in all his promises yet nothing is more common then in time of tryall to distrust and feare God will not be as good as his word at least whatsoeuer is said wee feare wee shall perish We need not seeke for proofe hereof which is so recorded in the liues of the most worthy seruants of God who are otherwise highly commended for their faith hee that hath any insight into himselfe may see too much of this in himselfe how ready wee are to call into question Gods truth when God deferreth the helpe we looked for To passe by all others and to see this in the matter we haue in hand from whence is it that so few of those that bee truly humbled in the sight of their miserie who know and desire Christ yea more who haue heard and in generall beleeued the Gospell that it is the glad tydings of saluation that Christ bids al that be heauie laden to come vnto him and hee will ease them what is the cause I say that so few of these doe so laie hold on Gods word as to beleeue and to rest assured of their saluation by Christ I know no better answer then this that when it comes to our selues wee cannot beleeue God will performe his word to vs some thing or other will bee obiected by our vnbeleeuing hearts why we may not beleeue Against all which we haue no other buckler to hold out but Gods truth Psal 31. 5. as Psal 91. 4. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler which is such that hee cannot lie nor deceiue To this end it is that God is called the God of truth Reu. 3. 14. Christ the faithfull and true witnesse Ioh. 14. 17. the holy Ghost the Spirit of truth Ephe. 1. 13. the Gospell the word of truth that when our faithlesse hearts shall stagger and doubt whether that shall bee which God hath spoken we may stay our selues vpon this immoueable rocke God is faithfull 1 Cor. 19. As often it is repeated to strengthen our weake faith This then remaineth for the setling of the heart of the weake in faith That so oft as doubts arise concerning his saluation by Christ whether God so loue him that he hath giuen him his only begotten Sonne that he beleeuing might not perish but haue euerlasting life hee hath no other thing in the world to perswade him but this that God who cannot lie hath said it and therefore he may and ought to beleeue that Christ and all his benefits are his wherein the more to moue him he is to laie before him both what a great sinne it is not to beleeue no lesse then to make God a lyer 1 Iohn 5. 10. as the Apostle John expresly speaketh Ioh. 3. 18. and also what fearefull punishment it procureth euen a certaine and remedilesse condemnation as our Sauiour himselfe denounceth By these and the like considerations is true faith both first begotten and afterwards increased in all those that shall be saued which I haue more fully laid open not only for that it is the most principall matter to bee regarded concerning true sauing faith namely how he that hath it not may attaine to it But also for that it is if not the least knowne and laboured for Many seeke for markes of faith in vaine yet least attained vnto For I haue obserued many very inquisitiue for some markes of faith who neuer so much as knew any thing which might draw them effectually to beleeue And therefore now to end this point concerning the right and orderly way whereby an vnbeleeuer is brought to true and sauing faith my aduise is to all that finde their faith weake and consequently their liues much out of frame that first they take good heed whereupon they build their faith Build faith onely on Gods truth and that only vpon Gods mercy and truth reuealed in the Gospell which neuer changing are a sure foundation and not vpon their owne change which oft is deceitfull and at best variable and indeed is onely an effect and fruit of Faith accordingly shewing the strength and weakenesse of our faith and can by no meanes be made any cause thereof Thus haue we seene both what this faith is whereby the iust doe liue and by what meanes it is attained Now lest any should gather out of the former that any man may by his owne indeuour vsing these meanes attaine to faith I thinke meet to adde this that although it be Gods will and commandement to all to whom hee sendeth his Gospell Faith is not in mans power but wrought by Gods Spirit that they should beleeue receiue Christ offered vnto them and therefore it is the dutie of euery one so to doe and it is their sinne and shall be their condemnation who doe not thus as hath beene said in all respects yet such is the corruption of all man-kinde by Adams fall that not one soule hath either will or power to receiue this grace in Christ offered vnto him Rom. 11. 32. For God hath shut vp all in vnbeliefe that he might haue mercy vpon al Act. 13. 48. and so many beleeued as were ordained to eternall life Eph. 2. 8. and Faith is the gift of God Ioh. 6. 44. and none can come to Christ except the Father draw him Which is wisely disposed by God that no man might haue cause to glory in himselfe but that the glory of mans saluation may bee giuen to God From whence it commeth that besides this common fauour of saluation in Christ tendred to all in the Gospell yea besides the common gifts of the Spirit which many receiue who neuer receiued Christ by faith As knowledge both of mans misery the remedy thereof sorrow for the one and desire of the other with such others besides these I say God doth giue his holy Spirit to all that shall be saued who doth inwardly draw and incline their hearts to beleeue Gods free and gracious promises and so thankfully to accept Christ offered vnto them whereby indeed they bee truely made partakers of Christ and all his benefites and thereby bee iustified and sanctified and shall be fully and euerlastingly glorified And thus is a poore sinner by Faith made the childe of God and heire of glorie Now before we proceed to our principall intention to shew how this Iustified man may liue by his faith It shall not be lost labour to shew how this may be knowne of any How it is knowne a man hath this faith that he hath this true faith and how euery true beleeuer may be able to proue that hee doth so this certaine and infallible knowledge in any man that hee hath true faith Riseth ioyntly from the causes effects therof not from either apart as shall bee shewed Vnder the causes I comprehend all that worke of God Causes of faith wherby he worketh faith in any which standeth especially in these three things 1.
holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the praise of his glory So then euery one that will proue that he hath truely beleeued must be able to see and shew that he is thus sealed with the holy Spirit promised to all beleeuers The Spirit is knowne by his working How the Spirit is knowne which though manifold yet in this case may well be contained vnder these two Ioy and Loue as was before said in regard whereof this grace of the Spirit is not vnfitly compared to fire which hath two properties light and heate which though they bee vnseparable so that where fire is both these must needs bee yet they are not both alike sensible for oft the heare of fire may bee felt when no light can be seene so is it with these of Ioy Loue especially in weak beleeuers who though their faith bee so couered vnder their corruptions that they cannot oft times haue such sight thereof as might breed ioy and comfort in their saluation yet their loue to God can neuer bee so quenched that they shal feele no heate in it But if they shall bee well tried what hearts they beare to God it cannot bee hid but they beare a louing affection to him approuing of all that he doth to be well done yea though hee should condemne them being grieued for offending him and very desirous to please him All which and many the like be euident proofes of their true loue to God whereby they may proue that there is in them some perswasion of Gods loue towards them which cannot bee without true faith though faith in it selfe much lesse the ioy therein cannot bee seene And this I iudge to bee the cleerest proofe which a weake beleeuer may haue that he hath any faith which I deâ—iâ—e the more may bee regarded for that in my best experience I haue euer found nothing more auailable to comfort a truely afflicted conscience that is one whose heart is oppressed with sorrow for that seeing his miserie and desiring Christ his only remedie yet cannot beleeue at least cannot see he doth beleeue To returne then to these effects of Gods Spirit whereby it is manifest who hath the Spirit of God dwelling in him Euery one must examine his own heart what sound ioy and comfort hee hath of his saluation by Christ and what true loue he beareth to God for the same which two be as the two maine Armes of the tree of Life from whence doe issue and spring all other branches of a godly life From the former that is the Ioy of Faith doth grow all comfort in God that we shall receiue from him in due time and measure all needfull blessings From loue proceedeth a carefull conscience to yeeld God all cheerefull obedience both in dutie towards God and towards our neighbour in all which whosoeuer hath no part he may thereby know that as yet he hath not receiued Gods Spirit but on the other side if any man doe finde these in him and his heart doe not beguile him hee may haue boldnesse that he is a true liuing member of Christ But for so much as this is to too common that many bee deeply deceiued on both sides some and these the fewer and better sort mistrusting themselues that these are not in truth in them and so fearing they haue not truely receiued the Spirit and therefore are none of Christs when as in deed and in truth they haue both whose case is good though they see it not and so remaine vncomfortable Others the greater and worser sort doe flatter themselues they haue these and such other fruits of the Spirit and so haue true faith in Christ and saluation when indeed they haue none of these in truth but vaine shadowes of them It is a matter exceeding needfull to set downe some plaine and infallible markes of soundnesse whereby euery one may be able to discerne of his estate whether he haue rightly receiued the grace of God or no that hereby the sound hearted though weake and full of doubts may be quieted if not comforted and the proud hypocrites and presumptuous professor may bee discouered and discomforted wherein great care is to be had that the gate bee not made too wide to let in the Libertine and loose liuer or too straight to shut out the poorest and weakest beleeuer 1. One especiall marke of a sound heart I haue obserued chiefly in young Christians and weake beleeuers is a godly iâ—alousie of being deceiued with false faith Markes of soundnesse ioy and loue which maketh them carefull to examine themselues and willing to be tried by others yea they bee earnest with God to trie them to discouer to them the falsehood or weakenesse of their hearts that both may bee reformed Whereas on the other side the vnsound heart will not be tried but as he flatters himselfe all is well so he takes it very ill to be suspected by others 2. Another note that the grace we haue receiued is true and not counterset is this that vpon search finding that we haue some sorrow for our frailties and some desires of being cleansed by Christ and some faith and hope therein with some ioy and loue of God for the same yet we haue withall such a sight of our pouertie in all of these as makes vs often mourne for our wants and to thinke so meanely of our selues that we highly esteeme the graces of God in others and for our owne parts desire and labour for nothing more then to haue all these increased in vs. These and the like bee the humble thoughts and desires of those that haue truely tasted of Gods grace But they who thinke euery little pricke to be deepe wounding or carnall and worldly sorrow to be the true godly sorrow and their vaine wishes to be feruent desires their fantasies to be faith and so for all the rest of Gods gifts bestowed vpon them doe dote vpon them and their happinesse in them and so liue merrily casting away all mourning for their manifold corruptions and be very busie in censuring of others and aduancing themselues and now being full doe take their ease and grow sloathfull in holy exercises especially in priuat these I say and such like are farre from true regeneration and might if they were not blinded see their estate more dangerous then such as neuer saw the light 3. A third marke of a true Israelite such as Nathaniel was in whom was no guile may be this that he is the same inwardly and in deed which he is outwardly and in shew as the Apostle speaketh of the Iewe and of circumcision so may we of a Christian and of Baptisme Rom. 2. 28. That it must not be outward onely and in the flesh but inward of the heart in the spirit not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Whereby appeareth that all such who onely make a
the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ which is est repeated 〈◊〉 Cor. p. 9. and 10. 〈…〉 that we might haue it in better remembrance and vse And for confirmation hereof 2. Tim. 2. 19. it s sayd the foundation of God 〈…〉 grounded vpon this the Lord knoweth who 〈◊〉 his meaning that they whoÌ„ God before the foundation of the world did chose ordaine to be saved cannot possibly perish as it is sayd Mat. 24. 24. If it were possible intending that it is not possible for then should God bee either mâ—table to change his decree or not Almighty as not able to performe that which he did purpose both which be most blasphemous to thinke of God for this cause Christ did bid his Disciples reioyce that their names were written in heaven Luke 10. 20. yea more in the same place 2. Tim. 2. 19. is said that this foundatioÌ„ of the certainety of salvation to all the Elect hath a seale which is after expressed in these words Let every one 〈…〉 of Christ depart from iniquity which I conceiue the same which is sayd Ephes 1. 13. that they after they beleeved more 〈◊〉 with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the prayse of his glory In both this is meanâ— that the worke of true sanctification which the holy Ghost workes in every true beleever is an vnfallible marke that we are true beleeverâ— effectually called and elected to salvation by Christ and therefore are sure wee cannot perish but shall persevere and bee saved This is notably set downe 2 Cor. 1. 21. 22. Now he which establisheth vs with you in Christ and hath annointed vs. is God who hath also sealed vs and given the earnest of his spirit in our hearts so that as true dealing men doe make sure their grants and covenants by seales and giving of some earnest which being a part of the prise covenanted doth assure the whole payment so doth the most faithful God by these first fruits of the spirit of sanctification assure vnto vs that we shall never quite fall away from grace but shall be fully sanctified by his holy spirit at the time appointed The Apostle Peter 2. 1. 10. by this moueth the faithful to make their calling and election sure And yet more if this be not enough to assure vs that we shall never fall away but continue to the end and be saved how often doth the Lord passe his word vnto vs that his spirit shall abide in vs for ever Notable is that place of the Prophet Esa 59. 21. As for me this my covenant with them sayth the Lord My spirit that is vpon thee and my wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed sayth the Lord from henceforth and for ever By this did our Saviour Christ much labour to comfort his Disciples who were full of sorrow to heare of his leauing them Ioh. 14. 16. And I will pray the Father and he shall giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever 17 Even the spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth in you and shall be in you So againe Ioh. 15. 16. Ye haue not chosen me but I haue chosen you and ordeined you that you goe and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine Ioh. â—6 22. Your ioy shall no man take may and more to like effect as Iohn 10. 28. 29. I giue them eterâ—all life and they shall never perish c. So the beloved Apostle Iohn wrote his first Epistle to this end especially to confirme the faithfull in the certaintie of their salvation that they should not fall away as many hypocrites then did and daily doe To this end as he setteth downe sundry markes whereby they may proue themselues to be in the state of grace so he giues many comfortable promises that they shall continue 1 Ioh 2. 24. and abide for ever and more specially vers 27. 17. But the anointing which ye haue received of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye 〈◊〉 as it hath taught you yee shall abide in him c. Chap. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what we shall be but we know that when he shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Vers 9. His seed remaineth in him and much more in this Chapter the rest I nâ—ed not rehearse all To shut vp this point A principall cause of this certaintie of our perseverance is that which the Apostle Peter expresseth 1 Pet. 1. 4 5 saying that their inheritance is reserved in heaven for them who are kept by the power of God through faith vnto salvation And to like effect the Apostle Iude closeth his Epistle with these words Now to him that is able to keepe you from falling and to preserue you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy to the onely wise God our Saviour be glory and maiestie dominion and power now and ever Amen Thus haue I gathered you may see good store Application yet not all of those comfortable promises which God hath made to his Church in all ages to confirme their faith that seeing he hath freely loued them chosen them and called them to be his therefore none shall ever be able to plucke them out of his hand What remaineth then for vs who be compassed with such a cloud of testimonies which all agree in one but to be perswaded with the Apostle Rom. 8. 38 39. That neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Let vs then whensoever wee fall into this temptation oh I shall never be able to hold out I find my corruption so strong or if I should be called to any such fiery triall as in Queene Maries dayes I shall never be able to indure them but shall as many then did for feare fall away and deny the truth Let vs I say against this tentation set the many promises which the Lord hath made vnto vs that he will never leaue vs nor forsake â—s Heb. 13. 5. yea more that we shall be kept by his power vnto salvation that hell gates shall not prevaile against vs Mat. 15. 18. with many the like whereof before that duely wayghing these and the faithfulnes of him who hath promised them we may comfort our hearts that he who hath begun the
