saluation to them that obey him This most holy Heb. 7.25 high PRIEST is perfectly able to SAVE them that come to God by him seeing he euer liueth He is our REDEEMER Ephes 1.7 In whom we haue redemption through his bloud He is our RIGHTEOVSNES Rom. 5.19 By the obedience of one many shall be made righteous He is our RECONCILER 10. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne He is the MEDIATOR of the new Couenant Heb. 12.24 9.24 entred into heauen now to appeare in the presence of God for vs. He is our ADVOCATE with the Father 1. Ioh. 2.2 and the propitiation for our sinnes he is at the right hand of God Rom. 8.33 and maketh intercession for vs. BATHSHEBA the mother of King Salomon had great cause to blesse God that gaue her a sonne so great so good who gaue such honor vnto his mother as is remēbred in the holy word 1. Kin. 2.19 that The King rose vp to meete her and sate downe on his Throne and he caused a seate to be set for the Kings mother and she sate at his right hand But blessed Marie had a greater and better sonne euen him Rom. 14.11 to whom all knees bow euen him of whom it is said Let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1.6 This sonne did highly honour his mother First in his subiection to her for it is written that he was obedient to her Luk. 2.51 Secondly in his holy care for her and that in his extreme anguish on the crosse Ioh. 19.25 There stoode by the crosse of Iesus his mother and when he saw her and the Disciple standing by whom he loued he saith vnto his mother Woman behold thy Sonne then saith he to the Disciple Behold thy mother and from that houre that Disciple tooke her vnto his owne home And whereas conformitie to Gods image and sound holinesse is a great part of true blessednesse this most godly Virgine shewed forth singular and rare vertues for being at a Mariage with Christ at Cana in Galile her Loue and Compassion was made euident when she spake to her sonne They haue no wine Ioh. 2.3 her meeknesse that kept silence when Christ rebuked her also her godlinesse in directing perswading to that which is the summe of our duty most agreeable to that voice of God from heauen Heare him Mat. 17.5 when she exhorted saying Iohn 2.5 Whatsoeuor he saith vnto you do it She suffered much affliction for Christ and so was partaker of that dignity of the Saints Phil. 1.29 that both beleeue in Christ and suffer for his sake both when she liued as an exile with him in Egypt Mat. 2.14 as also whē Simeons prophecie was fulfilled in his bitter passion Luk. 2.35 A sword shall passe through thy soule She persisted constantly in the profession of Religion and continued in and with the holy Church and assembly of the Saints in all true holinesse as it is said They all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication Act. 1.14 with the women and Marie the mother of Iesus and with his brethren Thus it appeareth euidently that she was a blessed mother of a most blessed Sonne euen blessed among and aboue all women The first vse and fruite for Confutation We knowing and beleeuing the wonderfull conception and birth of our Lord Iesus Christ do controll the madnesse and confute the damnable heresies of all that impugne the two distinct natures of that one person Immanuel Isa 7.14 who is the Sonne of God eternally and the sonne of Marie borne of her wombe in the fulnesse of time decreed before the world was made or that any way derogate from his Propheticall Priestly or kingly offices by which he wrought the saluation of his Church This doctrine soundly grounded on the word of God refuteth the Iewes of this age that yet waite for MESSIAH who is already come in humilitie to redeeme his Saints and will the second time come in glorie Heb. 9.28 to crowne them and confound his foes 2. Thes 1.8 and will then repay vengeance to all them that know not God and obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ. Yea moreouer As euery spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God so euerie spirit that confesseth not 1. Ioh. 4.2 that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof ye haue heard that it should come and euen now already is in the world There is no other true Messiah but Iesus Christ the Sonne of the virgine Marie whose blessed mouth hath said Iohn 8.24 Except ye beleeue that I am he ye shall die in your sinnes The second vse and fruite for confirmation Our holy faith and soundest comfort are confirmed strongly in the ancient gracious Couenant of God made in Paradise often renewed to the Patriarches and Church of the Iewes accomplished when God was manifested in the flesh dwelt among vs when Christ was borne of the Virgine Marie as it is written In the fulnesse of time Gal. 4.4 God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman made vnder the Law to redeeme