A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

CAP. IX.

Of the meanes whereby wee may obtaine a liuely faith, and daily increase it from the least to the highest degree.

§. Sect. 1 Of fiue speciall meanes wher∣by we may ob∣taine a liuely faith.

SEeing then faith is so necessary to a godly life, and higher de∣grees of it, for attaining of higher perfection, and making of a further progresse in the wayes of holinesse and righteous∣nesse; it behooueth euery one, who desireth to leade a life ac∣ceptable vnto God, to vse all good meanes whereby he may attaine vnto faith, and hauing the first degrees of it, not to rest in them, but to vse all indeuour, whereby he may grow from faith to faith, vntill he attaine vnto fulnesse of perswasion. Now the meanes of attaining faith are many. The first and principall is prayer, which is not onely in it selfe a powerfull meanes to obtaine it of God, but also of making all other meanes effectuall to those ends for which we vse them. For faith is not of * 1.1 our selues (as the Apostle teacheth vs) but it is a free grace and gift of God; and as our Sauiour saith, It is his worke that we beleeue on him whom hee hath * 1.2 sent. And none haue it, but they vnto whom it is giuen, according to that of the Apostle; Vnto you it is giuen in the behalfe of Christ, not onely to be∣leeue * 1.3 on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Now the way to get Gods gifts, is, to beg them at his hands by effectuall prayer, according to that, If any * 1.4 man want wisedome, let him aske it of God, that giueth all men liberally; seeing he hath tyed himselfe by his gracious promise, that if we aske, wee shall re∣ceiue; * 1.5 and that whatsoeuer we desire in his Sonnes name, he will giue it vs. And * 1.6 therefore if we would haue faith, wee must bee frequent and feruent in prayer, and after that by Gods Spirit it is, like a small seede, sowne in our hearts, and scarcely to be discerned, being hidden from our sight vnder the clods of our corruptions; we must vse the same meanes to bring it to some growth, saying with the Apostles, Lord, increase our faith, and with * 1.7 the father of the possessed child, Lord, I beleeue, helpe thou mine vnbeleefe. * 1.8 The second meanes is, that we adioyne our selues to the true Church of God, where the Word is sincerely and powerfully taught, and the Sacra∣ments duely and rightly administred. For howsoeuer our faith is not built vpon the Church, yet doth it prepare our hearts to the receiuing of it, not onely in respect of that authority which it hath, to mooue vs to the im∣bracing of that which it imbraceth and commendeth vnto vs; but also as it offereth the meanes which onely are effectuall for the begetting and in∣creasing

of our faith, being the Master of the Rowles, which hath the cu∣stody of all our spirituall euidences, and the keeper of Gods Seales, where∣by our faith is assured of the truth of his promises. The third meanes, is the carefull and conscionable hearing of Gods Word, with a desire to profit by it; for faith commeth by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God; * 1.9 in which respect the Preachers of the Gospel are called Ministers, by whom the people beleeue; because their Ministerie is the ordinary meanes of be∣getting faith in them. The fourth meanes, is the vse of the Sacraments, which are as Seales annexed to the Couenant of grace, whereby wee are vndoubtedly assured, that God will make good vnto vs all his promises of grace and saluation in Iesus Christ. The fift is, Christian conferences and holy examples, whereby wee gaine subiects to Christs Kingdome, and build vp one another in our holy faith, as we see in the example of the wo∣man * 1.10 of Samaria, who by her sayings, drew many to beleeue in Christ: and of Aquila and Priscilla, who by their holy conferences, informed Apollos * 1.11 more perfectly in the way of the Lord.

§. Sect. 2 Of the last meanes of ob∣taining faith, which is me∣ditation on di∣uers subiects.

