euery man out of himselfe for happinesse seeing God iustifieth the vngodly verse 5 and to draw all that shall bee saued to looke for saluation onely in Gods free mercy forgiueing their iniquitie and couering their sinne and not imputing to them their sinne Vnder which speeches is contained the way and meanes how the righteous God who will not let one sinne and breach of his Law to escape vnpunished without deserued condemnation doth yet set free poore sinners from their sinne and punishment which is onely by the satisfaction which Christ hath made for them in bearing their punishment wherwith God being satisfied doth fully and freely forgiue all those who by Faith accept this mercie offered vnto them To this end throughout the Scripture is this great benefite of forgiuenes of sinne by Christ so plentifully proclamed vnto vs miserable sinners I wil cite a few for many When Iohn the Baptist was sent to prepare way for Christ first seeing Christ coÌ„ming vnto him Ioh. 1. 29. hee cried out Behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world Our Sauiour himselfe after his resurrection appearing to two of his Disciples going to Emaus Luk 24. 45. hauing opened their vnderstanding that they might vnderstand the Scriptures 46. said vnto them Thus it is written 47. and thus it behoued Christ to suffer and to rise againe from the dead the third day and that Repentance and Remission of sinnes should bee preached in his name among all nations beginning at Ierusalem Likewise the Apostle Paul preaching at Antioch to the Iewes in their Synagogues said vnto them Be it knowne vnto you therefore men and brethren that through this man meaning Christ is preached vuto you forgiuenesse of sinnes Act. 3. 38 39. And from all things from which yee could not be iustified by the Law of Moses Rom. 4. 25. by him euery one that beleeues is Iustified Gal. 1. 4. And so all the rest of the Scriptures Tit. 2. 14. in which it is said Heb. 1. 3. that Christ was Deliuered to death for our sinnes 1. Pet. 2. 24. And gaue himselfe to redeeme vs from all iniquitie And hath by himselfe purged our sinne Reu. 1. 5. That he bare our sinnes on the tree That hee loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes And to shut vp all with that worthie saying of Saint John If any man sinne 1 Ioh. 2. 1 2. wee haue an Aduocate with the Father Christ the righteous And he is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but for the sinnes of the whole world In all of which what can any man thinke to be Gods meaning Vse but to prouide a meanes to saue vs sinners And therefore whosoeuer feeles his sinne and feares Gods wrath may boldly come to Christ and stedfastly beleeue that God for Christs sake will forgiue him and remember his sinnes no more And so much the more may and ought euery one to whom this good newes of pardon is brought by the preaching of the Gospell lay claime to this pardon and so shall hee please God and saue his owne soule otherwise as his sin shall bee exceeding great so shall his damnation bee more grieuous I doe therefore againe exhort euery poore soule who faine would beleeue not to make his sinne greater then Gods mercy but seeing Christ hath borne the punishment of his sinne and fully appeased Gods wrath for him and doth expresly call him and proclaime this pardon vnto him therefore that hee commit himselfe to Christ and so giue glorie to God in beleeuing that through Christ his debt is discharged and he freed from condemnation so that neither God will nor the deuill nor his owne conscience shall be able to lay any thing to his charge then which what can bee more comfortable to a distressed sinner I know not This might content vs if wee were not so full of vnbeleefe but the Lord both knowing and pittying our distrustfull hearts hath said much more to perswade vs of our saluation in and by our Lord Christ Iesus And whereas wee haue learned that to the iustifying of a sinner there is required not onely that his sinne and punishment bee quite taken away but that hee haue perfect righteousnesse 2. part of Iustification without which there can be no life for although these two bee neuer parted no more then soule and body in a liuing man yet they be not both one Imputation of righteousnesse but necessarily distinguished and both required in him that is iustified in Gods sight The Lord therefore hath graciously prouided a meanes whereby we who since the fall of our first parents haue vtterly lost our originall righteousnesse and bee no way able to attaine such righteousnesse as God in iustice requires at our hands may recouer our losse be made perfectly righteous such as God will allow and for which hee will in his iustice grant eternall life As Paul in his glorious triumph before his departure did boldly professe 2 Tim. 4. 6. For I am now readie to be offered 7. and the time of my departure is at hand 8. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the Faith Henceforth is laid vp for mee the crowne of righteousnâ—sse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to all that loue his appearing Which one Scripture might suffise to perswade vs to looke for this righteousnesse and eternall life which by due debt through Gods mercie and the merit of Christ is made ours But because this is not so easily seene much lesse beleeued that such as we shall euer attaine to this high dignitie the Lord hath reuealed his good will towards vs sinners in this behalfe that he hath prepared such a perfect righteousnesse for vs and made a faithfull free grant therof vnto vs that so wee may make it our owne by Faith This is most manifest in that heauenly comparison betweene the first Adam and the second Adam Christ Iesus set forth at large and in many degrees Rom. 5. 12 to the end The summe of all is this that the benefite we haue in Christ doth euery way exceede all the hurt we had in Adam as the Apostle himselfe saith verse 20. Where sinne abounded grace did much more abound v. 21. That as sinne had reigned vnto death so might grace also reigne by righteousnesse vnto eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Where wee see that as sinne through Gods iustice brought death so by Gods mercy the righteousnesse of Christ brought to vs eternall life As is expresly said verse 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Wherin it is cleere that as Christ by his obedience was perfectly righteous so by it many that is all that by Faith receiue Christ are made
