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
what he promiseth we may come to beleeue them and so 〈◊〉 vpon Gods mercy for his blessing on our childrenâ— as well as vpon our selues which if we doe I cannot well see what shall be wanting to the full contentâ—â—â—â— of all Gods children even in earthly blessings which are so much desired and the want whereof is so distastfull and vnwelcome to our nature And thus to conclude this fift point I haue shewed how we may liue by faith that we shall not want any earthly blessing neither for our selues nor for our posteritie which being added to all the former will proue there is no life comparable to the life by faith and therefore this about all is to be laboured for by all that desire true comfort in this life and thereby hope of a farre better to come THE SIXT AND LAST GENERALL HEAD Of living by Faith is for Perseverance THere is now but one thing wanting as farre as I can see to the making vp of the full comfort of the true beleever so much as may be attained in this life namely how he being so frayle every way his enemies so many and strong should be sure that he shall hold out to the end and so overcomming receiue the end of his faith the salvation of his soule which being a matter of so great difficultie and so rarely attained they be not a few who flatly deny this certaintie of perseverance and many moe doe mistrust themselues herein and thereby much weaken all the comfort of their life It shall be therefore highly needfull to adde this to the former how a true beleever may attaine to this certaintie by faith that notwithstanding all his owne weaknesse and strength and malice of his spirituall enemies yet he shall persever to the end I intend not to make a treatise of this point of the perseverance of the Saints either to proue the truth of the doctrine or to confute the contrary errour which is done already and that soundly as by argument so by example both by auncient and latter Divines But as in the former points I haue chiefly laboured to strengthen the faith of Gods children to depend vpon God with hope and patience for succour in all their necessities spirituall and earthly so in this my onely labour shall be to establish our hearts in this confidence that he who hath begun a good worke in vs Phil. 1. 6. will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ Which as it was the confidence of the Apostle for the beleevers in his time so ought it to be ours in all succeeding ages to the worlds end seeing we haue the same promises whereon to build our faith which they had and which the Lord made to his people of old Let vs now then consider of these promises and so make our vse of them It is not to be doubted but this was intended in the first promise which God made that the seed of the Woman should bruse the head of the Serpeâ—t Gen. 3 15 and in that made to Abraham that he would stablish his covenant with him for an everlasting covenant Gen. 17. 7. Which is oft repeated but seeing we haue very many more cleare promises hereof we will passe by these This was plainely promised by God to David concerning 〈◊〉 2. Sam. 7. 14. and afterwards as truly performed I will bee his father and he shall be my sonne if he comâ—â—â— iniquitie I will chasten him with the 〈◊〉 of men and with the 〈◊〉 of the children of men â—5 But my mercy shall 〈◊〉 depart from him Psal 89. verse 28. the like is recorded Ths is more generally spoken of the blessed man Psal 1. 3. His 〈◊〉 shall not 〈◊〉 The booke of the Psalmes is full of these comfortable promises Psal 9. â—0 They that know thy name will 〈…〉 for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seeke thee and verse 18. for the needy shall not alway bee for gotten the expectation of the poore shall not perish for euer Psalme 15. 5. Hee that doth these things shall never bee moved the like Psal 112. 6. 125. 1. Pro. 10. 30. and 12. 3. Psalme 23. 6. Surely goodnes and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life Psa 48. 14. For this God is our God for ever and ever he will bee our guid even vnto death Psalme 73. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell and shalt receiue me vnto glory verse 26. My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strergth of my heart and my portion for ever Psalme 103. 17. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting vpon them that feare him In the writings of the Prophers we may reade many such promises for perseverance Esâ—â— 54. 8. But with everlasting kindnesse will haue mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer chap. 55. 3. Heare and your soule shall 〈◊〉 And I will make an everlasting covenant with you eveâ— the sure mercies of David the like Ezek. 16. 60. and 37. 26. is a speciall promise to this purpose I will put my feare into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Iere. 32. 39. 40. Many moe might bee gathered out of the old Testament Esay 59. 21. but I feare some wil thinke them to many who if they shall well waigh either the excellency of these promises or their owne backwardnes to beleeue them when they most stand in neede of them then will they finde all to little to vphold them against their feares of falling away Wee will therefore proceede to see what comforts for our perseveraÌ„ce are delivered in the new Testament which we shall find to be more cleere then the former for that as I thinke we bee in more danger in this last age of the world seeing the Devill knoweth his time is but short Revel 12. 