Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	heart_n	love_v	sin_n	9,337	5	4.8347	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A72164	The conquest of temptations, or Mans victory over Satan especially, the great assaults, at the agony of death, full of very strong and effectuall consolations, to sustaine and comfort the weakest heart, in the greatest conflicts which can befall a Christian in the vvhole course of of life, and approach of death / gathered by the holy and deuout labour of Iohn Gerard, doctor of diuinitie, and superintendent of Heldburge ; newly Englished by Rich. Bruch, minister of Gods word.	Gerhard, Johann, 1582-1637.; Bruch, Richard, minister of Gods word.	1614 (1614)	STC 11767.5; ESTC S5215	71,686	143

The loue of this life The Tempted I Could wish that I might yet enioy a more lasting vse of this life and the profits thereof I could wish that I might possesse yet longer the blessings of God granted vnto me in this life The Comforter TAke héede that thou doe not make it manifest by the inordinate loue of this life that thou doest not truly loue the chiefest good Anselm de mensura crucis lit E. So doe we owe our whole heart to the loue of God that whatsoeuer is giuen thereof to another is withdrawne from God Hée loues God the lesse which loues any thing with him which he loues not for him Thy heart is a vessell but it is full of the loue of the world therefore there is no place for the true loue of God to enter powre out the loue of the world that the loue of God may enter What doth this present life so much delight thée which is wholly a dangerous and hard warfare What other thing is it to liue long then long to be tormented Cypria Serm. de mortal pag. 215. and long to sinne If in the house of thy dwelling the walles should shake for age the roofe aboue thée tremble the house being now wearied and fainting vnder the buildings that slide downe with age should threaten a ruine néere at hand wouldest thou not goe forth with all hast If while thou wert sayling a troublesome and stormie tempest the waues being raised vp by the force of the winde should fore-shew shipwracke to come wouldest thou not make toward the hauen with all hast Behold the world shakes and slides away and testifies the ruine of it selfe not now by the olde age but by the end of things and doest not thou giue God thankes doest thou not reioyce on thine owne behalfe that being taken away with a more timely end thou art saued from ruines shipwrackes and imminent plagues Ambros in ca● 8. ad Rom. Euen as the Sea stirred vp by contrarie stormes doth rise and maketh a tempest to those that saile so the world being stirred by the conspiracie of the treacherous doth trouble the mindes of the faithfull and the enemie deales so peruersely that wée are ignorant what wée should first shunne For if power doth cease to be against vs he stirres the mindes of priuate men If these be appeased hée blowes vp a combustion by those of our owne house And if this also be allayed by his cunning he makes discord betwéene brethren themselues so that the house being shaken at the foure corners one some part begins to fall wherefore with one consent Christians must flye hence For they ought to follow the example of the holy man Simeon which knowing that they doe here wage warre against treacherie required that hée might be let to depart in peace Surely this life appeares to be a pretious Nut outwardly but if it be opened with the knife of truth there will be found nothing in it but vanitie and emptinesse If there be any good in this life that is eminently nay incomparably better in that other That is in faith this in fight that in the time of peregrination this in the eternity of mansion that is in labour this is in rest that is in the way this in the Countrey August trac vlt. in Ioh. that is in the worke of action this in the reward of contemplation that declines from euill and doth good this hath none euill from which it may decline it hath great good which it may enioy that fights with the enemie this raignes without an enemie that is valiant in aduersity this feeles no aduersitie that bridles carnall lusts this spends the time in spirituall delights that is troubled with the care of ouercomming this is secure in the peace of victorie that is helped in tentations this without any tentation reioyceth in the helper himselfe that helpes the néedie this is there where it findes none néedie that forgiues other mens sinnes that her owne may be pardoned vnto her this neither suffers that which shée may forgiue nor doth that which she may require to be forgiuen vnto her That is scourged with euils least it should be lifted vp with prosperitie this in so great fulnesse of grace wants all euill that without any tentation of pride it may cleaue to the chiefest good That discernes good and euill this sées those things which are onely good Chuse therefore which is to be preferd before other Lay aside the inordinate desire of