preiudice our interest in happinesse that thereby we are driuen euery day to renew our claime to the promise of pardon and so to liue by Faith vntill this vncleane issue be dried vp These sowre hearbs helpe vs to relish Christ the better Moreouer though in this life our endeauours come short of our desires and we alwaies allow a greater measure then we can attaine vnto yet we may by stirring vp the graces begun in vs and by suing God vpon those promises of his Spirit and Grace whereby he hath made himselfe a debter vnto vs come to that measure whereby wee shall make the profession of religion glorious and louely in the eyes of others and comfortable to our selues and so shine farre brighter then others doe Why then doe we not in the vse of all sanctified meanes begge of God to make good the promises wherein he hath caused vs to trust Doe we not beside life of our bodies desire health and strength to discharge all the offices of ciuill life and why should we not much more if the life of God be in vs labour after health and vigor of spirit and for that annointing of the holy Ghost whereby we may doe and suffer all things so as we may draw others to a liking of our waies The truth is Satan laboureth to keepe vs vnder vnbeleefe of particular promises and from renewing our couenant in confidence that God will perfect the worke that he hath begun and not repent him of his earnest So farre as thus we cherish distrust we lie open to Satan Strengthen Faith and strengthen all Let vs therefore at once set vpon all duties required and be in loue with an holy life aboue all other liues and put our selues vpon Gods mercy and truth and we shall be able from experience so farre to iustifie all Gods waies as that wee would not bee in another state for all the world What greater encouragement can we wish then that our corruptions shall fall more and more before the Spirit and we shall be able to doe all things through Christ that strengthneth vs. To make these waies of God more plaine vnto vs this paines is taken by this man of God Not to disparage the labours of other holy men as far as I can iudge there is nothing in this kinde more fully indiciously sauorily written with greater euidence of a Spirit perswaded of the goodnesse and truth of what it sets downe And though distinct from respect to the Author the Treatise deserueth much respect yet it should gaine the move acceptance especially of those that are babes and yong men in Christ that it is written by a Father of long and Reuerend esteeme in the Church who hath begunne in all these rules to others As for our bodies so for our soules wee may more securely rely on an olde experienced Physition Hee commendeth it vnto thee hauing felt the kindly working of it vpon himselfe The Lord by his Spirit conuey these truths into thy heart and vppon good felt hereby in thy soule remember to desire God that he may still bring forth more fruite in his age vntill hee hath finished his course with credit to the Gospell and an assured hope of a blessed charge Grayes Inne RICHARD SIBBS To the Christian Reader IF any Grace and if not Grace what else doth deserue so to bee cōmended vnto the people of God as they may bee set on fire with desire of it till their desire be satisfied surely among and aboue all other Graces the Mother and Nurse-grace the Queene and Soueraigne Grace which bringeth foorth and breedeth vp that nourisheth and cherisheth that commandeth and ordereth all other Graces euen FAITH deserueth as much FAITH I say which is to the soule as the soule is to the body The life of it to the little world as the Sun is to the great world The light of it that which warmeth quickneth comforteth encourageth the person in whom it is Doth it not then deserue the best pains of the most iudicious and industrious Diuines to set it out Great paines hath beene taken hereabouts by men of good note and name So much and so well hath beene vttered and published on this subiect since the latter spring of the Gospell as to vtter and publish any more may be thought to doe no more then what hath beene done before yet without preiudice to any other to the praise of Gods Grace in the Author of this Treatise be it spoken Neuer any tooke such paines to so good purpose in and about the foundation of FAITH as he hath done The onely true proper Groundwork of FAITH is Gods promise Whatsoeuer is prnmised may safely bee beleeued whatsoeuer is beleeued without a promise is presumed As FAITH is the life of the soule so Gods promise is the life of FAITH Desirest thou FAITH take notice of Gods promises Wouldest thou haue thy FAITH like the light in the Lords Sanctuary neuer to goe out Acquaint thy soule with Gods promises know them meditate on them conferre about them let them be continually in thy mind memory heart and tongue If thou findest it too hard a taske for thee to finde them out to ranke them in order and to make fit application of them which is indeede an hard taske Beholde here God hath sent Ezekel Culuerwell as of olde hee sent Ezekel Buzi to set out the promises of God more plentifully and pertinently then euer before and that to breede FAITH where it is not to strengthen it where it is weake to settle it where it wauereth to repaire it where it decayeth to apply it aright to euery neede to extend it to sanctification as well as to iustification and to point out the singular vse of it in matters temporall spirituall and aeternall The subiect matter of this Treatise is fit to be vnder taken by a man well exercised in the holy Scriptures and well acquainted with the disposition of mans heart towards these promises Such an one is he who hath penned and published this treatise His exercise in the Scripture hath enabled him to gather together heapes of promises His experience of the disposition of mans heart hauing piercingly diued thereinto through much friendly and familiar conference with sundry sorts hath enabled him to set those heapes in a fitte and due order What I say of him I know of him for from mine infancy haue I known him and vnder his ministery was I trained vp in my younger yeares hee being at the least two and twenty yeares elder then my selfe Now because of all the Ministers that euer I knew he hath been one of the most painfull faithfull and powerfull giue me leaue good Reader to set downe somewhat of his practise for a patterne to others What manner of entring vpon his pastorall charge he had is not vnknowne to them that were vnder his charge Very few if any at all did hee finde fit to receiue the holy Communion which mooued him by the space
our spirit by the second our sanctification by the third our iustificatioÌ„ that in the mouth of so many witnesses this truth which of al others is the greatest yet most hardly receiued may stand sure for the consolation of all beleeuers and conviction of all vnbeleeuers c. To which is further added vers 10. Hee that beleeueth in the Sonne of God hath the witnesse in himselfe he that beleeueth not God hath made him a lyar because hee beleeued not the record which God witnesseth of his sonne The selfe same word of life is in sundry other Scriptures published vnto vs because the Lord knoweth we haue neede to heare of it continually wee are so full of doubting in time of temptation therefore our Sauiour himselfe proclaimeth this glad tydings Ioh. 3. 16. For God so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life and verse 17. For God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might bee saued So likewise Ioh. 12 47. I came not to condemne the world but to saue the world Againe Ioh. 2. 2. If any man sinne we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the Iust vers 3. And he is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours only but for the sinnes of the whole world And Ioh. 1. 29. Behold the lambe of God which taketh away the sins of the world So the Apostle saith 2. Cor. 5. 