ouercame her doubt Heb 11.11 by faith she receiued power to cōceiue seed and was deliuered of a child when shee was past age because shee iudged him faithful who had promised yet laughed at the message of the Angel and is reproued for it Gen. 18.12 Our Sauiour doth reproach the two Disciples honestly testifiing of him for follie and slownesse of heart to beleeue all that the Prophets haue spoken Luk. 24.25 he vpbraides the eleuen with their vnbeliefe because they beleeued not them which had seene him after his resurrection Mar. 16.14 Moses and Aarons faithfull seruants of God were iudged to death temporall for not sanctifying the Lord by beleeuing his promise of bringing water out of the rocke and to lose the honour of bringing Gods people into the Land of promise When a doubt creeps into a mans minde whether that which God hath spoken shall come so to passe it is iniurious and greiuous to him much more when with full vnbeliefe his promise is reiected Psal. 106.24.25.26 2. King 7.2 Reasons SIns are more greiuous as they haue God for their obiect more immediately hating of God despaire vnbeliefe the mother sinne it dishonours God aboue many sinnes of morality 1. In questioning his truth 2. In limiting his power 3. In disgracing his promise and messengers Esa. 7.13 Is it a small thing for you to grieue men that you will grieue my God also Secondly it is of prauity of nature mans faithlesse disposition whereunto being indulgent he beares with himselfe in it too much where God offers to fence him not onely with promise but sometimes with signe God saith of his sonnes and daughters that they are children in whom is no faith Deut. 32.20 Christ to his fearefull Disciples how is it that yee haue no faith Mar. 4.40 Vse 1. We ought therefore to feare with hatred all vnbeleefe all kinds and degrees of it and to sway our hearts against their natural disposition we ought to beleeue God speaking to vs whatsoeuer how often soeuer in what manner soeuer he do speake to vs and be violent against the hindering disposition so breaking into heauen The deuil flies not from vs by dallying but by resisting him Iam. 4.7 Faith makes supernaturall things possible Math. 17.20 It obtaines wonderfull things Heb. 11.11.33.34 It sanctifieth God in a mans heart Esa. 8.13 and giues him glory before men Rom. 4.20 Out-looking improbabilities impossibilities in nature resting on his truth and power When God hath spoken let vs reioyce in his word saying I haue the word of God whereof I glory the word of God I say whereof I will glory Dauid assures himselfe to the ouercomming of sorrowes and quickening him with spirituall ioy that it shall be as God hath said Psal. 60.6 God hath spoken in his holinesse I will reioyce I shall diuide Shechem and measure the valley of Succhoth Gilead is mine c. when the Lord hath said I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee we may boldly say the Lord is my helper I will not feare Heb. 13.5.6 God will doe that which he hath spoken to me of Genes 28.15 Thus Paul did giue hope to them in the Ship with him in great extremity Bee of good courage for I beleeue God that it shall bee euen so as he hath spoken to me and they were all of good cheere At length wee shall say to Gods praise As wee haue heard so haue wee seene in the Citie of our God Psal 48.8 Let vs lay vp the promises in our hearts set them still before vs digest them in a holy hope and feede our selues with them bee they generall or particular to this or that state and condition absolute or with exception of the crosse wee shall beleeuing perceiue in sensible effect that God hath not said in vaine Seeke yee mee None shall bee ashamed that waite for him either wee shall haue the very thing which wee doe desire or the good of the want of it Vse 2. Seeing one act of distrust in a particular promise is so offensiue to God how grieuous is it to forsake the generall promise of mercy in Christ Iesus made to euery one that beleeues on him Heb. 4.1 Let vs feare it is full of sinne and danger First It is a manifest disobedience Rom. 10.16 21. against the first and great commaundement of the Law which though it doe not directly command faith in Christ nor reueale the righteousnesse whereby wee are saued Rom. 3.21 yet bindes vs to hearken to God in all that hee commands vs to whomsoeuer Christ is preached the commandement to beleeue in him is giuen Mar. 1.15 Ioh. 6.29 They that reuolt after profession of faith are saide to turne away from the holy commandement giuen to them 2. Pet. 2.21 Secondly Vnbeliefe is a kinde of blasphemy it makes God a lyar which agrees not with his nature it is impossible to him Heb. 6.18 Tit. 1.2 His witnesse is greater then the witnesse of man Hee that honours a man with cap and knee yet counts