they proceed from themselves are defiled and mixed with much weakness and imperfection and that they cannot endure the severity of Gods judgements for doth the Lord any where require more of his Saints then to love him with all their heart and with all their souls and so much we finde promised to all that truly return unto God if they have faith and will to seek it Deut. 30.6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul that thou mayest live Yea doth not the Apostle expressely tell us 1 John 4.17 That herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this world Defend the honour of God then according to the truth and take not from the glorious works of Christ whereby the Father is glorified upon pretence of giving glory to the Father Remember what Job saith Chapter 13.7 Will ye speak wickedly for God Will ye talk deceitfully for him In your sixth Sextion as you speak comfortably to the young beleevers in Christ who are constant in their good willing indeavours that their good works are acceptable to God in Christ though for the present they are not wholy unblamable and do truely affirm That the Lord is pleased to reward also that which is sincere in them though accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections yet your sayings in that Section are so accompanied also First In that you speak that the works of beleevers are accepted for their persons the contrary whereof may be truly asserted that the persons are accepted for their works wrought in them by Christ Revelations 3.8 I know thy works behold I have set before thee an open door and no man shall shut it for thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word and hast not denyed my name And verse 10. Because thou hast kept my word I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try then that dwell upon Earth Secondly In that you say That the workes of the best grown Saints in this life are not wholy unblameable and unreproveable in the sight of God Thirdly In your affirmation That the unperfect workes of the Saints are accepted in Christ though they remain such all our life long which is not true of those who have both time and means to aime at perfection it self Hebrews 5.12 13 14. with Hebrews 6.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 c. 2 Peter 1.8 9. Lastly Whereas you imply That bare sincerity will carry out the Saints though they remain imperfect in their obedience all their life long it is a great mistake for the Lord requires growth answerable unto the grace means and space offered unto men even of them who are sincere already 1 Peter 1.22 Seeing you have purified your soules in obeying the truth under the obedience of Love saith the old Latine Translation to the unfeined love of the Brethren see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently But as you have here and elsewhere weakened the hands of the regenerate in the work of perfecting their obedience and good workes so you have animated the unregenerate in their way of working that which is good in your seventh and last Section where you say and that truely That the neglect of what they can do in this kinde is more sinful and displeasing to God then the doing of such things which for matter are commanded in the word where by the way you hint what are the requisite things which should concur to the making up of a good work viz. That they have the word for their rule faith for their efficient a purified heart for their fountain the Glory of God for their end where onely your main efficient is wanting the spirit and power of God Yet thus much we must advertise you of that many of those whom you account to be moral men and Heathens do act out of Conscience enlightened and the grace of regeneration also as Abimilech seems to have done Genesis 20.1.6 Job Rabah the widow of Sarepta and others did CHAP. XVII Of the Perseverance of the Saints THEY whom God hath accepted in his beloved effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit neither totally nor finally can fall away from the state of Grace but shall certainly persevere therein unto the end and be eternally saved a Phil 1 6. 2 Pet 1.10 John 10.28 29. 1 Joh 3.9 1 Pet 1.5 II. This perseverance of the Saints depends not upon their own free-will but upon the immutability of the Decree of Election flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father b 2 Tim 2.18 19. Jer 31.3 upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ c Heb 10.10 14. Heb 13.20 21. Heb 9.12 13 14 15. Rom 8.23 to the end John 17.11 14. Luke 22.32 Heb 7.25 the abiding of the spirit and of the seed of God within them d John 14.16 17. John 2.27 1 John 3. â— and the nature of the covenant of grace e Jer 32.40 from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof f John 10.28 III. Nevertheless they may through the temptations of Satan and the World the prevalency of corruption remaining in them and the neglect of the means of their preservation fall into grievous sins g Mat 26.70 72 74. and for a time continue therein h Psalm 51 title and verse 14. whereby they incur Gods displeasure i Isa 64.5 7 9. 2 Sam 11.27 and grieve his holy Spirit k Eph 4.30 come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts l Psal 51.8 10 12. Revel 2.4 Cant 5 2.3 4 5. have their hearts hardned m Isa 63.17 Marke 6.52 Marke 16.14 their consciences wounded n Psalm 32.3 4. Psalm 51.8 hurt and scandalize others o 2 Sam 12.14 and bring temporal judgements upon themselves p Psalm 89.31 32. 1 Cor 11.30.32 CHAP. XVII Of the perseverance of the Saints examined PErseverance follows good works here in due order for it is in them that the Saints must persevere howbeit we finde in you a constancy which we cannot commend for you persist in doctrine tending to security In your third chapter of Gods eternal decree you make some presume and others to despair teaching that Gods decree of life and death is both particular and absolute In your ninth and tenth chapters you make men stupid by denying us al use of our wils and setting forth Gods work to be irresistable in our first conversion and here you sow pillows under mens arm-holes in saying That true converts cannot possibly fall away from grace We grant indeed that this controversie about the perseverance of the Saints without greater light then for a long time appeared in the world was
