in a boasting manner will make ostentation of his righteousnesses to God any more than a woman of a menstruous cloth to a man Neither our works nor our sufferings are worthy of the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 We cannot by our obedience merit a crumb of bread to feed upon but we are glad to beg it of God by daily prayers how incomparably less can we obtain the wages of eternal life by our merits Aug. in Psal 31. Therefore if thou wilt fall from grace boast of thy merits Idem de verb. Apost serm 15. God giveth altogether freely he saveth freely because he finds nothing for which he should save but much for which he should damn Fulgent 1. ad Monim p. 21. From grace is given not only a good life to the justified but also an eternal life to the glorified therefore death is called wages but eternal life is called grace because that is paid but this is bestowed Bern. serm in nat Mar. col 213. Let whoso will therefore seek after merit do thou study to find grace let thy merit be the mercy of God thou art not altogether without merit as long as he wants not compassion Serm. 61. in Cant. Serm. 67. in Cant. There is no room for grace where merit hath already taken place grace wanteth so much as thou ascribest to merit Serm. 68. in Cant. It sufficeth to merit to know that merit sufficeth not Place all thy trust in God only embrace his mercy 〈◊〉 the wounds of Christ seek thy merits and thou shalt not be unwâ—â—thy of merits The accusation of the Law Tempted I confess our works are not meritorious nor appease God but we must please him by faith But how can they chuse but displease him when they are not perfectly conformable to his Law The Law is an eternal and immoveable rule of righteousness condemning all that is not conformable to it self Therefore it brandisheth at me and my works the weapon of damnation unless you show me what shield I may defend my self withall Comforter Christ hath redeemed thee from the curse of the Law being made a curse for thee because it is written Gal. 3.13 Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree When the fulness of time was come Chap. 4.4 God sent his son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the law vers 5. that we might receive the adoption of sons Rom. 16. Christ is he end and fulfilling of the Law for righteousness to every one that belie … There is therefore no condemnion to be feared from the law 〈◊〉 thee and all such as are Christs Chap. 8.1 by faith and walk not after the flesh vers 2. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made thee free from the law of sin and of death vers 3. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God hath done sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin hath condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us vers 4. that walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Wherefore if by true faith thou appliest the benefits of Christ to thy self thou needest not fear the curse of the law 1 Cor. 15.55 56. The sting of death is sin the strength of sin is the law But thanks be to God who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ He hath overcome our death by his death he hath satisfied for our sins by his sufferings and hath most perfectly fulfilled the law for us by his most holy obedience And yet there is no abolishing of the law but only a transferring Nor do the Law and Gospel destroy one another Gal. 3.21 seeing the Law is not against the promises of the Gospel Rom. 3.31 but is established by faith For what the law requires of us that the Gospel declares to be performed by Christ in our stead What the Law commandeth that Christ obtaineth The Law condemns sin and us for sin Christ yieldeth satisfaction for sin and bestows his righteousness on us The Law therefore is satisfied by Christ's obedience because it is perfect on the other hand the fulfilling of the Law performed by Christ redounds to us Chytr lib. 1. de vita morte p. 43. because not due Therefore as thou oughtest not to behold sin in thy body but in Christ raised again the conquerour of death and the giver of life and eternal salvation sin not in thy conscience but in Christ the lamb of God that beareth and taketh away thy sins and the sins of all the world as thou oughtest to behold hell and temptations of eternal rejection not in thy self and the innumerable multitude of the damned but in Christ bearing on the cross and overcoming for us the temptation of casting off so thou oughtest to behold the Law not as it is writ in thy heart but as it was fulfilled by Christ and fastned to the cross with him The accusing of Conscience Tempted My conscience beareth witness to the accusation of the Law it as an uncorrupted judge riseth against me and while none accuseth me or bringeth ought against me is my accuser Chrys hom 64. in Gen. Nazianz. orat 26. I cannot shun that home tribunal in this great volume I see and am agast at all my sins writ with the pen of truth Bern. de convers ad Cler. c. 3. col 414. Wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this court of judgment wherein the criminal the accuser witness judge racker whip and executioner are the same Comforter If thy heart condemneth thee Joh. 3.20 yet God is greater than thy heart If the remembrance of thy by-past sins accuse and torment thee yet Christ the Redeemer who hath satisfied for sins is more powerful he acquitteth freeth and saveth thee Col. 2.14 For he hath blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us he hath taken it out of the way fastning it to his cross That accusing hand-writing of thy conscience is fastn'd also therewith by the nails of Christ crucified so that it is void and of no force before God Rom. 5.1 For being justified by faith thou hast peace with God peace of conscience quiet of heart and that blessed tranquillity of soul which Christ the conquerour of death sin and Satan brought with him from the grave Bern. de conv c. 6. col 415. and bestowed on his disciples Wherefore if thou feel the worm of conscience in this present life thou oughtest presently to stifle it not to nourish it to immortality for conscience putrified breeds never dying worms Stifle therefore the worm of conscience by unfeigned repentance beg of God quiet of heart and pardon of sin and take heed of wounding thy
unto life None so easily raiseth one lying in bed Aug. serm 44. de verb. dom as Christ the dead out of the grave From all which things it plainly appears how truly the blessed Apostle called the death of the godly gain Phil. 1.21 for 't is gain to have escaped the increase of sin 't is gain to have passed from worse and to have arrived at better Psal 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and it is good to them because of rest better because of security best because of blessedness Pains of Death Tempted I fear not death but its pains for I have often seen the eyes of dying persons growing dim their ears waxing deaf their tongue faultering I have seen the sweat and anguish the horrour and nakedness of dying persons I have often heard the groans and complaints of the soul compell'd to go out of the tabernacle of the body Comforter Those that believe in Christ are preserved from those pains of death or at least their pains are mitigated Christ hath taken upon him what was most bitter in death namely the sense of God's wrath Ex. 15.25 Let us cast the tree of the cross into our death on which Christ died for us and it shall become a pleasant sleep Verily Joh. 5.51 verily I say unto you saith Christ if any man keep my saying he shall never see death that is he shall not only not see everlasting death but neither that ghastly and horrible shape of temporal death And if a very little taste of bitterness be in the cup of death we are to drink yet what and how little is it in respect of that brook whereof Christ drank in the way of this life for us Psal 110.7 how little is that little draught to be esteem'd in comparison of that cup which our