts to vs Gentiles vers 1. The wildernes and the solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall reioyce and blossome as the rose Esa 56 vers 7. I wil make them ioyfull in my house of prayer Esa 62. 13. 14. Beholde my seruants shall reioyce but ye shall be ashamed Beholde my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and howle for vexation of spirit Likewise in the last of Esa bee many sweete consolations Hee shall appeare to your ioye c. ver 10. Reioyce ye with Ierusalem and bee glad with her all ye that loue her reioyce with ioy for her all that mourne for her That ye may sucke and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations that ye may milk out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory c. to vers 14. And when you see this your heart shall reioyce and the hand of the Lord shall be known towards his seruants and his indignation towards his enemies In like sort spake our Sauiour to his Disciples that their hearts should reioyce Ioh. 16. 22. and their ioy should no man take away from them Ieremy also hath the like chap. 31. 12 13. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Sion and shall flowe together to the goodnes of the Lord c. Then shall the Virgine reioyce in the dance both young men and old together for I will turne their mourning into ioy and will comfort them and make them reioyce from their sorrow Zach. c. 18. 19. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the fast of the fourth moneth c. shall bee to the house of Iudah ioy and gladnes and cheerefull feasts I will end with that Rom. 14. 17. The kingdome of God is righteousnes peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Thus haue I gathered store of these promises Vse in which the Lord promiseth to giue ioy and gladnesse to his people yet I suppose not halfe so many as might bee collected out of the scriptures for I doe not meddle with the many exhortations vnto this duty nor the many examples of it nor prayers for it all which shew the necessity of it But the marke I aime at is to perswade all who feele the want of this holy reioycing in the Lord whereby their whole life is the more vncomfortable that God hath prouided this for them and that there is nothing but their vnbeleeuing hearts which keepes it from them For if true faith be the breeder of this ioy as both scripture
and experience prooue then no meruaile that so few attaine to this excellent grace of reioycing when faith it selfe is so weake if not wanting I do wish therefore all such to thinke with themselues what the Lord should intend in making so many promises of this one thing but to make vs see these two things first that there can be no holding out in a Christian course without this ioy secondly that by reason of the many euills that befall vs in this life it is very hard and so very rare to get much more to keepe this ioy that by both these they may be stirred vp to labour to enioy this ioy of the Holy Ghost wherby they may finde what is the excellencie of this estate aboue all the estates in the whole world besides and be so far from enuying the wicked in their greatest prosperity as rather to pitty them for that like fooles and children they forgoe such treasure for very toyes and bables Now the way to attaine this ioye is besides earnest praier vnto God for it to bee much in meditation as vpon the manie and most iust causes God hath giuen to all beleeuers to reioice so also vpon these excellent promises wherein God hath bound himselfe to worke this grace in them by his holie Spirit for if we well weigh them all we shall see that the Lords meaning is not onelie to giue them matter of reioicing but whereas it too oft falles out that they who should reioice and haue good good cause so to doe bee so held downe with the burthen of corruption or affliction that they cannot lift vp their hands with ioy but waste their daies in sorrow This is also Gods worke to open their eies to see and to mooue their hearts and drawe them by his Spirit to be affected with his fauours that they with the Prophet Dauid may finde more ioy in the light of Gods countenance then the wicked haue in all their prosperity And thus much for this point how a true beleeuer may attaine this blessed estate of liuing ioyfullie what euer doth befall him which how much it is to be desired all may see though they bee fewe who take the right way to get it The next grace of the heart which God requireth of all those Of the loue of God whom he hath adopted in Christ to bee his children Deut. 6. 