preiudice our interest in happinesse that thereby we are driuen euery day to renew our claime to the promise of pardon and so to liue by Faith vntill this vncleane issue be dried vp These sowre hearbs helpe vs to relish Christ the better Moreouer though in this life our endeauours come short of our desires and we alwaies allow a greater measure then we can attaine vnto yet we may by stirring vp the graces begun in vs and by suing God vpon those promises of his Spirit and Grace whereby he hath made himselfe a debter vnto vs come to that measure whereby wee shall make the profession of religion glorious and louely in the eyes of others and comfortable to our selues and so shine farre brighter then others doe Why then doe we not in the vse of all sanctified meanes begge of God to make good the promises wherein he hath caused vs to trust Doe we not beside life of our bodies desire health and strength to discharge all the offices of ciuill life and why should we not much more if the life of God be in vs labour after health and vigor of spirit and for that annointing of the holy Ghost whereby we may doe and suffer all things so as we may draw others to a liking of our waies The truth is Satan laboureth to keepe vs vnder vnbeleefe of particular promises and from renewing our couenant in confidence that God will perfect the worke that he hath begun and not repent him of his earnest So farre as thus we cherish distrust we lie open to Satan Strengthen Faith and strengthen all Let vs therefore at once set vpon all duties required and be in loue with an holy life aboue all other liues and put our selues vpon Gods mercy and truth and we shall be able from experience so farre to iustifie all Gods waies as that wee would not bee in another state for all the world What greater encouragement can we wish then that our corruptions shall fall more and more before the Spirit and we shall be able to doe all things through Christ that strengthneth vs. To make these waies of God more plaine vnto vs this paines is taken by this man of God Not to disparage the labours of other holy men as far as I can iudge there is nothing in this kinde more fully indiciously sauorily written with greater euidence of a Spirit perswaded of the goodnesse and truth of what it sets downe And though distinct from respect to the Author the Treatise deserueth much respect yet it should gaine the move acceptance especially of those that are babes and yong men in Christ that it is written by a Father of long and Reuerend esteeme in the Church who hath begunne in all these rules to others As for our bodies so for our soules wee may more securely rely on an olde experienced Physition Hee commendeth it vnto thee hauing felt the kindly working of it vpon himselfe The Lord by his Spirit conuey these truths into thy heart and vppon good felt hereby in thy soule remember to desire God that he may still bring forth more fruite in his age vntill hee hath finished his course with credit to the Gospell and an assured hope of a blessed charge Grayes Inne RICHARD SIBBS To the Christian Reader IF any Grace and if not Grace what else doth deserue so to bee cōmended vnto the people of God as they may bee set on fire with desire of it till their desire be satisfied surely among and aboue all other Graces the Mother and Nurse-grace the Queene and Soueraigne Grace which bringeth foorth and breedeth vp that nourisheth and cherisheth that commandeth and ordereth all other Graces euen FAITH deserueth as much FAITH I say which is to the soule as the soule is to the body The life of it to the little world as the Sun is to the great world The light of it that which warmeth quickneth comforteth encourageth the person in whom it is Doth it not then deserue the best pains of the most iudicious and industrious Diuines to set it out Great paines hath beene taken hereabouts by men of good note and name So much and so well hath beene vttered and published on this subiect since the latter spring of the Gospell as to vtter and publish any more may be thought to doe no more then what hath beene done before yet without preiudice to any other to the praise of Gods Grace in the Author of this Treatise be it spoken Neuer any tooke such paines to so good purpose in and about the foundation of FAITH as he hath done The onely true proper Groundwork of FAITH is Gods promise Whatsoeuer is prnmised may safely bee beleeued whatsoeuer is beleeued without a promise is presumed As FAITH is the life of the soule so Gods promise is the life of FAITH Desirest thou FAITH take notice of Gods promises Wouldest thou haue thy FAITH like the light in the Lords Sanctuary neuer to goe out Acquaint thy soule with Gods promises know them meditate on them conferre about them let them be continually in thy mind memory heart and tongue If thou findest it too hard a taske for thee to finde them out to ranke them in order and to make fit application of them which is indeede an hard taske Beholde here God hath sent Ezekel Culuerwell as of olde hee sent Ezekel Buzi to set out the promises of God more plentifully and pertinently then euer before and that to breede FAITH where it is not to strengthen it where it is weake to settle it where it wauereth to repaire it where it decayeth to apply it aright to euery neede to extend it to sanctification as well as to iustification and to point out the singular vse of it in matters temporall spirituall and aeternall The subiect matter of this Treatise is fit to be vnder taken by a man well exercised in the holy Scriptures and well acquainted with the disposition of mans heart towards these promises Such an one is he who hath penned and published this treatise His exercise in the Scripture hath enabled him to gather together heapes of promises His experience of the disposition of mans heart hauing piercingly diued thereinto through much friendly and familiar conference with sundry sorts hath enabled him to set those heapes in a fitte and due order What I say of him I know of him for from mine infancy haue I known him and vnder his ministery was I trained vp in my younger yeares hee being at the least two and twenty yeares elder then my selfe Now because of all the Ministers that euer I knew he hath been one of the most painfull faithfull and powerfull giue me leaue good Reader to set downe somewhat of his practise for a patterne to others What manner of entring vpon his pastorall charge he had is not vnknowne to them that were vnder his charge Very few if any at all did hee finde fit to receiue the holy Communion which mooued him by the space
God the father mooued by nothing but his free loue to mankinde lost hath made a deed of gift and grant of his Sonne Christ Iesus vnto mankinde that whosoeuer of all mankinde shall receiue this gift by a true and liuely faith hee shall not perish but haue euerlasting life which the same Apostle expresly saith 1. Ioh. 5. 11. This is the record that God hath giuen to vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne meaning that this it is which God hath witnessed for vs to beleeue which hee that doth not makes God a lyar and shall most iustly be condemned therefore this then is the first thing in true faith to be considered that euery soule to whom God sendeth this message of the Gospell doe truely beleeue and giue credit vnto it to bee true that God hath made grant of Christ to sinners so that if he accept this grant he shall bee saued This is that faith which in schooles is called historicall because it goeth no further then to giue assent and credit to the story of that which God speaketh to be true which one may beleeue for another and therefore this cannot be true iustifying faith and this may be in those that knowe they are bidden to the wedding yet refuse to come So that though this bee necessary to true iustifying faith yet it is not sufficient therfore in iustifying faith there is required another and more speciall work namely to receiue Christ and life in him offered in the Gospell which was the second generall point to bee considered in the nature of this iustifying faith Namely that beside the assent of the mind and iudgment to the truth of the Gospell The second speciall worke of faith is to receiue Christ offered vs in the Gospell wee giue consent with our heart and will and so willingly and gladly accept Gods gift of Christ whereby indeede he is become ours and we his and so we in him be made partakers of all things pertaining to life and godlinesse 2. Pet. 1. 3. as the Apostle Peter speaketh where I would haue this specially to be marked that hee saith this is by the knowledge or acknowledging of him which I vnderstand to be by true faith whereby we know and acknowledge Christ to be ours This I the rather obserue for that I see some honestly minded herein beguiled to imagine that a man may be a true member of Christ and so be iustified before he thus actually beleeue and thereby apprehend Christ I deny not but that some weake in faith may feare that they do not beleeue and that they haue not apprehended Christ when in deede they haue apprehended him though they feele it not who may be discerned partly by their heauinesse for want of sense of faith but especially by their loue they beare to God shewed manifold waies whereof we shall here more in the triall of faith But that he who neuer apprehended Christ by beleeuing should ordinarily bee a member of Christ I cannot see sure I am the Scripture constantly speaketh otherwise as Iohn 12. As many as receiued him Gal. 3 26. to them hee gaue power to bee the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue in his name Gal. 2. 20. And to like effect often that we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus That wee liue by faith of the Sonne of God That Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith Eph. 3. 17. In which and the like many it is euident that faith is the Instrument whereby wee receiue Christ our righteousnes and life And this is the constant opinion of all found Diuines so farre as I know Thus then we see that the very nature of faith consisteth in the true acceptation of Christ proclaimed in the Gospell How faith is gotten Now followeth to be considered how this faith is to be obtained and increased that so we may liue by it wherein wee haue these two points to be obserued 1. First 2. point what is the ground of faith 1. 2. Secondly 2. how faithis hereon builded But before this blocke at which so many stumble is to be remooued That wee yet speake not how a man that hath faith may know it to bee so whereof more in his place but how one that indeede hath not apprehended Christ by faith may attaine vnto it So that here onely we seeke the causes which beget this faith not the effects of faith which only prooue we haue it Many not discerning this difference doe much mistake Causes and effects of faith differing and being asked what caused them to beleeue they say because they haue truely repented and changed their course of life which if it proceede not from faith is not so much as a sound proofe of faith much lesse can it bee any cause to drawe them to beleeue By which mistaking it comes to passe that such persons building their faith vpon their life which is subiect to many changes can neuer haue sound and stedfast faith but a staggering vnconstant opiniō at the best We haue neede therefore to looke for a more sure ground whereon to build our faith which must stand against so many and mighty stormes wherewith it is so vsually assaulted The onely firme ground of this sauing faith is Gods truth reuealed in his word The onely ground of faith is Gods truth Reason why as is plainely taught Rom. 10. 17. So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God And so likewise it is saide of the Ephesians 1. 13. That they by hearing the word of truth the Gospell of saluation beleeued which is as manifest to reason in that there is not any thing in heauen or in earth which can testifie to vs such good will in God to saue vs but wee must haue Gods owne word to witnesse this vnto vs and all little enough It is a matter so incredible that the holy and iust God who cannot abide any iniquity Heb. 2. 2. but will certainely giue to euery sinne his due punishment yet of his owne free mercy hath giuen and granted to poore sinners eternall life Therefore hath the Lord so often and so euidently spoken no lesse that hee might thereby mooue vs to beleeue as 1. Ioh. 5. 11. expresly affirming This is that which is testified That God hath giuen vs eternall life and this life is in his sonne For our further confirmation wherein it is saide vers 7. that this is witnessed both by three witnesses in heauen The first the father the second the word that is the sonne of God the second person in Trinity the third the holy Ghost which three be one diuine nature and testifie the same things as also by three witnesses on earth all which be in euery true beleeuer and none els The first the spirit the second the water the third the blood which agree in one witnessing the same things wherby are meant By the first
faire shew of faith and loue when in truth these bee not in them these be plaine Hypocrites so farre from happinesse as they be from sincerity 4. Lastly to end this point great euidence may bee had that our profession is sincere and not fained Obedience in matter and manner from our obedience to Gods Commaundements and that two wayes partly from the matter partly from the manner In eyther of which wee shall see apparant difference betweene the childe of God and him that is onely in shew For the former the true child of God from his heart hateth all sinne which hee knoweth to bee sinne yea those sinnes most which most annoye him and such as his corrupt nature is most inclinable vnto and contrarily in his heart desireth to please God in all things and so in truth laboureth chiefly to yeeld obedience to God in those duties to which naturally hee is most vnwilling and so indeed doth mortifie the flesh when it would most reigne ouer him The carnall Protestant on the other side will euer haue some sin so sweete that he hides it like sugar-candy â—â—der his tongue and cannot forgoe it and he must bee borne with in such sinnes as are most pleasing to his nature as the proud person in his pride the voluptuous in his pleasures the couetous in his sinfull gaine which shewes that their heart is false and doe leaue some sinne for by-respects for did they in truth hate sinne because it is sin and offendeth God they would hate one as well as another So againe hee that pretendeth conscience in some duties commanded and wilfully neglecteth others which hee knoweth God requireth of him and will by no meanes be brought to doe them his heart is vnsound respecting more his owne ease gaine and credit then Gods honour or fauour towards him As for example hee that will not forgiue an offence or debt and will not shew mercy and releeue by giuing and lending when hee knoweth hee ought And so for the first table he that wilfully neglects holy exercises of religion by himselfe and with his family which hee confesseth he should vse and will not sanctifie the Sabboth whch God commands these men and the like can haue no sound proofe or comfort that they be truly regenerated In all which I would not bee vnderstood of frailtie in neglecting the good commanded or doing the euill forbidden both which doe fall into Gods true children Rom. 7. 18. whose will is present to doe the will of God though through the strength of corruption and weakenesse of grace they much faile in either of these But I speake of such as set their hearts to sinne Psal 66. 18 as in the Psalm and their hearts rise against such duties so that they will not as they say be held vnder such slauery these bee hollow-hearted hypocrites what shew soeuer they make to the contrary in any case notwithstanding 5. Now for the other propertie of true obedience concerning the right manner thereof Manner this is the care of those who make conscience to please God that they content not themselues with the deed done as to heare Gods word to pray to giue 〈◊〉 and the like but they endeauour to doe all these in such a holy manner especially for the inward affection as God requireth and therefore bee as much humbled for their defects this way as if they had not done these duties at all whereas the hollow hearted Hypocrite so contenteth himselfe yea boasteth of the outward deede done that he thinkes himselfe wronged if hee bee not approoued of God and commended of men Witnesse these and such other voyces of theirs to God Esa 58. 3. Why haue we fasted and thou seest not wherefore haue wee afflicted our soules Luk. 18. 12 and thou takest no knowledge And againe I fast twice in the weeke I giue tythes of all that I possesse Take Saul for example saying 1 Sam. 15. 