Faith for our saluation by Christ For our strengthening in both of these assurances the Lord maketh diuers promises In all of which wee shall finde vsually these two things Matter what First what bee the excellent benefites and vnsearchable riches which be brought to vs in Christ which bee set forth vnto vs sometimes generallie all in a lumpe that hee will saue vs and sometimes more particularlie that hee will forgiue and cleanse vs all to this end to draw vp our earthly mindes and affections so to hunger and thirst after them as neuer to be at rest till wee doe in some measure enioy them Secondly Persons to whom the persons to whom these bee in the Gospell proclamed that so euery one may applie them to himselfe by Faith and be assured they be his Both which shall now better appâ—are in the particular promises And first concerning Christ and the benefites brought by him Christ promised wee may well begin with that which was the first promise made to man and the foundation of all others where the Lord denouncing his vengeance against the Serpent the deuils instrument in seducing mankinde said Gen. 3. 15. And I will put enmitie betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seed and her seed It shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heele In which besides sundrie other things there intended this is chiefe for our purpose that Christ the promised seed of the woman should fullie conquer Sathan and his whole kingdome howsoeuer Sathan would continually molest the seede of the woman till hee were quite vanquished The selfesame matter is more plainelie taught Heb. 2. 14. that Christ tooke our nature That through death hee might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Deuill And deliuer them who for feare of death were all their life subiect to bondage Which if God had made no other promise might bee a sufficient word to perswade euery soule that heareth it not onely to desire and seeke this deliuerance by Christ but to beleeue that hee shall enioy it seeing God hath so faithfully said it For the further confirmation of the faith of gods people in this point in all ages the Lord renewed this promise of sending Christ the promised seede As immediatly after the flood Noah by Prophesie blessing his two sonnes said God shall enlarge Iaphet and hee shall dwell in the tents of Sheâ—â— Gen. 9. 27. Which intendeth that wee Gentils Gal. 3. 16. should be called to bee one body with the Iewes in Christ The same was afterwards oft renewed to Abraham 22. 18. In thy seede shall all the nations of the earth be blessed 26. 4. 28. 14 Act. 3. 25. The like to Isaacke and to Iacob also In all which Christ was promised the true seede in whom alone all families be blessed And so forward in all succeeding ages Moses and all the Prophets in their times foretold of Christ as we reade Act. 3. 24. 10. 43. So that it is needelesse to write all the scriptures tending to this point All this serues thus to strengthen the faith of all that will giue credit to God Vse that seeing the Lord nourished the faith of his Church from Adam to Christ with those promises of saluation by Christ the promised seede we therfore may boldly rest hereupon much the rather seeing we vnder the Gospel haue all things fulfilled which they vnder the former Testament sawe a farre off Heb. 11. 13 and were perswaded of them and embraced them To passe ouer then all the promises of the olde Testament concerning Christ his benefits to come to the new Multitude of promises concerning Christ wherein all things which were foretolde are fully accomplished and wee may with open face beholde as in a glasse 2. Cor. 3. 17 the glory of the Lord. Here be so many promises wherein Christ and his benefites bee set foorth vnto vs that the bare rehearsing of them without any further opening of them would make a sufficient book and longer I feare then any of our idle professours would once reade ouer I intend therefore to range these into some order and to make choice of some principall of euery sort and by them to shew how wee may make vse of the rest that are of the same kind Now all these promises concerning this first point for the strengthening of our faith in the assurance of our saluation by Christ be propounded either generally or more specially as was before said Generall Matter Generally Persons in respect of the matter promised as that Christ shall saue vs and the like as also of the persons to whom these promises be performed that is generally to all mankinde Both which be for the most part ioyned together what is promised and to whom therefore we will handle them together for breuity sake least otherwise wee should be faine to alleage the same scriptures againe to sundry purposes which would bee tedious which I desire to auoide To begin then with the very names which throughout the new Testament bee giuen to our redeemer Iesus Christ they are both of great force to confirme our faith When the angell Gabriel was sent from God to the Virgin Mary with that heauenly salutation he told her That she should conceiue in her wombe and bring foorth a Sonne and she shall call his name Iesus Iesus Whereof the Euangelist Mat. giues this reason Luk. 1. 