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

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I will not the death of a sinner that dyes Eze. 18.31 32. cap. 33. ver 11. but that he may be conuerted and liue Thou hearest the serious oath of the diuine truth Thou hearest that their conuersion is expected and desired of God which dye in their sinnes by their owne fault thou hearest that serious intreatie twise repeated Come vnto mee all yee sayth our Sauiour the meane and messenger of the heauenly Father Come vnto mee all yee all ye which labour Mat. 11.28 and are heauy laden and I will refresh you Thou hearest that the way lyes open to Christ for al that labour vnder the yoake of their sinne and that refreshing and rest of soule is promised to them God will haue all men to be saued sayth the Apostle 1 Tim. 2.4 being taught it in the third Heauen and to come to the knowledge of the truth Hee hath shut vp all vnder vnbeliefe that hee might haue mercy vpon all Rom. 11.20.23 Thou hearest that the saluation of all is desired and sought of God that the mercy of God is open vnto all no body is excluded here but hee which doth exclude himselfe There is one GOD of all therefore hee desireth that all should be saued whom he hath made Primas in H. L. One hath giuen himselfe the price of redemption for all therefore hée would haue all to bee partakers of that price GOD would not haue any to perish sayth Peter being taught by his owne example 2 Pet. 3.9 but that all returne to repentance Thou hearest that the long suffering and goodnesse of GOD doth inuite all to repentance and that GOD would not the destruction of any Take héede that thou speake not against this so cleare and so manifest a truth against these sayings of the holy Ghost written as it were with a beame of the Sunne let the consolations of the Scripture be of more force with thée then the thoughts of thine owne heart for the Scripture is the word of the liuing God which neuer deceiues but our heart is lying and deceiueth XII The absolute decree of Reprobation The Tempted THe promise indeede outwardly is offered vnto all but God hath made from euerlasting a decree of the Reprobation of some men whom hauing cast from him he hath adiudged them to eternall torments to these though he offer the word outwardly yet they cannot communicate or partake of the good things in the word Perhaps I also am in the number of those reprobates The Comforter THE secrets of heauen let no creature on earth presume to pry into Enough is reuealed both for our consolation and saluation Whom God hath predestinated we know not it is a secret of Gods Priuie Counsell where-into wée are not admitted And how farre forth and in what manner God may please to worke and bring about a purpose of his owne without the endeauour and purpose of man we know not that also is a secret of Gods Priuie Counsell where-into wée are not admitted And therefore as Moses saith that the secret things belong to the Lord our GOD so to him and his wisedome be content to leaue them But this we all know that S. Peter bids vs make our election sure by the practise of good workes and holy duties of Religion and telleth vs that hee that doth those things shall neuer fall 2 Pet. 1.10 that is such a one shall neuer faile of grace or glorie And therefore while thou endeauourest to liue in all good conscience according to Gods will thou mayest haue peace of conscience in Gods promises and mercies And this wée know that our Sauiour commandeth and promiseth Aske and yee shall haue seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you And therefore if thou vse the meanes thou canst not doubt of the end Finally this we all know also that God protesteth vpon his word yea vpon his oath that he desireth not the death of him that dieth or taketh any pleasure that the wicked should die but that he may returne and liue Ezek 18.23.32 Ezek. 33.11 And therefore God is so farre from reiecting thée before thou hast sinned that hée is most readie to admit of thée after thou hast sinned Onely then endeauour to doe the workes of him that sent thée into the world begge and craue for grace and mercie from the Father of mercies search thy heart finde out thy sinnes and each day renue thy repentance and then be assured that the outward offering of grace will euer be accompanied with the inward working of the spirit For the promises of Gods mercies are generall to all that beleeue on him Rom. 10.11 To all that call on the name of the Lord Rom 10.13 To all that labour and groane vnder the burden of their sinnes Matth. 11.28 To all that feare God and worketh righteousnesse Act. 10.35 c. And the merites and death and Passion of Iesus Christ as they are offered so they are bestowed on all generally that lay hold on him for their Sauiour Ioh. 3.16 XIII The doubting of the application of the merit of Christ The Tempted LEt the merit of Christ be and be said to spread it selfe wide in the meane time I doe not yet see for mine owne particular that the benefits of Christ are offered and applied to me Many things are offered to men in generall which notwithstanding doe not pertaine to euery man in particular The Comforter NAy from the generall we may wel procéede to the particular from that which is common to that which is more restrained Therefore because God would haue all to be saued thou mayest rightly and most firmely subsume that he would haue thée also to be saued Because Christ is said to haue died for all thou maiest rightly and most firmely subsume that he also died on the Crosse for thée and will cleanse thée from all thy sinnes by his bloud and because he calleth all repenting he will receiue thée repenting And because he promiseth grace and life to all that beleeue depend and relie