For its Christs commandement that whatsoeuer our sinnes and vnworthinesse our feares doubtings and infidelitie be and how great so euer our misery be that yet we should beleeue that hee will pardon and heale all Nay because our misery by sins and punishments of God on soule and body are great and desperate passing all created power to cure or helpe them therefore to beleeue and to goe to him ordained of God a Physitian to heale all that are desperately sicke and diseased and past all hope in reason and sense Yet there is hope in Christ and hee commaunds vs to beleeue it and vpon his commandement to goe to him to ease vs of the burden of our sinnes and miseries when they lie so heauy vpon vs and so fastned on vs as we conceiue no possibilitie of remoouing them nor of any ease and refreshing from any creature promising that he will giue vs rest Obey the commandement which commaunds thee to beleeue against all vnbeleefe and aboue all beleefe and to hope aboue hope that is in infinite doubtings to beleeue and in all despaires to hope and when all reasons grounds meanes and hopes are wanting yet to beleeue only because God commands thee so to doe Though nature reason sense and thy owne heart faithlesse feares all creatures forbid thee so to doe Lam. 3. saying That thy strength and hope is perished from the Lord yet obey and beleeue none of these but Gods commandement commanding thee to beleeue his promise against them all and so to honour him as God aboue them all in power mercy trueth and faithfulnesse Though they say thy case is desperate God saith it is not they say Thy daughter is dead Mar. 5.35 why troublest thou thy maister with prayers and suites any further now all hope is past But Christ saith Feare not onely beleeue and fight against all that perswade thee to the contrary euen Satan flesh reason nature and all the World For this commandement of beleeuing is contrary to all creatures All other commandements of the Morall Lawe of naturall equitie and Iustice are seconded and sealed by the testimony of all creatures to bee iust faithfull and true and they perswade to the obedience of them onely this commandement of beleeuing is contrary to all creatures Heauen and Earth are against it and bid vs despaire for there is no hope This therefore is the greatest obedience and the cheifest worke most pleasing to God and most honouring him as God aboue all creatures and against them all and therefore God will honour and saue such a soule against all creatures He that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue Iohn 11.25 Of all sinnes and sinfull passions it s the hardest to resist infidelitie feares doubts and of all combats against sinne to fight the good fight of Faith Because nature giues some strength and aide to resist other sinnes and naturall reason but onely God and his word to resist infidelity Nature and all creatures forbid this beliefe that a dead man should liue and rise againe When we feele sinne and dead workes which surely bring death in reason sense and conscience course of nature when wee feele a dead heart and see nothing but dead bones as Ezek. 37.3 that these dead bones should liue againe all creatures forbid vs to beleeue it yet Christ commands vs to beleeue that he is the Resurrection and the life to quicken the dead and to trust in his voyce that the dead shall heare it and liue whatsoeuer the death be in heart or conscience and whatsoeuer soule-murdering despaires and feares destroy the life peace and comfort of our soules and consciences yet if we will hearken to Christs voyce and obey his commandement to beleeue his promise of life comfort peace willing desiring and indeauouring to beleeue hee will quicken in vs the life of Faith and fill vs with ioy and peace in beleeuing and make vs to abound in hope Rom. 15.13 through the power of the holy Ghost Fulfilling the good pleasure of his goodnesse 2. Thes 2.11 and the worke of Faith with power in vs. Faith hath God for its obiect in two respects First of his Person and Diuine authoritie which it beleeues simply and onely because God saith so and commands him to beleeue his bare Word This is that speciall honour which Faith giues to God aboue all creatures that though all creatures should command vs the contrary vpon neuer such reasons arguments and probabilities yet wee will beleeue God vpon his bare Word and commanding vs so to beleeue because he is God ought so to be obeyed and beleeued though wee can see no reason for it For if he be Iehouah hee will giue Beeing to his Word and hath Wisedome Power and will to doe whatsoeuer hee saith else hee were not God Therefore because the Gospel a mysterie and hid wisedome aboue the capacitie of men and Angels is preached by Gods soueraigne commandment Rom. 16.26 and wee are commanded to heare and beleeue it therefore we wil so doe onely because God commands Rom. 10.16 17. Faith therefore comes by hearing and hearing by the word and commandement of God which commands preaching and hearing as the meanes to beget Faith Now all wicked men and vnbeleeuers doe not onely not beleeue when the Word is offered but by a rebellion of will they refuse to beleeue Psal 50. and cast the word behinde their backes and the commaundement to beleeue and will not submit themselues to the meanes of beleeuing in obedience to God because God commands them But if they heare it s when they list themselues whom they please and in such maner and measure as likes themselues as learned eloquent preaching and for such ends as they thinke fit and not in simple obedience to God as his commaundement and ordinance to get Faith and by Faith all sauing good in Christ but in obedience to their owne reason and lusts Such men their infidelitie is not in them an infirmitie but an obstinate rebellion as of enemies to God and despisers of his commandement and of Faith The Saints doubt and feare but against their wils highly prizing faith and earnestly desiring it they submit themselues to the commandement of beleeuing which they obey as well as they can at least in consent and earnest desire to obey and beleeue subiecting themselues gladly to all counsell and meanes of getting Faith as Rom. 7.16 I consent to the Law that it is good So they consent to this Lawe of Faith as singularly good and delight in it Rom. 7.22 concerning the inner man If this bee true Obedience to the Law Morall thus farre to obey though we cannot fulfill the commandement then also is this rather true obedience to the Law of Faith to be willing and desiring and to labour to beleeue vpon Gods commandement lamenting our vnbeleefe and striuing against it when we cannot beleeue as wee would Especially the commandement
by this Manuduction is healed that wee may goe to God with boldnesse and confidence There bee two things that make boldnesse and confidence and the contrary makes feare and diffidence First affinitie of nature Secondly familiaritie and acquaintance the first is the cause of the latter The corruption and contrarietie of our nature and our estrangement and vnacquaintance with God by dayly defection from him by actuall sinne makes vs feare and distrust God and therefore cannot nor dare not goe to God by our selues but wee must be led by such a one as is of the same infinite Holy and perfect nature with God and neuer departed from him Ioh. 1.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but lies alwayes in his bosome who leading vs by the hand wee haue boldnesse towards God For that wee may bee bould and confident with God First our hearts natures and consciences must bee purged from all that which is contrary to God and made of Gods nature Secondly wee must haue perfect acquaintance with God as lying in his bosome neither of which haue wee in our selues and in our owne persons but in the person of Christ dwelling in our hearts by Faith Ephes 3.17 and by putting on the Lord Iesus Christ we haue both first our consciences are purged from all that which is contrary to God as the guilt of sinne as Hebr. 10. Draw neere with a true heart in assurance of Faith Faith first purgeth the heart and by that purgation after increaseth its owne assurance in the heart First a true heart purged and sanctified and then followes assurance of faith But what makes a true heart and like to God He shewes its one by two things First sprinckled with the blood of Christ to iustification and Christ dwelling in it Secondly washed in our bodies with pure water of sanctification begun in it As the strongest and stoutest creatures are afraid of those things which are contrary to their natures which other creatures neuer so weake feare not being of the same nature No more fearefull creature then a fish flying at the shadow of a man yet it feares not the Ocean sea because it s of its owne nature which Lyons and the stoutest creatures feare Acquaintance and familiaritie with God A sheepe feares not his Shepheard by reason of acquaintance whom yet the Beare and the Wolfe feare whatsoeuer is strange and vnacquainted is fearefull If we acquaint our selues with God and walke with him as his friends we shall haue the more bouldnesse with God Hos 13.8 else hee meetes vs as a Beare robbed of her whelps and as a Lyon in secret places In whom both these are wholly wanting as in Deuils and all wicked men there is no accesse to God no acquaintance nor communion with him as in all of vs by nature wee are alients from God and strangers from the wombe and goe astray and can neuer come where God is In whom these are imperfect as in the regenerate that nature is partly renewed and fellowship acquaintance with God in part to know God by repentance but in part through contrarietie and corruption of nature and defection from God dayly by actuall sins there is no immediate accesse to God but by a Mediatour leading by the hand as among men that are strangers though of the same nature In this mixt condition there is a mixt motion of accesse to God which is by the Manuduction of a Mediatour of perfect nature and intimate fellowshippe with God If in our owne persons wee were perfectly holy and like vnto God in our nature and had full and perfect acquaintance with God neuer departing from him nor estranged by any sinne then wee might goe to God of our selues and needed not a Mediatour to take vs by the hand Againe haue wee neuer so much corruption of nature if there bee any true grace and sparke of Gods nature and life in vs wee need not feare and runne away from God as long as wee haue a Mediatour to take vs by the hand who will not despise nor quench the smoaking flaxe Matth. 12. nor breake the bruised reede Heb. 10.14 but with one offering hath perfected for euer them that are sanctified in any small measure And though we dayly fall from fellowship with God by sinnes yet if there bee any constant will and desire of repentance and seedes of conuersion acquaintance with God and that wee hate not fellowship with God as the Deuils and flie from him as they are not capable of a Mediatour by such a contrariety to lead them neither are such their children We are capable of a Mediatour to bring vs into perfect fellowshippe with God and of such a Shepheard to leade vs and conuert vs. 1. Iohn 2.1 2. God in himselfe is full and perfect light See 1. Ioh. 1 5.10 with chap. 2.1.2 and in him is no darkenesse at all Wee by nature are nothing but darkenesse and in vs is no light at all Now comes Christ a Mediatour betweene vs both that because there can be no communion betweene light and darknesse Christ the middle person in Trinitie becomes a middle person also betweene God and vs by taking our flesh betweene God that simple light and vs that are nothing but darkenesse communicating of both our natures and taking vpon him all our sinnes brings vs into fellowshippe with God reconciling and killing the enmitie betweene God and vs in iustification and then imparting Gods nature in part in sanctification which because its imperfect by his perfect sacrifice and intercession and leading to God dayly hee reneweth and increaseth our fellowship with God and communion till we be presented perfect in Christ Iesus to God his Father According therfore to our mixt condition in this life of light and darkenesse holinesse and corruption wee haue a mixt accesse to God which is by Manuduction Hence arise these consectaries First wee must haue sinne corruption of nature contrarietie and enmitie to God in nature and life and often fall from God by daily sinnes else we needed not a Mediator We might goe to God of our selues Secondly We haue neede of such and so great a Mediatour to lead vs to God as is holy harmelesse separate from sinners and made higher then the heauens because the cursed enmity of our natures and estrangement from God so requires it and needs it None other can lead such wicked sinners to God so full of enmitie and abhomination in nature and life to so iust and holy a God but such an infinite holy Sonne of God Thirdly If there be any sparke of God and Christs nature and life in vs its sufficient to make vs capable of such a Mediatour to take vs by the hand as his brethren partakers of his flesh blood to bring vs to God his Father Fourthly Such as haue no loue to God nor fellowship with Christ by repentance but loue darkenesse rather then light and fellowship with sinne and Satan haue
