things wherein men in this life doe take any delight and pleasure and in part bereaued of the feeling of these exceeding comforts reserued for vs in the life to come Obiect But thou wilt say Thus naturally to feare and to bee thus in some sort vnwilling and loth to die I lesse maruell at but this dulnesse in the feeling of heauenly ioyes and comforts in Christ being now euen at the poynt of death and ready to yeeld vp the last gasp that is a very strange thing and able to terrifie any Christian soule Answ It is I grant a fearefull thing indeede but yet nothing strange at all if we doe well consider of it For if Satan be so busie with vs at other times euen in the time of health and when wee are strongest that hee bringeth our faith to many foyles no maruell if hee shew forth his malice against vs now being so neere vnto our end He is not ignorant to take opportunity fittest for his purpose And therefore now aboue all other his desired times he will deuise and sound into the bottome of all his subtilties to entrap and so to make conquest of the Christian soules knowing that this is the last combate that he is like to make with such an one If now he lose it is lost for euer If now he preuaile and ouercome there is no recouery to bee hoped for afterward Assure thy selfe therefore that hee will prepare himselfe the best he can stretch euery limbe in this finall conflict to see if hee can by any possible meanes effect and bring to passe this his malicious bloudy purpose And therefore although the state of Gods Elect and Chosen be such that they cannot finally vtterly fal away Gods decreee being so firme sure immutable that Satan with al his policies shal neuer be able to infringe make void the same yet euē they also if they be not well appointed must make full account and looke to haue many foyles at Satans hands that shall bring their faith euen vpon her knees which thing being once effected no maruell if this subtill Satan to the greater daunting of Gods Children doe found out the triumph before the victory gotten casting in their teeth their sinnes past and bringing to their remembrance their former wickednesse and withall putting them in minde sometime of the delights and pleasures of this world that so by these such like practices he may the rather and the sooner driue men into despaire The case therefore of Christians being so dangerous it is good that wee doe consider what way is best for vs to take to cut Satan short of his purpose and to auoyd the danger and perill of this finall conflict One thing whereby Satan taketh so great aduantage and so farre preuaileth with a great number of men is for that in the time of life and health they neuer or very little as they should bethinke themselues of death So that when the time and houre thereof which is sudden and vncertaine doeth come vpon them they go like men naked and vnarmed into the field to encounter with this strong and mightie Aduersarie And then it is no matuell if they being so vnprouided and vnarmed and lying so open do receiue many grieuous and deadly wounds It is therefore very expedient and needefull for euery man in time of health to thinke of sickenesse and in time of life to be mindfull of death and continually to bee carefull that he may bee prepared for to die for it is an vneuitable thing it cannot bee auoided with all the power policie and cunning we can vse Therefore as we are borne to die so we should liue as men alwaies prepared and in a readinesse to die So that a Christian mans life should be a continuall meditation and a daily preparation vnto death When as I say it should bee a daily preparation I would be loth to bee mistaken I doe not meane such a kind of preparation as many of the great and mighty men of the world doe dreame of when as either in their life time in their owne persons or after their death by their Executors or others put in trust therewith they are carefull yea too carefull to prouide that a Tombo bee set vp and builded to shrowde their bodies in and that with most costly curious and cunning worke but neuer once thinke of this which is most needfull that is to prouide a Receptacle for the soule It may bee as it doth appeare that they thinke to die so I beseech the Lord they may bee prepared to die in the Lord so they shall bee sure howsocuer the bodie speed on earth for a time yet at the last Day both body and soule shall bee in blessed estate with Christ for euer in heauen This madnesse of men in preparing such costly Tombes or Sepulchres may very well bee accounted in the number of the vanities and follies wherewith the world is at this day ouer-flowed for the cost that is bestowed on them might a thousand times bee better bestowed on the poore afflicted members of Christ whereby some great gaine by the laying forth thereof if it bee done without hope of merit would redound to the soule The cunning workemanship is indeed matter rather for men to gaze vpon then for any other good When all is done both for charge and cunning in setting vp and beautifying of this thing so brauely yet it is but a Caue for a rotten and corrupted carkase beautified for polluted bones and carefully adorned for simple Guests euen the crawling wormes there to feed and gnaw vpon their sestred and stinking flesh The soule is the principall part of man let euery one apply himselfe therefore principally to prouide that it may bee harboured protected and defended against the violence and raging stormes of Satans fury Be carefull to prouide that shee may bee armed from top to toe with the Christian Armour whereof S. Paul speaketh Ephe. 6. so shalt thou be in safety Ephe. 6.13 14 15 16 17 18. This ought to be our Christian care vpon this should we bestow our costs But this of the most men is least regarded and it is to be feared of a great number vtterly neglected Obiect Here by the way it may haply bee obiected Is it a thing vtterly vnlawfull to prouide a Sepulchre or Tombe for the body Answ It is not the vse but the abuse thereof that I aime at I do not thinke it a thing altogether vnlawfull for that I do finde it to bee a thing of long continuance and vsed of godly persons Ioseph of Arimathea is said in the Gospell to haue prouided a Tombe for himselfe hewed out of a Rocke being yet in health wherein hee layed the Corps of Christ our Sauiour If in this manner thou prepare thee a Tomb and herein follow Iosephs example thou shalt not doe amisse For Ioseph did it not for vaine glory and any worldly ostentation nor to make it a thing
of little importance and smally pertaining to the purpose I haue in hand Out of such an infinite number which haue in this sort endured such cruelty I thinke it good to make recitall of a few particulars wherby I trust my position will be sufficiently confirmed And yet before giuing you thus much to vnderstand and generally to obserue That during the heauy times of these persecutions besides the particular torments which euery one endured all and euery one that did but take vpon him to professe himselfe and say hee was a Christian had the whole State and Kingdome wherein hee liued bent against him his goods by the lawes in danger to bee confiscate in stead of a rightfull Iudge hee had not onely a Miscreant but also a most cruell Tyrant to decide his cause who rather busied his head to deuise torments then how to set downe the doome with equity His friends and worldly comforts would forsake him being such as no whit fauoured but most poisonfully maligned the cause of Christ Life could not be had but bailed with many miseries and death though wished for yet could not be attained vnto but through the troublesome outragious tempests of most extreme calamities So that if thou respect now the losse and want of these worldly comforts I perswade my selfe they can in no case be inferiour vnto thee But these are but light in respect of the particular tortures most wofull and lamentable which in the cause of Christ they endured whereof now God so permitting thou shalt haue a taste Romanus a Martyr Euseb lib. 8. cap. 20. It is storied of Romanus a constant Martyr how that he being condemned vnto the fire and being brought to the place of execution standing bound to the stake and in most cheerefull manner calling for fire to be put vnto him as one most ready and willing with so slight a torment to put an end to his life fraught with so many miseries the President caused him againe to be loosed adiudged him to the induring of another torment namely that the tongue of Romanus wherwith he had so stoutly defended the cause of Christ should bee cut out whereunto Romanus yeelding patiently hee held out his tongue as one most willing and ready to abide this new deuised torture which cruell sentence being performed hee was againe clapped fast in prison where hee was a long time cruelly tormented And when by the Emperours pardon all the other prisoners were set at liberty and deliuered hee alone was left still as a lamentable spectacle of woe and misery and judged as one altogether vnworthy of such a benefit had his feet stretched as the story noteth fiue spaces asunder and in fine with