The triumph of a true Christian described: or An explication of the eight chapter of the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans wherein the sanctified sinners heauen vpon earth is layed open, with explication of the comfort of it to as many as are so qualified. Deliuered in sundrie sermons by Edward Elton, Bachelour in Diuinitie, and preacher of Gods word at Saint Mary Magdalens Barmondsey neare London. And now by him published, intending the good and sauing comfort of euery true beleeuing soule that shall please to read it.

VERSE 16.

The same Spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

COme we now to Verse 16. The same Spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Our Apostle in the verse fore∣going (as I haue told you) proues that which he put downe verse 14. that such as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sonnes of God: from the propertie of that Spirit that is working in them, with particular instance, first in the beleeuing Romans, that the beleeuing Romans had receiued the Spirit of adop∣tion, the Spirit of God working in them as a Spirit of adop∣tion, and therefore they were the children of God. And he further sets out the Spirit of adoption by the effect of it, as that it cause in himselfe and in them, inuocation, prayer, and calling on the name of the Lord, that is, a crying, Abba, Fa∣ther. And that which in order of nature goes before it, as namely, the witnesse and testimonie of the Spirit of God

with our spirit that we are the children of God. For vnlesse the holy Spirit of God witnesse Gods loue to vs in Christ, and that we are reconciled to God in and through him, and that God is indeed our gracious Father in Christ, and hath made vs his children, we dare not draw neare to his holy Ma∣iestie, nor craue any good thing at his hands. And this wit∣nesse of the Spirit of God, is the ground of confidence and holy boldnesse in prayer.

In this verse considered by it selfe, we haue two generall things laid downe before vs. First certaine witnesses. Second∣ly the thing witnessed. The witnesses are two, the Spirit of God, and our spirit, both witnessing one and the same thing, witnessing together: The same Spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit, saith the Apostle. The thing witnessed is in the words following, That we are the children of God. That is briefly the generall matter of the verse.

Let vs now examine the words of it touching the sence and meaning of them. The same Spirit, that is, that very Spirit we spake of before, the holy Spirit of God, who is to vs that truely beleeue in Christ, a Spirit of adoption. Beareth witnesse with our spirit, or witnesseth together with our Spirit, or, is as it were a fellow witnesse with our Spirit. Now tou∣ching this witnesse and testimonie of the Spirit, that we may rightly conceiue it, first know, that it is internall, it is in∣ward and not outward, it is not by any outward speech or voyce, it is not as God gaue testimonie to Christ to be his Sonne, Mat. 3.17. by an audible voyce from heauen: This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased: the witnesse of the Spirit here spoken of, is not by any such voyce, but it is in∣ward, euen an inward witnesse and testimonie. And againe, this witnesse and testimonie of the Spirit, is not any extraordi∣narie and speciall reuelation, appropriated and belonging to some excellent & speciall men, such as Paul was, & the like, as the Papists do dreame, but it is that testimonie of the Spirit of God which is common to all true beleeuers in their measure. Now some would haue this witnes & testimony of the Spirit, to be that crie that is stird vp in the hearts of true beleeuers

by the Spirit of God, whereby they call God their Father with a childlike boldnesse and confidence spoken of in the verse before, but indeed that crie is rather an effect and a fruite of the testimonie of the Spirit, then the testi∣monie of the Spirit it selfe: for the Spirit first inwardly per∣swades true beleeuers that they are the children of God, and then it makes them in theit hearts to crie Abba, Fa∣ther. I take it therefore that the witnesse and testimonie of the Spirit here spoken of, is an inward, secret, and vnspeak∣able inspiration of the Spirit, the holy Spirit of God inward∣ly, secretly, and after an vnspeakable manner informing our hearts, and inwardly perswading vs that God is our Father, and powring into our heart a secret, wonderfull, and vn∣speakable sweet sense and feeling of Gods loue to vs, not of Gods ordinarie or common loue, but of his speciall and fa∣therly loue; that God loues vs with such loue as he beares to his onely begotten sonne Christ Iesus, in whom we are adop∣ted to be his children, as the Lord Iesus himselfe speakes in that excellent prayer of his, Ioh. 17.23. that God loues vs, we beleeuing in Christ, as he hath loued him. And to this purpose the Apostle speaks plainely Rom. 5.5. The loue of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is giuen vnto vs. The holy Spirit of God giuen to vs doth infuse and powre into our hearts a sense and feeling of Gods loue to vs in Christ. With our spirit, or together with our spirit. The ho∣ly Spirit of God and our spirit being two distinct witnesses: by our spirit, we are not hereby to vnderstand our soule, as it is a naturall part of man, but our regenerate part, which the Apostle calls our spirit, 1. Thess. 5.23. our heart and con∣science, regenerate, renewed, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, we being such as are regenerate, our hearts and con∣sciences sanctified by the sprinkling of the bloud of Christ, and so quieted and cleared: for our hearts and consciences sanctified & renewed by the Spirit of God and sprinkled with the bloud of Christ, are acquainted with the good will of God towards vs, as 1. Cor. 2.11. The Spirit of man knowes the things of a man, and they beare a sound and infallible testi∣monie

of Gods loue to vs, euen by peace of conscience, and other graces of the Spirit in vs, as the Apostle saith, 2. Cor. 1.12. This is the testimonie of our conscience, that in simplicitie and godly purenesse, and not in fleshly wisedome, but by the grace of God, we haue had our conuersation in the world, and most of all to you wards. And of this testimonie Saint Iohn speakes, 1. Ioh. 3.21. If our heart condemne vs not, then haue we boldnesse to∣wards God. That we are the children of God: that is, that we are now actually and indeed the children of God, not by na∣ture, but by grace and fauour, and by adoption, that now we are actually accounted the adopted sonnes and daughters of God in and through Christ. Now then thus briefly conceiue we the meaning of the words of this verse, as if the Apostle had said.

That very same holy Spirit of God, who is to vs that truly be∣leeue in Christ a Spirit of adoption, doth by his inward, secret, and vnspeakable inspiration, informe our hearts, and inwardly perswade vs that God is our Father, and euen powre into our hearts a se∣cret, wonderfull, and vnspeakable sense and feeling of Gods speciall and fatherly loue to vs: euen of such loue as he beares to his onely begotten Sonne Christ Iesus, in whom we are the adopted children of God; and so doth witnesse to vs, together with our owne hearts and consciences, renewed and sanctified by the sprinkling of the bloud of Christ, and so quieted and cleared, they also soundly a•••• infallibly witnessing the same to vs by the peace of them, and by o∣ther graces of the Spirit in vs; that we are now by grace and fauour actually accounted Gods children, euen the adopted sonnes and daughters of God in and through Christ.