them that were vnder the Law that we might receiue the adoption of Sonnes Rom. 10.10 With the heart we do beleeue and with the mouth we confesse that Iesus Christ conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgine Marie is the Immanuel God with-vs foretold by the Prophet Isaias made like vnto vs in all things Heb. 4.15 Ioh 1.29 yet without sinne Euen that Lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the world Euen he by whom all effectually called Heb. 9.14 receiue the promise of eternall inheritance For be it that we all were conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquitie and corrupted in all the parts of our soules and bodies yet the Conception Birth whole nature of Christ our Sauiour was fully sanctified by being vnited to his Godhead and imputed to vs so that the holinesse of Iesus is a robe to couer all our sinfulnesse and whereby we shall stand most gloriously in Gods sight in the great day of the Lord. For as Ester Ester 5.3 aduanced from low estate to be a great Queene had not this dignity put vpon her for her selfe alone but also for the comfort of all her kinred euen all the Iewes so that the glorious Messiah was borne of the blessed Virgine Marie was not her blessednesse alone but redounded to the ioy honour and saluation of all that beleeue in him Rom. 10.11 be they Iewes or Gentiles This high holy and comfortable mysterie why God would become man to worke mans saluation though it be greater then can be well expressed yet let vs endeuour stammeringly to vtter what we haue learned therein Iudg. 9.8 And as Iotham in
Faith casteth her eyes on God and all his gracious sweete promises Charitie looketh on men compassionatly to helpe and comfort thē and euen this good fruite springeth from faith as an apple from middest of blossome that grew before it Faith is the ancient and the true mother both of hope and charity and worketh by loue Gal. 5.6 All these three graces are excellent but faith is first hath preeminence first in giuing all glorie to God that in his loue he made a free Couenant of saluation and that in his truth he performed the same Secondly it is greatest by giuing to man hold and possession of the promised mercies so that by it as with a hand he taketh hold on receiueth and locketh fast into his heart the Couenant of saluation yea receiueth Christ to dwell in the heart Ier. 23.6 who is the Lord our righteousnes Faith is like to the root of a tree that frō the earth sucketh in nourishment to beget and continually to preserue and nourish the life and fruitfulnesse of it but charitie is like the branches of the tree which hauing receiued vitall sap do put forth their fruits in due season and according to their kind Faith may be cōpared to the Magnes or loadstone that draweth iron to it and keepeth it fast Charitie to Hematites that putteth out a vertue to stay bleeding Faith is a Receiuer Gal. 5.5 We through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousnesse by faith Charitie is a Giuer for hauing much giuen and forgiuen by Christ we loue much Luke 7.47 and giue back a reflexe of our loue euē true thankfulnesse to God and sundry fruits of hearty loue for his sake especially to them that excell in vertue As in the body the eye and eare haue their seuerall powers and offices the one to see the other to heare so in the soule haue faith and charitie Faith clingeth fast to Christ to haue in him iustification from sinne and his imputed righteousnesse to be ours Charitie sheweth forth the measure of our sanctificatiō to hallow Gods name to make sure our election and calling and willing and doing good to the Saints that are on earth And this may suffice for answer to the first doubt but fasten we yet our eyes more fully on the beautie of faith whose fairenesse and worth we cannot sufficiently admire That one place which is in the third of Iohn and may be called the summe of the Gospell openeth the treasure of grace to our view and the excellencie of sauing faith in these words God so loued the world Ioh. 3.16 that he hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue life euer lasting Consider we aright the true causes of our blessednesse and how great a gift it is and to whom it befalleth The first mouing cause is the free loue of God his rich grace mercy bountie The second cause is the Sonne of God giuen vnto vs who also gaue himselfe to be our ransome perfectly able to saue them that come to God by him The third is the meanes or instrumentall cause which is faith or beleefe the very hand and mouth of the soule to receiue Iesus Christ and all his riches to be ours The fourth cause is the end for which the Father gaue his Sonne hath two branches the one remouing of euill deserued That we should not perish the other the bringing in of our blessednesse