chase away the cold and make it become fiery So death and sinne assaulting that person who was naturally and essentially life and holinesse they could not but be a 1 Cor. 15 54. swallowed vp in victory Thâ— stronger will preuaile againâ—â— the weaker Man hee must be as foâ—â— many other reasons so thâ— hee might haue right to râ—deeme vs. As in the old Tâ—stament b Leu. 25.25.48.49 Ruth 4.4 none had right 〈◊〉 redeeming any that wâ—â— falne but he that was of thâ— kindred of the deceased 〈◊〉 our Redeemer doth partaâ—â— in flesh and bloud with vs that hee thus becommingâ— neere kinsman hee migâ—â— haue right to worke our râ—demption and the qualification of his Person is madâ— the ground-worke of oâ—â— reconciliation insuing Thaâ— looke as great Kingdome diuided they will let the son and Heire of the one marry with the Daughter of the other and thus make a happie way for their reconcilement So the kingdome of heauen and men vpon earth being disunited it pleased the Father that his owne Sonne should by an indissoluble marriage of personall vnion ioyne himselfe into our Nature that by that meanes he might make way for the happy reconcilement of vs with himselfe First hence wee may see Vse 1 the great grace of God to vs whom he hath redeemed by Christ for whose sake hee was incarnate had he suffered his Sonne to haue taken that nature of our soules it had beene much but to assume that part of vs which we haue common with the bruite beast it was a most exceeding grace Kings in earth may grace some Familie and kindred in their kingdomes greatly by influence of their fauour by honouring them for nobilitie and honour is but the word of a Prince by bestowing reuenues and treasure on them and by calling them to authority But if a King should thinke this too little hee could doe no greater thing then to ioine himselfe iâ— marriage with some of that house For by this meanes hee should giue himselfe to them all in that one whom he had made one with himselfe Thus for the great God our Sauiour to shew fauour in communicating his Graces with vs is much but thus to bestow himselfe vpon vs is such grace as passeth all vnderstanding Secondly we see how we Vse 2 may come to finde God when wee would speake to him in prayer Wee must fixe that eye of Faith on this humane Nature of Christ in which the God-head doth dwell bodily that is personally and there speake as to our God For looke as when I see the body of a man there I know his spirit or reasonable Soule is also and therefore I speake to his vnderstanding when and where I see his body because they are not seuered So in like manner viewing by Faith that humane nature now glorious in heauen I there speake to the great God because I know hee is there personally vnited Vse 3 Hath God taken our nature to him Let vs then seeke to be made Partakers of the diuine nature I meane these diuine created qualities whereby we represent God Hee did to no other end condescend thus low as to take our nature but that he might thus lift vs vp to be partakers of his glory If the Prince should match in some meane familie of his Subiects and aske them nothing but that they would come to the Court and bee partakers of his glory Israel and Iosephes brethren went not vp to Aegypt more willingly then men would hearken to such an inuitement But the Sonne of God combining himselfe to vs doth no other thing â—hen inuite vs daily to partake in his glory but wee â—â—â—e a deafe eare to the â—â—ace offered Obserue further that Obser 2 Christ answered the Law for vs therefore is said to be made vnder the Law that hee might redeeme vs from the curse of it Gal. â— 4.5 to which we were subiect For Christ is not onely a Mediator who intreateth for vs but a surety also as Iudah did not only intreat for Beniamin Gen. 44.32.33 but did offer himselfe surety for him and Paul did not onely intreate for Onesimus Phile. 18. but vndertooke likewise as suretie to answere for him Where note against the Papists that the efficacie of his Mediatorship floweth from his suretishippe hee vndertaketh Now sureties wee know doe make themselues liable to answere the debt of those for whom they stand bound So Christ our surety did vndertake to answere whatsoeuer the Law could charge vs with and to discharge the penalty of it to the vtmost farthing Vse 1 Wherefore we see what a comfort this is to vs who are Christs If we did owe a hundreth pounds to know it were discharged would lighten and cheare vs but to know that Christ hath taken on him all our sinnes and borne the curse belonging to them this would much more refresh vs. Secondly Let vs all reâ—â—t Vse 2 to Christ Should Banâ—â—rupts heare of any that would answere their Crediâ—â—â—s for them they would quickly resort to him how much more shouldst thou who hast beene a Swearer vsed cursed banning and raiâ—â—ng speech who hast lied â—â—â—lne