for their sinnes because no sinne can be pardoned but by faith in Christ but not for not beleeving in him of whom they have not heard Iohn 15 22. Rom. 10 14. Of contrarietie of faith when men reject Christ will not receive him the will standing in opposition to the hindering of the mindes assent to the truth resisting both interior instinct and exterior preaching whereby Christ with his saving power is offered This hath the reason of sinne and condemnes men makes them guiltie of the body and blood of Christ in an unworthy rejecting of him Iohn 1 11. Hee came unto his owne and his owne received him not Iohn 5 40. Ye will not come to mee that ye might have life 43. I am come in my Fathers name and ye receive mee not Some profanely set light by him and his grace as Esa 〈…〉 despised his birthright in comparison of a morsell of meat Heb. 12 16. And they that were called to the marriage Supper of the kings sonne set light by it for their worldly advantages Luke 14 18 with one consent making excuse and when they feare that his presence will bee any losse in their temporall state they wilfully reject him as the Gadarens for the losse of their hoggs and shew a notable unthankefullnesse offering vile indignitie to Christ in preferring and redeeming base things with a wilfull losse of him and his salvation So they wrong their own soules as the rich man that had his whole and full portion in good things in his life time and cast away his soule Luke 16 25. Some love darkenesse so as the light is hatefull to them because it discovers the evill of their works which they are not willing to accuse themselves of and come to the soveraigne remedie of their soules to bee healed This is condemnation the jâ—st cause of their perishing not that they are in darkenesse ignorant of the way of salvation nor that they are in sinnes for Christ helps both hee is the light of the world that whosoever beleeveth in him shall not walke in darknesse but shall have the light of life and hee came into the world to save sinners But that the light being come into the world they love darkenesse rather than light and the cause is that their deeds bee evill They have an evill conscience and will not bee cured they worthily perish without pitty the love of their vices keepes them from imbracing the fountaine of vertue They are withheld by a most wicked cause from yeilding themselves to so gracious a remedie As they justly are damned that had the truth which saveth but loved it not having pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thess 2 10 1â— In not receiving Christ they are greivous unto God who hath given this record of his Sonne that hee hath given eternall life unto the world and that life is in his Sonne and whosoever hath his Sonne hath life They that receive not Christ upon this record of God give no credit to him so blaspheame him to bee a lyer 1 Iohn 5 10 Fearing least they should bee deceived in resting upon his promise To derogate faith from the Gospell in which Gods truth and faithfullnesse is chiefly set forth when men spoyle him of the honour of his truth what leave they remaining to him Light of nature teacheth that God is the prime veritie truth it selfe and so is to be beleeved in whatsoever hee avoucheth to bee true whatsoever hee testifieth of his Sonne all that have notice of it are bound to credit God hath testified that Christ is the life of the world that there is not salvation in any other this record I am bound to beleeve with an historicall faith but where hath hee said that he is my life that requires an inward testimonie which till I have received I seeme not to wrong God I must first have his record before I be guiltie of not receiving it There is a double act of faith direct which is my receiving Christ that I may bee saved committing my soule to him to deliver mee from death and to restore mee to my lost happinesse which is called faith of adherence This I am bound unto by the exterior record which in the Gospell God hath given of his Sonne and the Apostle to incite men to faith takes his argument from the dishonour which is done to God in not resting on his record to the receiving of his Sonne unto life The holy Ghost convinceth the world of sinne in the ministerie of the Gospell because they beleeve not in Christ Iohn 16 9. Not onely that all the world out of Christ are in their sinnes but that this is a sinne which they had not before they heard him preached to bee the Saviour of the word that they beleeve not in him for justification from their sinnes Iohn 15 22. There is also an act reflexe which is called faith of evidence which is to bee assured of my salvation upon the inward testimonie of God in my selfe the evidence of his grace in me that I doe indeed beleeve and am converted from sinne to holinesse that I have the witnesse of the water and blood in mee of regeneration and justification by Christ wee know that wee have passed from death to life because wee love the bretheren 1 Iohn 3 14. I have written these things to you that beleeve on the name of the Sonne of God that yee may know that yee have eternall life 1 Iohn 5 13. The first act of faith is without experience before it but the word which wee have received as the word of God workes in us that beleeve and so wee have experience to an increase of our faith It is to their reproofe that though they subject their hearts to the Commandement of hearing Christ and beleeving in him and labour to worke the worke of God in beleeving in him whom hee hath sent yet sensible of their unbeleeve and fearing least it may hinder the good which they desire do goe on unchearefully They consider not that God requires their joy in the knowledge of him to be the Lord which exerciseth loving kindnessâ— in the earth and doth therein delight Ier. 9 24. And how mercie pleaseth him where men will give place to it waiting that hee may have mercie on them his pleasure being in them that wait on his mercie Psal. 147 11. And how hee cherisheth the least beginnings of faith when it is as a smoaking flaxe or bruised reed Math. 12 20. how readily Christ apprehends us when wee though weakly lay hold on him They observe not the change wrought in them and the spirituallnesse of their actions now in comparison of that they were before they received this seed which God giveth life unto The new creature is but as an infant in them in the understanding of this and the great consequence of it in the evidencing of Christ in them otherwise it is joyfull They marke not how that little faith is
Which is for abundant consolation to them whom he hath drawne of his everlasting love Ier. 31. 1. Having loved his owne that were in the world he loved them unto the end Iohn 13 1. Having found grace in his sight that hee selects them from the world they shall have given them grace upon grace till they be filled with all the fullnesse of God The Church is commended of her spirituall ornaments under termes of rowes of Iewels upon her cheekes and Chaines of gold about her necke and withall is promised that the whole Trinitie shal give her further increase of holinesse and all rich graces that nothing shall bee wanting to her comelinesse meete for so great a spouse but her spirituall glory in all parts and numbers shall bee perfected in similitude borders of gold with studdes of silver God is in covenant with the people whom hee once receives to rejoyce over them and never to turne from after them to do them good to be an everlasting Father following them with perpetuall favour and liberall blessings Ier. 32 40 41. It is one chiefe use of benefits received by experience to confirme our hope to finde God as we have found him in present and in future necessites Christ remembers his Disciples of the miraculous feeding the five thousand with five loaves the foure thousand with seaven loaves and a great deale left to cure their difference or weaknesse of faith about provision for bread Math. 16 8 9 10. David from former experience of Gods care of him concludes in hope thus Surely goodnesse shall follow me and mercie all the dayes of my life And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever The Apostle teacheth this Rom. 5. 10. If when we were enemies we were reconciled by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled wee shall bee saved by his life I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lyon and the Lord shall deliver mee from every evill worke and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdome But take heed of wronging him in his love not rendring according to the benefit as Hezekiah is someting blotted with it in his Chronicle and David reproved for it yet with declaring the readinesse of God to proceed in blessing his with more and greater blessings 2 Sam. 12 8. If that had beene too little I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things 2. Pray the Lord to rejoyce in his works Psal. 104 31. In which our state is founded as that speach of Iob implies Thou wilt have a desire to the worke of thine owne hands Iob. 14 15. For this David prayeth Psal. 138 8 Forsake not the worke of thine owne hands Cry with the Church for new inspirations of Gods Spirit to increase of pleasant fruits to invite Christ to his garden replenished with chiefe spices and hee will accept of such invitation and declare his good acceptance of such entertainment and call you in due time to come to him out of the miseries of this troublesome world when hee shall satisfye all your desires according to that loving call Come with me from Lebanon my spouse with me from Lebanon And hee made haste and came downe and received him joyfully In this â—acheus shewes the effect of his calling Obedience in hastie comming downe and in joyfull receiving of Christ. Wherein we may observe that the Word of Christ in calling men to him is lively and of an attractive force making the will to answere and assent to his calling There is an infallibilitie of the effect whose cause is not the studie of the Disciple but the excellencie of the maister Psal. 18 44. At the hearing of the eare they shall obey me Esay 52 15. The King shall shut their mouthes at him for that which they had not heard shall they consider Vnderstanding that the counsell of God is to save the world by Iesus Christ they shall without gainsaying submit themselves unto him for their salvation As it was in calling his Disciples not onely poore fishermen Simon and Andrew Iames and Iohn forsooke their nets and followed him but Matthew a rich man foosooke a gainefull trade and betooke him selfe to him which was neither levitie or stoliditie so soone to be moved away from their former condition and course of life But divine force making his word effectuall to that for which hee spake it That thereby they might consider that their preaching of the Gospell should not be a dead sound but with spirit and power for obedience of faith Hee so perswadeth or allureth Iapheth that he joynes himselfe to Shems tents sweetly reduceth the Gentiles to the Churches societie as the very station of felicitie Genesis 9 27. Whom hee calls to be of his household he causeth to come and joyne themselves to him and his people to the satisfying of them with the good things of his house Psal. 65 4. Hee breakes them off from the wilde stalke and ingraffts them into the true vine They are the called of Iesus Christ Rom. 1 6 That is partakers of him by their calling The Father teacheth them inwardly with their outward hearing so as hee that hath heard and learned of the Father commeth unto Christ the Father drawes him Iohn 6. 