〈◊〉 soules against the end of our life and for our bodyes also against the day of iudgment So that we haue liberty or boldnesse to enter into the holy places by the blood of Iesus by the new and liuing way which he hath prepared for vs through the vaile that is to say his flesh being assured that by reason of our vnion with Christ we are risen again with Christ and with him set in the heauenly places whether he is ascended to prepare a place for vs and from whence he will come againe to bring vs thither that where he is there we may be also Wherefore in respect of this liberty the faithfull may with comfort both surreÌ„der our soules into the hands of God our mercifull Father and also bequeath our bodyes to the earth in full assurance that our soules shall by the Angels bee translated into heauen and that our bodyes shall at the day of iudgement bee freed from the seruitude of corruption and rise againe to glory this mortall hauing put on immortality this corruptible incorruption that it being againe eâ—vnited to the soule we may for euer euer enioy both in body and soule the glorious liberty of the citizens of heauen Vnto which liberty of glory heâ— bring vs who hath so dearely purchaâ—ed it for vs euen Christ Iesus the righteous to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be eternall praise and glory Amen FINIS 2 Tim. 2. 19. The foundation of God standeth sure hauing this seale The Lord knoweth them that are his And let euery one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from euill FOr the laying the first foundation of Religion without which all other grounds are of no effect That there is a God omnipoâ—ent mercifull and iust Gods workes doe sufficiently demonstrate If he build it is a world if hee bee angry for the sinnes of the world he sends a deluge If hee will shew the loue hee beares to the world hee sends his Sonne and suffers him to die vpon the Crosse to saue the world if hee will reward the godly it is with Paradise when hee armes the Angels march vpon the heads of his Troupe the â—lements are the Marshalls of his Campe the rocks remoue from their Center and follow to giue it water the Cloudes guide by day and the Pillers of fire by night the Sea opens to giue them passage and the Sunne stayes to end their victories To inlarge the wonderfulnes of his works Balaams Asse shall speake reprooue his Master waters turne into wine the dead are raised the blind see the dâ—afe heare the Lame goe and thousands of people are fed with a few loaues and fishes If hee will shew mercy Peter after that hee had denyed Christ shall weepe bitterly and bee made Pastor of his sheepe Paul of a persecutor become an elect vessell and faithfull preacher of the Gospell when hee will exalt the humble little Dauid shall bee taken from the sheepe and bee made both King and Prophet humble Ioseph from the prison and preferred to bee Pharaohs high steward Daniel from the Lions den and cloathed with purple When he will execuâ—e iustice Sodome is deuoured with fire and brimstone Iudas hanging himselfe confessed that hee had betrayed the innocent Iulian the Apostate tearing out his bowels in the horrour of his conscience cries out â—icisti tandem Galilaee When hee will humble the proud Idolatrous Nabuchadneâ—ar shall eate Grasse among the Beasts of the field the basest of Gods creatures shall make hard hearted Pharaoh send for Moses and confesse the true God Finally in all his works of power mercy and iustice out of the fiery fornace Shadrach Messech and Abednego shall proclaime his glory Thus you see that Gods works declare that hee is God powerfull mercifull and iust and that the meanest of these works are of force either by the least dramme of grace to conuert the most obstinate Atheists to the true knowledge of God or in iustice to confoâ—â—â— him SECT II. Of the knowledge of â—od ALthough I doe not allow the curious searching of diuine misteries not reuealed for admitting that in natures Schoole wee are taught to boult out the truth by logicall reason yet in Gods Schoole it is quite contrary he is the best Scholler that reasons least and assents most conceiues so farre as humane frailties will permit belieues and admires the rest God louing better a credulous heart then a curious head Yet because your duty towards God consisteth chiefely in the ardent desire to know God which is the surest testimony of your loue toward God and of Gods loue towards you there is a more speciall knowledge required of you which is that you endeauour your selues to know him so farre as he hath reuealed himselfe in the Scriptures called his Word as proceeding from his Spirit to bring you to this knowledge hee hath manifested himselfe in the Scriptures by three sort of names The first are these that signifie his essence The second the persons in the Essence The third his essentiall works The names that denote Gods essence are 5. Ichouah Eheiech Iach Kurios Theos Iehouah signifieth eternall being of himselfe without beginning and end