it beeing further confirmed vnto vs vnder the Signet of the blood of the Lambe An inferiour Witnesse by farre might haue serued sufficiently for the perswasion of this matter As an Angell from Heauen addressed to Man and dispatched to our Forefathers in the times of oldâ— Nay If a King out of his Throne should commende a Man what Subiect durst oppose himselfe to that opinion Now if wee receiue the testimonie of Angell or Man that is great The testimonie of God is greater as the supremest essence our best Schoolemaister that teacheth vs to pray that holdeth vp such as pray by the head by the hand of his promises That is as good as his word and keepeth his promise for euer that witnesseth the same by his inward motions and operation in our heartes An Angell for all his Spirituall intelligence 1. Cor. 2.10 must not compare in any sort with the holy ghost in knowledge of the vâ—â—earchable secrets of God The Holy Ghost can lesse deceiue vs Ioh. 16.13 then an Angell as beeing the vncreated trueth it selfe which leadeth into all trueth Moreouer the testimonie he perfourmeth is beyonde all comparison because it resteth not in the care so to runne into the ayre but keepeth residence in our Reynes and Veines hath a Chayer in our heartes witnessing to our Spirits that we are the Children of God by speaking shewing foorth his power and by praying in vs. Adde heereto that this Spirit hath indiuiduall commerce with our Spirit neuer departeth from vs Hee taketh not vp the Temples of our bodyes as an Inne for a short time and be gone but as an House wherein he is minded to continue assuming to himselfe the whole regiment of them as a Lord that commeth to dwell in an House disposeth of that House after his owne pleasure Now as touching his Substaunce hee dwelleth not in vs the infinite Spirit of God being not to be cooped vp in the narrow and straight Roomes of the Bodie and Soule of man but onely in his operatiue power with vs hee keepeth his residence The Papistes vildly derogate from the sufficiencie of this Testimonie while they mince and minish it alter their owne manner while they frame in the forge of their Fancies this deuise that this Witnesse of our Adoption is onely in some comfortable sense and feeling of Gods fauour being such as is weake and oft times deceiueable But by their leaue it is much more then a bare and naked feeling of Gods sauour For it is called in holy Scripture The Pledge and Earnest of Gods Spirit in our heartes 2. Cor. 1.22 and therefore it is sufficient to preuent and take away all arguments of doubting as in a Bargaine and stipulation the Earnest that is giuen is the binder of the Bargaine on both sides and makes it out of queâ—tion Bernard sayth That the Testimonie of the Spirit is a most sure Testimonie As concerning this Testimonie of the Spirit of God two Qâ—estions would be scanned 1. How it may be distinguished from the Spirit of Illusion that is from presumption 2. By what meanes the Spirit of God giueth a particuler testimonie in a Mans conscience of his certaine election 1. For the first wee are to know that as there is a certaine perswasion of Gods fauour from the Spirit of God So Sathan hath his sleightes whereby he soweth Pillowes of Presumption to mens Elbowes suggesting pleasinges and leasings vnto vs. This Presumption commeth to vs by kind as wâ— are men as a naturall and ineuitable euill which hath a shew of Fayth but denieth the power of it And this counterfeite-mocke qualitie of pretended Fayth is more common then the true and liuely Fayth indeed This wee see dayly in the common carelesse people For if any of them shall be asked what they thinke of themselues whether they shall be saued or no they will wipe their mouths with their Handkerchiefe and say yea without all doubt so that if there were but few in the Countrie to be saued they perswade themselues that themselues are those persons For why he hath alwayes orderly kept his Church euermore beleeued and haue done no man wrong These and such like misfashioned Fancies easily with such vnskilfulnesse goe for good and lawfull Fayth But such mâ—n would be vnmasked and this Mâ—ster that couereth their eyes and lead them blindfold is to be taken from them Wherefore I answere to the Question That the Spirit of God is many wayes to be decerned from the Spirit of Presumption 1. First by a full perswasion the spirit of God giueth for the holy Ghost doth not barely word it but throughly worketh it by force of perswasion which is not in the power of Nature so