all godlinesse and euen to bleare out the tongue at Religion and Christian piety so that as they are wicked in heart and lewd in life so be they also hardened and confirmed in both of them for by Seate he noteth the fellowship and society with the vngodly Psal 26.4 Their actions described Secondly concerning the action the first is to walke in the counsell of the wicked To walke is to liue and frame his life to affect and approue of the waies and counsels of wicked men neither will hee once listen or lend his eare to the peruerse and naughty counsell of vngodly men much lesse will hee bee brought to frame his life after their wicked waies The second action or proceeding of a sinner is Standing as the former is in heart to like loue and approue of the waies of the wicked this is to obey them and follow them into the same excesse of riot So that the meaning of the Prophet is that a godly man doth not like loue nor follow that kind of life or conuersation which wicked men do vse and such as be giuen to sinne according to that of the Apostle Rom. 12.2 Fashion not your selues like vnto the world but doth by all meanes possibly shunne and auoide it The third euill which the godly man doth most carefully auoide is in these words and hath not sit in the assembly of the scorners that is will not bee familliar and haue acquaintance with such as bee mockers of God and all good duties hee will not bee their companion nor keepe them company who do openly professe impiety who make a scoffe at all Religion scorne the word of God and contemne the Seruants of God These be the three euils which the godly man doth most carefully shun and auoide In the whole wee may obserue the wonderfull growth that sinne hath in the heart of a sinner it stands not at a stay but is euer growing and neuer suffers any wintertide of blasting but euer prospers It first beginneth in the heart of the sinner with a doubtfull walking wandring as it were vp and downe as being vncertaine what to do the next step that it maketh is from Walking to Standing which signifies a determination after the former vncertainety and where sinne is not stayed neither in the conception nor in the birth Iam. 1.15 When it is finished it brings forth death euer ending in hardnesse of heart obstinacy of minde and obduracy of both Oh that all wicked and vngodly men would lay this to heart that making once shipwrack of faith and a good conscience and wounding their soules by sinne this spirituall disease of sinne growes daily to bee more incurable and the more sin groweth to bee a head the more the Spirit of God is quenched in a man and the worke of grace is diminished It behoues vs all therefore to keepe a dilligent watch ouer our owne waies to cut off the occasisions of sinne and to stay the beginnings of iniquity for a fire new kindled may easily bee quenched when the Ship beginnes to leake it may easily bee stopped and at the first sinne and sathan may easily bee resisted and wee may with the lesse difficulty withstand the force of it whereas the more it is practised the more the heart is hardned and sinne growes stronger and the sinner himselfe weaker according to that of the Prophet Ier. 13.23 Can the Blackmore change his skinne or the Leopard his spots then may yee also do good which are accustomed to do euill And therefore to this end the Lord laboured with Cain to stoppe his sinne in the conception or at least in the birth when that hee saw that his countenance was cast downe and that he had conceiued some euill against his brother the Lord tels Cain If thou dost well shalt thou not bee rewarded if thou dost euill sinne lyeth at thy dore q. d. Cain Cain bee warned betimes ere it be too late there is a reward that will follow thy righteous dealing but if thou go on to kill thy righteous brother thou shalt find that thy condition will bee farre worse then now it is This is the wofull and miserable condition of those that runne from euill to worse as it were adding drunkennesse to thirst and may bee a warning to vs to take heed least at any time wee giue any entertainement to sin And so our last end bee worse then the first Mat. 8. In the second Verse the Prophet describes a godly man affirmatiuely shewing what he doth most carefully embrace and follow The godly mans description affirmatiuely As if hee should say Hee is a blessed man that abstaines from euill if so be withall hee delight to doe good so hee doe willingly yeeld himselfe to performe obedience to the will of God and conforme all his thoughts wordes and deeds to the will of God Now the good things which hee must do are contained in two words First His delight must bee in the Law of the Lord Secondly Hee must meditate therein day and night But his delight that is the godly man who is truely happy and blessed indeed doth wonderfully loue the Law that is the word of God and that heauenly doctrine wherein is reuealed the will of God whereunto all our thoughts words and workes must bee conformed and which maketh knowne vnto vs the way to eternall life and saluation Secondly In this Law hee meditates day and night That is the godly man doth set his heart and mind vpon the word and doctrine of God so as hee doth thinke often and much muse vpon it it is his daily meditation so as hee sets some time apart euery day to study it Both to learne out of it how God must bee purely worshipped his owne life ordered as also to learne thereby how to mainetaine and keepe faith and a good conscience before God and man And thus the godly man is described by both parts of his life his eschewing of euill and his carefull and religious performing of good duties Secondly as wee haue seene a godly man described so now followeth wherein the happinesse of this man consists This happy man is described two waies First by a similitude The happinesse of a godly mā wherin it consists Secondly by the prosperous and good successe of all hee doth The happinesse of the godly man is described by a similitude whereby a godly man is compared to a tree which tree is described First by the place namely that it is a tree planted not of it own growing By the waters side Euen by the fresh and springing riuers which is a resemblance of our ingrafting into Iesus Christ by faith and the Spirit of God so as wee receiue and draw iuice and nourishment from him continually Secondly it is described by an effect namely That it brings forth fruit in due season And this is a resemblance of our regeneration or of our obedience because the godly man being
