names to be enrowled among his Souldiers and seruants swearing binding and oblieging our selues to reounce the seruice of the diuell the world and the flesh And this oath of resignation we haue renued so oft as wee haue communicated at his holy table whereof it is euident that they who haue giuen their names to Christ and yet liue licentiously walking after the flesh are forsworne Apostates guilty of perfidie and of foule Apostasie and desertion from Iesus Christ And thirdly Not onely are wee bought and sworne but we haue receiued wages and payment in hand Thirdly wee haue receiued wages before hand of seruices to be done which should make vs ashamed if wee haue so much as common honesty to refuse seruice to the Lord whose wages wee haue receiued already It may be sayd to euery one of vs as Malaciah in the name of the Lord spake to the Leuites of his time Mala. 1.10 Who among you shuts the dore of the Temple or kindles a fire vpon my Alter in vaine And who among vs can stand vp and say that he hath done seruice to the Lord for nought Consider it when you will for euery peece of seruice ye haue done to the Lord ye haue receiued wages more then ten times who hath called aright on his name and hath not beene heard who hath giuen thankes for benefits receiued and hath not found Gods benefits doubled vpon him who hath giuen almes in the name of the Lord and hath not found encrease I speake not of rewards which God hath promised I speake of that onely which we haue receiued already the least of all Gods mercies shewed vnto vs already doth farre exceed all the seruice that wee poore wretches haue done vnto him as therefore wee are content to receiue the Lords pay so let vs neuer refuse to giue the seruice of our bodies and spirits vnto him This is the couenant which wee haue made euery one of vs in our Baptisme and entrance into the Church of God before the presence of God and his Angels before the congregation and Church of God but alas we breake it dayly and haue no care nor consciēce to keepe it Well let vs know this for a certaine that the Lord will one day require our couenants vowes made vnto him for hee lookes wee should aswell keepe them as make them Well then wouldst thou bee loth to breake thy vow couenant or promise made to an honest mā especially it being in thine owne powre to keep it and such a promise as the keeping whereof may procure thee much peace liberty and happinesse I know you would Oh then let vs bee as carefull to keepe promise with God to renounce the world the diuell and our sinfull lusts so shall wee bring much honour to Almightie God and eeuerlasting good vnto our owne soules If the Lord himselfe had not bene on our side when men rose vp against vs c. We learne hence Publicke thankesgiuing after deliuerance required that it is the dutie of euery Christian man and woman to pray in publicke and priuate for the safetie and good estate of the Church So likewise it is our dutie publikely to render thankes vnto God for deliuerance bestowed vpon the same We must not be like the nine Leapers who haue wide mouthes to beg but no heart nor mouth to giue thankes for benefits receiued It hath euer beene the care and religious custome of Gods Church and people after great and notable deliuerances from apparant and common Iudgments to render heartie and earnest thankes vnto God in solemne and publike manner Gen. 8.20 When Noah and his Sonnes and family were newly deliuered from perishing in the flood he did the first thing builde an Altar offer sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord so Moses and the Children of Israel after their deliuerance out of Egypt when they were safe and their enemies drowned doe deuoutly and publikely sing praise and thankes vnto the Lord. Iudg. 5.1.2.3 Deborah and Barake doth the like And the Iewes being deliuered from Hamans treason Hcster 9.19 20. reioyce and keepe a solemne day to sing praise vnto the Lord. Well then let vs apply this vnto our selues we are by Gods blessing the true Church and people of God professing the Gospell of Iesus Christ truly hating all superstition and Idolatry and for this cause cannot want many enemies the Papists the most subtill cruell and malicious enemies of Gods Church haue often set vpon vs assaulted vs sought to haue inuaded our King and Countrey as in eightie eight by sundry treasons to kill our late Queene of famous and blessed memorie And to destroy our gracious King Queene and all his posteritie But amongst the rest and aboue all the rest none comparable to that last treason which was most close and cunningly wrought a long time in contriuing most bloudie and deuilish most barbarous and sauage threatning and seeking to destroy and roote out our King Councell Spirituall and Temporall Magistrates ayming at the vtter subuersion of our English Nation both Church and Common-wealth And surely if we consider well of it I doe not see in all the Bible the like deliuerance so