sure of safeâ—â— Vse then let vs liue vprightly embrace vertue shun vice carefully destruction remaineth for the vngodly but peace and Gal. 6. 16. mercie to Syon and vpon the Israell of God Let Pharao be drowned the Israelites shall passe ouer safely wicked Israelites may be destroyed yet faithfull Caleb and Iosua shall liue Lotte shall escape when Sodome shall flame with fire and all the inhabitants therof And Noah with his shall be aliue in the Arke when the whole world shal haue an end Thus vertuous men haue a Supersedeas against Gods iustice not of merit but in mercie their soules be sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb so that the Angell of wrath must passe ouer their persons they are aforehand marked Eze. 9. in the forehead for that they mourne cry for the abhominations which they see these the Angel must not so much as touch wheÌ„ they be coÌ„maÌ„ded to smite other without pittie O let vs therfore liue vertuously and be doers of these things Ye shall not leaue your standing You D 〈…〉 e. Psa 15. 5 shall neuer as Dauid saith be moued you shall not like dogs returne to the vomite againe nor like swine to the Ioh. 10. 28 myre it is Christs promise None shall pluck them out of his hands whom hee hath chosen the more they exercise vertue the more they loue it and grow more zealous in it Dauid findeth the Psa 19. words of God sweeter then honey and the keeping of the commandements more precious then pearles so is it with euerie one that seeketh GOD in righteousnesse Vse This keeping of our standing that we fall not away is also a forcible reason to moue vs to exercise our selues in these vertues What more comfort then euer to abide with God in the state of grace to call God father Christ the Iudge our blessed sauiour the holy Ghost our comforter glorious Angels our fellow seruantâ— earth our right and heauen our inheritance And what more vncomfortable then by falling away to bid adue to God to grace to goodnesse It is to cause the Lord to abhorre vs and to bid the Diuell take vs It is to runne from vnder Gods protection and to seeke death and destruction who therefore would not liue in doing vertuously to keepe his standing in the state of grace that hee fall not away Doubt not of falling if thou liue in Euangelicall obedience in these vertues thou hast a perpetuall pledge of Gods loue euen by thy godly life his promises are annexed to such a one by well doing thou hast assurance of deliuerance and art in Gods seruice and he that hath called thee will mercifully reward thee in the end But many haue falne thou wilt say true from what they Obiection answered seemed to bee but not indeede from what they were their gifts were common fauours but not the speciall graces of election they neuer attained vnto the aforenamed Euangelicall obedieÌ„ce secretly they were hypocrites none fall finally but the good things they do are done sinisterly as appeareth in Iehu and they nourish some sinne which doth breake out at the length openly as in Iudas is manifest Search therefore thy self how thou standest if vprightly with feare loue and in humility feare not to fall finally The elect fall for a time as we see in Dauid but they so coÌ„tinue not euer this is the fall of a reprobate If you demand how in falling we may know the difference betweene the elect A quest and reprobate it may appeare thus to a man first by the truth of grace before the fall by the remainder of grace in falling with a kind of feare and with some struggling vnwilling to yield and yet through infirmity violence of affection forced to yield for the godly truely conuerted cannot sin after with full consent Lastly after the fall to be checked in conscience and though for a time they do lie in sin yet then not without the Lords externall chastisements to make them remember themselues when a faithful messenger coÌ„meth as Nathan to say thou art the man Dauid yieldeth and saith I haue sinned which the reprobate do not If further through feare thou that art in the state of grace dost obiect Sathans Elect neede not to fear they shall no way be ouercome powre hee shall not preuaile Christ hath ouercome him Math. 4. And his triumph is thy victorie so read it and beleeue If thou dread the world Christ saith Be of good comfort I haue ouercome the world Iohn 16. 33. If the flesh which ouerthrew Salomon conquered Sampson hee that is in Christ hath mortified Rom. 6. the deedes of the flesh and why was Christ pure but to subdue thy corruption If yet thou say But for all this thou maist be ouercome by many temptations fall away in time of persecution remember that God wil not try thee aboue thy strength 1. Cor. 10. 13. And for other afflictions for Christ in them thou shalt be more then a conqueror through him that loued vs. Rom 8. 