Iesus Christ Rom. 5.1 And this peace and beginning of life surmounteth al vnderstanding Philip. 4.7 as Saint Paule doth witnes God his children doo feele And indeed it is a thing rauishing our soules with ioye vnspeakable when GOD maketh the brightnes of his face to shine vpon vs As also Dauid sheweth Psalm 80. whē he asketh so oft of God this grace for a full measure of all felicitie As touching the bodie the first degree of life lieth in this that the afflictions of it be not onlie mitigated made light by this life of the soule reconciled to God and feeling ioye through the brightnes of his countenance Rom. 8.27 Heb. 12.6 but also are conuerted being the fruits of the loue of God towards vs into saluation and glorie The second degree of life may bee considered in the seperation of the soule and the bodie The second degree of life the which improperlie as touching the faithful is called death For euen as touching our bodies although they goe to rot in the earth yet being then deliuered and free from all sicknes from hunger thirst heate cold and from a thousand other torments which of their nature are a kind of death they goe to rest in their beds Esay 57.1 as Esai saith and being deliuered from their labours and trauailes Apoca. 14.13 they are blessed as Saint Iohn saith And this rest proceeding from the fauour of God cannot properlie be called death but is to them a kind of life But speciallie the soule thē entreth into the possession of the second degree of life For being deliuered from the bodie she is carried vp by the Angels into the bosome of Abraham Luk. 16.22 Luk. 23.43 and into Paradise with Iesus Christ exempted then from ignorance from incredulitie frō mistrust from couetousnes ambition enuie hatred feare terrour lustes and from all other passions vices and corruptions which are deadlie in thē which also bring forth the fruites of death And contrariwise is then fully sanctified victorious and assured against Satan Hell sinne and all other enemies waiting after that with great ioye for the accomplishment of her glorie in the resurrection of her bodie The third degre The third degree of life shall bee at the glorious comming of Iesus Christ when our bodies being awaked out of their sleepe they shall rise againe all renued bodies incorruptible 1. Cor. 15.42 spirituall and immortall Philip. 3.21 yea fashioned like to the image of the glorious bodie of Iesus Christ And so being ioyned together againe to their soules 1. Thess 4.17 they shall be together caught vp into the clowdes before our Lord Iesus Christ in the ayre Ephe. 4.10 Ioh. 14.2 Ioh. 17.24 and exalted aboue all the heauens into the house of God our father 1. Thess 4.17 Then also shall be the accomplishmēt of the life of our soules reunited to their bodies being together where Iesus Christ is and with him as members of his bodie his brethren and his spouse vnited to him by him to God the fountaine of life And by this vnion inioying a communitie in all his goods and of this incorruptible inheritance 1. Pet. 1.4 which can neither faile nor fade away referued for vs in heauen Then shall God wipe all teares from our eyes Reue. 21.4 death shall be no more neither shal there be any sorrow crie or trauaile any more All these old things shall be gone away God shall make all things new Then shall we be before the throne of God Reue. 7.14 and shall serue him night and day in his Temple and shall be led by the Lambe to the liuing fountaines of waters Reue. 19.7 Then shall be the day of our mariage with the Lambe when being clothed with pure bright raiments wee shall sit at his mariage banquet Then shal we be like vnto the Angels If our bodies shall shine then as the Sunne Matth. 22.30 what shall the brightnes of our soules be Matth. 13.43 Then our pilgrimage being finished we shall be indeed the citizens of this heauenlie and holie Ierusalem Bern. meditation 9. which shall bee all of pure gold like vnto the cleere glasse Reue 21.18 hauing the foundations of the wall garnished with pretious stones whereof also the twelue gates are twelue pearles which hath no need of the Sunne nor of the Moone to shine in it because the brightnes of God shall be the light of it and the Lambe him selfe shall be the candle of it O how happie shall the citizens be that shall liue in such a Citie See then what good things are signified by life euerlasting and the three degrees of it But Saint Paul lifteth vs vp yet higher into the contemplation of this life which wee shall inioy after the resurrection Then 1. Cor. 15.24 saith Saint Paule Iesus Christ shall giue vp his kingdome vnto God his father as if he should say Father behold those whom thou hast giuen to me before the foundation of the world they were lost thou diddest send me to saue them I haue redeemed them with my bloud thou hast appoynted me King ouer them they are my kingdome which I haue gotten and which I haue so guided and gouerned that hauing sanctified and deliuered them from all their enemies I haue brought giuen and presented thē vnto thee that hauing as touching my selfe accomplished the worke charge which thou haddest enioyned me frō this time forth thou maiest be king raigning immediatlie in them and filling them with all happines and glorie Then shall there be no creature either in heauen or in earth that shall haue any domination or Lordship There shall bee neither King nor Prince 1. Cor. 15.28 neither Master nor Lord. There shall bee neither father mother husband nor wife There shall be neither Prophet Doctor Minister nor Pastour There shall be neither riches nor estates All the enemies also of Iesus Christ shall bee destroyed for euermore death being swallowed vp into victorie and Satan with his angels and all the reprobate being cast into the bottomlesse pit Contrariwise the Elect being fullie sanctified shall bee lifted vp both in bodie soule aboue all the heauens The worke of Christ shall be finished And all being done Reue. 21.6 The verie same offices which Christ hath receiued shall exercise for the accomplishment of our saluation to be a King a Priest and a Prophet and to sit at the right hand of God shall cease but so as the fruites and the incomprehensible benefits gotten by thē vnto the church shal euer abide to his euerlasting glorie But what shall that be then God the Father the Sonne and the Holie ghost one onlie God shall be immediatlie all thinges both in this man Christ and in all vs the members of his bodie The Godhead I say shall be in the man Iesus Christ and in vs King Prince father riches life and