19. For God was in Christ reconciling the world vnto himselfe not imputing their sinnes vnto them and hath committed to vs the word of reconciliation In all which and many other Scriptures this is manifest that God in his word hath made a generall offer of saluation in Christ and inuiteth all to whom hee sendeth his seruants the preachers of his Gospell to come to Christ that they might bee saued as is plaine in the parable of the wedding Mat. 22. 1. which is therefore called the Gospell that is good newes because it bringeth foorth this glad tydings of great ioye that shall be to all people as the Angels of the Lord tolde that the sheepheards of the birth of Christ Luk. 2. 10. And this is the same which our Lord Iesus himselfe after hee had finished his whole work of mans redemption here on earth and was to ascend vp to his father to prepare a place for all his members commanded his Apostles and so consequently gaue in commission to al their successours the preachers of the Gospell to proclaime and publish this Gospell to euery creature that is to euery man and woman that so euery soule to whom the sound of the Gospell should come might haue sufficient ground whereon to build their faith and be saued or be made without excuse for neglecting so great saluation which at the first began to bee preached by the Lord and afterward was confirmed by vs that heard him Heb. 2 3. This then is the only ground whereon sauing faith is builded Namely this generall pardon proclaimed in the Gospell to poore sinners which I haue very plentifully prooued for that it is not well considered by many who faine would beleeue yet being ignorant hereof doe long time pine away with griefe for that they see nothing which might make them being so vile in their owne eyes so bold as to beleeue that there is any such loue in God towards them as to giue Christ vnto them Others more dangerously presume of Gods fauour without any such ground whereon they build their perswasion but onely on the outward change of their life which often is found deceitfull as was before shewed Now followeth how a poore sinner yet voide of sauing grace How to build faith on the word and finding nothing in himselfe which may make him bold to beleeue may builde vpon this ground that so he may attaine to true faith whereunto these three considerations bee necessary Three consideraâ—ions First what is said Secondly to whom Thirdly by whom that so hee may haue good warrant to beleeue that he shal enioy this mercy offered For the former What is said the poore distressed sinner is to weigh with himselfe that in this Gospell and glad tidings of saluation is proclaimed and freely offered forgiuenesse of sins through Christ as is plaine by the Apostle Paul his preaching to them at Antioch Act. 13. 38. Bee it knowne vnto you therefore men and brethren that through this man is preached vnto you forgiuenesse of sinnes where as in all the former Scriptures and in many others Christ and all his benefits for our iustification sanctification and full glorification is the matter offered which beeing that which euery humbled sinner most desireth how can it be but welcome newes to heare that there are such things prepared and offered as hee most desireth which must needes mooue him oft to sigh for the same and say Oh that I might once haue my part in this vnestimable treasure but presently comes into his minde his owne vnworthinesse which driues him as farre backe from all hope that euer any such as hee should haue part therein wherin many a poore soule doth remaine a long season because he cannot see any thing which might make him bold to beleeue that there is any such benefite prepared for him For remedy wherof he is in the second place deeply to weigh this wonderfull mercy of God 2. To whom who so freely offers this great benefit of Christ and all his merits not to the righteous but to sinners yea to all without exception to whom the Gospell commeth as wee haue seene in the former Scriptures where the ground of faith was laide and because such as haue most feeling of their sinnes are most fearefull and hardliest brought to beleeue that this is tendered to them therefore are they more especially called as appeareth Matthew 11. 28. Where Christ himselfe hauing proclaimed that all things are deliuered to him of his Father Mat. 28. 18. meaning as els where Heb. 7. 27. that all power is giuen to him whereby he is perfectly able to saue all them that come vnto God by him inuiteth all that labour and are heauy laden to come vnto him promising that he will ease them wherby euery poore sinner who feeles his woefull estate by reason of his sinne and Gods curse hanging ouer his head for the same may certainely know that hee is the party whom Christ calleth to come to him and to whom this benefite of Christ and saluation in him is freely offered that so he may be somewhat more raised vp to conceiue hope that hee shall in due time enioy the same to which end euery one who faine would beleeue is to consider that as there is no grace in any why hee should hope for such fauour at Gods hand for Gods mercy in preparing and offering his Sonne a redemption for sinners is altogether
be acceptable to God now by this all sufficient sacrifice of Christ all that lay hold on Christ by faith and so apply his sacrifice to themselues they shall bee accepted of God and their obedience pleasing to God in his perfect obedience Which alone is a sufficient meanes by the operation of the Holy Ghost to drawe any that heare and conceiue this to cast themselues wholy vpon Christ and to seeke for Gods fauour and all the fruits thereof onely in this sacrifice of Christ Besides these there bee many other Scriptures which in generall set out Christ and his benefits to vs but if they be well marked it will appeare they be contained vnder these As for example where Christ compares himselfe to a Vine Ioh. 15. 1. to teach that as the branch hath his whole life from the stocke so wee haue all our life from him so doth hee call himselfe the bread of life and is said to bee the head of the body Ioh. 6. 35. That he is full of grace and truth Ioh. 1. 14. Againe Hee that spared not his owne Sonne Rom. 8. 32. but deliuered him vp for vs all how shall hee not with him also Esa 55. 3. freely giue vs all things Againe I will giue you the sure mercies of Dauid Act. 13. 34. that is all those good things which were promised in Christ who was the seede of Dauid In all these and many moe Vse we see the intent of the Holy Ghost was to giue vs in one view a sight of all that good which Christ hath brought vs that heereby euery one who hears hereof may both wonder at Gods vnspeakeable mercy in prouiding so many and so great blessings in Christ for vs his enemies and hereby also bee drawne to labour by all meanes to be made partakers of them And this shall suffise to haue set out some of the generall promises and the vse of them how wee are to strengthen our faith by them Onely this I will adde concerning these When speciall want make vse of generall that if at any time in our doubts and feares for any particular distresse wee cannot readily remember some particular promise whereby wee might bee comforted then wee may safely runne to one of these generall promises which doe containe all particulars and so apply it to our present neede As for example if any poore soule should fall into great doubtings of Gods fauour by reason of some great affliction that lay heauy vpon him or some corruption which he could not master and in this perplexity could not thinke of any speciall promise whereout hee might gather some comfort then may he boldly lay hold vpon any one of these generall promises and rest thereupon for comfort in this maner O Lord thou hast said in thy holy word which is the word of truth that the Sonne of man is come to saue that which is lost Luk. 19. 