righteous in Gods sight To the same purpose it is said that wee are made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21 And that of the Prophet Esa Esa 53. 11. By his knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many for hee shall beare their iniquities And for this cause is Christ called The Lord our righteousnesse Ier. 23. 6. 33. 16. and that he is the end of the Law Rom. 10. 4. for righteousnesse to euery one that beleeueth And for this cause are the Sacraments said to be seales of the righteousnes of Faith 4. 11. to the same intent much wherein wee see how plainely and plentifully the Lord sets out this perfect righteousnesse and life thereby in Christ to be made ours Which if any shall but neglect and passe by and not accept how shall hee escape most iust condemnation As wee reade Heb. 2. 3. speaking of the same matter How then can this but perswade euery one Vse who desires saluation with both hands as wee say to receiue this great gift of Christs righteousnesse to bee his wherevpon depends so certainly his eternall happinesse And how iustly shalt thou perish who hearest of this great goodnesse of God prepared in Christ and offered in the Gospell to thee and yet wilt not receiue it but either securely neglect it or at least by thy vnbeleefe depriue thy selfe of so incomparable a benefite I can say no more to perswade thee but I beseech the Lord to perswade thee and doe thou giue the Lord no rest till by his Spirit he draw thee to embrace this benefite to thy euerlasting comfort Now to come to the fruites of Iustification Fruites of Iustification which bee so many effects of Gods grace accompanying and following our Iustification 1. Reconciliation 2. Adoption and 3. Hope of Glorie I am not ignorant that these bee set in another order diuersly by diuers Diuines which is not much materiall for all consent that they bee speciall benefites which Christ hath purchased for vs by his death and obedience and serue much for the assurance of our saluation Whereas on the contrarie the ignorance or doubting of them must needes breed much discomfort especially in time of temptation and at the houre of death Yet seeing these doe so depend vpon the former of our Iustification that hee who is iustified cannot want these and without a man be iustified he can neuer enioy any of them either to bee at peace with God much lesse to come into so high fauour as to bee adopted and made Gods childe and heire of all his blessings and lest of all attaine such hope of euerlasting glorie with God in his kingdome as might make him here in this vale of miserie not onely to cheere vp his heart in the expectation thereof but outwardly to reioyce and holilie to boast thereof seeing I say the iustified man and none else hath these most certainly the best way to get assurance of these is to make sure our Iustification in such sort as hath beene already shewed But seeing the Scriptures doe oft make mention of these that God hath prepared and offered these to vs in Christ it shall bee to our comfort to take knowledge of them and so labour for the right vse of them Remembring that I haue in the former part of this Treatise spoken of these effects of our faith out of Rom. 5. 1 c. to set out the great and pretious fruites which are gotten by Faith thereby to prouoke all more to labour for Faith I may now be the more briefe especially seeing the Scripture including them in the former is not so plentifull as in the former For the first of these Reconciliation Reconciliation I vnderstand that whereas before wee were in Christ we were enemies to God by reason of sinne Now by Christ wee are reconciled and made friends as Rom. 5. 10. For if when wee were enemies we were reconciled by the death of his Son much more being reconciled wee shall be saued by his life So likewise notably is this set forth 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20. All things are of God who hath reconciled the world vnto himselfe by Iesus Christ and hath giuen vs the ministerie of Reconciliation For God was in Christ and reconciled the world vnto himselfe not imputing their sinnes vnto them and hath committed to vs the word of Reconciliation Now then are wee ambassadours of Christ As though God did beseech you through vs we pray you in Christ stead that yee bee reconciled to God In both which Scriptures these two things I obserue for our purpose first that we being rancke enemies to God Christ by his full satisfaction whereof his death was a principall part hath reconciled God his Father vnto mankinde yet not so that any haue the benefite thereof but they who gladly doe accept it The second is that seeing none could so much as know this much lesse haue warrant to beleeue to haue any part in it Therefore the Apostle as a faithfull disposer of the secrets of God plainely affirmes and for more certaintie repeats that this reconciliation was wrought for the world that is all mankinde though againe I say none but beleeuers enioy it And the more to draw vs to beleeue that God hath granted out a commission to the Ministers of the Gospell to preach and publish this good newes of reconciliation wrought by Christ betweene God and man and that they should by all meanes labour to perswade men yea which is wonderfull he saith that God by his Ambassadours doth intreate them to bee reconciled to God that is to accept this vnheard of mercy offered to them These things when I consider I cannot but admire Gods vnspeakable mercie in so seeking to saue vs his enemies and our brutish ingratitude in so light esteeming thereof yea our sensles neglect of our chiefest good and our deadly vnbeliefe by which we depriue out selues of so vnualuable treasure freely offered vnto vs. What may be said more to moue our stonie hearts either to desire or to accept so great grace I well see not but this I see and am sure of that it shall be more tollerable for Turkes and Pagans in the day of iudgement then for thee whosoeuer thou art who liuing in the Church doest either despise or so distrust this bountie of the Lord that thou doest not receaue it As for such who preferre any worldly thing before this vnmatchable mercy and so if not grossely reiect it yet securely neglect it and as swine trample such pretious pearles vnder their feet Reu. 22. 11 I say no more but hee that is filthy let him be filthie still But for such poore soules as doe highly prise this exceeding fauour to be reconciled vnto God and onely bee kept from it by distrustfull feares that it is not for them they being so vnworthie I beseech them in the Lord deeply to weigh what hath beene said to draw them
God the father mooued by nothing but his free loue to mankinde lost hath made a deed of gift and grant of his Sonne Christ Iesus vnto mankinde that whosoeuer of all mankinde shall receiue this gift by a true and liuely faith hee shall not perish but haue euerlasting life which the same Apostle expresly saith 1. Ioh. 5. 11. This is the record that God hath giuen to vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne meaning that this it is which God hath witnessed for vs to beleeue which hee that doth not makes God a lyar and shall most iustly be condemned therefore this then is the first thing in true faith to be considered that euery soule to whom God sendeth this message of the Gospell doe truely beleeue and giue credit vnto it to bee true that God hath made grant of Christ to sinners so that if he accept this grant he shall bee saued This is that faith which in schooles is called historicall because it goeth no further then to giue assent and credit to the story of that which God speaketh to be true which one may beleeue for another and therefore this cannot be true iustifying faith and this may be in those that knowe they are bidden to the wedding yet refuse to come So that though this bee necessary to true iustifying faith yet it is not sufficient therfore in iustifying faith there is required another and more speciall work namely to receiue Christ and life in him offered in the Gospell which was the second generall point to bee considered in the nature of this iustifying faith Namely that beside the assent of the mind and iudgment to the truth of the Gospell The second speciall worke of faith is to receiue Christ offered vs in the Gospell wee giue consent with our heart and will and so willingly and gladly accept Gods gift of Christ whereby indeede he is become ours and we his and so we in him be made partakers of all things pertaining to life and godlinesse 2. Pet. 1. 3. as the Apostle Peter speaketh where I would haue this specially to be marked that hee saith this is by the knowledge or acknowledging of him which I vnderstand to be by true faith whereby we know and acknowledge Christ to be ours This I the rather obserue for that I see some honestly minded herein beguiled to imagine that a man may be a true member of Christ and so be iustified before he thus actually beleeue and thereby apprehend Christ I deny not but that some weake in faith may feare that they do not beleeue and that they haue not apprehended Christ when in deede they haue apprehended him though they feele it not who may be discerned partly by their heauinesse for want of sense of faith but especially by their loue they beare to God shewed manifold waies whereof we shall here more in the triall of faith But that he who neuer apprehended Christ by beleeuing should ordinarily bee a member of Christ I cannot see sure I am the Scripture constantly speaketh otherwise as Iohn 12. As many as receiued him Gal. 3 26. to them hee gaue power to bee the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue in his name Gal. 2. 20. And to like effect often that we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus That wee liue by faith of the Sonne of God That Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith Eph. 3. 17. In which and the like many it is euident that faith is the Instrument whereby wee receiue Christ our righteousnes and life And this is the constant opinion of all found Diuines so farre as I know Thus then we see that the very nature of faith consisteth in the true acceptation of Christ proclaimed in the Gospell How faith is gotten Now followeth to be considered how this faith is to be obtained and increased that so we may liue by it wherein wee haue these two points to be obserued 1. First 2. point what is the ground of faith 1. 2. Secondly 2. how faithis hereon builded But before this blocke at which so many stumble is to be remooued That wee yet speake not how a man that hath faith may know it to bee so whereof more in his place but how one that indeede hath not apprehended Christ by faith may attaine vnto it So that here onely we seeke the causes which beget this faith not the effects of faith which only prooue we haue it Many not discerning this difference doe much mistake Causes and effects of faith differing and being asked what caused them to beleeue they say because they haue truely repented and changed their course of life which if it proceede not from faith is not so much as a sound proofe of faith much lesse can it bee any cause to drawe them to beleeue By which mistaking it comes to passe that such persons building their faith vpon their life which is subiect to many changes can neuer haue sound and stedfast faith but a staggering vnconstant opiniō at the best We haue neede therefore to looke for a more sure ground whereon to build our faith which must stand against so many and mighty stormes wherewith it is so vsually assaulted The onely firme ground of this sauing faith is Gods truth reuealed in his word The onely ground of faith is Gods truth Reason why as is plainely taught Rom. 10. 17. So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God And so likewise it is saide of the Ephesians 1. 13. That they by hearing the word of truth the Gospell of saluation beleeued which is as manifest to reason in that there is not any thing in heauen or in earth which can testifie to vs such good will in God to saue vs but wee must haue Gods owne word to witnesse this vnto vs and all little enough It is a matter so incredible that the holy and iust God who cannot abide any iniquity Heb. 2. 2. but will certainely giue to euery sinne his due punishment yet of his owne free mercy hath giuen and granted to poore sinners eternall life Therefore hath the Lord so often and so euidently spoken no lesse that hee might thereby mooue vs to beleeue as 1. Ioh. 5. 11. expresly affirming This is that which is testified That God hath giuen vs eternall life and this life is in his sonne For our further confirmation wherein it is saide vers 7. that this is witnessed both by three witnesses in heauen The first the father the second the word that is the sonne of God the second person in Trinity the third the holy Ghost which three be one diuine nature and testifie the same things as also by three witnesses on earth all which be in euery true beleeuer and none els The first the spirit the second the water the third the blood which agree in one witnessing the same things wherby are meant By the first
