woorde They which through want of knowledge or weakenes of the minde are not sufficient vnto the well gouerning and brideiing of them selues must as the Lord hath commanded be instructed and strengthened by others that either by mercifull admonition and exhortation they may bee recouered from sinne or else may be saued by terrors and threats of the iudgements of God beeing thereby as it were by violence taken out of the fire of destruction Unto this appertayneth that notable exhortation of the Apostle Let vs obserue and marke one another not vnto enuy or occasion of sin but to stirre vp our selues mutually and euen to whet one an other vnto the duties of charitie and to all good workes The other kinde of discipline is publike consisting of three partes First of the preaching of the lawe which is as a two edged sworde in the hande of Gods ministers to offer vp his people an holie and blameles sacrifice vnto his maiestie not onely opening our eyes that we may see and knowe what is that good perfect and acceptable will of the Lorde but also through the working of the holy Ghost conuerting our soules and fashioning them after the image similitude of him that made thē Secondly admonitions exhortations and counsels ministred by such persons as the Lord hath appointed for the ouersight of their brethren Thirdly of conuenting of the offendours before the Churche in open congregation to bee iudicially admonished or according vnto the qualitie and degree of their offence forbidden the Supper of the Lord or cut of from the Churche vntill by remorse of sinne with smart and shame of punishment laide vpon them for the same they shal with certaine testimonies of true and vnfeigned repentance humbly desire to be restored vnto their former estate amongest the people of God. The weakenes of conscience must often times be holpen by ciuil punishment publikely or priuately to be executed by magistrates parentes maisters and others whom the Lorde God hath authorized and armed with the swoorde of iustice and rodde of correction not for the profite onely of suche as offende but also for the example terrour of others that at least by awe of punishment they may feare to doe euill For as indulgence and impunitie nourisheth increaseth wickednesse as Salomon saith and wicked men so godly seuerity of punishment chaseth away sin and lessoneth the number of offendours In punishing it must be remembred that it be not dumme and silent but ioyned with doctrin admonition exhortation that the force thereof may work the more in the hart of the offenders It may not be the reuenge of our priuate griefe but of the dishonour of the name of God of the breach of his holy commaundementes It must be ioyned with calling vpon the name of the Lord that as it is his good ordinance so it may be both giuen and receiued according to his wil and blessed by his spirit to the reforming of those that haue done amisse and forwarnings of others Finally all meanes are to be vsed that the conscience of the offender may be touched with the horror of his sinne and feare of Gods iustice that we may cleere our selues of all corruption by directing the punishment not against the person but against the sinne beeing greeued that we are compelled to flye to that extreme remedy and yet to doe it with á godly courage and zeale as caryed with most iust hatred and indignation against sinne Unto the abating of the rage of our corrupt and degenerate nature the Lord yeeldeth vs no small helpe by afflictions and aduersities which therefore are called chastisementes and corrections because we are thereby reformed as the Prophet saith before I was corrected I went astray but now I haue kept thy commaundements In so much as he professeth that it was good for him that hee had beene afflicted and acknowledgeth that of very trueth the Lorde had chastened him meaning thereby that as the Lord hath couenaunted with his people all good things so is it also a parte of his couenaunt to punish and correct his children as he knoweth to be expedient for them the reason whereof is rendred by the Apostle For if wee iudged our selues we should not be punished but when we are punished we are nurtured of the Lorde that we might not be condemned with the world The ende of all is that the workes of Satan in the corruption of our nature with the fruites of the same might vtterly be abolished and ▪ that the image of God not blemished onely but euen cancelled and defaced by the fall of Adam might be renued and repaired in vs The first happeneth vnto vs in the dissolution of this earthly tabernacle from which time we sinne no more as appeareth by that vehement and lamentable exclamation of Saint Paule Miserable man that I am would God I were deliuered from this bodie of death The second though begon increased in this life shal not be fully accomplished vntill our Sauiour Christ returne from heauen be made glorious in his Saints For albeit we are now the childrē