spirituall fight Consider therefore the contrarie affections and actions which plainely shew themselues in this battell for we find our faith assaulted with doubting and infidelitie and these also againe beaten backe after they haue gotten some ground and subdued with the spirit of faith we discerne also our affiance in God shewed by shaken with diffidence and distrust and afterwards this distrust vanquished againe by affiance so as after we haue vttered through the violence of temptation diffident and impacient speeches yet at length we grow to Iobs resolution Iob. 13.15 Loe though he slay me yet will I trust in him We may also discerne our zeale sometime so hot in Gods seruice that it expelleth coldnes and the fruite thereof dullnes and drowzines of spirit and sometimes by them it is cooled and in outward appearance quenched The like may be said of all other fruits of the flesh and the spirit This conflict Christ noted in Peter Ioh. 21.18 when thou wast young thou girdest thy selfe and walkest whether thou wouldest but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thine hands and another shall gird thee and lead thee whether thou wouldest not Out of doubt Peter was lead to death willingly in the spirit but in the flesh against his wll he would and he would not dye The spirit was willing but the flesh would not for death was neuer welcome to the flesh In one and the selfe same man conuerted to God so long as he liueth here ther is the old and the new man the spirit is the new man he to be put on this to be put off Eph. 4.22.24 betweene these two there can be no peace what peace saith Iehu 2. King 9.22 so here what peace because their wills are diuerse their desires and endeauours diuerse and their purpose diuerse Here wee may insert two great conflicts 1. betweene faith and reason 2. betweene hope and despaire First this combate betweene faith and reason is touching the doctrine of the Church faith stayeth it selfe vpon Gods word but reason vpon the wisedome of the world faith beleeueth Gods promises reason respects the order of nature faith depends vpon Gods power reason regardeth the strength of nature Exod. 14.11 Hast thou brought vs to die in the wildernesse saith reason ver 13. feare ye not stand still and behold the saluation of the Lord saith faith Numb 11.21.22 Sixe hundred thousand men are there of the people among whom I am and thou saiest I will giue them flesh that they may eat a moneth long shall the sheep and the beeues be slaine for them to find them c. saith reason ver 23. is the Lords hand shortened saith faith 2. Kin. 7.3 Though the Lord would make windowes in heauen could this thing come to passe saith reason behold thou shalt see it with thine eyes saith faith The like places to this effect be these Hest 4.11.13.14 Dan. 3.14.1 Cor. 1.13.24 Secondly this combate betweene hope and despaire is most gricuous in the which the strife is for the crowne of happines after this life For the obtaining whereof hope waiteth but despaire fainteth vtterly In this conflict faith and the spirit ioyne their assistance with hope but the flesh and the conscience takes part with despaire For as despaire by the perswasion of the flesh and conscience obiecteth against hope the greatnes multitude and filthines of our sinnes so hope by the counsell and aduise of the spirit and faith obiecteth vnto despaire the greatnes and multitude of Gods mercies and the price of Christs sacrifice whereby we are purged from the filthines of our sinnes and sanctified by the spirit Psal 42.11 why art thou cast downe my soule and why art thou disquieted within me waite on God Rom. 7.24.25 O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death I thanke God through Iesus Christ c. To this effect are these testimonies Psal 77.7.8.9.10 Psal 130.3.4 Ioh. 2.4.7 Now whence doth all this opposition and contrariety proceede shal I say from the flesh nay it is against all reason for as Saint Iames disputeth Iam. 3.11 doth a fountaine send forth at one place sweet water and bitter or rather as Christ Iesus reasoneth Matth. 7.16 doe men gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles so may I demaund can the flesh in the which as Saint Paul affirmeth Rom. 7.8 dwelleth no good thing bring forth the fruits of the spirit which are quite contrarie to the nature thereof namely sorrow for sinne hatred of it selfe and the corruptions thereof and an earnest desire of sanctification it is impossible So long as we are destitute of the spirit and a liuely faith we are wholly ouerswaied with the flesh and Sathan like a mighty Tyrant holdeth vs captiue peaceably and without any resistance There is a combate I confesse in the naturall man but it is betweene the naturall conscience and the rebellious affections which is incident to all men that haue in them any conscience or light of reason but this is the checke of conscience which all men find in themselues both good and badde so oft as they offend God But this combate whereof we speake is a fighting and a striuing of the mind will and affections with themselues whereby so far forth as they are renewed they cary the man one way and as they still remaine uncorrupt they cary him flatte contrarie So then the persons in whō this combate is to be found are the beleeuers and they onely Hieron Statim vt oues c. As soone as euer the deuill shall see his sheep to be willing to forsake his flocke he is angry and rageth esteeming that he hath lost whatsoeuer Christ hath gained Greg. Mag. Hostes noster c. Our enemie by how much the more he seeth we rebell against him by so much the more he stirreth to preuaile for he neglecteth whom he quietly possesseth Luk. 22.31 Simon Simon Sathan hath desired to winnow you as wheate Apoc. 12.17 The dragon was wrath with the woman and went and