may there much guile and deceit be found to be in it and the worke will appeare to bee vnsound and falsely wrought if good triall thereof be made that only hauing guile for the refuge and vnder falsehood and vanitie it Isai 28. 15. delighting euer to lie hid for there it resteth and setleth it selse there it findeth best cherishing and kindliest being as the dorres doe in the dung But this may better beé considered in some particulars Temporarie faith which yet is as good as no faith if it be not worse for if any withdraw himselfe the Lord will haue no pleasure in Heb. 10. 38. 39. 2. Pet. 2. 21. him And Peter saith it had been better not to haue knowne then to turne away againe seemeth to haue all the complements that can bee found in true faith and that in as goodly a shew and in as glorious a manner as the most pretious and sauing faith hath or can haue if goodly shewes and appearances might bee sufficient to serue the turne for if wee consider the nature of true faith and what be the parts whereof it doth consist if wee marke well what be the graces which principally doe concurre in true beleeuers for the making vp of that faith in them How true saith is wrought which is true and vnfained and by which they assuredly shall be saued it will be found that first their minds come to be illuminated and lightened from aboue with diuine Acts 26. 18. Eph. 1. 17. 18. Col 1. 9. 26. 27. and ◠2 2. Cor 4. 6. Iohn 17. 3. Acts 28. 24. Ioh 6. 68 69. Acts 15. 11. Iohn 1. 12. Phil. 3. 12. 1. Tim. 6. 12. 2. Tim. 2. 14. Rom. 4. 20. 21. Rom. 8. 38. Iohn 3. 16. Rom. 15. 13. Acts 8. 39. 1. Pet. 1. 7. T it 3. 8. 14. Coloss 1. 10. Gal 5. 16. 22. 2. Pet. 1. 8. Phil. 1. 11. Rom. 12 2. 1. Cor. 6. 11. Eph 4. 22. 24. Eph 4. 20. 21. knowledge of Gods truth especially with the sauing knowledge of Christ Iesus whom to know is eternall life Secondly then their hearts are strengthened as to assent to that they know so to relie vpon Christ whom they know apprehending him and laying hold of the promises of life and saluation which are made in him Fourthly from thence they proceed further and doe grow at the length to be assured in the truth and setledly perswaded of God his vnchangeable loue towards them in and through Christ Iesus so as they beleeue comfortably they shall neuer perish but haue eternall life by him Whereupon next followeth fifthly Ioy and gladnesse to be bred in their hearts euen such as is said to be vnspeakable and glorious All which former graces haue following and accompanying them the fruites of the Spirit Sixthly in good workes breaking out in their liues which may plainly be discerned by the generall change of their whole course of life from euill to good casting off the old man which is corrupt through the deceiueable lusts and putting on the new which is created after God in holinesse and righteousnesse And thus haue true beleeuers learned Christ heard him and been taught by him as the truth is in Iesus as the Apostle saith Now a temporarie beleeuer who is but a cunning reprobate and a true beleeuers counterfeit may haue the shadow and resemblance of all these graces and that with so liuely colours so workmanly set out and painted forth as shall cause them to carrie a goodly glosse and to shine out with such a glistering brightnesse as if they were comparable with the best when there is nothing at all sound but How farre areprobate may go all is bastardized adulterated and no better then plaine counterfeit stuffe such a man may haue common graces in so good a degree as a naturall man may in the possibilitie of his nature be capable of euen so much as his nature not renewed may permit him to haue As to instance in the former particulars he may haue great measure Heb. 6. 4. 1. Cor. 13. 2. Isai 42. 20. 1. Cor. 1. 19. 20. 8. 2. Rom. 2. 13. 19. 20. Acts 26. 27. Iames 2. 19. Iohn 12. 42. 43. Luke 8. 13. Mat. 23. 2. 3. Rom. 2. 20. 21. Rom. 1. 31. 3. 19. 20. Phil 1. 16. Mat. 7. 21. 22. of illumination and may attaine to much knowledge not alone humane but diuine also to know the truth of God to vnderstand the Scriptures to beleeue the Word of God to bee true crediting it in his iudgement and approuing of it in his affection hee may not alone become expert in the vnderstanding and opening of the Law thereby to know himselfe and all others to be guiltie of sinne but he may grow also acquainted with the mysteries of the Gospell thereout to know Christ and him crucified for the sinnes of the world and to know him to bee theone and onely Sauiour of all mankind he may haue a confused perswasion and conceit in his mind though vnwarrantably that Christ and all his benefits doe belong to him and laying claime to them as the woman that was not the mother did to the child that was not hers apprehend 1. King 3. 22. and lay hold of them all as his owne He may out of this conceit that he is now in the state of grace and in the Luke 8. 13. way of life haue his heart rapt and lift vp with much ioy he may take delight and after a manner grow proud of the good estate which as hee doth thinke he now standeth Luke 18. 11. in as in regard of the outward reformation of his life the vncleane spirit may be said to be gone out of him Mat. 12. 43. and another spirit to be giuen vnto him as was giuen to Saul when another heart was giuen vnto him after Samuel 1. Sam. 10. 6. 9. 10. had once annointed him after which it is also said that the Spirit of the Lord came vpon him He may bee found much humbled before the Lord with Ahab for many 1. Kin. 21. 27. 29. euils hee hath done and much commended before men with Herod for many good things hee hath done of Marke 6. 20. whom it is said that he heard Iohn gladly and that hee did many things after that he had heard him These also many seuerall gifts and graces which are very glorious to look vpon and faire in shew may concurre and meete together in one man and yet neuer a one of them right nor the man himselfe sound at the heart All these thus coupled thus compact and ioined together meeting in one person may seeme to carrie before them a faire resemblance of the comely feature of true sauing faith when yet it is but as a dead image which hauing all parts and lineaments of a well proportioned body wanteth the spirit and breath of life to animate the whole and agitate all the parts with liuely motion
the Sonne of the liuing God so forsaking all to follow him and truly and stedfastly beleeuing in him their faith is so strengthened as the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile against the Mat. 16. 18. same Their knowledge of Christ hath guile and deceit in it making them more bold in sinning because they know Christ hath done all away by his suffering abusing the knowledge they haue of him to a more libertie of licentious liuing These know Christ as the truth is in Iesus to become new creatures in him casting off the old man and putting on Eph. 4. 21. 22 24 the new 4 In respect of the subiect in which the knowledge of these two abideth and is seated this difference may be obserued Their knowledge is swimming in the braine in an idle and bare speculation only These haue their knowledge descending and sinking lower downe into their hearts to worke vpon the affections to breed the hatred of sinne there and the loue of goodnesse They keepe the word of God in their eares to heare it and in their tongues to talke of it they get knowledge out of the word of God to tip their tongues with fine and eloquent speech and to dispute learnedly about points that are intricate These lay vp the word of God in their hearts that it may dwell plentifully there in all wisedome they hide vp Coloss 3. 16. the word of God in their hearts with Dauid that it may Psal 119. 