10. Lord I am lost and see nothing in my selfe to helpe mee therefore I do wholly rest vpon Christ and looke for helpe only by him The same may bee said of all the generall promises the least of which contain matter enough to support vs in all our feares if we could fitly apply them Wherein I doe againe forewarne euery one who desires to beleeue in God Looke for nothing in thy selfe to cause thee to beleeue and so to liue by his faith aboue all to deny himselfe and not to looke for any thing in himselfe why he should beleeue which I haue obserued to bee a maine hinderance from true beleeuing but to cast all our thoughts vpon God First how mercifull hee is to prouide such helpe for poore sinners in Christ and freely to offer it vnto them in his word and secondly how faithfull hee is to performe all that he hath said that by this meanes the poore sinner may bee mooued to beleeue in God that he will surely succour and comfort him in due season and measure Thus would I now passe from these generall promises For the persons to whom first to all and come to the speciall but that I feare I haue not sufficiently cleared one point concerning these generals namely for the persons to whom God preacheth and proclaimeth these mercies that they may beleeue I speake not here who shall enioy these who be only beleeuers and their seed but to whom these bee offered From whence be raised the greatest doubts in many for their saluation that they know not themselues to bee of that number to whom God doth truely offer these mercies and no maruell For as it is not possible for a rebell against his Soueraigne to beleeue he shall be pardoned vnlesse he be sure that hee is contained vnder the Princes pardon so no sinner can beleeue to haue pardon till he know that he is in the number of those to whom the pardon is proclaimed by God in the Gospell for the knowledge wherof either there must be some special marke of difference wherby it may be knowne to whom the pardon is proclaimed and to whom not or els it must bee generall to all But there is no such speciall certaine difference between sinners before faith wherby one may know the pardon is granted to him and such as he is and not to any other for then might some know themselues to bee vnder Gods speciall fauour that is elected before he beleeue which is impossible by any ordinary meanes therfore of necessity the onely way whereby anie may know himselfe to be contained vnder the pardon is this that he heares that God in his Gospel doth proclaime forgiuenesse of sinne in Christ without exception to all sinners that whosoeuer heareth and beleeueth shall bee saued the rest shall bee condemned for not beleeuing and not accepting this mercy offered to them Hauing in the former part of this Treatise sufficiently prooued by many Scriptures this point that Christ and all his benefites be freely offred without exception to all mankinde as that one place Mark 16. 15. expresly sheweth I only now aduise euery one who is kept from beleeuing by this that he knowes not whether he bee contained vnder the pardon or no not to looke to Gods secret will but to attend to Gods reuealed will in his word wherein it is expresly said That God would haue no man to perish 2. Pet. 3 9. but would haue all men to come to repentance Ezek. 18. 23. 32. and so oft That he desires not tht death of a sinner that hereby hee may bee mooued to seeke and hope for that mercie which God is so willing to bestow vpon vpon him if the fault be not in his owne selfe as it was in the vnbeleeulng Iewes in Ierusalem Mat. 23. 37 of whom our Sauiour complained saying How often would I haue gathered thy children as the henne gathereth her chickens vnder her wings and yee would not A further manifestation of this willingnesse in God to saue
of that excellent sentence 1 Cor. 2. 9. 8. 3. Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither hath entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him And to like effect But if any man loue God the same is knowne of him In all which and the like many our loue of God is made a certaine proofe that we be in Gods fauour and heires of his kingdome Our loue to Christ so likewise is our loue to Christ Ioh. 14. 21. 23. as he himselfe professeth And he that loueth me shall bee loued of my Father where our loue of Christ is not the cause but the effect of Gods loue to vs as followeth a little after If any man loue me hee will keepe my words and my Father will loue him and we will come vnto him and make our abode with him In like sort our loue we beare one to another as brethren and members of the body of Christ Loue of our brethren is made an infallible marke that we belong to Christ as he said to his Disciples Iohn 13. 35. By this shall all men know that yee are my Disciples if you loue one another And for further proofe hereof we need goe no further then to the first Epistle of John in which this brotherly loue is oft set downe as a sure euidence that we are in a blessed estate 1. Iohn 2. 10. Hee that loueth his brother abideth in the light chap. 3. 14. and there is no occasion of stumbling in him Againe we know that wee are passed from death to life because we loue the Brethren And in another place 4. Vers 12. If wee loue one another God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfected in vs. And a little before in the same chapter Vers 7. Beloued let vs loue one another for loue is of God and euery one that loueth is borne of God And againe verse 17. Herein is our loue made perfect that we haue boldnesse in the day of Iudgement Yea more our Sauiour teacheth Loue of our enemies that the loue of our enemies is a good proofe that we are the children of God as both the Euangelist Mathew and Luke report Matth. 5. 44 45. The places be knowne Luk. 6. 35. From all which wee see how any who calleth in question Vse whether hee hath true faith and be in the state of grace may by this grace of loue assure himselfe that he hath true faith and so shall bee saued Onely we must take heed wee deceaue not our selues with a vaine carnall loue Take heed of deceit as many doe which shall appeare by these two especially whether our loue come from Faith and secondly breed true obedience which if it doe it is sound and a sure warrant of sauing grace otherwise if either of these bee wanting then our loue at best is but naturall which can be no proofe of true happinesse For further manifestation hereof that our loue is sound and so our faith and safety we need no other arguments then to see what bee the fruites that grow from hence For the Scriptures in sundrie places make loue the root of all fruites of a godly life Rome 13. 10 calling it the fulfilling of the Law Col. 3. 