the fading life least thou léese the inheritance of the abiding So hold those things which are of this world that notwithstanding thou be not held by them Let the earthly substance be possest of thée but let it not possesse thée Let that which thou hast be vnder the dominion of thy minde least thy minde while it is ouercome with the loue of earthly be it selfe more possessed of the things themselues Cypria Serm. de morta Why doest thou not make hast to better things Now heauenly things succéede earthly and great things the small and eternall things the perishing XL. The separation from Wife Children and Kinsfolkes The Tempted I Must leaue my most sweet children I must leaue my most faithfull wife I must leaue my most pleasant kinsfolkes who shall prouide for my wife and children who will be their defender and Patrone The Comforter IT is God which calles himselfe the Father of Orphanes Psa 68.6 and the defender of widdowes commend them to his Patronage and defence God which is thy God Gen 17. will also be the GOD of thy seede Thy children are not thine onely but they are also Gods nay they are more Gods then thine seeing he hath bestowed more things vpon them canst thou therefore doubt of the fatherly care of God towards them The Prophet of the Lord doth testifie that he hath beene young and also olde Psa 37.25 yet neuer did he see the righteous forsaken or his seed to begge their bread Psa 112.2 The generation of the righteous shall be blessed at length God hath promised to thy children the heauenly treasures hée will not suffer them beléeue mée to perish for hunger Hée hath giuen them life he wil not deny them the maintenance of life he hath giuen thē a body that which he hath wonderfully framed he wil also kindely sustaine But take héede that thou be not so carefull for the bodily safety of thy wife and children that in the meane time thou neglect the care of thy soule Luk. 14.26 If any man come to me saith Christ and doth not hate his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brothers and Sisters yea and his owne soule he cannot be my Disciple Matth. 10.37 that he expoundeth else-where so He that loueth Father or Mother more then mee is not worthy of me and he that loueth sonne or daughter more then me is not worthie of me Behold God calles thée by

death take héede thou doe not so loue thy wife and children that therefore thou refuse to follow God calling thée with a readie heart The loue of the heauenly Father must be preferred before the loue of children Ambro. in cap. 12. p. 111. Bern. Serm. 26. in Cant. Col. 569. August Epist 6. ad Vid. the loue of our Bridegroome Christ must be set before the loue of wife the benefit must not more be loued then the benefactour What shall I speake of kinsmen if thou leauest those that are deare thou shalt receiue them héereafter more déere For wée doe hope on a most faithfull promise that when we goe out of this life whence being to depart we haue not lost but sent before some of ours that are departed we shall come to that life where by how much they shall be better knowne of vs so much they shall be dearer vnto vs and without the feare of any dissension amiable If thy kinsmen be déere vnto thée let Christ be déerer which is thy brother If it be a pleasant thing to be here conuersant with thy kinsmen Heb. 12.22 let it be more pleasant vnto thee that thou commest to the mount Sion ●er 23. and Citie of the liuing God the heauenly Hierusalem and to the company of innumerable Angels and to the congregation of the first borne which are written in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men XLI The stopping vp of the eares in Death The Tempted I Feare lest that my eares waxing deafe in the agony of death I shall be destituted of all consolation of heart and too much vexed with the terrours of Satan The Comforter THe inward comfort of the spirit is of greater force then all outward consolations Rom. 8.16 The holy spirit giues testimonie to our spirit that wee are the sonnes of God the same spirit doth raise vp our spirit when wee beginne to wrastle with death and to be troubled in heart for he is the true and greatest comforter Ioh. 15.26 When thine eyes waxe dimme in death the holy Ghost will giue vnto thée the true illumination of the heart when thine eares waxe deafe in death he will giue vnto thée the quickening consolation of the soule Where mans consolation shall cease there Gods consalation will begin Behold the examples of the Martyrs how prompt and ready they were to the most exquisite punishments the whéeles séemed to them Roses the sparkes of fire spirituall bracelets the yron chaines golden crownes the torments ornaments the two edged swords beames of the heauenly light who hath wrought this in their hearts who hath comforted them in sorrowes but the holy Ghost His consolation is of greater force then the accusation of the whole world yea of the prince of the world What Doest thou thinke that the holy Ghost doth onely