Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
cause_n good_a great_a law_n 2,790 5 4.4124 3 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A01262 Certaine fruitfull instructions and necessary doctrines meete to edify in the feare of God faithfully gathered together by Iohn Frewen ... ; whereunto is added a table, wherein the reader may easily find out the principall matters conteined in this booke. Frewen, John, 1558-1628. 1587 (1587) STC 11379.5; ESTC S4308 159,556 432

There are 12 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

lies and deceipts but when wee come to the touchstone of the worde of God wee shall then knowe what is to be receaued and how we may well discerne it from false doctrines and from the forged and counterfaite practises of mens deuises 24 The ende of the Lawe THE Lawe of God doth not only teache vs howe wee ought to liue with our neighbors being conuersaunt with them without deceipt malice or violence and how to serue God in holinesse and righteousnesse 1 Tim. 1.5 but the cheefest ende of the law is to leade vs to Christ to seeke our saluation in him For it hath pleased God to receaue vs into his fauour by the meanes of his onelye son because we are washed and made cleane from our filthinesse 1. Cor. 6 11 because he hath payed our debtes whereby we were in danger to euerlasting death And finally because we cannot bee iustified by the deedes of the lawe or our owne merits Ro. 5.1 Gal. 3.10 but by the free goodnesse of our God The lawe conteyneth nothing contrarye to the Gospell and if wee consider rightly wee shall finde that the Gospell is a simple expounding of that whiche Moyses preached before and althoughe there was a darknesse in the shadowes and figures of the lawe And that God was not in some respecte so gratious vnto the olde fathers as vnto vs yet notwithstanding the substaunce of the Gospel is drawn from thence 1. Tim. 1.5 Heb. 11.2 and wee haue the same faith which they had that liued before the cōming of our Lord Iesus Christ Great cause haue wee therefore to profit in the Lawe of God to take heede we lose not so great a treasure 25 Loue the fruite of Faith LOue proceedeth from faith which carieth with it a good conscience and a pure harte and so is loue the fruite of Faithe whereby wee knowe that which is secret Moreouer we must knowe that faithe is not a wandering opinion it consisteth not in talking well but it is a liuely knowledge rooted in the harte for therein God offereth himself vnto vs will haue vs for our parts to come vnto him 26 The spirit of Faith is the spirit of loue THe same spirit whiche is the spirit of Faith and perswadeth our consciences to beleeue the vnspeakeable goodnesse and mercie of God towards vs in Christ Iesus is also the spirit of loue and enflameth our hartes earnestlie to loue so bountifull and so mercifull a God that vouchsafed when we were yet his enemies to giue his dearlye beloued sonne to death for vs. Io. 3.16 1. Io. 4.9.10 Now if by the motion of one spirit we doe by faithe assuredlie know Gods goodnesse toward vs and by the knowledge and true sense thereof do loue him for the same needes must there follow obedience to his will and perpetual studie to please him Io. 14.13 Faithe then of necessitie bringeth forth loue and loue bringeth forth obedience to his will He that loueth me saieth our sauiour Christ keepeth my sayings This loue then should lead vs to obedience this loue shoulde be the roote of all good doings and not of a proud hope to merit Gods fauour and euerlasting life by our owne good woorkes Luc. 17.10 For when wee haue done all that we can doe as Christe witnesseth wee haue not yet done so much as of duetie we should doe 27 Faith it is that iustifieth HE sheweth himselfe to be a preposterous interpreter of the lawe who seeketh to be iustified by the workes thereof because the Lawe was giuen to this ende that it might leade vs by the hande to another righteousnesse Whatsoeuer the Lawe teacheth whatsoeuer it commaundeth whatsoeuer it promiseth Ro. 5.1 Ro. 10.4 Gal. 3.24 it hath Christ always for his marke and therefore all the partes thereof are to bee directed vnto him And that cannot bee vnlesse we being spoyled of all righteousnesse confounded with the knowledge of sinne doe seeke for free righteousnesse of him onlie For although the lawe of righteousnesse doeth promise a rewarde to his obseruers Yet after it hath brought all vnder giltinesse it substituteth a new righteousnesse which is not gotten by the merit of works Ro. 3 20. but being freely giuen is receaued by faith 28 The vse of the Lawe THe Lawe is giuen to condemne vs to th' end we should seeke saluation in our Lord Iesus Christ forasmuch as in our selues there is nothing but condemnation And although the childrē of God are exempt and set at liberty from the curse therof by the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ insomuch as hee hath put out the hand writing of ordinances that was againste vs Col. 2.14 and fastened the same vppon the crosse to the end that when we shall come before the iudgement seate of God wee might be acquited and discharged yet notwithstanding because of our manifold corruptions and superfluities God applieth his law to stirr vs vp to goodnesse and to correct our vices that our hartes should not be hardened ● therefore wee ought to submitte our selues vnto it willinglie and not bee like vnto the wicked whiche must bee constreyned thereunto by force 29 The Lawe and the Gospell THe Law was giuen after a fearefull and terrible manner and it brought nothing but deathe and cursing And the Gospel bringeth vs life and saluation In the law there was as it were a vaile couering Ex. 19.18 Deu. 4.11 and God spake as it were in a shadowe but in the Gospell hee reuealeth himselfe face to face and not onelye in a naturall image but to the end that we should haue our shape turned into his glory and that we should profitte therein from day to daye In the gospell we haue the summe of righteousnesse as saith the Prophet Malachie Mal. 4.2 wherein God saieth not that hee will make his worde as a lampe as before in the Lawe but it is saide that the sun of righteousnesse shall arise and vnder his wings shal be perfect health as the Apostle also declareth that the doctrine which is nowe set foorthe is not darke and obscure For God hath in such sort taken order for what soeuer was expedient for the perfection of our saluatyon that we see clearlie in the doctrine of the gospel what soeuer is necessary and requisit for vs wee neede not any more goe seek the starres seing wee haue the Sunne that shineth so brightlie and therfore let vs learne to bee content with the Gospell forasmuche as God hath giuen vs such a direction as he knoweth meete for our saluation 30 The Lawe and the Gospel THe Lawe sheweth vs our sin the Gospell sheweth vs remedie for it The Lawe sheweth vs our condemnation Ro. 3.20 Io. 1 29 Ro. 7.7 Col. 1.6 Ro. 4.15 Act. 14.3 Io. 1.29 Ro. 5.10 the Gospell sheweth vs our redemption The Law causeth wrathe the gospell is the worde of grace the lawe is the worde of dispaire the gospell is the worde of comfort
our conditiō so that in mind we burne with the desire of a better our dooinges can neuer be perswaded that they must so neerely be looked at but that they may borrowe a little of conscience equitie to make the prouisiō according as the desire directeth This doth the Apostle cōfirme in plaine speech to Timothy where after perswasion to be content with that we haue because the gaine of godlines is great he telleth vs plainly that they who wil be rich 1. Tim. 6.9 fal into many temptations snares and many noisome lusts This is the danger of them that are fallen so fa● into friendship of a better estate that they wil be rich This being once set down and determined not only cōscience is constrained to depart but also thankfulnes to God for our present estate doth in like manner forsake vs. 70 The exposition of the ninth commandement IN the fift commaundement of the seconde Table the Lorde our God vnder one kinde Eph. 4.25 Ps 15.2 doeth giue vs a generall doctrine meaning that wee may not speake any thing to the reproch of our neighbour falsely Pro. 21.1 that we should neither lye flatter nor dissemble that we should neuer tell false tales behinde our neighbours backe that wee should not in priuate offences speake any thing 1. Co. 13.7 1. Pet. 4.8 Pro. 11.12 Mat. 18.15 16.17.18 although it be true to the hurting of our brothers good name if by priuate admonitions he may be woone Hee heareth false witnesse that of hatred enuie friendshippe or affections eyther concealeth or vttereth not the truth or by his witnesse ouerturneth the same Truth in all matters by this lawe is commaunded and lyes dissimulation flatterie and whatsoeuer is false and fained is forbidden 71 What it is to beare false witnes IF wee will obey God wee must maintaine the honour and credite of our neighbours as much as lyeth in vs. For when hee hath forbidden vs to hurt his good name he willeth also on the contrary side that we maintaine the honor estimatiō of al. Deu. 5.20 Now it is not sufficiently maintayned in his estate when we harme it not except we withall procure the good therof Ex. 20. i6 Therefore when we shall come into iudgement we must take heede of hurting those by any false report any lying or any forswearing Leu. 19.16 whose honor and good we are bounde to procure For he which shall beare false witnesse against his neighbour hee killeth and robbeth him asmuch as he can and he doth all the euill whiche proceedeth from periury And this is the cause why God commaunded in his Lawe that the witnesses shoulde be the first which should lay hands to the execution of him that was punished for any euill deede Deut. 17 7 to the ende it might be knowne that by their voices and by their tongues they had putte him to death and that the witnesses should be put in greater feare of speaking otherwise then the