the very Elect Mat. 24. 24. That comfortable Parenthesis if it were possible intimates a possibility of deceiving others yet an impossibility of deceiving the Elect. It 's the property of Christs sheep to follow Christ for they know his voicâ—… but a stranger viz. one that brings strange and false doctrines will they not follow but will flee from him because they know not the voice of strangers Joh. 10. 4 5. It is observable that when the Holy Ghost tells us that All that dwell upon the Earth shall worship the Beast yet the Elect are exempted All shall worship whos 's names are not written in the Lambs book of life Rev. 13. 8. And elsewhere Iohn testifieth clearly They went out from us viz. by embracing Antichristian doctrines v. 18. but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us 1 Joh. 2. 19. And Paul testifying to the Corinthians that there must be not only divisions but also Heresies among them that they which are approved may be made manifest among them 1 Cor. 11. 19. implyeth notably That even in times and places wherein Heresies abound yet Gods approved ones will withstand and reject Heresies when others will embrace them and so the approved of sound judgments shall be manifested among all the rest Nor need this seem strange that Gods elect children are not so apt to be carried away with every wind of Error as carnall hypocriticall persons for they are better ballasted then these are they have many protections preservations from Errour which carnall men have not As 1. Gods election is their sure foundation to keep them from dashing upon the rocks of Errour on which others split themselves Compare and consider well these two places Mat. 24. 24. and 1 Tim. 2. 17 18 19. 2. Gods power through faith keeps them unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. not their own nor any meer created power but Gods power keeps them as in garrison â—…s the Greek imports and this through faith apprehending applying that Divine power Faith imbarks the soule in the armes of God omnipotent and so makes weaknesse strong And as Gods power through faith keeps them from other enemies and impediments to salvation so from pernicious and damnable Heresies 3. The spirituall anointing of the Holy Ghost given them teacheth them all things 1 Joh. 2. 27. The Spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God So that through the Spirit they judge all things and have the minde of Christ 1 Cor. 2. 15 16. So that hereby they are enabled to discerne Truth to detect and avoid Errours in judgement as well as in practice which carnal men cannot do wanting this Anointing and spirituall discerning 4. Finally The love of Truth in Gods people is much they are the children of Truth 1 Joh. 3. 19. They can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth 2 Cor 13. 8. Their loynes are girt about with Truth Eph. 6. 14. and therefore they are hereby notably fenced against Errour Whereas carnall and hypocriticall men are either 1 Men of corrupt minds destitute of the trâ—…th 1 Tim. 6. 4 5. resisting the truth 2 Tim. 3. 8. and turning away their ears from thâ—… truth 2 Tim. 4. 4. Or 2. They hold the truth in unrighteousnesse Rom. 1. 18. Or 3. They are not able to come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3. 7 Or 4 They loâ—…e not the truth 2 Thes. 2. 9 10. And no wonder such persons be unstable wavering and apt to embrace lies and fables 2. The true children of God do not so fully close with Errours in opinion but rather they are surprized and overtaken with them through infirmity Rom. 14. 1. The remains of darknesse in their minds sometimes dazling and prevailing against the principle of light So that as in practice they sin non voluntatâ—… plena sed semi-plena i. e. not with an whole but with an half-will So in judgement they erre not with an whole but with an half-mind the light of the minde being against the Errour which the prevalent darknesse entertains But carnall persons whose whole minds are darknesse Eph. 5. 8 and enmity against God Rom. 8. 7. having no spark of sanctified illumination in them at all must needs embrace Errour with more full compliance and approbation 3. The true children of God do not tenaciously and obstinately persist in Errours especially not in fundamentall Errours They may â—…re through invincible frailty but they will not wilfully and pertinaciously persevere in their Errour as is the property of Heretical dispositions Such have the anointing in them to teach them all things which consequently will in due time convince and recover them out of Errour 1 Ioh. 3. 