on him therefore he will performe it to thée when thou doest rest and relie on him for his mercies Yea and that which God promiseth to all in generall by his word that he applieth to thée is particular in the Ministerie of the word Onely submit thy selfe to the wholesome Ministerie of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.18 which God hath committed to the Ministers of the Church Vers 20. to the keyes that he hath deliuered to their t●●st to the office of Embassage that the● vndergoe in the name of Christ God exhorting and as it were entreating vs by them And then that which is specially offered vnto thée do not doubt but that specially it belongs vnto thée When 〈◊〉 the serious sorrowe of thy b●●●t 〈◊〉 heareth the voice of the Minister pronouncing remission of sins in the name of Christ resolue that thou hearest Christ himselfe what so is héere done in the name of
momin pag. 21. God giues altogether fréely saues altogether fréely because he findes nothing for which to saue and hée findes much for which to damne Of grace is giuen not onely to the iustified good life but also to the glorified eternall life and therefore death is said to be wages but eternall life is said to be grace because that is rendred as due this is giuen as frée Bern. Ser. innat Mar. Col. 213. Therefore let another séeke for merit doe thou studie to finde grace let the mercie of the Lord be thy merit thou art not plainely poore in merit as long as he is not wanting mercies Serm. 67. in Cant. There is no place for grace to enter where merit hath alreadie taken vp the roome Thou doest detract from grace whatsoeuer thou doest depute vnto merit It sufficeth to merit Serm. 68. in Cant. to know that merit doth not suffice Place all thy confidence altogether on God Embrace his mercie séeke thy merits in the wounds of Christ thou shalt not haue any want of merits XXIII The accusation of the Law The Tempted I Acknowledge our works not to be meritorious neither to appease God but that out of faith they may please him And how can they chuse but displease him when they are not perfectly conformable to the law of God The law is an eternall vnchangeable rule of iustice condemning all whatsoeuer is not conformable there-vnto Therefore the dart of damnation is shaken against me my works vnlesse thou shew me what shield I may oppose against it The Comforter Gal. 3.13 CHrist hath redeemed thée from the curse of the Law being made a curse for thee Cursed is euery one that hangeth on the wood When the fulnesse of time came Cap 4.4 God sent his owne Sonne borne of a woman made vnder the Law that he might redeeme those which were vnder the Law Ver. 5. Rom. 10.4 Cap. 8.1 that we might receiue the adoption of Sonnes The end and fulfilling of the Law is Christ to righteousnes to euery one that beleeueth Therefore there is no damnation to thée and all which are by faith in Christ and walke not according to the flesh Vers 2. Vers 3. there is no feare of the Law the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath fréed thée from the Law of sinne and death For that which was impossible to the Law because it was made weake through the flesh that hath GOD performed Vers 4. sending his Sonne in the likenesse of the flesh of sinne and by sinne condemned sinne in the flesh that the iustification of the Law might be fulfilled in vs which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Therefore if by true faith thou doest apply the benefits of Christ vnto thy selfe there is no cause that thou shouldest feare the curse of the Lawe The sting of Death is sinne 1 Cor. 15.55 56. the strength of sinne is the Law but thankes be vnto God which hath giuen vs victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Hee hath ouercome our death by his death hee hath satisfied for our sinnes by his Passion and hée hath most perfectly fulfilled the Law in our stead by his most holy obedience Neither yet is there an abolishment of the Law made but a translation onely Neither do the Law and the Gospell destroy themselues mutually séeing the Law is not against the promises of God Gal. 3.21 but is established by faith For what the Law doth require of vs Rom. 3.31 that the Gospell doth tell vs was performed of Christ in our steade What the Law commands this Christ obtaines The Law condemneth sinne and vs for sinne Christ doth performe satisfaction for sinnes and giues his righteousnesse vnto vs. The Law therefore is satisfied by the obedience of Christ because it is perfect Againe that fulfilling of the Law through Christ is performed for vs to good because it is not due Chyt li. 1. de vita et morte p. 43. Therefore as thou oughtest not to behold death in thine owne body but in Christ raised vp againe the conquerour of death and the giuer of life and saluation eternall sinne not in thine owne conscience but in Christ the Lambe of God bearing and taking away thy sinnes and the sinnes of the whole world hell and the tentations of being euerlastingly cast away not in thy selfe and in that innumerable multitude of the damned but in Christ sustaining on the Crosse and ouer-comming for vs the tentation of being cast away so thou oughtest to behold the Law not as it is written in thy hart but as it is fulfilled by Christ and with him fastned to the Crosse XXIIII The accusation of Conscience The Tempted MY conscience doth witnesse together with the accusation of the Law that as an vncorrupt iudge riseth vp against mee Chrysost hom 64. in Gen. and is an accuser of mee while no man reproues mee or brings any thing forth against mee I cannot escape that domesticall iudgement seate In this great volumne I see and altogether tremble at all my sinnes Nazian orat 26. Bern. de conuers ad Cler. c. 3. Col. 114 written with the stile of