lift vp our hearts in the course of this life and doth idlely rest in the agony of death Dost thou thinke that the habitation of the holy Ghost is destroyed Gal. 2.20 when the tabernacle of the body is destroyed Ephes 3.2 Christ liues in thée and dwels by faith in thy heart grace is powred out in his lips in the fragrancy of this grace hee will make glad thine heart Psal 45 9. although thine hearing perish his spéech will ●ierce to thine heart although the dores of thine eares be shut Esa 61.1 The spirit of the Lord is vpon him the Lord hath annointed him to preach the Gospell to the afflicted hée hath sent him to binde vp the broken in heart to preach fréedome to the captiues and opening of prison to those that are bound Esa 50 4. The Lord hath giuen vnto him a learned tongue that hee may know to comfort sustaine the afflicted in a seasonable time Cleane to him with firme confidence of thy heart commend thy selfe to him with godly prayers hee will comfort thée in the seasonable time he will raise vp thine heart with the word of the Gospell when the arrowes of death are fastened in it hee will binde vp thy heart when the wounds of death are inflicted on it hée will preach deliuerance to thy heart when thou art led captiue of death as it were a pray he will preach opening to thy heart when thou art thrust into the prison of death XLII The apparant in vtilitie of Redemption IF Christ hath redeemed vs from death why must I as yet dye How shall death be ouercome by Christ when hee shewes his daily prayes as it were the trophees of his victory The Comforter EVen as Christ hath saued his people from their sinnes Mat 11.21 not that sinne may no more dwell in their flesh séeing in this life they remayne solde vnder sinne but that he may not condemne them for euerlasting as being regenerate and beléeuing so also hee hath redéemed vs from death Rom. 8.10 not that we should not any more be subiect to temporall death séeing that our body is dead or subiect vnto death for sinne but that wee might be frée from the bands of eternall death The death of the soule is the true death from this Christ hath redéemed vs sustaining the punishment for vs. Swéet Iesus hath also made temporal death it selfe swéet vnto vs that it is death in name alone but in very déed sléep nay the end of death and the beginning of true life Those that are truly godly doe dye daily 1 Cor. 15.24 by reason of those continuall calamities by which they are oppressed in this life therefore their death is the end of death but by the gate of death they passe to a quiet and eternall life Ose 13.14 therefore their death is the beginning of true life The death of Christ is the poyson of our death although therefore this poyson hath not altogether kild our death for it doth as yet moue it selfe and fastens his dart in our héele yet this poyson is gone to the heart of death it will come to passe therefore 1 Cor. 15.26 that at length by the force thereof it dye death is that last enemie whom Iesus Christ at length in the last day shall vtterly destroy Luk. 11.22 and comming vpon this strong armed man with greater strength shall take away powerfully from him all his pray Death must be beheld with spirituall eyes and it will appeare that his wrath is but vaine without strength as being captiuated and ouercome of Christ It layes snares for the life of the godly and behold it brings them to the true life It attempts to kill their soule and body with his darts and behold the soule being trée and without hurt of all wound of death the body alone is wounded which same also in the time to come shall bee snatcht out of the Iawes of death It endeauours to deliuer the godly to eternall death and behold it deliuers them to eternall life LXIII The horrour of the

himselfe for vs hee saith I will be baptized with a certaine baptisme and how am I straightened till it be fulfilled Luc. 12.50 This was the baptisme of the Crosse and tribulation into which our most benigne Sauiour was altogether plunged not for any other cause but out of his great ineffable loue towards vs this is that which hath so straightened him and driuen him how great soeuer his outward griefe was in his passion yet alwayes his inner loue towards vs was greater and more ardent through which hee was ready to sustaine more things for our sinnes if the price for our redemption which hée payed had not séemed sufficient But there is no cause that we doubt of the sufficiency of the price with him there is altogether plentifull redemption because not a droppe but a streame of bloud hath flowed largely through fiue parts of his body Born ser 22. sup cant col 554. hee hath cryed out that all things were finished in the Crosse and through the Crosse and therefore he hath made by himselfe a full perfect purgation of our sins with one offring hath he for euer perfected those which are sanctified Heb. 1.3 Cap. 10.14 Apoc. 1.5 he hath washed vs from our sinnes in his bloud Beléeue therefore so cleere