Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
conscience_n spirit_n testimony_n witness_v 1,787 5 10.0023 5 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A05995 A commentarie vpon the first chapter of the epistle of Saint Paul, written to the Ephesians Wherein, besides the text fruitfully explained: some principall controuersies about predestination are handled, and diuers arguments of Arminius are examined. By Mr. Paul Bayne, sometimes preacher of Gods word at Saint Andrevves in Cambridge. Baynes, Paul, d. 1617. 1618 (1618) STC 1635; ESTC S113832 242,987 440

There are 5 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

my iudgement briefly concerning it viz. Whether wee may in ordinary course be infallibly perswaded touching our saluation The truth is Christians may come to it That which is sufficient y confirmed on Gods part to Christians and that whose confirmation may be sufficiently receiued on Christians part concerning that they may infallibly be assured but God hath sufficiently confirmed it as is plaine by his Word seales oath pledge c. and what God offereth or confirmeth so we by faith may receiue it for faith doth inable vs suffi iently to belieue that God reuealeth to vs Now his wil to saue vs by all the former is particularly reuealed as wee shall show further hereafter That which maketh vs vnable to haue sound ioy hearty thankefulnesse courage to proceed in a godly course that is contrary to the truth But to take away this certaine perswasion of our inheritance doth this How can I ioy in a thing which I know not whether I shall haue it or no I meane with sound and full reioycing How can I be thankefull for that which I know not whether euer I shall get it or no How can a man haue heart to proceed while he cannot know whether he is in a course right or wrong and cannot tell whether all hee doth will come to any thing yea or no To explane the truth more fully I wil open these foure points 1. What this certainety is 2. On what grounds it riseth 3. In what state the faithfull attaine it 4. That the sence of it may alter euen in those who haue attained it 1. This certainty is no other thing then the testimony of a renewed conscience which doth witnesse through the spirit that wee are in state of grace and that we shall be brought by God to life euerlasting I call it a testimony of the conscience for the conscience doth not onely show vs what we are to doe what state we should seeke to get into but it doth witnes giue iudgement about that we haue done and the state we stand in be it good or euill The conscience accuseth of sinne and witnesseth to a man that hee is in the state of damnation it doth witnesse to a man that hee is in state subiect to Gods temporary displeasure and so likewise that a man is in such state as that God will shew him fauour for the present and bring him to see his promised saluation That it is a testimony of our spirit that is our conscience renewed it is plaine Rom. 8.16 That our spirit doth witnesse it through the spirit witnessing our state vnto it is plaine in that place also The spirit of God doth witnesse with our spirit and Rom 9.2 My conscience beareth me record through the spirit for the conscience doth but speake it as an eccho that it testifieth to vs both our present estate of Grace and our inheritance with Christ it is euident there also Nay when the conscience through the ministry of the Law doth testifie to a man his state in sinne and vnder the curse it is through the spirit of bondage that it doth so testifie this being the office of Gods spirit to teach vs to know the things bestowed on vs 1 Cor. 2.12 to worke in vs not faith onely but spirituall discerning of those things which are wrought in vs and looke toward vs belieuing The conscience doth testifie this partly through faith belieuing it partly through discerning the faith loue obedience which are by Gods spirit brought forth in vs 1 Iohn 4. ●6 Wee haue knowne and beleeued the loue the Father beareth vs. I know whom I haue trusted and that hee is able to keepe my saluation committed to him vnto that day 2. Tim. 1.9 Faith may receiue what the Word doth testifie but there is a word testifying thus much that my particular person beholding the Sonne and belieuing on him shall haue eternall life and be raised vp at the last day Ioh 6. ●0 that there is no condemnation to me being in Christ that he who hath begun his good worke is faithfull is constant and will finish it also that Christ is made of God not onely an author but a finisher of my faith not only a iustifier of me but a perfect redeemer that I being iustified and called shall also be glorified Neyther could Iohn with the faithfull belieue Gods loue toward them in particular if some word did not show it Neyther will the Papists say that all