truth wretch that I am who shall deliuer me from this Court of iudgement in which the same is the guiltie the pleader the witnesse the iudge the torturer the scourge the executioner the hangman The Comforter Ioh. 3.20 IF thy heart doth condemne thée yet God is greater then thy heart If the memory of thy faults passed doth accuse and torment thée yet Christ the Redéemer which hath satisfied for thy sinnes is a mightier Col. 2.14 he absolues thée frées thée and saues thée Hee indéed hath blotted out that hand-writing which was written against and was contrary to vs hee hath taken it cleane away and hath fastned it with him to the Crosse By the nailes of Christ crucified is that accusing hand-writing of thy conscience together fastened that it is of no force and validitie before God Rom. 5.1 for being iustified by faith thou hast peace with GOD peace of conscience quietnes of hart and the most blessed tranquillitie of the soule which Christ the conquerour of sinne death and Satan hath brought backe with him from the graue and giuen the same to his Disciples Therefore Bern. de conuer cap. 6. col 415. if thou féelest the worme of conscience thou oughtest to strangle him forthwith in this life present not cherish him to immortalitie for a putrified conscience begets the immortall wormes Strangle therefore the worme of conscience by serious repentance pray to God for rest of the heart and forgiuenesse of sinnes and take héed of the new wounds of conscience that is the worst relapse of sinnes In this life there is as yet a time of pardon a time of grace a time of quieting the conscience In this life the booke of conscience may as yet be amended out of the booke
drinke Rom. 14.17 but righteousnesse peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Wherefore if thy soule hath sometimes felt in the secret of thy conscience the spirit of the Son Ber in Can. serm 8. col 509. crying Abba Father let her presume that she is beloued with a fatherly affection when shee perceiues that shee is affected with the same spirit with which is also the sonne In the spirit of the Son shée may know her selfe to be daughter of the Father the spouse and sister of the sonne And although all these things are sometime weake and languishing yet be not out of heart but aske for increase of the spirit Luk. 11.13 for God will giue this spirit to those that aske him Stir vp the gift 2 Tim. 1.6 that frée and gracious gift of the spirit which is in thée that is by asking by séeking by knocking by meditating on th● word by resisting euill concupiscences There is here no perfection but a continuall way to perfection Beside this inward seale and testimony of the holy spirit God hath giuen thée the Sacraments which are the seales of the heauenly promises the waggons of the benefits of Christ bringing them vnto thée and the meanes of the begetting cherishing confirming of thy faith that thou mayst be sure that the benefits of Christ doe pertaine in speciall vnto thée Cypr serm de mort pa. 209. Thou wert receiued into the Church by baptisme and fed in the Lords Supper with the body blood of Christ being confirmed by these seales beléeue the word of the Gospell surely and without all doubt Why doest thou doubt why doest thou wauer this is that God should not altogether be this is to offend Christ the Master of beléeuers with the sin of incredulity this is for him that is placed in the Church not to haue faith in the house of faith Attend moreouer to the infallibility of the promised hearing God hath promised euen with an oath put thereto that he wil heare our prayers that whatsoeuer we aske according to his will shall be giuen vnto vs Verily verily I say vnto you saith Christ whatsoeuer yee shall aske the Father in my name Ioh. 16.23 Mat. 18.19 hee will giue vnto you If two of you shall consent vpon earth on any manner of thing whatsoeuer they shal aske it shal be done to them of my Father which is in heauen This is the trust which we haue vnto God 1 Ioh. 5.14 if we aske according to his will we shal obtaine it The very same which hath promised hearing hath cōmanded vs to aske forgiuenes of sins therfore what place of doubting will there remaine of the remission of sins how should Christ haue commanded to ioyne to prayer the word Amen if hee would haue had vs to doubt of hearing To conclude attend to the property of true faith as by which we haue accesse vnto that grace wherein we stand and glory of the hope of glory Heb. 4.16 promised of God through which wee come with trust vnto the throne of grace that wee may attaine mercy and finde grace through which we are kept by the power of God vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.5 through which we know that we are translated from death to life 1 Ioh. 3.14 through which wee are most certainly perswaded that neither death Rom. 8.38 nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present vers 39. nor things to come neither height nor depth nor any other creature can separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. August in Psal 148. Weighing all these things let thy frailtie lift it selfe vp let it not despaire let it not bruise it selfe let it not turne it selfe away Christ hath promised thée that thou shalt bee there where hée is What hath God promised vnto thée O mortall man that thou shalt liue for euer Doest thou not beléeue beléeue beléeue it is more now which hée hath done then what he hath promised What hath he done he hath died for thée What hath he promised that thou shalt liue with him it is more incredible that the eternal hath died then that the mortal can liue for eternitie Now thou holdest that which is more incredible why doest thou doubt of that which remaines God hath promised thée heauen he hath giuen thée his Son which is a greater gift then heauen and earth XXIX The doubting of perseuerance The Tempted TRuly I doe nothing doubt but that by my Mediator Christ there lyes open to me accesse to GOD I surely trust that I am in the grace of God yet I cannot but doubt of perseuerance Matth. 