37. And I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to com nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus verse 38. 39. But many false teachers shall arise true to deceiue certainly the reprobate and to beguile the elect if it were possible Math 24. 24. But therefore it may bee inferred that it is an vnpossible thing bee humble and meeke for them that be mâ—â—ke will he guide in iudgement and teach the humble his way Psal 25. 9. Loue the truth for the truthes sake God wil not giue thee ouer to beleeue lies as hee doth those that haue not a loue of the truth 2. Thes 2. 10. Oh but I feare my daily offences wil cause the Lord to cast me off to take his grace from me so shall I fall finally For this know that the best sinneth often it is not sinning but the lying in sin that daÌ„neth If thou canst confesse sin forsake Pro. 28. 13. it thou shalt haue mercie Prou. 28. 13. though thou dost fall thou shalt not be cast off for the Lord putteth vnder his hand Psal 37. 24. To conclude the Lord wil not forsake his people for his great names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make them his people 1. Sam. 12. 22. Thus said Samuel to Israel to coÌ„fort them euen when they had greatly offeÌ„ded God Therefore let Sathan roare and compasse the earth Iob is hedged about let A comfortable conclusion the world lie in wickednesse the elect shall see light to come out the flesh is strong but the spirit of God is stronger to cast it out to subdue and kil it persecution shall not ouercome the loue of Christ wil constraine vs to hold False teachers shall not mislead vs so but wee shall see returne or preuent them before though we sin yet this doth not condemne vs for no Christians but that we are weake and not wholly freed froÌ„ corruptions Here is no perfection here is vprightnesse to bee had hold this beware of hypocrisie striue to perfection that thou maist after attaine it in glory So beloued shall no sin raigne over vs grace shall grow in vs peace shal be vpon vs faith shal set comfort before vs this wretched worlde shall not bewitch vs pleasures shall not deceiue vs nor any thing cause vs to miscarie but that wee shall run on run out our race with ioy vntill the full end of our daies Which the Father of mercy the God of all comforts graunt vnto vs for his sonnes sake Christ Iesus To whom with the Father and the holy Spirit be euerlasting praise and glory for this his grace and all other his mercies now and henceforth for euermore Amen FINIS
wee be such it plainly appeareth that wee runne the way of death and walke in the path of perdition except we do amend Let such worldlings consider that the world they must leaue going as they came naked with nothing and thē receiue not as they were in wealth here a place there but as they were religious so shall they be rewarded And therfore sith this world vanisheth and cannot help but euen as wee haue sought the Lord so shall wee find comfort let vs be more diligent in seeking after that which will maks vs euer happy without alteration euerlastingly Againe the voluptuous liuer is nothing Voluptuous liuers lesse then of this minde to seeke diligently those things that are aboue but hee as a beast maketh his bellie his God and the satisfying of his lust his chiefest life Nothing sauours with him but pleasures therefore spendeth hee his daies in cursed delights and saith as the carelesse Rich man Soule liue at ease eat drinke and take thy Luke 12. 19 pastime when in his strength and in the midst of his pleasures hee thinketh of death he thereby stirs vp his minde the more to his euils saying as an Epicure and Atheist Let vs eate and drinke for 1 Cor. 15. to morrowe vve shall die hee maketh a league with death and a couenant with the graue if all die he dreameth to liue though God threaten damnation yet he will presume of mercie vntill the verie daies of euill come wherein he will be forced to say I haue no pleasure in them When sicknes hath sommoned him and feare of present death hath taken possession then happely wil he say Oh I haue sinned pray for me I haue spent my daies leudly what shall I doe and if in this agony conscience seaze vpon him then he will roare for feare of hell then houle and cry out in dread of damnation oh saue but none shall succour oh heare but God will not hearken woe is Pro. 1. 