Lord by death and buriall séeing the bodies of the godly as it were precious graines of Wheat shall againe bud forth hereafter to life Stigeliu◠This Corneth immortall glory of the flesh Doth shew from liueles body springing fresh Vnder the clods is cast the saplesse seed Of which a man would thinke could nothing breed Yet this doth rise by hidden motion growing Increas'd in strength and body from the sowing Likewise our bodyes layd in hollow graue Thence rising lasting life and glory haue First drown'd in death now lifes true badge they weare And before God eternall blisse doe share The bones of the godly shall bud forth and flourish in the time to come Esa 66.14 2 Reg. 7.12 Esa 26.20 Dan. 12.2 Matt. 9.24 Ioh. 11.11 1 Cor. 15.6 1 Thessal 4.13 when the spring of the life eternall shall beginne finally they are said to slumber and to sléep a certaine swéet sléep for euen as in sléepe we rest from labour wee gather our deiected strength the soule in the meane time exercising her operations so by death being lead to rest from all the labours and sorrowes of this life wee gather new strength of minde and body to execute those workes more readily and perfectly to which we were in the beginning created and redéemed by Christ the soule in the meane time liuing and reioycing in Heauen Euen as in sléepe wee doe not care what is done about vs neither are wee troubled with the troubles of humane businesses so they that are godlily dead in the Lord doe rest from all care and trouble neither are they further subiect to the euils of this life Euen as we are againe raised vp out of sléepe so death shall not be a perpetuall sleepe but the houre will come in which wee shall heare the voyce of Christ calling vs out of the graue and wee shall come forth againe to life August ser 44. de ver Dom. No man doth so easily raise vp one that lyes vpon his bed as Christ the dead out of his graue Out of al which it clearely appeareth how truely the Apostle hath called the death of the godly aduantage Phil. 1.21 séeing it is aduantage to haue escaped the increase of sinne it is aduantage to haue auoyded worse things it is aduantage to passe to better The death of the godly is precious in the sight of the Lord Psa 116.15 and to them it is good for rest better for securitie best of all for blessednesse XXXV The sorrowes of Death The Tempted I Feare not death but the sorrowes of death for I haue often seene the eyes of dying men waxing dimme their eares waxing deafe their tongue waxing stiffe I haue seene the sweat and anxitie the horror and nakednesse of men that dye I haue oftentimes heard the howling and complaint of the soule compelled to goe forth of the house of the body The Comforter THose that beléeue in Christ are kept from those sorrowes of death or surely the sorrowes are mittigated vnto them Christ hath taken vpon himselfe that which was most bitter in our death that is to say the sense and féeling of the wrath of God Exod. 15.25 Iohn 5 51. let vs cast the wood of the Crosse on which Christ dyed for vs into our death and behold it will be vnto vs a pleasant sléepe Verely verely I say vnto you saith Christ if any man keepe my word hee shall not see death for euer that is to say he shall not onely not sée eternal death but also neither that cruell and horrible shape of temporall death And if so bee some small taste of bitternesse be offered vnto vs out of the cup of death what and how little is that in respect of that brooke of which Christ dranke for vs in the way of this life Psal 110.7 how little is that smal draught to be estéemed in respect of that cup which the heauenly Father hath offered vnto Christ to be drunke vp wholy in our stéed Mat. 26.42 Our death is as it were a certaine medicinable purgation of the soule of the body The saying of Methodius séeing by it the poyson of sin is as it were purged out of our flesh what maruell is it if some Aloes be mixt with this purgation Our death is the midwife to eternall life what maruaile is it if the same happen vnto vs which happens to an infant borne into the world out of the narrow places of his Mothers wombe which must in part beare the sorrowes of trauel There is no birth without all griefe that sharpe fit will endure but a short moment and behold the day of our deeth will be the birth-day of eternall life Narrow is that gate which leades vs to life what maruell is it if we féele some trouble in the going out thereof Mich. 2.13 Christ is our Captaine and hée that hath broken vp the way for vs he layes open the iourney before vs we must cleaue vnto him by true faith that we may passe through the gate of death together with him and finde the way to eternall life knowne vnto him Sinne doth as yet dwell in our flesh Psa 16.11 what maruell is it if for the remainder of sinne wée are constrained to suffer some sorrowes of death Rom. 5.1 Eph. 2.14 In the meane time our conscience hath peace in Christ which is our true peace which rising againe from the dead hath brought to vs the gift of peace There remaines no dart to Death by which it may wound our soule it fastens his téeth in our héele but the poison is taken away from it of Christ that it cannot powre it into vs together with the téeth that it hath fastned XXXVI Too timely Death The Tempted ME thinkes I am called backe too timely out of this life Psal 102.25 Psa 58.23 God snatcheth mee away in the midst of my dayes I feare therefore least this be a signe of the wrath of God seeing it is written men of bloud and deceipt shall not liue out halfe their dayes The Comforter NOthing is too timely with GOD which is ripe Long life truly is the gift of God yet short life is not alwayes a token of the wrath of GOD séeing GOD sometimes also commands the godly and those that are beloued of him to depart timely out of the house of this world that being fréed from the danger of sinning they may be set into the securitie of not sinning neither be constrained to haue experience of publike calamities oft-times more grieuous then death it selfe Esa 26.20 The people of GOD goeth and enter into their Chambers they shall shut the dores vpon them they are hidden for a moment till the indignation passe away Esa 57.1 The iust man perisheth and there is no man that considereth in his heart the mercifull men are taken away and there is none which doth vnderstand Vers 2. The iust man is taken away from the
