what spirit this is which is ioined with the water the bloud as a witnes vpon earth Is it not the holy Ghost one of the three witnesses from heauen This is out of all doubt controuersie that he speaketh againe of the holy Ghost The spirite then is a double witnes he is one of the three from heauen and hee is one of the three vpon earth If any shall demaund how can this bee Let them know that the holy ghost doth two waies beare witnes of Christ first together with the father and the sonne from heauen in the highest authority of the Diuine Maiestie hee did beare recorde of Christ and confirmed his doctrine which he had taught with signes and wonders and manifold gifts And then by his worke and grace in the hearts of men when he lighteneth them and applyeth vnto them the efficacie of the death and resurrection of Christ Let it not seeme strange then that the holy Ghost is brought in as a double witnes first as one of the three from heauen and then as one of the three in earth that is in the hearts of men for if there were no more but the testimony of those three from heauē Christ should not profite vs at al because we are not capable of our selues and therefore the holy Ghost also as a witnes in earth applyeth vnto our hearts the power of the water the bloud by which Christ came that is the sanctifying and satisfying power of his death for he sprinckleth the harts of the beleeuers with the bloud of Christ The water the bloud and the spirite then witnes one thing in the heart euen that the whole satisfaction for sinne and al true holines is from Christ crucified Hereby we may perceiue that the efficacie and power of Christs bloud in vs is a witnes vnto vs of a true and liuely faith and so of eternall life because the Spirite and the water and the bloude beare witnesse in earth Then he proceedeth to set forth the stablenes of the credite of these witnesses which he doth by a comparison saying If we receiue the witnes of men the witnes of God is greater This is grounded vpon a cleare principle which none can deny for God in stedfast truth far exceeds men We giue credite to a matter when two or three men which are reputed honest doe vpon their solemne oath affirme that they did heare or see it done if other mē make doubt whē such as they haue sworne they hold thēselues much iniured for shal we not receiue or giue credite to the testimony of honest men vpō their oths How much more iniurie doe we to the God of all truth whose witnes is greater then the witnes of all men when we do not giue credite to the witnes which hee witnesseth of his Sonne For the testimony of God is that which he hath witnessed of his son I neede not stand to open this for it is meere brutishnes not to yeelde vnto it And here I pray you beholde againe the great and horrible wickednes and filthy blasphemy of the Pope and his shauelings which would make the testimony of men yea euen the testimony of themselues being wicked men greater then the testimony of God For what is the testimony of God by which he doth beare record of his sonne but his written word deliuered vnto vs by the Apostles Prophets And where can wee haue the testimony which God witnesseth of his son but in those sacred Bookes Search the Scriptures saith Christ for they beare record of mee Iohn 5. Now when the Papists do affirme that the Scriptures haue no authority nor credite vnto vs but as their Pope and they do giue it or commende them to bee beleeued what doe they but set the witnes of men aboue the witnes of God I will not stand here to rehearse at large but euen a little touch some of the vile and execrable speeches of those foule mouthed Papists which to hold vp the Popish religion deface the cleare testimony of God in the Scriptures which are flat against them for beeing pressed with the manifest voice and testimony of God in his worde they cry out there is no certainty in the Scriptures they be like a nose of waxe which you may turne which way you will they be a dead letter and a dumbe Iudge and but that the Church commendeth them no more credite were to be giuen to the Scripture then to Aesopes Fables O most vile wretches shall the testimony of God which is greater then the testimony of men haue no force but as it receiueth from them And then he addeth Hee that beleeueth in that son of God hath the witnes in himselfe As he spake of the greatnes of the testimony of the Father the word and the holy ghost which is from heauen in the former verse so now he sheweth that who soeuer beleeueth that testimony from heauen hath the testimony of the three witnesses which beare recorde in earth within him What is that this it is he that doth beleeue the witnes that GOD beareth of his sonne the witnes that Christ beareth of himselfe and which the holy Ghost hath also witnessed which is all indeede but one testimony the same hath the witnes also of the Spirite of the water and of the bloud within him Marke then how these sixe witnesses doe meete together to assure vs of one and the selfe same thing euen this that God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life and that the same life is in his Sonne For when the spirite of adoption as S. Paule calleth him