12. is more full of wrath against Gods people to seeke their overthrow This moved our Saviour Christ himself so much to comfort Mat. 28. 20. his Disciples and so all the faithfull that hee would bee with them vnto the ende of the world Luke 〈◊〉 22. and bids them feare not little flocke Iohn 16. 33 for it is your Fathers good pleasure to giue you the kingdome Bee of good comfort I haue overcome the world which wee see is of great force to perswade them they should never be overcome but should hold out till they were received to glory for further assurance whereof he confidently affirmeth saying Iohn 6. 47 veritly verily Hee that beleeveth on me hath everlastingly 〈◊〉 and therefore can never perish or fall away for further assurance it is sayd Iohn 13. 1. That 〈◊〉 Christ loved hee loved vnto the end And what greater assurance can we desire and looke for then this 1. Thes 5. 24. that God fâ—ithful who hath called vs who also will doest that is as goeth before immediatly Presâ—rve our whole spirit soule and body blameles vnto
A TREATISE OF FAITH Wherein is declared how a man may liue by Faith and finde releefe in all his necessities Applyed especially vnto the vse of the weakest Christians By EZEKEL CVLVERVVELL The Iust shall Liue by Faith EPHES. 6. 16. Aboue all taking the shield of Faith ROM 15. 4. Whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience coÌ„fort of the Scriptures might haue hope LONDON Printed by I. L. for William Sheffard and are to be sold at his shop at the entring in of Popes head Allie out of Lumbard-streete 1623. TO ALL GODS PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENIOYED any benefit by my Ministerie especially of my Pastorall charge DEARLY Beloued in the Lord although I cannot but be priuie to my selfe of many defects in discharge of my dutie which God required at my hands toward you which I humbly beseech the Lord and you to pardon yet this hath beene is and I hope shall be to the end of my dayes my comfort that I haue not laboured in vaine amongst you What were my labours and successe thereof I must appeale to the consciences of you who are yet liuing for you know that not a few are now at rest with the Lord whose holy liues and happy ends gaue good testimony hereof But to leaue these to the wise consideration of such whom they may concerne and to giue vnto all to whom these presents shall come a iust account of my proceedings herein I doe professe that for many yeares past I haue had my thoughts much exercised about this prime grace of Faith by which alone we receiue all sauing grace and without which none and after that by long experience I found through conference with many of diuers sorts that very few attained to the true knowledge much lesse to the right vse of Faith either in the assurance of their saluation or well ordering of their conuersation For to passe ouer all carnall Protestants who only haue a forme of godlinesse making an outward shew thereof and deny the power of it in walking after their owne lusts I haue obserued very many who haue in truth laboured after saluation yet through want of good direction haue made forsaking of their sinne the ground of their beleeuing and so building such a weightie matter vpon so weake a foundation could neuer come to such certaintie of their saluation or constancie in a holy conuersation as true Faith would haue brought them vnto Some others I haue seene who being deeply affected with the sense of their misery and knowing that there is no meanes of recouery but by Christ haue desired nothing more then to be deliuered and restored by him yet these not knowing the right way how to attaine to Faith by which alone doe receiue Christ and all his benefits haue spent many yeares vnprofitably and vnfruitfuâ—ly Others there be who perswading themselues that they haue Faith and thereby bee quieted from feare of condemnation yet much wanting the life and power of Faith neither so honour God and their profession nor in time of triall finde that sound peace and comfort which a liuely Faith would certainly procure By all which it appeareth how few they be that haue attained to the true knowledge of Faith what it is how it is goâ—ten and increased and how to liue by it The consideration whereof grieuing my soule to see so many mistaken in so weightie a matter and so much labour to be lost hath been the chiefe moouer of me to imploy all my thoughts how this great euill may be redressed Whereupon entering into deeper consideration how this might be attained I well perceiued that seeing Gods truth reuealed vnto vs in his Word is the sole ground of Faith the only way to get and keepe Faith is to bee well acquainted with Gods Word in which I cannot sufficiently admire the wisedome and loue of God in prouiding such store of heauenly comforts to releeue vs in all our necessities so that had wee the knowledge and the right vse of them we should then see what were the Life of Faith and the blessed estate of a beleeuer in this world aboue all other estates though neuer so excellent These thus being I gaue my selfe to the search of the Scriptures to finde out what these heauenly comforts were which God hath so abundantly prouided for our reliefe in all time of neede And to this purpose with no small labour haue gathered out all the promises as well as I could out of both the Testaments which being laide together made a great heape of heauenly treasure such as any of vnderstanding would