A day-starre for darke-wandring soules shewing the light, by a Christian controuersie: or briefely and plainely setting forth the mysterie of our saluation. Diuided into principles, obiections, and answeres. By Richard Niccolls, th'elder, of the Inner Temple London, Gent. deceased. Published for the generall benefit of all those who heartily, and with a true path desire their owne saluation: by I.C.

Notes vpon the ninth Principle.

THE Gifts and Calling of * 1.1 God are without repentance, and with him there is no variable∣nosse or shaddow of change, as God doth testifie of himselfe, I * 1.2 am the Lord, and I change not. Wee cannot attribute vnto GOD * 1.3 any change of decree, counsell, or will, concerning election or re∣probation, vvithout vvicked blas∣phemie: for he that changeth his decree, his counsell, or his vvill, doth it because he seeth he might haue beene better aduised, or be∣cause hee seeth he could not haue brought his purpose to passe, as he would, both which doe argue imperfection and weakenesse, which are abhorring and farre from the nature of God, who is most per∣fect, and infinite in his Wisedome, Will, and Power, and in all his at∣tributes.

Whatsoeuer pleaseth the * 1.4 Lord that doth hee, both in Heauen and in Earth, and in all places: and hee saith of himselfe, my Counsell shall stand, and my Will shall be done. * 1.5 Therefore it is doubtlesse true, that some whom God hath elected to Saluation, shall certainely be sa∣ued, and others whom God hath reprobated shall certainely be con∣demned. But how may a man assure himselfe that hee is of the number of them vvho are by God elected and chosen to saluation? The Pa∣pist saith, because predestination to saluation and reprobation is in God, and not in vs, no man can as∣sure himselfe of his election to sal∣uation, except that God doe ex∣presly by some Angell outwardly, or spirit inwardly, say vnto him that he is predestinated to life euer∣lasting. After which sort Saint Paul and some few other Saints had * 1.6 their predestination reuealed vnto them: and to confirme their opi∣nion,

they alledge, that no man knoweth the secrets of God, but the spirit of GOD, as no man knoweth the secrets of man but the spirit of man who is in him. Against which the true beleeuer saith, that God is not to be tyed to speciall reuelations onely. For by o∣ther meanes also hee doth reueale vnto euery true beleeuer the cer∣taintie and sure knowledge of his election to saluation. For, saith the true beleeuer, although that God doth not by any speciall reue∣lation say vnto mee particularly and by na•…•…e, thou art elect and predestinated to life euerlasting: yet by the cooperation of his holy spirit, ioyned in my heart with his word, I am by the generall propo∣sitions of the Word instructed and assured, that I am predestinated and elected to life euerlasting. As for example, the Scripture teach∣eth generally, that this is the will of God, that euery man who belee∣le•…•…ueth

in Christ should haue euerla∣sting * 1.7 life: from which generall pro∣position by the inward perswasion of the holy Ghost. I perswade my selfe by the certaintie of mine ele∣ction to saluation, because by ex∣perience I finde and know, that by the ministerie of GODS Word is wrought in mee sauing faith vvhich alwayes is grounded vpon the cer∣taine knowledge of Gods promises reuealed in his Word, and not vp∣on ignorant presumption, and vaine imaginations. Againe, the Scrip∣ture generally teacheth, that as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the Sonnes of God, and if * 1.8 Sonnes, Heires also of eternall life. From which generall proposition, I perswade my selfe, that I am cer∣tainely an heire of eternall life. First, because by the cooperation of the Spirit of God, with the do∣ctrine of the Law. I finde my hard stonie heart softened and my con∣science pricked and wounded, while

I apply vnto my selfe the curses of Gods Law, and his fearefull punish∣ments prepared for the wicked. Secondly, because by the further cooperation of the same spirit with the doctrine of the Gospell, I doe not onely finde CHRIST IESVS crucified, to be the one∣ly sufficient meanes to free all men from Gods curses and punishments, but also I relie vpon him onely for mine owne saluation. Thirdly, be∣cause I doe not onely loue Christ, (who loued me first, and gaue him∣selfe for me) and all true Christians and his doctrine, and all his com∣mandements, but also I loath sinne, and my selfe for my sinnes, I desire nothing so much as by all meanes to be deliuered from sinne, and wholy to serue God in holinesse and righteousnesse.

Now for so much as I doe, and boldly may, by the Word of God, assure my selfe, that these things cannot possibly proceed from my

sinnefull and corrupt flesh, nor from the Diuell, but they are the proper and only worke of the holy Ghost, I being thus led by the spirit of God, may out of the said generall proposition assure my selfe that I am one of his sonnes, and therefore am heire of eternall life. And in like manner from other generall pro∣positions of the Scripture euery true beleeuer or regenerate person by the applying the same to him∣selfe, may make himselfe sure, and certainely know, that hee is by God elected to saluation, and that how vveake soeuer his Faith bee, and how often soeuer by frailtie he sinneth, yet (because Gods vvill and election is vnchangeable) hee shal neuer be remoued from the state of saluation, whereunto hee is effectually called, but shall haue life euerlasting and eternall glory in Heauen. The true beleeuer standeth not in his owne strength, but he is kept by the power of God through faith vnto * 1.9

saluation. It is God which stablisheth * 1.10 him in Christ, his life is hid with Christ in God.