wonderfull and admirable First being so long a time in hatching and contriuing with such secresie and concealement Secondly being vnder the ground in hell as it were in a place vnder the earth desiring darkenes more then light because the deede was euill Thirdly being brought so neare the execution of it and neuer knowne nor suspected before Fourthly being disclosed so strangely euen by one of the traytors themselues one of the chiefe Actors in the tragedie Being so generall so fearefull and so monstrous that it should not haue bin onely to the destruction of one or two but of the chiefe of the whole land King Queene Prince Iudges Bishops in a word the flowre of the whole kingdome the want of any one whereof were a blemish to a State and would bring a ruine to a kingdome Now doe as Ahashuerosh did Hest 6.1.2 cause the records to be read and chronicles to be searched ancient and moderne diuine or prophane amongst the Turkes or Painims yea if hell keepe any records search there and see if yee can patterne this conspiracy or match this danger But there is no councell against the Lord mans wisedome is foolishnesse vnto him his greatest strength but weakenesse his life but a breath and his honour but a blast So then we see we haue as great cause to render thankes vnto the Lord as any people or nation vnder heauen that fifth day of Nouember is a day to be remembred and neuer to bee forgotten a glad and ioyfull day and we ought euery one in publicke and priuate to stirre vp our hearts in thankesgiuing vnto the Lord For it was the Lords doing and it is maruelous in our eyes It is the day which the Lord hath made for the glory of his Name let vs reioyce
vndefiled as the Temple of the Holy Ghost and that our Soules may be defended cherished and tendered as the apple of thine Eye Keepe vs Lord this Night from all euill which may happen eyther to our Bodyes or our Soules extend thy Goodnesse toward all those that depend vpon vs or wee on them Giue vs quiet sleepe and rest and when wee shall awake let all our thoughts and cogitations be holy Meditations on thee and thy Law Blesse vs O Lord all the Nights and Dayes of our Life and at the end thereof send vs a blessed departure and afterward a ioyfull resurrection vnto Life eternall Graunt vs these good things most mercifull Father and all other needfull Graces not onely vnto vs but vnto all thy deare Children throughout the whole World euen for Iesus Christ his sake in whose Name we further call vpon thee as hee hath taught vs in his Gospell saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. ¶ A priuate Morning Prayer O Blessed Lord God great in Power fearefull in Iudgement and rich in Mercy which bindest and no man looseth and looseth and no man bindeth I yeeld thee most humble and heartie thankes for that of thy fatherly Goodnesse thou hast vouchsafed me this last Nights sleepe in peace and rest and againe loosing the bands wherewith I was tyed hast giuen me power to see this Morning Light Now O Lord I beseech thee powre vpon me this Day the Dew of thy Blessing that through the operation of thy gracious Beames I may bud forth and beare the fruits of true Faith in my life and conuersation Continue this goodnesse and mercie towards me and by thy power rayse me from the deepe sleepe of all vnrighteousnesse Discharge me from the works of Darknesse and cloath me with the armour of Light that I may walke honestly as in the Day and liue soberly righteously and godlily in this present World Mortifie O my God all corrupt affections in me pardon my innumerable sinnes Fill mee this day with thy grace that I may spend it to the honour of thy Name Set a watch before my mouth and order my lips that I may vtter nothing vnaduisedly eyther before thee or men Keepe my senses within their limits direct my will to that which is good and order my iudgement for the accomplishing of those things that appertaine to my Vocation O Lord I beseech thee preserue and keepe my senses safe and sound that I be neyther corrupted by prosperitie nor cast downe by aduersitie nor be too fearefull of thy Iudgements or too bold vpon thy mercy but graunt me grace O mercifull Lord that I may apprehend all things that come from thee with a Religious contented Minde and in the end of my dayes by a liuely Faith may ioyfully arriue in the Land of Promise the Kingdome of Heauen through the merites of Iesus Christ my onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen Amen ¶ A priuate Euening Prayer O Most holy Father and my gracious God which giuest vnto all sorts of men the chearefull light of the Day that in thine assistance they may follow their honest Vocations and likewise sendest the silent Night that then they may rest their wearied Limbes and busied Mindes and so returne their due thankes for thy Goodnesse I sinfull Creature adore and prayse thee for the totall summe of all thy Mercies whereof I haue beene this Day partaker O Lord I am vile looke not