thou find in his injoyment True love findâ—… most contentment in the enjoyment of the object most beloved hence David preferringâ—… the enjoyment of Gods face before any sublunary treasure discovers his true love to God thus Many say Who will shew us good Lord list thou up the light of thy countenancâ—… upon us thou hast put gladnesse in mine heart more then in the time that their corne and their New Wine increased Psal. 4. 6 7. And yeâ—… of all enjoyments of God Christ beloved that enjoyment is sweetest that succeeds his absence and estrangement Health is alwayes sweet but double sweet after sicknesse liberty alwayes pleasant but double pleasant after imprisonment life is alwayes comfortable but to have return'd from death to life is a double life So to them that love God his presence ever delectable but his presence after his soul-afflicting absence is even ravishing Hence David wrastling out of an intricate temptation and recovering a sweet view of God cryes out Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and mine heart faileth but God is the strength of mine heart and my portion for ever Psal. 73. 25 26. The Church enjoying Christ saith I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet unto my taste Cant. 2. 3. but when after estrangement she found him whom her soul loved how is she transported I held him and would not let him go untill that I had brought him into my mothers house into the châ—…mber of her that conceived me I charge you O ye daughters of Jerusalem by the Roes and by the Hindes of the field that you stir not up nor awake my love â—…ill he please Cant. 3. 4 5. that is let him have no offence given him that I should lose him any more Canst thou truly say in thy enâ—…oyment of God of Christ O let his left hand be under my head and his right hand emâ—…race me Cant. 2. 9. Lord let not the left hand â—…f thy temporal consolation be wanting but be â—…nder my head for use but let thy spirituall right hand thy consolation about spirituals and eternals embrace me wholly for enjoyment and in the embracement of thy love in the kisses of thy sweetnesse my soul shall rest and sleep in peace O it is good for us to be here let us build three Tabernacles one for Faith one for Hope and one for Love but all for thee This is right love to God indeed 2. Intensively God is the highest object of love and challengeth the highest and most intensive acts of love God is the supream Good yea the only good none good but one that is God Matth. 19 17. therefore he should have the supream affections all the affections all of the affections and none but he Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul anâ—… with all thy strength and with all thy mindeâ—… Luke 10 27. Deut. 6. 5. Matth. 22. 37. with these foure heart soul might and minde and with all of every one of these i. e. with all that is within thee God if truly loved is to be beloved of thee Yea let God leâ—… Jesus Christ have the preheminence in thâ—… soul above all creatures let him possesse the throne of thine heart and be a diadem on thy head but let all things else sit down below at thy foot-stool Prov. 12. 1. Psal. 73. 25. and 4. 6 7. Matth. 10. 37. Luke 14. 26. no object is so amiable no delight so delectable as God to him that loves him true love can despise the world yea ten thousand worlds for him 3. Sincerely and uprightly When God is chiefly loved for himself for his own incomparable Excellency perfection beauty sweetnesse lovelinesse and love and other things are loved for him and in order to him then not so much they are loved as God is loved in them 1 Iohn 4. 19. We love him because he loved us first The Church loved Christ for himself Cant. 5. 10. to the end We may love Gods gifts but must more love God the giver else our love is mercinary not upright 4. Purely and bolily God is truly loved when purely affected we love God purely when we cordially hate that which God cannot love viz. Sin Ye that love the Lord hate evil Psal. 97. 10. Lovest thou him saith Augustine thou oughtest to hate what he hates Hence it appeares thou truly lovest what is good if thou beest found to hate what is evil 5. Obedientally When we so love God or Jesus Christ as to indeavour really to keep all his Commandements If you love me keep my Cemmandements He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me John 15. 21 23. That is saies Augustine He that loveth them in memory and keeps them in life who hath them in words and keeps them in works who hath them in hearing and keeps them in doing or who hath them in doing and keeps them in persevering He it is saith he that loveth me Love is to be demonstrated by works that 〈◊〉 be not an unfruitful usurpation of the name of love 6. Invincibly against all difficulties oppositions and persecutions Love is strong as death jealousie is cruel as the grave the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it Cant. 8. 6 7. 7. Uncessantly in incorruption True love to Christ will not waste putrefie worm-eat or decay but is uncorruptible Grace be with all them that love the Lord Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in incorruption Eph. 6. 24. true love is a long-lasting yea an everlasting affection Charity never faileth 1 Cor. 13. 8. CHAP. II. Evidences or Signes of our Regeneration New-birth Adoption Son-ship c. THat the world kneweth us not if we be the children of God Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God! therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not 1 John 3. 1. By World here understand that world of carnal unregenerate persons that lieth in wickknesse 1 John 5. 19. elsewhere called the children of this world in opposition to the children of light Luk. 16. 8. This world knows not the heavenly Father adopting nor his spiritual children adopted yea therefore it knowes them not because they are the children of such a Father So that the worlds not knowing us in this sense may help us to discover that God knows us and ownes us as his children To know implies first sometimes a precise act of the minde understanding discerning discovering apprehending comprehending things what they are Iohn 21. 15. 17. 1 Cor. 8. 4. In this sense the carnal world knowes not God nor Jesus Christ nor the things of God because they are spiritually discerned Jer. 10.
c. Mat. 5. 10 11 12. Rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings If you be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are you c. 1 Pet. 4. 13 14. Upon this consideration when the Apostles were beaten by the Councel for preaching Christ They departed from the presence of the Councel rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name Acts 5. 40 41. And what but Faith can â—…d priviledge happinesse and matter of joy in sufferings for Christ How happy did Cyprian judge their Church That it was made illustrious in his time with the glorious blood of Martyrs it was saith he formerly white with the Brethrens works but now its purple with the Martyrs blood Among its flowers are wanting neither Lilies nor Roses Let all now strive for the ample dignity of this double honour that they may receive either white crownes for well-doing or purple crownes for well-suffering 5. By suggesting to the Soul the spiritual benefit of distresses Faith makes the heart not only overcome them but even glory in them Being justified by faith we glory in tribulations knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed c. Rom. 5. 1 2 3 4 5. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 16 17. Faith saith Let me be reproached poor imprisoned or any way afflicted so I may be weaned from the world purged from sin increased in grace or any way spiritually advantaged And this is very victorious Ignatius said I am Gods wheat let me be ground by the teeth of wilde beasts that I may be found the pure bread of God 6. By acting love invincibly Faith acts or works by love Gal. 5. 6. And love truly and lively acted towards Christ by faith proves an army invincible flame unquenchable You may kill the lover of Christ but cannot kill the love of Christ. Set me as a seal upon thine heart as a seal upon thine arme saith the Church to Christ For love is strong as death jealousie cruel as the grave the coals thereof coals of fire a most vehement flame Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it Cant. 8. 6 7. No waters of affliction no floods of persecution can drown it like oyle it swims above the top of deepest waters Such love not their lives unto the death Rev. 12. 11. Here 's the victory of the Saints 7. By eying the invisible and invincible God The worlds punishment said Cyprian cannot more cast down then Gods protection lift up Faith meets with many difficulties and rubs in the way to heaven but fixing upon the Omnipotent God and casting the soul in greatest straits and plunges with a sweet recumbency upon the power of God overcomes them and triumphs over them all Thus Moses by faith overcame the wrath of Pharaoh for he endured as seeing him who is invisible Heb. 11. 27. Thus the three renowned Jewes by faith overcame the fury threats and fiery furnace of King Nebuchadnezzar heated seven times hotter then usual How victoriously do they express themselves O Nebuchadnezzar we are not careful to answer thee in this matter If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thy hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden Image which thou hast set up Dan. 3. 16 17 18 8. By improving Christs strength and assistance All Sampsons strength lay in his head so all a Christians strength is in his Head Christ. Christ is so potent and victorious that he hath already overcome the world John 16. ult He hath overcome the world in his own person that he might overcome it in his members Now faith makes out to Christ engages his strength as the Vine makes it self strong by embracing the Elm the Ivy by clasping the Oake Christs strength being engaged what cannot a Christian do or endure He can in every state be content Contentment is a mighty victory over the world let the world do its worst nothing can come amisse to a contented man I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and suffer need I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 11 12 13. And elsewhere Paul hangs out the flag of defiance against all the terrours of the world Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword As it is written For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep to the slaughter Now in all these things we are more then conquerours through him that loved us Rom. 8. 35 36 37. When in Christs might Christians go out against the world they go but to encounter with a conquered adversary they go not so much to Fight as to Triumph and take the spoile 9. Finally Faith in the Regenerate wonderfully conquers the frownes of the world by fixing a steady eye upon that eternall joy set before them upon that great recompence of reward Reckoning that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8. 18. The heaviest affliction is but light the longest affliction here is but for a moment and what 's that to glory to the weight of glory to the eternal weight of glory to the far more exceeding and eternall weight ef glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. Faith therefore having respect to the recompence of reward behaves it self exceeding victoriously against all the tribulations of the world For 1. Hence Faith under deepest sorrowes keeps up the heart and spirits of Gods children from fainting 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. 2. Hence Faith enables to undergo not ordinary troubles but extraordinary tortures and yet not to accept deliverance Heb. 11. 35. 3. Hence Faith instructs them to judge Christs reproaches greater riches then any earthly treasures And the afflictions of Christians farre sweeter then the pleasures of sin which can but be for a season Heb. 11. 26. Whereupon notably Ignatius The confines of the world and kingdomes of the earth delight not me at all It is better for me to die for Iesus Christ then to reigne over the ends of the earth For Iesus is the life of Believers Be not unwilling to have me die It s a death to live without Christ c. Upon like ground blessed Cyprian writing to certaine valiant and faithful witnesses of Christ that had endured
cheerfully 1 Ioh. 〈◊〉 5. and 5. 3. 5. Our true love to Gods children for the heavenly Fatherâ—… sake who begat them 1 Iohn 5. 1. and 4 11 12 20 21. and 3â—… 17. CHAP. VII Evidences of our Communion with God and with Iesus Christ. 1. The Holy Spirit of God and of Jesus Christ given us 1 Iohn 3. 24. and 4. 13. p. 214. 2. The true abiding of the ancient Primitive truth and doctrine of Christ in us 1 Ioh. 2. 22 23 24. p. 217. 3. True confessing that Jesus is the Sonne of God 1 Ioh. 4. 15. p. 218. 4. Not doing or practising of sin 1 Ioh. 3. 6 8. p. 221. 5. Unfeigned love to God and dwelling therein 1 Iohn 4. 16. p. 221. 6. Walking in light not in darknesse 1 Iohn 1. 5 6 7. p. 224. 7. Walking as Christ walked 1 Iohn 2. 6. p. 225. 8. Keeping his Word and Commandements 1 Ioh. 2. 5. and 3â—… 23 24. p. 227. 9. True brotherly love 1 Iohn 4. 12. p. 228. CHAP. VIII Evidences of the unfeigned love of the Brethren 1. True spiritual knowing of God 1 Iohn 4. 7 8. p. 228. 2. Sincere loving of God 1 Iohn 5. 1 2. p. 229. 3. Right keeping of Gods Commandements 1 Iohn 5. 2 3. p. 229. 4. Loving the brethren peculiarly as they are begotten 〈◊〉 God c. 1 Iohn 5. 1 2. p. 229. 5. When we love them not verbally and complementally bâ—… really and sincerely Opening tender bowels of Compassion 〈◊〉 our brother in need yea if they cause require hazzarding oâ—… dearest lives for the children of Gâ—…d 1 Iohn 3. 16 17 18 19. p. 230. BELIEVERS Evidences FOR Eternall Life Collected out of the first EPISTLE of IOHN which is Catholique IOHN is an Hebrew name and signifies The Lord hath been gracious or The grace of the Lord He was Son of Zeâ—…edee brother of Iames and called by Christ to the Apostolical office Mat. 4. â—…1 10. 2 Mar. 1. 19. Luk. 5. 10. which is â—…he highest Ecclesiastical Office under the New Testament 1 Cor. 12. 28 Ephes. 4. 11. Iohn was one of the three whom Christ took up with him to Mount Taâ—…or to behold his glorious Transfiguration Matth. 17. c. Mark 9. 2. Luke 9. 28 c. One of the two whom Christ sent to prepare his last Passeover Luke 22. 8. and that Disciple whom Iesus peculiarly loved above all the rest Iohn 13. 23. and 19. 29. and 20. 2. and 21. 7 20. who leaned on Iesus breast at supper to whom Christ by a private token discovered that Iudas should betray him Iohn 13. 23 24 25 26. and to whom alone Christ dying on the Crosse commended his owne Mother Iohn 19. 25 26 27. This IOHN this compound of love anâ—… sweetnesse wrote this Epistle Aâ—… Epistle saith Calvin altogether worth of the spirit of that Discipleâ—… who wâ—… therefore beloved of Christ above the reâ—… that he might render himself more familiâ—… to us A most sweet Epistle saith Austin most memorable in the Church of God becauâ—… love is there especially commanded An Epistle whose principal Scope and end is Tâ—… help the believers to a well-grounâ—… ed Assurance of their actual interâ—… in eternal life These things saiâ—… John have I written unto you that bâ—… lieve on the Name of the Son of God thâ—… ye may know that ye have eternal life 1 John 5. 