vngodlie for an end of his felicitie Yea if we were called to suffer death for the name of Iesus Christ 2. Not to feare death What other thing is this death but after a long conflict the day of victorie the birth of a blessed soule after a great trauaile the hauen desired after so furious tempests the end of a dangerous and troublesome voyage the healing of all wounds and sicknes the deliuerance from all feare and terrour the accomplishment of our sanctification the gate of heauen the entrance into paradise the taking possession of the inheritance of the father the day of our mariage with the Lambe the inioying of our desires Who is it then among vs who feeling with S. Paule the bondage of sinne would not crie out with him Alas wretched man that I am Rom. 7.24 who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death And feeling the good that death bringeth vnto vs will not also say with him I desire to be dissolued Phil. 1.23 and to be with Christ If death wherewith God threatned our first parents is a feeling of the wrath of God in the soule in the body because of sinne Gen. 2.17 Wee may well say that death and life are two twinnes vnited and knit together vntill the separation of the soule and the bodie and this separation which is cōmonlie called death is rather the deadlie stroke of death the bodie beeing then exempt from paine and the soule from vice corruption waighting vntill the rest of death bee swallowed vp in victorie at the day of the resurrection It is then an abuse to call life a continual death and to call that death which is the end of a thousand deaths and the beginning of the true life It is then also against reason that wee haue horrour of that which we ought to desire and desire the continuance of that the onlie end whereof bringeth vs to eternall felicitie And to this end Saint Chrisostome saith verie well that it which is called life and death haue deceaueable visours Life deformed and accompanied with manie miseries calamities hath a faire pleasant visour which maketh it to bee desired and Death so faire happie and to be desired hath one deformed and fearefull Let vs put off then saith he these visours we will change our minds when wee shall finde vnder the faire visour of life nothing but matter of heauines and displeasure and vnder the soule hideous visour of death such a beautie and felicitie as we shall incontinently be taken with her loue So long as we liue we haue cruell enemies which neuer cease making warre with vs whome wee can neuer vanquish but by death And indeed wee cannot make the world to die in vs except we die our selues Sinne which is in vs liueth in vs and fighteth against vs vntill wee dying it also die with vs. And by death alone the deadlie assaults of Satan our chiefe enemie die foorthwith But yet why should we feare it which cannot come vnto vs but by the will of him who is our heauenlie father yea and at such a time as he appoynteth As Dauid said Lord my times that is to say Psal 31.16 all the minutes of my life are in thy hands There is no creature more enemie to man nor more able to hurt than the diuell And indeed he is called the enemie the murtherer Mat. 13.39 Iho. 8.44 1. Pet. 5.8 Iob 1. 2. and the roaring Lyon seeking whome he may deuour But the historie of Iob sheweth plainlie that GOD holdeth him brideled so as hee can attempt nothing nor goe either forward or backward more than GOD will permit him And this which is more he hath not power to enter so much as into the swine Luk. 8.32 without the leaue of Christ What is this then that wee should feare men Are not they also vnder the prouidence power and gouernment of our GOD It is GOD saith Hannah the mother of Samuel 1. Sam. 2. ◠who weigheth their enterprises so as they cannot passe one ounce of the waight ordained of GOD. It is he that slaieth and maketh aliue againe 1. Sam. 2.6 which bringeth downe to the pit and lifteth vp againe he maketh poore and maketh rich he abaseth and exalteth To bee short It is he alone as Dauid saith Psal 115.3 which doth whatsoeuer he will Now wee doubt not but he will do that which he hath promised vs and wee knowe that he hath promised vs yea and that he hath taken vpon him to make vs happie If then the doctrine of the prouidence of God importeth that he hath not onlie ordained in his eternall counsell the end and issue of his worke which is his glorie and the saluation of his elect but also the fit meanes according to his infinite wisedome and requisite for the execution and accomplishment of it let vs be assured that there is no creature that can let or alter his wil as Saint Paule saith If God be for vs who shall bee against vs. Let vs also bee assured Rom. 8.30 that whatsoeuer happen vnto vs is the way whereby he hath ordained to leade vs to life and euerlasting glorie Saint Paule speaking of Iesus Christ saith Col. 1.16 that all creatures are of him stand by him and are for him As also he saith in an other place that of him and by him and for him all things are Wherefore then doo wee feare our enemies Ro. 12.36 seeing euen this that they are is by the power and will of him who is our head and sauiour for asmuch as they can neither enterprise nor consult neither yet bee aliue one moment without the will of Christ And besides this seeing their life and being is for him and for his seruice that they might be to his members as fire to purifie them a rod to correct thē medicines to heale them a bridge for them to passe vpon ouer the desert of this world into the land of promise ladders to helpe them to ascend into heauen instruments to glorifie them as a knife that cutteth the cords by which we are held in the earth hindered to go vnto God to be where Iesus Christ our head is Also what threatning can the most mightie of the world threaten vs with more horrible to make vs turne from the seruice of God than those wherewith God threatneth all those that turne away from him Mat. 10.28 Luk. 12.24 Feare not saith Iesus Christ those that can kill the bodie and yet so and when GOD will and the bodie which within a verie little after must needes die and can doo nothing more but feare him who after hee hath killed the bodie hath power to throwe both soule and bodie into euerlasting hell fire him I say vnto you feare indeede In like maner what promises can the world make vs greater or more certaine to draw vs vnto it than those which our God hath made
true faith cannot be without good works Now I feele my selfe so miserable a sinner that it maketh me to doubt of mine adoption Indeed this is a thing greatlie to be lamented that we render no better obedience vnto God that there is in vs no greater zeale of his glorie nor more feruent charitie towards our neighbours and to be short no better amendement of life But if thou hast begun to hate flee sinne if thou feelest that thou art displeased at thy infirmities and corruptions If hauing offended God thou feele a sorrowe and griefe for it if thou desire to abstaine if thou auoidest the occasions if thou trauailest to doo thine indeuour if thou praiest to God to giue thee grace All these holie affections proceeding from no other than from the Holie ghost ought to be vnto thee so manie pledges and testimonies that he is in thee Rom. 8.5 As also Saint Paule teacheth vs saying that as those that delight in the workes of the flesh are of the flesh So on the other side those that delight in the workes of the spirit are of the spirit These holie desires then to the workes of the spirit are testimonies of the spirit dwelling in thee So as being thus led by the spirit of God thou art the child of God saith Saint Paul Rom. 3.14 Rom. 3.10 And indeed seeing the children of Adam are naturallie inclined to all vices and corruptions it is a marke of regeneration so of being the child of God when contrarie to nature we are displeased with our infirmities and fighting against them wee desire and indeuour to fashion our selues according to the will of our GOD. Mat. 22.37 God hath commaunded vs to loue him with all our heart with all our vnderstanding and with al our soule Now as we cannot know God in this life but in part and darklie so we can not loue him but in part 1. Cor. 13.9.12 Aug. ad Bonif lib. 3. ca. 7. yea verie little The perfection is reserued for heauen as also S. Augustine saith All the faithfull ought earnestlie to aspire to this that they may once appeare before God pure and without spot But for as much as the best and most perfect estate that we can attaine vnto in this present life is no other thing than to profite from day to day then shall we come to this marke when after putting off this sinfull flesh wee shall cleaue fullie to our God Therefore also as the same author saith when men speake of the perfection of the children