the Son though it be for a moment hee ceaseth for that moment to haue life but the life of theÌ„ which haue the Sonne of God is euerlasting in the world to come and because as Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more power ouer him So the iustified man being allyed to God in Christ Iesus our Lord doth as necessarily from that time forward alwaies liue as Christ by whoÌ„ he hath life liueth alwayes for as long as that abideth in vs which animates quickneth and giueth life so long wee liue wee know that the cause of our faith abideth in vs for euer If Christ the fountaine of life may flit and leaue his inhabitation where once hee dwelled what shall become of his promise I am with you to the worlds end If the seede of God which containeth Christ may be first conceiued then cast out how doth hee terme it immortall How doth he affirme it abideth if the spirit which is giuen to cherish and preserue the seed of life may be giuen and taken away How is hee the earnest of our inheritance vntill redemption How doth he continue with vs for euer CON. 38. Wee are apt prone and ready to forsake God but God is not as ready to forsake vs. EXPLA. Our mindes are changeable so is not Gods For whoÌ„ God hath iustisied Christ hath assured it is his fathers will to giue them a Kingdome Notwithstanding it shall not be other wise giuen them then if they continue grounded and stablished in the faith and bee not mooued away from the hope of the Gospell if they abide in loue and holinesse Our Sauiour therefore when hee spake of the sheep effectually called and truely gathered into his fold I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neither shall any plucke them out of my hands in promising to saue them he promiseth no doubt to preserue them in that without which there can be no saluation as also from that whereby it is irreuokeably lost Euery error indeed in things appertaining to God is repugnant to faith euery fearefull cogitation vnto hope vnto loue euery stragling inordinate desire vnto holinesse euery blemish wherby either the inward thoghts of our mindes or outward actions of our liues are stained which by earnest repentance mercy doth restore to life againe in them whom sin had made the children of death But infidelity extreame despaire hatred of God and all goodnesse obduration in sin c. doth not stand where there is the least sparke of faith hope loue and sanctity euen as cold in the coldest degree cannot be where heate in the highest degree is found It is true no man liueth that sinnes not Yet the man that is borne of God hath a promise that the seed in him shal abide which seede is a sure preseruatiue against obstinate heresie and pining discouragement of the heart for greater and cleerer assurance we cannot haue of any thing then this that from such sins foresaid God shall preserue the righteous as the apple of his eye for euer for if the iustified erre as hee may and neuer come to vnderstand his errour God doth saue him through generall repeÌ„tance but if he fall into herisie hee calleth him at one time or other by actuall repentance but from infidelity which is an inward direct deniall of the foundation hee preserueth him by speciall prouidence for euer CON. 39. We must put a difference betwixt them that erre of ignorance retaining neuerthelesse a minde desirous to bee instructed in truth and them which after the truth is laid open persist in the stubborne defence of their blindnesse EXPLA. Heriticall defenders froward and stiste-necked teachers of circumcision the Apostle calleth dogs silly men who were seduced to thinke they thought the truth he pittied hee tooke vp in his armes hee louingly embraceth hee kisseth and with more then Fatherly tendernesse doth so temper and qualisie his speech he vseth toward theÌ„ that a man cannot easily discerne whether did most abound the loue which hee bare to their godly affection or the griefe which the danger of their opinion bred him Their opinion was dangerous Was not theirs also who thought the Kingdome of Christ was earthly Was not theirs who thought the Gospell only should bee preached vnto the Iewes What more opposite to prophetical doctrine coÌ„cerning the coÌ„ming of Christ theÌ„ the one concerning the catholike church then the other Yet beeing admonished found the mercy of God effectuall in conuerting them from their error So was there difference betwixt Pharisies And the Pharisies which beleeued Of the Galathians which were yet weak he saith You know God or rather are knowne of God how turne you againe to impotent rudâ—ments The Law engendreth seruants they which are gotten by the Gospell are free we are not children of the seruant but of the free woman and will ye bee vnder the Law Yet he saith if yee be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing as many as are iustified by the Law are fallen from grace and why Because they know that in grace and in Christ their saluation dothly and so their hearts shall tremble and quake within them he knoweth mans imbecillity he hath a feeling of our blindnesse and weakenesse how great it is CON. 40 Our saluation is not vpon vncertainty if wee doe thus or thus but God â—ramed vs to bee and to doe whatsoeuer belongeth to the attainement thereof EXPLA. The Spirit as he is the reuealer of the mystery of our election vnto vs so is he the earnest of the effect of Gods predestination by the gift whereof God giueth vnto vs the certaine assurance of all the rest that remaineth to be giuen for he is the pledge of the inheritance promised as a hand-writing or bond of assurance of euerlasting saluatioÌ„ making vs the temple and house of God being the worker of holinesse in vs that hee may bring our bodies to eternity and so the immortality of the