Rom. 8. beareth witnes with the spirite of a man that he is the sonne of God he doth it by making him feele the efficacie of the water bloud by which Christ came that is the efficacie of his death and resurrection in satisfaction for his sinnes and in sanctification Euerie one then which beleeueth aright hath the spirite of God in him the liuely power of Christ crucified which do witnes vnto him that through Christ he is made the childe of God and shall be saued From hence we may learne what the nature of the true liuelie and iustifying faith is and whereby it is distinguished or discerned from the historicall and dead faith for if a man doe assent and beleeue that all those things are true which the father the Sonne and the holy Ghost haue testified of Christ in the scriptures and yet bee voide of the spirite and power of Christ vnto sanctification as many that are euen learned men are it is a manifest declaration that his faith is but a dead faith and not that which S. Iohn speaketh of here when hee saith He that belieueth hath the witnesse in him selfe And it followeth hee that belieueth not God hath made him a lyer because he belieueth not the record that God witnesseth of his Sonne as I noted before Men which are reputed honest if they testifie vpon their oath in a matter
He that hath this worldes good and seeth his brother in neede and shutteth vp his compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in him 1. Iohn 3. ver 17 O cursed loue of money that caryeth men from the loue of God It is no maruaile that Saint Paul saith The loue of money is the root of all euils 1. Tim. 6.10 For he saith there that they which would be rich fall into temptation and into a snare and into many foolish and noysome lustes which drowne men in destruction and perdition O will some man say if the wordes of Saint Paul are so strictly to be taken how could some that haue bene preachers of the Gospell couet riches and loue money so much as they haue done Is it not found by common experience that neuer any haue bene more couetous or more loued money or haue sought riches and worldly pompâ— more then some that haue preached the Gospell Shall we say that such Lighters walke in so dangerous a way Doe such forsake the true and liuing God and worship an idol Surely God is no respecter of persons such are so farre off from all excuse that of all others they fall into the deepest condemnation for while they take vpon them in wordes to set forth the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ and giue so fowle example in deede what doe they but pull downe the dignitie of the Gospell causing the weake to stumble and the blinde to wander out of the way To returne to our matter for laying vp the good foundation against the time to come I will conclude with two sayings of the scripture the one of king Salomon the other of the prophete Isay Thus saith Salomon He that hath mercie vpon the poore lendeth vnto the Lorde and the Lorde will recompence him that which he hath giuen Prouerbes 19.17 And thus saith the Lord by Isay That thou deale thy bread to the hungrie and that thou bring the poore that wander into thine house when thou seest the naked that thou couer him and hide not thy selfe from thine owne fleshe then shall thy light breake forth as the morning and thine health shall growe speedily Thy righteousnesse shall goe before thee and the glorie of the Lorde shall imbrace thee Then shalt thou call and the Lorde shall answere thou shalt crie and he shall say heare am I. If thou take away from the middes of thee the yoake the putting forth of the finger wicked speaking if thou power out thy soule to the hungrie and refresh the troubled soule then shall my light spring out of the darkenes and thy darkenes shall be as the noone-day And the Lorde shall guide thee continuallie and satisfie thy soule in drought and make fatte thy bones and thou shalt be like a watred garden and like a spring of waters whose waters faile not and they shall be of thee that shall builde the wast places c. Isay chap. 58. verse 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. The Lorde for his sonnes sake giue vs grace to followe this holy precept that we may attayne eternall life The end of the first Sermon THE SECOND Sermon 1. Iohn Chap. 5. 7 For there are three which beare recorde 〈◊〉 heauen the Father the word and the holy ghost and these three are one 8 And there are three which beare record in the earth the spirite the water and the bloudâ—â— and these three agree in one 9 If we receyue the witnes of men the witnes of God is greater for this is the witnes of GOD which he testified of his sonne 10 Hee that beleeueth in that sonne of God hath the witnes in himself he that beleeueth not God hath made him a lyar because he beleeued nâ—â— the record that God witnessed of that his sonne 11 And this is that recorde that God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life this life is in that his son 12 He that hath that sonne hath that life and he that hath not that son of God hath not that life 13 These things haue I written vnto you that beleeue in the name of the sonne of God that yee may know that ye haue eternall