they bee most humbled come to God in Christ for pardon beleeuing that their imperfections should bee couered by the full and perfect satisfaction of Christ they might finde comfort in their weakest obedience and so bee more encouraged to serue God This then is that I would perswade all that would finde sound and lasting comfort in their praiers and other holy exercises Remedy in their best duties to beware of pride which accompanieth them and to that end euer to thinke of their failings to humble them and driue to Christ that so they may offer vp their sacrifice in faith and bee accepted On the other side when they be most deiected then to beware of despaire doubting and discouragement which bee vsuall companions of vs in the sense of our wants and to comfort our selues by faith in Christ in that wee know hee is as able and willing to cure great diseases as small to pardon our fowler falles as our lesser slippes In all which wee now see that which I intended how needfull it is to be stored and strengthened with faith that wee may finde comfort in our prayers and other holy exercises which I know is much wanting in many true hearted Christians for whose sake in speciall I write these and will now for their further comfort lay out some store of pretious promises which God our Father hath treasured vp in his word to this purpose that wee his children might bee imboldened to come with confidence to him in all our necessities Perusing these I finde that the farre greater number of them doe specially promise that God will accept our prayers grant our desires and doe not so expresly assure vs that God will assist vs and make vs able to pray which yet sundry promises doe God promiseth to make vs able to pray I will therefore heere gather such as expresly promise Gods helpe to teach vs to pray for that we are no lesse subiect to doubt of our ability to pray aright then of Gods readinesse to heare our poore and weake prayers Among all that comes first to minde which might serue in stead of all if we could hold it fast where the Apostle labouring to comfort the hearts of Gods children ouer all their corruptions and afflictions Rom. 8. 26. doth answer a great obiection which many a heauy heart makes namely this Many troubled that they cannot pray I am oft so distressed that I am not able to pray and how then may I looke for any helpe at Gods hand Thus it fareth oft with Gods children and those not of the weakest sort that their hearts bee so â—ore oppressed that they can doe nothing but sigh and groane not able to set aright their hearts to pray to God As wee reade of Hezekiah Esa 38. 14. that he like a Crane or Swallow did chatter and did mourne as a Doue not able to vtter his griefes to God The like we reade of Dauid oft Psal 32. how hee roared for griefe but could not come to make his moane to God and the like many Yea what more ordinary complaint doe wee heare made by many worthy Christians in their extremities then this to their friends O helpe me I cannot pray To this sore tentation the Apostle answers Rom. 8. 26. saying Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what wee should pray for 27. as we ought But the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings that cannot bee vttered And hee that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Wherein he freely confesseth that he and all the rest of Gods children doe know this by woefull experience that they in such cases know not what they should pray as they ought But yet for all this God hath not left vs comfortlesse for he hath giuen vs his own Spirit to succour and helpe vs as it were to beare that part of the burthe which is too heauy for vs to beare and whereas we cannot pray as we ought that selfe same Spirit shall by his power make vs able to pray with such feeling faith and feruencie as no words can expresse in such sort that God who both knowes and regards the secret desires of the heart beholding the worke of his Spirit doth graciously accept and approoue of those prayers of his children I make no doubt but this is the intent of the Apostle in this Scripture In which if there were no more is enough to comfort any poore afflicted soule against this temptation that they cannot pray In that God hath giuen vs his Spirit so to helpe vs that our poore prayers are said to be the prayers of Gods Spirit in vs which God cannot deny This I take to bee the cause why else-where we be called vpon to pray in the Spirit Eph. 6. 