The last meanes is often to meditate vpon these points following. First, vpon Gods euerlasting and vndeserued loue, which mooued him, euen whilst we were sinners, the children of wrath, the vassals of Satan, and enemies to God and his grace, to send his onely begotten, and dearely be∣loued Sonne into the world, that taking our nature vpon him, hee might therein redeeme and saue vs, by satisfying his iustice, in paying for vs an all-sufficient price for our redemption. And therefore hee that sought vs when wee were lost, will not cast vs away when hee hath found vs. Hee that so loued vs when wee were enemies, will not forsake vs now, if wee seeke his fauour. He that out of meere loue gaue Christ to redeeme vs by his death, will not, when he hath bought vs at so deare a price, suffer vs to perish, if we apply Christ and his merits by faith, when as a free gift hee offereth him vnto vs. Secondly, let vs meditate on Gods infinite mercy, which causeth him to delight, not in death and destruction, but the con∣uersion and saluation of sinners. The which his mercy being aboue all * 1.12 his workes, and infinitely greater then all our sinnes, is freely offered vnto vs, and wee are sure to receiue it, if wee doe not reiect it by vnbeliefe. Thirdly, let vs meditate on Gods immutable and infallible truth in his promises, and his omnipotent power, whereby hee is able to performe them. Fourthly, vpon the all-sufficiency of Christs righteousnesse and obedience, whereby Gods iustice is fully satisfied, and his wrath appeased, of which wee shall bee partakers, if wee beleeue in him as our onely Sa∣uiour and Redeemer. Fifthly, let vs meditate on the Couenant of grace, wherein the Lord promiseth the pardon of our sinnes, and the saluation of our soules, not vpon the condition of our workes and worthinesse, nor with exception of our sinnes, but vpon the alone condition of a liuely faith, which bringeth foorth the fruits thereof in vnfained repentance. Sixthly, let vs meditate vpon the generality and indefinitenesse of Gods promises, which exclude no sorts of sinners, who doe not exclude them∣selues by their vnbeliefe, reiecting Gods pardon when as it is offered, and pulling off the soueraigne salue of Christs merits and obedience, so as it cannot cure their sores of sinne. Lastly, let vs meditate vpon faith, not

only as it is an instrument, whereby Christ is applyed, but also as it is a duty, which is not arbitrary to be done or not done at our free choyse, but expresly commanded by God, as the condition of the couenant which * 1.13 he hath made with vs, the which we also in our baptisme haue vndertaken to performe. And therefore setting all doubts and disputes aside, wee must beleeue in obedience to Gods Commandement. And so much the rather, because God hath not only required it at our hands, but hath also vsed all meanes enabling vs to performe it. For he hath made his coue∣nant with vs of grace and saluation, and though he be truth it selfe, and cannot fayle of his promises, yet respecting our imbecility and weake∣nesse of faith, he hath, to put away all doubting, confirmed them by his oath, and by annexing vnto his hand-writing, his seales the Sacra∣ments.

§. Sect. 3 Of the meanes whereby we may attaine vnto fulnesse of perswasion.

And these are the meanes of begetting and confirming of our faith, that it may not only assent vnto the truth of Gods promises, but also apply and apprehend them to our owne particular vse. Now, that from these two first degrees we may grow vnto fulnesse of perswasion, which, in assu∣rance of our perseuerance in the fruition of Gods loue, doth make vs, with the Apostle, to triumph ouer all difficulties and dangers, there are diuers * 1.14 other things required. As first, that we esteeme faith our chiefe riches; and this will make vs spiritually couetous, and carefull by all meanes to adde vnto this treasure. Secondly, we cannot come to this fulnesse of fayth, but by often experience of Gods loue, shining in the riches of his mercies, es∣pecially in things appertaining to grace and eternall glory. To which purpose we must bee sensible of Gods goodnesse, and diligently obserue his fauours towards vs, and so by induction of particulars (that seeing so often and many wayes he hath bin gracious, and hath giuen vnto vs such innumerable testimonies and pledges of his loue, hence) we may gather an experimentall conclusion, that being immutable in his goodnesse, wee shall liue and dye in his fauour, and nothing shall be able to separate vs from it. Thirdly, we attayne vnto this fulnesse of perswasion, by becom∣ming more and more acquainted with God in the vse of his holy ordi∣nances, as prayer, hearing the Word, receiuing the Sacrament of the Sup∣per, and meditation; for hereby our communion and acquaintance with God is increased; and the better we know him, the more firmely will we trust and beleeue in him, tasting hereby the sweetenesse of his goodnes, and the infallibility of his mercy and truth. Fourthly, we attaine vnto certaine and full assurance of Gods loue toward vs, by our often testifying and ap∣prouing of our loue towards God, in our care to keepe all his Commande∣ments, that thereby we may glorify his Name, by hauing the light of our holy conuersation shining before men: seeing we could not possibly loue * 1.15 him, if he had not loued vs first: and whom he loueth, to the end he loueth them. Finally, we attaine vnto it by continuall exercizing our selues in good workes, and by the dayly practice of Christian duties, and leading of a godly life. For as faith iustifying vs, by applying Christs righteousnesse, doth cause a good conscience, after we haue peace with God; so when we keepe our consciences, purged with Christs blood, cleare and vnspotted of any knowne, willing and grosse sinne, it doth maruailously confirme

our faith in the assurance of Gods loue, seeing we are carefull to maintayne our peace with him, and therefore assuredly he will be at peace with vs; according to that of the Apostle; If our hearts condemne vs not, then haue we confidence towards God. * 1.16

§. Sect. 4 Of that special faith whereby we apply Christ for our sanctification.