to doe 2. Secondly by the manner of Perswasion for the holy Ghost disputeth not from the workes or worthinesse of man he draweth not the waters of life vnto vs from such shallow Welles but he draweth deeper then euer Iacobs Well was euen from the profound and bottomlesse Fountaine of Gods loue and fauour towardes vs and no other kind of Logicke doth he vse with vs. This is a course that Sathan can not skill on he hath no will vnto it it is quite crosse and contrarie vnto him 3. Thirdly by the effects of that Testimonie For the Perswasion that ariseth from Presumption is cold and dead but that which hath descense from the Spirit of God is liuely in operation for such as are possessed with this Perswasion that they are the Elected Adopted Children of God they will loue God repose their trust in him call vpon his name that with theâ—r whole heartes and in regard of their loue to him they will loath sinne and euery thing else that agreeth not with his will The Effectes whereby wee know the true Spirit from the counterfeit are two noted downe by Paul where he sayth The Spirit maketh vs cry Abba that is Father The first is to pray with such intention of Minde and contention of Sinnewes and Sides with groanes and sighes as though a man would fill Heauen and Earth A principall knowne marke of the Spirit of Adoption neuer to be found in the Presumptuous rechlesse sort who pray but at Good times and when they pray they heare not their Prayers their Spirit dieth in the Ayre before it can pierce the Cloudes and ascend vp to Heauen where God is The Church hath their Bodyes but their Heartes are at home They bleat out the Lords Prayer the Creede and ten Commandements with their lippes but their God is their Gold their mindes are on their Mony-bagges or else they wander in their extrauagant thoughts as the Prodigall Sonne In longinquâ—m regionem in a farre Countrie They pray as though their heartes and tongues were strangers drawing neere him with their lippes but standing along aloofe off with their heartes praying in the meane while leauing their Spirit asleepe or if they awake it they leaue it as Christ did his Disciples for the
time Their Altar is without Fire their Prayers without feruour their Wordes without intention the outward action of their bodies without the consent of their inner affections The second effect is the Affect of Heart answerable in nature to that which is in Children towardes their Parents which is an affection of loue reuerence obedience thankfulnesse For they call not vpon him as vpon a skarlot and grimme Iudge but they come to him in his familiar name Abba that is a gracious mercifull Father Now such as are not of the right Spirit they can not in trueth come to him in this name Finally where the testimonie of the Spirit is many other graces of the Spirit are with it for it will not be solitarie as when one branch of a Tree sprouteth the rest sprout out with it Further learne thus to know them asunder to put difference betweene the Spirit and Presumption 1. Presumption is an inborne qualitie which wee sucke from our Mothers but the witnesse of the Spirit is supernaturall 2. Presumption is in them that recke not of the ordinarie meanes that make to their saluation But they that are of the Spirit chearefully imbrace them take care to follow theÌ„ they reuerently religiously heare the word of God 3 Presumptio is in such that vse not to call on the name of God but the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Prayer teaching vs to pray with teares not able to be expressed PresumptioÌ„ is lincked with Loosenesse of life the Spirit worketh vs in a new mould Mat 2 22. Mutatus ab illo Hectore cleane contrary to that we were before and warneth vs with the Wise-men of the East not againe to returne to Herods Court to our old Byas but by casting off our old conuersation as the Eagle doth her bill to turne into our country an other way Presumption is peremptorie and maketh a man to stand vpon his Slippers to be confident vp to the throate and neuer once to cast any doubt of our well doing whereas the consciences of the godly are oft times perplexed and troubled with doubtes yea now and then surcharged ouerwhelmed with them Presumption will faile vs at a dead lift and giue vs the slippe in the needfull time of trouble in the houre of temptation and death But the Spirit of God standeth close to vs and continueth with vs for euer and euer 2. Wee come to the handling of the Second poynt how the Spirit witnesseth our Adoption