Come we now to such things as are hence offered for our [Doct. 1] instruction: first from this verse in generall, being thus con∣ceiued as one proposition, namely thus: That the Spirit of God witnessing with them that are regenerate, that they are the children of God, we are giuen to vnderstand, that the Lord is pleased in the time of this life to make knowne his e∣ternall loue to his elect, and to informe them of it, and to as∣sure them of it by the witnesse of his good Spirit, and by eui∣dence of grace in themselues. The Lord doth not onely loue

his elect from all eternitie, but he doth also in time, yea in the time of this life, make knowne that loue of his to them, and witnesse to them by his good Spirit that he loues them, and that they are right deare to him. It is said, Rom. 5 5. The loue of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is gi∣uen vnto vs. The Lord doth in time as it were powre into the hearts of his elect a liuely sense and feeling of his loue to them: and the eternall loue of God to his chosen, is as a sweet ointment powred out in time of this life, that doth excee∣dingly refresh their hearts with a sense and feeling of it. 1. Cor. 2.10. the Apostle speaking of himselfe and other true beleeuers, saith, God hath reuealed to vs by his Spirit, the deepe and hidden things of God, euen the things that eye hath not seene, neither eare hath heard, nor euer came into mans heart, that God hath prepared for them that loue him. [ 12] And verse 12. he saith, We haue receiued not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are giuen vs of God. [ 16] And verse 16. We haue the mind of Christ: we are ac∣quainted with the heart, and mind, and good will of Christ towards vs: and thus it is with all Gods elect. The Lord doth not keepe his loue that he beares to them secret and close, and as it were in his owne bosome, in his eternall purpose and de∣cree, but in time, yea in the time of this life, he acquaints them with it, and he makes knowne his eternall loue to them, and doth witnesse to them by his Spirit that he loues them, and that they are right deare to him: for why,

[Reason.] The Lord knowes that his elect are in this world as in a valley of death and of teares, and that here they meete with continuall troubles and afflictions, trials and temptations, and therefore to keepe them from being swallowed vp of heaui∣nesse, and sorrow, and griefe, and from fainting and sinking vnder their troubles, afflictions, and trials, he is pleased out of his infinite wisedome, and out of his fatherly care ouer them, out of his wonderfull loue to them, to vouchsafe to them euen in this life, some taste and feeling of his loue to them, and to make knowne his eternall loue to them, and to informe them of it, and to assure them of it by the witnesse of

his good Spirit, that he loues them, and that they are right deare and precious to his holy Maiestie.

Now for the vse of this; on this ground we may take no∣tice [Ʋse 1] of the excellent and comfortable state of Gods chosen, that their state euen in this life is most excellent, and full of sweet and vnspeakable comfort; they are not onely beloued of God from all eternitie, whose loue is better then life it selfe but they are in time, yea in the time of this life made ac∣quainted with Gods loue towards them, and they come to know Gods mind, and heart, and good will towards them, and to haue it witnessed to them by his owne good Spirit, and therein doubtlesse is the depth of all true comfort. Men commonly cheare vp themselues, and solace themselues ex∣ceedingly, in that they are loued and fauoured of some great and mightie Prince, and he making his loue knowne to them, they thinke themselues the happiest men aliue: Oh then what is it to be acquainted with Gods loue, the King and Lord of heauen and earth, and for a man to haue it made knowne to him, that God hath loued him before the world was, and that he louing him, he loues him for euer? out of question that must needs fill his heart with ioy vnspeakable and glorious, that is the hidden Manna, & that is the new name that none knowes but he that hath it, spoken of Reuel. 2.17. In that Gods chosen are acquainted with Gods speciall loue vnto them, it makes them reioyce in their greatest afflictions, yea in the flames of fire to sing and reioyce. And therefore let the world deeme what it will of the state of Gods chosen; in this world without question it is a state and condition most excellent, and full of sweet and heauenly comfort.

And for a second vse: Is it so that the Lord in time, yea in [Ʋse 2] the time of this life, makes knowne his eternall loue to his chosen, and is he pleased to informe them of it, and to assure them of it by his owne good Spirit? Then here is matter of comfort for poore sanctified soules, that are deiected and cast downe, in that they feele not heauenly sweetnesse and com∣fort, for so the case may be, and is many times, a man or wo∣man may feele the holy Spirit of God working in them in spe∣ciall

manner, and yet haue not a sense and feeling of Gods loue to them: Well is the case so with thee whosoeuer thou art? Dost thou feele the holy Spirit of God working in spe∣ciall manner; and yet thou hast not a sense and feeling of Gods loue to thee? Comfort thy selfe, the Lord will at one time or other, euen in the time of this life, acquaint thee with his owne heart and good will towards thee, and assure thee of it by his owne good Spirit, that he hath loued thee from all eternitie: and know this for a truth, that the Lord reserueth his chiefest comfort for the fittest time. When Daniel was in the Lyons den, then was he comforted; when the three com∣panions of Daniel were in the hote fierie fornace, then did the Lord send comfort to them; when Paul and Silas were in prison and made fast in the stocks, then found they most comfort, Act. 16.25. And so doubtlesse when thou art plun∣ged into the deepest distresse, and when thou art in the grea∣test triall, and thinkest thou shalt sinke and not be able to hold out, as when sicknesse comes, and death drawes neare, and hast most need of comfort, euen of this comfort of assurance of Gods loue to thee, then assuredly thou shalt haue it, then will the Lord euen shed abroad his loue into thine heart by his owne good Spirit: thinke on that to thy comfort.

In the next place, in that the Apostle saith, the holy Spirit of God witnesseth with our Spirit that we are the children of God, that is, as I shewed, the holy Spirit of God doth by an inward secret inspiration informe vs, and inwardly per∣swade vs that God is our Father, and so witnesse together with our owne hearts, sanctified and renewed by grace, and sprinkled with the bloud of Christ, that we are by grace and fauour the children of God: we may raise this conclusion, this point of truth.

[Doct. 2] That Gods children may in the time of this life be infallibly assured of Gods speciall and fatherly loue towards them, they may euen whilest they liue here in this world know it, and be certainly assured of it, that God loues them in particular, and hath loued them from all eternitie, and be assured that they in particular are in the state of grace and saluation, and in the

number of Gods chosen: for why,

The holy Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth, Ioh. 14.17. [Reason.] and he cannot lie nor deceiue, his testimonie must needs be most certaine, sure and infallible, he cannot be deceiued, nei∣ther doth he deceiue any. And Gods chosen haue in them∣selues in the time of this life, the witnesse and perswasion of the Spirit of God, that they are the children of God, as the A∣postle here saith. And to this purpose also speakes the Apostle in that place before cited, 1. Cor. 2.12. We haue not receiued the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know (that is) that we might certainly know the things that are giuen vs of God, euen the things that concerne our eter∣nall happinesse and saluation, both grace here, and glory here∣after. And 1. Ioh. 4.13. We know saith Saint Iohn, that we dwell in God and God in vs, and so are in the speciall fauour of God, because he hath giuen vs of his Spirit. And hence it is that the holy Spirit of God is said to be to Gods chosen as a seale, and as an earnest of their inheritance, as 2. Cor. 1.22. God hath sealed vs (saith the Apostle) and hath giuen the earnest of his Spi∣rit in our hearts. And Ephes. 1.13.14. saith the Apostle, Ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance. And Ephes. 4.30. Grieue not the holy Spirit of God, by whom we are sealed vnto the day of redemption.

