brests of euerlasting consolations And sith hee is incorporated into Iesus Christ and vpon all assayes hath the wings of faith in a readinesse to outsoare the height of all humane miseries let him for euer stand like Mount Zion inexpugnable and vnshaken with the most furious incursions of the floods and tempests of all worldly troubles pressures and persecutions Let all those monstrous and most abhorred iniections filthy temptations and fiery darts pointed with the very malice of hell ordinarily offered to the imagination of the best bee resolutely repelled by the shield of faith and retorted as dung vpon the Tempters face Let all vngodly oppositions from man or deuill or fearefull distrust be but as so many proud and swelling waues dashing against a mighty Rocke which the more boisterously they beate vpon it the more are they broken and turned into a vaine foame and froth But to descend with thee more punctually to some particulars Tell mee truly thou which hast giuen thy name to Christ in truth what it is that troubles thee what is it that still detaines thine heauy heart in the chaines and fetters of horrour and sadnesse and lockes it vp so long from the entrance and entertainement of spirituall lightsomenesse and ioy And if I bee not able to confront and confound it by some well-grounded counter-comfort and Antidote out of the Oracle of truth if I be not able to discouer it to bee a selfe-created crosse and to dissolue it into an imaginary and groundlesse fancie by the light of the Word then walke heauily still Onely beleeue the Prophets and thou shalt prosper Thou must then bee contented to be counselled by the faithfull Physicions of thy soule who can shew vnto man his vprightnesse and are instructed vnto the kingdome of heauen especially fetching all their prescriptions receits and counterpoysons out of the rich Treasurie of the Booke of Life Thou must learne 1. To put a difference betweene nullity of grace and imperfection of grace Many good soules desire sincerely that their hearts were broken in pieces and bled at the root for their many and hainous sinnes grieuing much that they can grieue no more They hunger and thirst for Christs righteousnesse more then for the wealth of the whole world They groane mightily in spirit for Gods fauour pardon of sinne power ouer their corruptions ability to pray better c. But yet because they feele not that measure of sensible smart and anguish of heart in lamenting their former life as they desire because they haue not their wished ioy and peace in beleeuing because they cannot now pray as feruently and feelingly as they perhaps were formerly woont not with that freedome and heartinesse as they would in a word because they are yet but smoaking flaxe and bruised reedes not full shining lampes and strong Pillars in the House of God they will needs haue all to be nought Whereby they I will not say belie the Spirit but most vnworthily deny and in their conceites nullifie his already wonderfull glorious worke vpon their soules to their I know not how great spirituall hurt and hinderance For such intolerable vnthankefulnesse may bee iustly punished and paide home with longer detainement vpon the Racke of distrustfull slauish feare and vnder the bondage of Legall terrours It is a speciall point then of spirituall wisedome and of singular consequence for the soules quiet and welfare to discerne weakenesse of grace from want of grace Christ Iesus declaring in his heauenly Sermon who are blessed doth not instance in the perfections excellencies and heights of Christianity though all that are true of heart sincerely pray for and presse after them but in the least and lowest degrees lest the smoking flaxe should bee quenched and bruised reedes bee broken He doeth not say Blessed are the stong in Faith the full assured Blessed are those that take on for their sinnes as for their onely sonne and for their first borne but Blessed are they which doe hunger and thirst after righteousnesse Blessed are the poore in spirit c. 2. Not alwayes to make sence and feeling the Touchstone for the truth of thy spirituall state A man in a swoone or a sleepe feeles not his life and yet is a liuing man It is one thing to haue grace another to feele grace One thing the life of faith another the life of sence 3. Not to disgrace thy owne graces by casting thine eye too deiectedly vpon other Christians perfections and precedencies Let it not fare with thee in this case as it doth with one gazing too much vpon the Sunne who looking downewards againe can see iust nothing whereas before he cleerely discerned all colours about him Looke vpon them for imitation and quickning not for slauish deiection and selfe-blinding 4. To acknowledge and expect that heauenly graces as Faith c. while they inhabite these earthly houses ebbe and flow waxe and wane faint and flourish by reason of the combate betweene the flesh and the Spirit So that if a man should tell mee that he hath euer prayed alike without temptation or dampes without any sence at any time of deadnesse or spirituall distempers that he hath euer beleeued alike without those doubts and scruples that faintnesse and feare of which most Christians so much complaine I durst confidently reply that then he neuer either prayed acceptably or beleeued sauingly The Fathers fitly resemble the state of the Church to the variable condition of the Moone which sometimes shines more gloriously sometimes not so It is so also with euery true member thereof in respect of the exercise of grace comfort in holy duties sence of Gods fauour spirituall feeling 5. To beleeue the Spirit of Truth the Word of God and voice of Christ before the father of lies dictates of naturall distrust and suggestions of flesh and blood To which methinks thou shouldest be easily perswaded and then all the mists of thy spirituall miseries would be quickly dispersed It is a mighty worke if not a great miracle to get any softnesse at all or true remorse for sinne into the heart of a man it is naturally so stony and impatient of griefe and the deuill such a stirrer against it so that the most are meere strangers vnto it yet for all that when this penitent sorrow is once sincerely on foote in an afflicted soule so endlessely and on euery side are wee prest with the policies of Hell it is too often too forward to feede vpon teares still and still too wilfull in refusing to bee comforted Satan then will bee ready to say Thou seest now thy conscience being illightened thy sinnes are so horrible and haiâ—…ous that they are too heauy a burden for thee to beare there is no way with thee but to sinke into horrour and despaire But what saith Christ Nay now is the season Come vnto me thus weary and heauy laden with thy sinne and I will refresh thee Here now if thou wilt beleeue the