13. To this end the holy Ghost by the Apostle hath replenished this precious Epistle with more variety and plenty of pregnant Marks Signes Characters or Evidences of Believers spiritual estate then any other Scripture of like quantity in the whole Book of God So that it is a Rich Treasury for Christian-Assurance 1 Assurance if the fault be not our owne is Attainable John 14 21. Rev. 2. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 9 to 13. 1 Iohn 2. 3 5. and 3 2 14 19 24. and 4. 13. and 5. 19. 2 Assurance hath been actually attained by divers Iob ch 19. 25 26 27. David Psal. 22. 1. and 51 8 12. Thomas John 20. 28. Paul 2 Tim. 1. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 1. Rom. 8. 37 38. Gal. 2. 20. 1 Tim. 1. 13 14. 16. The Church of Christ Cant 2. 16. and 7. 10. 3 The nature of faith and hope tend and lead on unto Assurance Col. 2. 2. Heb. 6. 11 18 19. Heb. 10. 23. 4 Hence all Christians ought to â—…ontend after Assurance 2 Cor. 13. 5. 〈◊〉 Assurance that eternal life is ours actually attained brings great glory to God Rom. 4. 20 21. is the glory of faith Rom. 4. 19 20. overcomes greatest difficulties Rom. 4. 17 18. is an approved cordiall extraordinarily strengthening believers hearts in worst times under saddest afflictions yea in the straits of death Iob 19. 25 26 27. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. and in a word is a Paradise on earth the suburbs of Heaven and sweetest glimpse of glory Come hither therefore all ye doubting soules and drooping Christians that walk in darknesse and have no light of Assurance and comfort this blessed Epistle is an Epistle for you reade it and meditate upon it continually till you be perswaded setled stablished comforted And for your further help peruse these evidences extracted out of it and familiarly digested by him whose comfort it will be to be an Helper of your joy CHAP. I. Evidences or Signes of Gods love to us CHrists being sent to lay down his life for us that we might live by him may be a first Signe of Gods love to us Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us 1 Joh. 3. 16. In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that we might live through him Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sinnes 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. Hence when actually we live through Christ we actually taste Gods free love in Christ. Gods speciall love acts towards his beloved ones chiefly three waies 1. In electing them before all time elect of God holy and beloved Col. 3. 12. which is more peculiarly ascribed to the Father 1 Pet. 1. 2. 2. In redeeming them in fulnesse of time which is more peculiarly attributed to the Son Ioh. 15. 12 13. Gal. 2. 20. Rev. 1. 5. 3. In immediate applying of Christ unto them in due time by sanctification effectuall calling c. and this is more peculiarly given to the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 4 5. 1. Pet. 1. 2. And in every of these acts of love God comes neerer and closer unto his The Fathers love in electing is love intended and purposed this is most remote The Sonnes love in redeeming is love actually demonstrated to the world this is neerer but the Holy Ghosts love in sanctifying c. is love effectually and peculiarly applyed to individuall persons this is most neare Would we know our interest in the Fathers electing love consider
what part we have in the Sonnes redeeming love would we discover our share in the Sonnes redeeming love then let us accurately search what right and property we have in the Spirits sanctifying love when we spiritually live from the Father through the Sonne by the Spirit then God gives us a taste of his love experimentally Excellently Salvian that eminent Presbyter of the Massilian Church who flourished in the fifth Century discourseth of this love of God to us This is that which I said before that God loves us more then a Father his Sonne Verily the thing is evident that God loves us above the affection of sonnes who for our sakes hath not spared his Sonne And what adde I further and this a just Son and this an only begotten Sonne and this Son God And what can be said more and this for us that is for evill ones for most wicked ones for unrighteous ones Who can estimate this love of God towards us but that the justice of God is such that no unjust thing can be incident unto him For so far as humane reason may judge any man had done an unjust thing if for the worst servants he should haveput to death a good Sonne So that in this the piety of God is more inestimable and in this the vertue of God is more admirable that so the greatnesse of his justice cannot by man be understood inasmuch as to the apprehension of humane imbecillity the greatnesse of his justice seemes almost to have a shew of in justice So he Adoption That we should be reckoned among the children of God may be a second Signe of Gods love to us Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sonnes of God! 1 Joh. 3. 1. Well said the Apostle Behold what manner of love for here is not only love but love to admiration That we without strength Rom 5. 6. we lost creatures Luk. 15. last we sinners Rom. 5. 8. we in the bond of iniquity Act. 8. 13. we dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2. 1. we enemies to God by wicked works Col. 1. 21. we children of wrath even as others Eph. 2. 3 c. That we should be thus advanced in heavenly places in Christ and accounted not only servants which is much Ioh. 12. 26. not only friends which is more Ioh. 15. 15. but also sonnes and consequently heires and co-heires with Christ which is most of all Rom. 8. 16 17. Gal. 4. 4 5 6. Let men behold let Angels behold let both adore and admire what manner of love is this love Shew thy sonneship this Son-ship demonstrates infallibly Gods love unto thee God takes none into this nearest relation but whom he first took into his dearest affection If thou art a Sonne of God then 1. Thou art born againe of the Spirit of God Iohn 1. 12 13. and 3. 3 5. 2. Thou hast received Jesus Christ by believing on his Name Ioh. 1. 12. 3. God hath instilled into thee a Son-like Spirit of prayer Rom. 8. 15 26 4. Thou art conforme to Christ the first-borne among many brethren Rom 8. 29 5. Thou art acted led and guided by the Spirit of God Rom. 8. 14. Our not loving the world not the things that are in the world inordinately may be a third Signe of Gods love to us Love not the world nor the things that are in the world for if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world and the world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever 1. Ioh. 3. 15 16 17. The love of the Father is in him neither Actively nor Passively who immediately loves the world Not Actively he loves not the Father not passively he is not beloved of the Father for who can be beloved of the Father and not reciprocally love the Father again 1 Iohn 4. 19. and who can entertaine the true love of the Father in the heart but withall he must banish the excessive love of the world out of the heart For 1. The love of the Father and the love of the world are sorepugnant and inconsistent one with another Iam. 44. Matth. 6. 24. 2. The love of the Father and of the world do each of them so forcibly exhaust and draw out the whole heart that it is impossible that these two loves should at one and the same time in intense degrees dwell in one and the same heart As Cyprian well observed The love of God and the world cannot cohabit in one heart together as the same eye cannot at once look up to heaven and down to the earth together But who do inordinately love the world and things in the world Answ. 1. They who are wont inordinately to desire and seek it when they want it 1 Tim. 6. 9 10. Matth. 6. 31 32 33. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2 3. 2. Kings 5. 20 22. 1 Kings 21. 4. 9 10 16. 2. They who are wont inordinately and immoderately to set their hearts upon it and abuse it whilest they have it Ps. 62. 10. 1 Tim. 6. 17. Luk. 12. 16 to 22. Mat. 19. 21 22 23 24. Iam. 5. 1 to 7. 34. 1. They who are wont excessively to grieve and perplex themselves when they lose it as Achitophel who when he lost this worlds honours went discontentedly and hanged himselfe 2 Sam 17. 23. Our love to God which is a sweet effect a resulting ray a reflexive beame of Gods love to us may be a fourth Signe of Gods love to us We love him because he first loved us 1 Joh. 4. 19. When God begins to us in this sweet cup of love we cannot chuse but pledge him but should not he love us first and we also have some apprehension of that his love we should never love him at all For as Bernard saith Men render not love to God loving them till the spirit of faith reveales to them Gods eternall purpose about their future salvation As light breeds light fire fire so Gods love to us begets love to God in us But how or wherein hath God loved us first Answ. God the Father Son and holy-Ghost hath eternally loved us in electing us Col. 1. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Eph. 1. 3 4 5 6 7. In a more peculiar sort God the Fathers love first shined forth towards us in giving Jesus Christ his own only Son that Sonne of his love Col. 1. 13. for us Tit. 3. 4 5 6. Iohn 3. 16. Hath God so loved us as not to spare his â—…wne Sonne as hath before been evidenâ—…ed how can this chuse but kindle in us reâ—…iprocall flames of love again to God and â—…ake us delight in his love They more I â—…rink saith Bernard of the love of God
Indifferent as things left at liberty Rom. 14. 2 3. For matter they practise Righteousnesse who practise things Good or Indifferent But they practise unrighteousnesse who practise things Evil. Ye are of your father the Devill and the works of your father you will do Joh. 8. 44. II. Who do that which is materially righteous from a right Ground and Principle Such as are mens Principles within such are their Practices without Mat. 12. 33 34. Iehu did for matter that which God required but not from a right ground 2 King 10. 30 31. The right ground and principle from which all holy and righteous acts should flow is threefold viz. 1. A pure heart 2. A good Conscience And 3. Faith unfeigned 1 Tim. 1. 5. 1. A pure heart viz. not absolutely and compleatly purified from all sinne which in this life is impossible 1 Ioh. 1. 8. Thus Who can say he hath made his heart clean Prov. 20. 9. But comparatively and respectively purified So purified as no carnal mans heart in the world is purified 1. Purified by the blood of Christ sprinkled upon the heart by way of Iustification Zech. 13. 1. Psal. 51. 7. Act. 15. 9. 2. Purified by the Spirit of Christ his gracious habits as principles of purity being infused This is by way of Sanctification 1 Cor. 6. 11. So faith is a principle of purity Act. 15. 9. He that hath such a pure heart mingles not with sin but works it out and seperates from it as honey works out the waxe wine the lees mettal in the furnace the drosse Such regard not iniquity in their heart Psal. 66. 18. Here 's a right ground of righteous practices Hast thou such a pure heart 2. A good Conscience viz. not metaphysically or naturally good so every mans Conscience is good But spiritually and supernaturally good Conscience is supernaturally â—…ood 1. When it is by Christs blood purged from dead workes to serve the living God Heb. 9. â—…4 2. When it is habitually exercised to inoffensivenesse to God man Act. 24. 16. compared with Act 23. 1. 3. When Conscience endeavours to be compleatly universally good In al good conscience Act. 23. 1. 4. When conscience approves it selfe good even in the sight of God Act 23. 1. 1 Pet. 3 21. 5. When upon all this Conscience gives a comfortable testimony of the Hearts simplicity and godly sincerity able to support under greatest distresses and afflictions 2 Cor. 1. 8 9 10 11 12. Actest thou now from such a good Conscience 3. Faith unfeigned without hypocrisie Without faith there 's no pleasing of God Heb. 11. 6. Faith washes all our duties and acts of obedience in the blood of the Lamb and so â—…enders them acceptable to God 〈◊〉 Pet. 2. 5. Faith is then unfeigned 1. When it hath the true nature of Faith in it viz. Assenting to Gods truths revealed 1 Ioh. 5. 10 11 and Applying particularly those Truths assented to Ioh 1. 11 12 Gal. 2. 20. 〈◊〉 When it produceth effects of a living Faith viz. Good works without which fruits whatsoever faith is pretended it is but feigned faith a dead faith Jam. 2. 20 26. Hast thou such a Faith whence all thy righteous actions spring III. Who for form and manner do righteousnesse in such sort as God requires not only doing Bona good things but doing them Bene well God loves as some note to be served with Adverbs rather then with Nouns or Verbs Now Religious and righteous acts are then wel performed when they are done 1. Spiritually and heartily with heart and spirit not with body only This God requires Prov. 23. 26. Ioh. 4. 24. 1 Cor. 6. 20. This the godly perform Rom. 1. 9. Psal. 25. 1. Phil. 3. 20. The carnal meer corporal service God condemns Ezek. 33. 31 32. Mat. 15. 7 8. 2. Sincerely and uprightly as in the sight of God and approving our hearts to him Gen. 17. 1. as David Psal. 18. 22. 66. 18. Paul 2 Cor. 2. ult Peter Joh. 21. 15 16 17. 3. Obedientially because God commands the duty therefore in conscience and love to the command obedience is performed as in Noah Heb. 11. 7. Abraham Heb. 11. 8 17 c. David Psa. 40 8. 119. 143. Paul Rom. 7. 22. 4. Universally fully without reservations and exceptions Hypocrites may do many things as Iehu 2 King 10. 30 31. Herod Mar. 6. 20. But the gracious spirit hath respect to all things required as in David Ps. 119 6. Caleb Num. 14. 24. Zechary and Elizabeth Luk. 1. 6. 5. Constantly Perseverance in well-doing crowns well-doing true zeal like the fire in the sanctuary never goes out See Psal. 1. 2 3. Psal. 92. 13 14. 119 20. Hypocrisie lasts not like paint or varnish it will wash off Job 27. 10 Mat. 13. 20 21. 1 Joh. 2. 19. Dost thou practise Righteousnesse now Spiritually Sincerely Obedientially Universally Constantly IV. Finally Who practise Righteousnesse for right ends viz. Gods glory primarily 1 Cor 10. 31. Their own and others spirituall or eternall good secondarily Mat. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 4. 2 3 4. Rom. 2. 7. Low base ends spoile the highest undertakings as in Iehu 2 Kings 10. Pharisees Mat. 6. 2 5 16. K. Saul 1 Sam. 15. 30. VII True love of the Brethren may be a 7th Signe or Evidence of our Regeneration In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil whosoever doth not righteousuesse is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother 1 Joh. 3. 7. Again he saith Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God 1 Joh. 4. 7. And further he addeth We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the Brethren He that loveth not his Brother abideth in death 1 Joh. 3. 14. This Evieence of Brotherly love will be more judiciously and comfortably improved if we consider 1. The generall clearnesse of it 2. What Brethren are here intended 3. Some under-notes or discoveries of this Brotherly love I. The generall clearnesse of this Evidence Experience tels us that usually the weakest and most timerous Christians who can find small or no comfort in other Evidences of their gracious state yet can discerne some glimmerings here in their love of the brethren And this one discovery hath supported many because they evidently and experimentally feel in their own hearts that they cordially love the Brethren He that loves his brother said Augustine better knowes his love wherewith he loves then his brother whom he loves II. What Brethren are here intended Answ. There are 1. Brethren by Nation Act. 7. 23 25. Rom. 9. 3. 2. Brethren by nature descended of the same naturall parents or parent Mat. 1. 2. 3. Brethren by office 2 Pet. 3. 15. 2 Cor. 1. 1. Col. 1. 1. Philem. 1. 4. Brethren by grace and supernaturall Regeneration Philem. 16. Here understand Brethren in the last sense for Brethren by grace 1. Partly inasmuch as