And so much concerning iustifying faith, which is the ground and foun∣dation of a godly life. Besides which generally considered, there is a spe∣ciall faith, or rather a branch of the other, which is very profitable and ne∣cessary to vphold and further vs in our course of Christianity; namely, when as we doe by faith apply Christ, not only for saluation; but also for sanctification, and apprehend the promises, both for iustification and life eternall, and also for the subduing of our corruptions, and renouation vn∣to newnesse of life in this World. In which respect also it may be truly sayd, that the iust doe liue by their faith, and that they cannot leade their * 1.17 liues in holinesse and righteousnesse without it. For there are so many mighty enemies that encounter vs in this way, so many difficulties and dangers which we must ouercome, so many duties contrary to our cor∣rupt nature to be necessarily performed, and so many strange corruptions to be mortified and subdued in vs, that if we respect our owne strength, it will plainely appeare to be vtterly impossible to goe forward in the course of godlinesse, or to attaine vnto any measure of that sanctification which we labour after; whereas contrariwise, if wee renounce our selues, and our owne strength, and by a liuely fayth rest vpon the power and promi∣ses of God, for the beginnign, continuing and perfecting of this worke, then neede we not to be discouraged by our wants and weakenesses, from vndertaking or proceeding in it, nor by the malice and might of our spiri∣tuall enemies, or any other difficulties which meete vs in the way; seeing we are assured that the Lord our God is all-sufficient to remoue all impe∣diments, to giue vs strength against all opposition, to make things in themselues impossible, to become possible and easie vnto vs; and not only able, but also willing to bring vs on in the wayes of godlinesse, and to per∣fect that good worke of grace in vs which he hath begunne. In which re∣spects, we haue great cause with all courage and cheerefulnesse to vnder∣take this worke, and to goe on in the wayes of godlinesse, if by faith wee are once perswaded, that we shall, in Gods good time, ouercome our spi∣rituall enemies, subdue our strong corruptions, performe with ease and comfort, those duties which seeme yet so difficult, and in some good mea∣sure attaine vnto that sanctification, and holinesse of life, which wee la∣bour after.

§. Sect. 5 Of the meanes whereby wee may strength∣en our faith in the assurance of our sanctifi∣cation.

Now the meanes to attaine vnto this faith, and to be more and more confirmed in it, is to consider, that God the Father hath elected vs as well * 1.18 to the meanes as to the end; and as he hath ordayned vs vnto life eternall, so also that we shall walke in the way of holinesse and righteousnes, that leadeth vnto it; according to that of the Apostle, he hath chosen vs before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame. And therefore as his election is certaine to bring vs vnto euerlasting happines, so also to conduct vs thither by this way of holinesse, eyther by a shorter cut, as the thiefe vpon the Crosse, who was not cōuerted before he suffred; or by alonger way, as Simeon, Iohn the Apostle, and many others. So in that

