hath done or suffered for vs And in generall all that is needfull for vs to beleeue and wherevpon we ought to ground and settle the hope of the everlasting life and happinesse Wherevpon may be jnfered that the doctrine of the Pope and of all his Pastors and Muncks of Papistry cannot availe any thing to edifie our Faith the which is not setled vpon the jnventions foolish traditions and vaine jmaginations of men But vpon the pure word of God the which ought to be layd open in the church to the people purely and simply without any mingling of dreames ravenings of men As saith the Prophet Ieremie Ierm 14. You must not mingle the chaffe among the good graine nor the drosse among the fine Siluer nor the water with the good wine Peter also willeth that if any one speake in the assembly 1. Pet. 4. let him speake like the words of God S. Paul exhorteth his Disciple to preach the word of God without adding or changing 2. Tim. 4. for as it written by the Prophet Psalm 12. The words of the Lord are pure words euen as the siluer which from the earth is tryed and purified seuen times in the fire for which cause nothing may bee mingled with it but it must needs corrupt it The third cause to wit the formall of Faith is Iesus Christ for as much as he is our Christ that is to say our Mediatour and jntercessor For in this quality hee is as it were the forme of our Faith the which hee quickneth and giveth a being therevnto as doth the shape to the matter which it shapeth and vnto the which it is applyed Now as we see all things take their being and denomination of their forme as the fire is named by it forme the fishes the beasts the birds and all things in generall are called according to the forme which â—hey beare Also so is Faith and calleth it selfe Christian because that Iesus Christ who is the forme thereof and wee are also for this reason called Christians because that wee are provided therewith which causeth that through Iesus Christ â—e are regenerate to be new creatures Moreover it is he that hath kept the commandement of God It is he who vndergoing the wrath and the malediction of the threatnings of God hath delivered vs from them Finally it is he that obtayneth the blessing set downe in the promise made to Abraham and to his posterity and who in doing so hath beene a meanes that the law the threatnings and the promises which are the three principall parts of the scripture were accomplished in his person and by consequent the Faith thereof healthfull to all belieuers Whereby wee may say of Iesus Christ that hee is ths forme Faith the which cannot subsist without the efficacy of the word nor the word haue her efficacy without him Therefore is it that we may say that Iesus Christ contaynes all the causes and parâ—s of Faith in himselfe for divers respects First the efficient because that as God he produceth it in vs by his spirit As he did in Paul when going jnto Damascus he called him and in his mercy did change him in an jnstant and made him of a furious persecutor of the Church a faithfull servant vnto him and it Afterwards that hee is also the matter of our Faith by reason of those things which he hath suffered for vs by the which paying our raÌ„some he hath fully satisfied to the justice of God for all our jniquities Againe that he is the forme of our Faith in as much as he is the Mediatour and jntercessour who by his merite keepeth vs perpetually in the grace of God his Father in the which resteth all our life salvation and beatitude And to conclude that he is also the end thereof because it is hee vnto whome we ought wholy to referre and attribute the praise and glory of our salvation which are the reasons for the which it is sayd Iohn 1. that in him consists all fulnesse of gifts and graces of God Also that God the Father hath giuen vs all things with him that is to say not only life but also the meanes whereby wee may attaine therevnto And that in him are all treasures of the knowledge wisedome and other graces and blessings of our God Which considering S. Augustine saith That in our selues we are nothing and that in him we are all things And the Apostle to the Hebrues Who is the cheefe and the accomplisher of our Faith who insteed of the ioy which he had in hand hath indured the crosse hauing despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God The finall cause which is the fourth and last of Faith is the glory of God and the salvation of men for the mercy of God manifesting it selfe in the remission of our sinnes and his vertue in the execution and in the accomplishment of his promises and his justice in the paine which Iesus Christ did endure vppon the crosse for vs and his power in the discomfiting of our enemies and his wisedome by the which he hath by death brought life by sinne justice by jnfirmitie force by darknesse light by wounds healing by lowlinesse exaltation and by hell whither Iesus Christ did descend Paradice and the kingdome of Heaven being I say all the vertues of God manifested and layd open in Iesus Christ all christian men apprehending them by Faith haue matter and cause to prayse and glorifie God for God doing that which is sayd hath shewed how glorious and wonderfull his name was Men then believing these things in their hearts and publishing them with their mouths cannot better magnifie the workes vertues and miracles of our God then in doing it CHAP. VI. ¶ Of the effects of Faith wherof the first is the reconciliation betweene God and man HAving spoken of the causes of Faith it is also needfull to declare the effects thereof which are great and admirable the first is the reconciliation betweene GOD and vs. For when we were as farre from GOD as the East might bee from the West that there was no creature vpoÌ„ earth more miserable then man in this estate Esay 58. to draw vs out of it to set vs againe in the hope of his grace and of our saluation from the beginning after that our first parents out of whose loynes wee came were departed froÌ„ God through their rebellion and disobedience God to prevent their ruine which was all apparant and very neere pleased to rayse them againe being so fallen That of them should come the seede which should bruse the head of the Serpent Gen. 3. The which promise he repeated since to Abraham Gen. 12. promising that of him a child should be borne that should bring an vniuersall blessing vppon all the Nations of the earth and againe since hath likewise repeated it to Dauid assuring him that from him should descend a King whose raigne should be
