sinne raignes temptations fill the heart Actes 5.3 Satan possesseth the sinner in peace Luk. 11.21 who pampers his lust and makes the motion of it his full contentment hee will doe the desires of the deuil who leades him with an inward efficacie without any true resistance of his hee liues and walkes in sinne Coloss. 3.7 lyeth in wickednesse hee leades his life according to corrupt nature though he haue materials of righteousnes and be held back by Gods prouidence from some grosse act of sinne as Genes 20.6 I kept thee also that thou shouldest not sinne against mee therefore I suffered thee not to touch her Yet neither is their heart sound in Gods statutes nor indeede desires to bee they haue no study of pietie raigning in them When God regenerates a man he makes him willing to bee regenerate which is in time together with regeneration in order of nature the soule is healed before the desire but the desire is first known to vs wee see the effects which leade vs to the causes as the morning light before the morning Sunne yet wee know the light is from the Sunne drawing neere to be reuealed Euen wants of righteousnesse note sinne to raigne where a man feares not repents not sinne in generall with desire of an vniuersal cleannesse from sinne secret or knowne to him when sinne generally in nature action manner of producing actions with griefe to defile Gods worke is not in some measure laboured against of conscience towards God and pardon sought in Christ vnto rest in that blood of attonement it is an vncomfortable state Purging a mans selfe is a note of a vessell of honour opposed to the committing so to the raigne of sinne Raigne of it is expressed by obeying it in the lusts of it His seruants yee are to whom yee obey Rom. 6.16 17. Obedience subiects a man voluntarily yee haue obeyed from the heart you were the seruants of sinne The true beleeuer detests so the Deuils motions vpon the sudden iniection sometimes that he is without taint of sinne by them yet it is an affliction with victorie as it was with our Sauiour tempted by the Deuill to whom God sent Angels for his comfort yet our corruption considered it is a rare thing Sometimes he is drawen aside and inticed vnto consent with a contrary will sometimes deliberate sometimes sudden but he cannot bee brought vnder the raigne of sinne yet vnto actes of sinne For Christ keepes his possession the seed of God abides in them the Law is in their heart they serue it with their minde though sinne with their flesh Rom. 7.25 The spirit is willing the flesh makes weake they haue onely good of their desires Prou. 11.23 God pardons what they allow not themselues in but hate yet doe it hee rewards the good as the fruite of his owne Spirit brought foorth to him in Christ. Their will is better then their deede they please God though not themselues desiring more grace to serue him acceptablie Doe you not by a will freed sollicite the vnderstanding to discerne and with iudgement truely determining to commaund right things Seeke you not for more light of minde and holinesse of iudgement for the guiding of your way Doe you not desire rightnesse to your conscience soundnesse of heart in Gods Statutes Could you not cast away righteous men but in that name receiue them were it not for loue of righteousnesse Doe you seeke to further Gods worke by Ministers of righteousnesse because they worke the worke of the Lord and turne the disobedient to the wisedome of iust men Leaue you not the reignes corruption but are held with a bridle of righteousnesse to serue it Doeth the feare of God though sometimes driuen from its station yet dwell as controuller in your soule recouer the station represse the refractarie thoughts affections sway your heart against the naturall motion that you may keepe Gods Word make you cease from your owne workes with desire that God may worke his in you that the leading of you though you be interlaced with the flesh you giue to the holy Ghost louing that hee may haue the principalitie in you praying for the holy Ghost principally of which after in the examination of prayer Ponder you with care and delight to finde willingly and setledly to follow things of the spirit Attend you your selfe concerning spiritual being Greiue you inwardly for that which the flesh doeth outwardly or within not loosing but vsing loue to God in resisting sinfull motions it is not your working but suffering of sinne Charitie may bee in some sinnes astonished but not abolished as a souldier with a great blow on his head may lie as liuelesse yet his will to fight against the enemie remaines hee recouereth and seekes for his shield and returneth to fight with increased resolution The exercise of grace in thoughts deuisings purposes desires indeuours which proceede from the spirituall part haue promise of life and peace Rom. 8.6 They bee of regeneration which is glorification begun in which men proceede by the Spirit of the Lord from glory to glory Obiection VIII Some wicked men are at some strife with themselues before they sinne as Herod and confesse their folly and guiltinesse after sinne done sometimes with teares as Saul how shall I know I haue true freedome from the raigne of sinne they doe the sinne which they sticke at and returne to the sinne which they confesse and weepe at the notice of I doing so in