Christ that doth Christ doe It is Christ which pronounceth the remission of sinnes vnto thée the Minister doth onely lend his voice to Christ If any doubting would insinuate it selfe into thy hart therof attend to the words of Christ speaking to the Apostles their Successors He that heareth you heareth me Luk. 10.16 Matth. 10.20 Ioh. 1.23 It is not you that speak but the spirit of my Father Attend to the words of the Baptist I am the voice of a cryer There is another which doth preach and cry by me the Ministerie is mine but the force and benefit of the Ministerie dependes of another Attend to the words of the Apostle For Christ that is in the name and place of Christ we are Embassadours 2 Cor. 3.20 God as it were exhorting by vs we beséech you for Christ be you reconciled vnto GOD. He therfore which contemnes 1 Thes 4.8 contemnes not man but God which hath giuen his holy spirit into vs. Beleeue therefore that euen at this day Christ saith to thée that which heeretofore hee hath saide to the man sicke of the Palsie Matth. 9.2 Luc. 7.48 and to the woman-sinner Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee Because there is no difference betwéene that and this which the Minister vtters for this is not pronounced of man and that of Christ When therefore thou hearest the Minister pronounce vnto thée the remission of sinnes doe not thinke that thou hearest the voice of the Minister but the voice of Christ XIIII The want of the euidence of the promises of the word The Tempted I Confesse that there is great and notable consolation offered vnto mee in the Ministerie of the word as yet notwithstanding my faith wauers neither doth it so firmely embrace the promise of the Gospell that it excludes all temptation for my flesh whispers vnto mee that the promises are onely words which thou perceiuest with thine eares but thou doest not as yet see the good promises subiect to thine eyes The Comforter INdéed they are words but the words of the most true and euerliuing God They are words indéed Ioh. 6.69 but the words of Spirit and life They are words indéed but more firme and durable then this heauen which thou beholdest then this earth whereon thou standest Luk. 21.33 Heauen and Earth shall passe away but my words shall not passe away saith the truth Esa 40.8 The word of our Lord God abides for euer saith the Prophet Hée which foldeth himselfe in this word hée which embraceth it with true faith the same may be saued for euer Neither hath God onely set forth vnto thée his word but to his word he hath added Sacraments Augustin tract 80. in Iohan. which are as it were the visible word visible signes of the inuisible grace and seales of the promises of God instituted for the confirmation and nourishment of thy faith By Baptisme thou art receiued into the couenant of the grace of God thou art made a Sonne and heire of GOD thou art washed by the bloud of Christ from thy sinnes thou are regenerated and renued by the holy Ghost and as I may speake in a word art made truly partaker of al heauenly goods For Christ attributes to Baptisme that it is a meane of regeneration Ioh. 3.3 Vnlesse a man be borne againe of water and of the spirit hee shall not enter into the Kingdome of heauen Therefore he which is borne againe of the water of Baptisme and the spirit is written an heire of eternall life because it is a meanes of saluation Hee that shall beleeue and be baptized shall be saued Mar. 16.16 The Apostles doe attribute to baptisme Tit. 3.6 that it is the lauacre of regeneration and renouation in the holy Ghost when we are baptized into the remission of sinnes Mar. 1.4 Let euery one of you be baptized saith Peter Act. 2.38 in the name of Iesus into the remission of sinnes and you shall receiue the gift of the holy Ghost Baptisme doth saue vs 1 Pet. 3.12 saith he in another place which is not the putting off of the filth of the flesh but the request of a good conscience or a couenant to Godwards through the resurrection of Iesus Christ Be thou baptized Act. 22.16 and wash away thy sinnes saith Ananias As many of you as are baptized haue put on Christ Gal. 3.27 and by faith ye are the sonnes of God saith Paul For Christ sanctifieth his Church Ephe. 5.27 clensing it in the Lauer of water in his word Out of all which thou mayest firmely conclude that baptisme is the price of redemption to the captiues Basill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tom 1. part 446. Cyril Hierosolym in praefat Catech. the forgiuing of debts the death of sinne regeneration the bright cloathing of the soule a seale that cannot be infringed the chariot to Heauen the procurer of the kingdome the frée gift of adoption Illumination or Baptisme is the brightnesse of soules the change of life the request of the conscience vnto God the help of our weaknesse Illumination is the putting off of the flesh the following of the spirit Nazian orat in S. Bap. p. 615. the communion of the word Illumination is the restitution of the Image the deluge of sin the participation of light the loosing of darkenesse Illumination is the Waggon or Chariot vnto God the peregrination with Christ the foundation of faith the perfecting of the minde the glory of the kingdome of Heauen the change of life the taking away of bondage the loosing of bands the instauration of the couenant Tertull. 