14. and the bond of perfectnesse So that if our loue be fruitfull in holinesse to God and in righteousnesse to men it will manifestly declare that wee bee the true children of God Herein may well come in the first place 2. Feare of God the feare of God which if it come not from loue and be not tempered therewith is but a seruile feare and not that holy feare which is made such a marke of Gods children that it is vsually made a surname to them all to be such as feare God As Psal 112. 1. 115. 13. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and greatly delighteth in his Commandements Hee will blesse them that feare the Lord both small and great And the like many That which wee are here chiefly to regard is what high commendations are giuen to this fruite of Faith the feare of God whereby he that feeles this grace may know he is truly conuerted and shall bee saued This is to bee seene in all those Scriptures where they that feare the Lord be pronounced blessed as in the last forenamed places and so Psal 128. 1. 4. meaning hee that feares the Lord is and shall be euery way blessed To the same purpose be those Scriptures which set out the greatnesse and perpetuity of Gods mercy to those that feare him Psal 103. 11. 17. and Luk. 1. 50. the places bee knowne Such is that Psal 31. 19 O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee The like Eccl. 8. 12 It would bee long to cite all of this kinde These bee some that such as feare God are accepted of him Act. 13. 26 That God will teach the man that feareth him in the way that he shall choose Psal 25. 12 347 10 and more in the same Psalme to the like effect The Angell of the Lord encampeth about them they shall not want any good thing Psal 145. 19. 147. 12. The Lord will fulfill their desire bee taketh pleasure in them Mal. 4. 2. And to end this The Sunne of righteousnesse shall rise vp to these and the reward of eternall life shall be giuen them Reu. 11. 18. If this bee not sufficient I know not what may be to perswade any man who findeth this true feare of God in his heart that he is and shall be blessed for euer It behoueth therefore all that would haue this comfort to make sure to themselues that God hath put this holy feare into their hearts and so may they rest assured of Gods loue Thus would I leaue this point but I feare some tender consciences will aske how may I know that I haue this holy feare in me whom I might send to that briefe note of difference that I gaue a little before which in my opinion is the best difference between the good feare and the bad namely the holy and childe-like feare comes from the loue of God the other at the best from selfe-loue which may goe farre yet can it neuer come neere the holy feare as not in the roote of Faith and Loue so neither in the fruit of syncere obedience which the Holy Ghost makes the fruite of the feare of God Eccles 12. 13. Feare God and keepe his Commandements He then that feeles Gods rich mercie vnto him in calling him out of his miserable estate to some hope of saluation by Christ to breed in him a loue to God for the same and that loue to make him afraid to displease and offend so gracious a Father and shall finde this feare mouing him to shun what God dislikes though neuer so pleasing to his corrupt
nature and to make him willing to doe Gods will though against his corrupt will this man need not doubt but that he hath the true feare of God which is so certaine a marke of Gods fauour and of euerlasting happinesse And this is the vse Gods children are to make hereof Vse Thus we see how the faithfull may by these two particular fruites of their faith loue and feare bee confirmed in the assurance of their saluation by Christ The same may be shewed in all the rest which the Scripture makes to be so many testimonies of sauing grace and happinesse to those that haue them As Blessed are the poore in spirit Mat. 5. 3. 10. they that mourne the humble meeke such as hunger after righteousnesse mercifull pure in heart peace-makers persecuted for righteousnesse sake All which are in this place gathered together by our Sauiour Christ to crosse the corrupt opinion of the world and to shew that they whom the world account aboue all men most miserable are indeed truly and onely happy The like hee doth in other places Mat. 16 28 19. 29. where hee maketh the denying of our selues Mar. 10. 30. taking vp the Crosse and following him forsaking all for him and for the Gospell to bee sure tokens to bee his who shall haue an hundred-fold in this world Luk. 9. and in the world to come life euerlasting To end this whole matter of assurance of saluation and to passe ouer many other fruites of Faith which doe proue the same as the confession of sinne mortification thereof ouercomming and Perseuerance All which bee oft made certaine proofes of happinesse This is the maine vse which is to bee made of all these Vse as hath oft been said that when as it oft falleth out with Gods children especially such as haue weake faith and tender consciences that they beholding their pronenesse to sinne and deadnesse of spirit to all holy duties doe fall into great feares and doubts of their saluation this may be some staie vnto them that they may see some of these fruites of their faith in them euen when they be at the lowest ebbe of grace by which they may comfort themselues that though they bee very sicke and weake yet they be not starke dead For whose sakes I will adde this obseruation by mine owne experience wherewith I haue quieted the mindes of many much perplexed in this case Markes of faith which is not seene for that they could not see they had any faith that there is a true liuing faith in many who haue no feeling thereof I haue obserued these foure vnfallible proofes 1. Vnquiet for want of faith First where Faith is and not felt the partie in whom it is cannot see that he hath any Faith is grieued for want of Faith and cannot bee quiet for want of it but mourneth as if hee had none which for the most part is the state of those that bee truely afflicted in conscience who faine would beleeue but yet in their owne sense doe not And yet in my experience I neuer knew any such who had any knowledge of the doctrine of Faith but indeed they had some Faith though they saw it not 2. Spare no meanes to get foitfi This will more appeare by the next effect of this insensible faith which is this that they who haue Faith and yet feele it not be very painefull in vse of all good meanes both publike and priuate by themselues and with oothers wherby they might hope to get this pretious gift of Faith which hardly would any doe if hee had not some taste of the sweetnesse of Faith though hee feele it not which so stirres vp his heart to seeke after it and therefore I hold this constant seeking of Faith to be a token of some to be in him alreadie A third and more principall effect of Faith in these 3. Carrie a good heart to God is this that though they see not Gods Fatherly loue to them yet they cannot thinke hardly of God but lay all the fault on themselues why they haue no more grace yea they will commend Gods mercie to others and cannot endure any dishonour to God which great loue of theirs to God doth shew they are loued of him yea that they haue by Faith apprehended it though they see it not and feare they haue it not The fourth proofe of Faith 4. A good conscience