27. A gracious heart is very ingenuous Convince him but clearly of his Errour he is ready to â—…cknowledge it and reform it Solomon not only miscarried in his practice but seems also to have erred grosly in his judgement thinking that happinesse satisfaction or contentment was to be found in the empty bubble of the creature But when his own large experience confutes his opinion how fully doth he publish his Recantation to all Ages in Ecclesiâ—…stes David beholding the prosperity of the wicked while the rod was tyed to his own back All the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning Psa. 73. 〈◊〉 14. began to harbour an erroneous opinion of his own and their state Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency v. 13. Thus he was ready even to condemn the generation of Gods children v. 15. But when he came into Gods sanctuary and had his eyes there opened how ingenuously doth he foole himselfe yea beast himselfe for it So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee Psal. 73. 22. Augustâ—… deserved highly of the Church of God for many excellent Books which he wrote but especially for his 2 Books of Retractations and his 13 Books of Confessions For as in his Confessions he laments the Errours of his Practice which he had acted so in his Retractations he condemns the Errours of his judgment which he had written In both discovering a gracious self-denying spirit farre from obstinacie in Errour That truth may be honoured he treads his own honour in the dust and saith None but an imprudent man will blame me for blaming mine own errours for if I ought to have said them I ought not to have blamed them But he that could not at fiâ—…st be wise should yet afterwards be modest that not being able to say only things not to be repented of may at least repent of what he knowes ought not to have been said Yea afterwards be cautions his Reader * not to imitate him in Erring but in reclaiming his Errour But contrariwise a gracelesse heart is wont to be obstinate in Errour
because he kept Gods Commandements Psal. 119. 98 99 100. They that truly know God cannot choose but keep his Commandements For they know 1. The Authority of God commanding to be supream Iam. 4. 12. 2. The holinesse justnesse and goodnesse of Gods lawes commanded Rom. 7. 12. 3. The greatness of Gods rewards in keeping of them Psal. 19. 11. Deut. 28. 1 to 15. 4. The seventy of Gods wrath against the wilfull breakers of them Deut. 28. 15 to the end For clearing the Evidence consider 1. What is meant by knowledge of God 2. What by keeping his Commandements 3. Signes of this keeping Gods Commandements I. Knowledge of God and of Christ is either 1. Both true and perfect whereby God is clearly known thus none know God in this life but Christ the Sonne Matth. 11. 27. In the life to come all the Elect shall thus know God 1 Ioh. 3. 2. 2. Nor true nor perfect in reference to him that knowes but dubious uncertaine hypocriticall and common to Reprobates which is rather an opinion then a knowledge of God 1 Cor. 〈◊〉 14. 3. True but â—…mperfect whereby all regenerate persons do truly though weakly know God in this life Ier. 31. 34. Iohn 6. 45. 1 Cor. 13. 9. 12. Here understand the last sort of knowledge II. Keeping of Gods Commandements flowes originally from the true knowledge of God For we so farre act as we affect or love we so farre love as we know Hence from this threefold knowledge ariseth a threefold obedience viz. 1. Both true and perfect Only by Christ on earth by Saints and Angels in heaven Phil. 2. 8. Mat. 6 10. 2. Nor true nor perfect as the obedience of hypocrites and carnall men who if they saile not in the matter of obedience yet they still faile in the ground manner and end of obedience Rom. 8. 8. Heb. 11. 6. 3. True and sincere but imperfect by Saints on earth who for matter ground manner and end of obedience are sincere the bent and maine disposition of their hearts upright and unfeigned notwithstanding there be some graduall infirmities and imperfections As Zachariah and Elizabeth walked in all the Commandements of God blamelesse Luk. 1. 