made warre with the remnant of her seed which keept the commaundements of God The blind man Ioh. 9. so long as he continued in his blindnes was neuer called in question but so soone as his eyes were opened not onely himselfe but also his parents were presently conuented The Pirates while they know the shippe to bee emptie let it quietly passe but when it returneth loaden with rich marchandise their manner is to assault it with violence So saith Chrysost in Gen. homil 31. while men are void of vertue the deuil letteth not their voyage but when grace is giuen once then he striueth to robbe vs of that grace The Apostle in the first three chapters of the Epistle to the Ephesians sheweth the misterie of our saluation and the causes thereof for the confirmation of our faith And in the next three chapters he sets downe diuers duties both generally belonging to all Christians and also particulary appertaining to
slippe backe and draw toward death we cannot therefore turne back but with danger to fall into euerlasting perdition Much like vnto him who flying from his enemies that pursue him in stead of sauing himselfe in some towne turneth backe towards them and so putteth himselfe into their hands We are not without many and mighty enemies that pursue vs and labour to make vs turne backe by offending God and these must wee fight against 1. Pet. 2.11 These enemies fight not against our goods to rob vs of them nor against our bodies to depriue them of life but against our soules to induce them to offend God and so to draw them into euerlasting damnation An example in Iob Cap. 1.1 who was a iust man c. and so walked in the way to heauen but Sathan would withstand him and therefore commenced warre against his soule hee seemes as if hee would haue fought against his goods in causing them to be taken away against his children in procuring their death and against his bodie in vexing it most cruelly yet was it properly the soule that hee assaulted Iob. 1.9.10.11 And he fought against it seeking by outward tribulation to induce the same by blaspheming to offend God If wee consider our owne weakenes to withstand our mighty enemies it may breed some cause of feare in vs but as God in old time commaunded Ioshua cap. 1.9 that hee should not feare the Canaanites and assured him that hee would be with him and that by ouercomming them he would bring his people into the land of promise so likewise let vs giue care vnto God that calleth vs to this battell with assurance that he will stand with vs and for vs to the ende that couragiously fighting vnder his banner against our enemies we may by his grace and power obtaine perfect victorie and consequently the possession of our celestiall countrie Secondly that wee turne neither to the right hand nor to the left By those that turne to the right hand wee vnderstand such as seeme to keepe Gods commandements yet not to glorifie him but either to glorifie themselues or to merit Prayer to God almes fasting and other like works are commendable and ordained of God to the end by them to walke towards heauen but such as doe them that they may be seene and praised of men doe turne to the right hand and depriue themselues of all reward in heauen because they receiue it vpon earth aforehand Math. 6.2.5.16 It is also astraying to the right hand when hauing receiued gifts of speaking the tongues of prophecying of knowing all secrets of faith c. 1. Cor. 13. the receiuers doe not vse them in loue Such likewise as in the old time among the Iewes did obserue the lawes and ordinances of God to the ende to merit did also stray to the right hand and turned out of the way of saluation Rom. 10.2 By those that turne to the left hand wee vnderstand such as doe thinke to come to heauen by the path of mens traditions and seruices or voluntarie deuotions not commaunded by God Coloss 2.21 as touch not tast not handle not c. And this Christ obiected to the Scribes and Pharises Matth. 15.8.9 Therefore because God hath taught vs the way wherein wee should walke to heauen let vs beware we turne not either to the right hand or to the left Thirdly that we stand not still in the way but goe forward and fructifie in good workes for such is the way to heauen that hee that goeth not forward slideth backward We nurse little children to the end they may grow great and wax strong and it were a wonder to see a little child continue as little and weake as at the birth euen so if we who being members of the Church of Christ and consequently entred into the path that leadeth to heauen and daily doe receiue the food of Gods word and sacraments should not increase in faith working by loue and amendement of life it were great ingratitude and vnexcusable obstinacy which should not escape vnpunished to stand stil in the way not to go forward The Apostle Paul although be had proceeded very far in this way thought it not his duty to surcease but the nearer he came to the marke the more he striueth towards it forgetting those things which be behind Phil. 3.14.15 And therevpon inferreth whosoeuer are perfect let them be thus minded Must those that are perfect be of this minde how much more behoueth it vs who are but of small growth in comparison to giue all diligence that we may increase and grow vp in grace 1. Thess 4.1 being prouoked also thereto by that exhortation of Saint Peter grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ 2. Pet. 3.18 If we rest contented with a little quantity of faith neuer labour after increase it is a shrewd presumption that such a faith is false and counterfeit For assoon as the seed of true faith is sowen in vs and hath taken roote it sprowteth vp vntill it come to full ripenes in which respect Christ compareth it to a graine of mustard seed which though it be one of the least seedes of the garden yet it groweth to a great tree Matth. 