change those persons vnto whom it is given And although that this changing be not perfect all at once neverthelesse it advanceth every day by little and little in those that are truely faithfull 1. Cor 5. Ioh. 15. and who are curious altogether to purge the old Leuin which remayneth yet in them and to wash their feet as sayth Iesus Christ and to take the leeze out of the vessell vntill that it be quite empty and made cleane as we see that the Apostle did 1. Cor. 9. whome as he writeth to the Corinthians did runne in the listes to beare away the price and brought his body into slauery to the end that in some fashion after he had preached to others himselfe was not found vnreceaueable Phil. 3. which hee yet sayth elsewhere I trye if by any meanes I might attaine vnto the resurrection of the dead Not as though I had already attained it either were already perfect but I follow if that I may comprehend that for whose sake also I am comprehended of Christ Iesus Brethren I count not my selfe that I haue attained to it but one thing I doe I forget that which is behind and indeauour my selfe to that which is before And follow hard toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus The exercise of the truly faithfull It is the exercise of those that are truely faithfull continually to thinke vpon a new life and a true repentance In so much that it may be a studie and exercise in the which he continues from the beginning of his regeneration vntill the consummation and conclusion of his life in such sort that by the temptations wherewith he is jncessantly exercised and prooved hee may be refined like vnto Silver or Gold in a fournace and as for the conservation of the body it is requisite that it bee continually exercised and aboue all thinges purged of the superfluous humors and excrements which therin are gathered every day also it is necessary that the soule and conscience of the truly faithfull bee cleansed with continuall repentance and that it bee as much or more carefull to weede and plucke vp the evill hearbs which doe alwayes pollute his soule as is a good Gardiner to cleanse his Garden of all nettles thistles and other weeds which spring therein For the duety of a Christian man is to jmploy all his life to put off the old man and to put on the new which is an exercise that cannot bee done without great toyle and difficulty because that the old man is a robe so fastened and stitched to a Christian that a man cannot get it off but by peecemeale and the new man is an other robe so straight that it cannot be put on but with great labour and paine Yet must we strayne our jndeauours and shew that wee are faithfull Rom. 6. by the participation which we haue in the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ abstracting from his death a vertue to mortifie our flesh and the lusts thereof and an other of his resurrection to walke in newnesse of life and not to thinke that wee can participate in the righteousnes of Iesus Christ to obtaine the remission of our sinnes but we must also shew by effect the participatiō which we haue in the holynes of his Spirit For we cannot be just but we must be holy nor be holy but wee must be just because that Iesus Christ is never vnfurnished nor parted from his spirit and doth not justifie vs but at the same time and by the same meanes hee sanctifieth vs so that at the very jnstant that we are jncorporated in Iesus Christ for to be his members we are also consecrated to God to be his temple where he dwelleth by his holy spirit ¶ The fift effect of Faith Obedience THe other effect which Faith produceth in vs is the obedience which wee striue to render to God when by Faith we haue been regenerated as S. Paul sheweth to the Romanes chap. 1. verse 5. sayjng By whome we haue receaued grace and Apostleship that obedience might be giuē vnto the Faith for his name among all the Gentiles It is also sayd in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Heb. 11. That Abraham by Faith when hee was called obeyed God to goe out into a place which he should receaue for inheritance and hee went out not knowing whither hee went which are two places that shew sufficiently that Faith beejng planted in our hearts it disposeth them to render perfect obedience to the will of God Also we see that the elect before they bee called and regenerated by Faith they are ordinarily called in the holy Scripture Rebels dissobedient and Enemies of God Ephe. 2. Rom. 5. But after their regeneration they are called Servants and the children of God by reason of the will and desire which they haue to obay and serue him Now there is nothing more pleasing and agreeable vnto God then obedience the which he preferres before all sacrifices whereof wee haue a notable example in Saul 1. Sam. 15. who was rejected and depriued of his kingdome with all his posterity vnto whome neuerthelesse it was established by the ordinance of God only because that he had disobeyed God preferred his