that are written in this Book We answer that so much in effect was forbidden long before as Prov. 30.6 Add thou not unto his words least be reprove thee and thou be found a lier Yet many Books of the Holy Prophets and Apostles have been added since the written word of those times yea the same inhibition was given by Moses Deut. 4.2 and 12 32. Ye shall not add to the word which I command you neither shall you diminish ought from it Therefore this addition thus prohibited must necessarily be understood of any new Doctrine in substance differing from the Old even that of Moses But that there should be a vindication of the same when misunderstood or a more full and free publication of the same by the Prophets of the Old-Testament or inspired men of the New is not interdicted but rather promised It is true the whole Counsel of God concerning the glorifying of God and mans salvation is revealed in the New-Testament and so it was even in the Pentateuch of Moses Deut. 29.29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our Children for ever that we may do the words of the Law Now look what reasons can be rendered why new books of Holy Scripture should be written after Moses by the Prophets of the Old Testament and after both by the Prophets and Apostles of the New Testament and the self same will plead for other Scriptures to be yet written after both If it be said that the Devil in time brought in a false understanding of Moses and so corrupted both the Civil and Ecclesiastical Estate and therefore it was necessary that Prophets should be raised up to cleer the Doctrine of Moses to reprove Princes Priests and Prophets to restore the Truth and worship of God and to foretell things to come whether good or evil c. And that in process of time when Satan had corrupted Moses and the Prophets with false glosses perverted the civil Government defiled 〈◊〉 Ministers and worship of God That for the Reformation of these and all other abuses as also to record what was fulfilled in their daies and to prophesie of future things the Apostles and inspired men of the New Testament were appointed to write the respective Books thereof we shall crave leave to demand these things of you again First Whether Satan that old and malicious perverter of all truths and goodness be not alive and as vigilant and active as heretofore Secondly Whether it was not foretold even in the New Testament that there should be a departure from the Faith as before 2 Thes 2.3 1 Tim. 4.1 Luk. 18 8. That there should be false Teachers in the last daies who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2.1 2. c. which Jude in his Epistle testifies also That the whole Book of God should become a sealed Book Rev. 5.1 c. That a smoake ascending out of the bottomless pit should darken the Sun and the Air Rev. 9.2 That the two witnesses which prophesie in sackcloath a thousand two hundred and threescore daies or years which can be no other then the two Testaments as most spiritual men conclude were to be slain deprived of light and life for a time Rev. 11 8 to 12. That iniquity should so abound that all love and true goodness should decay Matthew 24.12 2 Timothy 3.1 2 3 4 5. c. That there should be false Christs and false Prophets which should preach those Christs Matth. 24.24 That Antichrist the son of perdition should fit in the Temple of God as if he were God or Christ 2 Thess 2.3 4 5 6 7. c. And finally that for the most part the visible Church with her severall Sects should become a great Harlot calling her self the Spouse of Christ and committing Whoredomes daily against Him his holy example and righteous Life and Kingdom which should be orabide in us being full of names of Blasphemy the most wicked of every Sect or Profession calling themselves â—â—e Temple and Tabernacle of God and the Saints of Christ Rev. 17.1 2. Thirdly whether Christ himself shall not come again in the Spirit to reveal Antichrist to consume him with the Spirit of his mouth and to destroy him with the brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 Luke 18.8 To binde Satan and seal him up in the bottomless pit that he deceive not the Nations as before Revel 20.1 2. and to shorten the dayes of seducement contention and mutuall destruction in the Churches for the Elect sake lest no flesh should bee saved Mat. 24.22 23. Fourthly whether the Gospel is not to be preached anew to the whole world after all this ignorance error and corruption brought in Mat. 24.12 13 14. And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall grow cold but he that endureth unto the end the same shall be saved And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall bee preached in all the World for a witness to all Nations and then shall the end come to wit the end