pleasures of it too well Demas forsooke the truth to embrace the present world Iudas by the same corrupt affection fell from the Apostleship Ioh. 12.41 Many chiefe Rulers beleeved Christ but durst not confesse him because of the Pharises for they loved the praise of men more than God Oh that we did not so cleerely see the strength of this lett in these dayes wherein so many baulke the way of holinesse and fall backe almost to open profanesse because they neither see many men nor great men yeeld approbation or countenance to such strict courses 2. Shunne lewd society and familiarity with profane persons if we would not fall from our owne stedfastnesse 2 Pet. 3.17 18. there is not more strength in any infectious pestilencious ayre to poyson the body than in this poysoned ayre to kill the soule Society with gracelesse men is a very blasting of grace fire is not more apt to burne than we to learne their wayes 4. The labour and paines of holinesse and mortification makes many weary of the good way but consider it is not in vaine to serve the Lord and there is profit in walking humbly before him thy paines shall be abundantly recompenced a small measure of holinesse with an upheaped measure of happinesse Every man will be contented to swallow much paines for a little earthly profit and is the state of heaven worth no labour 5. Persecutions drive many away much seed which comes up faire when the sunne of persecution ariseth withereth away But against this wisdome must cast the costs and prepare to defray the charges of this great building and the same Sunne that dries and burnes up the shallow seede shall set and ripen ours Many heare holinesse reviled and spoyled of her vaile and value they heare this sect every where spoken against and would as farre forget themselves as Peter to heare that voice Thou art one of them and perhaps renounce Christ and profession and all for if even the very Disciples of Christ and all they leave him and fly when afflictions comes neare Matth. 26.56 what marvell if they that want soundnesse shrinke in the wetting 1. But here remember and looke upon Christ Heb. 12.2 who endured such speaking against of sinners not for himselfe but for thee lest thou be weary 2. Hee that is now ashamed of Christ Christ will one day be ashamed of him and then he that will no◠beare the reproach of a blast of words for him shall be filled with an everlasting reproach before men and Angells 3. Sound judgement esteemes it the greatest honour to be highly dishonoured for Christ and his causes Matth. 5.12 Blessed are yee when men revile you and speake all manner of evill against you for my sake rejoyce and be glad great is your reward in heaven Object I could better endure mens words but I shall also sustaine great losse if I should be so precise I should lose my custome trading and profits Answ. Wilt thou receive a religion and not know it to be truth or knowest it to be so and wilt not be ready to confesse and professe it according to thy place and calling even in the middest of the different conceits of men 2. The Saints knowing this to be truth did for it joyfully suffer the spoyling of their goods 3. Put together in the ballance the losse of the world and the losse of thy soule and consider whether is fitter to save if thou cāst not save both For the losse of the world is an abundant recompence promised by a sure pay-master but what recompence is there for the losse of the soule Matth. 16.26 Nay if thou shouldest venture and give thy life for thy profession if God call for it it is no lesse than thou oughtest who oughtest to strive unto blood Hebr. 12.4 and yet this greatest losse were the greatest gaine Thus to lose thy life is to save it and to save it in this case were to lose it III. Procure to our selves and exercise the helpes of perseverance and keepe them neere us as our continuall companions And for this end First let the word of God be deepely rooted in our hearts for this is a speciall preservative from declining Psal. 119.102 I declined not from thy statutes for thou didst teach me Now the word sundry wayes keepes us As first by inlightening us to see our way both to chuse the right way and decline the wrong Psal. 119.105 Thy law is a light and lanthorne to our paths Secondly by comforting and incouraging us in the good way Rom. 15.4 Through consolation of the Scripture wee receive our hope Thirdly by preventing sinne in us Psal. 119.11 I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sinne Fourthly by keeping out of sin and redressing our way Psal. 119.9 Secondly labour to preserve in thee a love of grace and holinesse let thy scope be in all the meanes of holinesse to gaine not knowledge and illumination onely but sound affection also to grow up in this as well as in that For first as a tree low and deepe rooted is stablished and continued in fruitfulnesse so when faith and grace is deepely rooted in the affection of the heart there will be perseverance Secondly it is not good words good actions or good knowledge that holdes out but good affections will Thirdly what other is the cause of so generall backsliding in the world which is the proper punishment of not receiving the truth in the love of it 2 Thess. 2.11 Thirdly feare God This is a wellspring of life to make us escape the snares of death Prov. 14.27 and 19.23 Anchora mentis pondus timoris Feare holds the heart steady as the anchor the shippe and joyne thy selfe to such as feare God delight in such as excell in vertue and grace these are able to encourage strengthen direct uphold raise and comfort thee in thy difficulties wearinesse and weaknesse and set thee forward not by their gifts onely but by their example Fourthly be instant in prayer for perseverance so our Text teacheth for it is the Lord that both beginneth and finisheth his owne worke hee not onely sets us in the way but leades us in the way and at length brings us into Canaan Fifthly looke still to the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ as a good servant hold thy selfe in expectation of the appearing so the Text Luke 12.36 Blessed is that servant whom the Master shall finde so doing Doest thou expect him from heaven and is not thy conversation there doest thou expect his comming in glory and meetest not him in grace lookest thou for him as thy head and wilt thou not as a member holde an happy union and fellowship with him expectest thou thence a Saviour and continuest thou not unto the end seeing onely such shall be saved Matth. 10.22 Now the motives to the meanes of perseverance First this is a true signe of a true friend of God who loves at all
