I am fully assured that neither life nor death principalities nor powers neither things present nor things to come neither height nor depth nor any other creature can separate vs from the loue of God vvhich is in Christ Iesus our Lorde And for the confirmation of this in vs be the Sacraments ordained to be applyed to euery one particularly not only to be deliuered to others but also to euery one of vs to be partakers of thē that we might be more certenly perswaded that the benefits of Christs passion wrought for the saluatiō of his flock in common pertaineth euen to euery one of vs particularly as certenly as we be partakers of the outward seales pledges of them This is then the chiefest point in a sound beliefe wherein it differeth from the deuils beliefe to applie whatsoeuer Christ hath done to our selues not onely to other men this is a speciall point and pertaineth to the true faith of the children of God The deuils can not beleeue that Christ is theirs peraduenture they may say Christ Christ and Lord Lord but they can not beleeue in their heart that Iesus Christ is theirs with his death and passion and that is also another point in true and sound faith that is not onely to say with the tongue notably and finely that I beleeue that Christ is mine and dyed for me c. for so can the deuils and damned creatures say and yet lye impudently but it is to beleeue and inwardly to be perswaded thereof in the heart which no diuell nor damned creature can doe but rather they feele the horror of Gods iudgements in full measure in their hearts and consciences True and sound faith of Gods children is not then a whirling knowledge and speculation of the braine but it is an inward feeling of the heart for a great number haue a knowledge what they should beleeue and yet not an heart to beleeue yea further not onely a knowledge what they ought to beleeue but also be able notably to set out the matter to teach others how they should truly and rightly beleeue and yet they themselues damned creatures members of Satan and firebrands of hell as the miserable caytiffe Iudas who with the rest of the twelue went and preached the Gospel of the kingdome and sealed it with miracles in Christ name and as Christ Iesus testifieth of many that not onely know to say Lord Lord but also had knowledge to teach others and prophesie and preach in his name and yet Iesus Christ refuseth them to be his Let vs then good brethren looke well to our selues and content not our selues with a vaine babbling tongue-faith that will not serue in the day of the Lord it must be an heart-faith let vs looke whether we feele Iesus Christ there or not Therefore saith the holy Ghost that this true faith maketh Christ Iesus dwell not in worldly brauerie in our tongues but in our hearts in our hearts in our hearts good brethren in our hearts It is too too lamentable to see how the world is bewitched with this tongue faith with this carnal gospelling-faith it is an horrible abuse of Iesus Christs gospell we shall dearely abide at his hands vnles we speedily repēt it is euident ynough that Iesus Christ dwelleth not in that inward heart where the deuill apparantly sheweth his hornes as they say in the outward deeds there is not Iesus Christ in that heart but the whol power of Satan and therefore no children of Gods faith in that heart but a deuils faith Let vs not deceiue our selues good brethren a true and a sound faith admitteth Christ with further entrance into vs then our tōgues lodgeth him into our hearts I can not enter into your consciences but there is a Lord Iesus that seeth them onely I desire you in the name of God to enter euery man into his owne heart and examine himselfe diligently whether he beleeueth that Christ hath redeemed him ransomed or not whether he beleeue that Christ Iesus hath purchased euerlasting life for him or not Let him examine him selfe throughly whether he beleeue it in his heart now while it is the time of mercie for once we must come to iudgement and so let him rest himselfe in the Lord Iesus with full assurance of euerlasting life not mistrusting our good and gracious God nor doubting of his good will towards him for he that doubteth is like the waues of the sea that be tossed to and fro such wauering is farre from the certentie that true faith bringeth vnto our consciences whereby beeing iustified by faith we haue peace with god For this true sincere faith maketh vs to haue entrance vnto our God with boldnes so that it is far from the wauering vncertenty of the wicked vnbeleeuers yet the dearest children of God euen the most faithfull haue often maruelous assaults to shake their faith oftentimes feele thēselues almost deadly woūded as though they were almost past al hope but yet their faith getteth the victorie in the ende At that stay was the Prophet when he said to himselfe Hath the Lord forgotten to be mercifull is his mercie cleane gone but yet they vse to striue and stirre vp themselues by calling vpon God and tarying Gods leasure Why art thou vexed o my soule saith Dauid why art thou so troubled within me c. So that although the children of God be oftentimes maruelously assaulted with distrust and doubtings of their saluation yet they striue against them at Gods appointed time leasure they feele the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding Thus farre ye see then the full answer of our cause and matter of our saluation before the iudgement seat of God against Satan sinne deuill death and hell that we that be the people of God doe fully beleeue not onely say with our tongue but beleeue assuredly in our heart that Iesus Christ hath satisfied whatsoeuer Gods