so perspicuous so expresse words of the holy Ghost and resolue firmely that by the death and passion of CHRIST there is wrought a sufficient satisfaction for thy sinnes IIII. The memory of Actuall sinnes The Tempted PErchance Christ hath taken vpon himselfe originall sinne onely so that for actuall sinnes I my selfe must eyther satisfie or burne Although therefore I resolue firmely that through Christ I am washed from that originall spot yet those actuall sinnes doe vexe and presse me which I haue committed through the whole course of my life in number many in weight most heauy for desert damnable Christ is opposed to Adam therefore the benefit of Christ will not spread it selfe more wide then the fault that was deriued from Adam into vs. Another mans fault may be healed by another mans satisfaction but a mans owne fault will require a mans owne satisfaction The Comforter NAy the bloud of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God 1 Ioh. 1.7 doth cleanse thee altogether from all thy sinnes not that only which is deriued from Adam but those also which are heaped vpon this of thée God hath set forth Christ the propitiatory by faith in his bloud Rom. 3.25 to that may we draw néere by true faith and hauing obtained remission of our sins be reconciled to God as often as the weight and heape of our sinnes doth presse vs downe wee may come to this throne of grace with confidence that wee may obtaine mercy Heb. 4.16 and finde grace in the seasonable time of helpe Furthermore what redemption would this be what reconciliation if Christ had satisfied for one onely kinde of sinne wée our selues being yet bound and obliged to make satisfaction for all the rest farre more grieuous and more copious the redemption of Christ is not so maimed imperfect and to halues Heb 10.12 14.18 but offering one sacrifice for sinnes by that one oblation hée hath perfected for euer those that are sanctified and hath obtained such a remission of sinnes that there is not any other oblation necessarie for sinnes 1 Iohn 2.1.2 Wée haue an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous he is the propitiation for our sinnes not for our sinnes onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world Therefore if hauing slipt into sinnes out of the infirmitie of the flesh wée doe earnestly repent vs wée haue a refuge set downe for vs in Christs intercession the foundation of which intercession consists in Christs merit and satisfaction for from thence and therefore is Christs intercession effectuall for vs because a full and perfect satisfaction was performed by him for our sinnes from thence and therefore the force of the Diuine iustice and seuere iudgement due to our sinnes is not shaken against vs because Christ couers our sinnes with the cloake of his mercie the price of the obtained and deserued redemption being paid of him Let this therefore abide firme and sure that Christ by his death the onely most true sacrifice offered for vs hath purged abolished August 4. de Trinit ca. 13. extinguished whatsoeuer there was of sinnes from whence the principalities and powers did by right with-hold vs to suffer punishment therefore in him and through him wée obtaine remission not onely of originall sinne 1. De peccamer etremiss ca 13. Tit. 2.14 but also of the rest of the sinnes that we haue added there-vnto For he which thing day vp in thy déepest thoughts hath giuen himselfe for vs that hée might redéeme vs from all iniquitie Infinite is the person that hath satisfied how then shall not his Passion be of infinite merit What is so deadly that may not be healed by the death of the Sonne of God which is life it selfe what is so bloudie and so foule but that it might be cleansed by the pretious bloud of the Sonne of God V. The doubting of the application of the benefits of Christ The Tempted BVt how may I be made partaker of that most pretious treasure Christ hath died for all but now that fruit of the death of Christ doth not redound to all whence therefore shall I be assured that the benefits of Christ doe also pertaine to me whence may it appeare that I am in very deede and most certainely a partaker of all those things actually which Christ hath deserued for vs by his Passion and death The Comforter GOD offers vnto thée the word of the Gospell and in the same all the benefites of his Sonne Es 6.5.2 Hée spreads forth his hands all day he calles he inuites verily therefore also he calles he inuites he inticeth thée That therefore which GOD offers vnto thée with the hand of his mercie that embrace thou with the hand of firme confidence Bern. Ser. 31. sup can Col. 597. As farre as thou shalt stretch forth the foote of confidence in the goods of the Lord so farre forth shalt thou possesse God doth not put the oyle of his mercie vnlesse it be in the vessell of confidence Id. Serm. 3. in Annunc Col. 113. Thou shalt possesse so much of the goods of the Lord as thou doest gather in the vessell of confidence For faith doth apprehend Christ in Christ God fauourable the remission of sinnes and life euerlasting Heare concerning this thing the words of the eternall and vnchangeable truth So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne Ioh. 3.16.18 that euerie one that beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life He that beléeueth in him is not iudged but hath life eternall Ioh. 1.12 for hée hath giuen power to all that haue receiued him to be made the Sonnes of God to