trueth when euery one shoulde think he hath to render an accompt to God if he shall haue beene a witnesse against anye man So then when question is of being a witnesse euery one must deepelie consider of the matter and take diligent heede he enlarge not his conscience but that he speake in pure simplicity that which he knoweth to bee true before God And here we are to think not onely of false witnessinges which shal be against the life of a man but of such also which concerne their goodes and estimation And thus are we warned in all respectes to procure the honor and profit of our neighbours Pro. 10 12 when we are to beare witnes And yet not so that vnder this shadowe of couering the iniury of him that hath offended or of preseruinge his goods we lie before God For if the honor of men be deare vnto vs what ought the honor of God to bee if we will make comparison If God haue a regarde and care of vs which are but poore creatures let vs not thinke that in the meane time he will forget himselfe But if by false witnesse wee seeke to beare out and bolster him that hath offended if we couer the faulte and dissemble it It is certaine that wee blaspheme the name of God and deface his glory asmuch as lyeth in vs. 72 Against slaundederes and lyars THere is no man but desireth to haue a priuie freinde which is no talker and babler to the end that if he haue any thing in his heart which doeth trouble and grieue him that he may safely open the same vnto his freind that he may be somwhat eased and relieued he hopeth also that that which he hath declared shall be kept secret or at leastwise that the thing shall not bee expounded otherwise then it was spoken and that hee will not labour to hurte him nor to bring him into hatred with his neighbour Ex. 20.16 Deu. 5.20 Leu. 19. i6 according to this commaundement Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour There ar some which think and beleeue that it is not euill done to reueale secretes to condemne their neighboures and to publish their imperfections but the holye Ghoste heere condemneth all suche personnes calling them slaunderers by the mouth of Solomon Pro. 12.13 And it is notwithout good cause that such people are condemned For first of all they are hipocrits secondly they are transgressors of the Law Mat. 7.5 Thirdlye they set themselues before the Law in condemning it Speake not euill one of another brethren He that speaketh euill of his brother speaketh euill of the Lawe Iam. 4.11 and condemneth the Law and if thou condemnest the Law thou art not an obseruer of the Lawe but a iudge Infideiitye vnfaithfulnesse hath taken roote in their harts whereby they are ledd to betray their neighbors in discouering that which they ought to keepe secret Moreouer if we be not ledde by loue we cannot be faithful vnto our neighbors for to dissemble their imperfections 1. Cor. 13. there is no strength in vs that is worth any thing except it bee exercised by loue And if by loue we must exercise faithfulnesse the whiche is set against false witnesse bearing it followeth that the slaunderer is ledde with hatred to discouer the secret and consequently that he is a murtherer 1. Io. 3.15 1. Io. 3.14.25 For whosoeuer hateth his brother is a manslear He that loueth not his brother abideth in death Yet neuerthelesse let vs not feare to bee accused of slaunder though we accuse them which leade a slaunderous life though we rebuke them reprooue them and threaten them either priuatly or publickly and though we labor to gette them punished and chastened to the end that slaunders may be taken away from the people of God Ma. 18.17 1. Tim. 5.20 2. Tim. 4.2 and the offendors brought again vnto God by true repentaunce so much as we can Otherwise we should be
stoutly in sight against all the impedimentes of their Faith Thus also Paule commaundeth vs to doe 2. The. 3 13. that wee bee not weary of well doing And in an other place he saith 2. Tim 2.5 that no man is crowned except hee striue lawfully Wee must therefore beare all things with a bolde minde and stoute courage which the Lord shall lay vpon vs. 109 The dutie of Christians IT is the parte of Christians so to liue so to behaue themselues and so to suffer all thinges that Christ onely may be the cause of the hatred and persecution which they suffer and then this is and ought to bee a comforte vnto vs that if wee suffer for Christ then are wee his then shall wee say with the Apostle Paul Wee labour and are rebuked because wee trust in the liuing God 1. Tim. 4.10 which is the sauiour of all men especially of those that beleeue This is a great consolation and comfort that how great soeuer the dangers bee if faith bee present it is able to lift vp a discouraged harte For hee that onlye continueth to the ende committing himselfe vnder the tuition and protection of the Lord He I say at length shal be safe although he bee deliuered to the deathe and hated of all men Ma. 10.22 This safetye and health is promised not by resisting but by suffering as the Lorde doeth plainely declare Luk. 21.19 By your pacience saith he possesse your soules The which containeth a woonderfull consolation They whith fight vnder princes are doubtfull of the victorye but Christe promiseth victory without all doubte to them that fight to the ende Let vs not therefore feare or doubt to fight for the glorie of the Lorde Mar. 13.13 althoughe the whole world rise against vs beecause an happye and prosperous ende is promised vnto vs of Iesus Christ the sonne of God which is a faithfull keeper of our saluation if wee continue 110 The Fruite of our communion with the death of Christ IF Wee bee Christians then muste appeare in vs the signe of our Communion with the deathe of Christe whose fruite is that the flesh be crucified with all our concupiscences Ro. 6.8 Howbeit we may not therefore count this communion as none because as yet wee doe feele some reliques of the flesh to liue in vs But wee are continually to study for the encrease therof vntil we are come vnto the marke For it is well if our flesh bee continually mortified and wee haue well profited when the fleshe being subdued hath yeelded to the holye Spirit And there is an other communion of the deathe of Christ whereof the Apostle Paule speaketh in diuerse places 2. Cor. 4 10 and namely to the Corinthians as touching the bearing of the Crosse after whiche followeth the participation of eternall life Newnesse of life muste bee followed after of Christians the whole course of their whole life for if they ought to represent in themselues by the mortification of the fleshe the Image of Christ and life of the spirit That muste bee done once for all but this muste continue still Not as though the fleshe were mortified in vs in a moment but beecause wee muste not reuolte or go backe in mortifying the fleshe For if wee turne backe vnto our filthines we denie Christe Ro. 8.10 of whom wee cannot be partakers but by newnes of life 111 God is not the authour of sinne ALthough God giueth the firste mouing power and strength in all manner of actions which wee must confesse to be good as proceeding from him and ordereth and disposeth all euill Ro. 9.14 which is a peruerting of the good that commeth from God and proceedeth from Sathan and the corruption of mans nature so that he cōuerteth the same alwaies in the end to his glory and the benefit of his elect as we see in the persecution of the wicked and the infirmities of the godlye Ps 19.9 yet is hee by no meanes to be charged as the authour and cause of sinne and euill When it pleased the almightie to shewe foorth his infinite power wisedome goodnes in the creation of thinges visible and inuisible bodily and spiritually it pleased him for the illustration and setting forth of the glory of his goodnes to ordeyne that euil shoulde proceede out of the freewill of his reasonable creatures And this his ordinance is good For although euill bee naught and cursed be he that saith euill is good Esay 5.20 yet that there shoulde bee euill which is Gods ordinaunce it is excellent good The excellencie of goodnes cannot so well appeare and be knowne as by the comparison of the contrarie which is euill Therfore it is perfect good that euill should be the manifestation of that which is good we see that in all the creatures and workes of the worlde God hath ordeyned that his glorie should shine in contraries As to the intent that the beautie and glorie of light should be seene and knowne to bee such as it is he hath ordeyned darkenes For if he had created light to be perpetuall without anye chaunge of darkenes howe had it bene possible for men although liuing in the light to haue knowne the excellencye of light and so should God haue bene defrauded of the glory of so beautiful profitable and comfortable a creature Therfore euen as by darkenes we learne howe to esteeme light and by bitter that which is sweet and euery other thing by his contrarie euen so by the deformity of euil we are taught how great is the excellent comelines of that which is good and so the ordinance of God that there should be euil is perfect good 112 God cannot be accounted the cause of sinne THat the glory of gods mercy might appeare in the saluation of his elect and his iustice in the condemnation of the reprobate Ro. 9.22.23 it was necessary that there should be euil and so necessarie that otherwise there shoulde haue bene no matter for the mercye iustice of God to worke vpon for if there should haue bene no sinne nor euil Ps 19.9 wherein then should the mercie of God haue bene seene in pardoning forgiuing sinnes if there should haue bene no transgression how should the glory of Gods iustice haue shined in punishment And thus it is euident that god by no means may be coūted the author of euil which he hath not created made or wrought but ordeined that it should proceede from the freewill of his reasonable creatures for the illustration of his glory Let vs therefore tremble at his righteous iudgements who doth al thinges according to the good pleasure of his will and hath made the wicked man for the daye of his wrath and yet by no meanes is the cause of his wickednes If any man be not satisfied with this aunswere Ro. 11.33.34 he may enter further vnto the vnmeasurable depth of Gods iudgement into the which he maye rather finde an