44 45. Which conteines illumination of the mind a good dâ—scerning of the things of God and forming of the will to the obedience of Christ. The dead heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they which heare it live Iohn 5 25. In which is implied a double grace in the secret vertue and power of the word First That the dead should heare which is beside nature Secondly bee called againe to life from which they were fallen To heare is to beleeve and assent with the heart Iohn 10 16. Other sheepe I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall heare my voyce They shall beleeve with the heart unto an ingeneration of a new principle of spirituall life and excitation to elicite acts of this life It is not alwayes or in all persons that this word of Christ is thus effectuall some open the eare but heare not some when they heare resist and blaspheme hate him and increase their sinne Iohn 15 22. So as he is to their ruine Luke 2 34. He is a stone to stumble at a rocke of offence to them that are disobedient 1 Pet. 2 8. Whereunto also they were appointed But in them whom hee calls of his purpose it is thus effectuall so as it is refused of no hard heart because he softens it hee takes away the stony heart and gives them an heart of flesh to whom all things worke together for good whom hee calls so as hee justifieth and glorifieth them Rom. 8 28 30. According to his election of them the election obtaine it Rom. 11 7. Gods purpose is his will predestinating men to life So then when men are moved but ineffectually by the word
prayer unto God when hee â—rieth shall not be heard Pro. 21 13. Whereby it appeares that it s no certaine signe neither of a good life nor of a good death that a man calls upon God unlesse hee calls upon God at all times and his prayer have the companie of true vertues 5. In few words hee shall have many curses Prov. 28 27. And that wofull one at last to have judgement without mercie Iam. 2 13. Whereas none can stand in judgement without mercie mercy tryumpheth To propound woe to them that not only releive not but oppresse the poore The Lord hath a controversie with the land because there is no mercy in it Hos. 4. but specially when it is as Solomon speakes of the mercies of the wicked that they be cruell Prov. 12 10. Amos 2 6 7. For three transgressions of Israel and for foure I will not turne to it because they sold the righteous for silver and the poore for shooes they gape over the head of the poore in the dust of the earth They lye downe upon cloathes laid to pledge by every altar Amos 5 11. And ye take from them burdens of wheat 12. I know your manifold transgressions and your mightie sins ye afflict the just ye take rewards and oppresse the poore in the gate One punishment among the rest is for this and other sinnes mortalitie that but the tenth part shall scape v. 3. The Citie which went forth by a thousand shall leave an hundred and that which went forth by an hundreth shall leave ten to the house of Israel So Amos 6 9. Because they pamper themselves excessively and none is sorie for the afflictions of Ioseph If there remaine ten men in one house they shall dye and scarce any bee left to burie the dead but some shall burne them to ashes within the house to carrie them out more easily v. 10. Amos 8 3. There shall bee many dead bodyes they shall cast them forth with sylence The cause v. 4 5 7. It may be for exhortation for them that neither oppresse nor make the eyes of the poore to faile but releive them to looke to the Rules in their giving that they give not of unjust possessions God hates briberie for a burnt offering Esay 61. God reproves wicked men for offering him a part of their robberies and oppressions thinking that therefore hee will dispence with them hee that judgeth them that share with theeves whether private men as Proverb or Iudges Esay 1 23 will not himselfe indure to bee made a partaker of their iniquitie And so for the rule of discretion and sincere intention c. Here may bee placed that which is before what is it of which almes are specially commended And if I have defrauded any man by forged cavillation or false accusation In this is noted the manner of the sinning which publicans used in their calling in receiving tribute which was to pretend in their preying upon the people and their thefts the commoditie of the common wealth and if any opposed them in their defrauding and rapine then would they impudently accuse them of wrong to themselves and the common wealth So when the Publicans comming to Iohns Baptisme asked him what they should doe hee answers require no more than that which is appointed unto you implying that the sin of their calling was to require more and calumniate such as refused The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If I have plaied the sycophant is thought by some to bee borrowed from the Athenians among whom hee was called syco phant that told of them that had brought Figgs out of other Countries as Attica because the Figtree was among them in great account and it was forbidden to bring Figges from other places Hereupon they began to be called sycophants that for a little mony did draw men before judgement seates for small cause and sometimes for no cause but pretended falsely accusing the innocent So Scapula on the wood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Others thinke it to have begunne by the meanes of a Grecians servant who having brought Figgs into his house one of his servants eat them up and the master missing them inquired who had them hee that was guiltie accused his fellow that was innocent to finde it out hee made both drinke luke warme water and vomit and so the guile and false accusation of that guiltie person was discovered from thence deceivers and false accusers were called Sycophants From whence wee may see unto what impudencie in sinning for a little advantage some men come to defraud to lye and to be false accusers of men against knowledge and conscience it is noted by Salomon that some will make it but a jest to bee false witnesses to face out a matter impudently knowing that they lye falsely Prov. 19 28 A wicked witnesse mockes at judgement making no more account of right and truth of Magistrates placed for justice or of God himselfe punishing false witnesses than they doe of things to bee laught at Iesabell makes no question but to finde with ease witnesses that will impudently lye against the very life of Naboth for a reward 1 Kings 21. And governours knowing the fraud and falsehood to receive the testimony of such rakehells and proceed to sentencing of innocent Naboth to death and so sent word to Iesabel what successe her plot had tryumphing in their thoughts after their sinnefull gratifying of a wicked woman that the villanie was so freely carried The high Priests knew wel how to get men falsly to accuse our Saviour with a wet finger they would not sticke at it to set their tongues to sale for a price to helpe their friends and benefit themselves Salomon speakes of riches gotten by a deceitfull tongue Prov. 21 6. This gaine by deceit and lyes is to a naughtie heart wonderfull pleasant Prov. 10 17. The more unlawfull the better liked It is as naturall to men to lye and deceive as for nettles to grow with sowing or setting All men are lyers Psal. 116 Rom. 3. Dauid was much troubled with cruell witnesses that charged him falsly Let it admonish men to nourish tendernesse of coÌ„science shame and bashfullnesse to sinne take heede of impudencie outfacing out-looking conscience that secretly bites and barkes when they resolve to sinne 2. Take heed of inordinate desire of gaine it will make a man transgresse in great matters for a little and base price Prov. 28 21. Ezech. 13 18 For handfulls of barly and peices of bread to slay soules that should not dye and give life to soules that should not live Hate such gaine as brings the curse into the house with it it is vanitie tossed to and fro of them that seeke death Prov. 21 6. Take heâ—d of getting by false accusation by playing the Sycophant That charge which Iohn Baptist gave to the souldiers give to your selve Accuse no manfalsely Luke 3 14. It is set downe among the sinne of the latter time proceeding