good can depart from the Church Wind blowes not away the wheat nor doth the tempest subvert the well-rooted Tree vaine chaffe is blown away with the winde invalid trees are torne up with the whirlewinde These John the Apostle execrates and smites saying They went out of us c. Hence heresies have often been and are whilest a perverse minde hath not peace whilest a discording perfidiousnesse holds not Unity CHAP. IV. Evidences or Signes of being in Light not in Darknesse in Life not in Death I. ACtuall interest in and enjoyment of Iesus Christ is an Evidence we are partakers of supernaturall and eternall life This is the Record that God hath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Sonne He that hath the Sonne hath life and he that hath not the Sonne hath not life 1 John 5. 11 12. Life is the sweetnesse of enjoyments Eternall life the best of lives that creatures can possesse Of this eternall life here are laid down 1. The Primary Fountaine of it viz. God and his free grace 2. The Mediatory Receptacle or Treasury wherein God hath seated this eternall life for us viz His Son 3. The way of conveyance of this life from Christ to us viz. By having the Sonne They have Christ that believe in him Joh. 1. 12 13. They have him not that believe not in him So they that beleeve in Christ have Christ They that have Christ and actuall interest in him have eternall life from him yea and saving light in him For 1. Christ is light John 1. 4 9. light of the world John 8. 12. Christ also is light John 5. 26. and 11. 25. and 14. 6. The Prince of life Acts 3. 15. 2. Men in their naturall Christlesse condition are dark yea darknesse itselfe Acts 26. 18. Eph. 5. 8. yea dead in sinne Eph. 2. 1. Consequently from both these they that have the Sonne which is light and life must needs have light and life Now they have the Sonne that believe in him Signes of true believing in Christ see in Chap. II. Evidence II. p. 23 to 29. Evidences of having the Sonne that we may come more closely to the expression here in the Text. Having the Sonne implies 1. A true inward Covenant-right Claim or Title to him by spirituall union to him Covenant and promises tender Christ and that upon conditions Evangelicall Ioh. 3. 16. Luk. 9. 23. Faith receives Christ tendred upon his own termes Iohn 1. 12. As Saul converted for Christ denyed himselfe and all things Phil. 3. 7 8. Took up his Crosse daily 2 Cor. 11. 23 to the end and followed Christ 1 Cor. 11. 1. Now Christ being thus received Christ and the Soule are thus united Faith eates Christ and assimilates the beleever into his nature Faith unites to Christ so that he who is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 17. Hast thou such a Covenant-right to Christ and spirituall union to Christ 2. Hence an happy spirituall fruition or enjoyment of him by holy Commnnion with him in his Person Offices and Benefits in himselfe and all his As Cant. 2. 16. Iohn 20. 28. 2 Pet. 1. 3 4. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Rom. 8. 32. 1 Cor. 3. 20 21. Among other blessings communicated from Christ life is one Christ lives in us by faith Gal. 2. 20. Further they that have Christ have these things in and with Christ 1. They have the Spirit of Christ 1 John 4. 13. Rom. 8. 9. 2. They are become New Creatures old things are past away all things become new 2 Cor. 5. 17. 3. They have cencified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5. 24. 4. They walke not afâ—…r the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 1 2. 5. They are most obedient to Christ and his Commands Heb. 5. 9. How can he say that he hath Christ that he believes in Christ saith Cyprian that doth not what Christ commanded to be done or how shall he come to the reward of faith that keeps not the faith of the Command 3. Finally A sweet conformity to him in his Son-ship They that have the Son are consorme to the image of his Sonne that he may be the first-borne among many brethren Rom. 8. 29. Conformity to Christ is either 1. In his gracious image viz. in righteousnesse and true holinesse Eph. 4. 24. 2. In his glorious image viz. when we shall be like him in glory Phil. 3. 20. 1 John 3. 2 3. 3 In his afflicted image viz. when we suffer with him and for him Rom. 8. 17. Iohn 15. 18 to 22. and when we suffer for righteousnesse with Patience Meeknesse c. as he suffered 1 Pet. 2. 21. to the end Are we thus conforme indeed to the Son then we have the Son Jesus Christ and live by him II. Loving and not hating of our brother is another Sign we are in light not in darknesse in life not in death He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darknesse even until now He that loveth his brother abideth in the light and there is no occasion of stumbling in him but he that hateth his brother is in darknesse and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darknesse hath blinded his eyes 1 John 2 9 10 11. And elsewhere We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren He that loveth not his brother abideth in death Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer And you know that no murderer hath eternall life ahiding in him 1 John 3. 14 15. In these passages the love of the brethren is made a most cleare Note of out abiding in the lighe viz. spirituall or true illumination and grace and that we have already passed from death in sinne to life supernaturall in Christ We know that we have passed c. And contrariwise the not loving or hating our brother an evident Signe that we remain still under the state and dominion of carnall sinful darkness and death Make sure of true brotherly love you are in true light and life indeed Signes of true love of the brethren See Chap. 2. Signe VII p. 168 to p. 173. and Chap. 8. throughout CHAP. V. Evidences or Signes of our true knowledg of God and of Jesus Christ The knowledge of whom is life eternall John 17. 3. I. FIrst The reall and sincere keeping of Gods Commandements evidenceth that we know God and Jesus Christ aright Hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his Commandements He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandements is a liar and the truth is not in him 1 Ioh. 43 4. This note is laid down 1. Affirmatively and 2. Negatively He that keeps his Commandements knows him yea knows that be knows him He that keeps not hiâ—… Commandements knowes him not yea he lies if be saith he knows him David concluded He had more knowledge then his enemies then the Ancients then his Teachers and all
4. 21. Signes of true brotherly love See in Cap. II. p. 168 to 173. and Chap. 8. throughout CHAP. VI. Evidences or Signes of our true love to God and to Jesus Christ. I. FIrst Our true love to God flowes from Gods love to us Love breeds love as naturally as light breeds light and fire breeds fire We love him because he first loved us 1 John 4. 19. All equity saith Bernard dictates that the beloved should love the lover Had not God first loved us we should never have loved him being naturally God-haters Rom. 1. 30. and 8. 7. But when once God pleaseth to shed abroad his love in our hearts Rom. 5. 5. giving us some sense or taste of his love to us viz. of his Electing love Rom. 9. 13. Col. 3. 12 of his Redeeming love Gal. 2. 20. Rev. 1. 5. of his Regenerating love Tit. 3. 4 5 6. of his Adopting love 1 John 3. 1 2. c. How can we chuse but love him againe and love him much Luk. 7. 47. I desire to love thee said Bernard and love to desire thee O amiable Lord most worthy to be beloved And thus I runne to apprehend that wherein I am apprehended viz. That I may perfectly love thee at last who hast loved us first But how or wherein did God love us first he expresseth thus saying Whatsoover he did whatsoever he spake on earth to reproaches spittings buffetings Crosse and the grave was nothing but Gods language to us in his Son by his love provoking and stirring up our love Wouldest thou know now whether thou lovest God Search diligently whether God loves thee in Christ what application hath he made of his love to thee what true effect dost thou find of the special love of God or Christ upon thee Signes of Gods speciall love of Christs peculiar love actually applyed to us 1. Is this love of God shed abroad in thine heart by the holy Ghost that thou hast an inward cordiall experimentall taste of Gods love Rom. 5. 5. 2. Hath this love of God effectually regenerated and renewed thee by the Spirit Tit. 3. 4 5 6. 3. Hath this love of God adopted thee that thou art numbred among the Sonnes of God 1 Ioh. 3. 1 2. 4. Hath this love of God sanctifyed thee and made thee holy Col. 3. 12. 5. Hath this love of God brought thee to live the life of faith yea rather to have Christ living in thee Gal. 2. 20. 6. Doth this love of God and Christ sweetly overpower constraine and even compell thee to be chearefully serviceable to him in thy place and calling 2 Cor. 5. 13 14 15 16. II. Secondly The rejecting or casting out of base sinfull servile feare evidenceth our true love to God and Jesus Christ. There is no feare in love but perfect love casteth out feare because feare hath torment He that feareth is not made perfect in love 1 Joh. 4. 18 19. Quest. But what fear is it now which is thus inconsistent with love which love casts out Answ. Feare may be considered either 1. Objectively as it is the object feared so it denotes 1. God Psal. 76. 11. called the Feare of Isaac either because Isaac yielded feare to God or because God struck Isaac with feare when he would have blessed E sau Gen. 31. 42 53. 2. Gods Word The rule of feare Psal. 19. 9. True love casts out neither of these but keeps and cherisheth them in the soul. 2. Subjectively As feare is subjected in us Thus feare denotes 1. The naturall affection or Passion of feare Arising upon some apprehension of some evill as imminent and hardly to be avoided This feare is in it selfe neither morally good nor bad but as sanctified or mixed with diffidence c. Meer humane feare was in Christ yet without sinne Heb. 5. 7. Love casts not out this feare for that were to put off humane nature 2. Feare the sanctified affection whereby the Saints are afraid to offend God their heavenly Father for his mercy goodnesse c. through the love and reverence they beare to him for his eminency and to true piety Psal. 130. 4. and this feare springs from love 3. A sinfull servile slavish feare whereby we inordinately slavishly feare either God Rom. 8. 15. as the Samaritans for his Lyons 2 King 17. 25 32 33 34. or the creature Matth. 10. 28. This is the feare that love casts out Love hath boldnesse and confidence in it feare is full of diffidence and cowardlinesse Hath thy love to God cast out this base feare that 's love indeed Signes that Hagar is ejected that slavish feare is cast out 1. The Spirit of adoption Son-like Spirit removing base fear Rom. 8. 15. 2. The Spirit of supplication crying with filial boldness and confidence Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4 6. 3. The soules pacification by justifying faith This allayes tumultuous feares That diffusion of the love of God in the heart and quieting of conscience by faith are companions are twins in the same soul Rom. 5. 1 5. 4 True awfull religious feare of God swallowing up base fears of the Creature Mat. 10. 28. Isa. 8. 12 13. 5. Magnanimous courage and resolutions from love and zeale to Christ and his Cause against sharpest sufferings and persecutions Cant. 8. 6 7. Acts 20. 23 24 and 21. 13 Rev. 12. 11. Such hath beene the love of Saints and Martyrs to Christ that they have not feared to owne and confesse Christ in worst of times nor feared to go with Christ both into prisons and to death Who will flee persecution said Tertullian but he that feares who feares but he that doth not love And elsewhere He that feares to suffer cannot be his that suffered but he that feares not to suffer he is perfect in Gods love III. Thirdly Not loving the world nor the things that are in the world excessively inordinately discovers the love of God planted in our hearts Love not the world neither the things that are in the world If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him viz. neither Passively He is not beloved of the Father nor Actively He loves not the Father 1 Iohn 2. 15 16. For 1. God and the world are two such contrary Masters and each of them are so able to take up the whole man that they cannot be intensively loved both at once but the love of the one will prove the hatred of the other Matth. 6. 24. Iam. 4. 4. 2. God requires our whole love to himselfe Luke 10. 27. and he is so jealous a God that he can endure no corrivall with himself in our hearts and affections Excellently Bernard The Spirit of Christ hates the lover of the world flies from him whom he knowes to love any thing besides him He will be so loved as nothing should be loved besides him He will be perfectly loved that will be alone loved He will have
