CON. 3. The assurance of our saluation is many times accompanied with feares doubts which doe perplex the soule of the most righteous EXPLA. The true worke of Faith is to assure vs of Gods loue and to enioy that comfort without let to cherish the same and resist the contrary but the weaknesse of our faith and strength of corruption is such that we doe not alwayes attaine these but as in the practice of good actions we sometime reioyce and finding great infirmity in sinning wee mourne for them such change by turnes are in the most regenerate so in faith wherein we receiue a Testimony of Gods loue there is a change because we apprehend not this assurance immediatly as a principle but by collection or conclusiō so the alteration is in apprehēding of the premises wherupon the cōclusiō arose for Gods promises and effects of grace appeare not alwayes the same yea sometimes contrarie CON. 4. The seedes of vnbeliefe are naturally sowne in vs which euer casteth vp obiections EXPLA. Our heart by nature is full of mire dirt which trouble the springs of the water of life and therefore the dayes of faith are like the dayes of the yeere some faire some foule some times in hell as it were sometimes mounted to heauen some times triumphing sometimes striuing euer counting what it hath felt striuing to the same again euer in feares running vnto God expecting better seeing a glimpse of light in darknesse of hope in despaire of comfort in distresse of life in death of heauen in hell and if they lose the sight hereof yet recouered it soone againe CON. 5. Often God leaues vs to our selues that wee may take the faster hold when we returne againe EXPLA. The taste of loue is the sweeter and the ioy the larger when we come to it out of the flouds of tentations For afflictions brings forth patience and patience experiēce and experience hope while by this meanes the loue of God is spred abroad in our hearts by the holy Spirit which is giuen vs the more trees on the tops of hils are blasted the deeper roote they take CON. 6. True faith euer giueth assurance which is the greater by how much our faith is the greater and weakenesse of our assurance argueth the weakenesse of faith EXPLA. Euen in the true faith there is degrees for there is variety of gifts which how little soeuer it be yet is able to saue vs that thou mayst learne what it is whereunto thou art to striue reioycing in that thou hast atttained to already and to pray for that which is behinde that God would increase thy faith feeling of imperfections is the common frailety of all Gods children and faith that it may bee strong must haue time to grow and haply seemeth weake to thee when it is strong to God For the ioy of the faithfull is as a garden enclosed CON. 7. As faith is by hearing so it is ordinarily increased by preaching whereunto the weake beleeuer must attend EXPLA. Preachers are Proclamators which teach euery beleeuer their interrest in the matters of saluation which apprehend the promises vpon conscience of their owne repentance and faith for where the seede shall grow there it shall bring forth the fruite of faith and it shall bring forth eternall life for this assurance is giuen by the mouth of the Minister by the word of Christ which the faith of the hearer apprehendeth the man warmeth the bed the bed warmeth him euery man hath not accesse to the priuy seale but by the imprint there of in waxe he knoweth it to be the priuy Seale CON. 8. It is the Lord that giueth a heart to heare the voyce of Christ deliuered by the minister out of the Gospell EXPLA. My owne heart could neuer minister comfort vnto mee which is deceitfull aboue all things and is rather cast downe with acknowledgement of misery and therefore wee must dicerne betwixt the true assurance of the heart from carnall presumption floating fancies swimming in the head for true assurance is accompanied with the Spirit of grace and prayer by which the heart is conformed to the voyce of God with ioyfull acceptance and affectionate desire of that which is vttered thereby which is the fruite of the spirit of adoption which beareth witnesse vnto our spirit that wee are the sonnes of God and beareth record that God hath giuen vs eternall life for he is God that doth neitherly nor change whose foundation is sure for hee knoweth them that are his CON. 9. Thou mayst be assured of the perpetuity of thy faith for God will not forsake the worke which hee hath begunne EXPLA. The reason is because that he who beleeues in Christ shall neuer be confounded and his sheepe shall neuer perish but he will giue them eternall life and although the godly oft times fall yet God is faithfull in his promise to them I will put my feare in their hearts and they shall not depart frō me resting in this that they not onely apprehend Christ but much more that they are apprehended of Christ and not that they know God onely but that they are knowne of him for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance so that whether they liue or die they are the Lords for nothing can separate them from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus and therefore doe they boldly say thy louing kindnesse and mercy shall follow mee all the dayes of my