a cord or halter put about his necke was stifeled vnto death Apphianus Apphianus a Martyr Euseb lib. 8. cap. 22. a like constant and faithfull Martyr in no respect inferiour to the other being first apprehended and clapt into prison for his profession of Christ was in the same prison in pitifull manner tormented a whole day and a night with both his feet in the stockes stretched farre asunder on the third day hee was brought foorth before the Iudge and vtterly refusing to doe sacrifice as hee was enioyned had straight-way his sides rent by the Executioners or Hang-men with the lash of the whip yea and that not once or twice but oftentimes euen vnto the bone and inward bowels His face and necke also were so vehemently lashed that his face was swollen so exceedingly with the print of the stripes that they which beforetime had knowne him well and could haue discerned him from another by his countenance thenceforth missed of their marke and knew him not at all When his cruell enemies did see and perceiue that for all these manifold and grieuous torments he would not yeeld vnto their idolatrous and wicked religion For a further increase of his paines they wrapped his feet in flax oyled all ouer and set the same on fire whereof to vse mine Authors words what great and grieuous paines hee suffered I am not able to expresse It ranne ouer his flesh wasted and consumed the same and pierced euen vnto the marrow bred within the bones So that his whole body was therewith larded and distilled much like vnto dropping and distilling wax The Martyr hauing yet some breath left after all these exceeding torments was brought backe againe the second time to prison On the third day was presented againe before the Iudge and although by reason of his grieuous wounds he was past all hope of life yet by the sentence of the mercilesse and cruell Iudge hee was condemned to be cast into the raging sea and to bee drowned Porphyrius a Martyr Euseb lib. 8. cap. 29. To these if I adde the lamentable story of Porphyrius it shall not be amisse who being apprehended and confessing boldly himselfe to bee a Christian it was first commanded that hee should bee whipped and scourged to the very bones and bowels wherewith hee was so pittifully rent and mangled that as the Story noteth hee seemed to bee not a man couered in flesh and compast in a skinne but a picture made of stone or wood or some senselesse metall In which plight when hee bad continued a long time yet the Iudge perceiuing him to vtter no words of impatiencie but to continue still as one that suffered no great paine not as a man but as a beast without any compassion and voide of all humanitie made this direfull Decree that in a slack and slowe fire his bodie by little and little should be consumed and burnt to ashes Infinite are the like examples which the Stories do affoord vs but I had rather for a further search hereof to referre thee vnto those who haue faithfully recorded the same in our English tongue as they bee set downe in ancient Writers then to trouble this small Treatise with any further discourse of the same Hoping that these few are sufficient to set before thee and to giue some little taste what great and grieuous afflictions the Saints and seruants of God haue suffered and beene partakers of in this life Which if thou thinkest that thou canst possibly equall and match yet I am assuredly perswaded thou canst not surpasse and go beyond them Let Satans reason now be tryed by the Touchstone of these and such like examples and I trust it will manifestly appeare how little truth there is in his allegation when he would make the greatnesse and excessiue measure of afflictions to bee an argument and a signe of Gods reiection Dare any affirme that these were Castawaies which are so highly renowmed for Gods faithfull Seruants Saints and Martyrs which by their bloud-sheading sealed their Christian Profession Who euer I pray you suffered more extreme paines torments in their bodies then these Insomuch that if by the outward accidents wee might iudge of the finall estate of the soule you may iudge these of all other to haue
discoursed of diuers temptations wherewith the afflicted soule by the Enemy is assaulted and in discoursing haue somewhat met with Satans obiections and to my power vsed some reason to preuent the euill which may come thereof and after these paines taken am now drawing neere to an end and conclusion of this matter yet there is still one temptation remaining which in no wise is to be omitted and let passe for that it is many times attendant euen vpon many of Gods deare children and at that time especially when they approch and draw neerest vnto their end And that is the feare of death and the vnwillingnesse which they finde in themselues to die Vpon which feare and vnwillingnesse Satan taketh no small aduantage to further his wicked purpose and that in most earnest manner knowing that his time wherein he is to shew forth his malice against such a party is but short and therefore it behooueth him now to exercise his wits and to vse some reasons whereby hee may with the more facility driue such distressed soules into despaire This hee knoweth may be the better more easily effected because he findeth men to be so terrified appaled with the feare of death as that they are loth and most vnwilling to taste of the cup therof but haue rather a desire still to abide and continue in this vale of miseries wherein vexations troubles and disquiets doe greatly abound euen as though there were none other heauen but heere no blessednesse to be looked for and found but in this life Whereupon Satan seeing men in such sort affected and hauing such opportunity offered taketh occasion in this or some such like manner to make assault vpon the distressed soule First hauing mustred into the minde and remembrance of such fearefull and vnwilling persons all those things wherewith they haue beene most delighted and wherein they haue taken some great pleasure in this life as wife children kindred friends acquaintance companions lands goods cattell and such like Satan presenteth this earthly state before them in the most pleasant beautifull shew that may be Again he razing out and defacing as much as possibly he can the hope of heauenly ioyes and comforts bringeth death before them in as terrible and vgly shape as may be Whereupon it commeth to passe that men are so haled and drawne with affection on the one side and so appaled with feare on the other that nothing seemeth more lothsome and vnsauoury vnto their taste then the cup of Death This being once brought to passe and the enemy finding our desire and affection to the ioyes of heauen to be so dull and weake and knowing also how fearefull the sight of death is euen to Gods Children especially at this last gaspe and closing vp of life hee is then most busie with them to cast in their way all such motions as possibly he can to driue them as I haue sayd into despaire Heerupon it is that many dangerous and doubting motions through this subtilty of Satan doe arise in their mindes whether they bee of the number of Gods children members of Christs body or not hauing such vnsauoury fruits proceeding from them These thoughts sometimes in many of them by the crafty working of the Enemy become so forcible that they are as it were continually thundring out words of maruellous great extremity assirming indeede that they are none of Gods seruants haue no faith no hope of saluation and doe not appertaine to the Kingdome of God And that because for a time they find their hearts to be as it were benummed and dull in the sense and feeling of the heauenly and eternall comforts As in other temptations of Satan wee haue labored both to lay open the dangers of the same and to shew by what meanes they might bee auoyded and haue also set downe such comforts whereby both the parties afflicted and others also might bee strengthened against such assaults of the Enemy So likewise I purpose by the assistance of Gods Spirit to doe in this temptation also that so the poyson of Satans perswasions being descryed the dangers thereof may be the more easily auoyded This therefore in this case commeth first to be obserued for the comfort of the afflicted both present and which shall heereafter through the subtilty of the Enemy fall into such danger that these are no strange and vnwonted things but vsuall and common and such as haue and doe befall the children of God Insomuch that although many haue most willingly shaken hands and bidden adue to life and as it were embraced and saluted death in most cheerefull and courteous manner yet others on the contrary haue been greatly terrified euen with the mention of death haue been very loth to vndergoe the stroke therof Examples of this great vnwillingnes to die wee haue in King Dauid who being pained with sicknesse and feeling the hand of the Lord to be sore vpon him prayeth that the Lord would deliuer him and saue his soule from death adding also a reason Psal 6.5 For that In death there is no remembrance of the Lord and in the graue who shall praise him 2. Kin. 20.1 2 3 