beene rebellious to thy Gouernours beene prophanely carelesse of all godâ—â—nesse drunke in sinne like water how much more shouldest thou resort to this Mediator and surety who will answere the debt of those that come to him by faith yea if any thing trouble vs who are Christs turne it ouer to him to answere for euen as women vnder couert-baron haue their Husbands to answer for them all suites that can bee commenced against them so haue wee Christ our Husband let vs then flee to him Obser 3 Obserue lastly that Christ hath satisfied Gods justice in our behalfe Gods reuenging iustice being stirred vp by mans sinne God did in the sacrifice that Christ offered smell a sauour of rest Gen. 8.21 and was pacified and contented This doth follow on the former for looke as a Creditor when he is paide that which is owing to him he then is at rest and hath that hee would haue so when Christ our Surety had paid as it were to Gods Iustice that punishment of the Law in which we stood indebted Gods reuenging Iustice is at rest holding it selfe contented If you doe one wrong pay him that which may counteruaile the wrong and hee is satisfied Thus wee by breaking the Ordinances of Gods iustice did wrong despising and dishonoring him whose appointment we transgressed but when we present to him in our selues or in our Suretie a condigne punishment vndergone in regard of that transgression then by due suffering we repay that honour of his which wee had violated by our vndutifull transgressing This was necessary for though God loued vs yet would hee not let the influence of his grace appeare in doing vs any good till first justice receiued contentment Gods iustice had put in a caution against vs God therefore willing to glorifie his grace yet not with any
come in it to the perfect stature which doth belong to vs thus hauing receiued the beginning of a diuine nature we must seeke the increase of it in vs. Our life is likened to a race now a race is but moderate in the beginning for hot at hand doth not alway speede best but the further we go the faster the neerer the goale our pace is most feruent so should all the course of our life bee a progresse to perfection Perfection in regard of sinne to be purged out in regard of grace to bee increased and strengthened in regard of our actions and operations For euen the things wee doe we must labour to doe them more fully we see in recouering health how wee are affected Somewhat better will not content a man though he can sit vp yet he dare not go foorth of his chamber when he dares go within the house into other roomes then oh if he could feele his stomacke if he go abroad and feele but faintnes oh if he could but walke in his accustomed strength thus we should be affected in receiuing spiritual strength from this sicknesse of sinne till we feele our selues inlarged to walke constantly and cheerefully before the Lord we should neuer bee at rest But alasse many of vs stand dwarfes in religion wee are affected like as young Schollers are to learning in seeking grace wee care not how little we haue but if we will not bee dead moles which grow a pace for a while and giue ouer quickly but liuing birthes in the wombe of the Church expecting to bee brought foorth in that kingdome of glory then let vs haue care a 2 Pet. 3.18 to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ Such as are no wiser at fiftie then they are at fifteene oh how we censure it in them Let not the same thing ouertake vs in the matters of God we had the more neede to striue it is no easie thing to out-wrastle a sicknesse beside the nature of sicknesse doth make men indisposed to resist it so doe our sinnes presse vs downe that without good resolution we shal not be able to deale against them What might we come to in Christ if wee would striue but oh a handfull with ease better keepe where we are with quiet we thinke then to make our condition by still dealing with our selues too too restlesse but where wee cease to go forward wee beginne to go backeward QVEST. X. 10. Q. HOw must we striue A. By a diligent vse of the meanes which GOD hath appointed for our increase in Faith and Repentance 1 Pet. 2.2 1 Thess 5.19.20 We haue neede to striue that grace may get vp and grow in vs. Hee who will haue a plant thriue in a ground dry barren and vnkindly for it must striue much because his soile will not doe further then it is forced so he that will make fire burne in greene moist wood must follow it with blowing thus to get Gods grace thriue in our natures which are as apt to the weedes of vice as auerse from euery true vertue hee must striue with them and offer violence to them But because if our striuing be not in a right course it will not be profitable therefore wee must not onely know that we are to striue but the order also in which we are to striue Now 3. things are in the answere First