feare their earthen faces tremble at their wrath whose breath is in their nostrils If the conscience of sinne make vs tremble before men how much more before God the Iudge 1. Pet. 3.15 with Isa 8.12 13. Seeke boldnesse with God It s nothing what boldnesse we haue with men that our hearts and consciences warrant vs to stand vpon Interrogatories with men and challenge Who dare lay any thing to our charg and we can shew our faces in any court stand vpon our righteousnesse But dare we doe so with God and stand vpon interrogatories with him either in Iustification as 1. Pet. 3.21 or Sanctification Psal 138.23 as Dauid Lord Prooue mee and try mee if there be any way of wickednesse in me In whom wee haue accesse with confidence as we haue our accesse to God out of our selues only in by Christ so we haue our confidence only in Christ and not in our selues First in regard of the matter all matter of confidence is only in Christ viz. his Death Resurrection Merits Righteousnesse Intercession as 1. Pet. 1 21. and 3.21 22. Luk. 18.9 with verse 8. and 13 14. 2. Cor. 1.9 Phil. 3.3.9 Secondly as the Rocke and efficient cause of our actuall confidence dispensing it to vs arbitrarily as he sees fit and we need as enemies troubles and dangers increase There is nothing in vs naturally but feare and a spirit of infirmitie and weaknes wherewith we are bound and goe faintly but Christ suggesteth and breatheth into vs a spirit of courage and confidence aboue that we haue by faith whereof faith is an instrument and meanes to draw it forth Our hearts naturally meditate feare and we weaken and discourage our selues and Christ incourageth vs and giues vs strength and confidence We must vnderstand that there is a double confidence 1. Seminall which is in faith a kinde of naturall child-like confidence seeded in vs whereby we are well perswaded of Gods fatherly heart and good will as little children naturally are of their parents affection and yet vpon all dangers and miscarriages or other accidents they feare and tremble through weakenesse of iudgement and apprehension and imbecillitie of nature in which infirmities its the parents wisedome and indulgency to incourage and comfort Eph. 6.4 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be furiously angry least they be discouraged and all together put out of heart So is it with God and his children they haue some child-like perswasion of God the Father his Loue by which they goe to him which perswasion is seminall in their hearts the first habite of Faith but which is not of strength to carry them to God with confidence when conscience of sinnes Satan and Enemies and dangers assault but by weakenesse of iudgement and apprehension and frailtie of the flesh they are ready desperatly to cry out for feare as the Disciples did at the sight of Christ comming like a ghost vpon the waters till Christ incouraged them strengthned them saying It is I be not afraid Christ is not furiously angry against our infirmities feares doubts but spareth vs as a Father spareth his childe that serueth him as well as he can Psal 103. though with neuer such weakenesse and frailtie and he supports vs in our feares and doubts as Psal 93.18 When I said my foote slippeth thy mercy O Lord held mee vp Psa 93.19 In the multitude of the thoughts of my heart that is full of feares doubtings distractions thy comforts reioyce my soule So Christ giues all beleeuers confidence dispensing it as we need against our many sins temptatious dangers enemies For as our life is hid with Christ in God so is our confidence which is our life and strength increased and dispensed as Christ pleaseth as 2. Chro. 20.20 Trust in the Lord and yee shall be assured that is confident If yee by faith goe only to God beleeuing that he is able and willing according to his promise to helpe and choose him only for your Sauiour and protector and reiecting all other betake your selues to him alone he will not only saue you but giue assurance and securitie of saluation before-hand which is indeede the greatest part of saluation the healing of the soule of sinfull feares doubts and scruples and stablishing the heart and minde in peace passing all vnderstanding as I haue before touched Obiect I feare my faith is not true because I cannot be confidently assured that God will helpe me not rest therein without feare Answ Our Faith may be true though weake and ioyned with feare Let vs striue therefore against the feare and weaknesse of our nature and flesh and vse our weake faith to go vnto Christ and he will giue vs strong confidence That is his gift and not of our selues It s that fruit or rather growth and increase of the first faith sowen in our hearts rightly improoued as Psal 26.14 Be strong and he shall strengthen your hearts and trust in the Lord that is doe you improoue your weake faith to goe to Christ seeking to him for strength and courage and increase of your faith and goe not to any creatures to make your selues strong confident and secure in them and Christ will giue you confidence and securitie as Psal 73.26 My flesh faileth me and my heart also but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer Vse This makes greatly for the comfort of the weake in faith And let vs not exspect a faith without feare infirmitie anxietie but striue against this weakenesse and lament it and vse this weake faith in going to Christ to strengthen it with confidence The chiefe treasure of confidence and of this life of faith Christ keepes in his owne hand and will haue vs in the sense of our weaknesse of faith in his promise to goe to him for it and depend on him to keepe strengthen and support our weake faith as he hath promised Matth. 12. That hee will not quench the smoaking flaxe nor breake the bruised reede We haue a small roote of faith in our selues but the body and truncke is in Christ by this small roote we liue and goe to Christ and cleaue to him and sigh to him in our weakenesse and being thus humbled we depend on him daily to support our faith increase our confidence which we must not looke to haue alwaies in our selues but in and from Christ as his free grace shall arbitrarily dispense the same Therfore he suffers some of his Saints and members to be more weake then others and fearefull and into some he infuseth a greater spirit of confidence Some goe weakely and faintly all their daies and can hardly lift vp their weake hands Heb. 12. and feeble knees to make streight steps to their feete And this Christ doth partly for exercise of his owne grace and mercy in supporting such weake ones and for exercise of our mercy and loue Rom. 15.1 2. 1. Thess 5.7 As the soule infuseth
not the like vigour and vertue of life comfort strength into all the members of the body So nor Christ We must as well goe to Christ for faith and confidence as for any other grace and he requires of vs perswasion and faith that wee shall receiue it from him viz. that he will in dangers feares sinnes temptations strengthen incourage and comfort vs against them all euen death and hell and all enemies Say not I am a creature so weak and faint in faith that I shall neuer stand against these Cast not away thy weake faith as Heb. 10.35 Sit not still and keepe not thy bed because thou canst not goe so strongly to Christ as others can but goe as well as thou canst with thy feeble weake knees and let not that which is halting be turned out of the way but rather be healed Heb. 12. Seeke for more strength of faith rather then despaire and cast away all faith Fight the good fight of faith and striue to lay hold on Christ and he will strengthen thy faith only seeke not to strengthen and secure thy heart in wealth pollicie thy owne righteousnesse For he is the sheepheard of our soules Psal 23. and hath promised to conuert our soules and to dwell in our hearts if we by faith choose him to dwell in vs to bee his house reiecting all other lords and spirits then will he come into vs and strengthen vs by his Spirit in the inner man as Eph. 3.16 17. and he dwelling in vs as in his house we shall hold fast our confidence and hope of reioycing vnto the End Heb. 3. Therefore pray as the Disciples Luk. 17.5 Lord increase our Faith and cry as the Father of the Daemoniake Mark 9.24 Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe and giue me confidence and beleeue that hee will pardon thy weake faith and heale it as well as any other thy sinnes and enormities as long as they are but infirmities which thou striuest against lamentest and labourest for strength of faith desiring aboue all to honour God with confidence Beleeue hee will pardon the want of beleefe as long as thou striuest and labourest to beleeue and doest not affect infidelitie with an euill heart of infidelitie Heb. 3. totally euill and vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing God and to forsake him our Rocke and portion choosing and preferring other creatures as Heb. 10. vlt. For that which our hearts choose for our portion they trust in and are strong and confident in Where our treasure is Math 6. there will our hearts bee also Lam. 3. The Lord is my Portion saith my soule therfore will I trust in him Hereby I know I haue some true faith though with much feare when I choose God to bee my chiefe portion to be secure confident and fearelesse in him As a seruant that chooseth a Master in whose power riches authority for protection and maintenance he reposeth himselfe to quiet secure and rest his heart in him Some choose wealth some the Arme of flesh But a Christian by faith chooseth Christ Therefore Christ saith A man cannot serue two Masters to repose confidence and safety in them both but wee must either cleaue to the one and despise the other or hate the one and loue the other So yee cannot serue God and Mammon to seeke safetie and securitie from them both The heart seekes its security but in one treasure See Math. 6.21.24 That which is our portion giues vs confidence It belongs not to our Faith but to our portion which faith chooseth and pitcheth on to giue vs confidence Choose God for thy portion to rest thy heart in him as he hath promised to be the Rocke of thy heart and then try and see if God doe not giue thy heart secure confidence as a Rocke Psal 73.26 and 2. Chron. 20.20 Trust in the Lord and ye shall be assured Let thy heart bee Christs house to dwell in thee by faith thou shalt see that he will strengthen thee by his Spirit in the inner man not to faint or feare in any afflictions as Eph. 3.13 16. Thou shalt then sensibly feele know that Christ is in thee and thou art his house in that thy heart keepes this confidence and hope of reioycing vnto the End as Heb. 3. that is hereby we sensibly know it We are Christs house before by faith but we doe not so sensibly feele and know it that he dwels in vs till he as the Master of the house strengthen and incourage our hearts Wicked men and vnbeleeuers doe not beleeue that Christ can or will strengthen their hearts to make them strong and confident without feare and griefe therefore they put their strength and confidence in wealth pride malice Pride is to them as a chaine Psal 7.3 cruelty couers them as a garment They arme themselues with these weapons of the flesh and imbolden incourage themselues by them and not in God and Christ their Portion They seeke freedome from care feare and trouble of minde in wealth and honour and promise to themselues all securitie of minde and heart and safety of life and estate in these things as Luke 12. My soule take thine ease eate and drinke thou hast much goods laide vp for many yeares Contrary a beleeuing heart beleeues as God saith not as Satan Reason and flesh say viz. that though he had all abundance Luk. 12. yet his life stands not in his riches and though hee had all the world it will not keepe his minde and heart safe from feares cares griefe nor his body and life safe quiet nor secure but only God and Christs loue and mercy and therefore nothing will content him but these Therefore hee goeth to God and Christ onely to repose his soule in them and hauing them he is perswaded as the word saith that his soule shall dwell at ease and bee secure his defence shall bee the munition of rockes Isa 33. that the Name of the Lord will be a strong Tower Prou. 18. to him if he could attaine to it that he should lie downe in peace and sleepe and rise againe Psal 3. because the Lord would make him dwell in safetie Isa 33. that bread should be giuen him and his waters should bee sure But the wilfull infidelitie of vnbeleeuers makes them resolutly to conclude and say Who is the Almighty that they should serue him Iob 21.15 and what profit should they haue that they should pray vnto him They count not God any such secure refuge Isa 28.15 and therefore make falsehood their refuge and vnder vanitie hide themselues They cannot rest nor sleepe without their God Mammon their chiefe portion and their bellies filled with that meate that perisheth Contrary a Christian cannot rest nor sleepe feeling his soule emptie of God and Christ and the meat that indureth to euerlasting life Because hee beleeues that Christs body broken is that onely bread of life that