golden chaine of saluation; whom hee did predestinate, them also he called; * 1.19 whom he called, them he iustifyed; and whom he iustified, them he glorifyed: the decree of God is coupled and linked vnto the end by the meanes which come betweene them. Againe, we haue Gods promises, vpon which wee may build our faith as well for our sanctification, as for our saluation, and that not only, as the promises of life eternall include the promise of holy∣nesse and a godly life, as the way that leadeth to that end, but seuerally and in speciall manner. For in the Couenant of grace, the Lord promiseth to write his Law in our hearts, by which phrase is signified, that we shall not only know his will in our vnderstandings, but incline vnto it with our af∣fections, * 1.20 that we may practise it in our liues; euen as the law of nature written in the heart of Adam by creation, inabled him both to know it, and also to imbrace and obey it. So God promiseth, that vnder the King∣dome of Christ, he will take away their corruptions of nature, and make them to become new creatures. Yea the Lord hath not onely said, but * 1.21 sworne it, that all who are redeemed out of the hands of our spirituall enemies, * 1.22 shall worship and serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse, before him, all the daies of their liues; that is, not by fits and starts, but from the day of their conuersion, to the day of their death. Againe, the Lord promiseth to giue his Spirit to those that aske him: and our Sauiour, that he will send the Comforter, who shall leade vs into all truth, so that he shall not barely teach * 1.23 vs the way, but guide vs in it; subduing the flesh with the lusts thereof, and inabling vs to withstand the tentations of Satan and the world, to ouer∣come all difficulties, and to hold out in our profession and practice of true godlinesse vnto the end. Moreouer, we may haue a sufficient ground for this speciall faith, if we consider, that the vertue of Christs death being * 1.24 applied by faith, is as effectuall for the mortifying of our flesh and sinfull corruption, as for the taking away of the guilt and punishment of our sins; and that his resurrection is as powerfull to rayse vs vp to newnesse of life in this world, as to the life of glory in the world to come; and therefore they that haue part in Christ, may apply him vnto themselues by faith, for assured sanctification, as well as for iustification or saluation; according to that of the Apostle: But ye are in Christ Iesus, who is of God made vnto vs, wisedome, and righteousnesse, and sanctification, and redemption, that is, not * 1.25 onely sufficient to make vs holy by imputation of his holinesse, but by working in vs inherent holinesse by his Spirit. Finally, the holy Ghost who dwelleth in vs, is all-sufficient to perfect the worke which hee hath begun, and will not willingly lose his labour, in giuing it ouer before he * 1.26 hath attayned his end. And therefore though our flesh be neuer so rebel∣lious, he both can and will tame and mortify it; though our enemies bee neuer so many and malicious, he is all-sufficient by his owne strength, in our greatest weakenesse to ouercome them. And though we meete with neuer so many difficulties, he will so assist and strengthen vs, that they shall not bee able to hinder vs from proceeding in the way of holinesse, till we come to our place of happinesse. Now if by these considerations we strengthen our fayth in this speciall perswasion, that if wee will waite Gods leysure in the vse of all good meanes, wee shall certainely attayne vnto that sanctification which we labour after, it will bee a notable incou∣ragement

to make vs goe on cheerefully in the practice of all duties, which concerne a Christian life; for who would not couragiously fight, that is beforehand assured of victory? or run a race, that is sure to come to the goale, and winne the garland? or vndertake waighty and necessary en∣terprises, though of great difficultie, if he be throughly perswaded, that hee shall ouercome them? whereas on the other side, for want of this faith, or rather this speciall art of application, many deare seruants of God are hindred and discouraged, from going on, in the duties of holinesse and righteousnesse, or else proceede with much vncomfortablenesse and dis∣quietnesse, because comparing their weakenesse, with the difficulty of the worke, they thinke that they shall neuer atchieue it in any measure accep∣table to God; though in the meane time they want not faith to rest vpon the promises of the Gospell, the mercies of God, and merits of Christ, for their iustification, and the bringing of them to euerlasting happi∣nesse?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eph. 2. 8.
• * 1.2

  Ioh. 6. 29.
• * 1.3

  Phil. 1. 29.
• * 1.4

  Iam. 1. 5.
• * 1.5

  Matth. 7. 7.
• * 1.6

  Iob. 16. 23.
• * 1.7

  Luk. 17. 5.
• * 1.8

  Mark. 9. 24.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 10. 17. 1. Cor. 3. 5.
• * 1.10

  Joh. 4. 59.
• * 1.11

  Act. 18. 26. 1. Pet. 2. 12.
• * 1.12

  Rom. 5. 10. Ezek. 33. 11.
• * 1.13

  Mark. 1.
• * 1.14

  Rom. 8. 38, 39.
• * 1.15

  1 Iohn 4. 19. Ier. 31. 3. Iohn 13. 1.
• * 1.16

  1. John 3. 21.
• * 1.17

  Heb. 2 4
• * 1.18

  Ephes. 1. 4.
• * 1.19

  Rom. 8. 30.
• * 1.20

  Ier. 31. 34.
• * 1.21

  Esa. 11. 6, 9.
• * 1.22

  Luke. 1. 74, 75.
• * 1.23

  Luke. 12. 11. Iohn 16. 13.
• * 1.24

  Rom. 6. 4.
• * 1.25

  1. Cor. 1. 30.
• * 1.26

  Phil. 1. 6.