By vsing meanes Secondly vsing them diligently Thirdly the meanes are described which are thus to be vsed viz. Such meanes as God hath appointed to that end There is no endeauour to attaine any end further then it causeth an vse of meanes conducing thereto as there is no true desire and will to be rich where a man doth not vse some courses whereby he may gaine and lay vp and in time grow to a full state So there is no true willing or endeauouring to be rich in faith or grace further then there is an vse of those meanes which both worke it and increase it in vs. Looke as the first breeding and feeding vp this naturall man requireth vse of means so it is with the spirituall man there must be meanes vsed to bring him to being and continue him in being Wherefore such as care Vse 1 not for meanes may be wishers and woulders like Balaam but they haue no true will of obtaining grace and saluation He hath no mind to go to a place who wil not rise to stirre a foote thither when it is free for him if he would 2. Note that meanes must not onely be vsed but diligently a 2 Pet. 1.10 Giue diligence to make your calling and election sure b Heb. 6.12 Be not slothfull but striue through faith and patience to inherit the promises Hee who doth row against the streame must ply his oare or hee will go downe the streame so it is here we go against the stream of corrupt nature so farre as we go in grace Now this diligent vse standeth in vsing all the meanes priuate and publique If a Physician bidde one take three seuerall things he will not thinke it well to take one no more when God prescribeth hearing praying receiuing the Sacrament is it enough for vs to thinke it well if we do vse some one neglecting others As nature hath made nothing in vaine nor any thing for all purposes but one thing to one principall end so God hath ordained vs none of all the meanes for our soules in vaine and hee hath not made one of them sufficient to all vses but one to one purpose a second to another the ioynt number of them sufficient for our full and prosperous growth Wherefore as wee use not onely meate but drinke and exercise as wee haue care of our sleeping waking and passions that they may be ordered so as maketh for our health and thus vse the whole multiâ—ude of helps for our bodily health so must we for our soules also 2. The second point of diligence is wee must vse them with assiduity and conâ—â—ncie as occasions are ofâ—â—red For as our body neuer standeth long in a state but after one sustenance taken there is a present decay growing on vs of bloud and Spirits that within few houres we must vse meanes againe thus in our Spirits refreshed there is a decay not of the substance of grace but of the feruor alacritie strength wee feele which doth necessarily call vs to renue vse of meanes Againe though the word be immortall seed and therefore abideth which corporall food is not yet in this it is like to corporall food that looke as bodily food doth not put to the body all that substantiall strength and latitude which belongeth to it so the food of the word doth not at one time augment the soule with all length and depth of knowledge faith loue hope justice temperance which it is to bee brought vnto In which regard Soules hauing grace haue neede to go ouer with the vse of meanes as well as
and still continue the same courses Repent and bring foorth fruits worthy Repentance Math. 3.8 QVEST. V. 5. Q. WHENCE commeth this â—hange A. Chiefly from the sight and feeling of Gods mercy towards vs in Christ Luk. 7.47 1 Ioh. 4.19 The heart may be pricked with Repentance by the Law as I said before but this will but make it bleed inward and rancle more and more this is a sorrow to death The heart neuer commeth kindly to be pricked so as to breake out into confession dislike and true griefe for sin as it is a thing offending God till the loue of God come in some measure to be tasted by it a Zach. 12.10 I will poure out my spirit of grace and deprecation and they shall mourne b Mat. 3.7 repent for the kingdome of heauen is at hand We see some sturdy natures which with seuere hard courses are not stirred come ouer them with kindnes and they relent thus it is in the dissoluing of our hearts they neuer yeelde and relent till loue worke on them Looke as it is in the change of the earth all the stormie inclemencies of the Winter though they may cast it into diuers formes yet till the sun cause an influence of his sweete heat into the bosome of it it is neuer changed from vnfruitefull to fruitfull neither is the face of it till then renued So in our soules though the stormes of the Law may diuersly affect them yet till the beames of this grace shine into the heart they are neuer truely changed our hearts could not possibly reflect and rebound this loue to God for it is loue to greeue that wee haue offended him had not hee