26. 31 for hee shall saue his people from their sinne Mat. 1. 21. and to like effect oft All flesh shall see the saluation of God Luk. 3. 6. 1 When Christ came to Zacheus he saide This day is saluation come to this house 19. 9 10. for as much as he also is the sonne of Abraham for the Sonne of man is come to seek and to saue that which is lost Christ himselfe saide Ioh. 3. 17. God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him should be saued And againe I came not to iudge the world 12. 47. but to saue the world And to heape vp no more of this sort to this end is Christ to oft called our Sauiour In all which we ought to reason thus Vse Seeing the eternall Son of God did take mans nature and so was Immanuel God with vs Mat. 1. 23. as the Euangelist Matthew Esa 7. 14. sheweth out of the Prophet and that to this end to saue vs being lost and not to condemne the world but to saue the world therefore vnlesse we will thinke all this is but a fable we are vndoubtedly to beleeue that there is in this Iesus and in him alone saluation for vs sinners Act. 4. 12. For there is no other name vnder heauen giuen among men whereby wee must bee saued And further if wee will not despise this wonderfull mercy of God in sending his Sonne and of
intend What benefite it is to liue by faith Which may more manifestly be seene by the Apostles own words in the scripture Rom. 5. 1. where he of purpose vndertakes to set out what is the blessed estate of those that be iustified by faith and so brings in all these singular benefites we haue mentioned Yea and addeth that it is by faith that wee haue accesse into this grace wherein wee stand And to say the truth as hath beene said alreadie neither these nor any other sauing grace or true blessing is obtained but by faith And therefore I may conclude that hee that lookes to finde any comfort in this life and to nourish the hope of a better let him make it his chiefe indeauour thus to liue by faith by which alone these and ail that may be desired are enioyed And thus would I leaue this point to be proued rather by experience then by argument and so come to that I chieflie aime at to bring this doctrine into practise and as I promised to collect some speciall promises and to shew how they are to bee applied particularly to euery person and condition to whom they belong But that I remember there is one other singular vse of Faith whereof though we stand in great need yet it is very weakely attained because it is so little sought after Another benefite of liuing by faith is our Sanctification And this it is how by faith wee might more master our greatest corruptions and better discharge those duties wherein wee most faile Wherein the more to moue all that reade this better to regard it I doe with hearts griefe bewaile to see so many of whom I conceiue good hope that they haue truly receiued the grace of God that yet neither themselues can feele nor others discerne any apparant growth in true sanctification either in the subduing of their chiefest infirmities or such a walking in their places as beseemeth their condition But in generall such a conformitie to the corruptions of the times such deadnesse of spirit in all holy exercises with a grosse and continuall neglect or common abuse of them as priuate reading meditation and prayer Many blemishes in regenerate persons instruction and wise gouernment of their Families holy conference in their brotherly meetings with such care of edifying one another And on the other side such vaine and sinfull merrie-making that there is but small difference betweene them and meere naturall men As for their worldly dealings as eagerly following the world and contending thereabouts as busily following their pleasure with curiositie in houses apparell decking their children and the like and generally such setting their mindes and affections vpon these things here below as men that are not risen with Christ I might say no lesse of their vnmercifulnesse many waies and great impatiencie in euery thing that crosseth them with sundrie the like great and long continued blemishes of their holy profession and iust abaters of their spirituall comforts in such sort that I haue seen heard the deathes of many to haue had little to be reioyced in and no maruell seeing they tooke so little care either to glorifie God in their life or to win others or to make their calling election sure It was most iust with God that their death should want of that glory with others comfort to themselues which others of Gods childreÌ„ do enioy who liuing by faith haue learned better to bridle their vnruly affections more wisely to walke to the honor of God edification of others peace to their owne consciences All which is attained by â—aith notwithout it as hath before bin touched and now shall further be made manifest The Apostle Romanes 7. 