10.22 cap. 24. v. 46. I know that it is perseuerance alone that is crowned I heare that they onely which shall perseuere to the end shall be saued Not to haue begun well but to goe through well is the part of vertue Aug. Ser. 8 ad frat in Erem Hiero in Epist ad furiam Theol. myst Harp c. 34. Neither is the beginning but the end required in Christians Iudas began well but he ended ill Paul began ill but hee ended well Without perseuerance neither he that fighteth obtaineth victory nor the Conquerour the palme I heare the ouer-seer and appointer of our masteries crying hold that which thou hast least another take thy crown I heare and I feare I feare and I doubt Apoc. 3.12 I doubt and I cast away the confidence of my heart The Comforter Bern. Serm. 3. de sep frag miser Col. 183. COnsider thrée things ●n which thy whole hope doth consist the charity of the adoption the truth of the promise the power of performance Now let thy foolish thought murmure as much as it will saying who art thou and how great is that glory or by what merits hopest thou to obtaine it and doe thou answere confidently I know whom I haue beléeued and I am sure that in the aboundance of his charitie he hath adopted me that he is true in his promise that hée is powerfull in performance This is the thrée-fold cord which is not easily broken which I pray thée that thou holde firmely fast being let downe to thée out of our Country euen into this dungeon that it may lift thée vp that it may draw thée euen to the beholding and sight of the glorie of the great God This is the most firme Anker of thy hope these are those thrée pillars on which thou mayest relie against the flouds stormes of doubtings that is to say the good will of God adopting his sure faithfulnesse promising and his infinite power to fulfill his promises The good GOD hath promised good things Phil. 2.13 hée hath begun to worke a good worke in thée hée that hath begun will performe it according to his good liking The good GOD hath promised good things 1 Cor. 10.15 he that hath promised is faithfull and true he
THE CONQVEST of Temptations OR Mans victory ouer Satan Especially the great Assaults at the Agony of DEATH Full of very strong and effectuall Consolations to sustaine and comfort the weakest heart in the greatest conflicts which can befall a Christian in the whole course of Life and approach of Death Gathered by the holy and deuout labour of IOHN GERARD Doctor of Diuinitie and Super-intendent of Heldburge Newly Englished by Rich. Bruch Minister of GODS Word He that dyeth before he dye Shall not dye when he doth dye LONDON Printed by T. S. for Roger Iackson and to be solde in Fleetstreet neere the great Conduit 1614. TO THE MOST RELIGIOVS AND worthy KNIGHT Sir Thomas Vauasur Knight-Marshall and to the most pious and well-affected Lady his Wife the Lady Mary Vauasur R. B. wisheth here on Earth the beginning and in Heauen the complement of all happinesse Right Worshipfull SInce it is in mans life Seneca as it is in an Enterlude that it skils not how long but how well it be acted and that the word of truth giues out this for a truth Eccl. 7.10 the end of a thing is better then the beginning it concernes all men to striue to make good that which they cannot make long and hauing begunne well to perseuere so doing lest they leese the things that they haue wrought 2 Iohn v. 8 Heb. 3.14 if they keepe not sure vnto the end the beginning wherewith they are vpholden Surely the number of our yeeres is knowen to GOD alone our dayes are in his hand this only remaines vnto vs while wee are in this world to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world Psa 119.1 Iob. 17.9 immaculati in viâ vpright vndefiled in the way holding on our way with the righteous and with the pure of hands increasing our strength Which that we should not doe the old enemie of mankinde full of all subtiltie and malice doth by all meanes labour still to hinder who though he be very busie with vs to auert vs from the good and to make vs forsake our owne mercies in the whole course of our liues yet he doth especially insidiari calcaneo trip at the heele lay wait at the end to make vs then let goe the holde that we haue and the hope of assurance if 〈◊〉 cannot before hand make vs to deny the faith and make shipwracke of good conscience Eph. 6.13 whom that we may not onely know how to resist but also resisting to ouercome in the euill day and finishing all things to stand fast whose fiery darts that wee may quench this little Booke giues vs both the shield of faith and other spirituall armour in which kinde though I haue read and seene others written yet neuer did I peruse any done so full and so feelingly so succinct in the fulnesse and in so good order and method This when I had first turned into our English being thereunto requested in the next place when I thought to whom I might best offer it your Worthinesse most religious Knight and Lady came into my minde persons as in your ranke and place eminent so much more eminent in your vertues who in the example of your zeale in Religion and loue of the truth your pietie and charitie your meekenesse and affabilitie are a patterne vnto others and doe in the integritie of your liues being full of good workes Lib. de conuer a seculo ad Theo. Sen. multum militare acquisitionibus Christi as saith Fulgentius Purchase much for Christ and purchase to your selues in the world with the testimony of a good conscience that feasts your soules continually