iustice doth require for our sinnes not onely for other mens sinnes but euen for our sinnes whereby we feele our selues at peace with God reconciled by the death of his Sonne brought into an assured hope of euerlasting life thus far haue we heard taught and now yet further least any carnall wretch should thereby take libertie to sin saying within his heart If there be nothing but this that whosoeuer beleeueth shalbe saued then I care not what I doe I wil continue in my sinne then I wil beleeue to be saued I shalbe saued I can beleeue when I list the word of God to answer all such filthie sinne doth testifie vnto vs that this true liuely faith of Gods people to saluation is not in the power of man to beleeue when he list but it is onely the worke of God Flesh and bloode saith Iesus Christ hath not reuealed this vnto thee but euen my heauenly father which is in heauen it was the Lord which touched the
heart of Lydia to beleeue the doctrine of saluation preached by Paul It is the Spirit of God that beareth record to our spirits that we are the children of God and heyres of euerlasting life all the men of the earth if they would come beare record with vs in the day of iudgement that we are saued can not preuaile vnles God be witnes vnto our hearts consciences no if all the men of the earth should but speake to a pore soule in this life say I warrant thee man my soule for thy soule thou shalt be saued vnles God touch his heart perswade it their warrants be nothing Alas what can the witnes of the whole worlde preuaile when the Lord is witnes in the heart of the pore man against himselfe So could Franciscus Speyra cry out to thē that perswaded him to beleeue assuredly that Iesus Christ hath saued him I would said he I would beleeue but I cannot faith is Gods gift all the worlde can not giue it me you fare with me saith he as if one were fast tyed with chaines and the passers by bid him come out and loose himselfe but they can not helpe him neither can he help himselfe although he would neuer so much euen so saith he ye pitie my case and bid me beleeue in Christ I would doe so but I can not for it is Gods gift and I haue denied him before men and therefore he hath denied me and wil not giue me an heart to beleeue Let al the skoffers vpon the earth that think it so small a matter to haue a true faith in Christ and therefore take libertie to sinne freely let all the packe of thembe taught if they will be taught by this horrible iudgement of God that they can not beleeue vnlesse it be a speciall and mightie working of God and let vs good brethren let vs hereby be admonished and all the deare children of God with vs to seeke the Lord now while he may be found and let vs in this good time of mercie that he giueth vs enter deepely into our selues and examine it to the full whither we haue this faith or no in this full assurance that we be saued if we haue it not let vs neuer rest knocking asking and seeking at Gods hand till he giue it vs we shall surely haue it if we aske for he promiseth that neuer deceiueth any Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shal finde knocke and it shalbe opened vnto you Can a father denie his childe any good thing if he haue it this is a good thing and our God hath it in store he will neuer then denie it vs. Thus then ye see it is a greater thing to haue faith then a great number of men make account of it is the onely worke of God and a rare worke of God which he bestoweth vpon his children onely men may haue peraduenture a certaine fleshly perswasion and some carnall opinion of their saluation which peraduenture may seeme vnto them while all things be quiet and no distresse of conscience to be maruelous strong but alas because it is not from the spirite of God but onely a fleshly brauerie as soone as God doth but touch them it vanisheth away as smoake as that carnal brag of Peter which was at the very looke of a litle damsell cleane daunted So all the worldly perswasions of men which for a time keepe them in very great securitie must needs fall before the iudgement seate of God there can nothing stand against the deuil death hel sinne Satā but onely that which proceedeth from him who hath ouercome hel death sinne Satā It may be that for a time it may be couered as it were a sparkle of fire in ashes but gathering strēgth by gods promises depēding only vpon him it passeth through al douts til at lēgth it getteth victorie Thus ye see thē the true and liuely faith of Gods children is not in the power of any to haue it when he will it is the speciall gift of God and peculiar onely to his people and therefore can giue no libertie to sinne vnto the carnall man in hope that he can beleeue when he wil. And yet here on the other side we must beware of an other vice tending to the same and yet growing of a contrarie cause A great number of worldlings and others which care neither for God nor deuill hell nor heauen so they may liue at ease in this world those I say hearing that faith whereby we come to saluation is the onely gift of God and not in mans power these iolly fellowes set cocke on hoope as they say and vtterly cast away all care of their saluation For say they seeing faith is the gift of God and not in our owne power wherefore should we trouble our selues about it we will neuer care to seeke for it for if so be God will giue it vs wee shall haue it though we neuer seeke after it but lie snorting in our beds and if God will not giue it vs we can neuer haue it therefore we neuer purpose to care for the matter but euen sit vs downe and take our ease and fill our paunch and if God will giue it vs he will giue it vs euen in