c. Ezekiah also that good and godly King when newes was brought vnto him by the Lords Propher that he should dy as one most loth and vnwilling heereunto he prayed sighed and that with many sobs and teares as the story mentioneth By the examples of these two such faithfull seruants of the Lord we may see that it is a thing euen by nature incident vnto man to feare death which is so contrary to his estate being the corruption of life whereof hee is so desirous For euery thing is naturally giuen to shun and flee his contrary And although it be so that very many of the Saints of God haue beene sayd most resolutely and willingly to haue yeelded themselues and to haue tasted of this cup by reason of certaine circumstances either attending on their liues as sicknesse pouerty and all kindes of crosses afflictions and miseries whereunto this life is subject and from the which men are found many times to be very desirous to bee eased and released although it be with death or els following and ensuing after death as the euerlasting and vnspeakable ioyes of heauen to the enioying whereof death is as a passage The earnest desire and longing that these haue to the enioying of these heauenly ioyes and this euerlasting blessednesse doth allay and qualifie very effectually the terrour and feare of death in them And yet if these two forts of men both the one and the other should consider death in it selfe without these circumstances being a thing so contrary to our nature it would clearely appeare that there would be found in them a certain feare vnwillingnes to die which fear and vnwillingnes is so much the rather the more increased in them when as it is in part attended with the cogitation or memory of those
thou didst well consider of the thing indeed thou shouldst easily find that thou hast very small reason to moue thee to hope after this time thou dream'st of whē as if it were longer then commonly is allotted vnto any yet it would bee found little enough to be imployed for the good benefit of thy soule And why then shouldst thou thinke that God will bee thus gracious to bestow this thing vpon thee in a time that is most vnfit when thou so vnthankefully didst put off and neglect the same being offered vnto thee so often before in a time conuenient Doe not thinke that thou hast God at command take his offer with thankfulnes vse it as thou oughtest to his glory and thy good and do not in any wise presume to prescribe vnto him a time or a manner how hee shall deale with thee at thine end If thou marke well without flatterie of thy selfe what thou hast deserued thou hast a great and a iust cause also to feare lest for thy carelesse neglect of this which in mercy hee offereth thee in iustice hee strike thee suddenly and at vnawares If therefore I might giue counsell in this so dangerous a case I would aduise euery childe of GOD to lay aside this vnchristian hope and to renew his Testament yeerely nay monethly or oftner that so he may be in a readinesse when death commeth rather then to post off all to bee performed in the time of sicknesse for by this deferring it commeth oftentimes to passe which is a lamentable thing for euery Christian heart and eye to thinke vpon and see that the man pressed with sickenesse and lying as yee would say at the point of death when hee should haue his heart and minde wholly set and fixed on heauen and heauenly things is so clogged and fettered in the cares of this life and such as concerne his house and Family that though his will be made according to his meaning his goods ordered and disposed accordingly and all things finished and ended to the knowledge of men yet with this sick man himselfe it is not so fully dispatched but that these worldly affaires wherewith his head hath been thus of late busied wil not so be rooted out but that a man shall heare him often euen in his greatest agonies to mutter and to talke of nothing else but these as though his head and thoughts were bent vpon nothing else And this many do with such vehemencie and earnestnesse that thereby they giue occasion vnto many that heare them to iudge that not onely the taste and feeling but also the very thought and inward meditation of heauenly ioyes and comforts seeme for the time to bee barred and excluded from hauing any place of rest and harbour in his heart and soule Wherefore if thou wilt not bee hindred from this taste of heauenly ioyes and pleasures at thy death and end of this thy naturall life haue a care in health in this sort to prouide for death lest the cares of this life bee a cause to hold and keepe these endlesse comforts from thee Follow the example of Abraham who in his life time when hee was in strength and health disposed of his goods While thou art yet sound and lustie haue thy Scpulchre in a readinesse with Ioseph of Arimathea that is let all things be prouided and set in such a readinesse as though alwayes and euery houre thou wert prepared and readie to descend into the graue Let neither thy youthfull yeeres nor yet thy strength flatter thee two deceitfull baites to breed securitie as though thou hadst long to liue and mightst continue yet many yeeres and so thou put off the time to make this preparation But while it is to day while thou hast time and season deferre it not but accept and vse well the time that God hath offered and giuen vnto thee CHAP. XXVI Of the second part of the preparation vnto death THE other and as I may well call it the Spirituall preparation vnto death belonging vnto the soule is found to be of two sorts that is either such as is to bee had and vsed at all times and throughout the whole course order of our life or such as concerneth the time of our sickenesse and death Of the first sort Salomon warneth vs very wisely 〈◊〉 1◠1 bidding vs Remember our Creator in the dayes of our youth while the euill dayes come not and the yeeres approach wherein wee shall say I haue no pleasure in them And our Sauiour Christ lesus putteth vs in minde hereof also both by diuers exhortations in the Scriptures and also by the Parable of the ten Virgines Mat. 25.1 c. bidding vs to watch and pray that wee may bee alwaies in a readinesse with Oyle in our Lampes to enter with the Bridegroom into the Wedding whensoeuer hee shall come In this Preparation the first thing required is alwaies to thinke with our selues and to remember that wee must die according to that saying Remember thy end and thou shalt neuer doe amisse This is an incuitable necessity imposed vpon all estates and conditions of men and of all to bee had in continuall remembrance This the Prophet Dauid calleth a numbring of our dayes saying Psal 90.12 Teach vs so to number our dayes that wee may apply our hearts vnto wisedome Where is to bee noted what a serious cogitation and remembrance this must bee euen so and such an one as may breed in vs a wise and a carefull heart and minde to doe the will of God for that is it which heere the Prophet meaneth by applying our hearts to wisedome or as the Hebrew hath it by bringing a wise heart into vs. For they that liue lewdly and loosely giuing themselues ouer as slaues vnto sinne howsoeuer they seeme wise in their owne conceit or in the iudgement of men yet in the sight and iudgement of God they are accounted for no better then fooles and as men that walke vnwisely But this is too generall for our purpose for this remembrance of our death as a preparation vnto this last and finall combate must not onely thinke of death and meditate thereof but must thinke of it as of such a time wherein wee must haue a dangerous and fierce assault made vpon vs and that by all these great and perillous Enemies Satan the World and the Flesh ioyning hand in hand and force with force against vs. If this doe once sinke deepely into our hearts it will make vs to haue a speciall care indeed and to look well about vs that we may be throughly prouided and in all parts well furnished and appointed against this heauy Day and time of Tryall And that so much the rather also if withall we consider and remember that the time when this assault shall bee is short and sudden vncertaine and vnknowne and therefore it lyeth vs vpon to watch continually that wee may be alwaies and euery moment in a readinesse that