life and I shall dwell in the house of God for euer CON. 10 Faith taketh hold of the particular apprehension as to beleeue that God is my God my life peace strength deliuerance and my saluation EXPLA. We must not beleeue only that he is these things in himselfe but that hee is indeed the same to vs for because God is ours whatsoeuer is his is ours for vs and for our vse his mercy his power his prouidence to watch ouer vs both in life and death for by couenant hee bound himselfe to the heires of promise I will bee their God and they shall be my people and againe Loe this is our God and wee haue wayted for him and hee will heare vs we will reioyce and be ioyfull in his saluation for that Christ hath already done for thee is a greater matter then that he promised so thou beleeue not onely that thy sin may forgiuen thee by his mercy which is a beginning or foundation of Christ but also that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee CON. 11. Faith is the fountaine of our loue towards God for while wee beleeue he is so mercifull vnto vs it swalloweth vp our affections and draweth our loue to him EXPLA. The loue arising of faith so much felt in vs assureth vs that wee are beloued of God who loued vs first and therefore place we the confidence of our saluation in him onely to whom wee are vnited and
shined in the world yet to see his dayes as it were at an end and his enterprizes broken his carefull thoughts to bee so deepe grauen in his breast that they changed euen the day into night vnto him and al light that approched into darkenesse When his excellency was such aboue all creatures that the world was not worthy to giue him breath yet hee to bee made a worme and not a man a shame of men and contempt of the people all that saw him to haue him in derision and to shut vp his life in shame and reproches so vnworthy a reward of so precious a seruant He was righteous aboue measure yet was he accouÌ„ted among the wicked and briefly hee was called a glutton but had his appetites bridled with all holy moderation his behauiour without all reproofe yet slandered as a friend of Publicans hee loued the Law of his Father that he would not suffer one iot or title vnaccomplished yet accused as enemy to Moses he loued his Father with all his heart and was obedient vnto him to the death euen the death of the Crosse yet they said he blasphemed He was an enemy to Sathan euen to death and by death ouercame him that brought death into the world he hated him with so perfect hatred and held stedfast the enmity that was betweene them vntill hee had spoyled his principalities and powers and trampled ouer them in an euerlasting victory yet they said he had a deuill such a loathsome sinke was couered in the heart of man and now the thoughts of many hearts made open And if Moses Ieremiah Isaiah and Paule had sorrow for the Iewes of their time how did Christs great loue boyle in sorrowes of heart to see their destructions ouer whom before hee had wept but prayed still Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe Behold therefore his person here and know his loue it was griefe to see all vertue troden vnder feete by them and yet it was more infinite to behold Satan to preuaile against man to his euerlasting condemnation and which is more the sin that he hateth bee must take it vpon his owne body and beare the wrath of his Father that was powred out against it the anger of his Father burned in him euen vnto the bottome of hell O! who can stand before his wrath or who can abide the fiercenesse of his wrath his wrath is powred out like fire and the Rockes are broken before him Yea maketh the forlorne wildernesse to tremble For thus the Sun is darkened the Moone doth not shew her light the Stars of heauen doth fall away and the powers of heauen are shaken Heere then is the picture of perfect loue being full of goodnesse is rewarded of euill full of obedience is punished as wicked full of faith yet had the reward of a sinner Lord of all yet nothing to doe him duty the God of glory yet compassed with shame the Author of life yet wrapped in the chaines of death the onely begotten and best beloued of the Father yet cast off as a stranger the beauty of the highest heauens yet throwne down into hell well might he say The snares of death compassed me and the paines of hell tooke hold vppon me I haue found trouble and sorrow he did say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me CON. 78. We know then best how we loue the Lord when we feele by experience what we will suffer for hts sake EXPLA. It is an easie thing to bee valiant before the combate to dreame of a good courage before the heart bee tried but indeed to be vnshaken in the middest of the tempest to stand vpright when the ground trembleth vnder thee this is to know assuredly thou art strong indeede The heauen earth elements were Christs enemies his Father in whom he trusted shewed him an angâ—y countenance yet said he still Thy will be done O Father We must account it for an exceeding ioy when we salâ— into sundry troubles for what can be more ioyfull to the heart oppressed then to giue this in experience that neither height nor depth shall remooue him from the Lord This was