thy selfe to his good will and pleasure Abide his time appointed and that with patience So shalt thou at the last finde and taste of the Lords fauour to thy endlesse comfort I might adde here many such examples for the further strengthening of thee in this point but that as I haue said it is needlesse 1. Thes 5.17 we haue commandement of God to pray continually and that we should Luke 18.1 2. c. like vnto the Widdow be importunate in our prayers to what end serue this continuance and importunacie if the case were so that God had cast vs off for euer because he doth not at the first grant vs our Petititions And let vs therefore hold this one rule continually in minde and print it deepe in our hearts that it is in the hands of the Lord to afflict at his pleasure to continue the same vpon his seruants as hee will It is our parts in this time of our troubles yea and out of troubles also to cry vnto God and to call vpon him And it is in the power and will of God onely to set downe and appoint the time of our help and deliuerance and by this Rule standing vpon these foure points we shall easily auoid the danger of this temptation of the Enemy Oh Satans obiection saith Satan how then standeth this with the nature of God who is said to be mercifull louing and compassionate vnto his children Is this loue and is this his tender mercy to see his children to lye and continue thus afflicted to heare them thus lamentably to cry for helpe and in such wofull manner to sue for succour yet he to withdraw himselfe and not to deliuer them This is very hard and a thing farre vnbefitting the person of God Answ The shamelesse boldnes of this our Aduersarie is here euidently to bee seene together with the maliciousnes of his heart in that he is so bold to pry into Gods doings call them into question and to dispute and reason how and which way God dealeth and disposeth of his children and also greatly to indanger the simple by his subtilties and to breathe out most horrible blasphemies against the person of God most craftily insinuating by his obiection that either God is vnwilling or else vnable to deliuer his seruants vvhen they cry vnto him For thus much doth his speech concerning the nature of God vsed in his obiection import But what art thou thou Enemy of God and all godlinesse that thou shouldest presume to iudge of mercy which art neuer to come within the compasse thereof nor to be partaker thereof at all Is mercy onely resiant in the speedy release of miseries and afflictions Or is compassion tyed and bound as thou wouldest perswade to the grant of euery suite though it be vntimely that is before Gods appointed time and season No no Gods mercy and compassion as hath been before sufficiently proued are to be ordered after the wisedome of God himselfe both for the time and also for the maner of extēding the same and not in such course as thou wouldest prescribe Hee that sometimes and in some cases spareth the Rod doth hee he hate the child God accounteth his corrections to be Arguments and tokens of his loue and mercy towards his children whatsoeuer thou doest prate and babble to the contrarie and striuest to make men beleeue that his chastisements and corrections doe betoken another thing that is the barring and depriuation of the seruants of God of his mercy loue and fauour Thus we may now see how greatly God our most louing Father and Satan our most deadly and pernicious enemy doe differ concerning the vse and end of afflictions and also the right iudgement concerning mercy loue and fauour of God So that resting our selues wholly on the promises of God in his Sonne Christ we should stop our eares vnto these perswasions of our most malicious Enemy and vtterly abandon whatsoeuer he shall perswade contrary to the doctrine of God This might indeed suffice to shew the insufficiencie of this conclusion of Satan and to stablish the weaklings in the truth of the doctrine of God but that the troubled soule will still bee mouing of questions and often fall to the iteration and repetition of one and the same thing not regarding what they say so they may be known to say somewhat And in this mauner they moue their question Quest. How can this bee that God should be accounted mercifull when hee thus stoppeth his eares and refuseth to beare the cry of his seruants when hee thus winketh and shutteth vp his eyes that hee will not see and behold their wofull estate that he may take compassion on them Who would euer lay these calamities miseries and afflictions vpon those whom he loued And who would tolerate these extremities without release and ease vpon those to whom in grace and mercy he is affected as vnto his deare children Answ This question whereby Satan in the weake and distressed soules would haue his temptation to be strengthened is as ye see all one with that which we heard before and therefore the very same answere may very well befit them both It was before proued sufficiently that afflictions and corrections laid vpon Gods children doe proceed and come of loue yet you are not satisfied herewith but fall againe or rather continue still in your former minde curiously dernanding how this may be The case were easie and the question would be satisfied with a slender resolution if you did but remember what was said before But I see and perceiue your heart and minde were otherwise occupied and therefore your eyes doe continue still fixed and bent vpon your present pangs and miseries but neuer looke vnto the end which is replenished with so great ioy and peace Doth not the Apostle tell vs that God doth therefore in this sort here in this world correct and afflict his children 1. Cor. 11.32 that they should not bee condemned with the world Luk. 16.19 c. Lazarus liued here in great misery when the rich Glutton fared delicately Yet was Lazarus beloued of God and the rich Glutton otherwise as the end did euidently proue Is it not thinke you loue in the Physician towards his Patient when hee taketh the readiest way to recouer him from the danger of death although it bee by such strong medicines which he knoweth in their operation and working will will torment his Patient for the time and that very sore It is surely a great argument of Loue in the Physician that hath such a care of the good estate of his Patient And are we not likewise to iudge of our heauenly Physician and to be fully perswaded of his great loue that he beareth vnto his seruants that when he seeth them ready of themselues to be plunged into the pit of sinne and so to be made partakers of condemnation doth vse these momentany afflictions although they appeare bitter for a time vnto
beene smitten of GOD and plagued and euen in earth to haue receiued the very sentence of eternall death vpon themselues But this manner of iudgement must bee suspended for notwithstanding these externall and outward accidents befalling their bodies they rested and continued still the Elect and Chosen of the Lord euen vnto the death the cup whereof in defence of their Masters cause they most gladly tasted of how grieuous soeuer the torments and afflictions were which their bodies suffered and endured And againe if thou dost vouchsafe with an vpright heart and void of all blind affection to compare together thine and their afflictions I doubt not but that both for the cause and also for the matter and manner of them euen in thine owne iudgement thou wilt be found and prooued nothing comparable but farre inferiour vnto them For they were afflicted for the testimonie of Christ but thou for sinne they at the hands of Satans instruments in most cruell manner and thou at the hands of God after a Fatherly way They vnto death and the same most extreme but in thee thy life is preserued a time of repentance is granted which is surely a great Argument of Gods great loue and fauour towards thee So that now thou maist see this my Position to bee true and that to thy great comfort that others haue tasted and drunke as deep of the cup of afflictions nay much deeper then thou hast done So insatiable a Serpent is Satan and so obstinate in his peruerse opinion that nothing bee it neuer so truely vttered can satisfie him and content him For although this which hath been said concerning this Position and the ouerthrow of Satans coloured reasons doe greatly qualifie and allay the matter yet through Satans suggestions the broken soule is not with all this contented For the enemy hath now found out another muse and starting-hole to auoid the danger of this sound doctrine and to intrap the weake conscience whose death he greedily thirsteth after within the compasse of his subtilty as by this his reason doth appeare CHAP. XXII Of the fourth Position LET it bee graunted saith this our cruell Enemy that many of Gods Elect and Chosen are found to haue suffered these A fresh assault of Satan and such like afflictions and say they haue gone beyond thee in extremities yet this helpeth not the matter neither doth it serue thy purpose at all For reade and see and thou shalt finde and that quickely a great difference for the miseries which they endure