vndoubted signes of true faith And therefore let not Sathan delude vs Matth. 25. by perswading swading vs that pietie without honestie profession without practise faith without workes are sufficient for our saluation § Sect. 6 But if they be sincere professors How Sathan dealeth with sincere professors and first with the weake Christian then hee obserueth whether they be babes or strong men in Christ if he finde them babes then he seeketh to abuse their simplicitie by drawing them either into errours and heresies or at least into blinde zeale and superstition If he cannot so preuaile by reason that the bright beames of the Gospell shining in the preaching of the word doe discouer his errours and lies giuing light to those that sit in the darknes of ignorance and in the shadow of death whereby their feete are guided into the way of peace then he laboureth to ouerwhelme them with the burthen of their sinnes and to plunge them into the bottomlesse gulfe of horrour and despaire by aggrauating the odiousnes of their rebellion and huge multitudes of their outragious transgressions by setting before them the curse of the law the vengeance of God due vnto them his infinite and exact iustice which must be satisfied and the vnspeakable and endlesse torments prepared for the damned But if he cannot aggrauate their sins which in truth they haue committed and make of them such an huge mountaine as may serue to ouerwhelme them he addeth vnto them his owne sinnes by casting into their minds outragious blasphemies against God and such horrible suggestions of impietie as it will make their haires to stand on end when they do but think of them perswading them that they are their owne thoughts and therefore horrible sinnes whereas in truth they are but his suggestions and therefore if wee doe repell and reiect them they are not our sinnes but the sinnes of the tempter for as it is not our fault if a theefe intice vs to steale so wee doe not intertaine his motion but shew our detestation of his sinne so it is not a sinne to be tempted if wee presently doe repell the suggestion and doe not yeeld vnto the temptation And this may appeare by our Sauiour Christ himselfe who though he were free from sinne yet hee was tempted in all things like vnto vs and so not free from Sathans suggestions for he was tempted to diffidence to tempting God yea to the worshipping of the diuell himselfe but resisting Sathans suggestions he was not guiltie of sinne Whose example if we imitate Sathans blasphemous temptations shal neuer be laid to our charge neither is it possible to be free from temptations although it be possible by Gods grace to resist them But more of this hereafter § Sect. 7 If by this meanes he cannot ouerthrow their faith bring them to despaire How Sathan inticeth the weake Christian to commit sinnes of ignorance then hee taketh aduantage of their simplicitie by inticing them to commit sinnes of ignorance For example he will tell them that it is lawfull nay expedient to vse their Christian libertie when he tempteth them to licentiousnesse and to the end he may more easily deceiue them he will set a faire glosse vpon foule sinnes and seeke to iustifie them by Gods word apparelling vices in the habite of those vertues which most resemble them He will tempt to couetousnes vnder shew of frugalitie telling them that they who prouide not for their familie are worse than Infidels and to prodigalitie vnder the pretence of liberalitie alleaging that they who sow plentifully shall reape plentifully He will allure them to tempt God by neglecting those meanes which he hath graunted them vnder the colour of affiance in God and to trust in the meanes vnder the vizard of carefull prouidence He will tempt them to propound this end of their good workes that they may be saued by them because God hath promised to reward them or to neglect good workes as vnnecessarie to saluation because faith alone iustifieth Which temptations if wee would withstand wee must labour after true sauing knowledge that we may discerne betweene vertue and vice truth and error that which God hath forbidden as vnlawfull from that which hee hath commanded as lawfull to this end vsing diligently all good meanes which tend to this purpose as hearing reading meditating and conferring of Gods word that so the clowdes of ignorance being dispelled with the light of knowledge wee may discouer Sathans delusions and deceits Otherwise if he depriue vs of knowledge which is the eye of the soule he may easily seduce vs out of the right way into the gulfe of perdition § Sect. 8 And thus Sathan dealeth with the weake Christian but if he finde those whom he assaulteth strong men in Christ so that he cannot take any aduantage of their ignorance How Sathan dealeth with the strong