to resolue that the sense and mouing of faith kindled in thy heart is first to be expected before that thou wilt heare meditate and receiue the word of the Gospell This is a peruerse opinion which take héede that thou sucke not in that thou put not vpon thée this is a peruerse order which take héede that thou doe not follow In the Schoole of the holy Ghost wée must take our beginning from the hearing and meditation of the word by that meanes thou art brought vnto faith by faith vnto the féeling of faith Thou sayest that thou canst not beléeue therefore thou oughtest to heare the word meditate on it and receiue it into thy heart that thou mayest beléeue GOD giues his holy spirit to those that Luk. 11.13 aske and yet without the grace of the holy Ghost we cannot aske so God giues faith to them that sigh after it and yet without the beginning of faith we cannot sigh after it For a surety faith riseth with a certaine wrastling in the heart it is encreased with wrastling it is performed in the heart with wrastling and that which we cannot doe of our selues wée are able to doe by his gift which hath said No man commeth vnto mee vnlesse the Father draw him Ioh. 6.44 Euery one that heareth of my Father and learneth he commeth vnto me him that commeth vnto me I will not cast forth If thou art not yet drawne pray that thou mayest be drawne heare and learne that thou mayest come vnto Christ XXI The small number of good workes The Tempted TRue and liuely faith alwaies workes by loue on the other side that faith which hath not workes is dead in it selfe Gal. 5.6 As the body without the soule is dead so faith without workes is dead Iac. 2.17 Vers 2● Rom. 9.21 Vers 18. But now I doe not see a great number of good workes which may giue manifest testimonie of my faith Euill cleaues vnto me that am willing to doe good to will is present with mee but I finde no power to performe that which is good The Comforter THou doest well that thou doest estéeme the light of faith out of the beames of good workes For as workes which are not done of faith are not truly good workes so faith which is without workes is not true faith but a vaine perswasion Math. 7.16 and emptie shadow Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes 2 Pet. 1.10 saith our Sauiour Doe your endeauour saith Peter that you may make your calling and election sure Therefore out of workes we must iudge of faith and this is the third property of faith that as it hath contrition to vsher it and true confidence on Christ in stead of an Essentiall forme so it alwaies hath new obedience to follow it Therefore thou doest well as I haue said that thou doest estéeme the light of faith out of the beames of good workes but take héede thou doe not thinke that those are onely good workes which are great in their outward shew in the eyes of men and frée from all spot of sinne cleauing vnto them Vnder the name of good workes is especially vnderstood the inward renuing of the heart and the kindling of those spirituall motions in the hearts of the regenerate by the holy Ghost Therefore an holy cogitation a good purpose the true feare of God sincere loue ardent inuocation are truly good workes although they are not perceiued and séene of men Psa 45.14 The glory of the Kings daughter is within the outward workes doe giue testimonie of that inward glory of the reuelation Therefore if thou hast nothing else that thou canst offer vnto God offer vnto God a good will and an holy purpose to liue godlily Offer to God thy heart and thou hast offered all things Submit thy selfe wholy to the will of GOD cleaue vnto him resigne thy will to him and thou shalt be one spirit with him 1 Cor. 6.17 This if thou shalt doe the outward workes will readily follow because the spirit of God dwelling in thée will driue thée to all manner of good workes but where there is not an outward faculty of working there the inward good will to God sufficeth Neither is there any reason why thou shouldest hope that thou canst be frée from the spot of all infirmitie in this life Our workes doe please God not because they are absolutely perfect but because they doe procéede out of true faith in Christ and are offered of beloued Sonnes in stead of a sacrifice of thankesgiuing Acknowledge therefore the testimonie of good workes which they giue of faith least thou be cast downe in thy minde acknowledge the imperfection of the same and the spot of sin cleauing vnto them least thou be too much lifted vp in thy minde XXII The