13.31.32 It is not possible that any who haue tasted of true faith and of those inestimable benefits which it assureth vs of should content themselues with a small pittance and neuer labour after more For who is it that hauing tasted and eaten a little bit of some delicious meates doth not with an hungring appetite desire more till he be filled and satisfied or who is it that hauing any weake title and assurance of some goodly inheritance doth not earnestly desire and vse all good and lawfull means whereby his title may be strengthened and his assurance confirmed So if any haue truly tasted of faith and the excellent benefits that accompany it which are assurance of Gods loue remission of sinnes peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost they cannot content themselues with a little modicum and neuer hunger after more for can we imagin that we haue any finall title or true assurance of those vnspeakable ioyes of Gods kingdome if we neuer vse meanes to confirme our title and strengthen our assurance surely it is impossible To conclude Satan if he cannot make vs worse will labour to make vs not to be better nor to go forward in religion Hast thou not more zeale now then thou hadst when the gospel was first brought thee then feare least the spirit be much quenched wherefore as Sathan endeuoreth to make thee stand at a stay in christianity so let the spirit of God in thee striue for the contrary that he that is righteous may be more righteous Apoc. 22.11 For we may not be worse then the ground which by the raine is made more fruitfull nor then the hearbes which by the sunne are made more flourishing Hauing thus far Christian Reader perswaded
this estate and yet when all hath beene said that can be it is nothing in comparison of that which the thing is in it selfe and we shall find it to be when we shall lay downe this bodie of corruption and bee cloathed vpon with perfect glory Learne therefore what a wonderfull blessing we haue obtained by Christ By nature we are wrapped in the guilt of sin subiect to the stipend of sinne subdued vnder the curse of the lawe and lie right vnder the whole wrath and displeasure of God Our sinnes proclaimed vs Rebels to God through heauen and earth banished vs out of our countrey set hell gates open for vs and gaue vs into the hands of Sathan as an hangman to execute Gods sentence of eternall death passed against vs yea further hopeles wee were in this wofull condition for Gods displeasure was so kindled against vs as men and angels could not reconcile him the law was so transgressed that all men and angels could neuer satisfie nor make vp the breach the sentence was so seuere as all men and angels could neuer haue stood vnder iâ— the execution so certen as the verie gybbet was euer standing in our sight in the horrors of our soules and terrors of our accusing consciences wee seemed to walke and bee left in the midst of ten thousand deaths but nowe when no meanes was left to pacifie God offended to satisfie the lawe transgressed to remake the sentence denounced the Sonne of God must come from the bosome of his father and become obedient both to the performing of the whole will of his Father as also to the ignominious death of the crosse that so becomming a curse for vs as that execrable kind of death betokened wee might haue God well pleased with vs as he is with him we might present him his lawe perfectly fulfilled not in our persons but in our nature and in his owne person for vs we might pleade the paiment of all our debts and by this our surety sue out our full discharge because the vtmost farthing is fully paid haue our right in the tree of life and might enter in thorough the gates into the citie Apoc. 22.14 This blessed tree is in the middest of the Paradise of God the leaues of the tree are not onely for shadowe but also to heale the nations with and it hath both leaues and fruites to satisfie our hunger and twelue manner of fruits euerie moneth brought forth to satisfie our pleasure and it groweth by a riuer side cleare as chrystall proceeding out of the throne of God so that it cannot possibly wither Apoc. 22. Let vs beseech God who hath planted is with his owne right hand that we may liue to 〈◊〉 how wholesome and pleasant that tâ—… is And considering that we looke for life euerlasting after this life let vs not deceiue our selues lingring and deferring the time to the last gaspe but let vs lay the foundation of life eternall in our selues in this world and haue the earnest thereof laid vp in our hearts Now this is done if we repent vs heartily of all our sinnes and seeke to be assured in conscience that God the father of Christ is our father God the sonne our redeemer and God the holy Ghost our comforter Ioh. 17.3 this is eternall life that they know thee to be the onely God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ yea let vs proceed further yet endeauouring to say with Paul Gal. 2.20 Thus I liue yes not I now but Christ liueth in mee and in that I nowe liue in the flesh I liue by the faith in the sonne of God who hath loued me hath giuen himselfe for me when we can thus say in truth of heart wee haue in vs the verie seede of eternall life Lastly here we may consider the wonderfull madnes of worldly men who only haue regard to the state of this life cast all their care on the world and neuer so much as life up their hearts and thoughts vnto heauen The ende of Christ comming in the flesh was principally for our soules by taking away the sinnes of the world and after for our bodies by remoouing corporall infirmities Matth. 