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Hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and faith, is a sure possession of some measure of them.
IF man bee grieued for his vnbeliefe, and wish, & striue that it may bee o∣therwise; he hath the roote
of faith in him, from whence commeth this? but from a secret loue and liking which hee had of those things that are beleeued: no man can loue things which in his owne opinion are not▪ and if they thinke those things to be, which they shew that they loue, when they desire to beleeue them: then must it needs be, that by desiring to beleeue, they proue them∣selues true beleeuers; for without faith no man thinketh that things belee∣ued are: This Argument all the subtilty of infemall pow∣ers will neuer be able to dis∣solue.
Man may remain faith∣full
in weakenesse, though weake in faith.
Such is our weake and weaning nature, that wee haue no sooner receiued grace, but wee are ready to fall from it, for many and grieuous downe-falls haue beleeuers, yet still continue inuincible though we finde in our selues a most willing heart to cleaue inseparably to God, euen so farre, as to think vnfainedly with Peter, Lord I am ready to goe with thee into prison and death: yet how soone and how easily, vpon how small occasions, are wee changed, if wee bee but a while let alone, and left vnto our selues, for the
higher wee flow, the nereer we are to an ebbe, if men be respected as meere men, ac∣cording to the wonted course of their alterable in∣clination, without the hea∣uenly support of the Spirit.
The assurance of our saluation is many times ac∣companied with feares & doubts, which doe perplex the soule of the most righteous.
The true worke of Faith, is, to assure vs of Gods loue, and to enioy that comfort, without let to cherish the same, and resist the contra∣ry,
but the weaknesse of our faith, and strength of cor∣ruption is such, that we doe not alwayes attaine these, but as in the practice of good actions we sometime reioyce, and finding great infirmity in sinning, wee mourne for them, (such change by turnes are in the most regenerate) so in faith, wherein we receiue a Testi∣mony of Gods loue, there is a change, because we appre∣hend not this assurance im∣mediatly, as a principle, but by collection or conclusiō: so the alteration is in appre∣hēding of the premises wher¦upon the cōclusiō arose: for Gods promises and effects of grace appeare not al∣wayes the same: yea, some∣times
contrarie.
The seedes of vnbeliefe are naturally sowne in vs, which euer casteth vp ob∣iections.
Our heart by nature is full of mire & dirt, which trou∣ble the springs of the water of life,* 1.1 and therefore the dayes of faith are like the dayes of the yeere, some faire, some foule, some times in hell as it were, sometimes mounted to heauen, some times triumphing, some∣times striuing, euer counting what it hath felt, striuing to the same again, euer in feares
running vnto God, expect∣ing better seeing a glimpse of light in darknesse, of hope in despaire, of comfort in distresse, of life in death, of heauen in hell, and if they lose the sight hereof, yet re∣couered it soone againe.
Often God leaues vs to our selues, that wee may take the faster hold when we returne againe.
The taste of loue is the sweeter, and the ioy the lar∣ger, when we come to it out of the flouds of tentations, For afflictions brings forth pa∣tience,* 1.2
and patience experiēce, and experience hope; while by this meanes the loue of God is spred abroad in our hearts, by the holy Spirit which is giuen vs: the more trees on the tops of hils are blasted, the deeper roote they take.
True faith euer giueth assurance, which is the greater, by how much our faith is the greater, and weakenesse of our assu∣rance argueth the weake∣nesse of faith.
Euen in the true faith, there* 1.3 is degrees (for there is
variety of gifts) which how little soeuer it be,* 1.4 yet is able to saue vs: that thou mayst learne what it is whereunto thou art to striue,* 1.5 reioycing in that thou hast atttained to already, and to pray for that which is behinde, that God would increase thy faith: fee∣ling of imperfections is the common frailety of all Gods children: and faith, that it may bee strong, must haue time to grow,* 1.6 and haply see∣meth weake to thee, when it is strong to God:* 1.7 For the ioy of the faithfull is as a gar∣den enclosed.
As faith is by hearing, so it is ordinarily increa∣sed* 1.8
by preaching, whereun∣to the weake beleeuer must attend.
* 1.9Preachers are Proclama∣tors, which teach euery be∣leeuer their interrest in the matters of saluation, which apprehend the promises vp∣on conscience of their owne repentance,* 1.10 and faith: for where the seede shall grow, there it shall bring forth the fruite of faith, and it shall bring forth eternall life, for this assurance is giuen by the mouth of the Minister, by the word of Christ, which the faith of the hearer apprehendeth: the man warmeth the bed, & the bed
warmeth him: euery man hath not accesse to the priuy seale, but by the imprint there of in waxe, he knoweth it to be the priuy Seale.
It is the Lord that gi∣ueth a heart to heare the voyce of Christ deliue∣red by the minister out of the Gospell.
My owne heart could ne∣uer minister comfort vnto mee, which is deceitfull a∣boue all things, and is ra∣ther cast downe with ac∣knowledgement of misery, and therefore wee must di∣cerne
betwixt the true assu∣rance of the heart, from car∣nall presumption, & floating fancies swimming in the head: for true assurance is accompanied with the Spirit of grace and prayer,* 1.11 by which the heart is conformed to the voyce of God, with ioy∣full acceptance and affecti∣onate desire of that which is vttered thereby, which is the fruite of the spirit of adop∣tion,* 1.12 which beareth witnesse vn∣to our spirit, that wee are the sonnes of God, and beareth record that God hath giuen vs eternall life, for he is God that doth neitherly nor change whose foundation is sure,* 1.13 for hee knoweth them that are his.
Thou mayst be assured of the perpetuity of thy faith; for God will not forsake the worke which hee hath begunne.* 1.14
The reason is: because that he who beleeues in Christ,* 1.15 shall neuer be confounded, and his sheepe shall neuer perish, but he will giue them eternall life: and although the godly oft times fall, yet God is faithfull in his promise to them,* 1.16 I will put my feare in their hearts, and they shall not depart frō me: resting in this, that they not onely appre∣hend
Christ, but much more, that they are apprehended of Christ,* 1.17 and not that they know God onely, but that they are knowne of him, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance,* 1.18 so that whether they liue or die, they are the Lords, for no∣thing can separate them from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus, and therefore doe they boldly say, thy lo∣uing kindnesse and mercy shall follow mee all the dayes of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of God for euer.
Faith taketh hold of the particular apprehension, as to beleeue, that God is my
God, my life, peace, strength, deliuerance, and my saluation.
We must not beleeue on∣ly, that he is these things in himselfe, but that hee is in∣deed, the same to vs: for be∣cause God is ours, whatsoe∣uer is his, is ours, for vs, and for our vse, his mercy, his power, his prouidence to watch ouer vs, both in life and death, for by couenant hee bound himselfe to the heires of promise, I will bee their God,* 1.19 and they shall be my people, and againe, Loe, this is our God, and wee haue wayted for him, and hee will heare vs, we will reioyce and be ioyfull in
his saluation: for that Christ hath already done for thee, is a greater matter then that he promised: so thou beleeue not onely that thy sin may forgiuen thee, by his mercy, (which is a beginning or foundation of Christ) but also that thy sinnes are for∣giuen thee.
Faith is the fountaine of our loue towards God: for while wee beleeue he is so mercifull vnto vs, it swalloweth vp our affecti∣ons, and draweth our loue to him.
The loue arising of faith
so much felt in vs, assureth vs that wee are beloued of God, who loued vs first, and therefore place we the con∣fidence of our saluation in him onely, to whom wee are vnited and made one with him, in whom we are incor∣porated, as members of his bo∣dy: we dwell in him,* 1.20 and hee in vs, and as a faithfull Media∣tor, will performe the will of his heauenly Father:* 1.21 For of all that he hath giuen him, hee will lose nothing, but shall raise it vp at the last Day.
Our saluation hangeth not vpon the sufficiency of our faith, repentance, or righteousnesse: for they are
neuer such as they ought to be.
It is not the valew or worth of any thing in vs, that can merit pardon, but in faith there is a sincerity and truth required: For wee are Iustified freely by the grace of God,* 1.22 through the redemption which is in Christ Iesus, whom God hath set forth for an at∣tonement for vs by faith in his blood, onely by faith I say tha•• it may bee of grace that the promise may be sure to the seede,* 1.23 that through the name of Christ euery one that belee∣ued in him, shall haue forgiue∣nesse of sinnes: for as many as are vnder the workes of the
Law, are vnder the curse, for it is written,* 1.24 cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things that are written in the booke of the Law, to doe them: now the Law is not of faith, but (he sayth) he that doth these things shall liue in them.* 1.25 Yee are voyded of Christ: yee are fallen from grace, that will bee iustified by the Law, for if they which bee of the Law bee heires, then faith is made voyde, and the promise is made of none ef∣fect:* 1.26 if the inheritance bee by the Law, it is no longer by promise: but God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life, and this life is in his Sonne.
So eternall life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Neither yet shall we
euer haue that fulnesse of grace here, to keepe perfect∣ly the commandements: yet as grace increaseth, so wee increase in keeping of them in this life, and in the end, sinne being wholly abo∣lished for euer, we shall bee fully conformed to the I∣mage of righteousnesse, that God desired in the Law. Now Christ was circumci∣sed for vs: and he that is cir∣cumcised,* 1.27 is made debter to the whole Law, in the which cir∣cumcision hee entred bond for vs, and shed fewe drops of blood, as a pledge hee would shed all the rest for vs thereafter.
By the grace of God be∣gunne in vs, though mixed with many imperfections, our faith receiued further confirmatiō, that he which wrought this beginning of life, will go forward there∣with to the end.
God, who made vs par∣takers of one part of his promises, will also make vs partakers of the other, while wee take these first fruits of sanctification,* 1.28 as a pledge frō him of the performance of the whole: for if wee hunger
and thirst for righteousnesse, hate sinne, grone vnder the burden of it,* 1.29 hanging so fast on, this light of saluation shining in vs, though not fully cleere, may bee ouer∣cast with clouds, yet neuer shal haue any night, for God doth accept our endeuour, and pardon our defects, and not onely by Christs death, as by the death of our sacri∣fice, by the blood of his Crosse,* 1.30 as by the blood of the Paschall Lambe, the destroyer passeth our vs, and we shall not perish, but also by his death, as by the death of our high Priest (for hee is Priest and sacrifice both) we are restored frō our exile,* 1.31 euen to the former forfeited estate, to the lād of promise.
Our faith it selfe, is as infallable as the word of God that assured vs of it, but not alwayes so in our apprehension and feeling, for though the principall be true which wee beleeue, yet are wee iealous lest wee haue mis-applyed it to our selues.* 1.32
There are diuers degrees of faith, little faith, great faith,* 1.33 & full assurance of faith, euen as a weak eie & a strong eie, he weake eye seeth weake∣ly, and vnperfectly, and the strong eye seeth strongly,
and more fully discerneth the thing seene: a little faith beleeueth faintly, though truely greater faith belee∣ueth more stedfastly: full as∣surance of faith beleeueth vnder hope against hope: they were as wel saued from the biting sting of the veni∣mous serpents, which were young and could not well perceiue, and the old which were bleare and sore-eyed, when they looked vpon the brazen Serpent, as they that were vigorous strong, and of most quick sight. This we see in the Apostles, We beleeue (say they) and know that thou art Christ,* 1.34 the Sonne of the liuing God: which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was soone shaken, and ther∣fore our Sauior telleth thē,
that hee did forewarne them of his death, and resurrecti∣on,* 1.35 that when it was come to passe they might beleeue, not with a new faith, but repai∣red and increased. Peter vp∣on Christs word beleeued that he should bee saued in the water,* 1.36 but the faintnesse of his faith made him begin to sinke, and said, Master saue me: to whom he answe∣red, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? and so another time to the Disciples, which said, Ma∣ster, saue vs, we perish:* 1.37 Christ answered, Why are ye feare∣full, O ye of little faith? So this little faith is not voyd of doubt or feare, which is yet true faith, and maketh vs run to Christ; for some∣times
the godly by hasty co∣gitations, questioned their faith, and are ouer-taken, as Dauid in that case sayd, I am cast out of the sight of thy eyes:* 1.38 and therefore wee ought to pray,* 1.39 Lord increase our faith, that we may reioyce vnder the hope of the glory of God, which is the proper effect of faith, and to know by faith that wee haue eternall life, how∣beit by occasions wee be∣wray great infirmitie in the apprehension thereof.
Alwayes pray, and by faith rest assured,* 1.40 that vn∣doubtedly we haue that for which we pray according to his will.
We pray for forgiuenesse of sinnes, not for that wee haue not assurance therof, but for that we desire grea∣ter assurance, that our hearts may bee enlarged, that the testimony of the Spirit may more freely sound into vs, Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee; for our faith hath sometimes a full, sometimes a wane: as Peter confesseth Christ to be immortall; another while he is afraid Christ should die.* 1.41 Now here we walke by faith, and not by sight, and doe pray for the sight of that which we haue but by the comfort of faith & hope: so doe we beleeue that wee
are redeemed both in body and soule, and still yet we sigh in our selues,* 1.42 wayting for the ••••demption of our bodyes. So the Lord hath taken away Dauids sinne, and yet hee prayed, Haue mercy vpon me, O Lord,* 1.43 according to thy great goodnesse, according to the mul∣titude of thy mercies doe away my offences: then doe wee pray we may inioy by reali∣tie & possession, that which we beleeue, we already haue in Gods affection.
We must withdraw our eyes from our selues, and assuredly beleeue, that wee shall receiue in him that promised.
If we consider our meri•••• we must despaire; but wee must depend vpon his pro∣mise, and his oath,* 1.44 that by two immutable things, wherein it is vnpossible that God should lye, we might haue strong consola∣tion, which haue our refuge to lay hold vpon that hope that is set before vs: and this is a commendable presumption when wee challenge God vpon his owne bond, and not vpon any sufficiency of our workes. Wherein, not∣withstanding faith receiueth comfort and strength, by the good fruits and effects of grace, in the feare and loue of God, in faithfull care and
conscience & duty towards God and men, tokens of Gods secret election, fore∣••••kens of future happinesse: so that a man called to God by fear, and framed to righ∣teousnesse by loue, presu∣mes that hee is of the num∣ber of them that shall bee blessed.
To proue whether wee be in the faith, is to prooue whether Christ be in vs, for truly, faith is that whereby Christ dwel∣leth in our hearts.
Wee* 1.45 haue receiued not the
spirit of this world, but the spi∣rit which is of God, that wee may know the things that are giuen vs of God. The origin•••••• of all other gifts, is the gi∣uing of Christ vnto vs, For vnto vs a child is borne, and vnto vs a Sonne is giuen,* 1.46 in whom all the promises of God are, yea, and amen: and for his sake first made, and in him performed,* 1.47 whom the Fa∣ther giuing to vs, and for vs, had a 1.48 altogether with him gi∣uen vs all things b 1.49, the gift of the Spirit, the c 1.50 gift of repen∣tance, the gift d 1.51 of faith, the gift of e 1.52 righteousnesse, the gift of f 1.53 loue, the gift of suffe∣ring g 1.54 for Christ, the g••ft of h 1.55 all things pertaining to life and godlinesse, the i 1.56 gift of eternall life; yea, all manner k 1.57 spiri∣tuall
blessings in heauenly thing, these be the vnsearch∣able riches of Christ, preached ••••to the Gentiles, a mystery which from the beginning of the world was hid in God, and not opened to the sonnes of men; nay, not to the very Angels was it knowne, so that when it was done, they did euen desire and delight to looke vnto it;* 1.58 the accomplish∣ment of which riches, is in the ioy of heauen. And so now we are the sonnes of God, but yet we know not what wee shall be: for sinnes depriued vs of Paradise, a place on earth; but by the purchase of his blood, wee are intitled to a farre higher, euen the Kingdome of heauen: and his blood is not onely the
blood of remission, to acquit vs of our sins, but the blood of the Testament to be∣queath vs,* 1.59 and giue vs estate in that heauenly inheritance: and all these things wee haue by faith in him, by which hee purified our hearts, and dwel∣leth therein by his Spirit, whose Temples we are.