Christian nor ouerthrow their faith then he laboureth to make them wound their conscience by committing sins of presumption against their knowledge vsing the violence of their affections to abuse their reason and misleade their iudgement the daunger of which temptation Dauid well discerning by his owne wofull experience doth earnestly intreat the Lord to preserue him from presumptuous sins Psal 19.13 Psal 19.13 And thus hath Sathan preuailed with so many of Gods owne children that he durst therewith assault our Sauiour Christ himselfe by offring him the whole world and the glory thereof if he would fall down and worship him that his affections tickled with ambition might moue him to commit this sin for the satisfying his desires But if he cannot thus preuaile 2. Cor. 11.14 he wil transforme himself into an angell of light and tempt them to the doing of a lesse good that they may neglect a greater or that which is in it selfe lawfull and commanded in his due time place he will tempt them to performe it vnseasonably whē as other duties in respect of present occasion are more necessary and so vseth one vertue or dutie to shoulder another thrust it disorderly out of it own place and standing For example in the hearing of the word he will cast into their minds meditations in their owne nature good and acceptable to God in their due time and place to the end hee may distract their mindes and make them heare without profit in the time of prayer hee will not stick to recall to their memories some profitable instructions which they haue heard at the sermon to the end he may disturbe them in that holy exercise and keep them from lifting vp their hearts wholy vnto God Moreouer in all his temptations he will alleage scripture but then either hee depraueth the place by adding or distracting as when he alleageth scripture to our Sauiour Christ Matth. 4 6. It is written he will giue his angels charge ouer thee c. and leaueth out to keepe thee in all thy waies which is expressed in the place he quoteth Psal
of the saints and for the edification of the body of Christ. A notable example whereof wee haue Act. 2.41 where Act. 2.41 by one sermon three thousand soules were added to the Church Secondly hereby we are regenerated and begotten vnto God and therefore in this respect Paul professeth himselfe the father of the Corinthians 1. Cor. 4.15 1. Cor. 4.15 and without this regeneration and new birth none shall euer enter into the kingdome of God as our Sauiour sheweth vs Ioh. 3.5 Thirdly Ioh. 3.5 vnlesse the blinde eyes of our vnderstandings be illuminated we shall fall into a laborinth of errors and neuer finde the hard way which leadeth to Gods kingdome but the word of God is that heauenly light which shineth vnto vs who sit in darkenes and in the shadow of death guiding our feete into the way of peace as it is Luk. 1.79 and in this respect Luk. 1.79 Matth. 5.14 Act. 13.47 Gods ministers ars called the light of the world Math. 5.14 Act. 13.47 because as lights they guide and direct men in the waies of saluation and reueale vnto them the great light euen the Sunne of righteousnes Christ Iesus Fourthly through faith we are saued Ephes 2.8 Neither is it possible Eph. 2.8 that without saith wee should euer attaine vnto saluation for this is the condition of all the promises of the Gospell without which wee cannot haue any assurance of them Ioh. 1.12 and 3.16.18 Rom. 14.23 Heb. 11.6 Ioh. 1.12 and 3.16.18 Moreouer whatsoeuer is not done of faith is sinne Rom. 14.23 And without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 But the preaching of the word is the ordinarie meanes of begetting faith in vs as appeareth Rom. 10.17 Faith commeth by hearing Rom. 10.17 and hearing by the word of God And therefore whosoeuer contemne or neglect the hearing of Gods word they refuse the meanes of faith and being without faith all they doe is sinne and cannot please God neither can they euer haue any assurance of Gods promises or their owne saluation Lastly by the hearing of Gods word we are saued and therefore Gods ministers in this respect are called Sauers of the people 1. Tim. 4.16 Take heede vnto thy selfe and vnto learning 1. Tim. 4.16 continue therein for in so doing thou shalt both saue thy selfe and them that heare thee because they are the ministers of God whom he vseth as meanes and instruments in working the saluation of the elect and therfore seeing by the preaching of the word we are made members of the body of Christ regenerated inlightned seeing therby we attaine vnto faith euerlasting saluation let vs as we loue our owne soules diligently heare the word and not suffer our selues to be hindred from frequenting the holy assemblies of Gods saints with euery vaine pleasure and base commoditie § Sect. 5 But here the