our greatest securitie But here I aske these senselesse caytiffs of whome they haue their life and beeing and who doth feede their bodies and preserue their life they must needes confesse it to be God that giueth foode to all liuing creatures I aske them whether they will sit them downe and neuer neither eate nor drinke because it is God that feedeth vs they should within a little while tast of such horrible contempt and be guiltie of their owne death at the hande of that God that gaue them both life and the meanes to preserue their life For although God doth feede vs yet he doth it by the ordinarie meanes of meats and drinkes which if they be reiected the life it selfe is reiected Euen so the Lord our God hath prepared a remedie against these wranglers against their own saluation for although he onely do giue faith whereby we come by saluation yet he plainly in his word doth shew vnto vs a way whereby he giueth it vnto vs and that is the preaching of the word for so he saith Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God least we should think it were a sufficient means the hearing of the word read he addeth saith Who cā beleeue without the hearing of the word preached by this mean of preaching the word hath the Lord appointed to giue faith ordinarily by no other ordinarie means For who saith he can beleeue without a preacher vnles we beleeue there is no saluatiō for whosoeuer beleeueth not is dāned if this thē ordinarie means of preaching the word be reiected we reiect our saluation so are we willingly guiltie of our own dānation So then
is no law I trow forbiddeth this vnlesse I say the law of the purse And if thou say I can not there be able to liue I answer thee first seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all other things needfull shall be giuen vnto thee as ouerplus So we see there is nothing can excuse us before God vnlesse we get vs preachers I know there be other kind of excuses that vve frame unto our selues as we thinke sufficient to exempt vs from the preaching of the word but let vs not deceiue our selues vnlesse there be preaching the people perish vnlesse they haue beleeued they are damned and beleeue can they not without preaching Away therfore with all vaine excuses which might make vs thinke our selues well enough without preaching these gloses will not serue before God the Lord will haue his people taught there is no shift otherwise we shall all of vs answer for it so many of vs as haue our hands stained with the blood of them that perish And let all of vs in the feare of this our God fall seriously to meditate of this geare and now at the length begin to make more diligent and careful preparation for the preaching of the word then hitherto we haue done seeing it so standeth vs in hand vnder paine of damnation God may otherwise saue vs as I haue told you if he will but it hath pleased him to let vs vnderstand that he will haue vs saued by preaching if we shal not be carefull and carefull againe to prepare for that meanes of our saluation surely we shall declare our selues either to be wiser then God esteeming his heauenly wisdome but base and foolish or else plaine contemners of God in despising so heauenly and wholsome ordinance Wherefore good brethren if ye will be saued get you preachers into your parishes that may instruct you in the wayes and meanes of your salvation against that day that yee must appeare before this iudgement seate bestow your labour cost and trauell to get them ride for them runne for them stretch your purses to maintain them we shall begin to be rich in the Lord Iesus and so much riches also of this world we shall haue as our God shall make vs contented withall and then our ioy shall be full in the last day when we must leaue all these earthly things receiue at the hands of the Lord Iesus an heauenly an euerlasting crowne Thus farre then good brethren how we are discharged in this iudgement seat from the euerlasting curse and condemnation which euery one of us haue fallen into by breaking Gods cōmandements ye haue heard how we are discharged from this punishment by Iesus Christ who hath fully taken it upon him ouercome it how it is made ours applied vnto us by faith not such a faith as the deuils haue but such as teacheth unto us all that euer Christ did for us maketh Christ dwell with us not in our tongues but in our hearts not in a wauering maner but in a true certenty not by a vaine perswasion of the flesh by the liuely witnes of Gods spirit all this to be deliuered unto vs by no other ordinary means but onely by the preaching of the word Here is then the full waies means of our saluation declared unto us to be in Christ onely in Christ in no worke deed or merit of ours or any saint or angell for us but in Christ alone none other herein remaineth our whole comfort ioy which passeth all the ioyes of the earth But I haue yet one thing more to answer which the deuill might bring into the head heart of the carnall gospeller hereby What saith that filthy Epicure this is sweete doctrine in deede now I may take my pleasure at will liue at lust in my sinne for I beleeue in Christ therfore must needs be saued it maketh no matter I will sin my belly full for I beleeue that Christ hath borne the burthen of my sin therfore what need I care I answer these abuses of Gods mercy that if there be any such that either hath such a blasphemous tongue to speake or an heart to purpose to sinne or one minute of an houre to continue in sinne because he beleeueth that Christ hath paid the punishment of his sinne if there be any such that thus say or purpose I say with the worde of God that such haue no