THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH JUSTIFICATION AND ASSURANCE Humbly Endeavoured to be farther cleared towards the satisfaction and comfort of all free Vnbiassed Spirits With an APPENDIX for PEACE BY ROBERT DIXON Prebendary of ROCHESTER 1 Cor. 12.31 Covet after the best gifts and yet I shew you a more excellent way LONDON Printed by William Godbid M.DC.LXVIII To the Honourable Sr EDWARD HALES Baronet SIR GOD is the great Maker and bestower of all Rights The persons capable to receive them and to whom he doth convey them are Angels and Men. To mankind he gives the best of Rights and invests them with the best Inheritance by the best Mediator Jesus Christ the Principal Heir of all Things through the means of Faith which justifies the Sons of Men by Nature to be the best Title and the strongest Assurance that can be had to Eternal Life I have therefore purposely fixed upon these noble Principles of Faith Justification and Assurance That I might be a true Mercury to point out the stately way that leads to Coelestial Glory Directing wise Souls to come off from the wandring Pursuits of earthly Pomps empty Speculations and uncertain Riches which discompose and tyre the best Wits in the Labyrinth of this World That they may find true content in the Choice of that one Thing which is truly necessary That better part which shall never be taken from them That solid comfort which will stand by them and bring them Peace to the end and in the end and unto all Eternity This pain Treatise of these most high and most Christian Truths I held my self obliged to dedicate unto you as being the first Fruits of my Labours in this kind and therefore most due to you of all men who was my first Benefactor and most liberal Patron of my Studies together with your most excellent Lady now with God Her transcendent Estate I cannot reach but Yours and both your Sons I may and do Address my self unto And for the joynt-favours which I have received from you and your Lady during your conjugal Union and for your continued and for her sake increased kindness since the sad separation I humbly offer this token of my Gratitude to remain by you from me to look into upon occasions for your Satisfaction and comfort in the midst of the Dis-satisfactions and Discomforts of this Miserable World The same also I desire you would commend to your Sons the Stems of that Noble Lady whose memory I shall ever honour and you and them for her sake In this I aime meerly to strike the sprightly veine of Pure Love to You and to your hopeful Family and a deer Remembrance and kindness to you all as to the best of my Friends Upon which generous Terms if you please to accept of this small Present it may promote the acceptation thereof to others and encourage him farther who ever desires to shew himself SIR Your most faithful and most affectionate Servant ROBERT DIXON Rochester March 26. 1668. To the honest READER FAITH is all in all to a Christian For all that have Faith are thereby Justified and have full Right to all the Promises of God To be his Sons by Adoption and Grace to have their Sins pardoned to be Sanctified by the Holy Spirit and thereby to have all necessary Assistance and comfortable Assurance of a Resurrection to the Inheritance of Eternal Life I therefore purposely wave all perplexed Disputes and subtil Notions and Distinctions which serve for nothing but to puzzle all men especiall them that are weak in the Faith It shall suffice all Christians if they are willing to embrace Gods Promises and perform his Precepts with an honest heart Let them not trouble themselves at all with the variety of Sects and Factions For all such true hearted and humble Souls do belong to Christ his Church what ever Differences there be in Opinions caused by vain men who do not understand one another being sore blinded with Pride and idle Speculations which engender nothing but Strife and Divisions Keep thou therefore Good Reader Faith and a good Conscience and pass not for the rash Censures of any Be thou confident of Gods unchangeable favour if thou be no Hypocrite In Order therefore to the satisfaction and comfort of tender Spirits I have written this short Treatise and do encourage them to do their true endeavour to please God and to perserverance and trust in him for the certainty of their future estate of Happiness and Salvation which he hath undoubtedly provided for them Accept therefore kind Reader what I have here offered and then if God permit I will add more to the same purpose Avoiding all Nicety and Superfluity of Words and condescending in the great Points of Grace Faith Justification and Assurance to the meanest capacity aiming at no Side or Party but equally respecting the plain Truth with an unbiassed mind for Peace This even Temper of Spirit is the only means among all good Christians especially Divines for the stinting of Controversies in all foolish and unlearned Questions and the Propagation of Piety Peace and Love in Church and State This Rare Character of a True Child of God to be pure and peaceable by obedience to good Laws and fulfilling all Righteousness is the safe way to Heaven Thus we work out our Salvation with fear and trembling and make our Calling and Election sure Which shall be the daily prayer of him who is Thine in the Lord Jesus Robert Dixon The Doctrine of FAITH JUSTIFICATION and ASSURANCE HEBR 11.1 Now Faith is the Substance of things hoped for the Evidence of things not seen COHERENCE THE Author having in the end of the former Chapter spoken of Faith makes a digression upon that occasion to explain the Nature of Faith more largly and produceth many examples of faithful men to provoke the Hebrews to imitate their Fathers and others in the Holy Faith and thereby to endure afflictions and to overcome them by Faith as they had done EXPLICATION These words are no Definition of Faith Chap. 1. Of Faith no more than those Chap. 12.29 where God is called A consuming Fire are the Definition of God FAITH is a Thing Indefinite and is not defineable because it is so general a Thing that no Genius will comprehend it yet it may be designed a high Esteem of Gods Existence Power and Goodness Besides definitions are dangerous if in the Civil much more in the Divine Law Two Notions are here laid down as Principles and Elements to conclude that Faith was in those persons hereafter mentioned 1. The Substance of Things hoped for is Faith 1. Where Things hoped for do subsist there is Faith or where Things to come are present there is Faith 2. The Evidence of Things not seen is Faith or where there is a sight of Things not seen there is Faith These Principles are taken from the Object of Faith Good Things to come and therefore absent and unseen But when the Soul apprehends them
