as a speciall blessing that they may moderately seeke and desire but he promiseth to honour yea and honoureth them that honour him The principall reason that must induce and drawe vs herevnto is and must bee not our owne glory but that by our meanes the Gospel and the name of Christ may be wel spoken of for the good name of Christians is an ornament and credit to the Gospell And vpon this ground Paul exhorteth seruants to subiection faithfulnesse and obedience that they may adorne the doctrine of GOD their Sauiour in all things Lastly our Sauiour willeth and exhoreth vs saying Let your light so shine beforâ— men that they may see your good workes and glorisie your father which is in heauen Therefore it is lawfull to haue a diligent consideration loue and care for a good name for so much the Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vsed before Phil. 4. ver 8. importeth But here certaine rules are to bee obserued First wee must beware that in no wise wee detract and derogate ought from the honour and glorie of GOD as the Papists doe who attribute and ascribe merite satisfaction and iustification to their owne workes and inuentions and not to the grace of GOD onely for then they that despise GOD shal be despised and hee is so iealous and zealous of his owne honour that hee cannot abide it to bee giuen to any other therefore wee must in all things earnestly seeke for the glorie of GOD onely and not our owne Secondly wee must refraine from all manner of sinne and wickednesse for otherwise as one Flie doth corrupt and cause to stinke the oyntment of the Apothecary so doth one sinne or vice obscure and eclipt his name that is in estimation for wisdome and for glorie Thirdly we must repent vs of al our sinnes and we must practise iustice and excell in good works For then our memorall shal be blessed and then that which wee haue done shal be spoken of and remembred with honour Lastly we must not delight in the oblique or disgrace of any but haue a speciall regard to thinke and speake well of others For with what iudgemeÌ„t we iudge we shal be iudged And this much touching the resolutioÌ„ of this doubt Vse 1. Seeing that the inordinate desire and affectation of humaine glorie popular praise and hunting after titles and honour doe euen in the best sometimes so dimme and darken faith and make them secure and carelesse in Gods matters wee must not please our selues in much lesse dote vpon these outward and vaine things least afterwards beeing dispoyled of them wee bee like the beasts that perish who feede only vpon these outward things and fore-see no further Vse 2. We must first and principally approue our hearts waies and consciences vnto GOD and seeke to bee inwardly holy not outwardly only that our praise may not bee of men but of God for not hee that praiseth himselfe no nor whome men alwaies praise who may bee deceiued is not allowed but hee whome the Lord praiseth And Secondly when wee labour and endeuour to approoue our selues vnto men and especiallie to the true seruants of GOD if they doe praise and testifie well of vs wee must not dispise and neglect their commendation and approbation but take it as a fruite and effect of our wel-doing and albeit they giue no such great report and commendation of vs wee must bee content and hold it sufficient that GOD and our sanctified conscience testifieth and beareth witnesse of our Godly purenesse and weldoing 1. Cor. 1. 3. And thus much of the foure causes and occasions of the Churches sleepinesse and securitie Thus wee see by the example of this Church in the Canticles as of diuers others it is subiect as to other sinnes defects and errours so to a kinde of winking or slumbering euen in the good and prosperous estate of it But in this place the Church was in no dead sleepe much lesse had her faith extinct for shee discerned and tooke notice of her infirmitie which shee could not otherwise haue done if she had either soundlie slept or had wandered in darkenesse Which beeing so wee are to make a two-fold vse of it Vse 1. First wee must not for certaine defects infirmities wants and some small spottes and blemishes either in doctrine or discipline much lesse forsake and denie the Church that holdeth firmely and purely the foundation Neither must wee for certaine spottes balcknesse defects and deformities doubt of much lesse despaire of our owne estate and saluation so long as our heart is right with God and wee are sound in the faith of our Lord Iâ—sus Christ. For Christ hath made a satisfaction to Gods iustice for all our sinnes and there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ in whome sinne albeit it alwaies dwell yet it neuer swaieth and raigneth And as for sinnes of ignorance weakenesse and infirmity the Lord pardoneth and passeth by them in his sonnes and seruants And as a louing husband will not take away his loue from his wife nor cast her off for euerie fault and want so long as shee keepeth her loue entirely and sincerely to him So GOD will not cast off his loue nor forsake his Church or any particular member of it for speciall wants and frailties in particular commandementes so long as they by faith cleaue vnto him and generallie labour to please him Vse 2. Secondly seeing that sleepinesse drowsinesse negligence and securitic in the Church doth not please God but offend him and cause