of God in this life to this perfection is required the acknowledging of their imperfection It is as well in trueth as in humilitie that the Saincts acknowledge how imperfect they are God deferreth the accomplishment of our holines and charitie vntill the life to come to the end that this pride which taketh force through the increase of vertue should not ouerthrowe vs but that walking in humilitie God might accomplish his mercie in pardoning vs 2. Cor. 12.9 his power in sustaining vs and his truth in sauing vs. And in deede there is nothing more weake saith S. Augustine than the proude nor more strong than the humble For as the proude trusting in himselfe who is nothing but vanitie hath God his aduersarie who resisteth the proude 1. Pet. 5.5 Iam. 4.6 so the humble mistrusting himselfe hath God for his strength and saluation God indeede in his lawe requireth a perfect obedience But that which he looketh for of vs his children in this life consisteth more in the desire to obey than in the obedience it selfe Rom. 8.5 According whereunto hee saieth by his Prophet Malachi I will spare them Mal. 3 17. as a father dooth his owne sonne that serueth him If a child take paine to write well or to do as he should do anie other seruice that his father hath commaunded him although there be great want both in the writing and in the other seruice yet in bearing with him hee praiseth him and saieth that hee hath written well hee had doone his duetie Godlines the loue towardes God and the obedience that we owe vnto him is often signified by the feare of God the which also Dauid calleth the beginning of Wisedome Psa 111.10 And those that haue this feare of God are acknowledged called the children of God Then if thou feel such loue reuerēce toward God that thou feare to offend him thou art the child of God Psa 112.1 But then thou fearest to offend God when thou shunnest the occasions and inticements to sinne and when hauing offended thorough ignorāce ouersight or other infirmitie thou feelest sorrow and displeasure to raise thee vp againe being resolued to sin no more and praying to God that he will cōduct thee by his holy spirit that thou maist walke constantly according to his worde 1. Iohn 3.9 S. Ihon saith that the children of God sinne not not that they offend not God euery day or that they commit not sometimes most greeuous offences as Dauid and Saint Peter 2. Sam. 11 Mat. 26.74 And as dailie experience dooth too much conuict euerie one of vs. But he saith that they sinne not because they loue God and are afraideto offend him and doe not willingly giue themselues to doo euill but haue sinne in such detestation that they feele in themselues that conflict which Saint Paule setteth foorth vnto vs in his owne person Rom. 7 in as much as they woulde doo the good which they cannot doo and doo vnwillingly the euil which displeaseth them whereof it followeth as the Apostle concludeth that if they doo that which they would not doo it is no more they which do it but sinne which dwelleth in them which on the one side ought to giue thē occasion to mourne and to crie wyth the Apostle Alas wretch that I am who snall deliuer mee from the bodie of this death But on the other side they ought to feele the comforte which hee addeth saying I thanke my God through Iesu Christ And wherefore Rom. 8.1 Because there is no condemnation to those who thus fighting against the flesh walke after the spirit and consequently are in Iesus Christ For therest when thou feelest a doubt of thine adoption through the want of rendering to God such obedience as thou oughtst knowe that Satan is at hand with thee falsifying the gospel in persuading thee that thou shouldest bee saued by thy workes or willing to make thee blaspheme Iesus Christ in making thee beleeue that thou mayest and oughtest to be at the least in some part a Sauiour of thy selfe and so a companion of Iesus Christ Answere to this temptatiō that thou arte a poore sinner 1. Tim. 1.15 Matt. 9.13 Rom. 8.5 Rom. 8.1 Rom. 7.22 but that Christ came to saue sinners and that there is saluation in none but in hym Furthermore if thou feel a desire to the works of the Spirit thou art of the
Heb. 12.11 but grieuous but after it bringeth the peaceable fruites of righteousnes And before he had said That God chastiseth vs for our profite that we might be partakers of his holinesse Prosper in son ex Aug. ◠The goodnesse of God saith S. Augustine is angrie with his children in this world that hee may not bee angrie with them in the life to come and by his mercie he vseth some temporal seueritie to exempt thē from euerlasting vengeance According vnto this S. Bernard made this praier vnto God Lord burne and cut in this temporall life that thou maist be mercifull to me in the life that is euerlasting And it is the same that S. Paule teacheth saying When we are iudged and afflicted 1. Cor. 12.32 we are nurtured of the Lord that wee might not be condēned with the world And to this purpose Dauid protesteth that before hee was afflicted bee went wrong Psa 119.67 but now saith he I keepe thy commandements A game It was good for me that I was afflicted Psa 119 71 that I might keepe thy statutes Medicines are giuen either to heale diseases or to preuēt thē and therefore are verie requisite for the health and life of man Nowe what bee these afflictions but medicines of our soules as also S. Augustine saith This which thou so lamentest is thy medicine and not thy punishment As in a house where there are manie children the rod is necessarie as in a Citie subiect to diuers diseases where there is an euill aire Phisitions are needfull so in the house of god where ther are manie children inclined to euill the rod is many times more necessarie than bread and in such an hospitall full of diseases and sores as the Church is for out of it they are dead it is a great fault if there be not Phisitions and Surgeons to heale the corruptions of our soules to keep vs from offending God from falling into death Many accustomd to delicate meats haue their mouths out of tast after falling sick they take bitter drinks to recouer againe the health of their bodies let vs chearfully doo the same for the health of our soules And indeede behold the difference betweene a madd man and one that is sicke of a corporall disease The mad man is angry with the Phisition chaseth him away and throweth awaye the medicine but the other sendeth for a Phisition taketh drinke at his hand thanketh him yea and giueth him a reward So when God the soueraigne Phisition of our soules visiteth vs and giueth vs wholsome medicines let vs not be like mad men reiecting the hand of God but receiuing the medicine let vs giue him thankes and blesse him after the example of Iob 2. In words afflictiō of heart Furthermore howsoeuer the goods and other commodities of this life ought to bee helpes to lift vp our hearts to the spring from whence they come that is to the goodnesse and power of God to prayse him our corruption and affection to the world dooth turne them quite contrarie to thornes and hinderances so as God oftentimes cutteth them off or taketh them away or mingleth thē with afflictions to turn vs from euill to draw vs vnto him and the better to dispose vs to his seruice Experience sheweth that in bankets and feasts men talke of the world but where sicknesse death and burials are they talk of euerlasting life It is also seene that riches lift vs vp in pride and insolencie and that pouertie bringeth vs downe and humbleth vs that in prosperity we triumph and feele not the force of the spirituall instructions and teachings but being afflicted with sicknesse or anie other way