can quicken and strengthen his heart with courage comfort and confidence inuincible and therefore chooseth no other foode but this and layes foorth his money Isa 55.2 and labour chiefely for this Iohn 6.27 being perswaded that all nourishing comforting and strengthning vertue to the heart is in Christes death blood and sufferings and that all other bread is but ashes Isa 44.20 and that a seduced heart deceiueth men that they cannot deliuer their soules from feeding on these vanities If wee beleeue that all comfort and confidence is in Christ crucified and goe to him for it we shall find him indeed that bread of life that will giue life comfort strength courage as he promiseth by his word and Sacraments In which Faith and sense of his feares deadnesse Dauid so often repaires to God praying Quicken mee O Lord Psal 119. according to thy promise Let vs likewise goe to Christ and say Lord Iesus thou hast promised that if wee come to thee thou wilt giue vs life if wearied with our pride infidelitie feares and doubtings wee lament the same and come to thee thou wilt ease and refresh vs with strength in our soules and not breake the bruised reed Lord Iesus renouncing all other meanes of easing resting and refreshing my soule and heart and of giuing mee comfort and confidence and to free me from my feares and cares sinfull troubles of minde I come onely to thee the Shepheard of my soule See Hos 14.3 who callest mee vnto thee as Matth. 11.28 and Psal When I am afraid I will trust in thee Therefore Lord ease and refresh my minde with confident rest and repose in thee from all feare doubting anxietie Thou hast promised to giue to the thirstie soule that faints with feare griefe and trouble of minde like the parched ground that gapes the water of life Lord Iesus thou wast weary and thirstie in body and soule askedst drinke both Spirituall See Heb. 4 15. 2.17 18. and bodily whereby thou perfitly knowest what it is to haue a wearie faint and thirstie soule full of feare griefe doubting and didst promise the water of life which I beleeue thou onely hast to giue and wilt giue and therefore I come to thee I know and beleeue that thou promisest no more then thou canst performe and that thy Spirit and righteousnesse can doe it and therefore I renounce all other meanes of refreshing and come to thee as thou callest mee crying in the last Ioh 7.37 and great day of the Feast promising to make a better Feast then that was or all the Feastes of the yeere euen a continuall Feast to all that are thirstie and come to thee to drinke to refresh and satisfie their hearts desires in thee onely as our Passeouer sacrificed for vs. 1. Cor. 5.7 8. Obiect But my feares and griefes and despaires are so great that I feele no faith at all but all faith and hope is swallowed vp Answere It is so to sense but not so indeed as with Ieremie Lament 3. My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. Secondly it s not a wilfull willing and obstinate despaire reiecting all counsell and meanes of confidence as in Ahaz Isa 7.12 but a desperation lamented and striuen against with subiection to any counsell and meanes for the cure desiring and prizing Faith aboue all things and therefore is not damnable Thirdly especially if thou canst thus doe which is my counsell to thee to labour to doe that is to goe to Christ though quaking and trembling and full of feare flie not from Christ to any creature for refuge and confidence 1 Sam. 12.20 for that is to goe after vaine things that cannot profit Though by feares and doubts wee sinne and offend Christ yet flie not from Christ the only medicine of sinne cure of doubts infidelitie especially he calling commanding thee to come vnto him Therefore obey his cōmandement hope aboue hope and beleeue aboue thy faith that his grace mercy wil pardon and heale thy infidelitie say I will not vtterly feare despaire but in despight of my feares distrustfull heart and Satans temptations I will goe to him because he commands me If I cannot goe by faith yet I will goe by obedience because he commands mee to come to him and not suffer my feares to keepe mee backe I will resolutely cast my selfe on him if I cannot doe it faithfully yet with a wilfull resolution to obey his cōmandement though I cannot doe it with heart and affection delight as I would and should doe it Euen despairing of all hope from him of any good yet wilfully and resolutely cast thy selfe on him saying if hee will let mee perish so let it bee I will goe to him though without all hope and commend my selfe to him and if I perish I perish Obiect Oh but I can doe nothing but feare Answere Yet goe and cast thy feare and infidelitie and all thy sinnes on him who hath satisfied for them all and must heale them all chiding thy selfe for thy feares and doubts Why art thou so cast downe my soule Psal 42. and disquieted within me waite on God Christ and in despight of despaire with a contrary desperate resolution aboue all reason sense or hope say as Ionas Ionas 2. yet will I looke towardes thy holy Temple though to all reason and sense I am vtterly cast out from thy presence for euer I will not yet giue ouer prayer I will yet fight the good fight of Faith I will cast my selfe on him As there is in some wicked men a desperate wilfulnesse of rushing into euill against all meanes of restraint both of promises threats mercies and blessings from God and examples prouocations from men and a desperate will in men to aduenture vpon desperate meanes as if they were mad vpon no ground of reason or hope but only their owne foolish credulitie beleeuing their owne conceit and following the hardnesse of their owne hearts and desperate wils so much will they attribute and sacrifice such honour to the Godhead of their conceit and will That honour doe thou giue to Christ by a desperate resolution of a holy will converted to God aboue all hope and against all feares of apparent euils and discouragements to all reason vpon a credence of Gods word and promise against all arguments of despaire cast thy selfe vpon Christ because hee bids thee As Peter at Christs commandement goes vpon the waters and at his commandement casts forth his net to make a draught against all doubts and arguments of despaire Such authority giues Faith to Christs commaundement and word and such is the obedience of Faith Obey not therefore thy owne feares and doubts to beleeue follow them but obey Christs commandement to beleeue against all reason and sense feares doubts and despaires This is the obedience of Faith simple and absolute without any reason why but onely because Christ commands
A TREATISE OF FAITH AND OF SOME PRINCIPAL FRVITS THEREOF Deliuered in two Sermons vpon the third Chapter of the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians Verse the 12. With some additions and Enlargements tending to the satisfaction of such as are in doubt whether they haue Faith or no and to the comforting of such as are troubled about the weakenesse of their Faith By G. Throgmorton Minister of the Word of God Ephes 3.12 In whom we haue boldnesse and accesse with confidence by the faith of him LONDON Printed by I. â— for William Sheffard and are to be sold at his Shop at the entring in of Popes-head Alley out of Lumbard-street 1624. A TREATISE OF FAITH AND SOME FRVITS THEREOF EPHES. 3 1â— In whom wee haue boldnesse and accesse with confidence by the faith of him THe Apostle in the former verses had by many excellent titles set foorth the glory of the Gospel and his Office and Ministerie in preaching of it aduancing it farre aboue the Law and the Ministerie of the Church in former ages The Gospel he commends and sets forth especially by the subiect matter thereof which is Iesus Christ In this verse he continueth his praise of the Gospel from the sauing fruits and effects as it s receiued by faith and Christ the subiect matter thereof rightly apprehended The principall scope of the Apostle in this verse after his commendations of the Gospel is to shew the excellencie of faith in the gospel apprehending Christ aboue all naturall faith and confidence in any creature and aboue all faiths and religions in the world as the onely sure and infallible meanes of saluation This excellencie of true sauing faith in Christ is set foorth from the vertues or fruites it brings foorth in the heart and soule or inner man of him that hath it such as no other faith or any other Religion that leads vs to any other creature or meanes or name vnder heauen or in any other Gospel or doctrine can breed that is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that accesse to God by Manuduction with that confidence and freedome of speach Therefore hee inferres by way of exhortation in verse 13. that they should shew forth these vertues of their faith in all afflictions and not faint The Exposition of the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth Manuduction or leading by the hand to God 1. Pet. 3.18 Which being performed by Christ our Mediatour the Sonne of God taking vs by the hand we goe with boldnesse confidence to God This wee haue in and by Christ the second Adam The necessitie whereof is raised from this ground originally That whereas the first Adam and his posteritie were cast out of Paradice from all fellowship with God and from the tree of Life the way shut vp against him Gen. 3.24 and kept with a Sword drawne full of Terrour and Horrour Christ Iesus the second Adam not onely opens the way againe by his blood Heb. 10.19 20. and makes a new liuing way but takes vs by the hand to lead vs to God with boldnesse and confidence remoouing all matter of feare and the sword shaken This is also opposed to that going to God by the old Church vnder the Law at mount Sinay in the giuing of the Law and first Couenant of workes by the Manuduction of Moses their Mediatour Gal. 3.19 They had not this Manuduction with this confidence they stood afarre off trembling and might not goe vp into the mount to God Yea so terrible was the sight that Moses himselfe their Mediatour said I feare and quake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebr. 12.21 And whereas all this came originally by receiuing and admitting the deuill and his counsell beleeuing his false gospel and promises So contrarily all this good comes to vs by beleeuing Christ Iesus the Son of God whom God hath sent from Heauen to vs to redeeme and saue vs Acts 7.37 that great Prophet whom God hath raised vp to vs of our brethren like to vs and by receiuing him for our King Priest and Prophet by faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a one as God hath sent and giuen him to vs. Also by faith in Moses the people had accesse to God and by taking and following him their Prophet they came neerer to God and God to them then any other Nation and people as Deut. 4.7 What Nation is there to whom the gods come so neere to them as our God is neere to vs in all that wee call to him for yet had not they by Moses that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so neere to God nor with that confidence as now all Nations haue by Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth open manifestation and appearance Such as were of forward disposition and free spiri s to expresse themselues boldly without seare of their aduersaries were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aâ—…st Rhet. lib. 2. with glorious liberty which stands in lifting vp of the face countenance and in freedome of speech it s opposed to the effects of the sentence of condemnation by the Law when malefactours and guiltie persons arraigned and conuinced by euidence of inditements that they can say nothing for themselues beeing abashed and confounded haue both their mouthes stopped and their faces couered and so carried away to execution This appeares in the arraignement and sentence passed vpon Caine Gene 4.13 14. which made him crie out that his punishment was greater then hee could beare because hee was cast out from the earth and from Gods face hee should bee hidden hauing his owne face as couered with eternall shame neuer to come to appeare before God to sacrifice or pray to him But hee that beleeueth in Christ shall not be ashamed 1. Pet. 2.6 Rom. 10.11 Haman after the sentence of death was passed on him his face was couered and hee had out of the Kings presence neuer to appeare more before him And this is the state of all the damned vpon the last sentence of condemnation passed oâ— them that they aâ—e punâ—shed with euerlasting perdition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the face and presence of the Lord. 2. Thes 1.9 neuer to come and appeare before him nor to speake or to pray to him or to praise him and for confusion of face and shame wish the mountaines to fall on them and the rockes to couer them Contrarie to this woefall estate of the damned is this blessed and glorious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Saints by the sentence of the iustification of life in Christ that without shame or fear they may come beforâ— God with open face 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Cor. 3.18 and not as Moses with his face couered verse 13. may behold the glory of the Lord with open face and bee changed into it verse 18. For hauing our sinnes pardoned and our persons receiued into fauour with God wee may behold his face and glory as reconciled in iustification
and so are changed into it more and more in sanctification from glory to glory Whatsoeuer boldnesse of face and glory of countenance or libertie of speach wee may haue towardes men in and by our selues and our workes wee haue none towards God but by Faith in Christ Rom. 4.1 First the Law indites arraignes and stops our mouth as Rom. 3.19 shame and confusion couers our faces and then Christ lifts vp our head as Psal 3.3 Thou art my glory and the lifter vp of my head Yea hee annoints our head with oyle giues vs the oyle of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse 2. Cor. 1.21 1. Ioh. 2.20 27. as God hath created oyle to make the face to shine gloriously Therefore contrarily by the law in humiliation they cast durt on their heads and couered their faces in pleading their guiltinesse and in dayes of fasting the Pharises were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 6.16 Now Christ our high Priest was annointed with this oyle of gladnesse aboue his fellowes that it might lift vp his face for vs in the sight and presence of God to appeare before him and wee receiue an anointing from this holy One and hee annoints our faces with oyle of ioy for this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word signifies specially freedome and glory of speech in prayer or praises of God and thankesgiuings for in Christ wee haue a new mouth a new speach tongue and language of Canaan The end of mans creation being chiefely to glorifie God Adam was created with an excellent mouth and tongue wherewith to glorifie him which was his greatest glory life happines but by hearkning to Sathans blasphemous mouth and tongue belying and dishonouring God and beleeuing it he and all his posteritie haue lost their naturall mouth tongue and language and haue the mouth and language of Satan readier to blaspheme and curse God then to pray to him or to prâ—ise him and being man become earth and lacking the Image and Gloâ—ie of God and borne of the earth Ioh. 3 3â— he speakes of the earth as an earth-worme with an earthly mouth rising out of the dust As Satan is a lyer so is euery man from the wombe going astray and speaking lies Therefore Christ giues a new mouth tongue and language if we hearken to him as our only Prophet and Rabbi and a new 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by his