where it is not seene may be this that such haue a tender conscience shunning small sinnes which others dare boldly doe and bee carefull to please God in euery thing which many who be not so disquieted be more carelesse of So then if there bee any poore soules who cannot see their faith yet if they can see any of these effects of Faith in themselues let them know for a truth and to their comfort that they haue true Faith shall be saued And thus haue I said what I thinke meet for this first point how we may daily get more assurance that we be now in Gods fauour and shall want no good thing in this life and shall certainly in the end come to life euerlasting Which I againe doe exhort euery one who lookes for any blessing from God either in this life or that to come aboue all to labour for seeing without this assurance that wee be in Gods fauour how can wee looke for any blessing from God earthly or spirituall temporall or eternall whereas being assured hereof we may boldly looke for all other blessings needfull for our present comfort and eternall happinesse Concerning all which seeing the Lord who did well know the frailtie of his owne children All other blessings depend on this how readie they are vpon euery occasion to doubt of his helpe hath so plentifully recorded in the Scriptures both generally what a fatherly care hee hath of their welfare and also more specially what helpe they may look for from him in their particular necessities I doe not doubt but it will bee worth our labour to consider of them both and all little enough to comfort vs in our greatest need And first of the generall which containe vnder them all good things which God hath prepared and promised to all his children Of this sort may that come first which is the ground of all the rest namely that God will bee our God and of our seed after vs as hee said to Abraham the Father of the faithfull Gen. 17. 7. and so belongeth to all beleeuers as the Apostle shewes Rom. 4. 11. 16. which selfe same promise was after repeated to Abrahams posterity in al ages to be a staffe of comfort to them at all times therefore is it oft said That God is the God of Abraham the God of Isaac the God of Iacob Likewise God said to the people of Israel And I will take you to me to bee a people and I will be to you a God And most notable is that
to al his people in all their necessities bodily or spirituall Because the faiâ—hfull in all ages haue stood in need of this comfort therefore is this so oft repeated that we in our generation may looke for the like helpe in our neede To the same intent be many other like speeches That God will lighten our darkenesse hee will keepe the feete of his Saints he will not forsake them nor forget their complaint That they shall not be confounded In time of trouble he will hide them His Angels shall pitch about them He wil heale them and take all sicknesse from them They shal not feare their enemies but God will make their enemies afraid of them Be avenged of their enemies That God wil repent him of the evill pronounced against them with many other of like sort and oft more specially of removing warre pestilence c. The summe of all which is Application that into whatsoever calamitie or distresse Gods children shall fall though the Lord doe leaue them for a season as though he did not regard it yet hee will be with them by his Spirit to helpe them that they shall not vtterly perish yea rather that they shall be able with patience to hold out till God send them a happy end and issue out of all That this hath beene Gods dealing with his beloved in all ages needs no proofe it is so manifest Ioh David and Paul may be sufficient to witnesse this how wonderfully God was with them in al their tryals The other branch of this last ground of comfort is this God will deliver that the Lord will not onely assist his vnder the burthen of their afflictions with all needefull helpes that they may be able to beare them but will in due season fully deliver them out of them all which being so hardly beleeved especially in great and sore afflictions therefore the Lord hath very often renewed his promise of delivering his out of all their troubles All of which for the most part being the fame both in sense words a few may suffice for many David had great proofe hereof and therefore after a mighty deliverance and that by a hard shiftfull of infirmitie hee composed that excellent Psalme 34 where magnifying Gods mercy for so great deliverance hee riseth higher to set out the like goodnes of God to all the faithfull saying verse 7. The Angell of the Lord 〈◊〉 round about them that feare him and delivereth them and verse 17. speaking of the righteous he sayth they cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles and verse 19. many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of all so Psalme 27. 39. 40. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord is their strength in the time of trouble And the Lord shall helpe them and deliver them he shall deliver them from the wicked and saue them because they trust in him These shall suffice in so cleere a point for there are none that be any whit exercised in the Scriptures but may finde like testimoninies and proofs of the truth though not alwayes in the same words It is fully to the same purpose that the Apostle â— Cor. 10. 13. comforteth them with this amongst other Arguments that God will with the tentation make away to escapeâ—… 〈◊〉 ye may be able to beare it and that of Ieremy 29. 11. For I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace to giue you an expected end By these and very many other the like it is cleere that this is Gods wonted favour towards his Children that though for sundry and those most iust causes he lead them into troubles and oft leaues them a long time vnder them yet he never finally forsakes them but when the time to haue mercy is come Psal 102. theÌ„ the Lord will surely succour all his and deliver them by one meanes or other such as shall make most for his glory and the good of all his All of which being so certaine Application that how many and great soever and of long continuance the afflictions of Gods children shal be yet the Lord will never leaue nor forsake them but will be a present helpe in time of neede ministring all needefull comforts both outward helpes and inward graces to support them and in the end will one way or other fully set them free and quite deliver them out of all their feares and troubles we may see what small cause wee haue to be discouraged by our afflictions or to fret and repine at them yea rather wee haue most iust cause to reioyce in theÌ„ to blesse God for them and to labour both to beare them and to profit by them that God may haue glory thereby our selues may reape the benefit by them and others may profit by our example And thus laying all together which hath beene sayd of afflictions we shall find that they be no lets but special helps as to godlinesse in this life so to happines in the life to come Thus much for this fourth point how to liue by faith in all afflictions of what sort soever THE FIFT GENERALL HEAD OF living by FAITH is for earthly blessings THvs haue we in these foure points handled how wel God hath provided for our spirituall