of Babylon or of the false and wicked Jerusalem of the Gentiles spoken of in that Chapter under the type of the former proud factious contentious bloody Christ-murthering City of which Christ took occasion to speak Vers 1 2. Nor was this universall publication of the Gospel fulfilled in the Apostles days but was foreshewed to St John as a thing yet to com Re. 14 6 7. And I saw another Angel flying in the midst of heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth and to every Nation and kindred and tongue and people saying with a loud voice Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgement is come That is upon the last wicked Jerusalem before mentioned Whereupon the fall of Babylon follows vers 8. And the curse of him that worshipeth the Beast or his image vers 9. both which Babylon and the Beast become clearly laid open by the said preaching of the Gospel Fifthly Whether there shall not another Elias arise after John Baptist to prepare the way for Christs spiritual coming to purge and renue the earth and to judge and govern the world in righteousness according to manifold promises and prophesies Isai 2.1 2 3 4. Micah 4.1 2 3. Jsa 11.2 3 4 5 6 and chap. 54.5 Dan. 7.14 27. Zach. 14.9 Psal 96.9 10 11 12 13. and Psal 98.1 9. The reason of this Querie is taken from the express words of our Saviour Matth. 17.11 Jesus answered and said unto them Elias truely shall first come and restore all things where he granteth that there is another Elias yet to come besides John Baptist already come spoken of in the verse following Sixthly Whether there shall not in time be a cleerer and more free dispensation of all truths after the Apostles dayes then in those or any former times Luk 12.3 Therefore whatsoever ye
Inâ—rdinate affection evil concupiscence and coveâ—ousness c. This is that Earth which is opposed to be the Heaven of Gods holiness Eccles 5.2 For God is in Heaven and thou upon the Earth For the Lord is present in this outward Earth aswel as we in this Earth all men sin but there are some places in the new Testament also which you oppose us with as first that Luke 17.10 So likewise you when ye have done all these things say ye are â—â—p ofitable servents But this place if well considered makes more against you then for you for our Saviour there implyes that we may do all things which are commanded to wit through his grace yet having so done we are unprofitable servants to God for we have done but our duties and that through grace also and so have added nothing to the Lord. But a second and a grand objection is made out of Rom. 7.14 15 16 17 18 19. c. For the Law saith the Apostle is spiritual But I am carnal sold under sin Answer Although this place is commonly taken as if the Apostle spoke here of his own personal and present estate yet it is certain he did not first because elsewhere speaking of that estate he contradicts what is here spoken by him as 1 Cor. 4.4 For I know nothing by my self but here the person spoken of knowes much evil by himself and Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me but he that is here intended though to will is present with him yet findes no means or power to do any good yea that which the Apostle speaks of his present estate chap. 8. of this Epistle to the Romans verse 2. is directly opposite to what is complained of verse 23 of this 7 chapter for in that 23. verse the complaint speaketh thus But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my minde and bringing me into coptivity to the law of sin which is in my members Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death But Rom. 8.2 Paul saith For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death what can be more contradictory then this last place is to the former So that of necessity the fist place must be understood of babes in Christ whom Paul here personates instructs and comforts and the latter of his own present condition and victorie as Occumenius and others well observe and what was more usual with the Apostle then to speak of that which concerns others in his own person 1 Cor. 4.6 And these things brethren I have in a figure transferred to my self and Apollos for your sake 1 Cor. 13.11 c. When I was a child I spake as a child c. Thirdly You alledge against us and this truth the words which the Apostle speaks to the Galatians chap. 5. verse 17. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contraeâ—y the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Here say you the Apostle describes that combat betwixt the flesh and the spirit which must continue while we endure in the body Answer But where do you read that this conflict must last so long The Apostle saith a good space before his death 2 Tim. 47. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Were not the Galatians Babes in Christ so young and weak that the Apostle had no sooner left them then they were ready to be drawn away from Christ by the false Apostles See Gal. 1.6 with 3.1 2. Now to make their estate the highest pitch growth of a Christian in this life is as if we should take the scantling of a child and conclude that it is the full stature of mankinde and that no man is or can be of a taller groth Fourthly You object what St. James writes chap. 3.2 For in many things we offend all where you imvolue him and his fellow Apostles in that plural number To which we answer That the Apostle can no more be there implyed then in the 9 verse where he saith again and that plurally With the same tongue we bless God even the Father and with the same tongue we curse men which are made after the similitude of God Was James or the Apostles now of the number of those that still cursed men But it is frequent for lenity sake and in a winning way for the Prophets and Apostles of Christ to speak in the plural and sometimes in the singular number those things which concern not themselves but their hearers onely Nebem 5.10 I pray you let us leave of this usury saith the man of God who was no wayes guilty of that sin Isa 59.10 the Prophet speaketh this We groap for the wall like the blind and we groap as if we had no eyes Lastly It is objected out of 1 John 1.8 That the Apostle saith directly If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and there is no truth in us Answer The same Apostle implyes ch 4 17. that he and his fellow Apostles were now without sin Herein is our love made perfect that we might have boldness in the day of Judgement because as he is so are we in this present world There is no fear in love but persect love casteth out fear The Apostle therefore speaks the former words to those that were young in Christ and yet imperfect as is evident chap. 2. verse 1. My little children these things write I unto you that ye sin not c. Yea he explains himself so Chap. 1. verse 10. that he may be safely taken into the number If we that say we have not finned we make him a lyar and his word is not in us And thus much of your first erroneous proposition in your 5th and last Section Your other Thesis wherein you affirm That though this corruption remains in the regenerate during life yet it is actually pardoned is false also and contradictory to these ensuing and many other Scriptures Prov. 28 13. Luke 24.47 Acts 8.20 Acts 26.18 or as we shall shall shew at large chap. 11. by Gods assistance Now for a conclusion of this last Section give us leave to propound these Queries unto you First whether those ten unbeleeving spies did not highly displease God and much hinder injure and prejudice the people which hearkened unto them who cryed that there were such Anakiâ— in the way that they could not be subdued by them and Cities so high that they were walled up to Heaven and therefore not 〈◊〉 be scaled Numb 14. Did not the people too slothful and averse before to fight the Lords battail against the Canaanites become therethrough wholy unbeleeving even despairing of victory and altogether indisposed to the fight enjoyned by the Lord Were not both they and those their leaders
corrupted that without it we could not have been saved or brought to communiō w th God again by that his other conceptiō alone in the womb of the Virgin Mary as neither could infants be saved without his other presence spoken of before Thus is Christ both the resurrection and the life Joh. 11.25 viz. a life preservation to the innocent a resurrection to the dead who beleev on him obey him In your 3 Section you are first much mistaken and afterwards no less defective Mistaken in these things 1. That you say That the Lord Jesus in his human nature was sanctified above measure For though it is said of him Joh. 3.34 that he receiveth not the spirit by measure yet that is spoken of the God-head which alone is infinite As for his humanity it being a creature must needs be finite though spiritually enriched above any other creature 2. Whereas you say or imply That in his humanity likewise all treasures of wisdom are hidden it is a mistake likewise For that place Col. 2.3 to which you refer us speaks of the Diety likewise The same we say concerning Colos 1.19 where it is written that it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell by you appropriated but amiss to his human nature 2. Though it must be granted also to be true which the Aposte speakes Heb. 7 26. that he is holy hormless undefiled and separate from sinners and made higher then the Heavens yet the last words transfer this honor to the Deity especially and not to the humanity alone as you would restrain them And thus he is throughly furnished to do the great office of a Mediator which Office as you truely say Christ did not take upon himself of his own head but was there unto called of his Father who hath put all power judgement into his hand Thus of your mistakes deficient you are in setting forth what and wherein the Mediatorship of Christ doth mainly consist especially in his works of spiritual Mediation Intercession and Redemption In your 4. Section you have in part set forth Christs twofold state in the humanity the one of humiliation the other of exaltation but if you will confider what you have here omitted you will have more cause to be humbled then exalted For 1. You make no mention at all of that great work of his wherein Gods justice and severity against sin is so conspicuous and the love of Christ towards mankind is so illustrious to wit Christs descending into Hel his suffering there for us the torments due to the sins of the whole world Which grand article of the Faith though retain'd in the most ancient Creeds confessed in the most Orthodox Councels is by you suppressed to the eternal blemish of this your confession But Consider we pray you was not Jonah three daies afflicted or tormented by the sense of Gods wrath upon him in the belly of Leviathan as a type of our Saviours future sufferings See Jonah 2.2 Out of the belly of Hell have I cried unto thee compared with Mat. 12.40 For as Jonah was 3 daies and 3 nights in the Whales belly so shall the Son of man be 3 daies and 3 nights in the heart of the earth Doth not the Apostle also expresly say Ephes 4 9. Now that be ascended what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth Where take notice of two things First Of the comparative 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the lower which is according to an usual Hellenism in the New Testament put for the superlative the lowest as utter darkness is put for the utmost darkness And Secondly That the heart of the earth afore-named Matth. 