of darknesse and translated us into the kingdome of his deare Sonne from kingdome to kingdome from an eternall state of death to an eternall state of life and glory 2. Gods eternall love is hidden with himselfe till effectuall calling discover it And hence it seemes to be called a calling according to purpose not onely as flowing from it but also declaring that whosoever are thus called God purposeth eternall good to them and they may know it shall be made good to them because this purpose is infallible and immutable 3. Effectuall calling is a giving of man by God to Christ to save Ioh. 6.37 Every one that the Father giveth unto me commeth unto me and him I cast not out If then thou knowest thou art once given to Christ thou knowest thy salvation For this calling of God is without repentance Rom. 11.29 this gift is never cast away 4. A man naturally ariseth from the effect to the cause from the fruite to the roote from the streame to the fountaine then in like sort may a man conclude of Gods eternall love by effectuall calling which is a fruite of that roote a streame of that fountaine of predestination to eternall life And whereas wise men may by likely meanes judge of the end much more may a Christian by the infallible meanes judge of the certaine end God leading him by this meanes to the principall end which nothing can frustrate seeing all things fall out to the best to them that are thus called according to purpose Rom. 8.28 5. As in the Law he that had first fruites might expect the harvest so he that is effectually called hath begun his salvation already hee hath begun the heavenlyâ—life upon earth Iohn 3.36 He that beleeveth hath eternall life and is translated from death to life And as the earnest penny confirmes the whole bargaine amongst men so the earnest of the Spirit gives us assurance of full holinesse and full happinesse because he that hath begun a worke of grace in us will performe and finish it to the day of Christ Phil. 1.6 And this reproves not Papists onely who deny that a man may be sure of his salvation without extraordinary revelation but even Protestants who resolve never to trouble themselves about it they will leave all to God and will not enter into his councell but rest in a good opinion and ungrounded hope in which if it happen well they have well But what a folly is this For first What man in any outward title or tenure will content himselfe with uncertainties if he may be certaine of a good estate we would hold him a man distracted that would offer to claime and hold house and land without evidences and conveyances Is any man richer because he dreames he is rich So to dreame of the wealth of grace enricheth none Secondly What is the use of the whole Gospell but to be Gods embassage certifying us of his free grace in electing and saving us what other use than to bring us peace of conscience through justification of faith and what peace without assurance 1 Iohn 5.13 These things have I written unto you that beleeve that yee may know you have eternall life So as the end of all Scripture is not onely to know that there is an eternall life but that beleevers have it Thirdly Why are wee commanded to give all diligence to make our election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 if it be either needelesse or impossible When Christ commands us to rejoyce that our names are written in the booke of life doth he not imply that a man may know it and convince us that the want of this joy is by our owne default Fourthly a man neglecting or despising this comfortable assurance perverts the whole Ministery Doest thou pray for remission of sinnes and not beleeve it thy prayer is a dead carcasse Doest thou professe in the Creed thou beleevest remission of thy sinnes and by not caring to beleeve it give the lie to thy profession Doth the word preached command thee to beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ and that thy Redeemer liveth who loved thee and gave himselfe for thee and wilt thou sticke in an idle conceit as if it were needlesse to wade into this deepe Are the Sacraments but as seales set to blankes without this assurance and is it yet needlesse Doth the Apostle say that hee that knowes not that Iesus Christ is in him is a reprobate and is it an idle or a needlesse thing to prove it 2 Cor. 13.5 Quest. But where may I come to this assurance Answ. We send not men to poare upon the doctrine of predestination nor to soare up to heaven to pry into Gods councell But thus Looke downe into thy selfe examine if thou beest effectually called see what God hath done in thee and so maist thou judge what he will further doe in thee and for thee This is indeede an hard taske and requires all diligence which the Apostle Peter calls for unto it For 1. Satan seeks to plucke from us this comfort of our lives both before our calling causing us either to shut our eare from the voice or by picking and pulling the seede out of the heart by carnall distractions and objections And after our calling perswading men all is deceitfull or vaine God is not at peace with them nor they with him 2. Most men rest in generall outward calling which is ineffectuall 3. But chiefly the likenesse of outward ineffectuall calling unto it makes it harder to be discerned Quest. Wherein is the likenesse betweene effectuall and ineffectuall calling Answ. First by ineffectuall calling a man may come to the feast and sit downe at Gods table as the unworthy guest did may seeme one of the friends of Christ may make shew of answer to the call in respect of outward profession and conformity to the doctrine when the heart answers not nor resolves to answer Deut. 5. The people came to Moses and said Whatsoever the Lord commandeth that will wee doe But the Lord said Oh that there were such an heart in them If the call were denied or fairely excused and put off as some of the guests did this were more discernable But many come in among true worshippers and bring in lampes and some oyle and are the more hardly discerned Because as the same Sunne earth raine roote moisture brings up the chaffe as doth the wheat so the same meanes of word and Sacraments nourish the hypocrite which doth the sound hearted Christian. Secondly by ineffectuall calling a man may come to a great measure of knowledge of the word to consent to the truth of it may preach it yea soundly handle it for the conversion and saving of others may preach it in the name of Christ that is for his glory and by his grace Many of those that preached in the name of Christ shall come in the last day and challenge acquaintance of him to whom he shall say I never knew you
Iesus to himselfe and whereas the Apostle saith There is no other name given under heaven whereby to be saved hereby every man hath a name to save himselfe 2. That damnable Idol of the Masse wherein as they say Christ is offered by the Priest for the sinnes of the quicke and dead what is it else but an utter renouncing of Christs owne and onely oblation arguing it to be imperfect and an insufficient satisfaction For so the Apostle concludes against Leviticall Sacrifices Heb. 7.27 They were many because they were imperfect this is perfect therefore but one and once See chap. 9.26 3. Their unholy Order of Priesthood and sacrificing shavelings what else doth it but wage battel against the Priesthood of Christ which being after the Order of Melchizedeck is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and cannot passe from him to any other Heb. 7.23 24. There were many Priests because of their impotency but this man hath an everlasting Priesthood therefore needes no successour on earth nor had none as they had 4. The maine pillar of Popery which stands on the Popes headship over the Church how dishonourable is it to Christ who being every where present by his Spirit and grace is implied thereby to be absent and to stand in neede of a Vicar Besides it makes the deare Spouse of Christ a Monster having two heads being but one body Besides the infinite constitutions of this supposed head cleane contrary to the lawes and government of the one and onely lawfull head and King of his Church Iesus Christ. 