of death and the exceeding fruits of life and ioy that doe arise and spring from death to vs together with all these seuerall comforts that haue beene before set downe against the seuerall assaults of Satan made against the Children of God For if thus and after this sort thou be carefull to furnish and prepare thy selfe in time of health Satans assaults in the time of sicknes shall soone bee beaten back the edge of his sharpe and cutting weapons shall be quickly blunted and all his attempts and practices shall bee made frustrate and void Hitherto of the first preparation in time of health against this last combate the which in the meane time also may very well nay should indeed serue euery Christian in withstanding all temptations throughout the whole care and course of his life CHAP. XXVII Of the preparation concerning the time of sicknes and death THe next part of Preparation is that which is to bee had at the time of sicknes and beeing ready to dye consisteth partly in the comfort which we are to receiue and haue from others and partly in our selues From others as spirituall counsell and Prayers And these others are either such as haue a more speciall charge hereunto as is the Pastor and Minister of the place who in this time of sicknes should bee sent for that hee might minister vnto the diseased spirituall counsell and aduice Or such as Christian dutie doth binde vnto it as kinsfolkes and neighbours and such as are about the sicke parties in the time of their sicknes For this indeed is a time wherin the chiefest loue that thou canst shew vnto thy brother and dearest friend is to labour by all meanes to arme him with patience against the terrours of death to draw him from the loue of the world and to breed in him a loue a liking vnto heauenly things in ministring as spirituall and heauenly comfort as thou canst vnto his soule and not to be ouer nice herein dianty of thy paines as many are which are loth to make any mention of death at all vnto the person diseased lest it should bring or breed any discomfort vnto his sick friend And so for feare of the losse of a little worldly comfort which is but vanity thou wilt depriue him of this spirituall comfort belonging to his soule It is good I confesse to bee carefull for the good of his body but it is far better and a greater argument and signe of true loue in thee to be carefull for the good of his soule Among these that thus art attendant at or in the time of sicknes the Physician also oftentimes hath his place Of whom wee might speake concerning many points if that our Treaty were generally respecting death and not particularly tyed vnto it as it is attended with such a dangerous conflict with so great and mighty enemies In him therfore as faithfulnes care and skill are requisite for the body So also it is behoouefull that hee should bee such an one as could withall knew how to apply some medicines of comfort vnto the soule But I leaue these and come now vnto thy selfe to shew what is requisite in thee in these extremities Thou hast all thy life time beene in the field for a Christian mans life is a continuall warfare wherein he lyeth in continuall leager against the Diuell But now thou art to fight a pitched battell wherein thine Enemy the Diuell hath mustered all his forces and therefore hath entred as it were in league with death that last and dreadfull Enemy to fight against thee These with mayne force and might doe assault thee on the one side and the world with her allurements lyeth in ambush on the other side with her subtilties to deceiue thee neither will the flesh bee idle but to the power thereof will put too her helping hand that so a conquest vpon thee might be had and that they might with the more ease triumph ouer thee It behooueth thee therefore to keepe a continuall watch and to looke well about thee that thou mayst the better preuent the euill and cut them short of their purpose This therefore I would aduise thee to doe Whensoeuer the warning piece is shot off that is as soone as sicknesse doth beginne to seaze vpon thee looke well and take a good view of thy selfe and prouide in time that thou mayst be on all parts armed with that Armour of proofe before mentioned See thou be girded with the girdle of Truth vpō thy loynes hauing on thee the Brest-plate of Righteousnes the Shooes of the preparation of the Gospell of Peace the Target of Faith in thy left hand the sword of the Spirit in thy right hand and the Helmet of Hope on thy head And ouer all these see there bee cast the Coat of Constancie and withall pray continually that the Lord would continually assist and strengthen thee in these dāgerous times and giue thee good successe against thine enemies Secondly let all thy thoughts and meditations be fixed and settled vpon heauenly things vpon those vnspeakeable and incomprehensible ioyes and comforts of the life to come and therewithall also vpon that All-sufficient sacrifice of Christ our Sauiour who by his death and Passion hath washed and redeemed vs from all our sinnes subdued death and purchased for vs immortall and euerlasting life Thirdly take heed that the cares and cogitations of the world creepe not on thee but cast off from thy shoulders the heauy burthen thereof For they are great and mighty hinderances in this last conflict as is before shewed Banish them therefore and barre them from thy heart as vnfit to muster with thee in this last and heauy conflict If the pleasures and delights of this life come before thee remember they are but vanities If the terrours and feares of death present themselues into thy sight thinke of them not as they appeare and seeme in show but as they bee indeed that is momentany and short and rather helping then hindering For they are the passage vnto life and vnto the ioyes of Heauen Therefore set downe thy Resolution that if these were past then all thy miseries were come to an end and dispatched For though Satan tell thee that death was ordained as a curse and punishment for sinne yet doe thou reply that Christ hath turned it and changed the nature of it and of a curse hath made it vnto Gods Children to be a blessing and the entrance into ioyes and the gate of life For by our Sauiour Iesus Christ his Resurrection the force of death is taken away and therefore the graue hell can make no conquest ouer them Although thou bee thus appointed yet doe not thinke that thou canst be so acquitted and discharged of thine enemies aforesaid but that Satan the principall of all other thine Aduersaries which is the Master of all mischiefe will still bee vrging thee to vexe and trouble thee to the vttermost And therefore vse continually the Armour
able to succour those that are tempted So this our Authour in that hee was himselfe afflicted in spirit and troubled in conscience through the suggestions of Satan and the temptations of the Deuill doubtlesse hee was inabled thereby as well out of his more vigilant and carefull obseruation of Satans practices as the sense and feeling of his owne extremities the better to discerne and discouer his Wiles and Stratagemes neither so alone but withall to apply vnto himselfe and to prescribe to others such comforts and remedies as out of his owne experience hee found to yeeld most ease and helpe And thus good Reader to detaine thee no longer from the perusall of the same beseeching the Lord to blesse it vnto thee I cease and shall euer rest Thine in the Lord Iesus I. M. The Contents of the seuerall CHAPTERS CHAP. I. OF the extremities and griefes of a troubled conscience FOL 1 CHAP. II. Wherein is contained the principall causes of a troubled conscience FOL 12 CHAP. III. Of the second or Assistant causes of a troubled conscience FOL 23 CHAP. IIII. A Cordiall against the assault of sinne FOL 28 CHAP. V. Soueraigne remedies against the wound of sin FOL 41 CHAP. VI. Against the assault of the weaknesse and want of faith FOL 60 CHAP. VII Of speciall things in mans conuersion FOL 81 CHAP. VIII Of another person troubled with the doubt of faith FOL 101 CHAP. IX Against the assault of the weaknes of repentance FOL 123 CHAP. X. Of the markes of true Repentance FOL 127 CHAP. XI An Admonition to the sorrowfull soule FOL 141 CHAP. XII Of loathing of sin the second marke of repentance FOL 145 CHAP. XIII Of the application of the former things to the comfort of the sorrowfull soule FOL 153 CHAP. XIIII How the man disquieted in conscience should in the same behaue himselfe FOL 168 CHAP. XV. Against afflictions and outward euents FOL 188 CHAP. XVI Of the first Position and the Obiections against the same FOL 119 CHAP. XVII Satans obiection against the former doctrine answered FOL 204 CHAP. XVIII Of the second Position and the Obiections against the doctrine thereof FOL 214 CHAP. XIX Satans Obiection against necessitie of afflictions ouerthrowne FOL 128 CHAP. XX. Other Obiections of Satan against the former doctrine confuted FOL 243 CHAP. XXI Of the third Position FOL 251 CHAP. XXII Of the fourth Position FOL 269 CHAP. XXIII Of the fift Position FOL 292 CHAP. XXIIII Against the feare of death and vnwillingnesse to die FOL 301 CHAP. XXV Of the first part of the preparation vnto death FOL 316 CHAP. XXVI Of the second part of the preparation vnto death FOL 326 CHAP. XXVII Of the preparation concerning the time of sicknesse and death FOL 343 CHAP. XXVIII That the Elect in time bee assured of their Election and how FOL 352 CHAP. XXIX Of the second Argument whereby the certainety of a mans election is proued FOL 359 CHAP. XXX Of the third Argument whereby the certainty of mans Election is proued FOL 366 CHAP. XXXI Of the Obiections against this doctrine of Assurance and knowledge of our Election FOL 370 CHAP. XXXII Of the essects whereby the truth of faith may bee knowne FOL 379 CHAP. XXXIII How the faithfull shall know that they haue the Spirit of Adoption FOL 397 CHAP. XXXIIII Of the true markes whereby the Spirit of Adoption may be knowne FOL 405 CHAP. XXXV Of the outward fruits of Regeneration FOL 415 