And againe, true sanctifying grace in the heart, and the [Reason. 2] power, of grace in the heart and life, is an infallible euidence and testimony of Gods speciall loue to those that haue it. As 1. Ioh. 3.14. We know we are translated from death to life, be∣cause we loue the brethren. Any measure of true loue to God, to his children, to his word and holy ordinances, powred in∣to the heart by the holy Ghost, is a certaine demonstration of it, that a man or woman is translated by the mightie hand of the most High, from death to life, and set into the state of grace and of saluation: and especially the grace of true iusti∣fying faith, is a sure euidence of Gods speciall grace and fa∣uour to those that haue it. For as true iustifying faith is a ne∣cessary fruite of Gods eternall election, and of his preordina∣tion to eternall life, Acts 13.48. As many as were ordained to

eternall life beleeued; so is it an argument of confirmation to the soule of him in whom it is, that he is elected and shall be saued, Iohn 3.16. God so loued the world, that he hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life. Hence one that finds tue faith in his owne heart, may reason thus; Truth it selfe hath said, whosoeuer beleeueth in the Sonne of God, shall not perish but haue life euerlasting; mine owne heart tels me, that I beleeue in the Sonne of God, therefore I am sure I shall be saued. It is but a shift of the Papists, to say, that a man can∣not know whether he haue faith in himselfe or no: for if a man haue true faith in his heart, he may discerne it, at least the po∣wer of it, and the fruites of it.

[Obiect.] Yea but (say they) certaine knowledge of faith, doth not inferre certaine knowledge of grace and of saluation. That is weaker then the former. [Answ.] For by faith (saith the Apostle) we haue accesse to this grace wherein we stand and reioyce, vnder the hope of glory of the sonnes of God, which hope shall neuer deceiue vs nor make vs ashamed, Rom. 5.25. Againe, by iustifying faith a man may know that Christ is in him, and how then should he not know that he is in the fauour of God? Christ is not in the reprobate that are out of Gods fauour, but in Gods elect, in whom after they be called he dwels by faith, Ephes. 3.17. And therefore doubtlesse on these grounds we may resolue on this as a certaine truth, that Gods chosen may in the time of this life be infallibly assured of Gods speciall and fatherly loue towards them, and may be certainly assured by the wit∣nesse and perswasion of Gods Spirit, and by the euidence of grace, especially by iustifying faith in their hearts, that they [Ʋse 1] in particular are in the state of grace and of saluation, and in the number of Gods chosen, and that they are such as shall be saued.

Now then for vse, first this truth is directly contrarie to that which is held and taught by the Papists, it doth directly crosse their tenent, and their doctrine they hold & teach, that a man cannot in the time of this life come to be infallibly assured that he in particular is in the state of grace & of salua∣tion,

and that he in particular shall be saued. They say a man may haue a good hope that he shall be saued, but he cannot be infallibly assured of it, that they denie, and they call such speciall perswasion faithlesse, and a damnable false illusion, and a meere presumption: and on this text they giue this an∣notation: Say they, the testimonie of the Spirit here spoken of, is nothing else but the inward good motions, comfort, and contentment which the children of God do daily feele more and more in their hearts by seruing him, by which they haue as it were an attestation of his fauour towards them, whereby the hope of their iustification and saluation is much corroborated and strengthened. See the false dealing of these subtill sophisters: the Apostle saith directly, the Spirit wit∣nesseth with our spirit, that we are the children of God; they mince the matter, and say, Gods children haue as it were an attestation of Gods sauour towards them. And againe, they make the witnesse of the holy Spirit of God to be good mo∣tions, comfort, and contentment in the hearts of Gods chil∣dren, arising from their seruing of God, and from their owne good workes, which is a meere corruption of the text: there is no such thing either in the text, neither can any such thing be gathered from it by any good consequent. And indeed the good motions, comfort, and contentment in the hearts of Gods children, are rather fruits and effects of the testimonie of the Spirit of God, then the witnesse of the Spirit it selfe; for the holy Spirit of God doth first witnesse Gods loue to his chosen, and then he stirres vp good motions in them, and then works comfort and contentment in their hearts. [Obiect.] Oh but say the Papists, touching the euidence of faith, a man cannot beleeue that he in particular shall be saued, because he is not named in particular in the Bible. They speake idlely, [Answ.] the generall includes the particular, yea the holy Ghost speakes particularly, Rom 10.9. If thou confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus, and beleeue in thine heart that God raised him vp from the dead, thou shalt be saued: and euerie one that truly be∣leeues is to take it to himselfe as if he were named. [Obiect.] Yea but (say they) where doth the Scripture say, that they do beleeue?

that is also most ridiculous. [Answ.] The Scripture doth not indeed say, that I Iohn, or I Paul do beleeue, it onely sets downe faith, that I beleeue, the particular act of faith whereby I beleeue is in my heart, and is not beleeued but knowne by feeling: a child of God doth not beleeue that he beleeues, but he feeles it. And therefore notwithstanding these cauils of the Papists, it is still a truth, that Gods chosen may in the time of this life be infallibly assured of Gods speciall loue towards them, and may certainly be assured by the witnesse and testi∣monie of Gods Spirit, and the euidence of grace, and especi∣ally of iustifying faith, that they in particular are in the state of grace, and of saluation.

[Ʋse 2] And for a second vse, this may be a ground of strong com∣fort to euerie child of God: a child of God finding in him∣selfe the witnesse of Gods Spirit, and the euidence of faith, and the fruits of grace, may be assured of it, and that infallibly, that he is in the state of grace and of saluation, and that God loues him, and hath loued him from all eternitie: yea he may be as sure of it as Christ is in heauen, that he shall be saued.

[Quest.] Yea but will some say, How shall I know that it is the Spi∣rit of God perswading my heart that I am the child of God, and that I am not deceiued by some illusion of Satan, or some carnall presumption?

[Answ.] I answer. The difference of a true testimonie of Gods Spi∣rit, and a Satanicall illusion working in men a vaine presump∣tion, is in three things.

First, the perswasion of Gods Spirit is grounded on the truth, power, and meere mercie of God, and on the merits of Christ: but a Satanicall illusion is grounded on outward bles∣sings or common graces, and either in whole or part on a mans owne workes and merits.

[ 1] Secondly, the witnesse of Gods Spirit is powerfull and effe∣ctuall, [ 2] working a thorow perswasion of Gods loue and confi∣dence in his mercie, and so lowd a crying Abba, Father, in the heart of a child of God, as in comparison of that saith Luther, the great and horrible roarings of the Law, of sinne, of death, and of the diuell and hell, are nothing, neither

can be heard: but the illusion of Satan is hollow and de∣ceitfull, and doth onely stammer out a bare assertion, that a man is the child of God, without any inward testimonie of the sweetnesse of Gods loue, or any affiance in his mercie.