faith is not of all onely his sheepe beleeve in him Iohn 10. And in Gods gracious acceptance of our faith not for the grace it selfe it is in this life imperfect but as it is relative so faith is imputed for righteousnesse and righteousnesse is imputed without workes Rom. 4 5 9 11. Imputation is three fold 1. Acceptation of a thing as sufficient though insufficient in it selfe so some falsely define our justifycation to be nothing else but Gods gracious acceptation of our faith in Christ though in it selfe unperfect for our perfect righteousnesse It is certaine God receives no righteousnesse from us unto our justification in whole or in part but giveth righteousnesse unto us and imputes it for our owne as if wee had wrought it our selves 2. For accounting that righteousnesse which in it selfe is perfect and reckoning it to us as ours though not done by us 3. When the righteousnesse so perfect in it selfe wrought by Christ not by us is so reckoned ours as if wee had done it our selves one shall say Surely in the Lord I have righteousnesse c. It is questioned betweene us and the Papists not whether by faith but by what faith wee are saved By faith ye are saved is the expresse word of God Eph. 2. Iustification is unto life Rom. 5. Therefore that faith which justifieth is lively dead faith doth not justifie They professe to differ from us in the question of faith In the object subject act The object they make to bee onely the whole word of God Which wee deny not but thâ—s faith the Divels have which giveth no peace but leaveth them trembling at their owne damnation which is set downe in the word of God 1. The object of faith is the whole truth propounded in the Scriptures called faith of the truth King Agrippa beleevest thou the Scriptures I know thou beleevest That Christ is He that commeth to God must beleeve that God is so that Christ is The Iewes beleeve not this but count that Iesus the Sonne of Mary who is the Christ of God to have beene a deceiver and looke for the Messiah to come The things spoken of Christ in the Scriptures all that Iohn spake of this man was true Iohn 10. The Turkes beleeve that Christ is and that hee was for his time a great Prophet but not all things the which Christ hath spoken written of him Iohn 14. Beleeve me that I am in the Father and the Father in me To rest and stay on Christ for the benefits brought by him This is the faith that is given on the behalfe of Christ. The faith of Gods Elect peculiar to the sheepe of Christ it is called receiving of Christ Iohn 1 12. We teach that the proper object of justifying faith is Christ with promise of mercie in him as forgivenesse of sinnes reconciliation c. Gal. 2 16. Even wee I say have beleeved in Christ that wee might bee justified by the faith of Christ that say the Papists is as by a disposition to justification but that is false for that putts a space betweene justification and faith but they are together in time contemporarie every one assoone as hee beleeves is just Paul opposing in the point of justification beleeving and doing faith and worke therefore it doth justifie not as it is a worke but as an instrument to receive Christ and in him righteousnesse unto justification of life imputation of righteousnesse without workes The Israelites stung of fierie Serpents were cured without doing any thing but looking upon the brasen Serpent and so with faith of the promise of God were healed so we fixing our eye of faith upon Christ and the promise of speciall mercie in him are justified and saved Iohn 3 16. We are commaunded to beleeve the Gospell the Gospell is the tydings of good things that betyde us in Christ as forgivenesse of sinnes the favour of God restoring to heaven adoption to be the children and heires of God and these without our labour or workes onely of the free grace of God Theophylact Math. Evangelium secundum Matthaeum Evangelium de eo quòd nunciet nobis res prospâ—ras bene se habentes Eoc est bona nempe remissionem peccatorum justitiam reditum in coelos adoptionem in filios dei nunciat autem quod facile et gratis haec accepimus neque nostro labore assequnti sumus hac â—ona neque ex nostris acceperimus bonis operibus sed gratia et misericordia dei talia bona consiquutisumus Thus the object of faith is the speciall mercie of God to me in Christ in whom I receive these good things 2. Christ saves that which was lost by Sanctification of the Spirit unto this they were Elected in Christ Eph. 1 4. 2 Thess. 2 13 14. 1 Pet. 1 2. And this is glorifycation and salvation begunne whom hee justified them hee glorified 2 Cor. 3 18. Wee all behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord with open face and are transformed into that image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. The Apostle notes three things great benefits which all we the whole body of beleevers do receive by the Gospell as the Spirit makes it quickening to us 1. The revelation of God 2 Cor. 4 6. The light of the knowledge of the glorie of God 2. Transformation into the image of God by glorious sanctification whereby they become like unto God the Spirit of glorie which is the Spirit of God resteth upon you 1 Pet. 4 14. Called peculiarly the glory Esay 4 2 3 5. Vpon all the glory shall be a defence set forth in earthly similitudes Psal. 45 9. A vesture of gold Esay 54 11 12 13. v. 8. Iuory palaces beautie for Christ to be pleased and delighted in ornament much set by of God 1 Pet. 3. God is infinitely glorious in holinesse they are partakers of his nature by Christ not essentially as the naturall sonne but by similitude 2 Pet. 1 4. Adoption giveth them the dignitie of the Children of God heires with Christ. Adoption belongs to glorification Christ giveth the glory that his Father gave him Iohn 17. Vnto them the effectuall knowledge of Christ reneweth a man according to the image of God in the truth of holinesse and righteousnesse so as he is the glory of God as hee is his image Some excelling in holinesse are in a speciall sort called the glory of Christ 2 Cor. 8 23. In whose persons the glory of Christ shines forth as in some image 3. There is a proceeding in this glorification from one degree of glory to another which in respect of the soule is made perfect in death 12 23. This increase in glory is set forth by outward things Cant. 1. 8. When the Churches spirituall ornament is set forth by rowes of stones and chaines of gold she is promised to be made still more glorious v. 10. Wee will make thee borders of gold with studds of silver Richly decked alreadie
who mind earthly things As our Saviour concludes from the disposition and end of that rich man who put his happinesse in his abundance Luke 12 21. So is hee that layeth up treasure for himselfe and is not rich towards God He treasureth for himselfe who without any respect to God gets riches as hee that said to his soule Thou hast eenough layed up for many yeares respecting himselfe onely and staying upon his sufficiency in himselfe without God hee is rich in God who depending on the providence of God is given to such good workes as God prescribes laying up a good foundation for time to come that hee may obtaine eternall life Some abuse their wealth to pride and rebellion against God Ier. 2 31. Wee are Lords wee will come no more unto thee And to try their strength in doing hurt to men the more in purse the greater in tryaÌ„nie boasting themselves that they can doe mischiefe trusting in the multitude of their riches Psal. 52 1 7. hyring men with feilds and vineyards to ungodly practises or hindering them from godly courses and so draw to the earth such as seemed starrs in heaven and many to winne the world loose their soules so as there can be no redemption for them Thus may they be called thornes because men are so hamperd in them that they cannot bee gotten out and wicked riches are occasioÌ„ of much wickednesse they that have them speake roughly and are wise in their owne eyes conceited of their owne courses too highly but their woo is they have re-received their consolation But riches of themselves of their nature damne not as povertie of it selfe saves not First for they are the Lords 1 Chron. 29 11. All in the Heavens and in the earth is his hee hath right unto and right in them both property and possession is his These are many times severed in men some have right to a thing but not possession and power over it because kept out by a strong hand of such as covet fiolds and take them by violence who get power over and possession of that which they have no right to But in God both right title and just possession meet and extend unto all things because hee made all Psal. 24 1 2. And it appeares when men are so gracelesse as to derive his title to others bee they Idols or men hee often strips them of them Ezech. 16 17 c. Hos. 2 8 9. And when men unjustly either by fraud or force take them from such as have them of him he will pursue his right against the wrong doer take vengeance upon the unjust person who hath wronged not onely man but God Prov. Secondly It is Gods blessing that makes rich and he addes no sorrow with it Prov. 10 22. So farre as hee gives it it is as if it were powred upon them while they sleepe while they with rest of soule commit themselves to him He giveth power to gather riches Deut. 8. Hee orders and disposeth of the travell of the sinner who gathereth and heapeth up to give to them that are good before God Iob 27 17. Prou. 28 8. Thirdly God hath given grace and riches riches as reward of the use of grace to his glory Godlynesse hath the promise of this present life Abraham very rich by Gods blessing in flockes and heards and silver and gold c. Gen. 24 35 is also the Father of the faithfull they that dyed in faith are said to bee carried into his bosome and to sit at table with him in the kingdome of heaven Mat. 8 11. Iob matchlesse for wealth and greatnesse in all the East and for pietie in all the earth in his time Iob 1 3 8. David after Gods owne heart and full of riches at his death 1 Chro. 29 28. Solomon a penman of the holy Ghost therefore a holy man of God 2 Peter 1 21. a Prophet therefore to bee seene in the Kingdome of God with all the Prophets excelled all the Kings of the earth as in wisedome so in riches 2 Chro. 9 22. Iehosaphat had riches in aboundance his heart also was lift up in the wayes of the Lord to do more boldly for the puritie of Gods worship than Asa his father though a man of a perfect heart had done before him so a man excellently rich may also be excellently good Fourthly riches though they bee no causes of heaven it is neither the lawfull use of them nor the end propounded to them yet by a gracious use of them may further a mans account in good fruits and labours of love which God will not forget being done in his name Philip. 4 17. Therefore is our Saviours exhortation that with the riches of unrighteousnesse so called because they passe easily from the right owners to unjust possessors as from the Maister to the Steward and after to the Maisters debters both which were usurpers wee make our selves friends for the heavenly life when this failes We neede onely the friendship of God in Christ but the good workes done in God will give friendly Testimony to our consciences that wee have not beleeved in vaine our faith working by love and shall of the free grace of God whose gift eternall life is by Iesus Christ bee reckoned unto our reward as done to himselfe especially when wee preferre the household of faith and deale more plentifully with them as belonging to Christ. So the rich in this world rich in good workes gladly distributing doe lay up a good foundation against the time to come no cause of eternall life to them which in opposition to uncertaine riches is called a good foundation but a helpe to their assurance and some proppe to their hope of life as an evidence of a true faith in Christ Iesus the end of which is salvation Riches in a good man further the exercise and manifestation of grace The crowne of the wise is their riches they prove an ornament to the right users get them honour in their wise disposing of them doing many good workes by the meanes of them Abrahams and Lots hospitalitie had not beene so famous nor Davids and his Princes offering to the building of the Temple so liberally 1 Cron. 29 4 7 8. It may be many other could say with David I have set my affection to the house of my God but coulde not by such gifts expresse their affection as hee did both in that which hee dedicated of the spoyle of the nations which hee subdued and of his owne proper goods over above 1 Chron. 29 3. The Centurions one in building a Synagogue th' other in giving much almes declared their pietie and Charitie and others that have their praise in the Scriptures for feeding persecuted Prophets as Obadiaâ— for ministring to the maintenance of Preachers that otherwise preached freely to the gentiles and refreshed the Saints bowells as Gaius this others could not shew forth so not having such â—vealth though the