13. I haue performed the Commandements of the Lord. In which it is manifest they looke onely to the outward worke and so wash onely the outside of the cuppe but neuer looke to the heart and in what manner they performe these and all other holy duties Thus haue we seene some speciall markes whereby euery man who taketh vpon him the name and profession of a Christian may try himselfe and know whether his heart be vpright and his conuersion sound without which there can be no true comfort But hee that findeth these markes of Christs sheep vpon him though not so cleerely as some others may hee may haue boldnes before God and assure himselfe that he hath rightly receiued the grace of Gods Spirit So then to conclude this point how any man may certainely knowe by the causes and effects soundly wrought in him that hee hath true faith and thereby is a true member of Christ and sothe child of God and heire of life euerlasting I desire euery one wisely to laye all together and to raise vp their iudgement of their estate not vpon a peece or part therof but on the whole worke ioyned together which is onely auaileable to prooue any to be a house or Temple for the Holy Ghost to dwell in This I adde for their sakes who dangerously hazard their hope of happinesse vpon some one of these workes of Gods Spirit or more which may be in those that perish who haue many of these I say not in a sanctified manner but in a common sort as hath beene shewed already whereas this among all is one infallible marke of Gods regenerating and sanctifying Spirit that where he beginneth hee perfecteth his worke whom hee vniteth to Christ by faith he quickneth and purgeth so that faith without fruits is a dead stocke and all fruites not growing out of faith are but as wild and bitter grapes vnacceptable to God and vnprofitable to man Hauing hitherto shewed what true faith is How to liue by faith how it is wrought and how any man may knowe that this is truely wrought in him by God Spirit Now it followes to consider how hee that indeede harh this pretious faith may liue thereby which is the principall matter by me in this Treatise intended For the better vnderstanding and practise whereof wee are wisely to weigh these two things First thing What it is to liue by faith Secondly How this is attained For the former to liue by faith is this that God hauing made promise of all good things more then wee could aske or thinke that no good thing shall be wanting and whatsoeuer commeth shall be for our good Wee are so to beleeue that we thereby be aswell satisfied when we haue no meanes of helpe as if we had all that our hearts could desire which is to be seen both in earthly and spirituall matters As for example if a man should fall into any grieuous calamity as into a dangerous disease and should see no way of helpe yet if he beleeue that
Ioh. 2. 27. where speaking of the spirit giuen to all the faithfull hee saith But the annointing which ye haue receiued of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same annointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and euen as it hath taught you yee shall abide in him Many moe promises to this effect might be alleadged Out of them all Vse thus we may conclude Seeing Christ doth bid vs come to him and so to annoint our eyes with eye-salue that we may see Reu. 3. 18. and God hath made so many promises to teach vs and that his Spirit shall leade vs into all truth Ioh. 16. 13. therefore be our ignorance neuer so great and our capacitie neuer so small yet we shall not want so much spirituall knowledge as God seeth meete And therefore we may with confidence come to God for it and vsing the meanes as he hath appointed we shall not misse This may suffice for knowledge Now for abilitie God will set our hearts in frame to walke according to our knowledge enough hath beene said in the generall Where also we heard that God will giue vnto his a new heart which is the fountaine of all obedience and may be a singular comfort to all those who being acquainted with the vntowardnesse of their hearts to any holy dutie specially to some doe mistrust nothing more then this how to get a good heart and so to keepe it who for their comfort are to set before them all those promises wherein God hath said that hee will change their hearts whereof I spake a little before vpon occasion that God would make his people able to obey his statutes and doe his commandements which cannot be without a new heart and none can haue that but from God for it is not in man to set his heart aright but this is Gods gift As besides the former Scriptures that is manifest Ierem. 31. 33. Where the Prophet speaking of the new Testament which God would make to his people vnder the Gospell saith I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts c. which is twice repeated in the Epist to the Hebrewes 8. 10. 10. 16. which is also intended Acts 15. 9. where it is said of the Gentiles to whom Peter preached that God purified their hearts by faith and in the next chapter that the Lord opened the heart of Lydia Act. 16. 14. Againe 2 Cor. 1. 22. that God hath giuen the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts 2 Thess 2. 17. and 4. 6. that God hath shined into our hearts that God comforteth our hearts Phil. 4. 7. keepes our hearts stablisheth them directs them 2 Thes 3. 4. and the like many From whence wee may safely gather this Vse That though our hearts bee neuer so corrupt so hardned and shut vp so darkned distressed declining fainting and wandring out of the right way yet that God as he hath promised will certainly succour vs in all and both set and keepe our hearts in frame that they may be fit for all such seruices as it shall please the Lord to set vs about This I doubt not will be welcome newes to all sound hearted professours who so much see and bewaile their naughtie and vnbeleeuing hearts that they may comfortably rest vpon God that he will by his holy Spirit so guide their hearts that they may be seruiceable to him Thus much for the heart in generall Now seeing the Lord contents not himselfe herewith but comes more particularly to the well ordering of our affections of ioy loue feare trust and the like we shall finde it vsefull for vs to apply to our selues these promises to hearten vs against all our doubts concerning these affections which are as the hands and feete of our soules by which we worke and be carried to euery dutie that being well furnished with these we shall be more apt and ready to euery good worke And whereas among these God giues faith trust and hope there are none more profitable then Faith trust and hope which three though they haue some speciall difference one from the other 1 Tim. 2. 8. yet they be neuer parted Eccle. 5. 1. and bee vsually contained one within another and so we will take them together Of these the Scripture exceeding oft witnesseth that God giues these to all those whom hee meanes to saue As Iude verse 3. saith of Faith that it was once giuen to the Saints the like Eph. 2. 8. And Heb. 12. 2. Christ is said to be the Author and finisher of our faith and so his Apostles prayed to him Lord increase our faith and Rom. 12. 13. that God hath dealt to euery man the measure of faith So likewise for trust and confidence in God it is said of Gods people Esa 10. 20. that they shall stay vpon the Lord the holy one of Israel and 14. 32. That the Lord hath founded Sion and the poore of his people shall trust in it and 17. 7. At that day shall a man looke to his Maker and his eyes shall haue respect to the holy One of Israel and Jer. 3. 19. Thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not turne away from me Zep. 3. 12. And for Hope Dauid oft professeth Psal 71. 5. 22. 10. that God was his hope and his trust euen from his youth and God made him hope euen from his mothers wombe 65. 5. Yea more that God is the hope of all the ends of the earth c. Did we well consider on the one side Vse of these what neede we haue of those three graces throughout our whole life as may easily be seene by that which hath beene said in this whole Treatise and on the other side how exceedingly we faile in them all in times of triall we would then with both hands lay hold on these promises wherein God giues and by his Word and Spirit doth work these in the hearts of all his children and therefore so oft as wee feele our hearts to faile let vs with Dauid comfort our hearts in the Lord Psal 73. 26. and say My flesh and my heart faile me but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer And seeing the Lord Iesus is both Author and finisher of our Faith let vs rest in hope that hee who hath begun the good worke of faith in our hearts will finish it and so pray with the Apostle 2. Thess 1. 11. that God would fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the Worke of Faith with power Come wee now to the next grace in the heart God promiseth Ioy. the first fruit of our faith which is Ioy I meane spirituall ioy which is called ioy in the Lord and ioy in the holy Ghost In thinking whereof I cannot but wonder in comparing together what God hath
they bee most humbled come to God in Christ for pardon beleeuing that their imperfections should bee couered by the full and perfect satisfaction of Christ they might finde comfort in their weakest obedience and so bee more encouraged to serue God This then is that I would perswade all that would finde sound and lasting comfort in their praiers and other holy exercises Remedy in their best duties to beware of pride which accompanieth them and to that end euer to thinke of their failings to humble them and driue to Christ that so they may offer vp their sacrifice in faith and bee accepted On the other side when they be most deiected then to beware of despaire doubting and discouragement which bee vsuall companions of vs in the sense of our wants and to comfort our selues by faith in Christ in that wee know hee is as able and willing to cure great diseases as small to pardon our fowler falles as our lesser slippes In all which wee now see that which I intended how needfull it is to be stored and strengthened with faith that wee may finde comfort in our prayers and other holy exercises which I know is much wanting in many true hearted Christians for whose sake in speciall I write these and will now for their further comfort lay out some store of pretious promises which God our Father hath treasured vp in his word to this purpose that wee his children might bee imboldened to come with confidence to him in all our necessities Perusing these I finde that the farre greater number of them doe specially promise that God will accept our prayers grant our desires and doe not so expresly assure vs that God will assist vs and make vs able to pray which yet sundry promises doe God promiseth to make vs able to pray I will therefore heere gather such as expresly promise Gods helpe to teach vs to pray for that we are no lesse subiect to doubt of our ability to pray aright then of Gods readinesse to heare our poore and weake prayers Among all that comes first to minde which might serue in stead of all if we could hold it fast where the Apostle labouring to comfort the hearts of Gods children ouer all their corruptions and afflictions Rom. 8. 26. doth answer a great obiection which many a heauy heart makes namely this Many troubled that they cannot pray I am oft so distressed that I am not able to pray and how then may I looke for any helpe at Gods hand Thus it fareth oft with Gods children and those not of the weakest sort that their hearts bee so â—ore oppressed that they can doe nothing but sigh and groane not able to set aright their hearts to pray to God As wee reade of Hezekiah Esa 38. 14. that he like a Crane or Swallow did chatter and did mourne as a Doue not able to vtter his griefes to God The like we reade of Dauid oft Psal 32. how hee roared for griefe but could not come to make his moane to God and the like many Yea what more ordinary complaint doe wee heare made by many worthy Christians in their extremities then this to their friends O helpe me I cannot pray To this sore tentation the Apostle answers Rom. 8. 26. saying Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what wee should pray for 27. as we ought But the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings that cannot bee vttered And hee that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Wherein he freely confesseth that he and all the rest of Gods children doe know this by woefull experience that they in such cases know not what they should pray as they ought But yet for all this God hath not left vs comfortlesse for he hath giuen vs his own Spirit to succour and helpe vs as it were to beare that part of the burthe which is too heauy for vs to beare and whereas we cannot pray as we ought that selfe same Spirit shall by his power make vs able to pray with such feeling faith and feruencie as no words can expresse in such sort that God who both knowes and regards the secret desires of the heart beholding the worke of his Spirit doth graciously accept and approoue of those prayers of his children I make no doubt but this is the intent of the Apostle in this Scripture In which if there were no more is enough to comfort any poore afflicted soule against this temptation that they cannot pray In that God hath giuen vs his Spirit so to helpe vs that our poore prayers are said to be the prayers of Gods Spirit in vs which God cannot deny This I take to bee the cause why else-where we be called vpon to pray in the Spirit Eph. 6. 18. and in the holy Ghost Iude v. 20. that is as he doth teach vs not as any naturall gift can Where I note a speciall difference of true prayer from counterfeit Difference of prayers true and counterfeit which may be excellent in speech but wanting this breath of Gods Spirit it is but a dead sacrifice vnpleasing to God and vnprofitable to him that offereth it And therefore I aduise all who looke for comfort by their prayers more to labour for Spirit then speech in prayers And so much for this Scripture whereupon I haue stood the longer for that it may suffise in stead of all But seeing the Lord knowing our weakenesse hath in all ages of his Church comforted his people with the like it shal more confirme vs to heare more of these sweete promises To this may well be referred that which one of Iobs friends said to comfort him which doubtlesse was good comfort howsouer misapplyed when after some good exhortations he makes many moe gracious promises among all hee addes these For thou shalt haue thy delight in the Almightie Iob 22. and shalt lift vp thy face to God 21. and 6. Thou shalt make thy prayer vnto him 26. and he shall heare thee and thou shalt pay thy vowes c. 27. And in like manner doth another of Iobs friends say Hee shall pray vnto the Lord Iob 33. 26. and hee will be fauourable to him So Dauid in his time said For this shall euery one that is godly pray vnto thee Psal 32. 6. in the time when thou mayest be found Esa 58. 9. And the Prophet Esay makes such promises to the people in his time Then shalt thou call and the Lord will answer thou shalt cry and hee shall say Here I am So Ieremie Ier. 29. 12. Then shall yee call vpon mee and yee shall goe and pray vnto me and I will hearken to you 13. And yee shall seeke me and finde me when you shall search for me with all your heart Againe They shall come with