in all his promises yet nothing is more common then in time of tryall to distrust and feare God will not be as good as his word at least whatsoeuer is said wee feare wee shall perish We need not seeke for proofe hereof which is so recorded in the liues of the most worthy seruants of God who are otherwise highly commended for their faith hee that hath any insight into himselfe may see too much of this in himselfe how ready wee are to call into question Gods truth when God deferreth the helpe we looked for To passe by all others and to see this in the matter we haue in hand from whence is it that so few of those that bee truly humbled in the sight of their miserie who know and desire Christ yea more who haue heard and in generall beleeued the Gospell that it is the glad tydings of saluation that Christ bids al that be heauie laden to come vnto him and hee will ease them what is the cause I say that so few of these doe so laie hold on Gods word as to beleeue and to rest assured of their saluation by Christ I know no better answer then this that when it comes to our selues wee cannot beleeue God will performe his word to vs some thing or other will bee obiected by our vnbeleeuing hearts why we may not beleeue Against all which we haue no other buckler to hold out but Gods truth Psal 31. 5. as Psal 91. 4. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler which is such that hee cannot lie nor deceiue To this end it is that God is called the God of truth Reu. 3. 14. Christ the faithfull and true witnesse Ioh. 14. 17. the holy Ghost the Spirit of truth Ephe. 1. 13. the Gospell the word of truth that when our faithlesse hearts shall stagger and doubt whether that shall bee which God hath spoken we may stay our selues vpon this immoueable rocke God is faithfull 1 Cor. 19. As often it is repeated to strengthen our weake faith This then remaineth for the setling of the heart of the weake in faith That so oft as doubts arise concerning his saluation by Christ whether God so loue him that he hath giuen him his only begotten Sonne that he beleeuing might not perish but haue euerlasting life hee hath no other thing in the world to perswade him but this that God who cannot lie hath said it and therefore he may and ought to beleeue that Christ and all his benefits are his wherein the more to moue him he is to laie before him both what a great sinne it is not to beleeue no lesse then to make God a lyer 1 Iohn 5. 10. as the Apostle John expresly speaketh Ioh. 3. 18. and also what fearefull punishment it procureth euen a certaine and remedilesse condemnation as our Sauiour himselfe denounceth By these and the like considerations is true faith both first begotten and afterwards increased in all those that shall be saued which I haue more fully laid open not only for that it is the most principall matter to bee regarded concerning true sauing faith namely how he that hath it not may attaine to it But also for that it is if not the least knowne and laboured for Many seeke for markes of faith in vaine yet least attained vnto For I haue obserued many very inquisitiue for some markes of faith who neuer so much as knew any thing which might draw them effectually to beleeue And therefore now to end this point concerning the right and orderly way whereby an vnbeleeuer is brought to true and sauing faith my aduise is to all that finde their faith weake and consequently their liues much out of frame that first they take good heed whereupon they build their faith Build faith onely on Gods truth and that only vpon Gods mercy and truth reuealed in the Gospell which neuer changing are a sure foundation and not vpon their owne change which oft is deceitfull and at best variable and indeed is onely an effect and fruit of Faith accordingly shewing the strength and weakenesse of our faith and can by no meanes be made any cause thereof Thus haue we seene both what this faith is whereby the iust doe liue and by what meanes it is attained Now lest any should gather out of the former that any man may by his owne indeuour vsing these meanes attaine to faith I thinke meet to adde this that although it be Gods will and commandement to all to whom hee sendeth his Gospell Faith is not in mans power but wrought by Gods Spirit that they should beleeue receiue Christ offered vnto them and therefore it is the dutie of euery one so to doe and it is their sinne and shall be their condemnation who doe not thus as hath beene said in all respects yet such is the corruption of all man-kinde by Adams fall that not one soule hath either will or power to receiue this grace in Christ offered vnto him Rom. 11. 32. For God hath shut vp all in vnbeliefe that he might haue mercy vpon al Act. 13. 48. and so many beleeued as were ordained to eternall life Eph. 2. 8. and Faith is the gift of God Ioh. 6. 44. and none can come to Christ except the Father draw him Which is wisely disposed by God that no man might haue cause to glory in himselfe but that the glory of mans saluation may bee giuen to God From whence it commeth that besides this common fauour of saluation in Christ tendred to all in the Gospell yea besides the common gifts of the Spirit which many receiue who neuer receiued Christ by faith As knowledge both of mans misery the remedy thereof sorrow for the one and desire of the other with such others besides these I say God doth giue his holy Spirit to all that shall be saued who doth inwardly draw and incline their hearts to beleeue Gods free and gracious promises and so thankfully to accept Christ offered vnto them whereby indeed they bee truely made partakers of Christ and all his benefites and thereby bee iustified and sanctified and shall be fully and euerlastingly glorified And thus is a poore sinner by Faith made the childe of God and heire of glorie Now before we proceed to our principall intention to shew how this Iustified man may liue by his faith It shall not be lost labour to shew how this may be knowne of any How it is knowne a man hath this faith that he hath this true faith and how euery true beleeuer may be able to proue that hee doth so this certaine and infallible knowledge in any man that hee hath true faith Riseth ioyntly from the causes effects therof not from either apart as shall bee shewed Vnder the causes I comprehend all that worke of God Causes of faith wherby he worketh faith in any which standeth especially in these three things 1.
part wherein I haue as plainly as I can set out first what true faith is how it is gotten how any may know that they haue true Faith And secondly what it is to liue by Faith how this is attained by a wise application of Gods promises and herewith the manifold and singular benefites arising from hence I doe in the Lord with all instance beseech all such who hauing any true faith in Christ and desire to adorne it with an holy life and yet vpon beter examination of their waies doe finde their profession to haue beene of little good vse to others and of as small comfort to themselues to speake nothing of their offensiue life before mentioned I intreat all such I say but to make triall of this aduice I giue to learne to liue by Faith to this end to follow this direction here set downe till they shall bee able better to guide themselues And so my hope and prayer shall be that God will let them see such fruit of their labour as shall bring them more true comfort daily then in many daies and to some more then in any daie of their life past which I humbly beseech the Lord to grant both to my selfe and them euen for his Christs sake THE SECOND part of this Treatise containing A direction how to apply Gods promises to our particular occasions FOr the better vnderstanding and practise of this dutie of particular application of Gods promises to our seuerall necessities that so we may thereby liue by faith which is the chiefe thing by me intended in this Treatise we are aduisedly to consider the nature and kindes of these promises which be the foundation of our faith that so wee may more soundly applie them to our seuerall occasions and vses â—y Gods promises I vnderstand generally all those declarations of Gods will wherin he offers to vs in his word any good thing to enioy Gods promises what As on the other side by threats are meant those declarations of his will wherein he denounceth any euill against vs for sin Both which be plentifully set downe in the holy Scriptures to these ends that by his promises hee might allure and draw vs to beleeue and obey his will and by his threatnings hee might feare vs from sinne Gods will reuealed two waies first absolutely In all which God doth declare his will after a double manner either absolutely or conditionally Absosolutely what hee will most certainely doe any thing to the contrary notwithstanding As for example That there shall be no more waters of a â—â—ood to destroy all flesh And in this same time I wil come Gen. 9. 15. Sarah shalâ— haue a son Rom. 9. 9. which the Apostle saith is a word of promise of this sort be aâ—â— Gods promises concerning saluation made vnto the elect which cannot be made voide by any means whatsoeuer The other manner wherby God doth reueale his will is not absolute but as it is comonly said to be conditionall Conditionally which is when God declareth his will what hee wil doe if we do our part els not this conditional promise wel vnderstood may be borne otherwise misunderstood it destroies the nature of the free and gracious promise of the Gospell in this respect confounds the Law and the Gospell taking away a chiefe difference betweene the Couenant of workes wherein God promised life vpon condition of doing all that was written in the law without which condition performed on our parts God did not couenant to giue life and the couenant of grace wherein God freely promised not only life but to giue grace to receiue this life as Jer. 31. from vers 31. to 35. reade the place The like Ezek. 36. 24 c. A new heart also will I giue you c. In which and the like many is no condition required on our parts but God himselfe makes capable of this grace whom he pleaseth How these are by vs to bee applied afterwards I will shew But now seeing very many yea the most of the free gracious promises of the Gospell be propounded with some condition either expressed or necessarily vnderstod 〈…〉 wisely to consider of them as first in this and the like many the condition or dutie required is expressed Iohn 3. 15. Whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Secondly in others the dutie required for the attaining the thing promised is necessarily vnderstood Mat. 18. 11. The Sonne of Man is come to saue that which is lost Iohn 1. 29. Behold the Lâ—â—be of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world And the like many In all which Faith is necessarily vnderstood for the obtaining of the benefite promised But yet in all these Faith is no condition properly so called mouing God to promise life although in some sort it may bee called a condition because the promise of life is made to persons qualified with Faith for first faith it selfe is part of the thing promised and no man can beleeue except it bee giuen him and therefore an impossible condition to bee performed of our selues And to say as it is Faith doâ—h apply the fruite and benefite of the promise to the beleeuer who alone shall enioy the thing promised and doth not restraine the offer of grace which is generall to all to whom the Gospell comes who as they haue no faith before they heare the promise made to them so after hearing this promise made to them if they beleeue not they shall bee condemned for not beleeuing as John 3. 1â— Thus then I conceiue all conditionall promises of the Gospell are to bee taken that God doth freely offer mercie in what kinde soeuer and for the enioying thereof requires some dutie of obedience at our hands Now we must first beleeue and so obey and then enioy the thing promised so that there 〈…〉 beleeuing but all 〈…〉 promise and our obedience only is an effect of our faith and so a proofe of Faith no cause to moue vs to beleeue As for example If you forgiue you shall be forgiuen Mat. 6. 14. God freely offers pardon to vs and requires that wee beleeuing shew mercy to others As we reade in the parable Math 18. 32. I forgaue thee all the debt because thou desiredst me shouldest not thou also haue compassion on thy fellow seruant euen as I had pittie on thee So then he that beleeues to finde mercy is thereby moued to shew mercy and certainely hee that shewes no mercie in deed receiued none Besides this An other consideration there is an other consideration of Gods promises which standes in the diuers qualitie of the things promised whereof some be wholly necessarie for our saluation and offered without any restraint Simply necessarie and are so to be beleeued as Faith and Repentance Other things though good in themselues yet are not alwaies good for vs but we may be saued without them and in some case