12. and the lower parts of the earth here mentioned cannot possibly be understood of Christs Sepulther which was upon the superficies of the earth Thirdly Doth not Christ comfort himself with this that though he knew he should go into hell yet he fore-saw that God would not leave his soul there alwayes Psal 16.10 for thou wit not leave my soul in hell neither wilt thou suffe◠thine holy one to see corruption Doth not St. Peter seconded with the other Apostles and all filled with the holy Ghost in the day of Pentecost expresly affirm Acts 2.24 the God raised up Christ from the dead loosing the paines of death c Now Christs body while it remained in the grave was not in any pain therefore it was his soul that at the hour of his resurrection was loosed from those paines and torments But here two things seem to puzle you First That saying of Christs upon the Cross not long before his expirement John 19.30 crying it is finished Secondly That he sayeth to the penitent theef this day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Luke 23.43 To which we answer severally as followeth To the first We object a like place John 17.4 where our Saviour saith unto his Father some space before his death I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do that is I have almost finished it And how much more then might Christ so say when he had suffered so much more in the garden before his Judges and upon the cross If you reply That in the former place he speaks of his ministery we will rejoyn that he speaks here of the sacrifice and offering up of his corporal life both to fulfil the types of the Old Testament and to set us an example of dying with him To the second we answer with Gillebert in Bernard That as man consists of three distinct parts body soul spirit 1 Thes 5.23 seconded with Hebr. 4.12 So did Christs humanity also consist of the same parts Psal 16 9 10. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoyceth my flesh also shall rest in hope for thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell nor suffer thine holy one to see corruption Where the heart is the soul and the flesh the body so the glory was his spirit which Jacob also calls his honour Gen 49.6 O my soul come not thou into their secret unto their assembly mine honour be not thou united Which two are dissevered again by a gradation Isa 26.9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early The which distinction of parts being most clear we say then that the spirit of Christ at his death immediately ascended to God according to those words Luke 23.43 aforesaid This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise his body also was laid in the grave yet saw no corruption but his soul went to hell there to suffer for us the condign punishment of our sins in the proper place of punishment Oh justice upon the surety to be trembled at for ever O love in Christ never to be forgotten Secondly You are deficient in setting forth the inward and spiritual crucifying death and burial of Christ within us ever since our fall
It depends upon the seed of God remaining in us but that seed remaines in none unremoveably but those which are born again in Christ after the Spirit or the Saints of the third form and order of whom it is said peculiarly 1 Joh. 3.9 That they cannot sin For all other Saints those of the second form Saints and believers in Christ which are not yet dead and made alive again with him may and do sin as well though not so often as the Saints of the first form or the fathers new begotten ones Lastly you say here That this certainty of perseverance depends upon the nature of the covenant of grace of which there are two parts the one promiseth cleansing grace in and through the blood and Spirit of Christ the other a stedfast and immoveable kingdom to those that are so cleansed See for the first Jerem. 31.32 33 34 c. and for the others Jere. 32.40 but all this is promised conditionally to those that believe Mat. 28.18 19. Mark 16.15 16. to such as persevere unto the end Mat. 24.13 and to him that overcometh Reuel 3.12 So that the stedfast estate and kingdom which cannot be shaken depends upon perseverances in mortification and our immoveable estate upon the receiving of that Kingdom Yet do we not deny but that the perseverance of the Saints whereby they continue in the following of Christ unto their death and their infallible estate from which they cannot afterwards possibly fall away hath very great dependance upon all the things by you named but in such manner as we have spoken In your third and last Section you erre first on the one hand and then on the other For first Whereas you ascribe unto all the Saints upon earth promiscuously a possibility of falling into greivous sins by temptations from Satan and the world the prevalency of remaining corruption and neglect of the means of their preservation whereby they may incur Gods displeasure grieve his Spirit suffer some deprivation of their graces and comforts harden their hearts wound their consciences hurt and scandalize others and bring temporal judgements upon themselves We say That the Saints in the Holy Ghost that are risen again with