almighty both in promising and performing The second name is Eheiech of that same roote of Iehouah signifying that I am that I am or I will bee that I will Eheiech Asher Eheiech The third name Iach which is Lord is ascribed to God when any notable deliuerance or benefit comes to passe according to his promise The fourth name is Kurios vsed oft in the new Testament when it is absolutely giuen to God it answereth the Hebrew name Iehoâ—ah for God is so Lord that hee is of himselfe Lord and of all others The fifth name is Theos God it is deriued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because hee runnes through and compasseth all things when it is properly taken it signifieth the eternall essence of God being aboue all things giuing life and light to all creatures preseruing and gouerning them in their wonderfull frame and order God seeing all and in all places The names that signifie the persons in the Esâ—ence are chiefely one Elohim signifieth the mighty iudges It is a name of the plurall number to expresse the Trinity of persons in the vnity of the Essence To this purpose the Holy Ghost begins the Bible with this plurall Name of God ioyned with a verbe of the singular number as Elohim baradiâ— creauit the mighty Gods or all three persons in the God-head created When you heare of this name Elohim consider that in one diuine Essence there are three distinct persons and that God Iehouah Elohâ—m The names that signifie Gods essentiall works are fiue El Shaddai Adoâ—ai Helion Abba El is as much to say
obeying them we also obey God and no further thas is as I said so farre as God commandâ—th â—s to obey them Now how farre forth God commandeth vs to obey the lawes of men will easily appeare by this distiâ—â—tion for either they command such things as God forbideth and forbiddeth such things as hee commandeth which kinde of coÌ„mandements are so farre from binding our consciences as that we are bound by the law of God to obey him in disobeying them or they command such things as God commandeth and forbid such things as he forbiddeth that by their authority the lawes of God may the better be obseruâ—d to which kinde of commandements we are simply bound because as in obeying them we obey God so in breaking them we transgresse the law of God or lastly they command such things as God hath not forbidden and forbid such things as God hath not commanded â—â—o the particular 〈◊〉 of this kinde wee are not simply bound but so farre forth as God hath commanded vs to obey them that is as free being not simply bouÌ„d to those particulars as necessary in themselues but vsing them with free conscience as being indifferent and therefore such as wherevnto our Christian liberty extendeth and yet as seruants of God thinking our selues so farr bound to obserue them as is necessary for auoyding of scaÌ„dall or coÌ„tempt which God by his law hath forbidden Contempt for it is necessary saith the Apostle that we should submit our selues to lawfull authority not onely for feare of punishment but for conscience sake For although we be free as concerning the inner man yet in respect of the outward man wee must as the seruants of God submit our selues to such superiours as God hath set ouer vs and not haue our liberty as a cloake of naughtinesse Scandall also is to be auoyded First in respect of the superiour that by our disobedience wee doe not scandalize or offend him Wherein our Sauiour hath giuen vs a notable example who although he were as he saith free yet was content to pay tribute-money for auoiding of offence Secondly in respect of the subiect that he stumble not at the example of our disobedience being animated thereby to doe the like For whereas some thinke that we are not to obey the Magistrates commandement concerning a thing indifferent if wee imagine that some weake brother will be offended thereat they greatly mistake the rule of Diuines who say these commandements are to be obeyed for avoyding scandall and not that they are to be disobeyed for auoyding of scandall For if this were a sufficient reason to excuse our disobedience wee should not neede to obey almost any commandement of this kinde there being scarce any coÌ„mandement concerning things indifferent wherewith wee may not imagine some weake scrupulous conscience will bee offended But wee must thinke our selues more bound for â—uoyding of contempt and scandall to obey a lawfull commandement then to disobey for auoyding a supposed offence That which we are to doe in this case is this If wee feare any will take offence we must labour to preuent it by informing the party as before hath beene said And hauing so done wee must doe our owne duty whether hee will be offended or not in obeying the lawfull commandement of the Magistrate so farre as it shall be necessary for auoyding of scandall and contempt Hitherto I haue intreated of the liberty of grace both that which is common to the faithfull in all ages and also that which is peculiar to Christians vnder the Gospell