free and vndeserued so on the other side there is no sinne which ought to hinder any one from receiuing pardon so freely offered vnto him but rather as the greatnesse of the disease should more hasten the sick to seek to such a physitioÌ„ as can cure al diseases not keep backe such as be called to bee cured 〈◊〉 so no heinousnesse of sinne should driue any from comming to Christ which is able and willing to cure all that come vnto him but rather hasten the poore sinner more speedily to come to Christ and so much the more for that Christ shall haue greater glory in pardoning great offenders and more loue from them beeing pardoned As a Physition shall haue more credit in curing great then small diseases So then the maine thing that must mooue and draw a poore sinner to come to Christ to be eased is the free mercy of God offering Christ without exception to all that beeing laden would bee eased which euery one must apply to himselfe that seeing it hath so pleased God to send these glad tydings to him to call him command and beseech him to receiue this grace offered therefore hee neede not feare but may boldly beleeue and receiue Christ offred to him as wee shall further heare by and by For our further helpe Who promiseth wherein in the third place it shall bee highly needfull well to weigh who it is that maketh this great offer vnto vs miserable sinners euen God himselfe who is both 1. able and 2. willing and 3. as faithfull to performe what hee promiseth all which are so manifest that they need no proofe for the truth of them But wee haue neede oft to set them before vs for our vse to strengthen our faith in making vs more boldly to relye on Christ To this end are specially these testimonies of Gods power mercy and truth so often repeated in 1. Gods power the scriptures that wee might haue them euer before vs to vpholde vs against our doubtings and feares whereof our nature is full for though in generall none will deny but God is Almighty yet it may appeare in al ages not onely the wicked but euen Gods children haue doubted of Gods power as though hee were not able to helpe them as it is euident in Gods people in the wildernesse in their often murmurings through their distrust of Gods power Psal 78. 19. Can God furnish a table in the wildernesse For this cause was the Lord so often constrained to oppose his Almighty power against their distrust As for Sarahs laughing thinking it impossible she should haue a child the Lord saide to Abraham Is any thing hard or impossible to God Gen. 18. 14 And againe to Moses obiecting Whether al the fish in the sea should bee gathered for foode for Israell in the wildernes Num. 11. 23 The Lord answered Is the Lords hand waxed short thou shalt see whether my words shall come to passe or not The like many whereby it appeares to be a great cause of vnbeliefe that looking too much vpon the impossibilities which are apparent to vs and not opposing to them Gods power wee so despaire of helpe as is most sensible to bee seene in poore afflicted consciences whose chiefest feare and doubts are that their sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen and they thinke it an impossibilitie for such as they are to bee saued Who now knowing by Gods owne word that saluation in Christ is freely offered and proclaimed euen to them though neuer so vilde and vnworthy and that by God himselfe Psal 115. 3. 135. 6. who is of all power in heauen and earth to do whatsoeuer he will and to whom nothing is impossible this may bring the afflicted and despairing ner at least thus farre as to say then it may be God will be mercifull vnto mee wherein I doubt not may be found some true faith in apprehending the mercy offered though so weak as caÌ„not be discerned or felt by the beleeuer himselfe and this I should take to be the lowest degree of faith For the further strengthening whereof it shall be much auaileable for all such as yet feele not not their faith Weakest faith and for euery weake beleeuer Goodnesse and mercy of God to cast their eies vpon the wonderfull mercy and goodnesse of God which alone maketh him so loath to cast away any poore sinner and so willing to saue euen his enemies and ranke traytours against his high Maiestie Here if euer is a fitte place for all such scriptures as set out Gods mercy to poore sinners the more to perswade them to beleeue as that of Ezechiel 33 11. where the Lord sweareth by himselfe saying As I liue saith the Lord I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue turne yee turne yee from your euill wayes for why will yee dye oh house of Israel 2. Pet. 3. 9. And to like effect is that of Saint Peter That God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance which scriptures and many the like are not to bee vnderstood of Gods determining will and decree but of his reuealed and approouing will which hee would haue vs to know and beleeue thar thereby wee might bee drawne to rest our selues vpon him for saluation which whosoeuer though neuer so great sinner shall doe he shall not perish but haue euerlasting life This then is that sure foundation of faith whereon all that truely beleeue doe build namely the rich and free mercy of God reuealed in the Gospell whereby all that shall be saued be drawne thankfully to accept this mercy so freely offered to them beeing yet starke dead in their sinnes and voide of all sauing grace and therefore all they who looking into themselues and finding nothing to draw them but all to driue them from hope of life are often and much to set before them this vnspeakeable and vnualuable mercy of Almighty God as in preparing such a remedy for all our misery so in making so free a grant therof in the Gospell to all sinners excepting none And now more specially in â—endring it to them so that they may boldly accept this mercy in Christ offered to them and shall not sinne but please God therin that thereby they may be drawn on in a further degree to beleeue to finde mercy at Gods hands wherunto if one thing be added I see not what can be wanting to make the sinner bold to lay hold vpon Christ with all his merits so freely offred to him by God who is so able and willing to bestow Christ euen vpon his enemies This one thing I meane Gods truth is Gods truth and faithfulnesse in performing with his hand whatsoeuer commeth out of his mouth as Dauid and Solomon oft professed which howsoeuer as before I spake of Gods power it is confessed of all that God is both faithfull and iust
sinners Mat. 22. 9 10 may be seene in his gracious inuitation of the vnworthiest to come to the wedding of his Son yea more by his beseeching sinners to be reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5. 20 and by the many and weighty arguments he vseth to perswade men to beleeue by the great rewards earthly and spirituall temporall and eternall which all beleeuers shall enioy and by the fearefull woes which shall fall on all vnbeleeuers both in this life and that to come Ioh. 7. 38. 3. 18. as plentifully is to bee seene throughout the Scriptures Out of all this mee thinkes a poore distressed sinner might thus stirre vp himselfe to beleeue If this bee certaine Note that God would not haue me perish but is very willing to saue me and therfore hath not onely prouided all sufficient meanes to bring mee thereto and made such a generall pardon as may assure mee I am contained vnder it yea seeing I now know that I am inuited and called to come to Christ and intreated to bee friends with God then may I be bold to come and assure my self I shal be welcome Yea further if I will not forgoe all these rich rewards tendered vnto me and pull vpon my selfe most iustly all those woes which God hath threatned against all despisers of his mercies then must I gladly accept Gods mercy offered to mee and if I finde my vnbeleeuing heart to draw back then must I ply the Lord with feruent and constant prayers that hee would draw mee by his Spirit to come to Christ and so to rest vpon him for my saluation And thus much for the generall promises both in regard of the matters promised and of the persons to whom they bee proclaimed that euery one who heares them may claime his part in them Speciall benefits Now to come to those speciall benefites which we receiue in Christ which belong to this first point how our faith is to bee strengthened in the assurance of our saluation by Christ I intend to referre all that I haue to say herein to these two 1. our Justification and 2. the fruites immediately growing from thence which I gather out of the Apostle Rom. 5. 1. to bee these three 1. Reconciliation 2. Adoption 3. Hope of Glory Concerning Iustification Iustification it is euident by the Scripture that all our saluation depends vpon it that whosoeuer shall bee saued must be iustified and therefore of necessity he that is not iustified must needs bee condemned it behooueth then euery one who lookes for saluation well to conceiue what it is to be iustified in Gods sight and then to make sure worke that hee may attaine it yea and know it also that hee is iustified without which is no comfort or hope of happinesse To be iustified before God is to be made righteous that is not onely without all sinne but hauing all that righteousnes which God in his holy law requireth as Rom. 2. 13. So was Adam and Eue by creation Eccl. 7. 31. God made man righteous Heb. 7. 26. So was Christ Such an high Priest it became vs to haue who is holy harmelesse vndefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the heauens Besides these not one of the whole stocke of mankinde was thus righteous but euery soule young and old was is and euer shall be in this world voyde of this righteousnesse and full of all vnrighteousnesse As Rom. 3. 20. Therefore by the workes of the law shall no flesh be iustified in his sight It followeth then that all that shall be saued must bee iustified another way and that is this by hauing that perfect righteousnes which was in Christ alone to bee accounted theirs as if it had been in themselues Not intending to enter into any further discours hereof which may bee seene in sundry Treatises written of this argument all our care must bee to get this grace in Christ whereby we shal assuredly be saued The Scripture is cleare that this is obtained by faith and no way else as besides sundry other scriptures the Apostle both soundly and plentifully prooueth Rom. 3. Gal. 3. reade the places in which wee shall see not onely the truth of the doctrine but many motiues to beleeue and imbrace this grace wrought by Christ for vs and by him freely offered vnto vs that we might receaue it to our comfort To this purpose is that which is said Rom. 3. vers 21. 22. But now is the righteousnesse of God made manifest without the Law hauing witnesse of the Law and the Prophets to wit the righteousnesse of God by the faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vpon all that beleeue And so forward to the end of the chapter wherein for our purpose this is chiefly to be considered That as none are partakers of this benefite of Iustification in Christ but beleeuers so seeing none can beleeue to enioy this but such as know that God freely and faithfully offers it to them therefore it is here and elsewhere oft reuealed that as all haue sinned and are depriued of the glory of God so are they iustified feeely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Which as I said cannot bee vnderstood that all doe receiue this mercie of Iustification purchased by Christ but that as Christ hath wrought it so God doth indifferently offer it in the Gospell to all which is more manifested by the words following verse 25. Whom God hath set forth to bee a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse by the forgiuenesse of sinnes that are passed c. The vse to bee made of these Vse and the like for the strengthening of our Faith in the assurance of our saluation by Christ is this that euery one who would beleeue doe set before him on the one side his owne sinfulnesse and cursednesse to be such that he is no way able to make any satisfaction whereby he might be deliuered on the other side that Christ hath made a full satisfaction vnto his Father for him a miserable sinner and freely offers it to him which if hee beleeue it shall be accepted for him and he thereby saued that this may draw him to renounce all hope in himselfe and so to relie vpon Christ for his Iustification and saluation This shall be more manifest in the parts of Iustification Parts of iustification which are forgiuenesse of sinnes Forgiuenes of sinne and imputation of righteousnesse and more especially in the former forgiuenesse of sinne which so vnseparably bringing in the latter imputation of righteousnesse the Scripture doth most labour to assure vs of And for this cause all blessednesse is worthily placed herein both by the Prophet Dauid and the Apostle Paul saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen Psal 32. 1 2. and whose sinnes are couered Rom. 4. 7 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne That it may driue