that knitting was within the contingent and changeahle liberty of his owne will but now we are brought to God in an euerlasting couenant of mercy by Faith in Christ who by taking the nature of man into vnitie of His person and not the person of any became a publike person to be Author of eternall saluation to all that receiue him and so gathering vs that were scattered from God into one head bringeth vs backe againe to God by a contrary way to that whereby we fell that is by cleauing to God by faith frō whom we fel by distrust A fit grace for the state of grace giuing the whole glory to God and emptying the soule of all selfe-sufficiency and inlarging it to receiue what is freely wrought and offered by an other thus wee come to haue the comfort and God the glory of mercy which sweete attribute mooued him to set all other attributes on worke to make vs happy Out of the bowels of his mercy as he chose vs to eternal saluatiō in Christ so vouchsafeth he all things necessary to life and godlinesse And as the same loue in God giueth vs heauen and furnisheth vs withall things needfull in the way vntill we come thither So the same Faith which layeth hold on the promises of necessary assistance comfort prouision and protection and this office it performeth in all the seuerall stations of this life vntill it hath brought vs vnto the enioying of Him in whose presenceis fulnes of ioy and pleasure for euermore Wee see that same loue in parents which mooueth them to gaue an inheritance to their sonnes mooueth them likewise to prouide for them and to traine them vp in experience of their fatherly care So it pleaseth our first and best Father besides the maine promise of saluation to giue vs many other rich and precious promises that in taste of his goidnesse and truth in these we may at length yeeld vp our soules to him as to our faith full Creator with the more assured comfort and the longer we liue heere be more rooted in Faith I know whom I haue trusted 2 Tim. 1. 12. saith aged S. Paul But alas how little is that we know of his waies because we obserue him no◠making good his word vnto vs. All his waies are mercy and truth Psal 25. 10. 12. 6. and euery word is a tryed word For the better helpe of Gods people to know there portion in those good things Psal 31. 19. which their Father not only layes vp for them for times to come but laies out for them heere as his Wisedome seeth fit this reuerend and holy man of God hath compiled this Treatise wherein he layeth open the veines of promises hidden in the Scriptures to the view of euery Christian and digesteth them in their order and withall sheweth their seuerall valew and vse for the beautifying of a holy life vvhich vvits-lesse exercised of themselues would not so vvell haue discerned For the benefiting by vvhich Treatise it vvill not bee inconuenient to know these foure things First that it supposeth a reader grounded in the knowledge of the nature and properties of God of Christ and his offices of the couenant of grace and such like because as in an arch one stone settles an other so there is such a linking together of points in diuinitie that one strengtheneth another For from vvhence hath Faith that efficacie but because it is that which is required in the couenant to lay hold on the free promise And vvhence haue the promises their strength but from the constant nature of Iehoua who giueth a being to his Word and is at peace with vs by the all-fufficient sacrifice of the Mediatour of the new couenant Words haue their validity from the authoritie of the speaker were not faith founded on the word of an infinite God so throughly appeased the soule would sinke in great temptations whereas now euen mountaines vanish before a beleeuing soule For what is all to Christ and vvho is able to subdue all to himselfe Hence it is that now we are by Faith safer then Adam in Paradise Phil. 3. 21. because we haue a promise which he wanted Safer it is to be as low as hell with a promise then as high in Paradise without it because Faith wrought by the power of God hath what strength God hath on whom it resteth and therefore worketh such wonders But howsoeuer the knowledge of these things serueth the argument in hand yet it must not be expected that hee should bee long in these things which are but coincident and should be foreknowne which I speake because some of weaker iudgement not considering the iust bounds of Treatises may expect larger handling of some things Whereas he hath laboured especially to furnish the argument in hand and not to load the discourse In the second place it must be knowne that the fruit of these things belong to such as are in Christ in whom all promises are yea and Amen made and performed Hee that by the immortall seed of the Word and Spirit is borne againe may claime a title to that he is borne vnto For cleering of this there be three degrees of promises one of saluation to absolute and personall obedience but this by reason of weakenesse of the flesh driueth vs to a despaire in our selues and so to the second promise of life by Christ This requireth nothing but receiuing by Faith which is wrought in those that are giuen to Christ whilst grace is offered the Spirit cloathing the words with a hidden and strong power and making them operatiue when they are commanded to beleeue their hearts are opened to beleeue To persons in this state are made a third kinde of promises of all that is needfull in this world vntill all promises end in performance of both these promises and the last especially this book speaketh of Thirdly it must be pressed vpon those that meane to profit that they resolue to come vnder Christs gouernment and be willing to be ledde by the Spirit into all reuealed truth Wisedome is easie to such as are willing and the victorie is as good as gotten when the will is brought from thraldome to base affections to resolue to bee guided for such a heart lyeth open to Gods gracious working and the Spirit readily closeth with such a spirit as putteth not barres of obstinacy Notwithstanding We must know in the fourth place that when we are at the best we shall yet be in such a conflicting state as that we shall long after that glorious libertie of the sonnes of God after we haue done the worke God hath giuen vs to doe For God will haue a difference betwixt heauen and earth and sharpen our desire of the comming of his kingdome which nothing doth so much especially in times of outward prosperitie as those tedious combates of the inner man and yet let this raise vp our spirits that it is so farre that this remainder should
our spirit by the second our sanctification by the third our iustificatioÌ„ that in the mouth of so many witnesses this truth which of al others is the greatest yet most hardly receiued may stand sure for the consolation of all beleeuers and conviction of all vnbeleeuers c. To which is further added vers 10. Hee that beleeueth in the Sonne of God hath the witnesse in himselfe he that beleeueth not God hath made him a lyar because hee beleeued not the record which God witnesseth of his sonne The selfe same word of life is in sundry other Scriptures published vnto vs because the Lord knoweth we haue neede to heare of it continually wee are so full of doubting in time of temptation therefore our Sauiour himselfe proclaimeth this glad tydings Ioh. 3. 16. For God so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life and verse 17. For God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might bee saued So likewise Ioh. 12 47. I came not to condemne the world but to saue the world Againe Ioh. 2. 2. If any man sinne we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the Iust vers 3. And he is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours only but for the sinnes of the whole world And Ioh. 1. 29. Behold the lambe of God which taketh away the sins of the world So the Apostle saith 2. Cor. 5. 19. For God was in Christ reconciling the world vnto himselfe not imputing their sinnes vnto them and hath committed to vs the word of reconciliation In all which and many other Scriptures this is manifest that God in his word hath made a generall offer of saluation in Christ and inuiteth all to whom hee sendeth his seruants the preachers of his Gospell to come to Christ that they might bee saued as is plaine in the parable of the wedding Mat. 22. 1. which is therefore called the Gospell that is good newes because it bringeth foorth this glad tydings of great ioye that shall be to all people as the Angels of the Lord tolde that the sheepheards of the birth of Christ Luk. 2. 10. And this is the same which our Lord Iesus himselfe after hee had finished his whole work of mans redemption here on earth and was to ascend vp to his father to prepare a place for all his members commanded his Apostles and so consequently gaue in commission to al their successours the preachers of the Gospell to proclaime and publish this Gospell to euery creature that is to euery man and woman that so euery soule to whom the sound of the Gospell should come might haue sufficient ground whereon to build their faith and be saued or be made without excuse for neglecting so great saluation which at the first began to bee preached by the Lord and afterward was confirmed by vs that heard him Heb. 2 3. This then is the only ground whereon sauing faith is builded Namely this generall pardon proclaimed in the Gospell to poore sinners which I haue very plentifully prooued for that it is not well considered by many who faine would beleeue yet being ignorant hereof doe long time pine away with griefe for that they see nothing which might make them being so vile in their owne eyes so bold as to beleeue that there is any such loue in God towards them as to giue Christ vnto them Others more dangerously presume of Gods fauour without any such ground whereon they build their perswasion but onely on the outward change of their life which often is found deceitfull as was before shewed Now followeth how a poore sinner yet voide of sauing grace How to build faith on the word and finding nothing in himselfe which may make him bold to beleeue may builde vpon this ground that so he may attaine to true faith whereunto these three considerations bee necessary Three consideraâ—ions First what is said Secondly to whom Thirdly by whom that so hee may haue good warrant to beleeue that he shal enioy this mercy offered For the former What is said the poore distressed sinner is to weigh with himselfe that in this Gospell and glad tidings of saluation is proclaimed and freely offered forgiuenesse of sins through Christ as is plaine by the Apostle Paul his preaching to them at Antioch Act. 13. 38. Bee it knowne vnto you therefore men and brethren that through this man is preached vnto you forgiuenesse of sinnes where as in all the former Scriptures and in many others Christ and all his benefits for our iustification sanctification and full glorification is the matter offered which beeing that which euery humbled sinner most desireth how can it be but welcome newes to heare that there are such things prepared and offered as hee most desireth which must needes mooue him oft to sigh for the same and say Oh that I might once haue my part in this vnestimable treasure but presently comes into his minde his owne vnworthinesse which driues him as farre backe from all hope that euer any such as hee should haue part therein wherin many a poore soule doth remaine a long season because he cannot see any thing which might make him bold to beleeue that there is any such benefite prepared for him For remedy wherof he is in the second place deeply to weigh this wonderfull mercy of God 2. To whom who so freely offers this great benefit of Christ and all his merits not to the righteous but to sinners yea to all without exception to whom the Gospell commeth as wee haue seene in the former Scriptures where the ground of faith was laide and because such as haue most feeling of their sinnes are most fearefull and hardliest brought to beleeue that this is tendered to them therefore are they more especially called as appeareth Matthew 11. 28. Where Christ himselfe hauing proclaimed that all things are deliuered to him of his Father Mat. 28. 18. meaning as els where Heb. 7. 27. that all power is giuen to him whereby he is perfectly able to saue all them that come vnto God by him inuiteth all that labour and are heauy laden to come vnto him promising that he will ease them wherby euery poore sinner who feeles his woefull estate by reason of his sinne and Gods curse hanging ouer his head for the same may certainely know that hee is the party whom Christ calleth to come to him and to whom this benefite of Christ and saluation in him is freely offered that so he may be somewhat more raised vp to conceiue hope that hee shall in due time enioy the same to which end euery one who faine would beleeue is to consider that as there is no grace in any why hee should hope for such fauour at Gods hand for Gods mercy in preparing and offering his Sonne a redemption for sinners is altogether
That God by his word and Spirit first inlighteneth the vnderstanding truely to conceiue the doctrine of mans miserie and of his full recouerie by Christ 2. Secondly by the same meanes he worketh in his heart both such sound sorrow for his miserie and feruent desire after Christ the remedie that hee can neuer bee at quiet till hee inioy Christ 3. Thirdly God so manifesteth his loue in freelie offering Christ with all his benefites to him a poore sinner that thereby he drawes him so to giue credit to God therein that hee gladly accepts Christ offred vnto him These three workes of God whosoeuer findeth to haue beene wrought in himselfe hee may thereby know certainely hee hath faith But without these what change of life soeuer may be conceiued there can bee no certaintie of faith and therefore I againe aduise that this bee first and especially looked vnto for our comfort wherein that none be deceiued with shewes of these in stead of substance I take these to bee true notes of soundnesse For the first of inlightening there can be no doubt For the second of sorrow seeing the causes still remaine Triall of sorrow nametie corruption and affliction therefore this sorrow must continue to our liues end though in a different manner now mingled with comfort whereas the former before faith could haue none Whereas on the other side the sorrow that quite drieth vp was neuer sound as it is to bee seene in many who being once deepely afflicted and in great heauinesse for their miserable estate afterward comming to some comfort are growen so secure and senselesse that hauing no true griefe or remorse for their daily corruptions content themselues that they were once cast downe Whose liues as they bee â—â—ule and full of blottes so their ends be oft fearefull either senselesse or vncomfortable so dangerous it is to quench the spirit in any part Againe Triall of our desire for the triall of our desires after Christ to proue that they be not sudden flashes this is a certaine marke of soundnesse that the more wee taste of Christ the more we couet him As the Apostle Peter exhorteth all that be new borne â— Pet. 2. 1 2 If so bee they haue tasted how sweete the Lord is Mat. 5 6. this is that holy hunger after righteousnesse to which our Lord Iesus promiseth blessednes which many mistake for such a desire as going before all faith hath no promise of blessednesse And great reason there is hereof why all true beleeuers should more and more thus hunger after Christ for that whiles wee liue here we receiue but the first fruits onely and we haue but an earnest pennie of that fulnesse we shall haue and therefore wee cannot be fully satisfied with that we haue receiued but still desire more Lastly for the triall of the third worke of God Triall of faith whereby he worketh Faith that any may know God hath wrought this in him in deed and in truth and not in conceit and opinion wherein many be deceiued I take this to be most infallible in the weakest of those who may know they beleeue that though in temptations they be driuen from their hold yet afterward they returne vnto their rest and finde Gods holy Spirit drawing them yet to beleeue in God because of his word which though it be weake yet it is true faith and not that wauering which hath no faith in it As may bee laid open by a plaine comparison for the weaker sort In a paire of gold weights when they bee emptie either ballance will hang wauering and not rest on either side but if a graine bee put into one aboue the other it will weigh it downe yet so as the winde or a little iogge may lift it vp but if it bee let alone the graine will weigh it downe and so hold it so is it betweene weake faith and wauering When there is any credit giuen and so any resting on Gods word after temptation there is true faith but where there is nothing but a hanging in suspence and vncertaintie that is wauering Iames 1. 7. which cannot looke to obtaine any thing as the Apostle Iames speaketh Thus by the causes is euery one to trie himselfe whether true faith haue bin wrought in him which indeed are the more certaine proofes though not so easilie seene Now followe the proofes taken from the effects and fruits of faith Proofes from effect which be more manifest but not so certaine vnlesse it bee also as manifest that they come from faith To make this plaine to those for whose sakes I write these that is weake beleeuers The principall effects of Faith be Ioy and Loue Ioy in the benefit and loue to god the author of it These bee such as a man may easily see whether he hath them in him or no. But if any man can say hee hath ioy of his saluation and loues God for it to say nothing yet of the truth of these vnles he can proue that these grow out of the tree of Faith they can no more proue that hee hath faith then fruit growing on one tree can proue another tree to bee good For we shall see that both these and many other supposed fruits of Faith are nothing lesse but are bastard fruits and meere naturall affections I meane such as may bee in a naturall man not regenerated but onlie inlightened and wrought by such a working of the Spirit as may be in a reprobate and therefore neither these nor any other change of life can bee proofes of faith further then it is manifest they come from faith The ignorance of this deceiueth many who build their faith on these whereas true fruites grow from Faith But to come to the triall of our faith by the effects thereof Triall by the Spirit which though they be many yet may be all contained vnder this one of receiuing the Spirit not as a stranger to doe some worke and so to depart 1 Cor. 6. 19. but as an Inhabitant to dwell with vs for euer 1 Ioh. 2. 27 And therefore this is set downe as the vnseparable marke of true receiuing Christ which is onlie by Faith This is manifest in the Epistle of Iohn 1 Ioâ— 4. 1. Hereby we know that wee dwell in him and he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his Spirit and to like effect in the Galathians And because yee are sonnes Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts Gal. 3. 2. crying Abba Father Againe in Galathians 3. 2. which is as manifest by all experience when God vouchsafed effectually to call any to imbrace Christ hee sent immediatly vpon them his holy Spirit which at first was in extraordinarie manner as in the Acts Acts 10. 44 but afterwards in ordinary manner Eph. 1. 13. as in the Ephesians where it is said That they after they beleeued were sâ—aled with that