5. Their Doctrine of unwritten Traditions which are pari pietatis affectu to be received with the written word how manifestly doth it dishonour the Propheticall office of Christ How could he be the onely true Prophet if hee left halfe the will of his Father unrevealed but lapt up in obscure Traditions How could he satisfie his Propheticall office if he deteined from his Church some Doctrine needful for her to know How was he faithfull in the house of God as a Sonne if he came behind Moses his servant who brought a perfect patterne from the Mount for the direction of the smallest things in the Tabernacle How did he teach us all things when he came as Ioh. 4.25 if the Church may still coyne new Articles of faith as Scotus Before the Lateran Councell Transubstantiation was no Article of faith it seemes our Saviour left something alone for the Councell of Trent and the Lateran Councell to determine and that the Samaritan was deceived 6. Their blasphemous prayers to Saints Angels and Relikes how pull they men from the Mediatour who is but One and dishonour his Intercession which now he makes for the Saints while they have one prayer to Christ they have twenty to the Virgin What can be more blasphemous and more derogatory to his power and glory than to joyne with him in the administration of his kingdome the Virgin Mary that hee must dispense justice but she mercy yea in the omnipotent worke of his mediation saluting her and praying unto her by the title of Mediatrix hominum Mediatresse of men nay giving her a power farre above him Iure matris impera Command him in the right of a mother Thus our mighty God and Saviour is become an underling to a poore creature These can be no sound Doctrines which so dishonour the Sonne of God and spoyle him of his royalties as the souldiers did spoile him of his garments to whom the Father hath given a name above all names that all tongues should confesse him and all knees bow unto him So much for the fourth Rule Fifthly that is the soundest Doctrine which most restraines corrupt nature and fleshly affections Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God hath appeared teaching us to deny ungodlines and worldly lusts which is the maine intendment of the discovery of grace a maine fruit of the Gospell is the crucifying of the flesh with the lusts and a mortifying of our members upon earth which of all things a carnall man cannot brooke Therefore in all differences of Doctrines observe which of them presseth most precise obedience to Gods will which of them gives least toleration to the least offence of God which of them is most unpleasant and unsavoury to the nature of man which of them most boulsters and gives liberty to naturall inclination and you have tryed the truth from errour For example The whole Doctrine of Popery how pleasing is it to the nature of man seeing there is nothing in it but a naturall man may performe it without any speciall grace of regeneration which indeede is the chiefe cause why a great part of the world is taken with the love of it 1. What a deale of paines cuts it off in reading studying and meditating on the Scriptures while it teacheth that Ignorance is the mother of devotion and it is lost labour which is spent on the Scripture and while they burne the Scriptures as formerly wicked King Ahaz did or Antiochus or Maximinus calling them the Heretickes Bookes so as a man may truly say that the Papists hate the Bible as a theefe hates the gallowes This is farre easier than to call after knowledge and cry after understanding to seeke her as silver and to search as after treasures 2. How can there be devised a more easy faith and sooner got than confusedly to beleeve as the Church beleeves without any distinct knowledge or faith of their owne A faith got without all paines and of which we may well say It is worth nothing because it is had for nothing a faith wherein they never neede to looke to the essentiall markes and sound growth of it This is sooner done than to proove a mans owne selfe whether he be in the faith or no. 3. How doth it please nature to magnifie nature to deny it to be so corrupt and dead as it is but halfe dead as the man betweene Iericho and Ierusalem to tell it it hath good preparations and abilities of it selfe to conceive and practise much good and with a little helpe it can keepe the Law and come out of Gods debt What man wanting grace would not finde something in nature to bring before God to bring himselfe into request by For every naturall man is a Iusticiary Wheras our Rule saith that it is a new creation which is of nothing and a quickening where no life of grace was yea a death in sinnes and trespasses and not a recovery as out of a swoone 4. How pleasing is it to nature to be tolde and taught that no paines is required to keepe the heart nor to resist the first motions to evill which they say are not evill that some sinnes are veniall in their nature put away with a light sigh a knocke on the breast or an Ave Mary that a man may lie in sport or officiously for his advantage and if hee steale a small thing it is
Gods part as well as their owne When Minâ—sters are diligent in doctrine careles in life they hold some good but not all Private men that carry themselves soberly and civilly and are fully content with the name of honest men holde some good but they reforme not their family nor walke religiously in the midst of their houses and so are farre from holding all good This is in matter of practise So in matter of judgement The truth and every part of it is our birth-right saith Cyprian wee must not lose a foote of it but hold the least truth Many hold fast the maine grounds and articles of religion but in things of lesser moment are altogether regardlesse as Bishop Latimer thought at first that the cause of the Sacrament was rather to be dissembled than suffered for but considering better that hee must holde all that is good himselfe happily suffered in it Nay we must not onely hold truth in sense but even the words wherein the Spirit of God hath conveyed it to us not departing easily from them for wee shall finde what great mischiefe hath oppressed the Church by taking liberty to depart from the very words of Scripture and in stead of them using other improper speeches to expresse the same thing As for example The Fathers used to expresse the Pastors of the Church by the name of Priests whereupon the Romish Church builds and backes her order of Priesthood Doctour Fulke in his sixth chapter of his defence of the translation against Gregory Martin hath these words It is a folly to thinke that a sacrificing office externall can be established in the new Testament which never calleth the Ministers thereof Sacerdotes or Priests They often call the Table of the Lord an Altar and the celebration of the Supper a Sacrifice and gave a reasonable good sence but had they kept to the words of the Scripture they had prevented much mischiefe springing thence For the Romanists make advantage of their speeches wrested out of their sense to set up that blasphemous doctrine of the sacrifice of the Masse And the word Masse what Papist knowes whence it comes being neither Hebrew Greeke nor Latine nor taken from any other language of any Nation but raked out of the bottomlesse pit without all signification unlesse it agree with our English word masse that is an heape a lumpe a chaos of blasphemies and abominations The like of the word Pope a strange unknowne and mysticall name the learned Papists knew it not but