his Maiestie both by inward snibbes yea and sense of his indignation and also oftentimes by sundry and fearefull iudgements and thunder-claps especially when it is growne to any deadnesse of heart and is hardly sensible of her decay and decline doth labour to rowse and awaken them as hee hath of latter yeares this Island by clamor and still triumpeting of his ministers by daungerous and neere effecting of the Papists gunshot shogging and shaking of the earth vnder vs noyse of the windes and roaring and inundation of the waters eclipting of zeale in manie and threatenings pronounced against vs for our abuse neglect and contempt of his holie Gospell that hee will send and bring vpon vs not a famine of bread but of Gods worde wee all of vs must take knowledge thereof repent of our sinnes betime fanne our selues beefore the decree come forth meete the LORD in the waie yea and kisse the Sonne Christ Iesus by true subiection faith and obedience least hee be angry â—nd so perish in the way when his wrath shall sodainly burne Let the Gouernors Rulers and those that haue the greatest eminencie and authority in the Church looke dilligently to their charge for the remouall and redresse of ignorance error Atheisme and Popish superstition and for the aduancement and countenancing true Religion and vertuous liuing
key to vnlocke the treasures of the scriptures it is the foundation of our spirituall house and the directer touchstone of al good workes and obedience That this soundnesse of faith and iudgement is of absolute necessity to prooue vnto vs the truth of grace and Gods fauour it shall thus by scripture most manifestly bee declared The Church in the Acts of the Apostles is said to continue in the Apostles doctrine the Church is builded vpon the foundation the doctrine and scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles Elder men must be sound in the faith nay the church must bee rooted grounded in it If they had beene of vs saith Saint Iohn they had continued with vs viz in soundnesse of doctrine and in frequenting the holy assemblies No other foundation can any man laie then that which is laid which is Iesus Christ. That is the doctrine of the Gospel touching Christ his person and office is as it were the foundation of Christian Religion therefore both pastors and people must by all meanes endeuour to keepe this doctrine pure and vncorrupted And all doctrines and opinions quirkes and curriosities that are not agreeable herevnto are but woode hay stubble which the fire of heauenly truth will in time to their reproach and shame reueale and consume The ministerie of the word is giuen and ordained of GOD that wee might grow vp to perfect on of faith and that wee should bee no more câ—ildren wauering and carried about with euery winde of doctrine Iesus Christ yesterday and to daie and the same for euer Bee not caried about with diuers and stâ—ange doctrine for it is a good thing that the heart bee established with grace and not with meates c. Faith is the eye of the bodie if the eye be single the whole â—ody shal be light The necessity and most absolute vse of this doctrine will appeare by the Caueates and warnings that are giuen vs in scripture to beware of seducers false teachers and by the opposition and zeale that we are to shew against al Atheisme Idolatry Libertinisme c. Hence it is that in matters of conscience and in troubles of minde wee are put ouer to the lawe and to â—he testimonies and they that speake not according to this word haue no light in them They that will not beleeue Moses and the Prophets will not beleeue though one arose from the dead Hence it is that Dauid by reason of his vnderstanding in and loue to Gods word hateth all false waies Hence it is that the Church is exhorted to beware of false Prophets to beware of the leuine that is the infections and false doctrine of the Scribes and Pharasies to saue themselues from that forward generation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to play the Champions and to contend for the common faith to come out of â—abylon least they bee partakers of her siâ—nes and so of her plagues not to goe after false Christs and false Prophets for they must not so much as heare a stranger that is one that bringeth strange and false doctrine much lesse bid him God speede that is any way shew any countenance and allowance to his corrupt doctrine And no maruaile for Heresie and false doctrine is the poyson and pestilence to the soule it stingeth and vexeth the conscience like a scorpion It doth eat and consume the soule like a Gangraene it maketh men spiritually mad yea and bringeth with it if men die in it certaine and iust damnation Vse 1. Wherefore we learne hence first not to measure the truth of Religion by multitudes vniuersalities antiquities as the Papists and ignorants of the world doe for hâ—rein we may soone bee deceiued the broad way leadeth to destruction Christs flocke is but a little one and the number of the elect is in comparison of them that perish exceeding few therefore we must try and examine all by the standard and certaine rule of Gods holy word and if it be consonant therevnto wee must admit it otherwise reiect it Vse 2. It meeteth with and checketh the errour and sottishnesse of the simple ignorant multitude of whome for the most part we may truely say they know not the