of God it hath not yet appeared what we shall bee but our life is hid with Christ in God and we knowe that whē Christ which is our life shal be made manifest we also shal be made manifest with him in glorie Then shall we be clothed with that glorious tabernacle not made with handes eternall in heauen then shall mortalitie be deuoured of immortalitie then shall Christ who alreadie is crowned with glorie and honor returne our redemer from heauen and chaunge our vile bodies that they maye be made like vnto his glorious bodie according vnto that power whereby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto him selfe Then shall it be accomplished which is written death is swallowed vp in victorie O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie For the strēgth of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the lawe But thankes be vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie by Jesus Christ our lord Therefore let vs be strong and immoueable in the trueth abounding alwayes in the worke of the Lord seeing we know that our labour is not in vaine in the Lorde But the day of our redemption shall once appeare wherin the trumpets shal blow and the deade shall rise those that are found aliue shall be changed and wee all which beleeue shall meete the Lorde in the ayre and so reigne with him in glorie for euer which time shoulde long since haue come vpon the worlde sauing that the Lord is pacient to vswarde and will not that anie of vs should perishe and not of vs onely which now liue but of those also which shal be raised vp in posteritie after vs whom he hath likewise appointed vnto saluation and will in his good time call by the ministerie of his Gospell least we without
is required that wee should examine our selues first howe wee haue profited vnder the word in the knowledge of the misteries of our redemption Secondly what comfort we haue receiued by applying the same vnto our owne consciences Thirdly what griefe wee haue conceiued in heart for our sinnes past and what hatred and detestation of all that is contrarie vnto the will of God what purpose wee haue the rest of our life to cease from sinne and to follow after righteousnesse that the Gospel maye bee glorified in vs which doe professe it Last of all whether as wee assure our selues of peace with God in Jesus christ so we be at peace with our brethren reconciling our selues vnto those whom we haue offended and forgiuing vnto others the offences they haue cōmitted against vs euen as freely as we would the Lord should forgiue vs. The fifth proposition of the effectes of fayth Let him depart from iniquitie whosoeuer nameth the name of Christ. 2. Tim. 2. 19. Who so is in Christ Iesus is a newe creature 2. Cor. 5. 17. ALbeit the whole worke of our saluation stand sound and perfect vnto vs in all respectes without our selues in Jesus Christ so that we may boldly say with Saint Paule being then iustified by fayth we haue peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and doe glorie in hope of the glorie of God Yet is not Christ the minister of sinne nor the Gospel a doctrine that giueth libertie vnto euil but contrariwise the death of Christ is of power in those that beleeue in him to cause them to die vnto sinne and to be mortified in the olde Adam of this fleshe with the lustes and concupiscences of the same And the Gospel teacheth vs that the true members of Christ must and do walke not after the fleshe but after the spirit offring vp themselues their soules and bodies and all that they haue an holy and acceptable sacrifice of spiritual worship vnto God inquiring to knowe and labouring to performe that good perfect and acceptable will of God reuealed in his worde Also the same spirit which is called the spirit of adoption because it teacheth vs to crie Abba father and beareth witnesse vnto our spirites that we are the children of God and heires of his kingdom being the seale wherewith hee hath sealed vs and the gage whereby he hath pledged vnto vs all his promises of mercie in Christ is also the spirit of mortification whereby is mortified in vs the workes of the flesh our olde Adam being crucified with Christ in his Crosse and the spirit of sanctification and of our new birth quickening in vs a newe creature and fashioning vs againe after image of God to walke before him in righteousnes and true holinesse all the dayes of our life Also this doctrine is both taught and sealed vnto vs yea the trueth and effect thereof exhibited and perfourmed in the vse of the holy Sacraments which both of them teache vs to die vnto sinne and liue vnto righteousnesse assure vs that as the Gospel was preached vnto the fathers with this effect that they might be cōdemned according vnto mē that is in the flesh but liue according vnto God that is in the spirit so the same shal be accōplished in al the true mēbers of Christ the one by the power of his death the other by the power of his resurrection which thing ought not a little to comfort and incourage vs in that great and daungerous conflict with the flesh the worlde and the diuell when we knowe that our victorie stādeth not in our owne strength which is none but in the inuincible power of him which came to destroy the works of Satan and in whose crosse our olde man is so mortified as the bodie of sinne is weakned in vs which do beleeue Unto whom also he hath giuen that spirit to dwell in vs whereby he hath promised to quicken our mortal bodies which now in part are subdued vnder sinne The sixth proposition of the rule of righteousnes Thy worde is a lanterne vnto my feete and a light vnto my pathes Psal. 119. 