vpon mine vnworthynesse folly and wickednesse but appease thy anger iustly conceiued against me and forgiue what hath beene amisse in me this day or at any other time euen for his sake who is thy welbeloued Sonne and my deare Aduocate Pardon the sinnes and offences which I haue committed this Day in thought word and deede eyther against thee or my Neighbour Giue me grace to water my Couch with Teares in vnfayned Repentance for all my former sinnes and grant that I may so passe the residue of my life as that in regard of thy Iustice I may retaine a holy feare to stand alwayes in awe of thee and in regard of thy Mercy conceiue sure hope neuer to despayre or distrust in thee O Lord keepe me this Night both in Soule and Body that I may with the next Light ioyfully rise againe bee thankefull vnto thee and carefully walke in my Vocation and Calling to the glory of thy holy Name and the good of my Brethren amongst whom I liue for Iesus Christ his sake in whose Name I further pray vnto thee saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. FINIS A TABLE DIRECTING where to finde the chiefe Matters contayned in this Booke A. ACcesse The godly haue free accesse to the King of Heauen when they please Pag. 322 Accomplishment Wee must looke as well to the accomplishment and end as the beginning of Gods workes 392 Aduersarie See Enemie Aduersitie See Trouble Afflictions Turne to the good of the godly 97. They humble vs for Sinne 99. Gods Name a Sanctuarie for vs in them 115. The fruits of them 122. They are but short 190 196 355. God hath set a time how long they shal last 192. which should worke patience in vs 193. Impatience in them dangerous 198. We must endure them constantly 199. Our Nature abhorreth them 326. They are no testimonies of Gods anger 334. Comfort against inward affliction 340. and outward 341 Amendment The amending of our liues brings endlesse comfort 131 Apparrell The vanitie of Brauerie gay Attyre and Apparrell 78. Fashion followers therein taxed 80 B. BAckward It is dangerous to goe backward in matters of Religion 204 Baptisme What a solemne Vow we haue made in it 10. wherein wee are made sworne Seruants of God 10 11. And haue receiued Wages aforehand of seruices to bee done 12. which God will require at our hand 14 Beginning A godly beginning without going forward auayles vs nothing 202. The end of a Christian better then his beginning 330 Beleeue The endlesse comfort of those that beleeue in Christ 131. The separation Christ will make betweene Beleeuers and Vnbeleeuers 143. Where a few true Beleeuers are for their sake all the multitude are called Gods people 155 Blessing The way to true blessednesse 152. They are blessed that keepe Gods Commandements 224. The godly make least esteeme of outward Blessings 170 Body See Preseruation Brauerie See Apparrell C. CHild of God neuer at one stay 210 Christ a powerfull Sauiour 56 Christian Different courses of the Christian and Worldling worth noting 329 Church The Rage of the Churches Enemies described 45. To what the Church may be compared 46. Gods prouidence limitteth the time in which it shal suffer and no longer 113. None can hurt it 159. What the state thereof is 161. since the Apostles time there haue been deceiuers in it 241. The troublesome estate of the Church causeth mourning in the godly 370 Cittie See Beleeue Commandements They are blest that keepe Gods Commandements 224 Come The wicked come farre different from the godly
is the heritage of the Lords seruants and the portion of them that loue him for the Church is that Arke which mounts vp mounts vp higher as the water increaseth but cannot be ouerwhelmed Mat. 7.25 the bush which may burne but not be consumed the house built vpon a rocke which may be beaten with winde and raine but cannot bee ouerthrowne Besides all this it is not enough that wee are compassed about with firy walls that is with the sure custody the continuall watch and ward of the Angels but the Lord himselfe is our wall so that euery way wee are defended by the Lord against all dangers Therefore in our greatest mutations our hearts shold not be moued from confidence in God All which should learne vs in the greatest changes and alterations that fall out in the world to rest assured that the Lord will worke for the good of his Church though the earth should bee mooued and the Mountaines fall into the middest of the Sea yea though the waters there of rage and bee troubled yet there is a Riuer whose streames shall make glad the Cittie of God in the middest of it Yea if they who should bee the nourishing Fathers of the Church doe forsake her and become her enemies they shall most assuredly perish but Comfort Ioy and Deliuerance shall appeare vnto Gods people out of another place the Lord for awhile may put the bridle of bondage in the Philistians hands for to humble Israel for their sinnes but it shall bee taken away from them at the length then shall his Church with Ioy draw