9.2.6 but it is not thus with the sonnes of men now they neglect the care of their soules but they make prouision for the lusts of the flesh with all possible diligence As the prodigall sonne forsooke his fathers house for a strange countrey his fathers fauour and inheritance for a bagge of money father kinred and friends for vnhonest and vncourteous harlots and the bread in his fathers house for the huskes of beanes which the swine abroad fed vpon and his soule desired So the worldlings forsake God for this present world heauen for earth euerlasting pleasure at Gods right hand for the pleasures of sin for a season It is a iust iudgement that earthly riches do deceiue our hearts when heauenly riches do not delight vs that the outward things should carie vs away wheÌ„ heauenly things cannot so much preuaile with vs. If a man hauing two houses the one but an homely cottage and the other a princely pallace should leaue the better and take all the care for the dressing and beautifying of the first would not euerie man say he were a madde man now God hath prepared for vs two houses the one is this our bodie which wee beare about vs which is an house of clay Iob. 4.19 the other house is the third heauen Iob. 14.2 which is the dwelling place of the holy Saints and Angels therefore what spirituall madnesse is it to employ all our cares for the maintenance of this house of clay which is but dust and to haue no regard of the blessed estate of the second house which is prepared for vs in heauen The three Apostles when they had seene some part of the glory of Christ in his transfiguration vpon the mount Tabor were so mooued that they said Matth. 17.4 Master it is good for vs to bee here What then would we do if we should conuerse in heauen and there behold the Maiestie of God and the glorie of Christ would not euen the apprehension thereof allure vs to wish to dwell there and to forget and despise the earth But our earthly talk and communication our worldly course of life and the corruptions of the flesh that beare so much sway in vs due manifestly shew how little wee are conuersant in heauen and consequently doe testifie that we are burgesses of earth and not of heauen All faithful beleeuers do know and are assured that at the seperation of the soule and the body the soule shal be exalted to heauen with Christ now as this seperation daily doth by death draw nearer and nearer to the faithfull so doth the kingdome also come vpon them Therefore how carefull should we be to amend our liues to despise these earthly vanityes and to prepare ourselues to make our entry into heauen Now in that we haue bin sufficiently
to the voice of Christ deliuered by the minister out of the Gospel Seeing then the spirit of God doth witnesse by the word vnto vs our adoption and saluation wee may learne from hence that it is a work of a man out of Christ not to beleeue and assent vnto the word but rather to stand out in reasoning against the euidence of it For so soone as a man is become the sheepe of Christ he cannot but presently heare his voiyce Ioh. 10.27 and hence Christ himselfe prooueth the carping Pharisies not to be of God because they could not abide to here his sayings Ioh. 8.43 and who be they to whom the Gospel is hid euen they that perish 2. Cor. 4.3 If wee would haue a more euident marke to know them by it is added that they bee such as the eies of whose minds the God of the world hath blinded wherein is implied a wilfull ioyning with Sathan to blind themselues further by their malice then they were by corrupted nature And if we would looke to our congregations we shall finde many such of whō we may pronounce that which Steuen did of the Iewes that they were resisters of the holy Ghost Act. 7.51 For whose words be these to the Almightie Iob 21.14 Depart from vs wee will not the knowledge of thy wayes and who is the Almightie that we should serue him For how many of vs that heare the word receiue the Sacraments and goe for Christians resolue yet not to leaue our sinnes till they leaue vs nay the obstinate purpose of our hearts is to practise them stil and what is this els but with the seruants in the parable Luk. 19.14 to send word into a farre countrie after the king that we will not haue him to rule ouer vs but our owne lusts shall still prescribe lawes vnto vs Againe when wee call the people as God did his Ier. 6.16 to walke in the old way that they may finde rest to their soules they answer vs with them we will not walke in that way the sound of the thing if not of the voyce speaketh for we call from swearing lying couetousnes which is idolatrie from Sabboth-breaking intemperance drinkings vncleanenesse but mens hearts speake by their liues we will sweare we will drinke to drunkennesse the waies of God are too straight and vnequall a man had as good be in prison as in these bonds By these instances wee may see as in a glasse that many are tainted amongst vs with this fearefull sinne of rising vp and reasoning against that light which shineth out in the word Secondly the Sacraments The second meanes whereby the spirit giueth vs assurance of our saluation is in the frequent vse of the sacraments which are added to the couenant of grace as seales not to confirme Gods promises in themselues which are so vndoubtedly true that they need no confirmation but to strengthen our faith in this assurance that they belong particularly vnto vs. For whereas in the word the promises of life and saluation are generally propounded to all beleeuers in the vse of the Sacraments they are particularly applied to euery worthy receiuer to the end that doubting being remoued they may be certainely assured that all the promises of the Gospel doe belong particularly to themselues To this end the Sacrament of circumcision is called the seale of the righteousnes of faith Rom. 4.11 because thereby as by a seale Abraham was confirmed in the truth of Gods promises and assured that the righteousnes of