lay your honour in the dust and your hopes in obliuion Neuer a whit sayes the Apostle for why should they why I will tell you what All these that yee haue named let them bandy themselues together with their best forces let the Deuill be their leader and bee their warriour all come rushing against vs with the extremitie of their malice why they hurt vs not an hayre they get neuer a foot of ground from vs neither is our spirituall estate in any hazard by all their stratagems though they spew out the very gall of their bitternesse the height of their malice though they strike straight downe without any remorse and make euen a lane before them as they goe yet neuerthelesse this is our reioycing this is our triumph and our crowne of glory that the day is ours the field is won ours is the conquest for in these yea in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loued vs. Which words as you see by the Apostles Reioynder to the foregoing challenge vpon a supposed acceptation who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ Tribulation and anguish c. they take vpon them the combat they will bee the men that shall doe it The Apostle hereupon replies and returnes his speach in a disiunct proposition to this purpose Well sayes he suppose that all these fellowes you tribulation c. doe seaze vpon vs as wee know they may and doe vs the worst that they can as we are sure they will for for thy sake are wee killed all the day long we are euen counted as sheepe to the slaughter neuertheles we haue no cause of discomfort for though we be afflicted on euery side yet are we not in distresse though we be in pouertie yet not thereby ouercome though we be persecuted yet are we not forsaken in a word though wee be cast downe we perish not yea we are so far from the foile that in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loued vs. As if the Apostle had said Suppose we be in tribulation yet tribulation yeelds experience and experience hope and hope makes vs not ashamed nay it giues vs confidence and accesse with boldnesse Say we be in persecution and that the butchers of Gods Saints get vs into their fingers yet so that wee reioyce vnder the crosse and count it a crowne we are ioyfull in bonds and deeme them freedome yea our very stripes are the marks of the Lord Iesus ô glorious lashes Say we be in anguish that that bitter fellow hath laid hold on vs yet so that though heauinesse lodge for a night and will not let vs feele the softnesse of the pillow yet ioy comes in the morning the Lord renuing his mercies Say we be in nakednesse that we haue neuer a rag on our backs nor so much as an old sacke to creepe into yet this is our comfort that one day we shall haue heauenly vestures rich robes and long white garments scarlet with pleasures golden abiliments Say we be in perill in the extremitie of hazard yet so that in the greatest dangers wee expect the Lords deliuerance with Dauid ready to bee slaine wee comfort our selues in our God with Ionas wee seeme to be cast out of his sight yet with the same Prophet wee remember his holy temple his former mercies In a word say wee bee vnder the sword euen in the iawes and fanges of death yet this is our rejoycement that euen in death there is life death it selfe is great gaine the graue is hie aduantage For blessed are the dead that die in the Lord well therefore may we be said to be Conquerors yea more then conquerors through him that loued vs. So that to come to our purpose we haue in this Text two things obseruable the Triumph of a Christian the victorie of faith the ground of that triumph the loue of Christ The victorie of faith makes vs more the conquerors wee obtaine that victorie through him that loued vs. Our obseruation shall bee none other than the Apostles owne assertion That the elect of God his owne peculiar haue this prerogatiue a matter of speciall esteeme that howsoeuer they be encompassed with many afflictions and grieuances yet in all exigences they winne the day they atchieue the conquest they are more than conquerors Or in a word what present enemies soeuer they haue waging warre against them for the heauenly inheritance they bring them vnder they doe more than ouercome them This is the verdict of the diuine spirit vttered from the Oracle of truth in this text To the explaning whereof two things are to be vnfolded First who bee our worldly enemies heere intimated next how we may be said to be more than conquerors The Apostle aimes at both at our enemies in that he saith In all these things at our conquest in that he saith We doe more than ouercome Our enemies included in the former words are recited in the verse foregoing and marshalled as it were in battell aray Tribulation c. A great troope I promise you a terrible armie So that I may well say of their number with Iehorams watchman I see a companie and of their comming t is like Iehu the sonne of Nimshi for they march furiously And to giue you a view of their seuerall forces prowesse in the forefront is placed tribulation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it doth properly note out vnto vs all such bodily grieuances and afflictions as doe offer violence vnto our outward man and put it to pressure