assistance and exercise of Faith an vnutterable sweete communion and humble familiarity with his holy Maiestie In a word to liue in Heauen vpon earth Proofes Gods Couenant and commandement to Abraeham and in him to all the faithfull vnto the Worlds end requires it Gen. 17. 1. The practise and protestations of the Saints and seruants of God seale vnto it Enochs walking with God chap. 5. was an happy preparatiue to his extraordinary translating to glory The Lord before whom I walk saith Abraham chap. 24. 40. will doe thus and thus I will walke before the Lord in the Land of the liuing saith Dauid Psal. 116. 9. O Lord God of Israel saith Salomon 2. Chron. 6. 14. There is no God like thee in the Heauen nor in the Earth which keepest couenant and shewest mercy vnto thy seruants that walke before thee with all their hearts I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart saith Hezechiah 2. King 20. 3. And herein doe I exercise my selfe to haue alwaies a conscience voyde of offence toward God and toward men saith Paul Acts 24. 16. which sounds the same way Let their money perish with them who esteeme all the gold in the World worth one dayes societie with Iesus Christ and his holy Spirit said that Noble Marquesse of Vico well skilled and experienced in an heauenly conuersing with his God Reas. 1. And it must needs be so For howsoeuer naturall men and worldlings out of their obnoxiousnesse and secret terrors slauishly retyre doe not willingly neither dare they draw neere to that God which to them is a consuming fire yet all those who haue truly tasted how gracious and glorious he is shall find their hearts out of a secret sence of Gods loue vnto them first kindlily inflamed with infinite desire to liue vnder the comfortable influence of his pleased countenance to enioy his holy Maiestie with constant peace and an humble spirituall accesse and acquaintance continually His spirit of Prayer infinite loue exercise of repentance temptations and troubles from Satan pressures and oppressions from the World losse of inward peace faintnesse of Faith want of spirituall strength assault of some speciall sinne sweetnesse of meditation daily fauours showred downe vpon him without number and aboue measure sore-thought of the great and last Account motions of the blessed Spirit spirituall desertion c. but aboue all the inexplicable blessâ—…dnesse goodnesse and excellency of that highest Maiestie it selfe driues him to his God many times a day 2. All Gods loues vnto vs His louing kindnesses protections preseruations bounty patience diuine illuminations spirituall blessings in a word euery linke of that golden chaine of Mercy Grace and Glory farre thicker set with sweetest blessings in all kinds then the Heauen with Starres which our happy Soules haue doe or shall enioy from the first springing of it vp if euerlasting could haue any beginning out of the adored Fountaine of his free Grace to the last moment of eternitie in highest heauenly blisse if eternitie could possibly euer determine should be so many keene spurres deepest oblâ—…gations strongest chaines to draw our hearts most greedily to this infinite delight in him and thus with an humble familiaritie to conuerse with his holy Maiestie 3. Consciousnesse of our former walking comfortably with God sanctified by the life of Faith will mightily and incredibly support our spirits and courage in the times of confusions and feare The hearts of sensuall worldlings for want of reconcilement and acquaintance with God in calme and comfortable times sinke and tremble in the Day of distresse and Gods dreadfull visitations as the heart of a woman in her pangs and fall asunder in their brests like drops of water But that happy One who in his prosperity hath made God his portion and walked humbly in his presence shall in the time of trouble stand like a strong vnmoueable mountaine impregnable against the rage of wind and weather against the cruell incursions of all aduersarie power when the wicked shall tire the Mountaines with bootelesse cries to couer them he shall be able to say with Dauid The Lord is my refuge and my strength c. therefore will I not feare though the earth be moued and the Mountaines fall into the midst of the Sea He shall by the mercies of God and humble dependance vpon his omnipotent Arme encounter and entertaine the terrours euen of the euill day of the houre of temptation of the King of feare and last Iudgement with confidence and peace 4. Thy walking with God will make thee extraordinarily powerfull and mightily preuaile in prayer one of the greatest blessings and sweetest comforts which can be named or enioyed in this life As the Kings Fauourite who stands still in his presence and vnder the immediate and gracious influence of his Royall eye doth farre sooner and much more easily obtaine both his owne and friends suites then those who are more estranged from the Court So it is in this case 5. But aboue all that which should most quicken and keene vs to this duty is that particular interest we haue by Iesus Christ in