or perill, or sword? nay in all these things we are more then Conque∣rours through him that loued vs: and thereupon he concludeth: I am perswaded that neither death nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Yea; so solely and wholly doe the faith∣full ground their spirituall securitie vpon the Lord, that when they excell and abound in wisedome, strength, and all earthly helpes, it is not encreased; and when they are depriued of them all, it is no whit lessened and abated; because the Lord in himselfe is all-mightie and all-sufficient, and hath by all these meanes no strength added vnto him, nor yet is any whit weakned, when all these inferiour comforts and encouragements are taken away. And this the Lord requireth of Abraham, that hee should be secure in his sole protection; Feare not Abraham, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And againe, I am the almightie God, or the God all-sufficient, walke before me, and be thou vpright. And of the Church; Feare not thou worme Iacob and yee men of Israel; I will helpe thee, sayth the Lord, and thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel. Intimating thus much, that though the Church were so sensible of her owne weaknesse, that shee was as vnable in her owne strength to resist the malicious rage of her cruell enemies, as a seely worme; yet shee had cause enough to bee secure and without feare, because the Lord (who is all-sufficient, and taketh delight to ma∣nifest his power in weakenesse) had promised his helpe.
§. 4 That the rege∣nerate onely are the subiect of spirituall se∣curitie.
Thirdly I say, that this Christian securitie followeth our regenera∣tion, iustification, and peace with God; because there is no true secu∣ritie to those who are vnregenerate, vnder the guilt, and obnoxious to the punishment of sinne; and who haue God for their enemie, who is able and readie euery minute to consume and destroy them. There is no sound securitie to those, who by hellish charmes haue rocked conscience asleepe, which is euery day in danger to be awakened, and being rowzed vp, will catch them by the throat, and hale them to answere for all their crimes at the vnpartiall Barre of Gods fearefull Iudgement. In which regards, I may conclude with the Prophet, that there is no such peace to the wicked; for when they are once awake∣ned out of this sleepe of carnall securitie, they are like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast vp mire and dirt. But it is the faithfull only, who being truely conuerted from their wicked wayes, iustified and reconciled vnto God, and hauing peace with him, haue also peace of conscience, that are capable of this grace of spirituall securitie.
§. 5 The grounds of spirituall securitie, on which it re∣steth.
Fourthly, I lay downe the grounds of Christian securitie where∣vpon it resteth, namely knowledge, beliefe, and remembrance of God and his sauing attributes. Wherein it is quite contrarie to carnall se∣curitie, which is grounded on the ignorance, not beleeuing, and for∣getfulnesse of them; which the greater they are, the greater is the car∣nall mans securitie; euen as contrariwise spirituall securitie encreaseth