For that it witnesseth the same vnto vs this Scripture concludeth it as diuers other Authorities of Scripture beside flatly confirme it Our Heartes are wholly in the hands of the Spirit to rule gouerne them as seemeth best to him This Rule of his coÌ„sisteth chiefely in the certaine reuealed knowledge of our attonement with the Father in Christ Hereof speaketh the Prophet Jsaiah thus By his knowledge Isai 53 11. shall my righteous Seruant iustifie in my Of this speaketh our Sauiour where he sayth Ioh. 17.3 This is life eternall that they know thee to be the onely verie GOD and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ. This knowledge is not that which is generall for so the Deuils might be saued but it is that which is particuler by which a man commeth to know that God is his Father Christ his Redeemer the Holy Ghost his Sanctifier and Comforter This knowledge is the peculiar worke of the Spirit as this Text teacheth as this other the same mouth deliuereth of the same nature Wee haue receiued not the Spirit of the world â— Cor. 2.12 but the Spirite which is of God that wee might know the things that are giuen to vs of God Now three manner of wayes doth the Spirit make vs priuie to this counsaile of God 1. By his inward Inspiration 2 By his outward Word 3. Inwardly outwardly by inward and outward effects By his Spirit he did inspire the Prophetes and open many thinges to come And Christ sayd to his Apostles as concerning the Holy ghost He shall leaâ— you into all trueth Ioh. 16.13 By his Word he spake vnto the Prophets and by his Word in like manner he teacheth vs his Will Also by diuers effectes he declareth either his Mercie or his Iustice as it is well knowne The same is to be thought of the reuealing of his Election to witte that God reuealeth the same to the Elect by the Spirit by the Word by the most assured effectes of his Predestination We are now to speake of them seuerally in their order 1. By inward inspiration we haue intimation of our certaine Election by which our mindes are illuminated and it is reuealed vnto vs that wee are from all eternitie Predestinated into this Adoption of his Son-ship All the Elect are owners of this Grace as now actually made the Sonnes of God by Fayth regenerated and new borne by the Holy ghost ingrafted into Christ So the Apostle saith Rom. 8.9 If any man hath not the spâ—rit of Christ he is not his Whosoeuer therefore is of Christ is ingrafted into Christ must needes ipso fâ—â—â—â— haue the Spirit of Christ Now whosoeuer haue receiued and haue this spirit of Christ the spirit of God testifieth to their mindes that they are the sonnes of God he maketh them to speake in the language of Children Aâ—ba that is Father And it is a certaine case that none is renewed by the spirit of God who is not peremptorily perswaded that God is become his most louing and gracious Father and so call vpon him by that sweete speciall name Therfore though all men in that they are assured by the certaintie of Fayth that God is their Father and they are his Sonnes do not thereby argue and conclude that they are elected to eternall life yet all men indeed haue thereby a most sure certificate of their Election to the state of Glorie because if they be the Sonnes of God it followeth by due consequent that they also be the heires of eternall life Let this Testimonie appeare euident by way of demonstration in this manner Whosoeuer call vpon God and in their heartes cry Abba Father it is certaine that such be the Children of God and that this cry of theirs is from the gift motion of the spirit of God But whosoeuer are the Sonnes of God are also inheritours of life euerlasting and they are predestinated into the adoption of his children Therefore it cannot otherwise be but that all such as are perswaded by the spirit of God that they are the Sonnes of God should be predestinated to eternall life be throughly perswaded in the same 2. The second meanes whereby we attaine the knowledge of our Election is his outward Word not any particular Word by which hee doth outwardly in priuate and proper manner suggest to any man expresly his Election but the generall word of the Gospell in the which Christ calleth all them which beleeue in him