heavenly Father gave him to drink off in our stead Matt. 26.42 Asaying of Methodius Our death is like a medicinal purge of our soul and body and seeing by it the poison of sin is as it were purged out of our flesh what wonder if some Aloes be mixt in this purge Our death is the midwife to life eternal what wonder if the same happen to us as to an infant born into the world out of the narrowness of its mothers womb by whom the pains of the birth are in part endured There is no birth without all pain That Fit will last but a moment and lo the day of our death will be the birth-day of eternal life Strait is that gate that leadeth us unto life what wonder if we feel something of straitness in its passage Christ is our Captain and breaker up Mic. 2.13 he opens the way before us we must cleave to him with a true faith that we may pass with him through the gate of death and may come to the path of eternal life that is known to him Psal 16.11 Sin yet dwelleth in our flesh what wonder if through the remainders of sin it be made to feel some straits of death Rom. 5.1 In the mean time our conscience hath peace in Christ who is our true peace Eph. 2.14 who rising from the dead brought the gift of peace to us Death hath nosting left whereby it can wound our soul it fasteneth its teeth in our heel but its poison is taken from it by Christ that it cannot infuse it into us when it fastens its teeth Untimely death Tempted I seem to be called out of this life too soon God snatcheth me away in the midst of my days Psal 55.23 therefore I fear lest this be a sign of God's anger seeing it is written Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days Comforter There is nothing untimely which God hath timed Long life indeed is God's gift but yet short life is not always a sign of God's anger seeing sometimes God commands even the godly and those that are beloved by him to pass betimes out of the habitation of this world that being freed from the dangers of sinning they may be translated into a security of not sinning and may not be made to undergo publick calamities that are often more sad than death it self God's people go and enter into their chambers Isai 26.20 and shall shut the doors upon them they shall hide themselves as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast Isai 57.1 The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart the merciful men are taken away and none considers that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come He shall enter into peace he shall rest in his bed walking in his uprighteness Wisd 4.7 Though the righteous be prevented with death yet shall he be in rest For the honourable age is not that which is of long time 〈◊〉 neither that which is measured by the number of years But wisdom is the gray hair 〈◊〉 and an undefiled life is the old age He pleased God and was beloved of him 10 so that whereas he lived among sinners he translated him 11 He was taken away lest wickedness should alter his understanding or deceit beguile his mind 12 For wickedness by bewitching obscureth the things that are good and the unstedfastness of concupiscence perverteth the simple mind Though he was soon dead 13 yet fulfilled he much time 14. For his soul pleased God therefore hasted he to take him away from wickedness Though we cut down those trees that do not bring forth and let those stand that do yet God does otherwise The godly dies most happily whether he die in a good old age Sph. Philos c. 36. p. 411. or in the very flower of his youth Quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aliud nisi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nisi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nisi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nisi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is What is life but violence what is the body but a grave what but a chain what our birth but a passing to the grave Wilt thou take it ill to be freed betimes from these evils and chains The earlier the heavenly Emperour recalleth thee from the station of this life the sooner he putteth thee in a place of rest peace and victory The services further owing to the Church Tempted I might in my place hereafter further profit the Church of God by my labour in some kind to this end therefore I could wish a space of longer life were granted to me Comforter All this is to be committed to God's disposal namely how long God will have thee to live for the service of his Church Therefore say with that ancient Doctor of the Church and most deserving Bishop Ambroses dying words recorded by Posidon in the life of Augusti◠c. 27. I have not so
conscience anew for the relapses of sin are very dangerous In this life there is yet time for pardon time for grace time for quieting conscience In this life the book of conscience may yet be mended out of the book of life But at the last judgment the books will be opened Rev. 20.12 and among them the book of conscience also in which before all the world shall be seen writ in fair letters all the sins of men that were not in this world blotted out by true contrition by faith and amendment of life Before that day of judgement come and the time of grace be past thou maist have a fair hope and sure trust that the blood of Jesus Christ Heb. 9.14 who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God will purge thy conscience from dead works to serve the living God Late repentance Tempted I am at last indeed sorry for having so wounded my conscience I do at last desire a remedy for my wounds at last I have a desire to keep a good conscience for the future but I fear lest my repentance be too late I am a fraid lest the divine grace being so oft rejected by me should also reject and forsake me Late repentance useth to deceive many Aug. de vera falsa poenit c. 17. and that repentance that proceedeth from a dying man he ought to fear lest it dye also Comforter No but there is nothing too late which is true and sincere Cypr. tract 1. cont Demetr While a man is in this life there is no repentance too late there are some who being called come into the Lords vineyard at the eleventh hour of the day Mat. 20.9 and obtain the reward of grace No delay of time prejudiceth God's justice or piety Fulgent Epist 7. Repentance is never late with God in whose sight as well past things as future are always accounted for present Behold the example of the thief on the cross who having confessed Christ with his mouth on the tip of whose lips as it were his soul was ready to depart obtains pardon of sins and a free promise of an heavenly paradise Heb. 3.13 Whilst it is called to day so long God doth earnestly will our conversion As long as the heavenly bridegroom delayeth his coming Mat. 25.5 so long the gate of grace and forgiveness is open A man's whole life even the last hour of it is granted for space to repent in Isai 65.2 The Lord stretcheth forth his hand all the day long Joh. 6.37 nor does he cast out any that cometh unto him at what time soever he come Have a care therefore that thy repentance be true and sincere and thou needst not fear it will be too late If when death approaches thou therefore repent because thou art deprived of opportunities to sin that is a false repentance for thus thou leavest not thy sins but they leave thee If thou therefore repent because thou seest the punishment of thy sins near that is also a false repentance for it proceeds from a love of thy self not from a sincere love of God It proceeds not from the hatred of sin but from the irksomness of a most just punishment Therefore that thou maist truly and heartily repent grieve for thy sins so often committed and therefore grieve because thou hast so often and so grievously offended a most gracious God by them In Christ seek for pardon of thy sins and firmly resolve to employ the remainder of thy life wholly in the service of God submit thy self to God and be humbled in thy heart before him permit to his will what and how great