spirit of Glory in vs according to his gracious couenant in Christ Isa 59.21 And I will make this my couenant with theÌ„ saith the Lord My spirit that is vpon thee and my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of the seede of thy seede from henceforth and for euer Therefore Christ is called the Truth Iohn 14.6 But first he is the Way then the Truth our Way to God and our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Priest and then is he the Truth and giues vs a new mouth But these particulars appeare more fully in the obseruations only thus much for vnfolding the text and the sense of the words Wherein wee consider two parts 1. The Excelcellencie of Faith in Christ set forth by two vertues or workes in the heart and inner man 1. Accesse to God or Manuduction with boldnesse or confidence or a confident accesse to God by Manuduction 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glory of face with liberty of speech 2. The limitation of this excellencie and of these vertues They are not in the whole man and beleeuer but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is so farre as he is in Christ not as he is or euer was in the first Adam or as he is in nature in the flesh and world or as he is in any other estate and condition in this life or that any man can haue in any other Religion then by Faith in Christ And whereas the childe of God may complaine that hee finds and feeles contrary to all this feare trembling flying from God shame of face for his sinnes and his mouth often stopped and not able to pray or praise God Answer is here made It is true so farre as we are not in Christ and haue nature and flesh in vs but as we are in Christ we haue all this contrary good 1. De Iure though not de facto by right though not by full possession 2. Wee haue these in some measure though mixt with contrary corruptions 3. We may haue more if the fault be not in our selues 4. We shall haue all these in full measure 5. These are prepared for vs in Christ and our Faith in Christ will grow vp to these and increase with the increasings of God and of Christ if we pray as Paul here doth for these Ephesians so they may haue all this in Christ and that their Faith may grow and haue these vertues working in them as in the verses following verse 16 17 18. which imply that they had them not as yet from Christ as they should haue hereafter but were only laid vp and prepared for them in Christ The summe then is that no Faith nor Religion giues that accesse to God with that boldnesse so cheerefull and glorious a countenance such a mouth to praise God to pray and speake freely to God to powre out our hearts before him that giues such a Spirit of prayer and of Adoption to cry Abba Father to make a man bold to plead with God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stand vpon interrogatories with God and to parle with him especially when Satan sinne and conscience accuse Now these vertues are not sanctifying graces in vs in their full perfection but they are such blessings and benefits in Christ as Faith drawes from Christ Therfore he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which Christ they are as in the propper naturall subiect roote and fountaine and Head and which Faith drawes and receiues from Christ or possesseth in him and therefore he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so I come to the obseruations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whom that is in Christ By Christ dwelling in vs we haue and exercise these vertues of Christ or Christ shewes himselfe to be in vs and we to be in him by these vertues All sauing good things in vs are sauing vertues in and from Christ Rom. 8.2 1. Pet. 2.9 To shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darkenesse As the soule shewes it selfe to be in the body by the life and vertues it exerciseth in the body such as the body it selfe hath not by its naturall humors So Christ exerciseth such vertues in the heart and soule of a Christian as the heart and reasonable soule haue not naturally As a man shewes himselfe to dwell in a house by the wisedome authoritie power he exerciseth therein So Christ to dwell in vs by faith as in his house when he exerciseth his vertues in vs Eph. 3.17 Heb. 3.6
Whose house ye are if ye hold fast your confidence and hope of your reioycing c. 1. Cor. 1.30 31. Col. 2.6 As ye haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him And by his life vertue and strength to doe all things and not by the strength of nature and of your naturall spirit as Paul Philip. 4.13 I can doe all things by the helpe of Christ strengthning me Rom. 8.10 If Christ be in you the bodie is dead in regard of sinne but the Spirit is life in regard of righteousnesse that is the bodie lies dead from sinfull actions and motions from which a mans naturall spirit wit and pollicy cannot restraine him and his bodily members to make them lye dead but rather quicken and powerfully sway them Rom. 3.15 and 7.5 The passions of sinnes which are by the Law haue force vigour in our members to bring forth fruit vnto death and Romanes 6.12 but if Christ be in vs he deads these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the passions of sinnes or sinfull passions that they cannot worke in our bodily and earthly members For they that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and the lusts Gal. 5.24 Reason As Satan shewes his habitation in man as his house possessing as a strong man the pallace of the minde Luk. 11.21 and heart in peace by the vigour hee exerciseth in swaying their minds wils and lusts as Eph. 2.2 Iohn 8.44 2. Corinth 4.4 So Christ 2. Reason We are the children of the first Resurrection begotten of Christ risen from the dead 2. Pet. 1.3 by the greatest vertue and power of Christ quickning the dead 1. Peter 3.21 Wee are not only begotten of Christ by vertue of his Propheticall office as he is light as Hypocrites only inlightned are but we are begotten of Christ by vertue of his Priestly office as crucified for vs vnto Adoption and Iustification of life and by vertue of his Kingly office as risen from the dead to Sanctification and participation of his Diuine nature 2. Pet. 1.4 As Christ was discerned and differenced from all the sons of men to be knowne to be the Sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1.4 by his resurrection from the dead as the first begotten from the dead Col. 1.18 So are all we his yonger brethren by the same Spirit of power raising vs to a new nature and life with him Rom. 6.4 5. Col. 3.1 and 2.12 Eph. 2.6 we are discerned and differenced from all the naturall sonnes of men Vse That we may know whether we haue Christ in vs or no we must examine tempt and trie our minds hearts wils affections what vertues of Christ worke in them and sway them such as are propper to Christ and which no creature else can exercise in vs 2 Cor. 13.5 2. Cor. 4.10 As we beare in our bodies the dying of the Lord Iesus that is the greatest miseries and afflictions So the life of Iesus is manifested in our mortall flesh that is his greatest quickning comforting vertue when no creature can doe our mortall bodies any good in sicknesse or in death or other infirmities Christ is not only our light but our light of life that is in whom we haue not only light of knowledge but the same a quickning knowledge putting life into our wils and affections bodily members to practise what we know The Hypocrites light of knowledge is like the candle light which quickens nothing the Saints light of sauing Knowledge is like the Sun-light which quickens hearbs trees plants our light of naturall reason Philosophy Pollicy cannot so quicken vs and make vs so liuely and vigorous to good duties as this light of the sauing Knowledge of Christ Eph. 4.20 21 22. Let vs shew forth the vertues of Christ our light in vs Eph. 5.8 1. Pet. 2.9 A man may haue a wonderfull light of Knowledge in the lanthorne of his braine and yet his heart will and affections lye as dead as stones from desire or endeauour to embrace or practise the good hee knowes and haue no vertue from Christ to liue walke and fructifie This is for comfort to such as though they cannot feele Christ in them nor faith possessing Christ as long as Christ shewes himselfe to be within by such vertues exercised in them they may know themselues to bee in the faith and that Christ by faith is in them 2. Cor. 13.5 For as many haue Satan in them that doe not know or feele or beleeue Satan to be in them So many haue Christ c. and as many intertaine Satan in them by receiuing his lying Gospel and promises of wealth peace comfort by sinning and his temptations and perswasions to sinne So we receiue Christ when we beleeue and receiue his perswasions and temptations to good duties and suffer the words of exhortation and beleeue his promises and gladly embrace his word Therefore such as so did were baptized into Christ for seale and assurance that Christ was in them Acts 2.41 2. Iohn verse 9. See Iohn 14.23 If any man loue mee hee will keepe my words and my Father will loue him and we will come vnto him and make our abode with him Adam and Eue and Iudas receiued Satan into them when they receiued his counsels and temptations and suffered themselues to bee swayed thereby So coÌ„trarily we receiue Christ If when wee giue place to wrath Eph. 4.26 27. we giue place to the Diuell counselling and exciting vs thereto then contrarily wee giue place to Christ and receiue him into our hearts when we receiue his Gospel of peace counselling and commanding vs peace and loue by reasons from the Gospel that is from his loue and peace towards vs. Euery one that harbours willingly in his heart any knowne sinne and sinfull suggestion of Satan he intertaines Satan the malicious man hath a furious Diuell the wanton a voluptuous Diuell So he that regards no sinne in his heart but casts it out Christ perswading him thereto by his Gospel and not the Law alone inforcing him by terrors He that turnes from sinne vpon such suggestions promises perswasions as Christ makes to him he receiues Christ by faith first Vse And Faith beleeuing and receiuing Christ for Prophet and only Rabbi to be his Disciple and as the only Way and Truth it goeth before Repentance which is nothing else but a walking in Christ as we first receiued him by faith shewing forth the vertues of Christ and the life of Christ to walke as he hath walked For Repentance is the life and vertue of Christ receiued as our way Truth and Life and made all our Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption and our light of life What is Repentance but liuing and walking in Christ For out of Christ euery motion is to death â—nd hell and can a man walke in Christ before hee haue Christ by faith in his heart Coloss 2.6 As yee haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him
yet our soules could neuer bee saued by him nor inioy his sauing merites and vertues which can neuer come into the heart but by Faith and the riches of the full assurance of vnderstanding in comprehending the mysterie of God the Father and of Christ which made Pauls preaching so full of agony and difficultie Colos 2.1 2. which needed not if it were sufficient to saluation to communicate Christ to the senses internall or externall But Christ is inioyed of the soule vnto saluation onely of true beleeuers through Faith Ephes 3.17 who often haue least feeling and fruition of him by sense and hee is often most tasted of Hypocrites by sense and felt by outward comforts who least inioy him in their hearts by Faith of the Gospel and promises to saluation It was an easie thing for Paul to giue a tast of Christ to the senses but it was his agonie as hee saith Colos 2.1 and his child-bearing paines to forme Christ aright in their hearts as Gal. 4.19 and so to giue their hearts sound and sauing comfort indeed Colos 2.2 Hauing shewed that all sauing good things in vs are sauing vertues in and from Christ and how and by what meanes wee receiue draw these vertues from Christ or inioy them in him Now in the third place we come to consider these sauing vertues in particular whereof here are two specified the most sauing which respect God as their obiect and the state of iustification before God not so much our estate of sanctification before men and these are two first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a confident accesse to God or rather a Manuduction with confidence to God secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 boldnesse of open face with libertie of speach for so much doeth the signification of the word import as may appeare 2. Cor. 3.12 13. and as shall further appeare in a larger vnfolding of the text in the next Sermon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this word imports two things first accesse to God secondly the manner by leading or Manuduction whereof I will speake in the next Sermon This the priuiledge of Gods Saints and people they haue neere accesse vnto God and into God by Faith not onely to behold and contemplate of God a farre off but their hearts soules draw neere to that light which none can attaine vnto 1 Tim. 6.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore the phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely to beleeue God or beleeue that there is a God but by this faith to enter into God to dwel in the secret of the most High Psal 90.1 and to abide vnder the shadow of the Almighty to lodge in his bosome and hide our selues with him and vnder the shadow of his wings Psal 63. to dwell in God and God in vs 1. Iohn 3. that he keepes vs as the apple of his eye Psal 17. Mat. 23.37 and hee gathers vs as the Hen doeth her chickens vnder her wings Hee beares vs as his Lambes in his bosome the Name of the Lord is a strong tower Pro. 18.10 the righteous runne to it and into it and are exalted there is intimate cōmunion betweene God and vs in our hearts and soules For in Christ his nature is fatherly to vs not a consuming fire as to wicked men and vnregenerate He is the naturall element of a regenerate heart and soule wherein it liues mooues and workes all its workes in God Iohn 3.