punished with them as Lot in Sodome was taken prisoner and all his houshold and therefore as men doe shunne a house infected so let vs shunne such company as most dangerous pernitious and hurtfull And heere wee are to wonder at Vse 1 the palpable blindnesse of wicked men at their blockishnesse and senselesse security that though their estate bee as wee haue heard out of the word of God and testimonies of holy Scriptures so cursed miserable wretched and damnable yet they see it not they feare it not they beleeue it not they feare no danger they desire no remedy their mindes are so blinded through self-selfe-loue and so hardned in all kinde of sinne that nothing can moue them and do them good They bee like the Smiths dogge no strokes nor sparks can awake them Of all diseases they be most dangerous that be least felt as the Apoplexy dead Palsie Lethargie c. So when a man is sicke euen soule sick and sick vnto death and feeleth no paine his case must needes bee dangerous Many men complaine of the stone in the kidny and ride and runne night and day to find ease for it but few complaine of the stone in the hart men haue hard stony and flinty hearts And neither loue of heauen nor feare of hell neither mercy nor iudgement can moue them or make them to repent Well to conclude this point let men take their courses runne on in sinne walke in the counsell of the wicked stand in the way of sinners and sit in the seate of the scornefull Let them refuse the counsell and the company of Gods seruants and when they haue done all that they can they are but cursed caitifes and the time will come that they will curse the day that euer they were borne and say Woe worth the time they kept bad company Wised 5. Reue. 6.13 Oh what fooles and mad men were wee When they shall wish the heauens to fall vpon them and the rockes to crush them in peeces for feare of the anger of God And thus much for the generall description of a wicked man in these words The wicked are not so But as the Chaffe which the wind driueth away THe Prophet Dauid hauing shewed the difference betwixt the godly and the wicked by a generall Introduction It is not so commeth now to set out their estate by a Similitude and Comparison where hee compares the wicked to Chaffe And it is all one as if hee should say The wicked and vngodly man is not like a tree well planted and watered that beares good fruit and alwaies flourisheth but like vnto Chaffe which hath no root at al in the earth no iuice nor sap but wants all kinde of good fruit and greenenesse so as it is easily scattered and dispersed with euery blast of winde Euen so the wicked are not rooted nor grafted into Iesus Christ and are altogether voide and destitute of all fruite of good workes and of all sauing grace haue no iuice nor sap of goodnesse in them and in time of trouble and temptation they fall away yea euery blast of false doctrine euery storme of temptation triall or persecution yea the least blast of Gods anger driueth them hither and thither they know not which way to turne them So that in this Similitude or Comparison there are two things to bee considered of vs. First the matter whereunto the wicked are compared vnto Chaffe Secondly the condition of Chaffe which the winde driueth away In the former of these wee are to consider how the wicked resemble Chaffe naturally and accidentally Wicked compared to Chaffe How Naturally Chaffe is light and vnprofitable First it is light containing in it no solide and weighty matter but a very sleight and frothy substance 1 Light subiect to many alterations euen so the wicked are not solide in their purposes enterprises weighty in their carriage and courses but as Chaffe light easily tossed blowne away It may appeare vnto vs that the wicked are as Chaffe light because they bee light of their words Ecclesiastic 12.26 they haue not their mouth in their heart like a wise man but they haue their heart in their mouth like a foole Do they promise any thing their words are as wind as the Prouerb is Doe they vow any thing they keep their vowes like those that vowed Pauls death Do they sweare any thing they are but as belles and bubbles in the water broken in a moment of time So that the wicked in respect of their words vowes or othes may well be compared to Chaffe light Againe the wicked may well bee cōpared to chaffe light because they are light of their minds entertaining and excluding one while admitting another while reiecting infinite purposes and thoughts of heart Againe they are light of their bodies by cōmitting many fornications Yea let their vertues be compared with their vices it will then appeare That they are lighter then vanity it selfe Secondly as the wicked are like Chaffe light so are they vnprofitable and that two waies First in matters temporall concerning this life wherein though they haue ability as they haue for the most part yet they want wil to do good with the same Secondly in matters spirituall wherin though they haue a will which is a rare thing to bee found in the wicked yet they want ability Vnprofitable First the wicked are as chaffe vnprofitable in regard of matters temporall For who doth regard the afflictions of Ioseph For either their will is wholly bent vpon Couetousnesse or Prodigality This is an euill which the Preacher saw vnder the Sunne Eccl. 6.2 A man to whom God hath giuen riches and treasures and honours and he wanteth nothing for his Soule of all that he desireth but God giueth him no power to eate thereof but a strange man shall eate it vp Yea such is the case of many a man that where hee locks vp his riches from others with one locke hee lockes them vp from all power is of God Hee doth bring downe the mightie from their seate Yea hee hath all creatures at a becke and at a call to humble man yea and the least of all creatures when it is armed and sent of God is sufficient to destroy the wicked as Frogges Lice Flies and the like creatures did Pharaoh and the Egyptians Exod. 10. and as the Palmer-worm and the like kind of Caterpillers did the men of Iuda and Israell Ioel. 1.3.4 And therefore this must needes bee a terrour vnto the wicked who are no stronger then the chaffe to resist the wind of Gods iudgements This may teach them humllity and pull downe the haughtinesse of their hearts when they shal heare the irreuokeablenesse of their destruction Secondly seeing the destruction Vse 2 of the wicked are irreuokeable and that the iudgements of God come suddenly we are taught heere that it is our dutie to awake out of sinne and to bee watchfull ouer our owne soules
of the whole Sciptures it shall make this Doctrine so much the more apparant vnto vs that is That wheresoeuer there is a comfort laid downe in the Word the same comfort is still restrained to the godly As that of the holy Apostle Saint Paul in the eight chapter and first verse of his Epistle to the Romans There is no condemnation A maruellous comfort to heare that wee are freed from that heauy and grieuous curse which wee had incurred by reason of sin yet lest the wicked should presume hereby and take it vnto themselues vnto whom in no wise it doth belong The Apostle restraineth the comfort in the same Verse to them that are in Christ Iesus and lest men should deceiue themselues to take this comfort to themselues vnto whom it doth not belong hee marketh them out as it were in their fore-heads saying They are such as walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit The like of Dauid Lord who shall enter into thy holy Tabernacle Psalm 15. c. Hee that hath cleane hands and pure heart c. Besides none are blessed but such as bee in the fauour of God as the Prophet Dauid saith In thy fauour is life such as bee reconciled to God in Iesus Christ As for such as be out of his fauour they be cursed and miserable bee they what they will bee Now onely the godly man that is humbled that is sanctified that is borne anew is hee alone that is in the fauour of God therefore onely the godly man is blessed Obiect Wherein stands the blessednesse of Gods children of a godly and a righteous man Answ I answere in this that a godly man that is humbled for his sins is now reconciled to God so as God the Father becomes his Father Wherein the godly man is blest adopts him to be his Childe loues him and delights in him as his Childe Behold what loue the Father hath giuen vs that wee should bee called the Sonnes of God And hereupon come the amiable and loue-Titles that Christ giueth vnto his Church Cant. 5.2 Psal 105.12.13 Deut 7.6 Psa 91.1.2.3 Open vnto mee my Sister my Loue my Doue my vndefiled Great are the affections of feruent loue that parents beare towardes their Children which none can expresse but they that feele and yet all their loue is nothing in comparison of the loue of God towardes his children this the Prophet teacheth Can a woman forget her childe Esa 49.15 and not haue compassion on the Sonne of her wombe yet will not I forget thee Another part of the happinesse of a godly man doth consist in this that hee hath assurance of the pardon of his sinnes that they are all done away and shall neuer be layd to his charge but are washed away in the bloud of IESVS CHRIST according to that of the Prophet Dauid Psal 32.1 Actes 3.26 Blessed is hee whose wickednesse is forgiuen Hee hath all his sinnes originall and actuall Rom 8.1 1. Pet. 2.24 Rom. 4 5. 