Iehoua himselfe blessed for euer A mysterie which if I should offer to open and enlarge I should be endlesse and yet come infinitely short Oh then let vs infinitely loue and learne exactly the most sweete and heauenly Art of walking with God! For a more comfortable illightning and guiding vs wherein before I come to giue some generall instructions giue mee leaue to premise these quickning preparatiues 1. Looke that thou lyest not in any one knowne sinne against thy conscience hating to be reformed do not cherish allow or goe on in any lust corruption or lewd way in thine heart life or calling suffer not any worke of darknesse or seruice of Satan to reigne and domineere in thee For if so thou art so farre from abilitie or possibilitie of walking with God or delighting in him that thou wearest the Diuels brand and art yet most certainely one of his See and search the true meaning of such places as these 1. Ioh. 3. 3. 6 8 9. Iames 2. 10. Ezech. 18. 21. Psalm 66. 18. and 119. 6 101. Ezech. 18. 30. Matth. 18. 8 9. 2. Cor. 7. 1. Sutable hereunto is the concurrent iudgement and doctrine of our best Diuines and worthiest Writers graciously instructed vnto the Kingdome of Heauen These are their seuerall assertions to the same sense in their owne words 1. A man can haue no peace in his conscience that fauoureth and retaineth any one sinne in himselfe against his conscience 2. A man is in a damnable state whatsoeuer good deeds seeme to be in him if he yeeld not to the worke of the holy Ghost for the leauing but of any one knowne sinne which fighteth against peace of conscience 3. So long as the power of mortification destroyeth thy sinfull affections and so long as thou art vnfainedly displeased with all sinne and doest
sinne thorowout though there may bee difference of heate and crying vnto God according to the necessitie and neerenesse of the passage in the prayer to our particular or the more vniuersall good desire Prayer is the creature of the holy Ghost euery part whereof we should heartily wish and earnestly wrastle that He would proportionably animate as it were and thorowly enlyue euen as the soule doth the body For the third with all intention and watchfulnesse pursue and presse after the things prayed for by a timely apprehension fruitfull exercise and vtmost improuement of all occasions ordinances helpes and heauenly offers which may any wayes concurre to the compassing of them For instance Thou prayest for knowledge walke then when thou hast done with a constant indeauour in the strength of this prayer thorow all the meanes reading hearing conferring practising for euen that also is a meanes to increase knowledge Ioh. 7. 17. especially experimentall catechizing c. for the storing of thy vnderstanding with all sacred illuminations and holy sences of Gods sauing Word Let no opportunitie passe be violent in catching all occasions for the enriching thy braine with such heauenly stuffe and hoarding vp in thine heart such hidden treasures If thou cryest after knowledge saith Salomon and liftest vp thy voyce for vnderstanding Chap. 2. 3. there is the prayer If thou seekest her as siluer and searchest for her as for hidden treasures vers 4. there is the endeauour Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God vers 5. there is the blessing see Psal. 27. 4. Againe thou prayest to be preserued out of ill company thou doest well but when thou hast done doest thou make conscience of that counsell of Salomon Prou. 4. 14 15. and by the power and impression thereof confront and oppose the cunning inticements cursed importunities of thine old companions and brethren in iniquitie Enter not saith Salomon into the path of the wicked and goe not in the way of wicked men Auoide it passe not by it turne from it and passe away c. He that makes Prayer the end of Prayer prayes only to pray and rests in his prayer thinking when that holy duty is done that there is no more to bee done prayes to no purpose There must be good doings as well as good duties He that doth not earnestly and in good sadnesse afterwards set himselfe against sinnes deprecated and pursue with zeale and conscience the graces and good things petitioned his prayer is not worth a button II. Decline idlenesse the very rust and canker of the soule the Deuils cushion pillow chiefe reposall his very tide-time of temptation as it were wherein hee carries with much ease and without all contradiction the currnet of our corrupt affections to any cursed sinne And be diligent with conscience and faithfulnesse in some lawfull honest particular Calling a good testimony if other sauing markes concurre of truth and true heartednesse in thy generall Calling of Christianitie not so much to gather gold and engrosse wealth as for necessary and moderate prouision for family and posteritie and in conscience and obedience to that common charge laid vpon all the sonnes and daughters of Adam to the Worlds end In the sweate of thy face shalt thou eate bread till thou returne vnto the ground 1. But euer goe about the affaires of thy Calling with a heauenly mind seasoned and sanctified with habituall prayer eiaculatory eleuations willingnesse if God so please to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ pregnant with heauenly matter and meditation pickt out of the passages of thy present businesse For instance Let the Husbandman in Seed-time collect this sacred Soliloquie and heauenly thought If I now take not the season I shall haue no haruest but starue in winter So proportionably if I gather not Grace in this Sun-shine of the Gospell and day of my visitation I shall find nothing but horror vpon my bed of death and burne in Hell for euer hereafter c. 2. In all the ciuill businesses of thy personall Calling let thy eye and aime be vpon Gods glory as the prime and principall end of all thy actions 1. Cor. 10. 