confounded themselves in the Etymologie of it some from Pape the interjection of admiration some from Papa which Latine children used to call their fathers by answering to our infants dad some from the Romane abbreviation of Pater Patriae expressed by pa pa and a pricke betweene some from the Siracusans word Papas signifying a father Such follies and ridiculous and childish dotages are they faine to wander in to seeke and finde their holy father the Pope who as himselfe is a beast rising out of the earth in whose forehead is written MYSTERIE so his name is mysticall and from men not from heaven not from the Scriptures yet is the name as ancient as Cyprian and used by the Fathers Wherein we may see how dangerous it is as Beza observes to decline from the word an hayre-breadth and not to hold all that is good even the least An arrow set a little awry at first makes a great errour before it fall at the marke How happy had it beene if the ancient Fathers otherwise godly and learned men had held them to the very names termes and proper words of Scripture rather than by departing therefrom have opened a flood-gate to Antichrists delusions who as Satan creepes in the darke and getting in his toe will shove in his bulke for give sinne an inch it will take an ell and so of the Man of sinne 4. Rule Hold most carefully the chiefe good things for so men doe in earthly matters Now there be three things worth most care in keeping 1. Gods favour presence and loving countenance Psal. 4. Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us let others keepe corne and wine keepe thou this feare sinne most of all as that which would most dangerously robbe thee 2. Thine owne sincerity uprightnesse and first love Iob 27.6 I will never lose my innocency till I die 3. The Crowne of life is promised to him that is faithfull to death Hold the kingdome fast in the meanes and so strive as thou maist obtaine As the Martyrs who apprehended it through fire and flames 5. Rule Hold all that is good stiffely and stoutly against with-holders and opposers for a man shall never hold good if he doe coldly approove it Hold it as one firmely glued to it for so the word signifies Rom. 12.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cleave to that which is good things glued are not easily disjoyned God hath by this phrase glued every Christian to every truth in judgement and practise and no man must separate himselfe from it Tit. 1.9 Holding fast the faithful word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against gain-sayers Take hold with both hands against hereticks tyrants false-teachers flatterers that have laid hold to snatch it from us or as men in perill of drowning lay fast hold upon any thing they can catch to save themselves and will not let it goe 6. Rule Hold the truth constantly to the death whatsoever the issue be Rev. 2.25 Hold fast that thou hast till I come as the renowned Saints and Martyrs who have rather parted with their lives than their depositum 2 Tim. 1.14 Let us therefore labour to see into every truth and seeing it let us hold it As that famous souldier Cynegrius held the shippe first with his right hand till that was cut off then with his left hand till hee lost that too and last of all with his teeth till his head and body were severed So let us resolve every one with himselfe That which I see to be good I will holde it so long as I live or breathe my hands my heart and soule shall cleave unto it I will carry it to heaven with me The second thing proposed is the meanes of holding that which is good I. If wee would hold things approoved to be good let us avoid carefully such things as would hinder us in holding them And they are of two sorts 1. Some shut out good things 2. others thrust them out or choake them The former are 1. Presumption of our owne wisdome and knowledge Humility stands porter at the doore of discipline Psal. 25.9 God teacheth the humble Ier. 13.15 Heare and give eare and be not proud Men of conceits will heare whom they list but an humble man will receive good even from the meanest though it be an earthen vessell Naaman from his servant and Iob from his hand-maid 2. Distempered affections as rash conceit
how necessary it is to begin and end our Ministery and Sermons with prayer to God who is all our sufficiency The Apostles begin and end their doctrine and Epistles with prayer and haue not wee more neede I know not what pride of selfe-sufficiency or whether profanesse shut the hearts and cover the mouthes of many Preachers who are almost ashamed to pray for this blessing nay reproach and scorne them which doe Sure I am whether he shall doe more good to others by his prayers or preaching I will not determine but hee shall certainely by his prayers reape more comfort to himselfe And he that neglects prayer with his preaching may well be suspected that he more aymes at his owne glory than Gods Let people also joyne willingly and conscionably in their Ministers prayers which strive for a blessing upon themselves and importune God who makes his Sunne shine upon the just and unjust to let the Sun of grace shine into their hearts saying O Lord if thou build not the house it shall never stand as those that waite for all successe from God It is recorded that Pope Adrian having built a stately Colledge at Lovaine did set in golden letters on the gate this poesie Trajectum plantavit ibi natus Lovanium rigavit ibi literas didicit Caesar dedit incrementum ex praeceptore Cardinalis factus One tooke a pen and wrote under Hic Deus nihil fecit Now to the prayer it selfe where we have to consider 1. To whom the Apostle prayeth The very God of peace 2. For what he prayeth in two particulars 1. For full sanctification 1. In generall sanctifie you throughout 2. In a speciall enumeration of parts spirit soule body 2. For finall sanctification untill the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. First of the person to whom our Apostle prayeth the very God of peace Consider here three things 1. Why he useth this Attribute peace 2. What is the peace here meant 3. How he is the God of peace 1. This is not an idle epithite but well fitted to the matter in hand because our Apostle had in verse 13. exhorted them to peace among themselves and hath in all the precepts hitherto directed them how to uphold both outward peace vers 14 15. and inward peace from the 16. to this verse And he notably in this title confirmes their faith and strengthens their prayers that so long as they aske nothing but things pertaining to the peace of the Church and the peace of every mans conscience the God of peace will surely grant their requests See Rom. 15.13 14. Secondly What peace is meant Peace is threefold 1. Externall 2. Internall 3. Eternall 1. Externall which is nothing but an outward prosperity and tranquility in our outward estate and this is 1. In the Church when it hath rest from heresie schisme persecution and tyranny Acts 9.31 this is called the peace of Ierusalem which we must pray for Psal. 122.6 2. In the Common-wealth in the peace whereof we have peace when we are free from civill warre within and forreine enemies without Ier. 29.7 3. In the family and speciall places where we live which is a private agreement with all sorts of men good and bad so farre as may be Rom. 12.18 Have peace with all men 2. Internall and spirituall and this is the sweet quiet and comfort of conscience rising out of our assurance