of Christ when they shew some signes of flexiblenesse upon making meanes to them but persist not in a tractable spirit they seeme to come part of the way by some worke of conscience within them but are soone drawne backe againe the revocation of Satan being more effectuall with them than the vocation of God it is a signe that they are not called yet according to God purpose but with a more common calling that is accompanied with that grace which proceeds from election otherwise their calling would make them blessed men Revel 19 9. Blessed are they that are called to the mariage Supper of the Lambe for confirmation of their hope therein it is commanded to bee underwritten These are the true sayings of God 2 The efficacie of grace depends not on the will of man but Gods will making his words that hee speakes spirit and life giveing his Spirit with the word so as it is quickening 2 Cor. 3 6 The letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life The letter is dead and ineffectuall in it selfe not giving any power to fulfill it and so it kills as it accuseth men of guiltinesse of unrighteousnesse and condemnes them The Spirit by the Word begets faith in the hearts of the elect whereby they possesse Christ to justification of life and regeneration and cheerefull obedience unto the doctrine delivered The Apostle instanceth in the conversion of the Corinthians which in an elegant metaphore hee compares to a letter of commendation of his Ministerie in which hee notes the subject in which that worke is received their harts a. the adjunct adhereÌ„t the Churches acknowledging it seene and read of all men 3. the principall efficient cause Christ with his Spirit 4. the instrument himselfe 2 Cox 3 3. Yee are manifestly declared to bee the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with â—inke but with the Spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in fleshy tables of the heart The whole effect is ascribed to the Spirit of Christ according to the covenant I will make you a new heart and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes Ezech. 36 26 27. If it depended on the will of man to make the grace effectuall or ineffectuall it would follow that I owe to God no more in my conversion and obedience to his word than the prayse of a power to convert but to my selfe the prayse that I actually doe convert and obey So when the Apostle saith It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God which sheweth mercie with the like supplement the speach might be converted it is not of God shewing mercie that is altogether but of mans internall act of willing and externall of running conversing with studie and diligence Which must needs offend godly eares So when hee saith who made thee to differ from an other man It might bee answered mine owne will another man had as much given him of God as I equall helpe of grace but hee would not bring his abilitie into act which I did But this excludes all boasting that the will and the deed is onely and wholy of God who hath wrought all our workes in us Grace is opposed to the fault in us which is both actuall and habituall deformitie in the will therefore is grace both habite and act in the will it ministreth spirituall vertue it giveth an effectiue principle of supernaturall operation In summe if efficacie of grace depend on mans will then there is no other efficacie of the grace of God in the faithfull to well doing than there is of a temptation of the Divell in sinners to evill doing if as the efficacie of the temptation depends rather of the will of the sinner than of the Divell temping so efficacie of grace rather on the will of the well doer than of God exciting to good Which is against the glory of his grace which is to bee maintained in all the good hee workes in us or by us That which I am saith the Apostle I am by the grace of God I laboured more abundantly than they all yet not I but the grace of God which was in me 1 Cor. 15. 10. Hee meanes not to give only part or the principall part to the grace of God and to take the rest to himselfe onely helped by grace but by correction gives the whole effect to grace having made himselfe improperly the author of the worke What good soever wee doe it is by the direction and impulsion of the holy Ghost wee speake but when it is godly it is the Spirit of the Father which speaketh in us Wee pray but praying as wee ought it is the worke of the Spirit making requests for us according to the will of God We worke good willingly and gladly but it is God which worketh in us both to will and to doe and fulfills in us the worke of faith with power Not onely the degree and quantitie of it to bee more which is the worke of Gods power but all actions of all vertues which it workes by love our indevours are none unto good if God excite them not even when wee are in grace Hee put the care of the Corinthians in the heart of Titus and made him accept the exhortation to finish among them the same grace which hee had begun in them about their ministration to the Saints 2 Cor. 8 6 16 17. And being excited are in vaine unlesse God assist and confirme the will to produce the act it is Gods unspeakeable gift and thankes for ever bee given unto him 2 Cor. 9 15. It cannot bee explicated in words according to the dignitie of it And hee made haste and came downe This is the gracing of obedience that it is readie and without delay thus is the obedience of the faithfull commended as Abrahams in leaving his owne Countrie at Gods calling readily following him though hee knew not whither he went without serupulous inquisition no place yet designed him not knowing so much as where to lodge at night Heb. 11 8 In circumcising his family all the males the same day that God commaunded him though they were many In his early rising to goe where God appointed him to sacrifice his sonne Isaack First against the use of the faithfull who had learned to sacrifice cattell not men this was unwontted Secondly against nature to kill his owne Child his onely begotten sonne for though Ishmael was also his sonne yet First hee was abdicated out of the family of Abraham by divine commandement and so in a sort none of his child but as it were dead in account Secondly hee was not by her who in full right was his wife but by his maide abondwoman who though she be called his wife yet improperly that hee
was but his base borne sonne not in lawfull copulation Thirdly against the Commandement written in his heart Thou shalt not kill Fourthly against the promise Gen. 21 12. In Isaack shall thy seed be called the posteritie propagated by Isaack onely to be reckoned for the seed in which heeâ— would performe the promises made to him which circumstance might directly fight against faith whereby hee beleeved to receive the blessing in the life of Isaack All which notwithstanding he obeyed spedily Gen. 21 3. Abraham rose up early in the same morning c. Hee was not long in resolving neither desired respite but presently addresseth himselfe to this worke Ioseph warned in a dreame to go into Egypt with Iesus and his mother to disappoint Herods bloudy purpose to take away his life hee tooke them by night departed into Egypt Paul when God called him to preach the Gospell among the heathen immediately he consulted not with flesh and bloud but resting in Gods authority hee buckled himselfe to the worke Gal. 1 16. And when hee knew certainly that God called him into Macedonia to preach the Gospell he forthwith prepared to goe Act. 16 10. The Iailor when God converted him tooke Paul and Sylas into his house and washed their wounds and set meate before them the same houre of the night and was baptised straightway with all that were in his house verse 33. It is required in every duty that it be done with forwardnesse Our preaching requires a double aptnesse one for conveying â—itly unto the understanding of others the knowledge which God hath given unto us a grace faculty of communicating our doctrine with apt expression for instruction and edification of others Secondly a willing propension to take all opportunities Meeknesse and long suffering devouring indignities so long as there may be hope 2 Tim. 2 24. 25. Bâ—th wayes doctrine 1 Pet. 5 2. Hearing requires drawing neere to it Eccles. 5 1. Swiftnesse to heare Iames 1 19. Desire to heare 1 Pet. 2 2. In giving almes readie to distribute willing to communicate 1 Tim. 6 18. Not differring the poore of their desires Iob 31 16. not bidding them come againe to morrow if wee have it now to give them Prov. 3. 28. In beleeving in Christ God requires the present time now therefore bee wise kisse the Sonne least hee bee angrie Psal. 2 10. In repentance Now therefore saith the Lord turne ye unto mee Ioel 2 20. First seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Math. 6 33. Now consider this ye that forget God Psal. 50 22. As saith the holy Ghost which is added for more reverence and quicker yeelding to the exhortation To day if ye will heare his voyce harden not your hearts Heb. 3 7. Ministers are to remember their hearers of this dutie to bee readie to every good worke Titus 3 1 Being made meete for their Lords use by sanctification and prepared to every good worke they should have propension of will and a readie mind to doe good things to Gods glory to be presidents of good works continually given thereunto The writing of the law in their heart is a delivering of them into the forme of the doctrine bringing the commandement and their heart together they agree presently with pleasure and delight Psal. 40 8. This readinesse argues reverence of the Commandement and of Gods authoritie as obedience is set forth by fearing the commandement Prov. 13 13. Ezra 10 3. The feare of God is as the root and the keeping of the Commandements as the fruit Eccles. 