Christ himselfe in comming into the world not to condemne vs but to saue vs being lost then must we with a true faith accept this mercy The same may bee saide of the name Christ Christ vnto both which all his other names may be referred which signifieth Annointed whereto answereth the word Messiah in Hebrew By both which beeing referred to Christ is meant that the Son of God taking our nature was in the same filled with the Holy Ghost as is oft saide of him and that farre aboue all other holy men as was prophesied of him Psal 45. 7. Thou louest righteousnes hatest wickednes therfore God thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes Of which the Euangelist Iohn more plainely saith Ioh. 3. 34. For God giueth not the spirit by measure vnto him which was manifestly shewed at Christs baptizing where the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a doue vpon him Luk. 3. 22. and a voyce came frō heauen which said Thou art my beloued Son in thee I am well pleased Which was to this end that as vnder the Law the Prophets Priests and Kings were consecrated to their offices by the annointing with the holy oyle so Christ was consecrated to the offices of his mediation 1. to be our Prophet to reueale the whole will of God for our saluation 2. to bee our high Priest both to offer vp himselfe to God his Father a full and sufficient sacrifice for the redemption of vs sinners and to make intercession for vs. 3. to be our King to rule and gouerne his people and to subdue all his enemies All which bee notably set out in that worthy epistle to the Hebrewes which beeing too long to recite I desire the Christian reader to reade with obseruation that epistle to this end From whence another effectuall motiue to beleeue Vse may bee thus taken Seeing God the Father hath thus annointed his Son in our nature and therefore called him Christ and filled him with the Holy Ghost without measure that he might performe all things needfull for our saluation all which he hath fully accomplished wee may therefore boldly come to him and so stedfastly rest vpon him for our saluation And on the other side they who hearing these bee not drawne heereby to beleeue in Christ for their saluation doe either deny the truth of these which is to make God a lyar or despise their owne saluation so prepared and offered to them which shall bring vpon them most iust condemnation And these briefly for those two names Iesus Christ properly belonging to our Sauiour which doe summarily containe all and so to a wise regarder hereof might suffise to perswade him to rest vpon Christ for saluation But seeing the Lord who knowes how hardly wee bee brought to this assurance by faith of our saluation by Christ hath in that small volume of the new Testament spoken so much of Christ and the benefites which hee hath brought vnto vs to this end that wee might bee more stirred vp to seeke to him and to embrace him for our Sauiour I hope it shall bee worth our labour further to consider what the Lord saith And before I come to particulars let vs heare and wonder at these heapes of heauenly treasures Generall benefits by Christ which bee brought to sinners in Christ Wherein this is the first Saueth vs. that Christ is sent to saue sinners Luk. 2. 32. wherof enough was spoken before in the name Iesus therefore now no more thereof The next is that Christ is said to bee a light to the Gentiles Light to Gent. which was long before prophecyed often times by the Prophet Esay Esa 9. 2. 42. 6. 49. 6. 60. 3. saying The people that walke in darknesse Mat. 4. 16. haue seene a great light they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death vpon them is the light shined which the Euangelist Matthew applyeth to Christ bringing the light of the Gospell to a blind and ignorant people And the Apostle Paul alleadgeth for his warrant in preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles To like effect Christ is often said to be the light of the world Act. 13. 48. as he professeth of himselfe Ioh. 8. 12. 9. 5. I am the light of the world And of this I vnderstand that which is spoken by the Euangelist Iohn 1. 9. That Christ was that true light which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world that is who casteth out the light of the Gospell to all nations as the sunne in the firmament shines to al the world though many blind neuer see the light thereof Vnder this comparison of light all the benefites which Christ brings vs be contained light of knowledge light of grace and holy life and light of eternall life and glory All which be contained either generally or specially in the former alleadged scriptures and in sundry others To this head also belongs such scriptures as shew Christ to bee our life Ioh. 6. 33. 51. 10. 10. 14. 6. 2. Tim. 1. 10. Of all which this is the vse we Vse are to make that seeing God hath set vp his Sonne Iesus Christ in the ministery of the Gospell to all nations where euer it comes to lighten and to giue life to euery man who heareth it if he refuse it not and shut not his eyes against it as the Pharises did Therefore euery one who heareth this Ioh. 9. 41. not only may but is bound to embrace this light Ioh. 12. 36. by a true faith that so they may be the children of the light and that vpon paine of condemnation euen as our Sauiour himselfe denounceth against all vnbeleeuers saying This is the condemnation that light is come into the world Ioh. 3. 19. and men loue darkenesse rather then light Another worthy ground for our faith is this that God the Father when at the baptizing of Christ hee sent downe his Holy Spirit in the likenesse of a doue 3. God is well pleased in Christ lighting vpon him sent a voyce from heauen saying This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased Wherein is meant not onely that God did loue and like well his Sonne with whom for himselfe hee could neuer bee displeased there beeing no cause why but this rather that wheras God was extreamely offended with all mankinde now hee was fully appeased by Christ and for his sake ready to receiue into fauour all that by Faith should receiue him and so to accept him for vs and vs in him which is the same with that where it is saide God hath made vs accepted in his beloued Eph. 1. 6. 5. 2. And againe That Christ hath giuen himselfe for vs an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweete smelling sauour meaning that whereas whole mankinde since the fall is become odious to God for sin so that neither their persons nor their workes could
any storme wee shall bee sure to escape shipwracke and so in the end arriue at our desired port of euerlasting saluation Thus haue I now shewed as briefly and plainely as I could how euery one who is troubled with vnbeleefe about the cercainety of his saluation namely whether such as he so void of all grace and so full of all sinne may be bold to beleeue and thereby be assured to be saued by Christ and to this end that his sinne is quite forgiuen and hee accepted as righteous in Gods sight so reconciled to God and adopted to be Gods child that hee may reioyce in hope of the glory of God how such an one I say may get and dayly increase this assurance of faith that there is no condemnation to him belonging but that he hath euerlasting life and is passed from death to life then which what can be more welcome and comfortable to a troubled conscience I well see not And therefore as oft before I exhort all that feele this weaknes of faith concerning their saluation aboue all to obserue these and such other Scriptures whereof there bee many wherein Christ and saluation be offered to poore sinners Obserue Scriptures concerning Christ that they who haue as good right to them as any may not for any thing they see in themselues put these promises from them as not made to them But rather in admiration of Gods wonderfull goodnesse mercy and compassion vpon such vnworthy wretches to giue glory to God in beleeuing and accepting this mercy so freely offered which they must doe before they shall see such a true change of heart life in them as they earnestly desire for want wherof they thinke they ought not to beleeue which is to such if not the onely yet the chiefest lette and hinderance from faith whereas on the other side when it shal please Gods spirit by these his free promises to drawe them to beleeue and though weakely yet truely to stay themselues vpon Gods great mercy so reuealed to them then assuredly shall they see and feele this change in their hearts that they know not what to say or thinke of Gods mercy in pardoning such as they feele themselues to be This cannot but breede an vnfained loue in them to God with an earnest desire and true purpose to glorifie him which be the chiefe parts of a holy life and surest proofes of sauing faith which can no more want these then a true fire can be without heate though too many carnal Gospellers think otherwise and so miserably perish Hauing thus seene how wee are by Gods promises to get and increase our assurance by faith that we be Gods children Now it followes that wee consider what be the markes of God children Assurance by the fruits of faith whereby we may be further assured thereof Among which markes seeing faith it selfe is the first and surest proofe that we be Gods children and to this end many pretious promises bee made to such as doe already beleeue as the former promises were made to beget and increase faith It is meete that wee take some view of these not for the strengthening of our faith but that by our faith bee it small or great we may haue a sensible assurance of our saluation To which purpose may this serue that we who beleeue in Christ are so oft said to bee blessed as our Sauiour said to Thomas Blessed are they who haue not seene Ioh. 20. 29. and yet haue beleeued Mat. 13. 16. 16 17. and againe to his Disciples Blessed are your eyes for they see c and likewise to Peter Blessed art thou Simon Bar Iona for flesh and blood hath not reuealed it vnto thee but my father which is in heauen and the like many to the same end also it is said That he who beleeueth shall be saued Mr. k. 16. 16 That the Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth Rom. 1. 16. 10. 9. Againe If thou confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt beleeue in thy heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt besaued and againe Whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ Ioh. 3. 15. 16 shall not perish but haue euerlasting life yea hath euerlasting life 5. 24. Ioh. ◠47. and is passed from death to life Againe 12. 46. 11. 26. I am come a light into the world that whosoeuer beleeueth in me shall not abide in darkenes and though he were dead yet shall hee liue and shall neuer dye The same also is intended in these Scriptures in which forgiuenesse of sinnes righteousnesse and iustification are promised to beleeuers Act. 10. 45. Rom. 10. 4. Act. 13. 30. Rom. 4. 5. 5. 1. Gal. 3. 26. So likewise it is saide Ioh. 1. 12. Wee are made the children of God by faith and as many as receiued him to them hee gaue power to be the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue in his name Lastly to heape vp no more of this kinde to this end is that Christ shall come to bee glorified in his Saints 1. Thes 〈◊〉 10. and be made maruellous in all them that beleeue c. In all these and many the like promiises made to such as doe truely beleeue in Christ may euidently appeare that if any doe know and can prooue themselues to bee in the faith 2 Cor. 13. 5. as the Apostle speaketh by this he may be infallibly assured of his saluation Wherein seeing the greatest part of professours of Christian Religion bee deceiued saying they haue faith when in truth they haue none it highly behooues such as looke for better comfort aboue all to beware their hearts doe not beguile them herein 2. Pet. 1. 10. and to bestowe all study to make their calling and election sure that they may know that Christ dwels in them otherwise they cannot bee approued neither by themselues nor any others to bee in the state of grace Thus much for faith it selfe whereby we may certenly know that we be Gods children heires of saluation and cannot perish We are now further to see some speciall fruits of our faith which be the effects of Gods Spirit in al true beleeuers be so many marks whereby they doe know themselues and be knowne to others that they be Gods sheep so be further euidences and assurances that they be Gods children and shall be saued In which respect Assurance by the fruites of faith this gift of Gods Spirit to beleeuers is called a seale Ephesians 1. 13. Where the Apostle setting out the conuersation of the Ephesians 1. by the gift of the spirit layes downe both these euidences first of their faith secondly of this gift of the spirit saying In whō ye also haue obtained inheritance after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospell of your saluation wherein also after yee beleeued yee were sealed with the Spirit of promise which is the earnest
of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the praise of his glory In which wee see the Lord deales with vs according vnto the manner of men who in their conueyances of land doe not onely giue writings to make known their grants but to make them sure doe set seales to their writings and besides do giue a turfe of the land to assure the possession so the Lord hauing giuen vs his word and writing for saluation in Christ thereby to make vs beleeue doth also giue his Spirit so manifestly to worke in them that they bee thereby more assured that Christ is theirs and that by him they shall inherite eternall glory For which cause it is said they were sealed with the Spirit of promise that is which was promised to all beleeuers And this gift of the Spirit is said to be as an earnest penny to assure vs we shall enioy the full bargaine or rather the whole gift of perfect happines in Gods Kingdome Of this I vnderstand that of the Apostle where hee saith that though some who had made a faire profession were now fallen away from the faith 2 Tim. 2. 19. Neuerthelesse the foundation of God standeth sure hauing this seale the Lord knoweth them that are his and let euery one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Where hee makes the foundation of our saluation to bee Gods election and a seale or stampe whereby we be knowne to be Gods children to bee an holy life a part whereof is departing from iniquity Thus then wee may see in generall that the gift of the sanctifying Spirit which is the first and chiefest fruit of faith and roote of other graces necessary to saluation is a most sure euidence that we bee the children of God and heires of saluation by Christ which might suffise to assure any man of his state to bee very good if he be not deceiued but be sure he hath receiued this sanctifying Spirit for so the Apostle 1. Ioh. 4. 13. reasoneth Hereby we know that wee dwell in him and he in vs because hee hath giuen vs of his spirit as was further spoken in the former part of this Treatise and is now for our better assurance that we bee in Gods fauour more largely to be laid open if not in all yet in the most principall effects of this Spirit dwelling it vs. Among which Assurance of saluation by keeping Gods commandements good order requireth to begin with that which is most generall and containes the rest namely the keeping of Gods commandements which in sundry places is made a sure mark of sauing grace This is manifest in that diuine Epistle of Iohn which was written principally to this end to set downe sundry marks wherby it may be known who be the true children of God and who not Among which this is one the keeping of Gods commandemencs as 1. epist chap. 2. vers 3. And hereby we know that we know him if wee keepe his commandements the meaning whereof is that the conscionable endeauour to frame our liues according to Gods will reuealed in his word is a most certen mark that we be true beleeuers and so the true children of God heires of glory To this end is that ch 3. 22. where he makes this keeping of Gods commaundements an euident note that wee are in Gods fauour so that Whatsoeuer wee aske we receiue of him And again vers 24 He that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him and he in him It would be too long and I thinke needelesse to heape vp more of this argument for the Scriptures are full of these promises made to the righteous to obedience to such as walke in Gods way hearken to his voyce beare much fruites bee new creatures and many of like sort All meaning the same thing to leade a godly life which whosoeuer doth in truth though with much weakenesse hee may certainely thereby assure himselfe of his saluation Which if many a poore soule who haue a good care to please God and that of very loue vnto him for his mercy would consider it might comfort them against all their feares and doubtings rising from the sense of their infirmities which for iust causes God doth leaue in his deare children And therefore these being the persons for whose sake specially I write these I earnestly beseech them to deale righteously with God and their owne soules and not to robbe God of his honour and themselues of their comfort in doubting of his fauour but rather acknowledge the gracious worke of God in so renewing them by his Spirit that whereas by nature they had no care to please God nor conscience of obedience Now God and their owne consciences doe witnesse and Gods people doe see it is their chiefest endeauour to please God in all things and their greatest griefe to offend him whereupon they may certainely conclude That they are in the state of grace notwithstanding the burthen of their infirmities vnder which they grone and oft desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ Me thinkes this might abundantly suffise to confirme anie truely conuerted soules that their case is good and their end shall be safe notwithstanding the many sore battailes and blowes they meete with all by their corruptions yet dwelling nor reigning in them But seeing the Lord who of old saw how hard it would bee for vs Particular duties to hold fast this assurance of our safety especially when our enemies seeme to haue the vpper hand hath made so many promises of saluation not onely to generall obedience but almost to all particulars that though we many times cānot fetch comfort from some duties fruits of our faith yet we may from others neuer want some true euidences of our faith and happines It shall be expedient to set downe some chiefe referring the diligent reader of the Scriptures to take a patterne by these to obserue and make vse of the rest as he can Among all 1. Loue a marke of happinesse the first and chiefe fruite of Faith is loue to God and all them which belong to him to Christ and to all his members all which be vnseparably ioyned and doe all proceed from the loue of God to vs as 1 Ioh. 4. 19. Wee loue him because he loued vs first From whence we may soundly gather that as Gods loue is the cause of our loue of him so our loue of God is a certaine proofe that wee are loued of God and shall be euerlastingly blessed and saued by him which the Apostle Iames expresseth Iam. 1. 12. 25. That God hath promised the crowne of Life and in another place The kingdome to them that loue him The same also is intended in that heauenly saying of the Apostle Rom. 8. 28. And wee know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God to them that are the called according to his purpose And the same may be gathered out