seconde Table of the lawe pag. 61 Talent VVe must not hide our Talent vnder the grounde pag. 372. Tribulation Tribulation bringeth foorth patience pag. 194 Tribulation Seeke affliction Time looke Season V Vnitie The Vnitie of essence is not taken away by the distinction of persons pag. 219 Vertue and Vice We can neither attaine vertue nor vice by our freewill pag. 254 The worde of God is a great vertue pag. 356 Vocation Vocation after purpose pag. 269 Vsurie seeke couetousnesse VV. Will. The VVill of God must bee our direction pag. 135 147 Our will is vtterly blinde til God hath changed vs. pag. 257 Of Freewill pag. 250 The doctrine of Freewill is an arrogant doctrine pag. 251 The doctrine of Freewill is blasphemous pag. 253 Opinion of Freewill is vnthankefulnesse pag. 255 We can neither attaine vertue nor eschue vice by our owne Freewill pag. 254 Man hath no freewill to do good pag. 258. 260 Freewill ouerthrowen pag. 179. 265 Freewill and the lawe without grace can doe nothing pag. 262 Freewill highly extolled of the Papistes pag. 264 Wisedome The perfection of wisedome pag. 10 The feare of God is true wisdom pag. 364 Witnesse Of true and false witnesses pag. 109 VVhat it is to beare false witnesse pag. 104 Worde The word of God abideth for euer pag. 131 VVe must worshippe God according to his worde pag. 39 Popish satisfactions are not warranted by Gods worde pag. 179 The worde of God is a great vertue pag. 356 The cause why the worde of God is despised pag. 357 Wrong VVee must absteine from wrong and iniurie pag. 72 Against wronge and oppression pag. 92 FINIS FRVITFVL INstructions and necessary doctrines meete to edify in the feare of God 1 The foundation of our saluation THE holye Ghoste saith by the mouthe of the Apostle Paule in his seconde chap. vnto the Ephesians Eph. 2.8 Col. 1.19 that wee are saued by faith For we know not that God is our father we knowe not that we are reconciled to him but onelye by the preaching of Faith whereby we lay holde on the promises of the gospell and wherein God sheweth that he is well pleased toward vs through our Lord Iesus Christ And thus we attain to the possession of our saluation by faith and yet there is none that giueth vs faithe but God onelie Phil. 1 29. the reason wherfore he giueth it vnto vs is this because it hath pleased him to chose vs before we were made yea before the worlde it selfe wa● made as the Apostle sheweth in the firste vnto the Ephesians In which place vers 3.4 1. Pet. 1.2 he setteth that before vs which is or ought to be most familiar and knowne vnto vs as namelie that God hath made vs pertakers of heauenly blessings in Christ Iesus and that forgeuing vs our sinnes he sheweth that we are acceptable vnto him and that hee hath taken vs to bee hys children 2 The cause of our saluation is the mercie of God IN the saluation of the godlie there is nothing to be sought for aboue the goodnesse of God For seeing we are all comprehended in this race of Adam whiche hath nothing in it but corruption and sinfulnesse and therefore wholly subiect vnto Sathā what goodnesse is it that God canne finde in vs And what can hee fores● in vs but onlye sinne Eph. 2.3 So that is is certaine that God doeth not choose men to take them into the number of his children because hee foresaw them to be better then those whiche he forsooke and reiected Deu. 4.37 7 8 Psal 44.3 Io. 15.16 Act. 13.48 but it muste needes be that his goodnes and mercie bare the cheefest swaie herein without any other consideration Of his owne free mercie and grace of his owne will in Christ his sonne he hath chosen and preferred vnto life whom hee will haue to bee saued and accompted among the iust Before the children were borne and when theye had neither done good nor euill that the purpose of God might remain according to election not by workes Ro 9.11.12 but by him that calleth it was saide vnto her The elder shall serue the younger Hee hath chosen vs in himself Eph. 1 4.5 1. Pet. 1.2 before the foūdation of the world was laid that we should be holie without blame before him in loue c. Seing then that the mercy grace of God do go before election as the cheefest cause thereof it is manifest that all the works of the Law and deserts whatsoeuer are excluded Iam. 3.8 Mat 3.9 whether they go before faith or followe after The Lorde your God is God of gods and Lorde of Lordes Deu. 10 17. Act. 10.34 Iob. 34.9 Eph. 6.9 a greate God mighty and terrible which accepteth no persons nor taketh reward Howe much lesse to him that accepteth not the persons of Princes and regardeth not the rich more then the poore for they be al the workes of his hāds 3 God hath not elected euery one THe Lord is debtor vnto no mā It is of his free mercye whatsoeuer he giueth vnto man He may bestow his benefits vpon whom he wil. I wil shew mercy vnto whom I will shewe mercie Ex. 33.19 and I wil haue compassion on whom I wil haue cōpassion In the which wordes he noteth the highest cause of bestowing grace namelie his voluntary decree and withall hee insinuateth that hee hath appointed his mercy peculierlie for certaine and yet God in reiecting whom he will is not onelye without blame but also wonderful in his wisdome and iustice Ro. 9.17 Ro. 9.21 Hath not the potter power of the claye to make of the same lumpe one vessel to honour and another to dishonour The causes of reprobation are hidde in the eternall and vnsearchable counsel of God the righteousnesse whereof we ought rather to worship thē curiously to seeke after Whatsoeuer is in any creature it is the ministerie of the power of God The faithfull being vessels of mercie are made instruments to set forth the mercy of the Lorde and the reprobate being vessels of wrath are predestinate to shewe forth the iudgements of God and both the one and the other to his euerlasting glorie 4 Gods election muste not bee a cause of negligence IF God hath bestowed any grace vppon vs and hath assured vs of our saluation in Christ by meanes of his holye spirit yet must wee not thereby take occasion to be secure and negligent Eph. 2.10 1. Pet. 1.13 14.15 1. Thes 4.7 Tit. 2.11 12. but rather bee stirred so much the more earnestly to walke in holinesse and to attaine vnto that whereunto God calleth vs. And although it consisteth not in any mortal mans power to disapoint the councel which God hath established from aboue yet if wee be carelesse we do asmuch as lieth in vs to make of none effect the purpose of God 5 Sathan is a continuall enemie to them that feare God IT
The Lawe saith pay thy debt the gospell saith Christ hath paid it The Law saith thou art a sinner dispaire and thou shalt be damned the gosple saith thy sinns are forgiuen thee be of good comfort thou shalt be saued The law saith make amends for thy sinne the gospell saith Christ hath made it for thee The lawe saith the father of heuen is angrye with thee the gospell saith Christ hath pacified him with his blood The Law saieth where is thy righteousnesse goodnesse and satisfaction the Gospell saith Christe is thy righteousnesse goodnesse and satisfaction The law saith thou arte bound and endebted to mee The gospell saith Christ hath deliuered thee from them all He that beleeueth not Gods worde beleeueth not God him selfe the Gospell is Gods worde therfore he that beleeueth not the gospell beleeueth not god himselfe 31 Difference betweene the Lawe and the Gospell THere is nothing more necessarie and comfortable for troubled consciences then to be well instructed in the diffecence betweene the Law and the gospell and therfore is the church of Rome muche to blame in this behalfe because it confoundeth together these two being in nature so diuers and contrarye one from the other as threatnings and promises things tēporall with things eternall soroweful things with glade tydings death with life bondage with freedome c. teaching the people that whatsoeuer the Lawe saith the gospel confirmeth and whatsoeuer the gospell saith the same is agreeable to the law and so make they no difference betwene Moses and Christ saue onely that Moses say they was the giuer of the old law and Christ is giuer of the new and more perfect law And thus imagine they the gospell to bee nothing els but a newe Law giuen by Christ bynding to the promises thereof the condition of our dooings and deseruings no otherwise then the old law And so deuyde they the whole lawe after this distinction into three parts the Lawe of nature the law of Moyses and the Lawe of Christe And as for the Gospell they saye it is reuealed for none other cause but to shewe to the worlde more perfect preceptes and counsailes then were in the olde lawe to the fulfilling whereof they attribute iustification and so leaue the poore consciences of men in perpetuall doubt and induce other manifolde errors bringing the people into a false opinion of Christ as thoughe he were not a remedy against the law but came as an other Moyses to giue a newe lawe to the worlde Furthermore as they make no difference beetweene the nature of the Law and nature of the Gospel confounding Moses and Christ together So neyther do they distnict or discern the time of the law and the time of the Gospel a sonder Gal. 3.24 For where S. Paule bringeth in the lawe to bee a Schoolemaister limiteth him his time vnto Christ and saith that Christe is the ende of the Law that is Mat. 5.34 Ro. 10.4 whereas the Lawe ceaseth there Christ beginneth and where Christe beginneth there the law endeth They contrariwise make the Law to haue no ende nor ceasing but giue to it immortal life and kingdome equall with Christe so that Christ the lawe together do