of our attonement with God through Iesus Christ and out of remission of sinnes by his blood which peace passeth all understanding Phil. 4.7 and in which the Apostle placeth the kingdome of God Rom. 14.17 3. Eternall which is the perfect rest peace joy and glory that the Saints shall enjoy in heaven Esay 57.2 Peace shall come but it is when we sleepe in our beds called Rom. 8.6 life and peace Our Apostle here aymes especially at the second kinde of peace which is a steppe and degree to the third For the third why is he called the God of peace Answ. First because hee hath the fountaine of peace in himselfe peace in him is as in a fountaine Secondly as the Author and communicatour of all peace unto us in all kindes As 1. In Church the peace of Ierusalem must be begged of him he stills all warres and maketh all stirrs in the Common-wealth to be husht and gone And it is hee that makes men dwell together in one house 2. He is authour and the God of eternall peace for eternall life is the gift of God 3. After a speciall manner is he the God of internall peace the peace of conscience at which our Text aimeth which is a quietnesse of minde and conscience through our reconciliation with God First because hee sent his Sonne 1. To merit it for us when wee lay in the horrour of an accusing conscience who is therefore called in himselfe Esa. 9.6 the Prince of peace and in respect of us our peace And therefore Ambrose expounds here the God of peace to be Christ himselfe If it be asked how Christ merited our peace the Apostle answereth Ephes. 2.15 16. He made peace by slaying hatred on the crosse by his perfect obedience overcomming and abolishing whatsoever God might hate in us 2. To preach and publish this peace and invite men unto it And that first in his owne person Esay 61.1 The spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach good tidings to the poore to binde up the broken-hearted to preach liberty to the captives c. And how this Prophecie was accomplished see Luk. 4.18 Secondly in the person of his Ministers Christ preacheth peace Ephes. 2.17 Christ came and preached peace to you which were farre off Object Why Christ never preached to the Ephesians Answ. Yes hee did in the persons of the Apostles and so now in the Pastors and Ministers of his Church to the end of the world Secondly because hee sent his Spirit to apply and seale this peace onely in the hearts of his elect therefore it is called a fruite of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 and the Spirit cryes in our hearts Abba Father chap. 4.6 He workes faith in the heart and so we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 and bold accesse to the throne of grace Eph. 3.12 This is that creating Spirit which creates the fruit of the lippes to be peace Esay 57.19 Thirdly because God doth not onely command and commend to us this peace but approoves and delights in it and no where else but there he sets up his throne and dwelling his Temple is in Ierusalem the vision of peace his Disciples must onely abide among the sonnes of peace Matth. 10. and much more doth himselfe How we are to looke upon God in our prayers First in all our prayers we are to behold him a God of peace labour to see him reconciled unto us And 1. this beholding of God reconciled gives us assurance of obtaining whatsoever is good for us 2. The sence of his infinite essence and power and
doe them Happy is that man that his conscience tells him that his will is now framed to Gods will and in regard of Evangelicall obedience which stands in true purposes and endeavours hee may say since the time of his calling unto the grace of the Gospell with the Apostle Acts 23.1 I have lived in all good conscience untill this day 3. It must be a peaceable conscience in that hee hath done or not done it is at peace with God and with it selfe This is when it excuseth the person aright both for his person and for his actions First for his person as now reconciled justified accepted Secondly his actions as having a true desire and endeavour to please God in all things Now the conscience being truly peaceable it riseth up to be truly joyfull which makes the heart merry and cheerefull as a continuall feast neither wants he any good cheare that hath it Prov. 15.15 Nor wants hee good company that hath a good conscience he can rejoyce alone without all other company or comforts The heart is held up in absence of all worldly comforts and in presence of all worldly evills and none can take away the joy of it 4. It must be a watchfull not a sleepy conscience a waking not a remorslesse conscience 1. It watcheth against all sinne both to be committed and as a faithfull monitor pulls the Master backe As also for sinne already committed and smites with remorse and biting as David I have done very foolishly Object But doth not a bad conscience shew some remorse after sinne what else did Iudas Answ. Yes but with this difference 1. A bad conscience hath some scratch on the outside and sometimes a deeper gash and an incurable wound but it never goes on to godly sorrow as a good conscience doth 2. It seekes not to the remedy but sinkes under the burden the wound bleedes to death as in Iudas Secondly a good conscience watcheth to all good duties and occasions desirous to please God in all things and at all times according to the conscience enlightened This pure clearing peaceable and waking conscience is necessary to an unblameable and renewed spirit Thirdly seeing the true evidences of the purenesse and holy temper of the spirit are holy and well guided thoughts wee must carefully looke to our thoughts and cogitations Here 1. Choose them so as thou be sure thy heart be a receptacle of holy thoughts examine them whence they come and whither they goe and by examination thou shalt finde some vaine and evill thoughts these thou must hate all of them Psal. 119.113 And if thou hatest them put away the evill of your thoughts and Ier. 4.4 Let the wicked forsake his thoughts knowing that evill thoughts are as damnable as evill actions Acts 8.22 pray if thy thoughts may be forgiven which implies guilt Some thou shalt finde wandering roving thoughts which must be taken up as vagrants and corrected lest as Dinah thou be defiled and corrupted with fleshly lusts passe them away quickly Some other thou shalt find idle thoughts but unnecessary send them away harbour no idle thoughts nor yet cast them out without censure and disgrace Some are perhaps lawfull but lesse necessary put these of till another time that the more necessary may take up the roome Some are unruly thoughts rising up against against God or men thoughts of infidelity of revenge dishonourable thoughts against Gods servants and ordinances all such disordered and proude thoughts must be brought into the subjection of God 1 Cor. 10.4 2. Watch them well being so infinite so quick and nimble and in so secret a place being also so slippery so soone interrupted and corrupted by idlenesse by society loosenesse of senses roving of affections unallowed objects therefore set a sharpe eye upon them and seeing that will not serve bring them under Gods eye keepe them close to God for as the husbands eye and presence is the best way to preserve the wives chastity so the heart betrothed to God carrying it selfe in his sight is not easily polluted with strange and uncleane lusts To enforce this watch know it differenceth from an hypocrite First an hypocrite