faith that is the righteousnes of Christ did belong vnto him And answerable to this Sacrament is Baptisme wherein Christ and all the gratious promises of life and saluation made in him are particularly applied to the party baptized Gal. 3.27 all that are baptised into Christ haue put on Christ The Apostle here compareth Christ to a garment which by the hand of faith is put on by euery particular beleeuer So in the administration of the Lords supper the bread and wine is particularly deliuered vnto all the communicants to signifie vnto them that euery one who stretcheth forth the hand of faith doth receiue Christ and all his benefits whereby his soule is nourished vnto euerlasting life Whosoeuer therefore hath faith he may be assured that he receiueth Christ he may be assured of his election and saluation Ioh. 1.12 for to as many as receiued him he giueth power to be the sonnes of God And who are these euen those that beleeue in his name Ioh. 6.54 and whosoeuer eats his flesh and drinks his blood hath eternall life Now if we would know how we feed vpon him it is by the mouth of faith Ioh. 6.47 The spirit of God properly as the efficient cause doth seale Eph. 4.30 because it doth confirme and stablish in our hearts the assurance of euerlasting life and saluation by his testimony but it doth it by the ministery of the word and sacraments so that in one blessing of God we may consider three things 1. that by his word God teacheth vs 2. by his sacraments be confirmeth vs 3. by the holy Ghost he illuminateth our minds that the word and sacraments may obtaine their proper end and vse When God giues any blessing to man it is to be receiued by man as God giueth it now God giueth Christ or at the least offreth him not generally to mankind but to the seuerall and particular members of the church In the Lords supper as in euery sacrament there is a relation or analogie betweene the outward signes and the thing signified The action of the Minister giuing the bread and wine representing Gods action in giuing Christ with his benefits to the particular communicants Againe the action of receiuing the bread and the wine seuerally representeth another spirituall action of the beleeuing heart which applieth Christ vnto it selfe for the pardon of sin and life euerlasting So then thus speaketh the spirit to the soule as sure as the water doth wash away the filth of thy body so doth the blood of Christ sprinkled vpon thy soule by the hand of faith and by the holy Ghost wash thee from all thy sinnes Ioh. 1.7 And as the bread and wine receiued into into thy body becommeth wholly thine so thy beleeuing soule receiueth withall Iesus Christ with his death and righteousnes to the sealing vp of thy euerlasting saluation For 1. Cor. 1.30 Christ is made of God vnto vs wisedome righteousnes c. 2. Cor. 5.21 aad he was made sinne that knew no sinne that we should be made the righteousnes of God in him And thus we haue heard the testimony of the spirit in the vse of the sacraments Thirdly the fruits of the spirit A third meanes wherby we may be assured that Gods spirit witnesseth vnto vs our election and saluation are the fruits and effects of the spirit for the effects argue the cause as the cause the effects and that not onely in natuaall things but also in those which are supernaturall and
men of sundrie conditions that hee might mooue them to repentance But in the next place cap. 6.10.11 he doth giue warning of the approach of mighty enemies willing vs to arme our selues in our owne defence where further obserue that Paul enrolleth himselfe in the number of Christian soldiers Therefore it hence followeth that when we haue receiued the spirit of God and haue faith wrought in our hearts and endeauour to serue the Lord in a Christian life then beginneth a fierce battell which neuer endeth till by death our spirituall enemies get a finall ouerthrowe Now though this fight be exceeding sharp and most troublesome to the poore Christian yet he may thereby gather vnto himselfe a certaine assurance that he is endued with the spirit of God and a liuely faith for when he discerneth that hee is assaulted with Sathan and his own corrupt flesh he may bee assured that Sathan is diseased of his quiet possession by a superiour power which is no other but the power of Gods spirit Secondly by his assaulting it manifestly appeareth that hee findeth some resistance so that hee cannot peaceably re-enter Thirdly that howsoeuer our faith seemeth vnto vs neuer so weake yet it is so strengthened continually by vertue of Gods spirit that Sathan and all the power of hell cannot preuaile against it Matth. 16.18 and 2. Cor. 12.9 Christ saith My power is made perfect through weaknes for otherwise how should such weaknes withstand such might Lastly beeing assured that it is the spirit of God which assisteth and enableth vs to withstand Sathan we may also bee assured that in the ende we shall obtaine victorie 1. Ioh. 4.4 Little children ye are of God and haue ouercome them for greater is he that is within you then hee that is in the world In vs is Christ in the world is the deuill Luk. 11.21.22 When the strong man armed keepeth his palace the things that he possesseth are in peace but when a stronger then hee commeth vpon him and ouercommeth him hee taketh from him his armour for as fire when it wrastleth with the water throwne vpon it ceaseth not til it hath ouercome so the resistance of the spirit against the flesh wil not cease til the full victorie be obtained and Satan himselfe troden vnder our feet Rom. 16.20 Here then is consolation for Gods children who feeling the burthen of their sinnes and beeing vexed with the continuall assaults of their spirituall enemies may comfort themselues with assurance that they are the members of the Church militant