want of Merits The Tempted IVst is God and iust are his iudgements therefore hee will giue to none the reward of eternall life vnlesse there goe before the merit of good workes What therefore is my hope what is my confidence when my workes are imperfect foule many wayes contamined and no way meritorious The Comforter Rom. 6 23 Bern. Ser. 1 in Annunc Col. 106. NAy eternall life is not the due wages of our deserts but the frée gift of God in Christ and for Christ For neither are the merits of men such that for them eternall life is due of right and God should doe iniurie to some man vnlesse he should giue him it For that I may not speake of this that all merits are the gifts of God and so man is more a debter vnto God for them then God to man what are al merits to so great glory All the Saints do confesse Exod. 34.7 Esa 64.6 that before God no man is innocent that all their righteousnesses are before God like the cloath of a menstruous woman that no man can stand before the iudgement of God if he will impute sins that when they haue done all things that are commanded of God Psa 130.3 Luk. 17.10 they are neuerthelesse vnprofitable seruants what place therefore can there be héere for merits who can presume of sufficiencie to saluation either of his owne wisedome or righteousnes or holines Bern Serm. 22. in cant Col. 555. Gerson li. 4. de consola Theolog. pros 1. Rom. 8.18 who can shew his owne righteousnesses as it were in boasting vnto God more then a woman the cloath of her confusion to a man neither our doings nor our sufferings are worthie of the future glory which shal be reuealed on vs. We cannot deserue that crust of bread which we eate by our obedience but are constrained to begge it by daily Prayers of God how much more incomparably lesse can we deserue the reward of eternall life by our merits Therefore if thou wilt fall from grace bragge of thy merits August in Ps 31. Id. de verb. Apost Ser. 15. Fulgen. 1. ad

of life Apoc. 20.12 but in the last iudgement the bookes shall be opened and amongst these also the booke of conscience in which before the whole world grauen with great letters shall all the particular faults and offences of men be séene which are not blotted out in this life by true contrition by faith and amendement of life Before that day of iudgement come and the time of grace passe away thou mayest haue as yet excellent hope and sure confidence that the bloud of Iesus Christ Heb. 9.14 which through the eternall spirit hath offered himselfe without spot to God will clense thy conscience from dead workes to serue the liuing God XXV Too late Repentance The Tempted TRuly I am earnestly sorry for so many wounds inflicted on my conscience I doe earnestly desire the cure of my wounds I haue an earnest desire to keepe a good conscience hereafter but I feare lest that my repentance be too late I feare lest the grace of God so oftimes reiected of mee doe againe reiect and forsake mee August de verâ falsâ poenit cap. 17. Late repentance is wont to deceiue many and that repentance which proceeds from a dying man hee must feare lest that also dye The Comforter NAy there is nothing too late which is true and earnest Cyprian tract 1. contra Demet. No repentance is to late for him that abides yet in this world there are some which are called and come at the eleuenth houre of the day into the Lords Vineyard Mat. 20.9 and receiue the reward of Grace No length of time doth preiudicate eyther Gods equitie or his pietie Fulgent Epist 7. Repentance is neuer too late with GOD 〈◊〉 in whose sight aswell the things past as the things to come are alwayes held for present Behold the example of the Thiefe on the crosse which confessing Christ with his mouth vpon whose vtmost lippes as it were his soule dwelt ready to depart gods the pardon of his sinnes and the 〈◊〉 pr●mise of the heauenly paradise As long as that to day is named Heb. 3.13 so long God doth earnestly looke for our conuersion As long as the heauenly Bridegroome doth as yet defer his comming Mat. 25.5 so long the gate of Grace and indulgence doth as yet lye open The whole time of our life yea the last houre thereof is graunted vs to the space of repentance Esa 65.2 God spreads forth his hands all day neyther doth hee cast forth him that comes vnto him at what time soeuer hee come Iohn 6.37 Therefore take thou care of that that thy repentance be true and earnest and then thou néedest not feare lest it be too late If when the houre of death drawes néere thou therfore repentest thée because thou art destituted of the occasions of sinning that repentance is false for by this reason thou doest not leaue thy sinnes but thy sinnes forsake thée If thou therefore repentest because thou séest the punishment of thy sinnes neare that repentance is likewise false for it procéeds out of the loue of thy selfe not out of the sincere loue of God it procéeds not out of the hate of sinne but out of the irkesomnesse of most iust punishment Therefore that