life and that yee may beleeue in the name of that sonne of God EVerie worde of God is pure Prou. 30.5 The whole Scripâ—ure is giuen by diuine inspiration and is profitable c. 2. Tim. â— 16 And what soeuer things haue bene writen afore-time haue bin writen for our learning Ro. 15.4 It is our dutie â—hen aâ— humble and obedient schollers of Christ to giue care vnto euerie part of Gods word And moreouer aâ— some parts thereof doe principally excell so are wee the more willinglie to learn them Such is this which I haue now read vnto you as you may perceiue by the cause for which S. Iohn affirmeth he wrote it saying These things haue I writeÌ„ vnto you which beleeue in the name of that son of God that ye may know that ye haue eternall life and that ye may beleeue in the name of that sonne of God ver 13. What higher point then this for a man to know that he shall be saued What greater ioye and felicitie can be fall vnto any Indeede many doe holde that it is vnpossible for anye man while hee liueth here to knowe for certaintie that hee shall be saued How can any man tell say they that he shall be saued Can any goe vp to heauen and there see that his name is written in the booke of life The Papistes proceede yet further and they say it is pride wicked arrogancy for 〈◊〉 man to affirme that he doth knowe he shall be saued Humilitie they say doth teach men alwaies to stand in doubt Most true it is that their doctrine of mens merites must needes breed all doubting and pride intoleâ—able it is for any man to say he knoweth his owne good works doe merite or deserue eternall glorie in the heauens and that he is sure he shall haue it for the same But let these passe with their Antichristian doctrine giue eare to S. Iohn who saith These things haue I written that ye may knâ—w that ye haue eternall life and that ye may beleeue c. But before we handle the words let vs see how they depend vpon the former part of this Chapter In the first verse you see it is thus writen Who soeuer beleeueth that Iesus is the Christ is borne of God This is euen the ground of this whole matter namely that the newe and spirituall birth goeth inseparably with faith for he saith who so euer beleeueth that Iesus is the Christ speaking of the true and liuely faith he is borne of God 〈◊〉 so he is the child of God Whereupon it followeth on the other side that who soeuer is not regenerate but committeth the deedes of the flesh though he seeme to beleeue yet he hath not the true and liuely faith but that which the holy Ghost calleth a dead faith hee is not the childe of God
Then he addeth further Euerie one that loueth him which begate loueth him also which is begotten This must needes be so for it is as a principle in nature whereby it is euidēt that whosoeuer loueth not the childrē of God he loueth not God for he that entirely doeth loue the Father cannot but for his sake loue the children which are begotten of him Then it is thus hee that loueth not the children of God is not borne of God and therefore hee hath not the true faith in Christ And he that is borne of God hee loueth God and therefore also he loueth his children and by this he saith we know we loue the children of God when we loue God and keepe his commandements The triall that men loue Gods children is from hence that they loue God and the triall that we loue God is if we keepe his commaundements for so hee affirmeth in the third verse where he also saith that the commandements of God are not grieuous or heauie According as Christ willeth vs to take his yoke vpon vs adding further That his yoke is easie and his burthen light Math. 11.29.30 Is the law then easie to be kept Surely there is nothing more grieuous to the vnregenerate man thē the law of God for as S. Paule saith the law is spirituall and wee are carnall soulde vnder sinne Rom. 7.14 There is such a disagreement betweene the heauenly puritie of Gods law and our corrupt and defiled nature that when they meete wee are so farre off from hauing anie power to fulfill the lawe or any part of it that by it the lusts of sinne worke in our members to bring forth fruite vnto death Rom. 7.5 Not that the law is to be blamed but as the Apostle there disputeth at large sinne taketh occasion by the law It is not then S. Iohns meaning to teach that the commandements be not grieuous or light and easie to the naturall man for sure to him they bee grieuous How then the commaundements are not grieuous to the spirituall man to the regenerate man euen to him that is borne of God for so S. Iohn applyeth the matter and rendereth a reason in these words Because whatsoeuer is borne of God ouercommeth the world By the world is meant what soeuer either within vs or without vs is corrupt and contrarie to Gods will as chap. 2. ver 16. of this Epistle hee doth expound the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life to be in the world and of the world Then looke how far a man is regenerate and borne of God so farre hee ouercommeth and subdueth all vncleane lustes he hateth the remnants of them and delighteth in the law of GOD. Rom. 7.15.22 How then can the commaundements be grieuous vnto him The lustes of sinne are sweete to the natural