come to Christ the Dignation and Grace which he giueth to Infantes Which Vocation is the introduction into our state of saluation in this present life Wherfore vsually the Apostles in the frontispire forehead of their letters to the Churches speake of this Vocation Rom. 1.7.8 1. Cor. 1.2 inscribing and entitling them Saintes by calling Therefore it must needes be that whosoeuer be Elected in Christ be at their appoynted time effectually called and drawne vnto him 3. The third benefite of God and effect and proofe of our Predestination proper onely to the Elect is Fayth without which Heb. 11.6 in the testimonie of the Apostle it is impossible to please God For by this we are incorporated into Christ we are made members of his body without which Fayth no flesh can be saued In Infantos the action of Fayth which is a knowledge of Christ and confidence in him is not as not capable thereof in respect of their age but they haue notwithstanding the Spirit and life of Fayth which in processe of time will breake foorth as those Scripture pâ—aces prooue which teach That Saluation commeth to all by Fayth and how that without Fayth it is altogeather impossible for any to please God That this is the effect and fruite of Election the Apostle perspiciously and openly deliuereth 1. Cor. 7.25 where he witnesseth of himselfe that hee obtained mercie of the Lord that is in his sacred and secret decree of Predestination to be faythfull Wherefore whosoeuer are Predestinated to eternall life in Christ they are elected to this Fayth the effect thereof and therefore perforce they must at last beleeue in Christ 4. The fourth benefite and effect is Justification that is the free remission of our sinnes and the imputation of the righteousnes of Christ So that the forme of Iustification is as it were a kind of translation of our sinnes to Christ and of Christs righteousnesse to vs by reason of this diuine imputation It is stiled The Righteousnesse of Christ because it is out of vs and it is in the humanitie of Christ as in the subiect This naturally followeth Fayth at the heeles inasmuch as those that are endowed with this Fayth are therewithall also Iustified That this Iustification is an effect of Election Rom. 8.30 the Apostle insinuateth by setting it vpon the head of our Vocation adioyned to Predestination immediatly before Now this is not effected in vs while wee are in this world but in the Pardon of our sinnes and in the imputation of his perfect obedience to vs. 5. The fift benefit and effect is Regeneration and Sanctâ—fication by the Spirit while we become New creatures by him and so the Sonnes of God not onely by Adoption but by regeneration also For Christ when he Iustifieth vs he not onely remitteth our vnrighteousnesse and imputeth his obedience vnto vs but also taketh away our heart of Stone giueth vs his owne heart of Flesh vnto vs putteth off our Old man and cloatheth vs with his New one and strippeth vs of our inward corruption and maketh vs pertakers of his owne Nature and so indeed of the Sonnes of Men maketh vs the Sonnes of God and Brethren vnto him Wherefore wee are sayd to be Predestinated by Iesus Christ Ephes 1.4.5 Ioh. 8.6 That wee should be holy and without blame befo e him And hence is this saying of our Sauiour That which is borne of the Spirit is Spirit 6. From this roote springeth the sixth Branch of our Election which is The loue of Righteousnesse and hatred of Sinne For in Regeneration there is Toâ—mâ—â—rs a quo et termanus aâ— qâ—m An auersion from sinne and a conuersion to God the mortification of the old â—â—â—am and the viuification of the New the alteration of affections of Nature corrupted into the affections of Diuine nature by the Holy ghost sanctified which is noted in their Walke of which the Apostle speaketh Rom. 8 1. which is Nâ—â— aâ—ter the flesh but after the spirit And in the distaste their Stomackes take of carnalities They saâ—â—ur not the thâ—â—â— of the Flesh but of the spirit Now the first affectes of the Flesh are Loue of sinne which is the Câ—ncupiscence of the fl sh and so on the contrarie side The hatred of Righteousnesse and of the Law of â—oâ— which are not of the Father but of the World For that which properly is spoken of Christ 〈◊〉 5 8. Thou hast loued Righteousnesse and hated â—â—quitie is not improperly vnderstood of all that are the members of Christ wherefore Dauid who beareth the person of all the Elect and expresseth their disposition 〈◊〉 3. saith of himselfe J haue â—oued thy Law Thy Lâ—◠〈◊〉 within my heart J hate all these that are workers of iniquitie J will not sit among the Wicked Such affections S. Paul deliuereth vs. J delight in the Law of God concerning the Inner man that is Rom. 7.23 as I haue an inward and a better birth 7. Now these two Affections the first fruites