him a vaine lying fellow doth more dishonour him thereby then with all the outward signes he honours him so hee that beleeues not God testifying of his Sonne that whosoeuer receiues him hath life what respect soeuer hee giue him in other things dishonours more then hee honours him making the credite of his testimonies suspected as hee that beleeueth hath sealed that God is true Thirdly Vnbeliefe hath in it an odious vnthankfulnes in refusing Christ with his grace so freely offered to euery creature Mark 16.15 Christ louingly cals euery one that is athirst to come to him with gracious promise that they shall not come in vaine Ioh. 7.37 38. beseeching men by his seruants in his stead to be reconciled to God and not to receiue the grace of God in vaine Hee waits that hee may haue place in mens hearts promising sweete and refreshing familiarity to any that heares his voyce and opens vnto him Reuel 3.20 He puts none away that come to him Iohn 6.37 God expostulates with men why they will die seeing life is so freely offered them Eze. 18.31 lamenting their folly and losse in refusing him Therefore whether it bee of sottish negligence or of obstinate rebellion it is inexcusable vnthankfulnesse to reiect him Fourthly Vnbeliefe holds a man in the power of sinne in an vniuersall pollution of nature the seate of it is an euill heart Heb. 3.12 a heart full of euill affections so it robbes God of that inward worship which faith purifying the heart sets vp and maintaines it is ioyned with loue a pure heart and a good conscience 1. Tim. 1.5 No true inward worship can be performed without faith as may appeare by considering all the parts of it I. Confidence in God whereby wee rowle our selues vpon him for all needfull good and to bee helpt and defended against all hurtfull euill so as not to bee afraide at any euill tydings to laugh at destruction when
and so as to guid them it is denied therefore the account of knowledge for the liuelesnesse of it 2. Pet. 1.9 1. Ioh. 2.4.9 Fourthly their thoughts and deuises declare the fleshlinesse of their mindes that which riseth naturally as the fruite of their minde is as an ill fauour out of a sinke they minde things of the flesh and when they take counsell and deliberate it hath the same sauour with the roote when they rowle some good thing in their heads they corrupt and defile it the diuell also whose power is yet in their minde puts ill thoughts into them as his first borne and his breath to blow vp the fire of fleshly lusts vnto which they so attend as they forget God his properties works and wayes and walke in the sparkes of their fire that they haue kindled Isa. 50.11 But the true beleeuer is not so First his knowledge is an abiding light shining constantly till hee come to life called for that the light of life Iohn 8.12 He is taught of God so as hee declines not from his statutes Psal. 119 102. Because he taught him hee cannot beleeue otherwise then hee hath receiued though false teachers confirme their doctrine with signes and wonders Matthew 24.24 They will not heare a stranger specially in fundamentall doctrine they know not his voyce Iohn 10.8 1 Ioh. 4.4 They know by an holy annointing abiding in them the truth and that no lye is of the truth 1 Ioh. 2.27 and discerne the particular lye vsing such meanes and helps as God affords them They be tempted troubled with the temptation but are alwayes with God and ouercome the temptation and returne to their minde with confirmation knowing whom they haue beleeued Psal. 73.2 23. Gal. 5.10 Secondly Though they may erre in many things because sight is not perfected at once it is with some darkenesse as it were in the dawning betweene light and darkenesse yet not in full darkenesse true light hath shined to them and they see though with many fancies as hee who at the first touch of his eyes saw men walke but as trees not in their perfect lineaments till Christ set to the cure againe then he saw cleerely hence comes such diuersitie of iudgements among learned and good men yet truth beeing propounded to them and defended by others they haue a gracious aptnesse to yeeld to it when they see it Esay 11.6 A little child shall leade them Iames 3.17 The wisedome from aboue is tractable they offer sincerely their emptied minds vnto Christ that he may fill them with a frame of truth so renouncing the wisedome of the flesh they allow their wits no liberty but in God The eare tastes words as the palate doth meate Iob 12.11 1 Cor. 14.37 38. Heresies in the Church manifest the approoued 1 Cor. 11.19 As Aegles to the carcase by proper sagacity so are they gathered to the truth concerning Christ Luke 17.37 Thirdly their knowledge is effectuall life eternall is begun continued and consummate in it Iohn 17.8.12 For Gods teaching is such as the effect followes Iohn 6.45 Euery man that hath heard and hath learned of the Father commeth to mee These are together 1. knowledge of him 2. beeing in him 3. loue of him 4. and keeping his word 1 Iohn 2.3 5. They by this light see God specially as hee is reuealed in Christ Ephes. 