tempter wil be readie to obiect Sathans temptations whereby he vvithdraweth men from the diligent hearing of Gods word answered that though the word preached be thus necessarie and profitable at sometimes when we are at leasure yet this should be no reason to moue vs to neglect our busines or abandon our pleasures for when once by the hearing thereof we are conuerted inlightned with the knowledge of Gods true religion and indued with faith it is sufficient if we but seldome heare it for what in substance can we learne which we haue not alreadie learned or what can the preacher teach vs which we doe not know as well as he Against which temptation which is so common and pernicious it behooueth euery christian most carefully to arme himselfe and to this end let vs know first that this neglect of Gods word is a manifest signe that such are not as yet truely conuerted nor indued with any measure of sauing knowledge and true faith Ioh. 8.47 and 10.27 for whosoeuer are of God heare his word Ioh. 8.47 and all Christ sheepe heare his voyce and follow him as it is Ioh. 10.3.4.27 Whosoeuer haue attained vnto knowledge faith and the rest of the graces of Gods sanctifying spirit they will be so rauished with the excellencie of them that it is not possible for them to content themselues with a small measure but still they will labour to grow from knowledge to knowledge from faith to faith from one grace to another till they become perfect men in Christ And as those who haue but once tasted of some delicious meate are not satisfied therewith but againe and againe feede vpon it if easily they may come by it because their taste is exceedingly delighted therewith so if euer we did but truely taste of this heauenly Manna and spirituall foode of our soules the word of God we would not rest so contented but when oportunitie is offered we would often feede vpon it vntill our soules were fully satisfied and nourished vnto perfect strength 1. Cor. 12.13 and forasmuch as so long as we continue here our knowledge is but in part and our faith weake and Gods graces but in small measure therefore we would continually feede on this heauenly nourishment to the end of our liues that thereby our knowledge may be increased our faith strengthned and all other graces confirmed and multiplied in vs. But if on the otherside we loath this heauenly Manna it is a manifest signe we neuer tasted thereof in truth or that our soules are exceeding sicke in sinne which maketh them that they cannot rellish this daintie and delicious foode and that we haue not knowledge faith or any grace begotten in vs neither that our selues are begotten vnto God For as the childe being begotten and conceiued doth presently draw nourishment from the mother and the bigger it waxeth the more it desireth till it come vnto perfect age and strength so as soone as the graces of Gods spirit are begotten in vs by the preaching of the word they draw nourishment from their spiritual mother the Church and the stronger they waxe in grace the more earnestly they desire a greater pittance till they become perfect men in Christ And therefore where there is no desire of this foode there is no regeneration nor new birth Gods word the food of our soules often to be receiued Moreouer the word of God is the foode of our soules whereby we are nourished and the graces of Gods spirit confirmed and increased in vs and therefore it is not sufficient to eate of this foode once or twice but continually euen as often as the Lord calleth vs to this spirituall banquet For as the body will waxe faint and quickly perish vnlesse that which wasteth away be continually supplied by nourishment so will the soule languish and waxe faint in spirituall graces vnlesse it be often nourished with this heauenly Manna Let not therefore Sathan perswade vs that seldome hearing of Gods word is sufficient whereas this banquet is often prouided for though in the time of scarcitie by the
scratches or little cutts Neither is he more able then willing for hereby his vertue and power his loue and bountie is the more manifested to his endlesse and immortall prayse That those who doubt of the remission of their sinnes derogate from the vertâ—â— of Christs merites But if we thinke our soules so filthy that he cannot purge them what doe wee els but derogate from the vertue of his bloud if we will not goe to this heauenly Phisition to craue his helpe because our sicknesse is grieuous and dangerous what doe we els but call his skill into question If wee will not shew our wounds because they are griesly what doe we els but notably detract from the cunning of this our spirituall surgeon and doubt of the vertue and efficacie of the pretious baulme of his bloud Whereas on the other side if we see our polluted filthinesse and