of the old man and weapons of vnrighteousnesse but rather yeelding themselues vnto God as those that are aliue from the dead and their members as instruments of righteousnesse vnto God And wheras this might iustly bee obiected Alasse how shall wee who by nature are so vnable to resist so mighty a Tyrant as sin is who hath ouercome all mankinde Christ onely excepted euer be able so to withstand sin For answer whereto the Apostle brings a most comfortable promise vnto all that be not vnder the Law Verse 14. but vnder grace that is who be not still vnder the condemnation and tyranny of the Lawe whereby it reignes ouer all vnregenerat but by true receiuing of Christ by faith are now deliuered from that bondage so brought into the liberty of Gods children which he saith is to be vnder grace whereof the Apostle speaks more fully Rom. 6. 1. Of these he saith That sinne shall not haue dominion ouer them meaning that although these doe still carry sinne that is corruption of nature which continually fights against the grace of God in thē yet the corruption and sinnefull nature shall neuer any more reigne as in times past it did and so haue the full victory ouer them But they by the grace of Gods Spirit reigning in them shall daily more and more ouercome this their sinnefull nature and in the end get a glorious conquest ouer it and all other their spirituall enemies This one Scripture if there were no more is sufficient if it be truelie weighed and beleeued to comfort euery childe of God ouer all his sinnes that though they bee neuer so many or neuer so great and of long continuance yet being here assured the roote of sinne shall be killed ver 18. 22. hee may then quietly rest his soule in peace that all the fruits and branches shall in time quite wither for certainety whereof this is twise repeated But the Lord knowing how hardly we be brought to be perswaded hereof especially when we be vnder captiuity of any sin as of vnbeliefe pride anger worldlinesse and the like hath much laboured in his word to comfort vs herein that though the battell be sore and our strength small yet his grace shall bee sufficient for vs and his power shall bee made perfect in weakenesse 2. Cor. 12. 7 8 9. as was said to Paul in his wrestling against some priuie corruption which he felt a pricke in his flesh to be sent as a messenger of Sathan to buffet him least he should be exalted aboue measure by the aboundance of reuelations which though spoken to him yet indeede belongs to all in his case and therefore euery poore soule who feeles his sinne too hard for him that when he would doe well euill is present with him hee is to lay holde on this promise that Gods grace shall bee sufficient for him and Gods strength shall bee made perfect in his weakenesse That so complaining with the Apostle O wretched man that I am Rom. 7. 24. who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death hee may comfortably cheere vp his heart with him saying verse 25. I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lord that through the power of the Spirit of Christ he shall subdue that body of sin which otherwise would carry him headlong to death and destruction both of body and soule for euer This the Prophet Micah notably expresseth Mich. 7. 18 hauing highly magnified the mercy of God in pardoning iniquity and passing by the transgression of his people hee addeth this He wil turne again he will haue compassion vpon vs he wil subdue our iniquities c. The Apostle also layeth out this matter at large how the Christian souldiour being armed with the whole armour of God Eph. 6. may bee able to stand in the euill day and hauing done all to stand that is being furnished with those excellent graces of the Spirit which he afterwards names he may manfully fight the Lords battell against sinne and Sathan and so hold out to the end of the battell that he shall stand vp as conquerour when sinne and Sathan shall fall as vanquished Beholde what encouragements the Lord giues against all our fearefulnesse in our spiritual battell which if wee could remember would put more spirit into vs to fight against our sinnes like men and not to faint or flye like cowards And yet these bee not the tenth of these gracious promises which the Lord hath made to this end that wee faint not when we see the force of the enemy Of this sort be all those Scriptures which setting out the rich benefites wee receiue in Christ among the rest mention our sanctification by him whereby is meant that Christ hauing taken our humane nature and sanctified it by his holy Spirit we being made one with him doe receiue the selfe same spirit though in measure to sanctifie vs Ioh. 17. 29. that is to make vs holy Whereunto these two be necessary first the killing of all sinne in vs and secondly the quickning of vs to newnesse of life 1. Cor. 1. 30 Of the latter more in the next point of the former heere concerning which this is oft repeated that Christ shall saue his people from their sin Mat. 1. 21. which as it is true in the matter of our iustification for the forgiuenesse of our sinne so it is also true in this point of our sanctification for deliuering vs from the power of sinne And so are all those generall speeches to be vnderstood that Christ is the lambe of God Ioh. 1. 29. 39. which taketh away the sinne of the world That hee hath loued vs Reu. 1. 5. and washed vs from our sinnes in his owne blood 1 Ioh. 1. 7. That the blood of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all our sinne Act. 3. 26. That God hath sent his Sonne Iesus to blesse vs in turning euery one of vs from our iniquities And the like many in all which this must needes bee contained that one great benefite wee enioy by Christ is that we who bee members of him are cleansed as from the guiltinesse of sinne that it shall not bee imputed so from the filthinesse of sinne that it shall not preuaile ouer vs. For more manifest proofe whereof this grace of mortification is expresly promised in sundry places Gal. 5. 16. as Walke in the Spirit and yee shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh Likewise the Apostle Iohn ioyning together both our iustification and sanctification 1 Ioh. 1. 9 sayeth If wee confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse so doth the Apostle Paul to Titus Tit. 2. 11. hauing shewed that the grace of God which bringeth saluation doth also teach men to deny vngodlines and worldly lusts he addeth this that Christ gaue himselfe for vs 14. that hee might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purifie
to himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes This is the same whereof the Prophets foretold in their time that God would purge cleanse his Church Esa 1. 25. Esai oft that God will purely purge their drosse and take away all their tinne that is their sinnes as in another place more plainely hee saith And it shall come to passe Esa 4 3. that hee that is left in Sion and hee that remaineth in Ierusalem shall be called holy euery one that is written among the liuing in Ierusalem ver 4. when the Lord shall haue washed away the filth of the daughters of Sion and shall haue purged the blood of Ierusalem from the middest thereof by the Spirit of iudgement and by the Spirit of burning 27. 9 Againe By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sinne Notable is that place of Ezekel Then will I sprinckle cleane water vpon you Eze. 36. 25 and you shall bee cleane from all your filthinesse and from all your idols will cleanse you Of this sort I might gather many moe out of these and the other Prophets who spake of this grace which should be giuen by Christ to all the members of his Church the cleansing of them from all their filthinesse which Dauid expresseth Ps 103. 3. By healing all our diseases The matter beeing so cleare and the testimonies so many I iudge it will bee too tedious to heape vp more It shall bee more to our profite well to weigh these and the like promises when wee reade them that when wee feele our hearts discouraged by the little strength wee finde to maister our speciall corruptions then we may apply to our selues any one of these promises wherein the Lord himselfe doth vndertake this worke which is too hard for vs That hee will subdue our iniquities he will cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse his grace shall be sufficient for vs and his power shall bee mad perfect in our weaknesse which if we doe beleeue how can we feare or bee faint-hearted to enter into this spirituall battle against our sinnes Yea this will make vs bold to resist and able to ouercome our strongest sinnes which formerly haue most preuailed ouer vs. For our further encouragement herein wee haue the examples of all the faithfull who before were seruants yea bondslaues to their vilde lusts Examples as Zacheus to oppression Mary Magdalen to whooredome Paul to persecution and generally the famous Churches to whom the Apostles writ who before their calling were idolaters and liued in all abhominable sinnes as other Gentiles beeing conuerted they turned from their idols and so from all their former vaine and vilde conuersation to serue the liuing God as is to be seene in all the holy Epistles written to them and in the history of the Acts which was long before prophesied by the Prophets Esa 11. 6. that the wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe c. meaning by all these cruell and deuouring beasts all kinde of beastly and wicked men who by the Gospell should be so changed that al their cruell and beastly qualities should be so abated that they should become like to Gods children and so haue a holy Communion with them Let not any therfore who feeleth any measure of mortification in himselfe Vse though hee cannot yet ouercome all his sinnes and keepe vnder his vnruely affections say in his heart I shall neuer ouercome such and such sinnes but shall one day perish by these for this were not onely to mistrust his owne strength which well he may but to call Gods power goodnes and truth into question which were a great iniury to God and to his owne soule but rather let vs all doe as Jehosaphat when hee sawe a great army gathered together against him 2. Chro. 20 12. so as hee sawe no power in himselfe to withstand them hee did wholly cast himselfe vpon the Lord saying O our God wilt thou not iudge them for wee haue no might against this great company that commeth against vs neither know wee what to doe but our eyes are vpon thee So let vs be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and so taking to vs and vsing the holy armour of his spirit fighting valiantly we may be sure of the victory These thus being that Gods children may be so certaine that no sinne shall haue dominion ouer them but that they shall in the end ouercome them all and so haue that glorious conquest ouer them and ouer all their spirituall enemies who can no way hurt them but by sinne how can it sufficiently be bewailed that so few do enioy this benefit and the sweet comfort thereof This may well bee seeee in the many and foule spots in the faces of sundry professours I meane their open pride their impatiency their worldlinesse and deadnesse of spirit in all spirituall duties all which though they might in some of loÌ„ger standing in Christ haue been long before well mortified yet they still remaine liue and grow in them to their reproch before others and small peace and comfort to their owne hearts A principall cause hereof must needs be this that these pleasing themselues in their estate for that they be forward in publike exercises of Religion though many bee slacke enough in priuate especially secret by themselues alone and for that they bee free from the grosse sinnes of the wicked doe either not see or not bewaile these their sinnes and therefore doe not so much as seeke after much lesse enioy these pretious promises and the fruit of them An other sort who are more to be pitied for their want of this comfort which God hath prepared for them and so plentifully promised to them in especiall bee they who groane vnder the burden of their infirmities and take much pains to be eased yet in long time finding small amendment be much discouraged with feare that they shall neuer be able to ouercome these corruptions which doe most annoy them I cannot thinke of any thing to bee a greater cause of this discouragement in these then either the ignorance forgetfulnesse or not beleeuing these promises Phil. 1. 6. that Hee who hath begun the good worke in them will perfect it vntill the day of Christ and as God promised oft to his people going to conquer the land of Canaan Deut. 7. 2â— 11. 25 that no enemie should bee able to stand against them Iosuâ— 1. 5. 10. 8. so hath hee as certainely promised to these that no sinne shall haue dominion ouer them It remaineth therefore that these and all other who desire to conquer their corrupt nature and vnruely lusts thereof thâ—â— they do oft set before themselues these promises and so considering that he is faithfull who hath promised confidently looke for the victory and so constantly fight till they obtaine the same This I hope may suffise in this
and experience prooue then no meruaile that so few attaine to this excellent grace of reioycing when faith it selfe is so weake if not wanting I do wish therefore all such to thinke with themselues what the Lord should intend in making so many promises of this one thing but to make vs see these two things first that there can be no holding out in a Christian course without this ioy secondly that by reason of the many euills that befall vs in this life it is very hard and so very rare to get much more to keepe this ioy that by both these they may be stirred vp to labour to enioy this ioy of the Holy Ghost wherby they may finde what is the excellencie of this estate aboue all the estates in the whole world besides and be so far from enuying the wicked in their greatest prosperity as rather to pitty them for that like fooles and children they forgoe such treasure for very toyes and bables Now the way to attaine this ioye is besides earnest praier vnto God for it to bee much in meditation as vpon the manie and most iust causes God hath giuen to all beleeuers to reioice so also vpon these excellent promises wherein God hath bound himselfe to worke this grace in them by his holie Spirit for if we well weigh them all we shall see that the Lords meaning is not onelie to giue them matter of reioicing but whereas it too oft falles out that they who should reioice and haue good good cause so to doe bee so held downe with the burthen of corruption or affliction that they cannot lift vp their hands with ioy but waste their daies in sorrow This is also Gods worke to open their eies to see and to mooue their hearts and drawe them by his Spirit to be affected with his fauours that they with the Prophet Dauid may finde more ioy in the light of Gods countenance then the wicked haue in all their prosperity And thus much for this point how a true beleeuer may attaine this blessed estate of liuing ioyfullie what euer doth befall him which how much it is to be desired all may see though they bee fewe who take the right way to get it The next grace of the heart which God requireth of all those Of the loue of God whom he hath adopted in Christ to bee his children Deut. 6. 5. is that they should loue him with all their heart with all their soule with all their might which that wee ought to doe is not denyed of any except Atheists people without God but of those that yeeld it ought to be there bee in generall two sorts one that deceiue themselues in thinking they doe well loue God when as indeede they doe not truely and heartily loue him but onely say they loue him or if they doe it is but very slightlie and carnallie because all goes well with them Some say they loue God and doe not who are to bee conuinced by their loose liues and little conscience to keepe Gods commaundements that they doe not as they say truely loue God And these especiallie are to bee vrged by the many commandements of God to loue him sincerely and feruently and to bee mooued hereto by these weighty arguments which are so plentifully vsed in the holy scripture to perswade vs vnfeinedlie to loue God There is another sort who looking into their liues and there finding so many infirmities and failings in all duties to God and man Others feare they doe not loue yet doe doe thence conclude they haue not the loue of God in them and thereby be much kept downe both from that comfort and confidence they might haue in their holy profession These be the persons with whom I chieflie deale who haue neede to be hartened first by this that the sight of their want of loue to God Comforts to such as grieue for want of loue breeding in them heartie griefe for the same is an euident token there is some true loue in them else would they not be so disquieted for want of this loue of God And secondly this must comfort them that hee who hath giuen them to will and desire this grace Phil. 2. 