3.18 19. They see themselues in the very secret chambers of their hearts for defects contrarietie to Gods law inwardly whence hindering of good and furthering of euill comes admire the rich and abounding loue and grace of God in Christ 1 Tim. 1.14 confessing their owne vnworthinesse haue meane thoughts of themselues compared to God compared to Saints and shew by good conuersation their workes in meekenesse of wisedome They be called the meeke of the earth that doe Gods iudgements Fourthly The thoughts of the iust are right Prou. 12.5 their renued minde giueth disposition thereunto and they are as fruits brought forth to God by the vertue of Christ specially as the spirit breaths obedience and gouernes them to deuise good things Isaiah 32.8 They not onely haue a good treasure in their hearts whence good thoughts are brought forth but they forme their thoughts vnto good minding with studie and carefull thought how to do acceptably pray for pleasing meditations and labour to keepe their thoughts in an order to serue God with their thought Secondly The conscience of a temporizer whether you consider quiet or troubled differs much from the beleeuers in the execution of the function because the beleeuer hath some holinesse restored to his conscience which none can haue but in Christ who haue learned him and haue beene taught as the truth is in Christ Iesus to put off the old man and to put on the newe Ephes. 4.22 1. The cause of quietnesse 2. the effects 3. the continuance difference it First The quietnesse of an vnbeleeuer or that beleeues not so as it may properly bee called faith is vpon mistaken grounds as that his faith giues him right in the Couenant which God hath made to all that truely receiue Christ whose merit is the foundation of the couenant it is infalliblie true in the proposition whosoeuer hath his Sonne hath life to as many as receiued him he gaue this dignity to be the children of God but it is false in the assumption I beleeue in Christ and receiue him So in the point of sanctification deceiued with shew when he hath not the truth he rests vpon the promise made to the sanctified but falsely assumed to him as before Secondly Or it is by a wilfull presumption of finding God peaceable towards him against the expresse words of the curse trusting in a lying word wherein sometimes they are strengthened by false teachers that giue life to them that should not liue Thirdly Or by not stirring of corruptions slumbering in error without sense By ignorance of the law I was a liue without the law but when the commandement came sin reuiued and I died Fourthly By earthing themselues as it were in a caue of forgetfulnesse of God and their own estate diuerting their thoughts to other things not considering that he remembers all their sinnes and that they shall come to iudgement Fiftly Oppressing their conscience with false reasonings they take euill for good good for euill lye vnder the woe denounced against it without feare Secondly it giues no true comfort in God as reconciled no delight in him Iob. 27.10 it is not renewed vnto that righteousnesse which was lost holds not to vniuersall obedience but suffers to liue in some sinne knowen consciencelesly it witnes not nor holds a man vnto right manner and end of actions with due circumstances but onely excuseth the worke done as Iehu did when he said to Iehonadab the Sonne of Rachab come with me and see the zeale that I haue for the Lord. He was caried with a great will to the fact
manner of persons they be that God admitts into heauen And what manner of person may receiue Christ vnto iustification of life The answere to the first is that God receiueth none into heauen but such as he hath made meete thereunto by iustification and sanctification in Christ Iesus Col. 1.12 2 Thes. 1.11 The Apostle praies for the Thessalonians that God would make them meete for or worthy of his calling of the high things in heauen vnto which hee called them by the Gospell not that there is inherent dignitie in any man but by imputation of the worthinesse of Christ which is euer accompanied with sanctification or Godly nature The inheritance is vndefiled 1. Pet. 1.4 no vnrighteous person nothing that is vncleane shall enter into it Reu. 21. 