water out of the Well of Saluation and prayse the Lord their God saying Though thou wert now angry with mee yet thy wrath is turned away and thou comfortest me yea Sion shall cry out and shout for ioy for great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of her And therefore in our lowest humiliation let vs answer our enemies Reioyce not against mee O mine enemies though I fall I shall rise when I shall sit in darkenesse the Lord is a light vnto me I will beare the wrath of the Lord because I haue sinned against him vntill he pleade my cause and execute iudgement for mee hee will bring me forth to light and I shall see his righteousnesse then hee that is mine enemy shall looke vpon it and shame shall couer him who sayd to mee Where is the Lord thy God now shall hee bee troden vnder as the myre in the streets yea so let all thine enemies perish O Lord. The hilles stand ahout Ierusalem euen so standeth the Lord about his people Therefore seeing the Lord doth thus compasse the godly with such mercies O then labour to be godly men And such as trust in God to whom all these precious promises are made O how excellent is thy mercy therefore the children of men shall trust vnder the shadow of thy wings Here is a great comfort for the godly who haue no small securitie hence that whatsoeuer their outward estate is or may bee Gods mercy compasseth them as the hills compasse Ierusalem First if Sathan assalt vs on euery side wirh temptation to vexe and disquiet vs with inward feares hee shall not haue so nimble eyes to spy our weakenesse as the eye of the Lord to spye meanes to strengthen vs. Let him obiect the greatnesse and infinite number of our sinnes yet hee shall but amplifie the great mercy of God which is greater and more large then all the sinne and misery in the World Thus Moses comforteth Gods people Deu. 4.31 The Lord thy God is a mercifull God hee will not forsake nor destroy thee nor forget the couenant of thy fathers which hee sware vnto them 〈◊〉 118. â—â— Secondly if vnmercifull men compasse them and come about them like Bees and sharpen their stings yet the mercies of the Lord are neerer them then that they can hurt them Thus Dauid comforted himselfe Psal 86.14.15 O Lord the prowde are risen against mee but thou Lord art strong and mercifull gracious and long suffering and a pitifull God Thirdly if a man should conflict with Gods owne hand by inward temptations or outward tryals of sicknesse pouertie persecution if he were so beset as hee could see nothing but troubles without feares within now is the time to mound fence himself with this comfortable doctrine that euen now Gods Mercies doe guard and compasse him seeing he cannot deny himselfe nor faile of any of his promises Dauid when hee was to chuse of the three rods of God the Sword Famine or Plague he chose to fall into the hands of God because he is mercifull He may afflict and chasten vs a while 2. Sam. 24.14 Isai 45.7.10 Psal 103.8 and for a moment seeme to fosake vs But with great compassions he will gather vs for he chides not alwayes neither retaineth he his wrath for euer Fourthly if a man were in the hands of death and the messengers thereof had already taken hold on him as on Hezekiah Yet euen then he need feare none ill seeing Gods mecrcies compasse him This is euer our couer though wee cannot alway see it as Elisha his seruant saw not the great mercies of God compassing him and his Maister Euen then when wee know not Gods mercy is all about vs. There are still more with vs then against vs our mountaine is alway beset with heauenly warriors Was Ionas euer more compassed with mercies then when he was in his owne sence cast off and compassed with waues and weeds Was Israel euer more coÌ„past with mercy then when they were compassed with Mountaines Sea enemies Death and deadly things these our extremities are Gods oportunitie Nay fifthly suppose a man were in the house of death in the graue yet euen this separates not from Gods mercyes which being eternal leaues vs not in death but when we are most compassed with dust and corruption shall then bee most abundant and mightie for vs. Oh therefore let so many as trust in God flye in all their straights to this sanctuary which can make not onely deaths fore-runners but euen death it selfe welcome which depriues vs of all things else but this mercy into the full estate of which it setteth vs. Let vs therefore labour aboue all things in the world to get part in this mercy by getting assurance of the pardon of sinne get this and thou gettest a mercy reaching vp to heauen a crowne of blessings a plentifull redemption Our Prophet here calls it a compassing mercie for a godly man thinketh not himselfe compassed with mercy when hee is compassed onely with outward blessings when God hath hedged about his house and he hath wealth to tumble in though the world breath after nothing else but when he hath a voyce telling him that God in Christ is merciful to his sin and hath couered his iniquitie oh now thinkes Dauid himselfe compassed with mercy and not before although he was a king and had