and torture The next is anguish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which ranke doe march all such inward vexations as doe euen hem in and strayten the soule and bring it into a narrow roome that it wants the vse of it selfe and is brought to it wits end In the third place is persecution 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is as it were a seconding of the former forces by a continuall supply of might and malice to aggrauate our grieuance and to continue our vexation The next is famine want of food necessarie an enemie that the Wiseman prayes against Prou. 30. of which kind is Nakednes likewise Want of vesture to couer our shame and keep vs from annoyance the one being an enemie to the backe the other to the belly Vpon these two bands followes Peril and therin all the dangers that do or may betide vs in this present life and put our state in hazard And the last the sorest enemie is the Sword all kind of violent death which the godly are put vnto for the profession of the Lord Iesus and the testimonie of a good conscience These are our enemies which heere are mustred against vs and infinite more of the like kind vnto all which the Deuill is the chiefe leader the generall of the armie that great commander who puts in vre the best of his policie and the proofe of his strength to giue vs the foyle And that wee
euen stand for him to the very face of the high Priest and the Elders Is Paul in bonds and imprisonment for the Gospell why that gaines freedome to the Gospell and makes it famous euen in Neroes court Is Lazarus ready to starue for hunger and in the faintnesse of his spirit does hee giue vp the ghost I but what loseth he by that what looseth he nay he is a great gainer for hee comes so much the sooner to heauen for death the Lord of our enemies is swallowed vp in victorie I it is made a passage of life being past it we are out of all gun-shot for then for euer we are conquerors our triumph shal be celebrated to eternity the greater danger the more glorious victorie thus wee are likewise more than conquerors Lastly wee may bee said to bee more than Conquerors in that when we seeme to be ouercome and all men deeme we haue the foile why then haue we the day then doe we celebrate the Triumph then wee may sing with Deborah O my soule thou hast marched valiantly This is especially seene in death when as that fearefull Combatant that gastly Aduersarie assailes vs and sets vpon vs and therfore wee will instance onely in that and shew you how euen in death when we are laid full low why then is our Triumph at the highest our Conquest is most supereminent A strange conclusion to humane reason but an euident truth to the eye of faith For when as the godly are brought once to this passe that the wicked haue bereaued them of their liues O then they thinke all is well they are rid of them they haue now brought them vnder So the Deuill thought and hee could get Christ nayled to the crosse once all was well nay but and if he be laid in the graue once and the stone sealed vp all is sure there will be no more talking of him vnlesse it be in disgrace to call him a deceiuer who said he would rise within three daies but could not and therfore there would be no more doings vnlesse his Disciples should come and steale him away by night to gull the people But they would watch them for that they would set souldiers to keepe the Tombe and see who durst be so bold as to come and stirre it Thus the Deuill and his impes did euen dance as it were vpon the graue of Christ and fetch their friskes and Moriscoes as it were singing as it is in the Psalme Surely hee is now so low he can neuer rise againe Thus they trampled vpon him as vpon a dead Lion but the mightie Lion of the Tribe of Iudah rose valiantly from the dead grappled with that mightie Dragon and ouerthrew him and like that valiant Sampson caried the gates of Azzah the gates of death vpon his backe in triumph so that they are now no more the gates of death but the gates of life whereby all the godly enter into glory So that if the Deuill come vnto Gods children and tell them skin for skin and all that a man hath will he giue for his life they may tell him he lyes for if it so pleased God they had rather giue all they haue to be rid of their life If I should here enlarge my speech to relate the valour and confidence and reioycement that the constant Martyrs and faithfull witnesses of the Lord Iesus haue had in suffering for his truth I might liuely paint out vnto you more than a conquest Steuen vnder the stones sees heauen open and Christ at his Fathers right hand ready to receiue him the apprehension whereof did euen so solace his Soule that hee laid downe his life with solace showing greater valour in bearing the blowes then they crueltie in their enraged malice We read in the stories of the Church of a young man that was put to the racke for the profession of Christ and being kept vpon it with much torture from morning to noone hee lay all the while quietly with a sweet smiling countenance as one that had been in a pleasant slumber which being much admired when he was deliuered from the racke it was demanded of him whether he felt no paine all the while