of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the praise of his glory In which wee see the Lord deales with vs according vnto the manner of men who in their conueyances of land doe not onely giue writings to make known their grants but to make them sure doe set seales to their writings and besides do giue a turfe of the land to assure the possession so the Lord hauing giuen vs his word and writing for saluation in Christ thereby to make vs beleeue doth also giue his Spirit so manifestly to worke in them that they bee thereby more assured that Christ is theirs and that by him they shall inherite eternall glory For which cause it is said they were sealed with the Spirit of promise that is which was promised to all beleeuers And this gift of the Spirit is said to be as an earnest penny to assure vs we shall enioy the full bargaine or rather the whole gift of perfect happines in Gods Kingdome Of this I vnderstand that of the Apostle where hee saith that though some who had made a faire profession were now fallen away from the faith 2 Tim. 2. 19. Neuerthelesse the foundation of God standeth sure hauing this seale the Lord knoweth them that are his and let euery one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Where hee makes the foundation of our saluation to bee Gods election and a seale or stampe whereby we be knowne to be Gods children to bee an holy life a part whereof is departing from iniquity Thus then wee may see in generall that the gift of the sanctifying Spirit which is the first and chiefest fruit of faith and roote of other graces necessary to saluation is a most sure euidence that we bee the children of God and heires of saluation by Christ which might suffise to assure any man of his state to bee very good if he be not deceiued but be sure he hath receiued this sanctifying Spirit for so the Apostle 1. Ioh. 4. 13. reasoneth Hereby we know that wee dwell in him and he in vs because hee hath giuen vs of his spirit as was further spoken in the former part of this Treatise and is now for our better assurance that we bee in Gods fauour more largely to be laid open if not in all yet in the most principall effects of this Spirit dwelling it vs. Among which Assurance of saluation by keeping Gods commandements good order requireth to begin with that which is most generall and containes the rest namely the keeping of Gods commandements which in sundry places is made a sure mark of sauing grace This is manifest in that diuine Epistle of Iohn which was written principally to this end to set downe sundry marks wherby it may be known who be the true children of God and who not Among which this is one the keeping of Gods commandemencs as 1. epist chap. 2. vers 3. And hereby we know that we know him if wee keepe his commandements the meaning whereof is that the conscionable endeauour to frame our liues according to Gods will reuealed in his word is a most certen mark that we be true beleeuers and so the true children of God heires of glory To this end is that ch 3. 22. where he makes this keeping of Gods commaundements an euident note that wee are in Gods fauour so that Whatsoeuer wee aske we receiue of him And again vers 24 He that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him and he in him It would be too long and I thinke needelesse to heape vp more of this argument for the Scriptures are full of these promises made to the righteous to obedience to such as walke in Gods way hearken to his voyce beare much fruites bee new creatures and many of like sort All meaning the same thing to leade a godly life which whosoeuer doth in truth though with much weakenesse hee may certainely thereby assure himselfe of his saluation Which if many a poore soule who haue a good care to please God and that of very loue vnto him for his mercy would consider it might comfort them against all their feares and doubtings rising from the sense of their infirmities which for iust causes God doth leaue in his deare children And therefore these being the persons for whose sake specially I write these I earnestly beseech them to deale righteously with God and their owne soules and not to robbe God of his honour and themselues of their comfort in doubting of his fauour but rather acknowledge the gracious worke of God in so renewing them by his Spirit that whereas by nature they had no care to please God nor conscience of obedience Now God and their owne consciences doe witnesse and Gods people doe see it is their chiefest endeauour to please God in all things and their greatest griefe to offend him whereupon they may certainely conclude That they are in the state of grace notwithstanding the burthen of their infirmities vnder which they grone and oft desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ Me thinkes this might abundantly suffise to confirme anie truely conuerted soules that their case is good and their end shall be safe notwithstanding the many sore battailes and blowes they meete with all by their corruptions yet dwelling nor reigning in them But seeing the Lord who of old saw how hard it would bee for vs Particular duties to hold fast this assurance of our safety especially when our enemies seeme to haue the vpper hand hath made so many promises of saluation not onely to generall obedience but almost to all particulars that though we many times cānot fetch comfort from some duties fruits of our faith yet we may from others neuer want some true euidences of our faith and happines It shall be expedient to set downe some chiefe referring the diligent reader of the Scriptures to take a patterne by these to obserue and make vse of the rest as he can Among all 1. Loue a marke of happinesse the first and chiefe fruite of Faith is loue to God and all them which belong to him to Christ and to all his members all which be vnseparably ioyned and doe all proceed from the loue of God to vs as 1 Ioh. 4. 19. Wee loue him because he loued vs first From whence we may soundly gather that as Gods loue is the cause of our loue of him so our loue of God is a certaine proofe that wee are loued of God and shall be euerlastingly blessed and saued by him which the Apostle Iames expresseth Iam. 1. 12. 25. That God hath promised the crowne of Life and in another place The kingdome to them that loue him The same also is intended in that heauenly saying of the Apostle Rom. 8. 28. And wee know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God to them that are the called according to his purpose And the same may be gathered out
and experience prooue then no meruaile that so few attaine to this excellent grace of reioycing when faith it selfe is so weake if not wanting I do wish therefore all such to thinke with themselues what the Lord should intend in making so many promises of this one thing but to make vs see these two things first that there can be no holding out in a Christian course without this ioy secondly that by reason of the many euills that befall vs in this life it is very hard and so very rare to get much more to keepe this ioy that by both these they may be stirred vp to labour to enioy this ioy of the Holy Ghost wherby they may finde what is the excellencie of this estate aboue all the estates in the whole world besides and be so far from enuying the wicked in their greatest prosperity as rather to pitty them for that like fooles and children they forgoe such treasure for very toyes and bables Now the way to attaine this ioye is besides earnest praier vnto God for it to bee much in meditation as vpon the manie and most iust causes God hath giuen to all beleeuers to reioice so also vpon these excellent promises wherein God hath bound himselfe to worke this grace in them by his holie Spirit for if we well weigh them all we shall see that the Lords meaning is not onelie to giue them matter of reioicing but whereas it too oft falles out that they who should reioice and haue good good cause so to doe bee so held downe with the burthen of corruption or affliction that they cannot lift vp their hands with ioy but waste their daies in sorrow This is also Gods worke to open their eies to see and to mooue their hearts and drawe them by his Spirit to be affected with his fauours that they with the Prophet Dauid may finde more ioy in the light of Gods countenance then the wicked haue in all their prosperity And thus much for this point how a true beleeuer may attaine this blessed estate of liuing ioyfullie what euer doth befall him which how much it is to be desired all may see though they bee fewe who take the right way to get it The next grace of the heart which God requireth of all those Of the loue of God whom he hath adopted in Christ to bee his children Deut. 6. 5. is that they should loue him with all their heart with all their soule with all their might which that wee ought to doe is not denyed of any except Atheists people without God but of those that yeeld it ought to be there bee in generall two sorts one that deceiue themselues in thinking they doe well loue God when as indeede they doe not truely and heartily loue him but onely say they loue him or if they doe it is but very slightlie and carnallie because all goes well with them Some say they loue God and doe not who are to bee conuinced by their loose liues and little conscience to keepe Gods commaundements that they doe not as they say truely loue God And these especiallie are to bee vrged by the many commandements of God to loue him sincerely and feruently and to bee mooued hereto by these weighty arguments which are so plentifully vsed in the holy scripture to perswade vs vnfeinedlie to loue God There is another sort who looking into their liues and there finding so many infirmities and failings in all duties to God and man Others feare they doe not loue yet doe doe thence conclude they haue not the loue of God in them and thereby be much kept downe both from that comfort and confidence they might haue in their holy profession These be the persons with whom I chieflie deale who haue neede to be hartened first by this that the sight of their want of loue to God Comforts to such as grieue for want of loue breeding in them heartie griefe for the same is an euident token there is some true loue in them else would they not be so disquieted for want of this loue of God And secondly this must comfort them that hee who hath giuen them to will and desire this grace Phil. 2. 13. 1. 6. will also giue them ability to doe and hee that hath begun the good worke will also perfect it for so is his promise yea he hath said at least to all and euery such And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart Deut. 306. and the heart of thy seed to loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule that thou maiest liue which one promise if there be no more is al-sufficient to perswade those that will beleeue God on his word that God who knowes how polluted our hearts be and vnable to loue him so throughly as we ought will cleanse our hearts and so sanctifie them that wee shall bee able by his grace so to loue him as hee will approoue It is onely vnbeliefe which keepes from that holy boldnesse which made Paul to say I can doe al things through Christ who strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. Although I doe not reade any other so expresse promise that God will make vs to loue him yet seeing the manifestation of Gods loue to vs doth as certainlie breed loue in vs to him again as the kindling of a fire wil bring foorth heate therefore all the many testimonies which God giues of his loue to vs must be so many perswasions that wee shall loue him Therefore it is said We loue him Vse because he first loued vs. Let vs therefore get as many arguments of Gods loue to vs and doubt we not but it will kindle in vs some like loue to him againe Likewise all the rich rewards which throughout the Scripture bee promised to those that loue God are so manie incouragements to this duty and so much for this The next is the feare of God God promiseth to make vs feare him whereby speciallie I vnderstand that holy affection whereby wee bee made so to stand in awe of God as to bee very vnwilling to displease him and on the other side to be as ready to please him both in eschewing euill and doing good How excellent a grace this is of what singular vse in our whole life how oft and earnestly it is commanded how practised by Gods worthy seruants and how wanting in many professours and weake in others it is all these though worthy good consideration yet seeing they would carry me too farre from my purpose I passe them by and will bend my speech to such as knowing all these â—eele and complaine of the want of this grace and desire it and labour for it by often prayer and other holy meanes yet through weaknesse of faith cannot attaine to such a measure of this feare as might keepe them in such awe that they durst not either doe that which God forbids or leaue vndone that which he commands