Resurrection whilest in himselfe he accustomes them to bee tempered with heauenly vertue to bee accompanied with the diuine eternity of the holy Ghost And this earnest God neuer taketh backe againe because it is so the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the possession as that it is an earnest also that in the meane time God stablishes vs in Christ and that he hath created vs for this namely to clothe vs with immortality and eternall life for God giuing earnest for the assurance of the end doth thereby vndertake against all lets and impediments that should hinder the atchieuing of that that is earnested thereby and therefore the things present which thou hast attained already doe assure vnto thee those things that are yet to come CON. 41. If man depend vpon himselfe he hath iust cause to feare and doubt his own perseuerance EXPLA. The faithfull doe say with the
euery one that shal follow him So that this is our glory in afflictions we are fashioned by them into the similitude of Christ and wee are made like vnto him So it pleased God when hee would bring many children vnto glory to consecrate the Prince of their saluation through afflictions and to make both him that sanctifieth and them that are sanctified all one that they that suffer with him should also liue with him So we when we feele many troubles to rest vpon vs we may say now we are like vnto Christ especially when wee feele the greatest trouble the minde oppressed it maketh vs like vnto him and to say Now we supply in our flesh the remnant of the afflictions of Christ in nothing in this world as wealth honor c. can I behold the liuely Image of Christ. Affliction and trouble a minde broken with the remembrance of sinne a troubled spirit horrors of death and a conscience burdened with the wrath of God here light shines out of darknes and hope out of despaire When I thinke my selfe furthest off from the Lord them am I neerest vnto him and when I thinke my selfe fullest of confusion then the Image of Christ is most liuely within me The Lord may hide his face for a while for a moment in his anger aâ— he did from Christ but hee will returne vnto me with euerlasting mercies for the Image of his Sonne is cleere within me Wee are afflicted one euery side but not so as that wee are shut from hope wee are in pouerty but not ouercome with pouerty we are persecuted but not forsaken we are cast down but wee perish not wee are troubled in all things fightings without and terrours without but God that comforteth the abiects he will comfort vs. Vnto this he hath predestinated vs that we should bee like vnto his Son in afflictions and so be glorified with him in the day of honour CON. 80. God sendeth vs sundry chastisements especially the anguish of heart and affliction of the soule that we should be warned how to be free from the plague when it commeth EXPLA. The iudgements of God daily preached vnto vs pierce deepe into the hearts of the true beleeuers and the word that they heare it worketh mightily in them more sharpe in their eares then a two edged sword and it entreth through them euen to the diuiding asunder of the soule and of the spirit and of the ioynts and of the marrow and examines all the thoughts and the intents of the heart so that it is impossible that any part of theÌ„ should be hid but they are al open vnto iudgement and heare the voice of the Lord. Then their sinne is reuiued in the middest of their bowels their conscience hath no rest they feele death working in their hearts and hell is before them they see sin on their right hand and Satan on the left shame vnder their feete and an angry Iudge aboue them the world full of destruction without and a worm gnawing the heart within the poore sinner knoweth not what to doe to hide himselfe it is impossible and to appeare it is intollerable then hee breaketh out into loud crying O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death He giueth no rest vnto his eyes nor sleep vnto his eye-lids vntil he find that which is able to saue him from this wrath In his bed by night hee seeketh him whom his soule loueth in the streetes and open places hee enquireth after him and after many daies in which hee cannot finde him Christ sheweth himselfe at the last a perpetuall deliuerer a victorious Lion of the Tribe of Iuda in whom he hath strong saluatioÌ„ when he hath mourned because of the plague that was before him Christ will approch neere and wipe away al the tears froÌ„ his eies So said he When I heard the word of God my belly trembled my lips shooke at the voyce rottennesse entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe that I might finde rest in the day of trouble So is it with vs all the plagues of God because they are pronounced against iniquity maketh the childe of God to feare that foreseeing the harme he might prâ—pare himselfe For though Christ hiâ— himselfe at the first the wounded spirit and troubled spirit must needes finde him out We are ful of griefe but we are chastised of the Lord because we should not be coÌ„deÌ„ned with the world we dye with Christ because we should liue with him we lament and weepe but because Christ might wipe away all teares from our eyes wee are deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake but because the life of Iesus should be manifest in our slesh We beare about vs the mortification of our Lord Iesus but because also the life of Iesus might bee manifest in our bodyes We haue anguish of spirit and vexation of minde for this cause that when destruction shall come vpon the careles world wee might lift vp our heads and behold our redemption at hand let vs then in patience poffesse our soules for for these causes wee are now afflicted that wee may receiue mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of neede and for this cause we tremble and are affraid that after many prayers wee might bee deliuered from the things which we haue feared CON. 81. That our life is in the hand of God that we shold not be pleased with it but as it pleaseth him ready to lay it downe when it pleaseth him EXPLA. This is the great commandement to loue God aboue all and this is the greatest obedience required of man to be ready to dye at the will of God Against this commandement the nature of man striueth the delights of this life rise against it we are loth to make our beds in the darke we would see the Sunne our eares would heare worldly elements our flesh indeed is grasse yet grasse hath a flowre and our frayle bodies haue vanishing fantasies agreeable vnto them from which we cannot bee pulled away So Patriarches and Prophets were afraid yea Peter and Paule loued that life which they saw in hope but they did feele the death which did fight in their members they were men as we are yet obtained at last to bee dissolued and bee with Christ. If we be weaker then they the graces of God shall bee more exalted in vs and wee shall also say at the last Let thy seruant O Lord depart in peace And â—â—ough wee feare for a little â—â—ile yet feare shall bee cast out and we shall say with a free spirit O death where is thy sting Our greatest enemy last is troden vnder our feet what else can hurt vs The Lord of life hath crushed him in pieces vnder vs. It is a blessed day that bringeth vs into this battel a blessed sicknesse that maketh vs indure this fight and most blessed end in which wee get victory This doth he
who said O death I will be thy death for while wee liue we liue in him and no man can take our ioy from vs and when we dye we dye in him and then death shall be no more death for then the burthen of sinne the malice of the Deuill and terrour of hell shall cease All things that fill with ioy shall be full within vs as the fellowshippe of Saints and Angels the forgiuenesse of sinnes the Resurrection of the body and life euerlasting c. yea and the God of glory Our eyes shall bee enlightned with a pure faith and we shall think our time wearinesse if then our time were prolonged and be a soiourner in this body in which wee are strangers from the presence of the Lord. And the neerer our time approcheth the gladder wee shall bee of the end of our iourney when our heart shalâ— feele it For when the earthly house of this Tabernacle shal be destroyed wee haue a building giuen of God a house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens where the God of al mercy and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ shall bee before vs for euer There wee shall see the Patriarches of whom wee haue heard so much the Prophets whom we haue loued the Apostles whose society wee wish for where our time shal not be tedious and glory haue no change O happy daies that shall neuer end O blessed inheritance that shall neuer waste There shall be no more sorrow nor crying c. For the first things are past and what haue we here that can please vs Feare of our enemy griefe in pouerty paine in labour care in riches vnstedfaftnesse in friendship enuy in Authority emulation in Honor change in Nobility feare in a Kingdome what but vexation of spirit in all things that is vnder the Sunne So true it is Vanity of vanities and all is but vanity What then can disquiet vs if in the face of Christ Iesus we see our rising againe from the graue Who hath giuen vs inheritance in pleasant places and our portion in a happy lot the dead man feareth no euill he is only bitter to them that haue peace in their riches then we shal be bold to say Surely the Lord wil deliuer mee from the snare of the hunter and from the noisome pestilence I shall not be afraid of the feare of the night nor of the arrow that flyeth by day nor of the pestilence that walketh in the darkenes nor of the plague that destroyeth aâ— noone I haue set the most high to be my refuge and there shal no euâ—ll come neere my tabernacle For among the dead I haue seene Christ and in the graue I haue found the glory of God and therfore do say Let me dye with the righteous and let my latter end be as vnto him for Christ is my life death is my aduantage why then should we not desire to see the louing kindnesse of the Lord which is better then life Yea as the Hart longeth after the water brookes so our soules long to see the Lord. Lord grant wee may haue euen here our conuersation in heauen from thence looking for a Sauiour euen Iesus Christ the righteous who shall change this corruptible body to make it like to his glorious body in that blessed time which shall scatter away all affliction and seale within vs the happy assurance of immortality which shall bee in the presence of the God of Grace Amen FINIS Mr. Hooker Mr. Deering Ioh. 4.14 Rom. 3.5 Rom. 12.6 Math. 17.20 Mar. 12.13 Col. 1.9 2. Pet. 3.18 Can. 4.12 Rom. 10. Act. 13.26 Eph 3.29 2. Cor. 5.20 Rom. 9.33 Psal. 27.8 Zach. 13 9 Mat. 9.23 Ps. 40.7.8 Rom. 8.16 Iohn 5.6 Phil. 1.6 Rom. 9.33 Ioh. 10.28 Ier. 32.40 Phil. 3 12 Rom. 11.29 14 8 8 23. Ps. 23 6 Ier. 31 33 Esa. 25 9 Ioh. 6.54.55 Ioh. 6.35 Rom. 3 34 Rom 4 16 Gal. 3 10 Gal. 5 4 Rom. 4 14 Gal. 3 18 Gal. 5.3 Mat. 5.6 Heb. 12 1 Exo. 12 15 Numb 15 28 Act 16 31 Mat. 8 26 Mat. 15 20 Rom. 4 21 Iohn 6 99 Ioh. 14 29 Mat. 14 28 31 Mat. 8 25 Psal. 31 22 Luke 17 5 Rom. 5 1. 1. Ioh. 5 13 1. Thes. 5 17. 2. Cor. 5.7 Rom. 8 23 2. Sam. 12 13. Psal. 51 1. Heb. 6 18 1. Cor. 2 12 Isa. 9 6 2 Cor. 1 20 a Rom. â— 32 b 1 Iohn 4 13. c Act. 5 31 d Eph. 2.8 e Rom. 5 17. f 2 Tim. 1 7 g Phil. 1 29 h 2 Pet. 1 3 i Rom. 6 23. k Eph. 1 3 3 5. 1. Pet. 1 12 Mat. 26 28 Iob 2 8. Ier. 1 1. 