31. and in them seeke and serue that glorious end of Gods honour not so much in procuring thine owne as the good of Church Common-wealth Neighbours and Family c. 3. By earthly imployments do not become an earth-worme In vsing the world grow not a worldling and such an one as findes more sweetnesse and pleasure in worldly dealings and the comming in of thy Profits then in thy heauenly traffick and treasures through the practise and trade of Christianitie III. In thy solitarie seasons 1. Single out some speciall profitable choyce matter to meditate on all the while thereby both to preuent the ordinary intrusion of many vaine foolish noy some thoughts impertinent wandrings and wofull trifling out thy precious time and also to keepe thy spirits and the powers of thy soule aworke lest as milstones wanting grist grate and grind one another they waste themselues in a fruitlesse barren melancholy When canst thou bee alone and not haue iust cause either to busie thy mind about some lawfull affaires of thy Calling or wrestle with some corruption which troubles the peace of thy conscience or breake out into the praises of God or some other holy passages of heauenly meditation whereof there is so great varietie and store 2. Watch and withstand with all godly iealosie and care two dangerous euils 1. Thoughts of pleasures from thy youthfull sinnes and vnregenerate time which at such times are ready to make re-entry and very eager being aided by the Deuils cunning and hearts-corruption to re-infect and pollute thy soule againe with sensuall filth and renewed guiltinesse And in this point take heed lest the Deuill delude thee in the glory of an Angel or by the flashes of his counterfeite light cast into thy heart his secret wild-fire and sparkes of lust For in thy solitary musing thou mayest resume into thy memory the abominations of thy former life especially of that sinne which was thy minion-delight and darling-pleasure vpon purpose to bewaile and detest them and yet without a very vigilant eye the Deuill in sinuating some secret ticklings of woonted sinfull sweetnesse that which was intended for an exercise and increase of repentance may cursedly end in the iteration and re-inioyment of old filthy pleasures 2. Take heed also at such times of acting any new sinnes vpon sensuall suppositions and imaginary plots as of worldlinesse lust speculatiue wantonnesse ambition reuenge dishonouring Gods prouidence by an vnnecessarie distrustfull forecasting of fearefull accidents vpon thy selfe family goods posteritie the State c. Some sonnes of Belial there are who make no bones as they say of acting all manner of vncleannesse horrible impuritie in the inward parts by the meere worke of imagination When they cannot compasse and attaine the reall accomplishment of their
encompassed and crowned with much vndeserued and extraordinarie precedency and pompe yet this one little thing to wit because Mordecai would not bow the knee and doe reuerence vnto him at the Kings gate did vtterly marre and dissweeten all the other excellencies and extraordinarinesse of the Kings fauour See Hester Chap. 5. Vers. 10 11 12 13. And Haman told his friends and wife of the glory of his riches c. But all this saith hee doth nothing auaile me as long as I see Mordecai the Iew sitting at the Kings gate 3. The third is an eternall sting which to a waking and working conscience ariseth out of a serious consideration and sence of Gods causefull iust and holy indignation reuealed in his Booke against impenitents in such kindes Whereupon it is no maruaile though many times their hearts hating to bee reformed and hearing their seuerall doomes denounced against them from Gods owne mouth in that Word by which they shall be iudged at the last Day be full sorely smitten with inward bitter gripings and secret guilty stings the very hellish flashings and foretasts of that neuer-dying worme which hereafter without timely repentance will gnaw vpon their consciences with full rage and vnquenchable horrour world without end The worldling therefore may iustly tremble and roare when he reades that cutting Commination Iam. 5. 1 2. Goe to now ye rich men weepe and howle for your miseries that shall come vpon you Your riches are corrupted and your garments moth eaten your gold and siluer is cankered and the rust of them shall bee a witnesse against you and shall eate your flesh as it were fire ye haue heaped treasure together for the last dayes The wanton when he well weighs that flaming place Heb. 13. 4. so full of vengeance against him But whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge The drunkard when hee finds himselfe in the cursed Catalogue of that damned crue 1. Cor. 6. 9. Be not deceiued neither fornicators nor Idolaters nor drunkards c. shall inherit the Kingdome of God The Ambitionist when he casts his eye from the top of his vsurped honours vpon that dreadful downefall Obadiah 4. Though thou exalt thy selfe as an Eagle and though thou set thy nest among the starres thence I will bring thee downe saith the Lord. But now on the other side spirituall Ioy which springs out of the wells of saluation and is a ray and representation as it were of the Sunne of Righteousnesse and that eternall Fountaine of soundest and lasting comfort is all sweete pure shining calme hearty vnspeakeable vtterly free from those fore-grumblings and reluctations of conscience enuenomed mixtures and slauish apprehensions after-repentings stings and melancholike dumps though it may be assaulted and something dimmed with some doubts distrusts and weakenesse of degree by reason of our vnglorified state of mortalitie yet in respect of its creation substance truth and blissefull issue it is a very glimpse of heauenly glory a pure taste of the riuers of Life and first fruits of euerlasting ioyes Thus the blessing of the Lord maketh the heart spiritually merry with incomparable sweetnesse and he addeth no sorrow with it 3. Of dignitie and diuine temper Carnall ioyes haue for their foundation