of Regeneration beget the seuenth Effect Aâ— endeaâ—our to doe Good workes that is to forsake Sinne and to fulfill the Law For hee that hateth any thing from his heart hee shunneth and auoydeth it all that he may And so of the other side hee that inwardly loueth a thing hee pursueth it with the hottest contention that can be This distinctioÌ„ of theirs in these two opposite coÌ„ditions the Apostle thus speaketh of He that doth righteousnes is righteous 1. Ioh 3.7 as he is righteous Hee that committeth sinne is of the Devill For the Deuill sinneth from the beginning Now Christ came into the World to dissolue the workes of the Deuill in the Elect But in the Reprobate he suffereth them to remaine still as they are because he was neuer stated in them they were not giuen him of his Father to be purged regenerated saued Wherefore Christ being preordinated to performe all these workes and no good thing is done in vs which was not in Christ prepared for vs from all eternitie it is more then manifest that our sollicitude of good works is the effect of our Election This the Apostle sheweth plainely where he sayth Eâ—liâ— 2 1â— Wee are creâ—ted in Christ Iesus vnto goâ—◠〈◊〉 which God hath ordained that wee should walke in them This duetie as more then necessarie is commended and commaunded vs by Saint Pâ—ter 2. Pet. 1.10 in this precept hee prescribeth vs Giue diligence to make your Calling and Election sure that is by Good workes as many coppies haue it For to whom should we make it sure Not to God for it was sure to him before all worldes but to our selues and neighbours 8. Now because while we seeke the glorie of God and are carefull of Good works and we refuse to fashion our selues according to this world in the lustes and sinnes thereof the Flesh the World and the Deuill combine and hange togeather like the Skales
Regeneration the cause thereof 1. Thess 3.13 is through the whole man in Body Soule and Spirit Also Obedience is the fruite of Loue and Loue is from a pure Heart a good Conscience and Fayth vnfained Thus wee teach not that men must beleeue the forgiuenesse of their sinnes while they lie and liue in them for that were altogeather to teach falsehood for trueth Hee that beleeues the Pardon of his sinnes by true Fayth hath the spirit of God in him and a constant purpose not to sinne against God If hee doe it is against his minde it is not hee that doth it but the sinne that dwelleth in him and his case standeth thus He hath by his sinne giuen a blow to his Conscience weakned his Fayth bereaued himselfe of the Fauour of God as much as in him is made himselfe guiltie of sinne and worthy of damnation And God for his part accordingly turnes the wonted signes of his Fauour into signes of Anger and Displeasure and though it be pardoned in the purpose of God yet is it not actually pardoned till the partie repent Wherefore heere is Answere to this Demaunde How a man may be assured of his Adoption if he want the Testimonie from Heauen which is the Spirit of God For as Fire is knowne by two properties of the heate of the Flame Wee may know it to be Fire still by the verie heate though it affordeth no Flame So if a man hath not the Witnesse of Gods Spirit by the Testimoniall of our Spirit our sanctification wee haue certificate not obscure of our ElectioÌ„ If it shall further grow into question How it is that after all our curious Inquisition we finde but few signes of Sanctification in our selues In this case they must haue recourse to the least measure of Grace which being but of the size of a Graine of Mustardseed and but of the strength of a weake Infant it is sufficient to engraffe them into Christ and therefore they must not doubt of their Election because they find their Fayth feeble and the effectes of the Holy ghost faint within them which I speake not to the end to lead men into securitie that they should content themselues with these small beginninges of Grace but onely to shew how any may assure themselues that they are at the least Baâ—es in Christ adding this withall that they which haue no more but these small beginninges must be carefull to increase them Qâ—ta non progreâ—i est regredi Not to goe forward is to goe backward Lastly and what if the Christian soule as yet hath not found this litle measure of Grace and hath no meanes in the world of assuraunce Hee must not despaire but perswade himselfe in this that though hee wantes assuraunce now yet hee may haue the same hereafter No man may peremptorily conclude and set downe that