CHAP. XXXVI Of the second Obiection FOL 423 A SOVERAIGNE COMFORT FOR A TROVBLED Conscience CHAP. I. Of the extremities and griefes of a troubled conscience INfinite and intolerable for the time seeme the extremities of a troubled and distressed mind that is throughly humbled and abased by reason of sinne In so much that were it possible that all temporall griefes whatsoeuer and paines arising from bodily diseases No temporall griefes like the distresses of a troubled conscience might or could bee heaped vpon one and the selfe same person yet would they bee found too light to weigh in the ballance with these perplexed agonies For as all riuers runne into the sea and as the man that is indebted if once hee fall into pouerty is so farre from comfort that hee hath all his creditors ready to tread and presse him downe neuer ceasing vntill they haue brought him to the Gaole and prison So likewise is the troubled minde A troubled mind is a receptacle for all griefes a receptacle for all griefes the enemies therof viz. Sinne Sathan Death and Hell are continually rushing in vpon it and triumphing ouer it writ vpon writ to attach this silly troubled conscience and by force and violence to draw it to the seat of Iudgement The multitude of sinnes doe amaze it and the intolerable weight of iudgement and of the anger of God doe continually affright it Within nothing but a most infinite masse and confused Chaos of despairing thoughts and without euery obiect is so terrible and full of feares that all things seeme to haue ioyned hands and giuen consent to increase his griefes and adde vnto his woes and miseries Great no doubt was the griefe of the wife of Phineas who hearing that the Arke of God was taken 1. Sam. 4. Ely her father in law was dead and Phineas her husband slaine with extremity of anguish fell in trauell and in her paines deceased And how was Dauid perplexed when hearing of the death of Absolon 2. Sam. 18.33 hee withdrew himselfe into his chamber howling out weeping and saying O my sonne Absolon my sonne my sonne Absolon would to God I had died for thee O Absolon my sonne my sonne But alas what is the wife of Phineas and who is Dauid that they should bee set forth as patternes to expresse this agony and distresse of a troubled soule The losses from whence these sorrowes of Phineas his wife and King Dauid did rise are farre inferiour and how is it then possible that their dolors should bee equall It is not the losse of the Arke of God that troubleth them but the losse of heauen and of all the ioyes prepared for Gods elect children Not the death of Ely but the departure of God himselfe in whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy Psal 16.11 and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore They see him frowne which was sometime fauourable him terrible from whom they receiued comfort and him a Iudge who sometime was a louing Father It is not the death of Phineas an earthly husband but the losse of Christ the Spirituall Spouse euen that Iesus which saueth his people from their sinnes and is the onely Mediator betwixt God and Man Neither is it the death of Absolon a sonne but of a soule then the which what can be to a man more precious No maruell then if it sometime fare with these as it doth with persons lunatike For what is it that the terror of Gods eternall wrath and iudgement except
Gods Spirit doe assist cannot put out of frame and order 1. Reg. 21. How was Ahab humbled when he heard the iudgements of God denounced by the Prophet Eliah Dan. 5.6 How did Belshazzar quake and tremble when hee saw the handwriting on the wall his countenance was changed his thoughts troubled him so that the ioynts of his loynes were loosed and his knees smote one against another How was Foelix terrified Act. 24.26 euen with the hearing of Paul disputing of righteousnesse and temperance and the iudgement to come And how was Iudas the traytor also distressed in minde when in despaire most desperately hee hanged himselfe Let it not seeme maruellous vnto you that I thus couple the disquieted soule with those who in the Scriptures haue beene accompted castawaies For during these extremities it doth no better iudge and esteeme of it selfe For the time it seemeth to bee in his owne conceit and iudgement no better then a reprobate one alienated and exiled from grace a fire-brand of Hell and fuell appointed to destruction Insomuch that oftentimes hee cryeth out in most lamentable and wofull manner that he is nothing else but a damned creature Nay with some and that full of this malady doth grow so extreme and terrible that their soule chuseth rather to bee strangled Job 7.15 then to bee in their bones whose griefe seemeth by so much the more desperate and fearefull by how much more for the time they seeme to be depriued of comfort One troubled with the consideration of his sin compared to a sicke man For as it is with the sicke man that is euen at deaths doore and brought as it were to the edge of the graue his weake stomake is neither able to receiue nor retaine the food ministred vnto him but either it riseth at the sight thereof as ready to refuse it or else hauing receiued it casteth it vp againe as altogether vnable to digest it Euen so it is with the soule that is sicke with sinne set before it out of the Word of God the Food of eternall life either his stomake riseth at it and will not receiue it saying that these things appertaine not to him Or else if he heare thee for a time as seeming to haue receiued it into the bowels of his soule yet not long but the stomake of his soule beginneth againe to wamble in him and the courses of his despairing thoughts returning vnto their sit againe hee is oftentimes more distressed then before and in fine vomiteth it vp againe and falleth to his wonted agonies So that as it is with the man that is wounded And to one that hath some wound or impostume c. or hath a sore impostume though he be in great extremity is so fearefull to haue his malady to be touched that if the Chyrurgeon doe but mooue his hand vnto it though with intent to ease cure him yet he draweth backe and cryeth out Mat. 8.28 chusing rather to continue in his griefe then to let his sore be launced And And to the two possessed with Deuils that our Sauiour cured as it was with the two possessed with Deuils of whom wee read in the Gospell that when Iesus came neere vnto them they cryed out not tolerating that hee should approch vnto them So he that thus is wounded and infected with the botch of sinne if a man goe about to apply some thing to heale his sores and cure his corrupted maladies will crie out Oh hee cannot beare it hee fleeth from it Offer Christ vnto him and present vnto him Iesus ready to deliuer him and rid him from the hands of sin and Sathan he cannot tolerate to looke vpon him then hee cryeth out as one possessed Who art thou and Verse 29. What haue I to doe with thee O Iesus the Sonne of the liuing God art thou come to torment mee before the time Speake vnto him of mercy He is not for the time capable of comfort and tell him of the sweet balsamum oyle of grace lay before him the couenants of compassion and preach vnto him of that sweet confection and soueraigne medicine of the blood of Christ to heale the sting and close vp the festered wounds of sinne this is to trouble the sore and to renew the griefe Out of this floure hee sucketh poyson this maketh his Byle to runne and this forceth his wounds to gape more wide For his despairing heart not tolerating to apply these comforts to it selfe maketh them an occasion of further torments Oh saith hee indeede these and these are the ioyes that appertaine to the righteous thus and thus should I haue had ease and found comfort vnto my soule had I beene one of Gods Elect and had my portion beene amongst his chosen but I alas a miserable sinfull and condemned creature am cast from the comfortable presence of my God and depriued of all his mercies Tell him of iudgement this is intolerable it maketh his soule that is already weake and wearisome to shudder and shake in pieces it stretcheth him vpon the rack of all extremities it pierceth as a sword into his distressed heart and as a violent fire it vehemently burneth in his bowels Then sighing out his sorrow and roaring out the extremities of his griefe and miseries as though already hee felt the horror of the hand of God and the dreggs of wrath and anger to haue begun to drop vpon him hee seemeth to himselfe as one abased vnto hell past all recouery Heereupon often also hee breaketh out into these and such like outcries His outcries and wofull complaints and wofull complaints and groanings How sinfull a wretch and cursed a caytiff am I How carelesly haue I liued and how dissolutely haue I spent my time Had I beene but a beast of the field then had my case beene better for then together with my life my miseries should haue had an end then should I haue perished and beene at rest then should my daies of trouble haue had a dated time and the yeeres of griefe would soone haue been expired Then should I not thus haue been a marke for God to shoot at and a butt wherein to sticke his arrowes of displeasure Then should I not haue beene terrified with the feare of Iudgement nor haue felt the burthen of my sinnes irremissable thus pressing mee downe to the pit of hell Cursed bee the time wherein I first was borne and the houre wherein first I saw the light let darknesse couer it as a curtaine let the sunne withdraw his light fill it with abundance of terrors and let the shadow of death rest vpon it Woe woe is me that euer I was borne why was I brought out of the wombe and why perished I not that no eye had seene me why was I not so as though I had not been And why was I not brought from the wombe to the graue Cursed euer and before I was ordained vnto wrath borne