the fading arme of flesh and the fashion of this world fraile and fleeting as themselues earthly power and policie for their prop and support For their Obiect the Garbage of the earth Gold and Siluer foode for swinish worldlings noble captiuities guilded fetters I meane vndeserued dignities honours offices greatnesse and high roomes the onely ayme of ambitious Shebnaes the filth and froth of brutish pleasures fewell for Sodomiticall flames and such like trash pelfe and vanity For their companions feares iealousies guilty gripings The sences for their seate Time for their limit for their end endlesse griefe and horrour of heart For all earthly pleasure determines in heauinesse as the Sunne sets in darknesse But now on the other side spirituall Ioy is the blessed Spirits sweet and louely Babe grounded vpon the sure Couenant of euerlasting Loue Mercie and Peace in Iesus Christ The matter of it is the light of Gods countenance the Garments of saluation the precious Robe of Christs righteousnesse interest in his dearest Blood and all the rich purchases of his Passion looking vpon our names in heauen through the glasse of sanctification Gods holy Image renued vpon our soules and the illustrious beames of heauenly graces shed from the Throne of Grace shining there euery sweet promise in his blessed Booke In a word Iehoua Isa. 61. 10. Habakkuk 3. 18. Phil. 4 4. And that glorious Name proclaimed Exod. 34. 6 7. a well-spring of vnspeakable refreshing to euery truely broken and bleeding heart being well opened by a feeling and a fruitfull meditation For measure it is immeasurable without bound or stint and passeth all vnderstanding no stranger doth intermeddle with it neither can any man possibly conceiue it but he that enioyes it It is as it were the amiable splendour and sparkle of that white Stone in the Reuelation Chap. 2. 17. which only shines vpon heauenly hearts with delight vnspeakable glorious For seate and certainty It is engrauen by the Finger of God with an heauenly Sun-beame as it were shining from the face of Christ in the very center of the heart which not all the powers of darknesse or hellish mists can finally dimme or dispell the world neither giue nor take from vs neither man nor deuill nor shadow of death euer raze or roote out It is honoured with that supernaturall singularitie and sacred temper that vtterly against nature all naturall possibilitie it extracts sweetnesse and life out of ordinary causes of deiection and sinking Troubles persecutions and reproaches doe fortifie it and serue as fewell to enlarge its lightsomnesse See Act. 5. 41. 16. 25. Acts and Monum pag. 2003. where the glorious Martyr Woodman speakes thus When I haue been in prison wearing otherwhile bolts otherwhiles shackles otherwhile lying on the bare ground somtime sitting in the stocks sometimes bound with cords that all my body hath been swolne much like to be ouercome for the paine that hath been in my flesh sometime faine to lye without in the woods and fields wandring to and fro few I say that durst to keepe my company forâ—…feare of the Rulers sometime brought before the Iustices Sheriffes Lords Doctors and Bishops sometime called Dogge sometime Deuill Heretike Whoremonger Traytor Thiefe Deceiuer with diuers other such like yea and euen they that did eate of my bread that should haue been most my friends by nature haue betrayed meâ—… Yet for all this I praise my Lord God that hath separated mee from my mothers wombe all this that hath happened to me hath beene easie light and most delectable and ioyfull of any treasure that euer I possessed For duration It is a very glimpse of heauenly glory which springing vp in a sanctified heart out of the wells of saluation and
wrangling fellow should lay claime vnto thy land thou wouldest not in such a case and controuersie consult with an ignorant neighbour hee perhaps out of his weakenesse and want of skill might raise doubts and dangers where there were none and put thee into a greater fright but thou wouldest haue recourse to some learned at the Law who vnderstandingly searching and surueying thine Euidences and finding no flaw would put thee out of all feare When in time of temptation thou art terrified and affrighted with renewed scruples and distractions about thy spirituall well-being doe not in any wise aduise with carnall reason which is starke blinde in the mystery of Christ much lesse with that euill One who is a sworne enemy to thy soule and father of lyes They may tell thee thou hast no sence no feeling therefore all is naught but to the Word and to the Testimonie let thy trembling heart cleaue to the impregnable truth of those sweetest promises Matth. 11. 28. Reuel 21. 6. Ioh. 7. 37. Isa. 55. 1 c. and thou art safe for euer For a more full impression of this comfortable point I would haue you to refresh your memories with a reuise of those foure estates of faith which I haue heretofore distinguished vpon purpose for the weakest Christians sake and know that the reflexed act of the lowest degree and least measure then mentioned might vpon good ground if hee doe not wilfully and wickedly refuse to be comforted fill his fearefull spirit as full with vnspeakeable glorious ioy as the Sunne is of light and the sea of waters These things laid together and well weighed may confect a precious and soueraigne Antidote against the slauish terrours causelesse feares and heauy walking of many which are true of heart distressed in conscience about their spirituall state who while they labour and long with insatiable greedinesse and I blame them not for a sensible assurance and feeling apprehension of Gods fauour doe too much neglect and disregard that comfort which their faith might affoord them vpon good ground in that notwithstanding their present distracting amazements and perplexity of spirit they are able still to commit their soules vnto Christ as a faithfull Redeemer and their euerlasting