6. Here understand this third sort of keeping Gods Commandements to be a signe of true knowledge of God III. Signes of true keeping Gods Commandments whence we may know that we truly know God 1. The Law and Commandements of God are written in the heart of that person that truly keeps them Ier. 31. 33. Psal. 40. 7 8. The heart within answers to the Commandements without As a Book written answers to his minde that writes it As the impression on the wax answers to the character engraven on the Seale c. 2. The inward man viz. the sanctified minde and will and the fixed disposition of them delight in the Law and Commandements of God though that other law in the members rebell against it Rom. 7. 18 21 22 23 25. How did David delight in Gods laws Psal 119. 97. Delightfull loving cordiall obedience is the truest keeping of Gods Commandements They are farre from keeping Gods Commandements whose mindes are enmity against Gods Law Rom. 8. 7. 3. Turning from every evillway for the keeping of Gods Word Psal. 119. 101. 4. Obeying Gods Commandements Evangelically for substance and circumstance as he requires For Matter what he requires Iohn 1. 5. 14. For Ground and root of obedience 1 Tim. 1. 5. For Manner how he requires Iohn 4. 24. For end which we should aime at in all obedience 1 Cor. 10. 32. 5. Universall unlimited respect to all Gods Commandements one as well as another Psal. 119. 6. Iam. 2. 10 11. As Caleb Numb 14. 24. As Zachariah and Elizabeth kept all Luke 1. 6. 6. Constancy and Perseverance in keeping Gods Commandements Psal. 1. 2 3 and 119. 20. I have inclined my heart to do thy statutes alway unto the end Psal. 119. 112. II. Secondly Not sinning or Deniall renouncing of sinne aright evidenceth wee know God aright They that commit sinne are grossely ignorant of God Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him 1 Joh. 3. 6. This particular of not sinning as the property of the regenerate Together with the distinctive differences betwixt the sinning of the regenerate and of unregenerate persons See fully opened Chap. 2. Evidence 3. pag. 29 to p. 60. III. Thirdly A right entertaining and hearkening to the true Apostolicall doctrine is a notable evidence of the true knowledge of God in us as the listening to false Teachers and doctrines rejecting the true is a signe of ignorance of God and of a carnall state They viz. Anti-Christian Teachers v. 3. are of the world therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them We are of God He that knoweth God heareth us He that is not of God heareth not us Hereby know we the Spirit of truth and the spirit of errour 1 John 4. 5 6. Signes of right entertaining and hearkning to true Apostolical doctrine 1. When we entertaine their doctrine discerningly distinguishing and discriminating by help of Scriptures their sound doctrine from all unsound opinions divers and strange Doctrines of false teachers Heb. 5. 14. 1 Ioh. 4. 1. Act. 17. 11. Rev. 2. 2. 2. When discerning their doctrine we entertaine it believingly the Word being mingled contempered or united with faith in the hearers Heb. 4. 2. 3. When we entertaine it readily with all readinesse of minde Act. 17. 11. 4. When we entertaine it reverentially with awfull trembling at it as the Word of God Isa. 66. 2. 1 Thes. 2. 13. 5. When we entertaine it with a singular love affectionatenesse ond estimation Gal. 4. 13 14 15. contrary is that in 2 Thes. 2. 10 11. 6. When we entertaine it obedientially obeying from the heart that forme of doctrine unto which we are delivered Rom. 6. 17. being conformed yea transformed by the doctrine received yielding prosessed subjection to the Gospel 2 Cor. 9. 13. 7. When we so receive it as to retaine it firmly not leaking or letting it slip Heb. 2. 1. 1 Thes. 5. 20 21. IV. Finally Mutuall Reciprocall Brotherly love Evinceth that we know God aright Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is borne of God and knoweth God He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love 1 John 4. 7 8. He must needs know God that truly loves his brother the childe of God For 1. He that loves his brother is borne of God 1 Iohn 4. 7. and 3. 10 14. and he that is borne of God among other graces infused hath illumination whereby he knowes God 2. He that loves his brother truly knowes Gods image in his brother how lovely it is in him and therefore loves him 1 Iohn 5. 1. 3. He that loves his brother knows Gods Authority in his Command And this Commandement we have from him that he who loveth God love his brother also 1 Joh.