As wee haue a measure of true righteousnesse a∣gainst sinne, wherein wee doubt not but God accepted vs, so haue we also a mea∣sure of true assurance against all feare and doubt, whereby our hearts rests perswaded, that God
will for euer preserue vs.
God our wise father, both giueth comfort to his children, and also prouideth to keepe them within their bounds, that tasting of the ioy of saluation, and finding it thence-forth bitter and grieuous vnto themselues, to be distracted by perplex∣ities and feares from the quiet enioying thereof, they may the more carefully en∣deuour to cleaue fast vnto him, & beware of any thing that should interrupt their ioyfull peace. We are ready by corruptiō to abuse com∣forts, and therefore God so ordereth the same, that they
are euer out of our owne na∣ture or afflictions, nipping and snipping vs, that wee grow not proud, and rely on our selues to the destruction of our selues. God maketh sin the whetstone of righteous∣nesse; and affliction & trou∣ble of minde, by distresse and fearefull doubts, whetteth and sharpeneth our faith and assurance, which by fighting increased, and the longer it wrastled, the stronger it waxed: as a man in danger of drowning, catcheth for hold to saue himselfe, so God sendeth variety of di∣sturbances, that the minde should not gnaw and waste it selfe away; whereof the one is drawne away with the other, that wee should
not be steeped and dissolued with sorrow,* 1.60 for if God cor∣rect with the rod of men, his mercy hee doth neuer take a∣way.
By this wee may know, we are in God, and God in vs, because hee hath giuen vs of his Spirit; which pro∣mised to men fellowship with himselfe, immortali∣ty to vs mortall, Iustifica∣tion to sinners glorificati∣on to vs being abiects.
The originall of all this consisted in Gods election,
wherein he hath made vs his children and heires touching the hope of euerlasting life,* 1.61 which we expect by title of inheritance, not by purchase of merit, hauing receiued for earnest and pledge ther∣of the spirit of Christ, sancti∣fying and preparing vs thereto:* 1.62 for not of the works of righteousnesse which we haue done, but of his mercy hath hee saued vs. Iohn the Baptist sayd, he was not worthy to loose the lachet of his shooe, who can then be thought worthy of that heauenly Kingdome? The Centurion of whom Christ gaue testimony, that he found not so great faith, no,* 1.63 not in Israel, cōfessed of him∣selfe,* 1.64 I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe,
who then is worthy to enter vnder the roofe of heauen? but euery faithfull man may say with Daniel, To thee, O Lord,* 1.65 belongeth righteousnesse, but vnto vs belongeth confusi∣on of face: and with Dauid, Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant,* 1.66 O Lord for in thy sight no man liuing shall bee iustified: and againe, If thou straitly marke what is done a∣misse,* 1.67 who shall bee able to stand?
By what our faith assu∣res vs of present standing,* 1.68 by the same, and as farre it secures vs against fu∣ture falling.
Faith looketh vpon God as a Father, who himselfe teacheth all his children, that they may be sure to learne:* 1.69 as a good shepheard, that so ga∣thered the sheepe, that none of them shall bee lacking: as a good husbandman, that so sen∣ced his vine,* 1.70 & keepeth it night and day, that none assault to hurt it: as a Rocke, strong & sure,* 1.71 that the gates of hell shall not preuaile against the Church of the faithfull, that are foun∣ded and builded vpon it. It lookes vpon Gods promise, I will put my feare into their hearts,* 1.72 that they shall not de∣part from me: It looketh in∣to the Mediation of Christ,
who had not prayed for Pe∣ter onely, That his faith might not faile,* 1.73 but for all that be∣leeue in him,* 1.74 Holy father, keepe them in thy name; wherefore wee are kept by the power of God,* 1.75 through faith vnto salua∣tion.
Hee that keepeth vs by faith, must be vnderstood to keepe our faith, not by any power of ours, but by his onely power; for the gifts and calling of God are without re∣pentance; whom hee called and iustified, them hee glorified: because hee called and iusti∣fied none, but whom he had predestinated to glory, and therefore giueth them per∣seuerance for the attaine∣ment of the same glory: Yea and they also account all things
but losse, for the excellent know∣ledge of Christ Iesus our Lord, and doe iudge them but dung,* 1.76 that they may win Christ, and bee found in him, not hauing their owne righteousnesse which is by the Law.
There was neuer any meere naturall man (for Christ was God also) void of all sinne.
Surely, if any at any time was, it must be she, who by speciall prerogatiue nine moneths togither, entertai∣ned Christ within the closet of her slesh, the hope of all the
ends of the earth, the honor of the world, the common ioy of men, but hee of whom all things had their beginnings had his beginning from her, of whose body he tooke the blood which was to be shed for the world, yet of her hee tooke that, which for her he payed.
The world cannot shew a righteous man, much lesse perfectly righteous; but Christ is made to vs wisedome,* 1.77 reuealing his Fathers will; Iu∣stice in offering himselfe a sa∣crifice for sinne: Sanctificati∣ō because he hath giuen vs his spirit: Redemption, because he had appointed a day to vindicat his children out of the hands of corruption,* 1.78 into a glorious li∣berty.
There is a glorifying righteousnes in the world to come, as there is a iusti∣fying & sanctifying righ∣teousnesse here.
The righteousnesse where∣with we shall bee clothed in the world to come, is both perfect and inherent: that whereby here wee are iusti∣fied (such as is the faith of Abraham) is perfect but not inherent;* 1.79 that whereby wee are sanctified (the workes of Abraham) is inherent,* 1.80 but not perfect: for the righte∣ousnesse wherein we must be found (if wee will bee iusti∣fied) is not our owne;
for in Christ God findeth vs; and the man altogether vn∣righteous, beeing found in Christ, through faith God putteth away his sin, by not imputing the same, takes quite away the punishment due thereunto by pardo∣ning it, and accepted him in Christ Iesus as perfectly righteous, as if he had fulfil∣led all that was commanded him in the law, for God made him sinne for vs,* 1.81 who knew no sinne, that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him; that is, such we are in the sight of God the Father, as is the very Sonne of God himselfe; this is, all men had sinned, God had suffered, God had made himselfe the sonne of man, and men are
made the righteousnesse of God;* 1.82 and the grace which e∣lected vs is no grace at all, if it elect vs for our workes sake.
There is no mans case so dangerous as his, whom Satan had perswaded, that his own righteousnesse shal present him pure & blame∣lesse in the sight of God.
The more wee haue our fruite in holinesse, the more we abound therein, the more neede we haue to craue that wee may bee supported and strengthned: our very ver∣tues are snares vnto vs, it is
harder for Sathan to ouer∣throw an humble sinner, thē a proud Sainct: if we could say (as we cannot doe) wee are guilty of nothing, God sees farther into our hearts, then we our selues can doe: with hands we neuer offered vio∣lence, yet a bloody thought doth prooue vs murtherers before him, our secret cogi∣tations are laid in the eyes of God, and our best things intermingled with many de∣fects. God respects the in∣tention of the doer, which is seldome vpright: our best actions are prayers, but how in them are wee distracted? little reuerence to the great Maiestie of God, little re∣morse of our owne miseries, little influence of his mer∣cies,
doe wee feele, vnwilling to beginne, and glad to make an end: wherefore wee must euer say, Lord beare with our infirmities, and pardon our offences.* 1.83
Onely man can escape the iudgement of God, by appealing to the seate of his sauing mercy.
God had fixed the li∣mits of his sauing mercy within the compasse of these terms:
God sent not his Sonne to con∣demne the world,* 1.84 but that the world thorow him might be sa∣ued, and thereafter mercy is restrained to beleeuers, for he that beleeues, shall not be condemned, hee that beleeues not is condemned already, be∣cause he beleeues not in the Son of God: and in another place mercy is restrained to the penitent: Of Iesabel and her sectaries, thus hee spake, I gaue her space to repent,* 1.85 and she repented not, behold I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit fornication with her, into a great affliction, ex∣cept they repent them of their work••s, and I will kill her children with death. If thou be therefore not altogether faithlesse and impenitent,
there is mercy in store for thee abundantly.
Faith is the fountaine of prayer, and God in kee∣ping of our faith, continu∣eth our prayer, because the stream cannot faile so long as the fountaine faileth not.
Prayer is the breath of faith, which neuer ceaseth to breathe so long as it is aliue. Prayers are the beames of faith, if the light of faith bee not quenched, it certainely sendeth forth these beames
of prayer: wherefore they neuer giue ouer to pray, that it may bee fulfilled in them which is promised, Euery one that calleth vpon the name of God shall be saued.* 1.86 God vseth instruction of the word and Sacraments, and correction of crosses and tentation, to preserue both faith & pray∣er: by afflictions he fretteth off the rust, and blotteth a∣way the ashes of carnall ••e∣curity. Wherefore it is said, Lord in affliction they visited thee,* 1.87 they haue powred out a prayer when thy chastisement was vpon them. Thus God keepeth the fire of his Spirit continually burning in our hearts, opening our eares by his corrections,* 1.88 to cause vs to ceasse from our euill enter∣prizes,
and to heale our pride, and to keepe backe our soule from the pit.* 1.89 Where∣fore when wee are iudged wee are chastned of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world,
Doubting or distracting feare, cannot stand with assurance of faith, but aw∣full and regarding feare is an vndiuided compani∣on of true faith.
As feare is opposed to faith, we heare God appoin∣ting his Ministers to call his
people from it:* 1.90 Say vnto the fearefull, bee thou strong, feare not, behold our God commeth with vengeance, and hee will come and saue you: and againe, Feare not, for I am with thee, be not afraid,* 1.91 for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee and help•• thee, and sustaine thee with the hand of my Iustice: And againe, Feare not, for I haue redeemed thee, I haue called thee by name, thou art mine: And againe,* 1.92 Feare not, for thou shalt not be ashamed nor confounded: in righteousnesse shalt thou bee established, and be farre from feare; for it shall not come neere thee: this is the heritage of the Lords seruants, whose righteousnesse is of me: (for Christs merit is our righteousnesse.) And all this
is, because wee should rest in full assurance of safety without feare or doubt, be∣cause hee promised to pre∣uent all occasions whence any feare should arise: And so he deliuered them out of the hands of their enemies without feare:* 1.93 and Christ died that he might deliuer them,* 1.94 who for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage: and now wee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare a∣ny more,* 1.95 but the spirit of adop∣tion to cry abba Father; for God hath not giuen vs the spi∣rit of feare, but of power,* 1.96 and of loue, and of a sound minde: for there is no greater bon∣dage then that feare, when we are vncertaine what shall become of vs: but he said,
Feare not little flocke, for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the Kingdome.
Now that other com∣mendable feare doth not shake assurance of saluation, but the faithfull finding that in him, doth gather the grea∣ter assurance to himselfe. For the punishment of God is feare∣full vnto him that dreades Gods iudgements,* 1.97 abhor∣reth wicked courses, labou∣reth in righteousnesse, is strong in the Lord,* 1.98 and in the power of his might, and doe work their saluation with feare and trembling, with humility, and acknowledgement of their own frailety, and neuer to commit themselues to themselues, but to him who hath* 1.99 wrought all our workes
for vs;* 1.100 for by his owne might shall no man be strong.
Now there is difference betwixt absolute doubting, weake assenting, and inter∣ruption in assent with some feare; for the seeds of all im∣piety land in the corruption of the heart, whereby we are assaulted with doubt of the principall poynts of our be∣leefe; the wisedome, power, iustice, mercy of God; & yet do not wholly relinquish the assent thereof▪
In application of our ge∣nerall faith to particular occasions, wee many times goe halting and lame, and
stagger somewhat at that, whereof our faith should giue vs full assurance by the will of God.
Thus did Sarah cast doubt of Gods promise touching the hauing of a child,* 1.101 who yet is said through faith to haue receiued strength to conceiue when she was past age,* 1.102 because she iudged him faithfull that had promised. Thus did Mo∣ses call in question the po∣wer of God, as touching pro∣uiding flesh for the people of Isra∣el,* 1.103 when God promised so to do. So Dauid and Habacuck staggered as touching the prouidence of God,* 1.104 and his
care of the iust and righteous men. So did the Disciples murmure concerning the Godhead of Christ, and the hope of redemption by him, which before they had im∣braced: surely when we look vnto our selues in our grea∣test perfections, we are sub∣iect to that amazed di∣straction, as to say,* 1.105 Who shall ascend into heauen? as if Christ were not ascended to make way for vs: and Who shall descend into the deepe? as if Christ had not died to de∣liuer vs from thence: we can neuer satisfie our selues, how either to escape the one, or to attaine the other.
They are not faithlesse which are weake in assen∣ting to the truth.
As many as hold the foun∣dation, which is precious, thogh they hold it but weak∣ly, and as it were with a slen∣der thread; although they frame many base and vnsu∣table things vpon it, things that cannot abide the triall of fire,* 1.106 yet shall they passe the fiery triall, and be saued, which indeed, haue builded themselues vpon the Rocke, which is the foundation of the Church.* 1.107
The foundation of faith is not onely the generall ground whereupon we rest, when wee beleeue the wri∣tings of the Prophets and Apostles, but also it is the principall thing which is beleeued, that is Christ.
world. Which, who directly doth deny, doth vtterly rase the very foundation of faith: for Christ in the worke of mans saluation, is all, with∣out our workes: for hee is that seede in whom all the Na∣tions of the world shall be bles∣sed; and among men there is gi∣uen no other name vnder hea∣uen,* 1.111 whereby we must be saued; other foundation can no man lay.
The holy Spirit in the very moment when first he is giuen of God, bring∣eth with him infused ver∣tues, proper and peculiar to the Saincts of God.
There bee two kindes of christian righteousnesse, the one without vs, which wee haue by imputation; the o∣ther in vs, which consisteth of Faith, Hope, and Charity; as Abraham had not onely the one,* 1.112 because the things beleeued was imputed to him for righteousnesse, but also the other, because he offered vp his son. They are both Gods gifts, and the first by accep∣ting vs for righteous in Christ; and the second by working christian righte∣ousnesse in vs, by the spirit of adoption, which we haue receiued into our hearts; which maketh two kindes
of sanctifying righteous∣nesse, habituall and actu∣all.
The wicked haue not such faith as that where∣with a Christian man is iu∣stified.