are but short and momentany with them there may bee trouble and heauinesse for a night Psal 30.5 but toy commeth in the morning But experience telleth thee that thy troubles contrary wise are of long continuance Againe when they cry and call for help and succour God doth soone release them and putteth an end vnto their troubles for hee hath so promised vnto those that are his Children Call vpon me in time of trouble and I will deliner thee Psal 50.15 And therefore wee shall also finde that Dauid a man which was so much experienced in afflictions God was alwaies ready and at hand to saue and deliuer him as hee himselfe doth witnesse saying I cryed vnto the Lord and hee heard mee c. But with thee thou seest it is not so for thou hast cryed and called a long time and yet thou art not heard thou pravest but thou canst not preuaile Cease therefore to reason what grieuous torments the children of God haue suffered for it will not satisfie nor suffice thy turne For if thou hadst beene one of Gods elect and chosen Children hee would surely haue heard thee long yer this Hee would not haue stopped his eares at so many cries nor passed ouer so many plaints without compassion shewing In this new and fresh assault of Satan made vpon the weake conscience we are to consider how that to make his reason to carry the greater shew of probability he doth make a double amplification thereof Partly by the enumeration of some examples of such persons as haue beene afflicted but yet for a short time whose cry the Lord hath quickly heard and granted their request saying Lo and see such and such an one the Saints Seruants of God indeed that haue suffered great and grieuous torments but behold and see againe how soone and quickly they were deliuered And partly by the recitall of Gods exceeding mercy and compassion vnto his Seruants alledging that his eyes are alway fixed on them his eares are euer open to their cryes that hee is tender and carefull ouer them as the Hen ouer her Chickens or the Mother ouer her yong and tender Babe and as mindfull of them as the Bride is of her Ornaments in the day of Marriage and hereupon laboureth to infer this Conclusion against the afflicted soule to driue him into despaire That it cannot be possible that God being so pittifull so louing and so compassionate should so long and in such sort deferre and put off his helping hand from him if hee were reputed in the number of GODS Elect and Chosen This reason of Satan thus amplyfied the more subtilly that it is by him couched the more forcibly it prcuaileth with the weake and distressed soule to the dangerous ouerthrow thereof For whereas it hath beene before shewed that both the Elect and Reprobate are in deed partakers of afflictions Satan by this his reason would perswade that the continuance of afflictions in respect of time and the delay vsed of God in shewing forth his helpe are vndoubted differences and plaine markes whereby the one from the other may very easily be discerned known And to further him in this his purpose he taketh no small aduantage of the imbecility and weakenesse which is found in man who so long as his wounds are but fresh and greene can the better tolerate and abide the bearing of them because hee conceiueth some hope of some quicke and speedie deliuerance But when after long expectation he perceiueth his hope to bee frustrated and after long tryall seeth hee can finde no ease although hee hath vsed all possible meanes for the same then hee beginneth to despaire of himselfe and to make a question and doubt of his estate Wherein hee is found to be like vnto a sicke man which hauing tryed all the helps of Physick and yet finding no helpe for the curing of his disease beginneth then to distrust of life whereas before such tryall made hee suspected little danger of death in himselfe To preuent Satan of his purpose and for the strengthening of the weake Christian it shall not be amisse nay I thinke it necessary as before of the other reasons of the Aduersarie so of this likewise to shew the weakenesse and insufficiencie that it being knowne wee may see and perceiue the better how little faith is to bee giuen to his perswasions In which doing as a counter-blast against this temptation of Satan I thinke it good heere
to bee noted and obserued which the Apostle to the Romanes hath not pretermitted which is the meanes whereby this peace worketh in vs and that is by Christ Iesus For in him in his death and Passion it placeth the fruit and fruition of this our remission and reconcilement at the hands of God So that this doth in a sort intimate a marke of difference and distinction whereby a man may know whether this peace be true or not For if it be not in Christ Iesus that is If in his death and Passion in his merits sacrifice and satisfaction thou hast not this affurance of remission of thy sinnes and reconcilement vnto God but seekest it in some other thing whether it be in any Ceremonies and Superstitions thine owne workes and merits or the workes and merits of any other except Christ onely and his death and Passion thy peace is not true but a counterfet peace and such as will deceiue thee The second fruit of Faith 2. Fruit of true faith is that which issueth proceedeth from this inward peace and that is a confidence and boldnes to come and approch before the Throne of the grace of God and to lay fast hold vpon the merits of Christ and the mercies of God in him Of this confidence wee read Ephes 2. Ephes 2.18 By him we haue an entrāce vnto the father by one Spirit And Heb. 4.16 Let vs therefore goe boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may receiue mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of neede And in the tenth to the Hebrewes verse 22. Heb. 10.22 it is called a drawing neere with a true heart in assurance of faith So that vpon the former perswasion and assurance working peace in their conscience and in this sight and feeling of Gods gracious and louing countenance towards them in their hearts and soules they are the more incouraged to come and approch vnto the presence of God and to craue pardon and remission of their sinnes at his hands This the Apostle elsewhere calleth a boldnes and entrance with confidence by Faith in him that is in Christ For without him no man can come or haue accesse vnto the Father And therefore they that presume to come in their owne name and worthines with confidence in their owne workes and merits or in the workes and merits of any other either Saint or Angell they cannot be iustly and truely said to haue accesse and approch vnto grace but rather to depart and to flee the further from it 1. Tim. 2.5 For as there is but one God So also there is but one Mediatour betwixt God and man and this is Christ alone And as there is but one Throne of Grace whereunto we are to come and where we are to sue for remission So is there but one way appointed for vs to vvalke vnto the same and that is the same our Sauiour Iesus Christ Iohn 14.6 who is the Way the Truth and the Life The third effect and fruit of this true Faith 3. Effect or fruit of true Faith is that standing and continuing in this grace of Christ whereupon followeth a certaine ioy and reioycing in hope and expectation of the glory of God euen that glory whereof all the Saints of God shall bee made partakers in the life to come So that this Christian ioy is nothing else but an inward motion of the Spirit whereby the heart is exhilarate and made glad partly in regard of the presence and fruition of Christ and of his grace in our hearts by faith and partly in expectation vnder hope of that glory whereof all the sonnes of God as I haue said shall hereafter bee partakers For this cause the Kingdome of God is called peace and ioy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 And of this ioy speaks the Prophet Esay saying They reioyced before thee Esay 9.3 according to the ioy in haruest as men reioyce when they diuide a spoile And yet doth not this fully expresse this ioy for it is not a bare ioy but such an one as is accompanied with a triumphant boasting and reioycing for so the word in the originall Text doth signifie And there fore Peter the Apostle doth call it a reioycing 1. Pet. 1.8 with ioy vnspeakable and glorious Example hereof we haue in Dauid to whom the promises of grace and mercy seemed so pleasant and delight some that he did solace and recreate himselfe therin as things replenished with exceeding pleasure and delight saying that they were more precious vnto him then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then honey and the hony combe And in the fourth Psalme hee is bold to alledge in aduancement hereof Psal 4.6 7. Many say Who will shew vs any good But lift thou vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs. Thou hast giuen me more ioy of heart then they haue had when their Wheat and Wine did abound In this sort therfore the faithfull seruants of God doe solace themselues in the sweet and comfortable promises of grace and mercy when as hauing the same to be opened and laid out before them their hearts doe leape