14 saith speaking of himselfe beeing now regenerate saith That the Lawe is spirituall but I am carnall solde vnder sinne which in many words following hee prooueth and exclaimes saying vers 18. For I know that in mee that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I finde not and more to like effect Whereout this may euidently be gathered that euen in those that haue true faith Strength of sinne in true beleeuers and be effectually regenerated there remaineth such a corrupt nature as keepeth them from many good duties and carrieth them to suâ—dry euill actions yea and that with such strong hand oftentimes that they haue no power to withstand as followes where he compares himselfe to a poore souldiour taken prisoner by the enemy and helde in captiuity till he be rescued by his captaine meaning that Gods children are oft so held captiues to their corruptions that they haue no power to resist much lesse to ouercome till by the power of Christ they be deliuered out of this thraldome as may bee seene in all the particulars before mentioned As for example when a poore Christian shall be so possessed with the loue of this worldly wealth that though he desire and purpose to be more mercifull to Gods needy Saints yet when he comes to it he cannot ouercome himselfe to relieue according to his ability and their necessitie but euen against the light of his conscience either giues not or not so much as he should So much more for lending for conscionable buying and selling and as in all matters of profite so of pleasure hee that is in captiuity to them no purposes prayers no vowes can keepe him backe but he will obey his lust in vaine apparrell in going to playes in cardes dice and other gaming 's The impotency of many in withstanding their lusts shewes in what captiuity they be held likewise in reuenge and vncharitable thoughts of such as haue done them wrong They which be able to discerne their owne corrupt nature may easily see with what difficultie they doe bridle their lusts nay oft how impossible it is to giue to such as offend them a good word or a good countenance By all which and many the like it euidently appeares that many of Gods children be thus held in captiuity that they cannot by all the strength they haue get out so that without they bee deliuered by Christ they shal bequite ouercome which the Apostle himselfe in this very place expresseth where complaining hereof with griefe and admiration at the difficulty of the worke not in any despaire cryeth out Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Wherunto he makes answere himselfe saying I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lord meaning that though hee sawe neither in himselfe nor in any creature beside any power to deliuer him from the corruption of nature which brings death where it is not subdued yet hee sawe such helpe in Christ as made him ioye to giue thankes to God for the same Wherein I obserue a worthy practise of this which I chiefly endeauour to drawe beleeuers vnto namely How by faith to
master their strongest corruptions For here the Apostle finding no where out of Christ any sufficient power to deliuer him out of this captiuitie to sinne and death by the hand of faith hee layeth holde vpon Christ assuring himselfe vpon Christs promise 2. Cor. 12 9 That his grace should be sufficient for him and that his power should be magnified in his weaknesse Therefore hee should not bee left in his enemies hands but in due time to be set at libertie more freely to serue the Lord. This is that I commend to the practise of euery true beleeuer that whensoeuer hee feeles his corruptions too hard for him that he cannot by all his endeauors get the masterie ouer them then to flye to Christ and by true faith to applye his promises for the mortifying of sinne that thereby hee may receiue power from Christ more to crucifie the olde man with his members For our better performance whereof I will a little digresse though not farre from my purpose briefly to set out the readiest and the surest way which I know to mortifie any sin which standeth in the diligent exercise of these 4 rules following First 4. rules of mortification that whereas wee bee all blind by nature that wee see not our sinnes and so full of pride and selfe-loue that wee thinke better of our selues then there is cause euery one who will mortifie his sinne must labour