Obiection.

It is a proud and Hereticall ar∣rogancie and presumption (say the Papists) for a miserable Sin∣ner to assure himselfe that he shall bee saued: and to confirme their opinion, they alledge these places of Scripture, and many others: Passe the time of your dwelling here * 1.11 in feare. Blessed is the man who fea∣reth alwayes. Be not high minded, but feare. M•…•…ke an end of your Sal∣uation with feare and trembling.

Answere.

The true Beleeuer doth not ground the assurance of his salua∣tion vpon his owne vvorkes, or worthinesse (for that •…•…ere indeed proud Arrogancie, and Hereticall Presumption) but hee groundeth the assurance of his Saluation vp on the mercifull and immutable Promise of GOD onely, which is

no Presumption, or Arrogancie, but true Christian Humilitie, gi∣uing all glory to God. And the more that the true Beleeuer thus groundeth his assurance vpon God onely, renouncing vtterly all wor∣thinesse of his owne, and feareth his owne weakenesse, the more hee is stirred vp to pray vnto God for his assistance: and by experience hee findeth the assistance of Gods ho∣ly Spirit granted vnto him: and the more that hee findeth by experi∣ence Gods loue and fauour towards him, in giuing vnto him the assi∣stance of his holy Spirit, the more hee loueth God and feareth to of∣fend so gracious and mercifull a God; and more and more learnes to di∣strust his owne worthinesse, and to cleaue onely to Gods power and assistance, and to assure himselfe of his Loue and Fauour vnto the end. Therfore Dauid ioyned these together; Serue the Lord in feare, and reioyce in trembling, Psal. 11. 2.

Noting thereby, that Gods Chil∣dren feare, yea, euen tremble in re∣gard of their owne infirmities and corruptions, and yet at the same time they are filled with ioy, in re∣spect of their full assurance of Gods loue and fauour, and of their owne Saluation.

Obiection.

The true Beleeuer cannot haue certaine knowledge and assurance of his saluation, because his Faith is full of doubting, which Faith is op∣posed to full assurance.

Answere.

The true Beleeuer is to be considered in his two parts: the Flesh and the Spirit; the part regene∣rate & the part v•…•…regenerate, which continually fight and striue one against the other. And as the par∣ties themselues are opposite, so are their qualities and fruits: for in the Spirit is Faith, Hope, Loue, Zeale, Ioy in the Holy Ghost, and such other sanctifying graces▪ In the Flesh is

Doubting, Infidelitis, hatred of God, Presumption, Desperation, Coldnesse, Dulnesse, yea, Deadnesse in Religion, Seruile Feare, Horror, and such like Corruptions, so as wee may say with the Apostle, I know that in my flesh (that is, in my vnregeneate part) dwelleth no goodnesse: and sometimes the one, and sometimes the other hath the vpper-hand, and yet alwayes retaine their owne nature and properties. So that it cannot be denyed, but that the Faith of the true Beleeuer (which is an infused grace of the Spirit) is assaulted of doubting: but this doubting being a fruit of vnbeliefe, which is an inbred corruption of the Flesh, cannot be a commen∣dable virtue of Faith (as the Pa∣pists doe teach) neyther is it of the nature of Faith, which in it selfe is certaine and assured and not doubt∣ing: neyther is it any way incident vnto Faith, but it is a fruit of vnbe∣liefe, which is opposed vnto Faith,

Rom. 4. 20. And consequently, though Faith be assaulted of doubt∣ing, yet in it owne nature it doth re∣maine certaine and assured, and still lyeth sucking nourishment out of Gods gracious Promises, and still retaineth its propertie of certaine perswasion, though in the conflict with doubting, it doth not exercise it so manifestly, and in such mea∣sure, as before and after the Con∣flict of temptations: And no more is doubting (comming vnto the true Beleeuer from the boysterous blasts of Infidelitie, being a fruit of the Flesh) of the Nature of faith, being a fruit of the Spirit, then the shaking of a tree (comming from a tempest of winde by outward ac∣cident) is of the nature of the tree.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 11. 29.
• * 1.2

  Iam. 1. 16.
• * 1.3

  Matth. 13. 6.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 135. 6.
• * 1.5

  Esa 46. 10.
• * 1.6

  1 Cor 2. 16.
• * 1.7

  Ioh. 6. 40.
• * 1.8

  Rom. 8. 14. 17
• * 1.9

  1 P•…•…t. 14.
• * 1.10

  1 Cor. 1. 21. Col. 3. 3.
• * 1.11

  1 Pet. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Pro. 28. 14. Rom. 1•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Phil. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.