things labouring to approue our selues vnto GOD keeping faith and a good conscience which hath the promise of this life and that which is to come And wee must euer entertaine this holy resolution that nothing should draw vs from God and godlinesse 2. Cor. 1.12 This is our reioycing saith Paul the testimonie of a good conscience that is in simplicitie and godly purenesse and not in fleshly wisdome c. This yeelds vnto vs much comfort that our hearts can witnesse with vs that wee haue done our duties in obedience to Gods will Verse 4. Do well O Lord vnto them that be good and true of heart THE Prophet saith not heere doe well Lord to the perfect and such as offend in nothing but to the good and true of heart The good and true of heart are they which are of a single sincere and vpright heart for these are they which are most accepted of God although they also through infirmitie doe some times offend Heere is matter of great comfort to the Children of God that fall of weaknesse and infirmitie into the same sinne after repentance and such is the depth of Sathans temptations that he tels them that the Children of God fall not into the same sinne againe after their repentance if they doe hee telleth them that there is no place for a second repentance but this is false for the promises of God are without limitation of times or consideration of sinnes or respect of persons he will receiue to mercy all repentant sinners whether their sinnes be committed before or after repentance whither once or often so that they renew their repentance according as they haue sinned anew This pardon Christ himselfe publisheth Come vnto mee all yee that are wearie and heauy laden and I will refresh you Mat. 11.28 Yea the Lord inioyneth vs sinfull men to forgiue our Brother seauentie times seauen times if hee turne againe and say it repenteth me So that wee see this is a maruellous comfort to all such as groane vnder the burthen of sinne that haue fallen through infirmitie into one sinne often let not such be discouraged but assure themselues that albeit with Peter they fall often yet with him if they repent truly and weepe bitterly for their sinnes the Lord is mercifull to forgiue them their sinnes not that wee should liue proudly presumptuously stubbornely and obstinately against him but if wee fall through frailtie Psal 103. Psalme 103. The Lord knoweth whereof we be made hee remembreth that wee are but dust The Child of God not alwayes at one stay Hence wee learne that the Childe of GOD is not alwayes at one stay but there is an entercourse in the estate of a Christian man or woman sometimes full of comfort ioy and peace of conscience and sometimes againe heauie and sad yea full of sorrow and perplexitie euen as a man in an ague sometimes sicke and sometimes well and as it is with trees sometimes winter and sometimes summer This is the state of all Gods Children as Dauid Ioseph Hezekias Iob c. and continuall experience prooueth this that the estate of Gods Children ebbes and flowes hath their change when as they walke directly and vprightly with God then they haue peace and comfort but when that they start aside and commit some wicked sinne then they finde torments of conscience and great griefe of mind This shewes vs what is the state and condition of the Childe of GOD in this life hee is not so heere sanctified as that hee feeles no corruption of sinne to hange about him but rather such a one as feeles the burthen of his corruptions hindering him in this his course of Christianitie vnder which hee grieuously sighes and groanes labouring by all good meanes to bee disburthened Indeede it is a matter of great comfort to feele the graces of Gods Spirit as Faith Loue c. but no Childe of GOD can alwaies feele the comfort of grace but as fire that is raked vp in the ashes it is hid from his feeling for a time but at the length it will breake out againe to his great ioy and comfort Well seeing this is the state of Gods Children heere they finde great peace and comfort sometimes griefe and sorrow let vs not bee to much discouraged but rather when as by our falls and slippes wee haue weakened our comfort let vs intreat the Lord to renew our comfort againe let vs doe as a poore traueller who if he misse his way and goe out of it he will hasten into it againe and trudge and plucke vp his heeles with all speed to recouer that which hee hath lost So let vs when we haue sinned and gone out of the way make hast to returne and as a man that hath beene long sicke and growne feeble and weake will vse all meanes to gather vp his crums and to recouer his former strength againe So let vs when wee haue lost some part of our comfort and heauenly strength let vs I say vse all blessed meanes to recouer our former health and comfort againe Let vs pray much reade much heare