raigne ouer the soule and conscience of man which is vntrue For either Christe muste giue place and the law stande or els the law the condemnation and curse of the law I meane must ende and Christe raigne For both these Christ and the Law grace and malediction cannot raigne and gouerne together 32 Of the true worship of GOD. The Lord our God doth straight lie charge vs in the firste commaundement of the firste table that we reserue vnto him onelie Ex. 20.2.3 Mal. 1.6 Mat 10.28 Ier. 10.7 Ps 135.6 hys whole honour not giuing anye parte thereof to anye other That wee loue and feare him aboue all that wee acknowledge him alone to bee our gouernour and guider of al things of whom we receaue all our benefittes And finally that we make our prayers to none other but to God alone For inasmuch as he is God alone and besides him there is no other Iam. 1.17 Ro. 10.14 and can and will doe all thinges for vs which are needfull aswell for our soules as bodies Wee must not goe vnto them which are no Gods neither any other where to seeke those things which cā be perfourmed and geuen vs by none but God onely The man that will truely examine himselfe in this commaundemēt must well consider with himselfe what doubting and mistrusting he hath of Gods helpe in aduersitie what vnlawfull meanes hee hath vsed to helpe him by in his seeldome or carelesse resorte vnto him in his prosperitie aduisedly considering that the lawe requiring soundnesse in our whole nature aswell in thought Deu. 27.26 as in deed accurseth him that continueth not sounde in all that is commaunded By this meanes we shal be brought to see what neede wee haue of the obedience and bloudshed of Iesus Christ Gal. 3.24 and so shall the Lawe be come our Schoolemaister to bring vs vnto Christ 33 What signifieth the deliueraunce out of Aegipt VVHereas the Lorde maketh mētion in the beginning of his lawe Ex. 20.2 of the deliueraunce from the bondage of Egipt we muste vnderstande that as concerning the bodie it is peculierly to bee referred to the people of Israel Howbeit it doth indifferently belong vnto vs all in that we are redeemed by Christ from hel the diuell sinne and death For wee are the children of Adam by nature accursed and inheritors of death Eph. 2.3 wee haue nothing in vs but sinne and so consequentlie we muste needes be accursed before God Let men please● magnifie themselues as they liste yet beholde their birth beholde their nobilitie they are but bondslaues of Sathan they haue a sinke and bottomelesse gulph of corruption in them they are worthy that the wrathe and malediction of God should fall vppon their heades breifly being banished from the kingdome of heauen they are giuen ouer to all misery wretchednesse Now our Lord God by the hand of his sonne hath hence deliuered vs. He hath not sent a Moses as to the people of auncient tyme but not sparing his only sonne he hath deliuered him to death for vs. Io. 3.16 Being then ransomed with so deare and inestimable a price as is the holie and sacred bloud of the sonne of God We ought wholly to yeald our selues vnto him So then in steade that it was said to the auncient people that God had deliuered them out of the land of Egipt it is now saide that wee bee redeemed from the bondage of Sathan to liue vnto the Lorde Ro. 14.8 1. Cor. 6.19 as the Apostle speaketh that we are not our owne Wherefore it behoueth the faithfull that they presume not on the libertie to doe what seemeth them to liue euery one after his owne luste For our Lord Iesus Christ therefore died and rose againe and reuiued
themselues The same is witnessed in Ezechiell And in the Acts of the Apostles the couenaunt made with Abraham for blessing al nations in his seede is said to be performed in Christ in turning euery one of his from their iniquity Act 3.26 Vnto you saieth the holy Ghost hath God raised vppe his sonne Iesus and him hath he sent to blesse you in turning euery one of you from your iniquities The Iews had this speciall ceremonie of rest to exercise them in the doctrine and practise of mortification the trueth of which ceremony is fulfilled in Christ For by the power of his death it is brought to passe Rom. 6.8 that sinne dieth in his It was necessary they should be acquainted with this doctrine for the Lord hath no seruice of vs that he wil accept of if we learne not to renounce and deny our affections Neither can we go truely to the obedience of him but in the deniall of our selues 48 How wee ought to profite by the Saboth THe Saboth day ought to serue vs as it were for a tower to make vs moūt on high to view the workes of the Lord from a farre when we are neither hindered nor occupied with any thing but that wee may applie all our senses and all our whole vnderstāding to reknowledge the gracious giftes and benefites which he hath bestowed vpon vs. And when wee shall haue well practised this on the Saboth daye that is to say when we shall haue deepelie considered the works of God we shall verilie all the rest of our time be giuen hereunto and these meditations shall so fashion and adorne vs that the next day Ex. 20.8 Deu. 5.12 and all the rest of the weeke we shall be ledde to thanke our God when so before hande wee shall haue premeditated on his workes to make our profit therein But when the Saboth day is spent not only in vnlawful games pastimes ful of vanitie but in things with are altogether cōtrarie vnto God that men thinke they haue not celebrated the same except God therein be by many and sundrie waies offended when men vnhallowe in this sort this holy day which God hath instituted to leade vs vnto himselfe it is no marueile if wee become brutish and beastly in our doinges all the rest of the weeke Wherefore let vs know that it is not sufficient to come to church on the Saboth day to receaue some good doctrine and to call vpon the name of the Lord but we must digest those things which we heare and receaue apply al our senses to the better vnderstanding of those benefites which God bestoweth vpon vs Mat. 7.24 Luk. 11.28 Ia. 1.22 c. and that by this meanes we bee so formed and fashioned to the same that the Monday and all the rest of the weeke following coste vs nothing to come and aspire to our God and that wee neede but call to minde that which wee haue learned before at good leasure when our mindes be as it were vnwrapped from all those thinges which hinder vs to receiue the workes of God 49 Of the second table of the law AS the Lord in the fower commaundements of the first table doth perfectlie instruct vs in al the dueties that appertaine directly vnto his worship and seruice euen so in the second table he doth giue vs rules and precepts for the duties that we do owe vnto men The dueties vnto God do admonish vs that al our doings towardes men are nothing where Gods glorie doth not goe before As it is written by S. Iohn In this we know that we loue the children of God when we loue God and keepe his commaundements As like as our dealing with men is nothing when the true seruice of God 1. Io. 5.2 is either not knowne or not regarded so that seruice that is giuen vnto God is not accepted when our brethren are neglected of vs. And therefore our sauiour Christ chargeth vs that whē our neighbour hath any thing against vs we should not presume to offer anie gift vnto God before we be recōciled Mat. 5.23 24. So greatly doth the Lord esteeme of this louing conuersation with men that the holy Ghost maketh it the proofe of our blessed estate We know saith S. Iohn that we are translated from death to life 1. Io. 3.14 Ex. 20 12. Ier 19.3 Col. 3.20 because wee loue our brethren Concerning that which we do owe vnto men the honoring of father and mother hath the first place To honour our parents is to yeelde vnto them all obedience reuerence and gratefulnes Children saith S. Paule Eph. 6.1 obey your parents in all thinges for that is well pleasing vnto the Lord. And our Sauiour Christ Math. 15 so likewise Mark 7. doth declare out of this commaundement how children ought to behaue themselues towardes their parents By father and mother all those are vnderstood who are the conueiers of any speciall goodnes of God vnto vs whom because he hath vouchsafed to be his meanes in conueying of the grace that we do enioy by him he cānot abide that they should be without honour at our handes 50 We must obey our Superiours GOd will proue our obedience and the loue we beare him whē he commandeth vs to walke in all equitie and vprightnes with our neighbours and that wee liue together in such loue and vnitie that anie one be not giuen vnto himselfe but that we communicate together and that euery one according to his abilitie to do well imploy and force himselfe thereunto This way God proueth vs to know whether we worshippe him vnfainedly and from our heart And this is the cause why our Lorde Iesus Christ saieth that the weightier matters of the lawe is iudgement Mat. 23.23 mercy fidelitie Therefore when we liue with men without hipocrisiy and dissimulation when wee are not geuen to our subtill sleightes nor malicious practises when wee studie to minister and to serue euery one in his commoditie when we maintaine right and resiste wrong as much as lyeth in vs wee then shall accomplish the chiefe and principall part of the lawe Not that the seruice of God ought in the meane time to be forgotten or that it is of lesse importaunce but because it is vnpossible that men acquite themselues in their duties towardes their neighbours except they be lead therevnto by the feare of God And although mention bee here expresselye made of father and mother yet there is no doubt but God meant to deliuer a generall doctrine Rom. 13.1 of hauing al superioritie in honour For if it had not touched any thing of the duetie we owe to other superiours as Princes Magistrates and those which haue the sword of Iustice if it had deliuered nothing concerning Masters it woulde haue seemed to haue bene vnperfect Therefore we must conclude that God hath commaunded that all they which are in honour and authority be honored and obeyed Neither ought we to