27. Whosoeuer remaines in the full power of sin working iniquitie though he blesse himselfe in his heart transforme God in his thoughts deceiue himselfe in his imagination he shall finde that God will not be mercifull to him Deut. 29.19 but set his sinnes in order before him Psal. 50.21 His religion is in vain Iam. 1.26 Without holinesse no man shall see God Heb. 12.14 The answere to the latter question is whosoeuer finds his owne guiltinesse and death euery burdened sinner hearing Christ propounded and the couenant of grace in him may come receiue him with the promise of mercy though when he heares the Gospell preached he be in a cleane contrary way to righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 He that worketh not but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith shall be counted for righteousnesse Faith possesseth the sinner of Christ and his righteousnesse which God of his grace imputes to him which is then as truely his own as if he had wrought it himselfe and so is not putatiuely iust as some blaspheming say but truely and perfectly iust and in that iustice worthy of heauen Christs passions are his actions Christs workes his merits by the vnion which by faith he hath with Christ. God cleares not the guiltie against order of iustice his sin is translated frō him to Christ in whom God finds him and Christs righteousnes to him receiuing in Christ full satisfactiō he holds him no longer guiltie but is iust in the forgiuenesse of sins and the sentence of righteousnesse pronounced vpon him he receiueth right vnto life Christ and the couenant in him is offered to vnregenerate men who inabled by Gods spirit to performe the condition of the couenant which is to beleeue in Christ the promises conteined in the couenant are surely his as a true heire of them Galath 3.29 If ye be Christs then Abrahams seed and heires by promise Regeneration is not the condition of the couenant but a promise conteined in it which is receiued by faith in Christ in whom the beleeuer is a new creature the workmanshippe of God created vnto good workes A man must not stay to beleeue till he finde regeneration and repentance towards God the worke of it but first beleeue that he may receiue in Christ the promise of the spirit vnto his new creation or conuersion to God which declares it selfe in outward workes Christ is sent to blesse men in turning them from their iniquities Act. 3.26 Him God hath lifted vp with his right hand to bee a prince and Sauiour to giue repentance to Israel Act. 5.31 We are not to looke first to find repentance in our selues and then come to Christ to obtaine forgiuenesse but seeke both in him As the woman beleeued first that shee should be healed touching the hemme of Christs garment and vpon the touch felt in her selfe that she was healed so we feeling our loathsome disease of sinne are to beleeue that we shall in Christ be healed comming to him who healed all manner of diseases in them that sought to him after to seeke experience of his vertue in our soules Childrē of the promise are such as are borne by faith of the promise as Isaac was when Sara was vnlikely to beare children as if shee had been dead Heb. 11.11.12 Gal. 4.28 Offer violence to your vnbeleeuing nature resolue and bind your soule by vow promise to God as Dauid doth to keepe his commandements whereof this is not the least to beleeue in the name of his Son and hold to your promise think of the rebuke you will not come to mee that you might haue life vnlesse you see signes and wonders you will not beleeue how it is that you haue no faith Thinke of the praise of faith in such as without any experience vpon the hearing of the Gospel when before they were great sinners staying merely vpon the word of promise whith by faith was neere vnto them euen in their heart and mouth Thus much of the second vse 3 Vse Seeing there is such danger in not beleeuing when God promiseth it requires our examination whether since wee heard the Gospell preached to vs wee haue truely beleeued Iames and Iohn disprooue some in their profession of faith by the want of vertue with it to testifie of it When men doe beleeue in Christ indeede he makes them free and God that knoweth their hearts giueth testimony in fact of his accepting for iust by their faith in giuing them the Holy Ghost The Apostle Paul cals to examination of faith by experience of Christ in vs. 2. Cor. 13.5 Obiection I. This seemes not to bee by ordinary way attained infallible knowledge that I doe sincerely beleeue in Christ seeing there is a kinde of faith which alters men so as they escape the filthinesse of the world yet it saues them not How may I know the right kind Answer First The exhortation had beene vaine if they which beleeue could come to no certainety of faith in themselues 2. Their profession ouer-bold that from sense professed that they did beleeue and their comfort to bee suspected that reioyced that they did beleeue Secondly It is true there bee diuerse