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euery parent giues free accesse to its birth to come to it and to hide its selfe in its bosome how much more God the Father of mercies This is our priuiledge by the Gospel In the olde Testament none could so much as see God and liue no man could warrant his heart to goe vnto God Vse Make this thy onely refuge in all dangers and troubles hauing such a Father to flie vnto Hos 14.3 Ashur shall not saue vs neither will we ride vpon horses neither will wee say any more to the workes of our hands Yee are our gods for in thee the fatherlesse findeth mercy Thus saith euery true beleeuing repentant soule and this is the worke of Faith and of true Repentance If wee can call God Father wee haue free accesse to him and into his bosome and vnder his armes wee may hide our selues with him Vse This is our happinesse that wee are not Orphans but wee haue an euerliuing Father to flie and to runne vnto and to hide our selues with him from all sinnes temptations dangers troubles enemies Wee need not flie from God but vnto God from all euills euen our sinnes to him whom by sinne we haue offended 1. Sam. 12.19 20 21 22. Count this thy onely happinesse and reioyce in it Vse How great is their misery that want this If God bee shut vp against vs all creatures are shut vp wee are as Cain runnagates vpon the face of the earth If wee haue no accesse to God whither shall we flie from his presence who is present in all places All our sinnes and all euils and miseries finde vs out whersoeuer wee hide vs if wee haue not him our Sanctuary and inward Holy place to hide vs as his secret ones to abide vnder the protection of the Almightie Wee haue in God alone a secret hiding place and Sanctuary to retire our selues vnto where no deuils sinnes enemies crosses though they make hue and crie and fierce pursuit after vs as blood-Houndes may bee able to finde vs. God hath such a secret bosome and hiding place for his children such a refuge and Sanctuary whither Christ himselfe is entred Heb. 6.18 19 20. euen Iesus our forerunner and is now safe aboue the reach of all deuils and men and hath raised vs vp together and made vs sit together with him in these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most High Heauenly places of refuge our life is hid with Christ in God our Father and neither famine perill sword Rom. 8.35.39 can separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Iesus Vse This is for our great comfort in all distresses dangers miseries when all creatures are shut vp against vs and all wayes and meanes of redemption escape and deliuerance from enemies and euils if wee haue this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 10.20 this new and liuing way made for vs wee are safe and contrary if all creatures opened their bosome to entertaine vs and the world loue vs as her owne and foster vs though nature should command all her children and forces to aide and entertaine vs so that wee could make our neastes in the starres yet if God bee against vs hee will plucke vs thence he will hunt vs with blood-Hounds and draw vs out with fishing hookes Therefore repaire to God and prepare thy place of refuge with him against the euill day acquaint thy selfe with his bosome and secret loue dayly that it may bee thy present helpe in time of trouble and open to thee
naturall good things haue a naturall way prepared by creation wherby to be attained but there is no way to attaine to that supernaturall chiefe good it s a light which cannot bee attained vnto 1. Tim. 6.16 The way is now prepared by grace that is Christ the Sonne sent from Heauen Ioh. 17.3 not borne by nature as a naturall way but sent from aboue as a Ladder reached vp to Heauen Gen. 28.12 Gods saluation which hee prepared before the face of all people Luk. 2.31 Luke 2.31 Question How is it then that wee are said to prepare the way Matth. 3.3 Answere Our preparation is for Christ who is the way It s not a way made by vs to God but a fitting of our selues for Christ who is the way and that is as much as in vs lyeth remoouing the things that hinder vs that is our sinnes by repentance and by faith receiuing Christ Not that repentance and Faith are our way or any meanes to attaine God our chiefe good but as preparations qualifications for Christ who is the only way and meanes of obtaining God For faith of it selfe and Repentance doe not iustifie vs or commend vs to God but dispose vs for Christ to inioy vse and improoue him in whom we walke as in the way to God and eternall life and happinesse Faith and Repentance and al◠good works are not worth a rush nor haue any vertue to bring vs to God but as they are from Christ and doe vse improoue Christ By faith we receiue and choose Christ as the only way to God forsaking all other waies and meanes and by repentance wee walke in Christ as in the way to God Col. 2.6 As yee haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him so that neither Faith nor repentance are the way but Christ Therefore as yee haue receiued Christ by faith as the way so walke in this way by Repentance that is forsaking all sinne and all meanes of safetie and lying vanities make vse of Christ Iesus only for all sauing good Who is made vnto vs of the Father Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification Redemption 1. Cor. 1.30 For Faith Repentance and all the works in the world without Christ cannot bring vs to God and are of no worth with God but as they make vse and improouement of Christ Vse Let vs therefore care for nothing but to get Christ and let Christ be the End of our Faith and Workes All our gaine and aduantage in life and death Phil. 1.21 and then let Christ alone for bringing vs to life heauen and happinesse Let vs by Faith make way for Christ to come into our hearts to be our Prophet Priest King Sheepheard that we may receiue him offering himself and then hee will make way for vs to God to heauen and eternall happinesse Let vs as sheepe that goe astray daily by Repentance Conuert and returne to Christ the Sheepheard of our soules 1. Pet. 3. vlt. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Accesse with confidence or a confident accesse not such as was vnder the Law with feare and trembling where the sight was so terrible that Moses said I feare and quake See Heb. 12.12 13. with verse 18 19 20. Wee come not before God as Diuels and Malefactors drawne into Gods presence as before the Iudge with feare and trembling to be arraigned vnwillingly inforced by conscience nor yet as vncertaine beggers that roue and wander vp and downe for helpe and knocke at euery doore and so goe to Gods doore but know not what intertainement they shall haue there But wee haue good assurance and good securitie and go confidently in exspectation of finding good entertainment with God Heb. 12.12 13. Lift vp your weake hands and strengthen your feeble knees and make streight steps to your feete least that which is halting be turned out of the way c. As if he had said There is great danger and feare we bee turned cleane out of the way if we goe not confidently in the way Prou. 18.10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous runneth to it and is exalted Running implies confidence Psal 33.6 They shall runne to him and their faces shall not be ashamed c. Vse This the property and vertue of this true Faith in Christ the Sonne of God our Mediatour whereby we must prooue and trie it and difference it from all faith in all creatures and all meanes out of Christ and all that affiance that man can haue in any naturall worldly helpes that this Faith in Christ steeles the heart and strengthens it with inuincible confidence more then any faith in any religion or any creature in the world It breeds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a confident glorying and boasting Heb. 3. 2. Chron. 20.20 Trust in the Lord and ye shall be assured Rom. 5.2 that is your hearts shall be confident and free from those feares scruples auxieties whereby carnall men that trust in earthly things Luk. 12.29 hang in suspence like Meteors in the aire wasting themselues and their liues with continual cares feares and griefes and are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Iam. 1.6 7 8. running from one helpe to another and are neuer secure Psal 27.14 Be strong and he shall strengthen your heart that is seeke all your strength and safetie by faith in God and not in earthly things and God shall strengthen your hearts with confidence No faith breeds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but this Luke 1.4 that is full certainty and Act. 2.36 Phil. 3.1 All other refuges that men flye vnto are with doubting anxiety and some distrust whether our workes or mediation of Saints or Angels or any creature because both the refuges themselues are not sure nor cannot promise certaine infallible helpe and therefore can giue no full securitie to the minde but God is a most sure inuincible and impregnable defence and strong tower and therefore the righteous runne to it with full confidence or secondly the meanes that men vse to attaine thereto may faile them and therefore they vse them not without care feare anxiety but Christ is a most sure and infallible meanes to bring vs to God and cannot faile and therefore this Faith in him breeds that confidence That as God is a sure strong and vndoubted defence that no man can make question So is Christ his Son like him as sure a Meane and Mediatour to come to him and to obtaine him But of this vertue of Faith and how it s increased and confirmed in Christ the obiect shall appeare more in the next Sermon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is boldnesse of face and freedome of speech Of all the vertues of Christ which he dwelling in our hearts exerciseth in vs Psal 3.3 this is one of the chiefe that he is the lifter vp of our heads and exalts our faces before God and giues vs free liberty of speech to plead with God that wee poore sinners dust and ashes
may pleade and parle with God and stand vpon interrogatories with him 1. Pet. 3.21 The interrogatory which a good conscience makes to God For the conscience beeing acquitted from the guilt of sinne by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ is made bold to question with God and to aske him what hee hath more to lay to our charge What more full and perfect satisfaction his Iustice can require then what Christ hath already made Isa 1.18 Come let vs reason together 2. Cor. 7.11 We can make our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and cleere our selues before God for whatsoeuer can be laid to our charge and cry Abba Father and poure out our hearts before him in all our afflictions and bemoane our selues to God and all our wrongs crosses indignities For Christ hauing stopped the mouth of the Law and of all iniquitie and of our crying sinnes which stopped our mouths as Rom. 3.19 Psal 107.42 thereby opens our mouth to God Dauid vpon the guilt of murther and adultery had his mouth stopped and gagged and euery man by the Law and spirit of bondage hath his mouth sealed vp let Christs spirit open it by the sprinkling and washing of the blood of Christ applyed by faith and then vpon experience of Gods free sauing grace and mercy pardoning and healing the guilt of his sin his mouth was opened that his lippes might set forth the praise of this his sauing grace loue mercy Christ is the Lyon of the tribe of Iuda and courage with God is his naturall peculiar vertue and which he dwelling in our hearts exerciseth in vs and especially as he is now risen from the dead and sits at the right hand of God making intercession for vs. For whatsoeuer Christ is in Heauen or doth for vs there he is the same in our hearts and the vertue and influence of it descends into vs and raiseth vs vp together Eph. 2.6 and makes vs sit together with him in the heauenly places Eph. 3.17 and Christ dwelles in vs vertually as he doth in heauen yea Christ risen from the dead and making intercession for vs in heauen and liuing there for vs is the same Christ in our hearts and in the temple of our soules and consciences as he is in heauen the same person exercising the same office and vertues in the inner holy place of our consciences before God whereinto he is entred by his blood and hath made way for himselfe to raigne in vs as King of Salem Prince of Peace as hee doth in heauen for vs. For God is in the Sanctuary of our consciences being purged by the blood of his Sonne as he is in heauen his holy place our soules beeing made and framed like to heauen to be Gods House and Temple The Fabricke of the Iewish Temple was not only a type of heauen but of our soules the Temples of God and therefore Christ is our High Priest and doth his office oâ— Priest-hood as well in our soules as in heauen and as A Minister of the true Tabernacle which God pitch and not man Heb. 8.2 As by his blood he entred as by a new and liuing way Heb. 10.20 into the Sanctuary oâ— heauen so doth he enter into our consciences and aâ— he makes intercession anâ— speakes for vs in heauen 〈◊〉 doth he in our hearts witâ— that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Pet 3.21 the Interrogatory which a good conscience makes to God by thâ— Resurrection of Iesus Chriâ—â— from the dead or Christ râ—sen vp in it with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that Spirit which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 makes request for the Saints Rom. 8.26 Christ was arraigned accused condemned for our sinnes and he satisfied and answered for all that we also in him might answer for our selues Vse Highly prize this benefit We that could not answer God for one of a thousand now can answer all inditements and obiections by Christ Wee that could not abide the least triall nor indure the least search can now abide the most seuere Iudgement and most exquisite triall being found in Christ Phil. 3.9 not hauing our owne righteousnesse