can watch over words and actions in respect of man but a godly man watcheth over his thoughts onely the true sanctified man makes conscience of the tenth commandement for the government of his thoughts and desires Secondly it differenceth from a wicked man who dare not act many evils but none so foule but hee dare insatiably minde and contemplate them Here is a difference whereas wicked men are most carelesse of their thoughts the godly have most complained of them Rom. 7. and then have beene most truly comforted in them whiles the conscience of thoughts hath beene a true triall of their sincerity 3. Labour to feede thy thoughts 1. with the sweetest 2. with the most necessary objects First the sweetest objects are heavenly things Col. 3.1 Seeke the things which are above Iesus Christ and his merits the happinesse of heaven and the chiefe good which is God himselfe O how might the minde be fed and ravished with these contemplations what sweetnesse might a man sweeten and season the dayes of his vanity withall if he would minde heavenly things and thinke on the way thither Is it not a description of ancient beleevers to thinke on his name Mal. 3.16 Secondly the most necessary profitable thoughts are 1. to thinke often of our sinnes both to call to minde some sinne past unrepented as also to prevent some sinne thrusting in 2. To thinke on good duties to excite to some duty neglected and to apprehend occasion and season of some offered unto us 3. Of the vanity of this life and our departure hence 4. Of Gods comming to judgement and our finall account and reckoning Prov. 14.22 To them that thinke on good things shall be mercy and truth Now whereas some thinke thoughts free and others conceit liberty and impossibility and most no necessity of this guiding the conscience and thoughts To them I say First as thoughts be so are words and actions out of the heart commeth thefts adulteries therefore rectifie these Secondly good thoughts are evidences of the Spirits presence being his immediate motions wee of ourselves not able to thinke one good thought 1 Cor. 2.5 Thirdly God will call them to strict account and in judgement make inquisition after them their thoughts shall accuse or else excuse one another Rom. 2.15 Fourthly even good thoughts are recompenced David had but a thoughts to build the house of God and God rewarded it with building him an house and stablishing him a kingdome 2 Sam. 7.16 and Psal. 32. I thought I would confesse my sinne and thou forgavest me all The Prodigall thought to returne and his father thought to meete him Thus carry thy thoughts begin the day with holy thoughts and meditations which is a sweete seasoning In the night call them in to thinke of God
yours As for me I and my house will serve the Lord. And Lot in the midst of a naughty generation did not follow that patterne but walked alone in his owne way Eliah stood alone for the worship of God and in Iohn 11. Mary desired that her sister would come and sit with her at Christs feete but she will sit downe alone if Martha will not so a good heart will if it can get company to heaven and be glad of it but if it cannot it will goe alone But a false heart will looke at rulers at rich men at safety among men at lawes at multitudes and cannot abide the reproach of singularity Fourthly see thy heart be well watched for it will soone be bowed away from God 1. Suspect the deceit of it for it is deceitfull above all things Ierem. 17.9 therefore thou must looke well to it and to the flipperinesse of it it will deceive thee else deale with it as with an untrusty fellow set a watchfull eye over him to keepe him from his flippery trickes 2. Watch it in the first motions of sinfull thoughts for these being admitted defile the man and make him justly blameable Matth. 15.18 Consider that a godly man is said to have right thoughts Prov. 12.5 and that his desires are onely good chap. 11.23 not that his heart is quite empty of evill motions and desires but hee resists and fights against them he hates them and repents of them and God imputes them not 3. Watch it in the least sinnes as well as in the greatest for he that is unjust in the least is unjust in much a pilferer will easily purloyne a greater booty Yea watch it well not onely in sinnes that bring no benefit but in those that are somewhat beneficiall not onely in things our inclinations or occasions carry us not unto but those which run with the streame of nature Herod will doe many things but leaves not Herodias Iehu destroyes Baal but not the calves for that was now dangerous hee feared the people and walked for all this in Ieroboams sin that set them up 4. Because thy watch is not sufficient set it under Gods watch keepe thy heart in Gods presence set thy selfe still in his sight and thou shalt not sinne Shall I doe this saith Ioseph and sinne against God Walke with God as Henoch did and avoid blame Fifthly let thy heart be a right ordered heart carried in the wayes of God and this will leade the whole mâ—n in the same way To this purpose 1. Get the law written in thy heart Psal. 119.3 Blessed are they that keepe his testimonies they worke no iniquity Ierem. 32.40 I will write my law in their hearts and they shall not depart from it Keep the word and it shâ—ll keepe thee The Lord having written his Law in Tables made choyce of the Arke to lay up the same in Exod. 25 1â— but this Arke must be laid with pure golde within and without signifying that the proper place to lay the word in is a sincere heart both within and without any other but this will shut it out one time or other 2. Thou must see thy heart holde and hide all the commandements Psal. 119.6 Then shall not I be confounded when I have respect to all thy commandements It is a generall sinne of men they desire to have the word framed and fitted to their desirable and unprofitable lusts but thou must come to the light as one carefull to get a word for every action and as one submitted to the whole forme of doctrine delivered 3. Frame thy heart to the word and never seeke to have the word framed to thy heart So Ely 1 Sam. 3.18 The word of the Lord is good it was not fitted to his heart being a lamentable prediction of his owne ruine and the ruine of his posterity But yet he fitted his heart to it And so did Abraham to the difficult commandement Goe and sacrifice thy sonne So Hezekiah 2 Kings 20.19 Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken when he was threatned by the Lord for his pride he frameth his heart unto the word and acknowledgeth it good Now for the second faculty and that is the will And because a perverse will upheapeth the measure of sinne and blame and there is no sinne we commit which is not a preferring of our owne will before Gods therefore it is impossible that any man should keepe his soule without blame unlesse hee set a narrow watch round about his will to keepe it in some order and frame with the most righteous will of God For which end our wills 1. must be denied 2. renewed 3. freed 4. framed unto God 1. Our wills by nature are crooked and rebellious the naturall will is not subject to God nor can be so long as it is naturall Now the cure of the crooked will is to deny it and captivate it to the will of God in all things let our wills loose to themselves they will be sure to approove improove chuse and refuse cleane contrary to God And therefore as he that must set up a frame must carry away the rubbish