man and therefore the lawe which condemneth them is grieuous vnto him But can they that are borne of God then perfectly fulfill the lawe and so become righteous in themselues In no wise For then should such as are borne of God be without sinne but in the first chapter of this Epistle ver 8. he saith If we say we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs. In many thinges we sinne all Iam. 3. ver 2. There is no man saith Salomon which sinneth not 1 King 8.46 Yea no man can tell how often Psal 19. Wherefore Saint Peter saide thus vnto such as would haue men iustified by the lawe Now therefore why doe you tempt God to laye a yoake vpon the necke of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we are able to beare Acts 15.10 Well to proceede Saint Iohn commeth neerer and saith This is the victorie that ouercommeth the world euen our faith There is then a marueilous excellencie in faith for by it we ouercome the world euen all the vncleane lustes of sinne and by it we ouercome Sathan the prince of the world who hath no power not authoritie but by those lustes But now wee must vnderstand that this faith is onely the instrument of our victorie for the whole matter and power of our victorie is in Christ whome the faith layeth holde on Wherefore he saith Who is it that ouercommeth the world but he which beleeueth that Iesus is the sonne of God And then he sheweth that there is the fulnesse of victorie in Christ because he came both by water and bloud In the time of the lawe there was figured by bloud and by water the full satisfaction and the full purification or cleansing from all sinne both these are performed by Christ he hath by his blood made full satisfaction of and hee doth sanctifie and purge his chosen from all vncleannesse Therefore in him is a full victorie For the curse of the lawe being satisfied and then we washed and sanctified from all spotte what power can Satan or death haue ouer vs This being a matter so great and waightie and faith bearing vp the whole waight of it most necessarie it is that the faith it selfe haue a mightie sure ground worke or foundation to rest vpon That which beareth vp so mightie a building must not rest vpon a foundation that is from any creature And therefore S. Iohn sheweth that faith which is our victorie is grounded vpon the testimonie of sixe great witnesses of which three are in heauen and the other three in earth The three which beare record in heauen are the father and the worde that is the sonne and the holy ghost These three are one that is they doe all testifie one thing or agree all in one For what the father from heauen witnessed of his sonne the same did the sonne witnes of himselfe the holy ghost also did confirme it This is a most cleare place of scripture against those heretikes which denied the distinction of persons in the godhead for if the father were not a distinct person from the Sonne and so the Sonne from the holy Ghost howe could he say there bee three which beare record in heauen Then faith hath the witnesse of God the father of GOD the sonne and of God the holy Ghost to rest vpon Here is that sure foundation which can not faile They bee seducers which teach their schollers to ground their faith vppon men as the Papistes which draw men from grounding their faith vpon the testimonie of God the father the Sonne and the holy Ghost expressed and deliuered vnto vs in the scriptures and will haue them rest vpon the authoritie of the Pope and his popish clergie This testimonie of their owne they proclaime to be sound and infallible boasting that they can not erre the voice testimonie of God in the holy scriptures they charge to be darke doubtful and vncertaine most blasphemous wretches Then he addeth that there be also three which beare record in earth the spirite and the water and the bloud and these three agree in one Where first it may be demanded
many proude Schismatikes But some man may say what be the thinges that God hath coupled together which such men doe put asunder I will tell you Doth Saint Iohn say that Christ came both by water and bloud not by water alone but by water and bloud and yet they will seperate these two they will haue remission of their sinnes or iustification in Christ without sanctification He that hath Christ to bee his righteousnesse must needes haue him also to bee his sanctification A man cannot bee in Christ but hee must bee borne of God he must bee a newe creature he cannot continue in sinne and bee the seruant of sinne as for that pointe let men reade and studie wel the 6. Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans But let vs proceede further in this matter as Saint Iohn here doth He saith there be three which beare recorde in heauen and there bee three which beare record in earth What will you say if they part asunder these sixe witnesses What if they leaue out these three witnesses in earth and stand onely vpon the three in heauen It may be said is not the testimonie of the three witnesses in heauen sufficient May not a man rest in the testimonie of the Father though there bee none other ioyned surely the testimony of God is infallible and all sufficient of it selfe but whosoeuer beleeueth that testimonie of God hath as S. Iohn saith the witnes in himself he hath the witnes which is in earth within him euen the witnes of the spirit of the water and of the bloud Where these three in earth are not to giue their testimonie the witnes of the other three in heauen is not beleued though it seeme to be beleeued As aske a man this question which is caried awrie that way you beleeue the gospell I doe will he say beleeue it You are sure you shall haue eternall life I am sure thereof saith he Then demaund further how come you to that assurance or whereupon doth it rest He will answere it resteth vpon Gods promise I am sure he can not faile nor deceiue That is out of all doubt but you doe not beleeue it Yes said he I doe beleeue it Then where be the three witnesses in earth which be in euery one that doth beleeue aright He that beleeueth hath the witnes in himselfe ver 10. Where is the bloud the water the spirit I hope will he say further that they bee within me But come to the triall the heart is vnsanctified the minde is corrupt and vaine the tongue speaketh proude things vnder the lippes is deceipt and guile the handes are full of vniust dealing couetousnes pride doe beare sway Examine the whole course of such a mans life and you shall finde that hee doth not glorifie God Is the spirite of God in the heart such a man Hath he the power of Christ in him euen of the water and the bloud by which he came Is he iustified is he sanctified No but as I saide before he doth seperate the three witnesses in earth from the three in heauen It is but a vaine arrogancie in him and a meere illusion in deed that he boasteth of the certaintie of his saluatiō For he hath nothing but his owne imagination to warrant him that he doth beleeue It is no maruaile therefore when such doe fall and to them Saint Paul saith Let him that thinketh he doth stand take heede that he fall not 1. Cor. 10. ver 12. He doth not say that such as doe stand in deede can vtterly fall vnto perdition but they which are deceiued in their owne opinion boasting that they be sure of saluation and yet haue not in them the three witnesses in earth They haue not the firme and infallible grounde to rest vpon for the certaintie of their faith and so of life euerlasting For euen when any such man doth most of all glorie that God is his God and his father If he would but discend into himselfe and but a little awake stirre vp his drowsie conscience that would tell him that there is no such matter but that in deede he may expecte the seueritie of Gods wrath his conscience will tell him thou hast a proude heart thy minde is full of vanitie thou art defiled continuallie with vile and vncleane lustes and with abominable deedes Thou doest delight in sinful wayes and takest pleasure in wicked thinges God is a most seuere and a righteous Iudge he will execute vengeance vpon all vngodly men This vnpleasant song will the conscience sing vnto the vnregenerate and not that sweete tune of certaintie that they shall be saued Let vs then omitte these which are awrie and come to that right way and meanes by which we may attaine to so happie an estate as without all deceite or illusion yea without all arrogancie or vaine presumption to knowe that we shall be saued We heare that as there is a dead faith which may easilie be knowen if we were not too too negligent so is there also a true and a liuely faith which we may trie in our selues by that which Saint Iohn here writeth Which is thus we must not rest in this alone what the father the worde and the holy Ghost doe witnes as to say I knowe what recorde they beare or I am out of all doubt that the record is true and infallible which they beare because it is vnpossible that God should lye for so farre the historicall faith doth goe the dead faith yea as I may say the faith of deuils How then where is the difference I must haue in me the spirite to beare recorde What spirit The spirite of Christ euen the holye Ghost a spirite which commeth not alone but with the water and the bloud by which Christ came He witnesseth in deede with the efficacie of the death and passion of Christ which he doth apply both in satisfaction and sanctification vnto the heartes and consciences of the belieuers The voice of this spirite as it were speaking in the heart of a man and telling him that hee is the childe of God is most certaine and infallible The same spirite saith S. Paul beareth witnesse with our spirite that we be the children of God Rom. 8. What will any man say that the holy Ghost can deceiue or can lie If he witnesse with the spirit of a man that he is the child of God can it fall out otherwise Here the Iesuits and other Papists do fret and murmure The holy Ghost say they can not lye but how can any man assure himselfe that the holy Ghost doth beare record vnto his spirit that he is the childe of God Doth not euerie sect of heretikes boast that they haue the spirit of God is it not then their priuate fantasticall spirit which they are led by For answere vnto this first let all men rightly consider whether these Papistes doe not flatly gainesay the holy Apostles S. Iohn saith it is the spirite that