Abrahams glory that hee would forsake his Countrey and kinred and fathers house at the commandement of God to goe whither hee would shew him Iob his patience was not thorowly knowne till all his goods were spoyled and wee must haue witnesse that our election is sure when wee may speake by experience that neither life nor death can remooue vs from the loue of God Thus the good ground is knowne what it is when the heate cannot scorch it nor briers and thornes turne the good corne into weedes but through all stormes it will giue nourishment vnto the seede till it giue greater encrease to Gods honor and glory This is a profitable experience for before it come vnto vs we know not how great the rebellion of the flesh will be The Apostles bragged they would neuer forsake their Master he alone had the words of eternall life and they would not change him for another they beleeued him that they knew him to be the Christ the Sonne of the liuing God and there was no other Sauiour but wheÌ„ they saw the Crosse at hand their courage fell downe they forsooke him all Peter said he would dye for him drew his sword that he had almost slaine one but this boldnesse was but a blast of words he swore hee knew him not So experience is the greatest warrant to know what our selues can beare The Lord and our duty requireth that wee shold approue our selues the witnesses of the Gospell in patience in afflictions in honour in dishonour in shame in life in death but how violently the flesh will fight against vs wee cannot well declare till wee haue made the triall And therefore in griefe of body learne to say with patience I haue held my peace O Lord because thou hast done it If thy minde bee full of sorrow say I will waite patiently vpon the Lords leasure he will heare my prayer CON. 79. We should not be discouraged vnder the Crosse since Christ is the patterne whose similitude we beare EXPLA. Those whom God hath fore-knowne hee hath also predestinated to be made like vnto the image of his Sonne Death once reigned through sinne and hee hath found a way to rise from it again into greater glory This victory because it was too great for Sainct or Angell to obtaine he had appointed it to be the worke of his onely begotten Sonne hee tooke vpon him our nature to make and in his owne person hee filled it with the fulnesse of miseries with all sorrowes of flesh with all anguish of minde with persecutioÌ„ with death with sinne with hell with condemnation and from all these by the mighty power of his Godhead hee is risen againe in our flesh ascended vp into glory and sitteth on the right hand of Maiesty being a mighty Sauiour vnto
God beleeue of himselfe that he shall be saued And also the Apostle saith that we know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the Brethren all those things we know because our faith beleeueth all that which the word of God hath taught vs in this behalfe CON. 32. The effect of faith is to giue assurance of the present state and of perseuerance also to future glory EXPLA. As many as receiued Christ to them he gaue power to bee sonnes euen to them that beleeue in his name Now to receiue is to take in particular to a mans selfe to apply to himself to apprehend or lay hold of him with all his benefits to make particular vse of Christ so that true faith according to the measure of it assures infallibly not in general only by principall but in particular also by conclusion and application to it selfe and as of his owne good will hee hath begotten vs by the word of truth that we should bee as the first fruits of his creatures so by the same true grace of God that comfort is ministred vnto the faithfull to say Behold what loue the Father hath giuen vnto vs that we are called and are euen now the Sons of God! and we know that when he shall appeare we shall be like vnto him For thorow faith we receiue the promise of the Spirit That is Faith is the very hand into which being holden forth vnto God hee giueth the Spirit which hee had promised CON. 33. When God giueth vs this light and feeling that he is our Father there followeth necessarily a certificate that we are his children this testimony cannot be counterfeited EXPLA. Neither the spirit of man himselfe nor any other spirit can giue man that spirituall eye of the inner man whereby to looke vpon God as a Father that sincere and pure affection and inuocation wherewith the faithfull soule tendereth it selfe vnto God but onely the Spâ—rit of God himselfe which beareth witnes vnto our spirit that wee are the Sonnes of God and because we are the Sonnes of God he hath sent forth the spirit of his Sonne into our hearts crying Abba Father Now this Spirit that beareth witnesse is truth being the Spirit of Truth and therefore beeing sent for a comforter surely in comforting he telleth and testifieth nothing but the truth if then the Spirit of God beare witnesse vnto vs that we are the Sonnes of God wee know that it is true and wee are sure wee are the Sonnes of God And this witnessing properly standeth in the true spirituall inuocation and calling on the name of God whereby vpon all occasion as children to a Father make our recourse vnto him for it is not incident vnto vs to haue in our