The strong helper, offering to beare euery mans burthen. Or, A treatise, teaching in all troubles how to cast our burden vpon God but chiefly deliuering infallible grounds of comfort for quieting of troubled consciences. By Iohn Haivvard.

CHAP. XVIII.

BVT feare which is not* 1.1 easily remoued proceed∣eth to another obiection, the afflicted sinn•…•…r plea∣ding thus against his own peace, the iustice of hea∣uen is so pure & holy, & withall so strict

& soe seuere, that it wil neuer suffer such sinne as mine is to passe vnpunished: and the holynes of heauen is so cleane spot∣les and vndefiled that it will neuer suf∣fer so vncleane a person as I am to enter into life. For this I can alledge the ex∣presse word of God, and therefore am sure, that my feare is not vaine, the Pro∣phet Dauid speaking to God, who would soone haue checked his speech, if it had not beene true, saith. Thou art not* 1.2 a God that loueth wickednes, neither shall euill dwell with thee: the foolish shall not stand in thy sight, for thou hatest all them that worke iniquitie: thou shalt destroy them that speake lies, the Lord will abhor∣the bluddie man and deceitfull. Here is depriuation of Gods loue, expulsion from dwelling with him, and from stan∣ding before him, here is the hatred of God, & in his hatred destruction, threa∣ned to them, as to men abhorred of God, that worke wickednes, that are doers of euill, that in the foolishnes of their hearts committed iniquitie, that in their talke speake lies, that haue bluddie handes, cruell hearts, and cunning and deceitfull heades. But such an one am I▪

I haue wrought wickednes, I haue done euill, I haue through the foolishnes of mine heart committed much iniquitie, I haue beene a lyar, my handes are full of bloud, I haue beene cruell & deceitfull, therefore I am depriued of Gods loue, I shall not dwell in his kingdome, not be able to stand before him in iudgement▪ I am iustly hated of him and, shall bee iustly destroied by him, and hee must needes abhor me as a thing most vile. Who can speake against these things grounded on such authoritie? must not the seuere iustice of heauen condemne such sinnes as mine are? must not the pure holines of heauen exclude such vile sinners as I am? surely it may be called prodigall mercy, if such sinnes as mine escape vnpunished, and if such a sinner as I may euer be saued.

This obiection seemeth to consist of* 1.3 two parts, inregard of iustice that can∣not suffer sin to escape vnpunished, & in regard of holines that will admit no vn∣cleane person to haue fellowship and cohabitation with it. But they ioyne to∣gether in one to increase this poore mans feare, yet let vs helpe him with

our answere. It is a comely thing to to thinke reuerently of the iustice and holines of heauen: for certainely iustice will not suffer the least sinne to escape vnpunished, neither will holines euer suffer any vncleane thing to enter into the kingdome of heauen. Yet that can∣not hence be concluded that thou ga∣therest, namely that therefore mercy can find no free passage, to forgiue thy sinnes, and to bring thee to glory, for the wisdome and power and loue of heauen (which are able to worke won∣ders aboue the reach of mans vnder∣standing) will find; yea haue found; out a way, to satisfie iustice by the punish∣ing of sinne▪ and to satisfie holines by the purging of sinne, and yet to saue the sinner that committed that sinne. Lift vp thine heart and eares, and harken to that that shalbe deliuered, & thou shalt find an helmet of the hope of saluation to couer and saue thy head withall.* 1.4

The glorious Trinitie by an eternall de∣cree, (ordained defore all time, and ef∣fected in the fulnes of time) sent downe the eternall word, the second person, cal∣led the sonne, who being conceiued by

the holy Ghost, tooke flesh, and was borne of the virgin Mary (of the linage of Dauid) and was made man, true man, the sonne of man, the sonne of Adam, of Abraham, and of Dauid, in all things like vnto vs, yet without sinne: and him the father gaue vnto vs to be our mediator, and to be the Lord our righteousnes, and to the satisfying of the iustice of heauen, God laied vpon him our sinnes, and he willingly submitted himselfe, to the burden of our sinnes, to the curse of the law, to the death of the crosse, and to the wrath of his father, for those sinnes of ours. Excellent to this purpose is the testimonie of Esaie speaking more like an Euangelist, or an apostle, then like a Prophet, saying. He was wounded* 1.5 for our transgressions, hee was broken for our iniquities, the chastisment of our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was vpon him and with his stripes are we healed: all we like sheepe haue gone astray, we haue turned euery one to his owne wai•…•…▪ and the Lord hath laied vpon him the ini∣quitie of vs all. We are the men that haue sinned and gone astray from God: stripes woundes and death were due to vs for sinnes: God imputed to him our