of them were priuiledged with singular reuelation For though no word expresly say thou Thomas belieuing shalt be saued yet that word which saith euery one belieuing shall be raised vp that word saith I beleeuing shall be raised vp Otherwise wee might aske what word saith thou Thomas shall not kill steale c. if the generall did not sufficiently containe euery particular person But it will be said How doe you know that you truly belieue To which I answer comming to that second ground by a gift of distinction or vnderstanding wee know these things wrought in vs by God and by discerning these things wee are assured touching that full saluation promised to vs. First that wee may know them then that these knowne doe further assure vs Paul did know on whom hee had belieued How could we say euery one we belieue if we might not know it Can we speak that truly wherof we can haue no certainty Thirdly when I see one or trust to any promising me this or that I know I see him and trust to him rest on him for that he hath promised Shall I by faith see Christ the Sonne and rest on him and yet know no such thing Wee may know wee haue some kinde of faith but not that wee haue the true liuely faith Ans S. Paul bids vs to try and proue our selues whether wee haue not that faith by which Christ dwelleth in our hearts which is the faith of such as are accepted with God 2 Cor. 13.5.6 Now to bid mee make search and examination for that which cannot be found out were ridiculous Our loue to God and our brethren by which we know our selues translated from death to life wee may know also St. Iohn maketh it a signe of our being translated Ergo it may be knowne Signes manifesting other things must themselues be more manifest Secondly hee that may know hee hath true faith may know a priori that hee hath loue also for loue is in true faith as the fruit in the root from which it springeth We loue God when now wee haue found that hee loueth vs first Now by faith we perceiue God to beare vs loue be reconciled for God doth offer his loue to mee belieuing Againe if I loue men I know my loue to them yea and in what degree I beare them loue Shal I loue God to the denying of my earthly profit yea my life often and not be able to know that I loue him Were this true when Christ asked Peter Louest thou
in Christ Secondly what this redemption is that is the bringing vs out of bondage Thirdly the ransome in which we are redeemed through his bloud The exposition viz. that he meaneth nothing by redemption but remission of sinnes the fountaine whence it springeth being annexed viz. the riches of Gods grace The summe is out of his eternall grace he hath made vs accepted in his Christ for in his Christ whereas by nature wee are in thraldome and bondage he hath deliuered and redeemed vs through no other ransome then the bloud of his Sonne He hath I say set vs free both from guilt and punishments of our sinnes through his most rich and abundant grace towards vs. Doct. Obserue first in whom deliuerance is to be found from all spirituall thraldome euen in Christ It is often said in Christ as aboue wee are blessed thus and thus The Reason is Because God hath made Christ an Adam head roote common receptacle storehouse in whom are treasured al those good things which from him are communicated to vs There are three phrases in speaking of Christ Sometime wee are said to haue things in him sometime for him as Phil. 2. To you it is giuen for Christ his sake not onely to belieue but to suffer sometime we are said to haue things through him as 1 Corin. 5. Rom. 7. Blessed be God who hath giuen vs victory through Christ Now the reason of the first is because that in Christ as a common store-house euery thing is first placed which afterward is to be imparted to any of vs As in Adam our being naturall our hopes of life and death and in euent our condemnation was receiued before euer they came to be applyed and receiued actually into vs. The second is said that Christ doth by his obedience obtaine euery good thing which in time is communicated to vs for as Adam hath procured all the guilt condemnation misery which in time we know so Christ the second Adam in regard of the contrary The third phrase is spoken in respect that Christ is a mediator not onely of impetration but of execution that is not onely obtaining and receiuing from grace all good for vs but executing and by efficacy applying the same in vs as the first Adam doth effectually propagate his being sinne guilt condemnation Vse The Vse of this Doctrine is to stir vs vp to seeke this aboue all that wee may be by faith in Christ Wee loue to thrust amongst them with whom wee may finde benefit profit yea we must striue by faith to grow vp in him the more neerely wee are vnited with any thing the more wee partake in the vertue and