because his countenance was so cheerefull he answered indeed that hee did feele some paine but all the while as hee thought there stood by him a beautifull yoong man who wyped the sweat off his face alwayes and besprinkled him with cold water insomuch that the paine was greatly allaied and it was not so much when he was on the Racke as after he was taken off How euer all the godly haue not such extraordinarie apparitions yet they haue the power of Christ supporting their weaknesse and the presence of the spirit giuing them courage and abilitie to beare all with courage that is laid vpon them for the name of Christ I might giue many instances of rare constancie in this our Land in the time of Queene Mary in which the Lords people did euen after a sort seeme lauish of their bloud to shed it for the witnessing of the Lord Iesus who had not spared to shed his hearts bloud for them Who all being ayded by Gods speciall assistance did breake through all difficulties and freely gaue their liues for the Gospell and therein became more than conquerors in that being conquered they conquered yea in that they seemed to bee ouercome therein stood the very glory of their victorie for that same Christian valour the Lord had put into them it made them resolue to cleaue to Christ in life and in death to make him their portion To which purpose excellent is that speech of that Reuerend Hooper laying out vnto vs the combat betweene the frailtie of the flesh and the resolution of the spirit and letting vs see how the grace of God preuailes against the disgraces and greeuances of the world Imprisonment saith he is painfull but yet libertie vpon bad conditions is more painfull The prisons stinke I but not so much as sweet houses where the feare of God is wanting I but we must be alone and solitarie why it is better to be so and haue God with thee then to be in companie with the wicked Losse of goods is great But the losse of Gods fauour and grace is greater I but I am a poore simple creature and cannot tell how to answer before such a great sort of noble learned and wise It is better to make answer before the pompe and pride of wicked men then to stand naked in the sight of all heauen and earth before the iust God at the latter day Why but I shall die then by the hands of the cruell man Why he is blessed yea a thousand times happy that loseth this life full of mortall miseries and findeth the life full of eternall Ioyes Thus beloued the holy ones of God haue resolued to lay downe their liues for the Lord Iesus and in loosing their liues they haue found them for they haue found Christ
The Triumph of Faith A VERY GODLY fruitfull and comfortable Treatise on ROM 8. verse 37. Penned by Daniel Ienkinson Master in Arts late of EMMANVEL Coll. in Cambridge and found in his Studie at the time of his death 1. IOHN 5.4 This is that victory that hath ouercome this world euen our faith LONDON Printed by Edw. Griffin for Sam. Macham and are to be solde at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Bull-head 1613. TO THE CHRISTIAN Reader GEntle Reader as it was bountifull loue to his louely Ionathan that moued the sweet Singer of Israel King Dauid to show such kindnesse to Mephibosheth Ionathans sonne as to cause him to eat continually at the Kings Table 2. Sam. 9.13 so it is Christian loue to my deceased loue worthie Ionathan that hath mooued me to giue this his obscured fatherlesse Orphan falling into my hands the best preferment I was able vz. to liue as I hope continually in the houses and somtimes hands and if God blesse my wish euen in the harts of true Christians as yeelding a liuely sent and fragrant smel of those great Graces which abounded plentifully in the godly Parent and which too soone were nipped in the bud and by vntimely death restrained from the vse of the Church if it may so be sayd without offence to the highest Prouidence vnder correction and condition of his most righteous will If this poore Orphan Infant the legitimate issue of a childe in yeeres but of a man for gifts and an olde Christian may chance to please and grow acceptable for his fathers sake or his owne sake where hee may conuerse there is some hope that in due time the Lord permitting some of his Germane brothers may beare him companie on this fashion as good companions for all true Christians in this wearie pilgrimage towards the celestiall Canaan wherevnto both this and the rest do giue true aime if I take not my aime amisse And so hoping that after the reading heereof thou wilt confesse thy selfe the abundant reaper of my Loues fruit I leaue thee in his watchfull protection who alone sanctifieth all meanes of sauing knowledge and graces vnto his children crauing but thy prayers for my paines and resting one that desires thy true good vnfainedly I. A. THE TRIVMPH of Faith Rom. Chap. 8. Ver. 37. Neuerthelesse in all these things we are more then conquerours through him that loued vs. THese words may not vnfitly be termed The triumph of Faith and the glorious vaunt of a resolued Christian grounded vpon the liuely apprehension of Grace and the infallible expectance of Glory Both which the Apo. hauing euinced in the foregoing Treatise by instances and reasons aboue