owne opinion before the commandement which was given him wholly to destroy the Amalekites But one onely example might suffice to shew how pleasing obedience is to God that is to say that which Iesus Christ hath rendered to God his Father in our name Phil. 2. the which was of such great efficacy and weight with God that it hath blotted out the disobedience of our first parents and hath restored vs to a more happie estate then that of Adams was pittifull and miserable wherinto by his disobedience he had precipitate himselfe and all his posterity as S. Paul sheweth in the Epistle to the Romanes chap. 5. vers 19. As by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by that obedience of that one shall many also be made righteous And to the Phillipians chap. 2. vers 8. Hee humbled himselfe became obedient vnto the death euen to the death of the crosse wherfore God hath highly exalted him and giuen him a name aboue euery name That at the name of Iesus should euery knee bow both of things in Heauen and things in Earth and thinges vnder the Earth And that euery tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord vnto the glory of God the Father And in the Epistle to the Hebrewes chap. 10. vers 6. In burnt offrings and sinne offrings thou hast had no pleasure Then I sayd Loe I come in the beginning of the booke it is written of me that I should doe thy will O God Aboue when he had sayd Sacrifice and offring and burnt offrings and sin offrings thou wouldest not haue neither haddest pleasure therein which are offered by the Law Then sayd hee Loe I come to doe thy will
Faith is the Inheritance giuen that it might be by grace that the promise might be sure to all the seed not to that onely which is of the Law but to that also which is the Faith of Abraham which is the father of vs all These two percels evidently shew that Faith regards principally the promise of the grace which God offereth in his Sonne Iesus Christ to all those that shal acknowledge him for their Saviour and Mediatour and we must not seeke any other meanes wherevppon to ground the hope of our salvation for there is no other name vnder Heaven by the which wee can bee saued The other poynt that we must obserue is that the grace of God that is to say his good will and affection towards vs is the only cause that hath jnduced him as well to make vs a promise of life as to jmpart the gift of Faith by the which we embrace him For that he hath taken out of our hearts the naturall hardnesse and obstinacy which was therein and hath mollyfied them to the end that being tender and soft they might be capable to receaue their promise to bee there printed and jngraven this proceeds not nor comes of any thing else than of his onely grace and favour which it hath pleased him to doe vs as it is written in the Epistle to the Ephesians Ephc. 2. That Faith is a gift of God and in the Epistle to the Philippians Philip. 1. It hath beene giuen vnto you to beleeue sayd the Apostle vnto them Also the spirit of God is called the spirit of Faith in the 2. Epistle to the Corinthians 2. Cor. 4. to giue vs to vnderstand that he is the onely author of Faith as hee is of counsell of feare of vnderstanding of prudeÌ„ce of wisdome all which gifts are attributed vnto him in the scripture as to him who is the only author and cause of them Which may yet appeare in considering the two members of Faith which are the knowledge of the word of God Cor. 2. Mat. 6. Iohn 1. which is in the vnderstanding and the trust which is in the heart For as for the vnderstanding of it selfe it is but darknesse and is altogether vncapable to vnderstand the things that are of God spirituall And as for the heart being naturally obstinate and rebellious it cannot in any wise submit and subject it selfe to the will of God to trust in him and to call vpon him whereof followeth Gen. 6. that man being by nature enclined to jgnorance in his vnderstanding part and to rebellion and obstinacy in his heart he cannot be for these reasons susceptible nor capable of Faith If God by his spirit doth not take away these too lets which are in him by nature to render him plyable to heare and to trust to that which he promiseth him It followeth in the definition that this faith is ratified by the satisfactioÌ„ made to the justice of God by the death obedieÌ„ce of his Son Whervpon we must note that the promise of grace and salvation could not bee accomplished towards vs but that first the justice of God must be fully and jntirely satisfied For as God for his glory was willing by his promise to lay open vnto vs the riches of his mercy and to demonstrate it vnto vs by the pitty and compassion which he hath had of vs to the end that hee might therein be glorified also was it his will that his justice should be satisfied and that man should be acquitted towards it of that which hee ought Now the debts are that hee should suffer everlasting death for disobaying to the will of God and that he should yeeld a perfect and jntire obedience to his Majestie wherof he was a creature and a servant which was vnpossible vnto him By meanes whereof the Sonne of God was faine to effect the everlasting decree of his father who had determined and ordayned to saue the men which hee had chosen and reserved amongst the rest to come into the world and take our nature vppon him and by that meanes make himselfe mortall to render a perfect and entire obedience vnto the will of God vnto the death yea the death of the crosse the which was joyned with a curse wherewith he charged himselfe to discharge vs and to pay by that meanes that which he ought not and to render as sayth the Prophet that which he had not taken Psal 69. In the obedience then of Iesus Christ wee ought to consider