2. Cor. 6 4 Tit. 3 7. Eph. 1.11 Mar. 1 7. Mat. 8 10. Dan. 9 7 Psal. 143 2 Psa. 130 3 Rom. 8 28 Isa. 54 13 Ier. 31 33 Ier. 23 54 Isa. 27 3 Mat. 16 18 Ier. 32 40 Luk. 22 32 Ioh. 17 11 20. 1. Pet. 1 5 Phil. 3 8 1 Cor. 1 30 Rom. 8 21 Rom 4 5 1. Ioh. 3 7 2. Cor. â— 21 Rom. 11 6 Mat. 6. Ioh. 3 17. Reu. 2 22. Rom. 10.13 Isa. 26.16 Iob 33.16.17 1. Cor. 11. Isa. 35.4 Isa. 43.1 Isa. 54 14 Luk. 11 74. Heb. 2.15 Rom. 8 15. 2. Tim. 1.7 Iob 31.23 Eph. 6.10 Isa. 26.12 1. Sam. 2.9 Gen. 18.12 Heb. 11.11 Num. 11.24 Psa. 73 2 â— Hab. 1.2.13 Rom. 10 6. 1. Cor. 3.15 Eph. 2.20 1. Tim. 3.16 Ioh. 1.49 Ioh. 4.24 Act. 4 12. 1. Cor. 3. Rom. 4 23. Is. 2.19 Hos. 10.8 Luk. 23.30 Reue. 6.16 Ps. 51 12. Ioh. 3.16 Ioh. 8 47. Rom. 10 13 Ioh. 1.12 Iam. 1.18 1. Pet. 5.12 1. Ioh. 3.1 Rom. 8 15.16 Ioh. 14 17. Zech. 12.10 Eze. 18.24 Phil. 1 29 Col. 1 11 2. Cor. 1 5 Heb. 13 5 Rom. 8 10 Phi. 2 15 Col. 3 4 Eph. 2 5 1. Ioh. 5 12 1. Ioh. 5 13 Rom. 6 10 Eph. 3.6 Ioh. 14.19 Mat. 28.20 1. Pet. 1.23 1. Ioh. 3 9. Eph. 1 14 Ioh. 4 14 Num. 23 19 Col. 1 23 1 Tim. 2.15 Ioh. 10. 1 Ioh. 3 9 Act. 15.5 Gal. 4 25 28 31. Eph. 1.13 2 Cor. 1.21 22. Cha. 5 5. Ps. 116 16 Ps. 119 125 Ps. 143 2 1 Io. 3 4 15 Act. 16 31 Rom. 1 27 Ps. 84 7 Rom. 8.33 Gal. 3 13 Heb. 8.9 Mat. 1 21 1 Thes. 1 10 Luk. 2 10.11 Is. 9 6 Act. 10.43 1. Ioh. 5.10 Hebr. 3 6 10 22. Rom. 4 18 1. Pet. 2 25 Eph. 3.20 Eph. 1 20 Eph. 2 5. Eze. 36,22 1. Cor. 5 21 Rom. 3.25 Eph. 1 3 1. Cor. 1 30 Rom. 3 25 Rom. 6 6 Eph. 4 24 Tim. 1 2 4 Eph. 5.25 2 Ti. 1 3 5 1. Ioh. 3 9 Psal. 37 24 Ier. 33 16. 2. Cor 12 9 Dan. 9 7 Eph. 1.6 1 Cor. 1 29 Is. 2.11 2 Tim. 1.18 Rom. 7.23 Heb. 12 1 Gal. 5 17 2. Pet. 3 13 Mat. 5 6 Rom. 7 24 Rom. 3.27 2 Cor. 8.12 Mat. 5.26 Ps. 103.4 2. Tim. 4 Is. 53.6 1 Pet. 2.24 Rom. 3 24 Eph. 1 7 Col. 1 14 Ro. 4 6 7 8 Tim. 1 2 14. Gal. 4 5 Luk. 22 10 1. Thes. 5.10 Act. 3.26 Mat. 3 1â— Rom. 8.33 Exo. 28.38 Ps. 143.2 Pro. 24.16 Luk. 22.61 Rom. 5 15 2 Cor. 5 21 Ier. 23 6. Act. 15 9. Gal. 3 14. Rom. 8.2 a Gal. 4 28 b Cha. 3.29 c Heb. 6.17 d 2 Pet. 14. e Gal. 3.14.26 f Eph. 1.13 g Gal. 3.18 h 1. Ti. 1.2 i 2 Pet. 3.13 k 2 Cor. 1.20 l Heb. 11.13 m Gal. 3.14 n Ibid. 22. o Mat. 8.13 p Mat. 21. Ioh. 6 56. Eph. 5 30. Rom. 3 27 Mat. 2 29 Gal. 5.8 Iob 13. Psal. 73. 2 Cor. 12. Iob 2.8 Ier. 11. 2 Cor. 11. Hebr. 13. Psalm 78. Psalm 89. Ioh. 13. Psalm 31. Luk. 22. Hebr 13. Rom. 8. Col. 3.4 Ier. 31. Hebr. 2. Rom. 8. Rom. 8. Heb. 12. Rom. 6. Psal. 103. Psal. 8. Mat. 6. Rom. 5. Rom. 8. Iam. 1. Heb. 12. Phâ—l 4. Prou. 28. Heb. 2. Heb. 2. Mat. 26.56 Mar. 14.33 Luk. 22.44 Psalm 22. 1. Pe 1.2.24 1. Cor. 15. Heb. 4. Hebr 2. Heb. 8.12 Rom. 8. Esay 61.3 Esay 53.5 Psalm 22. Heb. 2. Luk 2. Nah. 1.6 Genes 12. Heb. 2. 2. Cor. 4. Heb. 4. Rom. 7. Can. 3. Hab. 3.16 1. Cor. 11. Ps. 91. c. Psal. 42.1
righteousnesse And all this is because wee should rest in full assurance of safety without feare or doubt because hee promised to preuent all occasions whence any feare should arise And so he deliuered them out of the hands of their enemies without feare and Christ died that he might deliuer them who for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage and now wee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare any more but the spirit of adoption to cry abba Father for God hath not giuen vs the spirit of feare but of power and of loue and of a sound minde for there is no greater bondage then that feare when we are vncertaine what shall become of vs but he said Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the Kingdome Now that other commendable feare doth not shake assurance of saluation but the faithfull finding that in him doth gather the greater assurance to himselfe For the punishment of God is fearefull vnto him that dreades Gods iudgements abhorreth wicked courses laboureth in righteousnesse is strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and doe work their saluation with feare and trembling with humility and acknowledgement of their own frailety and neuer to commit themselues to themselues but to him who hath wrought all our workes for vs for by his owne might shall no man be strong Now there is difference betwixt absolute doubting weake assenting and interruption in assent with some feare for the seeds of all impiety land in the corruption of the heart whereby we are assaulted with doubt of the principall poynts of our beleefe the wisedome power iustice mercy of God yet do not wholly relinquish the assent thereof CON. 27. In application of our generall faith to particular occasions wee many times goe halting and lame and stagger somewhat at that whereof our faith should giue vs full assurance by the will of God EXPLA. Thus did Sarah cast doubt of Gods promise touching the hauing of a child who yet is said through faith to haue receiued strength to conceiue when she was past age because she iudged him faithfull that had promised Thus did Moses call in question the power of God as touching prouiding flesh for the people of Israel when God promised so to do So Dauid and Habacuck staggered as touching the prouidence of God and his care of the iust and righteous men So did the Disciples murmure concerning the Godhead of Christ and the hope of redemption by him which before they had imbraced surely when we look vnto our selues in our greatest perfections we are subiect to that amazed distraction as to say Who shall ascend into heauen as if Christ were not ascended to make way for vs and Who shall descend into the deepe as if Christ had not died to deliuer vs from thence we can neuer satisfie our selues how either to escape the one or to attaine the other CON. 28. They are not faithlesse which are weake in assenting to the truth EXPLA. As many as hold the foundation which is precious thogh they hold it but weakly and as it were with a slender thread although they frame many base and vnsutable things vpon it things that cannot abide the triall of fire yet shall they passe the fiery triall and be saued which indeed haue builded themselues vpon the Rocke which is the foundation of the Church CON. 29. The foundation of faith is not onely the generall ground whereupon we rest when wee beleeue the writings of the Prophets and Apostles but also it is the principall thing which is beleeued that is Christ. EXPLA. There is a foundation of our faith God manifested in the flesh iustified in the Spirit and this Thou art the Sonne of the liuing God thou art the King of Israel and that of the inhabitants of Samaria This is Christ the Sauiour of the world Which who directly doth deny doth vtterly rase the very foundation of faith for Christ in the worke of mans saluation is all without our workes for hee is that seede in whom all the Nations of the world shall be blessed and among men there is giuen no other name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued other foundation can no man lay CON. 29. The holy Spirit in the very moment when first he is giuen of God bringeth with him infused vertues proper and peculiar to the Saincts of God EXPLA. There bee two kindes of christian righteousnesse the one without vs which wee haue by imputation the other in vs which consisteth of Faith Hope and Charity as Abraham had not onely the one because the things beleeued was imputed to him for righteousnesse but also the other because he offered vp his son They are both Gods gifts and the first by accepting vs for righteous in Christ and the second by working christian righteousnesse in vs by the spirit of adoption which we haue receiued into our hearts which maketh two kindes of sanctifying righteousnesse habituall and actuall CON. 30. The wicked haue not such faith as that wherewith a Christian man is iustified EXPLA. It is the Spirit of God which worketh faith in the Elect the things which they beleeue are not apprehended onely as true but also as good and that to vs as good they are not apprehended by the wicked as true they are The Christian the more hee increaseth in faith the more his ioy and comfort aboundeth but they the more sure they are of the truth the more they quake and tremble at it for the wicked doe rather wish that they might then thinke that they shall ceasse when they ceasse to liue because they hold it better that death should consume them into nothing then God reuiue them vnto punishment On the contrary to the Elect there is no grief nor torment greater then to feele their perswasion weake in things whereof when they are perswaded they reape such comfort and ioy of the Spirit CON. 31. Faith giueth vs the comfort of saluation because it beleeueth that which the word of God hath deliuered concerning them in whom the signes marks of our Election are found EXPLA. Faith giueth assurance of saluation by the Word of God not only by apprehending the promise of life and saluation but also obseruing such marks and tokens as the Word of God setteth down to discerne them vnto whom this saluation doth appertaine and therefore it doth not onely looke to that which Christ saith that whosoeuer beleeueth shall haue euerlasting life but because Christ also saith hee that is of God heareth Gods word therefore the faithful man delighteth in the word of God beleeueth concerning himselfe that he is of God because the Apostle saith Euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saued and this also doth the faithfull man vnfaignedly calling on the name of
God beleeue of himselfe that he shall be saued And also the Apostle saith that we know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the Brethren all those things we know because our faith beleeueth all that which the word of God hath taught vs in this behalfe CON. 32. The effect of faith is to giue assurance of the present state and of perseuerance also to future glory EXPLA. As many as receiued Christ to them he gaue power to bee sonnes euen to them that beleeue in his name Now to receiue is to take in particular to a mans selfe to apply to himself to apprehend or lay hold of him with all his benefits to make particular vse of Christ so that true faith according to the measure of it assures infallibly not in general only by principall but in particular also by conclusion and application to it selfe and as of his owne good will hee hath begotten vs by the word of truth that we should bee as the first fruits of his creatures so by the same true grace of God that comfort is ministred vnto the faithfull to say Behold what loue the Father hath giuen vnto vs that we are called and are euen now the Sons of God! and we know that when he shall appeare we shall be like vnto him For thorow faith we receiue the promise of the Spirit That is Faith is the very hand into which being holden forth vnto God hee giueth the Spirit which hee had promised CON. 33. When God giueth vs this light and feeling that he is our Father there followeth necessarily a certificate that we are his children this testimony cannot be counterfeited EXPLA. Neither the spirit of man himselfe nor any other spirit can giue man that spirituall eye of the inner man whereby to looke vpon God as a Father that sincere and pure affection and inuocation wherewith the faithfull soule tendereth it selfe vnto God but onely the Spâ—rit of God himselfe which beareth witnes vnto our spirit that wee are the Sonnes of God and because we are the Sonnes of God he hath sent forth the spirit of his Sonne into our hearts crying Abba Father Now this Spirit that beareth witnesse is truth being the Spirit of Truth and therefore beeing sent for a comforter surely in comforting he telleth and testifieth nothing but the truth if then the Spirit of God beare witnesse vnto vs that we are the Sonnes of God wee know that it is true and wee are sure wee are the Sonnes of God And this witnessing properly standeth in the true spirituall inuocation and calling on the name of God whereby vpon all occasion as children to a Father make our recourse vnto him for it is not incident vnto vs to haue in our hearts conscience that familiar and louely accesse vnto the Throne of Grace but vpon coÌ„science of the spirit dwelling in vs for this spirit of praier doth witnesse vnto the elect that they are the Sons of God CON. 34. If God hath once giuen thee assured signes of his fauour hee will neuer change EXPLA. The Testament of Christ is still new yea though it were from the beginning yet it is still the same and the day passes not in which it was giuen but it endureth still with the age of man And thus it is not possible that our works should iustifie which waxe olde and are forgotten So that the righteous man of an hundred yeares old if hee leaue his righteousnesse it hath no account the saluation of the world is not thus but alwayes new If once I bee in the couenant it is an euerlasting couenant I was not taken vnder condition of time nor no time shall preuaile against mee the saluation it selfe is not changeable as Adam was in Paradise but it is made sure in the body of Christ vnited with the person of his Godhead So the wayes also in which wee are led vnto it they are iÌ„mutable our faith is not quenched our loue not extinguished our hope faileth not nor the holy Spirit can neuer be taken from vs but still they are new euen to eternall life CON. 35. We are ioynt-heires with Christ and must attaine to our inheritance that same way which he did beeing first partakers with him in suffering as we shall be afterwards in glory EXPLA. Faith expecteth all these things from God because it is giuen vnto vs for Christs sake not only to beleeue in him but also to suffer for his sake beeing strengthned with all might thorow his glorious power to all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnes To this end as the sufferings of Christ abound in them so hee causeth their consolations to abound through Christ their hope is stedfast in this behalfe because they know that as they are partakers of the sufferings so they shall be of the consolation for faith resteth vpon that which is written hee hath said I wil not fail thee nor forsake thee therefore wee may boldly say The Lord is on my side I will not feare what man can do vnto me he hath predestinated vs to be made like to the Image of his Sonne and therefore hauing receiued the spirit to reueale vnto vs this secret of predestination wee stand assured that accordingly he will accomplish in vs the Image of his Sonne that together with him wee may beare the crosse and together with him also weare the crowne and therefore shall so order all things that there shall be nothing to come that shall separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. CON. 36. The cause of life spirituall in vs is Christ not carnally nor corporally inhabiting but dwelling in the soule of man as a thing which when the minde apprehendeth it is said to inhabite or possesse the minde EXPLA. The minde containeth Christ by hearing and beleeuing the Doctrine of christianity with particular apprehension as the light of nature doth cause the mind to apprehend those truthes which are meerely rationall so that sauing truth which is farre aboue the reach of humane reason cannot otherwise then by the Spirit of the Almighty be conceiued as in these sentences The Spirit is our life or the Word is our life or Christ our life the meaning is that our life is Christ by the hearing of the Gospell apprehended â—s a Sauiour and assented vnto by the power of the holy Ghost CON. 37. The motions and operations of life are sometime so indiscernable and so secret that they seeme stone dead who notwithstanding are still aliue vnto God in Christ. EXPLA. The first intellectuall conceit and comprehension of Christ is the seede whereof wee bee borne new our first embracing of Christ is our first reuiuing from the state of death and condemnation Hee that hath the Sonne hath life and hee that hath not the Sonne hath no life therefore if hee which once had the Son may cease to haue
dead it is dead indeede touching the guilt but it is not yet dead as touching corruption and infection and therfore doth infect the works of the most regenerate for none is perfect as long as he continueth in this life Indeed God hath quickened vs together with Christ and hath raised vs vp together and hath made vs sit together in the heauenly places in Christ Iesus but that is not yet really but in hope yea in our prayers there is much weaknesse and imperfections and distractions yet God respects the truth and not the measure of our faith pardoneth the same for Christs sake who is our high Priest to beare the iniquity of our offerings to make them acceptable before the Lord therfore the godly say Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for in thy sight no man liuing shal be iustified The righteous fall seuen times a day and dayly prayeth for forgiuenesse and when by frailty he doth fal God doth in mercy looke vpon him as he did vpon Peter and cause him to rise againe CON. 51. Faith created in our hearts is the onely sufficient supernaturall instrument to apprehend the free couenant of grace in Christ that is Christs righteousnesse for our iustification EXPLA. Faith is the instrument to receiue because it is the hand which wee stretch to heauen to take holde of Christ and to hold him sitting there it is the mouth whereby we eate and drinke Christ because to beleeue is to eate it is the stomack whereby we digest him for he is to be digested by faith it is the foot wherby we enter in possession of the benefits of Christ and possesse so farre as we stretch the same it is the vessell whereinto God putteth the oyle of his mercy it is by faith wee touch him and looke how much faith we bring to receiue so much we draw out of the abundant grace of God Now that whereby we are iustified is the obedience of Christ for by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous and his obedience is his righteousnesse and wee are made the righteousnesse of God in him by apprehending and receiuing the righteousnesse which is in him He is called the Lord our righteousnesse not who maketh vs righteous only but who also himselfe is our righteousnes and how should he be our righteousnes but by his righteousnes therefore in apprehending receiuing Christ by faith we apprehend and receiue the righteousnes of Christ to be our iustification before God which is that merit and obedience of Christ imputed vnto vs. The efficient and finall cause of iustification then is God in Christ Iesus for our saluation the glory of his name the Materiall is the merit obedience of Christ the Formall cause is Gods imputation apprehended and receiued by vs the instrument of this apprehension is faith alone CON. 52. Iustifying faith is euer accompanied with godlinesse and care of godly life EXPLA. As naturall birth draweth not onely guilt but also corruption so faith wherein is our new birth giueth not onely forgiuenesse of sinne to iustification but also sanctification to holinesse and newnesse of life In the iustified man faith onely is the seat and fountaine of spirituall life because as the quickning faculty and power of the liuing soule dwelleth in the heart so Christ who is our life dwelleth in our faith or in our hearts by faith But yet we consist not spiritually of faith onely but many other vertues and graces are required to make vp the perfection of a Christian man to which as to the other members frō the heart so from faith life is imparted and communicated that in them wee may bee aliue to God which are signes and tokens of a iustified man not any causes of iustification but a declaration and testimony of his being formerly iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ. So good workes follow a man being iustified but are not precedent to iustification and nothing that man can doe either by nature or grace concurreth to the act of iustification as any cause but faith alone for our hearts are purified by faith by faith we reeiue the promise of the spirit and the Law of the Spirit of Christ which is in Christ Iesus deliuered vs from the law of sinne and of death Neither is the very act of faith any part of our righteousnesse but onely the merit and obedience of Christ apprehended and receiued by faith but as the heart giueth life to the body not by the substance of it selfe which is but flesh as the rest of the body is but by the vitall and quickning power of the soule that is seated therin and as the hand feedeth the body not as beeing it selfe the food of the body but by receiuing and ministering vnto it meate wherby it is sustained euen so faith iustifieth and giueth life by receiuing Christ to bee our righteousnesse and life in him receiuing forgiuenesse of sinnes inheritance among them that are sanctified vnto eternall life CON. 53. When God promised tied the effect of his promise to the beleeuing of it not to beleeue that in beleeuing whereof wee are partakers of that which we beleeue is to make God a lyar and to frustrate that which he hath promised EXPLA. By faith onely we accept of a promise in all the benefits of God wee are the children of promise heires by promise heires of promise expecting all things by the gracious promise of God by promise to be partakers of the diuine nature the blessing by promise the spirit by promise the inheritance by promise life eternall by promise by promise a new heauen and a new earth wherein righteousnesse dwelleth all which be promises in Christ and are yea and in him amen that is for his sake first made and for his sake to bee performed also Now seeing God hath taught vs that by faith wee obtaine the promises that wee receiue the promise of the spirit by faith that the promise of blessing is giuen by the faith of Iesus Christ to them that beleeue that as we beleeue so it shall be vnto vs that whatsoeuer wee desire when wee pray if we beleeue we shall haue it it shall be accordingly vnto vs. Why should wee then not beleeue such God hath promised Christ to bee our righteousnesse and that by the faith of Iesus Christ that is by beleeuing in him to bee that vnto vs which God hath promised surely in beleeuing him to bee our righteousnesse hee is our righteousnesse and we are made the righteousnesse of God in him CON. 54. The righteousnesse and merit of Christ is spiritually and really ours within and without in spirit and body and soule to sanctifie and cleanse vs vnto God EXPLA. And this is indeede not by receiuing Christs righteousnes really into vs but by hauing righteousnesse imputed vnto vs for his sake for we
not despised our heauenly calling therefore in the day of trouble we shal haue rest when destruction shall come vpon the secure like an armed man God most glorious Lord of lords although hee make sicknesse his messenger and death his minister till he shall destroy them both yet his mercies are vnspeakeable that forgiueth vs all our sinnes his goodnesse is great who hath regard to the children of men CON. 72. All trouble should be rather matter of ioy then displeasure EXPLA. This is our prayer thy will be done we must be contented with all hee hath done that our hearts may beare vs witnesse that of all things the Lord is most deare vnto vs for if wee giue our heart to loue the Lord our troubles shall seem neither great nor strong vnto vs for what can be great if our heart bee prepared to say We reioyce in afflictions because they shall breede in vs a hope which shall neuer make vs ashamed oâ— what can bee great if God hath taught vs that the momentany afflictioÌ„s of this world they are not worthy of the glory that shall be reuealed vnto vs or what can be great if wee can reioyce in afflictions reioyce exceedingly when we fall into many and great tribulations All is but vanity what should dismay vs Nay how should we not be glad if death were euen at our bed sides that we might euen once see the vtmost malice of the Deuill and after for euer bee deliuered from him O! how God is delighted with vs when we bee faithfull to abide these light chastisements How many things haue all the â—odly suffered are we not ashamed to refuse the crosse which they haue borne yea weight well thy case what it is and thou shalt fee little cause of sorrow in it or if thou compare it with others none at all and it all things were as euill as thou couldst imagine what then Where is our loue to Iesus Christ that gaue his pretious blood to the death vpon the Crosse for our sakes if we will not leaue all for him One haire cannot fall from our head but at his commandement He is head of his Church and all things happen they not vnto vs as he will Onely when wee sin let vs bee sorrowfull to offend such a Sauiour let it grieue vs more then death it selfe but to remember againe so assâ—red hope we cannot but reioyce in the Lord and alwayes reioice so let Gods wil peâ—swade you that whether you liue or whether you die you may bee wholly his The world hath taken vp enmity against vs and striueth dayly to separate vs from the Lord but there is no ioy to this that wee know our selues to bee the children of God to bee ioyned to Iesus Christ and made a chief member of a glorious body with whom we shall be ioyned for euer And what is this world to immortality What are fulnesse of delights to the grace of God the fellowship of Saints the forgiuenesse of our sins the loue of Gods countenance the assurance of our life the brightnesse of his glory and these vnutterable eternall blessings Let vs count then all things dung that wee may winne Christ desire to be dissolued and be with Christ that we may say O death where is thy sting All things of the world are but seruants of death and serue to make his power more fearefull vnto vs vanquish death and thou hast vanquished all height and depth life and death all is ours and we are Christs CON. 73. To confesse sin and not to hide it is a ready way to saluation aduancement of Gods glory EXPLA. Satan is enemy to vs and his sleights are many tread Satan vnder foote and triumph with Christ so shalt thou shame the Deuill For hee that hideth his sinnes shall neuer prosper but hee that confesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercy To Achan Ioshua said I beseech thee giue glory to God and shew mee what thou hast done This is to giue glory to God to confesse So did Dauid acknowledge his iniquity the Israelites before their absolution and forgiuenesse confessed to the Priest and thereafter their sinnes were layd on the beasts Adam did cloake his sin but we must be borne anew So did Cain but wee are of a better kinred then he God will once reueale the â—ecrets of hearts and then wee shall reioyce that there is nothing of ours hid better to receiue the reproach of flesh and after receiue the glory of God Iohn his preaching began at confession the prodigall Son called heauen and earth to witnesse his impiety Paul did euer tell vs hee was a persecutor the Theefe entred not into Paradise til he first in the hearing of Israel sayd We are rightly punished and receiue things worthy of that wee haue done This then touched the glory of God and therefore wee must forsâ—ke the loue of our selfe we must not dissemble with him that cannot bee mocked in the middest of the congregation I will praise thee I will declare thy Name vnto my Bretheren saith Christ. Gods graces must neither be locked vp in our hearts but will burne within like fire I haue beleeued therfore I spake A fire I say shut vp in our bones wee shall bee weary with forbearing I will speake thy name before Kings and will not be ashamed CON. 74. God hath giuen his Elect as a free gift to Christ. EXPLA. The Apostle telleth vs Behold the children which thou hast giuen me This teacheth vs to acknowledge his gift and grace and not any wisedome in vs why hee would choose vs or any constancy in vs by which wee would cleaue vnto him but God in his grace drew vs that we might come vnto him and with his power he strengthneth vs that we should abide with him All that my Father giueth vnto me commeth vnto me and the reason is because my Father hath giuen them to me and he is greater then all and hee prayeth oftentimes in that long prayer for them that beleeue because his Father hath giuen them vnto him that we may be taught humility that in vs that is in our flesh ther dwelleth no goodnesse but that he chose vs he did it of his free grace and mercy which he would shew vnto vs and as wee know that once God hath freely giuen vs vnto Christ so wee know our election standeth sure because it is according to his promise who hath loued vs for euer CON. 75. To know the sufserings of Christ aright is our greatest consolation EXPLA. Christ suffered the death ouer which the Deuil had power the same death which is the reward of sinne by bearing it he ouercame it and he conquered no more then hee submitted himselfe vnto for by death hee ouercame death and he hath brokeÌ„ the force of it no further then he had felt the sting of it in himself for body and soule hee was made a sacrifice sor our