There remaineth in a word to bee spoken of the liberty of glory which is not only a perfect deliuerance from sinne misery and all imperfections whereunto because wee are subiect in this life for here is as Augustine saith inchoata non perfecta libertas we ought to aspire towards this perfection but also a fruition of happinesse and all the priuiledges of the citizens of heauen This liberty is either of the soule alone as at our death when wee may freely and with comfort resigne our soules into the hands of God that he may commit the same to the blessed Angels to bee transpoâ—â—ed into heauen where wee are vnto the end of the world comfortably to expect our full redemption Or it is of the body also at the day of iudgement and is therefore called the redemption of our body when it rising vnto glory shall be freed from the seruitude of corruption this mortall putting on immortality and this corruptible putting on incorruption that death being swallowed vp in victory we may enioy both in our bodyes and soules the glorious liberty of Gods children in the kingdome of heauen This ought wee with earâ—â—â—stnesse of desire to aspire vnto with 〈◊〉 of faith to expect that thereby we may be weaned fâ—om the world hauing our conuersatioâ— in heauen and not either by the desires of the world which are but vanityes be allâ—red and ensnarred or by the terrors thereof which are 〈◊〉 worthy the glory that shall be reuealed drawne into bondage Thus haue you heard the doctrine of Christian liberty Now heare the vse For seeing this liberty is a benefit of so great excellency in it selfe and of such profit and necessity to vs Our first duty is to try and examine our selues by that which hath beene said whether wee haue as yet obtained this liberty or not If not as he which committeth sinne is the seruant of sinne we must labour to acknowledge and feele that miserable seruitude wherein wee are vnder sinne and Satan for hee that is not free and yet feeleth not his bondage is drowned in sinne euen as he that is ouer head and eares in â—he water feeleth no weight thereof that in the sense of our misery we may not only truly and earnestly desire but also carefully vse all meanes to attaine this liberty and never be at rest vntill we haue obtained it It is strange to see what hard services men will vndergoe and what great summes they will forgoe to get an earthly freedome whiles this spirituall freedome which is worth many worlds will scarcely be accepted when men are called and invited vnto it Which sheweth that men naturally are not only servants but willingly wilfully continue in servitude But you will say what meanes are wee to vse I answere 1. Diligently and conscionably to heare the Word as being the meanes which God hath ordained to call you to liberty 2. To aske seeke knocke by earnest and hearty prayer vnto God the author of this liberty that he would giue you the spirit of liberty 3. To turne vnto God vnfainedly laying hold vpon Christ by faith and repenting of your sinnes Eris liber saith Augustine si fueris servus liber peccati servus iustitiae You shall be free from sinne if you will become the servants of righteousnesse If God hath already called vs vnto this liberty
owne The hearing of Gods word by the Scriptures and by Pastors and the practise there of will giue you knowledge worke holinesse if you breake downe your naturall corruptions and fill you with strength against all assaults SECT IV. of Prayer with the fruits thereof Prayer is a simple vnfaigned humble and ardent opening of the heart before God wherein we either aske things needfull for our selues and others or giue thanks for benefits receiued it is either Publique in the congregation of the faithfull or priuate when wee pray alone There bee foure chiefe reasons that ought to induce vs to prayer first the commandement of God Secondly our sinnes which driue vs of necessity to God for life succour helpe Thirdly our weake nature being of it selfe â—nable to subsist requires prayer to strengthen it as a house pillars to vphold it Lastly the subtilety of the enemy who euer attendeth to ouerthrow vs euen in those things wee thinke to bee best done ought to stirre vs vp vehemently to prayer The excellency of prayer is manifest by the dignity of the commander and the admirable effects that follow it The commander is God Lord of heauen and earth of our life and death the fountaine of all goodnesse the effects ther of are such that prayer proceeding from a faithfull soule and squared by Gods word will stay the Sunne to end our victories the falling of the raine from heauen and at our desire againe send downe plenty of it to increase the fruits of the Earth for our comfort it will pierce the heauens for mercy and pardon for our sinnes stay the wrath of God against vs for the same and obtaine whatsoeuer good thing is needfull for vs in this life or in the life to come Let our prayers bee daily without intermission for deâ—otion that is deferred vpon conceit of present vnfitnes or