4. Aduer Marc. p. 231. It is the originall of true life and of true iustice it is a compendious washing it is the sacrament of life and saluation eternall The holy Ghost into this Brooke doth come From Heauen August 21 contra Crescen c 18. Paulinus Epist 12 ad Seuer and brooding on the front celestiall Doth heat the holy waters they become Conceiued of GOD and in their liqours christall Bring forth an holy Brood an holy Nation Of the eternall seed the propagation For what the grace of God doth worke inuisibly in our baptisme that hath béene shewed in visible signes in the Baptisme of Christ Châ—mnit in cap. 17. Harmoni The water of baptisme was sanctified by the touching of the Lords body for what things soeuer Christ hath deserued and purchased in the body of his flesh he hath as it were layd them downe in baptisme He tooke vpon him baptisme with vs sinners that hee might witnesse that by baptisme wee are made his members As the eternall Father in the baptisme of CHRIST vttered this voyce This is my beloued Sonne so as yet this day all that doe beléeue and are baptized hée doth adopt for Sonnes As in the baptisme of Christ Heauen was opened so as yet at this day by the Sacrament of Baptisme the gate of the heauenly Paradise is
momin pag. 21. God giues altogether fréely saues altogether fréely because he findes nothing for which to saue and hée findes much for which to damne Of grace is giuen not onely to the iustified good life but also to the glorified eternall life and therefore death is said to be wages but eternall life is said to be grace because that is rendred as due this is giuen as frée Bern. Ser. innat Mar. Col. 213. Therefore let another séeke for merit doe thou studie to finde grace let the mercie of the Lord be thy merit thou art not plainely poore in merit as long as he is not wanting mercies Serm. 67. in Cant. There is no place for grace to enter where merit hath alreadie taken vp the roome Thou doest detract from grace whatsoeuer thou doest depute vnto merit It sufficeth to merit Serm. 68. in Cant. to know that merit doth not suffice Place all thy confidence altogether on God Embrace his mercie séeke thy merits in the wounds of Christ thou shalt not haue any want of merits XXIII The accusation of the Law The Tempted I Acknowledge our works not to be meritorious neither to appease God but that out of faith they may please him And how can they chuse but displease him when they are not perfectly conformable to the law of God The law is an eternall vnchangeable rule of iustice condemning all whatsoeuer is not conformable there-vnto Therefore the dart of damnation is shaken against me my works vnlesse thou shew me what shield I may oppose against it The Comforter Gal. 3.13 CHrist hath redeemed thée from the curse of the Law being made a curse for thee Cursed is euery one that hangeth on the wood When the fulnesse of time came Cap 4.4 God sent his owne Sonne borne of a woman made vnder the Law that he might redeeme those which were vnder the Law Ver. 5. Rom. 10.4 Cap. 8.1 that we might receiue the adoption of Sonnes The end and fulfilling of the Law is Christ to righteousnes to euery one that beleeueth Therefore there is no damnation to thée and all which are by faith in Christ and walke not according to the flesh Vers 2. Vers 3. there is no feare of the Law the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath fréed thée from the Law of sinne and death For that which was impossible to the Law because it was made weake through the flesh that hath GOD performed Vers 4. sending his Sonne in the likenesse of the flesh of sinne and by sinne condemned sinne in the flesh that the iustification of the Law might be fulfilled in vs which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Therefore if by true faith thou doest apply the benefits of Christ vnto thy selfe there is no cause that thou shouldest feare the curse of the Lawe The sting of Death is sinne 1 Cor. 15.55 56. the strength of sinne is the Law but thankes be vnto God which hath giuen vs victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Hee hath ouercome our death by his death hee hath satisfied for our sinnes by his Passion and hée hath most perfectly fulfilled the Law in our stead by his most holy obedience Neither yet is there an abolishment of the Law made but a translation onely Neither do the Law and the Gospell destroy themselues mutually séeing the Law is not against the promises of God Gal. 3.21 but is established by faith For what the Law doth require of vs Rom. 3.31 that the Gospell doth tell vs was performed of Christ in our steade What the Law commands this Christ obtaines The Law condemneth sinne and vs for sinne Christ doth performe satisfaction for sinnes and giues his righteousnesse vnto vs. The Law therefore is satisfied by the obedience of Christ because it is perfect Againe that fulfilling of the Law through Christ is performed for vs to good because it is not due Chyt li. 1. de vita et morte p. 43. Therefore as thou oughtest not to behold death in thine owne body but in Christ raised vp againe the conquerour of death and the giuer of life and saluation eternall sinne not in thine owne conscience but in Christ the Lambe of God bearing and taking away thy sinnes and the sinnes of the whole world hell and the tentations of being euerlastingly cast away not in thy selfe and in that innumerable multitude of the damned but in Christ sustaining on the Crosse and ouer-comming for vs the