punishments a thousand times deserved he will inflict on thee that it may appear thou repentest out of an hatred to thy sin and not to thy punishment Such a contrite and humbled soul will be a most acceptable sacrifice to God for so he saith by the Prophet Psal 51.19 Isai 66.2 To whom will I look but to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at my word Doubting of the grace of God Tempted I feel in my heart indeed a deep contrition and sorrow for my sins nor do I altogether despair of the mercy of God but in the mean time my heart is shaken with the waves of doubts nor am I yet certain of the free pardon of my sins I hope well indeed but in the mean time I humbly doubt The consideration of God's mercy raiseth me up but the thought of my unworthiness presseth me down again I am turned to God and therefore I hope well I turn but late therefore in part I doubt still Comforter But I will put under thy staggering faith such strong props as whereon thou maist lean against all the storms of doubtings For that doubting is not an humble confession of our unworthiness but a dangerous opposing the faith we owe to God's promises nor is there any reason strong enough why we should doubt in late conversion and repentance seeing the divine clemency doth offer a most certain promise of remission of sins to all that heartily repent Attend first therefore to the immoveable truth of all God's promises Whosoever confessing and grieving for their sins seek for pardon of them in Christ and make a firm purpose of amendment of life to them hath God promised his grace forgiveness of sins and eternal life Joh. 13.15 Whosoever believeth in the son shall not perish but have everlasting life vers 18. 1 Joh. 5.12 Mark 16.16 He that believeth in him is not condemned He that hath the son hath eternal life He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved He that hath promised these things is God whose word is firmer than heaven and earth who is truth it self 2 Tim. 2.11 who is faithful and cannot deny himself or his word What therefore God offers with undoubted promises thou must accept with an undoubted faith and there is no reason thou shouldst object the infirmity of thy Nature which cannot embrace the promises with so great assurance of reliance for this is a fault of thy Nature which should be amended by the efficacy of the holy Spirit As thou believest not in Christ by thy natural strength but by the working of the holy Ghost so by the grace of the same Spirit thou maist be ascertained of the mercy of the heavenly Father against all inherent doubtings of corrupt nature 1 Joh. 5.10 He that believeth not God hath made him a liar As much as thou doubtest so much thou losest of thy faith thou must therefore resist that doubting which is not to be set off with the specious name of humility for humility ought to rise from the consideration of our unworthiness and yet in the mean time never the less a firmness of trust ought to arise from the meditation of God's promises Therefore hath God come forth from the secret throne of his Majesty
this life ended I shall enjoy life eternal and in this confidence I commend my soul unto thee and in the belief thereof I do resolve to live and die VIII No man dreads death as he ought but he that always expects his summons and therefore O my soul thou maist truly judge thy self wofully secure and a wilful contemner of thy future good if thou canst go to thy bed and rest on thy pillow in the apprehension of thy known sins without a particular humiliation for them for how often doth a sudden unexpected death arrest men we see and know in our daily experience that many lay themselves to sleep in health and safety yet are found dead in the morning Thus suddenly are they snatcht from their quiet repose to their irrecoverable judgment perhaps from the bed to the flames Such is the frail condition of our brittle lives that in the small particle of an hour we live and sicken and die yet so gross is our blindness that from one day to another nay from one year to another we triflingly put off the reformation of our lives until our last hour creep on us unlookt for and draggs us to eternity IX How long saith St. Austin O how long shall I delude my soul with to morrow's repentance Why should not this hour terminate my sinfulness We are every minute at the brink of death and every hour that we pass through might prove for ought we know the evening of our whole life and the very close of our mortality Now if it should please God to take away our soul this night as it happens to many what would then become of us In what eternity should we be found whether amongst the damned or the blessed Happy were it for us if we were but as careful for the welfare of our souls as we are curious for the adorning our bodies if our cloaths or faces do contract any blot or soiling we presently endeavour to cleanse the same but though our souls lye inthralled in the pollutions of sin this alas we feel not it neither provokes us to shame nor moves us to sorrow Therefore let us look into our hearts with a more severe eye let the shortness of our days stir us up to the amendment of our sinful lives and let the hour wherein we have sinned be the beginning of our reformation Our repentance must not only be sincere but timely also whilst we have the light let us walk as children of the light let us no longer cheat our souls in studying to invent evasions or pretences for our sins but let us rather lay open our sores and seek to the true Physician that can heal them X. All the creatures under the Sun do naturally design their own preservation and desire that happiness which is agreeable to their nature only man is negligent and impiously careless of his own welfare We see the Hart when he is stricken and wounded looks speedily for a certain herb well known to him by a kind of natural instinct and when he hath found it applies it to the wound The swallow when her young ones are blind knows how to procure them their sight by the use of her Celandine but we alas are wounded yet seek for no Remedy we go customarily to our Beds to our Tables to our good Company but who is he that observes his constant course of prayer of repentance of hearty and sincere humiliation for his sins We go forward still in our old way and jogg on in the same Rode though our judgment hasten Hell threaten Death stand at the door yet we run forward still But alas miserable souls that we are how can we imbrace quiet rest and uninterrupted sleeps with such wounded Consciences how can we be so secure being so near our time XI The whole world promised for a reward cannot perswade us to endure one momentany Torment in Fire and yet in the accustomed course of our lives we dread not we quake not at everlasting burnings But O thou delicious and dainty soul who cherishest thy self in the joy of thine heart and the delight of thine eyes whose belly is thy God and the world thy Paradise Oh bethink thy self betimes before that gloomy day that day of clouds and thick darkness that day of desolation and confusion approach when all the inhabitants of the Earth shall mourn and lament and all faces as the Prophet Joel speaks shall gather blackness because the time of their judgment is come Alas with what a doleful heart and weeping eyes and drooping countenance and trembling loyns wilt thou at that last and great Assize look upon Christ Jesus when he shall most gloriously appear with innumerable Angels in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know him not What a cold damp will seize upon thy soul when thou shalt behold him whom thou hast all thy life long neglected in his ordinances despised in his members rejected in his love when thou shalt see the judgment-seat the books opened thy sins discovered yea all the secret counsels of thy heart after a wonderful manner manifested and laid open to the eye of the whole world what horrour and perplexity of spirit will possess thee to view and behold but the