worldly respects at last groweth irkesome and altogether neglected suffer not your heart to entertaine the least thought of lothnesse in the taske of deuotion but violently breake through such motions with a deepe check to your selfe for your backwardnesse And because holinesse doth not like Ionas Gourd grow vp in a day it is better to go on safe and sure then for a hasty â—it as many doe runne out of wind and then stand still Goe to prayer as you would goe to the water to swim goe not hot in but take a time to coole your selfe by meditation feeling that your words touch the very depth of your soule Frame not your prayers as some Hipocritically doâ— according to the phaÌ„tasies of your owne braine neither as others superstitiously thinke to mooue God by iterations and babling neither with the proud Pharisee presuming vpon your owne worth but like the poore Publiâ—ane humbly with all reueâ—ence throwing off the shooes of all your corrupt affections prostrate your selfe at the footstoole of Gods throne of Grace demaunding nothing that is repugnant to his will lest you tempt him who out of his insearchable wisedome knoweth best what is good for you In your prayers haue a speciall care that you keepe euer as a patterne before you that prayer set downe by the mercy-Master Christ Iesus called the Lords prayer It is the pure fountaine from whence the riuers of life must flow SECT V. of Meditâ—tion MEditation is a carefull consideration or a deuour calling to mind and examination both of our spirituall and temporall estate by a serious contemplation of Gods goodnesse towards vs what duty hee requireth of vs towards him for his sake to our neighbour and how we haue performed the same what reward remayneth for the godly and punishment for the wicked that wee haue an account to render not onely of euery mispent-day but of euery word in what estate either spirituall or temporall we stand for the present This holy meditation stirreth vs vp to a thankefulnesse for Gods goodnesse to sorrow and repentance for our by-past offences and to a setled resolution of amendement of our liues in the time to come Meditation is the most soueraigne cure of the soule in it keepe this course retire your selfe euery day at some â—it time to your chamber study feild or some secret place and hauing prayed to God for a recalled mind enter into a consideration of your sinfull estate Examine your selfe take notise of your passions disposition and inclination whereby you may come to the knowledge of your selfe and by calling for helpe from God resolue to conquerre your selfe as a walled citty Call to mind if any vnkindnesse hath passed betwixt you and your neighbour or any other and if you remember any remnant or the least coale of enuy or malice lurking vnder the ashes of your peruerse natures wipe away and extinguish them by not-letting the Sunne goe downe vpon your wrath for he that craueth pardon and will not forgiue is like to him that breaketh downe a bridge that hee must passe ouer himselfe In your meditation inquire dilligently after the day of your death by setting it before your Eyes by examining your selues whether you bee prepared and ready and by incouraging your cowardly soule to looke death in the face flying euer in this point to thy Sauiour for helpe Conclude thy meditation with thinking vpon thy wordly estate if it prosper lay vp humility in thy heart If poore pray for supply and thinke vpon some lawfull and honest meanes SECT VI. The performance of a godly life THe Fourth and most necessary part belonging to a Christian is doing being the life of all for it is nothing and yet vsuall to Hipocrites to bee religious in Ceremonies ioyne therefore as indiuidui conâ—ites the liuely faith of Paul with S. Iames good works Faith without workes makes but a carnall Gospeller and works without Faith a Pharasaicall Hipocrite Euer in doing beware of doing against thy Conscience for the treasure of a good conscâ—ence is the best store you can prouide for a quiet life here and a blessed hereafter when a dram of it shall serue you to better vse then innumerable millioâ—s of Gold Omit neither time place nor person if thou canst do good remeÌ„ber Christs last iudgement wherein he sheweth that the best good in the world is compassion on almes and comforting in distresse as in sicknesse pouerty and imprisonment or banishment for although God accepteth of good thoughts yet towards man they are little better then good dreames exercise therefore thy charitable office as Gods Steward vpon thy brethren Remember it is now the time thy life is short thy dayes euill thy death certaine thy account most certaine thy ioyes vnspeakable if thou doest well for this cause labour to husband the talent that God hath put into thy hands that thou mayst returne thy soule better then thou didst receiue it If that seruant was condemned as euill that did giue his Master no more but his owne