for ioy and gladnes in regard of that exceeding sweetnes that they finde therein Insomuch that they can finde nothing in all the world so excellent precious and pleasurefull wherein they can bee moued so much to triumph and boast themselues as in this grace mercy in Christ Iesus For they doe account all other things Phil. 3.8 but meere vanities or dung for Iesus sake and in respect of those benefits which by his precious death and Passion he hath purchased for them and is alwayes ready and willing to impart the same vnto them These are the sweet and pleasant dainties whereon their soules take so great pleasure to feed according to that in the Canticles Vnder his shadow had I delight Cant. 2 3 4 5. and sate downe and his fruit was sweet vnto my mouth Hee brought me vnto the Wine-Cellar and loue was his banner ouer mee Stay mee with Flagons and comfort mee with Apples for I am sick with loue And this they doe so much the more for that therewithall they conceiue a hope of future happinesse and participation of ensuing glory that shall bee giuen vnto the sonnes of God For this ioy though it bee often great euen vnspeakable and glorious as was said before yet it is not complete and perfect in this life but shall haue fulnesse and consummation in the life to come when as our hope shall cease to be a hope and we shall be set in full possession of that euerlasting ioy and happinesse in that glorious inheritance prepared for the Elect of God The fourth effect 4. Effect of Faith whereby true faith is knowne is a second ioy which proceedeth and ariseth out of this that went before And this is seene in tribulations and afflictions for Christ his sake and the Gospell Of this speaketh
sinne so there is a help and remedy to be found in the Gospell whereby hee may be perfectly cured and restored if he were able to attaine vnto it 2. When he perceiueth this remedy reuealed by the Gospel to be in it selfe so full and all-sufficient A godly sorrow and considereth well thereof both in the originall that is the mercy and loue of God and also in the manner of it which was the death and bloud-shed of the best-beloued and onely Sonne of God then he beginneth againe through this glasse to behold sinne in the vgly visage therof and therby is constrained to mourne and sigh afresh for committing of that which could not by any meanes bee purified and clensed but by the precious bloud of that immaculate Lambe of God 2. Cor. 7.9 Christ Iesus And this mourning the Apostle iustly calleth a godly sorrow Which though indeed it be a part of true repentance in the truth and nature of it and therefore an effect of it yet because Faith is as yet but yong and weake and cannot be so easily discerned in the fulnesse of her motion it hath so many sparkes of doubting and distrust in the grieuous appearance of sinne that the broken-hearted Christian being thus pricked and perplexed hath nothing more common and vsuall in his mouth then condemnation Yea withall sometimes hee groweth so extreme and outragious in these distrustfull passions that no reason can satisfie and perswade him for a time but that hee wanteth Faith though indeed hee haue the truth of faith shewing it selfe in the fruits thereof within him Thirdly Faith now as I haue said hauing brought forth this godly sorrow to this end A hatred lothing of sinne that so wee might be truely humbled though for her weaknes being but lately sprung it is not able to keepe it vnder measure yet by little and little it groweth to some ripenes And therefore next vpon or rather iointly with this mourning it breedeth a hatred and lothing of sinne A desire and longing after the righteousnes of Christ Iesus that is so filthy and odious in the sight of God and so pernicious and dangerous vnto man and planteth a desire and longing after the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus And therefore is greatly encouraged to approch and draw neere vnto the Throne of Grace and to call and cry vnto God for mercy And all these are the notable and vndoubted fruits of Faith and most certaine arguments and euident tokens that true faith although not in her full perfection is surely seated in the heart of him that hath them A taste comfortable feeling of the grace of God Fourthly after all these they grow by little and little to haue some taste and comfortable feeling of the grace of God imparted to them by the inward working of Gods Spirit Insomuch that euery day more and more they grow to conquer subdue the despairing thoughts of the flesh and the motions thereof And the comfortable influence of the Spirit seemeth euery day more then other to haue a larger and freer passage in the chamber of their hearts in testifying vnto them the grace of God in the free remission of sinne and the performance of the worke of their Adoption Fiftly after all these ensueth that full assurance and most notable effect of Faith Peace of conscience euen the very peace of conscience For that now they are assuredly and fully resolued Weake Christians doubt they haue faith because they finde it not to be so strōg in themselues as they perceiue it to bee in others that all their sinnes are washed away in the bloud of Christ that by his death the wrath of God is appeased their ransome paid the righteousnes of Christ by imputation made theirs the feare of death and hell abolished and life eternall purchased After this doctrine in the course and manner of mans conuersion thus deliuered let vs now returne againe vnto the broken and afflicted soule which doubteth of the want of faith And withall let vs see and sift the reason why hee thus despayreth of his faith and thinketh and perswadeth himselfe that he hath no faith at all His reason is this Because hee doth not finde within himselfe as yet that certaintie and full assurance of saluation which he seeth and perceiueth to be in others This reason although it seeme to him very strong yet in it selfe it is but weake and beeing throughly examined cannot hold nor stand for good For this full assurance whereupon he groundeth his reason is not Faith as some haue defined faith saying Faith is a full assurance but rather one notable and vndoubted effect of faith And yet not alwayes so atttending vpon faith as though it should continually bee there euidently seene where faith is seated For a man may haue true faith and yet not feele this full assurance And my reason is because this assurance is not the first effect that faith euer bringeth forth in the heart of man when it is begun to be ingrafted in him But it hath many other excellent effects precedent and going before it As the true and hearty mourning for sinne that earnest lothing and hatred of sinne and a thirsting and longing after righteousnes c. which are often found in the Elect of God before such time as they receiue this caline and peace of conscience and ioy in the Holy Ghost by the full assurance of their saluation Now to proue these to be the fruits and attendants of true faith the rather to qualifie and allay the sharpe and bitter combate of the troubled soule let vs diligently consider First the principall efficient cause and worker of this sorrow and mourning which I spake of is the Spirit of Regeneration and Adoption For this cause the Apostle calleth it a sorrow that is of God 2. Cor. 7.9 10. Rom. 8.26 2. Cor. 7. And the Spirit is said Romans 8. to pray in vs with sighs that cannot be expressed This Spirit is onely had and retained of vs by the meanes of Faith Gal. 3.2 For it is receiued and dwelleth in cur hearts by faith Gal. 3.2 Wherupon it also followeth that of necessitie it can none otherwise be but where this earnest sorrow and earnest lothing and detestation of sinne is found there also faith should be ingraffed Because otherwise this Spirit of Adoption which effecteth these in vs could not be entertained in our hearts Secondly this sorrow Psal 51. which otherwise in regard of the subiect is called a contrite and broken heart is said to be a sacrifice of God and such an one as hee will not despise And how could this be that it should bee a thing so acceptable in the sight of God and so well accepted of him if it did not proceed and come of Faith seeing that as the Apostle restifieth without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Rom. 14.23 And Whatsoeuer is not of Faith is sinne