law of God and accursed who terme and call an Atheist a Papist a Libertine if â—e be onely outwarly and ciuilly righteous iust liberall curteous sociable a right honest man as though there could possibly be any true honesty without fath and true religion the cause and foundation of it For Paul doth make Godlinesse a cause of honesty that is of Christian life and behauiour Vse 3. We must beware of and shunne all doctrine that tendeth to Atheisme and Libertinisme and all popish opinions and especially such as haue beene by some of late yeares vented furbished and refined and therefore the more dangerous and deceitfull And indeed no better then the whore of Babilons golden cup glorious without but within full of abhominations and deadly poyson Of this kinde of opinions and errours to omit others are these following First that the now Romish church albeit idolatrous and apostatical is a true visible church 2. Error That the holy religion of Christ now professed and by publicke authority maintained in England and the doctrine and worship of Papists differ onely in accidents and circumstances and not in substance and that a reconciliation betwixt both parties might well be admitted Whereas first the Romish religion is for the most part Idolatrous and hereticall but so is not ours at all Secondly the Papists will in no wise yeeld to any reconciliation to vs though in truth and why should wee yeeld and bee reconciled to them in error and Idolatrie 3. Error That we must not enquire how Christ is present in the Eucharist viz whether spiritually or bodilie intending heereby to keepe men in suspence and to make away for that absurd and blasphemous doctrine of Transubstantiation Whereas otherwise it is most plaine by scripture that Christs presence is altogither spirituall 4. Error That the sabboth is but a ceremony and that it is in the churches power and libertie to alter it determine the time and the continuance of it and to remit and abate of the strictnesse of it as it shall thinke good Whereas it is one of the tenne commandements and therefore must needes for substance bee morall and perpetuall and it is in the power of no person to dispense withall and the maintayning of this error openeth a dore to al prophanesse and licentiousnesse 5. Error The false opinion of vniuersall grace and the denying of the doctrine of â—ternall reprobation in Gods secret decree Whereas sauing grace is proper onely to the elect and that God hath eternally decreed and doth in time actually passe by many and most it is by scripture most apparent 6. Error That the sufferings of Christ were only bodily and not in soule properly and immediately
heare him Can hee feede vs with the hony wine spices fatlings and delicates and wee haue no tast and relish of them Can Christ perfume his spouse with mirrbe and incense and with all the powder of the merchant and shee not smell it Can Christ lodge and lie with vs and we with him neuer spiritually touch him Finally shall the Church and must shee reioyce that her name is written in heauen and yet haue no certaintie of it Wherefore this doctrine of the assurance of faith and of the grace of God is certaine infallible and neuer faileth But before wee 〈◊〉 attaine vnto this certainety of faith and sauing grace wee must dilligently and reuerently heare Gods word know it and our sinnes by it be truly humbled by it dispaire of our owne abilitie ascent and subscribe vnto the Gospell hope and desire pardon hunger and thirst after grace craue pardon of our sinnes and particularly apply vnto our selues the promises of mercy and saluation made vnto vs in the Gospell and continue herein and then in processe of time after long sence obseruation and long experience of Goâ—'s fauor anâ— loue Psal. 23. 6. Yea after that we haue bene long excercised in temptations and bene old beaten soldiers in Christs battaile wee shall attaine vnto this fulnesse and firmnesse of faith By this doctrine is confuted and ouerthrowne that erroneous and desperate doctrine of the Romish Synagogue who albeit they teach that men may by their workes merite saluation and satisfie Gods iustice yet they contradict themselues which is proper to Babelâ— the mother of confusion and considently hold and teach that no man can be certaine of his saluation in this life by an ordinary and speciall faith but onely by extraordinary reuelation and hope which hope ministreth as they say but a coniecturall certaintie If this their position were true how could euer Iob in his extremities haue comforted himselfe in the vndoubted hope of his resurrection to eternall glory Would euer Moses haue forsaken Pharaohs court and the glory pleasure and preferments of it if he had not had an eye vnto yea an assurance of the recompence of the reward in the life to come would Manahen that had beene brought vp with Herod the Tetrarch so debased and subiected himselfe to so much enuie and so many pcrils and dangers by entring into the holy ministery had not the expectation and assurance of eternall happinesse induced him herevnto And to absolue this point how could or would so many thousands of Martyrs since the Apostles times especially haue suffered so much rebuke so great losses so many tortures for Christ and his Gospell yea and most cruell deaths and persecutions had they not been secured in their soules of the fauour