but his righteousnesse Else if thou streightly marke what is done amisse who is able to abide it Psal 130.3 Let vs prooue our selues how Christ is in vs. How doth he open our mouthes to God If Christ be within in the heart hee opens the mouth as a Priest to God What new opening of thy mouth before sealeâ— and stopped vp by thâ— Law The guilt of sinne makes speechlesse dumb as Zachary Infidelity make dumbe but as soone as by faith we receiue Christ into our hearts he opens ouâ— mouthes to pray whicâ— before we could neuer doe Christ giues a new moutâ— and tongue not only tâ— speake to men but to God not only to pleade our euill righteousnesse in thâ— courts of men but in God courts and to stand vpoâ— interrogatories with him Rom. 4.1 If Abraham be iustified by workes he hath to glory but not with God He may stand and pleade his righteousnesse boldly in mens courts but not in Gods But we can pleade in heauen and make our Appeale to the Throne of Grace and there make our Apologie Hos 14.2 and Take to vs words and say Receiue vs graciously so will we render the calues of our lippes Ye are carefull saith Paul 2. Cor. 13.3 To prooue and try your Ministers yee will haue experience of Christ speaking in me It s well 2. Cor. 13 3.5 but withall prooue your selues whether Christ bee in you Know that the same Christ and so his spirit that speakes in me and opens my mouth to speake from God to you enters into your hearts and opens your mouthes freely to speake to God Hereby we may know if we heare the word sauingly and receiue Christ by Faith Therefore not only prooue and try your Ministers whether Christ speak and preach in them but also try your selues whether ye be in the Faith and receiue Christ to speake to God in prayer else ye are not fit nor able to iudge whether Christ speake in me Such a spirit of liberty and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as opens the Ministers mouth to speake from Christ to the people such a spirit enters into the people and Church by Faith in the word heard and opens the mouthes of the people to pray Prayer is a common gift of euery member of the Church Euery one must call on the Name of the Lord that will be saued See Rom. 10.13 14 15. though euery one must not preach First the Ministers mouth must be opened to preach before the peoples mouthes can be opened to pray To put downe a preaching Ministery vnder colour of setting vp a praying Ministery is by sinfull Hypocrisie to put downe both and to deuoure not only widdowes houses but the house of God vnder colour of long prayer as the Pharisees then did and Papists now doe EPHES. 3.12 In whom
we haue boldnesse and accesse with confidence by the faith of him THere are two principall radicall and fundamentall graces in a Christian heart and inward man viz. Faith and Repentance Hebrewes 6.2 Repentance from dead Workes and Faith towards God These two rootes shew themselues by fruits in life and conuersation Repentance shewes it selfe in hating and flying sinne and in vsing all meanes of abstaining from sinne and vanities Faith shewes it selfe in motions and imployments towards God which are chiefely these two 1. Our Accesse to God by Manuduction as led by Christ which makes vs confident in going to God because we are led and goe not of our selues As with all care and feare we flie all sinne by repentance so we must boldly and confidently goe to God being led by Christ taking vs by the hand 2. The second motion or imployment is freedome of speech The first is of the inner man the second of the outward man The worke and imployment of Faith in the soule called that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which we most serue honour and attend on God as Ioh. 6.29 Heb. 6.10 1. Thess 1.3 stands in these things here set downe in this verse 1. We take Christ our Mediatour by the hand and lay hold on him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is that faith which laies hold on his Person 2. Hauing him by the hand and led by him to God we haue accesse to God goe to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. We goe with boldnesse and confidence being so led and hauing such a guide as the second Person in Trinitie the Sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. Beeing come to God in this confidence led by Christ we open our minds and hearts and speake to him freely with open face without feare or shame Of these in their order 1. Faith laies hold on Christs Person and takes him by the hand in all motions to God and in all things wherein we haue to doe with God We must haue nothing to doe with God without Christ our Mediatour As the Iewes had no dealings with God no accesse to him but by the high Priest taken from among men Heb. 5.1 and ordained for men in all things appertaining to God Therefore they first went to the high Priest before they went to God So we must first goe to Christ before we goe to God Iohn 14.6 Heb. 7.25 The soule cannot thinke of going to God but it thinkes of laying hold of somewhat by which to be imboldned to goe vnto God to finde acceptance with him Therfore it saith to it selfe Mich. 6.6 7 8. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my selfe before the high God who or what shall warrant me a worme dust and ashes to goe to so high and a great God Reason and flesh saith 10005. of rammes and ten thousand and fiue riuers of oyle and some great thing answerable to so great a God No man can apprehend the Highnesse and Greatnesse of God aboue himselfe and thinke of going to him but he must also thinke of what hee must bring to God But Faith as it only sees aright the height and greatnesse of the most High God and the face of tha Father of glory in the glasse of the Gospel wherin also hee hath reuealed and offered vs a Mediatour answerable to himselfe and to his glory so faith onely answeres this question and resolues the soule saying Hee hath shewed thee O man what is good and what the Lord requires of thee There is nothing great and good enough for God but Christ his Sonne He is infinitely abased if any thing neuer so great or good bee thought fit to present to God or to warrant vs to goe to him but onely Christ his Son Especially we thinke too basely of his Maiestie and Glory if wee conceiue that the same offended by sinne and dishonoured can bee satisfied by any creature but by his onely Sonne the second person in Trinity and shall wee thinke to giue the fruit of our body for the sinne of our soule No it s onely the fruit of the Virgines wombe that Branch and Off-spring of Dauid the onely begotten Sonne of God Now Faith first laies holde on the humane nature of Christ as a handle fit for mans nature to lay sure hold on and as the hand of the Sonne of God fit for vs to grapple or graspe and imbrace as our owne flesh For it cannot lay hold on the God-head its fire consuming in the man-hood it imbraceth the God-head dwelling in it bodily Colos 2.9 As he that holds a Lanthorne by the handle receiues and holds also the light thit is in the Lanthorne So he that by Faith laies hold on Christs flesh and body as the Lanthorne laies hold on Christ the second Person and the fulnesse of the God-head and hee is Emanuel God with him Matth. 1. Vse In going to God some lay hold on their workes as the Pharisie Luke 18. some on Saints and Angels as the Papists let vs onely lay hold on Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Heb. 2 c. 12.2 hauing hold on Christ he goes before and leads and wee follow him as our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and our fore-runner Heb. 6.18 19 20. 1. Pet. 2.25 We were as sheepe that went astray following our lusts but now are returned to the Shepheard of our soules that hee may lead vs to God It s nothing what sinnes wee turne from if we turne not to Christ to leade vs to God the chiefe good it s nothing what euils wee auoid if we goe not streight to God and make straight steps to our feet This leading by the hand is opposed as a Medium or middle vertue or motion to two extreames First desperation whereby Deuils and wicked Men flie from God and come not to him but as drawne and compelled and that with horrour and hatred of God Secondly presumption of proud and blind Iustitiaries that goe to God of themselues as the Pharisie Luke 18. not led by the hand of a Mediatour but trusting to themselues As Sathan leades all wicked mens soules to Hell so Christ leades the soules of all Saints to God That is called the Spirit of the world which swayes the whole world Ephes 2.2 this the Spirit of Christ swaying all his body and members Hee onely leads vs because hee onely remooues whatsoeuer makes vs vnworthy or vnfit to come or feares and discourageth vs to come vnto God and giues vs whatsoeuer makes vs acceptable as his Person merits sacrifice c. Hee came downe from the bosome of the Father to bring vs thither and was made flesh for this end that by the hand of his flesh wee might lay hold on him crucified and risen againe and so be drawne by him to God He is that ladder of ascension to God Iohn 3.13 Vse Shall wee not then goe to Christ who is come downe from Heauen to vs and
Now this Hand of God is also the Hand of Christ the second Person as made Flesh It s the Hand of Flesh especially as risen from the dead and glorified the holy Ghost is his Breath Shadow Wings Arme Hands and whatsoeuer proceedeth from him towards his Church both Ministers and people is nothing but that eternall Spirit the third Person who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Iohn 14.26 By which as High Priest Heb. 9. hee offered himselfe without spot to God as with his owne Hands So now much more the same Spirit proceedth from him in more abundance from his Flesh glorified For before Ioh. 7.39 the Spirit was not giuen in that abundance because that Iesus was not yet glorified But now this Flesh of Christ being glorified this eternall Spirit is all the Breath Armes Hands Strength Shadow Light and Glory of Christ He now breathes nothing but the holy Ghost and Spirit He breathed vpon his Disciples Ioh. 20.21 and said Receiue ye the holy Ghost He hath it now at command as his Breath and as naturall to him and can as easily and plentifully giue it He holds the 7. Starres his Apostles and Ministers in his right hand not of Flesh but of the holy Ghost and being risen he gaue commandements to his Apostles not by a humane breath and voice as before but more specially by the holy Ghost Acts 1.2 See Iohn 5. The time shall come and now is but shall be much more that the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God that is shall shall haue his quickning spirit 1. Cor. 15. The first Adam was made a liuing soule and all that he could communicate to his posteritie and children if he had continued in innocency had bin only a liuing soule qualified with Gods holy Image but the second Adam is made a quickning spirit which hee communicates to his members and posteritie and which proceedes from him This Spirit is Christs light by which he shines to vs Eph. 5. Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and Christ shall shine vnto thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whatsoeuer proceeds from Christs Flesh now in heauen is nothing but Spirit He is ascended farre aboue all things Eph. 4.7 8. to fill all things with his Spirit Whereas therefore he is said to feed vs from heauen with his Bodie as Manna and to wash vs from our sinnes in his blood to guide vs with his light all this is nothing but his Spirit which being purchased by his death comes as it were through his body and blood giuen to vs as our own flesh and blood This Spirit is obtained and giuen by his death and sufferings and comes to vs by his humane flesh and nature into our flesh and nature Ioh. 6.63 Therefore his Flesh is called meate indeed and his blood drinke indeede For the flesh of it selfe profiteth nothing but because for the merit of his sufferings in his flesh and by it as by a cundit the third Person the holy Ghost proceeding naturally from the Father and the Sonne is hereby procured to flow issue and come forth to vs and into our hearts by grace Galat. 4.4 Because yee are sonnes reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts which cryeth Abba Father The Spirit doth and would euer naturally issue and proceed from God into vs as Iam. 1.17 did not our sinnes stop the currant and keepe him out of our hearts by our indisposition and vnworthinesse and vncapablenesse of receiuing him as Ioh. 14. Which the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but our sins remooued and abolished by the death sacrifice of Christ and by his flesh and body broken through it as by a conduite the spirit againe hath its issue and vent to flow into our sinfull flesh and hearts and God becomes againe that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That liuing God Iam. 1.3 that giues to all men simply without exception whatsoeuer his sinnes he and reproacheth no man that by faith comes to him but poures of his Spirit vpon all flesh Act. 2.17 This Spirit as its God the Fathers hand so it s Christs our Sauiours hand the hand of flesh which Christ reacheth from heauen to vs as to his brethren and takes vs by the hand Now that Christ is glorified in our flesh and nature that Spirit which from eternitie proceeded from the Father and the Sonne and was as their breath and hand by which they made the worlds and breathed into mans face the breath of life and made him a liuing soule the same spirit and third person doth now proceed from the Father of Christ as man and from Christ the second Person Incarnate and is now both the breath of Christ and the arme of Christ which breath of eternall spirit Christ now breathes into man dead in sinne to make him a new creature created in Christ Iesus vnto good works creating anew all the powers and faculties of soule and body as it were new hands and feete quickned with a new life for new motions towards God and seruices and workes it s the hand and arme of Christ which he now reueales and makes bare from heauen and thrusts into our hearts quickning and creating in vs new hands that is new faculties of our soules to lay hold on and fasten on spirituall good purchased by his death and offered vs by his Gospel Christ by his Priestly Office hath performed all things needfull for our saluation and prepared all sauing matter And by his Propheticall Office in the Ministery of his Word offers vs himselfe the second Person incarnate to be our Sauiour and all his sauing benefits and spirit if we will reach forth our hands that is the faculties of our soules to receiue and apprehend him but our hands lye dead in sinnes that is our minds and hearts from vnderstanding choosing willing and affecting any such Person and his Spirit and benefits offered Therefore Christ as King risen from the dead and as Lord of life reacheth forth his arme hand from heauen and creates in vs new hand◠that is new mindes and hearts Hee breathes into vs the breath of life that is his quickning spirit that quickens our dead hands to apprehend spirituall things For the naturall man by his naturall soule and spirit 1. Cor. 2. as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore the Spirit creates in vs. First a right hand of Faith to know and apprehend the Person of the Son of God and to choose and take him for our Sauiour as he is reuealed and offered in the Word reiecting all other Persons Angels or Saints or any creature or our selues and our workes betaking our selues to Christ alone and to this second Person in Trinitie made flesh fastning vpon him and receiuing him as offered and commended to vs in the Gospel euen as crucified and made our King