strength In this point I haue let some passages fall by the way which may serue to discouer and dissolue the vanity and weakenesse of that Dilemma wherein Bellarmine playes the wilfull egregious Sophister it runs thus The Protestants teach saith he that a man is iustified by speciall faith whereby he perswadeth himselfe that he is iust Now then he reasoneth thus When I begin to beleeue that I am iust I am either iust or vniust If iust then I am not iustified by faith by which I beleeue my selfe to bee iust because this faith is after my iustification If vniust then this faith is false and so a man should be iustified by a lye To this horned Argument wee answer thus There are sundry acts of speciall faith for my purpose at this time take notice of two 1. A fiduciall assent resting vpon the merit of Christ an affiance dependance adherence reliance or if there bee any other word expressing that act of an humbled soule whereby it casteth and reposeth it selfe onely vpon Gods promise in Christ for the obtaining of remission of sinnes and euerlasting life In this act the poore soule illightened and affrighted with sight and sence of its sinne and misery and seeing an infinite impossibility of satisfying God for the one or freeing it selfe from the other by any meanes or merit in heauen or earth but onely by the propitiatory mediation of Iesus Christ it throwes it selfe into his armes grasping fast about him hides it selfe in the clifts of this Rocke from the stormes of Gods fiercest and fiery indignation apprehends in him plentifull redemption and all-sufficiencie of saluation and therefore plyes him with strong cryes and teares for mercy bespeakes him in all termes of confidence and affiance My Lord and my God my hope my fortresse my rocke my strength my saluation saue me or I sinke hold mee fast or I am lost for euer You may see sometimes a little infant vpon apprehension and approach of some sudden danger how heartily and hastily it runnes into the mothers armes for succour and safety euen so a truely wounded soule pursued by the terrours of the Law and frighted with the dreadfull sight of Gods frowning countenance flyes with speed into the bosome of its blessed Redeemer clings inseparably vnto his bleeding wounds for euerlasting protection and there rests vpon the freenesse of his Loue merit of his Passion and truth of his Promise as vpon a Rocke of Eternitie neuer to bee remooued not the concurrent rage of all the Deuils in hell or powers of darknesse being euer able to make a diuorce By this act wee are accepted for iust before the Throne of Grace for Christs sake and sufferings 2. An act of certification which quickned by the Spirit of Grace when God pleaseth for his own glory and good of his Child reflecteth vpon the soule with a comfortable assurance that we are already in the armes of Christ and His for euer The least glimpse whereof a true heart would not exchange for all the Kingdomes vpon earth The first act makes vs iust The second findes vs iust and so certifies truely not by a lye as lying companions and Satans Sophisters calumniate It is the saying of an excellent Diuine both for depth of learning and height of Holinesse To beleeue that my sinnes are now pardoned and that I am saued this is not the first act of faith but followes when now a man doth see himselfe to be iustified in Christ. 2. By a secret application of the promises of the Gospell in forme of an experimentall Syllogisme thus Whosoeuer beleeues and repents is the Child of God But I beleeue and repent therefore I am the Child of God The maior or first proposition is cleare and euident in the very letter and by the immediate sense of Scripture See Iohn 3. 36. Acts 10. 45. 13. 39 c. But how doe you know the minor or second proposition to be certainely so By the certainty of internall vision whereby we as clearely see our faith as our life will thought knowledge c. as appeares in the forecited place of Austin In his opinion I say Faith is as visible to the internall eye of a sanctified mind as is a mans life and will Nay we are woont to discerne with a more eager eye and obseruation a Stranger then an ordinary Domestick Our life and will are inbred faith is aduentitious By the testimony of a renewed conscience which is as a thousand witnesses Now had I a thousand honest witnesses at the barre before an vpright Iudge to prooue my cause and iustifie my right against the outfacings and periuries of a Knight of the Poast as they say well knowne to be an infamous stigmaticall
it habitually and resolutely against an illightned impenitent conscience and yet looke for Heauen thou art deceiued thou hast made a lye thy refuge and hid thy selfe vnder falsehood And why because Gods Word saith that the Fearefull and Vnbeleeuing and the Abominable and Murtherers and Whoremongers and Sâ—…rcerers and Idolaters and all Lyers shall haue their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Reuel 21. 8. Conceiue proportionably of lying in any other sinne damned in Gods Booke in the sence I haue said If thou abidest in the state of meere ciuill honestie and yet thinkest with thy selfe that thou art thereby furnished sufficiently for future happinesse it is but a false flash And why Because the Word saith Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Which necessarily implyes That no meere ciuill man can possibly bee saued If thou bee a luke-warme Laodicean and yet conceiuest thou art rich enough spiritually and lookest to bee saued thou art deceiued And why Because the Word saith That Christ will spew such a one out of his mouth Reuelation 3. 