13. 1. 6. will also giue them ability to doe and hee that hath begun the good worke will also perfect it for so is his promise yea he hath said at least to all and euery such And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart Deut. 306. and the heart of thy seed to loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule that thou maiest liue which one promise if there be no more is al-sufficient to perswade those that will beleeue God on his word that God who knowes how polluted our hearts be and vnable to loue him so throughly as we ought will cleanse our hearts and so sanctifie them that wee shall bee able by his grace so to loue him as hee will approoue It is onely vnbeliefe which keepes from that holy boldnesse which made Paul to say I can doe al things through Christ who strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. Although I doe not reade any other so expresse promise that God will make vs to loue him yet seeing the manifestation of Gods loue to vs doth as certainlie breed loue in vs to him again as the kindling of a fire wil bring foorth heate therefore all the many testimonies which God giues of his loue to vs must be so many perswasions that wee shall loue him Therefore it is said We loue him Vse because he first loued vs. Let vs therefore get as many arguments of Gods loue to vs and doubt we not but it will kindle in vs some like loue to him againe Likewise all the rich rewards which throughout the Scripture bee promised to those that loue God are so manie incouragements to this duty and so much for this The next is the feare of God God promiseth to make vs feare him whereby speciallie I vnderstand that holy affection whereby wee bee made so to stand in awe of God as to bee very vnwilling to displease him and on the other side to be as ready to please him both in eschewing euill and doing good How excellent a grace this is of what singular vse in our whole life how oft and earnestly it is commanded how practised by Gods worthy seruants and how wanting in many professours and weake in others it is all these though worthy good consideration yet seeing they would carry me too farre from my purpose I passe them by and will bend my speech to such as knowing all these â—eele and complaine of the want of this grace and desire it and labour for it by often prayer and other holy meanes yet through weaknesse of faith cannot attaine to such a measure of this feare as might keepe them in such awe that they durst not either doe that which God forbids or leaue vndone that which he commands
These I doe beseech to attend to such promises as God hath made to his people in particular concerning this grace that wheras he sees that naturally there is no feare of God before mens eyes he faith he will put his feare into their hearts as Ieremy 32. 39. 40. And I will giue them one heart and one way that they may feare me for euer for the good of them and of their children after them And I will make an euerlasting couenant with them that I will not turne away from them to doe them good but I will put my feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Which if we could beleeue would sufficiently assure vs wee should not want this sauing grace but that God will certainely bestowe it vpon vs in that time and measure hee sees meete But for our confirmation the Lord doth oft repeate this promise as Deu. 4. 10. where one speciall meanes wherby this feare is wrought is set downe Gather me the people together and I will make them heare my words that they may learne to feare mee all the daies that they shall liue vpon the earth and that they may teach their children So Prou. ◠5. They who seeke for wisedome shall vnderstand the feare of God To like effect Deu. 6 1. 2. and 17 19 it is specially spoken of the king and more generally of all chap. 32. 12. And to this purpose speciall is that of the Prophet Dauid Psal 40. 3. where hee shewes another meanes whereby God doth stirre vp this grace in his people namely the beholding of Gods mercy on others saying And hee hath put a new song in my mouth euen praise vnto our God many shall see it and feare and shall trust in the Lord so likewise Dauid being taught of God inuiteth others saying Come yee children hearken to mē I will teach you the feare of the Lord. Psal 72. 5. They shall feare thee as long as the sun and moone endureth through all generations The like Psal 102. 16. so Esa 29. 23. They shall sanctifie my name c. and shall feare the God of Israel Jeremie also speaking of Gods singular mercies which hee promiseth to his people chap. 33. 9. And it shall bee to me a name of ioy a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth which shall heare all the good I doe vnto them and they shall feare and tremble for all the goodnes and for all the prosperitie that I procure vnto it so Hosea 3. 5. Afterward shall the people of Israel returne and seeke the Lord their God and Dauid their king and shall feare the Lord and his goodnes in the latter daies These shall suffise it would be long to cite all The right vse we are to make of these and the like Vse is so oft as we finde our hearts condemning vs for want of this feare doubting how euer we shall attaine to it in any good measure so oft that wee must call to mind some of these promises which though deliuered in particular to some of Gods children yet in truth belonging to all of them Therefore euery child of God may and ought to apply them to himselfe and stedfastly beleeue that God will performe his word to him and so waiting with patience the Lords appointed season hee shall not bee disappointed of his hope but shall certainly enioy the fruit of his desire And thus much for this I see this third point how wee may bee sure of grace to leade a godly life so as shall be accepted growes large and no meruaile for it reacheth to all the duties required in both tables I may not therefore runne into all particulars but will make choice of some and namely such as I conceiue Christians most faile in and haue least comfort in performing them Of this sort be speciall Concerning holy exercises prayer c. all our spirituall seruices of God as our praiers and exercises in his word and sacraments In all which I haue heard many of good hope complaining that they found small comfort in these because they performed them in so weak and sinnefull manner A principall cause whereof I haue obserued in many to be this that they placed all their comfort in the good discharge of their duty wherein when they failed which they found oft then they were discomfited Which euidently shewes that they had little vse of faith in those duties for faith doth comfort in our greatest failings as well as in the least To make this more plaine which I feare is little seene of manie a poore soule who takes great paines to serue God and yet seldome findes comfort that his seruice being so full of infirmitie is pleasing to God It must be confessed that while wee liue here there is flesh and spirit mingled in all the actions of Gods children so that as their best prayers bee stained with some corruption of the flesh so I conceiue that there is some operation of the Spirit in their weakest which being offered vp in faith is assuredly acceptable to God therein may Gods childe finde sound comfort not in himselfe nor in his worke but in Gods pardoning of all his defects and accepting his obedience in the perfect satisfaction made by Christ whereas otherwise if any hauing prayed with great feruency of Spirit shall bee conceited therewith and not humbled for his failings in that his best praier and rather expecting for fauour for the goodnesse of his prayer then looking for mercy onely for the merite of Christ which though it bee too little seene yet too oft it falleth out I durst boldly say that the sleepy prayer offered vp in faith is accepted when the weeping prayer without faith is reiected In so saying Want of faith in Gods worship be it far from my thought to approoue of drowsinesse or any other grosse corruption in prayer or to disgrace any zeale or gift of Gods Spirit in prayer but that I aime at is to discouer a common and yet close and dangerous corruption in our prayers and other holy exercises that when we performe these in any sort to our liking then wee bee glad and rest quiet that God will accept them I deny not but such may then reioice in the assistance of Gods Spirit but the fault I finde is that these haue in such times little vse of their faith for not beholding the blemishes of these their best seruices of God they are not humbled for them and so not driuen out of themselues to seeke for fauour in Christ in whom alone God is well pleased and thus they staine their best duties for want of faith This will more cleerely bee seene in the contrary when these doe pray or heare reade or meditate or receiue the Sacraments with much accusation to their conscience they haue no comfort that such duties shall be accepted which must needs arise from want of faith for did they in their poorest praiers for which
weeping and with supplications wil I lead them 31. 9. I will cause them to walke by the riuers of waters in a straite way wherein they shall not stumble for I am a Father to Israel and Ephraim is my first borne 50. 4. And againe In those dayes and in that time saith the Lord the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Iudah together going and weeping they shall goe and seeke the Lord their God Hosea 3. 5. c. So Zacharie in his time prophesied that God would powre out vpon the house of Dauid Zach. 12. 10. and vpon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplications They shall call vpon my name 13. 9. and I will heare them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God Our Lord Iesus Christ in his time comforted his Disciples that they should not so hang vpon him as to haue no confidence in God the Father Ioh. 16. 23. but they shall boldly pray to the Father in his name 24. and shall receiue whatsoeuer they aske 26. No doubt but more places to this purpose might be cited The maine intent of them all Vse is not so much to shew it is our duty thus to seeke the Lord and to call vpon him or to perswade thereunto which is in many Scriptures required but rather whereas many are very willing to call vpon God according to his will and so as might please him but finding so small abilitie to pray as they would they be discouraged all this is to draw them to beleeue that God by his Spirit will teach them to pray so as he will heare them the certainty whereof depends not vpon any worthinesse of our persons or prayers but only vpon the mercy of God in promising and vpon his truth in performing his promise both which we deny and so robbe God of his chiefest honour if wee beleeue not that God will make vs able by his Spirit so to call vpon him as he will accept in his Son And therefore in all our doubts and feares about this matter our onely refuge must bee to these promises and so to giue credite vnto them that we comfortably seeke and looke for helpe from God when we can finde none in our selues And thus much for our comfort that God will assist vs by his Spirit in our prayers which also might suffise to assure vs that he will also accept vs for so much is expressed in the most of them and necessarily imployed in them all But seeing the Lord who better sees what we most need That God will accept our prayers then we doe our selues hath made so many promises that he will accept our poore seruices though neuer so weake if they be in truth which will be welcome newes to many an humble heart I may not defraud them of these comforts but will lay them open for their vse and beseech the Lord to make them profitable to all that vnfainedly desire it When Moses from God had sharply denounced feareful iudgments against Israel for their sin and namely a scattering among the heathen he addes this comfort But if from thence thou shalt seeke the Lord thy God thou shalt finde him Deut. 30. if thou seeke him with all thy heart and with all thy soule and to like effect hee addes much more This promise may be specially comfortable Vse to any poore soule cast downe in sense of some grieuous fall whereby he may see Gods readinesse to receiue any poore sinner comming vnto him The like promise did the Lord make to Salomon after his prayer saying Mine eyes shall be open 2. Chron. 7. 15. and mine eares attend to the prayer in this place And full oft we reade that the Lord promised to his people that if they should seeke him he would bee found of them as 2. Chron. 15. 2 the Prophet told Asa the King Ierem. 29. 13. And 1. Chron. 28. 9. Dauid said the same to Salomon his sonne Psal 34. 10. They that seeke the Lord shall not want any good thing The selfe same thing is truly to be gathered out of all these places where the faithfull professe either that God hath heard their prayers or their faith and confidence in God that hee will heare their prayers both which be grounded on Gods promises that hee will heare them Of this sort there be many as in the Psalmes so in sundry other Scriptures The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping Psal 6. 8 9. the Lord hath heard my supplication the Lord will receiue my prayer And Psal 9. 10. Thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seeke thee Psal 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine eare to heare Psal 18. 3. I will call vpon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I bee saued from mine enemies Psal 20. 6 Now I know the Lord saueth his annointed hee will heare him from his holy heauen with the sauing strength of his right hand These are sufficient to manifest this truth But seeing my scope is rather to stirre vp to beleeue I hope it will not be more tedious to any to reade these and consider them then it is to me to gather them and I may truely say I haue often read them with comfort For sometimes one sometimes another doth more affect I will therefore not spare to adde many moe To this purpose notable is that in the Psalme 34. 15. The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares are open to their cry verse 17. The righteous cry and the Lord heareth and deliuereth them out of all their troubles Which is oft repeated Psal 107. 6. 13. 19. 28. Psal 50. 15. the Lord saith Call vpon me in the day of trouble I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me And For thou Lord art good and ready to forgiue Psal 86. 5. and plenteous in mercy to all them that call vpon thee c. verse 6. 7. Psal 102 17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer to verse 20 to heare the groaning of the prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death Psal 145. 18. The Lord is nigh to all that call vpon him to all that call vpon him in truth He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him 19. he also will heare their cry and will saue them Prou. 15. 8. But the prayer of the vpright is his delight and verse 29. But hee heareth the prayer of the righteous He will be very gracious vnto thee at the voice of thy cry when he shall heare it he will answer thee Ioel 2. 32. And it shal come to passe that whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lord shall be deliuered Act. 2. 21. the same is repeated and Rom. 10. 13. Thus wee see how plentifully