Paules Epistles vnto the Romaines 76 What is ment by the word couet TO couet sometimes importeth the will which is in a mā as whē one shall cast his eye vpon the goodes of his neighbour if he shall be tempted to couetousnes and that he norish such a temptation in him and geue himselfe the bridle sinne then hath wonne so much Ex. 20.17 Deu. 5.21 that he hath a resolute will in him that he coulde wish well that the same were his This is one kind of desire which importeth withall a will when a man shall consent vnto sinne and if he had the meane he would put in practise his wicked will and purpose which he hath conceiued Now such wicked desires haue bene already forbidden Deu. 5.18 19. Ex. 20.14 15. when it hath bene said Thou shalt not steale thou shalt not commit adultery For God hath not onely forbidden the acte of fornication and stealing but to desire and lust after either the wife of another or his goodes and substaunce But there are other desires and lusts to the which we cleaue not at all to consent vnto them which oftentimes tickle and stirre vs vp and wee perceiue some motion in vs which is against God and is rebellious to the integrytye and vprightnes which is conteined in the law and such desires are forbidden in this place For God not without cause hauing condemned all euil desires and affections annexeth that this is not yet such a perfection as hee requireth but wee must know that euery affection which stirreth vs vp vnto euill although wee conclude not anye thing within our selues neither rest our selues vpon it that if onely a concupiscence forceably breake forth in vs and wee striue therewith that this is a sinne committed and wee are culpable before God And thus we see what integrytye the Lorde requireth of vs in this commandement Deu. 6.5 Mat. 22 37. Mat. 12.29.30 whē hauing forbidden wicked desires he adioyneth that both our sences and mindes must bee locked vp in such sort vnder his feare and inflamed with such a loue and desire to walke in all holines that we be not moued or driuen either on one side or other by any wicked passion to desire either the goodes or the wife of another 77 What is ment by the word neighbour BY the word neighbour God meaneth not onely our kinred and frends at whose hands we hope for some profit and aduauntage or which haue deserued some recompēce at our hands but hee wil haue vs to haue an eie to the cōmō aliāce which he hath set among vs for therfore are we all formed after his Image and beare his marke Deu. 5.21 Ex. 20.17 Luk. 10.29.37 Pro. 27.10 Besides this we bee al of one nature the which ought to hold vs in true vnity and brotherlye loue but many make themselues vnworthy of it for some be ful of wilines and malice some are full of pride othersome are ful of harmefulnes so that asmuch as lyeth in thē they do cut off themselues from the araye and cōpany of neighbours yet notwithstanding although men deserue not ●o be counted and taken for neighbours yet in bearing them loue wee shewe it is good reason that God should ouerweigh our owne naughtines Such as are our enimies labor to deuour vs do notwithstāding not cease to be our neighbours in respect of the order that God hath set And for the same cause also our Lorde Iesus Christ telleth vs that it is no charity to recompence him that hath done vs a good turne or seruice nor to loue those whō we like of Mat. 5.46 Luk. 6.27 Act. 7.60 1. Cor. 4.13 or at whose hāds we looke for some profit For the heathen do asmuch as that commeth too but they do it not to obey god and his law and when we haue regard of our owne profit it is rather a louing of our selues then any point of charitye For the markes that charity shooteth at are god and the communion or felowship that ought to be among vs then it is a true proofe that we are desirous to loue God when we endeuour to do good euen to them that are vnworthy of it But because we are very far from the perfection of the law it behooueth vs to fight against our owne nature that we may obey God For the true exercise of christianity is to acknowledge and bewaile our own sinfulnes and infirmitie in discharging our duety towards God and therupon to labour and endeuour to winne of our selues from day to daye so as our lustes maye not ouermaister vs but rather that God may haue such superioritye that in stead of louinge our selues we may labour to imploy our selues in doing good wheresoeuer he calleth vs. 78 We must applye our thoughtes delight and desires to profit our neighbour THe lord our god commandeth vs to bring our desires thoughtes and delightes vnto the good and benefit of our brethren and that wee bring not onely handes to do well to our neighbours but also heartes thoughtes desires lusting longing and delighting therein according as the Apostle testifieth of himselfe that hee was delighted with the lawe of God according to the inner man whereunto accordeth the holye Ghost by the mouth of Salomon saying Pro. 21.15 It is ioye to the iust to doe iudgement Manie haue beene brought to doe outward things in themselues good which neuer had any ioyefull desire in them to glorifie God with them but the holy ghost worketh in his not only a change of workes Ps 51.10 but also an alteration of thoughts desires delights that their desires may be holden within that which is good wherin it behoueth a Christian to be carefull Deu. 29.4 euē thus to transforme his delights not taking it sufficient if hee shall haue brought thē at any time frō that which was euill vntill he haue ioyned them to that which is good Wherfore let our care be encreased this way let vs be far frō thinking that the grace of god only reacheth vnto the deede and full consent letting desires and thoughts take their libertie in their corruption but we must confesse as the truth is that his grace not onely brideleth thoughtes from rushinge into that which is euell but also giueth them a sweete taste in that which is good and holdeth them greatly thereunto Wherfore let vs seeke after the grace of God not only to season our deeds but also our thoughtes and delights therewith that our studie thoughts may be occupied in that which is acceptable vnto him 79 Concupiscence restrayned by the Papistes THe Papistes doe restrayne this worde of concupiscence to those euill affections desires which import a resolute will and full consent the which is against the natural sence of Moyses and yet is it a doctrine fully concluded among them And although they cannot deny that to be pricked and prouoked with an euell and wicked desire is a damnable
illustrate the same as it is written 2. Co. 12.9 My power is made perfect through weaknesse and again where sinne abounded the grace of God abounded much more 122 Foure thinges that concurre in remission of sinnes IN remission of sinnes these foure thinges must concurre and go together the cause that worketh which is the sacrifice of Christs bodie 2. the promisse that offereth 3. Faith that apprehendeth and 4. the repenting sinner that receaueth And althoughe sinnes dayly do growe which daylye prouoke vs to craue remission yet as touching the cause that worketh remission of our dayly sinnes and the meanes which apprehendeth and applieth the said cause vnto vs they remaine alwaies one and perpetual besides which no other cause nor means is to bee sought for of man So that to them that bee repenting sinners and be in Christ Iesus there is no lawe to condemne them though they haue deserued condemnation but they are vnder a perpetuall kingdome and a heauen full of grace and remission to couer their sinnes and not to impute their iniquities through the promise of God in Christe Iesus our Lorde And therefore wicked and impious is the doctrine of them firste with seeke any other cause of remission thē onely the blood of our sauiour Iesus Christ Secondly which assigne any other meanes to apply the bloudshedding of Christ vnto vs besides onely faith Thirdly and especially whiche so limit and restraine the eternall priuiledge of the passion of Christ as though it serued but onelye for sinnes done without and before Faith and that the rest after Baptisme committed must be done away by confession pardons and satisfactory deedes 123 Popishe satisfactions are not warranted by Gods woorde THe faithfull are not bounde by the worde of God to do that pēnaunce which the Papistes call satisfaction For there is one eternall satisfactiō viz. a price recōciliation redemption from our sinnes namelye the death of Christ whereby our offēces and punishmenes deserued for the same are clearly forgiuen and wiped a way And this is confirmed both by the Prophetes by the writings of the Euangelists and Apostles Esa 53.5 Ro. 3.24 1. Co. 1.30 Ro. 5.17.18.19 and chiefly by the Apostle Paule in diuers of hys epistles If therefore by our woorkes and pennance which we suffer that is to say if wee attribute to our satisfaction which consisteth in the correction of our body as fasting prayer almes and other like works the remission of our sinnes and the punishment due therefore or if we suppose that by this satisfaction we satisfie and requit al those things for which we wer guilty before God then truly this satisfaction is directly contrary and striueth against the satisfaction of C. Or else must they say that P. in the like case resoned not aright when he said that if righteousnesse be by the Law Gal. 1.21 then C. died in vaine For euen also after the same sort do we also reason saying If we our selus can make satisfaction for our sins what need then had Christ to dy wherefore the true church of God keepeth still that one eternall satisfaction euen the death of Christ herewith do all the faithfull content them selues iudging their works not to be so perfect or worthy that by thē their sins should be forgeuen and that God by them should be satisfied eternall life be purchased 124 Sin doth