to bee gazed on but that it should bee a memoriall to put him daily in minde of death and therefore we read not of any ouer-costly and curious trimming that Ioseph vsed hereabout If thus man could and would prouide for himselfe a Tombe or Sepulchre it were a blessed thing that it might serue to bee vnto him a continuall remembrance to put him in minde of death and of his departing hence But farre more blessed no doubt and thrice more happy should hee bee if with this good Disciple of Arimathea though not in the same manner hee could let Christ haue the first seasoning of his graue that is if through faith hope and comfort in Christ his Death and Passion he could prepare himselfe vnto his end But I haue digressed somewhat from my matter and yet I hope it be not much amisse the security and carelessenesse of our corrupted flesh being such as it is To returne therefore againe to that from the which I am digressed I would haue promised some reasons to perswade vs of the necessity of this preparation before I did come to set downe the manner and order how wee ought to prepare our selues to die but that in discourse and treaty of the one I shall haue occasion in some part to touch and include the other also This preparation in it selfe considered is in very deed a matter requiring a large and long discourse which manner of handling thereof I do leaue to others my purpose herein is onely to touch the principall points and those also so farre onely as they shall concerne my present purpose CHAP. XXV Of the first part of the preparation vnto death THE Preparation vnto death Preparation vnto death of two sorts is found to bee of two sorts either such as concerneth our goods and posterity or else such as respecteth our soules and the saluation thereof As touching that which concerneth our goods houshold and posteritie although it hath in it many branches and many things worthy the discoursing if it should bee fully handled yet for our present purpose I meane no further to entreate thereof then it is proued that the neglect thereof may bee a let and hinderance vnto vs in this spirituall combat at our latter end This kinde of Preparation wee finde to bee of great Antiquity and vsed of diuers renowmed Persons in the Scriptures Abraham Gen. 25.5 as it is recorded of him was mindefull of this and therefore although hee had diuers sonnes by Keturah whom hee tooke to wife after the death of Sara yet hee gaue all his goods before his death vnto Isaac his son Iacob also was not vnmindfull hereof Gen. 48.22 who as it appeareth did giue vnto his sonne Ioseph a speciall portion from his brethren Dauid also is noted 1. Kings 1.28 29 c. before his death although hee had many sons yet to leaue the Kingdome and Scepter to none but onely to Salomon borne of Bathsheba to his posterity This was giuen in charge euen from God himselfe 2. Kings 20.1 vnto King Hezekiah by the Lords Prophet commanding him to set his house in order for hee must die Experience in all ages yea and common sense also teacheth sufficiently how necessarie this kinde of preparation is what great commodities haue growne where the same hath beene daily vsed and contrariwife what great vexations and troubles in Law with a great number of other inconueniences haue followed vpon the neglect thereof So that hereby it easily appeareth that this dutie cannot bee neglected without great iniurie vnto thy seed and family that shall succeed after thee yea this also take by the way as a thing vndoubtedly true That as the vtter neglect hereof is thus hurtfull to thy seed and posterity so the deferring and putting off the same which is a very vsuall thing is very hurtfull and dangerous vnto thy selfe Therefore as it is requisite that we should haue a care in our life time to set all things straight and in good order both for the discharging of our selues of that heauy burden of these worldly cares and also for the stablishing of peace and quietnesse amongst those which are deare vnto vs whom we are to leaue to suruine vs So wee must consider that the principall thing that wee are to remember in it is that it is indeed a preparation that belongeth not so much vnto the time of infirmitie and sickenesse as it doth vnto the time of health And that it ought then doubtlesse to be performed when the Lord doth affoord vnto man strength of body and good memory and should not bee posted ouer vnto the latter end when sicknesse the messenger of death shall bee sent to call or cite vs vnto Deaths Court. For vpon this passing and posting ouer the matter from the time of health vnto sickenesse and in sicknesse time euen vnto the time almost when Death commeth to seyze vpon vs it commeth to passe that either the due order for the quiet estate of thy house is nor cannot be so well looked vnto and prouided for as it ought or that thy soule which is most to bee lamented in the time of thine agonies and sicknesses is little or nothing regarded But to eouer this vsuall fault in deferring this godly action from the time conuenient vnto the time indeed altogether inconuenient and vnmeet Satan hath ministred a cloake of excuse where with many are wonderfully blinded as though indeed God were bound of duty to order things after their prescription and to deale with them after their own hearts lusts Tush say they I hope well that God will giue mee time and space to prouide for both these things that is both for the setting of mine house in order and also for the good estate of my soule and that hee will not take mee out of this world in such a sudden manner but that I shall haue opportunity and good time allowed mee to set all things straight both for the orderly disposition of my goods and also for the carefull attending vpon the comforts requisite and needfull for the benefit and good of my soule Beware good Christian brother and sister who euer thou art that thus deceiuest thy selfe or rather yeeldest thy selfe to bee deceiued by Satan this is the crafty perswasion of thine vtter and most malicious enemy and therefore is none otherwise to be esteemed and iudged of but as a most extreme folly and point of dotage that I may so call it in this manner to dally with and to abuse the person of God for GOD hath giuen vnto thee a great time for doing hereof and thou neglectest it it argueth therefore a great folly and madnesse in thee It is in the vsuall and common Prouerbe While the Pig is proffered hold open the Poake God doth of goodnesse offer thee time to effect both these godly actions take it when it is offered and rest not thy selfe vpon vncertaine hope and expectation of the like againe heereafter If
in holinesse and righteousnes Which if we doe we shall then disappoint our Aduersarie of his aduantage against vs and shall be well able to beare off and to auoid the dangerous pricks and thrusts which he will be ready continually to cast at vs in consideration of our sins It is a very hard thing to vtter indeed what a byting corrosiue the remembrance of the loosenes and lewdnes of a mans former life is vnto the afflicted soule at the time point of death and what great matter of discomfort Satan can quickly suck from thence to infuse and powre vpon them And it is againe on the other part a lamentable thing to see how carelessely men are for the most part affected and how slacke they are in preparing this piece of Armour thinking in themselues all to be well and safe enough although they haue liued neuer so lewdly and dissolutely and neglected the putting on of this piece of Armour euen to the very instant and time of death thinking if then they can repent there is no more adoe But alas all this while such men neuer consider how much more bitter their conflict with Satan is like to be Obiect But some will haply obiect Who euer was armed with this brest-plate of righteousnes and with such a good conscience that hee did not feele some wounds of sinne Answ It cannot bee denied but that the Saints of God are indeed so wounded they fall and commit sinne indeed but not with their heart it is of infirmitie according to that saying of Iohn 1. Ioh. 3.9 Hee that is borne of God sinneth not And the reason is For that his heart is surely and safely armed with a good conscience with the brest plate of Righteousnes This appeareth more plainely vnto vs by the example of Dauid who is noted to haue his heart thorowly fenced with the knowledge of the Truth and thereupon to giue