by all good meanes to finde out what bee his chiefest sinnes most displeasing â—o God These meanes be 1. A true examination of our selues in euery commandement 2. Secondly a carefull obseruation of all our wayes and as men doe trace the creatures in the time of snowe so to marke our steppes in time of temptation as our impatience when wee be prouoked and so for all other sinnes as pride and couetousnesse c. 3. Thirdly a seeking and receiuing admonition from such as spye our infirmities 4. And fourthly earnest praier to God to discouer our chiefest imperfections By all which and the like faithfully vsed wee shall finde out wherein we haue most need to be reformed that so vpon sight thereof wee may better applye all our endeauours for our recouerie The second rule is 2. rule to be weary of our sins when wee haue found out our sinne then to get our hearts to be weary of the same and willing to be cured of it which shall be if we consider the great hurt it brings vs partly in keeping good things from vs and partly in pulling downe vpon vs so many euills vpon soule and body our selues and others belonging to vs. To set out these in particulars would not be hard but it would carry mee too farre from my matter intended It shall suffice to remember in this case that all our woe comes from our sinnes as both Scripture reason and continuall experience doe shewe which if it were well weighed would make vs more weary of our sinne then of our sicknesse or other affliction and breede in vs much more feruent desires to bee cured And therefore this must bee another daily consideration both what bitter fruites our sinnes bring foorth and that from thence all the woes we meete withall doth spring The third and most principall rule is 3. rule is to get power froÌ„ Christ That for so much as such is our frailtie that when we haue got some true sight of our principall corruptions and therewithall some loathing of them with an earnest desire to be ridde of them yet wee haue no ability in our selues to mortifie them but All our sufficiency is of God and without Christ wee can doe nothing as is oft said but neuer sufficientlie regarded Therefore hereupon especially dependeth all our power to mortifie sinne that we by faith doe drawe from Christ that power and vertue which is in him to change our crabbed and sowre nature that wee may bee sweete and pleasant grapes for the Lord our God This is that especially which I ayme at to perswade all that faine would get more mastery ouer their strong corruptions and vnrulie affections namely to do as the woman in the Gospel Who hauing an issue of blood twelue yeers and had suffered many things of the Physitions Mar. 5. 25. and had spent all that she had and was nothing better but rather grew worse when she heard of Iesus came in the preasse behind him and touched his garment for she said if I may but touch him I shall be whole and straight way the fountaine of her blood was dryed vp and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague Euen so must we all who haue had many foule issues of sinne of pride hypocrisie security presumption wrathfulnesse vncleanenesse worldlinesse and the like many and haue taken great paines and beene nothing the better but rather growne worser for so must it needes be till we come to Christ doe wee what possiblie wee can such I say must come to Christ and touch him by a true faith and then shall they feele vertue to come from him to drye vp this fountaine of their corruptions Oh that this might be brought more into tryall what would be the difference betweene this and all other practises for the mortifying of the flesh which without this shall bee found insufficient if not deceiueable for where shal be found any vertue to kill sinne in our nature but in Christ in our nature Can mans reason will or resolution suffise to draw him to forsake his so pleasing and profitable sinnes as hee supposeth If this might bee in some outward actions in respect of men yet this cannot bee in the heart to please God which is onely the worke of Gods Spirit in true beleeuers How this is to be done hath beene before declared here onely I commend the vse of this liuing by faith without which as there is no true mortification of any sinne whatsoeuer so by this wee shall surely obtaine power against the oldest and strongest corruptions in our nature Whereunto if one thing be added I well see not what should be wanting to the mortification of them all at least in such measure as God will accept of and wee may haue comfort in which is the fourth rule by mee intended 4. rule of mortifying sinne namely That hauing receiued 1. a true sight of sinne 2. a willing minde to bee cured of it 3. power from Christ for the subduing of it then in the last place that with this furniture we enter the battaile and with good courage set against al the assaults of Sathan all the allurements of this world and all the euill lusts of our owne hearts Eph. 4. 27. That we giue not place to the diuell Iam. 4. 7. but resist him rather 1. Pet. 5. 9. stedfast in faith as wee oft be exhorted and that vpon promise that hee shall flie from vs which is the same whereto the Apostle exhorts and perswades by many arguments To