greatly admire and reioyce in and I may in truth professe I was much affected with the bare reading of them But well considering that the naked laying downe of these promises would not be sufficient to direct euery one to the right vse and fit application of them for the begetting and increasing of Faith I haue laboured to draw these vnto seuerall heads such as in my opinion may containe all our necessities that at leastwise the weakest sort may more fitly apply them to their seuerall vses and so by Faith be comforted when all other helpes faile them If in this my labour I haue not so sufficiently satisfied the desires of the most iudicious I must content my selfe that according to the measure of grace receiued I haue laboured to be helpfull to such as stand in neede hereof and haue carefully auoided whatsoeuer I haue thought might hinder their profiting and specially all controuersies about Faith and haue plainly shewed out of the Scriptures what I haue conceiued to be the truth wherein I may haue this defence of my failing that I haue not had any guide in this labour neither haue I seene any who haue in this way gone before me and therefore I entreate my Reuerend brethren in the Ministerie whose abilities doe farre exceede mine that they would perfect this which is but weakely begun And for my part I will not cease to pray that this may be as profitable to others as painfull to my selfe which the Lord grant for his Christs sake Ezekel Culuerwell TO THE CHRISTIAN READER THE leading of a happy Life the attainement whereof this Treatise directeth vnto is that which all desire but Gods truth only discouereth and Faith only enioyeth In the first Adam our happinesse was in our owne keeping but he by turning from God to the creature made proofe what and whence he was a creature raised out of nothing and without the supporting power of Him in whom all things consist subiect to fall into a state worse then nothing againe Hence God out of his infinite power depth of goodnesse intending the glory of his mercy in restoring man would not trust man with his owne happinesse but would haue it procured and established in the person of a second Adam in whom we recouer a suter estate then we lost in the first for though Adams soule was ioyned to God yet
of many moneths from morning to night euery day in the weeke to instruct in the first oracles of the word of God euery one vnder his charge sometimes one by one seuerally and other times many ioyntly together which he did with such successe as there were but few that were not able to giue a reason of their hope to bee saued and so were admitted to the Lords Table From which time euer after so long as hee continued there he had weekly meetings in his Church for all sorts distinctly on seuerall daies to catechise them in the Principles of Religion whereby I am perswaded he did more good then by preaching which yet was very powerfull and not in vaine For as his owne and his hearers labours in teaching and learning abounded so God gaue answerable fruits in obedience to the word For as the Lords day was very religiously obserued so the foule sins whereunto people vntaught are vsually giuen were there abandoned all contentions among neighbours so laid aside as most louingly they came to one anothers house And though there were many poore and none greatly rich yet did none of the poore begge abroad for food but were releeued at home Among other euidences of the power of Gods word among them I will record one a very remarkeable one and worthy to bee had in more frequent vse It was this In time of great dearth of corn and other food there was order taken by publike authority that euery family should forbeare one meale in the weeke and vpon the Lords day bring the value of it to the collectours for the poore This being faithfully performed by them all therewith they did prouide good corne which cost 8. or 9. shillings the bushell and solde it to the poore at 12. pence the pecke and yet reserueda good stock to set the poore on worke These and many other good works were done vnder his ministery who was ready on all occasions to presse the doctrine of faith so as the preaching of faith hindereth not the performance of good works This Treatise will giue euident proofe thereof Well vse his paines and thou shait not lose thy paines WILLIAM GOVGE A TREATISE of Faith WHEREIN IS declared how a man may liue by faith and finde reliefe in all his necessities IT is a matter much to bee lamented Few attaine the end of the Gospel that in this cleere light of the Gospell so fewe attaine to the right end of the Gospell which is to liue by faith as wee shall see by and by further laide open to such as will consider For to say nothing of all vnregenerate men who neuer felt any worke of Faith for their true conuersion and therefore could neuer finde any sound comfort of their saluation The matter that I complaine of is this that many of Gods children who haue some true faith and hope to bee saued by Christ as they professe and others in charitie are so to conceiue of them doe not inioy that sweet life and blessed estate in this world which God their Father hath prouided for them and they full well might attaine were not the fault in themselues The truth hereof may appeare in these two things especially First that so few doe hold fast that ioy in the holy Ghost which might comfort them ouer all the discouragements of this life either in forgoing the sweet delights of this