of God and beene verily perswaded that they stood in the estate of grace and should in time be glorified Seeing that the knowledge of our eâ—tate before God and the certaintie of Gods fauour and loue is so admirable and vnualuable a benefit communicated to none but Gods children and to them that seeke his face in Christ let vs neuer rest nor be quiet vntill we haue sued out our quâ—etus est and haue procured this certaintie Let not marrying of wiues buying of Farmes trying of Oxen oues boues pecori campi hinder and stay vs from getting this assurance What shall we so toile and moile and so sue and seeke with so much paine and cost to ascertaine vnto our selues and ours lands liuings leases patents reuersions which notwithstanding by reason of our mortalitie and the might malice and cunning of men we oftentimes can neither long nor peaceably enioy and shall we not much more seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse of Christ shall not we labour to secure vs of Gods vnchangeable fauour and to get the grant yea and begining of eternall and vnspeakeable happinesse which wee may assuredly obtaine and the obtaining and purchase whereof is worth ten thousand workes And therefore Curare externa neglectis internis imoaeternis as one saith well caecâ—tas est that is to haue a care of these outward things and neglect and passe inward and eternall things is blindnesse nay madnesse For what will it profit a man to gaine the whole world and loose his owne soule or what ransome or recompence shall hee giue to râ—deâ—me it surely none GOD therefore make vs wise to saluation and grant that we may alwayes looke to the maine chance and make choise of the better part Amen And thus much shall suffice to haue spoken of the churches faith confidence and feeling NOw because this doctrine is of so great moment and importance and of so excellent and necessary vse I for the edification and comfort of all good Christians will annexe and set downe six special and principal or characteristicall notes markes and demonstrations whereby a man may in conscience bee perswaded that he standeth in the estate of grace and is reconciled vnto God whether for the present temptation hee haue feeling or not And by these notes and demonstrations it shall euidently appeare who is in the state of grace and sâ—luation for as the life is knowne by the motion the fire by the light and heate the tree by the fruite and the sheepe by the markes and brands so may the godly heareby iudge and determine of their faith The notes are these six following which I will God assisting handle breifly and in order The first is sound iudgement in matters of faith and religion The second sincere affection towards and constant delight in Christ and his Gospell The third a constant course in all the excersises of godlines The fourth an inward and godly sorrow for our sinnes and for the offence of GOD. The fift is thanfulnes in acknowledgement and high esteeme of C H R I S T and all his graces and benefits Lastly to suffer no sinne to raigne and haue command and dominion in vs but to dislike resist and breake it off Hee that hath these and the like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 congnisances markes and properties wee may say iustly of him hee that hath or that doth these tâ—inges shall neuer fall that is hee is perpetually blessed and can neuer by any violence tyranny or iniuries of Satan and the world bee ouerthrowne or remoued from his state but is secure and safe against all euills Touching soundnes of faith and iudgement it is when no heresie is maintained or errour held against the principles and groundes of Orthodoxe religion but in iudgement and conscience is directed and rectified in all thinges by the holy Scriptures this is a light to our wayes and a Lanthâ—rne to our steppes the eye of our soule a lampe and torch to guide and lead vs in the darkenesse of this world it is a gate and doore to let vs vnto Christ his chamber of presence and to intromit vs into heauen it is a
Let the Reuerend Prelates and Pastors of the Church Ministers and Preachers of the word beware they do not Performe Gods worke negligently let them wisely and couragiously speake and admonish the wicked of his way lest God require his blood at their hands Let them keepe backe nothing but shew vnto their people all the councell of God that they may bee pure from the blood of all men And let them preach the word be instant in season and out of season improue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine For the time will come when they will not suffer wholesome Doctrine but hauing their eares itching shall after their owne lusts get them a heape of teachers And shall turne their eares from the truth and shall be giuen vnto fablâ—s Thirdly let the ciuill Magistrates whether Superiors or Inferiors defend and assist the Pastors and Ministers lette them draw out the sword of Iustice and cutte downe sinne lette them promote true religion roote out errour and Idolatry Let them execute Iustice and iudgement without respect of persons let them spare and defend the innocent let them prouide for the wants of the poore let them shine as lights before the people by all godly vertuous example and finally let them as farre as their power and authoritie will extend take order and do their indeauour that the people