THE CHRISTIANS FREEDOME Wherein is fully expressed the Doctrine of CHRISTIAN LIBERTIE By the R t. Reuerend Father in God GEORGE DOWNEHAM Doctor of Diuinity and Ld. Bp. of Derry THE SECOND EDITION OXFORD Printed by LEONARD LICHFIELD for WILLIAM WEâ—â— An. Dom. M.DC.XXXV TO THE GODLY AND CHRISTIAN READER GRACE MERCY AND PEACE GOdlines and Christianity are the sure Grounds of Saluation I haue here in this treatise following giuen thee the true Patterne of a godly life which I desire thee to peruse dayly to practise faithfully and hold on constantly and thou shalt bee sure to haue blessings in this world and euerlasting happinesse in the Kingdome of Heauen When thou hast attained to liue well and feele the comfort of godlines in thy heart then be sure to set downe thy resolution neuer to fall into the snare of vngodlines any more Be sure not to faint in well-doing because the reward is not promised to him that doth but to him that continueth to doe A three fold blessing of God vpâ—n those which seeke him hee promiseth 〈◊〉 will awake vnto them and for those which pray vnto him He will make the righteousnesse of their habitation prosperous And to those which are pure and vpright Hee will make their latter end increase exceedingly Yea though their beginning be but small But deferre not put not of thy amendment from time to time least thou art sorry for thy mispent leud life when thou shalt not haue time to repent Therefore know ô man what soeuer thou art that Godlinesse will crowne thee with honor and glory and furnish thee with true godlinesse and perfect felicity and exalt thee vnto the Heauens and co-vnite thee and thy soule with God The many excellent treatises and larger discourses concerâ—ing the power of Godlinesse which it hath pleased the Lord of glory to furnish his Church withall in these last dayes as they haue made good the faithfulnesse of our God vnto vs of this Church of England so if they shall not bee a witnesse against vs they doe necessarily require the right vse thereof that wee bee transformed into the same image from glory to glory And therefore howsoeuer it may seeme both needlesse and preâ—udiciall after so many graue and experimentall rules concerning sanctification to adde any more in this kind yet seeing it hath pleased God in direct mee to a further labour herein weigh with mee I pray thee in equity these reasons thereof 1. I doe hereby professe my thankfulnesse vnto God for those excellent labours of his Saints that now rest from their labours and thâ—ir fruites follâ—w them 2. I woâ—ld haue thee know that I am not ashamed of this foolishnesse of preaching and practicke Diuinity which is such a mistery to the world and stumbling blocke vnto the wisdome thereof 3. Howsoeuer I doe professe that I am not able to attaine such perfection as I haue herein conceiued yet I would haue thee know farther that I would rather haue a rule to condemne sinne in the flesh and so câ—nfâ—und the old man that thereby the new man may follow hard after the marke then not to giue testimony to that light which hath shined so graciously vnto me or to conceale my iudgement though it may condemne the practice 4. May it please thee to consider with me Can a man walke in the Sunne and not bee warme and where two lye together will there not bee heate and can the light bee â—idden nay ought it to bee â—idden 5. Can we doe lesse in these dayes then conuince a prophane world 6. Can we doe better then strengthen that which is ready to die 7. Shall not Gods remembrancers renew their strength when the Diuels Instruments 〈◊〉 so rage with all licentiousnesse 8. Doe wee not iustify the Good by seeking out their wayes 9. Should we not discourage the wicked by making a good profession 10. Owe wee not duety to our Mother 11. Shall not this redound to the Glory of God Let this content thee and prouoke thee to make vse of these labours and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things that thou mayest trie the Spirits and hereby thine owne whether thou art in the faith or no and so for euer maiest follow the true Shepheard Now vnto him that is able to keepe you from falling and to preserue you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy I hartily commend you desiring that this weake labour may bee carefully read and diligently practised that so your soules may be eternally saued in that great and dreadfull day of his visitation THE DOCTRINE OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTIE IOHN 8. 36. If therefore the Sonne shall make you free you shall be free indeed THESE words are a conclusion of the verses going before For whereas our Sauiour CHRIST hauing promised some of the hearers who whiles he was yet speaking of his person and office began to beleeue in him that if they did approue themselues to be his true disciples by their perseuerance and constant abiding in his word they should know the truth that is he would more fully manifest himselfe vnto them as he speaketh Ioh. 14. 21. and this truth which is himselfe Ioh 14. 