It is the Spirit of God which worketh faith in the Elect; the things which they beleeue, are not apprehen∣ded onely as true, but also as good, and that to vs: as good they are not apprehended by the wicked, as true they are. The Christian the more
hee increaseth in faith, the more his ioy and comfort a∣boundeth: but they,* 1.113 the more sure they are of the truth,* 1.114 the more they quake and tremble at it; for the wicked doe rather wish that they might then thinke that they shall ceasse, when they ceasse to liue, because they hold it better that death should consume them into nothing,* 1.115 then God reuiue them vnto punishment. On the contrary, to the Elect there is no grief nor torment greater, then to feele their perswasion weake in things, whereof when they are per∣swaded, they reape such comfort and ioy of the Spi∣rit.
Faith giueth vs the com∣fort of saluation, because it beleeueth that, which the word of God hath deliue∣red, concerning them, in whom the signes & marks of our Election are found.
Faith giueth assurance of saluation by the Word of God, not only by apprehen∣ding the promise of life and saluation, but also obser∣uing such marks and tokens as the Word of God setteth down, to discerne them, vnto whom this saluation doth
appertaine: and therefore it doth not onely looke to that which Christ saith, that whosoeuer beleeueth shall haue euerlasting life;* 1.116 but because Christ also saith, hee that is of God heareth Gods word:* 1.117 there∣fore the faithful man deligh∣teth in the word of God, be∣leeueth concerning himselfe that he is of God, because the Apostle saith,* 1.118 Euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saued: and this also doth the faithfull man vnfaignedly, calling on the name of God, beleeue of himselfe, that he shall be sa∣ued. And also the Apostle saith, that we know that we are translated from death to life, because we loue the Brethren: & all those things we know,
because our faith beleeueth all that which the word of God hath taught vs in this behalfe.
The effect of faith is, to giue assurance of the pre¦sent state, and of perseue∣rance also to future glory.
As many as receiued Christ, to them he gaue power to bee sonnes, euen to them that be∣leeue in his name.* 1.119 Now to re∣ceiue, is to take in particular to a mans selfe, to apply to himself, to apprehend or lay hold of him with all his benefits, to make particular vse of Christ; so that true faith (according to the mea∣sure
of it) assures infallibly, not in general only, by prin∣cipall, but in particular al∣so, by conclusion, and ap∣plication to it selfe: and as of his owne good will hee hath be∣gotten vs by the word of truth,* 1.120 that we should bee as the first fruits of his creatures, so by the same true grace of God, that comfort is ministred vnto the faithfull, to say,* 1.121 Be∣hold what loue the Father hath giuen vnto vs,* 1.122 that we are cal∣led, and are euen now the Sons of God! and we know, that when he shall appeare, we shall be like vnto him: For thorow faith we receiue the promise of the Spirit. That is, Faith is the very hand, into which, be∣ing holden forth vnto God, hee giueth the Spirit which
hee had promised.
When God giueth vs this light and feeling, that he is our Father, there fol∣loweth necessarily a certi∣ficate, that we are his chil∣dren; this testimony cannot be counterfeited.
Neither the spirit of man himselfe, nor any other spirit can giue man that spirituall eye of the inner man, where∣by to looke vpon God as a Father, that sincere and pure affection and inuocation, wherewith the faithfull soule tendereth it selfe vnto God;
but onely the Sp••rit of God himselfe,* 1.123 which beareth witnes vnto our spirit that wee are the Sonnes of God: and because we are the Sonnes of God, he hath sent forth the spirit of his Sonne into our hearts, crying, Abba Father. Now this Spirit that beareth witnesse is truth, be∣ing the Spirit of Truth, and therefore beeing sent for a comforter,* 1.124 surely in comfor∣ting he telleth and testifieth nothing but the truth: if then the Spirit of God beare wit∣nesse vnto vs, that we are the Sonnes of God, wee know that it is true, and wee are sure wee are the Sonnes of God. And this witnessing properly standeth in the true spirituall inuocation, and calling on the name of God;
whereby, vpon all occasi∣on, as children to a Father, make our recourse vnto him: for it is not incident vnto vs, to haue in our hearts & con∣science that familiar and louely accesse vnto the Throne of Grace, but vpon cōscience of the spirit dwel∣ling in vs: for this spirit of praier doth witnesse vnto the elect,* 1.125 that they are the Sons of God.
If God hath once gi∣uen thee assured signes of his fauour, hee will neuer change.
The Testament of Christ is still new; yea, though it were from the beginning, yet it is still the same, and the day passes not in which it was giuen, but it endureth still with the age of man. And thus it is not possible that our works should iusti∣fie, which waxe olde, and are forgotten, So that the righte∣ous man of an hundred yeares old,* 1.126 if hee leaue his righteous∣nesse, it hath no account: the saluation of the world is not thus, but alwayes new. If once I bee in the couenant, it is an euerlasting couenant, I was not taken vnder condi∣tion of time, nor no time
shall preuaile against mee; the saluation it selfe is not changeable (as Adam was in Paradise) but it is made sure in the body of Christ, vnited with the person of his God∣head. So the wayes also in which wee are led vnto it, they are īmutable; our faith is not quenched, our loue not extinguished, our hope fai∣leth not, nor the holy Spirit can neuer be taken from vs, but still they are new euen to eternall life.
We are ioynt-heires with Christ, and must attaine to our inheritance that same way which he did, beeing
first partakers with him in suffering, as we shall be af∣terwards in glory.
Faith expecteth all these things from God, because it is giuen vnto vs for Christs sake not only to beleeue in him,* 1.127 but also to suffer for his sake, beeing strengthned with all might thorow his glorious pow∣er, to all patience, and long suf∣fering, with ioyfulnes.* 1.128 To this end, as the sufferings of Christ abound in them, so hee causeth their consolations to abound through Christ, & their hope is stedfast in this behalfe, be∣cause they know,* 1.129 that as they are partakers of the sufferings,
so they shall be of the consolati∣on, for faith resteth vpon that which is written, hee hath said, I wil not fail thee, nor for∣sake thee: therefore wee may boldly say,
The Lord is on my side, I will not feare what man can do vnto me; he hath predestinated vs to be made like to the I∣mage of his Sonne: and there∣fore hauing receiued the spi∣rit to reueale vnto vs this se∣cret of predestination, wee stand assured, that accor∣dingly he will accomplish in vs the Image of his Sonne, that together with him wee may beare the crosse, and to∣gether with him also weare the crowne; and therefore shall so order all things, that there shall be nothing to come
that shall separate vs from the loue of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord.
The cause of life spiri∣tuall in vs, is Christ, not carnally nor corporally in∣habiting, but dwelling in the soule of man, as a thing which (when the minde ap∣prehendeth it) is said to inhabite or possesse the minde.
The minde containeth Christ by hearing and be∣leeuing the Doctrine of christianity, with particular apprehension, as the light of nature doth cause the mind to apprehend those truthes
which are meerely rationall, so that sauing truth which is farre aboue the reach of hu∣mane reason, cannot other∣wise then by the Spirit of the Almighty be conceiued, as in these sentences,* 1.130 The Spirit is our life, or the Word is our life, or Christ our life, the meaning is, that our life is Christ, by the hearing of the Gospell apprehended ••s a Sauiour, and assented vnto by the power of the holy Ghost.
The motions and ope∣rations of life are some∣time so indiscernable and so secret, that they seeme
stone dead, who notwith∣standing are still aliue vn∣to God in Christ.
The first intellectuall con∣ceit and comprehension of Christ,* 1.131 is the seede whereof wee bee borne new; our first embracing of Christ, is our first reuiuing from the state of death and condemnation: Hee that hath the Sonne hath life,* 1.132 and hee that hath not the Sonne hath no life: therefore if hee which once had the Son, may cease to haue the Son, though it be for a moment, hee ceaseth for that moment to haue life;* 1.133 but the life of thē which haue the Sonne of God, is euerlasting in the world to
come:* 1.134 and because as Christ being raised from the dead, di∣eth no more, death hath no more power ouer him: So the iustified man being allyed to God in Christ Iesus our Lord, doth as necessarily from that time forward, al∣waies liue, as Christ, by whō he hath life, liueth alwayes: for as long as that abideth in vs,* 1.135 which animates, quick∣neth and giueth life, so long wee liue, & wee know, that the cause of our faith a∣bideth in vs for euer. If Christ the fountaine of life, may flit and leaue his inha∣bitation, where once hee dwelled, what shall become of his promise, I am with you to the worlds end?* 1.136 If the seede of God which contai∣neth
Christ, may be first con∣ceiued & then cast out, how doth hee terme it immortall? How doth he affirme it abi∣deth,* 1.137 if the spirit which is gi∣uen to cherish and preserue the seed of life, may be giuen and taken away,* 1.138 How is hee the earnest of our inheritance vntill redemption? How doth he continue with vs for euer?* 1.139
Wee are apt, prone, and ready to forsake God, but God is not as ready to for∣sake vs.
Our mindes are change∣able,
so is not Gods, For whō God hath iustisied,* 1.140 Christ hath assured, it is his fathers will to giue them a Kingdome. Not∣withstanding, it shall not be other wise giuen them, then if they continue grounded and stablished in the faith,* 1.141 and bee not mooued away from the hope of the Gospell,* 1.142 & if they abide in loue and holinesse. Our Sauiour therefore when hee spake of the sheep effectually called, and truely gathered into his fold,* 1.143 I giue vnto them eternall life, and they shall neuer perish, neither shall any plucke them out of my hands; in promi∣sing to saue them, he promi∣seth no doubt to preserue them, in that, without which there can be no saluation; as also from that, whereby it is
irreuokeably lost. Euery er∣ror indeed in things apper∣taining to God, is repug∣nant to faith; euery feare∣full cogitation, vnto hope: vnto loue, euery stragling & inordinate desire: vnto ho∣linesse, euery blemish wher∣by either the inward thoghts of our mindes, or outward actions of our liues are stai∣ned; which by earnest repen¦tance mercy doth restore to life againe in them, whom sin had made the children of death. But infidelity, ex∣treame despaire, hatred of God, and all goodnesse, ob∣duration in sin, &c. doth not stand where there is the least sparke of faith, hope, loue, and sanctity: euen as cold in the coldest degree cannot be
where heate in the highest degree is found.* 1.144 It is true, no man liueth that sinnes not: Yet the man that is borne of God , hath a promise that the seed in him shal abide, which seede is a sure preseruatiue against obstinate heresie, & and pining discouragement of the heart: for greater and cleerer assurance we cannot haue of any thing then this, that from such sins foresaid, God shall preserue the righ∣teous as the apple of his eye for euer: for if the iustified erre (as hee may) and neuer come to vnderstand his er∣rour, God doth saue him through generall repētance; but if he fall into herisie, hee calleth him at one time or o∣ther by actuall repentance:
but from infidelity, which is an inward direct deniall of the foundation, hee preser∣ueth him by speciall proui∣dence for euer.
We must put a difference betwixt them that erre of ignorance, retaining ne∣uerthelesse a minde desi∣rous to bee instructed in truth: and them which af∣ter the truth is laid open, persist in the stubborne de∣fence of their blindnesse.
Heriticall defenders, fro∣ward
and stiste-necked tea∣chers of circumcision, the A∣postle calleth dogs: silly men, who were seduced to thinke they thought the truth, he pittied, hee tooke vp in his armes, hee louingly embraceth, hee kisseth, and with more then Fatherly tendernesse, doth so temper and qualisie his speech he v∣seth toward thē, that a man cannot easily discerne, whe∣ther did most abound, the loue which hee bare to their godly affection, or the griefe which the danger of their o∣pinion bred him. Their o∣pinion was dangerous, Was not theirs also, who thought the Kingdome of Christ was earthly? Was not theirs, who thought the Gospell only should
bee preached vnto the Iewes? What more opposite to pro∣phetical doctrine, cōcerning the cōming of Christ thē the one:* 1.145 concerning the catho∣like church then the other? Yet beeing admonished, found the mercy of God ef∣fectuall in conuerting them from their error.
So was there difference betwixt Pharisies: And the Pharisies which beleeued. Of the Galathians which were yet weak (he saith) You know God,* 1.146 or rather are knowne of God, how turne you againe to impotent rud••ments?
The Law engendreth ser∣uants; they which are gotten by the Gospell are free: we are not children of the seruant, but of the free woman; and will ye
bee vnder the Law? Yet (he saith) if yee be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing; as many as are iustified by the Law are fallen from grace: and why? Because they know, that in grace and in Christ their saluation dothly, and so their hearts shall tremble and quake within them: he knoweth mans imbecillity, he hath a feeling of our blindnesse and weakenesse, how great it is.
Our saluation is not vp¦on vncertainty, if wee doe thus or thus, but God ••ra∣med vs to bee, and to doe, whatsoeuer belongeth to the attainement thereof.
The Spirit, as he is the re∣uealer of the mystery of our election vnto vs, so is he the earnest of the effect of Gods predestination, by the gift whereof, God giueth vnto vs, the certaine assurance of all the rest that remaineth to be giuen; for he is the pledge of the inheritance promised, & as a hand-writing or bond of assurance of euerlasting saluatiō, making vs the tem∣ple and house of God; being the worker of holinesse in vs, that hee may bring our bodies to eternity, and so the immortality of the Resurrecti∣on, whilest in himselfe he ac∣customes them to bee tem∣pered
with heauenly vertue, & to bee accompanied with the diuine eternity of the ho∣ly Ghost. And this earnest God neuer taketh backe a∣gaine, because it is so the earnest of our inheritance vn∣till the redemption of the pos∣session;* 1.147 as that it is an earnest also, that in the meane time God stablishes vs in Christ, and that he hath created vs for this, namely, to clothe vs with immortality and eternall life; for God giuing earnest for the assurance of the end, doth thereby vnder∣take against all lets and im∣pediments, that should hin∣der the atchieuing of that, that is earnested thereby: and therefore the things pre∣sent, which thou hast attai∣ned
already, doe assure vnto thee those things that are yet to come.
If man depend vpon himselfe, he hath iust cause to feare and doubt his own perseuerance.
The faithfull doe say with the Apostle, I know whom I haue beleeued, and I am sure that hee is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day: euen my selfe, my faith, my hope, my prayer, my soule, my life; knowing my selfe to be a ve∣ry vnsure keeper of my selfe.
Thus faith yeeldeth a man to say, Behold O Lord, for I am thy seruant,* 1.148 I am thy ser∣uant, O giue me vnderstanding that I may keepe thy comman∣dements; enter not into iudge∣ment with thy seruant. And because the faithfull is wil∣ling to beleeue that hee shall haue that that hee prayeth for, hee prayeth for perseue∣rance, because Christ saith, Beleeue that yee shall haue it, and it shall bee done vnto you. For God giueth to them that beleeue, so that hee that re∣ceiues, beleeueth himselfe to receiue; For this is the assu∣rance that we haue in him, that if we aske any thing according to his will, he heareth vs; and if we know that hee heareth vs, whatsoeuer we aske, wee know
that we haue the petitions that we haue desired of him.* 1.149
God euen in the very first entrance to his ser∣uice, offereth vs assurance of his favour, and our sal∣uation.
At the first entrance hee saith to thee, as to the Iay∣lor, Beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ, and thou shall be saved:* 1.150 And from the beginning as our faith is greater or lesse: so either strongly or weake∣ly apprehendeth and embra∣ceth this assurance: and in
Our faithfull seruice or good behauiour, can neuer make vs assured of our sal∣uation.