we shun all fellowship with works of darknesse in others Eph. 5. 11. 4. When we hate not the light as evil doers but love it and come unto it that it may be manifest our deeds are wrought in God â—…ohn 3. 20 21. VII Seventhly Walking as Christ our chief Captaine Heb. 2. 10 walked is a further discovery of our fellowship with God and Christ. He that saith he abideth in him ought himselfe also so to walke even as he walked 1 John 2. 6. To walke as Christ walked is to imitate Christ to follow Christ or as Oecumenius well expresseth it so to live and behave our selves in our life as Christ did To rectifie our life according to Christs course Christs actions were either 1. Acts of divine power as his miracles turning water into wine Iohn 2. 7 c. walking on the sea Mark 6. 48 â—…9 Raising the dead Iohn 12. 1. Matthew 11. 5. Luk. 7. 21 c. 2. Acts of divine Prerogative Matth. 21. 2 c. 3 Acts Mediatory as dying for his sheep Ioh. 10. 15. Giving of the Spirit Ioh. 20. 22. Acts 2. Appointing his own officers in the Church Eph. 4. 7 10 11. 4. Moral Acts appertaining to the common nature of sanctification as Mat. 11. 29. Eph. 5. 2 3 25. Or at least bottomed upon a moral consideration and ground as in Ioh. 13. 14 15. According to these moral acts of Christ we are to follow Christ to walk as Christ walked How did Christ walk that we may know whether we walk like him 1. Christ walked most purely holily inoffensively both before God and man Heb. 4. 15. and 7. 26. Isa. 53. 9. Many took offence at Christ Mat. 15. 12. Mark 6. 3. but Christ gave them no offence Thus should we walk 1 Cor. 10. 32 33. Act. 23. 1. and 24. 16. 1 Thes. 2 10 11 12. 2. Christ walked most humbly and meekly Mat. 11. 28. Phil. 2. 5 6 7. 3. Christ walked most selfe-denyingly Though he was rich yet became poore for our sakes 2 Cor. 8. 9. If it be possible let this cup passe from me yet not as I will but as thou wilt Mar. 14. 36. 4. Christ walked most zealously Joh. 2. 15 16 17. 5. Christ walked most obedientially to his heavenly Father Rom. 5. 19. Ioh. 4. 34. Heb. 5. 8 9. He became obedient to death even the death of the Crosse Phil. 2. 8. He was so obedient ut vitam perdidit ne obedientiam perderet that he lost his life that he might not lose his obedience Our Saviour said Bernard preferred this vertue of obedience before his life choosing rather to lay down his life then not to fulfil his obedience 6. Christ walked most profitably went about doing good Act. 10. 38. 7. Walked most lovingly tenderly and compassionately towards poore sinners to winne them and save them Luk. 4. 18 19 20 21. Mat. 12. 19 20. and 11. 28 29 30. Luk. 7. 37 to the end 8. Christ walked most spiritually and heavenly He lived on earth as if he had been still in heaven Extracted heavenly contemplations and spiritual lessons from all sorts of earthly objects and occasions presented before him Iohn 4 10 c. and ver 31 32. and 6. 26 27 c. and 15. 1 c. Dost thou thus walk as Christ walked then hast thou communion with God in Christ. VIII VIII Keeping his Word and Commandements discovers our communion with God Whoso keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected Hereby know we that we are in him 1 Joh. 2. 5. And this is his Commandment that we should beleeve on the Name of his Son Iesus Christ and love one another as he gave us Commandment And he that keepeth his Commandments dwelleth in him and he in him 1 Joh. 3. 23 24. Signes of true keeping his commandments See in Chap. 2. Signe 6. p. 162 to 168. and Ch. 6. Signe 4. p. 208 to 212. Signes of true believing in Jesus Christ See in Chap. 2. Signe 2. p. 23 to 29. Signes of the brethrens true love to one another See in chap. 2. Signe 7. p. 168 to 173. and chap. 8. throughout IX Lastly True brotherly love is a signe of our Communion with God For we love our brethren for God in them that begat them 1 Iohn 5. 1. we love God because he first loved us 1 Iohn 4. 19. And where there is mutual love betwixt God and us we have sweet communion with him If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us 1 John 4. 12. Evidences of the truth of our brotherly love to one another See in Chap. 2. Signe 7. p. 168 to 173. and chap. 8. throughout CHAP. VIII Finally Evidences or Signes of the unfeigned love of the Brethren viz. the true children of God begotten of him Compare 1 Iohn 4. 20 21. with 1 Iohn 5. 1 2. I. FIrst True spirituall knowing of God Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is borne of God and knoweth God He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love 1 John 4. 7 8. Evidences of true knowledge of God See in Chap. 5. throughout p. 193 c. II. Secondly Sincere loving of God Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is is begotten of him By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God 1 John 5. 1 2. Evidences of our true love to God See in Chap. 6. throughout p. 200 c. III. Thirdly Right keeping of Gods Commandements By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his Commandements For this is the love of God that we keep his Commandements and his Commandements are not grievous 1 John 5. 2 〈◊〉 Evidences of keeping Gods Commandments See in Chap. 2. Signe 6. p. 162 to p. 168. and Chap. 6. Signe 4. p. 208 to 212. IV. Fourthly Loving the Brethren peculiarly and especially in this notion or respect as they are begotten of God and as they are thereby the children of God Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him By this we know that we love the children of God 1 John 5. 1 2. See this further cleared p. 170 171. V. Finally When we love them not verbally and complementally but really and sincerely Opening tender bowels of Compassion to our brother in need yea if the cause require hazarding our dearest lives for the children of God Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren But whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his brother hath need and sâ—…utteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him My little children let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth And hereby we know that we are of
the truth and shall assure our hearts before him 1 John 3. 16 17 18 19. Formall verball complementall love to the brethren is vaine Iam. 2. 15 16. yea abominable hypocrisie Christ loved us really when he so loved us as to die for us and Christs real love to us instructs us to like reality in our love to one another Here are three real demonstrations of our true brotherly love mentioned 1. Communicating to the brethrens necessities 2. Laying down our lives for them 3. Approving our hearts sincerely to God in both In the first as Augustine notes we have the Inchoation In the second the Perfection In the third the Probation of our love to the brethren Examine now thine heart Doest thou with this reality love the brethren 1. Doest thou communicate to the Saints necessities they are in wants straits plunges prisons sicknesses dangers death thou hast this worlds good wherewith thou mightest relieve them are the bowels of thy compassion now shut against them or open to them If shut how dwels either the true love of God or of thy brother in thine heart what thou withholdest from or impartest to Christs members Christ takes as done to himselfe Matth. 25. 35. to the end If thou wilt not do any thing for thy brothers sake â—…et do it as Cyprian urgeth it for Christs sake give Christ earthly garments that thou mayest receive heavenly give Christ temporal meat and drink that with Abraham Isaac and Jacob thou mayest be admitted to the eternall banquet II. Art thou willing if need be to lay down thy life for thy brother He will hardly shed his blood for his brother that grudgeth to pâ—…rt with this worlds good for his brother This said Augustine is the Perfection of love and greater then this cannot be found Greater love then this hath no â—…an then that a man lay down his life for his friend said Christ Iohn 15. 13. Rom. 5. 7. and yet we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren 1 John 3. 16. Quest. But in what cases may we hazzard or lay down our lives for the brethren Resolut To comprehend all such cases is difficult Some seem obvious 1. A man may warrantably adventure his life if need require for a multitude of brethren a Church that they may be preserved from destruction or edified to salvation Exod. 32. 31 32. Rom. 9. 1 2 3. Phil. 2. 17 18. 2. A private Christian may adventure his life for preservation of Publâ—…ck Persons Church Officers Ministers of the Gospel of great and necessary use to the Church of God Thus Priscilla and Aquila for Pauls sake even laid down their necks viz. hazzarded their lives to the uttermost and thereby did great service to all the Churches of the Gentiles Rom. 16. 3 4. 3. One publick Officer may hazzard his life for another of more important concernment in the Church As Epaphroditus a Pastor of the Philippians for Paul an Apostle Phil. 2. 30. 4. One private Christian may hazzard his life for the Spiritual and eternal good of another as Augustine hath observed for defence of his innocency righteousness for encouragement and confirmation of his faith and graces c. This as Tertullian notes is not so much to hazzard life for the brethren for themselves as for the brethren for Christ. III. Finally Canst thou in all this love in giving to or dying for thy brethren approve thy heart sincerely unto God that thou doest or endurest thus for them from entire love to them and not from vaine glory or ostentation As Augustine cautions Possibly a man may give much yea give his body to death and yet want love 1 Cor. 13. but canst thou appeale to the heart-searching God and say Lord thou knowest I truly love thee and all thine for thee and therefore I do or endure this for thee or them Oh! if thus thou canst assure thy heart before him then hast thou confidence towards God 1 John 3. 18 19 20 21. An Alphabetical Table of the principall matters contained in this Book A ADamites Their errour about sinne in the Regenerate p. 34. Adoption An evidence of Gods love to us Five Signes of Adoption or Son-ship p. 7 8. Nine further Signes of adoption See Regeneration Anointing of the Spirit Eight Signes of the Spirits anointing teaching us all things p. 181 182 183. Apostaly See Fall There 's a fivefold Apostasy p. 97. The sin against the Holy Ghost is the worst Apostasy p. 97 98. and 〈◊〉 100 to 110. Apostate An hate 〈◊〉 of his own order p. 113. Assurance The Nature of it Tryall of it Way of attaining it and Inducements to it Sâ—…e Preface throughout Five motives or encouragements to it p. 3 4. Faith tends to full assurance p. 27 28. B Believing See Faith Blasphemy What it signifies properly p 79. why the impardonable sin is called blasphemy against the Holy Ghost p. 79 80. Blasphemous Temptations not the sin against the Holy Ghost Three Comforts against them p. 82 83 84. Bishop Bonners crueltie to the Martyrs p. 160. Bosome-sin Regenerate persons allow not themselves any bosome beloved sin as unregenerate do p. 52 53. Brotherly love See Love C Carpocratians Their errour about sin in the regenerate p. 34. Cathari Their errour about sin in the regenerate p. 33. Christ. Believing that Jesus is Christ See Faith Christ. Having Christ is a signe of spirituall life p. 188 c. Seven Signes that we have Christ or that Christ is ours p. 189 190 191. See Confession of Christ. Christ. Imitationâ—… Christ or walking as Christ walked a Signe of Communion with God p. 225. Christs actions of foure sorts p. 225. How Christ walked in eight particulars p. 226 227. Commandements â—…aving and keeping Christs Commandements p. 209. See Obediâ—…nce Committing of sinne See sin Commuâ—…on with God and Christ. Nine severall Evidences of it largely opened p. 214 to p. 228. 〈◊〉 of Christ. Confesting that Jesus is the Sonne of God is a Sign of our Communion wiâ—…h God p. 218 219. A twofold Confâ—…ssion p. 219. Foure Signes of true Confessing of Christ p. 219 to 221. D Darknesse twofold p. 214. See Light Dâ—…vil How he sinned from the beginning p. 29 30. How Christ destroyed the works of the Devil p. 30. Doctrine Right entertaining Apostolicall Doctrine a signe of true Knowledge p. 197. Seven Signes hereof p. 198 199. Doâ—…ng of sin what p. 46 47 48. See Sin Drawing How the Father drawes the soul to Christ in six particulars p. 25 26. E 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what it properly signifies p 106 107. Epistle What Iohn wrote the 1 Epistle of Iohn Scope of that Epâ—…stle to promote believers Assuranâ—…e p. 2 3. Eâ—…rour Regenerate persons overcome erroneous hereticall Spirits p. 127 c. How farre regenerate persons may be tainted with error in judgement how fâ—…r noâ—… and three differences betwixt the truly gracious and gracelesse in point of errors p. 129 to 139. F Faith
BELIEVERS Evidences FOR ETERNALL LIFE Collected Out of the First Epistle of JOHN which is Catholique Explained and confirmed By very many Subservient Signes or Under-Notes Grounded upon Scriptures and Illustrated by Testimonies both of Ancient Fathers and Modern Writers Whereby Persons truly Regenerate may divers wayes Discover their present State of Grace and Title unto glory By FRANCIS ROBERTS A. M. Pasâ—…or of the Church at Augustines LONDON The second Impression Brethren Give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith Prove your owne selves KNOW ye not your owne selves How that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reproâ—…ates 2 Cor. 13. 5. London Printed by T. R. and E. M. for George Calvert and are to be sold at his shop at the Sign of the Half-Moon in Pauls Church-yard neer the little North-door 1655. To the RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY Earle of KENT And to his Right Noble Consort Amabella Countess of Kenâ—… All Confluence of Blessings both for the life that now is and for that which is to come from the Father of Mercies and God of all Consolations Right Honourable OF all people in the world that 's the only happy people whose God is the LORD the Lord being that suprem good in whom alone are concentred all beatificall Perfections No people can enjoy the Lord as their God but by Covenant in Christ Iesus that only way unto the Father Covenant-Interest in Christ cannot actually be pleaded by any person but only such aâ—… are actually seized of a gracious Covenant-State thâ—… Grace of the Covenant iâ—… us being the surest Pledgâ—… of Gods entring into the Coâ—… venant of Grace with us Sâ—… that to be in a Graciouâ—… State is true happinesse Bâ—… to know our selves to be such a State is true happinesse double upon us Hereupon that I might lend some help to true believers for reading and discerning their own spirituall Evidences of their State of Grace I have been perswaded to publish this bundle of Beleevers Evidences for Eternall Life in the ensuing Treatise Whereunto I have been the more inclinable that my lines might be of use 1. To support the weak and comfort the feeble-minded who walk heavily and disconsolately in the paths of grace through want of Assurance That they hereby comming in some measure to know the things that are freely given to them of God may lift up the hands that hang downe and the feeble knees and run with enlarged hearts the way of Gods Commandements 2. To confute really the Enthusiasticall fancies the ignorant Anti-Scripturall opinions of some who cry up I know not what imaginary Raptures Revelations and other Dreames of their own as the only Characters of Election and Justification decrying as carnall all discoveries of beleevers spirituall estates by markes and Signes of Sanctification For this sweet Epistle of John the beloved Disciple is full of such markes as in this book is evident Christ hath taught us to judge of the tree by the fruits And Reason directs us to discover the Cause by the effect 3. To divert the distempered minds of men a little if it be possible from jejune empty perverse disputes vain janglings brain-sick notions and speculations the calamity of these crazy times to exercise themselves upon that wholesome necessary practicall businesse of making their calling and Election sure We have laid out farre too much for that which is not bread for that which satisfieth not 4. And finally to rouze up my selfe and all sorts of Christians in this Kingdom in these slippery days wherein both Lives Liberties Health Friends Wealth Pleasures Honours Crowns Scepters and all sublunaries are in such extremity of extraordinary uncertainties to lay hold and make sure of eternall life that in the midst of all terrestriall Concussions and Revolutions we may have a celestiall unshaken foundation of true spirituall Peace and Consolation Your Honours noble respects and undeserved favours heretofore manifested unto me have commanded me to Dedicate and Present unto you this small Testimoniall of my unfeigned gratitude And wherein can I be more truly serviceable to your Honours then in such sincere endeavours to promote your Assurance of eternall salvation Now the God of all Grace fill your hearts with all the fruits of his Spirit unto all riches of the full assurance of understandding and faith and hope in this life And at last crown you both with ineffable glory in the life to come in the full enjoyment of himselfe who is the Heaven of heaven and Glory of glory So prayeth Augustines London Octob. 