some particulars what difference betweene me and a foole returning to his folly Answere First in the strife before sinne the difference is in the extent of matter Secondly in the motions or principle whereout it proceedes Thirdly in the issue For matter the vnbeleeuers strife is commonly but in some more grosse euill that makes one infamous amongst men as Herods strife about breaking his oath to the losse of his credit with them that sate at table with him or to do a worke condemned by the light of his minde in putting to death an innocent man whose iustice triumphed in his conscience He liued in other sins as may appeare without strife The true beleeuer as he hath receiued commandement not to sinne hee striues to obey it and so liues in a contention against himselfe in minde will affections about the body of righteousnesse deliuered in the law labouring to dead the very roote of all sinne that his corrupt nature may bee more barren and lesse rebellion in him against God where man can take no motiue of it This is implied in that prayer Take from me the way of lying and grant me graciously thy law let no iniquitie haue dominion ouer mee let my heart bee sound in thy statutes in that promise I will runne the way of thy commandements when thou shalt inlarge my heart when it shall bee larger to receiue grace and more free and willing to obey thus are they said to seeke Gods precepts because they
because God hath giuen his sonne to take with the nature of the elect their death Heb. 2.9.14 and thereunto their sinnes He made him to be sinne for vs that knew no sinne that wee might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2. Cor. 5.21 God laid vpon him all the sinnes of the Elect figured in the goat that escaped by lot Leuit. 16.21.22 Ouer which Aaron confessed all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their trespasses in all their sinnes putting them vpon the head of the goat sending him by appointment into a land not inhabited that the sinnes and curse might not reside among Gods people prophecied in Esa. 53.6 Not onely the punishment of our sinnes but our sins were made to meete vpon him whether past present or to come and the equall valew to all the wrath that they did deserue he indured 1. Tim. 2.6 He his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body to or on the tree 1. Pet. 2.24 By his stripes or wailes we are healed all haue sinned and are depriued of the glory of God he that is Lord ouer all is rich vnto all that call vpon him Be it ten thousand talents fiue hundred or fiftie pence he for Christ that hath as the suretie made satisfaction to the full for the whole debt counts it as if he had no wrong by vs but that we are iust cleare not guilty puts away his anger loues vs freely we neede not for feare beleeuing in Christ paine and torment our soules in respect of punishment to come for any sin or blasphemie committed Verily I say vnto you all sinnes shall be forgiuen vnto the children of men and blasphemies wherewith they blaspheme Christ appointed forgiuenesse of sinnes to be preached in his name without distinction of many or few small or great Thus Gods people are incouraged to follow the Lord and to sett vpon reformation of sinners because there is hope in Israel for this 1. Sam. 12.20 3. God inuites to his feast sinners of vilest sort such as are as miserable in soule as they be in body that by high waies and hedges Church porches or any meetings to make their aduantage shew and offer to pitie faces gnawen eyes noses and members eaten with rottennesse Whosoeuer accepteth truely his inuitation comes and eats of his prouision is allowed cleansed from all his sinne cloathed with righteousnesse as a robe and adorned with graces as with Iewels Esay 61.10 Luk. 15.21 Reuel 19.7 Come receiue Christ he shall cloath you and decke you vnto admiration Who is shee Cant. 6.9 that comes out of the wildernesse to ioyne her selfe to her welbeloued Cant. 8.5 Obiection III. Redemption is not vniuersall in Gods purpose mercy is limited Rom. 9.11.14 according to his will is all the difference betweene them that are saued and them that perish Math. 11. 25.26 Christ came to doe the will of his father in giuing eternall life to them that were giuen him Iohn 6.37 Hee gaue his life for his sheepe Iohn 10.15 dyed for the children of God scattered in all the world Iohn 11.52 But hee did not pray nor speake a good word for the world to his father his sacrifice was the foundation of his intercession they must needes therfore bee of one extent How shal I know that Iesus Christ by the will of God gaue himselfe for mee that I may stay vpon him Answer First Hee prayed for all and therefore dyed for all that beleeue in him Ioh. 17.20 None come to him but whom his father drawes he drawes none but whom hee had before giuen to him Iohn 7.37 Faith is peculiar to the elect Iohn 10.26 Acts 13.48 Titus 1.1 The election obtaines it Romanes 11.7 Beleeue and you haue a cleare resolution whereby you may say he loued me and gaue himselfe for mee Secondly Suspition arising of a certaine preiudice without ground inclining a man to the worst part if it bee but towards a man is sinne for charitie thinks not euill beleeues all things 1. Cor. 13. To haue God in suspicion when he cals me to receiue his grace in Christ Iesus is much more sinfull