experionce of these graces in themselues which he testified and testifying persuaded them they had otherwise hee would neuer haue gone about to persuade them to whom he wished saluation that the want of personall knowledge of these graces in them and priuiledges belonging to them was a signe of their reprobation 2 Cor. 13.5 But lest we be thought altogether to roue in another field and range among a strange people though indeed and truth the condition of all the Saints in regard of the substance and matter of all speciall and spirituall graces be alike let vs see if we can aime so right and keepe home so well as to cleare this truth by any passage besides this Text betweene the Apostle and these Romanes concerning whom he was here so well persuaded Surely there is one among others that addes strength to this assertion that notwithstanding both speciall reuelation and the gift of discerning euery Regenerate Romane might be assured of that grace in himselfe and of that priuiledge belonging to him whereof the Apostle was assuredly persuaded in respect of him and it is this The Apostle giues God thankes that they to wit which Rom. 6.17 among the Romanes or elsewhere were effectually called Rom. 1.6 for till then not any other are truly capable of any grace simply necessary to saluation were that is 22. some times not now the seruants of sinne that they were free from sinne and become the seruants of God 16. and so free from death 23. and interested in eternall life With what face could he haue come before the Lord though with praise in his mouth who is the Iudge of all who knowes the very hearts and reines and whom hell and destruction are before Pro. 15.11 and therefore much more the hearts of the children of men as Salomon truly argueth if either he had doubted or had not been vpon good grounds persuaded of aswell their freedome from death as the end of their holinesse eternall life yet euen in that sixt Chapter he is euer and anon calling vpon the Romanes the best among them in that maner and with such a Phrase Tone and Accent as not only imply a desire he had to excite and stirre them vp to a cleare and distinct knowledge of these things which were in them and did belong vnto them but also a sharpe accusation for their ignorance of them in themselues and not discerning their good estates in which he knew they were and for which he powred forth the sacrifice of thanksgiuing to the Lord for in the 3. v. of the 6. Chapter his words are these Know yee not that so many of vs including them with himselfe as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death In the 16. v. these Know ye not that to whō you yeeld your selues scruants to obey his seruants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin vnto death or of obedience vnto righteousnesse The best we can make of his thus Catechizing them and the least we can gather from these cutting questions is an earnest calling vpon them to haue in themselues experience of the benefits of Christs death and resurrection which through the whole Chapter are to die vnto sin and to liue vnto righteousnesse and the end of all eternall life which he knew did belong vnto them so as of whatsoeuer grace the Apostle is assured to be in or to appertaine vnto another of the same may that other be assuredly persuaded is in or appertaines vnto himselfe For whether they be Saints at Corinth or Rome or wheresoeuer concerning whom the Apostle is well persuaded hee grounds that his good persuasion alwaies not vpon either speciall Reuelation or his gift of discerning but vpon such signes as they themselues might see and vpon such tokens as they themselues might know and well perceiue in themselues for how knew hee that the Romanes were before time not then when he writ vnto them the seruants of sin that is had yeelded themselues once wholly to the commanding power of sin but now had cast off his yoke He himself can best acquaint vs with the meanes whereby he attained to that knowledge concerning them let vs aske him our question shall not be so ready as his resolution for in the very next words he discouereth them Ro. 6. vers 17. to be their obeying of the truth yee haue saith he obeyed from the very heart that forme of doctrine which was deliuered vnto you as if hee had said would you vnderstand what moued mee to giue thankes to God for your present estate and how I know you are free-men in respect of sins bondage I will tell you thus it is I saw and see and reioyce at it that you with al the powers of your soules haue yeelded obedience to that truth which hath beene taught you How knew he that the fruit they should reape was the fruit of holinesse vers 22. and that the end they should attaine to was eternall life Then himselfe none is better able to reueale vpon what grounds he was moued to hope so well for their