much and meditate much let vs bewaile our former sloth and make our steps more vpright in time to come to Gods kingdome c. A purpose not to sinne the marke of a sanctified Heart Note heere that it is the speciall fruite and marke of a sanctified Heart and of the Minde renewed to haue a purpose not to sinne but in all things to please God and to doe his Will to walke with God in all his Commaundements Whereas on the contrarie Psal 50.17 when a Man hath a purpose to liue in any knowne sinne it is a fearefull and a manifest signe of a naughtie and wicked Heart For when the Heart is truely sanctified then will bee brought this right Spirit not to sinne in any thing I doe not say that the Man sanctified and regenerate doth not sinne at all but hee hath no purpose to sinne no delight in sinne but beareth a constant purpose in all things to please God When hee can say with Dauid I haue refrayned my feete from euerie euill way Againe Hee that is borne of God sinneth not that is Iohn 3.9 with full purpose of heart with delight in Sinne and as they purpose not to sinne so they endeuour it they are afraid and suspect themselues shunne the Occasions of Sinne Gen. 39.9 and striue against their owne Corruptions and Sathans Temptations This Doctrine doth euidently conuince the greatest number to bee such as neuer had the true Worke of Sanctification wrought in them Their Hearts bee not sanctified and their Mindes are not renewed Why Namely because they want this marke and fruite of a sanctified heart for though they heare of their sinnes bee told of them and the fearefull iudgements of GOD denounced against them yet they will not leaue them nor forsake them but will continue in them yea though it cost them the losse of Gods
It is a great comfort when a Man is in trouble to call to mind the gifts of God that made him sayth Gregorie in his Moralls For as sweete Oyntment doth not onely delight the Smell but is a speciall remedie against things that smell ill so the remembrance of good things is a comfort to a Man in Euill and Aduersitie sayth Ierome Wherefore to conclude this Point I end with that Exhortation of Saint Paul himselfe 2. Thess 4.18 Comfort your selues one another with these words and the Lord will deliuer you from euery euill worke and will preserue you vnto his heauenly Kingdome to whom be prayse for euer and euer Amen Seeing therefore it is certaine that reprobate persons haue no part in this redemption nor wicked vnbeleeuing impenitent sinners but onely the Elect This serues for to terrifie the vngodly to amaze them to feare themselues as not being in the right way but such as are vnder the Curse in the state of Damnation guiltie of eternall Death such as shall be partakers of the second Death which is a separation both of Soule and Body from God and an adiudging of them to perpetuall torments in Hell where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Which must teach them to turne from their wicked wayes and returne to God from whom they are fallen and labour to vse the meanes of their saluation and to goe out of themselues flying to the Throne of Gods Mercy most humbly beseeching God for pardon and forgiuenesse that so their part may be in this redemption and God may receiue them into his fauour without which repentance they must needs perish Except yee repent Luk. 13.3 yee shall all perish This is that our Sauiour Christ himselfe hath foretold saying He that shall not beleeue shall be damned Those that know not God and obey not his Word shall be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Againe All those shall be damned 2. Thess 1.9 that beleeue not the truth but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnesse Goe to now yee Rich men wicked and prophane weepe and howle for your miseries that shall come vpon you You that trust in your vncertaine Riches yee haue no part in the Redemption by Iesus Christ Goe to now ye that will not beleeue you that will not amend nor repent nor leaue your filthie lewd courses little thinke you of the Iudgement Day wherein euery one of you shall rise to giue vp your Accompts where the Booke of Gods Prouidence and the Booke of your owne Consciences shall be layd open before you and there shall you be arraigned at the Barre of Gods Iudgement and being condemned as Guiltie as hauing no part in this Redemption you shall will ye nill ye haue that fearefull Sentence of eternall Death pronounced against you Goe ye cursed into euerlasting fire Seeing then that it is proued that onely the Elect are redeemed and they onely saued it doth teach vs to labour to be in the number of the Elect and chosen Seruants of God and not onely to talke of our Election and discourse of it and reason about it as many will doe and that too curiously and more then is reuealed or necessarie to be knowne but to labour to gather vpon sound ground that my part in particular and thy part â—n particular is in this Election that wee may say