16. Euen as a filthy bitter vomit is to the stomacke mouth and man that spewes it out such are all luke-warme formall professors to the Lord Iesus Christ as himselfe there professes A terrible and flaming sentence vttered from the Iudge his owne mouth in the meane time which mee thinks should horribly affright thousands in our daies who stand for a frozen formality heartlesse indifferency reserued neutrality and politicke moderation in profession and practise of religion Thus a true restimony and sound perswasion of a good estate to Godward euer holds correspondence to the Word and is infallibly grounded thereupon Obiect Say you so In spirituall cases and poynts of faith how is it possible that a man should bee infallibly certaine of that by the Word which is not contained in the Word either immediatly or by good consequence But Bellarmine affirmes that this particular proposition Such or such a man is truely iustified is not contained in the Word of God either immediately or by good consequence c. Answer To let passe at this time that which some worthy Diuines presse in this poynt that such places as these Psalm 103. 3. Esa. 43. 32. Rom. 10. 9. Gal. 2. 20. c. intimate and imply such a particular proposition immediately I answer that it is deduced by euident consequence out of the Word For from such generall promises and propositions as these He that beleeueth on the Sonne hath euerlasting life Ioh. 3. 36. Whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Act. 10. 43. And by him all that beleeue are iustified from all things c. Act. 13. 39 c. follow by good consequence these particulars Paul Peter Luther Caluin Beza Bradford or any other particular man beleeuing in him receiues remission of sinnes is iustified hath eternall life Euen as it followeth directly and infallibly euery man is a reasonable creature therefore Iohn Thomas c. is endewed with reason Though no word saith expressely and immediately Thou Thomas beleeuing shalt be saued yet the same word which saith Euery one beleeuing hath eternall life saith also Thou Thomas beleeuing hast eternall life or shalt be saued As on the contrary this vniuersall He that beleeueth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him includeth vertually consequently infallibly as though they were writ in it these particulars Iudas Bellarmine or Bonner c. not beleeuing shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Otherwise if the generall did not thus sufficiently include and comprehend euery particular and an vniuersall proposition all subordinate singular propositions vnder it the Law Thou shalt not kill thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour would not belong to Faux blowing vp the Parliament to this or that Priest polluting himselfe in hearing confession to Bellarmine lying voluminously because it s no where expressely writ Thou Bellarmine shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour Thou shaueling beware of selfe pollution Thou Faux shalt not teare in pieces the Royall limbs of the Lords Anointed If Iohn or Thomas beleeuing be not bound to be assured of his saluation out of the generall promise except it were said somewhere in Scripture That Thomas or Iohn by name should be saued it would follow that these particular men were not bound to be honest men or to feare God because it is no where said in the Word that Thomas or Iohn ought to be honest men or are commanded to feare God but onely in the generall In a word let the Iesuite tell mee whether out of the Word he be infallibly certaine that his body shall rise againe at the last Day He dare not for his heart deny it And I pray you Bellarmine tell me where it is particularly and expressely said in Scripture That the body of Robert Bellarmine shall rise againe at the last Day All particular infallible assurance in this kinde springs out of the generall proposition and promise that All shall rise 1. Cor. 15 c. 2. That heart which doth sweetly enioy the Paradise of a true testimony and well grounded perswasion that it presently liues the life of grace and immortality is sincerely affected and inflamed with a reuerent loue and insatiable longing after the Word preached and read prayer singing of Psalmes meditation conference vowes daies of humiliation vse of good bookes godly company all Gods ordinances and good meanes appointed and sanctified for our spirituall good Because thorow them as so many golden conduits those gracious sauing operations of the holy Ghost are conueyed and continued vnto it which minister sound matter and true grounds of such comfortable assurance and in the conscionable vse and exercise of them also are woont sometimes to be secretly and sensibly breathed into it such heauenly reall refreshings themselues which the ioy of the whole worlds enioyment cannot possibly equall But now the affection this way of those who are Pharisaically puft vp with a groundlesse conceit and vaine confidence is faint and formall partiall and reserued not accompanied with that vniuersality and vniformity of reuerence and respect to all the blessed ordinances and meanes of grace It is euer the woont and wilynesse of such to qualifie their countenance and correspondence to these with that moderation and temper which may bee compatible and plausibly consist with the safety of their temporall happinesse and security of their bosome sinne And no maruell though their affection in this kinde be not so hearty and hold out for they draw no speciall vertue and sweetnesse from Christ through them And their conceit of being right is not fedde from the brests of the Bible and with the heauenly Manna of a conscionable Ministery but built vpon those insufficient grounds and rotten proppes I discouered and disabled before 3.