world or in patient bearing the manifold troubles of this life which vsually are their portion Secondly that so few doe cast out such a sweet sauour of holy conuersation Hose 14 8. as might make those that dwell vnder their shadowe as the Prophet speaketh to giue a sent like the wine of Lebanon Or to speake more plainely they be not many euen of those who take vpon them the Christians profession who haue gotten that certainty of their saluation constancy in holy conuersatiō which might abundantly comfort themselues and moue others to desire labour to be lik them To proue these to be so is not hard the life and practise of the most of our professors daily witnessing the truth hereof The consideration of these hath oft and long moued mee to seeke how this great euill might be redressed and to make known by Gods word how all Gods children may enioy this large allowance of their Father to liue comfortably to die happily so farre as in this vale of miserie may be attained whatsoeuer shall be said or done to the contrary by any aduersarie notwithstanding This seemeth vnto me Remedie to bee notably set out vnto vs in that one sentence Hab. 2. 3. The iust shall liue by Faith Rom. 1. 17. which for the excellencie thereof is often repeated Gal. 3. 11. both in the old and new Testament Heb. 10. 38 and confirmed by the examples of Gods worthy seruants in all ages as is plentifully to be seene Hebrews 11. The true meaning whereof is this that the man who is now accounted iust and righteous before God being iustified and sanctified by Christ as he first was made aliue by the holy Ghost through Faith receiuing Christ so likewise by the same faith he is to receiue in and from Christ the continuance of this life both in all comfort that he shall receiue all needfull blessings and in all good conscience to yeeld vnto God all required obedience Wherein are laid downe two maine pillers of our holy profession One Two main pillers of our profession that all grace which wee want is alone in Christ and from him to be receiued by vs that it may be ours The other that all this grace which is in Christ for vs is made ours onely by faith whereupon followes this our principall conclusion in this Treatise intended that the onely way to attaine to all comfort in Gods fauour and conscience to liue a godly life by which alone our life and death be happie is to get keepe and increase this precious gift of Faith whereby alone we receiue Christ 2 Pet. 1. 3. and in him all things pertaining to life and godlinesse Now to come to a more full opening and so to a more plentifull vse of these so heauenly matters specially for such as most need helpe herein this must bee laid as the foundation of all this building That man beeing created of God perfectly holy and happy and hauing by his disobedience vtterly lost both and cast himselfe and all his posteritie into the contrary miserie of sinne and damnation so that neither hee himselfe nor any other creature was able to deliuer him out of this miserie and restore him to his former happinesse It pleased the diuine Maiesty to ordaine that the second person in Trinitie the onely begotten Sonne of the Father should assume and take to his diuine nature the nature of Man that so hee might become a meet Mediatour betweene God and Man to which end the diuine Nature sanctified the humane nature which he
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.
God will surely helpe him this wil make him so to rest contented and comforted as if hee had all present helpe that could be deuised So for spirituall if any should fall into sinne so as he had no hope of pardon and amendment yet then to beleeue so as to rest vpon Gods promise for both and so to be comforted this is to liue by faith The practise of both is plaine in scripture and in the liues of Gods faithfull seruants Notable is that of Abraham whereof Genesis which the Apostle citing Rom. 4. 18. affirmeth that he aboue hope beleeued in hope that hee might become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken so shal thy seed be Wherin it is euident that Abraham seeing no possibility in naturalreasoÌ„ that he being so old his wife not only barren from her youth but now past childe-bearing should haue a sonne yet he as it is said Not weak in faith considered not his owne body now dead when he was about an hundred yeares old neither yet the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe staggered not at the promise of God through vnbeliefe but was strong in faith and gaue glory to God and beeing fully perswaded that what he had promised hee was also able to performe The selfe same is to bee seene in that honorable company of thâ—se worthy seruants of God in all ages from the beginning of the world to that day mentioned Heb. 11. Who all are brought in as a cloude of witnesses testifiing this truth that The iust shall liue by faith In all which may appeare that in whatsoeuer estate or straight they were brought into yet they so liued by faith that nothing could dismaye them much lesse ouerthrow them By â—hose example wee might learne if that we would make the right vse hereof that what condition soeuer should befall vs that we might so rest on Gods word and promise for all helpe needefull that in greatest conflicts wee should bee more then conquerours Rom. 8. 