2. Cor. 19. with the guilt and punishment belonging vnto them freely and fully forgiuen vnto him And all the righteousnesse of CHRIST freely and fully imputed vnto him and so GOD is reconciled vnto him and approueth him as righteous in his sight And thus the Apostle reasoneth Rom. 8.33 Heerein was that loue of GOD made manifest amongst vs because GOD sent his onely begotten Son into the world that wee might liue through him Heerein is that loue not that wee loued GOD but that hee loued vs and sent his Sonne to be a reconciliation for our sinnes An other part of the happinesse of a godly man doth consist in this that hee hath peace of Conscience whereas the wicked and vngodlie man hath a dead and sleepie conscience or else an accusing conscience There is no peace to the wicked saith my God Esay 57. But the godly man that is reconciled to God in Christ Iesus hath the free pardon of al his sinnes hee hath sweete peace of conscience Rom. 4.17 which doth not accuse but excuse him to God yea hee hath exceeding ioy in the HOLIE GHOST that hee knoweth his sinnes are pardoned Pax est hereditas Christianorum Aug. Serm. de temp according to that of the Apostle The kingdome of God standeth not in meate and drinke but in righteousnesse peace and ioy in the HOLIE GHOST And indeed whom should hee feare Perfecta absolata uiusque exusatio testimonium conscientiae suae Bern. or whereof should hee be afraide God is become his Father the Angels are become his attendants they pitch their Tents round about them and haue a charge of them the Saints of Heauen and Earth are their fellow Brethren the Creatures of Almightie God are their friends yea their seruants to do them good al their daies The diuells nor all the powers of darkenesse shall not hurt them Psal 37.25 Psal 34.7 Psal 91.11 Hosea 2.18 Col. 2.15 For Christ hath spoiled Principalities and Powers and hath made a shew of them openly and hath triumphed ouer them vpon the Crosse yea that which is more the Lord Iesus Christ to whom all Iudgement is committed is become their Lord and Sauiour So that they shall neuer come into condemnation but shall passe from death vnto life Ioh. 5.24 Lastly the godly man is assured that the kingdome of Heauen and eternall life belongs vnto him And that hee shall be partaker of Eternall glorie life and saluation and shall liue in the presence of God the Father the Sonne and Holy Ghost for euermore Non arrogantia est sed fides c. Aug. Serm. 8. and this assurance in the godlie is no presumption but Faith for euery godly man hath in him the Spirit of Grace and Adoption and he that hath the Spirit of Adoption knowes that hee hath it and is able through the same Spirit to say Gala. 2.20 2. Cor. 13 5 I liue and Christ liueth in me This was in Iob when he said I know that my Redeemer liueth c. This was in Saint Paul Rom 8. I am perswaded that neyther heighth nor depth c. In these and the like Priuiledges stands the happie and blessed estate of Gods children Vse 1 The vse of this Doctrine is most excellent for seeing the priuiledges of Gods ehildren are so great and so excellent that therefore they must needes bee most happie and hlessed For howsoeuer the world accompt them miserable grinning at them with their teeth 1. Pet. 1.18 nodding at them with their heades hissing at them with their tongues and euery way most contumeliously reproaching them with their wordes yet wee see heere how deere and precious they are with God and in the reputation of Iesus Christ who bought them at a price and redeemed them euen with his owne bloud 1. Cor. 3.21 Beholde what loue the Father hath giuen to vs that wee should be called the Sonnes of God And
for this cause the world knoweth you not because it knoweth not him God is become their Father the Sonne their Redeemer and the Holy Ghost their Sanctifier the Angells their attendants the Scriptures their Euidences and the Sacraments Seales vnto the same This the Apostle teacheth whē he saith All things are yours and yee Christs and Christ Gods they are blessed then that are thus reconciled to God in Iesus Christ they are blessed that haue their sinnes pardoned and not imputed vnto them they are blessed that inioy this sweet peace of conscience and ioy in the Holie Ghost they are blessed that haue attained to this assurance that the kingdome of Heauen eternall life and saluation shall be their reward But the godly man is partaker of all these what then shall hinder his happinesse Three sorts of men confuted This serueth then to confute three sorts of men First the Voluptuous man who placeth his felicity and happinesse in delights pleasures 1 Voluptuous sports and pastimes hee loues and likes them aboue all other things and most eagerly doth hunt after them Luke 12. This appeared in that rich man in the Gospell who bad his soule eate drink and be merry as if there were nothing else to be looked after or as if mans chiefe felicity did consist in these things Rom 14 17 Eccles 2. And this was the case of Salomon in the dayes of his vanity vntill he saw that all was but vain Let vs then be careful that we be not deceiued with these sinfull pleasures of this life as to thinke therein wee are happy but let vs take heed vnto this hooke of Sathan least we bee taken within his snare It is written to the euerlasting commendation of Moses that he refused to bee called the son of Pharaohs daughter Heb. 11.24 and chose rather to suffer aduersity with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt for he had respect vnto the recompence of reward The second sort of men heere reproued are the ambitious 2 Ambitious that makes honor preferment his God as if mans chiefe felicity did consist in that this is their care and study how to climb vp to preferment like Absolom that sought to steale the hearts of his fathers subiects And Achitophel that was so proud that he could not indure a man in fauour but himselfe and therefore when he saw Hushaies counsell receiued and his reiected went and hanged himselfe Hest 2.3 So proud Haman was so vexed with Mordecay that hee could not bee quiet till hee had wrought his owne distruction and the reason of all is this prosperity puffeth vp and stealeth away the heart of man 1 Tim. 6 9. making a man both to forget God and himselfe and therefore prosperitie is a very dangerous slippery estate and howsoeuer it bee much desired and admired yet it is full of dangers and hedged in with many perils and howsoeuer many are drawne away from God through persecution and affliction yet prosperity is more dangerous for by it many more are drowned in sensualitie and euen lulled asleepe in carnall security 3 Couetous The third sort of men here reproued are the couetous Cormorants of the world such as make gold their God loue it and delight in it more then God as if their chiefest happinesse did consist in the multitude of their riches Coloss 3. whereas indeed godlinesse alone hath the promise of this life and that which is to come And of all other sinnes our Sauiour giues this caueat against