5. is that they should loue him with all their heart with all their soule with all their might which that wee ought to doe is not denyed of any except Atheists people without God but of those that yeeld it ought to be there bee in generall two sorts one that deceiue themselues in thinking they doe well loue God when as indeede they doe not truely and heartily loue him but onely say they loue him or if they doe it is but very slightlie and carnallie because all goes well with them Some say they loue God and doe not who are to bee conuinced by their loose liues and little conscience to keepe Gods commaundements that they doe not as they say truely loue God And these especiallie are to bee vrged by the many commandements of God to loue him sincerely and feruently and to bee mooued hereto by these weighty arguments which are so plentifully vsed in the holy scripture to perswade vs vnfeinedlie to loue God There is another sort who looking into their liues and there finding so many infirmities and failings in all duties to God and man Others feare they doe not loue yet doe doe thence conclude they haue not the loue of God in them and thereby be much kept downe both from that comfort and confidence they might haue in their holy profession These be the persons with whom I chieflie deale who haue neede to be hartened first by this that the sight of their want of loue to God Comforts to such as grieue for want of loue breeding in them heartie griefe for the same is an euident token there is some true loue in them else would they not be so disquieted for want of this loue of God And secondly this must comfort them that hee who hath giuen them to will and desire this grace Phil. 2. 13. 1. 6. will also giue them ability to doe and hee that hath begun the good worke will also perfect it for so is his promise yea he hath said at least to all and euery such And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart Deut. 306. and the heart of thy seed to loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule that thou maiest liue which one promise if there be no more is al-sufficient to perswade those that will beleeue God on his word that God who knowes how polluted our hearts be and vnable to loue him so throughly as we ought will cleanse our hearts and so sanctifie them that wee shall bee able by his grace so to loue him as hee will approoue It is onely vnbeliefe which keepes from that holy boldnesse which made Paul to say I can doe al things through Christ who strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. Although I doe not reade any other so expresse promise that God will make vs to loue him yet seeing the manifestation of Gods loue to vs doth as certainlie breed loue in vs to him again as the kindling of a fire wil bring foorth heate therefore all the many testimonies which God giues of his loue to vs must be so many perswasions that wee shall loue him Therefore it is said We loue him Vse because he first loued vs. Let vs therefore get as many arguments of Gods loue to vs and doubt we not but it will kindle in vs some like loue to him againe Likewise all the rich rewards which throughout the Scripture bee promised to those that loue God are so manie incouragements to this duty and so much for this The next is the feare of God God promiseth to make vs feare him whereby speciallie I vnderstand that holy affection whereby wee bee made so to stand in awe of God as to bee very vnwilling to displease him and on the other side to be as ready to please him both in eschewing euill and doing good How excellent a grace this is of what singular vse in our whole life how oft and earnestly it is commanded how practised by Gods worthy seruants and how wanting in many professours and weake in others it is all these though worthy good consideration yet seeing they would carry me too farre from my purpose I passe them by and will bend my speech to such as knowing all these â—eele and complaine of the want of this grace and desire it and labour for it by often prayer and other holy meanes yet through weaknesse of faith cannot attaine to such a measure of this feare as might keepe them in such awe that they durst not either doe that which God forbids or leaue vndone that which he commands
the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ which is est repeated 〈◊〉 Cor. p. 9. and 10. 〈…〉 that we might haue it in better remembrance and vse And for confirmation hereof 2. Tim. 2. 19. it s sayd the foundation of God 〈…〉 grounded vpon this the Lord knoweth who 〈◊〉 his meaning that they whoÌ„ God before the foundation of the world did chose ordaine to be saved cannot possibly perish as it is sayd Mat. 24. 24. If it were possible intending that it is not possible for then should God bee either mâ—table to change his decree or not Almighty as not able to performe that which he did purpose both which be most blasphemous to thinke of God for this cause Christ did bid his Disciples reioyce that their names were written in heaven Luke 10. 20. yea more in the same place 2. Tim. 2. 19. is said that this foundatioÌ„ of the certainety of salvation to all the Elect hath a seale which is after expressed in these words Let every one 〈…〉 of Christ depart from iniquity which I conceiue the same which is sayd Ephes 1. 13. that they after they beleeved more 〈◊〉 with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the prayse of his glory In both this is meanâ— that the worke of true sanctification which the holy Ghost workes in every true beleever is an vnfallible marke that we are true beleeverâ— effectually called and elected to salvation by Christ and therefore are sure wee cannot perish but shall persevere and bee saved This is notably set downe 2 Cor. 1. 