37. as the Apostle speaketh What a blessed estate this were it is not hard to shew whereof wee may see more when wee haue better learned how to attaine hereunto thus to liue by faith which was the second thing in this point propounded How to attaine to liue by faith For the attaining whereof these two things are carefully to be performed First to call to minde Gods promises Secondly to apply them For the former in all time of need that is whensoeuer God shall bring vs into any straight that we see not any way of escaping or meanes for our reliefe in such sort that wee begin to sinke into many feares and vexations of minde then to inquire if there be any good word of the Lord spoken for our comfort that so calling it to minde wee might raise thereout such hope of helpe in due time as may quiet and content vs till wee doe enioy in effect that which before we did expect This doe I take to be the ground of all our faith whereby we liue be maintained and vpheld in all our trials As was before more fully laid out when I shewed the way how any doe at the first attaine to sauing faith which is no other here intended for the daily increase of faith that we may liue thereby but the continuance of the same meanes namely to call to minde and to lay before vs Gods gracious promises made to comfort his people in all their necessities that thereby we might bee comforted and quieted in all the tempests of our vnruly thoughts and distempered affections patiently to waite on God for his helpe which shall not bee wanting in that time sort measure which he seeth most meete This being then the ground of our faith whereby we liue namely Gods promises which are as so many Legacies bequeathed vs by our heauenly Father and by his Sonne Iesus Christ in his last wil and Testamenâ— what can be more behoouefull for vs then to search this wil TestameÌ„t for al such legacies as may coÌ„cerne vs seeing they be many some way or other to get into our mindes and memories at the least the most principall of these that we may haue them in a readines for our vse in all occasions to minister so good comfort as if wee had the best helpe present wee could deuise and desire What will be the gaine of this practise I had rather we found by proofe then heare by report and so I hope we shall doe when wee shall bee more particularly directed to put this instruction in practise But yet before hand for encouragement thus much will I say and no more then shall be found true That he who shall but endeauour in any truth to practise this which here is taught shall finde his whole profession whâ—t euer his condition shall bee of prosperity or aduersitie more easie and more comfortable And therefore to vtter my thoughts more plainely if may be I aduise all that be weake of memory and not so exercised in the scriptures as some are that they can readily vpon euery occasion call to minde such promises of of God How to gather promises as bee then most fit for their vse that such I say if they can write would collect and gather out of the holy Scriptures such special promises as they shal conceiue may most concerne them and be fittest to strengtheÌ„ their faith as need shall require For such as bee not able fitly thus to releeue themselues my next labour shall bee to gather some speciall promises such as I conceiue bee of most vse in our ordinary affaires and course of life and referre them to their places that they may more readily be runne vnto vpon all occasions and likewise I will shew how these may bee applyed to our seuerall necessities for the strengthening of our faith that so we may liue thereby and finde sufficient contentment in God when all other helpes faile All which wee shall hereafter more see in their place But now to proceede with that I haue in hand to shew how this vnualuable benefit of liuing by faith may be attained 1. The first thing required hereunto I haue shewed Psalm 85. 8 is to vse the Prophets words I will heare what God the Lord wil speak for hee will speake peace vnto his people and 〈◊〉 his Saints c. That is to call to minde what comfortable promises God hath made to his children in such case or condition as we be in that thereon wee may build our faith and liue thereby To which end this in the next place is to be performed that we may attaine to this grace to liue by our faith namely How to apply these promises to our selues That we wisely apply these promises both to our persons that wee be the true 〈◊〉 of them 〈◊〉 Secondly to our present condition That it is such as God hath specially made his promise vnto if the promise be speciall For
put on the whole armour of God Eph. 6. 11. that wee may bee able to stand against the 〈◊〉 of the deuill 1 Tim. 6. 12 and elsewhere â— Cor. 16. 13. to fight the good fight of faith to 〈◊〉 and stand fast in the faith to quite vs like men and to bee strong In all which and many the like this is required that all they who haue by faith receiued Christ and so from and in him all needfull grace whereby 〈…〉 enabled to withstand all their spirituall enemies That they I say should manfully 〈◊〉 the Lords battels and 〈◊〉 through sloathfulnesse not cowardlinesse shrinke backe and giue way to their enemies which would bee their ouerthrowe as daily experience sheweth Heerein many faile On the other side many rashly rushing into the battell vnarmed and so are soare foiled which is the common errour of those who wanting faith both resolue to leaue such sinnes as bring them to terrour before God and shame before men and doe also many wayes bind themselues thereto as to leaue badde company dicing carding drinking and worse yet oft they preuaile not and if they doe it is farre from true mortification and so indeede are neuer the neerer to true comfort So needefull therefore it is for all that may hope for victory in this spirituall battell first to get this Armour and then to fight And thus haue I shewed the best way I know for the ouercomming of our seuerall corruptions and all other spirituall enemies which seeing it cannot bee attained to but by faith For this is the victory that ouercommeth the world 1. Ioh. 5. 