truely vpon good proofe by euident testimonie and infallible Arguments especially from holy Scripture euery one by himselfe I thanke God from the ground of my Soule I trust I am one whom the Lord hath elected out of that cursed Race of Mankind I am one whom among so many thousands reiected of him my good God hath chosen to obtaine Saluation by Iesus Christ This is that which the Apostle Peter doth so labour in earnestly exhorting all of vs to giue all diligence 2. Pet. 1.10 to make our Calling and Election sure From which words of the Apostle wee are to note that it is no trifling matter or slight businesse no matter of dallying or delaying nor any matter arbitrarie or of indifferencie but a worke that requireth great labour paine and trauell great industrie and diligence a matter of absolute necessitie to make our Election sure Herein consisteth all our hope in this is continued our happinesse and felicitie and by this are we assured of Heauen and Life eternall and that vndoubtedly we shal be saued haue this and haue all and want this and want all Now O biectn whereas this is commonly obiected If I be elected it is no matter how I liue and so of the contrary I answere Answere That where God hath appointed the end there he hath appointed the meanes to attayne to that end the end is Life eternall which none shall euer attayne without the vsing of the true meanes This I proue plaine out of Saint Pauls words God hath chosen vs To what end to liue as wee list no sayth S. Paul but that we should vse the meanes studying true pietie and holynesse Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world to this end that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue This teacheth vs to liue in a continuall course of glorifying of God both in Body and Soule for wee are not our owne but wee are Christs 1. Cor. 6.20 Ye are not your owne for ye are bought with a price namely the bloud of Christ Therefore glorifie your heauenly Father both in Soule and Body for they are both his This is the end of our Redemption and deliuerance from our spirituall enemies Luke 1.74 75. That wee should serue God without seruile feare all the dayes of our liues in righteousnesse and holinesse before him Vprightly For the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men that is all sorts of men hath appeared teaching vs that wee should denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that we should liue soberly that is in regard of our selues Righteously in regard oâ— our neighbour Godly in regard of God himselfe Titus 2.11 12. For Christ Iesus he is our Sauiour who gaue himselfe for vs that hee might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe Zealous of good Workes Tit. 2.14 His bloud which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without fault to God Heb. 9.14 doth purge our Conscience from dead workes to serue â—he liuing God 1. Pet. 2.6 Wee are a people set at libertie that we should shew forth the vertue of him that hath called vs out of darkenesse into his maruellous light Of all the workes of Mercie â—his chiefely ought to bee remembred for it is the chiefest worke that God euer shewed to Man And if any thing will this will stay vs and keepe vs from â—he contagion of Sinne. And as it is true that none are redeemed I meanâ— none can approue
themselues redeemed but those who are cleansed from sinne and haue a care to forsake sinne so it is as true that none doe more keepe themselues from sinne then those that doe dayly meditate of and remember their Redemption it being the speciall end of our Redemption to cease from sinne and to serue God in righteousnesse and true holynesse all the dayes of our liues Lu. 1.74 75. As our Sauiour Christ when hee had cured him that had beene sicke thirtie eight yeeres meeting him in the Temple hee like a good Physician giueth him wholesome counsell and bids him Sinne no more But first prepares him to this dutie by calling to remembrance his mercie and fauour towards him in healing of him Iohn 5.14 Behold sayth Christ thou art made whole Sinne no more So if we would seriously remember the loue and mercy that God hath shewed in redeeming vs by his Sonne and the vnspeakable loue and care that Christ had on vs to die such a cursed Death for vs it would make vs breake forth with a full resolution of heart and say by our selues Behold I am made whole I am redeemed I will therefore defile my selfe no more I will leaue all sinne I will sinne no more lest a worse thing happen to me and it would make vs practise the contrary vertues When Paul would haue the Ephesians not to haue any fellowship with vnfruitfull works of darknesse but to walk as children of the light he doth first put them in mind of their new estate and makes them to consider of it seriously as being a notable means against sinne saying Ephes 5.8 9 10 11. Yee were once darkenesse but now are light in the Lord walke as children of the Light approouing what