Lords graciousness pleasanâ—…ness goodnes c they as new-born babes loâ—… for the sincere milk of the Word that they mâ—… grow thereby But Presumption or carâ—… confidence breeds rather disaffection thâ—… true affection to the Word Such either dâ—…sire it not at all or not the pure sincere Worâ—… or not in reference to their growth 3. True assurance makes the soule incomparable to prize Communion with God and Iesus Christ when the Church had obtained Christs sweet embracements and perceived her selfe lodged in the bosome of her dearest Love and knew that her beloved was hers and she his how jealous is she lest any should disturbe him or drive him from her so earnest is she to be filled with his fellowship and upon his withdrawing in any measure from her how restlesse is she till his returne David was a man of much heavenly experience and assurance when his evidences were dimmed by his fall how pathetically doth he cry Make me to heare joy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit Presumption knowes not what Communion with Christs meanes 4. True assurance notably engages those that have it to serve and honour God in their places to the uttermost God assured Ioshua that he will never leave him nor forsake him and Ioshua resolves what ever others do that he and his house will serve the Lord. Sense of Christs love constrained Paul to all zeal in his ministery David said Thou art my God and I will praise thee thou art my God and I will exalt thee Presumption provokes and contemnes God what is the Almighty that we should serve him c. 5. True assurance singularly supports and comforts the heart in deepest tribulations As is remarkably evident in Iob and Paul Carnall confidence in such cases is a miserable Comforter 6. True assurance fils with joy in hope of glory after tribulation hath done its worst They that have no more then carnall confidence have indeed no hope of another world III. Of the way how to attaine and retaine Assurance Having thus seen the Character of true Assurance next consider we How to compasse and conserve it To this end faithfully follow these and such like directions viz. 1. Be much in selfe-examination frequenâ—… in selfe-Probation that you may finde where your evidence clearly lies Examine youâ—… selves prove your own selves know ye noâ—… that Iesus Christ is in you except ye be reâ—… probates If a mans Title of land be questioned how will he search and examine hiâ—… evidences and also take the best counseâ—… upon them A Merchant that would exactly know his own State he often examineâ—… and casts up his Bookes So should Christians be much in casting up and examininâ—… their spirituall evidences that would obtaiâ—… assurance of their good estate to God 2. Quench not grieve not the Spirit of God by any known corruption but still entertaine him with all holy acceptablenesse for the Spirit of God is therefore given us that we by him might be assured and know the things given us of God and he assures us most convincingly clearly satisfactorily 3. Cherish and improve all your graces for every grace hath an evidence in it but peculiarly your speciall Assuring graces viz. Knowledge Faith and Hope By knowledge we discerne our selves By faith we reallize and appropriate to our selves for present the things as yet not seen and by hope we patiently wait for full enjoyment All tend to assurance 4. Constantly exercise your selves herein to have a conscience void of offence towards God and man in all the parts of well-doing A good conscience and a gracious upright Conversation are singular grounds and helps to Assurance To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God And Christ saith He that hath my Cemmandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be beloved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my selfe unto him 5. Remember former experiences of Assurance the dayes of old the years of Gods right hand these will support and perswade our hearts against doubtings Gods people have taken this course in their wants of assurance 6. Labour to getout of those conditions which are prejudicial and obstructive to assurance These are foure viz. 1. The Infancy of grace Infants in nature live move grow c. long before they actually know it So Babes in grace have