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
may haue free accesse into the Kings presence and to whom the King can denie nothing In a word to bee aduanced as Joseph in Pharaoes court or Mordecay in Ahashuerus Court so to bee taken into like fauour with God Yea more of an enemy to be made a sonne and heire yea coheire with Christ this is so high a fauour as more cannot bee conceiued Yet this is that which is here added to the former That we who bee iustified by Faith Rom. 5. 2. by Christ haue accesse through faith vnto this grace wherein wee stand Which I thus vnderstand as I said that wee be not onely fully and freely discharged from all Gods displeasure iustly conceiued for our sinne and so a full peace made betweene God and vs But hereby also wee bee aduanced to that high dignity to be the sonnes of God as it is called Iohn 1. 12. Which is that grace wherein wee now stand Rom 5. 2. By meanes whereof we may boldly crie Abba Father and haue free accesse to come into his presence to aske what wee will with assurance it shall bee done vnto vs as Christ himselfe promiseth Ioh. 16. 23 24. Iohn 15. 7. And from hence doe flowe all other blessings as fruits and effects of this grace and fauour into which we be admitted Among which one principall followes in this Scripture That we reioyce in the hope of the glory of God Rom. 5. 2. That is how contemptible soeuer our state bee in this world which vsually is bad enough yet we haue hope of such a glorious estate to come 3 Ioy of saluation with God in his kingdome as doth make vs not onely inwardly to reioyce but openly to expresse it in word and deed In word when in a heauenly manner wee doe boast as it were of our honours which wee shall haue with God when we shall bee receiued into his kingdome as we reade Paul did oft Rom. 8. 18 38. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. In deed when we openly shew Phil. 3. 8 9 10. that on the one side wee are content to forgoe these transitorie preferments 2 Cor. 4. 17. which the worldlings so magnifie that they fell heauen for them A worthy patterne whereof was Moses Heb. 11. 24. That hee when hee was come to yeeres 25. refused to be called the sonne of Pharaoes daughter 26. chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enioy the pleasure of sinne for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egipt For he had respect to the recompence of reward And on the other side when wee are willing to doe as our Lord and Master Christ did Who for the ioy that was set before him endured the Crosse and despised the shame and is set downe at the right hand of the throne of God Heb. 12. 2. So when wee shall bee willing to suffer with Christ that we may reigne with him and shall count that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to bee compared with the glory that shall be reuealed Rom. 8. 18 then doe we truely glory in the hope of the glory of God and to say the truth as none can doe these but such as haue hope of this glory so he that hath this hope cannot but count all doung for Christ and to bee glorified with him for howsoeuer it bee most true of this glory that it is such as eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceiue of the excellencie of this glorie yet God hath giuen to his beloued such a glimpse of it as Peter Math. 17. 1 James and Iohn had in the mount of Christs glory 2 Pet. 1. 17 That they doe conceiue their vilde bodies shall be changed and made like to the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3. 21. Their soules shall be cleansed from all spottes Eph. 5. 27. and clothed with the perfect righteousnesse of Christ and both in soule and body to be like vnto Christ 1 Ioh. 3. 3. and so glorified with him 2 Thess 1. 10. that he shall bee glorified in them and they with him sit in his throne Reu. 3. 21. yea more and aboue all that can be vttered that they shall haue such vnion with Christ as shall bring them to be one with God the Father Ioh. 17. 21. as Christ and his Father are one Which is that for which our Sauiour himselfe praied vnto his Father All which so farre exceeding the short reach of our weake capacitie wee may see cause sufficient why they who are assured by faith they shall certainely and fully enioy this glory when they lay downe this earthly tabernacle As the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 1. expresly affirmeth why they I say doe thus reioyce and glory in this glory of God How great a benefite this is though it cannot be valued yet euery one who hath his sences exercised to discerne both good and euill may easily see that it is such and so great as nothing to bee desired may bee compared with it And therefore there is cause enough to drawe all that knowe it to spare no cost or paines for the attayning to it In the next words Rom. 5. 3 the Apostle yet not satisfied in setting out the singular benefites which are enioyed by this life of faith addeth this as a great enlargement of the former That the beleeuer doth not onely so that is in a holy manner Glory in the hope of Gods glory but we glory also in tribulation knowing that tribulation worketh patience v. 4. and patience experience and experience hope v. 5. hope maketh not ashamed because the loue of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is giuen to vs wherein he intendeth that such is the power of faith where it is liuing that it so quieteth and comforteth Gods children in their meanest condition that they not onely reioyce in the hope of that glorie to come which is the best part of their estate but which is much more admirable that they finde matter of outward reioycing in the worst part Reioycing in afflictions that is in tribulations and afflictions of what kinde soeuer which is no more then God requires by his Apostle Iames 1. 2. My brethren count it all ioy when you fall into diuers temtations knowing that the triall of your faith worketh patience c. Whereof we haue the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 12. 10. a worthie example who saith of himselfe Therfore I take pleasure in infirmities 2 Cor. 12. 10. in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christ his sake Which if it shall be well considered how vnwelcome these be to the naturall man and nippe the heart of all his comforts and reioycings it will bee counted a singular benefite in all of these to be more then conquerers as the Apostle saith Rom.