first caused his loue to shine vpon vs. As euer then thou wouldst repent Vse get a taste of Gods loue one haire of loue will draw more then a yoke of oxen the softest things will breake the hardest A sword which will be stricken vpon iron or steele safely may bee broke men say on a fetherbedde What is harder then a Diamond which abideth the hammer and is not hurt yet a goates bloud will dissolue it as vinegar doth pearle c. Looke to that bloud of Christ our Sauiour and he inable vs to see it that so our hard hearts may bee dissolued through the abundance of loue manifested in it What is so hard but fire casteth and melteth it what fire is so hotte as the loue wherewith God hath loued vs in Christ QVEST. VI. 6. Q. FRom what is the heart changed A. From loue of the world to the loue of God from carelesnesse to conscience and desire to please God Ioh. 21.15 Tit. 2.12 Phile. v. 11. 1 Ioh. 2.15 In euery mouing and alteration there are two points the one from whence the oother to which as in going any whither there is one place which I leaue and another that I go vnto Thus in Repentance the point from which we turne is the loue of the world and carelesnesse the point to which we are changed and conuerted is the loue of God and care to please him Obserue then first That by nature all of vs liue in adulterous loue of the world the persons things fashions in it Iam. 4.4 O yee adulterous saith Iames Looke as women from what time they fall away from loue of their Husbands grow into league with strangers so wee from what time we by sinne turne from the immortall God we turne to the corruptible creature louing them not in and for God louing them not in measure according to the goodnes that is in them but inordinately Some haue this adulterie in them more openly some more couertly For euen as there are some corporally vncleane not ashamed to walke with their Trulls in the sight of the Sunne so there are some Esau-like who will not sticke to say giue them the pottage of pleasure take who will the birthright thus in effect doe all prophane and ciuill persons who care not and will professe as much for matter of religion some haue this adulterous loue to the world but thinke no more of it then a 2 King 8 12.13 hee of Syria did thinke he had in him that cruelty which he after shewed For as men may haue a disease in body which they think themselues most free of so in soule also Such are all Christians who haue not receiued the sanctifying grace which maketh the heart good and honest Vse Wherefore let vs take knowledge of this our estate and bewaile this spirituall harlotry in our nature none is free from it who hath not lamented it in himselfe O for a man to breake his faith and liue vnchastly after hee hath giuen himselfe by couenant to a Creature like himselfe is a worse sinne then it was while he was single for now hee hath added breach of faith to vncleannesse O so to let our hearts be in the world after wee haue by our profession betroathed our selues to God it shall bee easier for Turkes then for vs for we breake our faith and leaue an all-sufficient God for transitorie trifles and pleasures of sinne which last but for a season Obserue secondly from hence That we are turned to the loue of God from the loue of this world that our growing out of loue with the world is our returning into loue with our Husband as the amitie of the world is enmitie with God so the enmitie with the world beginneth amitie with God Look as vncleane women the more they shake off their Paramours the more they returne to their conjugall dutie so it is with vs the truth is wee who by sinne haue turned from God to the inordinate loue of these things can neuer returne to God till these be left as hee who is come hither from any place hee can neuer returne to that againe till he hath left this in which hee now is But how can wee leaue God or returne to him who is euery where euen as two present together for place may leaue each other when in heart and affections they desioyne themselues though in place they are conioyned and as a man may be with light and yet turne from it by winking against it and so going out of that which shineth about him and returne to it by opening his eyes againe thus wee may go from God euery where present while wee turne our hearts and affections from him and shut the eyes of our mindes from beholding of him And wee turne to him when we open the eye of Faith and vnite our selues with his mercy and cleaue vnto him with the loue of our soules This then being our way of returning to our God let vs labour to roote out this stinking weed of inordinate loue to earthly things as euer we would assure our selues wee haue loue to God A chast wife will not content herselfe in the maine to be loyall but she will not giue light behauiour lauish fauours vnchast kisses to any person And shall not wee take