tentation of being cast away so thou oughtest to behold the Law not as it is written in thy hart but as it is fulfilled by Christ and with him fastned to the Crosse XXIIII The accusation of Conscience The Tempted MY conscience doth witnesse together with the accusation of the Law that as an vncorrupt iudge riseth vp against mee Chrysost hom 64. in Gen. and is an accuser of mee while no man reproues mee or brings any thing forth against mee I cannot escape that domesticall iudgement seate In this great volumne I see and altogether tremble at all my sinnes Nazian orat 26. Bern. de conuers ad Cler. c. 3. Col. 114 written with the stile of truth wretch that I am who shall deliuer me from this Court of iudgement in which the same is the guiltie the pleader the witnesse the iudge the torturer the scourge the executioner the hangman The Comforter Ioh. 3.20 IF thy heart doth condemne thée yet God is greater then thy heart If the memory of thy faults passed doth accuse and torment thée yet Christ the Redéemer which hath satisfied for thy sinnes is a mightier Col. 2.14 he absolues thée frées thée and saues thée Hee indéed hath blotted out that hand-writing which was written against and was contrary to vs hee hath taken it cleane away and hath fastned it with him to the Crosse By the nailes of Christ crucified is that accusing hand-writing of thy conscience together fastened that it is of no force and validitie before God Rom. 5.1 for being iustified by faith thou hast peace with GOD peace of conscience quietnes of hart and the most blessed tranquillitie of the soule which Christ the conquerour of sinne death and Satan hath brought backe with him from the graue and giuen the same to his Disciples Therefore Bern. de conuer cap. 6. col 415. if thou féelest the worme of conscience thou oughtest to strangle him forthwith in this life present not cherish him to immortalitie for a putrified conscience begets the immortall wormes Strangle therefore the worme of conscience by serious repentance pray to God for rest of the heart and forgiuenesse of sinnes and take héed of the new wounds of conscience that is the worst relapse of sinnes In this life there is as yet a time of pardon a time of grace a time of quieting the conscience In this life the booke of conscience may as yet be amended out of the booke
those which beléeue on his name This adoption comprehendeth all things which are necessarie for vs to euerlasting saluation for if we be the Sonnes of God then are we also borne of God Tertul. in apolo c. 17. For not the carnall generation but the spirituall regeneration makes the Sonnes of God If we are the Sonnes of God then haue we also God fauourable vnto vs. For doth not a Father take pittie of his Sonnes Psa 103.13 If we are the Sonnes of God then hath he also giuen vs his spirit for so saith the Apostle They which are lead by the spirit of God these are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 15. for ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare but ye haue receiued the spirit of adoption in which we cry Abba Father And againe Gal. 4.6 Because you are Sonnes God hath sent the spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father To conclude Rom. 8.13 if we are the Sonnes of GOD then are we also heires heires of GOD and heires annexed with Iesus Christ for who is he that is truly a Son without an inheritance All these so pretious so copious and so various benefits are bestowed vpon vs in Christ Eph. 3.17 and through Christ which dwels in our harts and is borne in vs spiritually through faith which therefore the Scripture doth so often preach and commend vnto vs. Verily verily Ioh. 5.24 I say vnto you saith Christ he which heareth my word and beleeues on him that hath sent mee hath eternall life and comes not unto iudgement but hath past from death to life Hee that beleeueth in mee Ioh. 11.25 26. although he were dead yet shall he liue and euery one which liueth and beleeueth in me shall not dye for euer Ioh 7.36.39 Hee that beleeueth in me out of his belly shall flow Riuers of liuing water which our Sauiour speakes of the spirit which they receiue that beleeue on him Euery one that beleeueth in mee Ioh. 12.46 doth not abide in darknesse suppose it in the darknesse of ignorance in the darknesse of sinne in the darknesse of eternall death but by the light of faith hee is lead to the life of sauing knowledge to the light of true righteousnesse to the light of euerlasting life Nay the Apostle witnesseth plainely that all those things which are written in the Gospel of the sayings doings and sufferings of Christ are therefore written that by faith on his name wee may haue life Because God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life 1 Ioh. 5.11 12.13 and this life is in his Sonne Hee that hath the Sonne hath life from thence we know that we haue euerlasting life because wee beleeue on the name of the Sonne of God And not onely the Apostles and Euangelists but also all the Prophets giue testimonie to Christ That all that beleeue oâ— him Act. 10.43 receiue remission of sinnes through by name That therefore which Paul and Silas sometimes said to the keeper of the prison at Philippi the same say I to thée Beleeue on the Lord Iesus Act. 16.31 and thou shalt be saued VI. The false perswasion of Faith The Tempted BVt I haue heretofore perceiued that very many doe put on a vaine perswasion of Faith and deceiue themselues with a false boasting what if I should also be in the number of them from whence may I be assured that my saith is a true and sauing faith and not a vaine and dead Image of faith The Comforter TRy and examine thy selfe whether thou be in the faith try thine owne selfe 2 Cor. 13.5 doest thou not know thine owne selfe that Iesus Christ is in thée There want not firme and infallible instructions by which â—rue and sauing faith may be tried knowne and discerned from idle and vaine boastâ—ng of faith First then this is the nature of true faith that it purifies the heart Act. 15.9 and desires to purge it cleane from the dregs of sinns For sâ—â—ing that faith doth carefully séeke and desire remission of sinnes surely he that truly beléeues shall féele a serious sorrow for the sinnes that he hath committed The Gospell is preached to the poore that is to say Matth. 