without the preaching of the word so whosoeuer shall conscionably attend to it shall certainly be saued which if it were beleeued it could not but make men runne to it with great alacritie and so should they finde much comfort thereby To this purpose bee there so many commendations of the word throughout the scriptures specially in the bookes of the Psalmes and of the Prouerbs It would be too long to cite all yet all are to be referred to this end to breede in vs a greater delight in this word which bringeth such incomparable benefits Of this sort are these Psal 19. 7 c. The Law of the Lord is perfect conuerting the soule The testimonie of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The statutes of the Lord are right reioycing the heart And so followeth to like effect in the same place The whole Psalme 119 was written to this purpose to set out the excellencie of this word in all respects and specially for the worthy effects and fruits which it bringeth foorth in euery one who truelie embraceth it so that it is obserued by many learned Diuines that omong 176. verses there be scarce foure or fiue at the most wherein there is not some commendation of the word to stirre vp all Gods people better to esteeme it and more diligently to attend to it that they may enioy the fruites of it at all times and in all estates To which end I require euery true Christian to be much exercised in this Psalme that they may be familiarlie acquainted with it and so haue it in readines for their vse in all their necessities I might say as much for the booke of the Prouerbs wherein besides the many and most wise directions for the well ordering of our whole life are contained especially in the first nine chapters admirable commendations of those heauenly instructions which God as a Father by his seruants doth giue vnto his children Prou. 4. 13. A few for many Take fast hold of instruction let her not goe Keepe her for she is thy life Wherin what can bee more contained then this that instruction is our life meaning that thereby wee attaine all things pertaining to the comfort of this life and of that to come This might be set out at large in particulars both in the escaping of manifold euills sinnes and punishments which they fall into who want or will not receiue these instructions as also in the enioying of many blessings bodily and spirituall which others want but I leaue the further consideration of these to euery ones particular meditation who desires to see the truth hereof No doubt Dauid meant no lesse when he said Psal 119. 165. Great peace is and shall be to them that loue thy Law and nothing shal offend them Who would not highly prise that word which brings all manner of wisedome to all sorts learned vnlearned wise and silly olde and young Yet all this doth that one booke of the Prouerbs as is expresly said in the sixe first verses of the first chapter as you may there reade and therefore how much more is this to bee found in the whole Scripture Which Vse me thinkes should put life into any good heart to bee much conuersant in the hearing reading and meditating of the word of God For further quickning herein I will onely quote the places and referre euery one that listeth to heare more of this matter to peruse them and so shall he finde enough to hearten him to this duty Prou. 1. 9. 23. 2. from 1. to 13. 3. 1. to 4. 13. to 24 4 5. to 13. 20. to 22. 6. 20. to 24 7. 1. to 5. 8. the whole chapter In these and many other places of the olde and new Testament Applicatiō the Lord knowing our exceeding backwardnesse in true receiuing and keeping his word which yet is so necessary as that there is no saluation without it doth make so many pretious promises as I know not whether to any thing more That at least by some of them we who bee so full of doubting how wee may attaine to the right vse of the word may be more heartened to a conscionable and constant attendance vnto it that so we may in due season reape the sweete fruit thereof This then must be the care and labour of euery one who feeles the want of this comfortable vse of Gods word and earnestly desires it to bee well acquainted with these promises and out of all to gather some of the chiefe such as seeme to him most speciall and so commit them to memory that whensoeuer he goeth to the word he may meditate vpon these and so be more encouraged to attend vnto Gods word with expectation of Gods blessing vpon his labour The want of this meditation vpon Gods promises when wee goe to the word is one chiefe cause of that great sinne of vnfruitfull hearing and consequently of that little growth in grace which is euery where to be seene among ordinary resorters to the publike ministery as the Apostle reporteth of the Hebrewes that the Word preached did not profite them Heb. 4. 