of the old man and weapons of vnrighteousnesse but rather yeelding themselues vnto God as those that are aliue from the dead and their members as instruments of righteousnesse vnto God And wheras this might iustly bee obiected Alasse how shall wee who by nature are so vnable to resist so mighty a Tyrant as sin is who hath ouercome all mankinde Christ onely excepted euer be able so to withstand sin For answer whereto the Apostle brings a most comfortable promise vnto all that be not vnder the Law Verse 14. but vnder grace that is who be not still vnder the condemnation and tyranny of the Lawe whereby it reignes ouer all vnregenerat but by true receiuing of Christ by faith are now deliuered from that bondage so brought into the liberty of Gods children which he saith is to be vnder grace whereof the Apostle speaks more fully Rom. 6. 1. Of these he saith That sinne shall not haue dominion ouer them meaning that although these doe still carry sinne that is corruption of nature which continually fights against the grace of God in thē yet the corruption and sinnefull nature shall neuer any more reigne as in times past it did and so haue the full victory ouer them But they by the grace of Gods Spirit reigning in them shall daily more and more ouercome this their sinnefull nature and in the end get a glorious conquest ouer it and all other their spirituall enemies This one Scripture if there were no more is sufficient if it be truelie weighed and beleeued to comfort euery childe of God ouer all his sinnes that though they bee neuer so many or neuer so great and of long continuance yet being here assured the roote of sinne shall be killed ver 18. 22. hee may then quietly rest his soule in peace that all the fruits and branches shall in time quite wither for certainety whereof this is twise repeated But the Lord knowing how hardly we be brought to be perswaded hereof especially when we be vnder captiuity of any sin as of vnbeliefe pride anger worldlinesse and the like hath much laboured in his word to comfort vs herein that though the battell be sore and our strength small yet his grace shall bee sufficient for vs and his power shall bee made perfect in weakenesse 2. Cor. 12. 7 8 9. as was said to Paul in his wrestling against some priuie corruption which he felt a pricke in his flesh to be sent as a messenger of Sathan to buffet him least he should be exalted aboue measure by the aboundance of reuelations which though spoken to him yet indeede belongs to all in his case and therefore euery poore soule who feeles his sinne too hard for him that when he would doe well euill is present with him hee is to lay holde on this promise that Gods grace shall bee sufficient for him and Gods strength shall bee made perfect in his weakenesse That so complaining with the Apostle O wretched man that I am Rom. 7. 24. who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death hee may comfortably cheere vp his heart with him saying verse 25. I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lord that through the power of the Spirit of Christ he shall subdue that body of sin which otherwise would carry him headlong to death and destruction both of body and soule for euer This the Prophet Micah notably expresseth Mich. 7. 18 hauing highly magnified the mercy of God in pardoning iniquity and passing by the transgression of his people hee addeth this He wil turne again he will haue compassion vpon vs he wil subdue our iniquities c. The Apostle also layeth out this matter at large how the Christian souldiour being armed with the whole armour of God Eph. 6. may bee able to stand in the euill day and hauing done all to stand that is being furnished with those excellent graces of the Spirit which he afterwards names he may manfully fight the Lords battell against sinne and Sathan and so hold out to the end of the battell that he shall stand vp as conquerour when sinne and Sathan shall fall as vanquished Beholde what encouragements the Lord giues against all our fearefulnesse in our spiritual battell which if wee could remember would put more spirit into vs to fight against our sinnes like men and not to faint or flye like cowards And yet these bee not the tenth of these gracious promises which the Lord hath made to this end that wee faint not when we see the force of the enemy Of this sort be all those Scriptures which setting out the rich benefites wee receiue in Christ among the rest mention our sanctification by him whereby is meant that Christ hauing taken our humane nature and sanctified it by his holy Spirit we being made one with him doe receiue the selfe same spirit though in measure to sanctifie vs Ioh. 17. 