Thirdly, the testimonie of the Spirit of God is much as∣saulted [ 3] with doubts and feares, more or lesse, at one time or o∣ther; but the illusion of Satan is neuer troubled with any such doubtings or feares, that is euer bold and presumptuous so long as it continues: indeed in the time of aduersitie it va∣nisheth and comes to nothing; and they that haue onely a vaine presumption, they commonly say, they haue alwayes had a strong beliefe, and they neuer doubted. If then thou haue in thee a perswasion of Gods speciall and fatherly loue towards thee, grounded on the truth and power of God, and on the meere mercie of God, and on the merits of Christ, and such a perswasion as is powerfull and effectuall, working in thee a thorow perswasion of Gods loue, and confidence in his mercie, and boldnesse to appeare before the throne of grace, and thou dost feele thy perswasion assaulted with doubts and feares, more or lesse, at one time or other, though not ouercome; doubtlesse it is the Spirit of God perswading thine heart that thou art a child of God, and that thou art in the state of grace and of saluation; and thereupon thou maist haue strong consolation, and reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious: and thereupon thou maist conclude to the comfort of thine owne soule, that thou art sure to be saued, and the gates of hell shall neuer be able to preuaile against thee: and that is a ground of sweet and excellent comfort.

Now before I leaue this point, I hold it needfull to answer another cauill of the Papists: they do further cauill against the truth now stood on after this manner. Say they, though a man may be assured that for the present he is in the state of grace; admit that he be so, yet he cannot be sure of his salua∣tion: for say they, he cannot be sure that he shall continue and perseuere in that state to the end, the witnesse & testimo∣nie of Gods Spirit may be extinct and put out, iustifying faith may be lost, and the gifts of grace, the fruits of grace may

wither, and may come to nothing: how then can any man build on these grounds infallible assurance, and neuer fai∣ling assurance of his owne saluation, and that he shall cer∣tainly be saued?

[Answ.] To this I answer. This is but a cauill of mans carnall rea∣son, and this is a monstrous boldnesse in them; for by this meanes they call into question the truth and promise of God, the power of God, the deeds of our blessed Sauiour, the prayer of Christ, the eternall loue of God, and his vnchange∣able decree of sauing some. For why, Gods chosen come to know and to be assured that they are in the state of grace and of saluation, by the witnesse and testimonie of the Spirit of God, and by the euidence of grace, and especially of iustify∣ing faith in their hearts, and by the fruits of grace; and that assurance of theirs is setled and grounded on the truth of God which cannot lye, on the truth of his promise made knowne to them in his word, as namely, that Ioh. 3.36. He that beleeueth on the Sonne hath euerlasting life: On the power of God by which they are kept through faith to saluation, 1. Pet. 1.5. On the deeds of Christ, together with whom they are quickened, and raised, and made to sit in certaine hope of an hea∣uenly possession, Ephes. 2.5.6. On the prayer of Christ that could not be in vaine, but was certainly heard of his heauenly Father. Ioh. 17.20. I pray not for these alone, but for them also which shall beleeue in me through their word: On the eternall loue of God from which nothing can separate them, verse 39. of this Chapter: On the immutable decree of God which stands fast for euermore, The foundation of God remaineth sure, and hath this seale, the Lord knoweth who are his. 2. Tim. 2.19. Let then neither the Papists or any enemie of Gods grace thinke that he is able to race this foundation of comfort, the assurance of Gods chosen, that they are in the state of grace, and of saluation, they shall neuer be able to do it, it stands on firme grounds, euen on such grounds as can neuer be sha∣ken. Indeed the comfortable perswasion of some of Gods chosen, that they are in the state of grace and of saluation, may for a time be weakened through the neglect of the

meanes, or by falling into some grieuous sinne, or by a se∣cret withdrawing of grace and comfort of it, may be lost for a time, and the faith of Gods chosen may be wounded, and the actions of it troubled, but it can neuer be wholly and fi∣nally lost. The Lord hath made a faithfull promise, Ierem. 32.40. I will put my feare in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me: and Christ hath made it knowne, that his will is, that they whom his Father hath giuen him be where he is, that they may behold his glorie which his Father had giuen him, Ioh. 17.24. He is the author and finisher of their faith. Heb. 12.2.

Now further obserue we, the Apostle here ioynes toge∣ther the witnesse of the Spirit of God and of our spirit, as we shewed, of our regenerate part of the heart and conscience sanctified, and renewed, and sprinkled with the bloud of Christ, and quieted and cleared. Hence then we are giuen to vnderstand thus much.

That the holy Spirit of God and the heart and conscience [Doct. 3] renewed and sanctified do euer concurre & meete together in witnessing Gods speciall and fatherly loue. The holy Spirit of God doth perswade them, and them alone, and none but them whose hearts are sanctified and renewed by grace, and haue the power of grace in their hearts and liues, that God loues them, and hath loued them from all eternitie, and that they are in the state of grace and of saluation. We reade Act. 15.8.9. the Gentiles hauing heard the Gospell beleeued, and God gaue them his Spirit, yea he did by his good Spirit witnesse his fatherly loue to them: their hearts being purified by faith, that is, their hearts being sprinkled with the bloud of Christ apprehended by faith, and thereby freed from the guiltinesse of sinne, and also purged from the filthinesse of sinne, and they being sanctified, God which knoweth the hearts bare them witnesse in giuing to them the holy Ghost euen as he did vnto vs, and he put no difference betweene vs and them, after that by faith he had purified their hearts, saith the text. Galat. 3.14. the Apostle saith, By faith we receiue the Spirit of promise. His meaning is, we beleeuing in Christ, and being sanctified, we receiue the Spirit of God more fully and manifestly dwelling

in vs to our sanctification, and to our assurance touching our redemption. 1. Ioh. 3.21. saith Saint Iohn, If our heart condemne vs not, if our conscience be sanctified, and cleared, and quie∣ted, we haue boldnesse towards God, we haue then God who knowes all things, to witnesse with vs by his good Spirit, euen to witnesse to vs his grace, and fauour, and mercy, and we may appeare before him with boldnesse. 1. Pet. 1.2. the A∣postle puts these two together, obedience and the sprinkling of the bloud of Iesus Christ, and sanctification of the Spirit: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, vnto san∣ctification of the Spirit, through the obedience and sprinkling of the bloud of Iesus Christ. And these testimonies may sufficiently cleare this to be a truth, that the holy Spirit of God doth per∣swade them, and them alone, and none but them, whose hearts are sanctified by grace, and haue the power of grace in their hearts and liues, that God loues them, and hath loued them from all eternitie, and that they alone are in the state of grace and saluation: and

The grounds of it are these.

[Reason 1] 1. The Spirit of Adoption is also a Spirit of sanctification, and he makes Gods chosen the workmanship of God, crea∣ted in Christ Iesus to good workes, Ephes. 2.10. And then he witnesseth to them that they are the children of God.