not their spirituall senses exercised to discerne their condition Labour to be men in growth both in grace and knowledge 2. The spirituall slumber or sleep of security In naturall sleep our senses are so tied up that we discerne not our naturall or civill State In the spirituall slumber of security our assurance is suspended our evidences sleep with us as in the Church in her spirituall security Awake thy selfe out of security 3. The spiritual Swoon of Desertions In a Swoon when our spirits and sense faile us we discerne not our naturall life In spirituall Desertions when God withdrawes the light of his countenance and sweet presence we discerne not our spirituall life Labour to remove Desertions the Conflicts of temptations and other soule-distempers When the body is in deep distempers hath been astonished with dangerous falls c. it is not comfortably sensible of its corporall condition no more is the soule in deep Temptations Afflictions especially Relapses apprehensive of its good spiritual condition As in David upon his fal Therefore wrastle out of temptations and relapses 7. Diligently and skilfully improve those notable Assuring Ordinances the Word Lords Supper and Prayer To help on all the former directions in reference to assurance 1. The Word was therefore written that beleevers might know they have eternall life Let it therefore dwell in you richly in all wisdome 2. The Lords Supper particularly and individually seals up remission of sinnes Communion with Christ and interest in the New Testament Be at the Lords table frequently but still manage it worthily And 3. Prayer not onely spreads open a mans heart to himselfe but pierceth the heavens creeps into the bosome of God and often furnisheth the doubting spirit with Assurance in the very exercise of it Therefore labour to be mighty men in prayer Pray alwayes and faint not How oft do the servants of God begin their prayer doubting and perplexed but conclude assured and perswaded David begins O Lord rebuke me not in ihine anger neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure c. and he ends The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping The Lord hath heard my supplication By these and such like meanes true Assurance may be obtained by the people of Goâ—… when they want it recovered when they havâ—…
cheerfully 1 Ioh. 〈◊〉 5. and 5. 3. 5. Our true love to Gods children for the heavenly Fatherâ—… sake who begat them 1 Iohn 5. 1. and 4 11 12 20 21. and 3â—… 17. CHAP. VII Evidences of our Communion with God and with Iesus Christ. 1. The Holy Spirit of God and of Jesus Christ given us 1 Iohn 3. 24. and 4. 13. p. 214. 2. The true abiding of the ancient Primitive truth and doctrine of Christ in us 1 Ioh. 2. 22 23 24. p. 217. 3. True confessing that Jesus is the Sonne of God 1 Ioh. 4. 15. p. 218. 4. Not doing or practising of sin 1 Ioh. 3. 6 8. p. 221. 5. Unfeigned love to God and dwelling therein 1 Iohn 4. 16. p. 221. 6. Walking in light not in darknesse 1 Iohn 1. 5 6 7. p. 224. 7. Walking as Christ walked 1 Iohn 2. 6. p. 225. 8. Keeping his Word and Commandements 1 Ioh. 2. 5. and 3â—… 23 24. p. 227. 9. True brotherly love 1 Iohn 4. 12. p. 228. CHAP. VIII Evidences of the unfeigned love of the Brethren 1. True spiritual knowing of God 1 Iohn 4. 7 8. p. 228. 2. Sincere loving of God 1 Iohn 5. 1 2. p. 229. 3. Right keeping of Gods Commandements 1 Iohn 5. 2 3. p. 229. 4. Loving the brethren peculiarly as they are begotten 〈◊〉 God c. 1 Iohn 5. 1 2. p. 229. 5. When we love them not verbally and complementally bâ—… really and sincerely Opening tender bowels of Compassion 〈◊〉 our brother in need yea if they cause require hazzarding oâ—… dearest lives for the children of Gâ—…d 1 Iohn 3. 16 17 18 19. p. 230. BELIEVERS Evidences FOR Eternall Life Collected out of the first EPISTLE of IOHN which is Catholique IOHN is an Hebrew name and signifies The Lord hath been gracious or The grace of the Lord He was Son of Zeâ—…edee brother of Iames and called by Christ to the Apostolical office Mat. 4. â—…1 10. 2 Mar. 1. 19. Luk. 5. 10. which is â—…he highest Ecclesiastical Office under the New Testament 1 Cor. 12. 28 Ephes. 4. 11. Iohn was one of the three whom Christ took up with him to Mount Taâ—…or to behold his glorious Transfiguration Matth. 17. c. Mark 9. 2. Luke 9. 28 c. One of the two whom Christ sent to prepare his last Passeover Luke 22. 