weakenesse 2. Corinth 12. 8 9. 2. Cor. 4. 7 8. 6. And the Lord onely might haue the glorie of his works in vs Rom. 4. 2. Cor. 12. 7. That we may be daily humbled in the sense of our infirmities and so preuenting pride and securitie we may forget that which is behinde and hasten to that which is before Phil. 3. 13. 8. That we might be more compassionate towards our brethren as being subiect to like temptations with them Galath 6. 1. Genes 38. Iudah 9. That y e wicked may hereby take offence who seeing the infirmities of the Saints and from thence their chasticements take hence occasion to condemne the generation of the iust and to ripen their sinne by adding affliction to affliction Zach. 1. Psal 73. c. That Gods children might daily renounce their owne righteousnesse and flie vnto Christ liuing the life of faith and contenting themselues with the sufficiency of Gods grace 2. Cor. 12. Abac. 2. And seeing that as long as they liue they shal be subiect to infirmities therefore also hereby are they weaned from the loue of this life and the pleasures thereof which are no better then fuell to their sinne And also prouoked to hunger and sigh after their dissolution that so they may bee deliuered from this bodie of sinne Rom. 7. 24. And this serueth first for reproofe and that first of the Papist that boasteth of merit and perfect obedience not acknowledging that to bee sinne which is and counting that good which is euill robbing thereby Christ of his glorie and himselfe of the assurance of his saluation 2. Of the prophane Protestant that flatters himselfe in his sinne with this That all haue their faults and the best hath some infirmities and therfore he will liue in his sinne he hopes to be saued as well as others what need we make so much adoe 3. The ignorant Protestant is heere condemned who though in generall hee confesse that hee is a sinner yet denieth that hee hath in particular broken any of the commandements he is no whore no theefe deceiuing himself by the letter of the law and in truth thereby denying that he hath any sinne at all 4. The carnall Protestant is heere also conuinced and that in many respects 1. In that he hates to be reproued whereby hee would be conceiued righteous and without fault 2. That hee will not striue against his corruptions because he cannot wholly be rid of them pleading it to bee impossible and so in vaine to be attempted Whereas it is 1. The commandement of God to striue against sinne though it still remaine 2. By striuing we conquer some grosse sinnes as swearing whoring c. so that wee neuer fall into them againe 3. We by this spirituall fight doe weaken and diminish the force of all sinne and so daily get ground thereof 4. We by taming of sinne make it seruiceable vnto vs by outward corruptions purging out secret abominations so that all doth turne to our exceeding good 5. And so continuing in this spirituall warfare to the end wee fight the good fight of faith and finish our course with ioy 1. Tim. 6. 2. Tim. 4. 5. The weake Protestant is reproued that esteemes his case singular when he is ouertaken with any grosse sin Secondly this serues for instruction and that many waies as 1. To teach vs to rest wholly on Christ in the matter of our saluation and to esteeme all as dung in regard of him to desire to be found in him not hauing our owne righteousnesse but the righteousnesse which is of faith Philip. 3. vers 8. 9. 2. Wee may hence learne to bee abased and truly humbled not with our outward afflictions which may breed worldly sorrow but with our inward corruptions which may cause godly sorrow to repentance 2. Corin. 2. Iames 4. 8 9. 3. And seeing the best hath his infirmities here is a notable meanes to teach the proudest to haue compassion to put on meekenesse of spirit and tendernesse of heart in relieuing and raising vp his afflicted brother that so the communion of Saints may be maintained by the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace Galath 6. 4. Here is matter of triall in this state of infirmities which seemes common to all whether yet we are such as are renued in Christ to whom our sin shall not be imputed namely If 1. We hate all sinne indifferently with a perfect hatred 2. Striue vnfainedly against all sinnes 3. Iudge our selues daily for sinnes particular 4. Condemne secret corruptions 5. Wholly relie on Christ for pardon for sinnes 6. Hunger after death in regard of sinne Rom. 7. 7. Endure reproofe patiently and amend Thirdly this serues for comfort that many waies As 1. In that God hath left infirmities in vs therfore haue wee hence assurance of our right in Christ who came to saue sinners and shall haue experience of the power of Christ in the daily subduing and mastering of our corruptions And therefore 2. Let vs not despaire in our greatest tentations seeing the greater miserie the greater mercie As it is God our father that hath left sinne in vs yea in the dearest to aduance his free and constant loue so hath he giuen his Son to reueale this loue vnto vs by the operation of the Spirit shedding it abroad in our hearts through the daily assurance of the pardon of our sinnes and continuall enabling to conquer the same Rom. 5. 