purchased expressed in these words But haue euerlasting life When the Law accusing sheweth vs our sinnes and Gods angry countenance and iust wrath against vs euen eternall damnation when sinne and iniquities separate betweene God and vs then must we apply by faith to our fainting soules this glad tidings vttered by Christ the like to keepe vs from despaire True it is that the wounds of sinne are deadly but it is true also that the salue and remedies to heale and helpe are very soueraigne to euery one that is sound in the faith and layeth them to his soule Rom. 13.14 as a man putteth on his garment to keepe him from the cold As our sinnes are deformities that make the soule foule and vglie we haue Christ purging them by himselfe Heb. 1.3 As they keepe vs in bondage we haue Christ redeeming vs with his precious bloud 1. Pet 1.19 As they are euill deeds that cannot be vndone we haue Christ couering thē Psal 32.1 As they are debts greater then we can pay we haue Christ forgiuing them Rom. 4.7 As they are offēces against God making vs worthy of eternall death we haue Christ not imputing our sins vnto vs. Rom. 4 8. As they are disobedience against God and his law reuealed to vs from heauen we haue Christ fulfilling the law for vs. Rom. 10 4. Yea we haue from the same neuer failing fountaine of grace Rom. 4.11 Christs righteousnesse imputed to vs by which we are accounted and are righteous as if we had wrought all righteousnesse our selues euen as one friend setteth another free fully paying his debts for him As Caiphas ouerruled by Gods spirit well prophesied That Iesus should die for that nation Ioh. 11.50 saying Ye know nothing at all nor consider that it is expedient for vs that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation perish not And Paul very comfortably teacheth describing the faith of Abraham Rom. 4 23. And it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for vs also to whom it shall be imputed if we beleeue on him that raised vp Iesus our Lord from the dead How cleare is it in the word that as Adams disobedience made vs all sinners so the obedience of Christ maketh all true beleeuers righteous the words of the holy Ghost are these As by one mans disobedience Rom. 5.19 many were made sinners So by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous For like as our sinnes were imputed to Christ when he suffered for vs and bare our sinnes in his body on the 1. Pet. 2.25 tree so his righteousnesse is imputed and reckoned to be our righteousnesse through Gods gracious acceptance most iust and wise dispensation Which also to the Galathians Gal. 3.13 is thus set forth Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Law being made a curse for vs. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Iesus Christ that we might receiue the promise of the Spirit through faith And yet more plainly to the Corinthians 2. Cor. 5.21 God hath made him to be sinne for vs who knew no sinne that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Now for the bringing in of blessednesse mentioned in the second branch called euerlasting life it is so great so good and glorious a treasure as no heart yet can sufficiently conceiue of the worth excellency thereof where he
sanctification Secondly it is Gods ordination We are his wormāship Eph. 2 10. created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which God hath before ordained that we should walke in them Thirdly there is a necessity of the doing and presence of good workes for the manifestation of the righteous iudgments of God when he will come to be glorified in his Saints and crowne his owne works in them Mat. 25.35 Reu. 22.12 For he will iudge all men according to their deeds And giue to euery man as his worke shall be Fourthly a necessity is imposed vppon vs because we are debters as it is said Luk. 17.10 We haue done what was our dutie to do Rom. 8.12 And Paul saith Ye are debters but not to the flesh but to God our Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier Euer thinke we on it Tit. 2.14 that Iesus Christ gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purifie vs to himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes The obligation and bond of our debt is our Baptisme We are buried with him by Baptisme into death Rom. 6.4 that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead by the glorie of the Father so we should walke in newnesse of life Fiftly because there is no other way to eternall blessednesse but by the practise of holinesse For though good workes cannot be the cause of saluation but onely Iesus Christ as it is said Isa 49.6 I will giue thee for a light of the Gentiles that thou maist be my saluation vnto the end of the world yet are they the way and path vnto life and blessednesse Pro. 12.28 In the way of righteousnesse is life and in the path thereof there is no death Ye haue your fruite in holinesse Rom. 6.22 and the end euerlasting life The vses of good works are many and great in regard of God our selues others and our holy profession First God is glorified by our good workes which are being rightly performed a speciall part of his holy worship and seruice Ioh. 