4. euen our faith it well prooueth the point I intend and so commends this precious gift of faith that any who euer felt or feares the wounds of sinne and hath tasted and desires the reioycing of a good conscience whereof 2. of Corinth 1. 12. shall see cause enough to perswade him aboue all to take vp oft and againe as the word signifieth The shield of faith Eph. 6. 16. The same may be saide for the other part of sanctification namely that all to our ability to leade a godly life and comfortably to performe all good duties to God and man is no other way attained then by faith as it hath beene already and might more plentifully be prooued by Scriptures and experience if neede so required But I will onely adde this for helpe of the weaker to shewe them how by the helpe of the former rules fitly vsed they may be able in some good measure to practise all holy duties and specially such in which they most faile First 4. rules for practise of all duties euery one is to inquire and by all meanes hee may to learne 1. to know our duties what be the special duties which God requireth at his hands either in his generall calling of Christianity or speciall place wherein God hath set him and what be the gifts and graces wherein he is most weake that so hee may more earnestly labour for the attaining of them which knowledge shall bee as a light to guide him in the right way to heauen Whereas otherwise men are in darknesse and can neuer possibly leade a godly life and though they may haue some desires to take a better course yet this ignorance will so blind them they shal not find the way which is one chiefe cause why the liues of manie professing religion are so barren that little more can be seene then bare leaues of profession Most thinke it enough to auoid grosse offences and to practise common duties of religion and righteousnesse but to know how to please God in all things this is too precise and more then needes whereas the best of Gods children seeing and bewailing their blindnes do oft and earnestly seeke to God to giue them knowledge and vnderstanding Rom. 12. 1. what the good will of God is 〈◊〉 and perfect Psal 119. The example of Dauid is sufficient in this case how vnceâ—â—antlie hee prayed to God To teach him his 〈◊〉 to giue hiâ— vnderstanding who yet had as much knowledge of his duty as any other The great neede and vse of this knowledge what God would haue vs to doe in our places and in our seuerall estates of prosperitie and aduersitie may easily bee seene by all that haue any care to please God who shall find theÌ„selues to seek in many things both what to do how to carry themselues And therefore I aduise all who may looke for any comfort of an holy life carefully to examine themselues in what duties they be most failing either in not doing them or doing them amisse And for their helpe to doe as before was taught in the first rule of mortification â—ow to find out our chiefest sinnes so here to know what is the chiefest worke God would haue vs to doe and in what manner it ought to be done that this may be euer as a light to shew vs the good way wherein God would haue vs to walke This is the first rule to bee obserued for the well ordering of our whole life which though it be so necessary that there can be no good life without it yet it is not sufacient And therefore in the next place 2. rule to get a willing mind wee are to labour to get our hearts ready and willing to doe such good things as wee know God requires for wee are not more ignorant what God would haue vs to do and in what manner then vnwilling to doe either as our daily practise prooueth especially to do more then vsually is done which the Lord knowth is very poorely performed for to let passe the carnall ProtestaÌ„t hypocrite who do al to halfes and for shew this will be found in those that haue some truth that though they make conscience of some duties yet are very hardly brought to others which bee more laborious or more crossing their corrupt nature in their credit profite or pleasure Hence it is that many are so negligent and slight in reading priuate prayer meditating instructing of their families sanctification of the Sabboth so hardly brought to sobrietie and and true liberalitie But of all how seldome can the most of vs be brought to humble our selues in fasting and prayer though wee haue neuer so many and iust causes to pull vs often hereunto both for our selues and others in publike and priuate These and the like prooue this rule to bee most needefull to gette our hearts more willing to euery known dutie The way whereby this is obtained is an often and aduised consideration of the great gaine which comes by a conscionable discharge of these duties that belong vnto vs in bringing glorie to God profit to others and peace to their owne soules all which is more commonlie confessed then soundly enioyed of manie true beleeuers Of this gaine well spake the Apostle 1. Tim. 6. 6. saying Godlinesse with contentment is great gaine and chap. 4.