2 3. 3. To this end let vs not thinke our case singular seeing the best haue not been exempted from infirmities whereby Satan would driue vs to despaire but rather the greater our infirmities are the greater experience may wee looke for of the mercies of our God who will lay no more vpon vs then we shall be able to endure 1. Cor. 10. 13 but will giue an issue with the temptation that so wee may be able to beare it 4. Lastly though we haue infirmities yet let this comfort vs that our God will not let them fester in vs but by the power of our conscience or ministerie of the word by some outward chastisement c. wee shall know our iniquitie that so wee may performe seasonable repentance and this is the next obseruation that followeth in the text out of the practise of our Sauiour with his Church who doth not flatter her in her sinne by concealing the same as a false Prophet would haue winked at it and onely stood vpon commendation yea happily ascribe that which was not true but deales faithfully with her As hee commends her for her good parts so he reproues her for that euill of her decay And this teacheth vs that We must reproue our brother plainly for his sinne so doe we testifie and approue 1. The faithfulnesse of our calling and dutie vnto God in deliuering the whole counsell of God as well reproofe for sinne as praise for
Pet. 1. 8. Psalm 92. Iob. 17. 9. 1. Thes 5. perseuering with all patience and constancie vnto the end Ephes 6. 13. And that because the Lord hath commanded 1. That we should be holy as he is holy 1. Pet. 1. 13. 14. c. 2. Hereby we make sure our election and attaine to the certaine knowledge thereof 2. Pet. 1. 10. Ioh. 7. 3. Hereby we make vs meete for that glorious inheritance 1. Col. 11. 12. 4. Hereby we prouoke others to glorifie God Matth. 5. 16 17. 5. We daunt and confound the enemies of the Gospell 1. Pet. 2. 6. And adorne and beautifie our glorious profession 1. Phil. 27. And this serueth To condemne 1. all those that flatter their hearts with good intents when they are vtterly voide of good fruits Prou. 3. Esa 29. 2. As also those that vpon presumption that they are better then others cease to better themselues and so standing at a stay in religion goe backward therein 1. Cor. 4. Reuel 3. 3 And those likewise that feare to abound in holinesse zeale c. lest they bee accounted singular noted men precise vaine-glorious c. 4. And these especially that haue not onely slacked their zeale in religion but doe iustifie this decay as being now more wise sober c. in their profession whereas before they were fierie rash indiscreet c. Secondly here is instruction and that first we must labor to increase and grow constant in godlinesse and that by these meanes 1. By auoiding the meanes of Apostasie which are 1. Corruption of iudgement and that 1. We may be too holy 2. That lesse will serue the turne because many doe lesse and we hope are saued Acts 14. 3. That Gods mercie doth more abound in our failings Rom. 6. 1. 4. That we need not to be so perfect seeing Christ hath finished all for vs seeing Christ hath therefore perfited all things that wee might grow to perfection Hebr. 12. 1 2. Iohn 15. 2. Corrupt practize 1. When either we liue by examples of the greatest 2. By the letter of the word of God Matth. 5. 3. Or by the streame of the time 4. Or onely by the lawes of men 5. Or follow the most in religion 6. Or grow spiritually proude of our well doing 7. Or grow secure and dead in the performance of holy duties performing them for custome worldly hypocritically c. 8. Or grow inconstant in holy duties intermitting the set times of prayers hearing the word c. 9 Or grow negligent in conuerting others 10. Or admit of humaine inuentions with the worship of God 11. Or proue vnthankefull vnto God for his particular mercies 1. Rom. 12. Or fall into grosse sinnes and lie in them without repentance Psal 51. 13. Or iudge vncharitably of our brethren withdrawing our compassions from them Secondly practise we these meanes to make vs abound in good workes and grow constant therein 1. Remember we the continuall seruice of the Saints in heauen they incesâ—antly glorifie God and also continually 1. Thess 4. Reuel 4. 2. Consider we the power of Iesus Christ still remaines to couer our imperfections and to strengthen vs to perfection Heb. 12. 1. 2. 3. Know we that the Comforter doth abide with vs to lead vs into all truth and so forward in al holines Ioh. 15. 16. 4. Consider we that the righteous can scarcely be saued 1. Pet. 4. 