this sinne Luk. 12.15 saying Take heede and beware of couetousnesse and this is that which the Prophet Dauid doth pray against when hee saith Ps 119.36 Incline my heart vnto thy testimonies and not vnto couetousnesse 1. Ioh. 2.15 Hereunto agreeth that exhortation of the Apostle Mat. 6.24 If anie man loue this world the loue of my Father is not in him So then whether wee consider that couetousnesse is the roote of all euill or that there is a flat opposition betweene God and the world wee must hold this as an euident truth that there is no blessednesse to be found in them This may seeme to reprooue that Vse 2 cursed yet common opinion of the world namely that of all men the godly man is most miserable We see heere that the LORD himselfe doth proclaime from Heauen that hee accompteth the godlie man a blessed and happy man but yet the world that is wicked men in the world iudge and deeme the godlie man wretched and miserable such a man as truely feareth God hates all iniquitie disliketh lewd companie makes conscience of good dueties as to pray in his Familie to instruct his seruants and children is diligent and carefull to frequent Sermons this man is as an Owle amongst Birds whooted at and poynted at men reproach him and of all men hee is most contemned But as Paul saith thus it must bee wee are brought vpon the stage we are made a gazing-stock to wicked men and accounted as dung for Christes sake Vse 3 This may serue to stoppe their mouthes that say and thinke it is in vain to serue the Lord that it is lost labour to be religious that there is no good got by hearing of Sermons and leading of a godly life It is and euer hath beene the cursed thought of mans heart to thinke so as in the time of the Prophet Malachie It is lost labour to serue the Lord Mal. 3.14 and what good comes there by seruing of GOD So in these dayes it is cleare men thinke it is in vaine to be religious to liue godly and in all things to labour to keepe faith and a good conscience before God and men But it is manifest heere that it is not in vaine to serue GOD Note nay it is that alone that brings a man to happinesse and true comfort here and an eternall measure of glory in the world to come and withall this may serue to comfort euery poore childe of God against al the discomforts discouragements of the world by satan his cursed instruments namely that whatsoeuer thy estate be neuer so poore in this world and subiect to neuer so many afflictions yet if thou be a godly man certainely then thou art Blessed Heb. 11.24 12.23 Thou that art in Gods fauour thou that art reconciled to God in Iesus Christ and hast thy sinnes pardoned eternall life belongs vnto thee and therfore feare not bee not any whit discouraged hold out vnto the end certaine it is thou art a Blessed Man and in so doing thou shalt haue a crown of life Hence wee learne that as many Vse 4 as desire to bee truely happy and blessed may heere behold the way to bee happy and blessed Wouldst thou bee truely happy and blessed heere in this life and heereafter in the life to
applying of the heauenly doctrine of the word of God And indeede this is heere set downe as a true fruit of our loue to the word as the loue of the word is made a true fruit of a godly man for as it is impossible a man should be truely religious and feare God yet haue no sound loue nor delight in the word of God so is it likewise impossible a man or woman should truly loue the word of God in their heart that seldome or neuer bestow any paines in the serious and earnest meditation of the same Dauid calls God to witnes that the loue he bare to the law of God was exceeding great when he said O how do I loue thy Law Psa 119.97 And in the same verse he seemes to proue the same to God it is my meditation continually which indeed is a note of true loue to be euer thinking of the thing beloued And in very deed the carefull and diligent study the often and earnest meditation of the word of God is the very life and strength of all our worship and seruice of God for if men should reade much and neuer meditate it would doe them no good if men should heare much often neuer meditate they should be little the better If men should pray much and often and neuer meditate they should finde small comfort If men come often to the Sacraments and doe not before and after meditate of the Couenant of grace they should not receiue much good thereby so that you see that Meditation is all in all it puts life to our reading hearing praying receiuing and without it al our reading hearing praying and receiuing will stand vs in small stead For without this Meditation this Lawe that is the word of God will eyther in time be forgotten whereby wee shall become vnmindefull of it or else it will prooue as a Talent hid in the ground vtterly vnfruitfull vnto vs for this Meditation indeed is the third steppe of a true conuert The first is to heare the word of God readily the second to remember it diligently and the third to Meditate on it seriously and this is compared to the Chewing of the Cud Deut. 14.6.7 which is neuer found in the vncleane but in the cleane beasts True it is that hearing and reading the Word will beget knowledge but Meditation is the speciall meanes to worke vpon the affection for else all our knowledge shall onely be in generall idle and swimming in the brayne which may well bee called braine-knowledge but no heart-knowledge but by serious Meditation wee doe applie that wee heare to our owne selues in particular laying the Doctrine to our owne hearts applying it to our selues to comfort our sad soules to humble them for our sinnes and to square our liues thereby that wee may in all things keepe a cleare conscience before God and man The Lord giues Ioshuah a straight charge to doe thus Let not the Booke of the Lawe depart out of thy mouth But meditate therein day and night That thou mayest obserue and doe according to all that is written therein for then shalt thou make thy way prosperous and thou shalt then haue good successe Ioshua 1.8 and Deuteron 6. vers 6.7.8 And thus the seruants of God haue been much exercised in meditation and thereby haue growne woonderfull not only in knowledge but in practise as we may see in Dauid Psa 119. who tooke great delight in Gods Lawe and made it his meditation continually And of Isaac it is reported that hee went out into the fieldes in the euening to meditate Genesis cha 24. This reprooues the common fault Vse 1 in the world that most men vtterly neglect this duety seldome or neuer settle themselues to meditate in the Lawe of God and his heauenly Doctrine It is hard to finde a man or woman that makes any conscience of this duetie to set themselues apart and set themselues in Gods presence to call to minde that they haue heard and learned to applie it to themselues in particular to humble them or to comfort them And this is the cause why most men hearing and reading so much as they haue yet profit so little in knowledge faith repentance and obedience They can be content to heare the word preached and taught and it may be now and then to reade a chapter but to thinke vpon it to ruminate vpon the word of God and as it were to chew the Cudde to call the same to minde againe to applie it to themselues to labour to profit by it this they cannot indure this they care not for For if men did carefully meditate of the things they heard and read how could they be so ignorant in Gods word as most be So voyde of knowledge faith repentance humilitie zeale patience and the like gifts and graces which accompany godlie and holie meditation For bookes of Statutes men wil not only haue them in their houses but at their fingers ends but Bible they haue none And if they haue it lieth vpon the deske or table and they reade it not And if sometimes they reade yet they neuer meditate thereon This may admonish all men as Vse 2 they loue their owne soules to make more care and conscience of the performance of this duetie to call to minde that wee doe heare or reade to thinke and muse vpon it to chew the Cudde to lay it to heart yea and to applie it to our owne soules and consciences in particular This is like the rumination or chewing of the Cudde to lay it to bee found onely in the cleane beasts whereas they which chewed not the Cudde Deuter. 