God made that promise by former couenant, Hee that doth these things shall liue in them: and it auailed not, for they continued not in my co∣uenant:* 1.153 And I regarded them not, saith the Lord. There∣fore the Lord made another couenant or promise, not like the former, or conditio∣nall vpon faithfull seruice or good behauiour, but abso∣lute and without condition, the performance whereof should depend wholly, and onely vpon mercy: So that he would not expect as of vs, but doth vndertake to giue vs, and to worke in vs, whatsoeuer faithfull seruice, and good behauiour should be necessary thereunto.
Therefore he saith, I wil put my Law in their minds, and in their hearts will I write them, and I will bee their God, and they shal be my people; they shal all know me, for I will be mer∣cifull to their vnrighteousnesse, and I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more. And so if wee intirely consi∣der the whole worke of our saluation, it issueth abso∣lutely out of the purpose and promise of God,: who in∣tending the end, disposeth and worketh himselfe what∣soeuer belongeth to the ac∣complishment and attaine∣ment of the end.
By beleeuing the Gospel,
I beleeue that Christ is gi∣uen a Sauiour vnto me, to saue me, being one of his people, from my sinnes,* 1.154 & frō the wrath to come.
The Gospell is the glad tidings of great ioy,* 1.155 that vnto vs a Sauiour is borne, vnto vs a child is borne,* 1.156 vnto vs a Son is giuen; that is, vnto vs that beleeue: and how beleeue I vnto vs, if I beleeue not vnto me? The Gospell is, that through the name of Christ, e∣uery one that beleeueth in him, shall haue remission of sinnes; euery one that beleeueth in him shall not perish, but haue euer∣lasting life. If I beleeue the
Gospell,* 1.157 I beleeue this. For hee that beleeues not God, makes him a lyar, because hee beleeues not the record, that God witnessed of his Sonne; and this is the record, that he hath giuen vnto vs, eternall life: and this life is in his Sonne. If then I beleeue in the name of the Sonne of God, and do not beleeue that God hath giuen me eternall life, I make God a liar in not beleeuing the report that God hath witnessed of his Son. There∣fore he addeth, These things haue I written vnto you that beleeue in the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye haue life eternall.
Faith beleeueth the pro∣mises of God concerning our happinesse; and hope waiteth and looketh for the Lord, to reueale his righte∣ousnesse, and to make the truth of his word and pro∣mises fully to appeare: and in this expectation is con∣tent with patience to beare the crosse which is inci∣dent to the profession of the name of Christ.
Confidence and reioy∣cing of hope, groweth from
the full assurance of faith,* 1.158 whereby seeting aside the respect of our own impeach∣ments, of our selfe wee be∣leeue with Abraham vnder hope,* 1.159 against hope, resting vp∣on his promise, who had ta∣ken vpon him to be the shep∣heard and Bishop of our soules, and is able to doe exceeding a∣bundantly,* 1.160 aboue all that wee aske or thinke,* 1.161 according to the power that worketh in vs. Whereby as he hath already wrought in vs, the like great worke as hee hath wrought in Christ, whē he raised him from the dead,* 1.162 in that he hath raised vs vp, being dead in sinnes and trespasses, vnto the life of God: So wee rest perswaded, that hauing begunne this good worke in vs, he will performe
it vntill the day of Iesus Christ, not for our sakes, but for my owne sake will I doe it,* 1.163 saith the Lord.
him,* 1.166 God blessed vs with al spi∣rituall blessings in heauenly things, for he is made vnto v•• of God wisedome, righteousnesse sanctification, and redemption, that is, all in all; that hee that reioyced may reioyce onely in the Lord. And this saluation vnto which hee entitled vs by faith in Christ, consisteth not onely in the remission of sins;* 1.167 but also in destroying the body of sinne, and restoring in vs the Image of God, in righteousnesse and holinesse of truth; hee hauing giuen himselfe, to purge vs to bee a peculiar people vnto himselfe; and to make vnto himselfe a glorious Church, not hauing spot or wrincle, or any such thing. And all this is begun and in doing, but is not yet
finished, and done in vs, it shall be fully perfected in vs, at the Resurrection of the dead. In the meane time, he giueth not vnto vs a full immunity from sinne, that he may take away from vs all reioycing in our selues;* 1.168 that we may know at that day, that not for the workes of righteous∣nesse which we haue done,* 1.169 but of his owne mercy hee hath sa∣ued vs.* 1.170 And yet no man is iustified by the righteousnes of Christ, who is not also sanctified by the Spirit of Christ. Yea, and the elects sinnes doe euen worke for their good, which are made a Triacle or preseruatiue a∣gainst sinne: for they neuer so fall,* 1.171 but that his seede re∣maineth in them, and his hand
is vnder to lift them vp againe.* 1.172 Thus the Lord is our righ∣teousnesse, Christ is to vs a Iesus, a Sauiour, by sauing vs immediately himselfe, not by giuing vs power to saue our selues, or to be our Saui∣ours.
The worth of Christs me∣rits is most cleerely seene in the true acknowledge∣ment of our vnworthi∣nesse.
Gods light is most cleer∣ly seene in our darknesse, his
power in our weakenesse,* 1.173 his goodnesse in shewing vs mer∣cy, that are euill;* 1.174 his righte∣ousnesse in the confession of of our shame,* 1.175 God hath ap∣pointed vs to be for the glory of his grace, and therfore he dis∣poseth that no flesh shal reioyce in his presence,* 1.176 and that he one∣ly may be exalted in that day, and reioyce that we haue found mercy with the Lord,* 1.177 who co∣uereth our sinnes with the mantle of his righteousnes; who seeth no iniquity in Ia∣cob, nor beholds transgression in Israel. God seeth sinne with the eye of his knowledge, but by reason of that co∣uerture,* 1.178 will not see it with the eye of his iudgement: he seeth it with a discerning, but seeth it not with a re∣uenging
eye: for the iustifi∣ed man delighteth in the Law of God as touching the inner man,* 1.179 yet hee hath still in his members the law of sinne han∣ging f••••st on, and lusting and rebelling against the Law of the spirit of life. For though he hath within him an army of vicious desires, yet hath hee a will and desire of righte∣ousnesse; hee hungreth and thirsteth, wayting to be sa∣tisfied, because according to his promise,* 1.180 wee looke for a new heauen, and a new earth, wher∣in righteousnesse dwelleth: the purpose of his life tendeth wholly to it, it is grieuance to him that he failed to per∣forme it, and maketh him to cry out,* 1.181 Wretched man that I am, who shall deliuer mee from
the body of death? And there∣fore though he sinne, he sin∣neth not maliciously, pur∣posely, and with desire and delight in sinne; but of ig∣norance and infirmity, by occasion, and by the cree∣ping and stealing of sin vpon him.
By the Law of faith God pardoneth sinne.
God is a iust iudge, as wel when hee iudgeth by lawes of mercy, as when he iudgeth by the lawes of extremity; as well in the law of faith, as
in the law of workes: by the law of faith God forgi∣ueth and considereth with fauour,* 1.182 and if there bee a wil∣ling minde, it is accepted accor∣ding to that a man hath,* 1.183 not ac∣cording to that that hee hath not. And all this hee doth as a iust Iudge, because by law he doth whatsoeuer he doth; but in the rigor of the Law, which is the law of workes, he remitteth nothing, but requireth all,* 1.184 to the vttermost farthing; nothing pleafeth but what is exact and per∣fect, and fully answerable to the rule.* 1.185
* 1.186So Paule expected, that God as a iust iudge, would yeeld vnto him the Crowne, not by the Law of workes, but by the Law of faith,
wherin God crowneth in mer∣cy & louing kindnesse, because his crowne is a crowne of Iustice, not of Pauls owne Iustice, but of the Iustice of God; for it is iust with God to pay that he oweth, and he oweth that which hee hath promised, which is mercy to the beleeuing penitent, for Christs sake:* 1.187 For all wee like sheepe haue gone astray, and the Lord hath laid vpon him the iniquities of vs all for hee bore our sinnes in his body vpon the tree.* 1.188 Thy righteousnesse couereth in mee a multitude of sins; but in thee O Lord, what but the treasures of pi∣ety, the riches of Good∣nesse?
Wee are reputed iust by the forgiuenesse of our sins, and this is iustificati∣on in the sight of God.
What are wee but iust in the sight of God, when there is taken from vs the imputa∣tion of all sinne? To be iust, is the same, as not to be a sinner: and in the way of faith, they to whom their sinnes are not imputed, are accounted not sinners, and therfore are accounted iust: for all the commandements of God are reputed to bee
done, when that which is not done is pardoned; and hee who is reputed to haue done all the commandements of God, is reputed iust. Hee therefore to whom God pardoneth that which hee hath done, is reputed iust, and that which God deter∣mineth not to impute,* 1.189 is all one, is if it had neuer beene: for wee are iustified through the redemption which is in Christ; and redemption is by forgiueness of sinnes; and the not imputing of sinne, is the imputing of righteousnesse without workes: now forgiue∣nesse of our sinnes is yeelded vnto vs by vertue of the me∣rit and righteousnes which Christ hath wrought for vs, who was giuen for vs, and
gaue himselfe for vs,* 1.190 who was made vnder the Law to redeem vs, and therefore is iust and righteous for vs; and what∣soeuer he hath done, he hath done for vs, hee hath shed his blood for vs,* 1.191 died for vs, rose a∣gaine for vs, and hath fulfilled all righteousnesse and obedi∣ence to his Father for vs,* 1.192 and so very iustly is accounted ours.* 1.193 Whatsoeuer hee hath done for vs, is no lesse then if wee our selues had perfor∣med the same for our selues. And thus by the imputation of Christs righteousnesse, our sinnes are couered, par∣doned, and forgiuen, and we are reputed iust by the righ∣teousnesse of Christ; because in the righteousnes of Christ is the forgiuenesse of our
sinnes, and thereby no ac∣cusation is liable against vs, either as hauing done that which we ought not to haue done, or done that which we ought not to doe: for who shal lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect?* 1.194 And as Adam did beare the person of all mankinde, and wee all were that one man; and therefore what hee did, was as done by all and euery one: So did Christ beare the person of all the Elect and faithfull, and was accounted as them all in one: not one that made the forfeiture, and another the satisfaction, because one Christ is both the head and the body: and therefore what hee did, is likewise as done by all and euery one of vs.
In the Elect with sancti∣fication, there is still a re∣mainder of originall cor∣ruption.
Iustification in the sight of God, by the imputation of Christs merits, is alwayes accompanied with the san∣ctificatiō of the holy Ghost, whereby the inward quali∣ty of the man, though not wholly, yet in part is altered and changed; and is thence∣forth further to bee renued from day to day. In part, I say, because together with
their sanctification, there is still remnants of originall corruption, by the touch & staine whereof, the holinesse & newnesse that is wrought in vs is defiled: for although originall corruption hath receiued a deadly wound, yet it is not wholly dead; it is dead indeede touching the guilt, but it is not yet dead as touching corruption and infection, and therfore doth infect the works of the most regenerate, for none is per∣fect as long as he continueth in this life. Indeed, God hath quickened vs together with Christ, and hath raised vs vp together, and hath made vs sit together in the heauenly places in Christ Iesus: but that is not yet really, but in hope:
yea, in our prayers there is much weaknesse and imper∣fections, and distractions; yet God respects the truth, and not the measure of our faith, pardoneth the same for Christs sake, who is our high Priest,* 1.195 to beare the iniquity of our offerings to make them ac∣ceptable before the Lord: ther∣fore the godly say,* 1.196 Enter not into iudgement with thy ser∣uant, O Lord, for in thy sight no man liuing shal be iustified: The righteous fall seuen times a day,* 1.197 and dayly prayeth for forgiuenesse: and when by frailty he doth fal, God doth in mercy looke vpon him, as he did vpon Peter,* 1.198 and cause him to rise againe.
Faith created in our hearts, is the onely suffici∣ent supernaturall instru∣ment to apprehend the free couenant of grace in Christ that is, Christs righteous∣nesse for our iustificati∣on.
Faith is the instrument to receiue, because it is the hand which wee stretch to heauen, to take holde of Christ, and to hold him sit∣ting there: it is the mouth whereby we eate and drinke
Christ, because to beleeue is to eate: it is the stomack whereby we digest him, for he is to be digested by faith: it is the foot wherby we en∣ter in possession of the bene∣fits of Christ, and possesse so farre as we stretch the same: it is the vessell whereinto God putteth the oyle of his mercy: it is by faith wee touch him, and looke how much faith we bring to re∣ceiue, so much we draw out of the abundant grace of God. Now that whereby we are iustified, is the obedi∣ence of Christ, for by the obedi∣ence of one shall many be made righteous; and his obedience is his righteousnesse, and wee are made the righteousnesse of God in him, by apprehending and
receiuing the righteousnesse which is in him.* 1.199 He is called the Lord our righteousnesse, not who maketh vs righte∣ous only, but who also him∣selfe is our righteousnes: and how should he be our righ∣teousnes but by his righte∣ousnes? therefore in appre∣hending & receiuing Christ by faith, we apprehend and receiue the righteousnes of Christ, to be our iustificati∣on before God; which is that merit and obedience of Christ imputed vnto vs. The efficient and finall cause of iu∣stification then is, God in Christ Iesus, for our saluati∣on, & the glory of his name: the Materiall is the merit & obedience of Christ: the Formall cause is Gods impu∣tation
apprehended and re∣ceiued by vs; the instrument of this apprehension is faith alone.
Iustifying faith is euer accompanied with godli∣nesse, and care of godly life.
As naturall birth draweth not onely guilt, but also cor∣ruption, so faith wherein is our new birth, giueth not onely forgiuenesse of sinne, to iustification; but also sanctification to holinesse and newnesse of life. In the iustified man faith onely is
the seat and fountaine of spi∣rituall life; because as the quickning faculty and pow∣er of the liuing soule, dwel∣leth in the heart, so Christ who is our life, dwelleth in our faith, or in our hearts by faith. But yet we consist not spiritually of faith onely, but many other vertues and gra∣ces are required, to make vp the perfection of a Christian man; to which as to the o∣ther members frō the heart, so from faith life is imparted and communicated, that in them wee may bee aliue to God: which are signes and tokens of a iustified man, not any causes of iustificati∣on, but a declaration and te∣stimony of his being former∣ly iustified by the faith of Ie∣sus
Christ. So good workes follow a man being iustified, but are not precedent to iu∣stification: and nothing that man can doe, either by na∣ture or grace, concurreth to the act of iustification as a∣ny cause, but faith alone; for our hearts are purified by faith;* 1.200 by faith we reeiue the pro∣mise of the spirit; and the Law of the Spirit of Christ,* 1.201 which is in Christ Iesus,* 1.202 deliuered vs from the law of sinne and of death. Neither is the very act of faith any part of our righ∣teousnesse, but onely the me∣rit and obedience of Christ, apprehended and receiued by faith, but as the heart gi∣ueth life to the body, not by the substance of it selfe, which is but flesh, as the rest
of the body is but by the vi∣tall and quickning power of the soule, that is seated ther∣in: and as the hand feedeth the body, not as beeing it selfe the food of the body, but by receiuing and mini∣stering vnto it meate, wher∣by it is sustained: euen so faith iustifieth and giueth life by receiuing Christ, to bee our righteousnesse and life, in him receiuing forgiue∣nesse of sinnes, & inheritance among them that are sanctifi∣ed vnto eternall life.