sparkle of true faith for the word of God setteth forth unto vs this true faith not such a faith as filleth the heart with sinne and all uncleannesse as these carnall Epicures speake of but such a faith as maketh the heart pure such a faith as doth not incourage men to sinne but such a faith as maketh men to hate their sinne lothe abhorre it because this true faith of Gods people proceedeth frō the spirit of Christ maketh Christ dwell in vs by his holy spirit which spirit of Christ can neuer dwell in one and the same heart with sinne wickednes in such maner as to be at agreement with it to like well of it take pleasure in it but continually striveth and struggleth against it And although sin doe continually hang on vs yet this spirit of Christ dwelling in vs will not let sin raigne rule in vs therefore such carnall wretches as shall loue sinne take pleasure in their sinne doe sufficiently declare that they haue no part nor fellowship with Gods spirit consequently no true liuely faith They haue no part of the spirit of Christ that suffered death for sinne but the spirit of Satan the authour of sin the spirit of the world the imbracer of sin the spirit of the flesh the nource of sinne for it filleth the heart with the fruits not of the spirite but of the flesh lust whordom fornication uncleannesse wantonnes vanity filthinesse couetousnes extortiō usury oppression pride contempt disdain flattery dissimulation idolatry witchcraft hatred malice division drunkennes gluttony c. And I warrant them let these carnal swine that thus wallow in their sinne taking their full ioy pleasure in it yet say stoutly that they haue a beleefe that Iesus Christ hath paid the punishment of their sin let them I say enter a litle more deep into their own heart they shal find a thing within them that shal speak the clean contrary euen their own cōscience doth cry aloud within their brest if they would let it speak that they beleeue no whit at all of the discharge of their sin by Christ for then they would not loue like wel of their sin which was the cause of the death of Christ Is it like they hold any thing of Christ which ioyne hands with the wicked Iewes to put Christ to death They neuer therfore haue any true faith in Christ unlesse they detest their own sin which
was the cause of the death of Christ Therfore this true liuely faith of Gods people is so farre from making men lie wallowing in their sin that untill such time as they haue it they neuer haue a perfect hatred of their sinne then onely when wee haue faith and neuer till then begin we to take pleasure in those things which are allowed and liked of God For this true liuely faith maketh vs new creatures beareth vs a new maketh vs the children of God whereas by nature we are the children of Gods anger that hee can neither loue vs nor any thing that we doe Then begin our blind hearts to be lightned to perceiue our sinne which before we did not see then beginneth our hard heart to be softened and effectually touched with griefe and horrour of our sinne which before wee did like well of whereas we had a delight in deceit and craft flatterie and briberie now we begin to abhorre it and to loue plaine and simple dealing whereas before we were covetous hard hearted vnmercifull usurers oppresours now we begin to hate it and to study after pity and compassion The selfe same tongue that had a pleasure to talke of filthinesse lying blasphemie now is framed a new to hate all cursed speaking and hath a delight to speake the truth and talke of godlinesse and to reprooue wickednesse To be short when we haue this true and liuely faith wrought in vs by Gods spirit we are then framed a new by the same spirite into an inward lothing of our sinne and continually pricked on forward to striue against our sinne by true repentance and not to say we purpose to continue in our sinne but to labour continually against our sinne Let vs therefore good brethren diligently enter into our selves and examine the thoughts of our hearts whether we haue our delights in our craft subtiltie whordome fornieation vncleannesse and such like whether wee set downe with our selues to abide in it yet a certaine time and if wee finde such an vncleane filthy and beastly heart in our selues let vs not flatter our selues good brethren vndoubtedly there is no true faith in such a heart but onely a fleshly and carnall perswasion there is not the spirit of Christ which ouercometh sinne and death the deuill in vs continueth firme steadfast and strong euen in the great and terrible day of the Lorde there is not that spirite in vs but the spirit of the world which perisheth with the world the spirit of Satan which shalbe confounded with Satan and the Spirit of the flesh which bringeth forth in vs the workes of the flesh and darkenesse and therefore shal come to nought with the deeds of the flesh Let all those therefore that haue shadowed them selues vnder the name of the gospell and say they doe beleeue and say they haue faith and yet when they come home nearer to themselves into their owne bosome and finde no loue there to the gospell to Christ to holinesse and righteousnesse but a lust liking and pleasure in all their wonted sinne let them once for all be answered out of Gods blessed worde that they haue no portion with the gospell that they pertaine not to Christ not his sanctification and holinesse and let all such as by these filthy beasts which pretend the gospell and yet haue such abominable heartes and carnall liues are caried away to mislike Christes glorious gospell and to forsake the truth therein thorough these carnall professours let all such as haue bin drawne