of Christs spirit as the Iewes pierced through and crucified through ignorance fleshly Christ as I may say in the dayes of his flesh when he was in abasement to whom Christ promiseth pardon vpon repentance Matth. 12. If any man speake a word against the Sonne of man that is as onely knowing him as a Man and ignorant of his God-head and Spirit it may bee forgiuen him But if any man blaspheame the Holy ghost and God-head of Christ shining and sparkling in him it shall neuer bee forgiuen him Some now maliciously crucifie Spirituall Christ risen from the dead and shining into their hearts and soules by his Spirit and comming to apply his Crosse and Death to crucifie their flesh and lusts by his Spirit and Spirituall hands they now not as in the dayes of his flesh but in the eternitie of his Spirit and Glory would crucifie againe and abolish for euer They that are thus affected towards the spirit are said to be so affected to Christ because the Spirit is Christs hand and because it reueales presents and offers Christs person merits righteousnesse and the sauing vertue of his Crosse to crucifie all our lusts for this spirit takes of Christ and shewes it vnto vs Ioh. 16.9 10. it comes with its hands full of Christ So that as I loue Christ and take him by the hand when I gladly imbrace his Spirit and suffer my selfe to bee led by it and its spirituall motions so contrarily they hate Christ and crucifie him and pierce through his hands that hate his Spirit and destroy his spirituall motions suggested to their hearts For as some of the Iewes through ignorance of Christs God-head crucified Christ onely as a poore man the Carpenters sonne that had proudly vsurped a Kingdome ouer them and against Caesar and therefore put him to death as a Traitor and as onely crucifying his fleshly hands Yet some others and especially the Scribes and Pharisees that knew him by the light of the Holy Ghost that hee was God and by the finger of God had cast out deuils as Christ knowing their hearts professeth they did They crucified him not as the Sonne of man nor onely his fleshly hands as hee was the Carpenters sonne but his Spirituall hands as he was the Sonne of God hating his spirit and power in the Ministery of his Word and Miracles and Doctrine and Disciples for which sake they chiefely crucified him that if they could possibly they might abolish for euer his Name Doctrine Religion Profession Spirit and Church which now began to bee gathered Hee was crucified of these not as the Sonne of Ioseph but as the Anointed and Holy One of God anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power doing what they could to crucifie the Holy ghost to pierce through the hands and feete of the Spirit They trode vnder feet not the sonne of man but the Sonne of God and made a mocke of him Hebr. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in confidence Christ leading and taking vs by the hand and we laying hold on his flesh crucified for vs wee goe confidently If wee lay hold on any creature else and bee led guided by any Saint or Angel wee goe with feare and doubting with perplexitie and anxietie when conscience of sinne accuseth vs and are neuer secure that wee shall bee saued To bee bould and confident with God at any time but especially in the conscience of sinne is a marueilous courage Before whose face and presence the Angels are abashed the mountaines melt whose Maiestie and presence is so glorious fearefull and terrible that no creature can abide his presence when hee is angry The most Holy Angels without spot of sinne in nature and conscience yet couer their faces as abashed at his presence though doing his will in obeying the voyce of his mouth How much more must sinfull man dust and ashes melt and bee confounded with shame and horrour at the presence of so Holy a God yet Faith in Christ makes confident and bold Iacob had strength and courage preuailed with God Moses indured as seeing him that is inuisible by this Faith in Christ who at Horeb in the giuing of the Law where the sight was so terrible hee confessed I feare and quake Rom. 5.11 Wee not onely glory in afflictions saith Paul which some stout hearted carnall men haue done by pride ambition or strength of nature who vpon the sight of God haue trembled like Belteshar but wee also glory in God see 1. Iohn 4.17 3.21 Abrahams boldnesse was with God to parle with him though hee was but dust and ashes Wee see how hard a thing it is to be bold in the presence of a King a mortall man especially if he be angry His wrath is like the roaring of a Lyon How much more to bee bold in the presence of God the King of Kings when hee is angry who cutteth off the spirit of Princes who is terrible to the Kings of the earth that they feare in their Priuie-chambers Psa 14.4 Psal 76.5 Sinne weakens and breakes the heart and soule of man by breeding doubts feares griefes tremblings and horrours So the Deuils and Adam by their fall brake themselues into shiuers of feares and tremblings And as the Deuill trembles so our corrupt nature and guilty conscience like his is to doe as the Deuill doeth for wee are broken and infected like him by sinne Rom. 5. when wee were yet of no strength Christ died for vs that is when wee were broken and infected with the guilt of all sinnes Therefore the Lawe first breakes vs and kils vs with the sight and guilt of sinne before Christ cures vs and binds vs vp and this is the cure of the heart and soule by Faith in Christs blood and breaking for vs his terrours horrours griefes and paines in soule and body that we are strengthened with confidence Ephe. 3.16 by his spirit in the inner-man 2. Tim. 1.7 and haue not the spirit of feare but of power and loue and of a sound minde Rom. 8.15 Isa 61.1 not the spirit of bondage to feare againe but of adoption to cry confidently Abba Father This is to bind vp the broken hearted Therefore is Christ called the Rocke of the soule Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rocke will I build my Church because hee giues the heart and soule built on it by Faith strength of courage nd confidence Therefore the fearefull and vnbeleeuing are cast out with dogs Reuel 21. Christ is the Redeemer of the soule chiefely and therefore from feares doubts and griefes chiefely and from the spirit of bondage to feare againe The chiefest vertue of bread is to incourage and strengthen the heart So Christ crucified his body broken and fed on by faith its vertue is to incourage and strengthen the heart with confidence towards God If therefore wee feele feare fainting doubting goe the more to the Sacrament of Christes body which as it requires some courage and hope that we shall
finde strength and nourishment of confidence by it so it also giues it and makes vs bold with God and fearelesse of sinne and death as Christ incourageth Ioh. 16. vlt. Vse Therefore renouncing all other meanes of courage and confidence and seeking not to make our selues safe and bould in our selues our workes righteousnesse wealth friends let vs goe onely by Faith to Christ to giue all true confidence securitie and comfort of minde and heart by his death and blood as the onely bread of life and strength to the soule and of cordiall vertues For all carnall men feele feare and griefe and anxietie of minde and in this sense they go to the world and wealth to the Lawe and workes and seeke to secure and strengthen and free themselues from these feares and griefes and to heale themselues by wealth and trusting here to and say If I could doe and liue thus and thus and had so much wealth or performe this or that righteousnesse then my minde would be quiet and at rest and fearelesse But these things can neuer giue securitie and rest to the minde and heart but vexation Goe to Christ by Faith and hee will giue thee rest Matth. 11. verse the last Vse Therefore confidence is as well a fruit of Faith as the forme of Faith For Faith goes to Christ for increase of it selfe its life and strength of confidence It could not goe at all to Christ if it had not some strength and life of confidence but because it feeles weakenesse of feare and doubting it goes to Christ to bee incouraged and strengthened and quickned more crying Luke 17.5 Lord increase our faith and giue vs mor◠courage and strength of Faith in heart by feeding vs with thy body and blood Mar. 9.24 Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe Therefore he saith here by Faith of him that is by going to Christ by Faith and betaking our selues to him and laying hold on him wee haue a confident accesse to God with more confidence then we can haue by laying hold on and choosing any other to lead vs. Therefore eate his Body and drinke his Blood that is take and choose his Death blood for your onely meate to nourish strengthen your hearts with comfort and peace as onely cordiall to giue you courage and confidence against sinne Satan and boldnesse with God and it will doe so For as meate requires some life and strength to take eate and digest it and so it giues and increaseth more life and strength to the heart So Christ the bread of life requires some strength of Faith to receiue him and digest him and so he giues more strength and courage with God and against sinne Therefore we must goe to the Sacrament as well to increase faith as to bring Faith with vs. In going we must by Faith renounce all comfort and confidence in our selues and all creatures and goe out of them to Christ onely and imbrace him that hee may giue vs all true boldnesse and confidence towardes God that nothing may incourage vs but Christ and that hee may giue vs better courage then any other creature can giue vs. Choose and take Christ for thy onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy guide and Captaine to lead thee to God and hee will incourage thee with inuincible strength and confidence and giue thee a heart of steele but trust to any thing else and it will faile thy heart and not be a sure Rocke to it but leaue it in feare doubting anxietie Goe to Christ onely and hee will giue the legges to goe better and strengthen thy feeble knees and make straight steps to thy feete and incourage thy heart to come more to him and to God by him but goe to any other and they will increase thy feares doubts and scruples Take heart to goe to God by Christ incourage thy heart and hee will giue thee more courage Bee strong and he shall strengthen your hearts Psal 26.14 All true Ministers and Christians boldnesse and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to preach or goe to Gods house to appeare before him to worship him is by faith in Christ and towards God as seeing him and in sinceritie approouing the heart to him as beholding him in Christ 1. Thess 2.1 2. The hypocrites boldnesse is only towards men in blindnesse and darknesse not seeing God but only men whose eyes and eares they can please and only satisfie their exspectation If Ministers could manifest Gods face and presence and God would shew himselfe in them as in the Primitiue Church only beleeuers durst ioyne themselues to the Church and to the Lord hypocrites would either abhorre or tremble or bee ashamed to appeare Act. 5.13 14. 1. Cor. 14.24 25. The best and greatest boldnesse and confidence is towards God Diuels and wicked men by sinne pride malice or by wealth learning authoritie power may be bold towards sin full men weake and impotent and base like the earth as themselues but they haue no courage or boldnesse towards God but quake and tremble at his Maiestie and especially when they are ouermatched by death or any other euill They that are bold in mans day only beholding man shall tremble in the Lords day when God shall exalt himselfe Such as put their strength and confidence in their wealth pride malice are most feareful and cowardly with God and death Let vs draw neere with a true heart in assurance of Faith Heb. 10.22 without all doubt and scruple seeing we haue such an all sufficient High Priest ouer the House of God Heb. 7.25 that can perfectly saue them that come to God by him Heb. 7.26 holy harmelesse vndefiled separate from sinners and higher then the heauens that hath all-sufficiencie of all-sauing good as King Priest and Prophet to vanquish and remooue all sinnes and deuils and to conferre all good Receiue Christ into thee by faith lay hold on him to lead thee renouncing reason sense that thou mayest be strong and confident without all feare For therefore we feare and are in doubt because we looke to our selues and to our owne strength and righteousnesse and rest thereon and goe not wholly out of our selues to Christ to rest our hearts on him and to receiue him onely into vs to comfort and incourage vs but wee receiue the World or our workes into our hearts and feede on them which will neuer strengthen our hearts This bread wants that staffe and strength and vertue to vphold our hearts against sinne Satan and so many crosses that they cannot be strong but full of feare and doubting because they are not built on Christ the Rocke and are not fedde with his body broken and blood shed which only is that bread which strengthens the heart of man to goe to God without feare and fainting For therefore was Christs soule and heart and body broken with feare fainting horrors that ours might bee bound vp and healed If we haue no boldnesse with men but