into which none but soldiers are intertained and that now they become to be Gods seruants and Saints when as Sathan opposeth himselfe against them Here also is instruction to teach that who doth not fight is none of Christs souldier thou art not seruant of Iesus Christ because to be his seruant is to bee his souldier Therefore if thou art not skilled in this spirituall battel if thou be not daily exercised to resist the deuill and to resist sin if there be not in thee a daily controlling of thine owne wayes and checking of thine heart a resisting of thine owne desires a subduing of thy owne affections that thou maiest bring euery thought to the obedience of Christ if all be at peace within thee and thou find no diuision no contradiction between the flesh and the spirit betwixt the old man and the newe man what doest thou in the Lords tents Many there are that say they are Christs and take his name in their mouthes who yet neuer drew sword nor gaue stroake in Christs behalfe who defie the deuill with their mouths but wrastle not against his workes who haue renounced the world and yet liue in league with the world and continue deepely entangled in the corruptions therof They would faine liue with Christ in heauen but yet would liue in themselues here on earth they would bee blessed in the world to come but yet would not be crossed in the pleasures of this world but this cannot be for he that hath called vs to eternall life hath told vs that we must striue Luk. 13.24 he that hath set before vs an incorruptible crowne hath withall warned vs that wee must fight for it 2. Cor. 9.25.26 2. Tim. 2.5 Thirdly a care to preuent sinne The third token that respects sinne to come is a care to preuent it 1. Cor. 9.27 I beare downe my bodie and bring it in subiection least by any meanes after that I haue preached vnto others I my selfe be reprooued This care was in Dauid Psal 39.1 I thought I will take heede to my waies that I sin not with my tongue and Psal 119.11 I haue hid thy promise in my heart that I might not sinne against thee Of this care Ioseph is a notable patterne Gen. 39.12 in that he left his garment and fled from his Mistresse This care sheweth it selfe not onely in ordering the outward actions but euen in the verie thoughts of the heart for where the Gospel is of force it brings euerie thought into captiuitie 2. Cor. 10.5 and the Apostles Rule is to bee followed Phil. 4.8 Whatsoeuer things are true c. if there be any vertue or if there be any praise thinke on these things This care must bee maintained in the practise of three things 1. watchfulnesse 2. sobrietie 3. prayer First of Watchfulnesse Here first is required watchfulnesse where there is no feare of danger as in heauen there needeth no watchfulnesse but there we may liue in great securitie but where there is nothing but snares laid and nets pitched to take vs where there may bee many enemies gaping after our ruine there must not be carelesnesse but circumspect vigilance Mat. 26.41 Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation Luk. 31.36 Watch therefore and pray continually that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shal come to passe As valiant and careful soldiers who are still in danger to be assaulted by their enemies will be verie watchful to preuent dangers so must we bee because beeing assured that Sathan knowing his time is but short will redouble his forces to worke our destruction 1. Pet. 5.8 as a roaring lyon seeking whom hee may deuoure Apoc. 12.22 Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea for the deuill is come downe which hath great wrath knowing that his time is but short Euen as souldiers wil most fiercely assault a towne when they cannot lie long at the siege either by reason of winter drawing on or the approaching of new forces to releife the towne or raise the siege To bee watchfull is a most excellent and Christian dutie Apoc. 3.2 Be awake saith Christ to the Angel of the Church of Sardi It is not bodily but spirituall and it is practised when a man hath a circumspect care in respect of the saluation of his soule Now this dutie of watchfulnesse concerneth sinne which watchfulnesse against sinne standeth in two points First a man must daily
Christ being vtterly lost in regard of himselfe Luk. 9.10 and withall heartily to desire yea to hunger and thirst after reconciliation with God in the merite of Christ and that aboue all other things in the world is not onely a beginning of grace but euen grace it selfe by which we may be assured of our adoption and saluation This was in Paul Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the bodie of this death Euen as Iacob when as he and his family were pinched with famine was glad to send and to goe into Egypt for food to releeue him and his so will those that are spiritually hungrie and thirstie be at any paines and breake through any difficulties for the satisfying and refreshing of their fainting soules This desire of grace I say is not only the beginning of grace for how can we desire it till in some measure it bee wrought in vs but also our desire of grace as of faith and repentance are the graces themselues which wee desire of God who accepteth the wil for the deed where there is no power or habilitie to doe the deede and our affections for the actions according to that wee haue not according to that we haue not 2. Cor. 8.12 And therefore if we earnestly desire to repent and beleeue it is accepted in Gods sight 2. Cor. 8.12 So then our hungring desire after grace is not onely to be made partakers of Gods mercies and Christs merits and righteousnesse by which we are iustified reconciled to god and receiue the pardon of our sinnes but also our desire is after the meanes and instrumentall causes whereby the assurance of Gods mercie and Christs merits is deriued vnto vs namely true faith and after vnfained repentance and the rest of the graces of Gods sanctifying spirit This desire in the Scriptures is resembled to hunger and thirst Psal 42.1 Isa 51.1 Psal 143.6 Psal 63.1 noteth two things vnto vs First a sense of our want and secondly an appetite or earnest desire to be satisfied and haue our want supplied And in these spirituall things first we feel the want of Gods graces Christs righteousnesse and then we earnestly desire that we may be filled and satisfied therewith So that to hunger and thirst after the grace of God and righteousnes of Christ and to be wearie and heauie laden Math. 11.28 are much alike and both are blessed of the Lord for as those that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse are blessed because that they shal be satisfied Matth. 