hath beene renewed this promise of hearing the prayers of his people in all ages of his Church vntill Christ who knowing that wee vnder the Gospell haue as great neede both to pray and to bee comforted that God will heare our prayers hath giuen vs many incouragements to pray in faith Aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and ye shall finde Mat. 7. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. knocke and it shall be opened vnto you For euery one that asketh receiueth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh shall it bee opened The same is set downe Luk. 11. from verse 9. to 13. where it is said If ye then being euill know how to giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly Father giue the holy Spirit to theÌ„ that aske him So our Sauior said to the woman of Samaria If thou knewest the gift of God Ioh. 4. and who it is that saith to thee Giue me to drinke thou wouldest haue asked of him and hee would haue giuen thee the liuing water Likewise in those heauenly and last speeches which he vttered to his Disciples hee oft repeated those promises saying Whatsoeuer ye shall aske in my name that will I doe Ioh. 15. 13. that the Father may bee glorifieâ— in the Son If ye shall aske any thing in my name I will doe it The like oft Ioh. 15. 7. 16. 16. 23. and 24. Aske and ye shall receiue that your ioy may be full so the Apostle Rom. 10. 12. For the same Lord ouer all is rich vnto all that call vpon him Iam. 5. 15. The praier of faith shall saue the sicke and the Lord shall raise him vp and if hee haue committed sinne it shall bee forgiuen him and ver 16. the effectuall prayer of the righteous auaileth much The Apostle Ioh. hath the like saying 1 Ioh. 3. 22 And whatsoeuer we aske of him we receiue And againe 5. 14. And this is the confidence we haue in him that if we aske any thing according to his will hee heareth vs And if wee know that hee heareth vs 15. whatsoeuer we aske we know that wee haue the petitions that we desired of him And in the next place If any see his brother sin a sinne which is not vnto death hee shall aske and he shall giue him life c. Vse Thus haue wee store of these promises wherein the Lord bindeth himselfe to heare our prayers and grant our requests the end of all which is to cure this sore disease of our nature Vse that we be so full of distrust and so hardly beleeue that God will accept our prayers they being so weake and our selues so vnworthy For remedy whereof we are to be familiarly acquainted with these promises to make choice of some of them such as to our feeling are most comfortable that when we goe to prayer we may meditate on them that so we may bee perswaded by them that God will graciously pardon all our failings and accept our poore indeauours in the perfect satisfaction made by Christ for vs. The fruite of this practise would be exceeding great both to breede in vs a greater delight in this holy dutie which vsually is so much wanting And to make all our prayers more effectuall for the obtaining of all good things at the hand of God Whereas on the other side by neglecting this dutie of meditating on these promises we shall disable our selues from all comfortable practise of prayer and become more guilty not onely of contempt of Gods bounty in making such promises vnto vs but withall of greater impietie in making the holy true God a lyer in that wee doe not beleeue him in that which he speaketh Therefore as wee desire to auoide these sore euils and attaine these great benefits let vs make high account of these promises and so make them our owne that wee may haue the right vse of them especially in all time of neede This which hath beene said of Gods gracious accepting of our prayers All sacrifices accepted may as truly be applyed to all other holy exercises of religion and seruices of God In all of which the Lord is as ready both to enable vs to the worke and to be pleased with our sincere indeauours wee offering them vp to God with faith in the mediation of Christ Iesus Yet seeing besides these wee haue many promises that God will be pleased with our sacrifices which may be truly vnderstood of all it will adde to our comfort if we shall aduisedly consider of them of which sort is that in the Psal 51. 19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousnesse Deut. 33. 19. c. As Moses blessed the tribe of Zâ—bulon in the same words 1 Pet. 2. 5. so the Apostle Peter speaking of all the faithfull saith Ye also as liuing stones are built vp a spirituall house an holy Priesthood to offer vp spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Iesus Christ And Paul writing to the Philippians speaking of the releefe which they sent to him calleth it an odour of a sweete smell Phil. 4. 18 a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to God And writing to the Rom. 12. 1. saith I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a liuing sacrifice holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable seruice The Lord by Moses did oftentimes tell his people that they offering vp their sacrifices such as he commanded they should be accepted as Leuit. 1. 4. 22. 21. 23. 11. 26. 11. So Malachy 3. 4. Then shall the offerings of Iudah and Jerusalem be pleasant to the Lord as in the dayes of old and as in former yeeres This also may be gathered out of that which Moses told the people of Israel from the Lord that they bringing their sacrifices to the doore of the Tabernacle of the congregation There hee would meete the people of Israel Exod. 29. 43. and the Tabernacle should bee sanctified by his glory Which may bee gathered out of that which followeth that the Lord would dwell among them and be their God to heare and helpe them which is else-where oft repeated Esa 60. 7. foreshewed this saying They shal come with acceptance c. And hitherto may be well referred the many fauours which God promiseth to our obedience which is an acceptable sacrifice to God offered vp in Christ As the Lord said vnto Cain Gen. 4. 7. If thou doe well shalt thou not be accepted the like the Lord said to his people of Israel in preparing them to heare his Law Now therefore if yee will obey my voice indeede Exod. 19. 5. and keepe my couenant then ye shall be a peculiar treasure vnto me aboue all people for all the earth is mine 6. And ye shall bee vnto me a kingdome of Priests and an holy nation Leuit. 26. 3. to 14. and Deut. 28. 1. to 14. be many
make our vse of all these three benefits by afflictions 1. That they be sent from God to be trialls to discover to our selues and others godly and wicked what strength of grace and sinne doth remaine in vs which is many waies profitable 2. To be effectuall purgations to wast and weaken those speciall corruptions which most hinder our soules health 3. And lastly to quicken all saving graces in vs and so every way to make vs better both to glorifie God in this life and to be glorified of him in the life to come The least of all which fruits of afflictions Vse of all these benefits by afflictions though it went alone if the profit and comfort it bringeth might be well prised would moue any good heart if lawfully they might to desire afflictions at least to be glad of them when the Lord our loving Father and wise Physitian doth send them to vs how much more then when as all these shall be joyned together should we rejoyce and blesse God for them There is no good Christian but he greatly desires to be more humbled in the sight of his manifold sinnes and to be comforted with the sweet feeling of Gods graces in him Yea much more desires he to be purged from these spirituall corruptions which take away his stomacke and strength that he can neither feed nor worke as his place requires And aboue all doth he covet spirituall graces that he might shine out in a godly life to the honour of his profession the winning of oothers and making sure his calling and election All which seeing they be procured by afflictious and hardly or never without them as that place 1 Pet. 4. 18. proveth And if the righteous be scarcely saved And this is the chiefe cause why none of Gods children are without them as Heb. 12. 6. 7. 8. me thinkes there is great reason why we should be thankfull to God for them and so labour to reape this fruit by them that we may say and sing with the Psalmist as it is sweetly expressed in the Meeter O hâ—ppie time may I well say when thou didst me correct For as a guide to learne thy lawes thy rodâ—â—d me direct So little cause haue Gods children to thinke their condition miserable because of afflictions that if we will beleeue and practise what the Apostle Paul professed and performed we must in a holy manner boast of our afflictions Rom. 5. 3. as a Souldier of his scarres got in battell And as a little before we heard 2 Cor. 12. 10. Paul did take pleasure in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses fâ—â— Christs sake Thus we see what comfort we may get out of Gods Word fitly applyed vnto vs by faith for the better bearing of all afflictions of what sort soever I might gather many other fruits of afflictions as some haue done but if all be well wayghed they may be referred to one of these three and so having sayd sufficient of the three former grounds of comfort in afflictions I will come to the fourth and last The fourth ground of comfort in afflictions which is to set out what helpe God hath promised vs in all our troubles that we may be able to beare them and in due season to giue vs a good issue out of them Concerning which it will be profitable to obserue that the Lord knowing our great weaknes to beare the crosse and how full of distrust we be that God will not be ready to helpe vs at least as we would both which are so often to be found in the liues of Gods faithfull servants in all ages as needs no further proofe the Lord I say well acquainted with this frailtie of his children hath most plentifully provided all sufficient helpe to support them and therefore made so many promises to be with them in all their troubles and succour them in all extremities that they shall never perish but in the end find a good end and issue out of them to his glory and their endlesse comfort Having pervsed these promises and gathered them out of the Scripture I may boldly say they doe farre exceed in number all the former so that it would be too tedious to set them down all I will therefore make choice of some of the chiefe that we may haue them ready for our vse against time of need Among all that is exceeding full of comfort which is written Rom. 8. 26. In which chapter the Apostle intending to teach that nothing should hinder the happines of those that be in Christ whereas there be but these two corruption and affliction hee first confutes the one from verse â— to â—7 and secondly the other concerning afflictions from verse 17. to 31. And whereas it might be obiected that though afflictions were profitable to those that could endure them yet oft they be so heauie that we cannot so much as cry to God for helpe as we ought hee answers that even then the spirit helpeth our infirmities c. meaning that when we begin to sincke as not able to stand vnder the burthen then Gods Spirit puts vnder his hand to support vs. Which is in so many words said Psal 37. 24. Though he fâ—ll he shall not vtterly be cast downe for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand Which is when hee doth by his Spirit strengthen vs with faith and patience to waite for Gods helpe one way or other either to rid vs out of our afflictions or make vs quietly to beaâ—e them so long as shal seem good to his heavenly wisedome to continue them For which cause our Saviour Christ fortelling his Disciples of many afflictions Iohn 14. 15. 16. which should befall them in the worlde among other incouragements hee oft tels them that he will send them his holy Spirit to be their comfoâ—â—r who shall be stronger in them then all their adversaries And to the same purpose 16. 33. telling them that in the world they should haue tribulation he bids them bee of good cheare for hee hath overcome the World Likewise the Apostle 2. Cor. 1. 3 4. to hearten the Corinthians to indure all troubles calleth God the God of all comfort who comforted him and all others in all their tribulations that they might be able to comfort others which are in any trouble The like is to be seene almost in all the holy Epistles in which the Saints be incouraged to suffer afflictions patiently But to proceede exceeding many be the places in which God promiseth to his people that he wil be a sure and speedy help in all troubles in due season ready to be found David had great experience thereof The booke of the Psalmes is full of those speeches God â—s my 〈◊〉 my tower my refuge my shield and buckler my health and strength and many moe all tending to this that looke what helpe any man in danger may find in any earthly meanes what soever God is the same much more
worke of grace in vs will never giue it over till he hath fully finished it Heb. 12. 2. for as he is the author of our faith so is he the finisher of it Ioh. 10. 29. And he is stronger then all so that none shall be able to plucke vs out of his hand Be then of good cheare thou poore soule who findest some worke of grace begun in thee yet feeling thine owne infirmities and oft oppressed with many and sore tentations and beholding or hearing of the fals of many great professours art much shaken and filled with feares of falling away for assure thy selfe 1 Pet. 1. 23. that being borne againe not of corruptible seeâ— but of incorruptible by the word of God which liueth and abideth for ever it is not possible thou shouldst perish or ever loose that faith and grace which is begun in thee neither canst thou sin vnto death as I vnderstand the Apostle 1 Iohn 5. 16. seeing this immortall seed remaineth in thee And this I will adde for the comfort of all such as be troubled with these feares that they shall never hold out to the end and thereby be stirred vp to be more diligent in the vse of the meanes ordained for their growth in grace and perseverance therein that I never did know or heare of any such to fall away but vsually they who finally fall away are such as be secure and presume of Gods mercy that they shall stand when others fall and take this withall that then we be strongest when we be weakest that is when feeling our own weaknes and distrusting our selues we run to God and relie vpon him in all our necessities which is that I haue laboured to effect in all this treatise The summe whereof I will in few words set downe as for the helpe of memory so for the quickning of our spirits more to labour for this happie life by faith which both in life and death will be our chiefe comfort For so much as the liues and deaths of the most professours of Christian Religion doe shew that few attaine either that comfort of salvation or conscience of holy conversation which God hath prepared for true beleevers My maine scope hath bin to redresse this sore evill and to this end I haue shewed that this blessednesse is enjoyed onely by living by faith and what saving faith is how it s gotten and how we may know that we haue it both by the causes and effects ioyned together not seperated Wherein seeing many be deceived on either side some presuming others mistrusting there be plaine markes of soundnesse set downe whereby every one may try himselfe In the next place we are taught how to liue by faith herein what it is to liue by faith and how this is obtained which is by due application of Gods promises whereto is required serious meditation and prayer wherin seeing few be so fervent as in this case ought to be the singular gaine hereof is largely layd downe both for consolation and for reformation of our liues and herein foure rules which be of excellent vse The second part of this treatise is a direction how to apply to our particular necessities Gods promises which being of divers sorts absolute or conditionall simply necessary or with limitation generall or speciall are all accordingly to be considered All of these being so exceeding many to bring them to some easie order for our better vse of them all they be drawne to six heads to which all may be well referred The first whereof concernes the assurance of our salvation by Christ herein first such generall promises as containe all the benefits by Christ In the next place is more specially shewed how we may be more assured by faith of our iustification in both the parts thereof 1. the forgiuenesse of sinne 2. the imputation of righteousnesse And likewise of the fruits of these which be 1. our Reconciliation 2. our Adoption 3. hope of glory For further proofe that we be Gods children we haue assurance by sense when we see the spirit of God working in vs such graces as cannot be in truth in any but such as shall be saved Among which 1. Faith it selfe is chiefe 2. The gift of the spirit 3. Sincere obedience 4. Promises made to many particular graces as to the loue of God and of our neighbour to the feare of God And so to all other fruits of faith which be markes of salvation And because many weake yet true beleevers haue no feeling of their faith and thereby be sore discouraged there be foure markes of true faith where it cannot be seene Sundry other promises of Gods favour to strengthen our faith The second generall head of these promises for the strengthning of our faith concerneth the mortification of our corrupt nature wâ—erein our faith being so weake we haue manifold incouragements to assure vs of a full and finall victory The generall promises that God will cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnes may suffice for all particulars The third generall head of promises is to assure vs of all needfull grace to lead a godly life herein 1. how to obtaine this grace 2. to assure vs our weake obedience shall be accepted In what speciall duties in every Commandement we be most failing Generall promises that we shall want no saving grace with the right vse of these For our further helpe God hath made many promises of particular graces 1. that he will teach vs. 2. that he will set our hearts in frame 3. that he will giue vs faith trust hope ioy which few attaine to for want of faith to loue and feare him with the right vse of all Whereas we fayle much in all holy exercises God promiseth he will both assist vs and accept vs in them as in prayer few prayers made in faith This is to be referred to all spirituall Sacrifices Whereas there is much vnfruitfulnesse in the exercises of the Word and Sacramants even in such as haue true grace through want of faith the remedy is to apply Gods promises which be many especially when they goe to these duties The Sacraments be much more abused the remedie is to consider Gods faithfulnesse in the seales The fourth head concerneth afflictions whereby many be discouraged no helpe but by faith Foure grounds of comfort 1. All afflictions come from God and that to all of his children 2. In what manner God afflicteth his most wisely most lovingly his wisedome is in the meetnes of the correction and in the just measure and continuance thereof Gods loving tender dealing with his is plentifully set out vnto vs for our comfort 3. the excellent ends and fruits of afflictions generall is blessednesse 3. speciall benefits by afflictions 1. they be trialls of our strength and weaknesse many iudge amisse and be misiâ—dged by others 2. benefit by afflictions is we be purged from our corruptions 3. by these Gods graces in vs be quickned specially faith and patience All