sinnes, and he was contented to stand before God a sinner in our name. The stripes, the woundes, the death, that we deserued, hee receiued sustained and in∣dured for vs. Thus iustice is satisfied & our sinnes being in him punished, it were iniustice to punish the same sinnes againe in them that plead the suffringes of Iesus for them. Thus are his stripes our cure, his woundes our health▪ and his death our life. Vnto that saying of Esaie, let vs ad another of the Apostle* 1.6 Saint Paul. Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the law, when hee was made a curse for vs, for it is written, cur∣sed is euery one that hangeth on tree, that the blessing of Abraham might come vp∣on the gentiles through Iesus Christ. The law curseth euery one that abideth not in all that is written in that booke to doe it, and we haue failed in all, or in most, and the sentence of the curse did lie vpon vs, then it pleased the Lord Iesus Christ by yeelding himselfe to the cursed death of the crosse, to take vpon him the curse that should haue fallen vp∣on vs. So was iustice executed according to that sentence of the law, & iustice so

satisfied giueth waie to mercy, for the curse being borne by Iesus Christ, the blessing promised to Abraham is our inheritance. Here the one halfe of thy feare is remoued, because in the death of Iesus Christ iustice hath receiued sa∣tisfaction for thy sinnes, if thou plead this satisfaction, by what iustice art thou to be punished for thy sinnes.

The other halfe of thy feare is this,* 1.7 that the holines of heauen will neuer suffer such an vncleane sinner, as thou art to enter into the kingdome of God, to remoue this feare, vnderstand that the same Lord Iesus Christ, that bare ou•…•… sinnes imputed to him, and suffered for them, to satisfie iustice, doeth also inuest and cloth vs with his perfect righteous∣nes both originall and actuall impu•…•…ed to vs, that all our vnrighteousnes and vncleanenes both originall and actuall, being therewith hidden and couered from the view of God most holy, wee might appeare cleane & spotles in him, to the satisfying of the holines of hea∣uen. Therefore is it that Paul saith, speaking of Iesus. God hath made him to be sinne for vs, which knew no sinne, that

we should be made the righteousnes of God in him. This place plainely sheweth, that God made an exchang betweene Iesus Christ and vs. He knew no sinne, that is, he had no acquaintance nor fel∣lowship with sinne, in him was no sinne, to deserue death. That sinne abounded in vs, and God laied it vpon Iesus, and he died for it. On the other side we had no righteousnes, no righteousnes of God, that is no such pure and perfect righteousnes as God requireth, and as might commend vs vnto God, to be ad∣mitted for it into heauen. That righte∣ousnes was in Iesus Christ who fulfilled all righteousnes, keeping the law, bea∣ring perfect loue both to God & man, and performing all offices pertaining to that loue: and that righteousnes of his doth God impute vnto vs, making vs righteous in him. Therefore is it that the Prophet Ieremie calleth him the Lord our righteousnes. And this* 1.8 is the name whereby they shall call him the Lord our righteousnes. Not our iusti∣fier, that pardoning our sin•…•…, pronounc∣eth vs righteous, by holding vs excused (which thing also verely he doeth for

vs) but our righteousnes, because in him we are accepted, and his righteousnes offered vnto God for vs, is accepted as our righteousnes, and the reward of it is giuen vnto vs. His righteousnes is our righteousnes, yea hee himselfe is our righteousnes, and in him we are righte∣ous. not without reference vnto that place of the Prophet Ieremie, doeth the Apostle Paul say thus of him. You are of* 1.9 him in Iesus Christ, who of God is made vnto vs wisdome, and righteousnes, and sanctification, and redemption. First he is made vnto vs wisdome, that is, in him, and by the knowledge of him, wee at∣taine vnto that wisdome, which only is worthy of that name, which philosophie, and all the religions in the world (the Gospell of Iesus Christ excepted) could neuer afford vs, for this wisdome mak∣eth vs wise vnto saluation. secondly, he is made vnto vs righteousnes, that is, by the imputation of his righteousnes vnto vs we are accepted as righteous and ho∣ly, and are in him righteous and holy. Thirdly he is made vnto vs sanctificati∣on, that is, in him, and by the vertue of his death and resurreotion, we are reco∣uered

out of the dominion of sinne, and haue power giuen vs to keepe vnder, suppresse, & mortifie our earthly mem∣bers, and carnall lusts, and doe, euen in this sinfull world, make beginning to serue God in holines and righteousnes, with sinceritie and truth of heart. Lastly he is giuen to be vnto vs redemption, that is, when we are once made wise by the knowledge of him, and are iustified by his imputed righteousnes, & sancti∣fied by his quickning grace, we shall in the end vndoubtedly come to full re∣demption in heauen by him. And by his meanes, thou which of thy selfe art an vncleane person, such an one as the holines of heauen may iustly denie en∣trance vnto, art made in Iesus Christ a most holy and pure person, worthily ad∣mitted by the holines of God to enter into glory. And this other part of thy feare, and so thy whole obiected feare is remoued: the iustice of God that will haue sinne punished, and the holines of God that will suffer no vncleane thing to stand before him, both hauing receiu∣ed full satisfaction in the mediation of Iesus Christ: Iustice in his death suffred

for vs, and holines in his perfect obedi∣ence and righteousnes imputed vnto vs: & so free way is made for the mercy of God (which thou foolishly callest pro∣digall mercy. For nothing euer was with more wise prouision bestowed) to come vnto thee, & to forgiue thy great and abominable sinnes, and to saue a great and an abominable sinner.