12 13. The more reverence the readier obedience Heb. 11 7. It glorifieth the word of the Lord shewing it is lively and mighty by the Spirit going with it Act. 13 48. As when Christ commanding the divell to goe forth of the possessed hee went out the people amazed at it spake among themselves saying What a word is this what new doctrine is this they referre the glory to the doctrine in the powerfull effect of it they saw something in it more than humane so call it new Thus when the Lord commands an adusterer to be chaste and a drunkard to bee sober a niggard to be liberall the profane to be holy and it is as he commands forthwith it is the glory of his word causing that to stand sorth which was not As the kingdome of the Messiah is prophecied of the eyes of the blind shall bee opened and the eares of the deafe shall bee unstopped then shall the lame man leape as an Hart and the tongue of the dumbe sing Esay 35 5 6 And a high way shall bee there and a way and it shall be called the way of holinesse The uncleane shall not passe over it but it shall bee for those the wayfaring men though fooles shall not erre therein v. 8. For 〈…〉 xhortation to sinners to be abrupt in their repentance and not to take dayes for returning fooles to forsake their way readily to walke in the way of understanding they have made haste to sinne good reason they should hast to come to the Lord for life and godlinesse and all that perteines thereunto David professeth that upon consideration of his wayes hee turned his feet unto Gods testimonies he made haste and delaied not to keepe his Commandements His subjoyning a negation of the contrary answerable to that which he affirmed notes his earnestnesse overcomming all impediments and difficulties true zeale burning up his corruptions 1. A man must either turne to God or bee turned into hell if hee repent noâ— hee perisheth and his torment shall bee answerable to his sinnes the impenitent are said to treasure up wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2 5. So the fire will burne sorer as it is said of the hypocrites in heart They increase or heape up wrath because they cry not when God blinds them Iob 36. 13. Sinning of maliciousnes rooted stubbornesse they doe as it were kindle the fire more and more which shall burne them as the fire will bee hotter by heaping on more wood so by adding sinne to sinne and binding them together they augment the curse which shall consume them God saith enough to interrupt their presumption if they had any heart as that hee will not be mercifull to them his anger and jealosie shall smoke against them and separate them unto evill according to all the curses of the covenant Deut. 29. 19 20 21. That hee will set their sinnes in order before their eyes Psal. 50 21. These things hast thou done These things thou hast not done Math 25. Both sinnes of omission duties not perfourmed and of commission evill workes they shall will they nill they reade the catalogue of them in a distinct order and in the full pitch and degree of evill and perceive by experience that the Lord hath not forgotten any of their workes Amos 8 7. They are sealed up among his treasures Deut. 32 34 Which hee will in due time bring to light Hee
may bee done no more suit is made with godly prayer and the mind called to reason hates it selfe and its deed greatly desiring to bee unburdened of the burden of infirmitie The reigne of sinne is which addicts the whole man unto the service of it But where the Spirit of God workes and succeeds not alwayes to the preventing of sinne that it bee not done yet to saving repentance after it is done makes to profit still more to a will of not sinning not excusing a mans selfe that hee sinneth with the flesh not with the spirit but greatly accusing himselfe lamenting that the flesh is not subject to the spirit Not by compulsion of judgement which may bee in sinners who see better things and approve them the Divell himselfe is not ignorant that vertue is better than vice yet loves vice more than vertue but where it is of propension of will and studie to bee better Not the horror of punishment but the loathing of sinne which is not their pleasure but their burden there sinne hath no dominion though in the conflict a man carie away sore wounds To the second their quarrell because hee went to be a guest with a sinner whether all fellowship with sinnors bee sinne to a godly man It is not sinne absolutely for a godly man to have fellowship with sinners by the example of our Saviour who resorted to the feasts and dinners of sinners to take opportunitie of converting or convincing them as when hee called Matthew and hee made a great feast for him hee refused not the fellowship of Publicanes at table Luke 5 29. So when Simon the Pharisee bid him to dinner desired him that hee would eate with him hee went into his house and sate downe to meate Luke 7 36. Hee went into the house of one of the chiefe Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabboth day Luke 14 1. This was the wonderfull love and humanitie of Christ that though they were the enemies of the truth yet to the end that hee might winne them he thus condescends to 〈…〉 e taking all occasion to blesse and do good The Apostle leaves it free to a Christian to goe to an infidels house to feast if hee bee called and invited of him 1 Cor. 10. 27. The fellowship of the table is a simbole of love and friendship and conserves humanitie onely hee makes it so one of those things that are lawfull as it is by circumstances to be deliberated of for expedience and edification whether it bee safer to avoid daunger and scandall to tary at home or whether there may not be hoped for some fruit of going and that without offence 1. There must bee consideration of the partie whether hee be well grounded in knowledge confirmed in faith and godlinesse or ignorant and weake if they be strong and able to maintaine the doctrine of truth and convince the falsehood and they bee left free without being compelled to any of their unlawfull wayes they may use the fellowship of sinners 2. They must looke to their motive or impulsive cause that it be love to their salvation and Christs kingdome and to their end which is the same in forbearing their societie and their using of it that they may come to repentance 3. They must teach those sinners with whom they are so conversant and bee working upon them for faith in Christ Iesus and repentance towards God not leaving off so long as they have fellowship with them Our Saviour enjoyned one whom he had cast many Devills out of though hee prayed him that hee might be with him to goe home to his freinds and tell them how great things the Lord had done for him c. And hee did it with fruit all men did marvaile not with such an admiration as useth to hold some of things which they approve not but admiration with prayse and it is likely either a fruit of faith or some beginning of it he published the name of Iesus the Gospel concerning him and that confirmed by such a miracle in himselfe which was the wonderfull mercie of God that being so unworthily rejected of the Gadarens though he forsooke them himselfe according to their desert yet hee sent them one more acceptable than himselfe among them who prevailed with such an ungodly people All men have not one houre appointed them to beleeve some fruit comes at length 4. It is most convenient that they shew themselves freindly gentle loving well deserving of them with whom they so converse it much availes to receive the truth when it is persuaded hee loves And therefore they must not have their conversation with them for their owne gaine and profit but with respect meerly of winning them to Christ. When it appeares there is no hope of that if they shew themselves obstinate in their evill and give just cause of despaire of their amendment then wee are to forsake them and have no fellowship with them further than necessitie of life enforceth either if they bee extreme sicke and cannot be helped but by our travaile or if wee our selves were in such necessitie as we were not able to get things needfull for our sustentation by any other meanes than among them also for buying selling things necessarie for life in such things as civill states and conditions do require 5. During their conversing with sinners they must have a great care of their life that it to bee holy and just practising such vertues as in their light are commendable Philip. 4 8. It is said of the Christian wife that she may winne an infidell husband by her conversation They hold out the word of life and shine in the beames of Gods holinesse as lights in the world in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation blamelesse and harmelesse sincere and as the Sonnes of God without rebuke And they must have no fellowship with their unfruitfull workes of darkenesse Eph. 5 11. Seeing they are light in the Lord it is not meet either for them or him in whom they are made light to communicate in the workes of darkenesse either in deed or word or heart 2 Cor. 6 14. What fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousuesse what communion hath light with darkenesse v. 17. Wherefore come out from among them and be yee separate saith the Lord and touch not the uncleane thing and I will receive you Against this communicating in evill David prayeth Psal. 141 4. Incline not my heart to any evill thing to practise wicked workes with men that worke iniquitie let mee not eate of their delicates neither by feare of daunger overcome nor by their delicates entised let mee doe any thing that may offend thee Such fellowship is forbidden whereby wee are infected or the wicked confirmed in their wickednesse the weake offended or the name of God blasphemed To the first Prov. 13 20. He that keepeth company with fooles shall be broken or shall be the worse evill communications corrupt good manners 1 Cor. 15