to sinne against him but will haue him exercised sometimes in greater troubles sometimes in lesse sometime touching and vexing him with sicknesse of body sometime with death of friends sometime with losse of goods and cattell sometime after one sort and sometimes after another but all to this end that so hee might make him more mindefull of him and more carefull to shew forth his louing obedience towards him This also by a Similitude may very well bee confirmed vnto vs. Shall the Physician bee said to hate his patient when as hee giueth and ministreth vnto him a strong and sharpe Purgation to recouer him Or shall the father be said to hate his sonne when hee doth chastise and correct him with the rod that hee may reforme him So neither can God iustly bee said to hate vs but rather to loue vs when in this manner hee launceth our sores that hee may heale vs and thus father-like correcteth and chasteneth vs with his Fatherly hand that hee may amend vs. And smally for the better confirmation of this doctrine by the testimonie of the Spirit of God in plain texts of Scripture Ioh. 16.13 to that which hath beene said let vs adioyne the plaine euidence of the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of Truth and leadeth vs into all Truth and witnesseth as much as I haue said namely that All those things proceed and come not of hatred but of loue Reu. 3.19 As many as I loue saith Christ vnto the Church of Laodicea I rebuke and chasten Vnto which agreeeth also the saying of Salomen Pro. 3.11 The Lord correcteth him whom he loueth euen as the father doth the childe in whom hee delighteth Whereunto consenteth also the testimony of the Spirit Heb. 12. saying Heb. 12.5 c. Haue ree forgotten the consolation that speaketh vnto you as vnto children My son despise not the chastening of the Lord neither faint when thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loueth hee chasteneth and hee scourgeth euery sonne that hee receiueth Hereupon now I conclude that if the former reasons had not beene at all yet this three-sold euidence of the Spirit of God whose Office is as I haue said to leade vs into all truth Joh. 16.13 may serue sufficiently to the quieting of any Christian conscience if it be throughly weighed and considered And therefore whereas Satan to the derogation of this healthfull doctrine and the increase of thy sorrow and discomfort doth forge this subtill reason Satans reason Those whom God doth thus afflict hee doth not loue but hate But thou art afflicted so and so by God Ergo thou art not beloued but hated of him This reason I say is easily ouerthrowne for that it is forged By whom by Satan which hath beene a lyer and a murtherer from the beginning and therefore his argument is not to bee receiued But wee are rather to hearken vnto the doctrine of the Holy Ghost which telleth vs a contrary tale that it is not hatred at all but loue not anger alone but the Fatherly care and tender affection of God towards his children that maketh keth him thus to correct and chastise them And this not that they should perish as Satan would inferre but that they should bee preserued and not perish with the world So that if wee endure this his chastisement hee is so farre from casting vs off that as hee hath witnessed hee offereth himselfe vnto vs as vnto sonnes But if wee bee without it wee are so farre from loue that wee are not sonnes Heb. 12.7.3 but Bastards And now see how thou maist very effectually turne this Argument of Satans back againe vpon himselfe to his confusion but to thy exceeding comfort God hath afflicted thee with many crosses and miseries art thou therefore cast out of the loue and fauour of God Nay rather thou art hereby assured that thou art no Bastard but in the number of those that in deed truth are become the Sonnes and Children of God CHAP. XVII Satans Obiection against the former doctrine answered BEfore that I enter into the Answer to Satans vsuall Obiection made against the former doctrine I am to counsell thee to take heed vnto thy selfe and to beware of his policie betimes For if thou wilt be ready to accept at his hands whatsoeuer hee will aduenture to profer vnto thee hee will soone bring thee to take at his hands Copper nay drosse for Gold deadly poyson for a soueraigne Potion and that to thy confusion Try therefore and examine his obiections thorowly marke from whom they come and to what euill end and purpose they are made so shalt thou the more easily withstand him in his temptations and with more speed preuaile against him Although this doctrine concerning my first position bee as I hope so plaine that euen the simplest may vnderstand it and with such reasons confirmed as it hath pleased the Holy Ghost to minister vnto mee in that respect yet is the enemy of God and all godly men bold to take exceptions against the same and in this manner frameth his Obiection Obiect It is recorded in the Scriptures that these which you so often call afflictions are indeed iudgements and Gods vengeance denounced and executed on Gods enemies and those against whom his wrath and anger is incensed And for confirmation hereof wee may produce many examples euen out of the Scriptures but in a matter so apparant I thinke it needlesse By this Obiection thus framed and vttered it euidently appeareth that the Forger thereof Satan by name will be a Serpent still of great subtilty still inuenting and forging new deuices to effect his deuilish purposes And therefore it is not to be maruelled at if he thus beginne to make assault vpon thee in this manner by force of this Obiection to raze out of thy minde the truth and certainety of all that before hath beene by so many Arguments confirmed which his malicious craft that it may the rather appeare Ict vs examine and try his Obiection thorowly and discouer the falshood and insufficiency thereof so farre forth as by the holy Spirit of God wee shall bee thereunto inabled The Proposition is this Obiect That afflictions are effects of Gods anger that such like afflictions as thou endurest are threatned in Scriptures as iudgements and effects of Gods haired wrath and anger vpon the wicked A subtili temptation whereby this enemy deceiueth very many But let vs a little dwell and stay thereupon syft and examine it thorowly and so the fraud thereof shall more easily appeare Whereas it is said in the Obiection that God doth threaten such like things as iudgements and vengeance for sinne to be executed on the wicked It cannot bee denyed the Scripture to this end is indeed plentifull But what of this Not any thing in truth can hereout bee gathered for Satans purpose But herein his craft doth the more appeare in that vpon so good a ground hee
goeth about to erect such a deformed building and to set vp his subtilties For by how much the foundation is more true by so much his in consequent conclusions will seeme to bee more strong and forcible And then especially it lyeth vs vpon to bee more circumspect and wary to cut him short and to preuent him in so malicious a purpose Let vs now come to the view of Satans Sophistry The question is of the hatred of God The Proposition proposed is true indeed But yet too weake and altogether vnable to conclude the question For thus he reasoneth These miseries and afflictions are sometimes the effects of Gods hatred And therefore they are so in thee too Answ This Argument cannot hold For that which is sometime so will neither beare a generall inference nor yet a particular or a speciall conclusion If a man should thus reason The Sun doth sometime harden the thing it shineth vpon therefore it hardeneth Waxe also Euery petit Logician would bee ready to scoffe and lest at the baldnes of his Argument But to insist euen in Satans owne example These troubles and miseries proceede sometimes from the loue of God and therefore they doe so to the very Reprobates and Castawayes Although the antecedent be true yet the conclusion can neuer be made good and such is the conclusion of Satan For what reason I pray you is in this It is sometime so and therefore so at all times It is so in some and therefore so in all Or it is so in Iudas the Traytor Ergo it is so in Peter or some one other of the Apostles As though that which is affirmed truely of the one must of necessitie without exception be verified of another Let Satan therefore first proue this his proposition to be generally true that is that these afflictions doe alwayes come from the hatred of God Or else this and such like particular conclusions will stand him in no stead But this proofe hee can neuer bee able to make Hold him therefore at this pinch and thou shalt to thy great comfort haue a notable victory against him Thus thou maist now see one piece of Satans malicious craftinesse discouered which he vseth in this reason to deceiue men afflicted withall But yet this is not all the poyson that lurketh vnder the faire show of words in this the Serpents reason as shall anon appeare He is indeed very pregnant in his proofes so is hee also as painfull and plentifull in his misconstructions wresting all to his owne purpose that hath but onely a very little show or likelihood to fauour the cause he hath in hand and striueth to proue Whereupon it commeth to passe that as in many other so euen in this reason also he very slightly passeth ouer the matter by the crafty confusion of words of diuers significations as though they signified and imported one and the selfe same thing And therefore the rather and sooner to deceiue either thee or any other hee thus subtilly reasoneth Satan his reason God saith the Scripture is angry with those whom he punisheth And therefore it cannot be but thou art hated of him and so out of the tale and number of his children Answ This is no doubt a very absurd kind of reasoning and argueth sufficiently from what Spirit it proceedeth and therefore is