28. me for my wantonnesse wo is me that I haue wrought such wickednesse goodnes I regarded not I therefore now feele no comforts of grace oh that GOD would let me liue againe how would I then seek after him fie vpon filthy lust cursed pleasures a due vanitie of vanities and vexation of spirit Beloued if we but felt what men feele for sinne in trouble of conscience and without comfort we would not for the world be in their place wee escaping the danger would soone leaue sinne giue all diligence to doe good in which onely resteth all our comfort then with gladnes and alacrity of spirit wee would set forward to the worke of the Lord embrace goodnes and liue vertuously that wee might not come into the like miserie any more Therefore let the feare of it aforehād moue vs to giue all diligence to do wel that we may neuer taste of that dreadfull torment the apprehension of Gods wrathfull displeasure for which Christ sinneles for our sinnes sustaining fell into such an agony as in the garden hee swet drops of bloud wretched man remember thou this and on the crosse cryed My God my God vvhy hast thou forsaken Mat. 27. 46 me and shall we sinne rebelliously and presume of mercie shall hee forsaken as it were feare who was without sinne and that day and night sought after good things and may we be drowned in voluptuousnesse and carelesse of religion bee wholly without dread O vaine imagination Sathanicall delusion cursed presumption Let vs bee otherwise minded I beseech you think better of it There are also an other sort to conclude Carelesse professours cold Protestants who though as these forenamed they bee not wretchedly addicted to their wils running headlong into wickednesse and wholy careless of religion to the very end yet are they idle i◠their profession and not carefull to vse their time so well as they might but will be content to let occasions offered slip and do thinke that men may be too curious too precise making more adoe then needeth that they can serue God and heare not the word twise on the Sabbaoth once a forthnight or once a moneth may content them that businesses may withdraw from these too sometime so as a little liketh them well yea and lesse then nothing now then shall not displease them But these worke not out their saluation with feare and trembling these doe forget how the fiue foolish virgins let their lamps go out for want of watchfulnesse and did knock too late when the gates were Mat. 25. 11 12. shut The spouse in the Canticles losing the Cant. 5. 3. 6. 7. present opportunity in her sluggish carelesse disposition had almost lost Christ who yet after sought him and found him but not without strokes and wounds giuen by the watchmen It will bee iust with God to punish our carelesnesse we haue the word offered we may enioy it bee not loathing of this Mannah be diligent in searching the soules safety It may come to passe that when we would we shall not haue it and whilst we seeke and happily find we shall haue no small trouble before wee enioy againe our peace We should followe religion and religious exercises in the compasse of our calling as Elisha did Eliah neither tarrie at Gilgall nor at Bethel nor at Iericho 2 Kings 2. though wee be entreated that is by no means nor by any occasion to leaue off for feare of losing the blessing if wee be but a while absent Let vs as Ruth protested to Naomi Ruth 1. 16 17. so say for religion wee wil not be intreated to leaue it nor depart frō it whither it goeth wee will go the Lord do so to vs and more also if ought but death depart it and vs. It is Eliah to double blessings vpon thee It is Naomi faire and beautifull to the soule though sometime Marah to the flesh Hence is it that Dauid Psa 1. 2. saith Blessed is he that meditateth in the lawe of God both day and night He was not of the minde of these vaine professours nor of their practise who not content with the day would rise vp at midnight to praise the Lord. The spirit of God in godly men hath taught them to thinke that they should giue all diligence to be religious that they should not content themselues with formal and customarie seruice nor at their leisure now or then from worldly businesse or carnall delights to thinke of heauen but daily were they in exercise of religion what estate calling so euer they were in Dauid a King did not neglect it Cornelius a Captaine was a deuout man and Act. 10. 2. 30 prayed God continually Hannah was in the Temple day and night Peter was in his holy meditation and prayers at noone and Daniel a great States-man Dan. 6. became so curiously precise in his holy deuotion and seruice vnto God that he would not in the perill of his
