Whose house ye are if ye hold fast your confidence and hope of your reioycing c. 1. Cor. 1.30 31. Col. 2.6 As ye haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him And by his life vertue and strength to doe all things and not by the strength of nature and of your naturall spirit as Paul Philip. 4.13 I can doe all things by the helpe of Christ strengthning me Rom. 8.10 If Christ be in you the bodie is dead in regard of sinne but the Spirit is life in regard of righteousnesse that is the bodie lies dead from sinfull actions and motions from which a mans naturall spirit wit and pollicy cannot restraine him and his bodily members to make them lye dead but rather quicken and powerfully sway them Rom. 3.15 and 7.5 The passions of sinnes which are by the Law haue force vigour in our members to bring forth fruit vnto death and Romanes 6.12 but if Christ be in vs he deads these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the passions of sinnes or sinfull passions that they cannot worke in our bodily and earthly members For they that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and the lusts Gal. 5.24 Reason As Satan shewes his habitation in man as his house possessing as a strong man the pallace of the minde Luk. 11.21 and heart in peace by the vigour hee exerciseth in swaying their minds wils and lusts as Eph. 2.2 Iohn 8.44 2. Corinth 4.4 So Christ 2. Reason We are the children of the first Resurrection begotten of Christ risen from the dead 2. Pet. 1.3 by the greatest vertue and power of Christ quickning the dead 1. Peter 3.21 Wee are not only begotten of Christ by vertue of his Propheticall office as he is light as Hypocrites only inlightned are but we are begotten of Christ by vertue of his Priestly office as crucified for vs vnto Adoption and Iustification of life and by vertue of his Kingly office as risen from the dead to Sanctification and participation of his Diuine nature 2. Pet. 1.4 As Christ was discerned and differenced from all the sons of men to be knowne to be the Sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1.4 by his resurrection from the dead as the first begotten from the dead Col. 1.18 So are all we his yonger brethren by the same Spirit of power raising vs to a new nature and life with him Rom. 6.4 5. Col. 3.1 and 2.12 Eph. 2.6 we are discerned and differenced from all the naturall sonnes of men Vse That we may know whether we haue Christ in vs or no we must examine tempt and trie our minds hearts wils affections what vertues of Christ worke in them and sway them such as are propper to Christ and which no creature else can exercise in vs 2 Cor. 13.5 2. Cor. 4.10 As we beare in our bodies the dying of the Lord Iesus that is the greatest miseries and afflictions So the life of Iesus is manifested in our mortall flesh that is his greatest quickning comforting vertue when no creature can doe our mortall bodies any good in sicknesse or in death or other infirmities Christ is not only our light but our light of life that is in whom we haue not only light of knowledge but the same a quickning knowledge putting life into our wils and affections bodily members to practise what we know The Hypocrites light of knowledge is like the candle light which quickens nothing the Saints light of sauing Knowledge is like the Sun-light which quickens hearbs trees plants our light of naturall reason Philosophy Pollicy cannot so quicken vs and make vs so liuely and vigorous to good duties as this light of the sauing Knowledge of Christ Eph. 4.20 21 22. Let vs shew forth the vertues of Christ our light in vs Eph. 5.8 1. Pet. 2.9 A man may haue a wonderfull light of Knowledge in the lanthorne of his braine and yet his heart will and affections lye as dead as stones from desire or endeauour to embrace or practise the good hee knowes and haue no vertue from Christ to liue walke and fructifie This is for comfort to such as though they cannot feele Christ in them nor faith possessing Christ as long as Christ shewes himselfe to be within by such vertues exercised in them they may know themselues to bee in the faith and that Christ by faith is in them 2. Cor. 13.5 For as many haue Satan in them that doe not know or feele or beleeue Satan to be in them So many haue Christ c. and as many intertaine Satan in them by receiuing his lying Gospel and promises of wealth peace comfort by sinning and his temptations and perswasions to sinne So we receiue Christ when we beleeue and receiue his perswasions and temptations to good duties and suffer the words of exhortation and beleeue his promises and gladly embrace his word Therefore such as so did were baptized into Christ for seale and assurance that Christ was in them Acts 2.41 2. Iohn verse 9. See Iohn 14.23 If any man loue mee hee will keepe my words and my Father will loue him and we will come vnto him and make our abode with him Adam and Eue and Iudas receiued Satan into them when they