very solemnities and circumstances which accompany this judgment when thou shalt see the heavens burn the Elements melt the earth tremble the sea roar the Sun turn into darkness and the Moon into blood and now what shall be thy refuge where shall be thy succour Shalt thou reign because thou clothest thy self in Cedar Shalt thou be safe because with the Eagle thou hast set thy nest on high Oh no it is not now the greatness of thy State nor the abundance of thy wealth nor the priviledge of thy place nor the eminency of thy wrath or wit or learning that can avail thee ought either to avoid thy doom or prorogue thy Judgment XII All states and conditions of men are alike when they appear at the bar of Christ there the Prince must lay down his Crown and the Peer his Robes and the Judge his purple and the Captain his Banner All must promiscuously attend to give in their accounts and to receive according to what they have done whether it be good or whether it be evil Here on the earth men that are great and glorious in the eye of the world as long as they can hold their habitations have both countenance to defend and power to protect them from the injuries of the times but when the dismal face of that terrible day shall shew it self then shall they find no eye to pity nor arm to help nor palace to defend nor Rocks to shelter nor mountains to cover them from the presence of him that sits upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. Shew me the most insolent spirit the most undaunted soul that now breaths under the Cope of heaven who now fears not any created Being no not God himself
of the Lord as thou gatherest in the vessel of trust For faith lays hold of Christ and in Christ of a merciful God of remission of sins and life eternal Of this hear the words of eternal and immoveable truth Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him may not perish but have eternal life v. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned but hath eternal life Joh. 1.12 for to as many as received him hath he given power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name This sonship comprehends all things which are necessary for us to eternal life For if we are the sons of God we are also born of God Tertul. in Apolog. c. 17. For not a carnal generation but a spiritual regeneration makes sons of God If we are the sons of God God is full of pity to us for does not a father pity his children Psal 103.13 If we are the sons of God then he hath also given his Spirit to us for so the Apostle As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God Rom. 8.14 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father Gal. 4.6 And again Because ye are sons God hath sent the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba father Rom. 8.13 Lastly If we are the sons of God then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ For what true son is there without an inheritance All these so precious so plentiful so various benefits befal us in Christ and by Christ who dwelleth in our hearts Eph. 3.17 and is born in us spiritually by faith which therefore the Scripture doth so often declare and recommend to us Verily Joh. 5.24 verily I say unto you saith Christ he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath eternal life and cometh not into condemnation but is passed from death to life Joh. 11.25 26. He that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me Joh. 7.38 39. shall never die He that believeth in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water which our Saviour spake of the spirit which they that believe on him do receive Whosoever believeth in me Joh. 12.46 abideth not in darkness namely in the darkness of ignorance in the darkness of sin in the darkness of eternal death but by the light of faith is brought to the light of saving knowledge to the light of true righteousness to the light of eternal life Joh. 20.31 Moreover the Apostle witnesseth expresly that whatsoever is written in the Gospels of the words deeds and sufferings of Christ were therefore written that we might have life through his name That God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his son 1 Joh. 5.11 He that hath the Son hath life 12. Thence know we that we have eternal life 13. because we believe on the name of the son of God Nor do the Apostles and Evangelists only but all the Prophets also give witness unto Christ Act. 10.43 that through his name whosoever believeth in him receiveth remission of sins What therefore Paul and Silas once said to the keeper of the prison at Philippi Act. 16.31 that say I to thee Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved The false perswasion of Faith Tempted But I have observed many to entertain a vain perswasion of Faith and deceive themselves with a false boasting thereof and what if I should be of their number Whence can I be sure that my faith is true and saving and not an empty and dead image of it Comforter Examine and try thy self whether thou be in the faith 2 Cor. 13.5 prove thine own self knowest thou not thy self that Jesus Christ is in thee There are not wanting firm and infallible instructions whereby true and saving faith may be tryed known and distinguished from a vain boast of faith And first this is the nature of true faith Act. 15.9 that it purifieth the heart and desires that that may be cleansed from the filth of sins For seeing faith is solicitous and desirous of remission of sins he that truly believeth will also perceive a grief for the sins he has committed The Gospel is preached to the poor Mat. 11.6 Mat. 5.6 namely to those that are poor in spirit that hunger and thirst after righteousness Psa 51. â—7 that bring and offer to God a contâ—ite heart and a broken spirit Look therefore in the glass of the Law and thou wilt see the deformity of thy sins Look unto the shining face of Moses and it will appear that because of the works of darkness which thou hast followed thou canst not endure that light Behold thy self how grievously sickness hath affrighted thee which is the just punishment of thy sins the scourge of a revenging God and the due reward of a life spent in transgression He that sins against his maker Ecclus 38.15 falls into the hands of the Physician We have therefore lost our health Aug. de verb. Apost Serm. 4. Bern. Serm. 43. de modo bene viv because we have offended our Creator They that follow the flesh are scourged in the flesh In that they complain in which they have sinned The sentence of punishment is in that in which was the cause of sin In how many thoughts words and deeds hast thou offended God how especially feeble hast thou been in the fear and love of God how remiss in prayers and other exercises of piety how barren of good works How ost hast thou followed the persuasion of Satan the seduction of the flesh and the deceiving of the world Those members which thou hast often yielded to be instruments of iniquity and unrighteousness are now by the just judgement of God afflicted with pain and weakness Confess this and be sorry for if there be a true and serious acknowledgement of sin in thy heart trouble of conscience and hatred of sin will immediately follow it God is in good earnest angry at thy sins therefore from a hearty sense of Gods anger bewail thy sin God punisheth sin severely therefore by a just grief punish that in thy self which thou observest thou hast committed against God Acknowledge God's judgement to be upright Psal 119.137 and humble thy self under his mighty hand And regard not only thy outward sins but acknowledge the fountain of all evils the contagion of original sin That is hid indeed but God sets it in the light of his countenance Psal 90.9 By it all the powers of thy soul and body are so tainted that of thy self and by thy self thou canst begin nothing that is good much less