Now therefore fall to praier, & in the* 1.10 name of so gracious a mediator, intreat the most merciful & louing God, to for∣giue thy sins, & to receiue thee to fauor.

And for thy incouragement, first vn∣derstand, that without exception of any* 1.11 sin, whether in time of ignorance or of knowledge, vnaduisedly or aduisedly done, the Lord Iesus Christ hath giuen thee leaue, yea hee hath commanded thee to craue the forgiunes of thy sins, teaching and commanding thee to say vnto God. Forgiue vs our sinnes. Looke then vpon the sinnes that▪ lye so heauie* 1.12 vpon thy conscience, & marke thē well, and if thou findest them to be thine (as i•…•… most like thou shalt) know that thou hast leaue giuen thee, and art also com∣manded, to be a suitor for the forgiuenes

of them, whatsoeuer they be, being sins.

And consider by whom this leaue, and this commandement is giuen thee: euen by him that is appointed to be the iudge of quicke and dead, who while he giu∣eth thee leaue & commandement, hath also himselfe drawne the petition for thee, by which thou art commanded and permitted to craue the forgiuenes. And surely it is a beginning of mercy granted, to grant thee leaue, and to im∣bolden thee with a commandement to aske for mercy, his rule being. Aske and* 1.13 it shall be giuen thee. And it is not with out hope, yea great hope of forgiuenes of sins, when the iudge that hath power to grant it, doth both permit thee, com∣mand thee, & instruct thee how •…•…o craue it. This being also on of his rulers, in the fore remēbred place. Seek & ye shall find.* 1.14

Secondly to incorage thee further, vnderstand, that without exception of* 1.15 any sinne whether in time of ignorance or of knowledge, vnaduisedly or advis∣edly done, almighty God, against whom thy sinne is commited, and whose heauie wrath for thy sinnes thou art so greatly afraid of, hath promised both to

forgiue and forget thy sins, saying. I will* 1.16 forgiue their iniquitie, and will remember their sinnes no more. And when doeth God giue this promise, but when hee maketh a couenant with his people, whereby he bindeth himselfe vnto them And what shall we say? was not God aduised of his owne meaning, and con∣siderate, when he made this promise who can say otherwise of the most wise God, but that he was aduised. Or did he dissemble, or promise this fainedly? when he had no meaning to performe it? who can say otherwise of the God of trueth, but that he fully intended to performe his promise? or hath hee for∣gotten now▪ what hee promised then, that by this meanes, his promise should be as no promise, because not remem∣bred to be euer giuen? who can imagine this of that God, who knew all his owne workes from▪ the beginning, to whom all times both past and to come are euer present, and of whom the Prophet saith. He hath alwaies remembred his couenant,* 1.17 and promise that hee made to a thousand generations. Looke then againe vpon the sinnes, that are so heauie vpon thy

conscience, and marke them well, and if they be thy sinnes (which thou canst not denie) as the Lord Iesus hath giuen thee leaue by his commandement, to aske forgiuenes, so God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ, hath promised to grant thee forgiuenes of them. Here is a dore of mercy set wide open; enter con∣fidently, but humbly with thy praier in the name of Iesus the mediator. Thou hast the promise of the God of trueth, of that God whose word is his deed, who saith. As I haue spoken, so will I bring it* 1.18 to passe. And what, or whome shouldest thou now be afraid of.

Notes

• * 1.1

  His second obiection from the iustice and holines of heauen.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 5. 4.
• * 1.3

  Answere to this obiecti∣on from the iustice and holines of heauen.
• * 1.4

  First con∣cerning iustice.
• * 1.5

  Es•…•…y. 53. 5.
• * 1.6

  Gal•…•…. 3. 3.
• * 1.7

  Secondly concerning holines.
• * 1.8

  Ierem. 2•…•…. 6.
• * 1.9

  1. Cor. 1. 30.
• * 1.10

  Incourage∣ment vpon this answere
• * 1.11

  Because he is permit∣ted & com∣manded to aske forgiu∣nesse.
• * 1.12

  Lnke. 11. 4
• * 1.13

  Mat. 7. 7.
• * 1.14

  Mat. 7. 7.
• * 1.15

  Because God hath promised to grant for∣giuenesse.
• * 1.16

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 3•…•…. 34
• * 1.17

  Psal. 150. 1•…•….
• * 1.18

  Esay. 46. 11