Christ are past all this 2 Cor. 5.12 Old things are passed away behold all things are become new 1 John 3.9 He that is born of God doth not commit sin but his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God See Revel 2.17 26 27. Revel 3.9 10 11 12. Revel 7.14 15 16 17. Revel 21.3 4 5 6. And I heard a great voice from heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any pain to wit spiritual pain for the former things are passed away But on the other hand any other Saint those especially which are in their minority may possibly by the meanes aforesaid not onely faile and suffer after the manner aforesaid but by their wilful and wicked desertion of God fall finally from grace into everlasting perdition and yet no one of those can be plucked out of the Fathers hand by all the enemies of mankind if he will abide with God and his Christ John 10.28.29 But how much safer had it been for you and your hearers if in stead of your thus securing the Saints you had with Saint Paul charged them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling as we said before and with holy David had shewed them what they should do that they might be kept from falling finally Psalm 15.1 2 3 4. and to have set Saint Peters scale before them for the same end likewise 2 Pet. 1.5.10 The high way to that kingdom which cannot be shaken is to get grace into our hearts whereby we may serve God with Reverence and godly fear Heb. 12.28 CHAP. XVIII Of the assurance of Grace and salvation ALthough hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God and state of salvation a Joh 8.13 14. Mich 3.11 Deut 29.19 Jo 8.41 which hope of theirs shall perish b Matt 7.22 23. yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus and love him in sincerity endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace c Joh 3.14 18.19 21 24. Jo 5.13 and may rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God which hope shal never make them ashamed d Ro 5.2 5 II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable perswasion grounded upon a fallible hope e Heb 6 1â— 19. but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the Divine truth of the promises of salvation f Heb 6 17 18. the inward evidences of those graces unto which these promises are made g 2 Pet 1.4 5 10 11 1 Joh 2.3 1 Joh 3.14 2 Cor 1.12 the testimony of the Spirit of Adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God h Ro 8.15.16 which spirit is the earnest of our inheritance whereby we are sealed to the day of Redemption i Eph 3.13.14 Eph 4.30 2 Cor 1 21 22. III. This infallible assurance doth not so infallibly belong to the essence of faith but that a true believer may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it k 1 Jo. 5 13. Isa 50.10 Mar 9.14 Psal 88. througho Psal 77. to v. 12. 1 Cor 2.14 1 Joh 4.13 Heb. 6.11 12 Eph 3.17 18 19. yet being inabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God he may without extraordinary revelation in the right use of ordinary meanes attain thereunto l 1 Cor 2.12 Jo 4.13 Heb 6.11 12 Eph 3.17 18 19. and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and Election sure m 2 Pet. 1.10 that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost in love and thankfulness to God and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience the proper fruits of the assurance n Ro 5 1 2 5. Rom 14.17 Ro 15.3 Eph 1.3 4. Psa 4.6 7. Psa 119 32. so far is it from inclining men to looseness o 1 Jo 2.12 Ro 6.1 2. Tit 2 11 12 14. 2 Cor 7.1 Rom 8.1 12. 1 Jo 3.1 2. Ps 130.4 1 John 1.6 7. IV. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation diverse wayes shaken diminished and intermitted as by negligence in preserving of it by falling into some speciall sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit by some sudden and vehement Temptation by
Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and have no light p Cant 5.2 3 6. Psal 51.8 12 14. Eph 14.30 31. Psa 77.1 to the 10. Mat 26 69 70 71 72. Psal 31.22 Psal 88. throughout Isaiah 50.10 yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God and life of faith that love of Christ and the brethren that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which by the operation of the spirit this assurance may in due time be revived q 1 John 3.9 Luke 22.32 Job 13.15 Psalm 73.15 Psalm 51.12 Isaiah 50.10 and by the which in the mean time they are supported from utter despaire r Micha 7.7 8 9. Jeremiah 32.40 Isaiah 54.7 8 9. Psalm 22.1 Psalm 88. throughout CHAP. XVIII Of the Assurance of grace and salvation examined IN your title or inscription of this Chapter you have joyned two things together which are not alwayes inseparable For the assurance of Grace for the present may be without certainty of salvation for the future but the infallibility of the last alwayes presupposeth the former Here we cannot but commend your method for the assurance of Salvation hath such close and immediate dependance upon perseverance in obedience and grace that that where the former is but conditional and possible this latter is so likewise but where the other is certain this follows it in infallibility And hence it will necessarily follow that wherein you were mistaken in the former you must unavoidably err in this latter how be it many things which you here set forth have good assurance of truth as those things in your first Section That hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God and estate of salvation and that the hope of such shall perish But remember we pray you that as privy hypocrites can have