both for iniury to God and hurt to my selfe God hath prouided against such putting of stumbling blocks to a mans selfe Esa. 56.3.5.7 Whosoeuer loues the name of God and to be his seruant is assured of acceptance and ioyfull experience thereof for person and seruice The spirit of God makes no perswasion to a man of his reprobation as he doth of his Election Neither can it be gathered from sinne of nature or Action internall or externall Where Christ is esteemed truely the spirit of grace not dispited if an Angel should pronounce your damnation you should suspect him for a lying spirit Or if you knew an Angel from heauen to say so much that you shall bee damned you are to beleeue him no further then vnder this condition if you beleeue not in Christ Iesus and repent towards God the written word in the true sense knowen is to be rested in aboue the testimonie of an Angel from heauen Galath 1.6 Thirdly You haue inducements to beleeue that thou ought not to neglect You are borne holy 1. Cor. 1.14 brought forth to God by the Church Gods wife Ezech. 16.20.21 You are a child of the kingdome Math. 8.12 yours is the adoption Rom. 9.4 at least externally as belonging to you The couenant is propounded Sacraments ministred not onely as notes of profession but as testimonies of Gods good will in Christ. Men hauing written their couenants sett their seales to them and deliuered them they that deale with them vse to rest as secured conceiuing they deale with wise honest and able men God hath written his couenant set his seale to it and by a minister authorized by him set you as it were in possession If you reiect it not not onely spirituall things but the application of them is represented in the Sacraments you are sprinkled with Sacramentall water you haue giuen to you and receiue Sacramentall bread and wine which by Gods appointment haue Sacramentall vnion with and relation vnto the spirituall thing represented It is such an obligation to faith and consecration of a mans selfe to God that if a man excite not his faith and yeeld himselfe he shall account to God aboue others that neuer had these testimonies Ezech. 20.37 I will cause you to passe vnder the rod and bring you into the bond of the couenant Obiection IIII. God will not cleare the guilty nor acquite the wicked he ioynes perishing vnto impenitency how shall I beleeue his promise of mercy to my pardon that cannot cleare my conversion to my conscience None can enter into the kingdome of heauen but borne of the spirit liuing after the flesh I shall die I am commanded to let no man deceiue me with vaine words to secure me from such danger Answere These two questions are distinct must not be confounded what
receiueth Christ vnto vnion with the beleeuer Iohn 6.56 2. Cor. 13.5 Ephes. 5.30 it receiues in Christ the gift of righteousnesse vnto iustification of life Rom. 5.1.17 reconciliation and safety from wrath for euer Rom. 5.9 adoption to bee children of God and coheires with Christ Rom. 8. 16 17. the holy Ghost vnto a new creation vnto leading by counsell motion strength warning incouragement suppressing crucifying causing to dye the corrupt nature lessening the force and fruits of it Rom. 6.3 6. Ephes. 1.13 Gal. 5.24 and vnto entrance to God in prayer the Spirit makes request for the Saints according to the will of God Rom. 8.27 Secondly It workes towards God according to the strength and measure of it a quiet state of conscience agreement of the new nature with Gods law vnto delight in it consecration of our selues to God with loue to bee his seruants confession of truth to his glorie and commending of our soules into his hands 2 Tim. 1.12 Thirdly To the beleeuer according to the degree of it it workes quiet dependance on God for prouision and protection content and comfort in God in any condition patience vnder Gods hand with delight in him Psal. 73.25 26. Fourthly Towards faithfull brethren coniunction of soules and communion of gifts spirituall and temporall with a brotherly kindnesse and loue edifying the body towards all men loue humanitie iustice equity mercy and goodnesse euen to enemies Fiftly against the deuill resistance standing victory by the power of the Lords might Eph. 6.16 Thirdly For parts of nature temporary faith hath but two which the spirit workes knowledge and appobation vnto some ioy in the word receiued faith properly so called hath both them an other as an essential degree aboue the other which distinguisheth it from the other in kinde as sense distinguisheth the life of beasts from that of plants that haue vegetatiue life but not sensitiue and reason the life of men from that of beasts which haue sense common with man but not reason And this part of faith which so formally essentially differenceth it is application or appropriation of Christ and the promise of mercie in him which is called receiuing of Christ and drinking his flesh and blood putting him on by this Christ dwels and liueth in the beleeuer ioyning him so to the Lord that he is one spirit with him For want of this the temporizer is an vnbeleeuer in respect of true faith a hidden infidel such as Christ would not commit himself vnto Ioh. 2.24 Yet they are said to beleeue by reason of some materialls of faith 2. for similitude in a chearefull profession of that Gospell 3. In regard of some subiection