Many of singular note haue fallen and neuer could returne againe 2. Kings 9 10. gifts of great note in the Church famous for worthy acts haue falne neuer returned againe as appeareth in couragious and valiant Iehu a captaine for the Lord of hostes against the house of Ahab who slew two kings Iehoram and Ahaziah of Iuda and Israell by him was Iezabel cast downe that cursed Queene and the dogs did eat her in the gates of Isreel hee ouerthrew Baall his Priests and temple he was zealous for the Lord and tooke Ionadab to bee a witnesse thereof with him So Demas Col. 4. 14. intertained the Gospell accompanied the Apostle in his afflictions saluted the Saincts and was famous in Churches Ioash long liued religiously he honoured 2. Kin. 12. godly Iehotada and was counselled by him he repaired the Temple and did many things worthy praise Iudas was a follower of Christ three yeares he preached Christ in his name cast out diuels Mat. 10. and was an Apostle one of the twelue chosen by Christ out of all the world yet was not Iehu his heart vpright but he embraced Ieroboams calues and fell from God and claue to his Idolatrie yet did Dâ—mas forsake the Gospell and entertained this present world and no meÌ„tion of his returne againe yet did Ioash fall to Idolatrie and cruelty ouerthrowing Gods worship and persecuting yea murthering his prophets without repeÌ„tance And lastly Iudas became a miserable miscreant a thiefe a traytor and in horrour of mind so desperat as after the fact being hopelesse of mercy he hanged himself Who readeth feareth not who heareth and trembles not we see our beginning is it easie thence to conclude our ending Doe wee see such so qualified so famous men to faâ—â— vtterly shal we presume of a better end without any such tokens of grace Vse By all this which hath beene said it Theâ— are deceiued that think assurance of saluation easily atteined is more then manifest that it is not easie to attaine assurance of saluation It is therefore altogether a fault in such as labor the least in this matter Of the world we feare to want heauen wee make no question of For the body here wee take care and doe vpon euery light occasion distrust fall to shifts in feare of want but for the soule wee make our selues sure that it is well albeit it doth want all the meanes of saluation and we our selues liue in our naturall corruption vnreformed What is this but carnall presumption it commeth from Sathans suggestion A motion from the diuine spirit it is not where this giueth hope of heauen there it moueth to goodnesse this teacheth that the assurance of things aboue after death is beyond reason and therefore more hard to bee attained then things belowe in this life present Many waies are here to make supply for the bodie in earthly things but one way for heauenly Men may bestow vpon thee for this time but God onely for the time to come Thine own labour here may procure thee maintenance and what thou canst not get other may giue thee but no man can redeeme a soule and giue life man must let that alone for euer here wee are led by sense but in the other by faith money can here purchase but onely mercy there man may deserue well of man but nothing can he merit of God We may be superiours amongst men and yet touching the future good of the soule may be worse then beasts Diues may fare deliciously euery day and yet bee so farre from assurance of life as that he is damned at his death All the world may we winne yet lose our owne soules Dauid can tell vs that hee neuer sawe the righteous forsakeÌ„ touching the things of this life but the wicked flourishing yet come to a fearefull end The way is brode and the gate wide that leadeth to destruction and many runne that way but the gate to heauen is straight and the passage narrow leading to life and many seeke it but fewe finde it many set foote in the way few go on any time and of these fewe some turne back againe and a very small number perseuere to the end Of the world wee are and the world will loue her owne but we are vncapable of grace and enemies to goodnes so as God in iustice abhorreth vs. In the world we may liue thogh we haue offended in many things keeping them secret from men and neuer make satisfaction but in an other wee cannot if but one sinne be vnrepented of and God not satisfied and the price of blood payed to redeeme vs by faith in Christ Here offences committed may bee pardoned by many the King not taking notice of them but there is no euill in the soule though neuer so secret but the King of heauen is acquainted with the same and a pardon must be procured from his owne person and by none but by his own sonne else that offendor shall vtterly be condemned and pay the punishment duely for euer according to the trespasse Therefore if all these things be well considered and the weight of the reasoÌ„s seriously weighed we may rather suppose our selues to be deluded by imagination to thinke the assurance of saluation to be so easily attayned then to be the settlednes of our iudgement from a grounded perswasion And thus much for the first lesson Doctrine The second lesson is this that yet there is in this life a true assurance of saluation in a certaine measure to euery one in time ordained to be saued else the Apostle Peter here would not haue exhorted vs to labour for this assurance which the Apostle S. Paule attayned also Rom. 8. 