yet goe vnto Christ that we may be washed and cleansed we acknowledge the vertue and excellencie of the spirituall lauer of his bloud if wee plainely discerne that our sicknesse is desperate and yet goe to our soules Physition not doubting of recouery we thereby extoll our Physitions skill if our woundes be in themselues griesly and incurable yet we resort to our heauenly Surgeon to be healed of them wee cannot more commend his all sufficient cunning And therefore seing it is in these our extremities to our Sauiour Christ most honorable and acceptable and to our selues most profitable and full of comfort if we come vnto Christ not doubting of his helpe let vs not pretend excuses eyther because we are vnfit vnworthy or in a desperate state for by thus aggrauating our owne remedilesse misery we extenuate and call into question Gods mercy and Christs al-sufficiency wee spoyle him of his honour glorie our owne soules of all ioy consolation § Sect. 5 Secondly we may gather firme assurance of the pardon of our sinnes from the offices of Christ That the offices of Christ giue vs assurance of the remission of our sinnes And first in that he is our Prophet for first he is our prophet who hath reuealed vnto vs all the will and counsayle of his father he hath declared vnto vs the mysterie of our redemption and the meanes of our saluation how we may attaine vnto the remission of our sinnes and how wee may come out of that miserable and wretched estate in which we are by nature and attaine vnto eternall happinesse he it is who by the bright beames of his word doth illuminate our vnderstandings and by the operation of his holy spirit doth cause the seales of ignorance to fall from our eyes Giuing knowledge of saluation to his people by remission of sinnes He is that glorious and bright shining day starre which from an highe hath visited vs to giue light vnto them who sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death and to guide our feete into the way of peace If therefore we will walke in the way which he sheweth vs and vse those meanes which hee reuealeth vnto vs in his Gospell namely turne vnto God by vnfained repentance and beleeue in him by a liuely faith wee shall not need to feare our sinnes though neuer so grieuous and manifold for this our heauenly Prophet hath truely reuealed vnto vs a plaine way how wee may come out of our sinnes and be reconciled vnto God how we may be adorned with the glorious robe of his righteousnesse and bee made partakers of all his merites how we may become of the children of wrath and firebrands of hell the children of God and heires of heauen And therefore let vs walke in this way and assure our selues that wee shall come to the iourney end of our desires for truth it selfe is our guide so that we need not to doubt of the way § Sect. 6 Secondly our sauiour Christ is our high priest ReasoÌ„s drawn from Christes priesthood who hath offered vp vnto his father an all-sufficient sacrifice and full satisfaction for our sinnes whereby Gods iustice is fully satisfied and his wrath appeased who also sitting at the right hand of his father continually maketh intercession for vs. The sacrifice which this our high priest offered was himselfe as the apostle testifieth Heb. 9.26 euen his body to be crucified and his bloud to be shed for the putting away of our sinnes the which oblation was offred on the altar of his diety which sanctified the sacrifice gaue vnto it such sufficieÌ„cy and valew that it was a perfect price ful satisfaction for the sins of al the faithful as the apostle witnesseth 1. Ioh. 2.2 Hee is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours only but for the sinnes of the whole world Seeing therefore this our high priest hath giuen himselfe for vs euen his body to be crucified and his bloud to be shed to this end that it might bee a propitiatorie sacrifice and full satisfaction for our sinnes and seeing he was once offered to take away the sinnes of many as the Apostle speaketh Heb. 9 28. wee need not doubt of the remission of our sinnes if wee come vnto him by a liuely faith for to this end hee hath shed his bloud that he therby might offer vnto God a full satisfaction for our sinnes and purge away all our wickednesse and therefore if hee should not attaine vnto his end that is if hee should not satisfie Gods iustice and appease his wrath by purging and takeing away all our sinnes his precious bloud should be shed in vaine § Sect. 7 Moreouer he is our mediatour and intercessour ReasoÌ„s drawn from Christer intercession who continually sitteth at the right hand of his father making intercession for vs by shewing and pleading his owne meritts righteousnesse and obedience whereby hee pacifieth his fathers displeasure and worketh vs into his loue and