29. that is to make vs holy Whereunto these two be necessary first the killing of all sinne in vs and secondly the quickning of vs to newnesse of life 1. Cor. 1. 30 Of the latter more in the next point of the former heere concerning which this is oft repeated that Christ shall saue his people from their sin Mat. 1. 21. which as it is true in the matter of our iustification for the forgiuenesse of our sinne so it is also true in this point of our sanctification for deliuering vs from the power of sinne And so are all those generall speeches to be vnderstood that Christ is the lambe of God Ioh. 1. 29. 39. which taketh away the sinne of the world That hee hath loued vs Reu. 1. 5. and washed vs from our sinnes in his owne blood 1 Ioh. 1. 7. That the blood of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all our sinne Act. 3. 26. That God hath sent his Sonne Iesus to blesse vs in turning euery one of vs from our iniquities And the like many in all which this must needes bee contained that one great benefite wee enioy by Christ is that we who bee members of him are cleansed as from the guiltinesse of sinne that it shall not bee imputed so from the filthinesse of sinne that it shall not preuaile ouer vs. For more manifest proofe whereof this grace of mortification is expresly promised in sundry places Gal. 5. 16. as Walke in the Spirit and yee shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh Likewise the Apostle Iohn ioyning together both our iustification and sanctification 1 Ioh. 1. 9 sayeth If wee confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse so doth the Apostle Paul to Titus Tit. 2. 11. hauing shewed that the grace of God which bringeth saluation doth also teach men to deny vngodlines and worldly lusts he addeth this that Christ gaue himselfe for vs 14. that hee might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purifie
substance both ground and cattle Ezek. 36. 30. that they should eate old store Levit 26. 50. that threshing should reach vnto vintage and the like many as they who be exercised in the Scriptures can tell What should the Lord meane Application in multiplying these promises so oft but in mercy to meet with our weakenes who are so impatient of the want of these and thereby so discouraged and hindered in all our duties wee are therefore as with all thankefulnes to acknowledge this bounty of the Lord so by true faith to make these promises our owne that in all time of scarcity of any of these which oft sore pincheth we may run to some of these promises and so rest our selues quietly and comfortably that wee shall surely find releefe in such time and measure as God shal see fit and shal be most for our good I haue hitherto sayd nothing of that loue and favour with God and man peace rejoycing good successe and prosperitie safety freedome from all evils by adversaries or other judgements which light vpon the wicked All which with other the like be contained vnder this our welfare and be no lesse promised then the former take but one or two places in each for a patterne For the first of Loue and Favour Favour Prov. 34. So shalt thou find favour and good vnderstanding in the sight of God and man For Peace Peace Levit. 26. 6. And I will giue peace in the land and ye shall lie downe and none shall make you afraid c. For ioy and reioycing Esa 65. 13. 14. Behold my servants shall reioyce Reioycing but yee shall be ashamed Behold my servants shall sing for ioy of heart but yee shall cry for sorrow of heart For good successe and prosperitie Good successe Psal 122. 6. 7. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem they shall prosper that loue thee Peace be within thy walls and prosperitie within thy palaces For safetie Safetie Prov. 3. 23. Then shal◠thou walke in thy way safely and thy foot shall not stumble Pro. 18. 10. The name of the Lord is a strong towre the righteous runneth vnto it and is safe For preservation from evill Free from evill Pro. 1. 33. But who so hearkneth vnto me shall dwell safely and be quiet from the feare of evill Iob. 5. 