5.6 so they are blessed who are weary heauy laden with the burden of their sins for such Christ calleth vnto him and hath promised to ease them that is to giue vnto them the remission of their sinnes and to release them of this burthen by taking it vpon his owne shoulders Further to this earnest desire of grace the Lord hath made the like gracious promises which he hath to those who do find themselues plentifully endued with the graces themselues Luk. 1.53 And calleth vnto him such as thus hunger and thirst promising that he wil satisfie them Ioh. 7.37 Apoc. 21.6 Cap. 22.17 Lastly whosouer findeth and feeleth this desire in himselfe ioyned with a carefull and continuall vse of the meanes of saluation whereby his desire may be satisfied he may assure himselfe that the Lord who hath wrought in him the will to desire will also in his good time work in him the graces which he so earnestly desires Psal 145.19 he will fullfill the desire of them that feare him c. And therefore if in the middest of our afflictions and greuious temptations we can cry out with Dauid Psal 38.9 Lord I powred out my whole desire before thee we may be assured how miserable soeuer we are in out owne sense and feeling that we are in the state of grace and shal haue our desires satisfied Phil. 16. yea whosoeuer hungreth and thirsteth after the grace of God and righteousnesse of Christ whosoeuer is wearie and heauy laden that is whosoeuer hath a true sense and feeling of his sinnes and is vexed and grieued with the burden thereof and with all his heart desireth to bee cased of his load though he thinke himselfe in a most miserable estate yet if hee come vnto Christ and with blind Bartimeus crie out O Son of Dauid haue mercie on me I may answer him as it was said vnto this blind man Be of good comfort for Christ calleth thee Mark 10.46 47. and if Christ calleth vs he will giue vs to drinke of the water of life whereof whosoeuer drinketh shall neuer bee more a thirst Ioh. 4.14 but it shall be in him a well of water springing vp vnto euerlasting life When Dauid would perswade God to bring him againe to the assemblie of the Saints where he might enioy the meanes of comfort and saluation he vseth this as a forcible argument Psal 42.2 My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God when shall I come and appeare before the presence of God Psal 48.2 My soule longeth yea and fainteth for the Courts of the Lord. As none are bidden guests to feast with Christ but such as haue thirstie soules Isa 55.1 so euerie one that thirsteth come ye to the waters Apo. 22.17 Let him that is a thirst come so none else haue any promise of speeding well if they should come for thus goeth the promise Isa 43.3 I wil powre waters vpon the thirstie and floods vpon the drie ground Ioh. 7.37.38 If any man thirst let him come vnto me and drinke So then if wee once come with a longing heart that doth as it were gape and enlarge it selfe to take in the raine of grace as the drie ground doth to receiue the showers that fall vpon it through we be neuer so thirstie we shall be fully satisfied 1. Pet. 2.2 As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the word of God that you may grow thereby that is if you be as sharp set for the food of your soules as little children are for their mothers milke you shall get inward growth of grace thereby and still increase in the inward man as children do in the outward and finde a progresse in grace as they doe in nature Now to the end we may haue this spirituall appetite let vs vse all good means for the obtaining of it which are as followeth First for as much as sinne doth annoy our stomake and kill our appetite wee must put away the practise of it and the allowance of all infirmities both great and small This wee are taught 1. Pet. 2.12 Wherefore laying aside all maliciousnes and all guile and dissimulation and enuie and euill speaking as new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the word of God c. Whence obserue how we are required to put a way a bitter and enuious minde against our brethren a dessembling heart towards God and not to suffer our euill affections to break forth into euill