thē we are godly people wee confesse that all flesh is but grasse and that we haue here no abiding Citie To be short our infirmities tending vnto death make vs to lift vp our vnderstanding and affections to a better life Then God who is good and dooing well vnto men who taketh not pleasure in our euills afflicteth vs not but to wake vs the better to sanctifie vs in his obedience purifying our affections and by the sorrowes of troubles maketh vs to abhorre our corruptions the verie cause of them He doth as the good keeper of a vine Iohn 2. who cutteth his vine that it may beare more and better fruite not suffring it to grow wilde in leauing too mame boughes on it And as we cut the winges of hennes and other birdes that they should not flie away and be lost so God cutteth off from vs the commodities of the flesh to keepe vs downe that we lift not vp and destroy our selues with vain confidence pride We see also that the corne shut within the chaffe commeth not foorth if the eare be not beaten and that it tarieth stil in the chaffe if it be not fanned The like hapneth to the childrē of god if they be not beaten and fanned by tribulations to be seperated frō the chaffe of the world and the pleasures impediments that be in it The Prophet Oseas when he would shew how God wold turne away his people from following idolatrie Hose 2.6 I will hedge saith he thy way with thornes wherein hee giueth vs to vnderstand that as the beasts that go by the way see on the side of them faire flelds assaying to goe to thē running vpon the hedges of thornes if they feele the sharpe prickes they goe backe and return into the way So when the children of God goe out of the right waye to heauen to goe to the fieldes of this world o◠the flesh God maketh thē to come vpon the thornes of afflictions to the ende that by their prickings they may turne backe againe When a Mother willing to weane her childe shal say vnto him night and day My childe it is time to weane thee thou art growen great inough and I am with childe my milke is corrupt it will make thee sick yet he is so fond of the breast that he cānot forsake it but if the Mother put worm wood or mustard vpō the breast the childe sucking it and feeling the bitternesse hee quite forsaketh it without sucking anie more Euen so though the preachers preachvnto vs and exhort vs to forsake the corrupt milk of the world and of the flesh yet we seeme dease still and are alwaies backward vntill God put vppon these cursed teates the mustard and wormwood of afflictions to weane vs. We haue also of our owne nature too much considence in our selues 3. In confidence in humane meanes so as we know not what it is to hope in God against hope to trust to him without gage in the hand So the riches estates traffiques the leaning vpon men on the husband to the wife on the father to the children on the good Prince to the Subiects are vnto vs as vayles that keepe downe our sight vppon the earth and as staues for
honor Act. 22.20 calling him the Martyr of Iesus Christ And S. Iohn maketh mention of Antipas Reu. 2.13 whome hee calleth a faithful Martyr of Christ And in the same booke of the Reuelation he saith that he saw the great whore drunk with the bloud of the Saints Reu. 17.6 with the bloud of the Martyrs of Iesus In like manner the apostle to the Hebrues hauing recited how many faithful had bin mocked scourged cut in peeces stoned Heb. 11. 12. otherwise persecuted he addeth that in them wee haue as it were a cloude of martyrs or witnesses cōpassing vs round about and exhorting vs to follow constantly their exāple The Apostles did well vnderstand and confesse this honor who after they had been publikelie whipped for the name of Iesus Christ Act. 5.40 they went before the councel reioycing that they had this honour to suffer reproach for his name And indeed when when we indure persecution to maintaine the glorie the authoritie and the truth of Christ against Antichrist and his supposts it is as if Iesus Christ shuld borrowe our goods our renowme our bloud our life to serue for autenticall seales most sure witnesses that cannot faile of the right and the glorie that appertaineth vnto him And what are we poore wormes of the earth that the eternall Sonne of GOD the King of Kings and Lord of Lords shall doo vs this honor to put his glorie as it were into our handes to bee the keepers and defenders of it against those that would spoile him of it And heere let vs consider the incomprehensible wisedome and goodnes of God towards vs. The most perfect offend God daylie and one onely sinne be it neuer so little to our iudgement deserueth death and euerlasting condemnation then it is yet more than the losse of our goods the corporall life Now in stead of exercising his iust iudgements vpon vs hee doth vs this honour that it which wee endure which is not the thousand part of that wee haue deserued chaungeth the nature and instead of beeing the punishment of sinne God imputeth it as a most excelent seruice for the maintenance of his glorie But yet there is more 2. Frute the glorie of God declaclaring and accomplishing his power in our infirmitie and shewing his goodnes and the trueth of his promises first toward euery faithfull For what are wee to suffer willinglie The loue of riches ambition the plesure of fleshly commodities the affectiō toward father mother wife children aboue al to this life is so strong and vehement in vs that in stead of renouncing them for Christ we renounce Christ and his Kingdome to entertaine vs. And experience sheweth this too much We are also so very impatient and daintie when there is any question of suffering that if we should but onely snuffe a candle with our fingers we wet them with our spittle that wee might not feele the fire of that small snuffe which yet we throw from our fingers in al haste and how then should we abandon our bodies to the death entring quicke into the fire to be there consumed if God did not strengthen vs supernaturally Howe shoulde wee maintaine his trueth against the supposts of Antichrist if the spirit of his father the which he promised vs Mat. 10.19 20 did not worke mightily in vs Then when we see these vessells so fraile and weake to surmount the threatnings of kings the apprehension of fire the assaults of Antichrists supposts and the temptations proceeding from father mother wife and children are not these so many testimonies of a wonderfull and mighty grace and power of God which fortifieth them and maketh them victorious against Sathan the worlde and the flesh I can doo all things sayth Saint Paule through Christ who strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 2. Cor. 12 10 And in an other place I reioyce sayth he in infirmities in iniuries in necessities in persecutions in anguishes for christ For whē I am weake then am I strong euen thorough the might and power of Christ which shewed it selfe and was made perfect thorough his weaknesse as hee had saide before So then this constancie this faith this zeale other vertues which God communicateth by his free goodnes to his elect are manifest by persecutions which otherwise shoulde bee hid As in running the course the agility or swiftnes of the horse is known the strength of a mā in the combat the sauour of many drugges in rubbing or brusing of them or casting them into the fire as we see in the incense The Starres saith Saint Bernard which appeare not by day shine in the night Bernar. in Can. so the vertue that is hid in prosperitie sheweth it selfe in aduersitie Now 2. Toward the body of the church this which wee haue saide of the power of GOD shewing it selfe in the infirmitie of his children to his