kindes of faith historicall which hath some degrees temporary faith may be counted a higher degree of the historicall and iustifying faith they differ in subiects efficacie and parts of nature The historicall and temporarie faith may bee in reprobates as it was in Iudas and Alexander the coppersmith and such as hauing beene illuminated and tasted the word of God fall totally and for euer away Iustifying or faith properly so called is onely in the elect the seate of that is onely the minde that assents to the truth and goodnes of the word This is in the heart receiuing Christ with his blessing staying vpon him with affiance of heart for our whole felicitie The temporarie faith receiues neither what should bee receiued nor as it should nor is effectuall in giuing out as the sauing doth by diuine vertue Faith which is onely historicall receiueth not Christ vnto vnion and communion what it receiueth is neuer with an honest heart it purifieth not the affections Faith properly so called
Cor. 1.12 it is by the prouidence of God preseruing naturall light and conscience in some aboue others and giuing to some light by his word and spirit whereby corruption is held vnder for a time that the heart cannot shew the naughtinesse that is in it and they receiue some common graces which God governes to the producing of some good works for matter but he neuer renewing the fountaines of actiō the minde will and affections the worke proues in Gods sight corrupt by the disposition of the instrument and no mixture of true goodnesse in the production as there is none in in the instrument They are as clouds without water like comely members of a bodie that want a head to giue them life God leads the beleeuers by his spirit into good workes by gouerning the gracious habites infused the godly nature into holy acts hindered and corrupted indeed by the flesh concurring with the operations of grace in the same worke that the best worke needs the sacrifice of Christ to make it accepted the corrupt mixture pardoned Yet their is some true goodnesse in it and it is properly a good worke by the production of the spirit exercising faith hope loue zeale feare of God humility and other graces Secondly True righteousnesse is a begun obedience to al the Law of God by the seed of God abiding in the beleeuer wherby hee sinnes not as the vnbeleeuer nor can sinne 1. Ioh. 3.9 As disobedience was punisht with losse of originall righteousnesse and vniuersal corruption of nature that man had all sin in seed so by faith in Christ discharged of guilt thereof God giues againe originall iustice and all vertues in seed that are common to Christians A little child shall lead him Esay 11.6 because of his new creation and disposition to keepe Gods law which God hath put in his heart False righteousnesse neuer deliuers vp a man to a full rule and conscience of seueritie of right liuing it giueth not strife thereunto it is with percialitie reseruation either for persons Math. 5.44 times Psal. 78.34.36 or things Mark 6.26 True righteousnes hath something singular false righteousnesse is euer with reigning sinne of which after Thirdly True righteousnesse is done to God in honour and obedience to please and glorifie him to adorne his doctrine to iustifie profession to prepare vnbeleeuers to confirme and prouoke beleeuers by good example in conscience of which the soule rests when carnall men traduce the beleeuer and impute his worke sometime to madnesse when it transcends their capacitie sometimes to some peruerse affection or bad counsells of heart 2. Tim. 3.10 Thou hast fully knowen my manner of liuing purpose c. 1. Cor. 4.5 2. Cor. 5.13.14 False righteousnesse as it s not wrought in God so it is not done to him but bends back vpon a mans selfe Zach. 7.5.6 either to auoid punishment and get reward it is seruile and mercenarie or to get praise to be counted an honest man fit to liue in a societie To doe all in the name of Christ Col. 3.17 that God in all things may be glorified 1. Cor. 10.31 in ministring as of the abilitie that God ministereth is of grace It is the true loue of God that carrieth the heart in intention to God To a good worke is required power loue and a sound minde which Christians receiue in measure Loue is counted the fulfilling of the law it produceth and directs the workes of the beleeuer to God in Christ to whom he liues as the Lord of his life and death Rom. 14.8 Men vnconuerted are turned so away from God that they cannot spiritually loue him It may be as the God of nature and author of benefits which they seeke to haue and receiue they loue him for their aduantage but not as he is in himselfe soueraignely good nor as they beleeue his loue to them in Christ. They may doe something not onely for temporall