21. 22. Now he which establisheth vs with you in Christ and hath annointed vs. is God who hath also sealed vs and given the earnest of his spirit in our hearts so that as true dealing men doe make sure their grants and covenants by seales and giving of some earnest which being a part of the prise covenanted doth assure the whole payment so doth the most faithful God by these first fruits of the spirit of sanctification assure vnto vs that we shall never quite fall away from grace but shall be fully sanctified by his holy spirit at the time appointed The Apostle Peter 2. 1. 10. by this moueth the faithful to make their calling and election sure And yet more if this be not enough to assure vs that we shall never fall away but continue to the end and be saved how often doth the Lord passe his word vnto vs that his spirit shall abide in vs for ever Notable is that place of the Prophet Esa 59. 21. As for me this my covenant with them sayth the Lord My spirit that is vpon thee and my wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed sayth the Lord from henceforth and for ever By this did our Saviour Christ much labour to comfort his Disciples who were full of sorrow to heare of his leauing them Ioh. 14. 16. And I will pray the Father and he shall giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever 17 Even the spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth in you and shall be in you So againe Ioh. 15. 16. Ye haue not chosen me but I haue chosen you and ordeined you that you goe and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine Ioh. â—6 22. Your ioy shall no man take may and more to like effect as Iohn 10. 28. 29. I giue them eterâ—all life and they shall never perish c. So the beloved Apostle Iohn wrote his first Epistle to this end especially to confirme the faithfull in the certaintie of their salvation that they should not fall away as many hypocrites then did and daily doe To this end as he setteth downe sundry markes whereby they may proue themselues to be in the state of grace so he giues many comfortable promises that they shall continue 1 Ioh 2. 24. and abide for ever and more specially vers 27. 17. But the anointing which ye haue received of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye 〈◊〉 as it hath taught you yee shall abide in him c. Chap. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what we shall be but we know that when he shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Vers 9. His seed remaineth in him and much more in this Chapter the rest I nâ—ed not rehearse all To shut vp this point A principall cause of this certaintie of our perseverance is that which the Apostle Peter expresseth 1 Pet. 1. 4 5 saying that their inheritance is reserved in heaven for them who are kept by the power of God through faith vnto salvation And to like effect the Apostle Iude closeth his Epistle with these words Now to him that is able to keepe you from falling and to preserue you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy to the onely wise God our Saviour be glory and maiestie dominion and power now and ever Amen Thus haue I gathered you may see good store Application yet not all of those comfortable promises which God hath made to his Church in all ages to confirme their faith that seeing he hath freely loued them chosen them and called them to be his therefore none shall ever be able to plucke them out of his hand What remaineth then for vs who be compassed with such a cloud of testimonies which all agree in one but to be perswaded with the Apostle Rom. 8. 38 39. That neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Let vs then whensoever wee fall into this temptation oh I shall never be able to hold out I find my corruption so strong or if I should be called to any such fiery triall as in Queene Maries dayes I shall never be able to indure them but shall as many then did for feare fall away and deny the truth Let vs I say against this tentation set the many promises which the Lord hath made vnto vs that he will never leaue vs nor forsake â—s Heb. 13. 5. yea more that we shall be kept by his power vnto salvation that hell gates shall not prevaile against vs Mat. 15. 18. with many the like whereof before that duely wayghing these and the faithfulnes of him who hath promised them we may comfort our hearts that he who hath begun the