11. keepe them from sinning they get knowledge not so much to tip their tongues with speech as to season their hearts with grace and to liquour their whole liues with holinesse that all their actions may relish and sauour of some goodnesse 5 There is great difference betweene the knowledge of these two in respect of the kinds of their knowledge which are very diuers All the knowledge and wisedome of men vnregenerate that is to say of naturall men it doth most lighten the vnderstanding downward and let it be of things neuer so high and heauenly yet being once in them it becommeth drossie and polluted with their corruption But the knowledge which is inspired and infused into the hearts of men regenerate by the spirit of sanctification is both most holy and pure in it selfe and in like manner sanctifieth them into whose hearts it is put and Iohn 17. 17. 1. Pet. 1. 22. being farre more diuine setteth before their mindes a heauenly great and lightsome Torch shining vpwards to make their mindes more heauenly and their affections to Coloss 3. 2. be set vpon things aboue Of the greatest excellencie of their vnsanctified knowledge in regard of themselues and of the hurt also thereby done to others that may be said of it that was said of the knowledge of Nouatus that it was but venenata facundia but a poysoned and venomous finesse and elegancie of their skill and speech These haue the wholesome knowledge of the truth for Tit. 2. 8. the safety of their owne soules and they speak the words of truth and sobernesse vnto others also whom they do instruct Acts 26. 25. Their knowledge many times is an affecting to know aboue that which is meet and so are found exercising themselues Rom. 12. 3. 16. Psal 131. 1. in things that are too high These vnderstand according to sobriety keeping themselues within due compasse not stretching themselues beyond their line 2. Cor. 10. 13. 14. They haue much obscure confused generall and theoricall knowledge wherein many of them doe excell they haue plentie of illumination without change of affection and so remaine but carnall still their heart and life being left wholly vnreformed These haue a much more cleare distinct speciall effectuall and experimentall knowledge their minds being so inlightned by the Spirit of God with the knowledge of God out of his Word as thereupon they are transformed 2. Cor. 3. 18. into the image of God from glory to glory They haue much verball and litterall knowledge in Tit. 1. 16. word to say they know God but in their deedes to denie him so being in the meane time as one iustly calleth them but beleeuing Atheists These haue powerfull and spirituall knowledge knowing Phil. 3. 10. Christ with the power of his resurrection which causeth the power of godlinesse to be seene in their liues 6 And lastly in respect of the vse that these put their knowledge vnto much is the difference betweene the knowledge that is had on both sides The vnregenerate and vnsanctified men haue knowledge Ier. 10. 14. Amos 3. 10. Ier. 4. 22 but as the Prophet speaketh they are brutish in their knowledge they know not how to doe right they haue knowledge and they are wise for the doing of euill but to doe well they haue no knowledge at all The true beleeuer and sanctified Christian hath knowledge and his vnderstanding is vnto him as a well-spring Prou. 16. 22. and fountaine of life to cause him to depart from the snares of death The wisedome of the prudent saith Salomon Prou. 14. 8. Psal 101. 2. Prou. 11. 9. Psal 47. 10. is to vnderstand his way that with Dauid hee may know how to behaue himselfe wisely in a perfect way The iust by his knowledge is deliuered from the errour and deceit of the hypocrite who with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour They hauing knowledge many times their wisedome and knowledge doth peruert them that being wise in their owne eyes they fal into heresie maintaine errors and they hauing knowledge and vtterance of speech as they are of the world themselues so saith the Apostle they 1. Iohn 4. 5. speake of the world and the world through them These hauing light of knowledge doe ponder the path of their feete to order their waies aright and thereby are Prou. 4. 26. better stablished in the truth These put their knowledge to a better vse they hauing the tongue of the learned Isai 50. 4. know how to speake a word in season to him that is wearie when they speake their lipps doe spread abroad knowledge and their tongue talketh of wisedome for the Law of Prou. 15. 7. Psal 37. 30. 31. God is in their heart The tongue of the wise saith Salomon Prou. 15. 2. vseth knowledge aright where the mouth of fooles doth nothing but poure out foolishnesse They hauing knowledge of things that are in their nature 2. Cor. 2. 17. diuine doe yet handle diuine things in a diuelish manner and handle the word of God deceitfully 2. Cor. 4. 2. These handle the Word of God purely as with washed hands they doe with David wash their hands in innocencie Psal 26. 6. and so compasse the Altar they speaking Gods Word speake it as the word of God yea their speech is 1. Pet. 4. 11. Coloâ—â— 4. 6. ordinarily gracious and powdred with salt They by their knowledge may preach but either they preach themselues
to their idle and their single sold faith and they runne away counter with this in their minde and this in their mouth the iust shall liue by his faith as though they had now found out such a way to heauen as doe what they will in all their life time they can neuer come short of the place that they seeme so to hunt for But they and their faith are like to perish together and their assurance is as sure to trust to as is a reede or broken staffe which will be sure to leaue them in the ditch when they trusting vnto it most doe reckon and looke to leape ouer thereby True beleeuers who know of Gods loue and fauour towards them indeed and apprehend thâ—se euerlasting sweete mercies of God in Christ Iesus which haue eternall life and saluation accompanying them whereof they haue good assurance giuen them and wrought vp in their hearts by their so beleeuing their soules being now satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse which makes them praise God with ioyfull lips they doe not receiue this grace of God in vaine but because they finde such mercie from God they feare him the more with a child-like feare which makes them awfully to serue him and willingly to performe euery good dutie vnto him Yea the loue of God in Christ Iesus constraines them to doe their Psal 18. 1. dutie and to professe with Dauid that of force they must loue God Now are not his commandements grieuous vnto them but their delight is in the law of God which they haue learned Iob to preferre before their appointed food The more assurance they haue of Gods loue towards them whereby they know God to bee their God and haue boldnesse to crie abba father vnto him the more surely hath the Lord their hearts ioyned vnto him in true loue againe they being tyed fast with the cords of his owne loue wherewith first hee loued them which causeth them reciprocally to loue him backe againe And because he hath giuen them the Spirit of adoption whereby they know him to be their father the more may hee reckon vpon the naturalnes of their loue and child-like dutie vnto him because hee now knoweth them as being so made by him to be his owne true children indeed whom he hath made partakers of his owne diuine nature setting 2. Pet. 1. 