life all needfull blessings that whatsoever our condition shall be yet we may comfort our selues in God who as he hath promised so will he performe that we shall not want any thing that is good And whatsoever doth befall vs though never so hurtfull in it selfe yet it shall turne to our good in the end Now we are come to the fift generall head of this Treatise of living by faith which concernes all earthly blessings how we may be provided of all things needfull for this naturall life which being so necessary as we well know that we cannot be without them we be naturally so addicted to them that nothing doth more take vp our minds and hearts Care for earthly is a hinderance to spirituall then our care labour for these neither doth any thing more hinder our spirituall life All which the Lord our God well considering hath herein most bountifully provided for vs and promised vnto vs all needfull blessings for this life in such sort that were we wise to see and imbrace this bountie of the Lord we should not onely be freed from a world of cares and troubles wherewith most men be vsually so incumbred that they can find or spare no time nor travell to seeke after the things which belong to a better life but we should be so furthered by our contentment in those outward and earthly blessings that with more chearfulnesse we should run our race of Christianitie and be every way more fit to all holy duties Let vs then heare and consider what the Lord saith vnto vs in this behalfe Generall promises for earthly blessings
to beleeue and for an example to set before them Gods dealing with the Ephesians of whom the Apostle saith Eph. 2. 3. That when they were dead in trespasses and sinnes which is as bad as may bee yet hee heapes more of their wofull condition verse 2. 11. 12. yet these were quickned in Christ so likewise the Colossians Col. 1. 21. being before their conuersion strangers and enemies because their mindes were set on euill workes were reconciled to God c. And to say the truth so is it with all that bee conuerted as Paul testifieth of himselfe and all other beleeuers before their effectuall calling that they had their conuersation in times past in the lusts of their flesh in fulfilling the will of the flesh of the minde and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others All which if a poore sinner shall consider that others in as bad a state as he and many farre worse were receiued to mercy and that God doth in mercy as freely offer it to him as them and is as faithfull as euer to performe what he saith this doubtlesse will in time moue him to expect like mercy at Gods hands if hee shall with patience waite the Lords leisure and neuer giue ouer earnest supplication to God to draw him and daily meditation on Gods mercy Thus will I leaue this point hauing said more then I purposed Peace only I desire to be considered that vnder this reconciliation I containe that peace which Christ makes betweene God and vs whereof Rom. 5. 1. Eph. 2. 17. and elsewhere oft that it may bee referred to this head Now we come to the second fruite of our Iustification which is Adoption Adoption whereby I vnderstand that high fauour of God whereby hee maketh those who be iustified by Christ and so reconciled his owne children and heires of all his blessings If Dauid thought it no small preferment to bee sonne in Law to King Saul 1 Sam. 18. 23. what may bee thought of this And therefore the Apostle Iohn calleth all to an admiration of that vnspeakeable loue of God in calling vs to be the sonnes of God 1 Ioh. 3. 1. Wherein we haue to consider not only the excellencie of this estate but the certainetie of it without which we could haue no comfort by it This certaintie appeares as in this that God hath called all true beleeuers to be his sonnes so further in the next verse where he saith Dearely beloued now are we the sonnes of God though as he saith is appeares not what wee shall bee To this purpose well serueth that gracious promise which the Apostle citeth out of the Prophet Hosea And it shall be in the place where it was said vnto them Rom. 9. 26. yee are not my people that there they shall bee called the children of the liuing God So likewise when the Lord promiseth to such as shall separate themselues from the wicked And I will bee a Father vnto you 2 Cor. 6. 18. and yee shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almightie Reu. 21. 7. Againe Hee that ouercommeth shall inherit all things And I will be his God and hee shall be my sonne these promises must be the cause of our faith and our faith the cause of our obedience as hath beene said And therefore it is said Yee are all the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus Gal. 3. 26. And yet much more to our present purpose is that excellent Scripture Gal. 4. 4 5 6 7. which containes much for the strengthening of our faith in this whole point of the assurance of our saluation therfore I rehearse it all But when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman and made vnder the Law that hee might redeeme them which were vnder the Law that we might receiue the adoption of sonnes And because ye are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts which cryeth Abba Father Wherein to passe ouer all the rest this is euident that a maine end why God sent his Sonne to redeeme vs miserable sinners who are by nature vnder the curse of the Law was this that wee might by this redemption by Christ bee made Gods children and as the Apostle saith Rom. 8. 17. If children then also heires euen the heires of God and coheires with Christ as it followeth in the former Scripture Gal. 4. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a seruant but a sonne now if thou bee a son thou art also an heire of God through Christ If this be so as the deuill himselfe cannot denie who can sufficiently admire and magnifie the bountifulnesse and loue of God to man Vse by so great a price to purchase so high a dignitie Tit. 3. 4. as the Apostle John calls it that wee should be the sonnes of God Ioh. 1. 12. and partakers with Christ of all his glory in his Fathers kingdome But me thinkes I heare some one say It is true this is a most blessed estate if a man might bee assured it were his owne but seeing the Scripture oft witnesseth that they be but few who attaine this fauour Obiection how may I who am so vnworthy so full of sinne and voide of grace euer hope to bee a partaker hereof This beeing so great an obiection and so common whereby many be kept from beleeuing it is meete to be well answered It hath two partes first that so fewe come to bee Gods children to which I answer first the fault hereof is not in God who as oft hath beene said hath so largly proclaimed life in the Gospel to euery sinner Again if there were an almes of great value cast among many which a few onely could enioy what scrambling is there who could get it A memorable story of late yeares I will relate to be a witnes against all such wicked seruants Mat. 25. 26 and slothfull as our Sauiour calls them who hearing that a few shall bee saued will let others striue for it and be content to goe without it themselues which is indeede and so the Lord will count it a flatte despising of his mercy offered vnto them A rich woman gaue at her death a dole of sixe pence to the poore that came to Leaden Hall in London for which there was such striuing that many were troden to death how shall these rise in iudgement against our dainty idle ambitious couetous and voluptuous worldlings who euery one in their kinde striue extreamely for their desires but take no paines to be saued But to leaue these and to come to the second part of the obiection which concerns a better sort and farre neerer saluation who be kepr backe by their vnworthinesse whom as I much pitty for their vncomfortablenesse so can I no lesse blame for their ignorance that after so long preaching of the Gospell wherein all the mercies of God be