as certainly bee partaker of Christ and all his benefites which are the things sealed as he is partaker of the outward seals the certainty whereof depends on Gods truth and faithfulnesse as in his word so in the seales thereof who doth as truely giue that which he promiseth and sealeth as hee doth freely giue any promise or seale We doe iustly account him no honest man who will not bee as good as his word much more him who will seale a couenant and yet not performe it Be it farre off then from any Christian to impute this to God that hee giues vaine words and seales and doth not as truely giue that which hee promiseth and sealeth But the sole cause why many who come to the word and Sacraments Why many profite not by the word sacraments are not partakers in them of Christ who is truely on Gods part offered in them is this That they doe not inwardly by faith receiue that which is promised and sealed as they do outwardly receiue the word and seale It shall be our wisedome then whensoeuer we goe to the word and Sacraments specially to labour for faith that thereby we may as truely receiue Christ in them offered as wee doe receiue outwardly the word and seales thereof For the receiuing of the word we haue said enough Now for our Sacraments Few profite by Sacraments I cannot sufficiently bewaile the vniuersall abuse of them which is so grieuous that they being by God in loue left to his Church as a speciall meanes to further their saluation so many are by their vnworthy receiuing of them made more guilty of condemnation which comes to passe not onely by that grosse prophanenesse which is in all carnall Protestants who onely for custome Law or credit come to the Sacraments without any knowledge or conscience 2. But in many of some better sort who haue some care for their soules there is either such ignorance or negligence that they neuer did worthily receiue the holy seales and therefore neuer found the sweete fruites of them 3. Yea that which is more to bee lamented this may bee found in not a few of those who haue receiued true grace and bee indeed Gods children to whom onely these seales of right do belong yet these seldome or neuer attaine that comfort by the holy Sacraments which indeede they ought and might were not the fault in themselues For proofe hereof I require euery one who would see the truth of this complaint to examine himselfe in this question what sensible good hee hath receiued by his Baptisme For my part I haue demanded this question of many who were of good esteeme in the Church who had litle to say in this point and I make no doubt but the like may bee found in many others who are to seeke in this matter so farre off bee they from enioying that great gaine which is to be got hereby which in speciall consists in these two first that by our baptisme we be more assured of our saluation by Christ and secondly that thereby we be more 〈…〉 leade a godly conuersation both which be euidently the fruites of true baptisme The same may be saide of the Lords suppoâ— which in a further do 〈◊〉 to assure vs of our growth in grace and small perseuerance 〈…〉 how few come from the communion so sure of Christ and all his benefits to bee theirs as the woman marryed at the Church doth come home assured of the man whom she hath marryed and all his to bee hers for her vse and comfort Yet I 〈…〉 thus and it cannot 〈◊〉 but our 〈◊〉 when it is 〈◊〉 so If I were demanded what I conceiue to bee the chiefe cause why it is not thus Want of farth I would say want of Faith which ariseth in many froÌ„ want of cleere light to see Gods minde in ordaining these Sacraments In some 〈…〉 slight account they make of these And in the best sort of these from the sight of their vnworthinesse which makes them feare that they cannot be made partakers of so great a benefit For whose sake I specially write these to helpe their weake faith that thereby they may find this benefite To which purpose I would haue well considered that which before was touched concerning Gods intention in ordaining these holy signes seales Right end of seales which we call Sacraments which was to helpe our weake â—aith that whereas the Lord hauing in his word made vnto vs sinners many promises of algâ—ace in Christ which if the fault were not in our selues might be sufficient to vphold our faith in the assurance thereof yet he seeing how slowe of heart wee are to beleeue his word did for the confirmation of our faith giue vs these outward and visible pledges of his loue that wee knowing him to bee faithfull may bee more assured yea put out of doubt that wee shall as certainly be made partakers of Christ himselfe and all his merits as wee are of the outward signes of his couenant as Gen. 17. 10. This is my couenant which yee shall keepe betweene mee and you and thy seed after thee Euery 〈…〉 child among you shall bee circumcised And very oft that which properly belongs to the things sealed is giuen to the outward seale to shew that on Gods part they be neuer parted For this cause were the Lords people commanded to circumcise the foreskinne of their 〈◊〉 Deut. 10. 16 and the Lord promised that He would circumcâ—se them hearts Ier. 4. 4. and the heart of their seede Deut. 30. 6. The like is saide of Baptisme Rom. 6. 3. That wee are buried with Christ by Baptisme Col. 2. 1. and for this cause it is called Baptisme of 〈◊〉 for remission of sinnes Mar. 1. 4. And our sinnes are said to be washed away Act. 22. 16 and that Baptisme saueth Heb. 10. 22 All which belongeth to the blood of Christ 1 Pet. 3. 21. as 1. Ioh. 1. 7. that is All his sufferings which doth wash and 〈◊〉 us from all our sinnes Reu. 1. 5. And in this sense our Sauiour Christ saith We must bee 〈◊〉 of water Ioh. 3. 5. that is bee made Gods children by receiuing Christ as Ioh. 1. 12. The like is saide of the Lords Supper when our Lord Iesus did ordaine it hee speaking of the bread Mat. 26. 26 28. said This is my body and of the wine This is my blood of the new Testament meaning that these outward signes and seales were most sure certain pledges of his body and blood which hee did as truely giue to be spirituall food as he gaue the bread and wine to be bodily food to euery beleeuer And for the same cause the Apostle saith The cup of blessing which we blesse 1 Cor. 10. 16. is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the Communion of the body of Christ for that we
example to others and our own good 4. The last is that hee will both helpe vs in them and giue vs a good end of them For the first that all our afflictions come from God as the supreme judge and disposer of them needs not so much proofe of the truth of it as due consideration to make the right vse of it It is said by the Prophet Amos 3. 6. Shall there be euill in a City the Lord hath not done it meaning of the euill of affliction not of sinne further then it is a punishment of sinne So likewise the Prophet Hosea 6. 1. Come let vs returne vnto the Lord for he hath torne and he will heale vs he hath smitten and he will binde vs vp And this is manifest in that common speech The chastening of the Lord so often vsed especially Heb. 12. 5. c In which one Scripture be contained many speciall consolations against all manner of afflictions as we shall see euery one in his place heere onely I would joyne this with the former that as all the afflictions which Gods children doe suffer come from the hand of God Afflictions bee common to all Gods children so hee spareth none of them but as it is said verse 6. He scourgeth euery sonne whom he receiueth and verse 7. What sonne is he whom the father correcteth not and more to like effect both there and else-where Application Both which that all our afflictions come from God and that hee dealeth so with all his children may minister much comfort vnto vs in all our afflictions first seeing what God doth must needs be good how euill and bitter soeuer it seemes to vs Yea Psal 39. 9. wee must hold our peace because he hath done it Although we cannot see any reason thereof yet we may be sure the Lord doth neuer correct his children but he seeth iust cause so to doe As the Prophet Dauid plainly professeth Psal 119. 75. I know oh Lord that thy iudgements are right and that thou in faithfulnesse hast afflicted mee But more seeing God who correcteth vs is our Father we may much more comfort our hearts in all that hee sends that he will neuer send any crosse but such as shall bee for our good as we shall more see And seeing this is no other then such as befals the rest of Gods children As the Apostle Peter affirmeth saying 1. Pet 5. 9. Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world Yea more seeing God did not spare his owne Sonne but he was a man of sorrowes and acquainted with griefe Yea smitten of God and afflicted as Esa 53. 3 4. These should much more make vs willing to beare the crosse yea and much the rather seeing it is the way to glory as more heereafter But this will yet be more effectuall for our consolation in all troubles In what manner God correcteth his in Wisedome Loue. if we shall aduisedly waigh in what manner God dealeth with his children when he corrects them which as it is euery way and in all repects very well so this may epecially be seene in these two In wisedome and loue both which well regarded will make vs much more willing to beare any thing at Gods hand and to looke for some good issue out of all the afflictions which hee shall lay vpon vs. Although those two diuine properties in God be vnseparably ioyned together in all his dealings with his owne children Both ioyned Yet it shall much more increase our comfort in any affliction which befalles vs to consider them apart and first that wee may behold how wisely God ordereth the matter in all his chasti sements vpon his owne children Most wisely This may sufficiently be seene in these two With meet corrections in iust measure First that God doth chastise his with most meete corrections and secondly in iust measure The fitnesse of Gods correction stands in this that God knoweth all circumstances both when and how to chastise his children and so accordingly dispenseth this spirituall Physicke as he seeth most fit for the good of the patient and qualitie of the disease This me thinkes may be well gathered out of that comparison which the holy Ghost makes betweene our naturall parents and our spirituall Father in correcting their children saying Furthermore Heb. 12. 9 10. we haue had the fathers of our flesh which corrected vs and we gaue them reuerence shall we not much rather be in subiection to the Father of our spirits and liue For they verily for a few dayes chastised vs after their owne pleasure but hee for our profit that we might be partakers of his holinesse Wherein besides other differences this is manifest that earthly parents oft correct their children after their owne pleasure to satisfie their will not so respecting wisely what might be euery way best for them but God our heauenly Father in great wisdome considereth with what correction and when to chastise his so as may be most for their profite yea the best profite to repaire his Image of holinesse in them which is a chiefe end and vse of all afflictions as wee shall hereafter see This wisedome of God in chastising his children may cleerely be seene in the histories of all ages of the Church Memorable is that of the children of Iacob Gen 37. 28. who mooued with enuy sold Ioseph their brother into Egypt and deceiued their old father verse 33. 42 who thought that an euill beast had deuoured him Wherat the Lord holding his peace for many yeares they were quiet all was well But afterward the Lord tooke a fit season and meanes to make them see their sinne namely by their brother Ioseph who though they knew him not roughly handled them accused them for spies cast them into prison and many other waies sorely grieued thē then their guiltie consciences could make them confesse their sinne and say We are verily guiltie concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soule when he besought vs and we would not heare therefore is this distresse come vpon vs. And another time Iudah confessed to Ioseph what shall we say vnto my Lord what shall we speake God hath found out the iniquitie of thy seruants The like course did the Lord take with Dauid 2. Sam. 12. 15. in correcting his grieuous sinnes in the matter of Vriah both by the death of the childe so borne in adultery and by the fact of Absolon not onely rising vp in rebellion 16. 22. to driue him out of his kingdome but openly before all Israel defiling his wiues concubines as was denounced by Nathan vnto him So likewise the Lord corrected his pride in numbring the people by that fearefull plague whereof dyed threescore and ten thousand 2. Sam. 24. 15. In like manner the Lord denounced his iudgement against his owne people Deut. 2◠47. Because thou