in themselves more holy or by institution under the Law than other dayes And so to observe dayes either by the Churches precept or by voluntary taking up to observe is reproveable for though in respect of institution and use the Saboth is more holy than other dayes yet not in the nature of the day for then it could not have beene chaunged As the water in baptisme by institution and use is holyer than other water so the bread and wine in the Sacrament but not by any inherent holinesse 2. He condemnes the keeping of such daies above other as worship of God of necessitie in conscience as if the not keeping bound to sinne When none but God can give such Lawes as the breach of them blots the conscience where is no Law is no trasgression where the Church and governers appoint or men take them up to observe they bind but as historicall helps and are free without scandal contempt 3. Hee finds fault with the keeping of them as against faith shaddowes of Christ and his benefits for which they were instituted Coloss. 2 16. Christ being come as the body of those shadowes the shadowes must cease But to keepe dayes in memory of benefits past and to stirre up to duties thereby for time to come is not against religion It reproves such as forget both benefits and dayes wherein the Lord wrought them for them Psal. 78 42 They remembred not his hand nor the day wherein hee delivered them from the enemy wee are so apt to forget benefits that wee had neede use al lawfull helps to put us in mind of them consider the charge Deut. 8 10. 11 and David charging his memory Psal. 103 1. Is salvation come The day of calling and salvation is one the same day that a man is called hee is saved 2 Cor. 6 2 Behold this is the accepted time behold this is the day of salvation the day of acceptation in Christ is the day of salvation to him that is so accepted Adoption comprehends all our blessing even the glory of the life to come Rom. 8 We wait for the adoption the redemption of our bodyes But in our calling receiving Christ we receive this dignitie of adoption Iohn 1 12. Calling is the revealing of Gods grace and his will to save us by Christ Iesus in our minds and heart so as we consent to God calling and follow after him for that life in his Sonne and cleave to him for it Comming to Christ and receiving of Christ are coupled together and the contrary not comming not having life but abiding in death 1 Iohn 5 12. Iohn 5 40. Calling is Gods worke inabling a man to performe the condition of the covenant which is to beleeve in Christ and so makes partaker of Christ that hee is of his body partaker of the promise an inheriter also Ephes. 2 6. Hee that beleeveth hath everlasting life is passed from death to life Iohn 5 24. Calling effectuall is the first revelation of predestination to life accompanied with justification and glorification Rom. 8 30. Iustification is unto life Rom. 5 18. Regeneration is Glorification or Salvation begunne Titus 3 5 7. He saved us and called us 2 Tim. 1 9. Hee saved us calling us wee are called to his kingdome and glory 1 Thess. 2 12. To obtaine salvation or the glory of our Lord Iesus Christ 2 Thess. 2 13 14. To high things Phil. 3. The calling is therefore called heavenly Heb. 3 1. Not onely as from heaven but unto heaven Come up hither and then they ascend in the sight of others Revel 11. Wee are called in hope of heaven Coloss. 1 4 5. And by hope we are saved Rom. 8 24. If calling and saving in respect of beginning and certaine accomplishment bee contemporarie then bee exhorted to make your calling sure that you may be sure of your salvation with it 2 Pet 1 10. Try your selves by these signes 1. An eccho like answering to the Lord revealing his grace and will to save you by Christ Psal. 27 6 7. Hos. 2. ult Zach 13 9. Esay 44 5. God speakes first in the heart then the heart answers againe to the Lord and a man is readie to underwrite to the Lord if hee say thou art mine I have given my Sonne for thee as proofe of it The heart will say I am thine with admiration of thy love receive I thy Sonne given to mee This will further by strife against unbeleefe and the love of God and a carefull applying of our soules as given to God to doe his wil appeare though wee yet feele not our faith Vnbeleefe and other sinnes have no quiet setling no dominion over us wee labour to cast them out and linger after the Lord as having our hearts toucht by him to receive him as our King to save us as they followed Saul whose hearts the Lord had toucht 1 Sam. 10 26. As Elisha at plough after Eliah had cast his mantle upon him as a signe of Gods calling him to be a Prophet could not but follow and durst not so much as goe home without his leave 2. A standing up from the world unto new workes whereunto God called us wee forsake the worlds fashion and manner of life wee can bee no longer of one mind and heart with them Be they Heretickes civill men without religion or professing religion without power God in calling selects us from the world we cannot count them our deare companions our hearts and wayes do so disagree that we are abomination or matter of pittie one to another We are as first fruits to God 3. A Spirit sitting us for that unto which wee bee called by which wee savour things of the spirit aspire to heavenly righteousnesse not satisfyed with measure but to bee filled with the fullnes of God following apprehend that for which wee are apprehended wee meditate now high things a crowne a kingdome heavenly inheritance lower things are too meane to hold us to them Bee thankefull you that know your calling 1 Tim. 1. I thanke him The promise is to them that the Lord calls bee they neere or farre off Act. 2 39. That when you heare the promises you ought to prayse the Lord that made you true heires of them that you may say Salvation belongs to me for the promise belongs to mee in that I am called Prayse God for the fellowship with Christ Iesus his Sonne to that hee hath called you 1 Cor. 1. 8. This calling is a speciall character of Gods love the first speciall evidence of it Worldlings falsly conclude speciall love from common blessings against which Solomon opposeth Eccles. 9 1. And our Saviour Math. 5 44. And the Rhemists note is good there that outward prosperitie is certaine either of a better man or better religion but effectuall calling is an infallible evidence of Gods love from election to salvation Bee studiously thankfull for this which the Apostle puts the Romans in mind that among
all according to the Oracle A father of many nations have I madethee He is the father of all the faithfull not effectually to beget them and to worke their faith and conversion so God onely is their Father begetting them by his Spirit But analogically and by proportion that as fathers doe transmit to their naturall Children inheritance and other rights of theirs so hee for the grace of the covenant given to him should as a father transmit to the beleevers the righteousnesse and blessednesse promised and given to him That which is proper to Christ is spoken of him In him shall all the Nations of the earth bee blessed Gen. 18 18. In thy seed that is Christ as Paul interprets shall all the Nations of the earth bee blessed Gen. 22 18. So he is called the heire of the world Rom. 4 13. Act. 7 Of Canaan a type of heaven and as the best part of the earth as a type of the whole world to bee possessed of Abraham and his seed specially the head of that seede Christ. This inheritance of heaven and earth he receiveth from God through the righteousnesse of faith and transmitts it to all his Children in all the Nations of the earth that is such as beleeve unto righteousnesse and so are adopted Children and heires of heaven and earth Psal. 37 20. 1 Cor. 3 21. So in death the faithfull were gathered into the bosome of Abraham their father and sitte with him in the kingdome of heaven the Church gathered out of the universall as his Children for number like the starres of heaven In this is set forth the dignitie and felicitie of Abraham in his paternitie that all the Nations of the world beleeving should bee his Children whereby appeares that all have not equall honour and felicitie that have saith equally precious Abraham and all the faithfull are equally just by imputation of the righteousnesse of Christ unto them But they are not in this honour with him to have the place of paternitie to all the faithfull The Pope usurpes in calling himselfe the head of all the faithfull it was never given him of God it is his miserie that so many flatter him in his unjust usurpation It implyeth that there is but one faith and way of salvation under the Law and Gospell Heb. 13 8. Acts 15 11. Heb. 6 12 and 11. By faith they obteined testimonie y t they were righteous and stand as so many witnesses that onely by beleving in Christ resting the soule wholy on his obedience for our whole felicitie is the way to life from that promise The seede of the woman shall breake the Serpents head By what faith Abraham was saved his seed are saved There is one saith both for that which is beleeved common faith once given to Saints Titus 1 4. Iude. v. 3. And in respect of that kind of faith by which wee doe beleeve though for number there bee so many faiths as there bee beleevers yet for kind Abrahams faith and all that have savingly beleived is one and the same for ever not in degree his measure was strength in faith most beleevers now are weake in faith Papists are to prove their right in claiming to be children of Abraham seing they have not nor teach twice damnable teaching contrary to the faith of Abraham applying Christ the blessed seed to himselfe laughing in joy of his felicitie of which his Sonne was called Isaack and Christ in whom hee beleeved testifyeth that hee saw his day with rejoycing though a farre off yet with gladnesse in respect of his owne salvation in him To that purpose Christ urgeth his example to the Iewes that would not beleeve their owne salvation in him you will not come to mee that you might have life Iohn 5. They make two other claimes to heaven merit of person in Children or such as newly converted are taken away by death that working is prevented and merit of workes both concurring augments they say glory and the latter confirmes the former that it is not lost a straunge voyce not heard of Gods people that will not go after a straunger because they know not his voyce They blaspheame imputed righteousnesse It followes that to have comfortable assurance of salvation we must prove our sâ—lves Children of Abraham that proved the other is sure that is 1. By being of faith to rest on Christs merit inherent in his owne person without any worke done out of grace or in grace of ours trusted in as any part of cause to salvation As God preached the Gospell to Abraham and hee beleeved Gal. 3 7 8 9. Rom. 4 1 2 5. To be borne by vertue of the promise as Isaack Gal. 4. Rom. 9. 2 By being in Christ by faith Gal. 3 29. If yee be Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heires by promise Which is to bee knowne by having the Spirit of Christ in us to doe the workes of Abraham Iohn 8. 39. Michah 2 7. Iames 2 22. By the illumination of the Spirit annointing and healing our minds to discerne difference of things true or false good or evill 1 Iohn 2 20 27. To preserve us from evill wayes and evill men Prov. 2. 2 By regeneration in giving and increasing the godly nature 3. By governing or leading Rom. 8 14. 4 By consolation Iohn 14. The comforter 5 By confirmation giving a constancie in the worke of righteousnesse to worke righteousnesse at all times Ps. 106. Verse 10. The Sonne of man is come to seeke and save that which was lost This is a defence of the action of Christ in his going in to Zacheus hee came for lost sinners Zaccheus and his household are such Ergo he offends not he doth nothing against his office in going in to him Though wee may not for a passive scandall which is 1. By ignorance of some 2. By malice in others forbeare the duties enjoyned us by the Lord as appeareth Math. 15 Yet as occasion is wee are to give a reason of our doing in generall for holding and professing truth contrary to the worlds opinion as why wee are not as the Pagans as the Iewes as the Papists as prophane men in the number of them that are in profession of true religion 1 Pet. 3 15 Bee readie to give a reason of the hope that is in you Our Saviour submitts himselfe to this order Mat. 9 11 12. Why eates your Master with Publicans and Sâ—ners his defence is it is the calling of Phisitians to be with the sicke that have neede of him 2. Mercie is preferred to Sacrifice 3. I am come to call sinners to repentance verse 13. So Luke 15 By three parables hee justifieth his mercie to sinners by their diligence that seeke things lost which they would recover and that graduallie 1. The woman her groat lost out of ten the sheepeheard his sheepe out of an hundred the father and the fathers joyfull receiving of a dead and lost sonne His answere and defence of the womans