thou mayest repent truly and earnestly grieue for thy sins so often committed and therefore grieue because thou hast so often so grieuously by them offended God the chiefest good see●e in Christ the remission of thy sins and seriously propose to thy selfe whatsoeuer shall remaine of thy life to 〈◊〉 it out wholly on the seruice of God submit thy selfe to God be humbled from thy heart before him permit it to his will what and how great punishments a thousand times deserued of thée he will inflict vpon thée that it may appeare that thou doest repent out of the hatred of sinne and not out of the hatred of punishment Psal 51.19 Such a contrite and humbled heart will be a most acceptable sacrifice vnto God for so he saith by the Prophet Esa 66.2 To whom shall I haue respect but to the poore and contrite in spirit and him that trembles at my words XXVI The doubting of the grace of God The Tempted TRuly I feele in my heart serious contrition and griefe for my sinnes neither doe I altogether despaire of the mercy of God yet my heart is shaken with the waues of doubtings neither as yet am I certainely assured of the free remission of my sinnes Indeed well I hope in the meane time humbly I doubt the consideration of Gods mercy doth lift me vp but the thought of mine owne vnworthinesse doth againe cast me downe I am conuerted vnto God therefore I hope well but I am conuerted too late therefore I doubt as yet in part The Comforter BVt I will set most firme props vnder thy wauering faith on which thou mayest relie thée against all the tempests of doubtings for neither is that doubting an humble confession of our vnworthinesse but a dangerous oppugning of the faith that ought of right to be giuen to Gods promises neither is there any reason of doubting of sufficient strength in late conuersion and repentance when the mercy of God doth offer to al that are earnestly conuerted a most certaine promise of the remission of sins First of al therefore attend to the vnmoueable verity of the promises of God Whosoeuer they are that acknowledging and bewailing their sins doe séeke remission of them in Christ and conceiue a firme purpose of amendement of life to them God hath promised his grace forgiuenesse of sinnes and eternall life Whosoeuer beleeueth on the Sonne Ioh. 13.15 18. 1 Ioh. 5.12 Mar. 16.16 doth not perish but hath life eternall He that beleeueth on him is not iudged He that hath the Sonne the same also hath eternall life Hee that shall beleeue and be baptized shall be saued He that hath promised these things is God whose word is more firme then heauen earth which is the truth it selfe 2 Tim. 2.11 which is faithfull and cannot deny himselfe or his word That therefore which God offers with indubitate promises that must thou entertain with indubitate faith neither must thou pretend the infirmitie of thy nature which cannot imbrace the promises of God with such an assurance of trust for this fault of thy nature must be corrected by the efficacy of the holy spirit As thou dost not beléeue on CHRIST out of the strength of nature but out of the working of the Holy Ghost so by the grace of the same spirit thou mayest be assured of the mercy of the Heauenly Father against all doubting that is inherent in thy depriued nature 1 Ioh. 5.10 Hee that beleeues not God makes him a liar Asmuch as thou doubtest so much is diminished of thy trust therefore thou must resist that doubting neither is that to be set forth vnder the specious name of humilitie verily Humilitie ought to arise out of the

and the reward of eternall life that notwithstanding thou become not thereby carnally secure The infallible promises of God doe frée thée from doubting the exhortations and comminations of God doe free thée from carnall securitie There is securitie no where in this life but in the hope of the promises of God alone August in Psal 94. Id. 2. de bono perseuer c. 13. In this life which wholy is a tentation vpon earth he that séemes to stand let him take héede least he fall therefore those that will not perseuere are mingled by the most prouident counsell of God with those which shall perseuere that we may learne to be not loftily wise but agréeing with the humble and worke out our saluation with feare trembling Therefore with one eye of thine heart behold the mercie of God but with the other the iustice of God out of the faithfull beholding of the mercy of God let there arise in thine heart the confidence of perseuerance out of the feare of the iustice of God let there arise in it the flight of carnall security Let the feare of God wound thy flesh least the loue of sinfull flesh deceiue thée Psa 147.11 The delight of the Lord is in them that feare him and hope in his mercy Let the inward man hope and trust let the outward man feare and tremble XXXII The doubting of the writing in the Booke of life The Tempted THey alone doe perseuere and receiue the Crowne of perseuerance which are written in the Booke of life But how may I know