vnder them may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlines and honestie Finally let the people and subiects feare and serue God repent of their sinnes honour their King obey and be subiect to authoritie loue and reuerence their Ministers submitte themselues to the word of GOD and liue in brotherly loue vnitie one with another which GOD almightie graunt for â—esus Christes sake Amen And thus much of the Churches fault and infirmitie 2. SECTION NOw it followeth to speake of her confession and acknowledgement of her slumbring and carelesnes contained and couched in these wordes I sleepe From whose example and practise we are taught without all denying suppressing or lessening our sinnes to make a willing and ingenuous confession of them all unto allmighty God to the intent that God may forgiue and forget them and remoue or mittigate the â—uills and punishments that they haue brought vppon vs. For further confirmation and illustration hereof we haue both commandement in Sâ—ripture and also publike and priuate excercise of it The Lord by the Prophet Hosea exhorting the Isralites to repentance prescribeth them a set forme of repentance saying Take vnto you words and turne to the Lord and say Take away all iniquitie and receiue vs gratiously c. Asâ—ur shall not saue vs c. neither will wee say any more to the workes of our handes yee are our Gods Secondly when wee are exhorted to repent and amend wee are withall exhorted to confesse our sinnes for confession is as the First so a most necessary part of repentance Heere-vppon Iob saith if one say I haue sinned and peruerted righteousnes and it did not profit me Then God will deliuer his soule from going into the pitte and his life shall see the light If wee confesse and for sake our sinnes wee shall finde fauor Againe if wee acknowledge our sinnes God is faithfull and â—ust Viz. in his promise to forgiue vs our sinnes and to clense vs from all vnrighteousnes Publike examples wee haue in Nehemias making a large and mournefull confession of his and the peoples sinnes Secondly in Daniel who in the name and behalfe of the people maketh a confession of his and the peoples and confesseth that Iustice belongeth vnto God but shame and confusion to them c. Thirdly of the Isralites in Isaias his time who all acknowledge themselues to haue beene as vncleane thingâ— and their righteousnes as a filthy rotten clout and of the people in Samuell the Prophets daies saying we haue sinned in assuming vs a King besides all other sinnes Herevnto may bee annexed and referred the example of the Niniuites confessing their sinnes vnto God and of the people that came to Iohn the Baptist to bee baptized of him confessing their sinnes Viz voluntarily and in a generall manner onely Priuate practise and presidents hereof wee haue in Dauid confessing and bewayling his folly in numbering the people his adultery in polluting Vrias his wife and his murder in causing her innocent husband his good subiect to be slaine in warre Dauid before hee had confessed his sinnes as appeareth could find no ease day nor night but his bones consumed he roared al the day but as soone as he in heart purposed to confesse against himselfe his sinnes vnto the Lord God forgaue the punishment of his sin Likewise in Iob who acknowledgeth himselfe to be vilde before God and that he cannot answer one word for a thousand Thirdly in the Prodigall childe who confessed that he had sinned against heauen and against God and that he was no more worthy to be called his son Fourthly of the contrite Publican who would not lift vp his eyes to heauen but smote his breast saying God be mercyfull vnto me a sinner Fiâ—tly in Peter that accknowledgeth him-selfe a sinfull man and of Paule that in regard he had bene a blasphemer a persecutor an oppressor albeit ignorantly confesseth himselfe to be the greatest amongst sinners The person to whome confession is to bee made is first properly and principally GOD for against him onely haue wee sinned and done euill in his sight hee alone knoweth all our sinnes and he alone pardoneth and forgiueth all our sinnes and that for his owne names sake and for his Christ his â—ake merites suffering and mediation And therefore it is folly vanitie superstition yea bondage and impossibilitie to make confession of al our mortal sins to a Priest as the Papists make shew of and require in their care confession no commandement no practise no example hereof is extant in the sacred Scriptures and it began not to be vrged vntil 800. yeares after Christ. Secondly Dauid and others repented and receiued remission of sinnes without confessing their sinnes in particuler to any man Psal. 32. 2. Sam. 12. 12. Ob. But is it lawfull conuenient some times and in some case to confesse our sinnes to our Pastor Minister or Christian brother An. Yes for Iames willeth men to confesse their sinnes one to another and this priuate confession is to be made not of all knowne sinnes but onely of that sinne which troubleth and vexeth the conscience or of that whereby our neighbour is annoyed and wronged And that in two cases first when â—ase and comfort is sought for in trouble of conscience and here before confession be made no helpe can bee obtained For as the Phisition must know the disease before hee can apply the remedie euen so the Minister or brother cannot comfort