15. what pains the best haue takeÌ„ toward heaueÌ„ 5. Remember we y t Iesus Christ hath taken away all the rigour of weldoing and yet enables vs by his spirit to perfection accepting our weakest endeuors so they be sound and enabling of vs to fulfill all his righteousnesse in due season 6. Retaine we soundnes of iudgement concerning the power of godlinesse 7. Doe wee all things from the ground of the heart as in the sight of God 1. Thess 1. 8. Cleaue wee still to the power of the word and striue we to encrease in knowledge 1. Phil. 1. Coll. 9. Practise we constantly the duties of pietie and charitie 10. Watch wee daily ouer our hearts in a true searching and examining the same Psal 4. 5 6. 11. See that we renue our repentance as often as we sin 12. Labour wee the conuersion of our brethren and iudge we charitably of them 13. Walke we alwaies in feare of our selues and suspect we all our workes yea then most when wee enioy greatest graces Prou. 28. 13. 14. Remember wee our ends and vncertaintie of our life and the account we must make 2. Cor. 5. 10. 11. 15. And resigne we our selues daily into the hands of our God resting on his prouidence 1. Pet. 5. Matth. 6. 16. Entertaine we cheerefully the motions of the spirit and put them in practise diligently Ephes 4. Thus shall wee grow constant in weldoing and perseuere vnto the end And 3. For our comfort learne we that our God that commands perseuerance giues grace to the same and therfore we shall continue and not finally decay we shall leaue our first loue but not lose it altogether 1. Philip. 6. Iohn 13. Luke 22. 33. Wherein note That euery conuert hath a first loue that is when God hath reuealed his loue vnto him in Christ and by the spirit of God it is shed abroad in his heart then is the heart of a sinner inflamed to loue God againe then is it inlarged with ioy vnspeakable and glorious 1. Pet. 17. for so great saluation then doth it striue to expresse it thankfulnesse vnto God for so great mercie then is loue as strong as death much water cannot quench it Cant. 8. And this is called his first loue and it is discerned by these markes 1. By his renouncing of all in comparison of it and parting with the dearest for the enioying of it so did the Apostles forsake all in act so must we forsake all in affection and in act too so farre as it may hinder our enioying of Christ Zacheus Luke 19. 6. 7. 2. When we endure any affliction for the Words sake 1. Thess 1. 9. 10 and that with great ioy in the holy Ghost Heb. 10. Ephes 1. 3. When wee reuerence highly the Ministers of the Gospell Galath 3 4. thinking nothing too deare for them Act. 16. 4 When we cleare our conscience of all sinne by which our sweete fellowship with Christ may be hindred so Zacheus Luke 19 not being ashamed to confesse our particular sinnes and renouncing them vnfainedly 5 When for Christs sake we loue his poore members and impart of our worldly goods bountifully to their reliefe Luke 19. Zacheus 1. Ioh. 2. Ioh. 13. Psal 16. 2. 6. When wee continue in the powerfull meanes of the diuine worship Act. 2. 7. When wee consult not with flesh and blood nor communicate with it but doe vtterly renounce the same in regard of heauen Act. 9. Gal. 2. Matth. 8 c. 8. And being rauished with the sweetnesse of the loue of
defending the same from the reproches of the wicked as also in reseruing the vse thereof to it fit season and occasion when our God shal be best glorified our profession iustified and brethren informed and confirmed thereby And this is 1. When we haue an especial calling to witnesse a good profession as being inwardly furnished with gifts and outwardly led foorth by the Spirit to maintaine the cause of Christ Iesus our Sauiour The one of these we shall discerne 1. By sound knowledge of y e cause in particular which we are to make good by whatsoeuer sufferings so that our iudgements are throughly informed and so our consciences conuinced with the trueth doe finde rest and comfort therein Ephes â— Phil. 1. 2. By our ardent loue vnto that truth which wee haue apprehended and heartie desire that by any our neuer so great affliction it may bee glorified in the hearts of the Saints 3. By our especiall apprehension of Gods singular mercie towards vs in accounting vs so worthie as to make profession of that truth 4. Hence wee euen long and desire to taste of that cup which the profession of that truth may cost vs. 5. Yet so as that our most ardent desires are subiect to contrarie buffetings of feare of our owne inabilitie in our selues and therefore 6. Rather desiring the grace of the Spirit so to conduct vs in the combat that Gods cause may be honoured in our constancie therein then we in any sort magnified thereby nay that wee shall haue in respect of the flesh any good issue out of them howsoeuer we haue many gratious promises yea likelihoods for the same 7. And therefore simply submitting our selues to the will of our gratious Father rather to vndergo any the most grieuous extremitie then the least disparagement may redound vnto his