the sweet sauour of a good name Pro. 15.15 which two things are better vnto you then all riches Wee that are of your neighbourhood know and see the care that you haue of religious duties and the workes of charitie which you doe your lowlinesse in your wealth and Honour and other your remarkeable vertues It remaines onely that you that haue so well begunne and hitherto so well continued doe now striue to perseuere vnto the end that you may receiue a full reward that you may crowne the good that hath gone before in you with a good conclusion and that ouercomming the difficulties that are yet behinde you may at last bring your ship to the Hauen where you would be Which that you may the better doe you shall finde no small helpe and furtherance in this smal Booke which euery where breathing Consolations will arme your soules against all Temptations and against the time of your dissolution come so compose your soules to Death that you shall sleepe sweetly in the Lord in the peace of a good Conscience in sure and certaine hope of eternall life vnto which the Lord of his mercy giue you an entry with all Saints through his Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour AMEN Your Worships humbly deuoted and wishing your best good R. Br. To the very Reuerend and famous men excelling in Pietie Learning and Authoritie Mr. IOHN SCHRODER a famous Diuine and most worthy Minister appointed of the Church of Norinberg Mr. MARTIN GVNGE the most deseruing Preacher of the Court of Saxo-Coburg Mr. IOHN ALDENBVRG his most faithfull fellow Minister of the Church of Coburg His Masters Plato in Phaedone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 friends and Brethren in Christ singularly beloued IF any man Reuerend and most famous men my Masters Friends Brethren in Christ to be had in singular honour would accommodate that same Platonicall definition of Philosophie that it is a Meditation of death to the true Theosophie of Christians hee may doe it as I thinke with the good leaue of the truth seeing as it were the beginning and end thereof doth consist in the Meditation of death Now I vnderstand vnder the name of death both the death of Christ and our death also The death of Christ and his Passion is the waight of the Christian name 1 Cor. 2.2 thence the Apostle did iudge that hee knew no other thing among the Corinthians then Christ crucified and dead By the death of Christ was made an expiation of our sinnes a destruction of the power of Satan a confirmation of the new couenant and an easing of the terrours which are wont to be present in our death therfore the Meditation of the death of Christ ought neuer to depart from our memorie Neither let vs any time of our life forget our owne death that as Death expects vs euery day so wee may also expect that againe each day Hieron Epist ad Pauli He which remembers daily that hee shall die he doth easily contemne all earthly things he prepares himselfe by true and earnest conuersion to a blessed death he giues his minde to sincere pietie he doth patiently endure all manner of aduersitie and is set on fire euen from the heart with an ardent desire of eternall life Psa 90.12 Teach vs O Lord prayes Moses to number our dayes
himselfe for vs hee saith I will be baptized with a certaine baptisme and how am I straightened till it be fulfilled Luc. 12.50 This was the baptisme of the Crosse and tribulation into which our most benigne Sauiour was altogether plunged not for any other cause but out of his great ineffable loue towards vs this is that which hath so straightened him and driuen him how great soeuer his outward griefe was in his passion yet alwayes his inner loue towards vs was greater and more ardent through which hee was ready to sustaine more things for our sinnes if the price for our redemption which hée payed had not séemed sufficient But there is no cause that we doubt of the sufficiency of the price with him there is altogether plentifull redemption because not a droppe but a streame of bloud hath flowed largely through fiue parts of his body Born ser 22. sup cant col 554. hee hath cryed out that all things were finished in the Crosse and through the Crosse and therefore he hath made by himselfe a full perfect purgation of our sins with one offring hath he for euer perfected those which are sanctified Heb. 1.3 Cap. 10.14 Apoc. 1.5 he hath washed vs from our sinnes in his bloud Beléeue therefore so cleere so perspicuous so expresse words of the holy Ghost and resolue firmely that by the death and passion of CHRIST there is wrought a sufficient satisfaction for thy sinnes IIII. The memory of Actuall sinnes The Tempted PErchance Christ hath taken vpon himselfe originall sinne onely so that for actuall sinnes I my selfe must eyther satisfie or burne Although therefore I resolue firmely that through Christ I am washed from that originall spot yet those actuall sinnes doe vexe and presse me which I haue committed through the whole course of my life in number many in weight most heauy for desert damnable Christ is opposed to Adam therefore the benefit of Christ will not spread it selfe more wide then the fault that was deriued from Adam into vs. Another mans fault may be healed by another mans satisfaction but a mans owne fault will require a mans owne satisfaction The Comforter NAy the bloud of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God 1 Ioh. 1.7 doth cleanse thee altogether from all thy sinnes not that only which is deriued from Adam but those also which are heaped vpon this of thée God hath set forth Christ the propitiatory by faith in his bloud Rom. 3.25 to that may we draw néere by true faith and hauing obtained remission of our sins be reconciled to God as often as the weight and heape of our sinnes doth presse