6. should make them free the captious Iewes pretending that they vnderstood him as speaking of a corporall or ciuill libertie cauilled at this promise which indeed did not belong vnto them as if hee had offered them great indignitie by promising them libertie to presuppose their seruitude alleaging that they were alreadie free and therfore scorned his promised libertie which they needed not being neither seruants by nature or birth for they were Abrahams seed nor yet by their fortune or personall condition for they neuer serued any Our Sauiour therefore both to refute their cauill and also to iustifie his promise proueth these foure things vnto them 1. That they were seruants 2. That they had great need to bee made free 3. That this freedome must come by him 4. That being freed by him they should bee free indeed The first he proueth thus whosoeuer committeth sinne that is in whomsoeuer sinne raigneth he is the seruant of sinne but such he insinuateth they were yea such are all men by nature vntill they be ingrafted into Christ by faith and renued by the holy Ghost and therefore hee would haue them to conclude that for all their bragges they were the miserable seruants of sinne and consequentlie the slaues of Satan subject to the curse of the law and to eternall damnation 2. That they had great need to bee made free hee sheweth both by the inconuenience of their seruitude for being seruants and not sons howsoeuer now they had a place in the house of God as Ismael had yet the time should come that they should bee cast out and also by the benefit which should accompanie their freedome that being made the sonnes of God they should as heires of eternall life
scorne to be sent forth into the ministry and service of our good The right vse of the doctrine concerning the liberty of glory is truly to beleeue it and to liue as in expectation of it knowing that he which hath this hope that he shall be like vnto Christ at his appearance will purify himselfe as he is pure that as hee hopes to be like him in respect of the liberty of glory so hee may in some measure resemble his gratiousnesse by the liberty of grace But the cheife vse of this doctrine is to pacifie mens consciences without which vnlesse they sleepe in carnall security they are so wonderfully perplexed that neither can they liue in peace nor attempt any thing almost with quiet mindes For whereas there befoure things which trouble perplexed consciences this doctrine is a soueraigne remedy to cleare and to appease the conscience in respect of them all The first is the guilt of sinne and feare of damnation For when thy conscience is summoned before the iudgement feat of God or terrified with the apprehension of his wrath as in â—ime of temptation or affliction or in the houre of death when thou doest consider the seuerity of Gods iustice who will not suffer sinne to goe vnpunished the rigour of the law denouncing the curse of God against eueâ—y euen the least transgression the testimony of thine owne conscience which is in stead of a thousand witnesses accusing and condemning thee of innumerable transgrâ—ssions how canst thou thinke of appearing before God who is greater then thy conscience to be iustified or condâ—mned without horror of conscience and confusion of mind But blessed be God who hath granted vs this liberty of grace that in the question of â—ustification whereby in this life we are freed from feare of damnation and entituled vnto the kingdome of hâ—â—uen we need not looke into our obediâ—nce or to the sentence of the law but may bâ— assured if we beleeue in Christ that God doth iusâ—ifie vs being 〈◊〉 in our selues without respect of our 〈◊〉 that he hath freed vs from the lawes exaction of inherent righteousnesse to the acceptation of our persons that he imputing the righteousnesse of Christ to the beleeuer accepteth of him as righteous in Christ that the faithfull man hath liberty to appeale from the tribunall of iustice to the throne of grace from the sentence of the law to the promise of the Gospell and renouncing his owne righnesse yea esteeming it as dung in the question of iustification to rest alone in the mercyes of God and merits of Christ. But because the world is so apt to abuse this most comfortable doctrine and to turne gratious liberty into carnall licentiousnesse it shall bee needfull to adde this caution That howsoeuer we are by our iustisication in this life entituled vnto the kingdome of heauen and although by the righâ—eousnesse and merits of Christ alone appreheâ—ded by faith we are both iustiâ—ied and also saued yet for as much as many deceiue themselues with an idle conceit of faith and with a vaine presumption that they are iustified when notwithstaÌ„ding they remaine in their sinnes therefore wee must thinke it most necessary being once iustified by faith and entituled vnto the kingdome of heauen to demonstrate our faith and our iustification by a godly life walking in that way of good works which God hath prepared for vs to walke in towards our country in heaueÌ„ For though wee are iustified