first that it was in our name and for our sakes that it was rendered to God and that this death which hee hath suffered was not because hee had deserued it Heb. 7. For as sayth the Apostle he was jnnocent jmpoluted and separeted from sinners who onely are bound vnto death because that the reward of sin is death Rom. 6. That then which hee hath rendered vnto the just judgement of God and which hath deliuered him into the hands of them which condemned him was not for his amisse but for ours and that of all the elect whose pledge and warranty he was And we must note that this death which Iesus Christ did once suffer as perfect God and perfect man was of an jnfinite force and vertue to purge sinnes which were jnfinite because they were committed against the Majesty of God who is everlasting jmmence and jnfinite and also that it is sufficient to acquite all his children of the judgement of God and of all their sinnes without any exception how great and how many so ever they be in what time and age soever they were committed The other poynt which we must note in the obedience of Iesus Christ is the perfect and jntire observation of all the commandements of God his father in the which he hath not left out one only poynt but all hath been accomplished by him The which hee hath likewise done in the name of the elect who by reason of the naturall corruption and vice rayning in them were altogether vncapable whiles they liue in this world to obserue the Law of God and to render him a perfect justice the which consisteth in a perfect loue which they ought to beare him but they cannot not knowing him perfectly by reason â—lso of the desires of the flesh which are in them which turne them from louing God and their neighbour perfectly as they are bound The third poynt or reason which is to be considered in the perfect obedience of Iesus Christ is the ordinary remission of sinnes which wee commit every day the which are covered by his obedience in such sort that they come not in accompt in his judgemeÌ„t For even so as Phyloctetes covered the stinckingnes of his lothsoÌ„e infectious vlcers with the perfumed robes wherewith he clothed himselfe also the elect being by Faith clothed with the odoriferous justice of Iesus Christ although they were stincking in themselues they are neverthelesse a good savour vnto God
everlasting and permanent for ever 2. Sam. 7. Now this promise was occasion to Adam Abraham and Dauid and to all their posterity to beleeue and conceaue a certaine and assured hope of salvation perswading themselues that God offering himselfe so benignely vnto them did shew that he was not willing to destroy theÌ„ although that by their rebellion they had well deserved it but was content againe to gather to loue and to embrace them and even to bind himselfe as straightly vnto them as by marriage wee see man and wife joyned and vnited together Gen. 17. It is that which the Scripture sayth speaking so often of the alliance betweene God and his Church the which hath beene brought to passe by the mutuall promises which are made betweene God and it God promising it that he will bee her God and it promising to God that it will be his people the which allyance is the greatest happiest that ever was treated or brought to passe in the world for therin wholy coÌ„sisteth the assurance of our beatitude as sayth the Prophet Psalm 33. Blessed is that Nation whose God is the Lord euen the people that hee hath chosen for his inheritance Psalm 89. Blessed is the people that can reioyce in thee they shall walke in the light of thy countenance O Lord They shall reioyce continually in thy name and in thy righteousnesse shall they exalt themselues Blessed are the people that be so Psal 144. yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. For as the body liveth and is happy whiles the soule remaines in it of which it receaveth mooving feeling and all the force and vigour which is in it also and more happy is the Church that is joyned with God of whome as of it soule it receaueth all the good and the happinesse that it can haue desire and hope for And to the contrary as the soule separated from the body that body is no more any thing but a stincking and jnfectious rottonnes also that Church which is sequestred from her God is nothing else but all misery and vanity Now the greatnes of the felicity which falleth vnto vs by the allyance which we haue with God may bee yet better knowen by the comparison of the allyance which the jdolaters haue with their jdols Psal 115. Who haue eyes but see not mouths but speake not eares but heare not hands but feele not and feet but goe not The trust in which jdols is altogether vaine as sayth the Prophet Psal 135. They that make them are like to them so are all that trust in them But wee beeing vnited with God hee by his jnfinite wisedome hath the care of vs and of our affayres and by his providence doth provide for all our necessities and preserveth vs from all dangers And by his charity and the loue which hee beareth vs can never forsake vs so that having once contracted allyance with vs we are assured that it shall be permanent for ever and shall continue towards vs without any jnterruption for ever and ever as it â—s written by the Prophet Psal 23. Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercie shall follow me all the dayes of my life and shall remaine a long season in the house of the Lord. Psal 30. In his fauour is life My mercy will I keepe for him for euermore Psal 89. and my couenant shall stand fast with him And that which ought yet to make this allyance more recommendable vnto vs is that God with whome wee are allyed is alwayes present to know and to provide for all our affayres as it is written The Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shaddow at thy right hand The Sunne shall not smite thee by day nor the Moone by night Also Psal 33. Behold the eyes of the Lord is vppon them that feare him and vpon them that trust in his mercy CHAP. VII ¶ The second effect of Faith is the remission of sinnes THe second effect of Faith is the resion of sinnes by the which the hinderance that men could not be reconciled with God was taken away For God being perfectly just and we to the contrary most sinfull and vnjust in every fashion there was no meanes to vnite vs vnto him but that the sinne and vnjustice which was in vs must first be abolished 2. Cor. 6. And as sayth the Apostle What fellowship hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnes or what communion hath light with darkenes or what concord hath Christ with Beliall either what part hath he that belieueth with an Infidell or what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for as the Philosophers say two things that are quite contrary cannot agree in one and the same subject It was then needfull that the sinne which was in vs should be abolished before we could be capable to come neere vnto God and to bee joyned with him Now this abolishment was done for the remission of our sinnes the which God gaue vs by his grace and by the meanes of the satisfaction which Iesus Christ made for it by his death the which satisfaction is allowed and jmputed vnto vs by the faith which we haue in him And it is the article of Faith which we protest to beleeue in the end of our confession saying I belieue the remission of sinnes Wherevpon wee must note one thing which S. Bernard sayth that is to say Even as the grace of God continueth towards vs for ever and that the efficacy and vertue of the death of Iesus Christ is perpetuall also is the remission and abolition of all our jniquities which come thereof perpetuall without being any whit jnterrupted So that as it is written in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Heb. 9.10 That we are continually sprinckled with the bloud of Iesus Christ the which is neuer clutterd but is alwaies fresh to be powred vppon vs to wash vs and to cleanse vs froÌ„ all our filthines And we may say of this bloud and of the remission of sinnaes which is therein established that it is the Asile the freedome of Christians whither they must alway haue their recourse to bee warranted and to saue their life when they haue chanced to commit any criminall cause And that may be very well fitted to this purpose which S. Augustine sayth in his booke of the Cittie of God making a comparison between the Church and Roome in this poynt that is to say that as to people and edifie the Citie of Roome in her beginning by the aduise of Romulus the first building that was there set vp was the place of Libertie and Freedome after the framing wherof hee caused a Proclamation to bee made in all the places thereabouts that who so euer found himselfe to haue committed any capitall crime retyring himselfe into this pace of Freedome he should obtaine his fauour and should be receaued into the place of Citizen and defended by the Inhabitants against all those that should
doe him any violence Also in the Church of God the first thing that was published was the remission of sinnes which is as it were a place of freedome into the which those malefactors that haue deserved death and the halter may retyre themselues to the end to be assured of their life and from the sentence and condemnation which the judge might giue against them if hee were not hindered froÌ„ it by reason of their refuge thither and that they are receaued into the protection and safegard of the King who is the Protector and warrant of the Church As then the Citie of Roome in her beginning was peopled but with theeues robbers murderers and people abandoned to all kinds of vices by the meanes of the place of Freedome which had beene opened for them by the founder of Rome so is the Church assembled compounded of jdolaters blasphemers prophaners drunkards rebels theeues adulterers murderers evill speakers detractours covetous ambitious and voluptuous persons ravishers robbers and other such like persons by the meanes of the remission of sinnes which hath been opened vnto them as a place of Freedome to retyre themselues in safty The which did Adam Abell Enoc Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob Samuel Gedeon Iephte Sampson Dauid the Prophets the faithfull and all the Saints that ever were Now this remission of sins is the ground of the hope of a christian man and of all consolation For seeing wee offend so many wayes and that wee cannot liue a moment and minute of an bower without having evill thoughts in our vnderstandings evill affections in our hearts evill words in our mouths evill actions in our hands and in all the members of our bodyes and a great vanity in all our sences What should we doe how should we escape wherevppon should we assure our salvation withot-the fayth which we haue of the remissiuon of our sinnes which is as it were a plaister a tent which wee apply euery day vpoÌ„ this moist corrupted wound of our nature and which festured doth alwaies drop without stenching drying cleaÌ„sing or healing by other means but by this onely remedy the which is altogether necessary for the conversation of our life and to hinder that the rottenesse spreading it selfe and ramping ouer all the parts thereof in the end should not cause vs to dye It is it which rayseth vs when we are fallen as sayth Dauid Psal 37. Though he fall he shall not be cut off for the Lord putteth vnder his hand I haue waited on the Lord Psal 130. my soule hath wayted and I haue trusted in his word My soule waiteth on the Lord