possesse our whole nature THe infection of sinne is vniuersally dispersed ouer our nature and hath infected euen the thoughtes themselues so greatly that whē the Apostle Paule will set forthe his damnable estate he doth set it foorthe no otherwise but that he did then follow the will counsel of his thoughts We must therefore learned suspect our thoughtes Eph. 2.3 Col. 3.2 if we will bee aduised by the Apostle and not to imagine with the doctors of Roome that our estate is good so long as the will when it shall haue wrestled at length getteth out not hauing wholy yeelded nor flatlye falne downe Thoughtes therefore running this way after any thing of our neighbours in so doing make manifeste declaration of their poyson and corruption which if they haue no resistaunce do carye vs headlong through the brode waye into destruction Rom. 7.7 If by grace they shal be stopped and resisted in that grace God is to be magnified yet we in that our corruption notwithstanding are iustlye to bee blamed and admonished thereby to seeke for more aide in that parte of our thoughtes leaste if that temptation shoulde lye sore vppon vs Sathan shoulde that waye get entrāce into our hartes 125 The Godlye are ioyfull in affliction THe children of God doe reioice in the middest of trouble knowing that it will bring vppon them experience and tryall of Gods goodnesse in the ende Christ is made vnto them redemption from sinne whereas the vngodly howsoeuer in prosperity they fleshly bragge of their hope in GOD yet when affliction commeth 1. Cor. 1.30 they ar without all hart comfort or courage For they knowe not in deede that Christ is made vnto them redemptiō to deliuer them from al that daunger that commeth for sinne aswel as from sinne it selfe This perswasion causeth the godly in all their afflictions and necessities whatsoeuer Iam. 1.3 to staye themselues in godlye conuersation both towards GOD and man with pacience and assured hope of an happy ende Whenas the vngodly either murmure against GOD or else fall into some one euill dealing or other thereby to purchase their deliuerance which is an assured testimony that they doe not looke to haue it from the Lord. 126 Afflictions come by the prouidence of GOD. ALthough God doeth not by and by helpe his children when they are afflicted yet doth hee not forsake them because by his infinite wisedome and mercy he turneth those things to their saluation which seemed discommodities Ro. 8.18 And although the elect reprobate are indifferently subiect to the like euils yet there is great difference because God instructing the faithfull by afflictions doth further them in the marke of their saluation Whatsoeuer thinges happen to the godly they are so tempered from aboue that the which the world thinketh to be hurtfull the issue declareth it to be profitable ther is no cause therefore why it shoulde grieue vs to be afflicted except wee take in ill parte the election of the Lord wherby we are fore ordeyned vnto life and except we be vnwilling to represent in vs the image of the sonne of GOD whereby wee are prepared vnto celestiall glory 127 Afflictions come of Gods determinate purpose WHen God graunteth sathan liberty to afflict the faithful he doeth it not to pleasure him neither is he moued of anye fauour that hee beareth towardes him but because he hath ordeined it in his own purpose He was not moued by his sute nor perswaded by him to afflict and punish Iob but for asmuch as hee was minded of his owne good wil to chastise
him Iob. 1.12 therfore he graunted his demaund yea euen to spite Sathan and to haue the greater triumph againste him in putting him to confusion because hee made full reckoning that Iob should haue cursed God to his face that is that he should haue blasphemed him with open mouth when he felt afflictions to come vpon him If Sathan had neuer vttered anye word nor made any such petition yet God was minded to punish his seruant and he minded it for iust cause the which he hath disclosed vnto vs and if the same were to vs vnknowne yet ought we to reuerence the iustice and counsell of God confessing that he is most righteous and vnpartiall in all his doings Ps 119.137 128 Afflictions be the rods of God vnto the iust ALthough in the outward apparance of the world and sence of the flesh the iust and perfect do suffer in this world the like and more greeuous afflictions then do the wicked yet is their estate nothing so miserable For they knowing that afflictions be the roddes of God their Father do aske deliuerance and are assured to obtaine the same And thus on what side soeuer afflictions do co●● vnto the iust and perfect because they know that God is their defender and keeper they are not afrayde as discouraged and desperate but in all assurance they say with the prophet The Lorde is my light and my saluation whom then shall I feare Ps 27.1 The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then shall I be afraid They knowe this same because of the infallible promise Ps 50.15 145.18 call vpon me in the day of trouble and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifye mee The Lord is neere to all that call vppon him Mat. 11.28 Luk. 12.32 yea to all that call vpon him in truth Come vnto me sayth our Sauiour all yee that are wearie and heauie laden and I will refresh you Feare not little flocke for it is your fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome And God is faithfull as the Apostle witnesseth which will not suffer his to be tempted aboue their power 1. Cor. 10 13. but will euen giue the issue with the temptation that they maye be able to beare it The wicked nowe cannot thus speake in deede for although they thinke themselues most safe and sure and make great account of their owne strength yet because they are hated of God he can well finde them out Ps 7.15 Ps 9.15 and bring their enterprises and counsels to nothing 129 Afflictions come for diuers causes IT is most certaine that al miseries take their originall and beginning at sinne but yet God afflicteth his seruants for diuers causes For as he doeth not take vengeance on some mens sinnes in this worlde but deferreth the punishmentes vntill an other lyfe that hee maye then vse them with more seuerity euen so oftētimes he dealeth more hardly with his faithfull seruantes not because they haue committed greater sinnes then other men but to mortifye in them the concupiscence of the flesh Yea sometyme not respecting their sinnes hee onelye tryeth their obedience Pro. 17.3 or els exerciseth their patience Euen as wee see that the holye man Iob was afflicted that by his aduersitie his godlinesse might be the better knowne Wherefore there are two thinges to bee noted the firste is that iudgement doth oftentimes begin at the house of God 1. Pet. 4.17 and that hee ouer passing the wicked doth seuerely punishe his seruantes and doth more sharpely scourge in correcting the vices of his church The second is that there are diuers endes why he afflicteth men for he suffered Stephen and other of his apostles to be cruelly tormented as if they had beene wicked persons Act. 7.58 whereby we may gather that in the punishments of men the causes of the same cannot bee well discerned 130. Patience ouercommeth affliction WHatsoeuer he be that suffereth the trouble that is layd vpon him for Christes sake maye continue without yrkesomenes euen to the last ende We must not therefore call to minde how long we are afflicted 1. Cor. 9. He. 12.12 but we must haue respect vnto the ende So runne saith the Apostle that yee may obtaine Lift vp your handes saith the authour to the Hebrues that hange downe Heb. 12.1 2. and your weake knees Againe let vs runne with patience the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus Christ the authour and finisher of our faith What doth it profit a man to be painefull in any busines for a time and then to fainte and giue ouer before hee hath brought it vnto good effect doth hee not loose all his labour and trauaile What doth it profite the runner to runne if he faint in the middest of his race shal he haue the game or reward Not without cause therefore doth the scripture in so many places exhort vs to patience and perseuerance Let vs not therefore be weake or feeble 1. Thes 5.54 Heb. 6.12 but followers of them which through faith and patience inherite the promises which is euerlasting life after the trauaile and paine of this life 131. The patience of the faithfull is tride by afflictions BEsides the iust punishment of the open and notorious sinner there is also another cause wherwith God is moued to sende among men miserie affliction and griefes of this world as namelye to trye and proue such as be good and godly that their vertues may more shine among men to the honour and glory of God As siluer and golde saith Salomon is tride by fire Iam. 1.12 Pro. 17.3 so doth God proue and trye the heartes of men In this manner God proued his faithfull seruants Abraham Ioseph and Iob that by the tryall of their constancie their faith might be the more notable and famous and both themselues more in faith confirmed and God by them more glorified When God cast vpon Iob all these miseries which the scriptures mention his vnnaturall wife vnkind frendes with rash and vncharitable iudgement woulde needes perswade him that it was the anger of God and the iust punishment of his sinnes that brought all these thinges vpon him But hee staying himselfe vpon the testimony of a good conscience and the constancie of his faith assured himselfe of the good wil of God and therefore he tooke all patiently saying Iob. 1.21 The Lord hath geuen and the Lord hath taken away euen as it pleaseth the Lord so be it In which wordes we haue to learne the ex●eeding comfort which the children of God take in the middest of troubles by the prouidence of God which extendeth it selfe to all thinges so that there is nothing so base or simple either without man or within man Mat. 10.29 which he neglecteth or is ignorant of 132 To be partakers of the life of Iesus Christ we must before die with him IF we iudge according to our owne fantasy we shal thinke it