7 25. The life and kingdome and glory of Christ are destinated to this end as their scope the salvation of the beleevers not onely by his kingly power but by execution of his preistly office in glory making requests for us thus the Apostle comforts the Elect of God beleeving in Christ Rom. 8 33. 34. Against feare of condemnation yea of accusation to secure them of salvation And to lay the comfort downe in the best force of it whereas the direct opposition is of accusation and Christs patronage or intercession of condemnation and Gods justification but hee makes a traiection willing to fence Gods Children from the toppe to the bottome and to arme them with such confidence as may chase away to the furthest anxieties feares Hee gathers more emphatically that they are not obnoxious to any accusation of guiltinesse that may hurt them before God by Gods justifying of them then by Christs intercession for the way to judgement is shut up aforehand when the judge hath pronounced them just and guiltlesse clearing them from all faults that any would lay to their charge And so in the second opposition It is not to bee feared that they should bee condemned for whom Christ by his death hath satisfyed divine justice and expiated their sinnes to prevent that judgement of God and by his intercession not onely abolished death but brings their sinnes to bee forgotten so as never to come into account How doth Christ make intercession now for us being in heavenly glory in his humiliation hee prayed for us Iohn 17 20. For all which shall beleeve in him through the word of the Apostles doth he so now Being our high Priest it is his office still to pray for us as it were by name whereof the high Priest under the Law was a type who going in to the most holy place had by appointment the names of the Children of Israel in the names of the tribes under the heads were all contained So answering to the type Christ is entred into the true holy place into the very heavens within the veile Heb. 6 20 and 9 24. Not in his owne name onely but in the name of every particular beleever Exod. 28 12 Hee shall beare the names of the Children of Israel before the Lord upon his shoulders for a remembrance that hee might remember them to Godward and for this there were two Onix stones set and imbossed in gold and in either stone sixe names graven according to the names of the Children of Israel He had also in his Brest plate foure rowes of stones three in every row with the names of the twelue tribes to beare them upon his heart when hee goeth into the holy place I doe not say I will pray for you Christs intercession considered whether as vocall The praying of Christ in heaven may bee understood this presenting his humane nature assumed unto unitie of person with the Sonne of God unto his father for that end to save his A body hast thou ordained me By the which will we are saved by the offering of the body of Christ. 2. Setting his merit of obedience to the Law and crosse in the sight of God for remembring him of them whom hee hath reconciled Though God suffers not oblivion of those whom he hath justifyed yet thus Christ mediates for them still by presenting to God his sacrifice his obedience for them with the everlasting vigor and merit of it 1 Iohn 2 2. 3. As God declaring his will as man desiring of God that as his sacrifice is of a sweete savour so they that beleeve in him may be such by the merit of it in his acceptance he delightes in them his love and pleasure is in them 4. And as the incense and sweete perfume ascended and gave a sweete smell so the workes and specially the prayers and prayses of the faithfull through the odour of his sacrifice and the intercession of Christ are sweete to God Thy voice is sweete Cant. 4. How much better is the savour of thine oyntments than all spices Thy lipps droppe honie combes and thy plants are as an Orchard of Pomegranets and sweete fruites and with all the cheife spices in themselves they are not so sweet but in Christ who obtaines by his intecession pardon of the corrupt mixture as the high Priest having on his forehead a plate of pure gold with this graven in it Holinesse to the Lord that hee might beare the iniquitie of the offerings which the Children of Israel should offer in all their holy offerings to make them acceptable before the Lord Exod. 28 36. 38. 2. As Christ saveth by his merit so hee saveth by his Spirit and efficacie application of his merit It is required that unto the enjoying of benefits purchased by Christ we bee first partakers of and possessed of himselfe Here is the comfort of a soule that the testimonie of God is within it so as it can truly say my beloved is mine We must bee in Christ before hee bee to us that which hee is made of God 1 Cor. 1 30. Hee is the Saviour of his body Ephes. 5 As the woman is first possessed of the person of her husband and thereby becometh partaker of his dignitie and riches The promise of blessednesse is made to Abrahams seed not seedes That is Christ Gal. 3 16. We must be parts of Christ as the seed before wee bee blessed v. 29. Vnto this 〈…〉 ion with Christ there bee certaine joynts and bands Coloss. 2 19. As the members of the body are tyed to the head These bands by which the Elect are tyed to Christ are the Spirit and faith Children that cannot actually beleeve are united to him as to their head by an unspeakeable way by his Spirit so as they are of his body of his flesh and bones one spirit with him Ephes. 5 30. 1 Cor. 12 13. They that are of yeares and capable of faith are knit unto him by the Spirit and faith To both Christ is given of God Who is the gif◠of God in two respects 1. As hee was sent into the world to worke our redemption so God loved the world that hee gave his Sonne Iohn 3. and Rom. 8. Hee gave him for us all to death Secondly particularly unto union with us that is in our calling by the first our redemption was wrought by the second wee enjoy him and all things with him Rom. 8 32. And this gift of Christ is the cause why God first before wee seeke it giveth us faith By his merit and on his behalfe it is given us to beleeve in him as also to suffer for his name Philip. 1. And because we cannot beleeve unlesse wee be chosen to it faith is of Gods Elect the Election being in Christ. For execution of the decree saith is given to them that are given him as the hand to take hold of him as the mouth to take him in to dwell in us for life and nourishment
by nature Ephes. 2. And the of God wrath abides upon them Iohn 3 36. They live under the covenant of workes and so under the curse for breaches of the Law Wee may gather hence the wofull condition of the Iewes that have stumbled at the stumbling stone they are enemies for the Gospell sake because they refuse Christ Iesus Rom. 11. They dye in their sinnes Iohn 8. without pitty and mercie And so of the Turkes of whom wee cannot conceive better than a company of damnable creatures for any thing wee know left to perish everlastingly they waiting on lying vanities forsake their owne mercie they worship they know not what millions of men going to hell in death because not receiving Christ the onely Saviour the Salvation of God In a word in no religion but the Christian in no Christian religion but the reformed is salvation to be found Papisme saves none though some among Papists may bee saved Bulling in Apoc. 7 10 Such as hold the foundation and overturne it not 2. Such as erre of simplicitie not of special vengeance for not loving the truth 3. Such as are from their hearts obedient to the truth they see and are desirous to understand teachable ready to imbrace the truth in Christ Iesus being revealed unfeinedly repenting their unknowne errors But otherwise as papisme is that Apostasie spoken of by Paul the head of which defection is the man of sinne it saves none it leades into perdition the head of that apostasie is called the child of perdition And it is a deceiveable unrighteousnesse among such as perish their damnation who in the just judgemeÌ„t of God are delivered up to beleeve such lyes because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved 2 Thess. 2. Papisme overthroweth the fundamentall doctrine of Christian religion therefore it saveth not 1. In the point of justification Whittak de ecclesia Q. 6. Pag. 459. They have not that way of justification which the Lord hath set downe in his word They erre in the efficient matter and forme And as there being one way to a Citty they that have not that way cannot come into the Citty so there being but one way for justifying of a sinner if they have not that they are not justified and so not saved Iustification is before glorification Rom. 8 30. For the efficient cause the Scriptures put God of his love grace and mercie Iohn 3 16. It is God that justifieth Rom. 3. 24. Titus 2 11. Ephes. 