away by them I say be answered that the Sonne of God neuer taketh such carnall professours for his that they be no true gospellers that they be none of his members none of his faithfull but meere members of Satan transformed into an angell of light and therefore that although they cloake them selues with the name of the gospell and can say Lord Lord and Christ Christ that they may more safely worke all sinne and wickednesse to the shame of the gospell Christ yet in the great and terrible day when all must yeelde up their accompts he shall giue sentence against them Depart from me ye cursed caitiffes workers of iniquitie I neuer acknowledged you for mine depart from me into euerlasting torments to the deuill and his angels to whome alwaies you appertained and whome in heart you serued there shalbe weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth Wherefore let vs all humble our selues under the hand of God abuse not his gospell so many of us as the Lord hath called to tast of the sweet cōfort in his gospell let the fruit of it appeare in our life and conuersation to the glory of Gods gospell For the Lord is a seuere reuenger of the blasphemie done to his heauenly gospell if wee shall seeme to professe it and through our conuersation cause it to be ill spoken of Wherefore good brethren let vs remember our selues that we are called to an holy calling the Lorde is holy and loueth holinesse that hath called vs we are called to holinesse and not to filthinesse let us walke then in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Thus then good brethren you haue heard the wayes and meanes of our salvation handled before the iudgement seate of God at large how we are delivered from sin death hell and Satan by the meanes that Iesus Christ in our nature hath ouercome them all for us that so many as take hold of him by faith should be deliuered from eternall destruction and haue everlasting life ye haue hearde that this true faith is not to beleeue generally but to reach all that Christ hath done unto our selves not to say with the tongue wee beleeue but to feele in the heart not with a worldly perswasion of the flesh but with an inward perswasion of Gods spirit that sealeth all these same in our hearts ordinarily by the preaching of the worde whereby we are transformed into the image of Christ and renevved in the inwarde heart to haue our delight and pleasure to walke in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our life all this we haue heard as it hath pleased God to giue me wisdome and knowledge out of his word to vnderstand it and vtterance to deliuer it I haue bene peraduenture longer in handling the matter then some would haue wished to whome these principall groundes of religion are knowen well enough and peradventure therewith all looked for more curious speeches in handling of the matter but such must understand that my purpose is to instruct the ignorant in the waies and meanes of their salvation not to speake to the eares of men but to the heartes of men if I can that the deuill may be pulled out from thence and Iesus Christ planted there I will neuer so abuse Gods blessed worde to satisfie the vaine humour of men so long as I liue by Gods grace it is sufficient for me that I know Iesus Christ and
him crucified The matter of our saluation is waightie and such deepe matters can not be passed ouer in a vvorde or tvvo and the best of vs all can neuer learne it too much nor heare it too often it must be our comforts and our onely ioy in death and after death it must be that vvhich must sticke by vs vvhen vve must shake handes with all the world and say farevvell father farevvell mother farewell my dearest friends farewell my riches wealth and vvorldly ioyes it must then be our only ioy to say vvelcome Christ vvelcome heaven welcome euerlasting ioy Happy shalbe the day and blessed shalbe that houre when vvee shalbe crowned with an euerlasting crovvne of glory vvhen all teares shalbe washed from our eyes The Lord God for his deare sonnes sake graunt vs to haue heartes and mindes to long after it and to say with the holy Apostle I desire to be dissolued and be with the Lord Christ and that we effectually thinke upon it take our profit of all this that hath bene taught vs let vs pray to the Lord our God that he will giue his holy spirite to write it deepe in our heartes and seale it in our consciences that it may bring forth fruite in us to the comfort of our conscience and glorie of our God O most mercifull God and heauenly Father c. Iohn More THE THIRD SERMON Ioh. 13. 34 35. I give you a new commandement that ye love one another as I haue loved you that you even so love one another by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye haue love amongst your selves WE haue heard good brethren heretofore sufficiently I trust out of the fifth to the Corinthians declared unto us how we are cleared and discharged before the iudgement seat of God reconciled unto our good and gratious God by the means of his deare sonne our only Lord Saviour Iesus Christ our only reconciliation and attonement applied vnto vs by the holy spirite of god working in our hearts a true a liuely faith which taketh hold of all the righteousnes ransome satisfaction of Christ and makes it ours wherby we are iustified and holden as righteous being clothed with the righteousnes of Christ so our conscience pacified before the throne of Gods glorious maiestie All this I say we haue sufficiently heard uttered unto us out of the blessed word of God this is the chiefest most principall thing that wee must labour for during the vvhole scope of our life and our onely comfort