our heart is bent to euill 2. Co. 3.5 and that wee haue not so much as a good thought of our selues vntill such time as hee hath made vs to profit in his schole we be all fooles yea euen they that thinke themselues to be most wise And so is al our foolish cōfidence beaten down and men must be faine to vnderstand that vntill God haue called them to his truth they be void of al reason wisedome there is no other meane to make vs walke in the right waye then the vtter bereauing of vs of all our vaine flatteringes 182 Free will ouerthrowne SO long as we are without Christ we bring foorth no good fruite acceptable vnto GOD because we are not apt to doe good for without me sayeth Christ you can doe nothing Io. 15.5 In which woordes hee speaketh most plainely against free-will and against al humaine strength be it neuer so stronge and also vtterly ouerthroweth the same For as the braunch being cut from the vine bringeth foorth no frute but withereth away euen so man can doe nothing at all to attaine to righteousnesse and saluation if so be through vnbeleefe he be separated frō Christ Nowe although the Papistes in worde onely doe confesse that wee can doe nothing without Christ 2. Cor. 3.5 yet notwithstanding they faine a certain power in vs which of it selfe is not sufficient to worke except it be holpen with the grace of God For they will not abide that a man shoulde be so emptie and free frō power strength to worke that which is good but that he may do somewhat of himselfe But the wordes of our Sauiour Christ so plainly spoken cannot in such wise be coloured Such therefore is the imagination of the Papists that they affirme that without Christ we can do nothing and yet notwithstāding being holpen by him that wee can doe somewhat of our selues without his grace But Christ pronounceth the contrary as that we can do nothing of our selues Io. 15.4 For the branch sayth he can not bring foorth fruite of it selfe 183 Of grace election vocation faith iustification glorification free will c. IN them that be chosen to life first Gods mercie and free grace Ro. 10.17 bringeth foorth election election woorketh vocation or gods holy calling which vocation thorough hearing bringeth knowledge and fayth of Christ fayth thorough promise obteyneth iustification iustification through hope wayteth for glorification Election is before time vocation and faith commeth in time Iustification and glorification is without ende Election depending vppon Gods free grace and will excludeth all mans will blinde fortune chance and all peraduentures Vocation standing vppon Gods election excludeth all mans wisedome cunning learning intention power and presumption Faith in Christ proceeding by the gifte of the holye ghost and freely iustifying man by Gods promise excludeth all other merites of men all condition of deseruing and all workes of the lawe both Gods lawe and mans lawe withal other outward meanes whatsoeuer Iustification comming freely by grace standeth sure by promise without doubt Tit. 2.12 feare or wauering in this life Glorification pertayning onely to the life to come by hope is looked for Grace and mercie preuenteth election ordeineth vocation prepareth and receaueth the woorde whereby commeth faith faith iustifieth and iustification bringeth glorie 184 Howe wee may be assured of our election and howe faith doth worke the same WHosoeuer wil be certain of his election in God let him looke to his faith in Christ which if he find in him to stand firme be may be sure and nothing doubt but that hee is one of the nūber of Gods elect Secondly they saie faith and nothing else is the only condition and means wherupon gods mercy grace election vocation all gods promises to saluation do stay according to the words of the holy Ghost Col. 1. Col. 1.23 If yee abide in the faith Thirdly this faith also is the immediate next cause of our iustification simply without any other condition annexed For as the mercie of God his grace election vocation other former causes doe saue iustifie vs vpon condition if wee beleeue in Christ so this faith onely in Christ without condition is the next immediate cause which by gods promise worketh our iustification according as it is written Act. 18.31 beleeue in the Lorde Iesus and thou shalt be saued thou and all thy whole house 185 Election and vocation after purpose THe cause only of gods election is his own free mercy the cause in some manner of our iustification is our faith in Christ nothing else As for example First concerning election if the question bee asked why Abraham was chosen and not Nathor why was Iacob chosen and not Esau Why was Moses elected and Pharao hardened Why Dauid accepted and Saule refused why fewe chosen and the most forsaken It can not be answered otherwise then thus because it was so the good will of God In like manner touching vocation and also faith if the question be asked why this vocation and gifte of faith was giuen to Cornelius the Gentile not to Tertullius the Iewe Why to the poore little ones of this worlde of whom Christ speaketh Mat. 11.25 I thank thee father which hast hid this from the wise c. why to the simple vnwise outcastes in this worlde of whom speketh S. Paul saying 1. Cor. 1.26 ye see your calling my brethren howe not many of you c Why to the sinners not to the iust Why the beggars by the high wayes were called Ma. 11.26 and the bidden gestes excluded We can goe to no other cause but to gods purpose election Lu. 18.14 say with Christ our sauiour yea father for so it was thy good pleasure And so for iustificatiō likewise if the question be asked why the Publican was iustified Mat. 21.31 and not the Pharisei Why harlots Publicans go before the Scribes Pharisies in the kingdome why the sonne of the free woman was receaued Ge. 21.12 the bondwomans sonne being his elder reiected Why Israel which so long sought for righteousnesse found it not and the Gentils which sought not for it foūd it We haue no other cause hereof to render but to say with S. Paul Ro. 9.32 because they sought for it by workes of the law not by faith which faith as it cōmeth not by mans will but only by the free gift of God so is it onely the instrumentall cause whereunto the promise of our saluation is annexed According as we reade Ro. 4.16 Therefore it is by faith that it might come by grace and the promise might be sure to all the seed vers 5. Also in the same chap. he saith that his faith is counted for righteousnesse which beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly 186 Diuers kindes of faith THere be many kindes of fayth as a man may
vs but one onely intercessor Christ in heauen they seeke for none other intercessor there because they haue the same full and perfectlye in Christ But they which do not beleue nor acknowledge Christ for their only and perfect intercessor aduocat such infidels shall neuer be holpen with any prayers of Aungels or saincts if the case stoode so that they did praye for them 191 The Papists will haue Christ to bee in part a Sauiour THe Papistes would weaken the ground of our Faith by a number of corrupt doctrines As first that in part wee haue saluation and remission of sinnes by the merites of sainctes for thus they pray Graunte vs O Christ by the blood of Thomas which he shed for thee thither to go whither he is ascended And to Saint George they pray thus Let him saue vs from our sinnes that we may reste with the blessed in heauen And touching Saint Anne they say thus O God thou which wouldest S. Anne to become the mother of thy mother grāt we beseech thee that by the meritts of the mother and the daughter we may obteine the heauenly kingdome Here are three Sauiours besids Christ in like manner doe they acknowledge a thousand moe Secōdly they say we haue remission of sins and saluation in part by our owne merits and good doings For thus writeth one of their champions that the passion of Christ may be the 1. and principle cause of attayning grace and opening the waye to heauen but it is neuer the whole cause for the euer there goeth with Christ some merit of him that receyueth grace Furthermore what shall bee saide of pardons of Pilgrimages of Purgatory of holy water and a number of such like superstitious and false errors by which not without blasphemy they match transitory things and vain deuises of men with the bloud of Iesus Christ the sonne of God our sauiour the most excellēt price of our redemption expreslye contrarye to the holye Ghost thus writing by S. Peter 1. Pet. 1. i8 Ye are not redemed with trāsitory things as with golde or siluer but with the bloud of that immaculat lamb Christ Iesus 192 Contrariety betweene the religion of Christ and the Pope WHereas the doctrine of Christ is spirituall altogether consisting wholly in spirit and verity and requireth no outward thing to make a true Christian man but onelye baptisme which is the outward profession of Faithe and receiuing of the Lordes Supper If the religion of the Churche of Roome bee examined it will easily bee founde wholly to consiste in nothing else but altogether in outward and ceremoniall exercises as outward confession absolution at the priestes hande outward sacrifice of the masse buying of pardons purchasing of obites externe worshipping of Images and reliques pilgrimage to this place or that building of churches founding of monasteries outward workes of the law outward gestures garments coulors choyse of meates difference of times and places peculiar rites and obseruancies set prayers and number of prayers prescribed fasting of vigiles keeping of holy dayes comming to church hearing of seruice externe succession of Bishops externe forme and notes of the church c. soe that by this religion to make a true christian and a good catholicke there is no working of the holy Ghost almost required 