fauour And this the apostle witnesseth Rom. 8.34 It is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request for vs. So also Heb. 9.24 it is said that our high priest Iesus Christ is entred into heauen to appeare in the sight of God for vs. and the Apostle Iohn sayth 1. Ioh. 2.1 If any man sinne wee haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the iust and hee is the propitiation for our sinnes neither need wee to doubt of his effectuall dealing for vs for if hee loued vs so dearely that hee spared not to giue his precious life for vs there is no question but he wil be exceeding earnest in making request for vs neither will hee be sparing in wordes who hath not spared his dearest bloud And therfore seing our high priest doth continually make intercession for vs wee need not to doubt but that hee will obtaine his suite and procure the pardon of our sinnes and his fathers loue and fauour Especially considering that hee intreateth nothing which hee hath not deserued
extraordinarie blessing of God wee may goe with Elias fortie daies in the strength of one meale yet if we feede no oftner when the Lord graunteth vnto vs plentifull prouision of the spirituall foode our soules will be hungerstarued Neither let our often receiuing of this heauenly nourishment cause vs with the vnthankfull Israelits to loath it or like wayward children or impacient sicke patients spit it out of our mouthes againe for if our appetites be thus cloyed through a surfet of satietie surely we are to feare least the Lord who is a cunning physition will prescribe vs a long fast till we haue recouered our stomackes as he threatneth Amos 8.11 I will send a famine in the land Amos. 8.11 not a famine of bread nor a thirst of water but of hearing the word of the Lord. And then we shall wander from sea to sea and from the North euen to the East shall we runne to and fro to seeke the word of the Lord and shall not finde it § Sect. 6 Lastly That we should often heare though we had sufficient knowledge though it should be graunted that we had attained vnto such a measure of knowledge that we should neede no more yet are there many reasons why we should continually heare Gods word with as great diligence as euer we did for the end of our hearing is not onely to know but also to practise not only to informe our iudgements but also to reforme our affections not onely to beget the graces of Gods spirit in vs but also to nourish and increase them not onely to teach vs what we should doe but also to stirre vs vp to the doing thereof and the word of God is not onely a light for our feete to shew vs the way but also a pricke in our sides to make vs goe in the way and a bridle in our mouthes to keepe vs from wandering it is not onely profitable to teach but to improue to correct and instruct in righteousnes That the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes 2. Tim. 3.16 as it is 2. Tim. 3.16 it is not onely profitable for doctrine but for edification exhortation and consolation as appeareth 1. Cor. 14.3 And therefore it is not sufficient to come once or twice to the assemblies of Gods saints 1. Cor. 14.3 but we must aboue all things desire with the prophet Dauid that we may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of our life Psal 27.4 to behold the beautie of the Lord and to visit his temple Psal 27.4 For though our knowledge be neuer so great yet so long as we haue any sinne hanging on or any grace imperfect in vs we had neede to be continuall hearers of Gods word for the suppressing of the one and perfecting of the other CHAP. XIX Sathans temptation whereby hee perswadeth men that the Scriptures are not Gods word answered § Sect. 1 THe second temptation which Sathan suggesteth into mens mindes The temptation to the end he may moue them to neglect the hearing of Gods word or though they doe heare it to reiect it through vnbeliefe he thus frameth What folly is it to take such paines in hearing the scripture and what madnes is it so stedfastly to beleeue it seeing thou knowest not whether it be Gods word or the subtill deuise of mans braine to keepe the people in awe and to restraine them from such secret faults as other humane lawes ratified and confirmed with temporall and outward punishments and rewards cannot keepe them from because the lawes of princes cannot no more than the lawgiuers themselues either fore see preuent or punish any faults and offences which are not open and manifest why shouldest thou thereby be moued to forsake thy delightfull sinnes and to imbrace vnpleasant godlines to abandon thy pleasures and to vndertake an austere and strict course of life seeing thou knowest not whether the scriptures be true or false the word of the euerlasting God or the inuention of mortall man The ansvvere that