in our death and our onely life after death and therefore I trust it hath beene well marked of us and considered in our hearts deeply imprinted Now it followeth that knowing how we be set at one with god we do also indeavor our selues to be at one with mā for which purpose I haue chosen out this piece of Scripture which you heard now read vnto you which containeth a short exhortatiō to loue a short lesson soone learned that we loue one another in a word it is no more but that we haue sincere loue one with an other it is an easie lesson soone borne away the dullest memorie that is here present may easily beare it away and the simplest wit among vs may without any great discoursing of the matter straightwaies vnderstande it that we neede not pretende any excuse of simplicitie and dulnesse whereas the playnnesse and shortnesse will straightwaies convince vs. It is then a lesson soone learned which we haue here taught vnto vs to loue one an other if nothing els were required but as schollers in grammer schoole to conne it by heart and say by rote we might dispatch it in a minute of an houre but alas good brethren because it is in Christs schoole wee must not onely like grammer schollers haue it by heart but like Christs schollers haue the feeling and loue of it in our hearts not onely by rote like children say it with our mouth but like Gods children practise it in our deedes And herein good Lord how smally haue we profited this xv yeares learning the practise of this lesson in Christs schoole or if we haue learned it how soone haue we forgot it or if we haue both known it and thought vpon it in what case are we that so generally haue vsed continually against our owne conscience knowledge to doe contrarie vnto it VVell for that which is past let vs repent and now in the feare of God let vs beginne more deepely to consider the thing especially seeing the deare Sōne of God exhorteth vs thereunto and saith I giue you a new commandement that ye loue one an other if a prince or any noble personage speake vnto vs exhorting vs to any good thing wee vse to giue attentiue care and for the authoritie of the person the words haue credite with vs that we dare not doe contrarie thereunto for feare of loosing their good will and fauour what shall we then say to our Sauiour Christ the king of kings aboue all the nobles vpon the earth who doth here exhort vs to loue one an other shal we make none account of his words but without regard fling them at our heeles not caring for the losse of his heauenly fauour who gaue his owne selfe to the death to purchase our life Surely we should then declare our selues to be worse then the bruit beasts who yet vse to haue some regard to their masters that feede them and shew them fauour If we should not then carefully take heede vnto those things which are spoken vnto vs of the Lord Iesus Christ who hath so dearely loued vs euen the very bruit beasts should be sufficient to condemne vs. Let vs therefore in the feare of God looke vnto it not slenderly and with dull eares and hard hearts consider of it for it is the deare Sonne of God that speaketh vnto vs that requireth of vs that we loue one an other If he had but slenderly handled our matter concerning our redemption we had beene but in slender case if we shall nowe giue but slender eare vnto that which he speaketh vnto vs and make it as a thing of course surely we prouoke his iudgement against vs whose maiestie we dare so boldly abuse if it be high treason to cast off the words of a prince make no account of them what shal we say of the reiecting the words of this our heauenly prince and Sauiour Ye see then it standeth vs in hand diligently to heare prudently to marke and deeply to waigh these wordes which here be spoken for they are the wordes of the Lord Iesus who of his vnspeakeable loue hath giuen him selfe for vs. And yet further then this if we consider the circumstances of the time when these words were spoken it will make vs yet a little more carefull to thinke vpon them It was at such time as he was now neare his death for in the verse going
some part of this recompence for their sinnes For the blessed word of God which setteth forth vnto vs Iesus Christ a full ransome of our sinnes doth also giue vs to vnderstand that none are benefited to saluation sauing only those vvhich do beleeue So God loved the world that he gaue his onely begotten sonne to the end that all that beleeue in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life he saith not all the world but all that beleeue he saith on the contrariwise whosoeuer doth not beleeue is dāned looke now none are saued saue only those which doe beleeue in Christ if we do not beleeue the word of God saith we are condemned ye see then although Christ hath suffered for sinne yet vnlesse we beleeue we can not be saved But yet here ariseth another doubt which might seeme to bring with it also a liberty to sinne for it should seeme if all are saued that beleeue in Christ then all England France Ireland Spaine Italy and all Europe shalbe saued none should be damned but the Turke Iewe such other as denie Christ for all Europe doe beleeue in Christ acknowledge Christ whether they be papists or protestants none doeth deny Christ all beleeue that Christ is God the sonne of God borne of the virgine so forth therfore it should seeme that none of those should be damned for they all beleeue True it is I graunt all these do beleeue so do the deuils too yet are damned They do beleeue confes as fast as the best of them all that Christ is God sonne of the living God we know whō thou art say they euen Christ the sonne of the highest God yea