vs downe wee may come to this throne of grace with confidence that wee may obtaine mercy Heb. 4.16 and finde grace in the seasonable time of helpe Furthermore what redemption would this be what reconciliation if Christ had satisfied for one onely kinde of sinne wée our selues being yet bound and obliged to make satisfaction for all the rest farre more grieuous and more copious the redemption of Christ is not so maimed imperfect and to halues Heb 10.12 14.18 but offering one sacrifice for sinnes by that one oblation hée hath perfected for euer those that are sanctified and hath obtained such a remission of sinnes that there is not any other oblation necessarie for sinnes 1 Iohn 2.1.2 Wée haue an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous he is the propitiation for our sinnes not for our sinnes onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world Therefore if hauing slipt into sinnes out of the infirmitie of the flesh wée doe earnestly repent vs wée haue a refuge set downe for vs in Christs intercession the foundation of which intercession consists in Christs merit and satisfaction for from thence and therefore is Christs intercession effectuall for vs because a full and perfect satisfaction was performed by him for our sinnes from thence and therefore the force of the Diuine iustice and seuere iudgement due to our sinnes is not shaken against vs because Christ couers our sinnes with the cloake of his mercie the price of the obtained and deserued redemption being paid of him Let this therefore abide firme and sure that Christ by his death the onely most true sacrifice offered for vs hath purged abolished August 4. de Trinit ca. 13. extinguished whatsoeuer there was of sinnes from whence the principalities and powers did by right with-hold vs to suffer punishment therefore in him and through him wée obtaine remission not onely of originall sinne 1. De peccamer etremiss ca 13. Tit. 2.14 but also of the rest of the sinnes that we haue added there-vnto For he which thing day vp in thy déepest thoughts hath giuen himselfe for vs that hée might redéeme vs from all iniquitie Infinite is the person that hath satisfied how then shall not his Passion be of infinite merit What is so deadly that may not be healed by the death of the Sonne of God which is life it selfe what is so bloudie and so foule but that it might be cleansed by the pretious bloud of the Sonne of God V. The doubting of the application of the benefits of Christ The Tempted BVt how may I be made partaker of that most pretious treasure Christ hath died for all but now that fruit of the death of Christ doth not redound to all whence therefore shall I be assured that the benefits of Christ doe also pertaine to me whence may it appeare that I am in very deede and most certainely a partaker of all those things actually which Christ hath deserued for vs by his Passion and death The Comforter GOD offers vnto thée the word of the Gospell and in the same all the benefites of his Sonne Es 6.5.2 Hée spreads forth his hands all day he calles he inuites verily therefore also he calles he inuites he inticeth thée That therefore which GOD offers vnto thée with the hand of his mercie that embrace thou with the hand of firme confidence Bern. Ser. 31. sup can Col. 597. As farre as thou shalt stretch forth the foote of confidence in the goods of the Lord so farre forth shalt thou possesse God doth not put the oyle of his mercie vnlesse it be in the vessell of confidence Id. Serm. 3. in Annunc Col. 113. Thou shalt possesse so much of the goods of the Lord as thou doest gather in the vessell of confidence For faith doth apprehend Christ in Christ God fauourable the remission of sinnes and life euerlasting Heare concerning this thing the words of the eternall and vnchangeable truth So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne Ioh. 3.16.18 that euerie one that beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life He that beléeueth in him is not iudged but hath life eternall Ioh. 1.12 for hée hath giuen power to all that haue receiued him to be made the Sonnes of God to
hee giues to thée from whose gift challenging it to thy selfe thou shalt not be confounded IX The temptation of Desperation The Tempted THE Deuill doth sollicite mee to desperation The Comforter I would haue thée despaire but in thy self and of thy selfe because thou art a sinnefull man Rom. 5.21 but not in God whose grace doth abound aboue sinne for as much as a drop is to the Sea Chrysost Hom. 3. de Poen so much is mans malice to Gods mercy The Sea though it be great yet it hath a measure but the clemency of God hath no measure neither despaire thou of Christ and in Christ which came into the world that he might saue sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 whose blood doth more preuaile to the reconciliation of God then the sinnes of the whole world to his displeasure Although thy sinnes be great and diuers and oft-times doubled yet they are not greater or more grieuous then that thou mayest obtaine pardon forgiuenes of them séeing the goodnes of God is greater then the iniquitie of all men Sins are in their fall but the grace of God is in its rising Sins are in the works of the Deuill and Man to take pitty to spare to remit are the workes of God by how much therefore God is more mighty then the Diuell and Man by so much also his mercy is greater then our malice The Lord is full of compassion and mercy Psal 103.8 vers 9. slow to anger and of great kindnesse Hee will not alwayes chide neither will hee keepe his anger for euer vers 10. Hee hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs after our iniquities vers 11. For as high as the Heauen is aboue the Earth so great is his mercy toward them that feare