perfect it By it thou art liable to death and all that troop of calamities miseries and diseases which precede death An insufficient sorrow Tempted I acknowledge and perceive that I was not only born and conceived in sins but also that God hath been offended by me by divers manifold and great transgressions I perceive this and I am heartily sorry but may be that sorrow is not sufficient as not being answerable to the faults nor an equivalent satisfaction for my transgressions Comforter True the grief and trouble of conscience that arises from the consciousness of sin can never answer the grievousness and deformity of the sins seeing God is an infinite good that is offended sin an infinite evil that is committed and the punishment of hell prepared for sinners is infinite how then by thy contrition canst thou satisfie the infinite justice of God and expiate his infinite wrath Christ hath performed that which of thy self and by thy own strength thou couldst not he hath made an infinite and equivalent satisfaction for thy sins If thou couldst have satisfied by thy self if thou couldst have done away thy sins by thy own contrition and grief what need had there been for Christ to have come down from heaven and to have laboured so long under the weight of the Cross Isai 43.24 Thou hast made him to serve with thy sins and hast wearied him with thine iniquities He has trodden the wine-press alone and of the people there was none with him Look therefore that thou think not that the grief of thy contrition either can be or ought to be so great as that it should answer to the greatness and deformity of thy sins but therefore and for this end doth God require a true confession of sin and a sincere contrition of heart that the free remission of sins which thou obtainest through Christ apprehended by faith may take place Christ preacheth but it is to the meek that is Isai 61.1 Luk. 4.18 Mat. 9.12 the humbled in spirit he heals but it is the broken-hearted For the whole have no need of the physician that is those that think themselves to be well He preaches remission but it is to the captives that is to those that are sensible of the spiritual captivity of sin for that man desires not to be freed from bondage that thinks himself free in every respect He preacheth sight Joh. 9.41 but it is to the blind that is to those that lament the spiritual blindness of their heart for they that say they see their sin remaineth They that say they are rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing know not that they are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked He preacheth forgiveness but it is to the broken and contrite in heart The Lord killeth 1 Sam. 2.6 and maketh alive he bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up He kills by contrition that he may make alive by consolation he bringeth down to the grave by the hammer of the Law that he may bring up from the grave by the comfort of the Gospel The weight of sorrow Tempted Troubles have compassed me about my heart is broken and overwhelmed my sins come flocking before me which grievously torment my conscience and strive to bring me down to hell Psal 32.3 there is no quietness in my bones from the terror of the Lord my soul refuseth to be comforted 77.2 v. 3. I am troubled and my spirit is overwhelmed I see no place whither I can flee and seek a remedy of my sins Comforter If thou wilt flee flee to Christ He friendly inviteth all that labour under the weight of sin Mat. 11.27 and are pressed with the yoke of that evil mistress Iniquity Hide thy self in his wounds until the tempest of God's anger be overpast Rom. 3.25 Christ is the propitiatory to which thou maist flee by a true faith and rest under the shadow of his wings Psal 42.1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks so thy soul being even spent by the heat of thy sins and the anger of God thirsteth after Christ the fountain of living water springing up to everlasting life If thou comest to him he will not refuse thee nor thrust thee from him for thus run the promises Rev. 22.17 Whosoever thirsteth let him come and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely 21.16 To him that thirsteth will I give of the well of life freely Mat. 11 28. Come to me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest In me and through me ye shall find rest to your souls v. 29. Him that cometh unto me Joh. 6.37 I will not cast out With a faithful heart embrace these words of Christ which are the words of eternal and immoveable truth let thy heart propound to it self these his promises Psal 27.8 and seek the face of God Put Christ as in the midst between thee a sinner and an angry God Appeal from the throne of God's severe justice to the throne of mercy prepared for thee in and by Christ The infernal hawk follows hard after and persecutes thy soul let it flee therefore like a fearful and frighted dove to the elifts of the rock Cant. 2.14 which are the wounds of Christ Moses accuseth thee therefore sigh that Christ may interceed for thee Thy conscience is troubled Bern. Serm. 61. in Cant. but let it not be cast down from hope and trust but remember the wounds of Christ Aug. in Medit. Let the firmness of all thy trust be in the wounds of Christ which flow with the streams of mercy and want no holes whereby they may flow out Idem Serm. 22. in Cant. Let the Passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ be thy last refuge and the only remedy of thy sins It can help thee when thy wisdom fails thy righteousness is not sufficient the merits of thy holiness are of no avail And this is another and indeed an essential property of true faith to look with the eye of the heart on Christ hanging on the cross from his wounds to hope for and draw a remedy for a mans own wounds to rest upon him with a sincere trust of heart and as it were to wrap ones self in his most holy merit For this is the voice of true faith Behold me thou who on the cross didst die And to my sins thy side a shelter give My heart pants after thee my sins pass by By sin I dye but by thy blood I live If therefore being pricked for thy sins thou hunger and thirst after righteousness Bern. Ser. 22. in Cant. believe on him that justifieth the ungodly and being justified by faith alone thou shalt have peace with God Confess thou art not worthy Lib. 1. vit Bern. cap. 13. nor canst obtain the kingdom of heaven by thy own merits but let this be thy trust
another place which is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience or a covenant towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Be baptized Acts 22.16 and wash away thy sins saith Ananias Gal. 3.27 As many of ye as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and by faith ye are all the children of God For Christ sanctifieth his Church Eph. 5.27 cleansing it with the laver of water in the word From all which thou maist strongly conclude that Baptism is a ransom for captives Basil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tom 1. p. 446. Cyrill Hieros in praefat Catech. a remission of debts a death of sin a being born again a bright garment of the soul an inviolable seal a chariot to heaven the Inn of the kingdom the gift of adoption * Naziaâ—z orat in S. Bapt. p. 615. It is the brightness of souls the change of life the answer of the conscience towards God an help of our weakness It is a putting away of the flesh a following of the Spirit a communion of the word It is an amendment of the creature a deluge to sin a partaking of light a dissolution of darkness It is a chariot unto God anaccompanying of Christ the prop of faith the perfection of the mind the glory of the kingdom of heaven a change of life a taking away of servitude a loosing of bands a changing of apparel Tertul. 