and saued by the merits of Christ alone apprehended by faith notwithstanding sanctification is the cognizance of them that are saued and good works are the euidence according vnto which God will pronounce the sentence of saluation For as the â—ree is knowne by his fruite so hee that worketh righteousnesse is righteous and in like manner by sanctification our iustification is manifested For true â—aith worketh by loue good works are as the breathing of a liuely faith And therefore though saith alone doth iustifie as Paul teacheth because it alone doth apprehend the righteousnesse of Christ vnto iustification yet as S. Iames teacheth that faith which alone seuered from obedience doth not iustifie neither alone nor at all because it it is not a true faith For euen as the body without breathing is knowne to be dead so faith with workes is dead We are therefore iustified in this life and entituled vnto the kingdome of heauen as to our inheritance by faith without workes but none are actually saued nor inherit that kingdome in the life to come but such as first are sanctified For as our Saviour saith we haue indeed not only remission of sinnes by faith but also by faith we haue our inheritance but yet as he saith among them that are sanctified The second is the conscience of our manifold wants and imperfections in those duties which we doe performe For how can a man be perswaded that God to whom no creature being compared is pure will allow of his imperfect and stained obedience And if he be not perswaded that his seruice is acceptable vnto God with what heart can he performe it The doctrine therefore of Christian liberty assureth our consciences that wee are freed from the lawes exaction of perfect obedience to the acceptation of our actions that God couering our imperfections as an indulgent Father with the perfect righteousnesse and obedience of Christ imputeth not our wants vnto vs but accepteth of the truth of our will and desire for the deed and our sincere endeauour for the perfect performance And therfore a Christian may in respect of this liberty with comfort and cheerefulnes performe obedience according to the measure of grace receiued being assured that our defectiue and stained obedience will be accepted of God through the mediation and intercession of Iesus Christ. The third is the sâ—ruple of conscience concerning the vse of outward things how far forth they may bee vsed or forborne For if a man be not rightly informed herein there will be no end of scrupulosity and superstition From this scrupiâ— also the doctrine of Christian liberty doth free vs assuring vs that to all these things our liberty doth extend either to vse theÌ„ freely or freely to forbeare them that nothing is vnclear in it selfe nor yet vnto vs if we be so perswaded that to the cleane all things are cleane provided alwaies that the vse of this liberty be kept within the boundâ— before mentioned of piety charity loyalty and sobriety The fourth and last is the horror of conscience in the houre or death For can a man with coÌ„â—ort giue vp his soule to bee seuered from the body when he knoweth not either what will becoâ—â— of his soule after the seperation therecâ— from the body or how and in what 〈◊〉 his body shall rise againe But 〈◊〉 doth assure vs that Chrâ—◠〈◊〉 purchased not only a liberty of 〈◊〉 in this life but also of glory for
Lord in the holy Mount Therefore saith the Apostle it shall rise a Glorious Body yea a Spirituall Body not in Substance but in quality preserued by spirituall meanes and hauing as an Angell agility to descend and ascend What a honour is this That our bodyes falling more vile then a carrion should thus arise in glory like vnto the Body of the Son of God 4. Lastly they together with all the holy Angels there keepe without any labour to distract them a perpetuall Sabbath to the glory honour and praise of the all Blessed Trinity for the Creating Redeeming and Sanctifying of the Church and for his Power Wisdome Iustice Mercy and goodnesse in the gouernment of Heauen and Earth They shall know God with a perfect knowledge so farre as creatures can possibly comprehend the Creator For there we shall see the Word the Creator and in the Word all Creatures that by the Word were created that we shall not neede to learne of the thing which wee made the knowledge of him by whom all things were made The excellentest creatures of this life are but a darke vaile drawne betwixt God and vs but when this vaile shall bee drawen aside then shall wee see God face to face and know him as wee are knowne Wee shall know the power of the Father the Wisdome of the Son the grace of the Holy Ghost the indiuisible nature of the blessed Trinity The greatest knowledg that men can attaine vnto in this life comes as farre short of the knowledge which wee shall haue in Heauen as the knowledge of a child that cannot yet speake plaine is to the knowledge of the greatest Philosopher in the world They who thirst for knowledge let them long bee