future happinesse and before wee demand he answeres there were certaine markes Gods good tokens vpon them which they might as well if not better then he perceiue in themselues and they were these that they were made free from sinne vers 22 the yoke and burden whereof any Saint too much feeles after hee by his corruption is subiected to it and to his hearts ioy well discernes when by the Lords mercy in his Sauiours merits hee is eased of it and then vers 22. that they were become the seruants of God that is with all submissiue reuerence and renerent diligence did resigne themselues ouer vnto God in minde and soule and spirit and the whole man to doe his will of which change no childe of God can bee lesse ignorant then vsually is a seruant of his owne remouing from a tedious painefull and no way contenting to a ioyfull easie and euery way peace-bringing seruice seeing the seruing of sin and Satan is bondage and the seruice of the Lord is perfect freedom As for the Corinthian Saints 1 Cor. 3.16 He did in a mannet chide them because they tooke no better notice that they were the Temple of God and that the spirit of God dwelt in them and had he any reason for it God and his Spirit are inuisible how then can mortall eies discouer their habitation Though we doe not see the King yet we can tell where the Court is by the Writs that proceede from him and the Retinue that belong vnto him They could not but feele the impression of the Spirit sealing vpon their hearts the eternall peace of their consciences the neuer expiring patents of Celestiall promises in Christ neither could they be ignorant of God and his Spirits presence within them seeing he could discerne that a spirituall sanctitie godly graces did without adorne them 17. Againe
It was an excellent priuiledge to be in the faith 2 Cor. â—3 5 but an vnparalleld preeminence to haue Christ in them and a blessing which in the end bringeth happinesse without compare to be free from the state of reprobation In all these regards he had affirm'd theÌ„ in their measure to be happy and withall these prerogatiues to be honoured with himselfe 2 Cor 1.20 22. for aswell as he they were by God established in Christ anointed sealed and receiued the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts Neither was this a bare affirmation but an assured persuasion concerning them 2 Cor. 1.7 for it was accompanied with such an hope of them for the time to come hope is not of things seene which was not fleeting but firme Rom. 8.24 25. it had not a sandy but sound foundation what was that could they also see it to build their owne assured persuasion and stedfast hope vpon it See it clearey see it palpably perceiue it and sensibly feele it First 2 Cor. 1.5 7. 13.5 their partaking of the sufferings of Christ then Christs powerfulnesse in them Such markes as are not only to be discerned to be where they be for who can suffer and not know it Mat. 3.11 Luk. 24.4 or haue a fire in his breast and not perceiue the heat of it bur common to all the Saints to all the members of Christ and to all that looke to enter into the Kingdome of heauen for they that beleeue not in him will be so farre from suffering for him that they will not so much as once take to heart either his or his Saints sufferings and if Christ shall not be mighty in them they will not endure sufferings of any kind for him Thus from the Text the double collection that euery regenerate Christian may be assured of whatsoeuer grace for himselfe whereof the Apostle is persuaded for himself or in the behalfe of any other notwithstanding either speciall Reuelation or his gift of discerning remaineth vndenyable No lesse The Context proueth assurance to be common from but rather more transparent light will the Context giue to this truth That to be assured of inseparabilitie from the loue of God in Christ and so of all other graces simply necessary to saluation is not proper to the Apostle nor any Saint but common to euery one of the S t s as appeareth by 1. the Maner 2. the Marke 3. the ground of Pauls arguing in this Chap. For the 1. 1. The maner of the Apostles arguing the Maner It is necessarily granted that Freedome from condemnation To be the childe of God Saluation Intercession of the holy Ghost and of Jesus Christ To haue all things worke together for the best Victory in Tribulations and the like Inseparabilitie from the loue of Christ and God in Christ are things simply necessary Now the Apostle vsing these as arguments of comfort he doth not appropriate them nor any one of them to himselfe but applyeth them to himselfe indeed for he is included yet so as the rest of the faithfull also may include themselues This he would not nay could not haue done without deluding of them if they might only haue seene the Combe and might not haue tasted of the Hony but to delude