19. He shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evill touch thee Vers 20. In famine he shall redeeme thee from death and in warre from the power of the sword Vers 21. Thou shalt be hid from the secourge of the tongue neither shal◠thou be afraid of destruction when it commeth c. How welcome these Application or any of them would be vnto vs when we feele the want of them cannot be doubted but pittie it is that so few reape the fruit of these promises to vphold them in their greatest need which comes especially through want of faith for all desire these and many know that such things are promised in the Scripture but either they doubt they doe not belong vnto them as being none of Gods children who be the onely heires of all the promises or if they be of this number yet either forget the consolation offred or through mistrust do not apply them to their present necessities so languish in their extremities without comfort By this may well appeare what need there is to liue by faith for these earthly blessings which if we did we should not onely be free from many sore vexations which torment many vngodly in their distresses but haue quiet mindes in greatest stormes and in due season find such reliefe as shall be most expedient This if it were cōsidered would moue many to labour more for this precious gift of faith which will so abundantly supply all our earthly wants whereof we be so sensible and thereby so distracted There remaine sundry other earthly blessings which as they be much desired so are they abundantly provided promised and bestowed as need requires vpon the faithfull I will mention but two moe Good name viz a good name and posteritie for the former Eccles 7. 1. whereas a good name is better then a precious ointment and rather to be chosen then great riches God hath made many promises concerning this that he will honour those that honour him Pro. 22. 1. and bring forth their righteousnes as the light 1 Sam. 2. 30 and their iundgement as the moone day Psal 37. 6. that though they be falsly accused by the vngodly yet God will cleare their innocencie and free them from the reproch of such as defame them To like effect is that Pro. 4. 18. But the path of the iust is as the shining light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day This is that which Salomon so oft repeateth That wisedome will honour those that honour her as Pro. 4. 8. Exalt her and shee shall promote thee shee shall bring thee to honour when thou doest imbrace her So it s oft sayd Riches and honour are with her Pro. 9. 18. 3. 16. vers 35. The wise shall inherite glory So chap. 13. 18. He that regardeth reproofe shall be honoured Deut. 28. 1. Esa 58. 14. Psal 132. 18. the like This also is meant by all those speeches where it is sayd that hearkning to instruction will adorne and bring into estimation as costly ornaments of bracelets jewels and the like will doe so it is Pro. 1. 19. They shall be an ornament of grace vnto thy head and chaines about thy necke Chap. 3. 22. So shall they be life to thy soule and grace to thy necke Chap. 4. 9. Shee shall giue to thy head an ornament of grace a crowne of glory shall shee deliver to thee In all which we see that howsoever the godly be hated and basely esteemed of the wicked yet the Lord doth not onely highly esteeme of them himselfe but will make them honoured in the world even of them who haue no saving grace themselues as it is said Act. 5. 13. And of the rest durst no man ioyne himselfe to them but the people magnified them Rev. 3. 9. Behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feete c. Seeing then Application that to be well esteemed especially of the better sort is so sweet and comfortable a blessing and the contrary of ill fame is so bitter as scarce any thing makes many a one more weary of their liues we are to behold Gods tender care over his children in preserving their good name yea in making them honourable that is of good esteeme not onely among the Saints but among meere naturall men who beholding their good workes may glorifie God in the day of visitation as the Apostle Peter speaketh 1 Pet. 2. 12. And not onely be carefull our selues by well doing to put to silence the ignorance of the foolish 15. but when we shall
the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ which is est repeated 〈◊〉 Cor. p. 9. and 10. 〈…〉 that we might haue it in better remembrance and vse And for confirmation hereof 2. Tim. 2. 19. it s sayd the foundation of God 〈…〉 grounded vpon this the Lord knoweth who 〈◊〉 his meaning that they whoÌ„ God before the foundation of the world did chose ordaine to be saved cannot possibly perish as it is sayd Mat. 24. 24. If it were possible intending that it is not possible for then should God bee either mâ—table to change his decree or not Almighty as not able to performe that which he did purpose both which be most blasphemous to thinke of God for this cause Christ did bid his Disciples reioyce that their names were written in heaven Luke 10. 20. yea more in the same place 2. Tim. 2. 19. is said that this foundatioÌ„ of the certainety of salvation to all the Elect hath a seale which is after expressed in these words Let every one 〈…〉 of Christ depart from iniquity which I conceiue the same which is sayd Ephes 1. 13. that they after they beleeved more 〈◊〉 with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the prayse of his glory In both this is meanâ— that the worke of true sanctification which the holy Ghost workes in every true beleever is an vnfallible marke that we are true beleeverâ— effectually called and elected to salvation by Christ and therefore are sure wee cannot perish but shall persevere and bee saved This is notably set downe 2 Cor. 1. 21. 22. Now he which establisheth vs with you in Christ and hath annointed vs. is God who hath also sealed vs and given the earnest of his spirit in our hearts so that as true dealing men doe make sure their grants and covenants by seales and giving of some earnest which being a part of the prise covenanted doth assure the whole payment so doth the most faithful God by these first fruits of the spirit of sanctification assure vnto vs that we shall never quite fall away from grace but shall be fully sanctified by his holy spirit at the time appointed The Apostle Peter 2. 1. 10. by this moueth the faithful to make their calling and election sure And yet more if this be not enough to assure vs that we shall never fall away but continue to the end and be saved how often doth the Lord passe his word vnto vs that his spirit shall abide in vs for ever Notable is that place of the Prophet Esa 59. 21. As for me this my covenant with them sayth the Lord My spirit that is vpon thee and my wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed sayth the Lord from henceforth and for ever By this did our Saviour Christ much labour to comfort his Disciples who were full of sorrow to heare of his leauing them Ioh. 14. 16. And I will pray the Father and he shall giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever 17 Even the spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth in you and shall be in you So againe Ioh. 15. 16. Ye haue not chosen me but I haue chosen you and ordeined you that you goe and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine Ioh. â—6 22. Your ioy shall no man take may and more to like effect as Iohn 10. 28. 29. I giue them eterâ—all life and they shall never perish c. So the beloved Apostle Iohn wrote his first Epistle to this end especially to confirme the faithfull in the certaintie of their salvation that they should not fall away as many hypocrites then did and daily doe To this end as he setteth downe sundry markes whereby they may proue themselues to be in the state of grace so he giues many comfortable promises that they shall continue 1 Ioh 2. 24. and abide for ever and more specially vers 27. 17. But the anointing which ye haue received of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye 〈◊〉 as it hath taught you yee shall abide in him c. Chap. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what we shall be but we know that when he shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Vers 9. His seed remaineth in him and much more in this Chapter the rest I nâ—ed not rehearse all To shut vp this point A principall cause of this certaintie of our perseverance is that which the Apostle Peter expresseth 1 Pet. 1. 4 5 saying that their inheritance is reserved in heaven for them who are kept by the power of God through faith vnto salvation And to like effect the Apostle Iude closeth his Epistle with these words Now to him that is able to keepe you from falling and to preserue you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy to the onely wise God our Saviour be glory and maiestie dominion and power now and ever Amen Thus haue I gathered you may see good store Application yet not all of those comfortable promises which God hath made to his Church in all ages to confirme their faith that seeing he hath freely loued them chosen them and called them to be his therefore none shall ever be able to plucke them out of his hand What remaineth then for vs who be compassed with such a cloud of testimonies which all agree in one but to be perswaded with the Apostle Rom. 8. 38 39. That neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Let vs then whensoever wee fall into this temptation oh I shall never be able to hold out I find my corruption so strong or if I should be called to any such fiery triall as in Queene Maries dayes I shall never be able to indure them but shall as many then did for feare fall away and deny the truth Let vs I say against this tentation set the many promises which the Lord hath made vnto vs that he will never leaue vs nor forsake â—s Heb. 13. 5. yea more that we shall be kept by his power vnto salvation that hell gates shall not prevaile against vs Mat. 15. 18. with many the like whereof before that duely wayghing these and the faithfulnes of him who hath promised them we may comfort our hearts that he who hath begun the