is pleasing to the Lord and haue no fellowship with vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse but rather reprooue them It is a manifest note of one redeemed Rom. 6.2 to be dead to sinne and if we are dead to sinne how shall wee any longer liue therein Forget not therefore this wonderfull benefit of Redemption Psal 103.2 3 4. sayth Dauid to his Soule And surely if this loue of Christ were truly remembred it could not be that we should sinne so commonly against him and so cruelly handle him by our sinnes euen by crucifying him afresh againe as wee doe First this Meditation as it is a notable meanes to preserue vs from all sinne so especially it keepeth vs from these and stirreth vs vp to the practise of the contrary vertues First it banisheth all vnthankfulnesse and stirreth vs vp to blesse and praise Gods Name who hath done so great things for vs. This was Dauids Meditation and practise Psal 103.4 Luke 1.68 1. Cor. 15.57 My soule praise thou the Lord and all within mee shall praise his holy Name and forget not all his benefites who redeemeth thy soule from destruction c. This did Zacharias thus did Paul and so will all doe that do finde and feele their part in this redemption Secondly this Meditation will keepe vs from fainting vnder the Crosse and make vs constant to vndergoe affliction and without this we cannot doe either Consider and remember therfore Christ Heb. 12.3 which endured such contradictions of sinners against himselfe lest yee bee wearied and faint in your minds Verse 1.2 and that we may cast aside euery sinne that hangeth on so fast and runne with patience the race set before vs let vs looke vnto Iesus the authour and finisher of our Faith Heere we see this is a great meanes against any sinne as well as impatiency inconstancy and the like and holds vs in a continuall course of doing well and walking aright in our Christian race Thirdly this is a speciall dutie enioyned vs in the right participation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper without which wee cannot receiue as fit guests but vnworthily eating and drinking our owne damnation And therefore Christ himselfe in his first Institution gaue vs this in speciall charge saying 1. Cor. 11.24.25 Doe this as oft as ye doe it in remembrance of mee repeating the same to shew vs the necessitie of it Fourthly this giueth vs comfort in sicknesse and at our death and stayeth vs against despaire of Gods mercy and at our death assure vs of endlesse mercy in the world to come besides al Gods blessings in this life temporally For if we remember that he dyed for vs and rose againe for vs Some shall also rise with him from the death of sinne vnto newnesse of life here and to immortall glory hereafter For where our head and member Christ is there also must we his members redeemed bee also And if when wee were enemies to him Christ died for vs Rom. 5.10 much more being now reconciled Rom. 8.1 shall we bee saued by him as Paul saith Now there is no condemnation to vs. Fiftly it maketh vs constant in all good duties stedfast and vnmoueable it maketh vs rich in all good workes when with Iob we can say I know that my Redeemer liueth Iob 19.25 This is that which Paul remembred with thankfulnesse and remembring it did stirre vp himselfe and others to abound in good workes which none can doe but those that cease from sinne 1. Cor. 15.57.58 Thankes bee vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ therefore bee yee stedfast and vnmoueable alwaies abounding in the worke of the Lord. For as much as ye know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Sixtly in way of thankfulnesse beware of turning backe to the seruice of sinne and obey the precept giuen to the blinde man as hath bene shewed before Luke 7.47 Thou art made whole sinne no more Seuenthly loue him much who hath forgiuen so much Eightly studie to please him in all things Psal 116.8 Because thou hast deliuered my soule from death mine eyes from teares and my feet from falling I will walke before the Lord in the land of the liuing Lastly magnifie and speake of this great deliuerance and saluation as the Church did Psal 126.1 Luke 1.49 The Lord hath done great things for vs whereof we reioyce and say with Marie He that is mightie hath done great things for me and holy is his Name Verse 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with ioy THis Psalme hath in it a singular Maiestie and therefore the Prophet vseth here many figuratiue or borrowed speeches By laughter he signifieth the voyce of the Gospel for the Gospel should be to vs nothing else but ioy and gladnesse especially if we compare it with the Law for the Law terrifieth and killeth whose vse and office is to breake and mollifie the hard and stonie hearts of the impenitent as Ezechiel saith for they must bee broken with this iron Scepter as it were and beaten downe to hell as the Psalmist prayeth Let the wicked be turned into hell Psal 9.17 and all