When God promised, & tied the effect of his pro∣mise to the beleeuing of it:
not to beleeue that, in be∣leeuing whereof, wee are partakers of that which we beleeue: is to make God a lyar, and to frustrate that which he hath promised.
By faith onely we accept of a promise, in all the bene∣fits of God: wee are a 1.203 the children of promise, b 1.204 heires by promise, c 1.205 heires of pro∣mise, expecting all things by the gracious promise of God, d 1.206 by promise to be par∣takers of the diuine nature, e 1.207 the blessing by promise, f 1.208 the spirit by promise, g 1.209 the inhe∣ritance by promise, h 1.210 life eter∣nall by promise, i 1.211 by promise
a new heauen and a new earth, wherein righteousnesse dwel∣leth: all which be promises in Christ, and are yea, k 1.212 and in him amen, that is, for his sake first made, and for his sake to bee performed also. Now seeing God hath taught vs that by faith l 1.213 wee obtaine the promises, that wee receiue m 1.214 the promise of the spirit by faith, n 1.215 that the promise of blessing is giuen by the faith of Iesus Christ, to them that beleeue, that as o 1.216 we beleeue, so it shall be vnto vs, p 1.217 that whatsoeuer wee desire when wee pray, if we beleeue we shall haue it, it shall be accordingly vnto vs. Why should wee then not beleeue such? God hath promised Christ to bee our righteousnesse, and that by
the faith of Iesus Christ, that is, by beleeuing in him, to bee that vnto vs which God hath promised: surely in beleeuing him to bee our righteousnesse, hee is our righteousnesse; and we are made the righteousnesse of God in him.
The righteousnesse and merit of Christ is spiritu∣ally and really ours, within and without, in spirit and body, and soule, to sancti∣fie and cleanse vs vnto God.
And this is indeede, not by receiuing Christs righte∣ousnes really into vs, but by hauing righteousnesse impu∣ted vnto vs, for his sake: for we receiue the righteousnes of God, euen as wee receiue himselfe, who so becommeth ours, as that we abide in him, and hee in vs; wee are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones:* 1.218 we are really and truely by the power of his Spirit, one with him, and he with vs; & yet he is not per∣sonally and bodily brought vnto vs: faith seeketh Christ and findeth him, and holdeth him, in the Virgins wombe, in the manger, in the garden,
vpon the crosse, in the graue, in his Resurrection, and as∣cension to heauen, and in his now sitting at the right hand of God, making intercession for vs. Euery where faith embraceth him, and in euery of these, seeth him to bee ours, as hauing vndertaken and atchieued al these things for our sakes.
For a speciall aptnesse in faith, hath God appoin∣ted it, to be the instrument for applying vnto vs the whole benefit of Christ.
The will and ordinance of God, doth not without cause appoint one cōdition, when as well it might ap∣point another; neither ap∣pointed any thing to bee done, which is not more fitly to be done that way that he appointed, then any other way. But beside this, our iustification is by faith, that it may be by grace; for faith is the fittest meanes to set forth the grace of God. Se∣condly, that the promise might be sure to all the seede: for no otherwise can we rest assured of the promise of God, but as it is of Grace, who in our workes can finde nothing to
assure our selues. Thirdly, faith is specially appointed to exclude boasting,* 1.219 that no man should glory in his own do∣ings, but that God should haue the glory of mans sal∣uation.
That man cannot haue fellowship with Christ by iustification, who by sancti∣fication also hath no fel∣lowship with him.
Doe not thinke, that hee that hath such a faith, as whereby being iustified, hee hath to reioyce with God,
can together therewith haue vnrighteousnes: for if he that beleeueth that Iesus is Christ, is borne of God, and he that is borne of God sinneth not; and if he doe sinne (that is, giue himselfe to sin) it is certaine that he beleeueth not; certaine it is, that hee that truely be∣leeueth, doth work the work of faith and righteousnesse, and all goodnesse. The root of all is faith, by which alone we are iustified, and so the barre of sinne is taken away, that before diuided betwixt God & vs: that so the sancti∣fying Spirit of God may haue accesse vnto vs, to work in vs the good work of God so to prepare vs to that inhe∣ritance, to the hope whereof hee hath called vs.
The theefe in his short time being vpon the crosse, had with his faith many good workes; the feare of God, hope, repentance, con∣fession of sins, loue towards God and his neighbour, in reprehending his fellowes blasphemies, and defending of Christs innocency. The good workes of the godly are glorious and acceptable in Gods sight, for Christs sake, being done in his name and offered vpon the Altar of faith in him; the imperfecti∣on thereof is accidentall, & taketh not away the nature of a good worke, but ma∣keth it an vnperfect good worke, which imperfection notwithstanding were suffi∣cient to make the worke to
be reiected, if in rigour and extremity God shuld weigh the same, which hee doth not, but mercifully pardo∣neth it for Christs sake.
The righteousnesse wherby we are to be iustifi∣ed before God, admitteth no encrease as sanctificati∣on doth.
It admitteth no encrease, because it must bee perfect, and the righteousnesse of Christ is alwayes vniforme and alike: if any thing bee taken from it, it is not per∣fect,
and if it be not perfect, it cannot iustifie before God: but to the first grace of san∣ctification, and all the suc∣ceeding increase thereof, is of grace: for God to the thank∣full receiuing and vsing of his gifts, doth adde greater measure thereof;* 1.220 for to him that hath shall bee giuen, yet that which is added is grace for grace, and the rendring of one gift for another gift. God giuing occasion him∣selfe by one gift of the be∣stowing of another, as he gi∣ueth faith: and to faith that which we beleeue, as he gi∣ueth vs to pray, and so praier giueth that for which wee pray: so in all the rest hee gi∣ueth grace, and giueth to vse wel the grace he hath giuen,
and to the wel vsing thereof, hee giueth also further mea∣sure & increase of grace, that both in the gift & in the in∣crease, al praise & glory may redound to him. The meanes in vs whereby this increase is wrought, is faith, which, as it first receiueth the spirit, so receiueth also the increase of it, whilest by the growth thereof, we grow more into Christ, and thereby more & more partakers of his life. By imputation of the merits and obedience of Christ, a man is a righteous the first day of his conuersion, as hee is in the end of his life, how∣soeuer as touching sanctifi∣cation and inherent righte∣ousnesse, he grow much, and therein be renued from day to
day, in putting off the old man, and putting on the new, and stil cleansing from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, & finish his sanctification in the feare of God; for euery one that beareth fruit in me, my Father purgeth, that hee may bring forth more fruit. We must then grow in grace and in the know∣ledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect; but one thing I doe, I forget that which is be∣hinde, and endeuour my selfe to that which is before, and fol∣low hard toward the marke: the price of redemption in the shedding of the blood of Christ, one, and alike to all and euery faithfull man, but yet it is not alike apprehen∣ded
by euery one. There is perfect righteousnesse re∣quired of vs, and the same is yeelded vnto vs in Christ: there may be a difference in vs, but Christ cannot be di∣uided, neither is there in him any difference from himself, where hee goeth hee goeth whole; and therfore what he is to the strōg, the same he is to the faint and feeble soule: there is greater and lesse as∣surance, but the matter whereof each doth take as∣surance, is the whole mercy of God in Christ.
When we teach Christ a∣lone, wee exclude not our
faith vnto iustification, or Christ excluding our owne works vnto sanctification; for charity is inseparably with faith in the man that is iustified.
Faith is the onely hand which putteth on Christ vn∣to iustification, and Christ the only garment, which be∣ing so put on, couereth the shame of our defiled natures, hideth the imperfections of our workes, preserueth vs blamelesse in the sight of God, before whom other∣wise the weakenesse of our faith were cause sufficient to make vs culpable; yea, to
shut vs out from the King∣dome of heauen, whither no∣thing that is not absolute can enter; so Christ without any associate, finished all the parts of redemption, & pur∣chased saluation himselfe a∣lone: yet for conueyance of this eminent blessing into vs, these things are required as most necessary.
Our saluation is giuen to vs by Christ alone, yet to our iustification faith, to our sanctification the fruites of the Spirit, &c. are necessary.
For our saluation it is re∣quisite to be chosen and knowne of God, before the foundation of the world; in the world to bee called, iustified, sanctified; after wee haue left the world, to be receiued into glory. Now Christ in euery of these, hath somewhat which hee work∣eth alone, through him ac∣cording to the eternall pur∣pose of God before the foundation of the world, borne, crucified, buried, rai∣sed, &c. we were in a glo∣rious acceptation knowne vnto God long before wee were seene of men. God (I say) knew vs, loued vs, was kinde to vs in Christ Iesus, in him we were elected to bee
heires of life. Thus God in Christ hath wrought in such sort alone, that our selues are meere patients, working no more then dead & sense∣lesse matter, wood, or stone, or iron, doth in the artificers hands; no more then the clay when the potter appointeth it to be framed for an hono∣rable vse: nay, not so much for the matter whereupon the tradesman worketh, he chooseth for the fitnesse which is in it, to serue his turne: in vs no such thing.
Now touching the rest, which is laide for the foun∣dation of our faith, impor∣teth further, that by him we are called, that wee haue re∣demption and remission of sins by his blood,* 1.221 health by his
stripes, iustice by him: that he doth sanctifie his Church, and make it glorious to himselfe, that entrance into ioy shall be giuen by him alone; yea, al things by him alone, how∣beit not so by him alone, as if in vs, to our vocation the hearing of the Gospell; to our iustification faith; to our sanctification good workes; to entrance into rest, perse∣uerance in hope, in faith, in holinesse, were not necessa∣ry; which workes haue no power of satisfying God for sinne, or of vertue to merit both grace here, or glory in heauen; for workes are a thing subordinate, without which our sanctificatiō can∣not bee accomplished: yet God doth iustifie the belee∣uing
man, not for the wor∣thinesse of his beleefe, but for the worthinesse of the person which is beleeued, that is, Christ; and God also rewardeth euery one that worketh, not for any meri∣torious dignity, that is or can bee in the worke, but throgh his mercy, by whose commandement hee work∣eth.
That which we know either by sense, or by infallible de¦monstration, is not so cer∣taine as the Principles, Ar∣ticles, and Conclusions of Christian faith.
If the things which wee beleeue bee considered in themselues, it may truely be said, Faith is more certain•• then any science; & that meere natural men do neither know nor acknowledge the things of God, is no maruell, for they are spiritually to bee dis∣cerned, and they in whose hearts the light of grace doth shine, and are taught of God, are so yet weake in faith, and their assenting to the law scrupulous, mingled with feare and wauering: for the foggy dampe of originall corruption is so great, that no heart can be so inclined in the knowledge, or establi∣shed
in the loue of that in which his saluatiō standeth, as that hee doth not doubt; and if any were such, what doth let, why that man shold not bee iustified by his owne inherent righteousnes? For righteousnes inherent being perfect, will iustifie, and per∣fect faith is a part of perfect righteousnes inherent: yea a principall part, the mother and roote of all the rest: and if it were thus, what need we the righteousnes of Christ? wherefore we must learne to challenge a strength which wee haue not; lest wee lose the comfortable support of that weakenes which indeed we haue.
All men haue not equall certainety of faith, but some beleeuers are more scrupulous and doubtfull then others
The reason is, there is •• double certainty: a certain∣ty of euidence, as when the minde doth assent to this or that, not because it is true in it selfe, but because the truth is cleere and manifest to vs: for things most certaine in themselues, except they bee also most euident, our per∣swasiō is not fully assured, as
it is of things more euident, although in themselues they be lesse certaine: it is as cer∣taine that there be spirits, as that there bee men, but wee bee more assured of these then of them: Now if there were equall euidence and truth there shold be equality of faith: Yea, that we see by the light of grace, though it be indeed most certaine, yet it is not so euidently certaine, as that which sense or the height of nature will not suffer a man to doubt of; as that the fire is hot, &c. Therefore God laboureth to confirme vs in the things were beleeue, by things whereof we haue sen∣sible knowledge, for proofes must be more certaine, then is the thing prooued.
The other is a certainety of adherence, as when the heart doth cleaue and sticke to that which it doth beleeue, and this certainty is greater in vs then the other, because the faith of a Christian doth apprehend the words of the couenant, and promises of God, not only as true, but as good: and therefore when the euidence which hee hath of the truth is so small, that it grieueth him to feele his weakenesse in assenting thereto; yet is there in him such a sure adherence vnto that, which hee doth but faintly and fearefully be∣leeue, that his spirit hauing once truely tasted the hea∣uenly sweetnesse thereof, all the world is not able quite
Doubting doth alwayes accompany faith, yea in the most faithfull that euer did beleeue.
If God did worke in vs like a naturall agent: as the fire doth inflame, and as the Sun enlightens, according to
the vttermost ability which they haue, to bring forth their effects, there should be nothing in the beleeuer but the incomprehensible wise∣dome of God, doth limit the effects of his power to such a measure, as seemeth best to himselfe. Wherefore he wor∣keth that certainty in all, which sufficeth abundantly to their saluation in the life to come: but to none so great as attaines in this life vnto perfection; which is fittest for vs, that feeling still our owne infir∣mities, we may alwaies pray, Lord helpe our incredulity: Lord increase our faith. In∣deed it is said, Abraham be∣leeued and doubted not; which Negation doth not exclude all feare, all doubting, but
onely that which cannot stād with true faith; it freeth Abraham from doubting through infidelity, not from doubting through infirmity: from the doubting of vnbe∣leeuers, not of weake be∣leeuers, as is euident, Genes. 17.17.
The faith whereby wee are iustified cannot faile.
The seed of God, that is, the first grace which God powreth into the hearts of them that are incorporated into Christ, because it is an
aduersary vnto sinne: we do therefore thinke we sin not, but otherwise, by a distrust∣full and doubtful apprehen∣sion of that which stedfastly we ought to beleeue, we are amazed: yet they that are borne of God do neuer so sin, as it doth extinguish quite grace. Our faith when it is strongest is but weake, yet e∣uen then when it is at the weakest, is so strong, that vt∣terly it neuer faileth, it ne∣uer perisheth altogether, no not in them who thinke it extinguished in themselues: howbeit through extremi∣ty of griefe, many times in iudgement the Elect are so confounded, that they finde not themselues in thēselues; for that which dwelleth in
their hearts they seeke: it a∣bideth, worketh in them, yet still they aske where; still they lament, as for a thing that is past finding; they mourne as Ra••hel and refuse to be comforted; as if that were not which indeede is, and as if that which is not, were; as if they did not be∣leeue when they doe; and as if they did despaire quite when they do not: For true∣ly, where faith maketh any doubt, there the sense is neuer satisfied.
God will haue them that still walke in light, to feele now and then what it is to
sit in the shaddow of death.