4. adver Marc. p. 231. Aug. 2. cont Crescon c. 18. Paulin. epist 12. ad Sever. It is the spring of true life and true righteousness an abridged laver the Sacrament of life and eternal salvation The holy Ghost into this pool descends Whose waters by an heavenly spring are fed Which influenc'd by th' Deity forth sends An holy offspring from eternal seed For in the Baptism of Christ it was demonstrated by visible signs what the divine grace worketh invisibly in our Baptism Chemnit in cap. 17. Harm The water of Baptism was sanctified by the touch of our Lords body for whatsoever Christ promerited and obtained in the body of his flesh he deposited as it were in his Baptism He received Baptism with us sinners to testifie that we by Baptism are made his members As the eternal Father in the Baptism of Christ said This is my beloved son so at this day he adopts for sons all that believe and are baptized As in the Baptism of Christ heaven was opened so to this day by the sacrament of Baptism the gate of the heavenly paradise is opened to us As the holy Ghost in Christ's Baptism descended upon him in the form of a dove so in our Baptism the holy Ghost is present and therein doth effectually work our regeneration and renovation so that thus in Baptism concurr the grace of the Father adopting the merit of the Son cleansing and the efficacy of the holy Spirit regenerating If therefore thou art baptized thou canst not doubt of the grace of God the remission of sins and the promise of eternal life Baptism is the laver of regeneration where there is regeneration there is remission of sins there is the grace of God there is perfect righteousness there is renewing there is the gift of the holy Ghost there is adoption and there is the inheritance of eternal life Falling from the Covenant of Baptism Tempted I believe indeed that I was received into the covenant of grace by the sacrament of Baptism that I thereby obtained remission of sins and was writ in the book of life but I have faln from the grace of this covenant again by my sins by repeating my transgressions I have made void the aforegoing remission and have often deserved to be blotted out of the book of life Comforter No but the covenant of God is an everlasting covenant to which thou maist always return by true and hearty repentance For as God declares concerning the sacrament of Circumcision Gen. 17.13 that it is an everlasting covenant so let us not doubt but that in Baptism which succeeded in the place of Circumcision Col. 2.11 God enters into and establisheth an everlasting covenant with us I will betroth thee to me for ever saith he by the Prophet Hos 2.19 yea I will betroth thee in righteousness and in judgement and in loving kindness and in mercies I will betroth thee to me in faithfulness Isai 54.10 The mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Rom. 3.3 God forbid we should say the faith of God is made without effect by our unbelief If we give never so little belief to his words or depart from him 1 Tim. 2.13 yet he abideth faithful always the same true and constant he cannot deny himself Therefore by the sins of thy natural infirmity thou fallest not from the free covenant of God By sins committed against thy conscience thou fallest indeed from the grace of God and the covenant of grace but thou maist return to the everlasting covenant of God by true repentance The ship of Baptism splits not though we leap out of it into the sea of sins therefore by repentance which in this sence may be called secunda post naufragium tabula Hier. in c. 3. Isa v. 9. we may return again to the same ship of Baptism that we may in it be wasted to the port of eternal salvation Tertul. lib. de poenit p. 479. Therefore embrace repentance as a shipwrackt person catches hold of a plank this will lift thee up when ready to be drowned in the waves of thy sins and will carry thee into the haven of Gods mercy Peter had denied his Master but being converted he notwithstanding seeks the promise of salvation in Baptism 1 Pet. 3.21 The Galatians and the Corinthians had faln foully yet when they were renewed again by repentance the Apostle offers them comfort drawn from Baptism declaring that as many of them as had been baptized Gal. 3.27 had put on Christ and clearly affirming that they were washed 1 Cor. 6.11 12 13. and by one spirit were baptized into one body namely mystical whence it clearly appears that the efficacy of the Baptismal covenant is extended to the future and is not quite enervated and abolished by mans fall but on God's part remains continually a firm and established covenant When Paul therefore says Aug. 1. de nup. concup c. 33. that Christ cleanseth the Church in the laver of water in the word it is thus to be understood that in the same laver of regeneration and word of sanctification all the sins of regenerate men are cleansed healed not only those by-past all which are remitted in Baptism but also those which are contracted afterwards by humane ignorance and frailty Not that Baptism should be
Joh. 5.10 that Christ prayed for thee also which prayer whether it was heard of the heavenly Father how canst thou at length doubt The son Joh. 1.18 that is in the bosom of the Father shall not he be heard of the Father The son Mat. 3.17 in whom the Father is well pleased shall he be rejected with his prayers Away away Rather in the days of his flesh offering up prayers and supplications with strong cryes and tears he was heard in that he feared Heb. 5.7 Christ therefore prayed for thee he prayed and obtain'd that thou maist live with him hereafter and partake of heavenly glory Satans wiles and strength Tempted I hope indeed that I shall be kept as a faithful sheep in the hand of my shepherd but yet I am afraid of the wiles of Satan 1 Pet. 5.8 who as a roaring lion goes about seeking whom he may devour I am afraid of his power seeing he is a bold strong crafty diligent and unwearied enemy one that wants no gins and is most skilful in combate how can I escape his wiles and avoid his power He assaulteth and persecuteth me sometimes openly and violently sometimes secretly and treacherously always maliciously and cruelly Comforter None Joh. 10.28 saith Christ shall take my sheep out of my hand therefore neither that hellish wolf be he never so treacherous and able to hurt Joh. 14.29 The Prince of the world came and had nothing in Christ therefore neither shall he have anything in them that by faith are in Christ Eph. 3.17 and in whose hearts Christ dwelleth by faith It is Christ that fighteth in thee and for thee believe I say believe that the Devil shall not be stronger than he Christ was tempted of the Devil Matt. 4.2 and stoutly overcame him The victory of the Lord is the triumph of the servants Heb. 2.14 Christ by his death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil he spoiled Principalities and Powers Col. 2.15 he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in himself With the sword of the Cross as an heavenly David he overcame the infernal Goliah this fight this victory of Christ bringeth salvation to all the Church whereof this is the Triumphal song Rev. 12.10 Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ because the accuser of our brethren 〈◊〉 cast down which accused them before our God day and night vers 11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony Therefore in this victory of Christ let all the assurance of thy trust and the glorying of thy hope be Resist the Devil in the power of Christ and he will flee from thee Jam. 4.7 As oft as thou resistest thou overcomest the Devil Bern. in medit devotis c. 14. col 1201. thou gladdest the Angels and glorifiest God for he exhorts thee to fight he helps thee to overcome he beholds thee contending in the fight he relieves thee when thou failest he crowneth thee when thou overcomest Greg. Nys lib. de beatit p. 68. He is the President and Moderator of the combatants and the crown of the triumphers Eph. 6.10 Be strong therefore in the Lord and in the power of his might 11 Put on the armour of God that thou maist be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil 12 For thou wrestlest not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickednesses in high places 13 Wherefore take the whole armour of God that thou maist b◠able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand 14 Stand therefore having thy loins girt about with truth and having on the breast-plate of righteousness And thy feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace 15 Above all things take the shield of faith 16 wherewith thou maist be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked And take the helmet of salvation 17. and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God In this armour appear for single combate and thou shalt most certainly return a conquerour Christ fought and overcame for thee the same shall fight and overcome in thee and shall set a crown of glory upon thee The apostasie of many Tempted But how many of Christ's souldiers could I reckon up who being circumvented by the wiles of the Devil have returned from this battel not conquerours but conquered How many could I reckon that begun well but have afterwards fallen from the grace of God and the reward of eternal life Therefore I fear the hidden counsels of God and considering his secret judgements I tremble all over in soul and body Comforter Thou dost well indeed that thou workest out thy salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 being conscious to the weakness of thy flesh and knowing the power of Satan that lies in wait for thee and throughly considering the examples of those who sliding into sin have faln from grace but look thou do not seek or place the cause of this apostasie in any absolute decree of God reprobating For God is not mov'd of himself and by any absolute decree or hatred again to forsake and suffer to perish those that have been endued with a true faith for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11.29 but whosoever being endued with true faith do afterwards fall from the grace of God and eternal salvation they perish by their own fault and not by the necessity of any absolute reprobating decree namely because by their free will they turn themselves again from God For these are always and nearly conjoin'd Faith Christ the grace of God the holy Spirit an endeavour after holiness eternal life As long as any one of those that are born again abides in faith so long he abides in Christ he that abides in Christ abides also in the grace of God he that abides in the grace of God the holy Spirit dwelleth in him and where the holy Spirit is there also follow the fruits of the Spirit But they that cast away the endeavour of holiness and begin to indulge sins against their conscience they shake off the holy Spirit lose faith and make themselves unworthy of eternal life Therefore be thou in spirit so sure of the gift of perseverance and the reward of eternal life as yet not to bemade carnally secure The infallible promises of God free thee from doubting the exhortations and threatnings of God disswade thee from carnal security Aug. in Psal 99. I dem 2. d bon persev c. 13. There is no where security in this life but only in the hope of the promises of God In this life which is full of temptation he that seemeth to stand let him take heed lest
they that have done evil unto the resurrection of condemnation Mar. 25.46 The blessed shall go into everlasting life and the cursed into everlasting torment And that this immediate separation of the godly and ungodly shall not only be made in the last day but is made also presently after death the example of the rich glutton teacheth us Luk. 16.23 whose soul is thrust down to hell and of holy Lazarus whose soul is carried by Angels into paradise the example of the converted thief teacheth us the same Luk. 23.43 to whom Christ promises that he shall enter into paradise on that very day whereon he was to dye the Spirit of truth confirms the same pronouncing that from henceforth blessed are the dead in the Lord. Rev. 14.13 There is no other purgation or expiation of sins save in the blood of Christ that washeth us wholly from all sins 1 Joh. 1.7 Isai 53.5 The chastisement of our peace was upon him that he might be peace unto us Therefore he that believeth in him Rom. 5.1 1 Joh. 3.14 Wisd 4.1 is justified and has peace with God He is translated from death unto life and he need fear no torment after death The rigour of the last judgment Tempted I fear the rigour and terrour of the last judgment Above will be a severe Judge below a gaping hell within a gnawing conscience without a burning fire on the right hand accusing sins on the left affrighting Devils round about good Angels to drive me to hell and bad to draw me thither Satan will accuse me my sins will accuse me my conscience will accuse me Bern. in rythm I much dread the face of a severe Judge from whom nothing will lye concealed by whom nothing will remain unrevenged None shall be able to escape his power to deceive his wisdom to bend his justice to repeal his sentence Comforter If thou believest on the Son Joh. 3.18 thou shalt not be condemned namely with the severe and condemning rigour of judgement Joh. 5.24 If thou hearest Christ's word and believest it thou shalt not come into condemnation thy cause shall not be examin'd in that rigorous trial of judgement seeing Christ hath delivered those that believe in him from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 The day of judgement is to be dreaded indeed of bad men Aug. in Psalm 100. because of punishment but to be loved by good men for a crown to those it will be a day of anger and revenge to these it will be a day of grace and large reward Lift up your heads Luk. 21.28 saith the Son and know that your redemption draweth nigh The Bride dreadeth not the coming of her Bridegroom now by faith thy soul is betroathed to Christ at the day of judgment he shall appear to that end that he may introduce it as his Bride to the heavenly marriage Rev. 19.7 What place therefore can there be here for fear or dread That day shall be a day of deliverance because it shall throughly free us from the miserable captivity of sin and death into the perfect service of Christ it is a day of deliverance because it shall ease us of all burden of evils and weight of calamities it is a day of deliverance because it shall wholly redeem us from that daily lusting of the flesh and dangerous warfare It is a day of refreshing Acts 3.20 because it shall bring us thirsty and panting from the scorching heat of calamities into a place of rest to a fountain of living water Let Christ our Bridegroom therefore come Let every soul that is a true spouse of Christ that is sealed by the Earnest of the spirit that is drawn with a true love of Christ say Come Lord Jesus Rev. 22.20 Aug. in Psal 147. If we truly love Christ let us then also desire his coming It is perverse to fear his coming whom thou lovest to pray Thy kingdom come and fear lest thou be heard But whence is thy fear because the Judge shall come what is he unjust is he malevolent is he envious is he expecting to know thy cause of another that perhaps he whom thou hast intrusted should either deceive thee by collusion or not be able to set forth the imperfect good of thine innocency with eloquence enough None of these Who then shall come why dost thou not rejoyce Who is to come to judge thee but he that came to be judged for thee Fear not thine accuser of whom thy Judge hath said The Prince of this world is cast forth Fear not an evil Advocate for he is now thine Advocate who shall be thy Judge He will be both thy self and thy cause the pleading of thy cause the testimony of thy conscience Whosoever therefore thou beest that fearest a future Judge now correct thy conscience There is no reason then that thou shouldest fear thy future Judge He shall be thy Judge that shall be thine Advocate He shall be thy Judge that hath given a promise to his Sains that by their testimony and example they shall judge the world He shall be thy Judge in whom thou wert elected unto life from eternity He shall be thy Judge who is also thy King how shall a King lose his people He shall be thy Judge a true member of whom thou art by faith how shall the head destroy