glorie is seene also in the bodie of the Church which ordinarily is so poore so weake so little holpen at the handes of men that if GOD did not sustaine it it shoulde quickly be swallowed vp Then when we see it so mightelie assailed by the potentates of this worlde conspiring her ruine by so many forces and slights and by so many heretiks doth not God in the guiding deliuering and preseruing of it shewe that it is hee himselfe and he alone which maintaineth and defendeth it And that his power and wisedome is woonderfull in preseruing it against so many enemies and that his truth is certaine in accōplishing that which he hath promised vs of being with his Church vntill the end of the world And that it is he which is the stone cut out without hand which hath broken Mat. 28.29 Dan. 2.34 and dooth still breake the great image representing the empires and kingdomes of the worlde Which to shew vnto vs more liuely oftentimes he so disposeth that leaning vpon the strength of men she hath beene throwen downe and being throwen downe God hath lift her vp againe without meanes and beyond all hope of man that all men may know that the preseruation of the Church is not the worke of Man but indeede the very worke of God Iudg. 7.2 As also the Lord declareth to Gedeon this his intent commaunding him to abate his army There is too many people with thee sayth the Lord that I shoulde giue Madian into their handes least peraduenture Israel would glory in themselues against mee saying 3. Fruit the aduāce ment of the church My hand hath deliuered me See also howe it commeth to passe that when the Deuill thinketh quite to ouerthrowe the Church by persecution God quite contrary hath aduanced and increased it Saint Luke hauing recited that the high Priestes and the chiefe rulers of the Temple Act. 4 the Sadduces laying hands vpon the Apostles put them into prison he addeth by and by that many of those that heard the word beleeued and the number was
vs to keepe vs in his seruice and in his house promising vs euerlasting life Now the Church is his house and this good GOD hath called you my brethren thither and hath receiued you He hath nourished you in it sometime He hath there giuen you the seale of your adoption He hath begun to clothe you with the liuerie of his children and hath fashioned you like to the image of Iesus Christ A great part of your way is past In this your trauaile of childhood you haue passed manie torments If the greatest tormēts come the happie deliuerance approacheth He that shall continue vnto the end Mat. 14.13 shall be saued They that are reuolted and doo reuolt make you to feele in their vnhappines how happie you are to be the children of God elected to eternall life 3. To keep our selues from apostacie and dissimulation For it is vpon this election and so vppon the good pleasure of God that your perseuerance doth depend Acknowledge in it both his infinite mercie supporting you and pardoning you daylie so manie faults and sinnes and also his incomprehensible goodnes leading you as it were by the hand to the inioying of eternall life Abhorre you and detest that miserable yea cursed and vnhappie state of these Apostates that ye may also hate and detest the ambition and the pride the euill conscience the despising and abuse of the gifts of GOD the loue of the world and those other vices which threwe them headlong into ruine And on the contrarie loue search and follow all that which God hath ordained to nourish godlines faith charitie humilitie in vs and other gifts and graces which proceed from the election and are meanes ordained by the prouidence of GOD to guide vs to the happines promised to those which shall continue vnto the end Keepe your selues hereafter from these false Nicodemites who to auoid the crosse will abandon by a sacrilege vntollerable their bodies to idolatrie and so consequentlie to the diuell in reseruing as they say their hearts vnto God Will the most careles husband among them content himselfe if his wife giuing ouer her bodie to whoredome should say vnto him that she keepeth neuerthelesse her heart vnto him 1. Cor. 6.19 Ye are not your owne saith S. Paule yee are bought with a price Then glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which both appertaine vnto God Againe 2. Cor. 7.1 Clense your selues from all filthines both of bodie and spirit finishing your sanctification in the feare of God Perseuer constantlie in the Church which is your mother 4. To vse the holie ministerie that you may bee the heires of the father It sufficeth not to keepe your soules from poyson ye must nourish them that they may liue Rather than we will suffer our bodies to die of hūger wee will sell all to get bread and wee would runne through the fire in such a case to saue it At the least let vs followe those that in the time of famine forsake their Countries to finde foode The soule is more precious than the bodie Ioh. 6.27 And therefore must wee labour more to haue the bread abiding vnto eternall life than for it that perisheth Alwaies thinke with your selues our soules must liue and it is to tempt GOD to desire to liue without foode Therefore wee must seeke foode that wee maye liue Now true it is that to reade and meditate the worde of GOD in the house and to keepe there the familie is a holie exercise and very profitable for the noriture of the soule Col. 3.16 Psa 1.2 Act. 17.11 Deut. 6 Psa 119 Act. 2.42 It is cōmaunded of GOD and such as are negligent in this duetie shewe that they haue no care of the life of their soules yet this doth not suffice Wee must confesse the name of God and call vpon him in the assemblie Wee must heare the sermons 1. Tim. 3.15 and communicate at the holie Sacraments wee must ioyne and keepe our selues vnited with the Church which is the piller and sure ground of trueth and the mother of the children of God This onelie title of mother giuen to the Church Gal. 4.26 teacheth vs that there is no entrance into the life that Iasteth euer except wee bee conceiued in the wombe of this mother that she beare vs and bring vs forth giue vs sucke of her breastes finallie except shee hold and keepe vs vnder her conduct and gouernment vntill being vnclothed of this mortall flesh we be made like vnto the Angels Act. 11.26 In ancient time the faithfull were called disciples For the Church is also called the schoole of Christians wherein according to the infirmitie that is in vs we must be the disciples of Christ all the daies of our life This Church is also often signified by a Temple and the holie ministerie is ordained of GOD to build it Therefore whosoeuer despiseth it 2. Cor. 3.6 cannot be builded in this Temple to be there a liuing stone 1. Tim. 3 15 Heb. 3.6 Ephe. 2.19 2. Cor. 3.8 This Church is the house of God the faithfull his household seruants children Therfore whosoeuer doth not enter and abide in the Church cannot call himselfe the child or household seruant of God The preaching of the Gospel is the ministerie of the holie ghost of life of glory whosoeuer refuseth to heare it hath not the spirit of Christ and consequentlie pertaineth not vnto him Rom. 8.9 so abideth in death and euerlasting shame See how ye must thinke in your selues of the benefite vtilitie yea and the necessitie of the holie ministerie to say with Dauid Psal 84.2 O Lord of hosts how amiable are thy tabernacles My soule desireth greatly yea and longeth after the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh reioyce in the liuing God Blessed are they which dwell in thy house and praise thee continuallie Let the tast and need of this spirituall food cause those that are now depriued of it to say with Dauid Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule is a thirst for God Psal 42.1 yea euen for the liuing God saying Alas when shall I come to appeare before the presence of God When we shal be depriued of our countrie wife husband traffick goods dignities and other thinges pleasant to the flesh let all these bee nothing to vs but let vs say with Dauid I haue asked one thing of the Lord which I will still require that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life Psal 27. to behold the faire beautie of the Lord and carefullie to visite his temple If Dauid a man excellent in faith and all vertue a prophet and as an Angell amongst men confesseth so roundlie and so often the neede that himselfe had to bee in the Temple of the Lord feeling himselfe as it were rauished with a most