2. Againe secondly, the holy Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth, he cannot possibly witnesse an vntruth, he cannot wit∣nesse that a child of the diuell (as euery one is that commits sinne, 1. Ioh. 3.8.) is a child of God; he cannot, neither will he testifie any one to be a child of God whom he neuer sancti∣fied. And therefore on these grounds we may set downe this for a certaine truth, that the holy Spirit of God doth per∣swade them, and them alone, and none but them, whose hearts are sanctified, and haue the power of grace in their hearts and liues, that God loues them, and hath loued them from all eternitie, and that they, and none but they, are in the state of grace and of saluation.

[Ʋse. 1] Now then to apply this: first, this truth serues to discouer

that the perswasion of euery one that perswades himselfe that his spirituall state is good, and that he shall be saued, is not the perswasion of the holy Spirit of God. Who is it that hath not a good conceit of himselfe, & that will not say, he hopes to be saued? Euen the drunkard, the filthy person, the com∣mon blasphemer, and the like, will not sticke to say, they hope to be saued, and to go to heauen: and ciuill honest per∣sons, they are strongly perswaded that they are highly in the fauour of God, and that they are in the state of grace, yea that it is God himselfe that perswades them so to thinke. Poore soules, they deceiue themselues, the truth now deliuered shewes, that their perswasion is but a meere groundlesse pre∣sumption; a man cannot comfortably perswade himselfe that he is in the state of grace and of saluation, if he haue not Gods hand and seale to shew for it, euen the seale of his good Spirit: and he hath not that, vnlesse he find the stampe and image of that seale on his owne heart and soule. The holy Spirit of God perswades no man that he is a child of God, vnlesse his owne heart can witnesse that he is borne of God, and begotten againe of the immortall seed of the word of God, and borne anew of the Spirit of God. If thou beest a drunkard, a Sabbath breaker, a common sweater, or the like, and sayest the Spirit perswades thee that thy case is good, and thou shalt be saued; thou art a lyer against the holy Ghost, it is not Gods Spirit, but a lying spirit, that so perswades thee, thou bearest not the image of the Spirit of God, but the image of the diuell: Gods Spirit witnesseth indeed, but his witnesse to thee is heauie and fearefull, that thou and such [Ʋse. 2] as thou art shalt be damned, thou liuing and dying in that state: and therefore take heed of so deceiuing thy selfe.

And for a second vse: Is it so that the holy Spirit of God doth perswade them, and them alone, and none but them whose hearts are sanctified and renewed by grace, and haue the power of grace in their hearts, and do expresse it in their liues, that they are the children of God, that God loues them, & hath loued them from all eternitie, and that they are in the state of grace & of saluation? Here is thē a ground of comfort

for poore sanctified soules, who though they be truly sancti∣fied, yet in regard of the weaknesse and imperfection of their owne inherent holinesse and sanctification, are many times driuen to doubt whether God loue them or no, and whether they be in the state of grace and saluation or no. Such persons are to consider, they haue not onely their owne hearts to wit∣nesse Gods loue to them, which because of the imperfect sanctification of them, might make them rather doubt of it then be assured of it, but they haue also the holy Spirit of God to witnesse with their hearts and consciences, truly sancti∣fied and renewed by grace, that they are the children of God, and his witnesse is infallible and vndeniable: the Lord can∣not refuse the witnesse of his owne good Spirit, and this is a great mercie of God vouchsafed to his children. A witnesse we know amongst men is called in doubtful cases, that by his testimonie he may cleare the truth; so when the conscience of a poore sanctified sinner, is wauering and doubting of Gods loue, in regard of the imperfection of holinesse in it selfe, then the Lord vouchsafes his owne good Spirit to wit∣nesse it to him, and his witnesse puts the matter out of all doubt and question. If then thou feele thine owne heart and soule truly sanctified and renewed by grace, (and thou maist know that thine heart is truly sanctified by the inclinations, motions, and affections of it,) if thou feele thine heart right∣ly affected with the mercies of God, the comforts in Christ, and the comforts of the word of God, that thou dost esteeme them and prize them aboue all things in the world, and thou hast a true loue to God, to his word, and to his ordinances, to his children, because they are his children, and thou hast a true and sound hatred of sinne in thy selfe, and in all others, yea in thy nearest and dearest friends; though thy sanctifica∣tion be imperfect, and in regard of the imperfection of it, giues thee but a weake testimonie of Gods loue, yet then the Lord will vouchsafe to thee the witnesse of his owne good Spirit, and his witnesse will be taken, it is infallible, and strong, and the Lord cannot refuse it, his witnesse will beare thee out before the iudgement seate of the Lord Iesus.

Come we now to speake of the generall thing layd before vs in this verse: namely, the thing witnessed in these words, That we are the children of God. The same Spirit beareth wit∣nesse with our spirit, (saith the Apostle) that we are the chil∣dren of God, that is, (as we shewed) that we are now by grace and fauour actually accounted Gods children, euen the adopted sonnes and daughters of God, in and through Christ. Now here haply some may desire to haue the point of a∣doption a little further opened and cleared, they not so well vnderstanding it. To giue them therefore satisfaction, I will labour to lay it forth a little further; and to this purpose know, that a child of God, is either by nature or by grace; the child of God by nature is Christ, as he is the eternall Sonne of God, begotten of his Father from euerlasting, and therefore called the onely begotten Sonne of God, Ioh. 3.16. God so loued the world, that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne. A child of God by grace is three wayes: 1. Either by creation, as Adam was before his fall, and as the good Angels now are. 2. Or by personall v∣nion, and thus Christ as he is man is the child of God, his manhood being receiued into vnitie of person with his God∣head. 3. Or by the grace of adoption, and thus all true belee∣uers are the children of God. By nature they are the children of wrath as well as others, but by the grace of adoption they are actually accounted Gods children, in and through Christ. And the ground of their adoption is their vnion with Christ, they being vnited and knit to Christ by the bond of faith, and by the bond of his Spirit: and hauing fellowship with him who is the naturall Sonne of God, they come to be actually accompted Gods children by grace, in and through Christ, and so their adoption followes their iustification, and is an∣nexed to it. There is a Diuine whom I will not name, who in a Treatise of his, makes adoption to be in order of nature be∣fore iustification, but I see no sufficient ground for it: it is the receiued opinion of the best Diuines, that it followes iustifi∣cation, and is annexed to it, and there is good ground for it in the Scripture. Galat. 3.26.27. the Apostle saith: Ye are sonnes of God by faith; for all ye that are baptized haue put on

Christ: as if he had said, ye are by Baptisme ingrafted into Christ, and made one with him by faith, and haue fellowship with him who is the naturall Sonne of God, & therfore ye are the sonnes of God. Ioh. 1.12. it is said, As many as receiued Christ, to thē he gaue power, or gaue this priuiledge, or this dig∣nitie to be the sons of God, euen to them that beleeue in his Name. Where we see, that beleeuing in Christ, and receiuing of Christ to iustification, is made the ground of adoption. Now in the grace of adoption we must further know, there be two acts of God, one is acceptation, whereby the Lord is pleased to accept men for his children by grace and fauour; and the other is regeneration, whereby they are borne of God, and whereby the Lord makes them new creatures, and doth re∣store in them his owne image, in righteousnesse and true holi∣nesse, which the Apostle Peter, 2. Pet. 1.4. cals a participating of the diuine nature. And herein lies a maine difference be∣tweene Gods adoption and mans adoption, man in adop∣ting a child of another, may accept of him for his sonne, and may giue him the priuiledges of a sonne, but he cannot com∣municate his qualities and nature to him: But God adopting vs for his children, he doth not onely accept of vs for his sonnes, but he also imprints his owne nature and his owne image on vs by the grace of regeneration. Thus then we are to conceiue the point of adoption.

