A treatise of Christian religion. Or, the whole bodie and substance of diunintie. By T.C.

CHAP. 35.

Of the speciall working of Gods spirit in the Church, by the Word.

• Gods spirit worketh things,
  • Common to the wicked and godly concerning the coue∣nant of
    • Grace, as to
      • 1. Vnderstand and consent to the truth of the doctrine.
      • 2.
        • Delight in it, & haue a glimpse of the life to come.
        • To haue some care to keepe it.
    • Workes, as
      • 1. Terrour of consci∣ence.
      • 2. Contrition, or sor∣row for sinne.
      • 3. Confession of sinne.
      • 4. Doing many out∣ward duties, resti∣tution, &c.
      • 5. Desire to die the death of the righ∣teous.
  • Proper to the godly, as
    • Receiuing the seed (that is, the promise of saluation by Christ) into a good heart.
    • Bringing forth fruit with pati∣ence.

MATTH. chap. 13. vers. 3. to the 9. and 18. to the 24.

3. And he spake many things vnto them in parables, say∣ing, Behold, a sower went forth to sow.

4. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the waies side, and the foules came and deuoured them vp.

5. Some fell vpon stonie places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprang vp, because they had no deep∣nesse of earth.

6. And when the Sunne was vp, they were scorched: and be∣cause they had no root, they withored away.

7. And some fell among thornes, and the thornes sprang vp and choked them.

8. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixtie fold, some thirtie fold.

18. Heare ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdome, and vnderstandeth it not, then commeth the wicked one, and catch∣eth away that which was sowne in his heart: this is hee which receiued seed by the way side.

20. But hee that receiued the seed into stonie places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with ioy receiueth it:

21. Yet hath he not root in himselfe, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22. He also that receiued seed among the thornes, is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world, and the deceitful∣nesse of riches choke the word, and he becommeth vnfruitfull.

23. But he that receiued seed into the good ground, is hee that heareth the word, and vnderstandeth it, which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth some an hundred fold, some sixtie, some thirtie.

Q. TO proceed to speake more specially of the word of God, and of the diuers working of Gods spirit

in his Church, by the same word. What doth Gods spirit worke by the word?

A. First, it worketh things common to the godly with the wicked. Secondly, things proper to the god∣ly, as is clearly taught by the parable, Mat. 13. 3.

Q. What are the things common to both?

A. First, such as concerne the couenant of grace: secondly, such as concerne the couenant of workes.

Q. What are the things common to both, concerning the couenant of grace which it worketh?

A. First, some vnderstanding of the word of grace; and some kind of consent vnto the same.

Q. If they vnderstand it, how is it, that one sort are said not to vnderstand?

A. Not that they haue no vnderstanding at all, but they are said to haue none, because it is not effectuall; for they come without affection, and goe away with∣out care.

Q. What learne you from hence?

A. First, to take heed that we deceiue not our selues in a bare profession, or light knowledge of the word; and that we heare it with zeale, and depart from the hearing thereof with care to profit.

Secondly, to beware also of the great subtilty of Sa∣tan, who (as a swift and rauenous bird) snatcheth the word out of vnprepared hearts; euen as theeues vse to take away whatsoeuer they finde loose, and carelesly laid vp.

Q. What second thing is common to both?

A. To haue some kind of delight in the word, and a glimpse of the life to come.

Q. What difference is there betweene this kind of delight and the ioy of the godly?

A. This is like the blaze of a fire, and is neither la∣sting nor firme: whereas the ioy of the godly is solid and sound, and aboue that which the worldly man hath in gold and siluer. Secondly, the wicked's de∣light ariseth from a wrong end and motiue: as to sa∣tisfie some humorous desire to know somthing more then other; &c. wheras the ioy of the godly is to know further, to the end they may practice.

Q. Why is it said, they haue no root?

A. Because they vnderstand the things, but are not rooted and grounded in the truth thereof, by sauing faith.

Q. What else is common to both?

A. To haue some care to keepe that which they haue heard, (it may be with some suffering of persecu∣tion): and yet the thornes of couetousnesse, or of worldly delights, may ouergrow the good seed, and make it vnfruitfull.

Q. VVhat learne you from thence?

A. That to haue suffered persecution for the truths sake, ought not to make vs secure and carelesse of pro∣ceeding: for of them that suffer, some may fall away and perish, as did Alexander the Copper-smith, &c.

Q. So much of things common to both, pertaining to the couenant of grace. Now declare the like in those things which are common to both, concerning the couenant of workes?

A. First, the wicked (by meanes of the word) may bee brought to confesse their faults. Secondly, they may be pricked in conscience with a terrour of them. Thirdly, they may bee sorie for them. Fourthly, they may doe many things that are taught. Fifthly, they may desire to die the death of the righteous; and all these onely for feare of iudgement: whereas the god∣ly

confesse their sinnes, are stricken with remorse and sorrow for them, because they haue offended a louing God, and a gracious Father; and endeauour to doe not some things, but all that they are commanded; and desire to be saued, to the end they may glorifie God.

Q. May we conclude from hence, that three parts of foure in the Church are likely to be condemned by this parable?

A. No, in no case: for though of foure sorts of men, there be three sorts wicked, & but one sort good; yet it will not follow, that the wicked in the Church, are thrice as many in number as the good; and to af∣firme the same, is both curious, and vncomfortable.

Q. So much of the things common to the godly with the wicked. What are things proper to the Godly?

A. Two things: first, the receiuing of the seed into a good heart: secondly, the bringing forth of fruit with patience.

Q. What is here meant by receiuing of the seed into a good heart?

A. By the seed, is meant especially the word of promise; whereby God hath said, he will be mercifull vnto vs in Christ, if we repent and beleeue. By the re∣ceiuing into a good heart, is meant, the receiuing of it by faith in Christ.

Q. What is faith?

A. A perswasion of my heart, that God hath giuen his Sonne for me, and that he is mine, and I his.

Q. What? hath a man a good heart, before he receiueth that seed?

A. No doubtlesse; for naturally all men are alike corrupt; and as the face answereth to the face in the glasse; so one of the sonnes of Adam, is like another, in

that nature which they haue receiued from their pa∣rents.

Q. Why then are they said to haue a good heart?

A. It is called a good hart, in respect of Gods chan∣ging of it, by the ingrafted word: and by these words, he putteth difference betweene the fruites of the for∣mer, and the fruites of this last: for that there is no dif∣ference in the outward shew of fruites, but onely in re∣gard that those fruites proceeded from an vncleane heart, and this from a heart which is cleansed.

Q. How must wee approue our selues that wee bee good ground?

A. By good fruites.

Q. What are those fruits?

A. First, free accesse to God. Secondly, the loue of God shead into our hearts. Thirdly, a feeling of peace with God. Fourthly, the spirit of adoption, that as∣sureth vs to be the sonnes of God: wherof ariseth that we call God Father, & hope for the inheritance with patience, which is a patient waiting for the perfor∣mance of Gods promises. Fifthly, repentance, which is a changing of all the powers and faculties of the soule, and members of the body; effected by that loue, which proceedeth from true sauing faith.

Notes

• Psal. 4. 7.
• Psal. 119. 33. 34
• Exod. 9. 29. Act. 24. 25. 1. Sam. 24. 17. Mark. 6. 20. Numb. 23. 10.
• 2. Cor. 7. 10.
• Psal. 119. 6. Philip. 1. 20.
• Galath. 20 20.
• Prou. 27. 19.
• Iam. 1. 21.
• Rom. 5.
• 1. Thess. 5. 23. Gal. 5. 6.