they beleeue he shal come to iudgemēt art thou come to tormēt vs before the time to be short there is no article of our faith but they know it as wel as we beleeue it to be true yet notwithstanding they do nothing but tremble shake must utterly be damned The whole company of them that beare the name of Christ are called Christians do beleeue that Christ is God so doe the diuels They beleeue that Christ is the sonne of God so doe the diuels They beleeue that Christ was borne of the virgine suffered vnder Pontius Pilat was crucified for mans sin rose again ascended into heauen shall come againe at the latter day all this do the divels beleeue yet are damned seeing thē the word of God setteth down vnto vs two kinds of faith or beleeving in Christ the one such as the diuels wicked mēbers of Satan haue to damnation the other such as the childrē of god haue to saluation we must therefore be very carefull to seeke out that true sound faith of Gods people lest we flatter our selues thinke we beleeue wel enough when we haue no other beleefe then the very deuils in hell haue we must be therfore very carefull to know in what points the deuils faith doeth differ frō the sound faith of Gods people First of all the diuels although they beleeue that all that Iesus Christ did was truely done yet they do not beleeue that he did it for them although they can acknowledge confesse all the articles of our faith yet they can not apply them unto thēselves although they can beleeue that Iesus Christ is God soone of God hath paid the punishment of mans sinne yet they can not beleeue that he hath done this for them they can not beleeue that he hath paid the punishment for their sins they can not beleeue that for they haue not assurance therof out of the word of God nay they know the clean contrary that Christ came not to saue thē for the Apostle to the Hebrewes writeth that Christ tooke not vpon him the nature of spirits angels to ransome them but the nature of man therfore although the deuills can say neuer so fast we beleeue that Christ hath paid the punishmēt of mās sinnes yet they must needs withall say acknowledge and beleeue he hath paid the punishment of mans sinnes but not for ours therfore we looke beleeue to be tormented This is then the most chiefe and principall point in our beleefe that is that we beleeue whatsoeuer Christ hath done for the saluation of man pertaineth to vs our selves as well as unto others we must beleeue euery one of us that wilbe saued that the ransome which Christ hath performed is euen the ransom of our sins yea every one of vs particularly must apply it unto himselfe say I beleeue that Iesus Christ did suffer to pay the punishmēt of these my sins I beleeue that he hath purchased euerlasting life euen for me as well as for others Otherwise if we beleeue neuer so much that Christ hath suffered for the ransome of others not for us our selues it is no faith but a deuils faith such as makes us tremble before our God For alas what would it availe me if I could neuer so much beleeue that Christ had ransomed other mens sins in the mean time could not beleeue that he had ransomed my sins I beleeue indeed he hath purchased life for others his elect but alas not for me I must looke for nothing but hell what I say could all this beleefe helpe me Alas nothing but make me looke for Gods dreadfull vengeance and therefore euery houre tremble and shake So could that miserable poore caytiffe Francis Speyra acknowledge confesse when they brought out of the word of God that Christ was the Saviour of the worlde the ransome of mens sinnes that by his death he had pacified Gods wrath that hee had purchased everlasting life for vs so forth all this is true saith he I beleeue it as well as you but all this pertaineth nothing to me he hath done this saith he for his people not for me I beleeue saith he that he suffered the punishment of the sinnes of his people not for my sinnes I looke for nothing but extreme horror vvhich I do already tast of For this cause doth the worde of God set forth unto us Iesus Christ to be ours not onely other mens but our ovvne Christ is become our righteousnesse our iustification our sanctification our redemption and for this ende is the holy spirit of God sent into our hearts that we might cheerfully beleeue God to be our Father hee beareth recorde to our spirits that we are the children of God not onely others but that we our selues are the children of God And this our true faith doeth not onely let vs see Christ a farre off to appertaine vnto others but bringeth him to vs and maketh him ours euen to dwell in vs euen in our hearts not onely in others but in vs yea in our heartes The promises of God which be in generall to his people the particular faith of every one applyeth them to himselfe and maketh him say