4. his owne image vpon them and giuing them a heart and disposition to be like minded to himselfe to loue that he loueth and hate that hee hateth euen to loue righteousnesse as their life and hate all manner of wickednesse which God doth most hate He may now reckon vpon them as vpon his peculiar ones to haue seruice done at their hands though others will doe none that they will stirre when others sit still and though others doe grumble and snuffe when they are spoken vnto yet for them to be found willing chearefull and vnwearied in their well doing CHAP. XVI How easie it is to get a false perswasion but difficult to attaine sound assurance of saluation which is another difference betweene them THe assurance of an hypocrite is of no such excellencie but it is easie to come by and may bee as soone light vpon as euer it is looked after for it is as refuse stuffe that lieth in euery mans way not worth the taking vp No marueile then that they are so full of it for of such rubbish there be cart load fuls ro be had in euery ditch and throwne out vpon euery dunghill which hee that hath vnderstanding to discerne between things that differ would rather throw from him then euer take vp though it lay in his way A wise Christian will rather emptie his heart of such idle conceits as these set so great store by if any such he found there then so to fill himselfe as with emptinesse and winde that will put him more to paine then profit him any whit Such Christians as these they are no sooner borne but they are growne men the first so soone as euer they begin to make any profession of Christian religion they attaine to their perfection so fast as they make any beginning they by and by know as much as any can teach them as to loue God aboue all things and their neighbour as themselues This they reckon to be all that can be taught them there is no more to be learned they know al are to be saued only by faith in Christ Iesus what need they any more they are now sure of their saluation for euer they will neuer doubt after It may be said of the assurance that these men haue according to that which goeth in the prouerbe it is soone ripe and it will be as soone rotten it is brought foorth at once like Ionahs gourd they neuer laboured for it no more then hee did for his gourd for such weedes as these idle conceits and fond fancies wherewith such sort of Christians vse to flatter their owne hearts they wil grow fast enough of themselues but as it is easily come by so it is as easily lost againe it may grow in one night as did Ionah 4. 10. his gourd and perish in another and then it will be with them as it was with him they will fret more for the want of it then euer they ioyed in their first hauing of it The good assurance of Gods faithfull seruants is very True assurance hardly gotten hard to come by The assurance of faith like faith it selfe as it is most pretious so it is most rare and not common to be found In this particular the truth of that which runneth in another prouerbe that is common is much confirmed that daintie things are deare things and things of most excellencie will not be attained to without great difficultie Great is the cost many of Gods seruants haue been at and hard hath been the labour which they haue taken about this one point of their assurance they haue sweat much and taken sore paines hereabout night and day doe they seeke it yea daies and yeeres haue they bestowed vpon it in seeking after it and yet hardly can finde 〈◊〉 and with much difficultie can euer attaine vnto it the Lord seeing it meete so to haue them exercised so to deâ—erre them and so long to put them off before euer hee will giue them to haue their hearts desire herein For he knoweth such to be the worth and excellencie thereof as it will quit well the cost they haue been at and pay well for the trauaile and paines they haue taken for the comming by it when once they shall haue obtained it hee holds it therefore at so deare a price that knowing what it cost them before they could purchase it they may the better esteeme of it when they haue it The Lord seeth well enough that the things we easily come by wee vse as little care for and as lightly to set by Neither doth the Lord vse to giue this to be had
difference to be both betweene the knowledge of one that is vnsanctified and vnsound in the faith and of him that is a true beleeuer whose heart is purified by sound and sauing faithâ— indeed and in like sort betweene the manner of their apprehending and laying hold of Christ for saluation As also no lesse difference to bee betweene the assurance and perswasion that either of them doe ground themselues vpon for the obtaining of life and saluation in Christ by meanes of such their laying hold vpon him Proceed now to declare what you thinke concerning such difference as may be found betweene the ioy that followeth heereupon and maketh glad the hearts of either of them once truly hauing or supposing themselues to haue good and warrantable assurance of their saluation A. Ioy and gladnesse which is an affection of the Difference in ioy heart that is deriued and springeth out of the loue and liking of a present good or out of an assured hope and expectation of some good that is to come wherby the heart is dilated and set out and the spirits therein stirred to liuelinesse and cheerfulnesse cannot but according to the measure of the apprehending of such a ioyfull obiect as promiseth all good contentment and pleasure to be found therein be more or lesse felt in the heart and follow abundantly when there is a full assurance an abundant and confident perswasion of obtaining so great a good as is indeed the greatest good of all that can be wished or hoped for or possibly may be looked for by any to be enioyed which is the euerlasting good of soule and body for euer whereby they doe not onely know they shall bee deliuered from the wrath that is to come but be made partakers of that glorious inheritance which is prepared for the Saints in light and that for the present their state is so comfortable and they so highly in Gods fauour at least in their owne consciences perswaded as of the children of wrath power is now giuen them to become the sonnes of God yea heires and heires apparant of life and glory with Christ Iesus This cannot but raise vp in their hearts great and abundant ioy yea ioy that is vnutterable and vnspeakable such as will make their hearts to dance in their bellies for ioy and merrines in the good liking they haue of this their so blisse-full an estate and most happie condition that both presently they now stand in and yet hereafter farre more fully doe looke for to enioy Now both these hauing such a perswasion they likewise haue and doe feele ioy in their hearts following therupon And the ioy is answering to the kind of assurance and perswasion that is had of so comfortable an estate and condition that doth cause the same And for so much as it hath been sufficiently cleared and made manifestly to appeare that there is as great odds and difference betweene the assurance of a true beleeuer and of a true beleeuers counterfeit as is betweene the boldnesse of faith and the blindnesse of folly betweene humble obedience in beleeuing what God doth promise and proud presumption in promising to themselues without any word or warrant from God what themselues alone doe fancie the causes being so differing and found to bee so farre at odds betweene themselues the effects rising from such causes must needs be seuered as farre asunder and differ as much the one from the other The deceiueable and vnwarrantable assurance of misbeleeuers False ioy fades cannot produce any better effect then a carnall lying a false and a fading ioy that is not to be trusted vnto but will vanish away and not be found nor felt in times of the greatest need when their beguiled hearts shall then most of all be left void of all sound comfort and contentment when trouble shall be hard at hand the greatest light of their ioyes is soone ecclipsed and ouercast with any sad remembrances and but the very heare-say of any trouble or danger towards them is able to dash all their mirth at once yea to strike them so as was Nabal strooken when his hart died within him and he became 1. Sam. 25. 37. as a stone Their smiles are but faint and heartlesse they may sometimes counterfeit a laughing gesture when yet the heart within taketh no such pleasure as they do make shew for they be but false and durelesse pleasures they vse to make themselues merry with in the middest wherof though they doe what they can yet their hearts for all that will be felt to be in heauinesse they may be full iocund and all on the hoigh for a time and yet by and by the case as much altered with them as euer it was with Belshazzer when he saw the hand-writing against him Dan. 5. 6. 