him vers 12. As farre as the East is from the West so farre hath hee remoued our sinnes from vs. The Heauen is incomparably greater then the Earth which is no bigger then the least point in respect of Heauen so the mercy of the heauenly Father is incomparably greater then all sinnes farre be it farre be it therefore from thée that thou say Greater is mine iniquitie then the pietie of the pittying God Thou shalt finde God more kinde then thou art culpable Bern. serm 11. sup Can. Col. 5 18. Gerson de remed contra Pusilla So great is the mercy of God that if thou hadst all the sinnes of the world vpon thée and didst grieue that with thy sinnes thou hadst proudly offended thy God so good a Lord and shouldest firmely purpose hereafter to abstaine God would neuer condemne thée What August in Psal 55. dost thou so forget the satisfaction performed of Christ that thou wilt prefer thy sinnes before Christs merit that is thy selfe before God Dost thou sée the greatnesse of the disease and dost thou not sée the power of the Physitian Great are thy sinnes farre greater is Christ which hath satisfied for thy sinnes Diuers are thy sinnes but Christ also hath suffered diuers things for thée GOD is the infinite good whom thou hast offended by thy sinnes but Christ is an infinite person which hath reconciled thée to God sigh therefore to thy heauenly Father and pray in the name of his Sonne thy Sauiour if thou doest despise mee Ansel de redemp gen hum fol. 96. O eternall God for mine iniquitie as I haue deserued regard me at least taking pitty on mee for the loue of thy beloued off-spring Regard that in thy Sonne which thou mayst bee mercifull vnto in thy seruant Sée the sacrament of his flesh and forgiue the guilt of my flesh remember what thy good Son hath suffered and forget what thine euill seruant hath wrought X. The tentation of Blasphemie The Tempted I Am constrained to confesse that I am not onely prouoked to desperation but that I am also sometimes tempted with the spirit of blasphemie for such thoughts doe arise in my heart as are iniurious against God himselfe my Creatour and my Sauiour I would chuse to dye a thousand times that I might be freed from this tentation The Comforter THese cogitations are not the actions of thy heart but rather the most bitter passions séeing thou art not delighted with these cogitations but doest féele out of them sorrowes more bitter then death it selfe They are the scourges of Satan with which hee doth afflict and torment thée they shall not be imputed to thée of the Lord for sinne And be it that some impatience of the heart do arise out of the infirmitie of the flesh yet God knowes thy groanings and thy sighes yea the weight of tentations hath wringed out of Iob and Ieremy hard words which the most benigne God hath fatherly forgiuen them Obserue out of them how thou hast altogether no strength to good out of thy selfe that with the whole trust of thy hart thou mayest learne to cleaue vnto God This is the force and highest degrée of the fight against Satan take héed thou faint not here the mighty God that appoints thée to this combat will be present with thée neither will hee leaue thée destitute of his helpe Expect patiently and humbly till thou mayest be fréed from the fiery darts of Satan in the meane time Ephe. 6.16 let the grace of the Lord suffice thée 2 Cor. 12.9 It is the flesh which doth thus wrastle with the spirit and shewes it selfe ready and pliable to take the darts of Satan the sinne that dwels in thy flesh shall not be imputed vnto thée if thou wilt mortifie by the spirit the déedes of the flesh and wilt not giue consent to these blasphemous cogitations Extinguish those fiery darts of Satan in the bloud of Christ turne against them the Buckler of faith and assoone as thou shalt perceiue any such blasphemous cogitation to arise betake thy selfe to prayers by which thou mayest trample it downe as it were in the first growth XI The particularitie of the Promises The Tempted I Feele some consolation of the spirit in my heart I obserue a certaine trust in my soule which forbids mee to despaire when I behold the mercy of God abounding aboue sinnes and the merit of Christ which is of infinite price and value But I doubt whether that promise in the Gospell of the mercy of God and merit of Christ doth pertaine to me also for God is not only mercifull but also a most iust and seuere reuenger of sinnes and that all are not made partakers of the benefits of Christ experience to my great griefe doth witnesse The Comforter TAke héed that thou giue no place to those seducing thoughts of the restraint of the promises of the Gospell God calleth all vnto him hee desires all to come vnto him hee offers the word of the Gospell to all and in it the benefits of Christ neither doth hee this fainedly but in earnest not hypocritically but with a minde to communicate them I liue saith the Lord
opened vnto vs. As in the baptisme of Christ the holy Ghost descended vpon him in the shape of a Doue so the holy Ghost is present in our baptisme and workes therein effectually our regeneration and renouation so that by this reason in Baptisme doe concurre the grace of the Father adopting the merit of the Sonne clensing and the efficacie of the holy Ghost regenerating Therefore if thou art baptized thou mayst not doubt of the grace of God the remission of sins and the promise of eternall saluation so thou continue in that faith which there thou didst professe Baptisme is the Lauer of regeneration where there is regeneration there is the remission of sinnes there is the grace of God there is perfect iustice there is renuing there is the gift of the holy Ghost there is adoption there is the inheritance of eternall life XV The falling out of the Couenant of