193 Succession is nothing without the doctrine of the Apostles THe aduersaries of the truth to the intent they might proue themselues to be the true church they obiect the succession of Bishops for the space of many hundred yeares in the Apostolicall sea whereas their doctrine being compared with the doctrine of the Apostles by the diuersitie and contrarietie thereof will easilye appeare to be the doctrine neither of the Apostles nor of anye apostolicall men Succession in deede with continuaunce of Apostolicall doctrine ought to be of great authoritie but without it nothing The sonnes of Aaron had more allowable succession from Aaron then the Bishoppes of Rome haue from Peter and yet because they brought strange fire into the temple of God they were reiected and perished Leu. 10.1 Those which in the church of God doe imitate them and contemning the truth deliuered by God desire strange doctrines and bring into the church the instruction of humaine ordinances them doth Christ sharpely reproue in his Gospell saying Mat. 15.3 you cast away the cōmandements of God to establish your owne ordinance Annas and Caiphas had full succession from Aaron yet it were hard thereupon to conclude that they had the right of the true church christ and his apostles to be Scismatickes 194 Succession proueth nothing THey greatly erre which thinke that any thing may be proued by succession whilest they leaue out that which is of most force therein that is that if like as they haue succeeded in the place of godly men they haue also succeeded them in the spirite of Christ in doctrine in faith grauitye godlinesse humilitie and patience Mat. 23.2 The high priestes and prelates who in the time of Christ did sit on Moses chayre coulde haue deriued the petigree of their succession from thē selues euē to Aaron but because their life and doctrine did not agree with the life and doctrine of Aaron and other godly priestes their succession auayled nothing against Christ and his Apostles neither were Christe and his Apostles false teachers or disseuered from the true Church because they were not able to proue their succession as the Pharesies could For the word of God and the institution of Christ was sufficient for them Wherefore sith euen we also now haue on our side the words of God and the institution of Christ there is no succession of Bishops that can proue vs to bee out of the true Church The histories of Popes and other like Prelates which are written yea euen by their deare frendes and defenders do sufficiently testify that almost all of them haue obteined this dignitie and place by most filthy meanes by simony wicked artes violence murthers and trayterous conspiracies Wherfore if it would please them a little more narrowely to consider hereof they should finde by better aduise there were no iust cause to brag of their succession but rather to burye the same in silence seeing by it their euils and horrible filthines is so clearely detected But God hath done this to th' end the truth might be reuealed and the godly warned to gather them selues together vnder our head Christ and into his true church 195 The description of the inuisible Church and visible THe church sometime in the scripture is taken for the whole number of the elect of God that are and haue bene from the beginning of the world in all places and ages euen to this day And this is that Church which is the piller of truth This is that church that neuer can abide in error Mat. 16.18 This is that church that by imputation of Gods mercy is the immaculate and vndefiled spouse of Christ but this
the true foode of life when it is spiritually eaten by the soule thorough the operation of the holy Ghost maketh vs apt to resurrection and in due time transformeth our mortall bodies to the likenesse of his glorious bodie Ro. 8.11 If the spirite of him that raysed Christ from the dead dwell in vs hee that raysed Christ from the dead shall also quicken our mortall bodies because that his spirite through Christ dwelleth in vs. Furthermore as the bodie is sayde to eate when it receaueth that sustenance wherewith the hunger therof is stayde and satisfied and as it is sayde to drinke when it receaueth that liquor wherewith the thirst is quenched euen so our soule is said to eate and to drinke when it receaueth that heauēly blessed foode of Christ Iesus crucified wherewith the hungry and thirstie appetite thereof that is the vehement desire of the fauour of God and saluation is fully satisfied and appeased 228 The right vse and meaning of the Lordes supper WHen we see the bread and the wine in the Lords supper we knowe that they be creatures whereof wee haue beene wont to take nourishment and sustenaunce for our bodies but the same doe leade vs to the life of our soules and giue vs to vnderstande that we haue no life but in our Lord Iesus Christ The cause why the wine is added is to shewe that hee hath such vertue in him as wee need not to seeke any part of the things that we want any otherwhere but that he serueth vs for meate and drinke all Furthermore in comming to the Lordes supper we must not thinke to get any thing of god by our owne deserts but to cōfesse that we be like wretched dead mē which come to seke our life out of our selues therfore must be fayne to haue the flesh of our Lord Iesus Christ for our meate Io. 6.55 and his bloud for our drinke and all thinges in him which we want in our selues And the Sacramentes serue not to puffe vp with any presumption but to make vs walke in humblenesse our cōming to them is that God should warne vs of our sinnes to be touched with them in good earnest And wee must not acknowledge our selues sinners with the mouth onely or slightly and by way of ceremonies but we must haue our heartes wounded inwardly with greife that we haue offended and feele how dreadfull gods wrath is to the end we may be sorry in our selues and not haue any rest til he haue shewed vs where we shal find it that is to say in our Lorde Iesus Christ And when we come to the table of our Lorde we must take heede that we be so grounded in our Sauiour Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 11.27.28 as that forsaking all the fonde illusions of Sathan and all the deceites that he setteth before vs to turne vs away from the grace of god we may embrace our Lord Iesus Christ with the merits of his death and passion assuring our selues that it is he in whom wee haue the full performance of righteousnes and saluation 229 How we ought to be prepared to the table of the Lorde WE must not come vnreuerently to the table of the Lord nor thrust in our selues for such sacriledge shal not escape free But so oft as the holy supper is prepared for vs we must know that we are put in minde of our weaknesse and that God will helpe our infirmities And although this is done when the Gospel is preached vnto vs when we pray make supplications when we reade at home in our houses or heare anie matter for our saluation yet the supper is a speciall witnesse to vs that our God helpeth vs and when wee are as it were in the midd waye it serueth to make vs goe on forwarde to driue vs still to our God The Supper of the Lorde is also to correct and make an ende of such thinges as are yet out of frame For it were nothing to beginne in vs 2. Cor 3.5 vnlesse God continued to make vs feele his grace of the which wee haue a good certaintie in the supper and therefore woe will be vnto vs if wee come and pollute this holy Supper which is giuen for vs for an ayde of our saluation For the which cause we haue neede to bee well grounded in faith 1. Cor. 11.28 repentaunce and loue that we may be partakers thereof And because we cannot chuse but knowe well ynough what weakenesse and feeblenesse there is in vs and that wee haue not all that were requisite for vs Io. 15.5 let vs pray to God to strengthen vs and to aduance vs and increase our faith and hope which we haue to euerlasting life let vs go thitherwarde as fast as may be and although we are not able to do it of our selues Io. 16.23 yet if we pray vnto God in the name of his sonne hee will not fayle to helpe vs. 230 Faith is the mouth of the soule whereby Christ is eaten THat faith is the mouth means whereby onely wee receaue and eate Christ to saluation it may easily bee prooued by Christes owne wordes in the holy Scripture For our Sauiour Christe vseth these wordes indifferently and as of one force and signification To beleeue in him to eate him to drinke him to come vnto him and doth attribute to euerie of these Io. 6.29.33.35 one and the same effect To beleeue in Christ is the proper worde to eate Christ or to come vnto him are Metaphores and figuratiue speeches but all of one force I am the bread of life sayeth Christ he that commeth to me shall not hunger vers 33. and he that beleeueth in mee shall neuer thirst He saith hee that commeth to mee shall not hunger therefore to come vnto Christ is to eat Christ Againe he saith he that beleeueth in mee shall neuer thirst therefore to beleeue in Christe is to drinke Christ To eate and to drink are meanes to take away hunger and thirst but to come vnto Christ and to beleeue in Christ as Christ himselfe saith doth take away hunger thirst therfore to come vnto him to beleeue in him is to eate him drink him Christ attributeth the same effects fruits to thē which beleeue in him that he doth to them that eate his bodie and drinke his bloud therefore by eating and drinking he meaneth nothing but beleeuing His wordes be these vers 54. Io 6. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life and I will rayse him vp at the last day Againe he saieth in the same chapter This is the will of my Father that sent me vers 40. that euery one that seeth the Sonne and beleeueth on him should haue eternall life and I will raise him vppe at the last daye Who seeth not heere that Christ attributeth the same force to beleeuing that in the other verse hee did to eating and drinking and