so must hee deny his owne will that must frame to Gods who commandeth Honour mee by not doing your owne wills 2. They must be renewed else shall a man still fulfill the will of the flesh And it is not in us to will till the Lord worke first the will and then the deede so that grace now must guide thy will as nature hath formerly swayed it 3. They must be freed Voluntas est libera quatenus liberata They are chained to unrighteousnesse and when the Sonne sets us free we are free indeede and till this time we are servants of sinne whose wills are not their owne but their masters we must every day seeke more freedome to good and get grace against the bondage under evill Rom. 7.25 4. They must be framed that there may be but one will betweene God and us that wee may say feelingly Thy will be done This is when the will determines every thing with God and for God both in matter of faith and obedience First in matter of faith and repentance If the will of God in the Gospell require repentance of sinne and to beleeve in Iesus Christ let thy will determine now with and for God bewaile thy sinne beleeve the promises cast thy selfe upon Iesus Christ claspe the promises against reason as Abraham did in receiving his sonne Secondly in matter of obedience both active and passive 1. Active If the Law require duties to be done to God or man there God expresseth his will frame now thy will to such duties be they never so difficult as Abraham in sacrificing his sonne never so dangerous as Daniel in praying to the God of heaven even under the sentence of death 2. Passive in any crosse or affliction upon thy selfe or others when God reveales his will
Spirit renewes us onely within and not without doth he make us beleeve as Christians and not live as Christians doth the sappe and juice of a tree onely quicken it within and not cause it produce fruites outwardly Thou hast not received the Spirit of Christ if it be not unto thee life unto righteousnesse Rom. 8.10 that is make thee lively and active in all the wayes of godlinesse Faith is not as a light under a bushell therefore shew mee thy faith by thy workes Grace is as a light in a cleare lanterne which from within enlighteneth without Now the rather must we labour for renovation without as well as within 1. Because flesh and blood unrenewed shall not enter into heaven 2. The disorder of the outward man and members argue a sinfull and disordered soule seeing the body is but a servant of the soule and doth nothing but by the Masters direction and appointment an evill eye issueth from an evill minde and a corrupt tongue moveth according to the abundance of the heart 3. No outward deformity is comparable to this of sinne in the members which makes the body to God indeed vile and contemptible as a dead and loathsome corpes is to man Fourthly to keepe the outward man blamelesse beware of all unchastity and impurity of body and on the contrary watch unto chastity and civill honesty 1 Cor. 6.13 The body is not for fornication but for Christ the Lord and the Lord for the body That is the body is ordained for the Lords use and ought to be imployed to his glory And the Lord for the body to redeeme and sanctifie the body as well as the soule and consequently to rule the body and command that as well as the soule being the Lord of the body as well as of the soule And the same Apostle saith the body is a member of Christ as well as the soule Shall I take a member of Christ and make it a member of an harlot verse 15 Can any thing be more opprobrious unto Christ than to transforme him into an harlot Can any thing derogate more from his glory and majesty or be more contrary to his most holy nature Againe Christs body was Gods Temple Ioh. 2.21 Destroy this Temple because the Deity dwelt in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bodily and of this Temple Salomons Temple was but a type So thy body is Christs Temple in which he dwells by his Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 virtually Now the light of nature teacheth to preserve Temples pure and cleane but grace much more to preserve spirituall Temples cleane and holy And therefore as Christ when he went into his Fathers Temple made a whip and whipped out buyers and sellers and money-changers who had made his house a denne of theeves so doe thou in Christs Temple which is thine owne body beate it downe and overthrow the wanton and stragling corruptions of it whip out those roving lusts which make the house of Christ as a denne of harlots and filthinesse Coloss. 3.5 Mortifie your earthly members fornication uncleannesse and all inordinate affections Eph. 5.3 But fornication and all uncleannesse let it not once be named as becommeth Saints The fifth Rule Magnifie Christ in thy body both by life and death this was the Apostles care Phil. 1.20 As alwayes so now Christ shall be magnified in my body Thy body is mortall fraile fading yea a vile body Col. 3.21 yet in this body Christ will and must be magnified Quest. How Answ. 1. By keeping the heavenly treasure of the knowledge of God and the attendant graces in these earthly vessels as Paul 2 Cor. 4.7 We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power might be of God 2. By holding out the word of life and carrying the name of Christ in an holy undaunted and constant confession and profession in the place where thou livest as Paul did through the world 3. By expressing in this frail body not the doctrine only but the life of Iesus Christ conforming thy selfe to his blessed example in humility holinesse charity piety patience and other vertues that all men may see and say surely this man is a member of Christ he lives the life of Christ he resembles the patterne 4. In this weake body of thine carry about the mortification of Christ Iesus 2 Cor. 4.10 suffer afflictions for the name of Christ and beare in thy body as Paul did the markes of the Lord Iesus Gal. 6.17 fulfill in thy body the rest of the sufferings of Christ carry the badge of a true Disciple yea if God call thee offer up thy body and life a thankfull sacrifice not in life onely but unto death if thereby thou maist magnifie Iesus Christ. Thus did the faithfull Saints and Martyrs offering themselves the sweetest sacrifice of all others Yea our Lord himselfe comming into the world Heb. 10.5 said Burnt offerings thou wouldest not have that is now after the comming of Christ but a body hast thou given me that in this my body I might offer that expiatory sacrifice of all which the other were but shadowes Even so say thou Burnt offerings God calls not for but he hath given me a body to offer unto him and give up unto him in life and death in way not of a Propitiatory but of an Eucharisticall sacrifice of praise thereby to magnifie his name 5. Thou magnifiest him in thy body when thou magnifiest him in his body as when thou admirest the graces of his servants honourest his members delightest in them that excell in vertue helpest and releevest the poore Saints all which he taketh as done to himselfe These are the generall Rules now of the speciall for speciall parts To keepe the severall parts of the body blamelesse the word is plentifull in severall precepts but especially injoynes a strait watch over the senses which are the windowes of the soule But that the discourse may not swell beyond a reasonable proportion I will onely cull out 1. two principall senses and 2. two principall organes and members of the body and give some short rules concerning them and in them we shall see it is no easie thing to keep the body blamelesse neither in them nor in the rest which I must be silent in The two senses are the sight and hearing the senses of discipline and the other two members are the hand and tongue the which being well ordered by the word much blame would be cut off from the lives of men which they now stand guilty of First for the eye to keepe it unblamable We must watch it well for you must know that of all the sciences there is none so quicke a messenger to the heart and soule as the eye by reason whereof it requireth a strait watch God hath given to the eye power to see every thing but cannot looke into it selfe and therefore hee hath given to man understanding that he may looke into himselfe by