his members Who shall accuse God's elect Rom. 8.33 It is God that justifieth who shall condemn It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again that sitteth at the right hand of God and intercedeth for us how shall he destroy them whom he hath taken into his patronage for whom he came into the world that they might not be lost Rom. 2.16 Christ shall judge according to the Gospel Now they that believe have not rejected it but received it with a true faith They have listened to the voice of Christ inviting to conversion Matt. 11.18 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest therefore they shall also hear the voice of him inviting to the possession of the heavenly kingdom Come ye blessed of my Father Mat. 25.34 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world He shall be the Judge before whose face go grace and truth grace hath abolished the sins of believers truth hath given them the promises of eternal life Nor is there reason thou shouldst fear the horrible destruction of heaven and earth Luk. 21.33 Isai 40.8 Heaven and earth shall pass away but the words of Christ shall not pass away The word of the Lord abideth for ever if by true faith thou cleave unto this word thou shalt also abide for ever Thou hast lost nothing where thou hast possessed nothing with inordinate love thy treasure is not the riches of this world but the delights of the heavenly kingdom Let the world burn it is enough for
grace hath much more abounded Far be it from us then to say that the guilt derived on us from Adam extends farther than the benefit of Jesus Christ obtained for us Away with saying that the disobedience of Adam is of greater efficacy than the obedience of Christ Lastly The universal extent of the satisfaction made by Christ is attested by those Scriptures wherein he is said to have died for those that perish Rom. 14.15 Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died By the unseasonable abuse of Christian liberty the weak brother perisheth for whom Christ died 1 Cor. 8.11 12. and therefore by sinning against such an one men sin against Christ himself False teachers bringing upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 deny the Lord that bought them These are Evangelick Apostolick and divine sayings which to contradict is to deny Christ himself and to deprive himself of the fruit of Christs merit Orig. lib. 2. in Jobum Therefore believe stedfastly that the only begotten son of God descending from heaven cloathing himself in the last times with a terrestrial body from a Virgin hath done away and cleansed the corruption uncleanness and rottenness of all the world by bearing the sins of all by whose stripes all are healed Doubting about the application of Christs merit Tempted Let the merit of Christ be and be called universal yet I do not see that the benefits of Christ are offer'd and applied to me in specie and individually Many things are offered to all which yet do not belong to all Comforter Nay but the species is rightly gather'd from the genus we rightly pass from an universal to particulars Wherefore because God will have all to be saved thou maist infer rightly and most firmly that he will have thee also to be saved Whereas Christ is said to have dyed for all thou maist infer rightly and most firmly that he died on the cross for thee also and is willing to cleanse thee from all sins with his own blood And what is offer'd in the word of the Gospel to all in general is offer'd exhibited and applyed to thee in special in the word of Absolution For when the Minister of the Church does in God's name pronounce to thee the remission of thy sins thou maist be sure that it is confirmed before God in heaven For so has Christ appointed it Mat. 18.18 Whatsoever ye loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Whose sins ye remit Joh. 20.22 they are remitted unto them This is that wholsome ministry of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.18 which God hath given unto the Ministers of the Church these are the salutary keys that he hath committed to their trust this is that wholsome office of Ambassadours vers 20. which they discharge in the name of Christ God exhorting and as it were beseeching us by them What therefore is offer'd to thee in special make no doubt but it belongs unto thee in special When in the serious trouble of thine heart thou hearest the voice of the Minister declaring remission of sins in the name of Christ think thou hearest Christ himself whatever he doth in Christ's name that Christ doth It 's Christ that declareth unto thee remission of sins the Minister only speaks for Christ If any doubting arise in thy heart concerning this listen unto the words of Christ speaking unto his Apostles and their successors Luk. 10.16 Mat. 10.20 He that heareth you heareth me It is not you that speak but the spirit of my Father Listen unto the words of the Baptist Joh. 1.23 I am the voice of one crying It is another that preacheth and cryeth by me the ministry is mine but the force and benefit of the ministry dependeth on another Listen to the words of the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.20 We are ambassadors for Christ that is in Christs name and stead as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God He therefore that despiseth 1 The. 4.8 despiseth not man but God who hath given unto us his holy Spirit Believe therefore that even now Christ saith unto thee as once to the sick of the Palsie and to the woman that was a sinner Mat. 9.2 Luk. 7.48 Thy sins are forgiven thee For there is no difference between that sentence and this which his Minister uttereth for this is not spoken by man that by Christ When therefore thou hearest the Minister declare to thee remission of sins do not imagin thou hear'st the voice of the Minister but of Christ The insubsistence of words Tempted I confess there is great comfort offer'd me in the words of absolution yet my faith wavers still and does not so firmly embrace the promise of the Gospel as to shut out all temptation for my flesh mutters They are but words which thou hearest with thine ears but thou seest not yet the good things promised with thine eyes Comforter They are words indeed but they are the words of a God most true and that lives for ever They are words indeed Joh. 6.69 but the words of the spirit and life They are words indeed but such as are more firm and durable than this heaven thou beholdest or this earth thou treadest on Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away Lu. 21.33 saith the Truth Isa 40.8 The word of the Lord our God abideth for ever saith the Prophet He that trusts in this word he that embraceth it with a true faith the same shall be saved for ever Nor hath God given thee his word only but hath added thereto his Sacraments also which are as it were a visible word Aug. tract 80. in Joh. visible signs of invisible grace and seals of the divine promises ordained to confirm and seed thy faith By Baptism thou art received into the covenant of divine grace made the son and heir of God wash'd from thy sins in the blood of Christ regenerated and renewed by the holy Ghost and in one word art truly made partaker of all heavenly good things For Christ attributes to Baptism that it is the means of Regeneration Joh. 3.5 Vnless a man be born again of water and of the Spirit he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven Therefore he that is born again of the water of Baptism and of the Spirit is reckoned an heir of eternal life because it is the means of salvation Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved The Apostles ascribe unto Baptism that it is the laver of regeneration Tit. 3.6 and of renewing in the holy Ghost Mark 1.4 seeing we are baptized for the remission of sins Acts 2.38 Let every one of you be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins saith Peter and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 3.21 Baptism saveth us saith he in