blessings as Saul and Iehu but with relation to eternall life as the young ruler that was so rich Math. 19.16 but liue not to magnifie Christ in their bodies which is peculiar to grace Phi. 1.20 Obiection VI. Some that fall away seeme to be changed by the Gospell not onely outwardly but inwardly how can I be then infallible certaine of the truth of my righteousnesse Answere There change is the gift of some common graces which Christ as Lord bestowes vpon them but he neuer giues life to them as members of his body whereof he is head They are made partakers of the holy Ghost in some inferior working but are not made new creatures nor receiue grace accompanying saluation as appeares by the opposition of these two Their works proceede not from one and the same principle internall the true beleeuers proceede from the new creature faith working by loue from the life of the spirit which the other haue not Consider a little the difference of the worke of God in the fountaines of action First the minde of a temporizer is not holy though it be inlightened to know and acknowledg the truth It is peculiar to beleeuers to be renewed in minde after the image of God Col. 3.12 They that beleeue not haue mindes and consciences still defiled and not healed with the vnction from him that is holy Which may appeare 1. in that his knowledge of truth is not rooted in him in time of temptation hee goeth away and his light vanisheth so as that a greater darknesse commeth vpon him If the light that is in thee be darknesse how great is that darkenesse They goe backe after Satan the prince of darknes For degree the deuill was said to be cast out but repossesseth them againe so it is worse with them then before Secondly There minde not being sanctified they soone are puft vp in their minde vnto vaine reasoning which beget a false opinion which hauing striuen for they hardly forsake They sometime fancy a lie which seemes wisedome to them to follow though they send to inquire of God as seeming to offer their minds to his direction to know what is best to doe Ier. 42.3.5.20 Surely ye dissembled you were fully minded to go into Egypt whatsoeuer the Lord should say They haue an inclination to vnrighteousnes and meeting with deceiuers are easily carried away and that by the iust iudgement of God whose the deceiuer and deceiued be Iob. 12.16 and makes the punishment of the master as the punishment of the Scholar Mal. 2.12 Thirdly In that their knowledge is ineffectuall they know not as they ought to know 1. Cor. 8.2 Not for their owne vse which yet is required Iob. 5.27 Not what first and principally what more earnestly to follow It leaues them ignorant of themselues so as they think themselues to be some thing when they are nothing are puft vp Masterly censorious not onely towards fraile man but sometimes towards God himselfe as Mal. 3. verse 14. Their light shineth not effectually into their conscience
because God hath giuen his sonne to take with the nature of the elect their death Heb. 2.9.14 and thereunto their sinnes He made him to be sinne for vs that knew no sinne that wee might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2. Cor. 5.21 God laid vpon him all the sinnes of the Elect figured in the goat that escaped by lot Leuit. 16.21.22 Ouer which Aaron confessed all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their trespasses in all their sinnes putting them vpon the head of the goat sending him by appointment into a land not inhabited that the sinnes and curse might not reside among Gods people prophecied in Esa. 53.6 Not onely the punishment of our sinnes but our sins were made to meete vpon him whether past present or to come and the equall valew to all the wrath that they did deserue he indured 1. Tim. 2.6 He his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body to or on the tree 1. Pet. 2.24 By his stripes or wailes we are healed all haue sinned and are depriued of the glory of God he that is Lord ouer all is rich vnto all that call vpon him Be it ten thousand talents fiue hundred or fiftie pence he for Christ that hath as the suretie made satisfaction to the full for the whole debt counts it as if he had no wrong by vs but that we are iust cleare not guilty puts away his anger loues vs freely we neede not for feare beleeuing in Christ paine and torment our soules in respect of punishment to come for any sin or blasphemie committed Verily I say vnto you all sinnes shall be forgiuen vnto the children of men and blasphemies wherewith they blaspheme Christ appointed forgiuenesse of sinnes to be preached in his name without distinction of many or few small or great Thus Gods people are incouraged to follow the Lord and to sett vpon reformation of sinners because there is hope in Israel