thereafter to bee liked of and allowed What Scripture euer taught thus to ioyne confound those things together which God hath distinguished Cannot the winde stirre and moue but it must needs bee a tempest Cannot the Sunne bee dimmed with a Cloud but it must vtterly lose his light And cannot God hee angry and displeased but hee must needs hate and finally cast away for euer Is there no meane to be had None easier way to be found must all of meere necessitie and of force be stretched on the rack of extremities Indeed Satan would haue it so and therunto goeth about by this his subtil reason to perswade But yet Gods Spirit doth teach vs far otherwise that God sheweth himselfe to bee angry and displeased with many of his seruants and deare children whom notwithstanding he hated not but most dearely loued that hee oftentimes hath not onely threatened but also actually executed punishments vpon them from whom he also promiseth that he will not take away his mercy for euer This doctrine of the Spirit of God by the example of Dauid Hezechiah and many others in the Scriptures is prooued to be as certaine as that which is most certaine and therefore euen in this point as in al his others Satan is found to be a lyar his reason to be of no force for that so subtilly he maketh no distinction and difference betwixt the hatred and anger of God As though they were indifferent times of one nature and of one signification And therefore if in any place he findeth these afflictions to proceed of anger he straitway inferreth that it is of hatred As though God hated all those with whom and that most iustly he is displeased Which is not so as hath been shewed God in some sort may bee said to be angry with his children and in anger to afflict and punish them But hee can neuer bee said to haue them For these two are things different in God God is said to hate those whom either in his Decree hee hath excluded from mercy though he grant them life and prosperitie here on the earth for a while or in his punishments hee doth in anger consume that is in Iustice seeke onely and intend their condemnation But it is not so to his Elect and Chosen For if in them he hateth any thing surely it is nothing but sinne alone he hateth not their persons as he is said to hate the persons of the Reprobate But yet God may be said to be angry with his Elect that is he may haue a will to punish sinne in them in what manner it pleaseth him and he may lay his temporall punishments vpon them as being displeased with their sinnes and offences and yet be stil in loue affected towards them as the Father that is incensed to anger against his Sonne that hath done amisse and therefore also taketh the Rod and punisheth him and yet still he loueth his child neither can for this anger be said to hate him And it is wel to be obserued that there is a difference too betwixt this anger of God towards his Children and the Cast-awayes vnto the Elect and the Reprobate Vnto the Elect it is temporall short and for a time For hee will not alwayes chide neither keepe his anger for euer Psal 103.9 But vnto the Reprobate it is perpetuall and eternall In the Elect with such measure 1. Cor. 10.3 that they may sustaine and beare it but in the other beyond their strength vnto their euerlasting confusion In the Elect to worke amendment vnto life Rom. 8.20 In the Reprobate to obdurate and harden them vnto eternall
same according to that saying of the Apostle 1. Cor. 10.13 God is faithsull who will not suffer vs to be tempted aboue that we are able to beare but will giue the issue with the temptation that wee may bee able to endure it The great and excellent fruits that arise and come from afflictions 4. Comfort vnto the children and seruants of God are most excellent sweet and delectable and therefore minister no small comforts in the time of extremities For by these afflictions wee are taught the more to be humbled in the sight of God in respect of sinne To abandon feare and fly from sinne They worke in vs a serious and earnest care in more dutifull obedience to conforme our selues to the will of God They are meanes to stirre vp our faith They declare our hope and bring forth in vs the fruit of patience They what vs on to earnest inuocation and prayer They teach vs the contempt of worldly pleasures They shew and set before vs the vanity and misery of this present life and stirre vs vp to the earnest study meditation and desire of the life to come whose ioyes and pleasures are true perfect and void of all miseries endlesse and durable without decay All which and many mo such excellent and worthy fruits so sweet and pleasant arising out of the bitter root of afflictions so vnsauourie to our fleshly seeling will serue as I haue said as most comfortable receits when wee are pained with extremities The next comfort is 5. Comfort to remember and alwayes to haue this in minde that be our afflictions and miseries neuer so extreme and neuer so great yet they can in no wise preuaile so farre against those that are the Saints and Beloued of God that they should any thing weaken or impayre the certaintie or assuredres of their saluation so long before determined and decreed in the good pleasure and fore-knowledge of God according to that of the Apostle Paul Rom. 8. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God that is in Christ lesus our Lord. Seeing then that nothing shal be able to hurt or annoy the Elect and Chosen but that all things shall turne and serue to their good it cannot bee but that afflictions also shall be conuerted to their singular comfort Let Satan now breathe out his terrible threats neuer so much against vs and admit that he so farre preuaile in his wicked and malicious purpose as to take away our naturall life and doe depriue vs of this present light yet our other life in obtaining whereof all our hope our ioy and comfort resteth is hid layd vp and kept safe in Christ our Sauiour as a most sure treasury from all Satans subtilties so that he cannot once touch or trouble it although hee make neuer so great attempts against the same The consideration and daily meditation of the afflictions and miseries of others the Seruants Saints of God 6. Comfort is no doubt very comfortable and profitable also in this case For when wee finde and are assured that such as haue beene the beloued Children of God haue been partakers of the like afflictions yea and ostentimes of greater and farre more grieuous and haue in the end receiued a recompence of their labours wee are incouraged the rather to enter into the same conflict with the more patience to beare the brunt thereof and with the greater constancy to endure vnto the end with full assurance that as those our brethren so wee also in the end as good souldiers shall be crowned as Victorers And seeing that Satan aswell in this poynt as in others bendeth his force to the vttermost of his power to abate and to coole this courage in vs by the blotting out of our memories the remembrance of these examples of such worthy seruants of the Lord for a most soueraigne medicine in this dangerous sicknesse I would counsell the afflicted soule in the time of his afflictions to spend no little time in reading and ouer-reading the lamentable histories of Gods distressed and afflicted seruants whereof hee shall haue great store and plenty both in the sacred Scriptures and also in the Ecclesiasticall stories of lower and later times faithfully gathered compiled published in our English tongue by that worthy man of famous memory Mr. Fox and others These I would wish to bee the afflicted mans Garden whereinto if hee euery day resort a little for recreation sake I doubt not but he shall there finde Flowers of so sweet and delectable sauour and Herbs of so rare and soueraigne vertue that he shall be assuredly thereby maruellously comforted and strengthened when as I haue sayd in reading hee shall finde that others also highly in the fauour of God haue notwithstanding tasted as deepe yea and farre more deepe of this bitter cup of afflictions then he himselfe hath done As a most dangerous poyson very forcible to ouerthrow vtterly 7. Comfort and to impaire his good estate I would wish the distressed soule to eschew the narrow intentiuenesse and fixing his minde vpon the extreme rage of his owne woes and miseries either past or present but rather to cal to his mind that which he hath heeretofore found in himselfe if at any time hee hath but felt some arguments and tokens of his election and on those of fix the eyes of his remembrance and withall to settle his heart vpon the end of his afflictions which as hath beene shewed is most ioyfull and comfortable tending onely vnto his good Lastly hee is to consider that although his miseries bee neuer so great and many for the time yet they are of no long continuance but short and momentany euen as is our life vpon the earth which is but as a vapour that quickly vanisheth as the brittle glasse that soon breaketh as the grasse that parcheth in a day and withereth as the Post that passeth by with speed So that although they should so long continue and cleaue vnto vs as our life lasteth yet the time of our life being so short the continuance of them must be short also Wherof no little comfort may grow vnto the afflicted soule and that the rather if he call to minde that endlesse and vndated time of happinesse wherein wee shall be made partakers of that endlesse crowne of glory and those exceeding ioyes which no tongue is able to vtter nor heart of man is able to conceiue These are the comforts whereof I thought good heere briefly to put the afflicted person in minde for that I haue in seuerall places as occasion serued touched the same before Others there are which in their places God willing shall in like manner for their good bee deliuered CHAP. XXIIII Against the feare of death and vnwillingnesse to die ALthough I haue before