30. what time hee was most merry in his cups and carowsings drinking in that wine which the swords of his enemies did soone draw out of his body againe for euen that night he was slaine then will their merrie Comedies bee turned into sad and heauy Tragedies their pleasantnesse into pensiuenesse their mirth into wofull mourning and they desperately sorrowing as those that haue out-liued all their ioyes they being for euer left in distresse and heauinesse when all ioy and gladnesse shall flie farre away Contrarily the stable firme and good assurance of the True ioy lasting other will beget breed and bring forth a sure solid spirituall and true lasting ioy which with a sweete and heauenly motion vâ—ill cause their hearts to reioyce in Christ Iesus as in their chiefest good and present good The nature of this ioy is to enlarge and exhilarate the heart and so much to affect him that hath it as it will cause him to exult and leape with reioycing This is not a halfe ioy a giggling from the teeth outward but a thorow and full ioy that affecteth soule and body spirit and flesh to make Psal 84. 2. Iob 35. 10. all reioyce together such ioy as will giue songs to a man in the night season euen such songs to God his people as in the night when a solemne feast is kept and such gladnesse of Psal 77. 6. Psal 30. 29. heart as when one goeth with a pipe as the Prophet speaketh Euen such ioy as is not only unspeakable to them that haue it and doe feele it but it is incredible to them that haue it not and doe but heare of it as who by their owne experience did neuer come yet to taste of the like Many thinke that good Christians are depriued of all comforts they haue no ioy nor gladnesse they know not what a merry life meanes they thinke for any to doe as they do is to liue but a mopish and melancholy life there is no cheare in their course But Gods seruants are allowed to haue their delights in this world to haue ioy and gladnesse of heart in this life as well as any others nay aboue and
and vnderstanding that doth discerne that which is seene and so the same obiect is both in the eye and in the mind at one and the same instant apprehended together the eye by looking on a thing becommeth one with it after a manner to looke then to Christ is after a fort to lay hold of him and such a kind of looking to him as causeth a distressed soule in greatest extremities to looke for helpe from him alone doth so affect him as it doth rauish his heart and in a manner ouercome him faith being the beautiful eye of the Church that woundeth the heart of Christ with loue to the same Therefore doth Christ himselfe will the Spouse to turne her eyes vpon him as Tremelius doth reade it which if she shall Cantic 6. 2. doe she shall euen lift him vp with great ioy and gladnesse after Tremelius reading to see her so to beleeue in him and to depend vpon him Now who would not bee glad to cast vp such an eye to the Lord as he might be thus delighted withall If this also seemeth to be more then well can be performed by them they being in their owne conceiuing as those that are past all hope of recouerie and as men that are alreadie dead yet seeing there is no name vnder heauen Acts 4. 12. that is giuen nor any other meanes in the whole World beside to be vsed by which any can be saued but only by the name of the Lord Iesus Christ our Sauiour Let them as knowing there is no other for them to rest vpon for saluation but vpon him him alone by some meanes or other get themselues to be rowled cast vpon him and let them not feare but that as the dead man that was cast into the Sepulcher of Elisha so soone as hee touched the 2. King 13. 21. bones of the Prophet he was made to stand vpon his feet and to liue againe so such being cast vpon Christ though they were dead yet should they surely liue there being Iohn 11. 25. infinitely more vertue in Christ that was crucified then euer was in the bones of the Prophet that was dead to reuiue and cause to liue againe all that are cast vpon him as seeking so to haue life from him Lastly if they bee able no manner of way to doe any thing to helpe themselues and further their owne saluation but onely desire to bee holpen and desire that they might be saued by Christ Iesus let them make of that desire keeping it and nourishing it and comforting themselues yet in this that God hath giuen them a desiring heart to hunger thirst and long after the saluation that is in Christ Iesus He that giueth them so to desire will also in due time giue them to haue the thing so desired onely let them waite for Christ his helping hand vsing the best meanes that possibly they can and let them keepe themselues within the compasse of Christ his walk where he vseth to come louing and resorting to the habitation Psal 26. 8. of his house and the place where his honour dwelleth that he may see them there And they shall find by good experience in the end that as our Sauiour going by the Poole of Bethesda saw that impotent man who had an infirmitie 38 yeeres and hearing him complaine of his vnablenesse Ioh. 5. 5. 6. 7. 8. to helpe himselfe and that there was no other that would helpe to put him into the Poole but while he was a comming some other was more ready to step in before him our Sauiour hauing compassion put no other taske vpon him but onely to desire to be made whole asking him if hee would bee made whole and so presently restored him to his desired strength againe willing him to take vp his bed and walke So doubtlesse these weaklings in faith that can do no more for themselues through their great infirmitie then desire to bee holpen and to haue saluation from him our blessed louing and most mercifull Sauiour who will not breake a bruised reede nor Matth. 12. 20. quench the flaxe that smoaketh beholding their great distresse and lamentable plight that they are in will be moued in pitie to relieue them And knowing that they are able to doe no more in the matter of beleeuing in him for their saluation then to desire they could beleeue better and depend more vpon him that they might be saued wil accept of such a desire in stead of the deed it selfe and as vndoubtedly saue them with such an earnest and true desire of beleeuing better as they shal euer be saued that beleeue best of all Q. In the description of faith which you made at the first beside the true knowledge of Christ and laying hold of him you ioyned therewith a comfortable perswasion also of the fauour and loue of God towards vs in and through him Doe you take it that this comfortable perswasion of Gods fauour towards vs as it is felt and perceiued by vs doth alwaies accompany true and sauing faith in Christ and that it is so necessary to the essence and being of faith as without it true faith cannot at all consist A. Not so but I take such a setled perswasion of Perswasion of Gods fauour Gods vnalterable loue towards vs in and through Christ Iesus to be necessary rather to the well-being of faith and euen to the finishing and perfecting of it when it is growne to the greatest strength and perfection that it can come vnto in this life then to the being of faith at all for to a higher pitch or degree of greater perfection faith cannot grow nor rise vp vnto so long as wee haue any being in this life euen then when it hath made the best proceedings and prospered most happily increasing with the increasings of God and hath runne through all the degrees that are set vnto faith in this life till the best and highest be attained vnto then for faith to settle the heart in a cleare full and vndoubted perswasion of Gods loue and fauour towards vs in Christ Iesus to bee so sure and vnchangeable as nothing shall euer be able to separate vs Rom. 8. 38. from the same againe like to that of the Apostles but that true faith may haue existence and being in the heart of a good Christian where such an vndoubted and comfortable perswasion is either very seldome or peraduenture neuer at all felt by the true beleeuer especially in such a degree of clearenesse and vndoubtednesse of assurance as had the Apostle may appeare first if we consider the first beginnings of faith with what great feeblenesse and imbecillitie it hath his being in vs when it is new begotten and as I may say first bred and borne lying in the swathing cloutes vnder as great weakenesse and with as little feeling and apprehending of the operation of God Coâ—oss 2. 12. in giuing it selfe being as doth the infant that is