glorious truth 8. Finding in our selues a gratious contentment in our God arising vpon long experience of the deceitfulnesse of the world and faithfulnes of our gratious Father and 9. So discerning in our selues a readines to death as being prepared thereto by daily mortification and experience of our sweete societie with our blessed God 10. As that withall wee especially for this end desire life euen to witnesse a good profession and giue glorie vnto our God in auouching and sealing vp his eternall truth with our momentanie sufferings To this end 11. Finding in our selues an abilitie of faith relying rather on Gods promise to guide vs with his counsell then our owne experience to wade thorow the affliction Thus may we discerne inward sufficiencie to make profession of our faith And for outward calling and leading forth by the Spirit thereunto there are these markes of it First in respect of vs as that 1. We haue alreadie published and declared that truth and so now much more it being called in question are to iustifie the same 2. Are also prouoked by our people that haue depended on vs to make good the same for the establishing of their faith lest our suppressing or deniall may shake and make shipwrack thereof 3. Are especially called thereto by the Magistrate who may require a reason thereof and forced by the gainsayings of the enemie to defend the same Secondly in respect of the truth And that 1. When it is openly resisted and gainesaid of a peruerse generation not onely priuately and indirectly and when 2. By the suppressing thereof the glorie of our God is necessarily impeached the power of religion vndermined c. otherwise in matters 1. Of difference which reach not thus farre we may be silent respecting the peace of the Church and dealing rather with our God in prayer for the reformation of such breaches and by all priuate and peaceable meanes rather enduring an inconuenience or couering an infirmitie then by any publike opposition making a rent and diuision in the Church of God 2. As also if our persons rather in malice are aimed at then the truth oppugned we may auoide the rage by flying concealing c. 3. At leastwise though we be not altogether silent yet so farre we may conceale the truth 1. As it is not demanded 2. And may satisfie the honest purpose of the Questioner 3. Yea may happily by stumbling of him and turning his edge vpon another so thereby diuert his malice from our selues So did our Sauiour put the Pharisies and Sadduces together and thereby escaped So did he for a time goe aside and walked no more openly neither committed himselfe vnto them because his time was not come Nay may wee not shape such an answere to our aduersarie not onely to conceale part of trueth as Samuel did 1. Sam 16. but euen to giue vp the wicked to their owne counsels that will not obey the truth bidding them goe vp and prosper as Michaâ—â—h did 2. King 22 yea in an holie dirision vpbraiding their carnall confidence Reioyce oh young man and take thy fill Eccl. 11. And seeing they will not be reclaimed and hate to be reformed may not the prudent keepe silence in such euill times 2. Chron. 2. Amos 5. Or so only speake as to leaue the incorrigible to their lusts ceasing to rebuke a scorner that we may wisely auoid his hatred and so pronouncing the wrath of God against him in yeelding him vp to his owne lusts as that he may blesse his soule in this fearfull libertie and wee by thiâ— wisedome may maintaine our holy libertie Oh that we were wise to consider of these things and to whom the arme of the Lord shall reueale them For the waies of the Lord are righteous and the iust shall walke in them but the wicked shall fall therein As for the changing of our features and habits for a time to auoid vnnecessarie trouble herein I take it wee may thus farre be iustified As though 1. Not to change our names And that because they are of a diuine institution as well as ciuill imposed not only to make distinction of our persons from others but to be witnesses pledges of our profession and both memorials of Gods former mercies towards vs as also euidences of Gods euerlasting couenant with vs to be our protector and preseruer for euer And therfore not to be denied if we be demanded the same lest therein we denie our faith neither to be changed because our profession must not bee changed Especially seeing by deniall or changing wee shall not onely not aduantage our selues to the thing wee intend namely not to be knowne seeing by other markes of proportion or complexion wee may be bewraied but being discouered we shal hereby adde vnto our affliction not only being iustly exempted out of Gods protection by reiecting the badge thereof our names but exposed also the rather to the rage of man as being tainted hereby with dissimulation c. Adde we hereunto that not only we haue not any president in the scripture for the like in this case but also this