That Gods children being by nature the children of wrath as well as others, are by the grace of adoption, they being vnited and knit to Christ by the bond of faith and by his Spi∣rit, and hauing fellowship with Christ, who is the naturall Sonne of God, they are actually accounted Gods children, & the Lord is pleased to accept them for his children by grace and fauour in and through Christ, and doth also stampe his owne nature and his owne image on them by the grace of regeneration.

Come we now to the thing the Apostle speakes of here, witnessed by the holy Spirit of God, and by the sanctified heart, namely this, that himselfe and the beleeuing Romans were the children of God, that is, were by grace and fauour

actually accounted Gods children, euen his adopted sonnes and daughters in and through Christ. Hence seuerall things are offered.

As first this, that God loues his chosen, beleeuing in [Doct. 4] Christ, and being iustified by Christ, and hauing fellowship with Christ, with a fatherly loue, and with a tender affection, and they are most deare and precious to his holy Maiesty, and he accepts their persons, and accounts them as his owne deare children. We finde that the Lord in many places of Scrip∣ture takes to himselfe the name and title of a father, in rela∣tion to his chosen and faithfull ones, and makes knowne that he beares a fatherly loue and affection to them. Malac. 3.17. I will spare them saith the Lord, as a man spareth his sonne that serueth him. Psal. 103.13. As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him. Isai. 66.13. the Lord compares himselfe to a mother, and his tender affection to his chosen and faithfull ones, to the affe∣ction of a mother: saith he, As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and you shall be comforted in Ierusalem. Zach. 2.8. the Prophet makes knowne, that Gods chosen and faith∣full ones are as deare and precious to him as the apple of his eye, and that he ten••ers them as the apple of his eye: He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye. And that the Lord beares this loue and tender affection to his chosen, beleeuing in Christ, and being iustified by Christ, the Apostle makes it plaine, Ephes. 1.5.6. when he saith, Who hath predestinate vs to be adopted through Iesus Christ vnto himselfe, according to the good pleasure of his will: to the praise and glorie of his grace wherewith he hath made vs accepted in his beloued, that is, in Christ.

For why, (to giue you the reason [Reason.] and ground of this) the Lord lookes on his chosen, beleeuing in Christ, and by him iustified and sanctified, not as they are in themselues, but as they are in his beloued Sonne, * The Sonne of his loue: Coloss. 1.13. and as they are in his Sonne in whom he is well pleased: as himselfe speakes, Mat. 3.17. and so he beares the same loue to them that he doth to his owne Sonne. And therefore

doubtlesse God loues his chosen, beleeuing in Christ, and be∣ing by Christ iustified, with a fatherly loue and with a tender affection, they are most deare and precious to his holy Ma∣iestie.

[Obiect.] Haply here it will be said, God loues his chosen from e∣uerlasting, and he loues them euen before their calling and conuersion, and before their iustification and adoption, yea he loues them with great or much loue, as Ephes. 2.4. God which is rich in mercie, through his great loue wherewith he loued vs. [Answ.] I answer. It is true, the Lord loues his chosen before their calling, and before their iustification and adoption, and that with great or much loue; yet with that degree of his loue that is proper to his elect vncalled, and as his elect onely knowne to himselfe so to be, and in time to be called, iustified, and adopted: but when they are called, iustified, and adopted, he then loues them with a further degree of his loue, euen to the actuall acceptation of their persons, and of their good works, as pleasing to him in Christ. Indeed Gods loue in it selfe admits neither more nor lesse, but as it is reached out to his chosen, there be different degrees of it.

[Ʋse 1] Now then for vse of the point: first this truth that God loues his chosen, beleeuing in Christ, and being iustified by Christ, and hauing fellowship with him, may yeeld matter of sweete and of excellent comfort to all that truly beleeue in Christ, and are by him iustified, and finde that they haue fel∣lowship with Christ. Art thou one truly beleeuing in Christ, and by him iustified? dost thou find that thou hast fellowship with Christ? Surely then the God of Christ is thy God, the Father of Christ is thy Father, Ioh. 20.17. Tell my brethren, I ascend vnto my Father and to your Father, vnto my God and your God. And he loues thee with a fatherly loue, yea with the same loue he beares to his owne deare Sonne, to the Sonne of his loue; and assure thy selfe he will deale with thee as a most louing, gracious, and tender hearted father. There is no earthly father, be he neuer so great, that can deale so well with his child whom he loues most dearely, as the Lord thy heauenly Father is able to deale with thee; and his loue ex∣ceeds

the loue of the tenderest father in the world, as farre as God himselfe exceeds dust and earth, sinne and corruption; and out of his tender loue to thee, he will suffer thee to want no manner of thing that he knowes to be good for thee, ei∣ther in respect of soule or bodie, and he will beare with thy infirmities and frailties in doing good things, thine heart being set right to please him, yea he will tender thee as a lo∣uing father, when thy bodie lyes vnder sicknesse, vnder paines or griefes, Psal. 41.3. The Lord may and doth suffer his children to lye vnder affliction for a time, for good causes best known to himselfe. As an earthly father perceiuing cause of further good, doth sometimes suffer his child to bite on the bridle, to lye in prison, to be in want, and as the saying is, he may see his child need, but he cannot endure to see him bleed: so doubtlesse thy heauenly Father for much good knowne to his holy Maiestie, may suffer thee to lye vnder af∣fliction, that thou maist be humbled, and schooled, and wai∣ned from the loue of the world; but to sinke vnder thy affli∣ction, and vtterly to perish vnder it, he cannot endure it, he will not suffer it, he will not see it, he will certainly put vnder his hand; yea he louing thee with a fatherly loue, he will not suffer anie thing to hurt thee, the harmes, wrongs, and iniu∣ries that are done to thee, they pierce as it were his gracious bowels, and he will not endure them.