operation of it Those who are neerest the fire partake in the heat or a more than those who are further remoued So it is heere alas men seeke to be made one person in Law to be most neerely ioyned to such as may bring them in wealth Allies beneficiall but who doth seeke by a spirituall marriage to become one with him in whom is euery good blessing See aboue the end of the third verse Doct. Obserue secondly from this that hee saith We haue redemption in Christ what all of vs are by nature viz. no better then in a spirituall captiuity or bondage Were we no way taken or held captiue there could be no place for ransoming or redeeming of vs. Now captiuity or bondage is a state opposite to liberty wherein men liue vnder the power of hard Lords depriued of liberty and grieuously intreated many waies The bondage of captiues is in this first that they are in hands of such as rule seuerely ouer them secondly they haue not freedome to doe any thing which formerlie they might when they were at liberty third●y they are forced to endure many things most grieuous Thus it is in the spirituall consideration which I wil briefly vnfold What Lords as it were reigne ouer a man they are of two sorts the Principall or Ministeriall The principall is the most iust God whose iustice we haue wronged by sinne ergo wee are said to be redeemed from vnder the Law that is from vnder the reuenging iustice of the Law Looke as subiects taken in murder robbery committed are the Kings prisoners principally not his who keepes them so it is with vs. Ministeriall the Deuill and his Angels the conscience accusing condemning for sin Act. 2. Men are said before their conuersion to be vnder the power of the Deuill 2 Tim. 2. to be taken as beasts aliue of the Deuill to his will not that hee is the principall Lord that hath right in the prisoner but he is the Iayler and executioner so the prisoners are his to keepe them in the dungeon of darkenes and in the chaynes of lusts of darkenesse Yea God hath put a man vnder the power of his Conscience which is as a keeper continually going with him and halling him to condemnation while he is out of Christ and therefore that effect which the spirit worketh through the Law in the Conscience fearing is called a spirit of bondage As amongst the Romans prisoners had vnder-keepers who were chayned arme to arme vnto the prisoner whether soeuer hee went Thus doth God to guilty man his prisoner he doth ioyne to him his conscience as a continuall keeper which though it may be brought asleepe yet it shall euer be found when God shall call bringing him forth and witnessing against him For the second Naturall man hath no spirituall liberty to doe any thing spiritually good as he did before sinne entred but is led as a slaue by lusts by passions by obiects which please him so that hee is in a brutish bondage for euen as the bruit beast hath no liberty but is carried by the appetite to euery thing that doth agree so naturall men as Peter speaketh are led with sensuality couetousnesse that looke as one would lead a sheep with holding out hay or yuie an oxe with fodder carried before it so doth the deuill natural men with such obiects as he knoweth doth fit their corruption 2 Pet. 2.19 Euery one is seruant to him of whom hee is ouercome Now sin hath ouercome all men and this Paul did confesse of himselfe before his conuersion Tit. 3.3 Naturall mans bondage is that hee is exposed to suffer a thousand euils to wearisome vanity in euery thing yea through feare of death the vpshot of euils he is subiect to bondage all his daies while in that state he abideth Hebr. 2.15 Pharaoh did neuer put Israell to such hard seruices as the Deuill putteth those to whom he keepeth vnder his power You may amplifie these considerations Hauing shewed what it is and in what it standeth I will conclude this point with shewing how it entred Our first Parents by the Deuill tempted wilfully breaking Gods commandement brought themselues into bondage Now our Parents once in bondage we that are borne of them cannot be in better condition till God by his Christ out