9. 1648. Your Honours humble and faithfull servant in the Lord FRAN. ROBERTS The Evidences Methodized The chiefe Scope of his Book 〈◊〉 To Proâ—…te Believers Assuâ—…nce of â—…eir true â—…te of Grace To his end herein are â—…folded I. The Saints Assurance itself in Generall viz. the 1. Nature of it Preface Pag 14 15 â—…6 2. Tryall of it Pref. p. 16. to 22. 3. Way of Attaining it Pref. p. 22. to 26. 4. Inducements to it Pref. p. 26. to 30. II. The Evidences or Signs in Particular Leading to Assurance of Eternal Life These discover I. Gods Gratuitous Love to us in Jesus Christ How he loved us first pag. 10 11 12. 200. where 1. IV Signes of Gods love to us pag. 5. â—…o 21. 2. VI Signes of Gods love Applyed to us pag. 201 202. II Our Gracious state towards God according to his love in Christ. viz in our I. Enjoyment of the Spirit of Christ himselfe The immediate Author of all Grace where 7 Signes of the Spirit given unto us pag. 216 217. II. Enjoyment of the gracious effects of the Spirit viz. I. Regeneration or New-birth at our Conversion Here 1 How the Soule is brought to Christ by 7 steps pag. 25. to 28. 〈◊〉 How the Father drawes the Soule to Christ in six particulars pag. 25 26. 3. 〈◊〉 Signes of Regeneration pag. 21. to 180. II. Sanctification our Persons by 1. Mortifying of the Old man 1. In generall Sinne where 1. How Regenerate persons Sinne not like the unregenerate in eight distinctive Characters pag. 38. to 60. 2 How Regenerate persons may possibly Sin against Grace in five degrees pag. 89 90. 3 How the Regenerate Sinne not the Sinne against the Holy Ghost pag. 60. to 127. 2 In Particular 1. Errours How farre the Regenerate overcomes them pag. 127 to 139. 2. Love of the World 15. Signes of inordinate love of the world pag. 9 10. 207 208. Many Signes of overcoming the worlds Smiles and Frownes pag. 142 to 162. 3. Slavish Feare 5 Signes that it is cast out pag. 203 204 205. 4. Bosome-Sinne pag. 52 53. 2. Vivifying of the New man Some holy habits wherof are 1 Know ledge p. 70. 71. here coÌ„sider 1. VIII Signes of the Spirits Teaching us pag. 181 182 183. 2. IIII Signes
of true knowledge of God and Jesus Christ pag. 193 to 200 3. VII Signes of entertaining true Apostolicall Doctrine pag. 198 199. 4. How the Regenerate entertaine the Truth pag. 139 to 142 217 21â—… 2. Faiâ—… 7 Signes of true Faith p. 23 to 28. And 13 Signs of Faiths victory over the world p. 145 to 162. 3. Hop of glory 5 Signes of it p. 173 174 175. 4. Lov to God 12 Signes of it p. 13. to 21. And p. 2â—…0 to 21â—… 5 Signes of dwelling in Gods love p. 223. 5. Broâ—…erly love 3. Negative Signes p. 170. 15. Affirmatiâ—… Signes p. 170 to 173. And p. 228 to 233. III. Adoption or Son-shirto God 14. Signes of it p. 7 8. 21. to 180. IIII. Union to Christ. 7 Siâ—…nes that Christ is ours p. 188. to 192. V. Communion with God and Christ. IX Signes of it p. 214 to 228. III. Our real Gratitude to God who hath brought us into a gracioustate in our 1. Imitation of Christ. 8 Signes of walking as Christ walked p. 225 226 227. 2. Walking in light not in darknesse 4 Signes of it p. 224 225. 3. Confession of Christ sincerely 4 Signes of it p. 218 to 222. 4. Right Hearing of the Word 7 Signes of it p. 198 199. 5. Practizing of Righteousnesse sincerely 4 sorts of Signeâ—… hereof p. 164. to 168. 6. True keeping Gods Commandements 6. Signes of it p. 195 196 197. 7. Cheerfull obedience 8 Signes that Gods Commandements are not grievous to us p. 210 211 212 Place this before the Preface at p. 11. THE PREFACE Touching the SAINTS Assurance Succinctly unfolding 1. The Nature of it 2. The Tryall of it 3. The way of Attaining it 4. Inducements to it NO State on earth is so sweet and happy as the State of true grace bestowed upon Gods Elect Such were darknesse but are light were lost are found were dead are alive again had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy were not a people but now are the people of the living God They are New created according to the image of God They partake of the Divine Nature They live the life of God The Father disdains not to count them his Sonnes and Daughters The Son is not ashamed to call them Brethren and the Holy Ghost is pleased to make them his Holy Temples They are called effectually justified freely sanctified gracionsly and shall be glorified eternally They are servants of God and Christ to do his work not only servants but friends to know his secrets nor onely friends but Sonnes adopted into the houshold of God Nor only Sons but Heires of God to inherit his Kingdome nor only Heires but Co-heires with Christ to reigne together with him for evermore No good thing shall be withheld from them No condemnation shall befall them Nothing in the world shall separate them from the love of God in Iesus Christ. All things in the world shall work together for their good All the surest Promises are theirs All the richest Graces are theirs All the sweetest Comforts are theirs All the highest Priviledges are theirs All the noblest Hopes are theirs what shall I say Theirs is Christ and in Christ all things O Happy happy is that people that thus have the Lord to be their God! This sweet and blissefull State of Grace is rendred double sweet unto the faithfull when once they come to know themselves to be in such a State Assurance of our State of grace is grace doubled But in evill times such as are come upon us when we can promise our selves no certainty of any sublunary enjoyment pleasures being quickly drowned in bitternesse Riches taking to themselves wings Honours wheele suddenly turning upside down Crownes toppling off the Heads and Scepters dropping out of the hands of Princes The Pride of all glory being stained and the strongest foundations and pillars of Kingdomes being shaken friends liberties life and all we have exposed to much hazzard and jeopardy In such seasons when we can be sure of nothing on earth yet then to be sure of grace and glory is grace trebled and in some measure glorified To Advance this spirituall happinesse among the Israel of God in midst of our temporall miseries this small ensuing Treatise is published Spirituall certainties being the best antidote against Temporall uncertainties Though the Platforme of these Evidences be confined to the compasse of this sweet Epistle as Augustine stiles it of the sweetest Apostle yet the amplifications and demonstrations of the severall particulars in much variety are borrowed from other Scriptures and so farre extended that they do amount to a large Anatomie of the spirituall state of a Christian as may appeare in the foregoing Table wherein the Evidences are methodized Before the perusall of particulars be pleased to pause a little to take view of Assurance in the Generall and herein of 1. The nature of it 2. The tryall of it 3. The way of attaining and retaining of it And 4. The Inducements perswading to it I. Of the nature of Assurance Assurance or Certainty is twofold viz. The assurance or Certainty of the object believed That God is true and what he hath promised shall certainly and faithfully be performed This is not the Assurance we enquire after though certainty of the object be the ground and foundation whereupon certainty of the subject is primarily bottomed The Assurance or Certainty of the subject believing This is the Assurance we are to consider of This Assurance hath severall Denominations in Scripture viz. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Perswasion rendered Confidence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith hath its name from Perswading because thereby the heart is perswaded 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A perspicuous manifestation viz. when Christ manifests himselfe to the soul that loves him as not to the world 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Knowledge thus it s often stiled 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Boldnesse so it s usually translated importing an undaunted yet humble and dutifull looking God in the face c. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Full-assurance when Faith acts strongly without staggering through unbeliefe This is called sometimes Full assurance of understanding Sometimes Full assurance of Hope And sometimes Full assurance of Faith For Knowledge Faith and Hope do all contribute their influence to the making up of Full assurance Of this Assurance or certainty of the Subject there are certain kinds or rather degrees principally these three 1. A certainty of Adherence and Application when we certainly apply and adhere to the promise and to Christ therein peremptorily devolving and casting our selves upon him for salvation though perhaps without evident and sensible comforts This is receiving of Christ cleaving to the Lord with full purpose of heart if we must perish we will perish beleeving Though he
lost it and retained when they have goâ—… possession of it IV. Inducements unto Assurance I. Non-Assurance of Gods favour in Christ and of our true state of grace in him is a maâ—… nifold misery and prejudice to the dear childreâ—… of God For 1. This is a bad Signe 1. Sometimes of the defectïvenesse anâ—… weaknesse of grace in such that they are buâ—… babes not grown men in Christ because theiâ—… spirituall senses are not as yet exercised so faâ—… as to discerne the things of God in themâ—… selves and that they want very much oâ—… the Anointing of the Spirit to reveale untâ—… them the things of the Spirit Now Chriâ—… stians should strive to get out of their infaâ—… cy and imbecillity of grace not still remainâ—… ing children and babes in faith and knowâ—… ledge but labouring to become men in Christ growing up unto perfection 2. Sometimes of the strength and prevaiâ—… ing of corruption and temptation when Dâ—… vid had relapsed he lost the joy of Gods salvâ—… tion Great fals aftonish and amaze botâ—… corporall and spirituall senses And it mucâ—… concernes all Christians to wrastle againâ—… entangling temptations and recover theâ—… selves out of Relapses 3. Sometimes of spirituall desertions that the Lord hath in some measure forsaken the soule and withdrawn himselfe as in the case of David Heman Asaph and the Church her selfe Now spirituall desertions are such overwhelming afflictions to the soule that hath once truly tasted of the sweetnesse of Christs presence that the gracious heart is wholly restlesse till it be again re-embraced in the dearest armes of love and favour 2. This is one great cause of Christians dejectednesse and uncomfortablenesse that though they are in a state of grace yet they cannot discerne themselves to be in such a gracious State To be in the true State of grace is the happiest ground of comfort but till there be some apprehension and knowledge of that our State oft-times we have small sense of comfort As Hagar when her bottle of water was spent and her childe ready to die she sate down full of perplexity and yet there was a Well in the place the Well did not comfort her though close by her till the Lord opened her eyes to see it How pensive and sad were the two Disciples going towards Emmaus about Christs death though Christ risen from the dead was in their company and talked with them whilest their eyes were holden that they should not know him How did Mary Magdalene stand weeping by Christs Sepulchre supposing that his dead body was thence stollen away though Christ revived and risen stood close by her and why Christ was present but she did not know him So if we be close by the Well of grace if Christ be present with us yea in us if yet we know it not we are still in our discomforts our teares and sorrows are still flowing David was told by the Prophet The Lord hath put away thy sinne but because David had not the sense and apprehension hereof he wanted the joy of Gods salvation and groaned still under his broken bones a good while after II. God hath often charged his people to contend after the security and assurance of their Spirituall State Give diligence to make your calling and election sure Examine your selves whether you be in the faith c. Let us draw neere with a true heart in full assurance of faith We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end III. It is Possible that such as are in a state of grace may if the fault be not their own come to know and be assured they are in such a state For 1. Many Scriptures intimate this 2. The Nature of saving Knowledge Faith and Hope tend to this 3. Many Gracious persons have sometimes attained to this though at other times not without their doubtings and infirmities As Iob David Hezekiah Thomas Peter Paul the Church her selfe Finally Assurance of our gracious state is richly worth all earnest endeavours after it They that once attaine to it as hereafter is manifested finde a Jewell of great price and no stranger shall intermeddle with their joy The Summary Contents of the severall Chapters in this Book CHAP. I. Evidences of Gods love to us 1. CHrists being sent to die for us that we might live by him 1 Joh. 3. 16. and 4. 9 10. page 5. 2. Adoption 1 Ioh. 3. 1. p. 7. 3. Our not loving the world c. inordinately 1 Ioh 3. 15 16 17. p. 8. 4. Our true love to God 1 Ioh. 4. 19. p. 10. CHAP. II. Evidences of our Regeneration Adoption Sonship 1. That the world knoweth us not 1 Ioh. 3. 1. p. 21. 2. True believing that Jesus is the Christ 1 John 5. 1. p. 23. 3. Not committing or practising of sinne 1 Iohn 3. 8 9. p. 29. 4. Overcoming erroneous hereticall spirits and their seducements 1 Iohn 4 1 4. p. 127. 5. Overcoming the world by faith 1 Iohn 5. 4 5. p. 142. 6. Doing or practising of righteousnesse 1 Iohn 2. 29. and 3. 10. p. 162. 7. True love of the Brethren 1 Iohn 3. 10. and 4. 7. and 3. 14. p. 168. 8. Hope and assured apprehension in some measure that we shall be conforme â—…o God and Christ in his glorious appearing 2 Iohn 3. 2. p. 173. 9. In hope of glory purifying our selves as he is pure 1 Iohn 3 2 3. p. 173. CHAP. III. Evidences that we are of the truth and of the number of Gods people 1. Having an Unction from the Holy One teaching us all â—…hings 1 Iohn 2. 19 20 27. p. 180. 2. The Testimony of our heart touching our true love of the â—…rethren 1 Iohn 3. 18 19 20 21. p. 183. 3. Perseverance with the faithfull in Christ and in the truth 〈◊〉 Ioh. 2. 19. CHAP. IV. V. Evidences of being in light not in darknesse in life not in death 1 Actuall interest in and enjoyment of Jesus Christ 1 Iohn 〈◊〉 11 12. p. 188. 2. Loving and not hating of our brother 1 Ioh. 2. 9 10 11. and 〈◊〉 14 15. p. 191. CHAP. V. Evidences of our true knowledge of God and of Iesus Christ. 1. Real and sincere keeping of Gods Commandements 1 Iohn 〈◊〉 3 4. p. 193. 2. Not sinning 1 Ioh. 3. 6. p. 197. 3. A right entertaining and hearkening to the true Apostolical â—…octrine 1 Ioh. 4. 5 6. p. 197. 4. Brotherly love 1 Ioh. 4. 7 8. p. 199. CHAP. VI. Evidences of our true love to God and to Iesus Christ. 1. When our love to God flows from Gods love to us 1 Iohn 〈◊〉 19. p. 200. 2. Casting out of base servile fear 1 Iohn 4. 18 19. p. 202. 3. Not loving the world c. excessively 1 Ioh. 2. 15. 16. p. â—…05 4. Keeping Gods Commandements and that