Baptisme The Tempted I Beleeue indeed that I am receiued into the couenant of Gods grace by the Sacrament of Baptisme that I haue attained remission of my sinnes and am written in the Booke of life but by my sinnes I haue againe fallen out of the grace of this Couenant by committing offences againe I haue made the remission past of none effect and haue often deserued that I should be blotted out of the Booke of life The Comforter NAy the Couenant of GOD is an euerlasting couenant Gen. 17.13.1 Col. 2.11 to which after thy sinnes thou mayest againe betake thy selfe by true and earnest repentance For euen as God speakes of the Sacrament of circumcision that it is an eternall couenant so let vs not doubt but that God will enter into and stablish with vs an euerlasting couenant in baptisme which hath succeeded in the place of circumcision I will marry thee vnto mee for euer sayth he by the Prophet Hose 2.19 I will mary thee vnto mee in righteousnes and iudgement in mercy and in compassion I will marry thee vnto me in faith The hils shall be moued Esa 54.10 and the valleyes shall tremble but my mercy shall not depart from thee and the couenant of my peace shall not be moued saith thy Lord that taketh pitty God forbid therefore God forbid Rom. 3.3 that we say that the faith of God can be made of none effect by the incredulitie of men If we doe neuer so much take away credit from his words or depart from him 2 Tim. 2.13 hée remaineth faithfull alwayes like himselfe true and constant he cannot deny himselfe Therefore though thou sometime sinne out of thine inbred infirmitie thou doest not forthwith fall out of the couenant of God Indéed by sinnes committed against knowledge and conscience thou dost grieuously prouoke GOD against thée and make him to be sometimes angry but by true repentance thou returnest againe into his grace and fauour The ship of Baptisme doth not floate away from vs Secunda post naufragium tabulu although wee leape out of it into the Sea of sinnes therefore by repentance which in this sence may be called a second planke after shipwracke wee may returne againe to the same shippe of baptisme that in it wée may bee brought to the hauen of euerlasting saluation Hier. in ca. 3. Esa ver 9. Tertu lib. de poenit p. 479. Therefore imbrace repentance as hée that is shipwracke the helpe of some boord or plancke this will lift thée vp being ouerwhelmed with the waues of thy sins will bring thée into the hauen of the clemency of God Peter had denied his Master 1 Pet. 3.21 but being conuerted he doth neuerthelesse seeke the promise of saluation in baptisme The Galathians had fallen grieuously and likewise the Corinthians notwithstanding the Apostle doth set before them consolation deriued out of Baptisme after that they were againe raised vp by repentance Gal. 3.17 pronouncing as many of them as were baptized to haue put on Christ nay manifestly affirming that they were clensed and baptized in one spirit into one body that is to say a misticall body Out of which it euidently appeareth that the efficacy of the couenant of Baptisme doth extend it self to the time to come neither is it made plainely of no force and abolisht by the fall of man into sinne but that that couenant abides lastingly firme August 1. de nupt concupis cap. 33. and ratified of the part of God That therefore which Paul saith that Christ did clense the Church in the Lauer of water in the word is so to be taken that by the same Lauer of regeneration and word of sanctification all the euils of regenerate men are altogether clensed and healed not onely the sinnes past all which are remitted in Baptisme but also those which are afterwards contracted by humane ignorance or infirmitie not that baptisme so often as men sinne may so often be repeated but because by that which is once giuen the pardon of what soeuer sinnes is obtained for the faithfull not only before but also afterwards vpon their true and vnfained repentance Acknowledge therefore and bewaile thy sinnes yet neyther deny the couenant of grace that was begunne with thée in baptisme nor forget it but though thou fall a thousand times yet returne and goe backe Returne vnto mee Ier. 3.12 O thou soule that art turned away saith the LORD and I will not turne away my face from you Psal 27.8 because I am mercifull sayth the LORD and I will not be angry for euer Let thy heart set this word before GOD 2 Tim. 2.13 and hée will take pitty vpon thée being mindfull of his promise for hée cannot deny himselfe and his word XVI Vncertaine taking into the Couenant of Baptisme The tempted BVT whence may I bee ascertained that after I haue fallen by true repentance I may be receiued againe of God into fauour I would to God my heart might be confirmed by some certaine seale I would there were some Sacrament by the participation whereof that promise of grace might be sealed vp vnto mee The Comforter YEa there is such a Sacrament that is to say the most holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper in which Christ giues vnto thée his most precious body and blood Wherefore when they receiuest the most holy price of thy redemption that is to say the body and bloud of Christ in that holy supper thou mayest be sure that thou art made truly partaker of all those things which Christ hath deserued on the altar of the Crosse by the deliuering vp of his body and powring out of his bloud that is the fauour of God remission of sinnes righteousnesse life and euerlasting saluation When thou drinkest that bloud by the pouring out whereof the couenant of grace was stricken and confirmed how canst thou doubt whether thou be againe receiued into that couenant and into the fauour of God What is more néere vnto God then his onely begotten Sonne as who is in his bosome Ioh.