me he should haue answered Lord thou knowest wee cannot tell truely whether wee loue thee Againe St. Iohn saith By this wee know that we loue him if wee keepe his commandements If any say we know that we haue a naturall loue but wee are not sure that wee haue this Christian loue Againe many Christians thinke they haue true loue yea Peter himselfe was deceiued in his loue Ans The loue of a meere natural man to God is as like Christian loue as an apple is like an oyster and therefore we passe by it Christians are eyther enlightened onely and not sanctified or sanctified also with their enlightning The former may thinke themselues to haue loue not hauing it but because a man dreaming or running vpon some mistake may be deceiued shall this preiudice but that a man waking may iudge truly of this or that which is before him A man that hath no charity thinketh himselfe to haue it therefore one that hath it may not iudge infallibly that he hath it Now for those that haue it as Peter they may be deceiued not in iudging simply of the thing but of the measure of that which is circumstantiall in their spirituall life not in that which is substantiall Peter was not deceiued in thinking that hee had faith and loue but in presuming aboue his measure Thirdly wee may know our workes which are fruites growing from the tree of grace in our harts S. Iohn maketh them signes which doe euidently declare loue ergo they are manifest Hee who knoweth when he doth sinne swerue from obeying God hee may know how farre hee obeyeth God they who doe spiritually obey God eyther they know it or their consciences are not priuy to that they doe cannot beare witnesse and iudge of that they doe but this is false Pauls conscience did testifie to him that hee did walke in simplicity according to the Grace of God True it is that for the outside the works of vnsanctified men are like to the workes of the sanctified but they are without the life and spirit which is in the worke of a true beleeuer to which he is no lesse priuy then to the externall worke which commeth from him To conclude they who haue the testimony of a good conscience may know that they obey God sincerely But Christians may haue the testimony of good consciences Beside that the spirit doth teach our consciences to beare witnesse of the griefe and ioy we haue and so by consequent of all wee doe according to good Now the conscience as through faith so discerning these things doth testifie to vs from these our saluation which he hath promised and God will not forget to finish what hee beginneth Should a King promise to erect some Colledge and giue liberall maintenance to Students in it wee are certaine by a humane faith that hee will doe such a thing though it be not begun but when now the foundations were in laying then we should not onely belieue his purpose but in part know it by that we saw executed and by that we saw in execution wee would assure our selues the thing should be finished But heere it will be obiected that though knowing these things wee might come to see our selues in present state of grace yet we cannot be sure of our saluation vnlesse wee could know that our faith loue and obedience should perseuere to the end To this I answer that the Scripture could not say that he that belieueth hath an euerlasting life that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ did it not take our faith and the fruites of it to be such from which wee should neuer fall through the power of God and this the conscience commeth to know by faith in God conceiued through such promises as these I will make you walke in my commandements I will put my feare in you that you shall not depart I haue begun my worke and I will perfect it in you I am author and finisher of thy faith it is my will thou shouldest haue eternall life and be raised vp at the last day Now though the conscience doth testifie this our present being in fauour and our future saluation yet it doth not this in euery state of a belieuer For first there is a state in which faith is a smoaking weeke desiring that it could belieue rather then getting vp to feele it selfe belieue Againe though faith be not troubled but doth quietly stay on Christ and taste God good in letting them finde peace with him yet such is the infancy of spirituall vnderstanding in Christians now first conuerted that they doe not returne into themselues and iudge of that they doe and of the great consequence which followeth from that which they doe Hence it is that they will tell you they finde God good to them and goe on cheerefully in duties for the present but they come not to behold the stability of their saluation for time to come There is a state in which faith is exercised with temptation from vnbeliefe or otherwise by which opposition the soule is kept from attaining this certainty being encountred with doubtful appearances which it cannot wel answer cleare for the present There is a state wherein faith is now grown vp either hath out-wrestled or otherwise is exempted from knowing such temptation and the faithfull in this state doe perswade themselues that Gods mercy and truth and power shall carry them through vnto saluation Looke in 1 Pet. 5. v. 11. The God of Grace who hath through Christ called you vnto eternall glory when you haue a little suffered he perfect you stablish you strengthen you ground you sure Lastly when now our consciences are come to testifie through faith and experience this happy estate we are subiect by neglecting meanes by falling into some