2. being not mingled with faith in them that heard it Out of this which hath beene saide of the word in generall Sacramēts which well may bee referred to all the seuerall exercises therein publike or priuate to euery of which many of these promises doe pertaine we may safely gather comfort in the vse of the Sacraments which be truely called a visible Word because that which is spoken in the word to the eare is in visible signes represented to our eyes sealed to our hearts that wee may bee the more assured of them to bee ours so that if wee had no speciall promises made expresly to them yet wee might out of the former receiue sufficient encouragement to looke for the benefite of them that is to be made partakers of Christ and life in him which is the summe and substance of all that which is promised in the word But seeing the Lord who in all ages of his Church ordained these holy signes and seales of his Testament in which he bequeathed Christ and all his benefits to true beleeuers and their seede knowing our great weakenesse of faith in receiuing these seales hath so laboured to giue vs assurance that if wee thinke there is any truth in him we may bee as sure that Christ and al his merits are ours as the outward signes which we see with oureies and our hands doe handle let vs for our comfort carefully consider hereof Not to meddle with the Sacraments of the olde Testament Circumcision and the Passeouer both which were to the people of God sure seales of the righteousnes of faith Rom. 4. 11. as the Apostle speaketh of Circumcision and doth as truely belong to all the Sacraments of the olde and new Testament this one Scripture might sufficiently assure any that hee truely receiuing the outward seales according to Gods appointment should
master their strongest corruptions For here the Apostle finding no where out of Christ any sufficient power to deliuer him out of this captiuitie to sinne and death by the hand of faith hee layeth holde vpon Christ assuring himselfe vpon Christs promise 2. Cor. 12 9 That his grace should be sufficient for him and that his power should be magnified in his weaknesse Therefore hee should not bee left in his enemies hands but in due time to be set at libertie more freely to serue the Lord. This is that I commend to the practise of euery true beleeuer that whensoeuer hee feeles his corruptions too hard for him that he cannot by all his endeauors get the masterie ouer them then to flye to Christ and by true faith to applye his promises for the mortifying of sinne that thereby hee may receiue power from Christ more to crucifie the olde man with his members For our better performance whereof I will a little digresse though not farre from my purpose briefly to set out the readiest and the surest way which I know to mortifie any sin which standeth in the diligent exercise of these 4 rules following First 4. rules of mortification that whereas wee bee all blind by nature that wee see not our sinnes and so full of pride and selfe-loue that wee thinke better of our selues then there is cause euery one who will mortifie his sinne must labour by all good meanes to finde out what bee his chiefest sinnes most displeasing â—o God These meanes be 1. A true examination of our selues in euery commandement 2. Secondly a carefull obseruation of all our wayes and as men doe trace the creatures in the time of snowe so to marke our steppes in time of temptation as our impatience when wee be prouoked and so for all other sinnes as pride and couetousnesse c. 3. Thirdly a seeking and receiuing admonition from such as spye our infirmities 4. And fourthly earnest praier to God to discouer our chiefest imperfections By all which and the like faithfully vsed wee shall finde out wherein we haue most need to be reformed that so vpon sight thereof wee may better applye all our endeauours for our recouerie The second rule is 2. rule to be weary of our sins when wee haue found out our sinne then to get our hearts to be weary of the same and willing to be cured of it which shall be if we consider the great hurt it brings vs partly in keeping good things from vs and partly in pulling downe vpon vs so many euills vpon soule and body our selues and others belonging to vs. To set out these in particulars would not be hard but it would carry mee too farre from my matter intended It shall suffice to remember in this case that all our woe comes from our sinnes as both Scripture reason and continuall experience doe shewe which if it were well weighed would make vs more weary of our sinne then of our sicknesse or other affliction and breede in vs much more feruent desires to bee cured And therefore this must bee another daily consideration both what bitter fruites our sinnes bring foorth and that from thence all the woes we meete withall doth spring The third and most principall rule is 3. rule is to get power froÌ„ Christ That for so much as such is our frailtie that when we haue got some true sight of our principall corruptions and therewithall some loathing of them with an earnest desire to be ridde of them yet wee haue no ability in our selues to mortifie them but All our sufficiency is of God and without Christ wee can doe nothing as is oft said but neuer sufficientlie regarded Therefore hereupon especially dependeth all our power to mortifie sinne that we by faith doe drawe from Christ that power and vertue which is in him to change our crabbed and sowre nature that wee may bee sweete and pleasant grapes for the Lord our God This is that especially which I ayme at to perswade all that faine would get more mastery ouer their strong corruptions and vnrulie affections namely to do as the woman in the Gospel Who hauing an issue of blood twelue yeers and had suffered many things of the Physitions Mar. 5. 