11.6 Matth. 5.6 to those that are poore in spirit which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse which bring and offer to God a contrite heart and an humbled spirit Behold therefore the looking glasse of the Law and the deformitie of thy crimes will appeare Behold the shining face of Moses and it will appeare that for the workes of darknesse which thou hast followed thou canst not beare that light Behold thy selfe how grieuously the disease hath afflicted thée which is the iust punishment of thy sinnes the scourge of the reuenging God and the wages due to thy life which hath béene spent in sinnes He which sinnes against his Creator Eccl 38.5 fals into the hands of the Physitian We haue lost our health because wée haue offended our Creatour They which follow the flesh are scourged in the flesh They sigh in that in which they haue sinned The censure of the punishment is in that in which was the cause of shine By how many thoughts by how many words by how many déedes hast thou offended God How faint host thou béene aboue all things in the feare and loue of God How slacke in Prayers and other exercises of pietie How barren in good workes How oft hast thou followed the perswasion of Satan the seducing of the flesh the deceiuing of the world Those members which thou hast oftentimes giuen as weapons to iniquitie and vnrighteousnesse by the iust iudgement of GOD are now tormented with griefe and infirmitie Acknowledge this and grieue for if there be true and serious acknowledgement of sinne in thy heart immediately griefe of consciences and detestation of sinne will follow it God is earnestly angry with sinnes therefore out of the féeling of the wrath of God earnestly bewaile thy sinnes GOD doth seuerely punish sinnes therefore punish in thy selfe by iust griefe that which thou doest obserue that thou hast committed against God Psa 119.137 Acknowledge the iudgement of God to be iust and be thou humbled vnder his mighty hand Neither haue respect onely to thy outward faults but acknowledge the contagion of originall sin the fountaine of all euils Psa 90.9 that indéede is hidden but God placeth it in the light of his countenance through it all the powers of soule and body are so weakened that out of thy selfe and by thy selfe thou canst beginne no good much lesse performe it through it thou art made subiect vnto death and to all that troupe of calamities miseries and diseases which goes before death VII Griefe insufficient The Tempted I Acknowledge and feele that I am not only borne and conceiued in sinnes but that I haue offended God by diuers manifolde and great sinnes I feele this and I earnestly grieue but
that griefe perhaps is not sufficient seeing it doth not answere the fault neither is it an aequiualent price for my sinnes The Comforter NAy griefe rising out of the acknowledgement of sinne vexation of conscience shall neuer be able to answere the grieuousnesse and deformitie of sinnes séeing God the infinite good is that which is offended sinne the infinite euill is that which is committed the infinite punishment of Hell is prepared for sinners how then by thy contrition mightest thou satisfie the infinite iustice of God and expiate his infinite wrath Christ hath performed that which of thy selfe and by thy strength thou couldest not performe hee hath payd the infinite and equiualent price for thy sinnes If by thine owne selfe thou couldest haue satisfied if by thy contrition and by thy griefe thou haddest béene able to abolish sinne what néeded CHRIST to descend from heauen and to labour so long vnder the burthen of his crosse Esa 43.24 Esa 63.3 Thou hast put him to paine in thy sinnes and pressure in thine iniquities he hath trodden the Wine-presse alone and of the people there was none with him Take héed therefore to thinke onely that the griefe of thy contrition eyther can or ought to be such that it may answere to the grieuousnesse and deformitie of thy sinnes but therefore and to this end God requires true acknowledgement of sinne and earnest contrition of the heart that place may be giuen to the frée remission of sinnes which is giuen vnto thée through Christ apprehended by faith Christ preacheth the Gospell Esa 61.1 but to the poore that is to those that are humbled in spirit he healeth Luke 4.2.18 but the contrite in heart neither haue they that are well néed of the Phisition Mat. 9.12 that is which thinke that they are well He preacheth libertie but it is to the captiues that is to those that acknowledge the spirituall captiuitie of sin for he desires not to goe forth of bondage which supposeth himselfe by all meanes to be frée He preacheth sight but it is to the blinde that is to those that bewaile the spirituall blindnesse of the heart for they which say they sée their sinne abideth They which say that they are rich and wealthy ohn 9.41 and want nothing they doe not know that they are wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked Hee preacheth forgiuenesse but it is to the broken and contrite in heart 1 Sam. 2.6 God kils and makes aliue he leadeth downe to hell and bringeth backe againe he kils by contrition that he may make