to the word which open infidels cast away yet differs from faith properly so called as hypocritical from sincere dead from liuely generall from speciall ineffectuall from effectuall and transitory from abiding Obiection II. The things reuealed are sweete to them they tast the word to be good receiue it with ioy that seemes to implie application Answere By the light of God in their minde they see the kingdome of Christ to bee glorious heauenly and aboue this world which many thought but earthly they see their state for whom it is prepared to bee full of happinesse Gods loue and good will therein of great admiration they perceiue a possibility of obtaining this happinesse which knowledge for the time delights them Secondly They perceiue sinne to be full of miserable vexation know and feare a painefull sting in death and hearing of a free and full deliuerance from these euils by Christ they in some sort for a time submit themselues to the Gospell forsake them which are wrapped in error cease concerning act many grosse sinnes and do many things commanded and so are receiued in the charity of the Church as members by which vanishing taste temporary and partiall reformation with some common graces with the estimation of the Godly they conceiue a rowling opinion that they shall bee saued which for a while pleaseth them but is onely as the commotion of affections in a dreame Thirdly The spirit of God makes no preswasion of Gods loue to them nor euer giues life to the seed which in sowing fel in such ground It is saide to spring vp as corne in stonie ground or sowen among thornes that choke it but it neuer is brought forward to that which God works in them whom he calls of his purpose They are said onely to seeme to haue Hence it is that they doe not so much setledly as purpose desire indeuour to get that faith which is proper to the elect 2. or striue of conscience of the commandements against doubts and feares to giue glory to God by beleeuing 3. they are not iealous of the deceiuablenesse of their heart they try not their state with loue to be true and to know they are of the truth It is with them as with a man admitted into a rome where a table is furnished with delicates for some chosen guests to see tast of them who is able to discerne the goodnesse of the things set forth the good-will of the houshoulder to them that are bidden for whom they are prouided yet receiues them not so as they for whome they were intended The true belieuer tasts the loue of God to him as a chosen guest in the delicats prouided for him by that taste is carried in desire to grow vp more in the grace that reioyceth him praiseth Christ for that rest and sweetnesse he finds in in him and comes with indeuour more and more to him giuing himselfe to him as truely happie in him his faith conquers when the temporizers is ouercome and he goeth back after Sathan Obiection III True faith giues a knowledge of Gods loue to him to whome it is giuen to beleeue 1 Ioh. 4.16 wee haue knowne and beleeued the loue of God towards vs. I finde not that knowledge of Gods speciall loue to me can I haue faith and see none Answere There may be faith in the soule that takes not notice of it God hides himselfe from them to whom he is a Sauiour Christ told Thomas with the rest of the Disciples that they knew whether he went and the way to come to him in their death yet he said we know not whether thou goest and how should wee know the way Christs words were true they knew not their owne knowledge So he promiseth when hee giueth his spirit more plentifully they shall know by the effectuall working of it in them that hee is in them and they in him Iohn 14.20 Implying that yet they knew not that as they should know it by experiment of faith Faith may be implicite in respect of cleare knowledge of Gods fauour euen after many yeeres soberly spent in Gods seruice Secondly Faith is for a time but in seed not able to quiet the heart in knowledge of Gods loue yet the reigne of
sinne and their works dead their Will is not free then to any spirituall work death depriues not onely of action but facultie They are said to serue sinne if their will be in a full bondage they are not free all that are not freed by Christ remaine in spirituall bondage to sinne they must be in him whom he freeth and that is by a true faith they are gouerned by the prouidence to some workes that are good for their matter but in them they are intrinsecally guilty they haue no will to obey honour the Lord therein they proceed not from an inward frame of goodnesse and conformitie of heart to Gods law their will is worse then their deed they receiue the Gospell but not with an honest heart purely for it selfe but with corrupt respect They forbeare some sins but not for loue of God and that they haue chosen Gods law whereof sin is a violation their will is not turned against it out of any inherent holines contrary to it but as contemned by light of the minde as reprochfull for one that professeth true religion or some way daungerous as appeares by their partialitie in the law Iam. 2.4 The true beleeuer is by the spirit of Ghrist in part truely and for euer freed in his will from the spirituall bondage and seruitude of corruption and his libertie is brought forward by degrees The change is by a supernaturall worke as if a stone