25. and had spent all that she had and was nothing better but rather grew worse when she heard of Iesus came in the preasse behind him and touched his garment for she said if I may but touch him I shall be whole and straight way the fountaine of her blood was dryed vp and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague Euen so must we all who haue had many foule issues of sinne of pride hypocrisie security presumption wrathfulnesse vncleanenesse worldlinesse and the like many and haue taken great paines and beene nothing the better but rather growne worser for so must it needes be till we come to Christ doe wee what possiblie wee can such I say must come to Christ and touch him by a true faith and then shall they feele vertue to come from him to drye vp this fountaine of their corruptions Oh that this might be brought more into tryall what would be the difference betweene this and all other practises for the mortifying of the flesh which without this shall bee found insufficient if not deceiueable for where shal be found any vertue to kill sinne in our nature but in Christ in our nature Can mans reason will or resolution suffise to draw him to forsake his so pleasing and profitable sinnes as hee supposeth If this might bee in some outward actions in respect of men yet this cannot bee in the heart to please God which is onely the worke of Gods Spirit in true beleeuers How this is to be done hath beene before declared here onely I commend the vse of this liuing by faith without which as there is no true mortification of any sinne whatsoeuer so by this wee shall surely obtaine power against the oldest and strongest corruptions in our nature Whereunto if one thing be added I well see not what should be wanting to the mortification of them all at least in such measure as God will accept of and wee may haue comfort in which is the fourth rule by mee intended 4. rule of mortifying sinne namely That hauing receiued 1. a true sight of sinne 2. a willing minde to bee cured of it 3. power from Christ for the subduing of it then in the last place that with this furniture we enter the battaile and with good courage set against al the assaults of Sathan all the allurements of this world and all the euill lusts of our owne hearts Eph. 4. 27. That we giue not place to the diuell Iam. 4. 7. but resist him rather 1. Pet. 5. 9. stedfast in faith as wee oft be exhorted and that vpon promise that hee shall flie from vs which is the same whereto the Apostle exhorts and perswades by many arguments To
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
to himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes This is the same whereof the Prophets foretold in their time that God would purge cleanse his Church Esa 1. 25. Esai oft that God will purely purge their drosse and take away all their tinne that is their sinnes as in another place more plainely hee saith And it shall come to passe Esa 4 3. that hee that is left in Sion and hee that remaineth in Ierusalem shall be called holy euery one that is written among the liuing in Ierusalem ver 4. when the Lord shall haue washed away the filth of the daughters of Sion and shall haue purged the blood of Ierusalem from the middest thereof by the Spirit of iudgement and by the Spirit of burning 27. 9 Againe By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sinne Notable is that place of Ezekel Then will I sprinckle cleane water vpon you Eze. 36. 25 and you shall bee cleane from all your filthinesse and from all your idols will cleanse you Of this sort I might gather many moe out of these and the other Prophets who spake of this grace which should be giuen by Christ to all the members of his Church the cleansing of them from all their filthinesse which Dauid expresseth Ps 103. 