time he doth enter into plea with them or hold and maintaine any controuersie against them that then his course is to put this more vpon the triall of such mens liues then vpon the disposition of their hearts more to stand vpon what is seene to come from them then to stand arguing the case whether it bee true that they say they haue or haue not this or that vertue or vice within them Like as it will also be the course that the righteous Iudge of the whole world will take in that great assize according as himselfe in part hath made it knowne afore-hand vnto vs when all men shall be made to appeare and shall bee put vpon their last triall euen the triall of life and of death the triall will passe and the iudgement will bee giuen vpon them either for guilty or guiltlesse not so expressely according to what hath been in their hearts as according to what hath appeared in their liues and what hath been found to haue been the deed and workes of their hands as namely he telleth vs they that haue done Iohn 5. 29. good shall goe into life euerlasting and they that haue done euill vnto euerlasting fier and it will be said go you cursed Mat. 25. 34. 41. you gaue me no meat you did not visite me come you blessed you fed mee and you clothed mee And this is that which the Apostle also saith wee must giue an account 2. Cor. 5. 10. according to that we haue done in our bodies Hee saith not according to that we haue had dwelling and abiding in our hearts for the plaine manifesting of the one will be sufficient and enough to make the other well enough knowne So that though we are not iustified by our workes yet shall we be iudged by them they being the infallible testimonies of our vnfained faith in Christ Iesus and though workes doe not iustifie vs yet workes doe iustifie that that must iustifie vs euen our faith by which we beleeue to be saued that it is a liuely faith and a faith that is not fained therefore doth Iames bring forth his workes to manifest his faith by as the directest course that can be taken and the most ready to haue faith made knowne by Now if any thinke he can doe otherwise and without workes get his faith to which he trusteth to be manifested and made knowne to bee God hee calles him forth to doe his best in shewing how that can bee performed shew me saith hee thy faith without Iames 2. 18. works and I will shew thee my faith by my workes Which he so speaketh not that any can possibly do it but that their folly may the rather be laid open and the more discouered that so doe thinke it They bee the workes which come from faith that must both shew faith and iustifie it to be true Faith is operatiue and worketh by loue if any will find out faith let him seeke after the measures Gal. 5. 6. of his loue to God and to his Saints If any would know whether hee bee elect or no to eternall life let him gather the knowledge thereof from the effectualnesse of his calling and sanctification of his life for by these Pcter leadeth the Christians as by the hand to the finding it 1. Pet. 12. out We must not soare alost to know whether or no we be elected If any man would know whether the Sunne shineth or no let him looke vpon the ground to see the reflexion of the Sunne-beames from thence and not vpon the body of the Sunne which will but dazle the more his sight As then we gather the cause by the effect the paterne by the picture and by the forme of a seale printed in waxe we easily vnderstand what is the very forme and fashion of the seale it selfe so by the true and proper effects of liuely faith we conclude the existence and being of true faith it selfe and the same effects like seales doe imprint and stampe the image of Gods election in vs. Q. But may not faith as well bee found out by the causes which causeth faith as by the effects which faith worketh and bringeth forth As for example the publication of the promises of the Gospell made to poore sinners calling all that are wearie and heavie laden with the burden of their sinnes to come to Christ promising they shall bee eased and promising that all that doo beleeue in Christ they shall never perish but haue euerlasting life and withall commanding vs that wee doe beleeue in the name of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God 1. Iohn 3. 23. Now if with the publishing of such promises out of the Gospell preached and declaration of such acommandement giuen the Spirit of God who is the onely efficient cause and worker of this grace shall be pleased to ioyne his owne working with the word of that preaching and so open a doore of faith to the poore sinnâ—r that heareth such promises as he shall not onely assent vnto them but lay hold of them also and assume them to himselfe and taking God at his wora beleeue indeed that hee shall haue his sinnes pardoned and his soule for euer saued May not a poore sinner so beleeuing find out this way that he hath true faith indeed without any further inquiring or making any more question about the same A Yes doubtles and no way better then thus if so be he Faith knowne by causes can after this manner apprehend and feele that so he doth beleeue for now he hath set his foot vpon that rocke that will neuer faile vnder him but beare vp his whole building and giue him a sure standing for his faith to rest vpon now hath hee come to the very ground worke of his beleeuing and hath laid open to himselfe the foundation to the bottome whereupon his faith is set so firme sure that it is not possible it shall bee moued to the ouerwhelming thereof for euermore And therefore he may comfortably cheare vp his heart as did the Apostle against euery obiect of feare or discomfort that might stand before him at any time to dismay him and say with him I am not ashamed neither doe I passe at all for this for I 2. Tim. 1. 12. know whom I have beleeued and vpon what I haue grounded my so beleeuing and I am perswaded that hee that hath thus promised is both able and faithfull to doe that he hath promised and that hee will also performe it But if it be well marked this faith euen by this search is not found out by the causes alone but by that which is caused by it and by that which it is in hand with to effect and worke in the heart of that beleeuer in whom it is so wrought for it is in hand with this worke to bring the sinner to his Sauiour to ioyne the soule that hath sinned to Christ that hath saued it by an vnseparable vnion
be done by such or to be conceiued of the estate of such a Christian that cannot haue such feeling of his faith and standing in the fauour of God after the manner as before sometime he hath had A. Such are to labour by iudgement to conuince and controle their abused sense and feeling who sometimes Want of feeling to their owne sense and feeling may thinke God to haue forsaken them Christ Iesus to haue quite left them and to be departed and gone from them when as yet he is still where he was and as touching his fauour and his loue vnalterable remaining still the same towards them that he was the alteration being found onely to bee in themselues by reason of the strong tentations that are vpon them Men are therefore not to measure their estate by sense and feeling for many times in naturall things reason is able to controle our sense as if I being in a ship that is driuen with a faire wind and tide doe saile by a Tower or Castle standing vpon a banke when I looke vpon the Tower as the ship doth swiftly passe by my sense of seeing thinketh that the Tower goeth away while I my selfe stand still in the ship but my iudgement and vnderstanding telleth me that it is otherwise in truth and that the Tower standeth still and moueth not but it is I and the ship that doe goe away from it though to my sense of seeing it seemes otherwise to be In like manner as touching feeling a man that hath but raging paine in one tooth or hath but a fellon on the vttermost ioynt of his finger or the paine of the goute onely in his toe though all his body should be sound and in good health besides he feeleth more the paine of that one little member of his tooth or of his toe then