18. and in the holy Ghost Iude v. 20. that is as he doth teach vs not as any naturall gift can Where I note a speciall difference of true prayer from counterfeit Difference of prayers true and counterfeit which may be excellent in speech but wanting this breath of Gods Spirit it is but a dead sacrifice vnpleasing to God and vnprofitable to him that offereth it And therefore I aduise all who looke for comfort by their prayers more to labour for Spirit then speech in prayers And so much for this Scripture whereupon I haue stood the longer for that it may suffise in stead of all But seeing the Lord knowing our weakenesse hath in all ages of his Church comforted his people with the like it shal more confirme vs to heare more of these sweete promises To this may well be referred that which one of Iobs friends said to comfort him which doubtlesse was good comfort howsouer misapplyed when after some good exhortations he makes many moe gracious promises among all hee addes these For thou shalt haue thy delight in the Almightie Iob 22. and shalt lift vp thy face to God 21. and 6. Thou shalt make thy prayer vnto him 26. and he shall heare thee and thou shalt pay thy vowes c. 27. And in like manner doth another of Iobs friends say Hee shall pray vnto the Lord Iob 33. 26. and hee will be fauourable to him So Dauid in his time said For this shall euery one that is godly pray vnto thee Psal 32. 6. in the time when thou mayest be found Esa 58. 9. And the Prophet Esay makes such promises to the people in his time Then shalt thou call and the Lord will answer thou shalt cry and hee shall say Here I am So Ieremie Ier. 29. 12. Then shall yee call vpon mee and yee shall goe and pray vnto me and I will hearken to you 13. And yee shall seeke me and finde me when you shall search for me with all your heart Againe They shall come with
to God mâ—st attaine this by faith without which as all we doe is sinne Heb. 11. 6. so the Scripture speakes plainely Without faith it is impossible to please God And yet how few be they who haue attained this grace so to liue by faith as thereby to drawe from Christ continuall increase of spirituall strength better to performe all holy obedience and daily to get more comfort that this their obedience shall bee acceptable to God! Two branches of this 1. how to get grace 2. how to be accepted Wherein wee haue these two speciall branches to bee considered How we may get this grace to leade a godly life or how wee may haue comfort that this shall be accepted For the former Some chiefe failings in euery commaÌ„dement that wee may better see how vnable wee bee of our selues to performe all holy obedience and so bee more willing to embrace the remedy I desire euery one carefully to examine himselfe by the Lawe of God how exceedingly he faileth in euery one of them 1. As for example in the first commandement In not walking with God not resting vpon him for relief in all his necessities nor so delighting in him as to count nothing too deare for him and that he is not more afraid to displease God then any in the world besides 2. In the second commaundement how slacke and slight hee is in all the worship of God both priuate and publike as namely in priuate praier which yet for the most part is in greatest vse As for reading the scriptures and other godly bookes how seldome meditation alone and conference with others how little thought vpon So likewise for the publike what carelesse and vnfruitfull hearing praying singing and receiuing of the Sacraments 3. In the third commandement How backeward he is lifting vp the name of God so as he might by all his behauiour bring God into better esteeme with those with whom he conuerseth 4. In the fourth commandement What adoe he hath to keepe his whole man imployed about the true sanctification of the Lords Sabbath In all which whosoeuer shall conscionably consider his waies I nothing doubt but he shall see iust cause to complaine of his want of faith whereby alone hee should receiue power from Christ and his Spirit much more effectually to performe all these holy duties to God The like defect shall be found vpon due examination in all duties of righteousnesse in the second table which God requireth both in regard of our selues and our neighbour As in the fifth commandement I wish euery one duely to waigh how badly hee dischargeth the dutie of his speciall place either in the Family Church or Common-wealth both such as are set aboue others and such as be below gouernours and gouerned and then he shall well see what neede he hath of faith to enable him to a better performance of those duties which his place requireth 6. In the sixt commandement How carelesse he is both in auoiding those things which hurt the life and health of body and soule both of himselfe and others and in vsing all good meanes for the preseruation of both And much more wanting in bearing and forgiuing wrongs in louing his enemies and ouercomming euill with goodnesse 7. In the seauenth commandement likewise What little watch and meanes are vsed to keepe both soule and body chaste and so to auoide all allurements to vncleannesse soberly vsing all our senses and their delights 8. In the eight commandement How hee failes in getting his goods iustly and so vsing them holily to Gods