himselfe to righteousnes and the workes thereof yet he is noted also to haue taken euen great and grieuous wounds hee sinned most grieuously but these wounds did not pierce to his heart but sticked still in his flesh onely for that he was armed with this brest-plate of righteousnes Hereupon it is that hee confesseth Psa 119.48 I haue alwayes sought after thy Law And I did meditate in thy Commandements The fourth thing to bee vsed in this preparation vnto death 4. The Shooes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace Ephes 6.15 is called of the Apostle the shooes of the preparation of the Gospell of Peace euen all those comfortable promises of the Gospell wherewith if the feet of thy soule be shooed it will make thee more ready prepared and nimble to ouer-leape and stryde ouer all stumbling blockes lets and hinderances which Satan the World or thy sinfull Flesh shall cast in the way before thee The sift is 5. Hope of saluation the helmet of Hope euen the hope of saluation and expectation of eternall life For this hope will strengthen and incourage vs against all kinde of miseries troubles and afflictions yea and against the feare of death it selfe and that in such manner that although these of themselues appeare to be very terrible and able to daunt the courage of euery one yet through this Helmet the terror and feare of them is taken away and they which are with this piece of Armour furnished are made strong and able to suffer and indure them continually It is well called of the Apostle the helmet or head-piece of saluation for it will shrowd and couer vs from the hurt of all assaults of the enemies whatsoeuer For then alone wee yeeld when as wee despayre and are out of hope but whiles hope lasteth wee are ready still to fight and striue vnto the death In the sixth place commeth the shield of faith 6. Shield of Faith which hath this vertue and power giuen vnto it that it will quench all the fiery darts of the Diuel For hauing our faith and confidence set and seated vpon Christ and vpon his death and Passion wee shall be thereby so surely kept and couered that no assault or terrour of the Diuell shall be able to annoy or hurt vs but with ease wee shall be able to withstand them and to auoid the danger of them all The time when Satan most preuaileth against vs is when he seeth and perceiueth vs to bee destitute of this piece of Armour to protect and defend vs. Therefore against this day and time of death it is expedient and needfull for vs to vse all good meanes to cheere vp and increase this faith of ours that then especially it may be strong and flourishing when as we shall be thus incountred with by these extremites For the seuenth piece of Armour 7. Sword of the Spirit takâ— the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God In this also it behooueth thee to be prepared to haue good knowledge For Satan as hath beene shewed before hath many temptations which in his owne sense and sort he vseth to ground vpon the written Word which temptations can by no meanes better bee auoided then by the same Word vsed in the true and right sense thereof This can hardly or neuer bee done vnlesse thou be skilfull and expert in the Scriptures Wherefore let these I meane the Scriptures be thy dayly Garden wherin thou mayst gather most sweet and comfortable simples against this sicke and heauy day Make these thy counsellers to instruct thee and let these bee vsed as a sharpe and two-edged sword to strike and wound thine enemies withall That thou mayst therefore be expert and cunning in the vse of this weapon I would aduise thee to exercise thy selfe herein to meditate in this day and night vntill thou hast thorowly attained to the true vse of this so needfull and profitable a weapon and that thou mayst be cunning and know perfectly how to weyld it euery way to meet with Satans subtill and crafty assaults Vnto all these it is necessary that thou adde and adioyne feruent Prayer That God would giue thee grace strength vnto these things continually and euery day increasing all vnto thy comfort And that hee would vouchsafe to prepare and furnish thee vnto this spirituall and finall combate at thine end and death as that when and howsoeuer it shall happen thou mayst be alwayes in a readinesse to vndertake it with willingnes and to continue and abide with faith and constancie vnto the end Now that thou art taught by the Apostle speaking and writing by the direction of the Spirit of God how to arme thy selfe on all parts from the top to the toes Let not this be wanting in thee namely a dayly meditation of those things that may increase and further the former proceedings Of this sort are the consideration of the flitting estate the vanities and miseries of this present world the exceeding ioyes of heauen and the life to come the momentany paines
Thistles A bad Tree cannot bring forth good fruits neither can a good Tree bring forth bad fruit Bad workes are vnsauory and vnseemely for him that is renewed by the Spiris and good workes are impossible for him that still walloweth in the mire and filthinesse of his owne corruptions And all this which I haue sayd notwithstanding I doe not deny but that the good Tree may bee sometimes blasted and Winter-bitten that the fruits thereof shall be neither so plentifull not so pleasant either to the eye or to the taste and that in the small store of fruit that commeth euen from the good Trees many are greatly spaked and corrupt My meaning is that euen the persons regenerate and the elected children of God may haue What did I say may haue nay haue indeed many such times during their continuance in this earthly and corrupted Tabernacle wherein the flesh getting something the better and preeminence ouer the Spirit maketh them to bring forth many vnsauory and loathsome fruits as we finde by the examples of Noah Lot Dauid and Peter and others which are recorded to fall into great and grieuous sinnes And although this bee so true that it may not bee gaine-said yet these vnsauory fruits and such like appearing sometimes in the Elect of God cannot hinder any thing at all but that these good effects and fruits I spake of when they do appeare and shew themselues in the vpright ordering of our life and conuersation may giue their testimony and assurance and may witnesse vnto vs as the Scripture teacheth that wee are the Chosen and Elect of God And thus you see how and from whence the children of God that are regenerate may fetch the testimonie and assurance of their Election CHAP. XXXI Of the Obiections against this doctrine of Assurance and knowledge of our Election AGainst this doctrine concerning our Election and the knowledge and certainety thereof there are two speciall Obiections made Obiect 1 The first is that hypocrites also as well as the very Elect haue such a taeste and feeling of these things that they also as well as others doe thinke that they haue faith that they haue the Spirit of God abiding in them and that they haue true sanctification in their life and therefore doe flatter themselues oftentimes in regard of their deeds whereas in deed they haue nothing lesse as hath beene before somewhat touched and shall in the answer to this Obiection by Gods grace more at large be declared And therefore it is likely say the framers of this Obiection that notwithstanding these markes the Elect of God may be deceiued in iudging that hee hath them when as it is but in shew onely and not as it ought to be in deed and truth Obiect 2 The second obiection is that though they can certainely know and assure themselues that they had these things in truth and deed yet this sufficeth not because that after this they may fall againe from grace and haue no certainety of their perseuerance and continuance vntill the end Both these Obiections wee haue in part touched before vpon occasions offered in our discourse and handling of the seuerall temptations and therefore we shal be at this time the shorter Concerning the first of these two Obiections be it answered that howsoeuer the hypocrites are oftentimes deceiued with counterfeit shewes and shadowes because they are giuen to flatter themselues with euery light appearance of things without any further in quirie as ayming especially at their owne glorie and praise yet with the Elect of God it is not so Obiect But you will haply grant and say It may bee so with the Elect in deed that they do not thus like hypocrites content or please themselues with a slight or slender shew But what of that When they haue done all that they can tryed and examined things to the vttermost may they not bee still deceiued When they haue found that they haue a faith may they not bee deceiued in iudging whether it be the true faith or no When they haue found the presence of the Spirit in them can they make a liuely difference to know whether it bee that Spirit of Adoption or not For it is apparant that the Reprobates also in some sort may bee partakers of the Holy Ghost And when the Elect haue well aduised them of their workes doe see their fruits and that to their great good liking can they certainely tell whether