the sound health of his whole body beside though the health of the whole body be much more then is the paine of that one member In like manner doth it many times fall out with good Christians if they be indued and inriched with neuer so many good graces of Gods Spirit hauing true faith and ioyned therewith vertue knowledge temperance patience godlinesse brotherly kindnesse charitie hope humility meekenesse repentance and the rest that are linkes of that golden chaine wherewith the vertues are chained and linked one to another if it should happen not to be well with them in any one of the said graces according as these seueral graces of the mind as well as the seuerall members of the body may bee put out of their right frame and haue distemper and disease bred in them and brought vpon them though in the meane while it were neuer so well with them in all the rest yet is it found vsuall for them more to feele the disquiet of the distemper and hurt of some one of these graces so out of frame then to feele the content and comfort of the abiding in good estate of all the rest beside and to bee more grieued with the disease that is growne vpon that one then ioyed with the health that doth stil remaine in all the other As if a good man being sore prouoked and set vpon of the sudden should be so much distempered and put out of all patience as he should breake forth to much fury and rage in his hastie anger which is no better then a short madnesse and being come to his right mind againe his fit being once ouer for all that while beside himselfe he should then bethinke himselfe what he had done so would he bee out of conceit with himselfe he would be so cast downe in his owne eyes so smitten in heart so pricked in conscience so wounded in his soule with griefe for his sinne he would crie out and complaine for being thus ouerseene as that the distemper of that one grace of patience and the weakenes thereof which could then beare no more would more bee felt of him with griefe and work him greater woe and disquiet him much more then he should feele comfort or haue contentment in the good estate which all the rest did abide in beside and yet that one slip of his for a time is not so blame-worthie as is commendable the ordinary course of goodnesse constantly held on in the well-vsing and practising of other his graces wherein much soundnesse is found stil to be remaining And as among the members and parts of the body some are more necessarie then are others and so more hardly can be spared some are more dangerous to take hurt in or for any disease to breed vpon them because they are the vitall parts of the body such as is the heart the liuer and the braine which if they should be perished the life it selfe would be lost when such parts are affected men are found to be more troubled about the hearts of such and the diseases bred vpon them then vpon any other ther the partes of their bodies besides they are most suspitious and doubtfull of the recouering of them aboue that they are of all the rest euer fearing lest those hurts should not be well healed or those diseases soundly cured and recpiered againe As if one should haue among other the outward parts and members of his body his right hand so maimed as it should be in daunger to bee quite cut off and so lost and of all the inward parts should haue a disease breeding in him that should dangerously affect the heart which being a most vitall part euen the very fountaine and seate of life that doth send forth the vitall spirits and life it selfe to the other parts if that should be perished then the very life it selfe would vetterly be lost Much after this manner is it found to be with good Christians in respect of the differing graces of Gods Spirit which they haue receiued from God though all verie vsefull for the Christian life yet some are more absolutely needfull as being vnto the soule not onely the hand by which it worketh but as the heart which is the very receptacle and seate of life by which it liueth which if they should miscarry all would be lost such as is faith and loue and repentance vnto life If these should receiue any dangerous hurt or fall into any deadly disease whereof they should not be againe well recouered there must needs follow the vtter ruine of such a Christian When therefore their faith is mightily assailed and by the strength of tentation sorely shaken when their repentance is challenged not to be sound and such as it ought Oh then how solicitous is a carefull Christian about the hauing of these well cured and recouered againe how feareful and doubtfull is he lest these should faile him and neuer be holpen how doth hee enquire after the best Physitians to heare the best counsell that in this case may be giuen yea if a whole Colledge of Physitians should all meete together to conferre about his disease they
that failed him and his portion for euer Like as they who to day doe beleeue and haue now the comfort of their saluation which they doe much ioy in to morrow may haue their faith so shaken that they cannot beleeue as they did before and so the comfort and ioy of their saluation for the time may be gone but God is the strength of their faith and the vpholder of their saluation for euer who himselfe is so faithfull as though they cannot beleeue yet hee cannot denie himselfe Gods children haue learned therefore more to ioy in God who is the strength of their faith and the vpholder of their saluation then in the stedfastnes of their beleeuing or any assurance that they haue of the same their owne saluation If a man haue a rich and royal portion he is much pleased and delighted therein the Lord being the portion of his seruants and their chiefe treasure all their longing desire is to enioy him which if they can obtaine it is enough to them and that which their soules are fully satisfied in this is the making vp of their ioy their chiefest solace and their hearts onely delight Giue a man his delight hee asketh no more hee is then content Gods children thinke they want nothing so long as they haue him for their owne aboue all ioyes aboue all pleasures aboue all that their hearts can delight in they delight in the Lord and in his loue and fauour continually when they know him to be their God and father reconciled in Christ Iesus and doe feele his loue shed abroad in their hearts so as they know he loues them by tasting the sweetnesse of his loue which is better then wine such is the goodnesse and the greatnes such is the glorious excellencie of God his owne maiestie as the better he is knowne the more he must needs be loued delighted and ioyed in for his owne maiesties sake Gods children doe therefore loue God dearely yea they cannot but of force they must loue him so doe they loue him ioy and delight in him as they loue the habitation of Psal 26. 8. his house and the place where his honour dwelleth they loue as wee vse to say the very ground he goeth vpon they are neuer well but when they are with him their soule is a thirst for God euen the liuing God they vse to long for Psal 42. 2. Psal 84. 2. Cantic 5. 8. him euen to the very fainting of their heart and to grow sicke with the loue of him there is nothing they can lesse beare then his absence and for him to be estranged from them for any time it is as death to them to want his presence but they aske no more then to haue the light of his Psal 4. 6. countenance lifted vp vpon them for they finde contentment enough in him this causeth to them more ioy then the abundance of corne and wine and oyle though neuer so increased can Yea the louing kindnesse of God is better Psal 63. 3. 5. then is loue it selfe they are euer satisfied with the sweetnesse of his mercie as with marrow and fatnes This makes them to reioyce in the Lord alwaies and to reioyce in his strength Psal 18. 31. Psal 77. 13. Psal 34. 2. 44. 