for this 1. Sam. 12.20 3. God inuites to his feast sinners of vilest sort such as are as miserable in soule as they be in body that by high waies and hedges Church porches or any meetings to make their aduantage shew and offer to pitie faces gnawen eyes noses and members eaten with rottennesse Whosoeuer accepteth truely his inuitation comes and eats of his prouision is allowed cleansed from all his sinne cloathed with righteousnesse as a robe and adorned with graces as with Iewels Esay 61.10 Luk. 15.21 Reuel 19.7 Come receiue Christ he shall cloath you and decke you vnto admiration Who is shee Cant. 6.9 that comes out of the wildernesse to ioyne her selfe to her welbeloued Cant. 8.5 Obiection III. Redemption is not vniuersall in Gods purpose mercy is limited Rom. 9.11.14 according to his will is all the difference betweene them that are saued and them that perish Math. 11. 25.26 Christ came to doe the will of his father in giuing eternall life to them that were giuen him Iohn 6.37 Hee gaue his life for his sheepe Iohn 10.15 dyed for the children of God scattered in all the world Iohn 11.52 But hee did not pray nor speake a good word for the world to his father his sacrifice was the foundation of his intercession they must needes therfore bee of one extent How shal I know that Iesus Christ by the will of God gaue himselfe for mee that I may stay vpon him Answer First Hee prayed for all and therefore dyed for all that beleeue in him Ioh. 17.20 None come to him but whom his father drawes he drawes none but whom hee had before giuen to him Iohn 7.37 Faith is peculiar to the elect Iohn 10.26 Acts 13.48 Titus 1.1 The election obtaines it Romanes 11.7 Beleeue and you haue a cleare resolution whereby you may say he loued me and gaue himselfe for mee Secondly Suspition arising of a certaine preiudice without ground inclining a man to the worst part if it bee but towards a man is sinne for charitie thinks not euill beleeues all things 1. Cor. 13. To haue God in suspicion when he cals me to receiue his grace in Christ Iesus is much more sinfull both for iniury to God and hurt to my selfe God hath prouided against such putting of stumbling blocks to a mans selfe Esa. 56.3.5.7 Whosoeuer loues the name of God and to be his seruant is assured of acceptance and ioyfull experience thereof for person and seruice The spirit of God makes no perswasion to a man of his reprobation as he doth of his Election Neither can it be gathered from sinne of nature or Action internall or externall Where Christ is esteemed truely the spirit of grace not dispited if an Angel should pronounce your damnation you should suspect him for a lying spirit Or if you knew an Angel from heauen to say so much that you shall bee damned you are to beleeue him no further then vnder this condition if you beleeue not in Christ Iesus and repent towards God the written word in the true sense knowen is to be rested in aboue the testimonie of an Angel from heauen Galath 1.6 Thirdly You haue inducements to beleeue that thou ought not to neglect You are borne holy 1. Cor. 1.14 brought forth to God by the Church Gods wife Ezech. 16.20.21 You are a child of the kingdome Math. 8.12 yours is the adoption Rom. 9.4 at least externally as belonging to you The couenant is propounded Sacraments ministred not onely as notes of profession but as testimonies of Gods good will in Christ. Men hauing written their couenants sett their seales to them and deliuered them they that deale with them vse to rest as secured conceiuing they deale with wise honest and able men God hath written his couenant set his seale to it and by a minister authorized by him set you as it were in possession If you reiect it not not onely spirituall things but the application of them is represented in the Sacraments you are sprinkled with Sacramentall water you haue giuen to you and receiue Sacramentall bread and wine which by Gods appointment haue Sacramentall vnion with and relation vnto the spirituall thing represented It is such an obligation to faith and consecration of a mans selfe to God that if a man excite not his faith and yeeld himselfe he shall account to God aboue others that neuer had these testimonies Ezech. 20.37 I will cause you to passe vnder the rod and bring you into the bond of the couenant Obiection IIII. God will not cleare the guilty nor acquite the wicked he ioynes perishing vnto impenitency how shall I beleeue his promise of mercy to my pardon that cannot cleare my conversion to my conscience None can enter into the kingdome of heauen but borne of the spirit liuing after the flesh I shall die I am commanded to let no man deceiue me with vaine words to secure me from such danger Answere These two questions are distinct must not be confounded what