of death and the exceeding fruits of life and ioy that doe arise and spring from death to vs together with all these seuerall comforts that haue beene before set downe against the seuerall assaults of Satan made against the Children of God For if thus and after this sort thou be carefull to furnish and prepare thy selfe in time of health Satans assaults in the time of sicknes shall soone bee beaten back the edge of his sharpe and cutting weapons shall be quickly blunted and all his attempts and practices shall bee made frustrate and void Hitherto of the first preparation in time of health against this last combate the which in the meane time also may very well nay should indeed serue euery Christian in withstanding all temptations throughout the whole care and course of his life CHAP. XXVII Of the preparation concerning the time of sicknes and death THe next part of Preparation is that which is to bee had at the time of sicknes and beeing ready to dye consisteth partly in the comfort which we are to receiue and haue from others and partly in our selues From others as spirituall counsell and Prayers And these others are either such as haue a more speciall charge hereunto as is the Pastor and Minister of the place who in this time of sicknes should bee sent for that hee might minister vnto the diseased spirituall counsell and aduice Or such as Christian dutie doth binde vnto it as kinsfolkes and neighbours and such as are about the sicke parties in the time of their sicknes For this indeed is a time wherin the chiefest loue that thou canst shew vnto thy brother and dearest friend is to labour by all meanes to arme him with patience against the terrours of death to draw him from the loue of the world and to breed in him a loue a liking vnto heauenly things in ministring as spirituall and heauenly comfort as thou canst vnto his soule and not to be ouer nice herein dianty of thy paines as many are which are loth to make any mention of death at all vnto the person diseased lest it should bring or breed any discomfort vnto his sick friend And so for feare of the losse of a little worldly comfort which is but vanity thou wilt depriue him of this spirituall comfort belonging to his soule It is good I confesse to bee carefull for the good of his body but it is far better and a greater argument and signe of true loue in thee to be carefull for the good of his soule Among these that thus art attendant at or in the time of sicknes the Physician also oftentimes hath his place Of whom wee might speake concerning many points if that our Treaty were generally respecting death and not particularly tyed vnto it as it is attended with such a dangerous conflict with so great and mighty enemies In him therfore as faithfulnes care and skill are requisite for the body So also it is behoouefull that hee should bee such an one as could withall knew how to apply some medicines of comfort vnto the soule But I leaue these and come now vnto thy selfe to shew what is requisite in thee in these extremities Thou hast all thy life time beene in the field for a Christian mans life is a continuall warfare wherein he lyeth in continuall leager against the Diuell But now thou art to fight a pitched battell wherein thine Enemy the Diuell hath mustered all his forces and therefore hath entred as it were in league with death that last and dreadfull Enemy to fight against thee These with mayne force and might doe assault thee on the one side and the world with her allurements lyeth in ambush on the other side with her subtilties to deceiue thee neither will the flesh bee idle but to the power thereof will put too her helping hand that so a conquest vpon thee might be had and that they might with the more ease triumph ouer thee It behooueth thee therefore to keepe a continuall watch and to looke well about thee that thou mayst the better preuent the euill and cut them short of their purpose This therefore I would aduise thee to doe Whensoeuer the warning piece is shot off that is as soone as sicknesse doth beginne to seaze vpon thee looke well and take a good view of thy selfe and prouide in time that thou mayst be on all parts armed with that Armour of proofe before mentioned See thou be girded with the girdle of Truth vpō thy loynes hauing on thee the Brest-plate of Righteousnes the Shooes of the preparation of the Gospell of Peace the Target of Faith in thy left hand the sword of the Spirit in thy right hand and the Helmet of Hope on thy head And ouer all these see there bee cast the Coat of Constancie and withall pray continually that the Lord would continually assist and strengthen thee in these dāgerous times and giue thee good successe against thine enemies Secondly let all thy thoughts and meditations be fixed and settled vpon heauenly things vpon those vnspeakeable and incomprehensible ioyes and comforts of the life to come and therewithall also vpon that All-sufficient sacrifice of Christ our Sauiour who by his death and Passion hath washed and redeemed vs from all our sinnes subdued death and purchased for vs immortall and euerlasting life Thirdly take heed that the cares and cogitations of the world creepe not on thee but cast off from thy shoulders the heauy burthen thereof For they are great and mighty hinderances in this last conflict as is before shewed Banish them therefore and barre them from thy heart as vnfit to muster with thee in this last and heauy conflict If the pleasures and delights of this life come before thee remember they are but vanities If the terrours and feares of death present themselues into thy sight thinke of them not as they appeare and seeme in show but as they bee indeed that is momentany and short and rather helping then hindering For they are the passage vnto life and vnto the ioyes of Heauen Therefore set downe thy Resolution that if these were past then all thy miseries were come to an end and dispatched For though Satan tell thee that death was ordained as a curse and punishment for sinne yet doe thou reply that Christ hath turned it and changed the nature of it and of a curse hath made it vnto Gods Children to be a blessing and the entrance into ioyes and the gate of life For by our Sauiour Iesus Christ his Resurrection the force of death is taken away and therefore the graue hell can make no conquest ouer them Although thou bee thus appointed yet doe not thinke that thou canst be so acquitted and discharged of thine enemies aforesaid but that Satan the principall of all other thine Aduersaries which is the Master of all mischiefe will still bee vrging thee to vexe and trouble thee to the vttermost And therefore vse continually the Armour
our Sauiour Christ Mat. 5.11 12. saying Blessed are yee when men reuile you and persecute you and say all manner of euill against you for my sake falsely Reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in Heauen Of this is that of Iames to be vnderstood Iam. 1.2 when he exhorteth the brethren to account it an exceeding ioy when they fall into diuers temptations For it cannot bee but that they that are possessed with that former ioy in the promises of grace vnder hope of glory but that they should also triumph and reioyce in afflictions that besall vnto them for Iesus sake Hereupon it is that the Apostles being beaten and scourged are said to depart Act. 5.41 reioycing that they were accounted worthy to suffer rebuke for the name of Christ Thus also the Martyrs of God are said to account it a crowne of glory euen their death and martyrdome which they indured in the cause of Christ To this doing no doubt they were stirred and moued because as Paul speaketh they did know certainly and beleeue that those momentany and light afflictions doe cause a more excellent and eternall weight of glory Or else because they are fully instructed and taught in the true vse and fruit of their afflictions Ro. 5.3 4 5. and doe know that tribulations bring forth patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed But it is far otherwise with the hypocrites For their time or rather vntimely faith in stead of triumphing and reioycing as one finding fit matter whereon to worke doth waste and melt away at the heate of these tribulations euen as the snow before the Sunne Well it may appeare to flourish awhile in time