seruedst not the Lord thy God with ioyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the abundance of all things Therefore shalt thou serue thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst c. The Prophets also in their times did oft foreshew like chastisements to the peoples trespasses As Haggai and Malachy Because they were sumptuous in their owne houses and neglected the Lords house therefore the Lord sent a great dearth and scarcitie among them So for the contempt of the word God threatned to send a famine of the word Amos 8. 11. The same might we see in Gods dealings with our selues if we would obserue them When we set our affections on any thing too much whereby our hearts be stolne from God whether they bee persons or things pleasures or profits It is vsuall with the Lord either to take them from vs or to make them bitter vnto vs that wee may lesse esteeme them and haue our hearts free for better things The comfort which we are to take by this wise dealing of God with vs Application is this that as we know all afflictions to Gods children to be Physicke to cure their corruptions so knowing also they all come from so wise skilfull a Physician who cannot erre but alwaies sends such Physicke and in such season as shall surely doe vs good This must make vs not onely quietly to beare them but to be thankfull to God for them and to labour to be the better by them But this will more appeare if we shall well consider Gods wisedome in moderating all his chastisements both for the measure and continuance of them 2. In measure so as may be most fit both for the strength of the patient and qualitie of the disease both which may be shewed in all the afflictions which God layeth vpon all his children though he chastise some much more seuercly and holdeth the rod longer vpon them then vpon others who either haue not so much prouoked the Lord or be not so able to beare the hand of the Lord. This is plainely taught by the Apostle 1. Cor. 13 saying There hath no tentation taken you but such as is common to man But God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able but will with the tentation make way to escape that ye may be able to beare it In which one sentence we haue these speciall incouragements to beare such afflictions as God our heauenly Father shall lay vpon vs first that God deales no otherwise with vs then with others euen of his owne children whereof before secondly that God neuer ouer-loadeth his but wisely moderateth the burthen according to his strength that beares it And this he doth according to promise most faithfully nothing shall mooue him to deale otherwise yea more God will so assist vs by his Spirit to endure and beare that in due season wee shall haue a good end and deliuerance out of all which if there were no more might be sufficient to vphold vs from sinking in any triall though neuer so great But because the Lord well saw how hardly we be perswaded heereof and be euer thinking our burthen too heauy for vs to beare therefore the Lord is faine oft to beate this into our mindes and memories as Elâ—hu told Iob Iob 34. 23. That God will not lay more on man then is meete that he should enter into iudgement with God and so much the Apostle Peter intendeth when he saith that the faithfull did greatly reioyce in their saluation purchased by Christ Though for a season they were in heauinesse through manifold temptations 1. Pet. 1. 6. yet he addeth if neede be meaning that this is neuer but when God seeth needfull in all respects for this cause also doth the Prophet Esay notably set out this wise dealing of God with his people Esa 27. and with the wicked comparing these to thornes and bryers but his people to a vineyard which the Lord did keepe and water euery moment least any hurt it Verse 3. As for the bryers and thornes he would burne them together And thereupon saith Verse 7. Hath he smitten him as hee smote those that smote him or is he slaine according to the slaughter of them that are slaine by him Verse 8. In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it c. Which I vnderstand that wheras God will stub vp as thornes by the rootes and cast into the fire the wicked aduersaries of his Church hee will but shred and prune as a vine his Church that they may bring more fruit as our Sauiour plainly speaketh Iohn 15. 2. And more plainly doth Ieremie 46. 28. and 30. 11. say Feare thou not O Iacob my seruant saith the Lord for I am with thee for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I haue driuen thee But I will not make a full end of thee but correct thee in measure yet I will not leaue thee wholy vnpunished Wherein we see great oddes betwixt Gods dealing with his children and with the wicked whom he vtterly consumeth when he most wisely moderateth the corrections of his children that they may better beare and profite by them which must needes allay the sharpnesse of them if well considered And this no doubt was that which the Prophet Dauid and Ieremie so earnestly begged of God Psal 6. 1 that he would not correct them in his anger Iere. 10. 24 neither chasten them in his hot displeasure But with iudgement that is most wisely considering what they were able to beare least otherwise they should bee consumed and brought to nothing This wisedome of God in chastening his children as it manifesteth it selfe in the measure of the burthen laid vpon them Gods wisedome in moderating the continuance so also in moderating the time of the continuance of it least it should be ouer tedious and make them faint and giue ouer Heereof the Prophet Dauid had great experience as hee oftentimes professeth Psal 30. 5. For his anger indureth but a moment in his fauour is life weeping may endure for a night but ïoy commeth in the morning Psal 103. 9. He will not alwaies chide neither will he keepe his anger for euer Psal 129. 3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest vpon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquitie The Prophet Esay in the name of the Lord professeth the like Esay 10. 25 For yet a very little while and the indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction and Chap. 26. 20. Come my people enter into thy chambers and shut the doores about thee hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation be ouer-past and 54. 7 8. For a small moment haue I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for
a moment but with euerlasting kindnesse will I haue mercie on thee saith the Lord thy redeeâ—â—er and 57. 16. For I will not contend for euer neither will I be alwaies wroth for the spirit should faile before mee and the soules which I haue made Likewise the Prophet Ieremie in his time witnesseth the same in the name of the Lord Iere. 3. 12. saying For I am mercifull saith the Lord and I will not keepe anger for euer and to the same effect Ezek. 16. 42. So will I make my fury towards thee to rest and my iealousie shall depart from thee and I will be quiet and will be no more angry Notable to this purpose is that of the Prophet Micah 7. 18. Who is a God like vnto thee that pardoneth iniquitie and passeth by the transgressien of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for euer because he delighteth in mercie and to conclude with that of the Apostle 2. Cor. 4. 17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for vs a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory Thus may we behold Gods wise dealing with his children in all his chastisements Application obseruing the fittest seasons and iust measure both for the quantitie of the correction and for the continuance thereof all as is most agreeable to the strength of the patient qualitie of the disease which if it be beleeued must needs in further degree make vs contented to beare the hand of the Lord and neither to fret at nor faint vnder any affliction which the Lord so wisely doth order for our good euery way And therefore so oft as we shall finde any affliction to lye heauy vpon vs either for the greatnesse of it or long continuance in our feeling so oft let vs runne to some of these promises wherein the Lord assureth vs that he will lay no more vpon vs then wee shall bee able to beare and will suffer no affliction to lye longer vpon vs then shall be needfull and for our good that thus resting vpon Gods word wee may waight Gods leasure for our ease and full deliuerance For our better furtherance herein Gods loving dealing with his in affliction we are to consider Gods louing and tender dealing with his children in all their afflictions which is plentifully set set forth vnto vs in the holy Scriptures both by many comparisons expresse testimonies and examples all little enough to hold vs vp from sinking if the affliction seeme great or long in which we are ready to feare God forgetteth vs or at least doth not pitty vs. For this cause the Lord is said to be a Father of the fatherlesse Psal 68. 5. and a Iudgâ— of the widdowes And Psal 103. 13. Like as a father pittieth his children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him For hee knoweth our 〈◊〉 he remembreth that we but dust Yea more The Prophet Esay 49. 13. c. notably sets out this comparison in God towards his afflicted people saying Sing O heauen and be ioyfull O earth and breakâ— foorth into singing O mountaines for God hath comforted his people and will haue mercie on his afflicted But Zion said the Lord had forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten mee Can a woman forsake her sucking childe that she should not haue compassion on the some of her wombe Yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee So Dauid Psal 9. 18. For the needy shall not alwaies be forgotten the expectation of the poore shall not perish for euer To the same purpose he said to God Psal 31. 7. I will be glad and reiâ—yce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble thou hast knowne my soule in aduersitie And Psal 38. 9. Lord my desire is before thee and my grâ—â—â—ing is not hid from thee And to the same end it is said Ps 56. 8. Thou tellest my wandrings put thou my teares into thy bottle are they not in thy booke which shewes such tender compassion that he was so affected with the calamities of his seruant that he most narrowly obserued euery one yea he made so pretious a reckoning of their griefes and sorrowes that not a teare fell to the ground but he kept them in memory as men preserue pretious liccours in bottles that in due time he might comfort and succour them For which cause it is said Psal 116. 15. Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints And to like effect Esa 63. 9. In all their affliction hee was afflicted and the Angell of his presence saued them in his loue and in his pitie hee redeemed them and hee bare them and carryed them all the dayes of old Wherein as in many other places of Scripture for it would be to long to recite all wee may see most admirable ApplicatioÌ„ compassion in Almightie God towards vs in all our afflictions that euen as the bowels of a tender hearted mother are mooued within her when shee seeth her childe in any perill so is the Lord troubled to see his children in any extreamitie that he doth as much pitie them and is as ready to succour them as if his bowels were mooued within him Mat. 14. 14 which was in very deed so in our Sauiour Christ in his humanity Marke 1 41 and 6. 34. as is * often testified of him in the holy story This should yet more comfort vs in all our afflictions that he who is God ouer all of such infinite power to helpe both whom he will and how and when it pleaseth him is so tenderly affected towards vs that he doth not onely take speciall notice of all our grieuances but doth after a sort euen as a tender mother suffer with vs and by his Spirit doth beare the burthen of our infirmities with vs as it is said Rom. 8. 20. This compassion of the Lord if well waighed must needes allay the heate of such fiery tryals as Gods children doe oft fall into and make vs more patiently indure whatsoeuer so tender hearted a Father shall lay vpon vs. And therfore these promises in which Gods louing and compassionate dealing with his is set forth vnto vs must be oft in our minde and thoroughly thought on that in time of neede wee may rest vpon them to finde like fauour at the hands of our most louing Father And thâ—s shall suffice for this second ground of comfort in all afflictions taken from the manner of Gods dealing with his as in great wisedome so in like loue 3. Ground of comfort in afflictions from the ends of them Wee are now in the third place to consider what be the worthy ends why God so exerciseth his children to beare the crosse euen from their youth to their old age these we heard be generally three First glory to God secondly example to others third profit to our selues all which should strongly mooue vs to be so farre from repining to suffer them