Students in this Vniuersity For all the light by which we know any thing in this world is nothing but the shadow of God But when wee shall know God in heauen wee shall in him know the manner of the worke of the Creation the misteries of the worke of our Redemption Yea so much knowledge as a Creature can possibly conceiue of the Creator and his works But whilst wee are in this life wee may say with Iob how little a portion heare we of him and assure our selues with Siracides that there are high yea greater things then these bee and that wee haue seene but a few of Gods works For so soone as she is admitted into actuall fruition of the beatificall essence of God shee hath all the goodnes beauty glory and perfection of all creatures in all the world vnited together and at once presented to her in the sight of God If any be in Loue there they shall enioy that which is more amiable If any delight in fairenesse the fairest beauty is but a dusty shadow to that hee that delights in pleasures shall there find varieties without either interruption of griefe or distraction of paine Hee that loueth Honor shall there enioy it without the disgrace of cankered enuy hee that loueth treasure shall there possesse it and neuer bee beguiled of it There they shall haue knowledge void of all ignorance health that no sicknesse shall impaire and life that no death can determine By vertue of this the penitent soule may bouldly goe and say vnto Christ as Ruth vnto Boaz Spread o Christ the wing of thy garment of thy mercy ouer thine handmaid for thou art my kinsmaÌ„ Indeed God is all in all to vs in Earth but by means and in a small measure But in heauen God himselfe immediately in fulnesse of measure without all meanes will bee vnto vs all the good things that our soules and bodyes can wish and desire Hee himselfe will bee saluation and ioy to our soules life and health to our bodyes beauty to our Eyes musick to our Eares honey to our mouthes perfume to our nostrils meat to our bellyes light to our vnderstandings contentment to our wils delight to our hearts and what can bee lacking where God himselfe will bee the Soule of our soules When therefore wee behold any thing that is excellent in any creatures let vs say to our selues how much more excellent is hee who gaue them this excellency When wee behold the wisdome of men who ouerrule creatures stronger then themselues outrunne the Sunne and Moone in discourse prescribing many yeeres before in what courses they shall be eclypsed let vs say to our selues how admirable is the wisdome of God who made men so wise when we consider the strengâ—â— of Whales and Elephants the teÌ„pests of winds and terror of Thunder let vs say to our selues how strong how mighty how terrible is that God that makes these mighty and fearfull creatures When wee taste things that are delicately sweete let vs say to our selues O how sweete is that God from whom all these creatures haue receiued this sweetnesse And if our louing God hath thus prouided vs so many excellent delights for our passage through this Bachin or valley of teares what are those pleasurs which hee hath prepared for vs when we shall enter into the pallace of our Masters ioy How shall our soules bee there rauished with the loue of so louely a God In a word looke how farre this wide world surpasseth for light pleasures and comfort the darke and narrow wombe where in thou wast conceiued a child so much doth the world to come exceede in ioyes solace and consolation this present world How happy then shall wee bee when this life is changed and wee thither translated This shall bee thyne eternall happinesse in the Kingdome of Heauen where thy life shal be a communion with the blessed Trinity thy ioy the presence of the Lambe thy exercise singing thy ditty Alleluiah thy consorts Saints and Angels where youth flourisheth that neuer shall waxe old Beauty Lasteth that neuer fadeth loue aboundeth that neuer cooleth health continueth that neuer slaketh and life remayneth that neuer endeth A Prayer O Lord God heauenly Father when I doe consider how many wayes and by how many sorts of sinnes I haue offended thee night and day and doe duely call to minde how graciously thou hast kept me this night and how many blessings and fauours I haue receiued of thee without number I am euen astonished at my great ingratitude and doe vtterly condemne my selfe of highest rebellion against thee Many haue been the dayes weeks moneths and yeeres that thou hast here afforded mee to liue and in all the time of my life hitherunto thou hast graciously preserued mee plentifully relieued mee and continually kept me vnder thy Fatherly protection in all my nights and dayes and hast beene euermore watchfull ouer mee that I haue from time to time from night to day and from day to night beene euer sustained through thy grace though I haue sometimes felt thy correcting rod by some crosses for my sinnes yet haue they beene euer easy in comparison of my deseruings and profitable vnto me Lord pardon