14 6.7 were vncleane This is the marke and propertie of a godlie and Blessed man whereas the not doing it is the marke of a wicked vngodly man Let vs then remember that we make the word of God our Meditation continually Many men meditate much some in one thing and some in another as they are led by fond affection some thinke of honours some of pleasures some of riches some of one thing and some of another And of these they doate and dreame talke and speake continually But heere wee are taught another lesson namely that our mindes must especially be set vpon the word of God that must be our delight and the ioy of our heart 3. Point The last point in this Verse is the circumstance of Time namely not by fittes But the godly man keepes a continuall course in the study and meditation of the word of God so as hee setteth apart some time for the worship and seruice of God at least twice a day to meditate and study in Gods Booke Hence wee learne that euery one Doctr. 4. A godly man sets some time apart euery day for Gods seruice that will liue a godly life and so please God that he may find comfort to his owne soule and be blessed in the end must set some time apart euery day for
harbour there it guideth the affections loue hatred sorrow c. Such a man loues nothing more then God hates nothing more then sinne reioyceth in nothing more then in doing the will of God and sorrowes for nothing more their that hee should offend so good and gracious a God Againe it is the foundation of all our obedience For without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 And without it wee can neither pray heare or performe any duety that shall bee acceptable with God 2 Of repentance The second is the fruite of Repentance whereby a man is humbled for his sinnes past and is affraid of sinne in time to come This fruit of Repentance is of absolute necessity to saluation according to that of our Sauiour Except yee repent yee shall all perish Luk. 13.5 And onely godly sorrow must worke this true repentance in a man Godly sorrow causeth repentance in a man to saluation 2. Cor. 7.10 And therefore in the Scriptures are recorded the mournings of the godly in the daies of their humiliation Dauids Fainting Psal 6.6 Ezechias chattering like a Crane Esay 38.14 Iob abhorring himselfe in dust and ashes Peter weeping bitterly Math. 26.75 Mary Magdalene washing Christs feete with her Teares Luke 7.38 And Paul crying out O wretched man that I am Rom. 7.24 Wee must mourne with these heere Psal 126.5 if wee will reioyce with them heereafter And surely if there were neither heauen nor hell neither reward nor punishment yet the godly would sorrow for sinne for offending their good and gracious God and louing Father Besides this sorrow in a godly man for his sins past he is exceeding affraid of sin in time to come as Dauid was who prayed vnto God so earnestly that hee would Stablish him with his free Spirit Psalme fifty one and the tenth verse That seeing hee had such woefull experience of his owne weakenesse he prayes vnto the Lord that hee would giue him his preuenting grace that hee might neuer fall into the like sin againe So the godly Israelites in Ezra his time Ezr. 9.10.3 when they had with griefe of heart bewailed their sinnes vnto God they resolue to make a Couenant with God and solemnly to bind themselues to put away their strange wiues whereby they had so much dishonoured him And so it is with all the faithfull euen as a good child hauing by his vntowardnesse vexed his father is carefull afterwards to please him againe by all meanes possible Well then dost thou finde these fruits of true repentance in thee art thou grieued and euen payned at thy heart for thy wicked life for thy ignorance vnbeleefe hardnesse of heart thy neglect of prayer and calling on Gods Name Art thou grieued for want of reuerence in Gods worship for thy abusing Gods Name by swearing cursing and banning for contempt of his Word and Sacraments for prophaning of his Saboaths carelesse gouerning of thy Family for thy malice vnbeleefe vncleane proud and couetous thoughts drunkenesse vncleanesse and the like Againe dost thou finde in thee an earnest desire to walke with God in obedience to all his Commandements to liue in no knowne sinne but in all things to please God to the vtmost of thy power These be the fruites of righteousnesse whereby wee are knowne to bee of God The third is the fruite of New Obedience or of a godly life 3 Of Obedience both in the obedience of Gods Lawes in the first and second Table Christ makes this the eare-marke of his sheepe To heare his voyce and follow him Ioh. 10. And wee are willed by the Authour of the Epistle to the Hebrews to cast away euery thing that presseth downe Heb. 12.1 and the sinne that hangeth so fast on and to runne with patience to the race that is set before vs. This was godly Dauids resolution I will runne the way of thy Commandements Psa 119 32 and Dauid describing the true worshippers of God Psa 119.1 Psal 15.2 saith They goe on from strength to strength seruing God in truth of heart without hypocrisie And it is said here That the fruit of a godly man doth neuer fade And howsoeuer the worke of mortification is neuer perfected in this life but that the remnants and reliques of sinne will still remaine euen in the godly themselues yet they euer sinne with griefe of heart and CHRISTS death doth set such a worke-against all sinne that the regenerate man can truely say It is not I but sinne that dwelleth in mee So then if thou desirest to please God in all his Commandements at all times and in all places and to doe all duties of loue vnto men required in the Commandements of the second Table shewing thy fruites in doing good to the poore distressed Members of Iesus Christ feeding cloathing and comforting them in their need In thy generall calling to bring forth the fruit of godlinesse to bee much and often exercised in Prayer Hearing Reading Meditating c. As also in thy particular calling to do thy duety with faith and a good conscience without fraude guile deceipt c. These be the fruits that are required in all those that are the Members of Iesus Christ and ingrafted into his mysticall body This Doctrine doth flatly condemne Vse 1 all such as vnfruitfull and barren Trees as bring forth no fruit of a godly righteous and religious life such as liue in continuall ignorance blindnesse hardnesse of heart in contempt of the Word prophanation of the Sabaoth our ciuill honest men which are so much admired if they bee not good Christians who should And if they bee not saued I know not who should goe to heauen Well euery good Tree brings forth good fruite Math. 7.17 Where bee your good fruites No fruit of faith no fruit of repentance nor new obedience but in stead thereof the fruites of infidelity hardnesse of heart and disobedience Alas that poore soules should thus goe blinde-folde to hell to thinke that such should be saued what then should become of hell As though a man might be a true member of Iesus Christ and ingrafted into his mysticall body and yet bee barren of good fruite No no it cannot bee for there is such a liuely power in this stocke of life Christ Iesus That they who are once ingrafted into him bring forth fruite incontinent As wee may see in the Theefe vpon the Crosse Luke 9. what fruite hee bare in an instant of time confessing first his owne sinnes secondly reprouing the sinnes of his companion Thirdly cleering Christ to be innocent Lastly praying that Christ would remember him when hee came into his kingdome And this wee may see in Zacheus Lydia c. Math. 22. Actes 16. Who were no sooner conuerted but brought forth fruit incontinently And yet wee see how many dry fruitlesse and barren trees deceiue the world as the figge-tree Christ Oh hee is a very honest man keepes a good house Math. 3.10 doth