punish vs yet more rigorouslie than hetherto thou hast done that for one stripe wee should receiue an hundred If thou shouldest transport the kingdome of thy sonne from vs to the Turkes and the Iewes If thou shouldest send such a famine of thy word as running through the forrests to haue some refreshing and finding none our soules should faint Yea Lord if thou shouldest throw vs down into hell we confesse that it were verie right and yeeld our selues guiltie acknowledging that we haue well deserued it Notwithstanding O good God and father there is mercie with thee yea thy mercies are infinite to swallowe vp the multitude and grieuousnes of our sinnes Thou art a God gracious pitifull slowe vnto wrath abounding in mercie and trueth keeping mercie for thousands pardoning iniquitie transgression sinne Thou hast said that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that hee turne and liue Conuert vs then O Lord that we may be conuerted and that we may liue before thee We are poore sinners we confesse it but yet thy sonne Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Behold vs then O Lord not in our selues for wee are vnworthy of thy grace but behold vs in the face of thy sonne Iesus Christ and for his sake bee at tone with vs and be mercifull and fauourable vnto vs that in the multitude of our sinnes the greatnes of thy grace may shine if thou regard our iniquities who is he that is able to stand before thee Wee haue been vnfaithfull but thou remainest still faithfull Thou canst not renounce thy mercie and goodnes we haueforsaken thee but thou hast promised not to forsake vs. Wee haue forgotten thee but thou hast said that though a mother should forget her childe yet wouldst not thou forget vs. Thou hast made a couenant with vs wherein thou hast promised to pardon our sinnes and to remember our iniquities no more Thou hast promised that though our sins were as red as scarlet thou wouldest make them as white as wooll if they were as red as crimson that they should be made as white as snowe We are heauie laden and labour with our iniquities But Iesus Christ hath called vs to him and hath promised to refresh vs. Haue pitie thē on vs O Lord haue pitie vpon vs. Let our miseries moue the bowells of thy mercie Forgiue vs O our GOD forgiue vs for thine owne sake for the glorie of thy name and for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake Impute vnto vs the goodnes that is in him that the euill that is in vs may not be imputed Thou hast pumshed the iust that thou mightest pardon the wicked Accept thou the merites of his death and passion for satissaction of all that is in vs worthie of thy wrath and indignation and make vs to feele the fruites of our reconciliation with thee If thou wilt afflict our bodies haue yet pitie of our soules If thou wilt impourish vs on the earth depriue vs not yet of the riches of heauen If thou wilt take away the bread of our bodies yet leaue vs the spirituall bread of our soules Though wee bee in reproach among our enemies yet let not thy name be blasphemed Though we bee accursed of the world yet let vs bee blessed of thee Though the world hate vs yet let thy loue abide vpon vs. O Lord we are thine forsake vs not Thou hast saide I am the Eternall this is my name I will not giue my glorie vnto Images nor my praise vnto another For thine owne sake then euen for thine owne sake haue mercie vpon vs. For why shall thy name bee blasphemed for our sakes Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue glorie and honour in shewing foorth the riches of thy graces of thy truth and of thy might Thou art the God of glorie sanctifie thy name in drawing light out of our darknes and lift out of death making perfect thy power in our infirmitie and thy great grace in our vnworthines to thy praise and glorie Heare the blasphemies of thine enemies boasting them selues in their counsels and their forces triumphing and reioycing in our confusion as if we were not thy people thy children thy Church as if wee were cast off of thee as if thou were not able to helpe or keepe vs. Neuerthelesse thou art our creatour and wee are the worke of thy hands Thou art our shepheard wee are thy flocke Thou art our father wee are thy children Thou art our God wee are thine inheritance Thou art our redeemer wee are the people whome thou hast bought It is thou also O our God who by thy word alone hast created the heauen and the earth the sea and al that is in them it is by thee that all things liue be and haue their mouing it is of thee by thee and for thee that all things are It is thou which dooest whatsoeuer thou wilt And there is neither counsell wisedome nor strength against thee Represse then O Lord the rage and furie of thine enemies breake their forces dissipate their counsels confound them in the bold enterprises which they haue taken in hand against thee and thy sonne lesus Christ Maintaine the rest of thy flocke which thou hast kept vntill this day Establish againe the Churches that are ruined and dispersed Suffer not the memorie of thy name to be abolished from the earth rather let thy word sound and thy Gospell bee preached where it hath not yet been heard to gather thine elect vnto thee and to magnifie thy name And that so wee may see it florish more more and the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord to bee aduanced for euer more Amen The necessitie and benefite of affliction GReat trouble and vexation the righteous shall sustains By Gods determination whilest heere they doo remaine Which grieuous is and irksome both for flesh and bloud to beare Because by nature we are loath to want our pleasure heere And eke because our enemie that auncieat deadly foe Satan with cruell tyrannie the worker of our woe Doth still prouoke the wicked sort in sinne which doo delight To please themselues make great sport to vexe vs with despite Yet doo the righteous by the crosse moe blessed things obtaine Than anie waie can be the losse the dolor or the paine The losse is that which in few daies would passe fade and decay Euen of it selfe the gaine alwaies can no man take away All earthly estimation the crosse may cleane deface But heauenlie consolation the soule dooth then imbrace Afflictions worldly pleasures will abandon out of minde Then is the soule more earnest still the ioyes of heauen to finde These worldly riches goods and wealth by troubles may depart Then inward ioyes and sauing health may wholly rule the heart In trouble friends doo start aside as cloudes doo with the winde But Gods assistance doth abide to cheare the troubled minde Jfwe should feele these losses all at once by sudden change We may not be dismaid withall though it seeme verie strange Iob lost his frends he lost his wealth and comfort of his wife He lost his children and his health yea all but wretched life When all was gone the