them was as farre from his intention as it should be froÌ„ our imagination seeing he sought to approue himself in the consciences of all which he could not haue done though he had vsed neuer so great endeuor nor truly haue endeuoured if he in these priuileges meÌ„tioned might only haue chalenged a property the rest of the faithfull could at all haue claymed no interest But he saith not There is no condemnation to mee but to them be what they will be so they be in Crrist Jesus walk not after the flesh but after the spirit He saith not that he only is the child of God but as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God He saith not he is but we are saued by hope He saith not all things worke together for good to me but to them that loue God to them who are called according to his purpose He saith not either the spirit or Christ makes intercession for mee but for vs. Hee saith not in all these things I am more then a Conquerour but we are more then Conquerours through him that loued not me but vs He saith not who shall separate me but vs from the loue of Christ nor I am persuaded that neither death nor life c. shall be able to seperate me but vs from the loue God c. as freely interressing and fully inuesting the Regenerate Saints then in Rome and all others who had or shall haue the conditions which are added in those priuiledges and graces as he was fully and certainly persuaded they belonged to himselfe For the second 2. That at which the Apostle aimeth i. the comforts of all the Sts. The marke or end where at the Apostle in this place aimeth what is it It is the comfort consolation not of himselfe alone but of euery regenerate Romane and consequently of euery truly beleeuing Christian which was then is now or hereafter shall be in Christ Iesus against all and singular enemies and opposites whatsoeuer which might any way lessen or by any means cause them to leaue their confidence in Gods loue through Christ else he might better haue concealed these comforts in the closet of his owne breast then reuealed them And further to say these comforts here recorded either all or some of them doe belong vnto him alone is erronious for to say they all are his in peculiar is to gainesay his purpose here because the blessed Spirits purpose and his owne speach elsewhere where he who was no changeling in his assertions affirmeth that Whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning Rom. 15.4 that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope which things patience and comfort by them the Scriptures are the Spirits aime their the Scriptures end not only in the Apostles time but to the worlds end Now how can we be armed with patience sustained with comfort transported to the hauen of happinesse with hope by this Scripture an only place of comfort yea euen of all places fullest of the spirituall Balme of Gilead if it wholly belongs to Paul If it it wholy belongs to Paul how caÌ„ it otherwise be thought but that he sought only himselfe his own glory neither the Saints then nor vs now To affirme that some of them belonged to him presupposeth this particular coÌ„fort laid downe in this Text the inseparability from the loue of God in Christ which is the greatest and comprehends the rest therefore if any then this if this how is not the Apostle as was euery one of the three friends of Iob a miserable comforter of a distressed conscience
Thus praying that thou maist be turned to the true Shepheard and Bishop of thy Soule 1. Pet. 2.25 thy Sauiour haue that hope which is sure and stedfast Heb. 3.6 and neuer makes ashamed Rom. 5.5 I rest Thine in any Christian duty to be commanded EDVV DALTON The Contents POpish Doctors of all haue least reason to interpret the Text of a Coniecturall perswasion page 9. The Doctrine is To be assured of euery grace simply necessary to saluation is common to euery Saint not Pauls peculiar page 10. And it is first proued from the Text not withstanding Pauls Speciall Reuelation pa. 13. Gift of discerning page 15. Secondly Context from the manner of the Apostles arguing page 26. Marke whereat he aimeth i. the Saints comfort page 28. Grounds of those comforts hee here laies downe p. 31. Thirdly from the confession of the Aduersaries where 1. The Gospell aswell as the Law is particularly to be applyed p. 32. 2. To apply generall propositions particularly is the practise of the Spirit p. 34. the Aduersaries thēselues p. 36. 3. The truth of Conuersion may be knowne p. 38. 4. What heart it is which is deceiued p. 39. 5. Wherein Peter was deceiued wherein he was not p. 43. 6. It is absurd to alledge Pauls rageings against the Church to proue a Saint may be deceiued p. 43. 