honour mercifully to the releefe of his neighbour and wisely to his owne good of soule and body 9. In the ninth commandement How carelesse he is as to auoide all blemishing of his owne good name or his neighbours any manner of way and so to preserue either and to recouer them being wounded by such meanes as God hath appointed 10. In the tenth commandement How hardly he can bring his heart to loue his neighbour as himselfe and to be as loath to hurt him as his owne selfe and to seeke his neighbours good as his owne Thus haue I briefely drawne out of the Commandements some of the chiefest duties which we cannot deny but that as wee are bound to performe them and desire so to doe so we faile much in the practise of them neither possibly can we doe better till we receiue grace from Christ to enable vs thereunto These being so manifest I hope I shall not neede to say any thing more to perswade any true Christian to labour for the increase of this pretious gift of faith whereby he may get power from Christ better to obey God in all that he shall require at his hands And therefore I would now set vpon this worke which is my chiefe intent to gather some speciall promises and to shew the right vse of Faith for our helpe in this behalfe But that I remember there is an other branch of this matter 2. Branch of this third point how our obedience may be accepted namely how we may doe all our workes in faith that God will accept thereof Wherein it will be no hard matter to shew that we are for the most part as much if not more failing then in the former as both reason and experience will prooue For a meere naturall man voide of all sauing grace may be drawne by selfe-loue for his owne good or by feare of danger that might befall him to doe many good things Mark 6. 20. as wee reade of Herod 2 King 10. 30. Iehu 2 Chron. 25. 2. Amaziah who did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a perfect heart But to bee perswaded vpon good ground that God will accept our weake and sinfull obedience for perfect as if it were without fault this requires true grace yea a greater measure then many a weake beleeuer can attaine From hence it specially ariseth that sundry true hearted Christians Many discouraged by their infirmities very conscionable in their conuersation be yet much discouraged and by reason of the infirmities of their best duties haue little comfort in any thing they doe and so loose if not all yet much fruit of great labour so that it cannot be but welcome instruction to them to heare and learne how they may be assured that their weake obedience shall be pleasing to God as if it were without fault In both which I will doe my best to draw out of the welles of saluation the holy Scriptures such sweete promises as shall abundantly satisfie the thirstie soule whose chiefe desire is nothing more then to haue grace whereby they may serue God acceptably with reuerence and godly feare Heb. 12. 28. And first to begin with the former How wee may be sure wee shall want no grace that we may assure our selues wee shall not want any needfull grace for the leading of a godly life the Lord hath
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
make our vse of all these three benefits by afflictions 1. That they be sent from God to be trialls to discover to our selues and others godly and wicked what strength of grace and sinne doth remaine in vs which is many waies profitable 2. To be effectuall purgations to wast and weaken those speciall corruptions which most hinder our soules health 3. And lastly to quicken all saving graces in vs and so every way to make vs better both to glorifie God in this life and to be glorified of him in the life to come The least of all which fruits of afflictions Vse of all these benefits by afflictions though it went alone if the profit and comfort it bringeth might be well prised would moue any good heart if lawfully they might to desire afflictions at least to be glad of them when the Lord our loving Father and wise Physitian doth send them to vs how much more then when as all these shall be joyned together should we rejoyce and blesse God for them There is no good Christian but he greatly desires to be more humbled in the sight of his manifold sinnes and to be comforted with the sweet feeling of Gods graces in him Yea much more desires he to be purged from these spirituall corruptions which take away his stomacke and strength that he can neither feed nor worke as his place requires And aboue all doth he covet spirituall graces that he might shine out in a godly life to the honour of his profession the winning of oothers and making sure his calling and election All which seeing they be procured by afflictious and hardly or never without them as that place 1 Pet. 4. 18. proveth And if the righteous be scarcely saved And this is the chiefe cause why none of Gods children are without them as Heb. 12. 