exception he steps in in the thirty and one verse with an holy challenge daring defiance to any encounter disdaine to any Combatant or resolued Champion that dare enter the lists with him and accept his challenge What then shall we say to these things if God be on our side who can be against vs yea Paule indeed t is somewhat that yee say if God be on our side who can be against vs or if they be against vs what hurt can they doe vs what skills their prowes and opposition though it were the plotting of Achitophel or Rabshekahs resolution when as God playes our part the Lord himselfe maintaines our quarell against whome there is neither wisdome nor counsell neither bodily puissance nor courage in the day of battel But how can ye make vs beleeue that God is on our side how may we be perswaded that we haue such an approued Captaine of so tried a strength for prowesse so puissant how says the Apostle why I will tell you he spared not his only Sonne but how shall he not with him giue vs all things also yea euen himselfe which is all in all he that hath giuen vs his Sonne the heyre of all things is it likely that he will deny vs matters of any value of any consequence he that hath giuen vs his Sonne his ioy and delight how is it possible that he should denie vs himselfe nay in that he hath giuen vs his Sonne which is his delight he hath giuen vs himselfe For where a mans treasure is there his heart is and where his heart is there himselfe is Now Christ being Gods treasure and this treasure giuen to vs we may well with Dauid challenge the Lord as our owne possession especially sith our Christ is the tresure-house of diuine benediction of whose fulnes we haue al receiued the worker of attonement and reconciliation that hath made God to be on our side that to fore was auerted from vs. We may well therefore exult and chaunt out those chearefull notes of Israels sweet singer that diuine Musitian The Lord is our light and our saluation whom shall we feare the Lord is the strength of our life of whom shall we be afraid Heereupon the Apostle throwes downe his gauntlet with a challenge to our spirituall enemies to see if any of them dare appeare in their likenes or admit of his proffer But when it will not be he prouokes them to iudgment Then who saith he shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect no body answers T is God that Iustifieth who shal condemne who dare appeare in iudgement against vs If they wil go that way to worke all is husht no body peeps out And why I pray you because we haue such a Captain as none dare meete in the feild such an Aduocate as none dare oppose such a friend in the court as none dare looke in the face Christ Iesus who was dead but is risen againe with Triumph ouer the powers of death of damnation who now sitting at the right hand of God makes request for vs Yea saith the Apostle will none of them apeare shall we haue none answere in this kind wee le euen to our former challenge call them out by their names and see what they will say to vs. Ho saith he who shall seperate vs from the loue of Christ who dare bee so bold as to vndertake that encounter what tribulation or anguish or persecution c. Will you say any thing to vs dare you put in a foot here yea I promise you Paule now you haue met with your match these fellowes will say somwhat to you they will put you to your shifts I tell you for heere we go to the wall These will not greeue and annoy and pursue vs but depriue vs also of life and spirits and leaue vs breathlesse and liuelesse and soulelesse and yet this perill is so ineuitable that besides wofull experience t is the verdict and doome of the diuine spirit that for thy sake are we killed all the day long wee are euen counted as sheep to the slaughter What say you to this Paul Do not these coole your courage doe not these make you to pull in the head Do you not thinke that these will abalienate you from Christ
either runne after him or turne to our side and helpe vs to war against him But that we should not ouercome onely but be more than conquerors this is the preheminence of a Christian souldier aboue all other warriours But may that bee may some say I answer we may be said to be more than conquerors in 4. respects which I wish you to take notice of as worthy obseruation 1. In that before wee enter into the lists wee are sure of the victorie worldly conquerors we know are not sure of the day before they goe to the field they are not sure of the victorie till they see the end and therefore if Achab threaten Mica it must be but with yffs ands if I returne in peace then Mica must pay for the pinnes If Rabshake will needs dominere ouer Gods inheritance and sound the retraite before the Alarme hee shall be taught to know that his tongue was a little more hastie then his wit for the issue of war is doubtfull and he that puts on his armour may not exult as he that puts it off But we beloued that march vnder Christs banner haue this priuiledge aboue al worldly Martialists that we are sure of the victorie before the fight we are sure to returne with Triumph and Renowme at least for the finall Conquest Insomuch that that which the old Israelites had sometime assured by diuine verdict we haue