himselfe or any other is a Reprobate For Gods wayes are not as mans wayes but hâ—e preferres such often times as seeme greatest strangers and aliantes vnto him vnto his Kingdome when he casteth out those whom the world esteemed Children of the Kingdome So sayth our Sauiour Mâ—th 21.31 The â—â—bâ—cans and Harlots goe before you And the Parable telleth vs how Maâ—y an one is called at the eleuenth houre Math. 20.6 as it appeareth by the example of the remorsed Theefe vpon the Crosse But in the meane while be we perswaded to heare the Word of God and to receiue the Sacramentes For by our care in comming to the Lords Vineyard and conuersing about the Wine-presse we shall finde that comfortable Wine of Gods Grace as shall serue to make glad the heart of man When sicknesse and death assaulteth vs the very chosen of God must prepare themselues to temptations the Deuill then bestirring himselfe all he may and sitting our soules to the coursest branne as curiously as euer Lâ—â—an did ransacke Iacobs stuffe And few there be that can iudge of these terrors of temptations but such an one as can say Quarum pars magnafiâ—â— Now when men lay thus in darknesse and in the region and shadow of death vnlesse God should from Heauen with a gracious aspect looke vpon them in the face of his Annoynted and streame downe vnto them in this life some lightsome beames of his loue in Christ by the operation of his holy Spirit it would be very hard with the best of them all Finally as euery one of the Elect in this life is made certaine of his Election ascertained thereof by the meanes aboue mentioned so a due time by God is determined for the same tearmed in holy Scriptures â— Cor 6.2 Luk. 19.42 The Acceptable time the day of Saluation The time of our Visitation Before which time of our blessed Vocation we neuer are perswaded or once thinke of our Saluation as wee see in the examples of Mathew wholly betaking himselfe to his Toll-house as in Paul before his conuersion when he was a Saul and vexed the Congregation and in many such Againe many after the time of their Calling are not by and by made certaine of their Election but to some sooner to some later is this Grace afforded A Christian soule often seeketh after this comfort in his Bedde by Prayers and findeth it not as the Spouse the Church did her Bridegroome in the 3. of the Canticles In my Beâ—de by night Cantic â— â— J sought him that my soule Iâ—nea J sought him but I found him not Hee intreateth the counsaile and comfort of his friendes and the helpe of their holy prayers vers â— and yet found him not The complaint the Spouse maketh in the same place Hee resorteth to the Godly Preachers of the word and yet speedeth not vers 3. which was still the said Churches case Lastly when all helpe and hepes fayled her the Bridegrome came vers 4. Adiutor in opportunitaâ—bus An helper in the needfull time of trouble he came on his owne accord as he hath so done to diuerse in the like case 1. Then Fayth taketh vp as it were a new life groweth into heart taketh hold on Christ 2. Then hath the Soule very nigh societie and coniunction with GOD. vers 5. 3. Then commeth ioy in the Holy ghost and peace of Conscience as a sweete sleepe commeth on a wearisome body vers 6. and watereth all the partes of the body with his refreshing deawe 4. Then is the Heart lifted vp to Heauen with holy thoughtes vers 8.9.10 and Prayers which mount vpward as Pillars of Smoake pleasant as perfumed with Myrrhe and Incense 5. Then is it rauished and out of it selfe in the muze and meditation of his glorious condition in the Heauenly kingdome 6. Then it endeauoreth to perswade others to consider of the Glorie of Christ and of his Kingdome vers 11. 7. After all these Chap. 4. vers 1. to the cha 15. Christ reuealeth to his Seruant the happinesse of his estate in this life and the other more plainely openly then euer he did before vers 16. and giueth him a sight of such Graces and Benefites as hee hath bestowed on him 8. The Christian presenteth his Prayers to Christ that hee would breath and blow vpon him with his Spirit that so hee might bring foorth such fruites as he hath of thankfulnesse to the Lord. Lastly Christ yeeldeth to all we pray for and giueth vs our heartes desire and doth not denie vs the request of our lippes Now for thâ—se and all other his Graces and Blessinges bestowed vpon vs to him with his blessed Sonne and Holy spirit three persons one eternall and euerliuing GOD be ascribed all Praise Power and Glorie now and euer Amen FINIS