more grieuous sinne by secret desertions ere-while to lose for a time this comfortable perswasion the spirit not speaking in vs by his light as heretofore and our consciences and faith so hurt and wounded that the actions of them are troubled depraued as we see the like befall the naturall reason and senses Wee see through melancholy what reason commeth to imagine how the eye thinkes it sees things yellow and redde when they are nothing so the taste things bitter when they are sweet so the sight of faith and conscience when nothing but sinne guilt wrath angry desertion ouer-lay it it seemeth to see euery thing for the time of like colour to those things wherewith it is possessed These things I thought good to set downe that we might conceiue the nature of this point more fully One thing is to be answered which seemeth to me of greatest moment namely that this doctrine doth leaue no place for feare but breedeth presumption but this is vtterly denied for the grace and mercy of God belieued breedeth loue of God and consequently true feare which is opposed to senselesse stupidity and carnall presumption though it casteth out feare
my soule Psal 66.16 I will daily tell of thy righteousnesse We count it ingratitude in men when they will smother benefits and neuer be knowne to other of whom they haue receiued them 3. There must be an endeauouring of requiting Gods loue by answering his benefits with thankefull duty by walking worthy of them What shall I repay the Lord for all his benefits vpon me Thus wee count him vnthankfull who doth not bend himselfe to requite loue with the like so farre as ability reacheth Now for meanes disposing vs this way we must labour first to know and keepe in remembrance Gods benefits that which is forgotten is not knowne for the present nothing vnknowne affecteth or moueth the will A danger vnknowne maketh vs not afraid a benefit vnknowne maketh vs not ioyfull or thankefull Hence it was that holy men often made Catalogues of Gods benefits and repeated them to their soules See Psal 103. My soule praise the Lord forget not all his benefits Secondly Men must labour their hearts to a sense and feeling of the worth of the benefits which they enioy for not hauing benefits but esteeming and knowing the worth of them maketh thankefull Now in this we greatly faile for our corrupt natures heede nothing they enioy like the eye in this regard which seeth nothing that lyeth on it but taken away some distance doth brightly discerne it So we when good things are taken away know them well which we see not to be such benefits while we enioy them Againe the plentifull vse of the best things breedeth a satietie and maketh them no dainties And hence it commeth that good things which are commonly and constantly with vs are not regarded Let vs therfore the rather practise this second rule for the neglect of it maketh vs want our comfort while we possesse things for who can take ioy in that he esteemeth not and it maketh vs haue double griefe when now they are remoued for then the conscience of our carelesnesse doth bite and sting vs. A third rule is still to labour to be poore in spirit and keepe the conscience of our owne vnworthinesse that we may still know our selues to be lesse then the least of Gods mercies as Iacob said Hunger is sauce which maketh euery thing well tasted So this pouerty of spirit maketh the least blessing seeme great toward vs. The humbled poore take the least scraps thankfully Vse 1 The Vse of this is first to rebuke our deadnesse in whose hearts are no affections in whose mouthes are no words magnifying the Lord for his continuall mercies If men doe vs small fauours especially if they be of countenance and authority O how we thinke our selues beholding our mouthes runne ouer in speaking of their courtesie we giue them a thousand thankes we professe our selues at their commands Out alas that being thus one to another wee should offer God such measure as we doe But this exceedeth all the rest that because God doth constantly continue to vs benefits that therefore we should slacken our thankfull duty If one giue vs 20. pound one time onely we thanke him but to giue it vs yearely for twenty yeares together this is farre more thanks-worthy to giue it vs as an inheritance for euer this is most of all obliging vs Thus it is with Gods benefits which hee constantly leaseth out to vs and maketh them as it were a free-hold with vs. We for these euen in this consideration should most extoll him Vse 2 Let vs in the second place stirre our selues vp to be thankefull It is Gods fine and rent euery thing which he requireth for his benefits Call on mee in the day of thy trouble I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me We would not forfeit any thing worth the holding for non-payment of rent Let