which benefits being so desired and not attained without afflictions should make vs reioyce in them 4. comfort in afflictions God will helpe vs and deliver vs. The fift head is that we shall not want any earthly blessing needful 1. generall promises 2. particular 1. long life 2 health 3 wealth vnder welfare many other be contained 4. good name 5. and lastly for our posteritie â— that God will increase them 2. abundantly blesse them The sixt and last head of promises for our living by faith is for Perseverance which being not onely doubted of but gaine sayd God hath spoken much for our comfort on which we are oft to meditate that we may hold out to the end and so overcomming we may enioy al those rich promises mentioned in the second and third chapters of the Revelation This is the summe of that which more at large according to my poore abilitie I haue layd out in this Treatise what I haue sought herein I must leaue to him who knowes and shall judge even my intention as well as my actions what may bee the profit heereby to Gods people the effects shall shew And this I may say that had I not conceived good hope thereof I shuld never haue spent so many yeares about it And if I had not beene much encouraged by sundry men of good esteeme in our Church who perusing it after a sort charged me not to bury my labours but to communicate them to all that will receiue them mine owne meane conceit of my selfe and labours would haue kept them still close from so publike a view and censure Now to shut vp all Exhortation to labour for faith I doe instantly beseech in the Lord every soule who truely lamenteth his want of comfort in Gods favour in all his necessities and weaknes of obedience in all duties required both which doe principally arise from the want and weaknesse of faith that they would aboue all as the Apostle himselfe exhorteth Ephes 6. 16 labour to get and striue to maintaine this precious grace of saving faith in such manner and by such meanes as in this treatise hath beene set downe And for the better attaining herevnto their owne experience shall shew how needfull it shall be to make this a daily practise to meditate vpon Gods promises specially such as most concerne their present condition and to this end to commit to memory To learne speciall promises and to learne without Booke one or two principall promises for every purpose as I haue set them downe or themselues may obserue that so they may haue them readie for their vse As for example when they would goe to Prayer thinke seriously of that promise Rom. 8 26. Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it selfe maketh intercessionâ—er vs with groanings which cannot be vttered Vers 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Or that of Iames. 1. 5. If any of you lacke wisedome let him aske of God who giueth liberally to all men and vpbraideth not and it shall be given him I make no doubt but the due consideration what God hath sayd in either of these will put life into any Christian heart more comfortably to set himselfe to this holy dutie The like is to be done when we goe about our callings Psal 121. 8. The Lord shall preserue thy going out and thy coÌ„ming in from this time forth and for evermore So when any crosse befalleth vs remember that vnvaluable promise Rom. 8. 29. Also we know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God to them who are the called according to his purpose And that 1 Cor. 10. 13. There hath no tentation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you be able but will with the tentation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to beare it The same is to be sayd for the rest as more largely hath beene handled To this end I doe advise every one to set apart some time every day if there be no just hinderance to this dutie of nourishing their faith To set apart some time every day by prayer and meditation on Gods promises which although I feare it bee rarely practised yet I dare commend it to be of admirable gain to all good purposes and holy practises of Christianitie even in dayes of prosperitie though more specially in times of adversitie And herein the more to stirre vp all who desire to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living I will adde this of mine owne experience both in my selfe and others not a few with whose state I haue beene acquainted that as there can be no sound comfort in any part of our life without faith yet nothing more hard to keepe in life then true faith so this is the chiefe cause why so few find that good assurance of their salvation that comfort in afflictions that power against their corruptioÌ„s that growth in grace which full well they might if the fault were not in themselues for that they doe not make this a dayly practise to examine themselues whether they bee in the faith 2. Cor. 13 5. as the Apostle exhorteth that so finding their weaknes they might bee stirred vp more constantly and painefully to striue for the maintenance of their faith whereof they shall haue such dayly vse that without it there can be no proceeding but rather a dayly decay in all Christianity In consideration of all which I make this my last suite to all such onely to make triall of this dutie of dayly nourshing and in creasing their faith which if they shall endeavour not slightly but carefully with knowledge and conscience I make no doubt but that they shall find at least so much as shal incourage them to goe forward till they shal be further satisfied onely we must referre to God both the time when and the measure how much it shall seeme good to his wisedome to bestow on vs. And for my part I will not cease to pray vnto God for them all that he would fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of faith with power So be it FINIS