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bring forth much fruite His grace is manifested by enabling vs vnto a measure of obedience Eze. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and ye shall keepe my iudgements and do them God is honoured and praised for them and by them They glorified God for me Gal. 1.23 1. Pet. 2.9 Ye are a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him which hath called you out of darknesse into his maruellous light 1. Pet. 4.11 Do it as of the abilitie which God giueth that God in all things may be glorified through Iesus Christ As a father delighteth in a dutifull sonne so God delighteth in all those that beare his image imitate his holy nature that take pleasure in well doing Ioh. 4.34 whose meate and drinke it is to do their fathers will Secondly by our blamelesse and good conuersation we become followers of the example of Christ of his Saints Ioh. 13.15 I haue giuen you an example that ye should do as I haue done to you As Christ forgaue you Colos 3.13 so also do ye Take the Prophets who haue spoken in the name of the Lord Iam. 5.10 for an example of suffering affliction and of patience Thirdly by our holy life and obedience to God we gaine assurance that God hath chosen vs to be heires of saluation 2. Pet. 1.10 Giue diligence that ye make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall neuer fall If we loue in deed and truth We know we are of the truth 1. Ioh. 3.19 and shall assure our hearts before him Thus the truth of faith is knowne for faith that hath no works is dead Gal. 5.6 being alone Neither Circumcision nor vncircumcision auaileth any thing but faith which worketh by loue Thus also is the soundnesse of repentance knowne Act. 26.20 I shewed to them that they should repent and turne to God and do works meete for repentance Fourthly by carefulnesse of well performing our dutie we are heartned to looke for the performance of Gods free promises made vnto vs. So Moses had respect vnto the recompence of the reward Heb. 11.26 Godlinesse hauing the promises of this life 1. Tim. 4.8 and that which is to come We may looke for obtaine if God see it expedient for vs long life a blessed posterity peace plentie ioy of heart preseruation in the euill day and whatsoeuer good is 1. Cor. 15.58 Be ye stedfast vnmoueable alwaies abounding in the worke of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vaine in the Lord. Gal. 6.9 Let vs not be wearie of well-doing for in due time we shall reape if we faint not Know that whatsoeuer good thing any man doth the same he shal receiue of the Lord. Fiftly they that liue righteously escape curses and calamities when the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience 2. Pet. 2.5 For when God spared not the old world he saued Noah the eight person a preacher of righteousnesse God said he would spare Sodome and Gomorha Gen. 18.32 Isa 65.14 for ten sake that were righteous Behold my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart but ye shall crie for sorrow of heart and shall houle for vexation of spirit Sixtly they that are of vpright conuersation and are studious to abound in good workes shall auoid offences Giue none offence 1. Cor. 10.32 neither to the Iewes nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God Mat. 18.7 2. Cor. 6.3 For wo vnto the world because of offences Giuing none offence in any thing that the Ministerie be not blamed Seuenthly by our good deeds we win others to God or make way and prepare some to conuersion I am made all things to all men 1. Cor. 9.22 that I might by all meanes saue some Haue your conuersation honest among the Gentiles 1. Pet. 2.12 that whereas they speake against you as euill doers they may by your good workes which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation Rom. 11.14 I magnifie mine office if by any meanes I may prouoke to emulation them which are my flesh and might saue some of them 1. Pet. 3.1 Ye wiues be in subiection to your husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be wonne by the conuersation of the wiues Eightly righteous behauiour stoppeth the mouthes of the aduersaries that they cannot speake ill of vs. So the loyall and iust cariage of Dauid towards Saul ioyned with loue and meeknesse preuailed so far that he made this acknowledgment Thou art more iust then I. 1. Sam. 24.17 1. Pet. 2.15 So is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence the