most holy man so long as he liueth therfore men must continue repentance so long as they liue It is written in Genesis the 8. For the imagination of mans hart is euill euen from his youth Gen. 8 21. And in Iames the 3. Iames. 3 2. In many things wee sinne all And in the 5. to the Galathians The flesh lusteth against the spirit Galat. 5 17. the spirit against the flesh and these are contrarye one to the other so that ye cannot do the same things ye would Wée are commaunded to pray continually by Christ Matth. 6. Forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse c. Qu. Do you hold it for a certaine truth that men are iustified onely by Christ and that the works of sanctification and newnesse of life begun in vs doo merit nothing concerning the worke of our saluation An. I hold it for an vndoubted truth that the whole worke of our saluation is wrought in the person of Christ without vs and without all respect of our works either before or after repētance whatsoeuer the Papists prate But yet there are many places of Scripture which doo séeme to giue something to works to the obteining of saluation As the 15. Psalme Psal 15. ℣ se 1 2 3. Lord who shall rest vpon thy holy mountaine He that walketh vprightly and worketh righteousnesse and speaketh the truth in his hart Againe the 24. Psalme Who shall ascend into the mountaine of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place Psal 24. ℣ se 3 4. Euen hee that hath innocent handes and a pure hart c. Againe Esay the 33. Who among vs shal dwell with the deuouring fier Esay 33. ℣ se 14 15. who amōg vs shal dwell with the euerlasting burnings he that walketh in iustice speaketh righteous things refusing gaine of oppressiō c. Psalm 50 23 Againe Psalme 50. And to him that disposeth his way aright will I shew the saluation of God Math. 7. ℣ se 21 22. Again Math. 7. Not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth the will of my father which is in heauen Againe Iohn 5. Iohn 5. ℣ se 28 29. For the howre shal come in the which al that are in the graues shal heare his voice they shall come forth they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euil vnto the resurrectiō of condemnation Mat. 25. ℣ se 34 35. Againe Math. 25. Come ye blessed of my father inherite ye the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world for I was an hungred and ye gaue me meat I thirsted ye gaue me drinke I was a stranger and ye lodged me I was naked ye clothed me I was sicke ye visited me I was in prison ye came vnto me And there be many such like I answer vnto these places al such like in the scripture which answer if it be marked of the simple may be a keie vnto them to open much of the Scripture and may inable them to stop the Papists mouths that these places doo not set downe expresse the causes of saluation and of eternall life but describe point out who they be that shal be saued by the effects that follow faith repentance The Apostle termeth good works the fruits not the causes of righteousnes in the 1. to the Philippiās Philip. 1 11. wher be praieth that they may be filled with the fruits of righteousnes The end of good workes the glory of God which are by Iesus Christ to the glory of God But whē the Scripture setteth downe the causes of saluation why men are saued obteine eternall life it giueth all to Christ Iesus As by these places following and many such like none to the contrary appeareth Acts 4. Acts. 4. ℣ se 11 12. This is the stone cast aside of you builders which is the head of the corner neither is the saluation in any other for among men there is giuē none other name vnder heauen wherby we must be saued Hebr. the 7. Hebr. 7 25. But this man meaning Christ because he endureth euer hath an euerlasting priesthood Wherefore he is able perfectly to saue them that come vnto God by him seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for vs. Hebrews the 10. Hebr. 10 14. For with one offring hath he cōsecrated for euer thē that are sanctified Hebrews the 9. Hebr. 9.28 So Christ was once offered to take away the sinnes of many and vnto them that looke for him shall he appeare the second time without sinne vnto saluation Romans 3 Rom. 3. To him that worketh the wages is not imputed of fauour but of debt but to him that worketh not but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is counted for righteousnes Ephes 2. ℣ se 8 9. Ephesians the 2. For by grace are ye saued through faith that not of your selues it is the gift of God not of works that mē may boast Philippiās 3. Paul saith Philipp 3. Touching the righteousnesse that is in the lawes I was vnrebukeable ℣ se 6 But the things that were vantage vnto me ℣ se 7 ℣ se 8 the same I counted losse for Christs sake ℣ se 9 yea doubtles I think all things but losse ℣ se 10 for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I haue counted all things losse and do iudge them to be but dunge that I might win Christ and might be found in him that is not hauing mine owne righteousnes which is by the law but that which is through the faith of Christ euē the righteousnes which is of God through faith c. And the Scriptures are almost infinit that make to this purpose Qu. What meaneth this phrase of speach so much vsed in Scripture we are iustified by faith An. It meaneth nothing else but that God accompteth and acknowledgeth vs for righteous and holy in Christ in whome as the Apostle saith in the first of the second Epistle to the Corinthians all the promises of God are yea and Amen whom we lay hold on by faith and applie vnto our soules against all terrors of sinne death and damnation Roman 5. and so haue peace with God ℣ se 1 2. who hath said from heauen that in him he is well pleased Matth. 3.17 Qu. Now seing there is such aboundance of saluation in Christ why do not all lay hold of it An. No man saith Christ commeth vnto mee except my father draw him Iohn 6 44. Iohn 6 37. And againe he saith in the tenth of Iohn But yee beleeue not Iohn 10 26 for yee are not of my sheepe Qu. Now seing none can be saued but those that haue repētance towards God and faith towards our Lord Iesus Christ tell me
thrée places Paule setteth foorth the power of the Holy ghost in begetting of faith by the outward ministrie of his preaching In the fift chapter to the Galathians Paule saith Galat. 5.22 The fruit of the spirite is loue ioy peace long suffering gentletlenesse goodnesse faith meekenesse temperancie Qu. What men are meet for the planting of faith An. Those onely that haue a féeling of their owne miserie and woe due from Gods instice for their sinnes For those onely dooth Christ call in the eleuenth of Mathew saying Math. 11 28 Come vnto me all yee that are weary and laden and I will ease you In the second of the Acts we read that those that were pricked in their harts and said vnto Peter and the other Apostles Acts. 2. â„£ se 37 38 39. Men and brethren what shall we do immediatly after beléeued Qu. To what head or point of religion do you refer this sorrow and trembling conceiued of the sight of Gods displeasure for sinne An. To the point of Repentance Acts. 2 â—7 as a foregoer thereof in the elect Qu. What is Repentance An. Repentance is a turning froÌ„ sin vnto God What Repentance is that is to say a framing of our whole life to obey him And the word that the Scripture vseth most commonly to expresse it by doth signifie a change or alteration of the minde That new birth which our sauiour Christ speaketh of in the 3. of Iohn vnto Nicodemus is nothing but RepeÌ„tance Iohn 3 3. It is called Regeneration Regeneration or Repentance hath two parts represented in baptisme that is Dying vnto sinne called mortification termed in the Scripture circumcision of the hart And newnesse at life Both these partes of repentance are in sundrie places of the Scriptures expressed As in the 2. chapter vnto Titus in these words Titus 2. â„£ se 11 12. For that grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared and teacheth vs to deny vngodlines and worldly lusts this is Mortification and to liue sobeâ—ly righteously and godly in this present world this is Newnesse of life In the 2. to the Collossians these two parts are also expressed where the Apostle saith Coloss 2. â„£ s 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with circumcisioÌ„ made without hands by putting off the sinfull body of the flesh through the circumcision of Christ in that ye are buried with him thorough baptisme Ephes 4. â„£ se 22 23.24 in whom ye are also raised vp together through the faith of the operation of God In the 6. of the epistle to the Romans Rom. 6.4 and in the 4. of the first epistle of Peter both these parts are manifestly expressed 1. Pet. 4. â„£ se 1 2. the one procéedeth of the force of Christs death the other of his n = * Phil. 3 10. resurrection Qu. How is repentance wrought in mans hart An. By the holy ghost in preaching of the lawes and the gospell John 3 5. Except a man saith Christ be borne of water and the Holy ghost he caÌ„not enter into the kingdome of God Againe Paule saith in the 6. of his first epistle to the Corinthians 1. Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus by the spirit of our God And againe in the 3. chapter of the secoÌ„d epistle to the Corinthians 2. Cor. 1 12. But we all behold as in a mirrour the glory of the Lord with open face and are chaunged into the same image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord. Qu. You haue proued that Repentance is the worke of the Holy ghost Now proue that it is in the ministry of the law and the gospell An. In the 1. chapter of Titus it is commaunded Titus that he should sharply rebuke the Cretians Titus 1. â„£ se 12 13. because one of their own prophets witnesseth that they were alwaies liers euill beasts slow bellies that they may bée sound in the saith Rom. 3.20 The whole Scripture both the law the gospell saith the same Apostle in the 3. of his 2. Epistle to Timothie 2. Timoth. 3. â„£ se 16 17. is giuen by inspiration from God and is profitable to conuince to correct and to instruct c. thus much for the ministry of the lawe For the gospell Our Sauiour Christ saith in the fiftenth of Iohn Nowe are yee cleane through the word that I haue spoken vnto you Iohn 15 3. Also Peter saith in the 1. chapter of his first epistle Being borne againe not of mortall seede but of immortall 1. Pet. 1.23 by the word of God Lastly in the twenty and six of the Acts it is witnessed that Paule was sent by Iesus Christ by preaching the gospell vnto the Gentiles To open their eies Acts. 26 18. that they might turne from darknes to light and from the power of Satan to God that they might receiue forgiuenes of sinnes inheritance among them that were Sanctified by faith in him Thus it is plaine that Repentance is the worke of the Holy ghost by the ministry of the law and the gospell Qu. Whether is faith before Repentance or Repentance before faith An. The question is busie there is no doubt but faith repentance are very nigh adioined as touching their beginning as is the cause and the effect Let it suffice vs to know that when a sinner thorow the preaching of the lawe is throwne downe to the sight of his deserued damnation by the auenging iustice of God that theÌ„ if he be Gods elect faith in Gods promise of saluation in Christ is wrought in him by the preaching of the gospell whervpon followeth an hatred of sinne and care to auoid it a loue of righteousnes and care to doo it which are especiall effects of repentance in token of thankefulnesse for saluation by Christ The Scripture in sundry places doth ascribe sanctification and purging of the hart vnto faith As in the twentie and six of the Acts Acts. 26 18 That they may receiue forgiuenes of sinnes and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in mee Againe in the 15. He put no difference betweene vs and them after that by faith he had purified their harts Now Sanctification regeneration repentance being all one it followeth that they are effects of faith Further because without faith as the Apostle saith in the 11. to the Hebrewes it is impossible to please God Hebr. 11 6. in another place Rom. 14.23 What soeuer is not of faith is sinne We haue most warrant to think that faith is before repentance Notwithstanding some writers are of mind that some part of repentance goeth before faith and some part followeth as an effect therof Qu. When ceaseth repentance in men An. When men cease altogether to sin But sin doth not cease to be in the
iudges in the land through out all the strong Cities of Iuda 2. Chron. 19 verse 5 6 7. citie by citie And said to the Iudges take héed what ye doe For ye execute not the iudgements of man but of the Lord he wil be with you in the cause and iudgement Wherefore nowe let the feare of the Lord be vpon you take héed and doe it for there is no iniquitie with the Lord neither respecte of persons nor receiuing of reward Heare this I pray you ye heads of the house of Iacob princes of the house of Israell Mich. 3. verse 10 11. they abhor iudgement and peruert al equitie they build vp Zion with bloud and Ierusalem with iniquitie the heads therof iudge for rewards c therfore shal Zion for your sakes be plowed as a field To make good for the euill of their hands the prince asked Mich. 7. vers 3 4. the iudge iudgeth for a reward Therefore the great man speaketh out of the corruption of his hart and so they wrap it vp the best of them is like a brier the most righteous is sharper then a thorne hedge Thou shalt take no gift Exod. 23 8. for the gift blindeth the wise and peruerteth the words of the righteous Wrest not thou the lawe Deut. 16 19. neither respect any person neither take reward for the reward blindeth the eies of the wise peruerteth the words of the iust Their rulers loue to say with shame bring yée Osea 4 18. Woe vnto them whiche iustifieth the wicked for a reward Esay 5 23. and taketh away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him Read the 