more then the morning watch waiteth for the morning Let Israell wayt on the Lord for with the Lord is mercy and with him is great redemption And he shall redeeme Israell froÌ„ all his iniquities Psal 65.3 Wicked deeds haue preuailed against me but thou wilt be mercifull vnto our transgression This remission causeth that the faithfull do not sinne to the death for this seed of the grace of God of his promise and of his spirit wherewith he hath sealed our hearts causeth although that wee bee sinners that wee assure assure our selues notwitstanding our sinne and the corruption that is in vs that God who is jnfinite in goodnes and mercy maketh his grace to abound where sinne aboundeth Rom. 5. In this onely gift of the remission of our sinnes wee haue matter and argument to admyre and exalt the jmmense and jncomprehensible mercy of God which is never weary of giving vs grace for so many sinnes which we haue committed every day If a King had giuen halfe a dozen or a dozen of remissions to a murderer or other malefactor he would waxe weary at the last and although hee were the most benigne and pittifull of the world yet would he put him to death seeing his perseverance in dojng evill But our God doth not quitte vs 1 2 3 4 5 and 6. tallents parcels and debts which we owe him but 10. Thousand yea 10. Millions provided onely that wee confesse wee owe them vnto him and that we make it appeare that wee are sorry to bee so much jndebted vnto him The which we see in the parable of the bad servant wherof mention is made in S. Mathew chap. 18. and in the example of Dauid who wondering at the greatnesse of the goodnesse and mercy of God sayd in his prayse Psal 32. Then I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee neither hid I mine iniquity for â—o I thught I will confesse against my selfe my wickednes vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the punishment of my sin Therfore shall euery one that is godly make his prayer vnto thee in time when thou mayest bee found surely in the floud of great waters they shall not come neere him Conclusion this remission of sinnes is as a quittance vnto vs and a generall abolition of all that we may owe and of whatsoever we may be sought after for in the Chamber of Accompts of our God So that being furnished with it wee ought not to feare any whit to present our selues before the judgement of God with all assuraÌ„ce For there is no condeÌ„natioÌ„ for those that are in Iesus Christ as saith the Apostle Rom. 8.1 CHAP. VIII ¶ Of Iustification the third effect of Faith IT is time then to enter into the deduction of the third effect of Faith which is our justification the which is plainely declared in the Epistle to the Romanes chap. 3. vers 22. The righteousnesse of God commeth by the Faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vppon all them that beleeue There is no difference for all haue sinned and haue need of the glory of God but are justified freely by his grace through their redemption that is in Christ Iesus whome God hath set forth to bee a propitiation through Faith in his bloud to declare his righteousnes by forgiuing the sinnes that are past which God doth suffer to shew at this time his righteousnesse that he might bee just and the justifier of him that beleeueth on Iesus Which hee confirmeth in the fowrth alleadging that which Dauid saith towching the beatitude of man vnto whoÌ„e God alloweth justice without workes saying Psalm 32. Blessed is he whose vnrighteousnesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man vnto whome the Lord imputeth not sinne and in whose spirit there is no guile Whereupon wee must note that this terme of justifying signifieth to absolue in the holy Scripture and that man is justified before God when appearing before his throne and Iudgement seat he is absolved of all his crimes and sinnes which the law the Deuill and his owne conscience may set before him to cause him to be condemned which is done in the fauour of Iesus Christ Rom. 4. who cloathing vs with his righteousnesse is cause that our sinnes hidden vnder his cloake Psalm 32. do not appeare before God but to the contrary that being clensed
and washed in his bloud wee become as cleane and as white as snowe hauing neither spot nor wrinckle nor any thing else to bee reproued and condemned Now this Iustice by whose couering we escape the Iudgement of God is allowed vnto vs and applied by the Faith of Iesus Christ which is the cause that in Saint Iohn it is sayd that whoso beleeueth in him Ioh. 35. commeth not into Iudgment And for the which the Apostle to the Romanes speaking with great assurance sayth Rom. 8. who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifieth who is hee that condemneth It is Christ which died yea rather which is risen againe which is also on the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs Who shall separate vs from the loue of Iesus Christ shall tribulation or anguish or persecution eyther hunger eyther nakednesse eyther perill eyther Sword As it is written for thy sake are wee killed all the day long and are counted as sheepe for the slaughter neuerthelesse in all these things wee ouercome through him that loved vs For I am sure that neither death neither Life neither Angels nor rules neither Power neyther things present neithings to come Neyther height nor depth neither any other creature shal be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. If by Faith we are assured to be justified before him and that this consuming fire which maketh all the creatures of the world to shake when it is once enflamed can neither annoy nor consume vs That when we consider it narrowly ought quickly to take that feare from vs that we may haue of all dangers for