proclaimed vnto yea bestowed vpon sinners yea great and all vnworthy as in the last point before this was shewed yet theese poore soules doe sticke so fast in the mudde of their naturall pride of Popery as to seeke for some worthinesse in themselues for which God should make them his sonnes To conclude then this point seeing God is a free giuer of this high fauour of Adoption and no seller of it and seeing he so freelie offers it to thee in Christ beware that neither by idlenesse nor proud ignorance thou depriue thy selfe of it but thankfullie accept it so shalt thou bee saued The last speciall benefit which we receiue from Christ Hope of glory as a fruit of our iustification seruing for strengthening of our faith in the assurance of our saluation is the Hope of Glory whereby I vnderstand that God hath prepared for vs sinners this singular comfort that wee may enioy in this life such a hope and expectation of euerlasting glorie as may both inwardlie cheere our hearts and cause vs outwardlie to professe the same to the glorie of God encouragement of other faithfull people of God amazing of the wicked and strengthening of our selues to hold out to the end against al discouragements whatsouer That God hath prouided such a stay to support vs in all the changes of this life may sufficiently appeare by that which we reade Hebr. 6. 17. 18 19. a Scripture containing great force for the strengthening of our faith in the certaintie of our saluation as we shall see Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew vnto the heires of promise the immutability of his couÌ„sell confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things in which it was not possible that God should lye wee might haue a strong consolation who haue fled for refuge to lay holde vpon the hope set before vs which hope we haue as an anker of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that which is within the vaile whither the forerunner is for vs entered euen Iesus made an high Priest after the order of Melchisedech Wherein bee these heauenly matters contained which I wil only laie open so gather out that which makes most for our presentintention to make vs more sure of this grace the hope of glorie 1. Gods decree and euerlasting counsell concerning our saluation is vnchangeable 2. It was Gods good pleasure to make this exceedinglie manifest 3. The persons to whom God would thus manifest his counsell were the heires of promise 4. The meanes whereby God would thus manifest his counsell was this That what he promised he bound with an oath 5. These two euidences of Gods counsell bee sure and vnchangeable 6. It is impossible that God should lye in these 7. By these wee may haue strong consolation 8. They who shall haue strong consolation must make hope their refuge that is holde fast on ir 9. That hope is set before them to hold fast by 10. This hope is to our soules in tentations as an Anker to a ship in stormes 11. This Anker which will holde it is sure and stedfast 12. It is entred vpward into heauen as our earthlie ankâ—â—â—e cast downewards 13. Christ our forerunner is gone to heauen for vs. 14. Christ is our euerlasting high Priest Behold what store of heauenlie matters be here contained which when I did consider so closelie folded vp and so well furthering the point in hand I was drawne thus to vnfold them Among all this is speciall for our purpose that Almighty God as a louing Father hauing prouided for his children a good estate was very carefull to make it sure vnto them and therefore hath giuen two such euidences as cannot deceiue his promise and oath that wee being perswaded heereby might in all our feares for out refuge cast our hope vpon his fidelitie so shall we bee safe and haue strong consolation Wherein we see the singular vse of this hope of eternall life that it is hope which makes vs not ashamed Rom. 5. 5. as the Apostle speaketh and the Prophet Dauid exceeding oft the same Psal 25. 3. Yea that we are saued by hope that is Rom. 8. 23. we are so assured of our saluation as if wee possessed it already and therefore doe with patience waite for it There is much in this Scripture to this end that as the whole Creation as it were groaneth and trauelleth in paine with earnest expectation waiting for the manifestation of the sonnes of God what time they shall bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God So all true beleeuers who haue the first fruites of the spirit groane in themselues waiting for the Adoption to wit the redemption of their bodies that is for a full glorification of soule and body This is to bee seene in the liues and deaths of Gods faithfull seruants Heb. 12. 2. who for this hope endured the crosse and despised shame as is testified of our Sauiour himselfe and of Moses that hee did choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God Heb. 11. 26. then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeming the reproch of Christ greater riches then the treasures in Egypt for hee had respect to the recompence of reward The same is to be seene in all that honourable company mentioned Hebr. 11. And so in all the holy Martyrs in all ages what was it but this hope of glory after a short suffering which made them willingly to endure so great and sore persecutions I might bee long in this for the Scripture speakes much hereof exhorting vs to reioice in hope making it th' end of our vocation and regeneration God hath called vs to his kingdome and glory 1 Thes 2. 12. God according to his mercy hath begotten vs againe to a liuely hope 1 Petr. 1. 3. by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible vndefiled that fadeth not away reserued in the heauens for vs c. And more to like effect as doth follow well worth our reading and carefull consideration seruing much for the comfort of Gods children Out of all which this is that I gather Vse seeing this hope of glory is so sure an Anker in all storms so strong a helmet in all our battailes that we therefore carefully prouide our selues of this grace yea rather seeing God hath so plentifully prouided it for vs and giuen vs so many promises hereof and hath called vs hereunto and so oft exhorteth vs to reioyce in this hope of glory all this should mooue vs to hold fast the profession of our hope without wauering For hee is faithfull that promised Heb. 10. 23 as the Apostle exhorteth otherwise we shal call Gods truth and faithfulnesse into question which is a high degree of tempting God and no lesse prouocation of his high displeasure whereas on the other side by casting this anker in