the â—…ore I am athirst and cannot be satisfied with â—…t nor I nor any one perfectly loving Christ. This love the more it is eaten the more it augâ—…ents hunger the more it 's drunken the more â—…t incites thirst it so inebriates that minde wherein it dwells that it seeks or loves nothing â—…or possibly can love besides him who so loved â—…he world that he gave his only begotten Sonne â—…hat whosoever believes and loves him might â—…ot die but live with him And in a more speâ—…iall manner God the Son's love first prevented us in his giving himselfe for us When Christ stood by Lazarus his grave and wept for him the Jewes said Behold how he loved him Iohn 11. 35 36. much more may we say when Christ did more then weep for us when he bled for us when he dyed for us Behold and admire how he loved us Iohn 10. 11. and 15. 12 13. Rom. 5. 8. Eph. 5. 25. Gal. 2. 20. Rev. 1. 5. Can we possibly look upon this love of Christ and not be wholly overcome with it over-powered with it ravisht with it and irresistibly constrained with it tâ—… love Christ againe 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Let 〈◊〉 say with Bernard in his holy rapture oâ—… affections to Christ Behold how he loved uâ—… he chose to die for us lest we should be doomeâ—… to death eternall he rose from the dead that hâ—… might render us partakers of his resurrectiâ—…on he ascended into heaven that he might advance us into celestiall places and he sits at thâ—… right hand of the Father seating and crowning gladding and placing there such as he hath redeemed with his own blood such as he hath joyned to himselfe with the cement of love aâ—… the same right hand of the Father with himselfe Therefore let us love adore and affect thiâ—… Christ without measure beyond measure without bonds beyond limits daily continually with all the heart with all the mind witâ—… all our power with all our graces Thus we shall love him that first loved us Now then dost thou truly love God with all thy heart and soul or if that be too high and hard a question at least dost thou truly desire to love him and love to desire him Doubtlesse this is an evidence that God loves thee For nothing but his infinite â—…ame of love to thee kindles this spark of â—…ve in thee Quest. But by what signes may I know â—…at I truly love God and Iesus Christ or â—…t least truly desire to love him Answ. Thou mayest know that thou truâ—…y lovest him or desirest to love him if thou â—…ovest him or desirest to love him 1. Atractively 2. Intensively 3. Sincerely â—…4 Purely 5. Obedientially 6. Invincibly â—…7 Uncessantly 1. Attractively and unitingly when God â—…nd Jesus Christ are so indeared to the â—…eart that the soule restlessely groanes â—…nd pants after the enjoyment of them As in David As the Hinde panteth after â—…he water brooks so panteth my soule after â—…hee O God my soule thirsteth for God for the â—…iving God Psal. 42. 1. 2. As in Moses I beseech thee shew me thy glory Exod. 31 18. As in the Church Make haste my beloved and â—…e thou like to a Roe or to a young Hart upon the mountaines of Spices Cant. 8. 14. Christ saith Surely I come quickly The Church echoes Amen even so come Lord Iesus Rev. 22. 20. There is a principle of motion in bodies naturall as in earth that makes it descend to â—…its center in fire that makes it ascend to its proper resting place and if impediments interpose not they cannot rest till they be united to them thus that soule that truâ—… loves God hath an inward supernaturâ—… principle drawing it after God Nor can acquiesce or center it selfe any where but 〈◊〉 God the most amiable God having scatteâ—… ed some sparks of his love in our hearts aâ—… lures us after him as fire drawes fire oâ—… as the loadstone snatcheth the iron unto 〈◊〉 selfe by its attractive magnetick propertâ—… Doth Gods love and lovelinesse so snatcâ—… and steale away thine heart after God thâ—… thou longest to enjoy God to have union tâ—… him and Communion with him that 's truâ—… love love is a cementing soddering magnetick grace If thine be such then 1. Whaâ—… griefe hast thou in his absence 2. What de sire of his presence 3. What delight in his enjoyment A true uniting love discovers iâ—… selfe in all these 1. What griefe is the absence of God and Christ to thy soule Daviâ—… laments when God did hide his face Psaâ—… 22. 1 c. Psal. 13. 1 c. It was as a sword iâ—… his bones when the enemy said Where iâ—… thy God Psal. 42. 10. But God had ever broken his bones to shivers when he had taken the joy of his salvation from him Psal. 51. 8 12. And the Church is heart sick sick oâ—… love when Christ had but a little withdrawâ—… himselfe from her Cant. 5. 6 8. Where is thy paine thy sicknesse thy grief thy tears in Gods withdrawings Love is impatient oâ—… divorce or distance Thou lovest him but 〈◊〉 little if for his love thou dost not daily sigh â—…nd weep for his absence is wont to be a flood of â—…ears to the loving spouse when she seeks him â—…ut finds him not calls but he answers not noâ—…hing pleaseth her but weeping 2. What deâ—…ires and groanes hast thou after the presence of God and Iesus Christ My soule thirsteth for â—…ee my flesh longeth for thee My soule â—…olloweth hard after thee Psal. 63. 1 8. Here was Davids love I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may winne Christ Phil. 3. 8. Here was Pauls love Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth Cant. 1. 2. Draw me we shall run after â—…hee verse 4. Turne my beloved and be thou like a Roe or young Hart upon the mountaines of Bether Cant. 2. 17 Here is the Churches love But where is thy love where is thy desires of the enjoyment of God and Jesus Christ dost thou strive like the diseased woman to draw near to Christ that by a salutiferous touch of the hem of his garment thou may'st as it were steale spirituall soundnesse to thy miserable soule or like Thomas that man of desires desirest thou to see and touch Christ and not only so but to approach to the sacrâ—… wounds of his side that doore of the Ark which was made in the side that thou mayeâ—… thrust in not only thy finger or thy whole hand but that thy whole self also mayest enter inâ—… the very heart of Iesus into that holy of holies into that Arke of the Testament into the golden pot the soule of our humanity whereiâ—… is the Manna of the Divinity I mean dosâ—… thou long for most intimate enjoyment oâ—… and Communion with Jesus Christ both God and man this is love indeed 3. Finally what delight and contentment dost
habitually delights Now he that is truly born of God cannot sin habitually habitual sinning being so inconsisten with a regenerate condition For 1. Habituall sinning flowes from the inward * dominion of sin in the soule as habituall keeping Gods commandments from the inward dominion of grace They that are after the flesh do minde viz. habitually the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit Rom. 8. 5. Sinning habitually flowes from the reigne of sin the state of sin sinning out of frailty or infirmity frnm the reliques of indwelling sin of rebelling sinne Now sin though it do habitare dwell in the regenerate as Austin notes yet it doth not regnare reign over the regenerate See Rom. 6. 14. and 8. 2. 2. They that sin habitually they make sin their trade their common course and practice they are workers of iniquity Matth. 7. 23. Luk. 13. 27 an heart they have exercised with covetous practices here is their exercise 2 Pet. 2. 14. But regenerate persons are opposed to workers of iniquity being workers of righteousnesse doing the will of their Father which is in heaven Matth 7. 21. Herein they exercise themselves to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man Acts 24. 16. Their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their businesse their conversation is in heaven Phil. 3 20. 3. They that sin habitually sin easily readily smoothly c. without difficulty Habits facilitate any thing make it easie He that hath the habit of writing the habit of wrastling the habit of any manufacture c. can write wrestle work c. with ease it 's no trouble or difficulty to him So they that are habituated to sin sin easily they runne to all excesse 1 Pet. 4. 4. Their feet are swift to shed blood c. Rom. 3. 15. they run a full carear without stop like a ship under saile with a full winde Now the regenerate when they are overtaken with sin they do it aegrè sin is difficult grievous and hateful in their eyes what I hate that do I Rom. 7. 15. there 's much reluctancie renitencie and holy strugling of the regenerate part against it Gal. 5. 17. it goes against the haire against the streame with them therefore they sin not habitually 4. They that sin habitually they sin with pleasure and delight They have chosen their owne wayes imply habitualnesse and their soule delighteth in their abominations Isa. 66. 3. Scorners that implies the habit delight in scorning Prov. 1. 22. they are apt to take pleasure in doing that which they can do easily smoothly have small pleasure in that which is harsh and difficult yea they glory in sinne Phil. 4. 19. Now the regenerate delight not in sin take not pleasure in it c. but hate it Rom. 7. 15. Psal. 119. 104. abhorre it Psal. 119. 163. bewaile it and bitterly mourne for it Psal. 6. and 38. But they delight in God in his lawes in his wayes Psal. 37. 4. Cant. 2. 3. Psal. 119. 16 35. Rom. 7. 22. Psal. 40. 8. 5. They that sin habitually have contracted to themselves a kinde of cursed necessity of sinning that they cannot cease their sinning Sin is by custome become as another nature which cannot be laid asideâ—… They may assoone cease living or cease being as cease sinning Hence Peter describeâ—… the heretical seducers of which he prophesies 2 Pet. 2. 1 14. as having eyes full of adultery or Gr. full of the whore and that cannot cease from sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. which know not how to cease from sinning Bez. Restlesse to sinning who are intemperately carryed on to sinning with 〈◊〉 restlesse motion Calv. unceaseable 〈◊〉 sin Laurent i. e. quite unable to cease sinning Notably Solomon describes the way of the wicked They sleep not except they have done mischief and their sleep is taken away unlesse they cause some to fall Prov. 4. 14 16. as if mischiefe were more naturall to them then their necessary sleep Carnall men are so captivated by Satan 2 Tim. 2. 25. Eph. 2. 2 3. In such thraldome and bondage to iniquity Acts 8. 13. Rom. 6. 16 17. and this thraldome is so strengthened and aggravated by the deceits and graduall growthâ—… of sin 1. Suggestion winning consent 2. Consent procuring acts 3. Many acts breeding an habit 4. Habits growing unto custome And 5. Custome becomming an inevitable necessity that how can it be possible that carnall men should cease from sin Now no such cursed necessity of sinning lies upon them that are borne of God for they can cease to sinne the thief converted ceased to revile and blaspheme Christ and instead thereof justifies him confesses him prayes to him trusts in him Luke 23. 40 41 42. Saul converted ceased to make havock of the Church and to persecute Christ in his members and instead thereof builds up the Church by preaching Christ crucified Act. 9. 19 20. yea they can keep themselves by grace received from their iniquity to which they are most inclined or tempted or wherein they have been most ensnared Psal. 18. 22. yea they can combat with the flesh Câ—…l 5. 17. and do hate every false way Psal. 119. 104. VI. They that are borne of God do not sin nor can sin so as to allow approve or cherish themselves wittingly and knowingly in any one darling sin bosome sin or Beloved corruption predominating in the soule above all the rest God requires the deniall of all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts Tit. 2. 10 11. And they hate every false way Psalm 119. 104. This was to David an evidence of his integrity befoâ—…e God â—…was also upright bofore him and kept my selfe from mine iniquity Psalm 18. 22. viz. I kept my selfe from that sin which I might more specially call mine as being naturally more inclined to it or being occasionally by reason of my calling adversaries afflictions or temptations more sollicited seduced provoked to it as â—…aul with others often provoked him to revenge c. The regenerate have in them the root of all sin originall corruption and 1. may thence be inclined to one sin more then to another 2. may fall into invincible infirmities daily yea 3. may sometimes fall into grosse sins as Noah Lot David yea perhaps 1. may have divers relapses which yet is very sad and dangerous into the same offence as Peter thrice denied Christ. But notwithstanding all this they dare not â—…allow themselves in any one known sin though as dear as right hand or right eye But unregenerate men and hypocrites have still reserves in their seeming repentance Though they forgo many sins yet still they retaine some secret bosome beloved sin or other which they cannot endure to deny As the young man his inordinate love to the world Matth. 19. 22. The Pharisees their covetousnesse Luk. 16. 14. Matth. 23. 14. Herod his incestuous course with Herodias Mark 6. 17 18 19 20. One Devill or other still remaines uncast