all religion dependeth vpon the authoritie of the Scriptures Against which temptation it behoueth euery man most carefully to arme himselfe as vndermining the very foundation of all true religion for take away the authoritie of the scriptures and you shall open a wide dore to all carnall worldlines beastly epicurisme and diuelish atheisme they being the onely true rule of vertue whereby we are directed to chuse the good and refuse the euill the scepter of God whereby he ruleth all the subiects of his kingdome which being reiected we giue ouer our selues to be ruled by the diuell and the lusts of our owne flesh the light of our eyes without which wee are blind and walke in darkenes the foode of our soules which being taken away they languish in all spirituall graces and fall into miserable death and destruction and the sworde of the spirit whereby wee defend our selues and beate backe our spirituall enemies which being plucked out of our hand we are easily vanquished and led captiue vnto all sinne and wickednes § Sect. 2 Reasons to proue that the scripture was indited by Gods spirit 1. The antiquitie of the scriptures And that we may be the better prouided against this temptation let vs propound some reasons whereby gainesayers may be conuinced and Gods children perswaded of the truth and authoritie of the scripture The first argument to proue the scriptures to be written by the motion and reuelation of Gods spirit is the antiquitie thereof for whatsoeuer religion is most auncient that proceedeth from God but the religion contained in the scriptures is of all other most auncient and therefore God was the author thereof The first part of this reason is cleere and manifest for seeing man was created for Gods glorie to the end he should worship and serue him and could not performe acceptable worship and seruice vnto God vnlesse he reuealed his wil vnto him therfore that man might attaine vnto the end of his creation it was necessarie that the Lord should from the beginning reueale vnto him his true religion whereby he might know how to worship and serue him according to his will And consequently the first and most auncient religion is the true religion which proceeded from God and all other are false and counterfait which are disagreeing and repugnant hereunto seeing Gods will is one and the same constant and immutable The second part of this reason namely that the religion deliuered in the scriptures is of all others most auncient is of vndoubted truth for it is within a few daies as auncient as the world it selfe taking it beginning from mans creation and so continuing in a constant and vnchangeable course vnto this day Now all other religions are but new and vpstart in comparison hereof taking their beginnings diuers thousand yeares since the creation yea euen the Gods themselues which they worship which intruth were men like themselues
Sauiour and Redeemer namely Christ Iesus who only saueth vs from our sinnes as it is Matth. 1.21 Neither is there saluation in any other as it is Act. 4.12 Matth. 1.21 Act. 4.12 For as there is but one God so there is but one Mediatour between God and man which is the man Iesus Christ as it is 1. Tim. 2.5 1. Tim. 2.5 And by him alone we haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes and that without any respect of our worthinesse but according to his rich grace Eph. 1.7 Eph. 1.7 Luk. 1.68 And though we do not exclude God the Father from the worke of our redemption for he is the author and first cause who hath so loued vs that hee sent his sonne to saue and redeeme vs nor the holy Ghost who applieth vnto vs the merits and efficacie of Christs death making them effectuall for our saluation yet if we speake properly our Sauiour Christ onely can be called our Redeemer and that in these respects first because he alone was ordained and deputed to perfect the worke of our redemption secondly because he onely was God and man both which were necessarily required in our Mediatour and Redeemer that hee might haue full right and abilitie to redeeme vs thirdly because hee alone gaue himselfe to bee the price of our redemption and lastly because in him onely there is perfect redemption as being our head who not only hath saluation in himselfe but also deriueth it to all the members of his bodie Thirdly I set downe the captiuitie it selfe out of which wee were redeemed namely not the captiuitie of Egypt or Babylon nor out of the slauerie of the Turke Spaniard or any other earthly Tyrant whose thraldome might well be bitter but not long because our liues are short and grieuous to the bodie but extendeth not to the soule but Christ hath deliuered vs out of the bondage of sinne Sathan hell and death in which we should haue been enthralled and fearefully tormented for euer