thus 1. Because they have most neede to borrow 2. Because they are most liable to wrong and oppression 3. The commandement of Loane is made especially for their good 4. Vsurie on them is a more grievous sinne and crying Exod. 22.21 Object But if it were unlawfull God would forbid it to the stranger Sol. 1. The morall Law forbids it to all 2. It is by God dispensed with by a Iudiciall for the hardnesse of the hearts of the Iewes for the unjustice of the Gentiles who exacted it on the Iewes and for the overthrow of the Canaanites The word is Deut. 23.20 not Lemicro but Lamicro extranc◠huic that is to this stranger meaning the Canaanite 3. It is no more lawfull than Poligamy or a bill of divorce which was against the Institutor 4. When the Canaanites were destroyed all usury was afterward absolutely forbidden Psal. 15. and Prov. 28.8 Ierome on Lev. 18. In the Law usurie is forbidden onely to brethren but in the Prophets to all absolutely and in the Gospell much more because all are now brethren So much for the second Rule Thirdly in all doubtfull Doctrines that is the truth which gives most glory to God and least unto any creature for as God in all things intends his owne glory most which is the maine end of all his courses so doth his word which after a speciall manner resembleth himselfe This word so propoundeth all the frame of mans salvation from the lowest staire to the highest as God may have his glory in all 1 Cor. 1.29.31 That he that glorieth might glory in the Lord and that no creature migh◠share with him in his glory which he never would communicate to any other verse 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That no flesh might glory in his presence To apply this to particulars 1. The Church of Rome maintaines a Doctrine that Saints departed are to be invocated as Mediatours though not of redemption yet of intercession Wee affirme the contrary according to the Scripture Bring now this point to this tryall whether gives more glory to God and lesse to the creature we who affirme him to be a God hearing prayer who onely knowes the hearts of the sonnes of men and is omnipresent to heare and omnipotent to helpe all which are incommunicable Attributes of the Deity or they which against the Scripture robbe God of this part of his honour and bestow it on creatures which are not capable of it Isay 63.16 2. The same Church of Rome teacheth that to the justifying of a sinner before God is required not onely an imputed righteousnesse but an habituall righteousnesse which are workes of charity which makes a man of just more just Wee in this Doctrine of Iustification utterly exclude humane merit Now bring this different Doctrine to this Rule Whether gives more to God and lesse to the creature that Doctrine of Iustification by faith onely which utterly takes from man all that hee can thinke of to justifie himselfe withall and ascribes the whole worke of salvation from first to last unto God or that Doctrine which puffes up man in conceit of some righteousnesse in himselfe and takes from the Lord this honour to be Hee that justifies the ungodly And this is the Rule to which the Apostle brings the same Doctrine to be tryed Rom. 3.27 28. By what Law is boasting excluded Not by the Law of workes but by the Law of faith And because this Doctrine excludes all boasting hee concludes Therefore is a man justified by faith without the works of the Law See Rom. 4.2 3. The Church of Rome also maintaineth the Doctrine of humane satisfactions and enjoynes many penances to satisfie the justice of God for veniall sinnes Wee on the contrary teach that wee must every day pray for the pardon of our daily sinnes Now bring this different Doctrine to this Tryall Which gives more to God and lesse to the creature that which applies an infinite justice to God the violation of which must be made up by an infinite person or that which imputes to him an imperfect justice such as a sinfull man may satisfie and an imperfect mercy if our owne workes make not supply 4. The same Church teacheth and so the Church of the 〈…〉 that God hath elected all to salvation and Christ hath redeemed all and every particular man We according to the Scripture holde that God hath chosen onely heires of salvation and that Christ for his part redeemed not all particulars but all kindes for hee that would not pray for the world would not die for the world How shall we bolt out the truth Answ. Bring the Doctrine to this Rule Wee aske If God have elected and Christ have redeemed every particular man why is not every particular man saved Because say they God foresawe who would beleeve and who would not which is to make Gods election frustrate as electing such as hee foresaw would not beleeve as also dependant on the will of man and mans will to overrule Gods And not mans salvation to depend on Gods will and election than which nothing can be more dishonourable to the Majesty of God Rom. 9 19. Who ever resisted his will Adde hereunto that in the Doctrine of falling from grace Gods glory suffereth for thereby the seede of God loseth the glory of being incorruptible and Gods truth suffereth who saith it abideth for ever 5. The same Church teacheth according to their ordinary practise at this day that the Pope hath power to make lawes to binde the conscience hee hath power to dispence with lawfull oathes and untie the conscience which Gods law hath bound he hath power to dispense for marriages within degrees prohibited by God the like We deny any such power can agree to any mortall creature and holde it a tyrannicall usurpation Bring these and the like positions to this Tryall Whether gives more glory to God and lesse to the creature to acknowledge him the Lord of his owne Law onely above it or to set a Prelate not onely in his chaire of estate but above God who is able to reverse and abrogate his Lawes at his pleasure and to sit in the consciences of men which is the Lords owne and onely consistory That is the third Rule Fourthly all sound Doctrine directs and leades unto Christ magnifies and sets up Christ who is the end of the Law and Gospel and as Christ prooved the Iewes not to be of God because they dishonoured him the Sonne of God Iohn 8. So whatsoever Doctrine dishonours Christ cannot be of God And if we bring the whole body of Popery to this rule of Tryall it will appeare not to be of God 1. Their whole Doctrine of merits and humane satisfactions how doth it obscure the merit of Christ yea abolish the absolute satisfaction of Christ who hath paid the uttermost farthing This Doctrine makes Christ but a peece of a Saviour halfe a Iesus for every man must be a