105. The commaundement is a lanterne and the lawe a light ▪ and reprehensions for instruction are the way of life Prou. 6. 23. THe rule of holines and obedience is not our owne will nor lustes and affections of our corrupt and cursed nature which euermore rebelleth against God nor the examples and manners of men or customes and fashions of the worlde but onely that most good perfect and accepable will of God commended and commaunded vnto vs in his lawe which must in all thinges be the light vnto our feete and the lanterne vnto our pathes to directe vs to walke with him and before his maiestie so as we may please him with reuerence and carefulnesse which is the seconde vse of the lawe of God. This lawe of GOD requireth at our handes that we honour loue feare and obey him in al thinges and aboue all that wee trust in him flee vnto him in all our needes calling vpon him onely and acknowledging him to be the creatour and gouernour of all things That wee woorshippe him not with our owne inuentions or blinde deuotions nor with the doctrines of men or after the example of others but onely with that worship which he himselfe hath prescribed vnto vs in his worde without adding therevnto or taking from it That we haue and vse in most highe reuerence his holie name woorde and workes whatsoeuer else he is knowen vnto vs by that we know him to be the searcher of all hartes the rewarder of all sinceritie and truth and the reuenger of all hypocrisie blasphemie false and vaine swearing with all other prophaninges and abusinges of his most blessed name and religion That we sanctifie the Lordes Sabboth not doing therein our owne wil nor walking our owne wayes nor speaking our own wordes but ceasing from the honest labours of our lawful callings much more from vayne and hurtfull pastimes Stage playes Dicing carding c. that with all libertie and quietnesse both of mind bodie we may with our families attend vpō those publique exercises of religion which the Lord hath in wisedome and mercie appointed for his owne worshippe and for our edifying Assembling our selues together to heare his holy woorde learne and lay vp the same in our hearts for the ordering of our liues celebrate his holy sacraments and with one heart and one voice call vpon his name rendring vnto his maiestie most humble and hartie thankes for al mercies hitherto bestowed vppon vs and crauing new benefites and blessinges at his handes necessarie for vs and his whole Churche both for this present life and also for the life to come The seconde table of the lawe requireth that wee should loue our neighbours as our selues The fifth commaundement containeth
proposition Rom. 7. 14. The Law is spirituall but we are carnall euen solde to bee subiect vnto sinne Gal. 5. 17. The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh c. TRue it is that we are not able of our selues so much as to thinke anie good thought much lesse to perfourme anie part of that righteousnesse which the Law requireth But this is our comfort that we are not now vnder the Law but vnder grace although the Scripture saith not in vaine that the Spirit which is in vs lusteth after enuie yet it offereth greater grace because it saith God resisteth the proud but giueth grace vnto the humble This grace woorketh first that we knowe the will of God and discerne that which is contrary thervnto Secondly that we haue a will desirous and studious of Gods glorie and profit of our brethren in the accomplishing of his commaundementes Thirdly also some power through the spirit to hate and forsake that which is euill and to loue and follow that which is good that our faith may become fruitfull our loue laborious and our hope pacient through that communion which we haue with Christ in the power of his death and of his rising againe For if we be truely come vnto Christ and coupled with him the old husband of our corruption by whome wee brought foorth fruit vnto death is crucified with Christ in his crosse that wee might be espoused vnto an other euen the newe man which is raised vp from the dead to bring foorth fruite vnto god Neither haue we now onely a commaundement vnto righteousnes and holinesse of life but there is giuen vs a newe spirit by which we are regenerated and renued in the spirit of our mindes