A grieued spirit is no ar∣gument of a faithlesse mind: men iudging by comparison either with other men, or themselues: at some other time, being more strong, they thinke imperfection to be a plaine depriuation; weake∣nesse to bee vtter want of faith; and therefore in hea∣uinesse of spirit suppose they lack faith, because they finde not the ioy & delight, which indeede doth accompany faith. The Apostle Paule prayed, The God of hope fill you with all ioy in beleeuing, which is not an vnseparable companion therewith: for
the light would neuer bee so ac∣ceptable, were it not for vsuall entercourse of darkenesse: too much hony doth turne to gall, and too much ioy euen spi∣ritually would make vs turne wantons. Happier a great deal is that mans case whose soule by inward desolation is humbled, then hee whose heart through abundance of spirituall delight, is lifted vp,* 1.224 and exalted aboue measure: better it is sometimes to cry, my God, my God, why hast hast thou forsaken mee? then to say with the Pharisey, I thanke God it is not with mee as it is with other men. God will haue them that should walke in light, to feele some∣times what it is to sit in darkenesse: yea, God sen∣deth
variety of disturbances, that the minde should not gnaw nor waste it self away, that wee should too much with Iob and Ieremy,* 1.225 grieue and lament. Thus hee dri∣ueth away griefe often with ioy, that wee should not bee steeped and dissolued in sor∣row.
Our faith here may haue & hath her priuie operati∣ons secret to vs, yet known to him by whom they are.
Men do fasten their minds vpō the distrustfull suggesti∣ons
of the flesh, whereof fin∣ding great abundance in thē∣selues, they gather thereby, vnbeleefe hath full domini∣on and plenary possession of thē; not marking the things of the spirit and of the flesh; because they be buried and ouerwhelmed with the con∣trary: when notwithstan∣ding the Apostle doth ac∣knowledge the spirit groanes, and that God heareth when we doe not. A man decei∣ued by a too hard opinion of his faith, will scarce bee comforted; yea, it doth augment his griefe, and will say, I haue sifted all the cor∣ners of my heart, and I see what there is in me, neuer seeke to perswade mee a∣gainst my knowledge: rea∣son
not with flesh & blood, dispute neuer with Satan, neuer doe yeeld, much lesse giue ouer: beleeue the word, and giue place to prayer and exhortation, and thou shalt finde light in thy greatest darkenesse. The comfort of the spirit may for a season be inter∣mitted, but neuer the spirit of comfort shall leaue thee.
Besides our corrupt na∣ture, the serpent laboureth continually to peruert the simplicity of faith, which is in Christ.
I am iealous ouer you (saith the Apostle) with a godly iea∣lousie, for I haue prepared you to a husband, a pure virgin, vn∣to Christ; but I feare lest as the serpent beguiled Euah through his subtilty,* 1.226 so your mindes should bee corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ. This simplicity of faith ta∣keth the naked promise of God, his bare word, and on that it resteth: which sim∣plicity the Diuell ceasseth not to ouerthrow, corrup∣ting the minde with many i∣maginations of repugnancy, & contrariety between the word of God and his promi∣ses therein, and those things
which sense or experience, or some other fore-cōceiued opinion and perswasion had imprinted. The word of pro∣mise vnto his people is, I will not leaue thee,* 1.227 nor forsake thee: vpon this the simpli∣city of faith resteth, and it is not afraid of famine. But marke how the subtilty of Satan doth corrupt the mindes of that rebellious generation, whose spirits were not faithfull vnto God: they beheld the desolate state of the desert in which they were, and by the wise∣dome of their sense conclu∣ded the wisedome of God to be but folly;* 1.228 Can God pre∣pare a table in the desert? A∣gaine, the word of the pro∣mise vnto Sarah, was, Thou
shalt beare a sonne: faith is simple, and doubted not of it; but Satan to corrupt this simplicity of faith, entised the minde of the woman with an argument drawne from common experience to the contrary, An olde woman, Sarah, will shee bee acquainted with forgotten passions of youth? So the word of the promise of God by Moses, and the Prophets, made the Sauiour of the world so apparent vn∣to Philip, that this simplicity could conceiue no other Messiah then Iesus of Naza∣reth, the Sonne of Ioseph: but to stay Nathaniel to come and see, and should also beleeue, and so be saued; the subtil∣ty of Satan casted a mist be∣fore his eyes, put in his head
against this the common conceiued opinion of all men against Nazareth, Is it possible that a good thing should come from thence?
Thus he bereaueth men for the time of all perceiuance of that which should releeue them, and be their comfort: yea, it taketh all remem∣brance from them, euen of things wherewith they are most familiarly acquainted The Israelites might know, that hee that led them tho∣row the Red Sea, was able to feede them in the wildernes. Sarah was not to learne, that with God all things were possi∣ble. Therefore diligently marke the conceit of repug∣nancy; beleeue not those things which are obiect to
the eies, but that which faith vpon promise of God doth looke for.
The promises of Grace, protection & fauor, which God in his law makes vnto his people, doe not grant any such immunity, as can free & exempt them from all chastisements.
God hath said, I will con∣tinue my mercy for euer to∣wards them:* 1.229 so hath he like∣wise said, Their transgressions will I also punish with a rod: it cannot stand with any rea∣son
that wee should set the measure of our punishments, and prescribe to God how great or how long our suffe∣rings shold be; we are blind and altogether ignorant, what is best for vs: wee sue for many things very vnad∣uisedly, and vnwisely against our selues, thinking we aske fish, when indeed we craue a serpent; when we thinke wee aske that is good, and yet God seemeth slow to grant it, he denyes not, but defers our petitions, to the end we may learne to desire great things greatly.
We must learn to streng∣then
our faith by experi∣ence which heretofore wee haue had of Gods great goodnesse towards vs.
By those things you haue knowne performed, learne to hope for those things that are promised: if thou know∣est that thou hast receiued much, thou maist bee sure to receiue more; for to him that hath shall bee more giuen. When thou meditatest what thou wouldst haue, then search what thou hast had at Gods hāds; make this recko∣ning, that the benefits thou hast had, and hee bestoweth vpon thee, are bils obliga∣tory
and sufficient sureties, that hee will bestow further: his present mercy is still a war∣rant of his future loue, because whom he loueth he loueth to the end.* 1.230
The frailty of our na∣ture, the subtilty of Satan, the force of our deceiuea∣ble imaginations are such, as doe threaten euery mo∣ment the subuersion of our faith, yet it is not hazar∣ded by them.
If wee could reckon vp,
as many euident cleare vn∣doubted signes of Gods re∣conciled loue towards vs, as there are yeeres, yea dayes, yea houres past ouer our heads; all these set toge∣ther, haue not such force to confirme our faith, as the losse, and sometimes the on∣ly feare of losing a little transitory goods, credit, ho∣nor, or fauour of men: a smal calamity or a matter of nothing, can bre••d a con∣ceit, and such a conceit, as cannot easily be remoued; as that we are cleane cast out of Gods Booke,* 1.231 that hee regar∣deth vs not; that hee looketh vpon others, but passeth by vs, like a stranger, to whom we are not knowne.
When we thinke, looking
vpon others, and comparing them with our selues, Their tables are furnished day by day, earth & ashes is our bread▪ they sing to the Lute, their chil∣dren dance before them; our hearts are heauy in our bodyes as lead, our sighes are many, our teares doe wash our beds where∣in wee lye: the Sunne shineth faire vpon their foreheads, we are hanging like bottles i•• the smoake, cast into corn••rs, like sheards of a broken pot, &c: This is our great weaknesse, and policy of Satan, which maketh vs measure God and good things according to our corruptions, when there is no such thing.
The faithfull must vse ordinary meanes, for the strengthning and kindling of his faith.
Simon, Simon, sathan hath desired to winow thee as wheat;* 1.232 here is our painfull tentati∣on; but I haue prayed for thee, that thy faith faile not: this is our safety, no mans condition so sure as ours. The prayer of Christ is more then suffici∣ent both to strengthen vs, be we neuer so weake, and to ouerthrow all aduersarie power, bee it neuer so strong
and potent: Yet his praye•• must not exclude our labor•• their thoughts are vaine who thinke that their watching can preserue the City, which God himselfe is not willing to keepe; and are not theirs as vaine, who think that God will keep the City, for which they themselues are not care∣ful to watch? The husband man must not burne his plough, nor the Merchant forsake his trade, because God hath promised, I will not forsake thee:* 1.233 and the faith∣full Christian must attend hearing, reading, praying, that he fall not into tempta∣tion. The meaning of Christ in these words, Father, keepe them in thy name, is not, that wee should bee carelesse to
keepe our selues; and so hap∣py is he whose faith hath made him the child of God: nothing shall change his heart, ouer∣throw his faith, alter his af∣fection towards God, or the affection of God to him. Who can make a separation be∣tweene him and God?* 1.234 Hee knoweth in whom hee hath beleeued, and who hath shed his blood for him. Labour then to keepe the assurance of thy faith vnto the end, and by labour through the gracious mediation of Christ keepe it.
Wee neede not feare sin, for Christ hath abolished it for euer.
This is true, and euerla∣sting verity hath folded it vp; for howsoeuer wee feare and tremble, yet before the Lord,* 1.235 with whom our life is hid, there is not perill, but peace; not feare, but righte∣ousnesse without end: let our sinnes be neuer so great, neither wee nor our sins can change the new Testament, that God is mercifull to our sinnes,* 1.236 and will remember our iniquities no more. Therefore this care is past, that our sins be many; the more they are, the greater is his mercy who hath forgiuen them. And this is the token which God hath giuen vs, that wee are
his, because wee are grieued with our sinnes; for Christ ouercame sinne with sufferings which belong vnto it:* 1.237 and this is the badge of our redemp∣tion, to be made like him in af∣flictions:* 1.238 we haue sinne and abhorre it, we haue sense and feeling of Gods anger a∣gainst it, and hell gapeth vp∣on our soules because of it; all is well, this is a blessed state, this was the Image of Christ when hee ouercame sinne; a mark of my redemp∣tion in my owne flesh, that I should not faint: for as the Sunne maketh day, and the night darkenesse, so this af∣fliction for sin, is the badge, and cognisance of our cer∣taine forgiuenesse. And now see the good of God, which
turneth all things to the best to those that loue him:* 1.239 through feare of sinne the Deuill figh∣teth against vs; without feare of sinne wee could ne∣uer haue boldnesse: through anguish of heart the Deuill would ouerwhelme vs with sorrow; without anguish of heart wee could neuer haue ioy.
In feeling Gods anger, the Deuill would make vs to despaire: without feeling his threatning, and trembling before him, wee could neuer haue strength of faith, that his mercies are for euer. In all suffrings I am like to Christ: they are marks of my adop∣tion, that I am his child; for if wee bee without chastise∣ments,* 1.240 then are we bastards
and not sonnes: and what chastisements be these? He saith,* 1.241 If wee bee planted with him in the similitude of his death, then shall wee bee also partakers of his Resurrecti∣on.
Then as thou needest not care for sinne, for it is aboli∣shed; so needst thou not care for hell, for the nearer wee feele it, the further wee are from it.
Let them feare sin that feele it not, and let them bee afraid of condemnation that know not what it is: our eies haue bene kept waking, and we haue feene our sins; our hearts haue fainted before the anger of the Lord, and wee haue not despised our heauenly calling: therefore
in the day of trouble we shal haue rest, when destruction shall come vpon the secure like an armed man; & God most glorious Lord of lords although hee make sicknesse his messenger, and death his minister, till he shall destroy them both: yet his mercies are vnspeakeable that forgi∣ueth vs all our sinnes,* 1.242 his good∣nesse is great who hath regard to the children of men.* 1.243
All trouble should be ra∣ther matter of ioy, then displeasure.
This is our prayer, thy will be done,* 1.244 we must be conten∣ted with all hee hath done, that our hearts may beare vs witnesse, that of all things the Lord is most deare vnto vs: for if wee giue our heart to loue the Lord, our trou∣bles shall seem neither great nor strong vnto vs; for what can be great if our heart bee prepared to say, We reioyce in afflictions,* 1.245 because they shall breede in vs a hope which shall neuer make vs ashamed? o•• what can bee great, if God hath taught vs, that the mo∣mentany afflictiōs of this world,* 1.246 they are not worthy of the glory that shall be reuealed vnto vs:
or what can be great if wee can reioyce in afflictions,* 1.247 re∣ioyce exceedingly when we fall into many and great tri∣bulations? All is but vani∣ty, what should dismay vs? Nay, how should we not be glad if death were euen at our bed sides, that we might euen once see the vtmost malice of the Deuill, and af∣ter for euer bee deliuered from him? O! how God is delighted with vs, when we bee faithfull to abide these light chastisements!* 1.248 How many things haue all the ••odly suffered? are we not a∣shamed to refuse the crosse which they haue borne? yea, weight well thy case what it is, and thou shalt fee little cause of sorrow in it; or if
thou compare it with others, none at all: and it all things were as euill as thou couldst imagine, what then? Where is our loue to Iesus Christ, that gaue his pretious blood to the death vpon the Crosse for our sakes, if we will not leaue all for him? One haire cannot fall from our head but at his commandement; He is head of his Church, and all things happen they not vnto vs as he will?
Onely when wee sin, let vs bee sorrowfull to offend such a Sauiour, let it grieue vs more then death it selfe; but to remember againe so ass••red hope, we cannot but re∣ioyce in the Lord,* 1.249 and alwayes reioice: so let Gods wil pe••swade you, that whether you liue, or
whether you die, you may bee wholly his. The world hath taken vp enmity against vs, and striueth dayly to sepa∣rate vs from the Lord: but there is no ioy to this, that wee know our selues to bee the children of God, to bee ioyned to Iesus Christ, and made a chief member of a glo∣rious body, with whom we shall be ioyned for euer. And what is this world to immortali∣ty? What are fulnesse of de∣lights to the grace of God, the fellowship of Saints, the forgiuenesse of our sins, the loue of Gods countenance, the assurance of our life, the brightnesse of his glory, and these vnutterable eternall blessings? Let vs count then all things dung, that wee may
winne Christ, desire to be dis∣solued and be with Christ, that we may say, O death where is thy sting? All things of the world are but seruants of death, and serue to make his power more fearefull vnto vs: vanquish death, and thou hast vanquished all: height and depth, life and death, all is ours, and we are Christs.
To confesse sin and not to hide it, is a ready way to saluation, & aduancement of Gods glory.
Satan is enemy to vs, and
his sleights are many: tread Satan vnder foote, and tri∣umph with Christ, so shalt thou shame the Deuill: For hee that hideth his sinnes shall neuer prosper,* 1.250 but hee that con∣fesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercy. To Achan Ioshu∣a said, I beseech thee giue glo∣ry to God, and shew mee what thou hast done. This is to giue glory to God, to confesse. So did Dauid acknowledge his iniquity: the Israelites before their absolution and forgiuenesse, confessed to the Priest, and thereafter their sinnes were layd on the beasts. Adam did cloake his sin, but we must be borne anew: So did Cain, but wee are of a better kinred then he. God will once reueale the ••ecrets
of hearts, and then wee shall reioyce, that there is nothing of ours hid: better to re∣ceiue the reproach of flesh, and after receiue the glory of God. Iohn his preaching began at confession: the prodigall Son called heauen and earth to witnesse his im∣piety: Paul did euer tell vs hee was a persecutor: the Theefe entred not into Para∣dise, til he first in the hearing of Israel, sayd, We are rightly punished, and receiue things worthy of that wee haue done. This then touched the glory of God, and therefore wee must fors••ke the loue of our selfe; we must not dissemble with him that cannot bee mocked, in the middest of the congregation I will praise thee,
I will declare thy Name vnto my Bretheren, saith Christ. Gods graces must neither be locked vp in our hearts, but will burne within like fire: I haue beleeued, therfore I spake. A fire (I say) shut vp in our bones, wee shall bee weary with forbearing; I will speake thy name before Kings, and will not be ashamed.