of peace and to shoote out the blade but when the parching sunne of afflictions doth shew forth his beames when the time of persecutions the time of tryall is come it then falleth and withereth away as though it neuer had beene For howsoeuer they seeme to approoue and like well of Religion yet doe they not delight in this Iewell that will cost so deare as eyther goods or life and therfore doe vtterly fall and shrinke away from it seeing it cannot be had held without such trouble and disquiet And that thou mayst the better know and discerne the true reioycing from the counterfet ioy of hypocrites I would wish thee to consider well of the Apostles words before recited out of Romanes 5.3 4 5. Ro. 5.3 4 5. where the Apostle doth maruellously illustrate the same First by certaine effects which proceed therefrom one vpon anothere by degrees and secondly from the speciall cause thereof The effects are First Patience which consisteth in quiet suffering and abiding the Lords corrections without any repining murmuring or grudging against the Lord for the same Secondly experience which is that assurance of Gods care and fauour towards them in their afflictions who although hee hath laid the same vpon them yet he will sustaine and vphold them so that they shall not shrinke or fall vnder this heauy burthen of tribulations and that the Lord in his good time for a testimonie of his loue will deliuer them Thirdly from these ariseth hope that hauing had experience of Gods loue heretofore in deliuering of them they are thereby also put in hope that his louing care ouer them is not now ended but shall still be continued towards them And fourthly this hope bringeth forth a boldnes to persist in confidence and still to depend vpon him without shame as knowing assuredly that in time conuenient hee will not faile them Secondly the cause or foundation whereupon this triumphant reioycing accompanied with these effects is grounded is the loue of God spred in their hearts because their hearts and soules finde and feele the loue of God to be so great and exceeding towards them in Christ Iesus that they are thereby perswaded that whatsoeuer he doth permit and suffer to befall them shall by Gods working turne to their great good and benefit Strengthening themselues with this reason of the Apostle elsewhere alledged That seeing GOD hath not spared his owne Sonne Rom. 8.32 but gaue him for vs all to death how shall hee not with him giue vs all things also For in this sort and after this order by this fruitfull meditation of grace in Christ and in his death and Passion is that same sheading and spreading abroad of Gods loue towards his children performed And therefore the Apostle euen immediately vpon the same annexeth the remembrance of the Passion of our Sauiour Rom. 5 6. For Christ saith hee when we were of no strength at his time dyed for the vngodly The fift effect of Faith The fift effect of Faith whereby as a marke thereof it is to bee knowne is loue not that loue before spoken of for that was in regard of vs a passiue loue beeing the Loue God whereby hee loueth vs. But this loue whereof wee now speake is actiue in regard of our selues euen that loue which we extend to others Gal. 5.6 for faith worketh by loue so that if thou hast a liuing and a working Faith thou shalt also haue a loue attending on it for else it cannot worke at all Now this loue in regard of the double obiect is found to bee of two sorts that is the loue which wee owe vnto God principally and aboue all and secondly the loue which we owe ought to beare towards our neighbour And these two kindes of loue although they greatly differ the one from the other yet they are alwayes so linked and inseparably coupled and tyed together that they cannot in any wise bee parted or seuered the one from the other For how can he saith Iohn 1. Ioh. 4.20 that loueth not his brother whom he hath seene loue God whom hee hath not seene And againe this commandement haue wee of him that hee which loueth God should loue his brother also And therefore the same Apostle in the same Epistle maketh the one to bee a signe and token vvhereby a man may know if hee haue the other In this we know saith Iohn that we loue the children of God 1. Ioh. 5.2 when we loue God and keepe his Commandements Hereupon now it may bee very well concluded that if thy faith bee true and liuely thou shalt easily finde these two kindes of loue to bee in thee the loue of GOD and the loue of thy Christian brethren My meaning is that thou wilt haue a Christian care so farre forth as thou shalt bee enabled by the Spirit of God 1. Ioh. 5.3 to performe and doe the will of God For this is the loue of God saith Iohn that we keepe his commandements And also wilt bee carefull ready and willing to thy power to performe and doe the duties of loue and charitie vnto thy Christian brother in helping cherishing counselling and comforting of him to thy power in matters concerning both the good
of God in our hearts and soules that was marred and defaced so greatly by the fali of Adam This Image or impression is easily knowne and discerned from the counterfeit and outward shew of hypocrites whose sanctity and deuotion is onely outward Glorious indeed they appeare in the outward shew like painted Sepulchres but if they looke inwardly vnto the heart there is nothing to bee found but rottennesse and corruption So that it may easily bee there seene that the ruines of old Adam are not yet againe repaired in them Look therefore I would aduise thee not vnto the outward appearance bee it neuer so glorious and goodly but looke into thy soule the inward part and looke so neere as thou canst into euery corner thereof and see if thou canst finde the rubbish of Adams fall to bee in some sort swept and cast out and the image of GOD in holinesse and righteousnesse to bee in some measure renewed and imprinted againe vpon thee Which if thou canst see and perceiue then assure thy selfe that this Testimony is in deede the vndoubted and infallible Wunesse and Testimony of this Spirit of Adoption Thirdly thou maist know and discerne it by the constancie and certainety of the testimony that it giueth For it is not like the wauering vnstedfast flash of hypocrites which think maruellous well of themselues slattering and perswading themselues for a time in a blind conceit that they are in the number of GODS Elect but cannot grow indeed to any continuall or certaine resolution therein But this Spirit if it haue liberty to speake and be attentiuely hearkened vnto yeeldeth forth a full and a settled perswasion of the truth of our Election in Christ I say if it haue liberty to speake and be attentiuely heard for that it oftentimes falleth out with the faithfull that though they haue this certaine Witnesse within them yet the Flesh sometime getting the head and mastry ouer the Spirit in them will not suffer it to speake so plainely as it would And they also being thereupon troubled with this frailty which they finde in themselues do often fall into many wauering and doubting thoughts while they do not listen attentiuely vnto this witnesse of the Spirit that now seemeth to speake more coldly and with a lower and lesse audible voice vnto their soules then heretofore For certaine it is that though the Spirit doth alwaies witnesse and giueth also a most certaine and constant Witnesse for it is the Spirit of Truth yet it is not alwaies in the like measure to the discerning of our soules but sometime more euidently and sometime lesse yea and that sometime also so obscurely as that the children of God whiles they are too much busied otherwaies in hearkening vnto the suggestions of Satan the World and the Flesh they doe seeme as though they heard it not at all Wherefore if thou hast once felt and found this testimony of the Spirit in thee let it suffice thee and be therewith content his testimony once giuen is of great force for that as I haue said hee cannot lye Therefore I say if at any time it hath witnessed the same vnto thee seale it vp for a most certaine truth For the Spirit of God which leadeth vs to all truth speaketh nothing but Truth hath spoken it And although now it seeme to waxe so cold in giuing euidence yet if it doe but whisper nay if it doe as you would say but breathe within thee that is giue neuer so secret and small a Testimony yet doe not thou misdoubt it for euen this is as sure as a thousand other clamorous and lowd witnesses to confirme the truth of thine Election And bee further assured of this that thou canst not in any wise reiect this testimonie though it seeme in thine eyes but simple and slender without exceeding iniury offered vnto the Spirit of Truth Fourthly in the manner also of the effecting this certaine Witnesse and Testimonie thou maist discerne it to bee the testimonie of this Spirit of Regeneration and Adoption for it is wholly and fully in the Death and Passion of Christ euen by by assuring thy soule and conscience that Christ with all his benefits is thine and that in and through him and him alone thou art become the adopted Childe of God and heire of