aliue by consolation he leadeth downe to hell by the hammer of the Law that he may bring backe from hell by the comfort of the Gospell VIII The weight of Griefe and Sorrow The Tempted TRoubles haue compassed mee round about my heart is vexed and troubled my sinnes are alwayes before mine eyes which do grieuously torment my conscience and labour to beat mee downe to hell Psal 32.3 there is no peace in my bones for the terrour of the Lord my soule refuseth to be comforted I am troubled Psal 77. vers 2. ver 3. and my spirit doth afflict mee I see no place whereto I may flye and seeke a remedy of my sinnes The Comforter IF thou wilt flye flye to CHRIST he friendly inuites all that labour vnder the weight of their sinnes Mat. 1.27 which are pressed with the yoake of iniquitie an euill Mistresse Be thou hid in his wounds and the tempest of the wrath of God will passe away Christ is the propitiatory Rom 3 25 to which thou mayest flye with true faith and rest vnder the shadow of his wings As the Hart desireth the fountaines of waters Psal 42.1 so let thy soule exhausted with the heate of thy sinnes and of the wrath of God thirst after Christ the fountaine of liuing water springing forth to euerlasting life If thou commest vnto him hee will not put thée backe he will not repell thée for thus goe his promises Apoc 22.17 Cap. 21.6 He that thirsteth let him come and hee that will let him take the water of life freely I will giue vnto him that thirsteth of the Well of the water of life freely Come vnto me all yee which labour Mat. 11.27 and are heauy loaden and I will refresh you in mee and by mee you shall finde rest to your soules Him Iohn 6.37 that comes vnto me I will not cast forth of dores Imbrace these words of Christ which are the words of the eternall and vnchangeable truth with a faithfull heart Let thy heart set before him these his promises Psal 27.8 and séeke the face of the Lord. Set Christ as it were in the middest betwéene thée a sinner and thy angry God appeale from the Throne of Gods seuere iustice to the Throne of mercy prepared for thée in Christ and through Christ The internall Hawke doth vrge and pursue thy soule Cant. 2.14 let it flye therefore like a fearefull and affrighted Doue to the holes of the Rocke which are the wounds of Christ Moses doth accuse thée sigh therefore Bern. Serm. 64. sup Cant. August in meditat that Christ may make intercession for thée Thy conscience is troubled but let it not be tumbled downe from his hope and confidence but let it remember the wounds of Christ let all the assurance of thy confidence bee in the wounds of Christ which do abound with the streams of mercy neither want there holes through which they may flow out Idem Serm. 22. sup Cant. Let the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ be thy last refuge and onely remedy of thy sinnes wisedome failing righteousnesse not sufficing the merits of holinesse not holding out that will be able to helpe and succour thée And this is the other and indéede essentiall propertie of true Faith forsooth to behold with the eye of the heart Christ hanging on the Crosse out of his wounds to hope for and drawe the medicine of her wounds to rely on him with a true confidence of heart and to wrap her selfe as it were in his most holy merit for this is the voyce of true faith Behold me thou which hangst vpon the Tree Bern. Serm. 22. sup Cant. And let my sinnes in thy side hidden be My sicke soule thirsts for thee my guilt forgiue My sinne 's my death but in thy bloud I liue Therefore if hauing compunction for thy sinnes thou hungerst and thirstest after righteousnesse thou mayest beléeue on him which iustifieth the wicked and being iustified by faith alone thou shalt haue peace with God Confesse that thou art not worthy neither canst thou by thine owne merits obtaine the kingdom of heauen but let this be thy confidence that Christ thy Lord doth obtaine it by a double name that is by the inheritance of the Father and by the merit of his Passion with the one he himselfe is content the other
opened vnto vs. As in the baptisme of Christ the holy Ghost descended vpon him in the shape of a Doue so the holy Ghost is present in our baptisme and workes therein effectually our regeneration and renouation so that by this reason in Baptisme doe concurre the grace of the Father adopting the merit of the Sonne clensing and the efficacie of the holy Ghost regenerating Therefore if thou art baptized thou mayst not doubt of the grace of God the remission of sins and the promise of eternall saluation so thou continue in that faith which there thou didst professe Baptisme is the Lauer of regeneration where there is regeneration there is the remission of sinnes there is the grace of God there is perfect iustice there is renuing there is the gift of the holy Ghost there is adoption there is the inheritance of eternall life XV The falling out of the Couenant of Baptisme The Tempted I Beleeue indeed that I am receiued into the couenant of Gods grace by the Sacrament of Baptisme that I haue attained remission of my sinnes and am written in the Booke of life but by my sinnes I haue againe fallen out of the grace of this Couenant by committing offences againe I haue made the remission past of none effect and haue often deserued that I should be blotted out of the Booke of life The Comforter NAy the Couenant of GOD is an euerlasting couenant Gen. 17.13.1 Col. 2.11 to which after thy sinnes thou mayest againe betake thy selfe by true and earnest repentance For euen as God speakes of the Sacrament of circumcision that it is an eternall couenant so let vs not doubt but that God will enter into and stablish with vs an euerlasting couenant in baptisme which hath succeeded