2 4 5. The Papists teach that God justifieth but inclined and commoved thereunto by workes of preparation done by us merit of congruitie 2. The Scripture ascribes the efficacie of grace unto our calling and justification to God determinating the will by infusion of grace to will conversion which it willed not before The Papists denie physicall determination and affirme that God onely by morall perswasion excites the will and giveth sufficient grace to convert but leaves it in the power of the will to choose or to put away and make ineffectuall that grace In quo insignem dei gratiae iniuriam faciunt et uniâ—um nostrae salutis principiuâ—â—ollunt Concerning the matter of our justification the scripture puts onely the obedience of Christ unto the death Rom. 5 19. Rom. 8 3 4. The obedience of the Law and the obedience of the crosse Rom. 10 4. for full satisfaction and righteousnesse The Papists though they grant Christ to bee in himselfe most just and that hee fulfilled the Law and satisfied God most perfectly yet they deny this obedience to bee our justice They teach besides Christs satisfaction other satisfaction either in their owne persons by penall workes or by indulgence a remitting thereof for the satisfaction of others made theirs by bargaine and sale The foundation of which indulgence they make the treasure of the Church of the superfluous workes and satisfactions of the Saints They for this consider in the workes of the just a double valour one of merit which they say cannot bee applyed to another a second of satisfaction which is in some more than they need for themselves either having no actuall sinne as they say of the Virgin Mary and as some of them count piously beleeved that she had not originall sinne yet suffered much for God Luk. 2. A sword also shall pierce thine heart Iohn Baptist filled with the Spirit from the womb and lived innocently yet put himselfe to great ansteritie of life under hard pennance They suppose that such need not for their owne satisfaction therefore as superfluous to him it is laid up in the treasurie of the Church for such as want where with to satisfie God for their veniall sinnes and the temporall punishment of mortall sinnes Thus they adde to Christ helps to save from sinne and punishment on false ground 〈◊〉 There is no more reason why one mans satisfaction may with God pay another mans debt than his merit of workes procure for another man reward neither of them can properly be found in any sinfull man as every mere man is 2. It is blasphemie to say that godly mens sufferings are superfluous more than their sinnes require They have their fruit 1. In righteousnesse 2. In glory Heb. 12. Rom. 8 18. 2 Cor. 4. 1 Cor. 15 ult It were against justice in God The best cannot answere one of a thousand All whatsoever they can do or suffer for God according to his will is their duty Luke 17. And therefore can neither merit reward nor satisfie debt much lesse bee superfluous and aboue that they need for their owne use Math. 25 9. Virtus proximi mei vix sufficiet illi ad defensionem tantum abest ut et mihi Theophylact. 2. They make the matter of positive righteousnesse wherein wee stand just before God to bee inherent in our persons which because it is ever imperfect in this life and not without mixture of sinne never satisfying the Law we are necessarily under the curse if we trust to it to save us Gal. 3 10. Gal. 5 4. Ye are abolished from Christ whosoever will bee justified by the Law c. The forme of justification the Scripture puts in Gods gracious imputation of the obedience of Christ to us upon our faith in him Rom. 4 5 9 23. So faith is said to bee imputed to righteousnesse righteousnesse imputed without workes 2 Cor. 5 19 21. The scripture putts our justification in not imputing our sinnes Papists make the infusion of righteousnesse the forme of justification and merit of person and workes by Gods commutative justice deriding the true faith as a phantasticall apprehension imputed justice a new no justice or a putative justice 2. The Papists hold not Christ the head because they make other mediators as Angels and Saints which they trust in and worship Coloss. 2 18 19. 3 They have another Priesthood than Christs and another sacrifice propitiatorie and impetratorie Seeing salvation of the lost is onely the
sends efficacie of error and so causeth us to erre from his wayes Esay 19 14. The Lord hath mingled among them the spirit of errors Esay 63 17. Because wee delighted to wander and would not refraine our feet therefore will the Lord have no delight in us but remember our sinnes Ieremie 14 10. To take notice of this miserable condition of nature considering our selves whether as yet wee have obteined mercie unto deliverance or remaine yet in this fearefull and wofull state of men lost living separated from God the fountaine of life 1. Whether whatsoever weakenesse in judgement or affection bee in us yet wee be teachable or tractable Or whether we refuse it and hate it as evill because wee place our felicitie in our sinnes and hate to be advised reclamed Prov. 10 17. He that regardeth instruction is in the way of life but hee that refuseth correction goeth out of the way hee that is found out of habituall disposition followeth on to know the Lord Hos. 8 3. 2 Whether we have our hearts drawne away constantly from all inward attendance on God in his worship publike or private Ier. 12 2. Esay 29 13 Ezech. 33. 31 Or we delight to draw â—ecre to God wee worship him in spirit our soule sanctified and governed by Gods Spirit we worship him with our trust because he hath revealed himselfe reconciled in Christ with our faith and hope in him by the meanes of Christ Iesus with a reverence of his precepts promises threatnings least we should sinne against them walke unworthy of them and incurre Gods displeasure whose wrath is pacified towards us in Christ with heartie prayer accepted in his Beloved brought into his presence as lovely and desireable Christ that would not pray for the world whom hee purposed not to give himselfe for to save them will not give his Spirit into the hearts of any such to make requests unto God for them 3. Whether wee seeke delight in all our temptations afflictions infirmities against all curse of the Law and dangers of judgement to shelter our selves under Christ and taste such sweetnesse of his fruites that wee are so taken up with him as to write of him to speake of him to exalt him as the only stay of soules for salvation is our contentment and wee cannot beare them that trouble mens consciences by adding any thing as cause of salvation with him as before Cant. 2 Esay 28. Gal. Or seeke wee other shelter make wee falshood our refuge and lye hid under vanitie and tast nothing but earthly things Finding no savour in the fruit of Christ or things of the Spirit 4. Is our love to men in Christ and specially to those in whom the life of Christ is the brethren We follow with brotherly kindnesse such as preach him and professe him as before Or are wicked men swine and wilde beasts our dearest and most delightfull companions that also withwilling neglect and shunning the societie of such as have the vertue of Christ in them This being the case of all that Christ saves that they are lost it sets out the riches of the free grace of God as the cause of the happinesse of the elect and also serves greatly to incourage men that feele themselves lost to trust in Christ that came not to save the righteous but to call sinners to repentance Bee informed of the arguments that may induce a sinner that he might be helped out of his miserie to come to Christ. 1. Before God require any service of us hee would have us beleeve that in Christ hee is our God and Father This hee prefaceth before the CoÌ„mandements I am the Lord thy God And in the prayer delivered by our Saviour wee are taught in praying to be perswaded of his Fatherly good will to us and this of his owne mercie and truth not in respect of any thing had or hoped for in us or else were grace no grace Rom. 11. You that feele that you are lost in your selves give the first service to God obey him in comming to Christ receiving him as the gift of free and eternall love This is the worke of God the chiefe that hee commaunds to beleeve in him whom hee hath sent to seeke and save that which was lost If the Divell would have us do as the servants of Iairus Marke 5 35 give our selves for lost without hope of recovering as they say concerning his daughter about whose cure hee came to Christ Thy daughter is dead why diseasest thou the Maister any further So hee suggest thy soule is dead lost Abhorre the suggestion of ceasing to rest upon him for cure as if thy cause were hopelesse consider Christ incourageth him against their discouragement and deferres not assoone as hee heard the word spoken hee said to the ruler of the Synagogue Bee not afraid onely beleeve and she shall bee saved Luke 8 50. Death it selfe shall give place to the higher power of Christ hee is the life and quickeneth whom hee will Faith in him for power good will to save us from perdition to bee a remedie against all evills that undoe our soules is the onely instrument Christ calls therefore for this confident dependance on him how desperate soever our case may seeme to our selves or others beleeve onely there wants nothing else on our part for our cure Be confident my sonne thy sinnes bee forgiven thee As Satan labours to loosen our faith so wee must bee diligent to fasten it by thinking on the promises free and certaine by the merit of Christs blood the goodnesse and faithfullnesse of God in his oath Heb. 6. Christ hath this peculiar above all the Priests of the Law hee is made Priest by an oath Psal. 110 4. To declare the immutabilitie of Gods counsell to forgive all their sinnes whom hee invites to him having appointed with an oath a patrone for them which shall by his sacrifice and intercession get them favour with him They that shut the gate of hope against themselves what else doe they than accuse God of lying yea for swearing Whosoever is weary and laden with a heavie sense of his sinnes and guiltinesse wherby he even faints with feare of damnation despairing of himselfe hee is called of Christ to come to him which is a matter of great confidence as they urge to blind Bartimeus Mark 10 49. Bee of good comfort arise hee calleth thee He doth with his call assure them rest and refreshing of soule There is no difference for all have sinned and are sallen short of the glory of God all are lost The difference in degrees of sinne makes no difference impossibility to be justified beleeving in Christ Rom. 3. Men of civill life brought up in the bosome of the Church renounce their advantages in the eyes of men that in Gods eyes they may finde favour by having the righteousnesse of God not their owne Wee which are Iewes by nature not sinners of the Gentiles know that a man is