humane apprehensions may go very farre these are the persons who of all other in the world are most in danger of falling into this unpardonable sin against the H. Ghost for such the Scripture describes them to be who are particularly declared to be liable to this sin Compare well these Scriptures together Matth. 12. 24 31 32. Marke 3. 28 29 30. Heb. 6. 4 to 7. Heb. 10. 26 to 31. Luke 12. 10 In all which places Hypocrites especially the formal Hypocrites who usually go furthest in their saint-like appearances seem to be evidently characterized and intended For Christ speaks plainly of the Pharisees which were in the Jewish Church but blasphemous Hypocrites And the Apostle Paul speaks of temporary professours which were in the Christian Church but Apostatical Hypocrites More particularly take the Holy Ghosts own Character of these persons which are in more neer capacity and hazard of sinning this great sin against the Holy Ghost as they are laid down in these Scriptures viz. 1. They are such as have attained to much knowledge of Christ of the Truth and of the way of righteousnesse These who were once enlightened Heb. 6. 4. i. e. enlightened with the knowledge of divine Truths and fundamental principles of Christian Religion immediately fore-recited Ver. 1 2. If we sinne wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the Truth Heb. 10 26. Which passages presuppose them that fall into this sinne of sins to be knowing men in mysteries of Christianity and notably illuminated for this sin is a sin against light great light There 's a threefold light or illumination of men 1. General and natural viz. the light of reason Thus the eternall Word the Sonne of God is the true light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world Joh. 1. 9. 2. Speciall and supernatural viz. That light of the Faith and Grace from the sanctifying Spirit which is part of the image of God in the regenerate Of which see Ioh. 17. 3. 1 Ioh. 2. 27. Col. 3. 10. 3. There 's a kind of middle illumination betwixt these more then meere natural but lesse then true supernatural illumination a common gift of the Spirit even to Hypocrites and temporary beleevers which have no true grace whereby men may be able even to Prophesy c. of this the Apostle speaks Though I have the gift of Prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and have not charity I am nothing 1 Cor. 13. 2. Iudas was thus enlightened and those Hypocrites Mat. 7. 22 23. Here we are to understand not the two first but this last illumination 2. They are such as by meanes of this knowledge have attained to much reformation in their lives and wayes They have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ 2 Pet. 2. 20. Here they were outwardly deformed in the sight of men not inwardly renewed in the sight of God sin was chained up and restrained not cast out and mortified as in Iudas who walked so unblameably as none of the Apostles could suspect him more then themselves to be the betrayer of Christ. This seemes to be that which our Saviour calls the uncleane spirits going out of a man Matth. 12 43. h. e. Seemingly though not really and in truth or in some degree but not throughly An allusion to the ejection of the Devill out of the Demoniack about which the Pharisees so blasphemed the Holy Ghost 3. They are such as have tasted of the heavenly gift Heb. 6. 4. By heavenly gift b Ambr. understands the remission of sins Oecumenius the remission of sinnes which is in Baptisme for this saith he is an heavenly gift Pareus Faith which is a gift bestowed from heaven upon them that are illuminated Calvin understands the things of Christ which are above nature and above the world And of all other Christ by way of peculiar emphasis is called the gift of God Joh. 4. 10. And may here principally be intended by the heavenly gift for he came down from heaven for us Ioh. 6. 38 50. Under which also Faith and remission of sins may be implyed and included Remission of sins and such like benefits being tasted in Christ and Faith being the Organ whereby we taste them And note it is not said have eaten or drunk but onely tasted i. e. have had some kind of relish or small sense by a temporary faith of the excellency of Christ and the things of Christ. 4. They are such as were made partakers of the Holy Ghost Heb. 6. 4. By Holy Ghost here Interpreters unanimously understand nor the speciall sanctifying graces of the Spirit But the common gifts of the Holy Ghost as comman illumination tongues temporary faith Faith of miracles c. Of which gifts the Apostle makes an enumeration 1 Cor. 12. 3 to 12. Iudas Simon Maguâ—… many hypocrites had such gifts in the Primitive times Matth. 7. 22 23. Act. 8. 13. In after-times and even in our dayes publick Church-Officers though hypocrites may have the gift of formal preaching expounding Scriptures and praying in publick Yea private professours may share in such gifts as to be able formally to pray to resolve doubts to comfort the feeble-mimded to strengthen and encourage the timerous to instruct the ignorant and by profitable discourse to edify many and all these by the common assistance of the Holy Ghost Otherwise how should the Apostates here described sinne against the Holy Ghost had they not in themselves some gifts and endowments of the Holy Ghost See Ambrose Occumonius Piscator Calvin Pareus thus interpreting 5. They are such as have tasted the good word of God Heb. 6. 5. i. e. The doctrine of the Gospel saith Ambros. the Doctrine of Christ saith Occumenius the Word of the Gospel stiled good i. e. pleasant saith Piscator the holy Scriptures saith Parcus all come much to one and Calvin thinks that the Gospel is here peculiarly intended that being the good the sweet Word testifying the sweetnesse of Gods love to poor sinnes when the Law biterly thunders out nothing but death and curses Now even hypocrites and cast awayes hearing the Gospel powerfully and sweetly preached the matchlesse love of God in Christ to sinners displayed the worth and excellency of Jesus Christ and his benefits unfolded oh how are they sometimes moved pleased and for present affected with some pangs and moods of joy Herod â—…rd Iohn Baptist gladly Mar 6. 20. The hearers resembled to the stony ground â—…ard the word and anon with joy received it Mat. 13. 20. Ezek. 33. 31 32 But all this is but an imperfect Taste 6. Finally they are such as have tasted also the powers of the world to come Heb. 6. 5. Most by world to come here understand the life to come in heaven and by the powers of the world to come the Resurrection of the Saints bodies their blessed separation from the Goates and sentence
his delight 2. His Son not his Sheep or Oxen or Servant but his Son 3. His begotten Son not an adopted Son 4. His only begotten Son nor one Son among many but his only Son by Sarah the Free-woman by whom he had no more 5. This the Son of the Promise in whom his seed should be called and all the Nations of the earth be blessed 6. This Son sacrificed intentionally though not actually as a Burnt-Offering 7. And all this by Abraham his own Father O glorious Faith that can make such a man as Abraham so part with as to sacrifice such a treasure as Isaac Canst thou thus part with thus conquer the world as Abraham Excellently to this purpose said George Carpenter of Emering Martyr in Bavaria My wife and my children are so dearly beloved unto me that they cannot be bought from me for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bavaria but for the love of my Lord God I will willingly forsake them 4. Finally By resting on God alone at the only Rock and foundation of our true joy and comfort both while the world is with us and when the world shall leave us 1. While the world is with us we conquer it by Faith if we fetch our comforts from an higher richer spring then the world viz. God David in midst of his Royall enjoyments said Whom have I in heaven but thee and in earth there 's none that I desire with thee mine heart and my strength faileth but thou art the strength of my heart and portion for ever Psal. 73. 25. And elsewhere Many say Who will shew us good But Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us Thou hast put more gladness in mine heart then in the time when their Corne and New-wine increased Ps. 4. 6 7. 2. When the world shall leave us yet our joy and comforts leave us not because our God forsakes us not Thus we overcome the world when though the world be down our hearts are up As Habbakuk Although the Fig-tree shall not blossome neither fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall faile and the Fields shall yield no meat The flock shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no herd in the Stalls Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation Hab. 3. 17 18. Thus Faith overcomes the worlds smiling and fawning II. True faith vigorously and victoriously acts against the frownes of the world The world frownes against the Regenerate in all its common tribulations or speciall persecutions either by hating reproaching spoiling imprisoning tormenting or murdering them Thus it frowned upon righteous Abel Gen. 4 8 9 10. Upon Isaac Gal. 4. 29 Upon Israel Exod. 1. c. 2. Upon Ioseph Psal. 105. 17 18. Upon Iob Job 1. Upon David Psal. 73. 14. Upon all the Prophets Acts 7. 52. Upon all the Apostles 1 Cor 4. 9. Upon all that will live godly in Christ Iesus 2 Tim. 3. 12. Yea upon Jesus Christ himself Isa. 53. Phil. 2. 7 8. Heb 12. 2 3. Yet Regenerate persons by Faith in Christ overcome the world in all its frownes and storme and this many wayes viz. 1. By encouraging them against base carnal feares Feares oft-times more annoy the Saints then feelings of distresses Faith steels the gracious heart against these servile feares and makes it exceeding magnanimous As in Moses Parents By faith Moses when he was borne was hid three moneths of his Parents because they saw he was a proper child and they not afraid of the Kings commandment Heb. 11. 23. In Moses himself By faith he viz. Moses forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the King far he endured as seeing him which is invisible Heb 11. 27. As also in those valiant Champions Who through faith subdued Kingdomes wrought righteousnesse obtained promises stopped the mouths of Lions quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword out of weaknesse were made strong waxed valiant in fight turned to flight the armies of the Aliens Heb. 11. 33 34. We are not only said Cyprian not afraid of the enemies of the truth but we provoke them 2. By enabling to undergo varieties of cruel trials and torments which without faith would be to flesh and blood most terrible and intolerable And others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonments they were stoned they were sawen asunder were tempted were slain with the sword they wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted tormented of whom the world was not worthy They wandred in deserts and in mountaines and in dens and caves of the earth these all having obtained a good report through faith Heb. 11. 36 to 40. Cyprian hath strange expressions of the Martyres victorious faith in his dayes The multitude present beheld with admiratinn the heavenly combate the combate of God the spiritual conflict the war of Christ his servants standing with a free voice incorrupt minde Divine strength armed not with secular weapons but with weapons of faith The tormonted stood stronger then the tormentors the beaten and but chered members overcame the hands that did beat and butcher them Cruel stripes oft repeated long continued could not overcome their impregnable Faith no not though their bowels were digged out and not so much the members as the wounds of the servants of God were tormented Their blood gushed out which even quenched the burning of persecution yea extinguished the flames and fire of hell with a glorious stream 3. By extenuating and asswaging the extremity of afflictions and persecutions Faith so sustaines and refreshes the inwards of the soul under distresses that they are rather seeming then real distresses shadowes rather then substances As it were poverty As it were imprisonment c. rather then poverty imprisonment indeed As in the Apostles We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despaire persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 2 Cor. 4. 8 9. And elsewhere more emphatically As unknown and yet well known as dying and behold we live as chastened and not killed as sorrowful yet alwayes rejoycing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things 2 Cor. 6. 9 10. Whereas contrariwise through unbelief men are as rich yet really poor as in liberty and yet in greatest bondage as rejoycing and yet in midst of mirth the heart is heavy c. Unbelief turns the rod into a serpent Faith turns the serpent into a rod. 4. By perswading the hearts of the faithful that it is their great priviledge honour and happinesse to suffer for Christ and Righteousnesse sake according to those intimations of Scripture To you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake Phill. 1. 29. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousnesse sake
no sharer in his love that hath no equall in the reward of love He will be so loved that all things also may be loved with him and yet he will so be loved that nothing be beloved besides him The Creature should be loved for the Creator that made it The Creator in the Creature for himselfe Wouldest thou know whether thou lovest God truly Search then whether thou lovest not the world inordinately Signes of inordinate love to the world and the things of the world I. Over-desiring the world and things of the world craving asking c. when we want them Prov. 30. 15. Matth. 6. 25 31. 1 Tim. 6. 9 10. This over-eagernesse of our hearts after them when we want them discovers it selfe in 1. Discontentednesse at our present condition Heb. 13. 5. 2. Enviousnesse at others prosperity and enjoyments as in Ahab 1 King 21. 4. David tempted to this Psal. 73. 3. 3. Excessive running out of the heart and mind about them Ezek. 33. 33. Luk. 12. 17 18 29. 4. A Resolvednesse or fixed will to be rich 1 Tim 6. 9. 5. Pursuing after worldly shadows more then after the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Matth. 6. 33. 6. Unconscionablenesse in getting the world by bribery extortion oppression theft fraud c. Amos 8 4. 1 Thes. 4. 6. II. Over-loving and dâ—…ting upon the world and things of the world whilest we have them setting our heart on them Psal. 62. 10. evidenced by 1. Over-highly esteeming them above their worth making gods of them Col. 3. 5. Eph. 5. 5. Phil. 3. 19. 2. Relying and trusting in them Prov. 18. 11. 1 Tim. 6. 17. 3. Boasting glorying in them Psal. 49. 6. Ier. 9. 23. 4. Applanding our selves as happy men by reason of them Luke 12. 19. Psal. 17. 14. 5. Sordid detaining not being willing to part with worldly things though upon most just occasions of piety charity or necessity as in Nabal 1 Sam. 25. 10 11 the rich glutton Luke 16. 19 c. Eccles. 6. 1 2. Such a man parts with his pence as if they were so many drops of blood from his heart III. Over-grieving and vexing when we lose the things of the world As Achitophel losing his honour in discontent hangs himself 2 Sam. 17. 23. IV. Fourthly Keeping of the Commandments of God and that chearfully notably discovers our true love to God and to Jesus Christ But whoso keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected 1 John 2. 5. And elsewhere This is the love of God that we keep his Commandements and his Commandements are not grievous 1 John 5. 3. To this purpose said Clement Romanus the Apostles Companion Phil. 4. 3. He that hath love in Christ will keep the Commands of Christ. And Bernard sweetly seconds him By this may be known the love of Christ if a man keep the Commands of Christ. He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Who hath them in memory and keeps them in life who hath them in doing and keeps them in persevering Or who hath them in words and keeps them in manners or who hath them in hearing and keeps them in doing he it is that loveth me For many have the Lords Commandments but keep them not many have them in their book but keep them not in their breast many have them in word keep them not in work many have them in memory keep them not in life c. truly these are not of the lovers of Christ. And no wonder For 1. Christ requires our keeping of his Commandements as the singular touch-stone of our love to him exhibition of work is the probation of love John 14. 