in the place of circumcision I will marry thee vnto mee for euer sayth he by the Prophet Hose 2.19 I will mary thee vnto mee in righteousnes and iudgement in mercy and in compassion I will marry thee vnto me in faith The hils shall be moued Esa 54.10 and the valleyes shall tremble but my mercy shall not depart from thee and the couenant of my peace shall not be moued saith thy Lord that taketh pitty God forbid therefore God forbid Rom. 3.3 that we say that the faith of God can be made of none effect by the incredulitie of men If we doe neuer so much take away credit from his words or depart from him 2 Tim. 2.13 hée remaineth faithfull alwayes like himselfe true and constant he cannot deny himselfe Therefore though thou sometime sinne out of thine inbred infirmitie thou doest not forthwith fall out of the couenant of God Indéed by sinnes committed against knowledge and conscience thou dost grieuously prouoke GOD against thée and make him to be sometimes angry but by true repentance thou returnest againe into his grace and fauour The ship of Baptisme doth not floate away from vs Secunda post naufragium tabulu although wee leape out of it into the Sea of sinnes therefore by repentance which in this sence may be called a second planke after shipwracke wee may returne againe to the same shippe of baptisme that in it wée may bee brought to the hauen of euerlasting saluation Hier. in ca. 3. Esa ver 9. Tertu lib. de poenit p. 479. Therefore imbrace repentance as hée that is shipwracke the helpe of some boord or plancke this will lift thée vp being ouerwhelmed with the waues of thy sins will bring thée into the hauen of the clemency of God Peter had denied his Master 1 Pet. 3.21 but being conuerted he doth neuerthelesse seeke the promise of saluation in baptisme The Galathians had fallen grieuously and likewise the Corinthians notwithstanding the Apostle doth set before them consolation deriued out of Baptisme after that they were againe raised vp by repentance Gal. 3.17 pronouncing as many of them as were baptized to haue put on Christ nay manifestly affirming that they were clensed and baptized in one spirit into one body that is to say a misticall body Out of which it euidently appeareth that the efficacy of the couenant of Baptisme doth extend it self to the time to come neither is it made plainely of no force and abolisht by the fall of man into sinne but that that couenant abides lastingly firme August 1. de nupt concupis cap. 33. and ratified of the part of God That therefore which Paul saith that Christ did clense the Church in the Lauer of water in the word is so to be taken that by the same Lauer of regeneration and word of sanctification all the euils of regenerate men are altogether clensed and healed not onely the sinnes past all which are remitted in Baptisme but also those which are afterwards contracted by humane ignorance or infirmitie not that baptisme so often as men sinne may so often be repeated but because by that which is once giuen the pardon of what soeuer sinnes is obtained for the faithfull not only before but also afterwards vpon their true and vnfained repentance Acknowledge therefore and bewaile thy sinnes yet neyther deny the couenant of grace that was begunne with thée in baptisme nor forget it but though thou fall a thousand times yet returne and goe backe Returne vnto mee Ier. 3.12 O thou soule that art turned away saith the LORD and I will not turne away my face from you Psal 27.8 because I am mercifull sayth the LORD and I will not be angry for euer Let thy heart set this word before GOD 2 Tim. 2.13 and hée will take pitty vpon thée being mindfull of his promise for hée cannot deny himselfe and his word XVI Vncertaine taking into the Couenant of Baptisme The tempted BVT whence may I bee ascertained that after I haue fallen by true repentance I may be receiued againe of God into fauour I would to God my heart might be confirmed by some certaine seale I would there were some Sacrament by the participation whereof that promise of grace might be sealed vp vnto mee The Comforter YEa there is such a Sacrament that is to say the most holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper in which Christ giues vnto thée his most precious body and blood Wherefore when they receiuest the most holy price of thy redemption that is to say the body and bloud of Christ in that holy supper thou mayest be sure that thou art made truly partaker of all those things which Christ hath deserued on the altar of the Crosse by the deliuering vp of his body and powring out of his bloud that is the fauour of God remission of sinnes righteousnesse life and euerlasting saluation When thou drinkest that bloud by the pouring out whereof the couenant of grace was stricken and confirmed how canst thou doubt whether thou be againe receiued into that couenant and into the fauour of God What is more néere vnto God then his onely begotten Sonne as who is in his bosome Ioh.