blaspheme Christ Beza in Pa. homil 31. but not regarded among Christians The Israelites who were notorious Idolaters proclaimed a fast to shew how they detested the blasphemy which was obiected to Naboth 1. Kin. 21. but we that hate Idolatrie doe not hate blasphemy nay rather we glory in our abusing the holy name of our God Iam. 2.19 The deuills feare and tremble Pilate when he heard that Christ was the sonne of God Ioh. 19.8 was afraid but many are worse then Pilate nay worse then the deuills themselues customably and securely without all feare and regard of Gods Maiestie blaspheme and reuile the liuing God The land mourneth because of oathes Ier. 23.10 but many laugh it out and make but a pastime to take the name of God in vaine If a mortall man be held deare vnto vs we take not his name in vaine we will not endure that any make a scorne of him and when a matter of play and mockerie is proposed we cannot suffer with patience that he be brought in as on the stage for we take this to be his infamie and discredit And shall he haue greater priuiledge then the liuing God whose name commeth in our mouthes in our bargaines and pastimes c. It is a vice which ill beseemeth those that make profession of christianitie for a Christians speech should bee powdered with salt Col. 4.6 and not with blasphemies it should minister grace to the hearers Ephes 4.29 and not be as a contagious leptosie to infect the weake nor like thornes and swords to vexe and grieue the strong Psal 55.21 for howsoeuer euill men make nothing of it to here Gods name dishonoured yet if those who truely feared the Lord and be zealous of his glorie heare these blasphemies their heart quaketh their ioynts tremble and their haire standeth vp an ende Ecclus. 27.14 Salomon Eccles. 9.2 maketh it a true note of a faithfull man to haue a reuerent respect of an oath so he pinneth it as a badge vpon a wicked mans sleeue that hee maketh no conscience of customable swearing Sixtly to haue an earnest desire that Christ should come to iudgement Apoc. 22.20 the Church faith Euen so come Lord Iesus and Christ in his prayer hath taught vs to haue this affection when wee pray Matth. 6.10 Lord let thy kingdom come Now that this is a note of them that are elected to saluation appeareth 2. Tim. 4.8 where it is said that a crowne of righteousnesse is laid vp for all them that loue his appearing Rom. 8.23 They who haue the first fruites of the spirit do euen sigh in themselues waiting for the adoption euen the redemption of their bodies when as their corruption shal put on incorruption c. 1. Cor. 15.53 Christ hath told vs that his children at his comming shall looke vp and lift vp their heads Luk. 21.28 And on the other side that the kingdomes of the earth shal mourne Matth. 24.30 and that the prophane worldlings shall say to the mountaines Fall on vs and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the lambe Apoc. 6.16 Naturally we abhorre to thinke of this fearefull daie and tremble with feare when mention is made thereof as Felix did Act. 24.26 because by our sinnes we haue deserued euerlasting death Rom. 6.23 but when the spirit of God by the ministerie of the word hath begotten faith in vs whereby we apply vnto our selues Christ with all his merits by whom we are reconciled vnto God then do we earnestly desire the comming of Christ our Sauiour to iudgement 1. Thess 1.9 You knowe saith blessed Paul what entring wee had and how we turned you from idols vnto God and to looke for his sonne from heauen no sooner were they turned to God but they waited for his sonne Hereby the faithfull are marked as by their propertie euen such as with the good seruants expect their Masters comming Matth. 24.45 such as looke for him Heb. 9.28 such as loue his appearing 2. Tim. 4.8 such as beeing wise virgins and louing spouses prepare themselues and euerie thing needefull for the bridegromes comming Matth. 25.4 and such as beeing strangers and pilgrims vpon earth haue their eies still toward their countrey who while they liue on earth yet haue their conuersation in heauen from whence they looke for a Sauiour Philip. 3.20 The sonnes of the Church begotten by the Gospel cannot but waite for the adoption of sonnes Rom. 8.19.23 The Church is sicke of loue after him whome her soule loueth Can. 2.5 The common voice of the spouse is Amen vnto the promise of Christs comming Apoc. 22.21 The bride saith come and doubleth her desire and ardencie saying Amen Amen Neuer thinke then that the heart is right affected vntill thou finde in it this desire and breathing after Christ thy life for this is a speciall note of discerning betweene the godly and the wicked the one hath the spirit which saith Come the other shake at the mention of his comming the one longeth that these shadowes flie away and that day breake on them Cant. 2.17 the other can no more desire his comming then the guiltie fellon can desire the comming and presence of the Iudge Some there are that beleeue not nor wait not for the day of Christ but deale as the Israelites did with Caleb and Iosua Numb 14.7 concerning the promised land who when they told the people that it was a good and a fat land and that if the Lord loued them he would giue it them and seat them in it they rebelliously bad stone them with stones but behold presently Gods sentence passed vpon them that they should neuer see that land ver 23. Such liue like the Sadduces who said that there is no resurrection nor angel nor spirit Acts. 23.8 Such was that Cardinall of Burbon who professed that he would not giue his part in Paris for his part in Paradise Such was that Pope who all his life could not be perswaded whether there was an heauen or hell and therefore at his death blasphemously vttered these words Now shall I know whether there be a God aâ— hell or any immortalitie of the soule and shortly after knew it to his cost Others are fallen asleepe with the euill seruant while their master maketh stay of his comming and in one dead sleepe of sinne or other out of which they will not be awakened wast out their dayes as though their soules should for euer sleep after death Others call on the Lord Iesus to come but neuer till they be cast on their death bed their hearts nor mouthes neuer harbour such requests in their life time and therefore in all likelihood they are vnsound Therefore call to minde the commandement of God Luk. 12.36 Be ye like men that waite for their master when he will returne from the wedding herein is put a difference betweene the godly and the wicked It was euer a marke of good men to wait for Christs