Lord aboue did still with him remaine With mercie kindnes and with loue asswaging all his paine Teaching him by experience that all things fickle be Which subiect are to humane sence and yeeld all miserie But godlinesse within the heart remaineth euer sure In wealth and woe it is her part true comfort to procure Affliction turn'th these worldly ioyes to greater paine and woe Because the loue was linck'd with toyes religion is not so For when mans heart doth most delight in pleasure wealth and pride Religion then will take her flight she may not there abide Where by our soules in wofull plight continually remaine Yet haue not we the grace or might from such lusts to refraine In which estate mest willingly though tending right to hell We compt our chiefe felicitie and loue therein to dwell Therefore the Lord which is aboue regarding vs below With mercie pitie grace and loue that alwases from him flow Doth mix with griefe these earthly things wherein we doo delight Which to our soules all sorow brings or else remoou'th them quite Then dooth the holie word of God most comfortable seeme Which we before we felt the rod mere follie did esteeme The world which earst most pleasant was now loathsome seem'th to be It doth appeare as in a glasse all fraught with miserie Then feare we hell then flie we sinne then seeke we heauen the more To vse good meanes we then begin which we despisde before Then can we pray then can we call to God for strength and grace Which things before might not at all with vs haue anie place Then heare we with attentiuenes then read we with all care Then pray we with great feruentnes no trauaile then we spare Then shall we see feele and confesse the state wherein we dwelt To be nothing but wretchednes though worldly ioyes we felt Because the soule by godlinesse more comfort doth receaue In one day than by worldlinesse for euer it can haue Then we with Dauid shall confesse that God from heauen aboue By humbling vs doth well expresse his mercie and his loue For ere we felt the scourging rod we er'de and went astray But now we keepe the law of God and waite thereon alway Then forreligion loue the crosse though it doo bring some paine The ioy is great small is the losse but infinite the gaine FINIS
by their incredulitie the grace which GOD offereth them should their incredulitie make thee call in doubt the trueth of God and the testimonie of his good will towards thee If some few among these banished not trusting the pardon published by a true and faithfull Prince doo him this dishonor to compt him as a deceiuer or lier acknowledge thou that iustlie and by good right they remaine banished But thou seeing that faithfull Prince Iesus Christ hath sent to pronounce vnto thee a generall pardon and namelie hath giuen thee his letters sealed by the Sacraments commaunding thee to beleeue and promising thee that it shall bee vnto thee according to thy faith Assure thy selfe Matt. 9.29 that his will is that thou shouldest be his child and heire of euerlasting life See how euerie one should assure himselfe by the preaching of the Gospell and the vse of the Sacraments the true markes of the Church that being a member of it he is the child of God and consequentlie an inheritour of his euerlasting kingdome True it is that faith is the gift of GOD yea proceeding from the operation of the mightie power of his strength Phili. 1.29 Ephe. 1.19 as S. Paule speaketh And this is it which he maketh vs to feele in this difficultie of apprehēding by an assured faith so manie so cleare and so certaine testimonies of his good will towards vs touching our adoption It is therefore needfull that he worke farther with vs by his holie spirit which without ceasing asking of him in the name of Iesus Christ we are assured by his promise that he will giue vs and that so ioyning with the power and efficacie of his spirit the preaching of his Gospell and the vse of the Sacraments he will giue vs grace to applie vnto our selues by a true and liuelie faith the testimonies which he hath giuen vs of our adoption to our saluation and euerlasting life How although the markes of our adoption bee in vs but small and feeble yet wee ought and may assure our selues that we are the children of God CAP. 4. I See well will some say that I haue iust matter to beleeue it therefore am I the more sory that I feele not faith in my self to assure me without doubt that I am the child of GOD which thing troubleth mee greatly so as I feare least by this mine incredulitie I reiect the grace of God But vnderstand I pray thee for thy comfort that there is great difference betweene vnfaithfulnes and weaknes of faith The vnfaithfull man or infidell careth not for his saluation or The first temptation proceeding of the small feeling of our faith reiecting the saluation which is in Iesus Christ alone seeketh saluation other where Contrariwise the faithful desire saluation he knoweth that his saluation is in Iesus Christ alone he seeketh it in him and feeleth a desire to increase in assurance that he hath saluatiō in Iesus Christ though he doo not yet feele this peace ioy in the holie Ghost so manifestlie as faith bringeth it forth at the last Also it is not written he that feeleth but hee that beleeueth hath euerlasting life Iho. 3.36 Heb. 11.1 Rom. 8.23 And indeed as faith is of things that are not seene so the vnderstanding of it consisteth more in certaintie than in apprehensiō In this complaint of Dauid yea and of Christ himselfe My God my God why hast thou forsakē me Psal 22.1 Mat. 27.46 We heare the testimonie of faith by these wordes my God my God but without apprehēsion or feeling of fauour or ioy as this complaint why hast thou forsakē me sheweth Also our faith may bee so small and weake as it doth not yet bring forth fruites that may be liuelie felt of vs. But if such as feele themselues in such estate desire to haue these feelings if they aske them of God by praier This desire and praier are testimonies that the spirit of God is in them and that they haue faith alreadie For is such a desire a fruite of the flesh or of the spirit It is of the holie spirit who bringeth it forth onlie in such as he dwelleth in He dwelleth then in them In like manner is not this praier the worke of the holy ghost in thē For it is the holy ghost saith S. Paule which praieth for vs Rom. 8.25 and in vs with grones that cannot be expressed Againe none can come to God by praiers if he haue no trust in him Then these holie desires and praiers being the motions of the holie ghost in vs are testimonies of our faith although they seeme to vs small and weake As the woman that feeleth the mooning of a child in her wombe though verie weake beleeueth and assureth her selfe that she is with child and that she goeth with a liue child so if we haue these motiōs these holie affections and desires before mentioned let vs not doubt but that wee haue the holie ghost who is the author of them dwelling in vs and consequentlie that wee haue also faith And we must vnderstand that the faith of the children of God ceaseth not to bee a true faith although they feele doubts feares mistrusts For if they delight not in such infirmities Rom. 7. to nourish them but are sorrowfull and resist them with desire to feele their saluation in Iesus Christ behold a battaile in them and betweene whom Betweene the spirit and the flesh betweene faith and mistrust There is then in them faith assailed with doubts and the spirit fighting against mistrust and labouring to ouercome it These doubts mistrustings and incredulities are the fierie darts which Satan throweth against our faith the which bearing the blowes as a buckler