8. continually to praise him to make their boast of his praise for who is God but the Lord and who so great a God as is their God and who so gracious and good as he They are as I may say proud of their Master his greatnes and excelcencie being as it is many are seene to get them vnder great men to serue them A noble man thinkes himselfe honoured if he may but hold the basen to a King it may be the reioycing and counted for the greatest dignitie that the highest Kings in the world can be aduanced vnto to serue so great a God as is he there is no place in his seruice meane his Maiestie is so great there is none so honourable a Master as the Lord to waite vpon for his throne is prepared in heauen therefore doe the faithfull serue the Lord with gladnesse and much ioyfulnes of heart as thinking themselues greatly honoured that they may serue him neither doe they as mercenarie seruants only respect their wages and hire they shall haue for their seruice but they looke vpon the high dignitie the great worth and glorious excellencie of him they attend vpon whose highnesse and greatnes is such as that touching him it may well be said Worship him all ye Gods In seruing the Lord they neuer thinke any dutie sufficient nor seruice great enough that can be performed to so eminent a Master so mightie and so gracious a God as is the Lord for God is with such an affection with such a desire and minde to be loued serued and ioyed in that hee himselfe may be esteemed and reckoned reward great enough of his owne worship of all the loue that is borne to him and of the best seruice that any can doe vnto him otherwise hee that serueth God for any other respect then for the Prosper lib. sent Lords own sake serueth not so much God as that which by seruing him he aimeth at and desireth to haue CHAP. XX. Of the second dimension of ioy wherein they differ which is the depth of a deiected and disconsolate estate THE second dimension that the ioy of a true beleeuer exceedeth the ioy of a true beleeuers counterfeit in is in the depth of a deiected and low estate and condition whereinto they both as well the one as the other may at sometimes indifferently be brought which so happening the ioy of one vnsound in the faith is altogether extinct and can no more be had when distresse commeth vpon them they begin to mourne as those that had outliued all their ioyes But the ioy of a true beleeuer which is the ioy of faith it is either felt in it according to the power of faiths working as hee then can get to beleeue or it is vndoubtedly in the end fetched out of it and many times doubled afterwards for the little time that it then was ecclipsed Both of them may Psal 140. 10. be cast into a labyrinth of troubles and into a sea of miseries they may be in wofull distresse and brought to False ioy in sorrow doth sinke the state of the forlorne hope as wee vse to speake the one by biding the aduenture is blessed with such successe and scapeth happily out of danger when the other shifting for himselfe miscarrieth in all that he endeuoureth and so commeth short home in the end A true beleeuer True ioy riseth out of sorrow is neuer in such a sea of misery but he escapeth drowning and swimmeth safely out of it againe for hee is alwaies held vp as by the chin either by the strength and comfort of his hope which maketh him to reioyce in hope that hee shall be deliuered in the
neede so requiring yet neuer can it wholly be lost from them nor finally faile them for altogether but so is it found in the end to be restored againe with aduantage vnto them as that for their single sorrowes they haue double ioyes giuen them yea such ioyes as Peter calleth ioyes vnspeakable and glorious at what time they shall see cause to reioyce in their portion They may by their sinning against the Lord and by the prouoking of his anger against them haue the feeling of this ioy kept from them for a long time and their desired comforts so long withholden as may make their hearts to feare and to faint within them but as the Prophet Habakuk counselleth and Hab. 2. 3. giueth direction though it tarrie a little yet let them waite and hope vndoubtedly to finde it againe for certainly in the end it will come and it will not stay long and then the desire once so accomplished will much more delight their Prou. 13. 12. 19. soule and though they haue tarried for it long yet that will be verified vpon them at the last that the patient abiding Prou. 10. 28. of the righteous will proue gladnes in the end Though then the ioy of the faithfull may not be felt for a time yet is there no feare but it will be found againe afterward for their ioy is such ioy as is euerlasting in respect of the grounds thereof and which being giuen thē by Christ according to the promise he hath made none shall for euer be Ioh. 16. 22. able to take it from them any more The sun-shine of Gods fauour may for a while be hidden out of their sight but then as the Lord himselfe hath promised that though for a moment in his anger he hides his face yet with euerlasting Isai 54. 7. 8. mercie hee will haue compassion on them againe and turne their shadow of death into a most bright and chearefull morning Amos 5. 8. The ioy of a temporarie beleeuer how great soeuer it may seeme to be for a season yet as the seede sowne in stony ground it cannot be kept from withering in the scorching heate of hot persecution because it wanteth depth of earth and good ground to roote it on as not being Mak. 4. 17. grounded either vpon any stable assurance of Gods vndoubted Temporary ioy withers loue and rich mercy vnto him or vpon any good stedfastnes of his own loue to God back againe in thankfulnes for the same as who for that loue of God wherewith he seeth God to haue first loued him in Christ Iesus should bee made so farre to forget himselfe and to prize Gods glorie as for Gods cause to be found willing to carrie his owne life in his hand and to hazard the exposing of himselfe to any danger that may happen but rather raised and being grounded vpon some worldly some selfe and by-respects which failing and not falling out according to his owne reckoning and expectation then is his ioy also gone and he as much altered as if hee had neuer been the man The ioy of an hypocrite vanisheth quite away and commeth to nothing in time of tribulation How triumphing soeuer he was found to be before in his great reioycing yet when persecution and fierie triall doth come he groweth then to be most heartlesse and crest fallen of the sudden whosoeuer dare shew himselfe in presence then he will be sure to play least in sight at that time And no marueile though an hypocrite bee but a coward for what hath hee to trust vnto that might make him bold in whom nothing is sound and right as it should be who hath nothing but shewes in stead of substance And who will marueile if such a one being false to God though his heart deceiuing him hee proue false to himselfe also and if wanting such faith as is only able to giue him the victorie he be ouercome of feare that causeth him dastardly to flie the field and turning his backe vpon his enemies to runne the countrey Such kinde of persons whose faith doth so faile them and whose hope is vnsound in the time of trouble and aduersitie are like a man that is in the wilde sea in time of a storme without anchor or cable without mast or saile or any tackling to make shift with and helpe himselfe by who hauing no meanes left vnto him to vse for his succour and reliefe in time of such distresse as one dispoiled of all things but the expectation of death only what else can he looke for but to perish in that storme without all hope of any possible escaping These kinde of persons as they are left faithlesse so are they made hopelesse when they see their case to be thus helplesse and therefore ruine and vtter confusion must needes be their last end But the ioy of a true beleeuer as it hath better rooting True ioy lasteth and is grounded vpon a better foundation whence it springeth vp and taketh the beginning so is it of a more firme and fast abiding standing vnmoued what time the other is not onely shaken and wholly cast downe and then flourishing and seene still to grow greene when the Vinesoit vulnere virtus other not being able to abide the heate of persecution becommeth so sulged and blasted and so withered away as it wholly fadeth and in the end is quite brought to nothing The ioy of a true beleeuer ariseth and groweth out of faith which is vnfained whereof Christ is the author and the finisher and the holy Ghost is the worker and the framer of this blessed worke planting faith in the good ground of an honest heart and causing this ioy to spring out of that flourishing plant as the most sweete and pleasant fruite thereof for it is called the ioy 1. Thes 1. 