receiued his counsels and temptations and suffered themselues to bee swayed thereby So coÌ„trarily we receiue Christ If when wee giue place to wrath Eph. 4.26 27. we giue place to the Diuell counselling and exciting vs thereto then contrarily wee giue place to Christ and receiue him into our hearts when we receiue his Gospel of peace counselling and commanding vs peace and loue by reasons from the Gospel that is from his loue and peace towards vs. Euery one that harbours willingly in his heart any knowne sinne and sinfull suggestion of Satan he intertaines Satan the malicious man hath a furious Diuell the wanton a voluptuous Diuell So he that regards no sinne in his heart but casts it out Christ perswading him thereto by his Gospel and not the Law alone inforcing him by terrors He that turnes from sinne vpon such suggestions promises perswasions as Christ makes to him he receiues Christ by faith first Vse And Faith beleeuing and receiuing Christ for Prophet and only Rabbi to be his Disciple and as the only Way and Truth it goeth before Repentance which is nothing else but a walking in Christ as we first receiued him by faith shewing forth the vertues of Christ and the life of Christ to walke as he hath walked For Repentance is the life and vertue of Christ receiued as our way Truth and Life and made all our Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption and our light of life What is Repentance but liuing and walking in Christ For out of Christ euery motion is to death â—nd hell and can a man walke in Christ before hee haue Christ by faith in his heart Coloss 2.6 As yee haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him
and not locked and shut vp in time of danger Psal 42 Hee is my present helpe and my God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In whom that is in Christ wee haue this accesse and entrance to God and Faith giues it and workes it for vs not in our selues our workes merites righteousnesse oâ— by the mediation of any Saint or Angel No creature can make way for vs to God but Christ his Sonne Rom. 5.2 1. Pet. 3.18 Who died for sinners the iust for the vniust that hee might bring vs to God Iohn 14.6 I am the Way the Trueth and the Life no man commeth to the Father but by me No way to God but Christ no entrance to him but by his Sonne By Satan and Adam wee were led out of the way banished and separated from God the deuill teaching and leading vs a false way how wee should come to bee Gods knowing good and euill and so lead vs in the way of perdition from God this hee did by lies and falsehood deceiuing vs and so killing vs and euery sin like Satan its parent doeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 draw vs out of the way from God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intise vs with promises of false comforts profits glorie and so kill vs. Iam. 1.13 14. Rom. 7 11. Now Christ contrary to Satan and to all sinne as a Prophet hee teacheth vs the right way and as a great high Priest of good things to come Heb. 9.11 and such as are truely good and not onely hauing the shadowes of good things hee giues vs true good things by the word of trueth which is the Gospel Heb. 9.11 with 10. 1. Iohn 1.17 This Law of shadowes was giuen by Moses but Grace and Trueth comes by Iesus Christ and whereas Satan and sinne kill by deceit and raigne ouer vs by death Christ as King and Lord of life quickens vs. No man in sinne and Satan could so much as see God and liue but now Christ is both our way to God aâ— our Prophet the Trueth of all shadowes and ceremonies of the Lawe as true Priest by whom wee goe to God and as King and Lord of life wee liue by him Hee is our light as Prophet to shew vs the way hee is our Priest to make the way to God hee is our King to make vs liue in Gods sight that we may not crie as Hos 14. Hee shall reuiue vs and wee shall liue in his sight This is our confident accesse to God without feare that the sight and presence of God shall not kill vs. All the workes righteousnesse and mediation of men and Angels cannot make way for vs to God but onely Christ his Sonne Hee is the only way and entrance to God Reason For Gods loue mercie face presence are shut vp from vs and infinitly remooued from sinners yea such is the contrarietie of mans corrupt nature to Gods infinite pure and holy nature that it infinitly separates and remooues him from God Luk. 16.26 by such a â—hasma or gulfe that onely by such a person and high Priest as is infinitely holy separate from sinners Heb. 7.22 and higher then the Heauens can this gulfe bee filled vp to make way to God Therefore Christ first descended into the bottome of our hell Eph. 4.9.10 and miserie and from thence ascended Heb. 2.9.10 farre aboue all things that hee might bee our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bring many children vnto Glory Heb. 2. For be we neuer so neere God in place Church ordinances yea and haue God in our mouthes and could eate his reall flesh yet our hearts and natures are infinitly remooued and separated from God without Christ the Sonne of his bosome bring vs to him and hee is Emanuel God with vs so that now Rom. 8.39 neither height nor depth can separate vs the Sonne of God the second person hauing brought vs so neere to God For no euill is so great a meanes of separating vs from God as Christ is good and a meanes to bring vs to God the chiefe good No euill of sinne or punishment so contrary or remote from God as Christ is neere to God equall with God and one with God and pleaseth God more then all sinnes can displease him Matth. 