38 vnto in this life which hee publisheth not onely singularly in the behalfe of himselfe but plurally for the rest of all those whom God loueth in Christ Iesus Neither doe I say that it is that fulnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of faith but a certaine measure nor at once but by little and little nor to euery professour but to such as are ordained to eternall life And this is effected by How to get assurance By meditation meditation inspiration sanctificatioÌ„ To haue assurance we must meditate of Gods inchangeablenes both in his owne nature Iam. 1. 17. as also in his gifts and calling which are without repentance Rom. 11. 29 we must think vpon Gods euerlasting decree without alteration of his promises made irreuocably with the manner of deliuery in the time present Ioh. 3. 36 He that beleeueth Ioh. 3. 36. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the sonne hath euerlasting life to take away doubting and to establish our harts in an assured possession thereof No lesse gaine ariseth by remembring the Lords couenant which hee maketh with his how it is a couenant euerlasting Ier. 32. 40 not for a time and with such as he maketh it he giueth them grace putteth his feare in their
hearts that they neuer depart from him Ier. 32. 40. Lastly we may establish our thoghts vpon the ground of a mans saluation The foundation of God remaineth sure his 2. Tim. 2 19. free mercie in Christ Iesus chusing some to euerlasting life no inducement in maÌ„ before we haue being our end is appointed nothing good foreseene in vs mouing God no way in vs is there cause at all of our happines but begun froÌ„ Gods free good pleasure and established in Christ out of whom wee may not suppose any least thing that may be beneficiall to worke mans saluation or to procure good to vs which is not freely giuen of God and obtained by Christ alone without any respect of vs at all Whence a penitent sinner may thus coÌ„fortably reason Gods I was before I had my beeing in my beeing by corruption of nature hee found me his enemy yet did he not hate me but shewed his mercie vnto me he ordained me before the world that caused him in time to bring me into the world my sinnes did not hinder the passage of mercy because in Christ he would be satisfied for mee I will therefore surely conclude that God remaining one in mercie Christ Iesus alway wel-pleasing to his father the cause of my saluation beeing stil one and the same I will not doubt damnation for falles of infirmity when as Gods mercie and Christes merit preuented the same in mine obstinate standing in rebellion Thus by meditation may wee strengthen and settle our selues in assurance to be saued Praise the Lord. It pleaseth God to afford his childreÌ„ By diuine inspiration more in musing on heauenly comforts then when mens thoughts are bestowed vpon other things he aydeth them with his spirit who openeth our eies to see the secrets of the kingdome of God and to know the things that are giuen vs of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. Rom. 8. 10. who giueth testimony to our spirit that we are the children of God which witnes also is true and not lying as Iohn saith This is the spirit of adoption by which we are sealed and the earnest which he giueth when he taketh vs to be his Haue I then the spirit of Christ I am Christs and in him there is no coÌ„demnation Rom. 8. 1. Now least we be misled by Satans delusion and take it for the holy spirits inspiration By sanctification How to know the perswasion of Gos spirit from Sathans delusion see Rom. 〈◊〉 2. 5. 11. 15. 16. there is a third thing to be added that is sanctification For if we haue the spirit of God we are led by it wee walke not after the flesh but sauour the things of the spirit which quickneth our mortall bodies by it wee doe mortifie the deedes of the flesh by it we are without feare and dare come to God cry Abba father this spirit helpeth our infirmities in prayer it maketh request for vs with sighes that cannot be expressed This is the witnessing of Gods spirit with our spirit it is not a bare motion but a true perswasion from the effectuall graces which it worketh in vs causing vs to liue in newnesse of life This spirit witnesseth not to our spirit if it bee adulterous nor to our drunken spirit nor to our sweating lying blasphemous and rayling spirit nor to our prophane and mocking spirit if such we be that we are the sonnes of God no no for our conscience telleth vs that such are the sonnes of the Diuel and all perswasion of saluation is but Sathans deceiueable delusions to secure vs in sin The holie spirit will not say wee are coheires with Christ certaine of heauen whilst we walke on in wickednes hee teacheth in the scripture the contrarie and sheweth that there is no peace Esai 57. 