that which wee can not greatly conceiue of our selues and euery thing shall be unspeakeable For no doubt those men that we spake of before euen at those times when they could not tell what and hovv to pray as of them-selues yet the spirite helping them they did pray and there were at least vnspeakeable sighes and grones stirred up in them For it is said of Hezekiah that hee then turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lorde and wept sore 2. Kings 20. 2 3. and Dauid vvhen as in his owne feeling hee did but roare and sigh euen then he poured out that very plentifully his whole desire before the Lord Psal 38. and when he did but mourne and make a noise it was counted a prayer before the Lord Psal 55. 2. and when as he saith that his grouings were like the Pelicans the sparrows or the shriekings of an owle yet to shew that in them there was a worke of Gods spirite that made them acceptable to him he beginneth the Psalme thus O Lorde heare my prayers and let my cry come unto thee So it is saide of the whole Church of God in Egypt Exod 2. 23. 24. that vvhen for the extremitie of their bondage they could not pray unto God yet they cryed and sighed and mourned unto him This then is a most notable cōfort in all afflictions that beleeuing in Christ and pertaking of his spirit it shall helpe vs in all our infirmities so that when we can not tell what or how to pray as we ought it shall teach us so to doe it as wee may haue hope and comfort of being heard For this is that which he addeth that the Lord which searcheth the heart knoweth the meaning of his owne spirit for it maketh request to him for the Saintes according to his will for by knowing he doth not only meane that he understandeth it as he doth all other things but he accepteth and alloweth it and doeth most willingly graunt such requestes as though they were made in farre better liking to our selues and so is the word taken Psalm 1. 6. The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous For he heard the crie of the Israelites when they did but sigh moane deliuered them from the bondage he heard Hezekiah chattering in his prayer raised him vp from death added 15. yeres more to his life he heard David roaring for the extremitie of his paine and forgaue the punishment of his sinne and he hath heard us many times in our greatest need when wee haue howled and cried rather then haue made any setled and well ordered prayer yea when we haue rather sighed then spoken For the Lord in this case regardeth not so much the multitude of wordes as hee looketh to the meaning of his spirite and graunteth that though we speake neuer a worde For euen as a father hauing a yong Infant sicke of some sore disease though the child can speak neuer a worde is ready to helpe it and if it can speake yet being full of paine can not call for things as it ought yet if the mother can but by any signes gesse at the meaning of it shee will accept as much of it as if it had spoken very plentifully yea though it should say one thing and meane another she would giue it according to the meaning of it So the Lord that is filled with the bowels of compassion towardes us in Christ farre aboue any father or mother though he delighteth to heare vs pray unto him yet when as by the extremitie of our miseries we are oppressed or distracted so that we can not in any orderly maner pray unto him as we ought he alloweth of the sighes and sobbes that wee offer vp unto him and graunteth not so much our words which are none or fewe as the meaning of his spirite which is plentifull in vs. Hereupon it commeth to passe that the Lord in his rich mercy imputeth not unto his servants the manifold rebellions of the flesh or great complaints in their prayers as not unto Iob or to David who vvere full of them because he hath respect vnto the meaning of his spirite in them euen as the father is not so much greeued or offended with the murmurings impatience and outcries of his poore sicke childe as he by the least token gesseth at the meaning of him and taketh that in good part What shall we then say to these things is it true indeed that the Lord wil vouchsafe to looke vpon the lowe degree of his servants and haue respect unto poore sinnefull creatures who when they are in their iust deserued miserie and euen then cannot pray vnto him one worde aright and when they beginne to speake and their tongue cleaueth unto the roofe of their mouth that he vvill then heare their sighes and their cries yea undoubtedly he that of his great mercie will not quench the smoaking flaxe nor breake in sunder the bruised reede will of the like mercie heare not only the well ordered prayers of his Church but euen the very cryings and roarings of his seruants though they be like the Pellicanes and the Owles yea their mournings though they be like unto the Doues yea when they say nothing neither indeede can their verie lobbes and sighes which come from the aboundance of a troubled Spirite and can not be expressed for he alloweth of the meaning of his spirit which worketh those things in them and if they could are willing thereby to perfourme better seruice unto him What can be more comfortable vnto vs then this In all our necessities let us then with great boldnesse goe vnto the Lord by Christ and though we cannot utter many wordes yet 〈◊〉 vs speake vnto him for surely the acceptation of our praiers consisteth not in the multitude or well placing of our wordes but in the request of our hearts and therefore if we can pray but two wordes and say with the Publicane Lorde be mercifull vnto me a sinner with the Apostles Lord increase my faith or with the blind man O sonne of David haue mercie upon me or with the Theefe on the crosse Lorde remember me this shorte thing proceeding from the spirite in vs and offered up in the mediation of Christ Iesus and in the vertue of his praiers shall be as well receiued of him when we can doe no otherwise as if we had spent an whole houre in praier and if we can not doe this yet if we lift up our mindes unto God as Hannah did who spake neuer a worde and as Nehemiah did yea if we doe but sigh after an unspeakeable manner the Lorde will not refuse that Vers 28. Also we know that all things worke together c. Wherein the Apostle proceeding to comfort us in afflictions ministreth this soueraigne medecine against the contagion thereof namely that all affliction come to the beleeuers not for their hurt but for their singular good seeing that they doe befall them not