of beleeuing the mysterie of the Gospel so farre aboue the capacity of Men and Angels being a commandement infinitely harder then all the commandements of the Lawe Morall which haue their ground in nature by creation But to beleeue that God will quicken the dead and iustifie the vngodly and saue sinners c. Is a commaundement against nature reason and sense and all creatures and all power and authority in heauen and earth commanding to beleeue the contrary Yet this honour doth Faith giue to God commanding vs to beleeue and this obedience that we renounce Nature and Reasons Rule and Authoritie and all creatures to obey God as most wise true and faithfull and King Prince only that by his Word creates and commands all things 1. Thes 2. Receiuing his Word not as the word of men but as it is indeede the Word of God of soueraigne authoritie with vs aboue all creatures Faith hath God for its obiect beleeuing God as first and chiefely for himselfe his Person and Authority sake so in the second place for the reasons and proofes giuen by him Some things we must beleeue simply and only vpon Gods commandement because he bids vs beleeue them though he giues vs no light of reason nor no proofe to our sense by experience as the principles of Religion Some we beleeue because he giues vs cleere reasons and prooues his words by sensible experience and vndeniable arguments to reason and sense Psal 119.140 Thy Word is prooued most true therefore thy seruant loueth it as Ioh. 20.29 Thou hast seene Thomas and beleeued blessed are they that haue not seene and haue beleeued only vpon my commandement Ioh. 3.12 If when I tell you earthly things ye beleeue not that is doctrines demonstrated with naturall sensible proofes to your reason and sense here on earth How will ye beleeue when I shall tell you of heauenly things aboue reason and sense to conceiue commanding you to receiue them vpoÌ„ bare diuine authoritie without reason grounds to beleeue If we beleeue not God nor honour him as true in his word proued by good reasons grounds reuealed to vs and light shining to our vnderstandings much lesse will we beleeue him vpon his bare word to honour him as God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first part of liberty by Christ is of heart our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which we goe boldly to God and to the Throne of his grace The second is that liberty of our mouth to speâ—ke to God Maruailous largenesse of mouth and liberty of speech to speake to God freely in prayers praises and thankesgiuings Wee are all by nature dumbe and deafe to God by a dumbe and deafe spirit of Satan possessing and dwelling in vs till Christ redeeme vs to be his owne seruants we neither can nor dare speake to God But Christ our Lord giues vs in Redemption an open large mouth to speake to God to sing to him and praise him as Psal 51. Open thou my lips that my mouth may set forth thy praise Isa 51.11 The Redeemed of the Lord shall come and sing in the height of Sion Psal 40.2 Ezek. 12. Therefore God is said to put a new Song of praise in our mouths and to poure on vs a large spirit of supplication to take to vs words as Hos 14. For this is the principall End of our Redemption that we should haue libertie of speech to call on God and praise him that our mouthes should be open to him to set forth his glory as it was the chiefe end of our creation Isa 43.21 Rom. 10. This people haue I formed for my selfe they shall set forth my praise Therefore with the mouth we confesse vnto saluation and sing to the Name of the Lord. Therefore Dauid prayeth That God would not vtterly take the word of truth out of Psal 119. his mouth And this is Gods couenant Isa 59.11 As its the End of our creation and redemption and the chiefest part of our happinesse So the contrary is the chiefest part of our misery by our Fall to haue our mouthes shut vp as beasts from prayers or praises Reason The nourishing vertue of meate feeding the heart and strengthning it opens the mouth to ioyfull praise as Psal 22.26 Psal 63.5 Dan. 5.4 They ate and dranke and praised the gods of siluer and gold How much more then the Saints fed with Christs body and blood and that plenteous redemption that is in Christ praise him Reason Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth is inlarged to poure out Math. 12.34 If the Treasure of the heart bee large the mouth will largely dispense Christ is a most rich Treasure in the heart of all store of good therefore the mouth must needs be answerable to open and confesse and vnfold the mysterie of Christ and to praise him Where there is nothing of God and Christ in the heart there is no mouth opened but shutte vp to confession and praises Vse Hereby we may know if our sinnes be pardoned and we redeemed in heart and soule considering how our mouthes are opened and tongues vnloosed to Apologize for our selues as 2. Cor. 7.11 and to plead our cleering and Iustification in Christ to pray and call vpon the Name of the Lord to praise and confesse his mercy and truth Heb. 3.1 consider the high Priest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is whom we all confesse as 1. Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is by ioynt confession of all it s a great mystery c. Haue we left booke prayer though I simply condemne it not but allow it in yong Christians while they are as babes and nothing differing from seruants but true Christians coÌ„tinue not in this bondage but grow vp to this libertie to pray in the H. Ghost Iude 20. as the Spirit giues them vtterance haue we a naturall liberty facillity of mouth to speake of holy things not as Socrates taught by rote Can we speake more abundantly and fluently in the causes of God then of any thing else in the world and sing more ioyfully of Gods mercies waies and workes Vse This is also an euidence of our future Redemption and liberty in due time out of any misery if God before open our mouthes and inlarge the liberty of speech to prayer praises thankesgiuings The Spirit of Redemption and libertie is now in vs and hath begun our freedome and will perfect it If God were purposed to shut vs vp in prison of perpetuall bondage of perdition from him his face and presence hee would also shutte and seale vp our lippes that we should not haue libertie to speake and pray to him make any suite as Matth. 22.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But if hee giues our soules liberty out of the Diuels prison from that dumbe and deafe spirit to come to him in prayer and to tender our petitions to him it s an euidence that he intends our perfect deliuerance
and good issue out of all our troubles If hee vouchsafe vs the honour to call on him to speake or petition to him its certaine it s his purpose to free vs Psal 10. last vers When a King is purposed to destroy a Rebell or offender he commands him to be kept close prisoner and not come forth to make or present any petition to come into his sight or speake to him but if he giue him leaue to goe abroad though with his Keeper in restraint only with libertie to vse his friends and best meanes it shewes there is hope of his inlargement and of the Kings purpose to free him So if wee haue libertie to goe to Christ by Faith and take him by the hand and vse him our Mediatour by him to petition to God and make our suites its assured securitie to bee heard and deliuered Hereby wee may also know if we haue beene fed with Christ haue drunke his blood and spirit or the spirit obtained by his blood in the Sacrament we shall then sing and praise Christ his benefits our mouthes will be opened as Psalme 22.26 and Ephes 5.18 Likewise if we be the redeemed of the Lord Iesus and his seruants by redemption he will giue vs a new mouth and language to praise and honour him The receiuing of a new language is a note and marke and indeede a bond of subiection Thus the ancient Romanes did plant their language the Latine tongue in the countries which they conquered And the Kings of Spaine cause the Indians to speake Spanish Whom God conquers by his Word hee plants his Word in their hearts in their mouthes Where Christ or Satan raigne in the heart their language and voice or tongue is in their mouth If Christ dwell in the heart by faith hee will giue a great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the mouth Eph. 3.17 with 12. verse and Heb. 3.6 The Beast of Rome exalted by Satan the Dragon or the Dragon reigning in the Heathen Emperours and their successors gaue them a mouth to speake as a Dragon As Christ especially reignes in his Ministers and sets vp his Kingdome in others by them preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome so hee giues them a speciall mouth and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aboue others 2. Cor. 13.3 So he promiseth to Moses in a speciall manner to be with his mouth to conquere Pharaoh and to redeeme his people and to giue his Disciples a mouth wisedome against which all their aduersaries shall not be able to speake or resist but it shall conquere them and all their wisedome pollicy sophistry and all the wisedome of this world and of the Princes of this world which come to nought Mens beastly prophane earthly and fleshly speech mouth and language sheweth that they are base slaues and vassals to the flesh belly earth and Satan Contrary holy and godly speech and the Word and Truth of God in mens mouthes holy conference of diuine things shew Christ to reigne within When the word of Christ dwels in vs plenteously Col. 3.16 and wee abound in all speach and in all wisdome as 1. Cor. 1. not in excellency of humane speach wisedome but as 2. Cor. 6.11 As God raignes by his word and it s his kingdome so where he sets vp his Kingdome in any mans heart and soule it giues him the lip of excellencie and a mouth of glorie as to Christ speaking with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and authoritie and not as the Scribes Mat. 7. verse the last God rules and gouernes all by his Word Hee stilleth the raging of the Sea by his Word Reu. 19. The word of God is King of Kings and hath many Crownes vpon his head conquering the Beast and false Prophet and sends them to Hell and the rest that is the Kings of the Earth are slaine by the sword that comes out of the mouth of him that sits on the white horse that is sanctified godly ministers which sword is the gospel of the kingdome For Christ raignes by his Word in the mouthes of his true Ministers contrarily Antichrist raignes by the Temporall sword His Kingdome stands not in his mouth word preached as of the true Prophets Reuel 11.5 Out of whose mouth came fire to deuoure their aduersaries that is the holy Gospel in spirituall and powerfull preaching For thus it becommeth true Ministers to fight and to kill their aduersaries verse 5. But the Beast that comes out of the bottomelesse pit makes warre against them with the Temporall sword and kils their bodies verse 7 8. for their kingdome stands in Temporall Power Honour and Dignity Christes Kingdome is his Word Preached Antichristes Kingdome and power stands in Kings and Princes power the tenne hornes of the Beast wherewith he is armed to gore wound the body of Christ From Adam to the building of Babel the Church of God was one and vniforme and all the seruants of God confessed one faith in one language and professed their obedience and subiection to the kingdome of Christ in one language the Hebrew the Primitiue holy Tongue till the confusion of Languages came in at the building of Babel In the Primitiue times all the Churches and seruantes of Christ professed their obedience and subiection to Christ the Lorde that had bought them by one vniforme confession of Faith till spirituall Babylon erected brought a confusion of Languages and differing confessions of Faith and of the worshippe and seruice of Christ in diuers articles of Doctrine and Discipline of differing formes of Churches betweene Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicea which will continue till Babylon it selfe be destroyed and then the vniuersall Church shall be vniforme in all Nations and one confession of faith both of Iewes and Gentiles professing their ioynt subiection and seruice to Christ their Lord in one forme of confession of faith in one holy language and forme of worship praising God with a ioynt Halleluiah Reuel 19.1 the generall state of the vniuersall Church and the common forme of Diuine worship and praising from the first calling and rising of it out of Egyptian bondage and Antichristian darkenesse to this time is a new song before the Throne of God now raigning ouer them being redeemed from the tyrannie of Antichrist A new song of praise and worship not before heard for many ages Reuel 14.3 The song of Moses and of the Lambe chap. 15.3 the song of a small number chap. 14.3 But now that Babylon is destroyed and both Iewes and Gentiles called and Church inlarged by the comming in of the fulnesse of the Gentiles the common forme of Diuine worship praising of God is altered and brought to the first and Primitiue auntient forme from the Creation which is Halleluiah See Reuel 19.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. FINIS