And so for a second vse, take notice of this whosoeuer [Ʋse 2] thou art, that dost hate, or harme, or wrong anie one that truly beleeues in Christ: will an earthly father suffer his child whom he loues dearly, to be buffeted and beaten, wronged and abused, if he be able to helpe it? surely he will not: and will the Lord then who is infinite in power, able to do what∣soeuer he will, suffer any of his children whom he loues most dearely, being bought with the precious bloud of his owne deare Sonne, to be wronged, and abused, and not auenge it? No, no, certainly he will not: as he said to Abraham, Genes. 12.3. he will blesse them that blesse his children, and he will curse those that curse them: his reuenging hand will be a∣gainst all that harme or wrong the poorest of his children.

Thinke on this, thou that art a persecutor of Gods children, and thou that dost harme or wrong any one that truly be∣leeues in Christ, be it but a poore silly man in the world; re∣member this that he hath a Father that is able to right his cause, yea a Father that loues him dearely: and if he make his moane to his Father, and out of the bitternesse of his soule complaine to him, he will heare him: and if he rise vp for his defence, and his hand take hold on iudgement, then woe to thee. Thou maist be as a whip or scourge on the backe of a child of God for a time, but when the Lord hath done his owne will and worke by thee on his child for his good, then will he cast thee as a rod into the fire of his euerlasting ven∣geance.

[Ʋse 3] Now before I leaue this point, one other short vse is to be made of it: is it so that God loues his chosen, now beleeuing in Christ, and being by him iustified, with a fatherly loue, and with a tender affection? are they right deare to his holy Ma∣iestie? Surely then we must learne to esteeme of them; we are to esteeme of them as of Gods redeemed ones, and as of his deare ones, and as of those that are of great price with the Lord, and of high account with his holy Maiestie. And to this purpose consider we, that Gods chosen, now beleeuing in Christ, and iustified by him, are of such price with the Lord, and so esteemed of him, as that for their sakes he doth manie times extend his bountie to the wicked, and the wicked fare the better for their sakes, and for their sakes the Lord be∣stowes many temporarie benefits on the wicked: yea the Lords loue to his chosen now beleeuing in Christ, is so great, as that he makes more account of one of them, then of ten thousand worldlings, yea ten of them shall stand before him to turne him from anger to mercie, when he will not vouch∣safe to respect ten thousand such as the world honoureth for men or women of great account. If ten of them had bene found in Sodome, the whole Citie had bene spared for their sakes, and had escaped the fearefull plague of fire and brim∣stone, Genes. 18.32. And for Noahs sake was Cham preserued from the deluge: and Paul had the liues of all giuen him that

were in the same ship with him, Act. 27.24. Are these then such as we cannot abide, and such as we hate and con∣temne? and are these eye sores vnto vs, and such as harme the place where they are, and they must be remoued or else we shall not be well? Oh learne we to see their price with God, and the good that comes to the place where they dwell, euen for their sakes; and learne we to esteeme of Gods chosen be∣leeuing in Christ, as we ought, euen as of Gods deare ones, and as of such as are of great price with the Lord; and let them be deare to vs, and let vs make precious account of them. In louing them we shall testifie our loue to God him∣selfe: for it is a sure rule, loue me and loue my child, and if thou loue not my child, thou louest not me: and so indeed if thou loue not the children of God, thou louest not God. E∣uerie one that loueth God which begat, loueth him also which is begotten of him, 1. Ioh. 5.1. If thou loue not the children of God, assuredly thou louest not God himselfe, say or pretend what thou wilt. As the world and men of the world are rea∣die to say, they loue God with all their hearts, they would be sorrie else, and yet such as are the adopted sonnes and daugh∣ters of God they cannot abide, those they hate and con∣temne. Do they loue God? No, no, they lye, and deale not truly with their owne soules: thou louest not God whosoe∣uer thou art, if thou loue not those that are beloued of God. Now in the next place, in that the Apostle here saith, the thing witnessed by the holy Spirit of God and by the sancti∣fied heart, was this, that himselfe and the beleeuing Romans were the children of God, were by grace in Christ actually accounted Gods children, euen the adopted sons and daugh∣ters of God in and through Christ; we are further to take notice of the excellencie, and of the honour, and dignitie of [Doct. 5] Gods chosen, beleeuing in Christ, and being by him iustified, and hauing fellowship with Christ. And the point is this.

That Gods chosen, beleeuing in Christ, and being by him iustified, and hauing fellowship with Christ, they are aduan∣ced to great excellencie, they are highly honoured and dig∣nified, they are accounted the sonnes and daughters of the

most High, euen of the Lord of heauen and earth, and that is a great honour to them. We reade 1. Sam. 18.18. when Da∣uid heard of matching with Sauls daughter, Alas (saith he) what am I, and what is my life, or the familie of my father in Is∣rael, that I should be sonne in law to the king? And againe, when Sauls seruants dealt with him to the same purpose, saith he, verse 23. Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a kings sonne in law? And so it may be truly said in this case, is it a light or small thing to be the adopted sonne or daughter of God, the great Lord and King of heauen and earth? Without question it is a matter of wonderfull excellencie, and to haue such a sonne∣ship is more a thousand times then to be the sonne of the most mightie Prince in the world. Isai. 43.4. the Lord saith of his people, Because thou wast precious in my sight, and thou wast honourable and I loued thee: as if he had said, since I haue taken thee for mine owne, and thou hast bene my peculiar people, thou hast bene excellent and honourable aboue all the people in the world. And hence it is that Gods chosen now beleeuing in Christ, and by him iustified, are said to be kings and Priests to God, that Christ hath made them kings and Priests to God his Father, Reuel. 1.6. And 1. Pet. 4.14. the Apostle saith, The Spirit of glorie and of God resteth on them: and therefore doubtlesse they are honourable and glorious. Eccles. 10.7. the Preacher cals them Princes: speaking of the confusion and disorder that he saw in the world, he saith, I haue seene seruants on horses, and Princes walking as seruants on the ground. He meanes by Princes, the chosen of God and his faithfull ones. And indeed if we consider the bottome of the base estate from which Gods chosen now beleeuing in Christ are brought, and the top of glorie to which they are aduanced, it will plainly appeare to vs that they are excee∣dingly aduanced to great excellencie, and to high honour and dignitie they are by nature children of wrath, bond∣slaues of sinne and Satan, enemies to God, and rebels against his holy Maiestie, liable to all plagues and iudgements, and in a miserable state and condition: and by the grace of adoption they are aduanced to be sonnes and daughters of the most

high Lord and King of heauen and earth, yea to be heires, as verse the next, Euen fellow heires with Christ, and to haue right and title to all good things in this world, and to the crowne of glorie in heauen. And so it must needs be acknow∣ledged, that they now beleeuing in Christ, they are aduanced to great excellencie, and they are highly honoured and dig∣nified.