hearts conscience that familiar and louely accesse vnto the Throne of Grace but vpon coÌ„science of the spirit dwelling in vs for this spirit of praier doth witnesse vnto the elect that they are the Sons of God CON. 34. If God hath once giuen thee assured signes of his fauour hee will neuer change EXPLA. The Testament of Christ is still new yea though it were from the beginning yet it is still the same and the day passes not in which it was giuen but it endureth still with the age of man And thus it is not possible that our works should iustifie which waxe olde and are forgotten So that the righteous man of an hundred yeares old if hee leaue his righteousnesse it hath no account the saluation of the world is not thus but alwayes new If once I bee in the couenant it is an euerlasting couenant I was not taken vnder condition of time nor no time shall preuaile against mee the saluation it selfe is not changeable as Adam was in Paradise but it is made sure in the body of Christ vnited with the person of his Godhead So the wayes also in which wee are led vnto it they are iÌ„mutable our faith is not quenched our loue not extinguished our hope faileth not nor the holy Spirit can neuer be taken from vs but still they are new euen to eternall life CON. 35. We are ioynt-heires with Christ and must attaine to our inheritance that same way which he did beeing first partakers with him in suffering as we shall be afterwards in glory EXPLA. Faith expecteth all these things from God because it is giuen vnto vs for Christs sake not only to beleeue in him but also to suffer for his sake beeing strengthned with all might thorow his glorious power to all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnes To this end as the sufferings of Christ abound in them so hee causeth their consolations to abound through Christ their hope is stedfast in this behalfe because they know that as they are partakers of the sufferings so they shall be of the consolation for faith resteth vpon that which is written hee hath said I wil not fail thee nor forsake thee therefore wee may boldly say The Lord is on my side I will not feare what man can do vnto me he hath predestinated vs to be made like to the Image of his Sonne and therefore hauing receiued the spirit to reueale vnto vs this secret of predestination wee stand assured that accordingly he will accomplish in vs the Image of his Sonne that together with him wee may beare the crosse and together with him also weare the crowne and therefore shall so order all things that there shall be nothing to come that shall separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. CON. 36. The cause of life spirituall in vs is Christ not carnally nor corporally inhabiting but dwelling in the soule of man as a thing which when the minde apprehendeth it is said to inhabite or possesse the minde EXPLA. The minde containeth Christ by hearing and beleeuing the Doctrine of christianity with particular apprehension as the light of nature doth cause the mind to apprehend those truthes which are meerely rationall so that sauing truth which is farre aboue the reach of humane reason cannot otherwise then by the Spirit of the Almighty be conceiued as in these sentences The Spirit is our life or the Word is our life or Christ our life the meaning is that our life is Christ by the hearing of the Gospell apprehended â—s a Sauiour and assented vnto by the power of the holy Ghost CON. 37. The motions and operations of life are sometime so indiscernable and so secret that they seeme stone dead who notwithstanding are still aliue vnto God in Christ. EXPLA. The first intellectuall conceit and comprehension of Christ is the seede whereof wee bee borne new our first embracing of Christ is our first reuiuing from the state of death and condemnation Hee that hath the Sonne hath life and hee that hath not the Sonne hath no life therefore if hee which once had the Son may cease to haue
sins My soule is heauy vnto death yea he was astonished at his griefe at the very entry at it for his sweat was drops of blood falling from hâ—m and God sent an Angell from heauen to comfort him Was this for the death of his body His seruants that receiue of his fulnesse doe they not easily despise this death that either they desire to be with Christ or reioyce in the middest of it before the persecutor The Apostles did sing in prison Paule gloried in his tribulations which were many And did hee cry out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Here is no comparisoÌ„ that which made him tremble wold haue crushed them that which made him sweate blood would haue made them sinke into the bottome of hel and that which made him cry would haue held both Angels and men vnder euerlasting woe But Christ was as water powred out and all his bones out of ioynt his heart like waxe molted in the middest of his bowels his strength was dried vp like a potsheard and his tongue cleaued vnto his iawes hee was brought with his sorrowes to the dust of death for hee bare our sinnes in his body he submitted himselfe to the death of them and by the wounds of his stripes we be healed For our sinnes deserued not onely a bodily but also a second death in hell fire hee