God hath giuen his E∣lect, as a free gift to Christ.
The Apostle telleth vs, Behold the children which thou hast giuen me:* 1.251 This teacheth
vs to acknowledge his gift and grace, and not any wise∣dome in vs, why hee would choose vs; or any constancy in vs by which wee would cleaue vnto him; but God in his grace drew vs, that we might come vnto him, and with his power he strength∣neth vs that we should abide with him: All that my Father giueth vnto me, commeth vnto me; and the reason is, because my Father hath giuen them to me, and he is greater then all: and hee prayeth oftentimes in that long prayer, for them that beleeue, because his Fa∣ther hath giuen them vnto him: that we may be taught humility, that in vs, that is, in our flesh, ther dwelleth no good∣nesse, but that he chose vs, he
did it of his free grace and mercy, which he would shew vnto vs: and as wee know, that once God hath freely giuen vs vnto Christ, so wee know our election standeth sure, because it is according to his promise who hath lo∣ued vs for euer.
To know the sufserings of Christ aright, is our greatest consolation.
Christ suffered the death, ouer which the Deuil had pow∣er; the same death which is the reward of sinne, by bea∣ring
it, he ouercame it, and he conquered no more then hee submitted himselfe vnto; for by death hee ouercame death: * 1.252 and he hath brokē the force of it, no further then he had felt the sting of it in himself; for body and soule hee was made a sacrifice sor our sins, My soule is heauy vnto death:* 1.253 yea he was astonished at his griefe, at the very entry at it, for his sweat was drops of blood falling from h••m,* 1.254 and God sent an Angell from hea∣uen to comfort him.* 1.255 Was this for the death of his body? His seruants that receiue of his fulnesse, doe they not ea∣sily despise this death? that either they desire to be with Christ, or reioyce in the middest of it before the per∣secutor.
The Apostles did sing in prison; Paule glori∣ed in his tribulations, which were many. And did hee cry out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Here is no comparisō, that which made him tremble wold haue cru∣shed them; that which made him sweate blood, would haue made them sinke into the bottome of hel; and that which made him cry, would haue held both Angels and men vnder euerlasting woe. But Christ was as water pow∣red out,* 1.256 and all his bones out of ioynt; his heart like waxe mol∣ted in the middest of his bowels; his strength was dried vp like a potsheard, and his tongue clea∣ued vnto his iawes; hee was brought with his sorrowes to
the dust of death,* 1.257 for hee bare our sinnes in his body; he sub∣mitted himselfe to the death of them, and by the wounds of his stripes we be healed. For our sinnes deserued not onely a bodily, but also a second death in hell fire: hee suffe∣red the torments of body, and the anguish of the soule: the wrath of his Father, which wounded his flesh & spirit vnto death, would haue holden him in that condem∣nation for euer, if he had not bene stronger then we, that had deserued it: but beeing the Sonne of God, in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelled bodily, the eternall Spirit that was within him, did loose the chaines of death and hell, of which it was impos∣sible
that hee should bee holden; and hath left his enemies the Deuill, death, and hell, in ig∣nominy and darknesse, and hath abolished them for e∣uer.
We are presented fault∣lesse before the presence of Gods glory, by beeing made one with Christ.
Of Christ onely is it true, This is my well-beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased: this is the Saluation wee haue by him, to bee grafted in him, and made partakers of his
life. All the faithfull before Christ, were righteous in him; for wee must leaue all our works in the earth where they were done, and they must dye with the corrupti∣ble hands and feete, with which they are wrought: we must go naked and bare, and offer nothing but that which is Christs; yea, our selues wee must present in his body, for in our owne persons wee cannot possibly be accepted. Euen as the Vine branch can haue no life except it abide in the body of the Vine; no more we either life or righteous∣nesse, except wee be, and a∣bide in Christ.
He is our substance, and being in the inheritance of glory; his righteousnesse is ours, his loue ours, his life our life, his Spirit our spirit, of his fulnesse we receiue all. This is a great mistery which the eye seeth not, nor heart can vnderstand: yet it is a reall ioyning with him, faith comprehendeth it; and when wee shall see that wisedome which is called vnity in one person, God and man, wee shall see the wisedome which hath made vs all, the body of that head and members, one of another; In him he is well pleased (I say) with vs. If that couenant wherin it was once promised to Abraham, to giue a land vnto the Iews; and all their rebellion could
not falsifie his promise; in him wee haue a couenant greater and better, therefore let vs trust vnto his promise, which cannot change his grace, nor repent him of his mercy for euer; for this is a holy couenant which shall not be broken: but God will make all our enemies our footstooles,* 1.258 and will surely take vs vp into his glory: and briefly, the presence of God to which Christ leadeth vs, is a throne of Grace;* 1.259 for by his merits we bee brought vnto God as before a Iudge, who from his tribunall Seat doth acquit vs for euer, of his own grace and free mercy: For whosoeuer looketh to bee iustified by any other thing, the Lord can no more shew
mercy vnto him, then he can change the property of his Iudgement seate, to make it no more the Throne of Grace.
A perfect beauty of all excellent loue, appeareth in the great worke of Christs mediation; for hee became man. Secondly, Hee was ordained to accomplish whatsoeuer was betweene God and man. Thirdly, This was giuen to Christ by God, both by word and by oath, and all was to haue compassion on vs.
Neither Angell, nor Arch∣angell, nor Principalities, nor Powers, can doe this worke, to present flesh and blood vnto the Maiesty of God, when themselues are but spirits. He tooke not the Angels nature,* 1.260 but the seede of Abraham. But in his suf∣ferings his loue is most eui∣dent, in that it was so fer∣uent, and so deepely rooted, that neither feare nor trem∣bling, nor any anguish of spirit, could make him shake: nor the force of death, nor any bloody sweats, could pull it out of his bowels: & this is the depth of the Gos∣pell, which the Angels doe de∣sire
to behold: it skilleth not how many our sins are, and how great in our eyes; the Lord will scatter them as the clouds from the hea∣uens, and they shall not turne away his louing counte∣nance from vs: if our sinnes bee as scarlet, and not ours onely, but the sinnes of the whole world, they rested all vpon Christ; he prayeth for deliuerance, and hath obtai∣ned: and therefore we may say with boldnesse, forgiue vs our trespasses. We then which are laden but with our owne sins, should lift vp our hearts in the great assurance of hope, and heare with ioyful∣nesse the word of promise, I* 1.261 will be mercifull to their vn∣righteousnesse,
and I will re∣member their sins and iniqui∣ties no more. There is nothing comparable to his passions, by whose stripes we are healed, and therefore may bee fully perswaded,* 1.262 that nothing shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ: for the Lord hath appointed to giue to all that mourne in Sion, beauty for ashes, the oyle of ioy for mourning,* 1.263 the garment of gladnesse, for the spirit of hea∣uinesse: for hee was wounded for our transgressions,* 1.264 and bro∣ken for our iniquities, the cha∣stisement of our peace was vp∣on him: his prayers are ours, his supplications for vs, a∣vaileable for more sins then we are able to commit. This is the victory that shall ouer∣come
the world, euen our faith. For his Father hath broken him with one breaking vp∣on another, so he kindled his wrath against him, and ac∣counted him as one of his e∣nemies; hee cryed out aloud in silence, he could finde no ease, his face was wrinckled with weeping, and the shad∣dow of death was vpon his eyes: whē he was the bright∣nesse of glory, and the Sunne of Righteousnesse, that shi∣ned in the world; yet to see his dayes as it were at an end, and his enterprizes bro∣ken, his carefull thoughts to bee so deepe grauen in his breast, that they changed e∣uen the day into night vnto him, and al light that appro∣ched into darkenesse.
When his excellency was such aboue all creatures, that the world was not worthy to giue him breath, yet hee to bee made a worme and not a man, a shame of men,* 1.265 and con∣tempt of the people, all that saw him to haue him in de∣rision, and to shut vp his life in shame and reproches, so vnworthy a reward of so precious a seruant. He was righteous aboue measure, yet was he accoūted among the wicked: and briefly, hee was called a glutton, but had his appetites bridled with all holy moderation; his behauiour without all re∣proofe, yet slandered as a friend of Publicans: hee lo∣ued the Law of his Father, that he would not suffer one
iot or title vnaccomplished, yet accused as enemy to Mo∣ses: he loued his Father with all his heart, and was obedient vnto him to the death, euen the death of the Crosse, yet they said he blasphemed: He was an enemy to Sathan euen to death, and by death ouercame him that brought death into the world:* 1.266 he hated him with so perfect hatred, and held stedfast the enmity that was betweene them, vntill hee had spoyled his principali∣ties and powers, and tramp∣led ouer them in an euerla∣sting victory; yet they said he had a deuill: such a loath∣some sinke was couered in the heart of man, and now the thoughts of many hearts made open.* 1.267
And if Moses, Ieremiah, I∣saiah, and Paule, had sorrow for the Iewes of their time, how did Christs great loue boyle in sorrowes of heart, to see their destructions o∣uer whom before hee had wept, but prayed still, Father forgiue them, for they know not what they doe?
Behold therefore his per∣son here, and know his loue: it was griefe to see all vertue troden vnder feete by them; and yet it was more infinite to behold Satan to preuaile against man to his euerla∣sting condemnation: and which is more, the sin that he hateth bee must take it vpon his owne body, and beare the wrath of his Father that was powred out against it:
the anger of his Father bur∣ned in him, euen vnto the bottome of hell: O! who can stand before his wrath,* 1.268 or who can abide the fiercenesse of his wrath? his wrath is powred out like fire, and the Rockes are broken before him! Yea, ma∣keth the forlorne wildernesse to tremble! For thus the Sun is darkened, the Moone doth not shew her light, the Stars of heauen doth fall away, and the powers of heauen are shaken. Heere then is the picture of perfect loue; being full of goodnesse, is rewarded of euill; full of o∣bedience, is punished as wic∣ked; full of faith, yet had the reward of a sinner; Lord of all, yet nothing to doe him duty; the God of glory, yet
compassed with shame; the Author of life, yet wrapped in the chaines of death; the onely begotten and best be∣loued of the Father, yet cast off as a stranger; the beau∣ty of the highest heauens, yet throwne down into hell; well might he say, The snares of death compassed me, and the paines of hell tooke hold vp∣pon me, I haue found trou∣ble and sorrow: he did say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
We know then best, how we loue the Lord, when we feele by experience, what we will suffer for hts sake.
It is an easie thing to bee valiant before the combate; to dreame of a good cou∣rage before the heart bee tried: but indeed, to be vn∣shaken in the middest of the tempest, & to stand vpright when the ground trembleth vnder thee: this is to know assuredly thou art strong in∣deede. The heauen, earth, elements, were Christs ene∣mies; his Father in whom he trusted, shewed him an an∣g••y countenance: yet said he still, Thy will be done, O Fa∣ther. We must account it for an exceeding ioy when we sal•• into sundry troubles: for what can be more ioyfull to the heart
oppressed, then to giue this in experience, that neither height nor depth, shall re∣mooue him from the Lord? This was Abrahams glory, that hee would forsake his Countrey, and kinred,* 1.269 and fa∣thers house, at the commande∣ment of God, to goe whither hee would shew him. Iob his pati∣ence was not thorowly knowne, till all his goods were spoyled: and wee must haue witnesse that our elec∣tion is sure, when wee may speake by experience, that neither life nor death can re∣mooue vs from the loue of God. Thus the good ground is knowne what it is, when the heate cannot scorch it, nor briers and thornes turne the good corne into weedes,
but through all stormes it will giue nourishment vnto the seede, till it giue greater encrease to Gods honor and glory. This is a profitable experience, for before it come vnto vs, we know not how great the rebellion of the flesh will be.
The Apostles bragged, they would neuer forsake their Master, he alone had the words of eternall life, and they would not change him for another: they beleeued him, that they knew him to be the Christ, the Sonne of the liuing God, and there was no other Sauiour: but whē they saw the Crosse at hand, their courage fell downe, they forsooke him all. Peter said, he would dye for him, drew his sword, that he
had almost slaine one, but this boldnesse was but a blast of words, he swore hee knew him not. So experi∣ence is the greatest warrant to know what our selues can beare. The Lord and our duty requireth, that wee shold approue our selues the witnesses of the Gospell, in patience, in afflictions, in ho∣nour, in dishonour, in shame, in life, in death; but how violently the flesh will fight against vs, wee cannot well declare till wee haue made the triall.
And therefore in griefe of body learne to say with pa∣tience, I haue held my peace, O Lord, because thou hast done it: If thy minde bee full of sorrow, say, I will waite pati∣ently
vpon the Lords leasure, he will heare my prayer.
We should not be discou∣raged vnder the Crosse, since Christ is the patterne whose similitude we beare.
Those whom God hath fore-knowne, hee hath also predesti∣nated to be made like vnto the image of his Sonne. Death once reigned through sinne, and hee hath found a way to rise from it again, into grea∣ter glory. This victory be∣cause it was too great for Sainct or Angell to obtaine,
he had appointed it to be the worke of his onely begotten Sonne: hee tooke vpon him our nature, to make, and in his owne person hee filled it with the fulnesse of miseries, with all sorrowes of flesh, with all anguish of minde, with persecutiō, with death, with sinne, with hell, with condemnation: and from all these, by the mighty power of his Godhead, hee is risen againe in our flesh, ascended vp into glory, and sitteth on the right hand of Maiesty, being a mighty Sauiour vn∣to euery one that shal follow him.
So that this is our glory in afflictions, we are fashioned by them into the similitude of Christ, and wee are made like
vnto him. So it pleased God when hee would bring many children vnto glory, to conse∣crate the Prince of their salua∣tion through afflictions,* 1.270 and to make both him that sanctifi∣eth, and them that are sanctifi∣ed all one, that they that suf∣fer with him, should also liue with him.
So we when we feele ma∣ny troubles to rest vpon vs, we may say, now we are like vnto Christ; especially when wee feele the greatest trou∣ble, the minde oppressed, it maketh vs like vnto him: and to say, Now we supply in our flesh the remnant of the af∣flictions of Christ, in nothing in this world, as wealth, ho∣nor, &c. can I behold the liuely Image of Christ.
Affliction and trouble, a minde broken with the re∣membrance of sinne, a trou∣bled spirit, horrors of death, and a conscience burdened with the wrath of God: here light shines out of darknes, and hope out of despaire.
When I thinke my selfe furthest off from the Lord, them am I neerest vnto him: and when I thinke my selfe fullest of confusion, then the Image of Christ is most liuely within me. The Lord may hide his face for a while for a moment in his anger, a•• he did from Christ, but hee will returne vnto me with e∣uerlasting mercies, for the Image of his Sonne is cleere within me.
* 1.271Wee are afflicted one euery side, but not so as that wee are shut from hope; wee are in po∣uerty, but not ouercome with pouerty: we are persecuted, but not forsaken; we are cast down, but wee perish not; wee are troubled in all things, fightings without, and terrours without, but God that comforteth the abiects, he will comfort vs. Vnto this he hath predesti∣nated vs, that we should bee like vnto his Son in afflicti∣ons, and so be glorified with him in the day of honour.
God sendeth vs sundry chastisements, especially the anguish of heart, and
affliction of the soule, that we should be warned, how to be free from the plague, when it commeth.