which a hundred times forced vpward falls downe againe should haue a new inclination put into it the change were aboue nature But now the inclination is naturall so in this worke of God in taking away the stonie heart and giuing the will a new inclination the diuine power hauing made this alteration by infusion of grace and holinesse into it the action of it in willing to belieue to be iustified to be healed in nature of the sinfulnesse perceiued to be quickened vnto good workes to doe them more spiritually is naturall and free by reason of the godly nature Search your selfe according to this difference in minde conscience and will and be a true witnesse of the worke of God in you Obiection VII I find such corruption in my minde conscience and Will especially that I feare I am vnder the dominion of sinne not onely hauing damnable matter in me from which Gods children be not free but damning for sinne reignes vnto death Answere First If you desire healing of your nature grone in desire to grace perceiue your fowlenesse vnto a lothing of your selfe feare not sinne hath not dominion ouer you True grace and sense of sinne may be together in a true beleeuer who by new light perceiueth what is sinne by renewed selfe-loue more impartially iudge themselues and their doings by spirituall life feel that which they that are blind dead in whom self loue is fully corrupted neither see nor feel Prou. 30.2.3 Rom. 7.24 That wee see abhorre confesse lament as our exceeding miserie sinne dwelling working in vs hindering the good wee would corrupting our best workes carrying vs to hated euill That we earnestly desire deliuerance frō this bondage That we may do Gods will in earth as it is done in heauen No measure that is ioyned with imperfection satisfieth vs but we contend further that we indeuour our selues to get more grace and the exercise of it apply our hearts to fulfill Gods statutes bid battell to all vices purge our selues imbrace crosses as meanes of mortification and profit in holinesse loue a wise reprouer beare malicious reproofes and that we rest not in aliuelesse conformity in the externall action to Gods law it is of the grace of God giuen vs in Christ Iesus Rom. 7.14.15.24 Phil. 3.13.14 1 Chro. 28.7.9 Hos. 6.3 Psal. 119.101 1 Ioh. 3.3 Heb 12.7.10.11 Prou. 25.12 2 Sam. 26.10.12 Psal. 119.93 For sinnes past 1. That we voluntarily remember them to afflict our selues taking greife and shame for offending of God 2. That we willingly beare the punishment of them loathing our selues for our deeds that were not good hold our selues wholly damnable open not our mouth in defence or extenuation but confesse our selues vile to Gods glory with indignation at our follie and brutishnesse 3. that by rememberance of our seruice of such hatefull and now hated sinnes wee keepe our selues from our iniquitie and prouoke our selues to the study of innocencie that we are carried to labour in Gods worke with greater impulsion of loue considering Christs loue dying for vs Gods loue giuing him for vs and forgiuing so great debt 4. that we are humble modest in opinion and speech of our selues whatsoeuer graces we haue receiued that considering our change by the grace of God we bee humane compassionate toward sinners louing to make them iust waiting for their repentance deuouring indignities from them in hope and desire that they which are such as we were may be such as we are by the grace of God louingly and gladly receiuing them repenting is of grace Esay 54.6.7 Ezech. 16.63 Leu. 26.42 2 Sam. 15.26 Mich. 7.9 Iob. 42.6 Psal. 73.22 Psal. 18.23 1. Pet. 4.2.3 1 Cor. 15.9.10 2. Cor. 5.14 Eph. 3.8 2 Tim. 2.24.25 Tit. 3.3 It is a token that is pacified is moued in his bowels towards vs as his deare children Ier. 31.20 will meete vs with tokens of peace and loue Luk. 15.20.23 and defend vs as now deliuered from our sinnes not being that wee were being that we were not Luk. 7.44 and iustifie the ioy of good men in our returning from death to life Luk. 15.31 Secondly Where sinne reigns the man is but flesh merely carnall Gen. 6.3 Ioh. 3.6 distitute of the spirit Iud. v. 19. in the full power of sinne Rom. 7.5 wholly replenished with it as it were buried in it If the Spirit of Christ be in you it freeth you from the law and force of sinne and the hurt of death You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit for the Spirit of Christ dwelleth in you Rom. 8.2 9. Though you haue and shew forth much more corruption in affection and manners then many other christians doe yet the new man liueth in you as a babe 1 Cor. 3.1 infirme and feeble to keepe the olde man vnder and to bring forth the actions of a christian And because of the seede of God in you though in comparison of stronger christians you may bee counted carnall yet compared with meere carnall men you are spirituall you are not wholly carried by the desires of the flesh as they but contrary lusts striue in you to destroy one another Galath 5. verse 5.17 The perfectest Christian in this life compared with the spiritualnesse of Gods Law may well pronounce himselfe carnall Neither nature nor action is fully conformable to it but though there bee much in him contrary to the Law yet the roote of the matter is in him Iob 19.28 You should say why doe wee persecute him seeing the roote of the matter is in him Where