15 21. Therefore if we keep not his Commandements he will accept no love from us 2. Love is obediential the nature of true love to God carries it spontaneously to the keeping of the Commands of God Rom. 13. 8 9. 3. Love is a lively chearfull Principle what love acts is acted without grievousnesse It delights in doing any thing for the object beloved and stands not upon difficulties Gen. 29. 20. Therefore true love to God thinks no duty too much for God none enough for God 4. True love can chearfully endure for Christ much more do for Christ Cant. 8. 6 7. Acts. 20. 23 24 and 21. 13. Search now dost thou keep his Word Or are his Commandements grievous to thee Signes of true keeping Gods Word and Commandements See Cap. V. Signe I. p. Signes that his Commandements are not grievous to us I. When we have a dear and precious account of Gods Word and Commandements esteeming them more then our necessary food Job 23. 12. sweetert hen honey and the honey-combe Psal. 19. 9. and 119. 103. beyond great spoile Psal. 119. 162. Thousands of gold and silver Psal. 119. 72. and all riches Psal. 119. 14. II. When our hearts and affections are strongly set upon them Oh how love I thy law Psal. 119. 97. I opened my mouth and panted for I longed for thy Commandments Psal. 119. 131. My soul breaketh for longing to thy judgements at all times Psal. 119. 20. Rom. 7. 22. Thy Law is in my heart I delight to do thy will Psal. 40. 8. III. When it cuts and wounds our spirits that others break Gods Lawes Psal. P19s 53 136 139. IV. When we observe and keep the Word and Commandements of God 1. Willingly will voluntarinesse I will sacrifice to thee Heb. Psal. 54. 6 Psal. 110. 3. 2. Simply not disputing the Command of God As Abraham Heb. 11. 8 17 18 19. 3. Chearfully with delight Psal. 40. 8. Rom. 7. 22. 4. Speedily Psal. 119. 32. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandements Psal 119. 60. 5. Constantly Psal. 119. 20. I inclined mine heart to performe thy statutes alway even unto the end Psal. 119. 112. Many begin few persevere They that thus behave themselves to Gods Word and Commandements count not his Commandements grievous but joyous V. Lastly Our true love to the Brethren the Children of God for the heavenly Fathers sake who begat them Evidenceth our true love to God Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 1 Joh. 5. 1. Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another No man hath seen God at any time If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us 1 John 4. 11 12. If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a liar For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen And this Commandement have we from him that he that loveth God love his brother also 1 John 4. 20 21. Who so hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother hath need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him 1 John 3. 17. In these passages are remarkable
Believing that Jesus is Christ is a Signe we are borne of God p. 23 c. Two acts of faith in believing that Jesus is Christ Assenting Applying p. 23 24 25. Seven characters of true faith in Christ laid down gradually p. 25 to 28. Foure reasons why they that thus believe in Christ are borne of God p. 28 29. Three acts of faith p. 27. Faith tends to full assurance p. 27 28. How faith overcomes the world See World Fall Regenerate fall not totally nor finally p. 53 54 c. Foure reasons why it is impossible they should finally fall p. 55 56. Familists Their errour about sinne in the regenerate p. 33. Feare many sorts of feare p. 303. what â—…are love casts out Five Signes that slavish feare is cast out p. 204 205. Fellowship with God c. See Communion Full assurance See Assurance G God See Love of God and Knowledge Grace Not every sinning against grace received is the sinne against the Holy Ghost p. 89. How even the people of God may possibly sinne against grace in five degrees p. 89 90. Grievous Eight Signes that Gods Commandements are not grievous to us p. 210 211 212. See Obedience H Habituall Five Signes of sinning habitually The Regenerate sin not habitually p. 46 to 52. Hearing Apostolical Doctrine Seven Signes of it p. 198. 199. Heresie See Errour Holy Ghost A case of conscience touching that Sinne against the Holy Ghost and whether they that are born of God may fall into it p. 60 c. What persons are in danger of sinning against the Holy Ghost not the truly Regenerate not Pagans out of the Church p. 61 to 69. But Hypocrites in the Church p. 69 c. Six Characters of those persons that are in danger of this sin p. 70 to 77. What the sinne against the Holy Ghost is for Names p. 78 to 81. For nature here variety of opinions p. 81 82. Negatively what it is not in seven observable particulars p. 82 to 92. Affirmatively what it is p. 92 93 c. It s described and the description in all the parts of it fully proved p. 95 to 117. Six Aggravations of the sin against the Holy Ghost p. 117 to 124. Twelve Differences betwixt the sinning of the Regenerate of them that sin against the Holy Ghost p. 124 to 127. Hope of Conformity to Christ in glory Five Signes of it p. 173 174 175. Hope of glory makes us purifie our selves See â—…urifie I Ignatius His strong desire to die for Christ p. 161 162. Illumination is threefold p. 70 71. Iohn what it signifies p. 1. which Iohn wrote Iohn's first Epistle p. 1 2. See Epistle Iulian the Apostate blasphemed Christ p. 114. his Education Persecution of Christians and fearfull end p. 116 117. K Keeping Gods Commandements See Obedience Know In what sense the world knowes not the children of God p. 21 22 23. To know implyes sometimes an act of the minde alone sometimes of minde and will p. 22. Knowledge Every sin against Knowledge is not the sin against the Holy Ghost p. 85 86. Foure Signes of true knowledge of God and Jesus Christ p. 193 to 200. Threefold knowledge of God p. 194. See Doctrine L Life In what cases we may lay downe our lives for the brethren p. 232 233. Light Walking in light not in darknesse a Signe of Communion with God p. 224. Signes of walking in light c. p. 224 225. Love Gods love Foure Signes of Gods love to us p. 5 to 21. Gods love to us acts three wayes especially p. 5 6. How great Gods love in giving Christ for us p. 6 7. How or wherein God hath loved us first p. 10. Gods loving us first a mighty motive to us to love God p. 10 11 12. God loved us first p. 200. Six Signes of the actuall applying of Gods love and Christs to us p. 201 202. Our love to God Seven eminent Signes of our true love to God p. 13 to 21. Five other Signes of true love to God and Jesus Christ p. 200 to 214. Love to God casts out servile feare p. 20â—… c. See Fear Is a Signe of Communion with God p. 221 222. Makes us Gods house p. 222. Five Signes of dwelling in Gods love p. 223. Love of God and world cannot dwell intensively at the same time in the same heart p. 9 205 206. See world Love of the brethren an evidence of Regeneration p. 168 169. Three Signes of not loving them p. 170. Seven Signes of true love to them p. 170 to 173. Eight more Signes p. 228 to 233. Testimony of our heart or conscience touching this love p. 183 to 185. Brotherly love a Signe of spirituall life p. 191 192. A Signe of true knowledge of God p. 199. A Signe of true love to God p. 213. These Bernards two wings p. 213. A Sign of Communion with God 228. Manichees their errour about sinne in the regenerate p. 33. Martyrs Their admirable courage in Cyprians time p. 152 153 155. Divers speeches of Martyrs glorying in their sufferings p. 160 161. Motions Not every sinning against gracious motions is the sin against the Holy Ghost p 87 88 89. N New-birth See Regeneration O Obedience is threefold p. 195. Sâ—…x Signes of true obedience to Gods Commandements p. 195 196 197. Keeping Gods Commandements cheerfully a Signe of our true love to God p. 208 209. and why p. 210. Eight Signes that his Commandements are not gâ—…evous to us p. 210 211 212. Keeping Gods Commandements a Signe of our Communion with God p. 227. Overcoming errour See Errour Overcoming the world See World P Pelagians Their errour about sin in the Regenerate p. 33 34. Practising of sinne p. 46 47 48. See sinne Practice of righteousnesse See Righteousnesse Presumption what it implies p. 43 44. Five Signes of Presumption or sinning presumptuously p. 43 to 46. Primitive truth See Truth Purifie Hope of glory puts Saints upon selfe purifying as God is pure How p. 175 176. Six Signes of true selfâ—…-purifying by hope of glory p. 177 178 179. R Recompence of reward How faith eying the recompence of reward overcoms all the troubles of the world in five singular acts p. 158 to 162. Regeneration Nine remarkable Signes of Regeneration most largely opened p. 21 to p. 180. Regenerate persons never fall into that sin against the Holy Ghost proved by three Reasons p. 62 to 67. Reign of sin two Signes of it p. 39 40. Relapses into sin dangerous yet not desperate p. 89 90. Righteousnesse Practising righteousnesse a Signe of Regeneration p. 162. Five grounds of it p. 163 164. Four sorts of signs of true practising Righteousnesse Matter Ground Manner End p. 164 to 168. S Seed What the seed remaining in the regenerate is p. 31 32. Separation from the trâ—…e Church of Christ and Communion of Gods people how dangerous p. 98 and 185 186 187. Sin against the Holy Ghost See Holy Ghost Sinne. He that commits sinne is of the devill p.
29 30. He that 's borne of God sinneth not and why p. 29 31 32. In what sense the Regenerate sinne not viz. Not that they are without sinne proved by five Arguments p. 33 to 38. But that They sin not as unâ—…egenerate men sin p. 38. where the difference betwixt the sinning of the regenerate and unregenerate is laid down in Eight remarkable particulars p. 38 to p. 60. viz. The regenerate sin 1. Not against Gospel-remedy p. 38 39. 2. Not as under the reigne of sinne where two Signes of sinne reigning p. 39 40. 3. Not with a full will p. 41 42. 4. Not Presumptuously where five Signes of sinning presumptuously p. 43 to 46. 5. Not habitually Five Signes of sinning habitually p. 46 to 52. 6. Not with allowance of any Bosome-sin p. 52 53. 7. Not totally and finally and why p. 53 to 57. 8. Not only as carnall men do nothing but sinne p. 57 to 60. Not practising of sinne a Signe of Communion with God p. 221. Sonship to God See Regeneration Spirit Eight Signes of the Spirits teaching us p. 183 184. The Spirit given us an evâ—…dence of our Communion with God and Christ p. 214. The Spirit evidences this Communion six wayes p. 215 216. Seven Signes of the Spirit given us p. 216 217. T Taste Hypocrites do but taste the heavenly gift p. 72 73. but taste the good Word of God p 74 75. but taste the powers of the world to come p. 75 76. Teaching of the spirit Eight Signes of the spirits teaching p. 182 183. Tread What to tread under foot the Sonne of God p. 114. Truth Not every errour against truth is the sinne against the Holy Ghost p. 86 87. Three differences betwixt the regenerate and carnall mens embracing truth p. 139 to 142. Three evidences that we are of the truth p. 180 to 188. True abiding in the primitive truth an evidence of our Communion with God p. 217. Four Signes of abiding in the truth p. 218. V Unregenerate Persons unregenerate can do nothing but sinne Reasons of it p. 57 to 60. W Walking as Christ walked See Christ. Walking in light See Light Wilfully what to sin wilfully p. 106 107. Wings Love to God and our Neighbour two wings whereby we fly to heaven p. 213. World knowes not Gods children See Know World Love of the world why inconsistent with the love of God p. 8 9 205 206. Three Signes of inordinate love of the world p. 9 10. Twelve more Signes hereof p. 207 208. World Overcoming the world by faith a Signe of Regeneration p. 142 to 144. How faith overcomes the smiles of the world which are more dangerous by four notable acts p. 145 to 151. How faith overcomes the frownes of the world by nine most excellent acts p. 151 to 162. 1 Tim. 1. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS a Ps. 144. 15. b Mat. 19. 16 17. c Gen. 17. 1 Mat. 5. 48. d Joh 14. 6. e Jer. 31. 3. 4. f 1 Thos 5. 14 g Ps. 22. 1. and Pâ—… 77. and Ps. 88. h 1 Cor. 2. 12. i Heb. 12. 12. k Ps. 119. 32. l In ipsa epistola satis dulci omnibus quibus sanum est palatum cordis ubi sapiat panis Dei satis memorabili in sancta Ecclesia Dei maxime charitas commendatur Aug. Praefat in 1. Epist. Ioan. m Joh. 13. 23. and 19. 26. and 20. 2. and 21. 7 20. n Mat. 7. 16 17 18. o 1 Tim. 6. 5. p 1 Tim. 1. 6. q 2 Pet. 1. 10. r Isa. 55. 2 s 1 Tim. 6. 12 19. t 1 Pet. 5. 10. u Gal. 5. 22 23. x Col. 2. 2. y Heb. 10. 22. z Heb. 6. 11 18 19. a Psal. 1. 2 c. 144. 15 b Eph. 5. 8. c Luk. 15. 32. d 1 Pet. 2. 10. e Eph. 4. 24 Col. 3. 10. f 2 Pet. 1. 4. g Eph 4. 18 h 2 Cor. 6. 18. i Heb. 2. 11 k 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. 2 Cor. 6. 6 l Rom. 8. 29 30. m John 12. 26. n John 15. 14 15 o 1 John 3. 1 2. Eph. 2. 19 p Rom. 8. 17. Gal. 4. 7 q Psal. 34. 9 10 r Rom. 8. 1 s Rom. 8. 35 c. t Rom. 8. 28 u 1 Tim. 4. 8. 2 â—…et 1. 3. 2 Cor. 1. 20 x 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Rom. 8. 32 y Psal. 144 15. z Prov. 24 13 a Pro. 23. 5 b Isa. 23. 9 c August Praef. in 1. Ep. Ioan. d Deut. 32 4 Joh. 17. 3 I. e Rom. 4 21. 2. Tim. 1. 12. 2 Cor. 1. 20. II. f Rom. 8. 38. g Eph. 3. 11 h Joh. 14. 21 22 23 i 1 John 3. 2 14 19 24. 1 Joh 5. 13 19. 2. 3 5. k Hâ—…b 4. 16 Eph. 312. l Rom. 4 19 20 21. m Col. 2. 2. n Heb. 6. 11. 18 19. o Heb. 10. 2â—… p Joâ—… 1. 12 q Act. 11. 23 r Job 13. 15 s 2 Cor. 5 17 t 1 Joh. 1. 7. u Rom. 8. 1 x 1 John 3. 14 y Menti nostrae fides nostra conspicua est Aug. Ep. 112. c. 3. Eamfidem tenet certissimâ scientiâ cla matque conscientia z Qui fidei suae sensum in corde habet hic scit Christum Jesum in se esse Ambros. in Ep. 2. ad Corinth cap. 13. ver 5. a Rom. 4. 17 18 19 20 b Hos. 8. 1 2 3 c Prov. 14. 16 d Lâ—…k 18. 11 12 e Rev. 3 17 f Rom. 8. 15 16. compared with Matth. 11. 28. Isa. 61. 1 2. g Eph. 〈◊〉 13. h 1 Cor. 2. 12 i Rom. 7. 9 Rev. 3. 17 k Hos. 12. 7 8 l Matth. 7. 22 23. Luke 18. 9 to 13 Mat. 19. 20. Phil. 3 m Heb. 6. 4 5 n Maâ—… 9. 2 5 6. Luk. 5. 20 23 o Luke 7. 47 48 p Luke 23. 42 43 q Joh. 1. 12 r Acts 15. 9. Rom. 5. 1. Gal. 5 6 s 2 Tim. 1. 12 t Rom. 8. 16. 1 Joh. 3. 19 20 21. 2 Cor. 1. 12. u Prov. 20 27. x 1 Cor. 2. 10 11 12. y 1 Joh. 3. 24. and 4. 13. 1 Cor. 2. 12 a Eph. 1. 13 b Eph. 1. 14 Rom. 8. 23 c Rom. 8. 16 d 1 Cor. 2. 9 10 11 12 14. e 1 John 2. 27. f 1 John 3. 2 3. g See page 175 to 179. h Deut. 29. 18 19. i 1 Pet. 2. 2 3. k Psal. 50. 16 17. l Cant. 2. 6 7 16 17 compared with Cant. 3. 1 to 6. and 5. 2 10 c. 6. 4. m Psa. 51. 8 12. n â—…osh 1. 15. o â—…osh 24. 15. p 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. q Ps. 118. 28. r Job 21. 14 15 s Job 19. 25 c. t 2 Cor. 1. 12 u Rom. 5. 1 2 3 4 5 x Eph. 2. 12 y 2 Cor. 13. 5 z 1 Thes. 5 a Eph. 4. 30 b 1 Cor. 2. 10 11 12 c. c Rom. 8. 16 Eph. 1. 13 14. with 1 Joh. 3. 24 and 4. 13. d Col. 2. 2 e Heb. 10. 22 f Heb. 6. 11 18 19 g Act. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 24. 16