3. By healing all our diseases The matter beeing so cleare and the testimonies so many I iudge it will bee too tedious to heape vp more It shall bee more to our profite well to weigh these and the like promises when wee reade them that when wee feele our hearts discouraged by the little strength wee finde to maister our speciall corruptions then we may apply to our selues any one of these promises wherein the Lord himselfe doth vndertake this worke which is too hard for vs That hee will subdue our iniquities he will cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse his grace shall be sufficient for vs and his power shall bee mad perfect in our weaknesse which if we doe beleeue how can we feare or bee faint-hearted to enter into this spirituall battle against our sinnes Yea this will make vs bold to resist and able to ouercome our strongest sinnes which formerly haue most preuailed ouer vs. For our further encouragement herein wee haue the examples of all the faithfull who before were seruants yea bondslaues to their vilde lusts Examples as Zacheus to oppression Mary Magdalen to whooredome Paul to persecution and generally the famous Churches to whom the Apostles writ who before their calling were idolaters and liued in all abhominable sinnes as other Gentiles beeing conuerted they turned from their idols and so from all their former vaine and vilde conuersation to serue the liuing God as is to be seene in all the holy Epistles written to them and in the history of the Acts which was long before prophesied by the Prophets Esa 11. 6. that the wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe c. meaning by all these cruell and deuouring beasts all kinde of beastly and wicked men who by the Gospell should be so changed that al their cruell and beastly qualities should be so abated that they should become like to Gods children and so haue a holy Communion with them Let not any therfore who feeleth any measure of mortification in himselfe Vse though hee cannot yet ouercome all his sinnes and keepe vnder his vnruely affections say in his heart I shall neuer ouercome such and such sinnes but shall one day perish by these for this were not onely to mistrust his owne strength which well he may but to call Gods power goodnes and truth into question which were a great iniury to God and to his owne soule but rather let vs all doe as Jehosaphat when hee sawe a great army gathered together against him 2. Chro. 20 12. so as hee sawe no power in himselfe to withstand them hee did wholly cast himselfe vpon the Lord saying O our God wilt thou not iudge them for wee haue no might against this great company that commeth against vs neither know wee what to doe but our eyes are vpon thee So let vs be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and so taking to vs and vsing the holy armour of his spirit fighting valiantly we may be sure of the victory These thus being that Gods children may be so certaine that no sinne shall haue dominion ouer them but that they shall in the end ouercome them all and so haue that glorious conquest ouer them and ouer all their spirituall enemies who can no way hurt them but by sinne how can it sufficiently be bewailed that so few do enioy this benefit and the sweet comfort thereof This may well bee seeee in the many and foule spots in the faces of sundry professours I meane their open pride their impatiency their worldlinesse and deadnesse of spirit in all spirituall duties all which though they might in some of loÌ„ger standing in Christ haue been long before well mortified yet they still remaine liue and grow in them to their reproch before others and small peace and comfort to their owne hearts A principall cause hereof must needs be this that these pleasing themselues in their estate for that they be forward in publike exercises of Religion though many bee slacke enough in priuate especially secret by themselues alone and for that they bee free from the grosse sinnes of the wicked doe either not see or not bewaile these their sinnes and therefore doe not so much as seeke after much lesse enioy these pretious promises and the fruit of them An other sort who are more to be pitied for their want of this comfort which God hath prepared for them and so plentifully promised to them in especiall bee they who groane vnder the burden of their infirmities and take much pains to be eased yet in long time finding small amendment be much discouraged with feare that they shall neuer be able to ouercome these corruptions which doe most annoy them I cannot thinke of any thing to bee a greater cause of this discouragement in these then either the ignorance forgetfulnesse or not beleeuing these promises Phil. 1. 6. that Hee who hath begun the good worke in them will perfect it vntill the day of Christ and as God promised oft to his people going to conquer the land of Canaan Deut. 7. 2â— 11. 25 that no enemie should bee able to stand against them Iosuâ— 1. 5. 10. 8. so hath hee as certainely promised to these that no sinne shall haue dominion ouer them It remaineth therefore that these and all other who desire to conquer their corrupt nature and vnruely lusts thereof thâ—â— they do oft set before themselues these promises and so considering that he is faithfull who hath promised confidently looke for the victory and so constantly fight till they obtaine the same This I hope may suffise in this
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