3. vlt. My beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased Mat. 3.17 Iohn 1.18 Iohn 1. The onely begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father hee vnfolds God to vs and makes vs neerer and deerer to God then sinne which comes out of the bosome of the deuill can make vs hatefull and detestable to God and this onely Christ can doe To bring two such contrary natures together as light and darkenesse Gods infinite pure nature and our fleshly corrupt nature must needes bee by an infinite meanes of infinite merit and vertue God and sinne are so contrary Therefore count all as doung for Christ to bring thee to God Our wit wealth beauty learning righteousnesse goodnesse may make way for vs to men and Kings priuie-chambers and to mens Thrones and Courts Rom. 4.1 But considered with our sinnes they are doung to God and hee casts vs and all ours as dung out of doores see Phil. 3.7.8 Hereby wee see the difference betweene Philosophy the glasse of the creatures the Law of God and the glasse of the Gospel 2. Cor. 3.18 In the Law and in Philosophy this question is much moued and intreated of what the chiefe good and happinesse of man is and how it may bee attained but onely Faith in the glasse of the Gospel resolues it fully To see the face of God which is our life and happinesse to behold the Father of glory and to attaine to this chiefe good and by what way and meanes to compasse him Rom. 16.25 Ephes 3.5 is the mystery hid from the foundation of the world The creatures all crie and professe they are not the chiefe good but point at God their Creator and direct vs to him The Law more cleerely shewes God to bee the chiefe good but how we should attaine vnto him it shewes not but but by a way impossible for flesh to goe Rom. 8.2 But the Gospel doeth more fully reueale God as mans chiefe good and shewes Christ to bee the onely way and meanes of comming to him Nature and Philosophy and all wit of man is dimme and weake in seeing and apprehending God the chiefe good but it s starke blind to discerne the way and meanes whereby man especially a sinner may come vnto God This is that hid wisedome 1. Cor. 2.7.9 which God determined before the worlds to our glory which neither eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor euer entred into the heart of man or Angel to conceiue how once falling from God by sinne they should euer bee able to recouer God againe and come into fauour and fellowship with him For there is no way in nature as by creation to God all way is hedged and stopped vp by sinne All
For its Christs commandement that whatsoeuer our sinnes and vnworthinesse our feares doubtings and infidelitie be and how great so euer our misery be that yet we should beleeue that hee will pardon and heale all Nay because our misery by sins and punishments of God on soule and body are great and desperate passing all created power to cure or helpe them therefore to beleeue and to goe to him ordained of God a Physitian to heale all that are desperately sicke and diseased and past all hope in reason and sense Yet there is hope in Christ and hee commaunds vs to beleeue it and vpon his commandement to goe to him to ease vs of the burden of our sinnes and miseries when they lie so heauy vpon vs and so fastned on vs as we conceiue no possibilitie of remoouing them nor of any ease and refreshing from any creature promising that he will giue vs rest Obey the commandement which commaunds thee to beleeue against all vnbeleefe and aboue all beleefe and to hope aboue hope that is in infinite doubtings to beleeue and in all despaires to hope and when all reasons grounds meanes and hopes are wanting yet to beleeue only because God commands thee so to doe Though nature reason sense and thy owne heart faithlesse feares all creatures forbid thee so to doe Lam. 3. saying That thy strength and hope is perished from the Lord yet obey and beleeue none of these but Gods commandement commanding thee to beleeue his promise against them all and so to honour him as God aboue them all in power mercy trueth and faithfulnesse Though they say thy case is desperate God saith it is not they say Thy daughter is dead Mar. 5.35 why troublest thou thy maister with prayers and suites any further now all hope is past But Christ saith Feare not onely beleeue