is Vsury and losse which is gaine Whatsoeuer thou méetest with now hath béene and whatsoeuer thou shalt léese there is nothing but it shall be againe All things returne into their state when they shall depart Therefore are they brought to an end that they may be new made Nothing perisheth but that it may be saued Therfore this whole order of things which is in reuolution is a witnesse of the resurrection of the dead God hath prescribed it in his workes before he wrote it in letters hée hath preached it by his strength before he vttered it in words Hée sent Nature before to be thy Mistresse meaning to send Prophecie after that so much the more easily thou mayest beléeue Prophecie being the Scholler of Nature that thou mayest by and by entertaine when thou hearest that which euery where thou now séest and not doubt but that GOD will be a raiser againe of thy flesh All this Tertull. which knowest him to be the restorer of all things Are such lypes as these to be thought to be set out in vaine in the whole state of things Is GOD to be iudged weaker then Nature Nay looke vpon thy selfe and know a testimonie of the resurrection in thy selfe Id in Apolo aduer gentes c. 45. p. 737. Remember what thou wert before thou wast surely nothing for thou mightest haue remembred it if thou hadst béene any thing Thou therefore which wast nothing before thou hadst thy being being made nothing when thou shalt cease to be why canst thou not be againe of nothing by the wil of the same founder which would haue thée to be of nothing What new thing shall happen vnto thée thou which wert not wert made when againe thou shalt not be thou shalt be made Render a reason if thou canst which way thou wert made and then shalt thou demand which way thou shalt be made and yet more easily shalt thou be made that which somtime thou hast béene which wert not hardly made that which neuer thou hadst béene Id de resur carnis p. 54. If God hath made all things out of nothing he can againe frame the flesh brought to nothing out of nothing Surely hée is fit to restore which hath made how much more is it to haue made then to haue restored to haue giuen beginning then to haue new framed so thou mayest beléeue that the restoring of thy flesh is easier then the first making therof XLV The flames of Purgatorie The Tempted I Feare the punishing flames of the fire of Purgatorie after death Psal 143.3 for seeing I am compast about with diuers infirmities of sinnes I feare least God should therefore enter with me into his iudgement and most iustly adiudge me to the flames of Purgatory The Comforter THose with whom God doth enter into iudgement that is which are not in this life reconciled to God those doth he not adiudge to the fire of Purgatorie there to be tormented for a certaine finite time but to the infernall and not to be quenched fire there to be broiled for all eternitie But they which doe acknowledge their sinnes seriously and beléeue truly on Christ they haue the hand-writing of Christ their Sauiour that they néed to feare no place of sorrow and torments after death for so hée sayth Iohn 5.24 Verely verely I say vnto you hee which heareth my word and beleeueth him which hath sent mee hath life eternall and commeth not into iudgement but hath past from death to life The tables of truth doe acknowledge two rankes of men onely that is to say the good and the bad the penitent and the impenitent the beléeuing and the vnbeléeuing two receptacles onely after death August lib. 3. hypog Id ser 8. de verb. Apost Id. 21. de ciuit Dei cap. 25. Id. 1. de peccat merit remis cap. 28. that is to say of consolation and torment of reward and payne of Heauen and Hell We are vtterly ignorant of neither doe we finde in the Scriptures a third kinde of men and places there are but two dwellings one in the kingdome euerlasting the other in the euerlasting fire therefore is not any place in the midst of these for any where hee may not be in punishment which shall not be placed in the kingdome that hee cannot chuse but be with the Deuill which is not with Christ Hee that shall beleeue Mar. 16.16 sayth CHRIST and be baptized shall be saued but hee that doth not beleeue shall be condemned Hee that beleeueth in the Sonne is not iudged Ioh. 3.18 but hee that doth not beleeue is iudged already because he doth not beleeue on the name of the onely begotten Sonne of God vers 36. He that beleeueth on the Sonne hath eternall life but hee that doth not beleeue on the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God remaines vpon him Chap. 5 29 They that haue done good shall come forth to the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill to the resurrection of iudgement Mat. 25.46 The blessed shall goe into euerlasting life and the cursed into euerlasting fire And that this immediate separation of the godly and vngodly is to be made not onely in the last day but also by and by after death the example of the rich glutton doth teach vs Luk. 16.23 whose soule is thrust into Hell and of the godly Lazarus whose soule is translated of the Angels into Paradise the example of the conuerted Théefe doth teach vs Luk. 23.43 to whom Christ promiseth the ingresse into Paradise on that very day wherein hée was to dye Apoc. 14.13 the spirit of Trueth doth teach vs pronouncing them henceforth blessed that dye in the Lord. There is none other purgation or expiation of sinnes then in the bloud of Christ 1 Ioh. 1.7 Esa 53.5 Rom. 5.1 1 Iohn 3.14 Sap. 4.1 which washeth vs altogether from all our sins the chastisement of our peace is vpon him that he might be peace to vs therefore he which beléeues on him is iustified and hath peace with God is translated from death to life neither néed hee feare any torment after death LXVI The rigour of the last iudgement The Tempted I Feare the rigour and terrour of the last iudgement Aboue mee will be the seuere iudge beneath mee gaping Hell within mee my Conscience gnawing without me fire burning on my right hand my sins accusing me on my left hand the Diuels terrifying me round about mee the good Angels driuing mee to hell and the euill drawing mee to the same Satan will accuse me my sinnes will accuse mee Bern. in Rithm my conscience will accuse me I feare much the countenance of the seuere Iudge from whom nothing that is hidden shall be kept close neither shall any thing remaine vnreuenged No man shall be able to escape his power to deceiue his wisedome to turne his equitie or to reuoke his iudgement The Comforter IF thou