no such hopes so some which take themselves to be no hypocrites because they serve God in outward duty and forms yet are strangers to the wayes of everlasting righteousness will be found in this number of vaine hopes at the last Matthew 7.21 22 23. Luke 13.25 26.27 2 Tim. 3.5 It is true also which you there say in the next place of assurance That such as truly believe in Christ which are onely they that seek sanctification from him to make them new creatures as well as deliverance from hell or an outward happiness in heaven and love him in sincerity endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace yea that such also may rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God but where you add in â—he close of the Section That this their hope shall never make them ashamed we cannot close with you unless you put in this proviso which the Apostle speakes of Rom. 5.5 That the love of God be and remaine shed abroad in your hearts which we understand of a constant and active love Thus the Apostle promiseth salvation to the weaker sex also 1 Tim. 2.15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in child bearing if they continue in faith love and holiness with sobriety It is to perseverance that the promises are made of finall salvation In your second Section you say That the assurance of hope is founded First upon Gods promises where you might have added his oath also Heb 6.12 13 14 15. Secondly upon the inward evidence of these graces you should have said those conditions unto which the promises are made And thirdly upon the witnessing of the Spirit of Adoption with our spirits that we are the children of God But mark here we pray you first that while the conditions of the promises are but a fulfilling and not fully performed our hopes and assurances are but conditional And 2. that as the spirit of Adoption is given us but conditionally at the first so it beareth witness with our spirit accordingly speaking peace while we carry our selves as children reproving us when we rebel and departing from us when we remain incorrigible Isa 63.8 9 10 For he said surely they are my people children that will not err so he was their Saviour In all their affliction he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pitty he redeeemed them he hare them and carryed them all the dayes of old But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their enemie and be fought against them Yea the Apostle in the same place where he speaks of our Adoption and the Spirit of Adoption bearing witness with our spirits declares that at the first it is but a conditionall estate Rom. 8.15 16 17. as we shewed before Chap. 12. The same we likewise spake concerning the earnest of the spirit whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption for as some Deeds are fealed only as skrols to confirm a bargain when conditions are performed so it is with the earnest and first sealing of the spirit but when the conditions are fulfilled in our dying with Christ then the spirit seales men finally and absolutely and becomes the promised comforter which shall abide with the Saints for ever Rom. 8.13 2 Titus 2.11 12. Jo. 7 38 39. Act. 2.38 Jo. 14.17 In your third Section you say truly That this infallible assurance doth not belong to the essence of faith where we will be bold to add that it pertaineth not to faith but is an estate which comes after that saith in Christ hath done its office in purifying our hearts from sin and not before Yet may a conditional hope yea assurance be attained befâ—â—e by the meanes which you there set forth and that without extraordinary revelation yea that conditional assurance may be of excellent use for the ends and intents here by you remembred and how much more that absolute assurance which is the concomitant and fruit of Gods inward kingdome when it comes unto us in power of which the Prophet speaks thus Isa 32.15 16 17. Vntil the spirit be poured upon us from on high and the wilderness be a fruitful field and the fruiâ—â—ul field counted for a forrest Then judgement shall dwell in the wilderness and righteousnesse remain in the fruitfull field And the work of righteousnesse shall he peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever which assurance when it is absolute wil not incline men unto loosness as you there speak but a false perswasion that it is absolute when it is not may make men remiss yea secure and loose also And how much more will your former doctrine which in this behalf we blamed do it by naturall consequences if Gods grace interpose not to the contrary As to your last Section we grant that the inchoated and conditional assurance of believers may be either shaken and diminished or
me saith the Lord Zach. 14.16 c. And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the Nations that came against Jerusalem shall even go up from yeer to yeer to worship the King the Lord of Hosts c. In your fourth Section you yet seem to digress further from the truth in saying That the judiciall law did expire with the state of the Jewes for doubtless whensoever their Commonwealth shall be restored that Law shall be revived yea how far it may now oblige all Christian states to follow it is worth your inquiring You say That the general equity of it may still continue In which words you recommend the whole upon the matter for what is there to be found in it but equity it self can ever the Christian Nations hope to finde out better political Laws then those which first came from Heaven Yea what by the Testimony of almost all men