8. Godlinesse is profitable for all things hauing promise of the life that now iâ— and of that which is to come And to the same purpose is that of the Prophet Psal 19. 11 In keeping of theÌ„ that is Gods commandements there is great reward None of anie grace will denie these but not remembring or not beleeuing them and so not regarding them and being drawn away by other more desired gaine despise this the greatest gaine and neglect the meanes which bring the same The true practise then of this rule is that when we feele a backwardnes to anie dutie which we know God requireth then to stirre vp our hearts by laying before vs how we shall honor God and our profession draw on and winne others to the like obedience stop the mouths of gain-sayers procure to our selues much peace comfort and credite amongst Gods seruants yea drawe downe all needfull blessings and keepe away many sore cheâ—ke of a guilty conscieÌ„ce many reproaches in the world heauy chastisemeÌ„ts which God layes vpon his owne children for their bold neglect of duties which hee requireth If these were as they should bee well remembred and regarded it would at least make vs willing to doe our vtmost to please God which yet is not enough to make vs able to doe what we would for that which Paul speaketh of himselfe Rom. 7. 19. we finde much more in our selues That the good we would doe we doe not such is our decay by Adams fall that as wee haue no knowledge of Gods will for the well guiding of our liues till he reueale it and haue no will thereto till God make vs vnwilling so more when we haue both these yet we finde no ability to performe that which is good There is neede therefore of a third rule to direct vs 3. rule to get ability how to get this ability to doe that good which wee know and desire and seeing all our sufficiency to doe any good 2. Cor. 3. 5. thought word or worke is of God and as before vpon an other occasion was shewed Without Christ we can doe nothing Ioh. 15. 5. and I am able to do all things through Christ which strengtheneth mee as the Apostle saith Phil. 4. 13. By these and the like is euident that all our strength to performe any duty in such sort as may be pleasing to God lieth in Christ and must be from him communicated to vs that wee by it may be able to doe the will of God Now wee haue already heard that the onely way to applie Christ to vs and so to draw grace and vertue from him to doe any good worke is faith whereby as we are vnited to him so we receiue from him all needfull grace to inable vs to such measure of obedience as God wil accept at our haÌ„ds And therfore whensoeuer we feele a true desire to doe the will of God in any thing but finde no abilitie thereto as to forgiue our enemies to bee more patient vnder the crosse to humble our selues before God in fasting to pray more feruently and with fruite and more consciâ—nablie to heare Gods word c. Our practise must bee as before for mortication so now for new obedience to flie to Christ and to lay holde on him by a true faith that through him wee shall bee able to doe all things and from him receiue all grace necessarie for the leading of a godly life which is a speciall part of this great benefite wee haue by faith that being of our selues so weake vnto euery good worke by faith in Christ wee may bee strengthened in grace Heb. 12. 28 Whereby wee may so serue God that wee may please him with reuerence and gâ—dly feare In which respect also I commend it to our dailie practise that thus liuing by faith our liues may bring more glorie to God good example and profite to our brethren with sweet comfort to our own soules both in life death For the better practise whereof 4. Rule to set vpon duties the fourth rule is also to be obserued namely With this knowledge desire and faith to set vpon the duties we most faile in to put to all our strength to doe the will of God in all things and that in such manner as may bee most acceptable through Christ To this end be all those exhortations vnto holy life in the Scriptures both in the writings of the Apostles and Prophets Mat. 5. 44. as to loue our enemies to blesse those that curse vs and the like many All which though iustly by God required of all men yet indeed caÌ„not be performed without faith which is the cause why they be so seldome and that very sleightly obeyed For as some will set vpon holy duties by their owne strength and not drawing by faith vertue from Christ do labor in vain so on the other side many idle professors dangerously deceiue themselues in saying they hope in Christ for power and strength to lead a better life and yet very idly neglect those labours which God commands whereby they might attaine to more grace and better obedience so that all those rules will bee found so necessarie that not one of them can bee spared but he that looketh for the comfort of a good conscience either in the ouercomming of his speciall sinnes or conscionable practise of his speciall duties must constantly obserue these rules by which I dare affirme to say no more his gaine shall answer all his paines And thus haue I as briefely as I can and plainly vpon the former occasion shewed how a true beleeuer may attaine vnto this great grace to leade a godly life in both the parts of it in dying to all sinne and liuing to all righteousnesse Which as no other can possibly attaine vnto so neither they all who beleeue to be saued by Christ doe enioy this benefite for though they be renewed in part and in some measure doe mortifie the flesh and make conscience of some duties both of holinesse and righteousnesse without which they could not proue themselues to haue any sauing faith yet either not knowing how to liue by faith so as thereby they might shine as lights in the darke world or not practising this knowledge they be not onely dimme lights but giue out bad example liuing many waies offensiuely to the reproch of their profession griefe of the godly and small peace or comfort to their owne consciences All which might bee well auoided and the contrary blessings enioyed if this liuing by faith were brought into daily vse By all which and the former benefites of liuing by faith laid together I hope may be sufficiently seene that there is no life comparable to this life of Faith yea rather none to bee desired besides this which only hath all the promises of this life present and that which is to come And therefore to conclude this former part of the Treatise Conclusion of first
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