and fight against all that perswade thee to the contrary euen Satan flesh reason nature and all the World For this commandement of beleeuing is contrary to all creatures All other commandements of the Morall Lawe of naturall equitie and Iustice are seconded and sealed by the testimony of all creatures to bee iust faithfull and true and they perswade to the obedience of them onely this commandement of beleeuing is contrary to all creatures Heauen and Earth are against it and bid vs despaire for there is no hope This therefore is the greatest obedience and the cheifest worke most pleasing to God and most honouring him as God aboue all creatures and against them all and therefore God will honour and saue such a soule against all creatures He that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue Iohn 11.25 Of all sinnes and sinfull passions it s the hardest to resist infidelitie feares doubts and of all combats against sinne to fight the good fight of Faith Because nature giues some strength and aide to resist other sinnes and naturall reason but onely God and his word to resist infidelity Nature and all creatures forbid this beliefe that a dead man should liue and rise againe When we feele sinne and dead workes which surely bring death in reason sense and conscience course of nature when wee feele a dead heart and see nothing but dead bones as Ezek. 37.3 that these dead bones should liue againe all creatures forbid vs to beleeue it yet Christ commands vs to beleeue that he is the Resurrection and the life to quicken the dead and to trust in his voyce that the dead shall heare it and liue whatsoeuer the death be in heart or conscience and whatsoeuer soule-murdering despaires and feares destroy the life peace and comfort of our soules and consciences yet if we will hearken to Christs voyce and obey his commandement to beleeue his promise of life comfort peace willing desiring and indeauouring to beleeue hee will quicken in vs the life of Faith and fill vs with ioy and peace in beleeuing and make vs to abound in hope Rom. 15.13 through the power of the holy Ghost Fulfilling the good pleasure of his goodnesse 2. Thes 2.11 and the worke of Faith with power in vs. Faith hath God for its obiect in two respects First of his Person and Diuine authoritie which it beleeues simply and onely because God saith so and commands him to beleeue his bare Word This is that speciall honour which Faith giues to God aboue all creatures that though all creatures should command vs the contrary vpon neuer such reasons arguments and probabilities yet wee will beleeue God vpon his bare Word and commanding vs so to beleeue because he is God ought so to be obeyed and beleeued though wee can see no reason for it For if he be Iehouah hee will giue Beeing to his Word and hath Wisedome Power and will to doe whatsoeuer hee saith else hee were not God Therefore because the Gospel a mysterie and hid wisedome aboue the capacitie of men and Angels is preached by Gods soueraigne commandment Rom. 16.26 and wee are commanded to heare and beleeue it therefore we wil so doe onely because God commands Rom. 10.16 17. Faith therefore comes by hearing and hearing by the word and commandement of God which commands preaching and hearing as the meanes to beget Faith Now all wicked men and vnbeleeuers doe not onely not beleeue when the Word is offered but by a rebellion of will they refuse to beleeue Psal 50. and cast the word behinde their backes and the commaundement to beleeue and will not submit themselues to the meanes of beleeuing in obedience to God because God commands them But if they heare it s when they list themselues whom they please and in such maner and measure as likes themselues as learned eloquent preaching and for such ends as they thinke fit and not in simple obedience to God as his commaundement and ordinance to get Faith and by Faith all sauing good in Christ but in obedience to their owne reason and lusts Such men their infidelitie is not in them an infirmitie but an obstinate rebellion as of enemies to God and despisers of his commandement and of Faith The Saints doubt and feare but against their wils highly prizing faith and earnestly desiring it they submit themselues to the commandement of beleeuing which they obey as well as they can at least in consent and earnest desire to obey and beleeue subiecting themselues gladly to all counsell and meanes of getting Faith as Rom. 7.16 I consent to the Law that it is good So they consent to this Lawe of Faith as singularly good and delight in it Rom. 7.22 concerning the inner man If this bee true Obedience to the Law Morall thus farre to obey though we cannot fulfill the commandement then also is this rather true obedience to the Law of Faith to be willing and desiring and to labour to beleeue vpon Gods commandement lamenting our vnbeleefe and striuing against it when we cannot beleeue as wee would Especially the commandement