as S. Paule saith thrusteth them back and quencheth them so as they pearce not to the heart Eph. 6.16 What deuises or assaults soeuer the diuel make against vs faith S. Augustine so he occupie not the place of the heart where faith dwelleth he is driuen backe Incredulitie then assaulteth vs without but woundeth vs not deadlie It troubleth onlie or so woundeth as the stroake is yet curable And such temptations and assaults are common to the most faithfull excellent seruants of God If wee consider the continuall course of the life of Dauid there is no mirrour of faith better to bee noted than in him And yet was not he assaulted with great feares and doubts What cōplaint maketh he in the 77. Psalm Hath the Lord forsaken for euer Psal 77.8 9 10 11 vers will he no more shewe me fauour Is his mercie cleane gone for euer Is his promise come to an ende for euermore Hath God forgotten to bee gracious Hath he shut vp his louing kindnes in displeasure And to conclude he holdeth such a course as a man desperate saying This is my death Where was then in Dauid the feeling of his faith For al this he had not lost it And indeed all these words were
but representations of feare and dispaire assailing the faith that was in him and fighting against it As hee sheweth in other places verie plainly saying My soule why art thou cast downe Psal 42.12 Psal 43.5 why art thou so heauie within me Put thy trust in God for I will yet giue him thanks for as much as he is my manifest deliuerance as it were before my face and my God If these testimonies of faith before mentioned seeme small how small and dark was the faith of the Apostles before the resurrection of Iesus Christ They beleeue that Christ is the sonne of God Mat 16.16 Iohn 6.69 Mat. 17.23 Luke 9.45 Luk 24.11 Act. 1.6 the sauiour of the world but yet they vnderstand not that he must die and rise againe wherein notwithstāding lieth the principall rest of our faith Yea and after his resurrection they acknowledge him for a King imagined rather a carnall than a spirituall kingdome If their faith was darke in their vnderstanding it was also small in their hearts when they were offended at Christ and all forsooke him Peter himselfe renounced him Mat. 26 31 Mar. 14.27 Mar. 14.50 Mat. 26.70 Mar. 14.68 And yet we cannot say that they were without faith though it were then verie weake and small And also when the ship being couered with flouds they cried to Iesus Christ Luk. 22.32 Matt. 8.25 saying saue vs we perish he calleth them not infidels but men of little faith fearefull shewing that they had some faith in them though verie small and assailed with feare wherein notwithstanding hauing recourse vnto him they were heard and deliuered out of daunger For he came not to breake the brused reede nor to quench the smoaking flax As Esay foretold Esa 42 3. Matt. 12.18 shewing therby that there are some of the children of God weake as a brused reede and hauing as little strength of faith as in steed of flaming it smoaketh onlie This smalnes and beginning of faith is verie aptlie noted by S. Paule saying Rom. 1.17 that the righteousnes of GOD is reuealed by the Gospell from faith to faith He sheweth that there are degrees in faith and that it happeneth to vs in the reuealing of the righteousnes of GOD by which we are iustified as when we see one so farre off as with much a do wee know him but the neerer we approach the more cleerelie we discerne him Manie of the children of God are like to that blind man whose eyes Christ opened Mar. 8.29 but so at the beginning as he sawe men like trees forthwith he recouered his sight but yet troubled at the beginning but afterward cleared To bee short he who in the person of his Apostles hath taught vs to pray vnto God to increase our faith sheweth that he hath children in whom it is weake Luk. 17.5 and hath neede of increase Also the chiefe wisedome of the most perfect is to profite And to this purpose wee must remember that in all spirituall graces there is nothing but beginnings and imperfections in the most perfect and most highlie exalted in this life But that the perfection to the which notwithstanding wee must alwaies tend and the accomplishment shall be in heauen To conclude there are two effects or fruits of faith to wete the rest peace of the conscience before God and sanctification which consisteth in the mortification of the workes of the flesh and newnes of life Now as the rest and peace of conscience proceeding frō faith is a testimonie that it is in vs so is also sanctification and the desire to walke in the feare and obedience of God And indeed faith is the fountaine of good workes If then one of these fruites be languishing the other sufficeth to assure vs that wee haue faith As it is knowne that there is true and naturall fire by the flame the heate which are two effects and operations of fire but if the flame shall become weake the heate shall suffice to assure vs that it is naturall and not a painted fire In like manner if this fruit of thy faith be weake to feele peace and rest in thy conscience and yet thou feelest the other effect of faith to wete a desire to the workes of the spirit loue towards God and desire to walke in his obedience This fruit of thy faith is to thee a sure testimonie that it is in thee though but smal and weake But thou wilt say what comfort or assurance of saluation can a faith so weak and little giue me I answere It can assure thee of thine adoption For so thou haue but one spark of true faith thou art the child of God Faith is of such a force Mat. 17.20 that following the promise of God one onelie graine of it though neuer so little laieth hold on Iesus Christ to saluation Againe it is properlie Iesus Christ which saueth vs not our faith sauing in so much as it is the instrument and as it were the hand by which wee take hold on Iesus Christ Now faith how little soeuer it bee taketh hold on Christ and receiueth him not by halfes but all whole as an infant taketh and holdeth with his little hand a whole apple though he doth it not so stronglie or surelie as a man By the apple of our eye though merueilous little we see verie great mountaines and the verie bodie of the Sunne much greater than the whole earth so our faith though verie little taketh and receiueth all whole Iesus Christ the sunne of righteousnes He who being in a darke tower seeth not the light of the Sunne but by a verie little hole may notwithstanding assure himselfe that the Sunne shineth vppon the tower as well as he that seeth it by an open windowe knoweth that it shineth vpon his house Euen so although we are hindered by the cloudes of mistrust that we cannot see the Sunne of righteousnes to shine vpon our soules in his brightnes yet so that wee see but a little beame wee know that the sunne of life shineth vppon vs which assureth vs that we are the children of God Also whosoeuer in this life shall haue the least faith among all the elect shall yet inioye Iesus Christ all whole and not a little or halfe saluation but the full accomplished saluation of eternall life For whosoeuer beleeueth in Iesus Christ saith Saint Iohn shall not perish Iho. 3.16 but haue life euerlasting Now as this ought greatlie to comfort vs in the weakenes of our faith so ought it to bee a sharpe spurre to inforce vs to growe in faith that feeling so much the more clearelie and liuelie the peace and ioye of our consciences by the assurance that we are the children of God wee may the more stronglie resist all temptations and glorifie our God There are others who call their faith and adoption in doubt 2. Temptation throgh the smalnes of our sanctification Ia. 2.17.20 saying That