that we should rather reioyce and be glad as our Sauiour exhorts his Disciples Math 5. â—1 â—2 and the Apostle Iames 1. 2. which was often practised by the holy seruants of God Acts 5. 41. And Paul and Silas in the prison Sang praises vnto God Act. 16. 25. Wee reade also of Paul how he tooke pleasure in infirmities that is bodily not spirituall as himselfe expresseth in reproches in necessities in persecutions 2. Cor. 12. in distresses for Christs sake In all which it cannot be doubted but that the chiefe cause of this reioycing in afflictions was this that their sufferings made so much for Gods glory and the good of Gods Church who were greatly confirmed in the truth Phil. 1. 14 made bold to professe it and ready to suffer for it besides the manifold benefits themselues did reape thereby Heere I might take iust occasion more largely to shew how God is glorified by the afflictions of his children whether they bee sent for correction or for triall And likewise how these afflictions serue many waies for the good of others both which should and oft doe make Gods children more contentedly to beare them But seeing nothing can more preuaile with our fraile nature to make vs take such an vnpleasing potion or byting corasiue then the certaintie of the good it will doe vs therefore we will now consider what bee the chiefe benefits which God promiseth Chiefe Benefits by afflictions and his spirit worketh in the hearts of his children by afflictions Among all which this is most generall Blessed that they be blessed whom the Lord correcteth as Iob 5. 17. Behold happie is the man whom God correcteth therefore despise not the chastening of the Almightie The like Iam. 1. 12. 5. 11. Psal 94. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law that thou mayest giue him rest from the dayes of aduersitie vntill the pit be digged for the wicked In the same sense it is so oft said Pro. 3. 12 whom the Lord loueth he correcteth euen as father the sonne 11. in whom he delighteth Where this vse is made of it not to despise the chastening of the Lord neither to bee wearie of his correction Which is to like purpose repeated Reve. 3. 19 Heb. 12. 5 6. c. Dauid also professeth the like It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted Psal 119. 71. that I might learne thy statutes In all which and the like is Vse plainly declared that how bitter soeuer afflictions be to our feeling yet to Gods children they be very profitable meanes and so markes of happines and speciall tokens of Gods fatherly loue and therefore so to be accounted of and with thankfulnesse to be receiued The same is said of all the sufferings which Gods children endure for righteousnesse sake which though they greatly differ from chastisements for sinne yet seeing they be bitter to our tast and oft sore afflict vs we haue neede to be heartned to beare and directed to make the right vse of them For this cause the Lord doth pronounce them Blessed that thus suffer Mat. 5 10. 11 which in all former ages of the Church Luke 6. 22. hath made the faithfull to suffer patiently and cheerefully for righteousnesse sake 1. Pet. 3. 14 4. 14. and so must it mooue vs that so wee may glorifie God in our generation as they haue done in theirs But for our better incouragement heerein let vs more particularly consider some of those benefits which Gods children doe obtaine by afflictions These are fitly drawne to three heads by the Prophet Daniel Chap. 11. 3. Benefits by affliction Who soreshewing the afflictions which should happen to Gods faithfull people vers 33. That they should fall by the sword and by flame by captiuitie and by spoile many daies vers 35. he addeth And some of them of vnderstanding shall fall to try them and to purge them and to make them white Meaning heereby that these were the three chiefe ends why God sent such afflictions on his owne children First to take triall of them what drosse of corruption and what sound metall of grace was in them Secondly to purge out that corruption which was found yet remaining in them The third to make them more beautifull and shining in grace all which should turne to the glory of God to the good ensample of others and to their owne comfort For the first Afflictions be trials they be trials of our strength and weakenesse what faith and patience we haue in bearing them what loue we beare to God who sends them and what we be the better by them This is oft in Scripture set out by this comparâ—son of gold and siluer tried by the fire So Zach. 13. 9. Speaking of the remnant of Gods people who should be reserued out of that generall destruction saith And I will bring the third part thorow the fire and will refine them as siluer is refined and will trie them as goldis tried the effect whereof followes They shall call vpon my name and I will heare them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God So Ierem. 17. 10. Complaining of the deceitfulnesse and wickednesse of the heart to be exceeding saith I the Lord search the heart I try the reines to giue euery man according to his waies and according to the fruite of his doings heereof Salomon speaking more generally Prou. 17. 3. saâ—th The fining pot is for siluer and the furnace for gold but the Lord trieth the hearts But more specially to the present purpose is that of 1. Pet. 1. 6 7. where he sheweth that the end of those manifold temptations which for a season made sad the hearts of Gods children when neede required was this That the triall of your faith being much more precious then of gold that perisheth though it be tried by fire might be found vnto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ And therefore chap. 4. vers 12. he exhorts them Beloued thinke it not strange concerning the fiery triall which is to try you as though some strange thing happened vnto you But reioyce in as much as yee are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be reuealed yee may be glad also with exceeding ioy To like effect the Apostle Iames 1. 2. exhorts My brethren count it all ioy when yee fall into divers tempâ—tations knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience Many moe Scriptures might to this purpose be alledged In all which may be seene Application that this is one speciall benefit of the afflictions of Gods children that by thâ—se may be made manifest as to others so to themselues what drosse of sinne and pure metall of grace is in them It s not to be doubted but God knows perfectly what is in them yet he is sayd oft to
to al his people in all their necessities bodily or spirituall Because the faiâ—hfull in all ages haue stood in need of this comfort therefore is this so oft repeated that we in our generation may looke for the like helpe in our neede To the same intent be many other like speeches That God will lighten our darkenesse hee will keepe the feete of his Saints he will not forsake them nor forget their complaint That they shall not be confounded In time of trouble he will hide them His Angels shall pitch about them He wil heale them and take all sicknesse from them They shal not feare their enemies but God will make their enemies afraid of them Be avenged of their enemies That God wil repent him of the evill pronounced against them with many other of like sort and oft more specially of removing warre pestilence c. The summe of all which is Application that into whatsoever calamitie or distresse Gods children shall fall though the Lord doe leaue them for a season as though he did not regard it yet hee will be with them by his Spirit to helpe them that they shall not vtterly perish yea rather that they shall be able with patience to hold out till God send them a happy end and issue out of all That this hath beene Gods dealing with his beloved in all ages needs no proofe it is so manifest Ioh David and Paul may be sufficient to witnesse this how wonderfully God was with them in al their tryals The other branch of this last ground of comfort is this God will deliver that the Lord will not onely assist his vnder the burthen of their afflictions with all needefull helpes that they may be able to beare them but will in due season fully deliver them out of them all which being so hardly beleeved especially in great and sore afflictions therefore the Lord hath very often renewed his promise of delivering his out of all their troubles All of which for the most part being the fame both in sense words a few may suffice for many David had great proofe hereof and therefore after a mighty deliverance and that by a hard shiftfull of infirmitie hee composed that excellent Psalme 34 where magnifying Gods mercy for so great deliverance hee riseth higher to set out the like goodnes of God to all the faithfull saying verse 7. The Angell of the Lord 〈◊〉 round about them that feare him and delivereth them and verse 17. speaking of the righteous he sayth they cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles and verse 19. many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of all so Psalme 27. 39. 40. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord is their strength in the time of trouble And the Lord shall helpe them and deliver them he shall deliver them from the wicked and saue them because they trust in him These shall suffice in so cleere a point for there are none that be any whit exercised in the Scriptures but may finde like testimoninies and proofs of the truth though not alwayes in the same words It is fully to the same purpose that the Apostle â— Cor. 10. 13. comforteth them with this amongst other Arguments that God will with the tentation make away to escapeâ—… 〈◊〉 ye may be able to beare it and that of Ieremy 29. 11. For I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace to giue you an expected end By these and very many other the like it is cleere that this is Gods wonted favour towards his Children that though for sundry and those most iust causes he lead them into troubles and oft leaues them a long time vnder them yet he never finally forsakes them but when the time to haue mercy is come Psal 102. theÌ„ the Lord will surely succour all his and deliver them by one meanes or other such as shall make most for his glory and the good of all his All of which being so certaine Application that how many and great soever and of long continuance the afflictions of Gods children shal be yet the Lord will never leaue nor forsake them but will be a present helpe in time of neede ministring all needefull comforts both outward helpes and inward graces to support them and in the end will one way or other fully set them free and quite deliver them out of all their feares and troubles we may see what small cause wee haue to be discouraged by our afflictions or to fret and repine at them yea rather wee haue most iust cause to reioyce in theÌ„ to blesse God for them and to labour both to beare them and to profit by them that God may haue glory thereby our selues may reape the benefit by them and others may profit by our example And thus laying all together which hath beene sayd of afflictions we shall find that they be no lets but special helps as to godlinesse in this life so to happines in the life to come Thus much for this fourth point how to liue by faith in all afflictions of what sort soever THE FIFT GENERALL HEAD OF living by FAITH is for earthly blessings THvs haue we in these foure points handled how wel God hath provided for our spirituall life all needfull blessings that whatsoever our condition shall be yet we may comfort our selues in God who as he hath promised so will he performe that we shall not want any thing that is good And whatsoever doth befall vs though never so hurtfull in it selfe yet it shall turne to our good in the end Now we are come to the fift generall head of this Treatise of living by faith which concernes all earthly blessings how we may be provided of all things needfull for this naturall life which being so necessary as we well know that we cannot be without them we be naturally so addicted to them that nothing doth more take vp our minds and hearts Care for earthly is a hinderance to spirituall then our care labour for these neither doth any thing more hinder our spirituall life All which the Lord our God well considering hath herein most bountifully provided for vs and promised vnto vs all needfull blessings for this life in such sort that were we wise to see and imbrace this bountie of the Lord we should not onely be freed from a world of cares and troubles wherewith most men be vsually so incumbred that they can find or spare no time nor travell to seeke after the things which belong to a better life but we should be so furthered by our contentment in those outward and earthly blessings that with more chearfulnesse we should run our race of Christianitie and be every way more fit to all holy duties Let vs then heare and consider what the Lord saith vnto vs in this behalfe Generall promises for earthly blessings