alwaies assured by the vertue of the promise and the current of the couenant of Grace The truth whereof is most apparant In that Christ our Capt hath subdued their forces he our head hath led them in Triumph this conquest is appropriated to vs the like victorie according to our Model is merited for vs. The power of his strength is daily at hand to giue vs strength to affoord vs assistance to infuse courage adde dexteritie how we may handle our spiritual armour how we may take our foes at aduantage and how we may best giue them recoyle So that that which is counted meere folly amongst men in Christianitie is held a point of wise resolution vz. to triumph before the victorie for before the victorie we are sure to be conquerors in this surely more than conquerors 2. We are more than conquerors in this that we who euerie way are so silly and simple of so meane forces and so litle power doe obtaine the victorie In earthly conquests we know the victorie is vsually obtayned by valiant and resolute Spirits great Commanders and experienced souldiers as the worthies of Dauid the sonnes of Zeruiah but here it is far otherwise We that are very earth-wormes the outcast of the world in the hands of all these grieuous aduersaries Tribulation anguish c. euen as Lambs before the rauenous creatures as little Dauid before that Gyant-like Goliah we I say that are so vnequall matches we breake through all their forces like the three mightie men through the host of the Philistims they be all subdued vnto vs death it selfe the last enemie is turned into life Bethmaueth into Bethel the doore of death into the gate of heauen So that a Christian lying in the agonie and anguish thereof and finding small solace in regard of the exigent when it pleaseth the Lord to open the eyes of his soule by deliuering it from the prison of his bodie as he did Iacob from his dreame lying in the field he may well say with that holy man This is the house of God and I was not aware this is none other then the very gate of heauen But to our purpose beloued If you should see a little boy bicker with a mighty Giant of great strength and puissance and that he should bring him vnder giue him the ouerthrow and quite vanquish him would ye not say the child were more than a conqueror Surely the Israelites thought so of Dauid and sutably they gaue him an eminent and superlatiue applause in their triumphant gratulation Saul hath slain his thousand and Dauid his ten thousand Why euen so it is with vs we that are thus weake and feeble and vnweldie to see too that haue neither forme nor beautie in vs nor any thing to be desired we obtaine the victorie And that God who doth by the foolishnesse of preaching confound the wisedome of the wise by the weake and despised things of the world make the strong to stoope and lay their honour in the dust and their port in obliuion that God I say perfits his owne strength in our weaknes assists vs so with the sufficiencie of his grace that we may well be said to be more then conquerors Againe we are more then conquerors in that by euery victory we grow the stronger yea by euery foil we grow the more puissant Worldly conquerors we know tho they win the victory yet it is vsually with the losse of much blood their forces are long time after much weake and therfore the lesse vnable to bicker againe But we beloued get the better by all these brunts we get more strength by all our incounters not in experiment only but likewise in ability if not somtimes for the present yet alwaies in time conuenient If we be in tribulation why Peter telleth vs it bringeth forth patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh vs to lay faster hould vpon God and to hould vp our heads with comfort So that for one affliction we get fower vertues for one enimie fower asociats for tribulatiō namely we are armed with the buckler of patienc the brestplate of experience the helmet of hope and the shield of faith and what loosers then are we by the bargaine are we in affliction why Dauid will tell vs it was good for him that he was afflicted for therby he learned to keep Gods law Did not he get good strength before he could not make straight steps to Gods statutes But he was fetting byasses and compasses hee went limping and ill fauouredly in the way to heauen but now now he had learned to goe vpright and to runne with cheerefulnesse and so shall we doe beloued if our afflictions bee sanctified vnto vs. Are wee reuiled and persecuted for the name of Christ and the profession of his trueth why Christ tells vs we are happy and blessed The Apostles thought they were highly dignified yea strangely preferred that they were thought worthy to suffer any thing for the name of Christ And surely it is an high dignitie to be a Captaine as it were against Satan and to breake a speare in the cause of Christ For this encouragement wee get by it that whereas before we were ashamed of the name of Christ we were afraid to professe the truth now we are as bold as Lyons and as resolute as may be in the cause of God Peter that before durst not looke a silly wench in the face but would sweare and lye rather than he would take notice of Christ is now of so couragious a spirit that he dare