that which is the fearefullest of all to wit the wrath and anger of God can neither offend nor make vs affraid following then the exhortation and example of the Apostle we ought not onely to be resolued against the feare of Death but also insult ouer it as he did in saying O death where is thy victorie 1. Cor. 15. O Sepulcre where is thy Sting Now the sting of Death is sin and the power of sinne is the Law But thanks be to God who giueth vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Then when wee shall see the day of Iudgement approch the which is fearefull to the Diuels and reprobates wee to the contrary ought to lift vp our heads being joyfull of his comming being well assured that it shall be the day of our full and entire redemption and deliuerance in the which we shall enioy all the goods which Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs and the fruite of our hope that is to say of the permanent and perfect happinesse which God hath reserued for his Children And if the children of Israell after they had passed the Riuer Iordan beginning to take possession of the Land which God had promised them had great occasion to reioyce and to comfort themselues so shall we haue when we shall see Iesus Christ appeare in his glory the second time and when we shall heare this pleasant and happie voice Math. 5. Come ye Blessed of my Father and possesse the Kingdome which hath been prepared for you from the beginning of the world ¶ The fowrth effect of Faith Mortification FAith also begets in vs mortification of the flesh and true repentance purifying our hearts as saith Saint Peter of disordinate passions Act. 10. lusts and â—ffections foolish loue auarice ambition and other like vanities Breife it â—s the meanes which God vseth to regenerate vs and to make vs new creaâ—ures and by consequent to cteate in vs â—ew thoughts new affections new â—peaches new actions and a new life Because it is accompanied with the Spiâ—it of God as it is written in Esay who â—eeing holy Esay 59. sanctifieth all those that â—re furnished therewith That is attributed to Faith because it is the Instrument wherewith hee serueth himselfe â—o regenerate man which we see in all â—hose that are faithfull who in a moâ—ent hauing been called and beleeued â—e word which was preached vnto â—hem haue been changed from carnall â—o spirituall and euen as a tree after â— hath been ingraffed bringeth other â—ind of fruite then it bare while it was wild Rom. 6. also by Faith ingraffed into Iesus Christ wee bring forth fruits through grace of an other kind then we did when â—ee walked in our owne wayes which we â—e in Zacheus Example Zacheus who beeing an insaciable â—ublican to heape goods vpon goods and to gather riches vppon Riches by hooke or by crooke without hauing any respect vnto Iustice and without bejng mooved to pitty the poverty of those which he ransomed cared for nothing so he might encrease and gather riches at any price Neverthelesse Iesus Christ having looked vppon him with his good eye and having vouchsafed to be his guest changed and transformed him jnto an other man so that of a covetous and lustfull man as hee was he became liberall and charitable and of one that was pittilesse and barbarous towards the poore and needy and those that had need of him he became gracious humane and tractable God did even change his heart in such sort that he did not content himselfe to restore fower fold to those that hee had ransommed but would giue and distribute the halfe of his goods to the poore We see that eveÌ„ in S. Mathew Mathew who bejng actiue and attentiue to gaine and to his profite when Iesus Christ had called him forgetting at the very jnstant that he heard his voyce all his desires and avarice forsooke his bancke his Apron his house and all his temporall commodities to follow him The Harlot likewise The harlot Luk. 7. whereof mention is made in S. Luke although shee were given over to all dissolution and steeped in all worldly and filthy pleasures neverthelesse bejng called to the Faith of the gospell she was presently so changed that one would haue sayd that her eyes had beene fountaines by reason of the aboundance of teares that ranne from them S. Peter also who was a great sinner as hee himselfe confessed and who onely amongst all his fellowes denyed Iesus Christ three severall times was in the end so strengthned by Faith that by reason of his constancy and firme jmmooueablenes hee was surnamed by the name of Peter S. Paul also who was a cruell blasphemer persecutor and furious and like a wild Bore Act. 9. Psal 80. who was broke jnto the Lords Vineyard to spoyle it and to devour vp all the branches having been called by Iesus Christ when hee went jnto Damascus there for to dissipate the Church wholy was so changed by Faith which God of his grace did jnspire in his heart that of a Wolfe that he was he became the greatest Pastor of his time in the Church and flocke of the Lord. Whereby wee see what is the power and force of Faith the which doth altogether