that I am written in that Booke The Comforter Apoc. 13.8 cap. 21.27 THat Booke of life is Christ from whence it is called the Booke of life of the Lambe The writing into this Booke of life is nothing else but the election of the beléeuers in Christ to eternal life Eph. 1.5 Apoc. 17.8 For euen as the faithfull are said to be chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world were laid so their names are said to be written in the booke of life from the beginning of the world Therefore we must iudge as of election so also of the writing into the Booke of life not from that which goeth before but from that which followeth after Bern. Serm. 1. Septuag There are manifest signes and tokens of saluation giuen so that it is without all doubt that he is of the number of the chosen in whom those signes shall remaine For as many as are elected from eternity to life they doe heare the word of saluation in time they beléeue on Christ they shew forth the fruits of the spirit they perseuere in faith 1 Ioh. 5.10 He therefore which beléeues on the Son hath the testimonie of God in himselfe for the holy Ghost doth testifie in the heart of beléeuers that they are the Sons of God Rom. 8.16 and written into the Booke of life Those whom God hath predestinated from eternitie Luk. 10.20 Rom. 8.29 whose names he hath written in heauen those doth he call in time by the word iustifie by true faith on Christ that faith shewes it selfe forth by true inuocation of God by patience in the Crosse by the study of holines Therfore let the holy wholsome meditation of election and the Booke of life begin from the wounds of Christ hanging on the Crosse hée that beléeues on him and perseueres in faith is iustified and written into the Booke of the liuing Rom. 10.9 Hast thou not béene receiued by Baptisme into the couenant of grace washed with the blood of Christ from thy sinnes regenerated and renued by the holy Ghost This is an euident signe that thou art written into the booke of life Gal. 3.26.27 For we are all the Sons of God by faith séeing as many as are baptised haue put on Christ How commeth it to passe that falling into sinne out of infirmitie after Baptisme thou hast not béene bruised Sauanar in Psal 31. who hath put vnder his hand who hath receiued thée againe into grace who but the Lord This is a great signe of thine election the elect when he shall fall shall not be bruised God hath written not the Tables of the destinies or the decrees of Rhadamantus but the Booke of life when he chose vs in Christ before the foundations of the world were laide Therefore séeke in Christ by faith the election of thée to life and writing of thée into the Booke of life walke by faith that thou mayest come to predestination Ex Aug. Lom 6.1 sent dist 41. D. They which rashly and without the limits of the word doe search the depth of God are plunged at length ouer head and eares into the déepe XXXIII The feare of Death The Tempted IT is good for mee to cleane vnto Christ I will not let him depart out of my heart before hee blesse mee I haue decreed with true faith to perseuere in Christ that it may be my lot to raigne together with him In the meane time I confesse that I am not yet free from all terrour of death neither doe I feele so great strength and helpe of the Spirit that with the Apostle I desire ardently to be dissolued The Comforter INdéede this is the infirmitie of our flesh and propertie of our corrupt nature that we are more desirous of this life fading then of the life to come that is not flitting Hence comes that feare and terrour of death which that thou mayest ouercome by the power of the spirit and mayest grow in the strength of the inner man waigh those things diligently which I shall propose vnto thée out of the store-house of the heauenly truth First Math. 10.30 Iob. 14.5 it is certaine that euen the haires of our heads are vnder an account with God the number of our moneths is appointed of him he hath set vs downe a bound which wée can by no meanes passe a● our dayes were written in his Booke Psa 139.5 before any one of them was Therefore good reason thou shouldest rest thy selfe in this fatherly will of God of his grace he gaue thée life hée brought thée forth wonderfully out of the close places of thy Mothers belly as long as he would haue thée to be in life he hath kept thée safe and sound from a thousand dangers hée doth now aske againe the soule which heretofore he hath giuen thée surely he doth not take away that which is thine but he askes againe that which is his owne now what action can there lie against him which askes for that againe which he hath lent Furthermore the soule which hée doth require of thée hée doth translate into the ioyes of the heauenly Paradise and wil restore the same againe to the body in the time to come adorned with greater glory and with more shining gifts That body which is reposed into the Chamber of the graue shall in time to come be a farre more glorious worthy and