6. Gal. 5. 22. of the holy Ghost and it is numbred among the fruits of the spirit Faith is the sure ground of this ioy from whence it springeth while by faith wee are perswaded of the loue and fauour of God towards vs in and through Christ Iesus into whom we being grafted and planted by our beleeuing doe come so to finde our selues to haue a most happie and ioyfull being in him which causeth vs not only to haue some ioy and reioycing but our ioy is made Ioh. 15. 11. full in him for there is no want in Christ but enough to be found for the making of our ioy full euery way for the fulnes of the Godhead and of all goodnesse is and dwelleth Coloss 1. 19. Ioh. 1. 16. in him that of his fulnes we may receiue euen this fulnes of ioy and of spirituall and heauenly consolation which he Ioh. 16. 24. himselfe willeth vs to seeke by prayer for to obtaine And so is the heart of the beleeuer filled with this ioy of the holy Ghost by Christ Iesus our Sauiour as it is more then the world or all the
done by the people when they are once reclaimed out of their way of erting and shewed the right way they were to take and walke in he saith they should not onely leaue worshipping of grauen Images care no more for them and doe them away but shew their indignation against them by defacing them spoiling the couerings of them teare and rend their golden ornaments defile that Isai 30. 22. that was about them and then cast them all away as a menstruous cloth with words of greatest abhorring and defiance spoken vnto them when they shall say vnto them Get thee hence This is that feruent anger and indignation that is caused by godly sorrow in the hearts of them that doe truly repent against all their sinnes which they haue committed and wherewith God so much hath been offended The fourth grace caused by godly sorrow in the heart of him that is truly penitent is feare a grace that is contrarie to securitie prophanenesse and all contempt of God This feare so it be vnderstood of a holy feare such as may beseeme a true seruant and child of God to haue may bee carried as farre and as wide as you will it hath included vnder it all that is to bee feared for he that is thorowly touched and wounded in his conscience with godly sorrow cannot abide carelesse any more nor remaine voide of much trembling and feare fearing for that that is past and cannot bee vndone what mischiefe and harme may grow thereupon fearing for that which through the hidden corruption of nature may be fallen into and committed yet worse then that which hath been done if grace be not in time begged and sought of God for preuenting the same fearing lest by this his falling into sinne God shall now be dishonoured his truth slandered the Gospel disgraced the holy profession euil spoken of and brought in contempt fearing lest his example in sinning should imbolden others vnto euill doing and should lye as a stumbling blocke in the way to cause others to fall offending the weake grieuing the good and opening the mouthes of the wicked to blaspheme fearing Satans malice lest he doe againe assaile him and set anew vpon him fearing his owne frailtie lest he should againe bee ouercome fearing lest God being displeased with him should with-hold his grace from him and lest being left to himselfe he should let the spirit be quenched in him and the sparkles of grace die out that were so lately but new lighted and kindled in his heart There is nothing that he may not in some sort feare of the things that are to be shunned and which he ought to be carefull euermore to preuent all that he can according to that A good man feareth alwaies and that is the best way to cause him to depart from euill Many labour to put away this feare but then they put away that which should breed their safetie and their best securitie in the end in this doing they lay the raines vpon the necke of their owne lusts being without feare to bee carried by them which way they take liking and then they were as good ride vpon a wild colt without a bridle there being no bridle to keepe men in from sinning if the feare of God be not found to be in them the feare of a wounded conscience is whereby they forecast all the worst things to themselues and labour to preuent them The fifth grace which godly sorrow causeth in the heart of him that is truly penitent is desire which is a grace contrary to that dulnesse and dead-heartednesse that sluggish and carelesse negligence that is vsually found to be with them that are neuer troubled about the estate they abide in and therefore they seldome or neuer are moued with any thing they haue dead hearts and feele nothing and their desires after goodnesse are as dead as their hearts so as they care for nothing But a poore grieued and humbled soule that is strucken and wounded in his conscience with the guilt of his sinne hee is made of desires he hath nothing but desires in him The Hart that is chased desireth not more after the water brookes then his soule is a thirst for God euen for the liuing God that he might see the light of his countenance lifted vp vpon him and so be receiued into his loue and fauour againe How doth his soule open it selfe in desire unto God after reconciliation with him for the obtaining of pardon for his sinne and that he might be refreshed with his mercies right soone euen as the thirstie and dry ground when it is chopt and dry gapeth and riueth for want of raine till it may be mostened and refreshed with showers from heauen What is there more in the longing desire of his heart for afterward then to cry out with Dauid Oh that my waies might now be made so direct as I might henceforth keepe the Commandements of God alwaies and that a new heart might be giuen and a right spirit renewed in him that he might haue strength to withstand tentation the next time and that measure of grace giuen him as by which he might be able to ouercome his chiefest corruptions denie himselfe bring vnder due obedience the rebellion of his will and rule better his vnruly affections that his life may be so reformed as God may be wel pleased the Church better satisfied he may haue more peace and sound comfort in his heart These and the like are the holy desires which a godly sorrow will cause in that heart wherein it is once wrought Such will complaine they cannot pray as others remember Sermons as others preuaile against their sinnes as doe others but they haue desires to doe all these and so they being of the number of them whose desires are still vnto goodnesse and who are euer hungring and thirsting after righteousnesse they therefore are pronounced by Christ his owne mouth to be blessed because such in the end shall vndoubtedly be satisfied The sixth grace which godly sorrow causeth in the heart of a true penitent is zeale which is somwhat more then is desire for it is desire intended and encreased This zeale is occupied either about that which is good with great and feruent desire after a most earnest manner for louing of it and hauing it better practised or about that which is euill with like desire to haue it shunned and abhorred It is a most earnest affection of the soule which cannot be kept in but breaketh through all and bewrayeth it selfe it is a feruency of spirit arising of a mixture of loue and anger causing men with all earnestnesse to stand for the truth and the maintenance of goodnesse piety Gods worship and honour and all things that may make for the furtherance and aduancement thereof And on the contrary so to be filled with griefe displeasure indignation and holy anger to see God dishonoured and the truth wronged or goodnesse any way to bee disgraced as Gods seruants haue not