reproue the cursed practise of vngodly men Vse it is wonderfull to see how bold they bee to abuse Gods Seruants to mocke them and to disgrace them to slander and reuile them they thinke them the worst men that liue in the world they traduce them and bring them on the Stage they loade them with vile and odious names Now what doe they else then set themselues against God himselfe seeing they hate them whom God loues And as this may serue for the terrour of the wicked so it serues to comfort euery poore child of God What though the world hate thee so God loue thee Oh remember that the Lord loues and allowes of thee Now then if God approue of thee what though all men in the world did refuse or condemne thee If the King should grace a man and honour him what would this man care for the contempt of a Scullion boy Well let this be a comfort and encouragement vnto vs that God knowes and allowes of vs For what were the fauour and approbation of men if this were wanting Obiect How a mā may know whether Christ approue of him But how shall a man know whether God knoweth him thus with his speciall knowledge or not I answere First if God know any man for his by his speciall and effectuall knowledge Answere then hee begets in him the knowledge of himselfe As the light of the Sunne falling on our eye by whose light wee behold the Sunne againe Ioh. 10. I know my Sheep saith Christ and they know mee Secondly if God thus know any man with his especiall and effectuall knowledge of his so as hee loues and likes of him it begets the loue of God in a mans heart So as God loues him hee is inflamed to loue God againe 1. Ioh. 4.9 and in loue vnto him is loath to offend him and most carefull to please him And therefore if wee would know whether wee be thus knowne of God let vs labour to finde our hearts thus enflamed with the loue of him Thirdly whom GOD knoweth thus he chuseth to bee his Childe in CHRIST IESVS delights to blesse him Now then this workes in the heart of a godly man another work namely to choose God to bee his God to set his heart on him to delight in him to adore him as his God to loue him feare him obey and cal vpon him and to trust in him as his God Thus you see how a man may know whether God know him with this special and effectual knowledge which is proper to the Elect alone namely by these fruites and effects in our hearts For as we see though euery man cannot come to see the Kings Broad Seale yet can discerne the picture of it in wax and say This is the Kings Broad Seale So though men cannot ascend to Heauen to know the secret counsell of God yet by these fruites and effectes of his knowledge men may know his will whether they be his or not Well to conclude seeing the Lord thus knowes and acknowledgeth yea loues and likes of the life of a godly and righteous man let vs bee encouraged to goe through-stitch and to resolue of this neuer to be daunted or discouraged with the hard measure of vngodly men All our care should bee to please God and to bee approued of him and therefore so long as hee doth approue of vs let vs not care what man can doe against vs. But the way of the wicked shall perish Doct. 2 The Lord hates a wicked man and al he doth Esay 1.11 HEere we learne that the whole life of a wicked man and whatsoeuer he doth is abhominable the Lord hates him and all he doth What haue I to doe with the multitude of your Sacrifices saith the Lord. And againe Esay 66.3 The Sacrifices of the wicked are abhominable vnto the Lord. Now if the best actions of a wicked man his Hearing Reading praying Ier. 7.8 Prou. 15.8 and Receiuing be abhominable to the Lord how much more their swearing cursing banning prophaning the Sabboth drunkennesse vncleannesse lying stealing c. Againe without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Now no wicked man can haue true faith because Faith purifies the heart Acts 15.9 and is neuer seuered from true repentance and amendment of life And therfore the way of the wicked seeme it neuer so goodly and glorious in the world all their studies and endeuours shall perish and come to destruction in the end Pro. 20.17 Iob. 20.29 This is the portion of the wicked man and the heritage that he shall haue from God for his workes This shewes the state of most men to bee miserable and vnhappy Vse For onely those bee blessed whose liues do please God Now alas what delight can God haue in the filthy liues of most men whose whole delight and study is in sin and wickednesse in all kinde of lewdnesse and prophannesse haue no care to please God but euen obstinately rebell against him surely the Lord hates them and all they do O wofull condition of such sinful men that betake themselues thus vnto the way of sinne Not as though they walk therein but for a time but as such as purpose to tread therein for euer From this wofull estate the Lord deliuer vs for his Christs sake Amen A Prayer for the Morning O LORD and our good GOD wee thy poore vnworthy seruants according to our bounden duetie are heere assembled together in thy Name O LORD it is thy owne Commandement that wee should call vpon thee in all our necessities and it is likewise thy promise that thou wilt heare vs in assurance whereof wee are bold now to come vnto thee acknowledging first of all that wee are altogether vnworthy of our selues as of our selues to request for any fauour or mercie at thy hands for from our cradles vnto this present there hath beene in vs nothing else but Apostasie and rebellion yea Lord we haue so added sinne vnto sinne as if there were no other end why wee were sent into the world but to prouoke thee to wrath and to heap vp a great measure of iniquitie against our own soules against the day of wrath Our sinnes of omission our sinnes of commission ô Lord they are many and great and if thou shouldest call vs to a reckoning euen for the least of them we are not able to answere thy Maiesty for one of a thousand yea Lord wee confesse that it is thy mercie that endureth for euer and that hath beene the cause that wee haue not long agoe tasted of thy iudgements O Lord be thou mercifull vnto vs still for thy Names sake separate our sinnes as farre from thy presence as the East is from the West Bury them in the graue of thy Sonne Christ that they may neuer rise vp againe in this world to accuse vs or in the world to come to condemne vs. Teach vs to consider good much lesse to