the same their workes bee true effects of true sanctification or whether they bee fained and hypocriticall seeing that hypocrites also may doe thus much as well as they Answ To this I answer that God who in his Word hath confirmed these to bee witnesses to assure vs of our Election as is aforesaid hath also left vnto vs in the same Word certaine Markes and vndoubted Differences whereby his Elect may both easily and also rightly iudge and discerne of these things as shall appeare by the particular discourse thereof First therefore of the truth of faith and how it may be found It is not denyed that the Scriptures speaking of faith make one kinde to bee temporarie false and counterfeit and another to bee true and vnfayned And it is also apparant and manifest that this fayned and timefaith that I may so call it hath oftentimes such a glorious and slourishing shew as that it blindeth the eyes and deceiueth the iudgement of many and maketh them to esteeme and take it for true faith indeed whereas it is nothing so Although as touching these two kinds of faith I haue shewed before in part what differences and markes of distinction the Spirit of God hath made betwixt them yet let it not grieue thee if now againe I enter into a further and larger discourse hereof since so just and fit occasion is offered me thereunto Two waies there are True saith knowne whereby the Elect may iudge and giue sentence of the truth of faith First by the nature of true faith Secondly by the effects thereof for in both these it is manifestly distinguished from the faith of hypocrites which is but fayned and temporarie The nature of true faith is not onely to know Christ 1. The nature thereof and to giue consent and approbation vnto the doctrine of the Gospell for thus much the very Reprobates will doe many times and yet gaine nothing to themselues thereby But with this knowledge of Christ and consent vnto the doctrine of the Gospell the nature of true faith is to apprehend and apply the same euery man to him seuerally and to the benefit and comfort of his owne soule And this is that which the Scriptures doe call the feeding on Christ and the sense and seeling of the power and vertue of his Death and Passion And this is it also which the Apostle meaneth Heb. 11.13 where hee saith Heb. 11.13 that they embraced or saluted the promises as it were retaining them by faith into their hearts as such
of God in our hearts and soules that was marred and defaced so greatly by the fali of Adam This Image or impression is easily knowne and discerned from the counterfeit and outward shew of hypocrites whose sanctity and deuotion is onely outward Glorious indeed they appeare in the outward shew like painted Sepulchres but if they looke inwardly vnto the heart there is nothing to bee found but rottennesse and corruption So that it may easily bee there seene that the ruines of old Adam are not yet againe repaired in them Look therefore I would aduise thee not vnto the outward appearance bee it neuer so glorious and goodly but looke into thy soule the inward part and looke so neere as thou canst into euery corner thereof and see if thou canst finde the rubbish of Adams fall to bee in some sort swept and cast out and the image of GOD in holinesse and righteousnesse to bee in some measure renewed and imprinted againe vpon thee Which if thou canst see and perceiue then assure thy selfe that this Testimony is in deede the vndoubted and infallible Wunesse and Testimony of this Spirit of Adoption Thirdly thou maist know and discerne it by the constancie and certainety of the testimony that it giueth For it is not like the wauering vnstedfast flash of hypocrites which think maruellous well of themselues slattering and perswading themselues for a time in a blind conceit that they are in the number of GODS Elect but cannot grow indeed to any continuall or certaine resolution therein But this Spirit if it haue liberty to speake and be attentiuely hearkened vnto yeeldeth forth a full and a settled perswasion of the truth of our Election in Christ I say if it haue liberty to speake and be attentiuely heard for that it oftentimes falleth out with the faithfull that though they haue this certaine Witnesse within them yet the Flesh sometime getting the head and mastry ouer the Spirit in them will not suffer it to speake so plainely as it would And they also being thereupon troubled with this frailty which they finde in themselues do often fall into many wauering and doubting thoughts while they do not listen attentiuely vnto this witnesse of the Spirit that now seemeth to speake more coldly and with a lower and lesse audible voice vnto their soules then heretofore For certaine it is that though the Spirit doth alwaies witnesse and giueth also a most certaine and constant Witnesse for it is the Spirit of Truth yet it is not alwaies in the like measure to the discerning of our soules but sometime more euidently and sometime lesse yea and that sometime also so obscurely as that the children of God whiles they are too much busied otherwaies in hearkening vnto the suggestions of Satan the World and the Flesh they doe seeme as though they heard it not at all Wherefore if thou hast once felt and found this testimony of the Spirit in thee let it suffice thee and be therewith content his testimony once giuen is of great force for that as I haue said hee cannot lye Therefore I say if at any time it hath witnessed the same vnto thee seale it vp for a most certaine truth For the Spirit of God which leadeth vs to all truth speaketh nothing but Truth hath spoken it And although now it seeme to waxe so cold in giuing euidence yet if it doe but whisper nay if it doe as you would say but breathe within thee that is giue neuer so secret and small a Testimony yet doe not thou misdoubt it for euen this is as sure as a thousand other clamorous and lowd witnesses to confirme the truth of thine Election And bee further assured of this that thou canst not in any wise reiect this testimonie though it seeme in thine eyes but simple and slender without exceeding iniury offered vnto the Spirit of Truth Fourthly in the manner also of the effecting this certaine Witnesse and Testimonie thou maist discerne it to bee the testimonie of this Spirit of Regeneration and Adoption for it is wholly and fully in the Death and Passion of Christ euen by by assuring thy soule and conscience that Christ with all his benefits is thine and that in and through him and him alone thou art become the adopted Childe of God and heire of euerlasting glorie Now whereas by thy question moued thou seemest to doubt of the truth of this testimony whether it bee of the Holy Ghost or not I answer further Is it any thing likely that Satan would euer perswade any man of this assurance of such incomparable benefits as Christ by his Death hath purchased for his Elect Would he euer perswade men that in Christ we are made the adopted Children of God No I assure you that is farre from Satans purpose he knoweth that this kinde of doctrine serueth not to aduance but vtterly to ouerthrow his kingdome and therefore laboureth what he may to suppresse the publike preaching of the Gospell that this kind of doctrine should bee hid from the knowledge of men so farre is he off from furthering of the inward application of the same vnto the comfort of our soules wherein the vertue of Christ his death consisteth Therefore if at any time the hypocrites do flatter and perswade themselues in their election it is not wholly alone and principally in Christ from his death Passion that this perswasion ariseth but vpon some other good liking cockering affection that they haue vnto their fayned and hypocriticall deuotion while they take such slight and slender tryall and examination of themselues Finally this Witnesse may bee knowne by two notable and excellent effects attendant and waiting vpon the same First that the Spirit doth hereby shead abroad in our hearts Rom. 5.5 the loue of God towards vs in Christ Iesus for it maketh vs to haue a certaine sense and feeling of the loue and fauour of God towards vs. Secondly vpon this followeth another effect and that is that vpon this sense of loue and sheading of his tender mercy in our hearts to the taste and feeling of our soules it causeth vs withall to cry and call vpon him by the name of Father for now when wee thus feele his loue and mercy whether wee cast our eyes downeward vpon our selues or vpward vpon the face of God in Christ wee see and behold him still as a gracious louing mercifull and compassionate Father reconciled to vs by and through Christ and our selues to bee his adopted sons and children whom hee in his eternall purpose in grace and mercy hath selected and ordained vnto life and that by and through the same our Sauiour Iesus Christ his deare Sonne Hitherto of the witnesse of the Spirit Let vs now come to the outward fruits of our Regeneration CHAP. XXXV Of the outward fruits of Regeneration HYpocrites aswell as the Regenerate haue in outward shew many good deeds wherby they gaine to themselues no small praise and commendation of deuotion and