consortium nequaquam admitrit Gregor in Psal. 6. Melius est habere malorum odium quà m consortium Bern. lib. De modo benè viuendi Serm. 60. b I haue a ground of this distinction from a most learned holy and reuerend Diuine who speakes thus In this place saith he we be admonished to beware lest at any time we ioyne our selues to those that are foolish and vngodly Not that it is altogâ—…ther vnlawfull to haue any dealing with them but that we may not come too neere vnto them For to eate and drinke with them to dwell in the same towne by them and such other common duties be not vnlawfull But to ioyne in marriage with them to make them priuy to our counsels or to vse them as more neere and speciall friends this is vnlawfull and this is here forbidden Greenham Medit. vpon vers 7. of Prou. 14. Nay the very Philosopher intimates it in his sâ—…nce There is saith he a twofold conuersing 1. Generall and common whereunto the times affaires the voyages and encounters doe dayly leade without our choyce or voluntary consents 2. Speciall in affected and desired company wherein there is conference communication priuity and familiarity He entangleth himselfe with accessâ—…riues to their sins danger of infection â—…ablenesse to scandall punishment and shame 1. Tim. 3. 5. See 2. Chr. 20. 37. * Carnall men will be ready to reply and oppose this precisenesse with varietiâ—… of vaine words that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should be so strictly censured and condemned that we may nâ—…t now and then be merry with good fellowes as they call them And therefore saith the Apostle Let no man deceiue you c. Luke 16. 26. a Omnis malâ—… ideò presequitur bonum quia non illi consentit bonus ad malum August in Psal. 128. a Hinc difcimâ—… pericul sam esse cum impijs coniunctionem ideoque sugienda soedera â—…ffinitates societates cum â—…lis Lauat in hunc locum a Est autem tutissimum vt assâ—…escat animus solicitâ semper peruigilique custodiaÌ„ discernere cogitationes suas ad primum animi motum vel probare vel reprobare quod cogitat vt vel bonas cogitationes alat vel statim extinguat malas Aug Epist. 141. Immensae virtutis est non sentire te esse percussum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ora tumentirâ nigrescunt sanguine venae Lumina Gorgoneo saeuius igne micant a Si Dominus nobis Pater Deuâ—… est sectemur parientiam Domini pariter Patrisâ—… quia seruos oportet esse obsequentes filios non decet esse degeneres Quales verò in Deo quanta patientia quod in contumeliam suae Maiestatis honoris instituta ab hominibus profana templa terrena sigmenta sacra sacrilega patientissimè sustinens supeâ—… bonos malos aequaliter facit diem nasci lumen solis oboriri c. Et cum crebris immo continuis exâ—…cerbatur offensis Deus indignationem suam temperat praestitutum semel retributionis diem patienter expectat Cúmque habeat in potestate vindictam mauult diu tenere patientiam sustinens scilicet clomenter differens vt si fieri potest multum malitia protracta aliquando mutetur homo in errorum sâ—…clerum contagione volutatus velserò ad Dominum conuertatur Cyprian de bono patientiae Mich. 3. 2 3. Quotidiè moritur mortem qui assiduè pauet Deut. 28. 47. See Reu. 2. 5 10. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is deriued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is so full of a vexing sence that Virgil is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to expresse Homers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word of the same Originall and signification in two Uerses Atque animum nunc huc celereÌ„ nunc diuidit illuc In partèsque rapit vaâ—…ias perque omnia versat a Quando mens fibi recti est conscia gratulatur vel infusione quadam spirituali repletur animus gaudio cùm aiicuius vel studia vel opeâ—…a a Deo probantur Ambr. De Cain Abel b Peruersum aliquid videtur docere sermo diuinus Flere in laetitiâ in moerore laetari audi in moerore laetantem Gloriamur inquit in tribulationibus Rom. 5. 3. Aug. in Psal. 136. Beatâ—… qui fic lugitis quia ridebitis in lacrymis Idem Tom. 9. pag. 1022. Leuit. 19. 17. Psal. 91. 11 12. Canes igitur hîc significat homines in impietate viuentes immedicabili â—…pemque omninò conuersionis in melius non habentes Chrysost. Hom. 24. in 7. Mat. Reuel 22. 1â—… Porcos verò in luto infraenis luxutiae iâ—…giter commorantes quos fanè omnes huiusmodi doctrinâ pronunciauit indignos Idem ibid See Isa. 5. 19. â—… Peâ—… 3. 3 4. a Audis filioâ—… blaâ—… phemâ—…ntes patienter fers Christiane quod Rex Nabuch donoloâ—…â—…lienigena non potuit sustinere dicens Si quis dixerit blasphemiam in Deum Sidrach c. in iâ—…teritum erit August â—…om â—… p. 12â—… Iam. 5. 20. Prou. 26. 5. 〈◊〉 10. 7. Iude 23. a Tertul. hunc locum accipit de correptione fraternâ Iudaeis hîc praeceptâ Lib. 4. cont Marcion cap. 35. b Non agit ibi de irrisoribus cum illis duriter agendum sed de fratribus Martan c. â—…9 2. Sam. Mat. 7. 1 2. Noli esse alienâ—… vitae aut temerarius iudex aut curiosus exploâ—… Bâ—…n Act. 28 28. a Christ iudging thâ—… Pharises both for lifâ—… and doctrine called them Hypocrites for caution to his Disciples Matth. 23. 1 2 3. and 16 6. and Herod Foxâ—… for admâ—…nition to others b Matth. 7. 5. Luke 13. 32. * Velut si aliquis saeuissimo Hydrope vel quolibet immedicabili languore constrictus hunc quidem etiam negligat eum verò culpet qui exigâ—…um in aliquâ corporis sui parte non curet tumorem Chrysost hom 24. in cap. 7. Matth. a Non generaliteâ—… peccata omnia prohibuit iudicari necprorsus omnibus istius rei abstulit potestatem sed his profectò solis qui quum â—…lagitijs abundent innumeris alios de leuissimis quibusque delictiâ—… totâ temeritate condemnant Chrysost. hom 24 in cap. 7. Mat. Ioh. 7. 20 and 8. 48. 52. and 10. 20. Coloss. 2. 9. â—…er 38. 4. Malâ—… est mentis mali moris affingere mihi mores ex â—…uis Mali alios de suo aestimant ingenio Chap. 2. 15. * Semper in dubijs Benignioâ—…a praeferenda sunt de diuer Reg. â—…uris In re dubâ—…â benigniorem interpretationem sequiâ—… non minùs iustius est quà m tutius Ibid. 164. * Pessimum inimicorum genus laudantes Tacit. in vita Agricolae pag. 679. Some men are praised maliciously to their hurt thereby to stirre enuy and 〈◊〉 towards them a It is not lawful to spâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we know by another though it be true except we 〈◊〉 a Calling b Doeg played the dog against Dauid in all or some of these respects c We must speake the