21. Psal 9. 17. Mat. 25. to the wicked they shall go into hell and all the workers of inâ—quity Vse Therefore let vs not think otherwise but it is the spirit of Sathan and not the holy Ghost that worketh an imagination of any certaintie of salâ—ation whilst wee liue vnsanctified in our thoughts vnchanged in our speech and vnreformed in our conuersation We see that assurnace may bee had by the foresaid meanes it must make vs striue by these means for it which if we obtaine O blessed are we saluation is come vnto vs the comfort of all comforts Through this assuraÌ„ce thogh we fall we rise againe and doubt not of The benefits which arise vnto vs by hauing assurance mercie when we repent We ioy to heate of death because we are perswaded to be with Christ which is best of all we feare not man that onely can kill the bodie for that our soules are in safety This maketh vs desire to bee taken from hence and to be dissolued This maketh vs loue and long after the comming of the Lord Iesus saying how long Lord wheÌ„ Lord O come Lord Iesus come quickly Reue. 6. 10. 22. 20. This to conclude freeth vs froÌ„ all dread of any euil that may befall vs from the rigour of the law it caÌ„not condemne vs if it do Christ Iesus acquiteth vs froÌ„ terror of conscience it dare not accuse vs if it do Christ will speak for vs froÌ„ deaths sting dead stroke it hath not right to rule ouer vs if it do it s but a while Christ hath got the victory froÌ„ the fierce wrath of the Iudge in the last day when he shal be before vs Angels on one hand diuels on an other about vs the world burning in millionâ— of thousaÌ„ds conscience accusing crying out to the mountains to couer them hell gaping ready to deuoure all to whome Christ shall say Go ye cursed with the Diuell his angels Math. 25 But what terrour can this be to the penitent assured of life none at all The Diuels cannot daunt vs the repentant hath his pardon Angels will not disclaime vs they here haue waited vpon vs God will acknowledge vs we haue his spirit the assurance of his loue And can the Iudge Iesus Christ condemne vs who is our sauiour and hath by his death acquited vs Lastly we are freed from the horrour of hell where Diuels damned ghosts bee where paine is endless the place darknesse the persons punished with fire and brimstone remedilesse their noise is hydeous weeping and wayling for time lost and not recouerable howling lamentably crying for time present and paines intollerable they gnash with their teeth one vpon an other their conscience accusing coÌ„ntinually tormenting They languish with paine wishing to die but they shall remaine and euer bee though liuelesâ—e that their torment may be endless Sithen assurance of saluation here deliuereth vs from the dread of these things what cause haue wee to vse all meanes to get so great and vnspeakable a good Oh let vs then meditate seriously pray for the spirit ardently and liue here conscionably that wee may bee therefore certaine of our saluation and
all and this is right Many men go vnder a good name by ciuil honesty either thorow restrayned nature or good education in commendable maners of ciuility who are farre from sanctification and the graces of the spirit They doe many actions of vertue either of a custome or by imitation or respectiuely for this or that person for this or that by-end but not for vertue it selfe neither doe they shew fruits of vertue other then may preserue common honesty their credit to liue amongst meÌ„ to procure them praise secret or lesse publick they regard not dueties of holinesse prayer reading the scripture saÌ„ctifying of the Sabaoth instruction of their family countenancing of the word preached and such like they be so farre from as they mock at men herein zealously affected for vices which they shunne they be such onely as be discoÌ„modious or odious amongst men that haue but common honesty but to sweare in ordinary communication to be companions with men superiour in place how wicked soeuer they make no conscience of neither of many other euils which by the rule of godliness are odious to God and such as sincerely seeke him A sanctified spirit doth not thus shuffle things together neither maketh a mixture of that which cannot be compounded but they truly hate all vice are affected to euery good thing and become in their place after the measure of grace giuen them doers of these things But least naturall men should carp PreuentioÌ„ of obiection say Belike I wold haue men here without sinne or else to be without grace vnlesse we do all things we do nothing I answere It is not mine intendment to teach any such thing but that meÌ„ should leaue sin to the vtmost not dally with any that they should doe vertuously liue in purpose of heart and will without