performe it open therefore the eyes of our minds that we may see what is good put thy good Spirit within vs giue vs fleshly hearts and pliable affections draw our minds from the loue of this present world teach vs to vse it as if we vsed it not that we haue heere no continuing Citie but to seeke one to come that so wee may seeke for that kingdome that cannot bee shaken but eternall in the heauens Lord teach vs to do thy wil knit our hearts vnto thee that we may feare thy name ô Lord heare ô Lord forgiue ô Lord consider the complaint that we make vnto thee and giue a gracious answere vnto our prayers for the Lords sake And now ô Lord we thanke thee euen from the bottome of our hearts for thy inestimable blessings wherwith in Christ Iesus thou hast blessed vs for our Election before the foundation of the world for our Vocation Iustification Sanctification and Preseruation and for that thou hast put in vs a hope of Glorification in the life to come We thank thee more especially for that thou hast defended vs this night past from all perils dangers and hast safely brought vs to the beginning of this day Now Lord wee humbly pray thee keepe vs and all that belong vnto vs this day from al euill that may hurt vs set thy feare before our eyes and let thy spirit so rule our hearts that we may not sin against thee As for outward things we submit our selues to thy wise and fatherly prouidence only we beseech thee to giue vs this day whatsoeuer thou knowest needfull behouefull vnto vs let vs not want those things without which we cannot serue thee blesse vs in our going out and our comming in and grant that whatsoeuer we shall thinke speake or doe may tend to thy glory the good of our brethren and the comfort of our owne consciences when wee shall come to make before thee our last accounts Blesse thy whole Church O Lord and build it vp more and more in perfect beautie disappoynt the hope of the Papists let them perish as many as haue euil wil at Syon comfort them that mourne especially such as mourn for sin fulfil the desires of all that truly long sigh after thee Blesse this good land in which we liue make thy glorious Gospell to shine more more vntil it be perfect day Lord send it where it is not and blesse it where it is that Babylon may fall and neuer rise vp again and to this end strenthen the hand of thine annoynted seruant and our dread Soueraigne Iames Lord make him to see and know euery day more and more what belongs vnto thy glory what belongs vnto his owne peace and safety and Lord giue him a heart that he may duly practise the same Blesse likewise our gracious Queene Anne Prince Charles and rhe Count Palatine of Rhine with the Lady Elizabeth his wife Assist with thy spirit and grace all that are in authority sanctifie all those whom thou employest in the Ministery Be mercifull vnto all that wee are bound in duty to pray for as if we had named them in particular vnto thee Hasten the comming of Iesus Christ make vs euer mindfull of our last end and of the reckoning that one day we are to make vnto thee And in the meane time Lord make vs carefull to follow Christ in the Regeneration during this life as that with Christ one day we may haue our portion in the resurrection of the Iust when this mortall life is ended These graces and all other blessings which thou knowest to bee needfull for vs O Lord we humbly begge and craue at thy hand in the name and for the sake alone of Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne and in that forme of prayer which hee himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. A Prayer for the Euening O Lord God by whose gracious prouidence the night succeedeth the day and the day the night wee acknowledge thy wonderfull power therin forasmuch as day vnto day vttereth thy goodnes and night vnto night teacheth knowledge O Lord amongst other thy mercies with which thou doest euen follow vs most rebellious wretches wee must needs acknowledge that this is not the least that we haue this libertie to come into thy presence O Lord wee come not now to excuse our selues but to accuse our selues yea and to acknowledge that we are worthy of all those iudgements which thy iustice might most iustly inflict vpon vs our sinnes they make vs seeme vile in our eyes how much more loathsome in thy sight O Lord we must needs confesse that we are so farre vnworthy to bee called thy sonnes as that we are not worthy to bee reckoned amongst thy seruants yea were it not that thou wert a God of mercy and that thy mercy were ouer all thy workes and doth extend it selfe euen to poore sinners we should vtterly be discouraged in comming vnto thee considering that our whole life hath been but a life of sinne and that we haue drunke downe iniquity as it were water euer powring in but neuer powring out our filthinesse O Lord teach vs to value this mercy of thine aright that thou hast spared vs so long and giuen vs so large a time of repentance that thou hast not preuented vs with death in the time of our ignorance hardnesse of heart as many haue beene before vs O Lord it is thy mercy not our worthinesse Thus hast thou shewed thy selfe to be a God of mercy one that delighteth in the prosperity of thy seruants Now Lord we humbly entreat thee that thou wouldst pardon and forgiue vs all our sins and offences bathe them in the bloud of thy Sonne naile them to his Crosse bind them in a bundle and throw them downe into the bottome of the sea that they may neuer rise vp against vs either in this world to accuse vs or in the world to come to condemne vs. O Lord wee are heartily sorry that wee haue abused thy blessings prophaned thy Saboths despised thy word and quenched thy Spirit For these and the like blessed father we condemne our selues do not thou therefore marke them nor deale not with vs as we haue deserued but teach vs to rise vp against our sinnes that our warre with them may assure vs that wee haue peace with thee O Lord we abhorre our selues for to vs belongs nothing but shame and confusion of face for euer and we do humbly entreat thee to looke vpon vs in thy Son Christ Iesus O let the chastisement of our peace bee vpon him and heale vs through his stripes Lord let vs euer remember our latter end and the straight reckoning that we must render vnto thee one day and in health and prosperity to thinke of a time of sicknesse and aduersity and especially good Lord deliuer vs in the houre of temptation that when Sathan his assaults shall be greatest as his policy is when wee are weakest and least able to resist him that thy power may then appeare in our weaknesse that these things may not ouertake vs as a snare but that with the wise virgins wee may in some sort bee prepared for the comming of Christ Iesus the sweete Bridegroome of our soules And to that end we may haue comfort both now and at that time goe forward wee humbly pray thee with the worke of our new birth that thou hast begun in vs and neuer take away thy hand vntill such time as thou hast made an end of it And now O Lord hauing in the first place sought thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof giue vs leaue in the next place to seek thy fauour in outward things First according to our duty we giue thee hearty thankes praise for that thou hast this day preserued vs from all euill and danger wee humbly pray thee take care ouer vs this night and defend vs from that roaring Lyon who night and day goeth about seeking whom hee may deuoure Take thou vs this night into thy blessed tuition we know that thou dost neither slumber nor sleepe keepe vs euen in our sleepe from being vnmindfull of thee that whensoeuer thou shalt call for vs by the generall Alarum of thy iudgement whether at mid-night at Cocke-crowing or at the dawning of the day we may bee found ready to accompany the Bridegroome into the Marriage-chamber And to this end Lord sanctifie our sleep vnto vs that by it wee may bee the better enabled to performe the duties of the next day and night and day being guided by thee they may fit vs