The iudgements of God daily preached vnto vs, pierce deepe into the hearts of the true beleeuers, and the word that they heare, it worketh mightily in them,* 1.272 more sharpe in their eares then a two edged sword, and it entreth through them euen to the diuiding a∣sunder of the soule, and of the spirit, and of the ioynts, and of the marrow, and examines all the thoughts and the intents of the heart: so that it is im∣possible that any part of thē should be hid, but they are
al open vnto iudgement, and heare the voice of the Lord. Then their sinne is reuiued in the middest of their bowels, their conscience hath no rest, they feele death wor∣king in their hearts, and hell is before them: they see sin on their right hand, and Sa∣tan on the left; shame vnder their feete, and an angry Iudge aboue them; the world full of destruction without, and a worm gnaw∣ing the heart within: the poore sinner knoweth not what to doe, to hide him∣selfe it is impossible, and to appeare it is intollerable: then hee breaketh out into loud crying, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliuer me from the body of this death?* 1.273
He giueth no rest vnto his eyes, nor sleep vnto his eye∣lids, vntil he find that, which is able to saue him from this wrath. In his bed by night hee seeketh him whom his soule lo∣ueth:* 1.274 in the streetes and o∣pen places hee enquireth af∣ter him, and after many daies in which hee cannot finde him, Christ sheweth him∣selfe at the last, a perpetuall deliuerer, a victorious Li∣on of the Tribe of Iuda, in whom he hath strong salua∣tiō: when he hath mourned because of the plague that was before him, Christ will approch neere, and wipe away al the tears frō his eies. So said he: When I heard the word of God, my belly trembled,* 1.275 my lips shooke at the voyce, rottennesse entred into my bones,
and I trembled in my selfe that I might finde rest in the day of trouble.
So is it with vs all, the plagues of God because they are pronounced against ini∣quity maketh the childe of God to feare, that foresee∣ing the harme he might pr••∣pare himselfe.
For though Christ hi•• himselfe at the first, the wounded spirit and trou∣bled spirit must needes finde him out. We are ful of griefe, but we are chastised of the Lord, because we should not be cōdēned with the world: we dye with Christ,* 1.276 because we should liue with him; we lament and weepe, but be∣cause Christ might wipe away all teares from our eyes: wee
are deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake, but because the life of Iesus should be manifest in our slesh. We beare about vs the mortification of our Lord Iesus, but because also the life of Iesus might bee manifest in our bodyes. We haue anguish of spirit and vexation of minde, for this cause, that when destruction shall come vpon the careles world, wee might lift vp our heads, and behold our redemp∣tion at hand: let vs then in patience poffesse our soules, for, for these causes wee are now afflicted, that wee may receiue mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of neede: and for this cause we tremble and are affraid, that after many prayers wee
might bee deliuered from the things which we haue feared.
That our life is in the hand of God, that we shold not be pleased with it, but as it pleaseth him, ready to lay it downe when it plea∣seth him.
This is the great comman∣dement, to loue God aboue all, and this is the greatest obe∣dience required of man, to be ready to dye at the will of God.
Against this commande∣ment the nature of man stri∣ueth,
the delights of this life rise against it, we are loth to make our beds in the darke: we would see the Sunne, our eares would heare worldly elements; our flesh indeed is grasse, yet grasse hath a flowre, and our frayle bodies haue vanishing fantasies, a∣greeable vnto them, from which we cannot bee pulled away. So Patriarches and Prophets were afraid: yea, Peter and Paule loued that life which they saw in hope, but they did feele the death, which did fight in their members; they were men as we are, yet obtained at last, to bee dissolued and bee with Christ. If we be weaker then they, the graces of God shall bee more exalted in vs, and
wee shall also say at the last, Let thy seruant, O Lord, de∣part in peace. And ••••ough wee feare for a little ••••ile, yet feare shall bee cast out, and we shall say with a free spirit, O death, where is thy sting? Our greatest enemy & last, is troden vnder our feet; what else can hurt vs? The Lord of life hath crushed him in pieces vnder vs.
It is a blessed day that bringeth vs into this battel, a blessed sicknesse that ma∣keth vs indure this fight; and most blessed end, in which wee get victory. This doth he who said, O death I will be thy death; for while wee liue, we liue in him, and no man can take our ioy from vs: and when we dye, we dye in
him and then death shall be no more death; for then the burthen of sinne, the malice of the Deuill, and terrour of hell shall cease. All things that fill with ioy shall be full within vs; as the fellowshippe of Saints and Angels, the for∣giuenesse of sinnes, the Resur∣rection of the body, and life e∣uerlasting, &c. yea, and the God of glory. Our eyes shall bee enlightned with a pure faith, and we shall think our time wearinesse, if then our time were prolonged, and be a soiourner in this body, in which wee are strangers from the presence of the Lord.
And the neerer our time approcheth, the gladder wee shall bee of the end of our
iourney, when our heart shal•• feele it: For when the earthly house of this Tabernacle shalbe destroyed, wee haue a building giuen of God, a house not made with hands, but eternall in the heauens, where the God of al mercy, and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ shall bee before vs for euer.
There wee shall see the Patriarches of whom wee haue heard so much; the Prophets whom we haue lo∣ued; the Apostles whose so∣ciety wee wish for; where our time shal not be tedious, and glory haue no change: O happy daies that shall ne∣uer end! O blessed inheri∣tance that shall neuer waste! There shall be no more sor∣row, nor crying, &c. For the
first things are past, and what haue we here that can please vs? Feare of our enemy, griefe in pouerty, paine in labour, care in riches, vn∣stedfaftnesse in friendship, enuy in Authority, emulati∣on in Honor, change in No∣bility, feare in a Kingdome, what but vexation of spirit in all things that is vnder the Sunne? So true it is, Vanity of vanities, and all is but va∣nity.
What then can disquiet vs, if in the face of Christ Ie∣sus, we see our rising againe from the graue? Who hath giuen vs inheritance in plea∣sant places, and our portion in a happy lot: the dead man feareth no euill, he is only bit∣ter to them that haue peace in
their riches: then we shalbe bold to say, Surely the Lord wil deliuer mee from the snare of the hunter, and from the noi∣some pestilence:* 1.277 I shall not be afraid of the feare of the night, nor of the arrow that flyeth by day, nor of the pestilence that walketh in the darkenes, nor of the plague that destroyeth a•• noone: I haue set the most high to be my refuge, and there shal no eu••ll come neere my taberna∣cle. For among the dead I haue seene Christ, and in the graue I haue found the glory of God; and therfore do say, Let me dye with the righteous, and let my latter end be as vn∣to him: for Christ is my life, & death is my aduantage: why then should we not desire to see the louing kindnesse of the
Lord, which is better then life: Yea,* 1.278 as the Hart longeth after the water brookes, so our soules long to see the Lord. Lord grant wee may haue euen here our conuersation in hea∣uen, from thence looking for a Sauiour, euen Iesus Christ the righteous, who shall change this corruptible bo∣dy, to make it like to his glo∣rious body, in that blessed time which shall scatter a∣way all affliction, and seale within vs the happy assu∣rance of immortality, which shall bee in the presence of the God of Grace. Amen.
Ioh. 4.14.
Rom. 3.5.
Rom. 12.6.
Math. 17.20.
Mar. 12.13
Col. 1.9. 2. Pet. 3.18
Can. 4.12.
Rom. 10.
Act. 13.26 Eph 3.29. 2. Cor. 5.20.
Rom. 9.33
Psal. 27.8.
Zach. 13 9 Mat. 9.23. Ps. 40.7.8.
Rom. 8.16 Iohn 5.6.
Phil. 1.6
Rom. 9.33 Ioh. 10.28 Ier. 32.40
Phil. 3 12
Rom. 11.29, & 14, 8, & 8, 23.
Ps. 23, 6
Ier. 31, 33 Esa. 25, 9
Ioh. 6.54.55
Ioh. 6.35
Rom. 3, 34 Rom: 4, 16
Gal. 3, 10
Gal. 5, 4
Rom. 4, 14
Gal. 3, 18
Gal. 5.3
Mat. 5.6
Heb. 12, 1
Exo. 12, 15
Numb. 15, 28
Act 16, 31
Mat. 8, 26 Mat. 15, 20 Rom. 4, 21
Iohn, 6, 99
Ioh. 14, 29
Mat. 14, 28, 31
Mat. 8, 25,
Psal. 31, 22
Luke 17, 5 Rom. 5, 1. 1. Ioh. 5, 13
1. Thes. 5, 17.
2. Cor. 5.7.
Rom. 8, 23 2. Sam. 12, 13.
Psal. 51, 1.
Heb. 6, 18,
1. Cor. 2, 12
Isa. 9, 6
2 Cor. 1, 20
Rom. ••, 32,
1 Iohn 4, 13.
Act. 5, 31
Eph. 2.8.
Rom. 5, 17.
2 Tim. 1, 7
Phil. 1:29
2 Pet. 1, 3
Rom. 6, 23.
Eph. 1, 3, & 3, 5.
1. Pet. 1, 12
Mat. 26, 28
Iob 2, 8. Ier. 1, 1. 2. Cor. 6, 4
Tit. 3, 7.
Eph. 1.11.
Mar. 1, 7.
Mat. 8, 10.
Dan. 9, 7
Psal. 143, 2
Psa. 130, 3
Rom. 8, 28
Isa. 54, 13 Ier. 31, 33 Ier. 23, 54
Isa. 27, 3
Mat. 16, 18
Ier. 32, 40
Luk. 22, 32
Ioh. 17, 11, 20.
1. Pet. 1, 5,
Phil. 3, 8
1 Cor. 1, 30
Rom. 8, 21
Rom 4, 5
1. Ioh. 3, 7
2. Cor. •• 21,
Rom. 11, 6
Mat. 6.
Ioh. 3, 17.
Reu. 2, 22.
Rom. 10.13
Isa. 26.16.
Iob 33.16.17.
1. Cor. 11.
Isa. 35.4.
Isa. 43.1.
Isa. 54, 14
Luk. 11, 74.
Heb. 2.15.
Rom. 8, 15.
2. Tim. 1.7.
Iob 31.23.
Eph. 6.10
Isa. 26.12.
1. Sam. 2.9
Gen. 18.12
Heb. 11.11
Num. 11.24
Psa. 73, 2, •• Hab. 1.2.13
Rom. 10, 6.
1. Cor. 3.15
Eph. 2.20.
1. Tim. 3.16
Ioh. 1.49.
Ioh. 4.24.
Act. 4, 12. 1. Cor. 3.
Rom. 4, 23.
Is. 2.19.
Hos. 10.8. Luk. 23.30
Reue. 6.16 Ps. 51, 12.
Ioh. 3.16.
Ioh. 8, 47.
Rom. 10, 13
Ioh. 1.12.
Iam. 1.18.
1. Pet. 5.12
1. Ioh. 3.1.
Rom. 8, 15.16.
Ioh. 14, 17.
Zech. 12.10
Eze. 18.24.
Phil. 1, 29
Col. 1, 11,
2. Cor. 1, 5, Heb. 13, 5,
Rom. 8, 10, Phi. 2, 15, Col. 3, 4,
Eph. 2, 5,
1. Ioh. 5, 12
1. Ioh. 5, 13
Rom. 6 10 Eph. 3.6.
Ioh. 14.19.
Mat. 28.20.
1. Pet. 1.23 1. Ioh. 3, 9.
Eph. 1, 14
Ioh. 4, 14
Num. 23, 19
Col. 1, 23
1 Tim. 2.15
Ioh. 10.
1 Ioh. 3, 9
Act. 15.5.
Gal. 4, 25, 28, 31.
Eph. 1.13. 2 Cor. 1.21 22. & Cha. 5, 5.
Ps. 116, 16 Ps. 119, 125 Ps. 143, 2
1 Io. 3, 4, 15
Act. 16, 31 Rom. 1, 27
Ps. 84, 7,
Rom. 8.33
Gal. 3, 13, Heb. 8.9.
Mat. 1, 21 1 Thes. 1, 10
Luk. 2, 10.11.
Is. 9, 6
Act. 10.43. 1. Ioh. 5.10
Hebr. 3, 6, & 10, 22.
Rom. 4, 18
1. Pet. 2, 25
Eph. 3.20. Eph. 1, 20
Eph. 2, 5.
Eze. 36,22
1. Cor. 5, 21
Rom. 3.25
Eph. 1, 3, 1. Cor. 1, 30
Rom. 3, 25 Rom. 6, 6 Eph. 4, 24
Tim. 1, 2, 4
Eph. 5.25
2 Ti. 1, 3, 5
1. Ioh. 3, 9
Psal. 37, 24 Ier. 33, 16.
2. Cor, 12, 9
Dan. 9, 7,
Eph. 1.6
1 Cor. 1, 29
Is. 2.11.
2 Tim. 1.18
Rom. 7.23 Heb. 12, 1 Gal. 5, 17
2. Pet. 3, 13 Mat. 5, 6
Rom. 7, 24,
Rom. 3.27
2 Cor. 8.12.
Mat. 5.26.
Ps. 103.4
2. Tim. 4
Is. 53.6.
1 Pet. 2.24
Rom. 3, 24 Eph. 1, 7, Col. 1, 14, Ro. 4, 6, 7, 8 Tim. 1, 2, 14.
Gal. 4, 5, Luk. 22, 10
1. Thes. 5.10.
Act. 3.26.
Mat. 3, 1••
Rom. 8.33
Exo. 28.38
Ps. 143.2
Pro. 24.16.
Luk. 22.61
Rom. 5, 15 2 Cor. 5, 21 Ier. 23, 6.
Act. 15, 9.
Gal. 3, 14.
Rom. 8.2.
Gal. 4, 28
Cha. 3.29
Heb. 6.17
2 Pet. 14.
Gal. 3.14.26.
Eph. 1.13.
Gal. 3.18
1. Ti. 1.2.
2 Pet. 3.13
2 Cor. 1.20.
Heb. 11.13
Gal. 3.14
Ibid. 22.
Mat. 8.13
Mat. 21.
Ioh. 6, 56. Eph. 5, 30.
Rom. 3, 27
Mat. 2, 29
Gal. 5.8.
Iob 13.
Psal. 73.
2 Cor. 12.
Iob 2.8. Ier. 11.
2 Cor. 11.
Hebr. 13.
Psalm. 78.
Psalm. 89.
Ioh. 13.
Psalm. 31.
Luk. 22.
Hebr: 13.
Rom. 8.
Col. 3.4.
Ier. 31.
Hebr. 2.
Rom. 8.
Rom. 8.
Heb. 12.
Rom. 6.
Psal. 103.
Psal. 8.
Mat. 6.
Rom. 5.
Rom. 8.
Iam. 1.
Heb. 12.
Ph••l. 4.
Prou. 28.
Heb. 2.
Heb. 2.
Mat. 26.56
Mar. 14.33
Luk. 22.44.
Psalm. 22.
1. Pe 1.2.24
1. Cor. 15.
Heb. 4.
Hebr: 2.
Heb. 8.12.
Rom. 8.
Esay 61.3.
Esay 53.5.
Psalm. 22.
Heb. 2.
Luk 2.
Nah. 1.6.
Genes. 12.
Heb. 2.
2. Cor. 4.
Heb. 4.
Rom. 7.
Can. 3.
Hab. 3.16
1. Cor. 11.
Ps. 91. &c.
Psal. 42.1.