sinne Legal obedience is beyond what is legal obedience our power to performe which is after the exactnesse of the law the commanders holiness and mans perfection by creation which we haue lost and is not here in our owne persons recouerable whatsoeuer the Phariâ—aâ—cal Papists say to the contrary but I speake of obedience Euangelical obedience and vertuous liuing Euangelically which is an earnest endeuour in loue thankfulnes to God for his mercies in Christ in faith apprehending his merits in whom we be acceptable and wel-pleasing to God in truth and sincerity of heart to doe whatsoeuer we are commanded and is commended vnto vs which will appeare by our ioy in well Sigâ—es of 〈…〉 rity doing by our prayers and holy desires to doe well by our feare to offend by our sorrow when we faile in our dueties wherein stands the perfection of the best Christian wee can neither be equall to the lawe to fulfill it nor go beyond to do more any way to merit S. Paule in his Apostolical estate found imperfections And Hezechias could speak of vprightness but of no perfectioÌ„ And thus much for the condition of the promise Ye shall neuer fall Ye shall neuer sâ—ip or slide downe ye shall not come to any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The exposition hurt the word here vsed is drawne from the bodie to the minde and is diuersly taken in scripture sometime for sinne Prou. 24. 16. therefore is the word so translated in the vulgar translation sometime for destruction 2. Sam. 3. 38. 1. Cor. 10. 8. sometime to be downe on a sodaine so as a standing and course is not kept which is the common signification thereof All these three may here very fitly stand Ye shall not sinne ye shall not be destroyed ye shall not decline from your standing to fall away from the state of grace whereunto ye are called And therefore here I wil speake of them all as reasons to spur vs on to a vertuous life which is the scope of the words Doctrine Ye shall not sinne Vertuous men sinne 1. Iohn 3. not He that committeth sinne is of the Diuel and he that is borne of GOD sinneth not yet he that saith hee hath 1. Iohn 1. no sinne â—s a â—yer and the truth is not in him It is true neuerthelesse that he which abideth in Christ sinneth not such do coÌ„mit Psal 119. 3 none iniquity to wit first in Gods acceptation according to that saying He saw none iniquity in Iacob nor transgression How godly are said not to sin Num. 23. 21. Ier. 50. 20. in Israel their sins shall not bee found saith Ieremie and the reason is because the Lord will be mercifull vnto them secondly in Christs satisfaction in whom we are the righteousness of God and in him there is no condemnation Thirdly 2 Cor 5. 21 Rom. 8. 1 Rom. 7. in a godly mans will for as the Apostle saith good they would doe and wherein they doe euill they sorrowe and would not doe and herein the will stands for the deede Lastly in respect of time for as the child of God sinneth not wholly so neither finally for God hath put his feare into him that hee shall Ier. 32. 40. Ps 37. 24. neuer depart from him but if he fall he shall not be cast off for the Lord putteth vnder his hand Thus the vertuous sinne not and this grace shall be attained vnto by such as doe these things saith Peter Vse Now this reason hath great force to perswade vs to be vertuous to bee free from sinne is blessednesse as Dauid affirmeth in Psal 32. 1. 2. This blessing can we not better know then to consider What it is to sin and to liue therein what it is to sinne and to liue in it It is the state of corruption seruice to the Diuell contempt of Christs death the resistance of grace the racing out of Gods image the bearing vpon vs the Dâ—uels likenesse it is cause of calamities the curse in our calling the eating canker in the soule the obiect of Gods wrath and deaths sting it breaketh the vnion betweene God and vs it maketh conscience to accuse and the lawe to condemne it maketh our life miserable death fearefull and the last day terrible and to conclude by it we lose heauen Angels attendance saincts society and all celestiall comforts eternally and we purchase hell fiends attend vs diuels accompany vs the cursed crue of damned soules abide with vs and we vtterly depriue our selues of all good liue in woe and paines euerlastingly This is to sinne this is to liue in sinne and not to sinne is to be acceptable to God in Christ righteous our will plyable to his bidding and our end comfortable as we to goodnes are conformeable Doctrine Ye shall not be destroyed The vertuous as they sinne not so they perish not Godliness hath the promise of this life and of the life to come there is no cause of feare then A great inducement to liue vertuously wee all naturally feare destruction we desire to preuent it no greater ioy then to be