6. 7. 8. me thinkes there is great reason why we should be thankfull to God for them and so labour to reape this fruit by them that we may say and sing with the Psalmist as it is sweetly expressed in the Meeter O hâ—ppie time may I well say when thou didst me correct For as a guide to learne thy lawes thy rodâ—â—d me direct So little cause haue Gods children to thinke their condition miserable because of afflictions that if we will beleeue and practise what the Apostle Paul professed and performed we must in a holy manner boast of our afflictions Rom. 5. 3. as a Souldier of his scarres got in battell And as a little before we heard 2 Cor. 12. 10. Paul did take pleasure in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses fâ—â— Christs sake Thus we see what comfort we may get out of Gods Word fitly applyed vnto vs by faith for the better bearing of all afflictions of what sort soever I might gather many other fruits of afflictions as some haue done but if all be well wayghed they may be referred to one of these three and so having sayd sufficient of the three former grounds of comfort in afflictions I will come to the fourth and last The fourth ground of comfort in afflictions which is to set out what helpe God hath promised vs in all our troubles that we may be able to beare them and in due season to giue vs a good issue out of them Concerning which it will be profitable to obserue that the Lord knowing our great weaknes to beare the crosse and how full of distrust we be that God will not be ready to helpe vs at least as we would both which are so often to be found in the liues of Gods faithfull servants in all ages as needs no further proofe the Lord I say well acquainted with this frailtie of his children hath most plentifully provided all sufficient helpe to support them and therefore made so many promises to be with them in all their troubles and succour them in all extremities that they shall never perish but in the end find a good end and issue out of them to his glory and their endlesse comfort Having pervsed these promises and gathered them out of the Scripture I may boldly say they doe farre exceed in number all the former so that it would be too tedious to set them down all I will therefore make choice of some of the chiefe that we may haue them ready for our vse against time of need Among all that is exceeding full of comfort which is written Rom. 8. 26. In which chapter the Apostle intending to teach that nothing should hinder the happines of those that be in Christ whereas there be but these two corruption and affliction hee first confutes the one from verse â— to â—7 and secondly the other concerning afflictions from verse 17. to 31. And whereas it might be obiected that though afflictions were profitable to those that could endure them yet oft they be so heauie that we cannot so much as cry to God for helpe as we ought hee answers that even then the spirit helpeth our infirmities c. meaning that when we begin to sincke as not able to stand vnder the burthen then Gods Spirit puts vnder his hand to support vs. Which is in so many words said Psal 37. 24. Though he fâ—ll he shall not vtterly be cast downe for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand Which is when hee doth by his Spirit strengthen vs with faith and patience to waite for Gods helpe one way or other either to rid vs out of our afflictions or make vs quietly to beaâ—e them so long as shal seem good to his heavenly wisedome to continue them For which cause our Saviour Christ fortelling his Disciples of many afflictions Iohn 14. 15. 16. which should befall them in the worlde among other incouragements hee oft tels them that he will send them his holy Spirit to be their comfoâ—â—r who shall be stronger in them then all their adversaries And to the same purpose 16. 33. telling them that in the world they should haue tribulation he bids them bee of good cheare for hee hath overcome the World Likewise the Apostle 2. Cor. 1. 3 4. to hearten the Corinthians to indure all troubles calleth God the God of all comfort who comforted him and all others in all their tribulations that they might be able to comfort others which are in any trouble The like is to be seene almost in all the holy Epistles in which the Saints be incouraged to suffer afflictions patiently But to proceede exceeding many be the places in which God promiseth to his people that he wil be a sure and speedy help in all troubles in due season ready to be found David had great experience thereof The booke of the Psalmes is full of those speeches God â—s my 〈◊〉 my tower my refuge my shield and buckler my health and strength and many moe all tending to this that looke what helpe any man in danger may find in any earthly meanes what soever God is the same much more
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.