suffered the torments of body and the anguish of the soule the wrath of his Father which wounded his flesh spirit vnto death would haue holden him in that condemnation for euer if he had not bene stronger then we that had deserued it but beeing the Sonne of God in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelled bodily the eternall Spirit that was within him did loose the chaines of death and hell of which it was impossible that hee should bee holden and hath left his enemies the Deuill death and hell in ignominy and darknesse and hath abolished them for euer CON. 76. We are presented faultlesse before the presence of Gods glory by beeing made one with Christ. EXPLA. Of Christ onely is it true This is my well-beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased this is the Saluation wee haue by him to bee grafted in him and made partakers of his life All the faithfull before Christ were righteous in him for wee must leaue all our works in the earth where they were done and they must dye with the corruptible hands and feete with which they are wrought we must go naked and bare and offer nothing but that which is Christs yea our selues wee must present in his body for in our owne persons wee cannot possibly be accepted Euen as the Vine branch can haue no life except it abide in the body of the Vine no more we either life or righteousnesse except wee be and abide in Christ. He is our substance and being in the inheritance of glory his righteousnesse is ours his loue ours his life our life his Spirit our spirit of his fulnesse we receiue all This is a great mistery which the eye seeth not nor heart can vnderstand yet it is a reall ioyning with him faith comprehendeth it and when wee shall see that wisedome which is called vnity in one person God and man wee shall see the wisedome which hath made vs all the body of that head and members one of another In him he is well pleased I say with vs. If that couenant wherin it was once promised to Abraham to giue a land vnto the Iews and all their rebellion could not falsifie his promise in him wee haue a couenant greater and better therefore let vs trust vnto his promise which cannot change his grace nor repent him of his mercy for euer for this is a holy couenant which shall not be broken but God will make all our enemies our footstooles and will surely take vs vp into his glory and briefly the presence of God to which Christ leadeth vs is a throne of Grace for by his merits we bee brought vnto God as before a Iudge who from his tribunall Seat doth acquit vs for euer of his own grace and free mercy For whosoeuer looketh to bee iustified by any other thing the Lord can no more shew mercy vnto him then he can change the property of his Iudgement seate to make it no more the Throne of Grace CON. 77. A perfect beauty of all excellent loue appeareth in the great worke of Christs mediation for hee became man Secondly Hee was ordained to accomplish whatsoeuer was betweene God and man Thirdly This was giuen to Christ by God both by word and by oath and all was to haue compassion on vs. EXPLA. Neither Angell nor Archangell nor Principalities nor Powers can doe this worke to present flesh and blood vnto the Maiesty of God when themselues are but spirits He tooke not the Angels nature but the seede of Abraham But in his sufferings his loue is most euident in that it was so feruent and so deepely rooted that neither feare nor trembling nor any anguish of spirit could make him shake nor the force of death nor any bloody sweats could pull it out of his bowels this is the depth of the Gospell which the Angels doe desire to behold it skilleth not how many our sins are and how great in our eyes the Lord will scatter them as the clouds from the heauens and they shall not turne away his louing countenance from vs if our sinnes bee as scarlet and not ours onely but the sinnes of the whole world they rested all vpon Christ he prayeth for deliuerance and hath obtained and therefore we may say with boldnesse forgiue vs our trespasses We then which are laden but with our owne sins should lift vp our hearts in the great assurance of hope and heare with ioyfulnesse the word of promise I will be mercifull to their vnrighteousnesse and I will remember their sins and iniquities no more There is nothing comparable to his passions by whose stripes we are healed and therefore may bee fully perswaded that nothing shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ for the Lord hath appointed to giue to all that mourne in Sion beauty for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse for hee was wounded for our transgressions and broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him his prayers are ours his supplications for vs availeable for more sins then we are able to commit This is the victory that shall ouercome the world euen our faith For his Father hath broken him with one breaking vpon another so he kindled his wrath against him and accounted him as one of his enemies hee cryed out aloud in silence he could finde no ease his face was wrinckled with weeping and the shaddow of death was vpon his eyes wheÌ„ he was the brightnesse of glory and the Sunne of Righteousnesse that