vs take heed lest for want of thankefulnesse we giue God occasion to re-enter and dispossesse vs of all good things we enioy The God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Doct. 2 Obserue first particularly that euery Christian heart is to magnifie God in that he hath beene the God of Christ our Lord. This doth the Apostle who doth not say Blessed be God the Father for blessing of vs but first Blessed be the God of our Lord Iesus Christ Before hee commeth to consider what God was to himselfe with the rest of beleeuers hee doth extoll him for that hee was to Christ the head Which doctrine before wee can prosecute profitably it is fit to vnfold what this doth comprehend to be the God of any for this opened we shall conceiue more cleerely the equity of this that wee are to be thankefull in this regard This is a fundamentall fauour whence all other doe spring and it conteyneth the eternall loue of God louing vs and predestinating vs to supernaturall happinesse as likewise euery subordinate grace by which it is executed First therefore the fore-knowledge and predestinating Christ as man to the grace of personall vnion and glorious office of a Mediatour of which we haue 1 Pet. 1.20 this commeth heere to be conceiued I haue sheepe that are mine which are not of this sheepe-fold saith Christ where we see that we are Gods Ioh. 10.18 Heb. 2.10 Heb. 7.26 Heb. 4.89 and God ours before we are called euen by predestination Secondly Christs calling of which is spoken Hebr. 5.1 and the confederation entred with our mediatour wherein God required on his part the fulfilling of righteousnes so far as serued to qualifie his person that he might be a fit high Priest Isa 53.10.11 and especially the offering his body that is his soule and body by the cursed death of the crosse wherin God promised on his part that he would be with him to strengthen him and deliuer him from all euill and to crowne him with glory yea that all his seede should be blessed with righteousnesse and life through him The Scripture is plentifull to prooue that it is all kinde of blessednesse to haue God for our God Now then if we be members with Christ our head haue we not cause to be thankefull to God euen in this respect that he hath been and is his God The ancient Church did magnifie God that hee had made himselfe the God of Abraham Isaak and Iacob their forefathers how much more reason is there for vs to glorifie him in this regard that he is the head of Christ our Lord Againe if any man should helpe and deliuer from great euils some of our friends should doe them many fauours would we not returne them in this consideration thanks and much commend them If Christ be deare vnto vs we must needs blesse and praise the Lord inasmuch as hee hath beene a God assisting preseruing and is a God glorifying our Lord and Sauiour In the head of Christ lay all our happinesse had not God beene a God to him and couered it in the day of battell wee had all of vs perished all our supernaturall happinesse stood and
an edge vpon our thankesgiuing Least we should forget this dutie to God God hath left some trouble some remainders like the weather in ache of a wrested ioynt when now it is restored How thankefully would wee take it to be set free from the drakenesse deadnesse sensuality earthly mindednesse which we still finde as a clog and chaine to the spirits of vs If this would be so gratefull to be set free from circumstances which molest vs onely how much more is that our substanciall deliuerance from the reuenging iustice of God from the power of the diuell holding vs vnder the curse from the power of our conscience iustly condemning vs from the power of sinne commanding as King how much more is this to be extolled This mercy was not showed to the Angels creatures more excellent then our selues Should one set vs free from the state of Villenage or ransome vs from the Gallies we could not think our selues thankfull enough to them much lesse can wee euer be thankefull enough for this benefit Vse 2 It should stirre vp spirituall ioy Looke Isa 44.23 where the insensible creatures are called vpon to reioyce for the redemption of Gods people when they were redeemed from Babell the ioy did put them into an extasie they knew not whither they were a sleepe or a wake Let vs pray to God to moue the scales from our eyes and take the vaile from our hearts which will not let vs reioyce in so excellent mercy It followeth Through his bloud Obserue what it is by which wee are ransomed and redeemed euen the bloud of Christ This was it which in the bloud of all the Sacrifices was prefigured We are redeemed saith Peter not with siluer or gold but with the bloud of Christ a lambe vndefiled When any are captiue here and there we haue but two waies vsually by which we redeeme them The first