euerlasting glorie Now whereas by thy question moued thou seemest to doubt of the truth of this testimony whether it bee of the Holy Ghost or not I answer further Is it any thing likely that Satan would euer perswade any man of this assurance of such incomparable benefits as Christ by his Death hath purchased for his Elect Would he euer perswade men that in Christ we are made the adopted Children of God No I assure you that is farre from Satans purpose he knoweth that this kinde of doctrine serueth not to aduance but vtterly to ouerthrow his kingdome and therefore laboureth what he may to suppresse the publike preaching of the Gospell that this kind of doctrine should bee hid from the knowledge of men so farre is he off from furthering of the inward application of the same vnto the comfort of our soules wherein the vertue of Christ his death consisteth Therefore if at any time the hypocrites do flatter and perswade themselues in their election it is not wholly alone and principally in Christ from his death Passion that this perswasion ariseth but vpon some other good liking cockering affection that they haue vnto their fayned and hypocriticall deuotion while they take such slight and slender tryall and examination of themselues Finally this Witnesse may bee knowne by two notable and excellent effects attendant and waiting vpon the same First that the Spirit doth hereby shead abroad in our hearts Rom. 5.5 the loue of God towards vs in Christ Iesus for it maketh vs to haue a certaine sense and feeling of the loue and fauour of God towards vs. Secondly vpon this followeth another effect and that is that vpon this sense of loue and sheading of his tender mercy in our hearts to the taste and feeling of our soules it causeth vs withall to cry and call vpon him by the name of Father for now when wee thus feele his loue and mercy whether wee cast our eyes downeward vpon our selues or vpward vpon the face of God in Christ wee see and behold him still as a gracious louing mercifull and compassionate Father reconciled to vs by and through Christ and our selues to bee his adopted sons and children whom hee in his eternall purpose in grace and mercy hath selected and ordained vnto life and that by and through the same our Sauiour Iesus Christ his deare Sonne Hitherto of the witnesse of the Spirit Let vs now come to the outward fruits of our Regeneration CHAP. XXXV Of the outward fruits of Regeneration HYpocrites aswell as the Regenerate haue in outward shew many good deeds wherby they gaine to themselues no small praise and commendation of deuotion and
sheweth plainely that the same Iudas in Gods eternall decree was not elect at all Ioh. 13.18 I speake not of you all saith Christ I know whom I haue chosen but it is that the Scripture might bee fulsilled Hee that eateth bread with mee hath lift vp his heele against me In which words Christ maketh a plaine distinction betwixt Iudas and those that hee had chosen and elected vnto life The fourth reason is brought from the former witnes and testimonie of the Spirit of God before declared 4. Reason which is alwayes most true and certaine which doth testifie and seale vnto vs not onely that wee are sonnes and Children but heyres also and coheyres with Christ of eternall glory Now how can this witnes of the Spirit be true that wee are heyres and coheyres with Christ of life if wee might at any time so fall againe as that wee might bee condemned vnto eternall death Wherefore I vvould aduise the broachers and setters forward of this obiection to beware and take heede vnto themselues betime how they labour to vphold and maintaine this so pernicious a point of doctrine for that in defence thereof they shall euidently appeare to argue the holy Ghost of falshood which thing bee farre from all Christians The fift Argument is brought from that inseparable connexion and dependancie of the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost 5. Reason Rom. 8.30 and of his working in the Elect and Chosen for whom he predestinate vnto life them also he called whom he called them hee iustified whom hee iustified them he glorified So that I may then in this manner reason Art thou elected and predestinate vnto life Thou shalt then be called and also iustified And art thou iustified and canst thou yet fall vtterly from grace and life No in no wise for if thou bee iustified thou shalt also bee glorified What plainer euidences then these can bee brought for the continuance and perseuerance of the Elect of God and to warrant them against this obiected fall without recouerie The sixt reason may bee brought from the immoueable estate of the Regenerate of God 6. Reason in that that neither sinne Satan Death nor any other their enemies can preuaile against them to impayre their hope or doe them hurt although they dayly with all their power doe attempt the same And the reason is because Christ hath so fully satisfied his Father and reconciled him vnto them If they could so fall as by the obiection is pretended then it is likely that this fall must come by the suggestion of Satan or by some other meanes of the enemies aforesaid But there is nothing at all that can preuaile so far against them as appeareth by the Testimonie of the Apostle Paul Who saith the Apostle shall separate vs from the loue of Christ Shall tribulation or anguish Rom. 8.35 or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Nay in all these things saith he we are more then conquerours through him that loued vs. And addeth further for more manifestation of this point that he is perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature and what can then indanger vs shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Vpon this we may safely inferre to our consolation and comfort that if Gods loue doe still continue towards vs and that he be with vs and take part with vs we neede not to feare who be against vs. And whereas there is indeed great force power in sinne to worke if it were possible this separation betwixt God and vs and to effect this fall of Gods Elect yet euen sinne is found to haue lost her power in this behalfe Rom. 8.33 as doth plainely appeare by the words of the Apostle euen a little before Who saith the Apostle shal lay any thing to the charge of Gods Chosen It is God that instifieth If none can lay to the charge surely none can condemne and reade the doome vpon them It is Christ that is dead yea rather that is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs. An argument no doubt very strong and forcible is here brought by the Apostle Christ saith hee is dead for sinne and how then should sinne bee imputed to his Chosen whereof Christ already hath in his owne person sustained the punishment Or if the Elect doe dayly sinne as they without doubt doe so long as they continue in this corrupted Tabernacle yet how should this depriue and spoile them of their hope seeing Christ standeth a continuall Intercessor and Mediator in their behalfe to qualifie and appease his Fathers wrath against them for sinne Seeing then that the matter is so plaine thou art to leaue off to dispute and reason against the durable estate of Gods Elect and Chosen vnto the end vnlesse thou wilt shew and proue thy selfe a very iniurious censurer of this sacred office of Christ our Sauiour Which if thou doe thou canst not in the sight of GOD bee holden guiltlesse but art to haue God to bee a sharpe reuenger of the iniury done and committed by thee and it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the Lord. The seuenth reason may bee drawne from the promises and doctrine of life 7. Reason and of that ioyfull Resurrection and glorious estate of Gods Chosen in the life to come These promises are so firme and sure and this doctrine is so cleere that they cannot bee gainesayed without great preiudice For to say that the Elect of God hauing once assurance of their election haue not also therewith an assurance of their perseuerance and continuance vnto the end is to depriue them of the speciall vse of those promises of such blessednes in the life to come And then what greater comfort should the faithfull and Regenerate finde in those promises then the faithlesse and Reprobate And further what benefit or comfort could grow to the faithfull by those three last Articles of our Creed I beleeue the Remission of sinnes the Resurrection of the body and the life euerlasting if they could not also bee assured that they should hereafter bee made partakers of them For the Reprobates yea the Diuels themselues do know that there are such blessed things prepared But this their knowledge nothing profiteth for that they are not indeed to be partakers of them they doe belong onely to the Elect and Chosen of the Lord. And to this end and purpose onely tended the course and order of the instructions of Christ the Apostles and all the faithfull Ministers of all ages vvho haue diligently taught the Children of God to view and behold these blessed things not as things being onely but such also as one day assuredly they shall by Christ be put in full possession of as their owne