and prepare vs for that day of thine that shall neuer giue place to night And we beseech thee O Lord to be mercifull likewise to thy whole Church heare the cries of thine elect heare the mourning of all such as mourne in Syon let the cries of thy children cry downe the cries of the sinnes of this land and bee reconciled vnto vs O Lord our God in the multitude of thy mercies that so thou maist continue still a mercifull God vnto this Land the Vineyard which thy own right hand hath planted Preserue our gracious King blesse and prosper the Queene the hopefull Prince Charles Princely Palsgraue of Rhene with the Princesse Elizabeth his wife And as thou hast crowned them with worldly honour vpon earth so direct them vnto that more glorious Crowne in heauen Blesse the Nobility and Magistracy of this Land Prosper the worke of thy Gospell in the hands of thy Ministers And good Lord giue vs all grace to bee one of those wise virgines that our hearts may bee prepared like a lamp furnished with Faith and good workes like Oyle to meete the Lord Iesus Christ the Bridegroome of our soules there to see the felicity of thy chosen and to reioyce with the ioy of thy people To whom with thee O Father and thy blessed Spirit bee all Honour Glory Might Maiesty and Dominion henceforth for euer Amen FINIS
borne anew Iohn 3.6 Rom. 1.16 1. Cor. 1.21 none but such as do repent and beleeue in Christ Iesus and bee the true and liuely members of his Mysticall Body And to the end that wee bee not deceiued in so weighty a matter but that wee may assuredly know whether Christ dwell in our hearts by his Spirit and we dwell in him by faith so as we be true and liuely members of his mysticall Body let vs try it by these two waies First by the power of Christs death Secondly by his resurrection If thou bee a member of Christ thou shalt finde the power of Christs death daily crucifying the old man and eating out the corruption of thy nature for as wee see in a mans body when there is much dead flesh in a wound they lay corzie medicines to it to eate it out so the death of Iesus Christ applyed to our hearts by faith doth fret and eate out as a corzie the corruption of Nature Rom. 6.1.23 Rom. 6. 7.8 our dead flesh So as Christ by his death maketh all his members die vnto sinne so as they can not liue in the bondage and slauery of sinne Now then proue your selues you hope to bee saued by Christ Iesus But bee not deceiued Christ died for none but such as bee vnited to him his true and liuely members And none are his members but such as find and feele the power of his death to mortifie kill and weaken the power of sinne and naturall corruption Doe you then find sinne to die in you Doe you finde the strength of your corruption to bee abated the heate of it to bee alayed Doe you feele Christes death fretting it out so as you can say I hate sinne I abhorre sinne It is as bitter as Wormewood vnto mee Doe you finde this change in your liues that you leaue your old sinnes labouring to get out of ignorance to leaue swearing lying stealing drinking whooring c. then your case is good it is an euident token that you are ingrafted into Iesus Christ But if on the contrary part you finde that sinne is as strong now as euer it was and that you are the same now that you were seuen yeares agoe now dying to sinne and rising to newnesse of life Oh deceiue not youe owne soules any longer your case as yet is fearefull you bee not the liuely members of Iesus Christ but wilde Oliues dead branches good for nothing but fewell for the fire The secoÌ„d property of this tree Which bringeth forth her fruit in due season This Tree whereunto the godly man is compared is most like to bee the palme tree Maler in Psalm 1. THis is the second property of that Tree whereunto a godly man is compared namely as it is wel planted and seated by the Riuers side where it hath continuall iuice and nourishment and is well watered Euen so likewise it is fruitfull and yeeldeth sweete and pleasant fruit to him that planted it And that In due season Euen so the godly man being ingrafted into Iesus Christ Palma gaudâ—â— rignis totoque animo bibere gaudet Pli. lib. 13.4 Psal 92.12 as by a riuers side and being a liuely member of his Mysticall Body hee bringeth forth much good and pleasant fruite and that in Due season When as it may best stand for the glory of God and the good of man Heere wee see then who are the true and liuely members or Iesus Doctr. 5. Members of Christ are euer fruitfull Christ who is a true godly man and who is planted as this good Tree in Iesus Christ the true Vine Namely such as bee carefull and endeuour themselues continually to bring forth the blessed fruite of a godly and Christian life Euery Tree is knowne by his fruite A Tree is not knowne by his rhinde nor barke nor branches nor yet by his leaues But euery Tree is knowne by his fruite Matthew the twelfth chapter and the foure and thirty verse a good Tree cannot but bring forth good fruite and a bad tree cannot but bring forth bad fruit So euery man is knowne by his fruite Hee that is a godly man and a true and liuely member of Iesus Christ can not but bring forth good fruite euen the fruit of good workes and a godly life so a wicked man cannot but bring forth bad fruit the workes of darkenesse of a wicked and vngodly life We see if a grift or sciene bee set into a good Stock and take aright it will appeare by the yeelding of fruit But if it doe not prosper then it withers and dies and is good for nothing but the fire So if any man seeme to bee a Christian and to be a member of Christ Iesus and yet bring not forth good fruite Surely his estate is fearefull while he is vnfruitfull he must be pulled away as a withered branch and to the fire he must go Mat. 21.19 A true Christian must not be like the tree which Christ Iesus cursed which had leaues and no fruit but he must be like to the Tree planted by the riuers side that will bring forth fruit in due season Yea that which is more They bring forth fruit in their age Psal 92.14 whereas euill men as the Apostle S. Paul saith 2. Tim. 3.13 wax worse and worse and fall away from God daily more and more this was the summe of the Doctrine of Iohn Baptist to his hearers that they would Bring forth fruit worthy amendment of life Mat. 3.8 And the like is vsed by the Apostle Let your conuersation be such as becommeth the Gospell thing else but that grace of God in a mans heart whereby he beleeues the promise of saluation and the promises of the Gospell and applies them to his owne soule and therfore Saint Iames saith Iames 2. Shew mee thy faith by thy workes Dost thou delight in the Law of God and loue his Word Dost thou delight in his worship and calling on his Name Dost thou find thy faith to Purifie thy heart Acts 15.9 This is some part of that fruite which God requireth of thee This fruite Peter brought forth Thou art Christ the Son of the liuing God Math. 16.16 This was the fruit that the Disciple Iohn brought forth Ioh. 6.69 Ioh. 11.27 Wee beleeue and know that thou art Christ the Sonne of the liuing God And indeed this is the first stone that is to bee laid in the building vp of a Christian and therefore very fitly called a Foundation and the Collossians are said to bee Rooted and Built and Stablished in the Faith Col. 2.27 And indeed this is that sure foundation that shall beare vp the whole frame of our soules against all windes and weathers It is the first worke of change in the heart and the first difference betwixt man and man when God by faith purifieth the heart Act. 15.9 It will suffer no vncleane thoughts vnlawfull lusts Note or wandring motions to