and euer not in bodie alone but in soule also § Sect. 2 Fourthly 1. Pet. 1.18 How Christ is said to haue bought vs with a price I shew the price which hee hath giuen for our redemption namely not siluer and gold or any corruptible thing but himself euen his bodie to be crucified and his bloud to bee shed that so his fathers iustice being satisfied and his wrath appeased wee might be set free out of the thraldome of our spirituall enemies But it may be demaunded how it can truly be said that Christ hath redeemed vs by paying the price of our redemption seeing the scriptures testifie that by his power hee hath forcibly deliuered vs out of the hands of our spirituall enemies So Heb. 2.14 it is said that Christ destroyed him who had the power of death that is the diuell And Col. 2.15 the Apostle sheweth that hee hath spoyled principalities and powers and hath led them openly and triumphed ouer them And Luk. 11.22 hee is compared to a valiant champion who hath thrust the strong man Sathan out of his possession by which it may appeare that our Sauiour hath not redeemed vs by giuing a price after a legall manner but by force and as it were by conquest I answere that Christ hath both paid the price of our redemption and also hath deliuered vs forcibly by his power for hee paid the price vnto God to whom hee offered the sacrifice of himselfe that it might be a full satisfaction for sinne and a sufficient price to redeeme vs out of the captiuitie of our spirituall enemies and to purchase the fauour of God and our heauenlie inheritance in his kingdome and therefore in respect of God the Father to whom our Sauiour offred himselfe hee is said to haue redeemed vs by giuing a ransome for vs. But when Gods iustice was fully satisfied Christ dealt not with our spirituall enemies by intreatie much lesse offred hee this price of our redemption to Sathan for if no sacrifice might lawfully bee offered vnto any saue God alone much more vnlawfull was it that this sacrifice of Christs bodie should be offred vnto the diuell but by his almightie power hee ouercame the power of darknesse vanquished Sathan subdued death and broke open the prison of the graue and so by strong hand set all Gods elect at libertie For after that the debt of our sinnes was discharged our ransome paid and the handwriting of ordinances cancelled and nailed vnto the crosse these our spirituall enemies had no iust interest vnto vs nor any thing to alledge why they should longer hold vs in their captiuitie but yet the strong man who had taken possession would not willingly lose it vnlesse hee were ouercome with a greater strength and therefore our Sauiour Christ hauing bought vs of his father and so become our true owner buckled with our spirituall enemies ouercame these principalities and powers triumphed gloriously ouer them and freed vs out of their tyrannicall iurisdiction But it may bee obiected that wee were captiues vnto Sathan and therefore the price of redemption was to be paied vnto him and not vnto God the father who held vs not in his captiuitie I answere that though Sathan held vs in his captiuitie yet not in his owne right for wee had not sinned against him to whom we were not bound to performe obedience nor were indebted vnto him but wee had sinned against God whose seruants wee were by right of creation and had infinitly runne into his debt which we were altogether vnable to pay and therefore like a iust iudge he condemned vs to the perpetuall prison of death and committed vs to the custodie of Sathan as vnto a iaylor to be kept in his bondage till we had satiffied for our sinnes and discharged our debt which being impossible to vs our Sauiour Christ hauing assumed our nature and become our suretie and mediator payed that we owed and suffered that which we had descrued and so fully satisfying his fathers iustice hath purchased our redemption so as now Sathan had no more anthoritie to retaine vs in his captiuitie then the iaylor hath of holding him in prison who by the iudge is released or the executioner of hanging him whom the iudge hath acquitted or pardoned And therefore tyrannically exercising still his iurisdiction our Sauiour by strong hand ouercame him and all the power of hell that so he might set vs at libertie whom his fathers iust sentence had acquitted and his mercie pardoned The last thing to be considered is the end of our redemption namely that we should no longer serue sinne and Sathan out of whose bondage wee are released but become the seruants of Christ who hath redeemed vs seruing him in holines and righteousnes all the daies of our liues that so glorifying him here on earth he may glorifie vs in heauen and make vs partakers of those euerlasting ioyes which by his death and bloodshed he hath purchased for vs. CHAP.