And for the vse of this, first this truth serues much for the [Ʋse. 1] comfort and for the cheating vp of the hearts of poore despi∣sed ones in the world, truly beleeuing in Christ, and being by him iustified. Though they be poore and despised in the world, and vilified, and abased, and held as the refuse and of∣scouring of the world, yet beleeuing in Christ, they are not onely dearely beloued of the Lord, but they are also highly honoured and dignified, they haue this honour vouchsafed to them, they are accounted the sonnes and daughters of the great Lord and King of heauen and earth: and in that respect they are equall to the greatest that beleeues in Christ. The beleeuing shepheard, or the beleeuing kitchin boy may call God his Father as well as the beleeuing king; such honour haue all the Saints of God, which may comfort them and cheare vp their hearts. Indeed the honour and glorie of Gods chosen beleeuing in Christ, doth not appeare to the eye of the world, it lyes hid from the world, either vnder affliction, or vnder that excellent grace of humilitie, which the world accounts basenesse, and as Saint Iohn (1. Ioh, 3.2.) saith, we are now the sonnes of God: but yet it doth not appeare what we shall be, but the time shal come when the world shall be eye-witnesses of their honour and glorie. When the Lord Iesus shall shew himselfe from heauen in endlesse glorie in his owne person at the day of iudgement, he shall then come to be glorified in his Saints, and to be made maruellous in all them that beleeue, 2. Thess. 1.10. At his appearance he shall not onely be infinitely glorious in his owne person, but he shall also be glorious in his Saints, he glorifying them, and they appea∣ring with him in glorie, and that to the admiration of all that shall looke on them, euen to the amazement of men and

Angels: and that is a matter of sweet comfort to poore de∣spised ones in the world that truly beleeue in Christ.

[Ʋse. 2] Againe for a second vse, is it so that Gods chosen, belee∣uing in Christ, and being by him iustified, and hauing fellow∣ship with him, are aduanced to so great excellencie, and so highly honoured and dignified, as that they are accounted the sonnes and daughters of the most high Lord of heauen and earth? Surely then it concernes them, and it is their du∣tie, to carrie themselues answerable to so great honour and dignitie, as the Lord saith by his Prophet, Malac. 1.6. If I be a Father where is mine honour? And as the Apostle saith, 1. Pet. 1.17. If ye call him Father, which without respect of persons iudgeth according to euery mans worke, passe the time of your dwelling here in feare. When Dauid kept his fathers sheepe, he behaued himselfe like a shepheard, but when he was called from the sheepefold and aduanced to be a King, he carried himselfe accordingly; and so ought Gods children to do, being called from being the children of the diuell to be the children of God the great Lord and King of heauen and earth, they are to carrie themselues as the sonnes and daughters of so great a King, and answerable to the honour vouchsafed to them. What a shame were it for a Kings sonne to carrie himselfe as a base peasant, and to behaue himselfe like a drudge? And is it for a child of God to carrie himselfe as a vassall and slaue to sinne and Satan, and to suffer himselfe to be a drudge to the lusts of his owne heart? Thinke on this, thou that dost per∣swade thy selfe that thou art a child of God, and know that the Lord lookes for more honour, and feare, and reuerence, and dutie, and seruice, and holy obedience from thee, then he doth from those that are not his children: If thou be proud, if thou be vaine and garish in thy attire, if thou be couetous and an earthworme, if thou suffer thy selfe to be carried after the lewd customes and fashions of the world, thy sinnes do more dishonour God then the sinnes of those that are not Gods children, yea thy sinnes are more offensiue to God, and more displeasing to his holy Maiestie, then the sinnes of the prophane and reprobate, because thy sinnes are not bare

transgressions of his Law, but they are committed against his mercie, against his bountie and goodnesse, and against his louing fauour vouchsafed to thee, and thy sinnes haue vn∣thankfulnesse ioyned with them, and assuredly the Lord will not suffer thy sinnes to escape his hand, as he saith by his Pro∣phet Amos 3.1, 2. Heare this word that the Lord pronounceth against you O children of Israel, euen against the whole familie which I brought vp from the land of Egypt, saying: You onely haue I knowne of all the families of the earth, therefore I will visite you for all your iniquities: I will not suffer you to escape my hand for your sinnes. Thinke on this, thou that dost perswade thy selfe thou art a child of God; though the Lord suffer o∣thers to runne on in their sinnes, and reserues them till the day of vengeance, yet he will whip thee for thy sinnes, because he loues thee. And the greater honour the Lord hath vouchsa∣fed to thee, the more excellent condition he hath aduanced thee vnto, the more doth he challenge from thee all such care and dutie, as may declare thee not vnworthie of so great fauour.

Notes

• Interpreta∣tion.
• Mat. 3.17.
• Ioh. 17.23.
• Rom. 5.5.
• 1. Thess. 5.25.
• 1. Cor. 2.11.
• God doth in time of this life make knowne his eternall loue to his elect, and assure them of it.
• Rom. 5.5.
• 1. Cor. 2.10.
• Verse 9.
• The comfor∣table state of Gods chosen in this life, in that they are made ac∣quainted with Gods loue to them, disco∣uered.
• Comfort for poore sancti∣fied soules that are deie∣cted because they feele not heauenly sweetnesse & comfort.
• Gods children may in time of this life be infall••bly as∣sured of Gods fatherly loue to them.
• A Popish shift met withall.
• The Papists confuted in that they hold that a man cannot come to infallible assurance of his owne sal∣uation in this life.
• Strong com¦fort to euerie child of God.
• Difference betweene the testimonie of Gods Spirit and a Satani∣call illusion or carnall pre∣sumption, is in three things.
• Luther.
• Another ca∣uill of the Pa∣pists.
• Gods holy Spirit doth perswade thē, and them on∣ly, of Gods e∣ternall loue towards thē whose hearts are sanctified and renewed by grace.
• Act. 15.8.9.
• Euery ones perswasion that his spiri∣tuall state is good, is not the perswa∣sion of the holy Spirit of God.
• Comfort to poore sancti∣fied soules who in regard of their owne weaknesse are many times driuen to doubt whe∣ther God loues them or no.
• A man is the child of God by grace three wayes.
• The ground of adoption of Gods chil∣dren.
• Ioh. 1.12.
• 2. Acts of God in the grace of adoption.
• 2. Pet. 1.4.
• Difference betweene Gods adop∣tion & mans.
• How the point of a∣doption is to be conceiued.
• God loues his chosen now beleeuing in Christ, with a fatherly loue.
• Coloss. 1.13.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Ephes. 2.4.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Note.
• Sweet cōfort for all such as truly beleeue in Christ the God of Christ is their God, and the father of Christ their father.
• Ioh. 20.17.
• Psal. 41.3.
• God will not suffer his chil¦dren whom he loues most dearely to be wronged and abased, & not auenge it.
• We are to esteeme of Gods chosen now belee∣uing in Christ as of those that are deare and precious to the Lord.
• Genes. 18.32.
• Gods chosen now belee∣uing in Christ are aduanced to great excel¦lencie and dignitie.
• Rom. 8.17.
• Comfort to poore despi∣sed ones in the world, they truly be∣leeuing in Christ.
• 2. Thess. 1.10.
• Gods chosen beleeuing in Christ must carrie them∣selues answer∣able to their honour and dignitie.