nature and to make him willing to doe Gods will though against his corrupt will this man need not doubt but that he hath the true feare of God which is so certaine a marke of Gods fauour and of euerlasting happinesse And this is the vse Gods children are to make hereof Vse Thus we see how the faithfull may by these two particular fruites of their faith loue and feare bee confirmed in the assurance of their saluation by Christ The same may be shewed in all the rest which the Scripture makes to be so many testimonies of sauing grace and happinesse to those that haue them As Blessed are the poore in spirit Mat. 5. 3. 10. they that mourne the humble meeke such as hunger after righteousnesse mercifull pure in heart peace-makers persecuted for righteousnesse sake All which are in this place gathered together by our Sauiour Christ to crosse the corrupt opinion of the world and to shew that they whom the world account aboue all men most miserable are indeed truly and onely happy The like hee doth in other places Mat. 16 28 19. 29. where hee maketh the denying of our selues Mar. 10. 30. taking vp the Crosse and following him forsaking all for him and for the Gospell to bee sure tokens to bee his who shall haue an hundred-fold in this world Luk. 9. and in the world to come life euerlasting To end this whole matter of assurance of saluation and to passe ouer many other fruites of Faith which doe proue the same as the confession of sinne mortification thereof ouercomming and Perseuerance All which bee oft made certaine proofes of happinesse This is the maine vse which is to bee made of all these Vse as hath oft been said that when as it oft falleth out with Gods children especially such as haue weake faith and tender consciences that they beholding their pronenesse to sinne and deadnesse of spirit to all holy duties doe fall into great feares and doubts of their saluation this may be some staie vnto them that they may see some of these fruites of their faith in them euen when they be at the lowest ebbe of grace by which they may comfort themselues that though they bee very sicke and weake yet they be not starke dead For whose sakes I will adde this obseruation by mine owne experience wherewith I haue quieted the mindes of many much perplexed in this case Markes of faith which is not seene for that they could not see they had any faith that there is a true liuing faith in many who haue no feeling thereof I haue obserued these foure vnfallible proofes 1. Vnquiet for want of faith First where Faith is and not felt the partie in whom it is cannot see that he hath any Faith is grieued for want of Faith and cannot bee quiet for want of it but mourneth as if hee had none which for the most part is the state of those that bee truely afflicted in conscience who faine would beleeue but yet in their owne sense doe not And yet in my experience I neuer knew any such who had any knowledge of the doctrine of Faith but indeed they had some Faith though they saw it not 2. Spare no meanes to get foitfi This will more appeare by the next effect of this insensible faith which is this that they who haue Faith and yet feele it not be very painefull in vse of all good meanes both publike and priuate by themselues and with oothers wherby they might hope to get this pretious gift of Faith which hardly would any doe if hee had not some taste of the sweetnesse of Faith though hee feele it not which so stirres vp his heart to seeke after it and therefore I hold this constant seeking of Faith to be a token of some to be in him alreadie A third and more principall effect of Faith in these 3. Carrie a good heart to God is this that though they see not Gods Fatherly loue to them yet they cannot thinke hardly of God but lay all the fault on themselues why they haue no more grace yea they will commend Gods mercie to others and cannot endure any dishonour to God which great loue of theirs to God doth shew they are loued of him yea that they haue by Faith apprehended it though they see it not and feare they haue it not The fourth proofe of Faith 4. A good conscience where it is not seene may be this that such haue a tender conscience shunning small sinnes which others dare boldly doe and bee carefull to please God in euery thing which many who be not so disquieted be more carelesse of So then if there bee any poore soules who cannot see their faith yet if they can see any of these effects of Faith in themselues let them know for a truth and to their comfort that they haue true Faith shall be saued And thus haue I said what I thinke meet for this first point how we may daily get more assurance that we be now in Gods fauour and shall want no good thing in this life and shall certainly in the end come to life euerlasting Which I againe doe exhort euery one who lookes for any blessing from God either in this life or that to come aboue all to labour for seeing without this assurance that wee be in Gods fauour how can wee looke for any blessing from God earthly or spirituall temporall or eternall whereas being assured hereof we may boldly looke for all other blessings needfull for our present comfort and eternall happinesse Concerning all which seeing the Lord who did well know the frailtie of his owne children All other blessings depend on this how readie they are vpon euery occasion to doubt of his helpe hath so plentifully recorded in the Scriptures both generally what a fatherly care hee hath of their welfare and also more specially what helpe they may look for from him in their particular necessities I doe not doubt but it will bee worth our labour to consider of them both and all little enough to comfort vs in our greatest need And first of the generall which containe vnder them all good things which God hath prepared and promised to all his children Of this sort may that come first which is the ground of all the rest namely that God will bee our God and of our seed after vs as hee said to Abraham the Father of the faithfull Gen. 17. 7. and so belongeth to all beleeuers as the Apostle shewes Rom. 4. 11. 16. which selfe same promise was after repeated to Abrahams posterity in al ages to be a staffe of comfort to them at all times therefore is it oft said That God is the God of Abraham the God of Isaac the God of Iacob Likewise God said to the people of Israel And I will take you to me to bee a people and I will be to you a God And most notable is that
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