8. and that Disciple whom Iesus peculiarly loved above all the rest Iohn 13. 23. and 19. 29. and 20. 2. and 21. 7 20. who leaned on Iesus breast at supper to whom Christ by a private token discovered that Iudas should betray him Iohn 13. 23 24 25 26. and to whom alone Christ dying on the Crosse commended his owne Mother Iohn 19. 25 26 27. This IOHN this compound of love anâ—… sweetnesse wrote this Epistle Aâ—… Epistle saith Calvin altogether worth of the spirit of that Discipleâ—… who wâ—… therefore beloved of Christ above the reâ—… that he might render himself more familiâ—… to us A most sweet Epistle saith Austin most memorable in the Church of God becauâ—… love is there especially commanded An Epistle whose principal Scope and end is Tâ—… help the believers to a well-grounâ—… ed Assurance of their actual interâ—… in eternal life These things saiâ—… John have I written unto you that bâ—… lieve on the Name of the Son of God thâ—… ye may know that ye have eternal life 1 John 5. 13. To this end the holy Ghost by the Apostle hath replenished this precious Epistle with more variety and plenty of pregnant Marks Signes Characters or Evidences of Believers spiritual estate then any other Scripture of like quantity in the whole Book of God So that it is a Rich Treasury for Christian-Assurance 1 Assurance if the fault be not our owne is Attainable John 14 21. Rev. 2. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 9 to 13. 1 Iohn 2. 3 5. and 3 2 14 19 24. and 4. 13. and 5. 19. 2 Assurance hath been actually attained by divers Iob ch 19. 25 26 27. David Psal. 22. 1. and 51 8 12. Thomas John 20. 28. Paul 2 Tim. 1. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 1. Rom. 8. 37 38. Gal. 2. 20. 1 Tim. 1. 13 14. 16. The Church of Christ Cant 2. 16. and 7. 10. 3 The nature of faith and hope tend and lead on unto Assurance Col. 2. 2. Heb. 6. 11 18 19. Heb. 10. 23. 4 Hence all Christians ought to â—…ontend after Assurance 2 Cor. 13. 5. 〈◊〉 Assurance that eternal life is ours actually attained brings great glory to God Rom. 4. 20 21. is the glory of faith Rom. 4. 19 20. overcomes greatest difficulties Rom. 4. 17 18. is an approved cordiall extraordinarily strengthening believers hearts in worst times under saddest afflictions yea in the straits of death Iob 19. 25 26 27. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. and in a word is a Paradise on earth the suburbs of Heaven and sweetest glimpse of glory Come hither therefore all ye doubting soules and drooping Christians that walk in darknesse and have no light of Assurance and comfort this blessed Epistle is an Epistle for you reade it and meditate upon it continually till you be perswaded setled stablished comforted And for your further help peruse these evidences extracted out of it and familiarly digested by him whose comfort it will be to be an Helper of your joy CHAP. I. Evidences or Signes of Gods love to us CHrists being sent to lay down his life for us that we might live by him may be a first Signe of Gods love to us Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us 1 Joh. 3. 16. In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that we might live through him Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sinnes 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. Hence when actually we live through Christ we actually taste Gods free love in Christ. Gods speciall love acts towards his beloved ones chiefly three waies 1. In electing them before all time elect of God holy and beloved Col. 3. 12. which is more peculiarly ascribed to the Father 1 Pet. 1. 2. 2. In redeeming them in fulnesse of time which is more peculiarly attributed to the Son Ioh. 15. 12 13. Gal. 2. 20. Rev. 1. 5. 3. In immediate applying of Christ unto them in due time by sanctification effectuall calling c. and this is more peculiarly given to the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 4 5. 1. Pet. 1. 2. And in every of these acts of love God comes neerer and closer unto his The Fathers love in electing is love intended and purposed this is most remote The Sonnes love in redeeming is love actually demonstrated to the world this is neerer but the Holy Ghosts love in sanctifying c. is love effectually and peculiarly applyed to individuall persons this is most neare Would we know our interest in the Fathers electing love consider