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
That God by his word and Spirit first inlighteneth the vnderstanding truely to conceiue the doctrine of mans miserie and of his full recouerie by Christ 2. Secondly by the same meanes he worketh in his heart both such sound sorrow for his miserie and feruent desire after Christ the remedie that hee can neuer bee at quiet till hee inioy Christ 3. Thirdly God so manifesteth his loue in freelie offering Christ with all his benefites to him a poore sinner that thereby he drawes him so to giue credit to God therein that hee gladly accepts Christ offred vnto him These three workes of God whosoeuer findeth to haue beene wrought in himselfe hee may thereby know certainely hee hath faith But without these what change of life soeuer may be conceiued there can bee no certaintie of faith and therefore I againe aduise that this bee first and especially looked vnto for our comfort wherein that none be deceiued with shewes of these in stead of substance I take these to bee true notes of soundnesse For the first of inlightening there can be no doubt For the second of sorrow seeing the causes still remaine Triall of sorrow nametie corruption and affliction therefore this sorrow must continue to our liues end though in a different manner now mingled with comfort whereas the former before faith could haue none Whereas on the other side the sorrow that quite drieth vp was neuer sound as it is to bee seene in many who being once deepely afflicted and in great heauinesse for their miserable estate afterward comming to some comfort are growen so secure and senselesse that hauing no true griefe or remorse for their daily corruptions content themselues that they were once cast downe Whose liues as they bee â—â—ule and full of blottes so their ends be oft fearefull either senselesse or vncomfortable so dangerous it is to quench the spirit in any part Againe Triall of our desire for the triall of our desires after Christ to proue that they be not sudden flashes this is a certaine marke of soundnesse that the more wee taste of Christ the more we couet him As the Apostle Peter exhorteth all that be new borne â— Pet. 2. 1 2 If so bee they haue tasted how sweete the Lord is Mat. 5 6. this is that holy hunger after righteousnesse to which our Lord Iesus promiseth blessednes which many mistake for such a desire as going before all faith hath no promise of blessednesse And great reason there is hereof why all true beleeuers should more and more thus hunger after Christ for that whiles wee liue here we receiue but the first fruits onely and we haue but an earnest pennie of that fulnesse we shall haue and therefore wee cannot be fully satisfied with that we haue receiued but still desire more Lastly for the triall of the third worke of God Triall of faith whereby he worketh Faith that any may know God hath wrought this in him in deed and in truth and not in conceit and opinion wherein many be deceiued I take this to be most infallible in the weakest of those who may know they beleeue that though in temptations they be driuen from their hold yet afterward they returne vnto their rest and finde Gods holy Spirit drawing them yet to beleeue in God because of his word which though it be weake yet it is true faith and not that wauering which hath no faith in it As may bee laid open by a plaine comparison for the weaker sort In a paire of gold weights when they bee emptie either ballance will hang wauering and not rest on either side but if a graine bee put into one aboue the other it will weigh it downe yet so as the winde or a little iogge may lift it vp but if it bee let alone the graine will weigh it downe and so hold it so is it betweene weake faith and wauering When there is any credit giuen and so any resting on Gods word after temptation there is true faith but where there is nothing but a hanging in suspence and vncertaintie that is wauering Iames 1. 7. which cannot looke to obtaine any thing as the Apostle Iames speaketh Thus by the causes is euery one to trie himselfe whether true faith haue bin wrought in him which indeed are the more certaine proofes though not so easilie seene Now followe the proofes taken from the effects and fruits of faith Proofes from effect which be more manifest but not so certaine vnlesse it bee also as manifest that they come from faith To make this plaine to those for whose sakes I write these that is weake beleeuers The principall effects of Faith be Ioy and Loue Ioy in the benefit and loue to god the author of it These bee such as a man may easily see whether he hath them in him or no. But if any man can say hee hath ioy of his saluation and loues God for it to say nothing yet of the truth of these vnles he can proue that these grow out of the tree of Faith they can no more proue that hee hath faith then fruit growing on one tree can proue another tree to bee good For we shall see that both these and many other supposed fruits of Faith are nothing lesse but are bastard fruits and meere naturall affections I meane such as may bee in a naturall man not regenerated but onlie inlightened and wrought by such a working of the Spirit as may be in a reprobate and therefore neither these nor any other change of life can bee proofes of faith further then it is manifest they come from faith The ignorance of this deceiueth many who build their faith on these whereas true fruites grow from Faith But to come to the triall of our faith by the effects thereof Triall by the Spirit which though they be many yet may be all contained vnder this one of receiuing the Spirit not as a stranger to doe some worke and so to depart 1 Cor. 6. 19. but as an Inhabitant to dwell with vs for euer 1 Ioh. 2. 27 And therefore this is set downe as the vnseparable marke of true receiuing Christ which is onlie by Faith This is manifest in the Epistle of Iohn 1 Ioâ— 4. 1. Hereby we know that wee dwell in him and he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his Spirit and to like effect in the Galathians And because yee are sonnes Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts Gal. 3. 2. crying Abba Father Againe in Galathians 3. 2. which is as manifest by all experience when God vouchsafed effectually to call any to imbrace Christ hee sent immediatly vpon them his holy Spirit which at first was in extraordinarie manner as in the Acts Acts 10. 44 but afterwards in ordinary manner Eph. 1. 13. as in the Ephesians where it is said That they after they beleeued were sâ—aled with that