7. According to the measure of faith is the measure of the Saints assurance p. 44. And it is secondly applied therefore 1. They are reproued who would haue all the Saints of God and members of Christ to doubt and that out of duty of their Saluation of which to doubt Papists haue of all men least cause seeing if we will beleeue themselues they onely are true beleeuers and are able to keepe the Law p. 45. 2. To hold doubting necessary is dangerous making Prayer fruitlesse p. 46. 3. It is no presumption to labour for assurance p. 48. 4. The meanes to obtaine assurance p. 50. 5. Signes of true assurance p. 50. 6. Outward conditions should not puffe vp or exalt any Saint aboue his inferiour brethren p. 51. 7. The meanest childe of God may in what estate soeuer he be by reason of his interest in this assurance be comforted p. 52. 8. How to be comforted in sinnes and sufferings by this assurance p. 52. DOVBTINGS DOVNFAL ROMANS 8. vers 38. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come 39. Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ALL the predictions of our blessed Sauiour are infallible for their truth and for their accomplishments haue their periods one among the rest seemes to be verified in our daies Luk. 21.26 which is That men should be at their wits end or their hearts should faile them for feare and for looking after those things which are comming on the earth Not that Christ would haue thē so but that men would be so carryed away with longing for certainties in things rather of this then a better life whereas if a man in the testimonie of a good Conscience be once perswaded that in Christ Gods present loue without interruption reflecteth on him and future ioyes without intermission doe expect him Ps 146.2 Though the earth be remoued and though the Mountaines be caried into the midst of the Sea yet he because his heart is wholly taken vp with the Lords Almightie power possessed with the Almighties mercifull protection and fully perswaded that the worst crosse Luk. 21.18 euen the loosing of his head shall not produce the perishing of an haire Ro. 8.28 but all things shall turne to his good though some through needlesse feares make Shipwracke of Faith and a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1.19 other vpon earthly hopes embrace this present World he I say remaineth as constantly faithfull in his outward profession as he is holily resolued through an inward persuasion But now the Apostle partly seeing in the Romanes in his time partly foreseeing in all Saints in succeeding ages that their holy persuasion should be opposed and their heauenly profession hindered vpon the sound of that Alarum which both present experience and future expectation caused to be made entereth in this Chapter the lists and begins a combate with his enemies of all sorts sinne and sufferings not ending many times till death hath put an end vnto them nay death it selfe of all afflictions the worst which man can endure and that only which he cannot resist from the 1. verse to the 31. and least any Saint should shrinke from his holy faith or any other be deterred from touching the very hemmes of that Religion which is so accompanied with afflictions and encountred with oppositions he presents the soule victoriously triumphing from the 31. verse to the end of the Chapter against all doubt-causing streights and heart-daunting strength because it cannot possibly be destitute of any thing that is helpefull for how shall not he that spared not his owne Sonne but deliuered him vp for vs all with him also freely giue vs all things verse 32. nor too much molested with any enemies that are hurtfull whether seuered or vnited in their forces Are they seuered It insults first ouer the malice of such as are spirituall whether sinne or Satan and a guilty conscience through sinne one or all either accusing verse 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that iustifieth or condemning verse 34. Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs. Secondly ouer the mischiefe of such as are corporall verse 35 36 37. Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword as it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as sheepe for the slaughter nay in all these things we are more then conquerours through him that loued vs. Are they vnited They shall preuaile no otherwise speed no better for the Apostles conscience told him that Gods loue to his Saints is inseparable and so inseparable 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 endeuour what it will attempt what it can to seperate vs either him or them from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our his and their Lord. A proposition it is of comfort propounded by our Apostle in such a manner we see as manifests his assured and infallible persuasion not only of his owne but of th Saints then in Rome and consequently of all Saints that either then were or after should be vpon the earth their inseparability from the loue