82. Psalme 11. That magistrates must punish the wicked or else they shall prouoke Gods wrath against themselues and be a cause to increase sinne A Wise king scattereth the wicked Prou. 20 26 causeth the whéele to turne ouer them For Princes are not to be feared for good workes Rom 13. ℣ se 3 4. but for euill wilt thou bée without feare of the power doo well so shalt thou haue praise of the same for he is the minister of God for thy welth but if thou do euill feare for he beareth not the sword for nought for he is the mininister of God to take vengeance on him that dooth euill Because sentence against an euill worke is not executed spéedily Eccles 8 10. therefore the hart of the children of men is fully set in them to do euill Neither will I be with you any more except ye destroy the excōmunicate from among you Iosu◠7 12. Examples I put on iustice Iob 29. verse 14 15. and it couered me my iudgement was as a robe a crowne I was the eies of the blind and I was the féet to the lame I was a father vnto the poore and when I knew not the cause I sought it out diligently I brake also the iawes of the vnrighteous and plucked the pray out of his téeth Betimes will I destroy al the wicked of the land Psal 101 ◠that I may cut of al the workers of iniquitie from the citie of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord 1. Kings 20. ℣ se 42. because thou Ahab hast let go out of thine hands a man that is Benhadad king of Aram whom I appointed to die thy life shall go for his life and thy people for his people A worthie example to be noted of all magistrates that they may not spare foolishly pittie Idolaters and vile sinners whom God in his law commaundeth to be slaine 12. That princes magistrates and men in authoritie ought to be religious mainteiners and nursers of religion and take especiall delight in those that feare God BE wise now therefore yée kings Psal 10. ℣ se 11 12. be learned ye iudges of the earth serue the Lord in feare and reioyce in trembling Kisse the sonne least he be angrie ye perish in the way when his wrath shall suddenly burne And when he that is the king shal sit vpon the throne of his kingdome Deut. 17. ℣ se 18 19. then shall he write him this law repeated in a booke by the priests of the Leuits and it shal be with him and he shall read therin all the daies of his life that he may learne to feare the Lord his God and to kéepe all the wordes of this law these ordinances for to do them That his hart be not lifted vp aboue his brethren and that he turne not from the commaundement to the right hand or to the left but that he may prolong his daies in his kingdome he his sonnes in the midst of Israell Let not this booke the Lords words to Iosua in his person to all magistrates of this law depart out of thy mouth but meditate therin day and night Iosua 1 8. that thou maist obserue do according to all that is written therein For then shalt thou make thy way prosperous then shalt thou haue good successe Thou that is the Church shall sucke the milke of the Gentiles Esay 60 16. shalt sucke the brests of Kings thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy sauiour Kings shal be Esay 49 ℣ se 23 24. thy that is the churches nursing fathers and quéenes thy nurses they shall worship thée with their faces towards the earth and licke vp the dust of thy féet and thou shalt knowe that I am the Lord. In the Reuelation it is written Reue. 21 24 That the kings of the earth shall bring their glorie honour vnto the new Ierusalē Example of Dauid O my soule Psalm 16.2 thou hast said vnto the Lord thou art my Lord my well doing extendeth not to thée but to the Saints that are in the earth to the excellent all my delight is in them I am a cōpanion of al them that feare thée and kéepe thy precepts Psal 119 63 Mine eies shal be vnto the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me Psal 101 6. he that walketh in a perfect way he shal serue me When I remembred these things I powred out my very hart Psal 42 4. because I had gone with the multitude led them into the house of God 13. That all subiects are to obey their princes and those that are appointed vnder them that is inferior magistrats in all things not contrarie to the commandements of God to pay them tributes LEt euery soule be subiect vnto the higher powers Rom. 13. ℣ se 1 2 3. for there is no power but of God whosoeuer therfore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receiue to themselues iudgement For princes are not to be feared for good workes but for euill wilt thou then be without feare of the power do well so shalt thou haue praise of the same c. wherefore ye must be subiect not because of