were more to be wished for in a Christian state then that their Laws might be few in number just in themselves and eafie to be known as those would be if they were gathered into a body and that such as have controversies might have a speedy dispatch as in Moses his dayes In your fifth Section you do justly maintain the continued authority and obligation of the moral Law over all persons under the Gospel Where you truly affirm That Christ doth not any way dissolve but muchst engthen this obligation which thing he doth by his Doctrine Mat. 5.16 17 18 19. by his example John 15.10 and especially by the end of his coming which is to fulfill it in us Rom. 8.3 4. and not for us otherwise then we have shewed before as you in your next Section partly imply In your sixth Section though you do not shew what it is to be under the Law yet there you truly set forth many most precious uses of that law even for the regenerate Nevertheless you forget a singular peice of service it did them in their first converson by God their fathers cooperation when it first made known their sin and misery unto them and was their Schoolemaster unto Christ Galatians 3.22 23 24. At which time while we were under the work of the Law breeding fear of wrath for we alwayes remain under the rule of it till it be dead we were troubled with the spirit of bondage which made us justly fear the wrath and vengeance to come Rom. 8.15 And this was the first great bower and encliner of our wils to leave our wicked wayes and keep Gods Commandements yet an impulsive out of self love and self preservation for the present till faith in Gods gracious promises did kindly melt and charge our hearts to bewaile and leave sin as also to work righteousness out of love and good will to him that was so gracious towaâ—ds us And in this sense we may grant you that which you speak of in your seventh and last Section of the Spirits subduing our wils for it is by the work of the Law that our pride is first brought down and our strong inclination to sin with ouâ— utter aversness to righteousness becomes broken in us but our wils are sweetly attracted and framed to choose the good and nil theevil by the apprehension of mercy and grace from God whom in our own sense by the sentence of our own consciences we deserved nothing but peâ—dition Lo this is that wise powerful and gracious work of God in the conversion of a sinner which you call Gods irresistable working and yet is nothing less then a compulsion though it wants not strong impulsions at the first to work upon our stiffe yet not inflexible wils That these forementioned uses of the Law are not contrary to the grace of the Gospel but either make way for the same or sweetly comply therewith as you speak in this last Section is undoubtedly true And therefore the believer under the Covenant of grace remains still in some sence under works But yet if the Spirit of Christ both can and usually doth subdue our wils and inable us freely and chearfully to do the will of God revealed in the law as you here speak what letteth but that our corruptions may be abolished our sanctification perfected and our obedience to the law made compleat especially if we seek that grace contrary to your former doctrines Yea if Christ by his Spirit can and will so fulfill the Law in us which of the Saints made perfect in the world to come you will not deny what great need can there be at that time may some say of Christs outward obedience to be our righteousness But of that sufficiently before For a conclusion then of this Chapter as you here tacitly oppose the Antinomians and other such adversaries to the law so we pray you remember that it is upon your own grounds here and elsewhere that they desert the Law for they thus argue If Christ hath fulfilled the Law for us in his active and personal obedience to make us compleatly righteous before God what need is there of our obedience to the same Yea some of them are so bold as to say They see not how God in Justice can require obedience to his Law the second time at our hands which he hath both exacted and obtained already from his Son in our behalf yea why should any still perish for their disobedience against the Law who yet believed on Christ as some do Mat. 7.21 22 23. Thus they argue for themselves out of your own principles so dangerous a thing it is to lay a sandy foundation in the bottom of the structure But is not the keeping of Christs words and sayings and therein the fulfilling of the Commandements through his grace and help that immoveable rock which he hath commended to every wise builder for a sure foundatition Mat. 7.24 25. CHAP. XX. Of Christian liberty and liberty of Conscience THE Liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the Gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin the condemning wrath of God the curse of the moral Law a Tit 2.4 1 Thess 1.10 Ga 3.13 and in their being delivered from this present evil world bondage to Satan and dominion of sin b Gal 1.4 Col 1.19 Act 26.18 Ro 6.14 from the evil of afflictions the sting of death the victory of the grave and everlasting damnation c Ro 8.28 Psa 119.71 1 Cor. 15.54 55 56 57. Ro 8.1 as also in their access to God d Ro 5.1 2. and their yeilding obedience unto him not out of slavish fear but a child like love and willing mind e Rom 8.14 15. 1 Joh 4.18 All which were common to all believer under the Law f Gal 3.9 14 but under the new Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the Ceremonial Law to which the Jewish Church was subjected g Gal 4.1 2 3 6 7 Gal