is by force of armes when we powerfully rescue them the other is by course of iustice when wee send some ransome and by way of change set them free For with-draw that voluntary couenant who doubteth but that had the creature kept his innocency a thousand yeares God was free to haue annihilated him Now it is in vaine to dispute what God might haue done by absolute power for God may out of his absolute soueraignty not haue punished Adams sinne both because it was against himselfe not others to whom he is tyed to doe iustice and especially for that the demonstration of his reuenging iustice springeth not from the necessity of his nature but from his voluntary disposition as well as the giuing life perpetuall to obedience for a certaine space performed And finally because God is able were he pleased to shew this power to turne it to his glory which mens impotency not attaining maketh them that they cannot alwaies with iustice forgiue euen that in which themselues are trespassed Yet seeing God hath determined that his iustice shall take her reuenge if by breach of couenant she be wronged hee cannot but execute punishment neither may he set vs free from the same but so as wronged iustice may receiue satisfaction Againe we know which maketh the Scripture say it was meete and necessary that Christ should be consecrated through suffering that he should suffer and so enter his glory See Luke 24.26 Heb. 2.17 Death corporall and spirituall such as is a punishment of sinne but not sinfull Desertion not in regard of vnion and sustentation but of consolation Impression of wrath death being made as seruiceable for our good and the feare of it being taken away by him who hath tasted it for vs and swallowed it vp into victory We know that he hath by way of ransome redeemed vs as being the fittest way both to deliuer vs out of his grace freely and yet to show himselfe iust in so iustifying or redeeming of vs See Rom. 3.25 For further opening this point Marke two things 1. What is vnderstood by Christ his bloud 2. How it hath set vs free from bondage By his bloudy death vpon the crosse or his bloudy and cursed death the Scripture maketh vs redeemed By his death Heb. 9.12 and by yeelding himselfe to be made a curse for vs Gal. 3.13 the commandement giuen to Christ being this That he should lay downe his life for our redemption For looke as a surety must pay in such death as the Law inflicteth on sinners such death as is ioyned with the curse As he was our surety and vndertooke to answer our sinnes the God-head did but sustaine him that he should not be swallowed vp of it as the brasen couering of the Alter did make it fit to endure that materiall fire 3. The assault of those impure spirits for the houre or time for all those powers of darkenesse was then come when this his redemptory suffering approached Christ our surety was to take vpon him our debt of death both corporall and spirituall so farre as he might neither the vnion of his person nor yet the holinesse of his nature any whit diminished The Scripture doth mention his bloud so frequently both because this circumstance is most sensible and was the body in which all the typicall bloud of sacrifices in the Law had his accomplishment And Ergo as when wee reade that Christ was flesh we must not thinke as Apollinarius that he tooke no soule so when we reade his bloud shed or bodily death wee must not thinke that he dyed not a spirituall death in soule also The fathers who denyed that he dyed in soule deny it not absolutely but after a sort viz. that he dyed not such a death in soule as did destroy the essentiall life of it like as death bodily doth the life of the body nor yet any such death as did either separate his soule from vnion with God or did imply any sinfull corruption as it did in vs whose soules are dead in sinnes and trespasses Now this death is it by meanes whereof Gods grace doth set vs free and that in most iust manner First from the guilt of sinne in as much as it doth pacifie and satisfie iustice her displeasure against sinne This obedience of that great God our Sauiour being farre more effectuall to please and satisfie then the sinne of the whole world could be to displease and prouoke iustice against vs For though it be finite in it selfe yet in the person it becommeth infinite for the value of it Hence it is that God that is God as now in his reuenging iustice is gone forth is said to smell a sauour of rest in the death of Christ and by Christs being put vnder the Law or curse of Gods reuenging iustice made manifest in the Law we are said to be redeemed from the Law or curse as by an al-sufficient ransome accepted of iustice Secondly Now this bloud or death doth free vs from the Diuell for Sathans power ouer vs was by reason of sin and the punishment due to it from the