to offer vp our selues in soule and bodie an holy acceptable liuely sacrifice vnto god And wheras the flesh euermore rebelleth against the spirit euen in the children of God we haue receiued promises of ayde assistance in this conflict yea of victorie and triumph ouer all our enemies And that we might with boldenes come vnto our God for ayde and defence wee haue entrance by Christ euen vnto his mercie seate and haue receiued that spirit which in this part helpeth our infirmitie and stirreth vp in vs those groninges which no tongue is able to expresse teaching vs to crie Abba father and to call vpon him in all our necessities and to aske all good thinges at his handes who hath made vs promises both of this life and of the life to come knowing this that he that hath not spared to giue vnto vs his onely begotten Sonne will also with him giue vs all things which in his wisedome he seeth to be needefull for vs Our helpe therefore is in the name of the Lorde Which is as an inuincible towre wherevnto the righteous fleeth is deliuered Also we know who it is that hath said aske and ye shall receiue seeke ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you euen he which sitteth at the right hand of his father and maketh intercession for vs When wee pray wee must pray onely vnto God onely in the name of Jesus Christ onely for good thinges onely to a good ende with our heartes and not onely with lippes disposing our selues reuerently and religiously as in the presence of Gods maiestie touched with the want of that we aske and grieued with the burthen and feare of that we pray against being assured that the Lord heareth our praiers wil in his own good appointed time graunt our requestes as in his wisedome he knoweth to be expedient for his owne glorie and for our saluation There are many notable examples of this manner of praying in the holy scriptures especially in the booke of the Psalmes framed according to the diuers estates and affections of the Seruauntes of god Let vs therefore after their example examining our selues before the Lord in minde body and outwarde conditions of this life according to our present feeling sence thereof make our humble and vnfeined supplications in his presence for our selues and for all men especially them that are of the housholde of faith concluding sealing vp all our prayers with that forme of peticion which our sauiour Christ him self hath taught Our father which art in Heauen hallowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen giue vs this day our dayly bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue thē that trespasse against vs and leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euell for thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen The eight proposition What other helpes there are vnto godlines and weldoing commended vnto vs in the woorde THe Lorde our GOD knowing the frailtie of our corrupt and cursed nature the deceitfulnesse of sinne the power rage and subtilties of Satan hath in wisedome and mercie for their further helpe appointed in his woord two kindes of discipline vnto his seruantes The one priuate the other publique vnto the first appertaineth all the exercises of repentance and godlines commended vnto vs either in precept or example of the holy scriptures As our daily consulting with the worde and lawes of God which to be vnto vs as they were vnto Dauid the men of our counsell the continuall examining of our waies turning our feete vnto the Lordes testimonyes our carefull and diligent hasting and not delaying to keepe his commaundements The grieuing of our selues with our sins past the feare of sinne present which is readie to intrapp vs the wise circumspect preuenting of sinne to come the subduing of the flesh and bring it in subiection after the maner of the Apostle with reuenge taken vpon our corruption for the mortifying of the same by withdrawing the baites prouocations and occasions of euill sobrietie and the pure and chast vse of all the good blessings of God abstenence euen from lawful pleasures and profites when they are either offensiue vnto others or hurtfull vnto our selues as otherwise so by bringing vs vnder the bondage seruitud of earthly things which all of them are ordained vnto corruption Fasting which the Scripture calleth the afflicting of the soule ioyned with continuall and earnest prayer vnto God. Making couenant with our mouths that they shall not speake euil and with our eyes that they shall not beholde vanitie imitating the vertues and godlines of the faithfull vsing holie company and conference with them Hating detesting and abhorring the wayes of the wicked shunning and eschewing all consulting and conuersation with them Not ceasing our conflict against sinne euen vntill blood but casting of the olde man and mortifying the woorkes of the flesh by the spirit to put on the newe man with the woorkes and armour of light to serue the Lord according to his