And first to begin with those earthly blessings which be generall and containe all the particular blessings of this life It may appeare that this is Gods gracious intent to succour our weaknes who although we enjoy many good blessings for this present life as health and wealth food and raiment and the like many yet if we wanted but one it would much molest vs and take away our comfort and chearfulnesse in his service for this cause the Lord as a tender father desiring the welfare of his beloved child bids him be a good and obedient child and so promiseth him he shall not want any thing So I say the Lord our kind and tender father bids vs as good children hearken to his voyce and to be ruled by him and tels vs we shall not want any thing that is good as is expresly sayd Psal 34. where Dauid led by a late experience of Gods mightie delivering him out of a great danger composeth a Psalme of thankesgiuing vnto God for the same wherein he provoketh all other the faithfull servants of God as to praise God with him Psal 34. so to consider this bountie of the Lord Vers 3. saying O â—ast and see that the Lord is good 8. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him 9. And againe O feare the Lord yee his Saints for there is no want to them that feare him Yea more speaking as I vnderstand him of the mightie and cruell oppressours of the world who like devouring beasts doe eat vp as sheepe Gods poore people Vers 10. sayth The Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger but they that seeke the Lord shall not want any good thing and to like effect much more in that Psalme as you may read Psal 84 11. The Lord God is a Sunne and shield c. and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke vprightly Againe beholding how much it vexed Gods children to see the wicked prosper in this world and the godly many wayes distressed â—e of purpose made the 37. Psalme to hearten the godly against this sore tentation which hath in all ages much troubled Gods people as may be seene by the complaints of Iob and Ieremy Iob. 21. and many others Ier. 12. In this Psalme the Prophet doth plentifully handle this point Psal 37. that the state of the godly is farre better even in this life then the wicked besides the infinite oddes in the life to come for proofe whereof as he in many words sets out the short and soone fading prosperitie of the wicked so doth he more largely lay downe the blessed condition of the godly in things belonging to this life As vers 3. Trust in the Lord and doe good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Vers 4. Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he will giue thee the desires of thine heart Vers 5. Commit thy way vnto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe Vers 1â— But the meeke shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselues in the abundance of peace Vers 16. A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked With many other like in the same Psalme as you may see To the same purpose was made the 73. Psalme where he begins Yet God is good to Israel and to such as are of a cleane heart and doubtlesse many other Psalmes were made to comfort the faithfull in this life that God would be their portion and reliefe in all their necessities as Psal 16. 5. 6. Psal 23. is wholly to the same end which he propounds v. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want and so proues it in the verses following I might heape vp many other scriptures to this end for God hath not beene sparing in this kinde as every one who is exercised in the Scriptures can witnesse Mat. 6. 33. But seeke yee first the kiâ—gdome of God and his righteousnesse and all these shall be added vnto you This is that which is so oft repeated Deut. 5. 16. 5 33. 6. 3. 18. 22. 25. 28. That it may goe well with thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee This also must needs be meant in those Scriptures which set out the goodnesse of the Lord as Psal 3â— 19. O how great is thy goodnes which thou hast layd vp for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men And Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good and his tender mercies are over all his workes Its needles to cite more of these which be so common wherein Gods goodnesse louing kindnes and mercy and that specially in things belonging to this naturall life are commended vnto vs For seeing godlines hath the promises of this life aswell as of the life to come It cannot be doubted but in all those generall promises wherein God sayth He will dwell with his and not forsake them That God will loue and blesse his people That he will be their God Will reioyce ouer them to doe them good Will compasse them with favour as with a shield Will keepe his covenant with them That he will see peace in their borders and prosper them in all they goe about In these I say and the like many it cannot be doubted but all needfull blessings of this life be contained And therefore this should be the Vse Vse of all these generall promises we should make of them all that whensoever we feele our selues pinched with any earthly necessitie then to runne to any one of these gracious promises that so well considering what abundant reliefe is contained in them we may quiet and content our minds therewith assuring our selues that seeing he is faithfull who hath promised we shall not want any earthly blessing at what time and in what measure it shall be good for vs. These generall promises of all good things for this life are the more to be observed in reading the Scriptures and at least some of the most principall in our conceit to be kept in memory that they may be ready for our vse in time of need both for that these be many mo and more oft repeated in Scripture then any particular and also for that we cannot alwayes haue ready the particular promises for our speciall necessities when we haue most need of them And this might be sufficient to haue spoken of this point for the strengthning of our faith in the assurance that we shall not want any earthly blessing which shall be needfull for vs. But seeing the Lord hath so far yeelded to our infirmitie Speciall promises as to apply his promises to our speciall necessities it shall be available for our comfort to take knowledge of them that so we may make our vse of them as need shall require Among all earthly blessings Long life life it selfe is the chiefe for vpon it
all other depend And the Devill himselfe who is so well acquainted with our disposition could say All that a man hath will he giue for his life for this cause the Lord the more to hearten vs to all obedience doth make so many promises of long life and many dayes as in the fift Commandement which the Apostle sayth is the first Commandement with promise Exod. 20. 22. Every child is there commanded to honour his father and mother vpon this promise That his daies may be long in the land So Deut. 5. 3. You shall walke in all the wayes which the Lord your God hath commanded you that ye may liue and that it may be well with you and that ye may prolong your dayes in the land which ye shall possesse The like Deut. 25. 15. 30. 20. In the booke of the Proverbs this is very oft repeated chap. 3. 1. 2. Salomon in the name of God as a father exhorting his sonne sayth My sonne forget not my law but let thy heart keepe my commandements addeth this promise vers 2. For length of dayes and long life and peace shall they adde to thee More to like effect in the same Chapter where setting out exceedingly the great gaine of wisedome that is of saving knowledge among the rest he addes this vers 16. Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour And vers 18. Shee is a tree of life to them that lay hold vpon her and happy is every one that retaineth her Chap. 4. from vers 5. to vers 14. you shall read both this promise of life and many other blessings belonging to this life repeated which I will spare to set downe finding writing to me now more tedious then formerly read the place with these following 8. 35. 9. 11. 10. 25. 27. 11. 19. 30. 11. 14. 30. 21. 21. 22. 24. This God promised to Salomon 1 Kings 3. 14. and the like is spoken more generally that the Prince that hateth covetousnesse Pro. 28. 16. shall prolong his dayes Thus we see how plentifully the Lord hath promised long life to those that will be ruled by him Vse of long life whereas on the other side Psal 55. 23. the wicked shall not liue out halfe their dayes but shall soone and suddainly be cut off Which as it was intended by God to be a strong reason to perswade vs to obedience so we are to be moved by all these promises to beleeue them and thereby to be stirred to a more carefull walking before God But seeing that which I chiefly intend is to strengthen our faith that we shall not want any of these earthly blessings Vse this must be the vse we are to make of all these promises concerning long life that in all the perills of this life by sicknes war famine theeues witches or any wicked enemy whatsoever we might call to mind some of these promises and so rest our selues quietly therevpon that none of these nor any thing els should shorten the dayes of our life more then should turne to our greater good Yea further seeing the Lord hath made it so great an encouragement to feare and serue him as if he had not a greater reward in matters of this life to bestow vpon his faithfull servants and so the faithfull haue in all ages esteemed it and desired it Esa 39. 19. as Hezekiah and Dauid oftentimes Psal 6. 4. yea and many of them did enjoy it as the holy Story records for a blessing of God vpon them The consideration of these should moue vs so to prise this blessing and desire it as they did which I the rather mention for that I haue heard preached and read in the writings of some both godly and learned Divines many perswasions to be weary of life and to be desirous of death which to say no more quite crosseth this wisedome and goodnes of God in promising life to his best servants as a chiefe reward of their good service let vs then so account of long life as a rich blessing which makes all other blessings of this life the more excellent and vsefull both to God and man to our selues and others and the want hereof the quite contrary as may be easily shewed in all particulars how doth it abate the vse and comfort of health wealth strength and valour of learning and generally of all excellent gifts of the mind or body if these be nipt off in the bud and not suffered to come to full ripenes so to continue to their full terme and end Let vs then I say so accept these promises that in all time of need we may stay our selues vpon them and that we may find comfort in all tentations to the contrary This being the first and chiefe blessing of this life Long life I meane if this should not be accompanied with health wealth peace and other like blessings it would make long life more wearisome then welcome vnto our frayle nature For this cause God is not sparing in making promises of these and all other comforts for this naturall life As namely of bodily health Health and strength whereby we may better enjoy and make vse of these earthly comforts This is that which the Lord promised to his people of Israel immediatly after they came out of the red Sea where it is sayd the Lord proved them and said If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God Exod. 15. 26. and wilt doe that which is right in his sight and wilt giue cure to his commandements Deut. 7. 15. and keepe all his statutes I will put none of these diseases vpon thee which I put vpon the Aegyptians for I am the Lord that healeth thee And Exod. 23. 25. I will take sicknesse from the middest of thee So Iob. 5. 18. its sayd of God For he maketh sore and bindeth vp he woundeth and his hands make whole And so goes forward to the end of that chapter in setting forth Gods goodnes in preserving his in all estates from all manner of troubles and supplying them with all needful blessings for this life as there further may be seene Psal 41. 1. c. David setting out Gods goodnes to those that shew mercy to the poore in their distresse among many other blessings addes this vers 3. The Lord will strengthen him vpon the bed of languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknes Salomon Pro. 3. 7. exhorting vs to feare the Lord and to depart from â—â—vill adds this as a promise ver 〈◊〉 It shall be health to thy navill and â—arrow to thy bones meaning thereby soundnesse of health to the whole body And to like effect chap. 4. 22. he sayth that the true receiuing of instructions is life to those that find them and health to all their flesh So the Prophet Esay in many wordes setting forth the manifold blessings of this life Esa 33. 15.