superficies of the earth and the braÌ„ches of the trees bereft of leaues flowers and fruits that they were dead Nevertheles the rigour of the season past and the softnes of the spring time come againe wee see that the life was not alâ—ogether extinguished but only represâ—ed and shut vp for a time vntill the cold and frosts were past So we see in â—he Church that the faithfull who are â—he trees and plants of the orchard of God doe not alwaies shew their Faith and life which is in them Example as in the â—ime of Elyas although there were â— great number who had not bowâ—d the knee to Baal Neverthelesse â—et were they not in euidence Which â—eceaued the Prophet and made him â—alsely to thinke that he alone remained â—he seruant of God So it commeth often that the faithfull men shall not be knowne exteriourly by the works and actions of faith although it bee inclosed in their hearts and that vpon occasion when it presenteth they declare it according to the grace which God giueth them agitation of the spirit which mooueth them to doe it when time serueth ¶ The fift and last question whether true Faith can fall away The elect of God are preserued finally in Faith THe fift and last question is to wit whether faith can be quite taken away from the heart of him that hath receaued it of God Answere Faith is permanent vntill the end in him vnto whome God by his spirit and his word hath once truely communicated it And there is no slight nor teÌ„ptation whether of the diuell of the world of tyrants oâ— the flesh that can quite extinguish it when once it is kindled in the soule oâ— the faithfull man Error of the Scholemen And howsoeuer thâ— Schoolemen say that men truely faithfull are vncertaine of their perseuerance in faith yet must the Christian against their false erroneous opinioÌ„ hold resolutely by the scripture that that which God hath begunne in him by his Grace he will aduance it Psal 138. and will not desist from raysing and pursuing vntill such time as he hath fully accomplished it whereto all the passages and parcels of scripture following may serue First that of the Epistle of S. Paul to the Philippians Of perseuerance in Faith Phil. 1.6 I thanke my God hauing you in perfect memorie alwaies in all my prayers for you all praying with gladnesse because of the fellowship which ye haue in the Gospell from the first day vntill now And I am perswaded of this same thing that he that hath begunne this good worke in you will perform it vntil the day of Iesus Christ The Apostle confirming that also saith The foundation of God remaineth sure 2. Tim. 2. hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his and let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquity Also whome he predestinated Rom. 8. them also he called and whome he called them also he iustified and whome hee iustified them he also glorified Finally speaking of himselfe and of all the elect I am saith he perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor thinges to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus Christ also speaking to his sheepe saith in generall of all Iohn 10. That none can put them out of his hand and that they shall not perish euerlastingly and that hee will giue them euerlasting life and no man can hinder him in that And also Iohn 5. he sayth That all those which God his father hath giuen him shall come vnto him and that being come he will not cast them behind him for euer Moreouer seeing hee is neuer denied of any thing which he asked of God his Father Iohn 17. and that before his death hee prayed him solemnly for those that his Father hath giuen him whervpon may bee inferred certainely that all the elect that are comprehended in his prayer cannot faile to perseuere in Faith and finally by it be saued Luk. 22. When also speaking to S. Peter and exhorting him with his fellowes to stand vppon his gard least they should bee surprised by the lurking ambuscadoes of the diuell and not to fall into their nets he sayd vnto him That he had prayed for him to the end his Faith should not faile him that ought not only to be applied to S. Peter but to the whole Chruch vniversally which was presented vnto vs in his person and to the which for this reason that prayer did also appertaine When also speaking to the to the Pharisies he sayd vnto theÌ„ That all that God his Father had not planted Mat. 15. should be plucked vp he ment to say the contrary that no thing which his Father had planted as he did all the elect should be plucked vp doth not S. Iohn also say in his first Epistle 1. Iohn 5. That whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not that is to say to death because he is begotten of God he kepeth himselfe and that wicked one toucheth him not And also whosoeuer is borne of God doth not sinne for the seede of him remaineth in him and he cannot sinne because hee is borne of God Againe doth not Iesus Christ promise to whomesoeuer shall eate his flesh and drinke his bloud Iohn 6. which is done by Faith that hee shall dwell in him and hee reciprocally in him that shall eate it wherevppon it followeth that Iesus Christ who is the life dwelling in the Faithfull man who by Faith hath eaten his flesh cannot faile for this reason to liue eternally in him The prophets likewise confirme Esay 45. as Esay among others who speaking to Israell sayd That God saueth them with a perpetuall salvation Esay 51. and speaking to the elect sayth vnto them to comfort them Lift vppe your eyes to heauen and looke downe vppon the earth for the Heauens shall vanish like smoke and the earth shall be worne like a garment and the Inhabitants thereof shall likewise bee abolished but my saluation shall bee for euer and my justice shall neuer faile Ieremie also speaking in the name of God sayth of them That God loueeth them with an eternall loue And Ose speaking likewise of the marriage and alliance which God Ose 2. contracteth with them saith That it is for euer and that they must not feare that betweene him and his church there can euer come any diuorse nor libell of refusall Dauid also assureth vs of that in many places as in the 23. Psalme Thou doest annoynt my head with oyle and my cuppe runneth ouer Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercy shall followe mee all the daies of my life and I shall remaine a long season in the house of the Lord. And in the 30. Psalme Sing praises vnto the Lord yee his Saints and giue thankes before the remembrance