laid up for those that fear Him Chap. 13. Of Assurance Evidence and Assurance Faith and the Spirit of God are both these to our Spirits In the exercise of my Priestly office I have oft heard the sad complaints of poor devout Souls for want of Assurance and that they had not interest in Christ no faith no comfort they could not pray nor do any good and God had forsaken them And alas what should they do Chap. 14. Miserable Comforters To this unskilful men Physitians of no value miserable comforters such as preach Christ out of no good will but envy eternal happiness to others and would engross it wholly to themselves make many sad answers Their Eye is evil because Gods is good niggardly Stewards to a Bountiful Master Whereas they ought freely to give as they have freely received and dispense the misteries of Salvation with a most bountiful hand Hard Fathers that had rather give a Stone then an Egge and a Scorpion rather then a Fish of Soure Sullen Ghostly Saturnine Aspect to some driving them into despair calling them Reprobates such as have no share in Gods Promises These men are farre from our Saviours Temper who came to seek and to save that which was lost to call sinners to Repentance to Preach the Gospel to the poor Deliverance to the Captives Recovery of sight to the blind and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. The smoking Flaxe he did not quench and the bruised Reed he did not break and of those that came unto him he rejected none but invited all that were heavy laden with the burden of their sins that they might find rest to their Souls They have forgotten the Precept of the Apostle Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus On the contrary they are fair frolike boon buxome and debonair to themselves and to such as are of their own Pharisaical Sect. They can sow pillowes under every such Elbow and dawb with untempered morter and Preach pleasing things to such as fill their Purses These can make a great gain of Godliness can make it the fashion to move scruples and create doubts and fears in the tender consciences of poor Creatures teach them to whine and cry as a Woman in her pangs and call this the spiritual Throwes of the New-birth but they must come to them to be their Midwives and to resolve all their doubts and be delivered from all their fears and thereout suck they no small advantage They have set up an Assurance-office and to them these Adventurers must come to secure them for their prosperous voyage to Heaven They can make a Fair and Market for Pardons as well as the Papists by their Indulgences 'T is the same trick under a diverse and more cleanly conveyance The same thing is done by their assurances as is done by the Popish pardons They cause poor Souls to pin their salvation upon their sleeves to hang their hopes upon their Teachers Girdles and make the Disciples live or dye by the Breath of their mouths stand or fall thrive or be undone by their smile or frown In a word have absolute dependance from them This is to Lord indeed over mens soules and yet these men shall be admired and humbly sought unto by Rich Presents and glad they can get a glance or nod from the man of God Thus they lead along multitudes carrying them like Pitchers by the Eares in as much ignorance and security as the subtilest Jesuits or any other Orders can do Those of their select flock shall be the elect and never fail Slips and frailties may be in the Babes of Grace but come to them and all shall be made up again God sees no sin in them and they are in Heaven already As for others they shall be Reprobates and Castawayes such as have the Mark of the Beast no signes of Grace nor Evidences for heaven at all Let the World take heed of these men both amongst us and the Church of Rome Chap. 15. Of reso ving of Doubts But they that are the True Interpreters of Gods Word few among thousands that are able to speak a word of comfort in due season to weary soules These can shew unto man his Righteousness by Faith and save a soule alive plucking them out of the Jaws of despair and to find a Ransome for them What heart so merciless that will not having power draw a poor Captive out of the Dungeon To such soules as these that are thus fearful I would say as Christ did fear not be of good cheer thy Faith hath saved thee Why do ye doubt O ye of little faith To these I say they have Faith and have an Interest in Christ because they desire it and do their utmost endeavour to please God And what if they feel no comfort nor can find these marks men talk of and can not pray eloquently nor preach is this for want of Grace You know what the Scripture saith Lord have we not taught in the streets and in thy name cast out Devils and done many mighty works yet for all this Depart from me for I know you not ye workers of Iniquity Nay their spirits do pray though their tongues want utterance and the Spirit helpeth their infirmities with sighes and groans which they cannot utter And surely if they be asked if they would part with the hopes that they have in Christ they would not do it for ten thousand Worlds This is their Case and Condition They have lowly dispositions of mind the best of all and they have melancholy tempers of Body the worst of all This is the true cause of their speaking after this manner from their sense and reason not from their Faith And as for Assurance what Assurance would these men have Would they look into Gods Book and see their names written in the kingdome of Heaven or is there any such Book or if there were Do they look for a special Revelation This is an unreasonable request wherefore serves Faith but to be the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen If they yet urge and say they feel no comfort I answer Let them be content to want the sense of Comfort Faith is all in all to supply all our Wants and there is joy and comfort enough in Believing For I believe what I feel not what I understand not I live by Faith and not by sense I believe against hope and above hope and contrary to hope I cannot define what Faith is but this I can tell that I do believe and I know in whom I trust and though I know not how the grace of God comes into my heart nor when yet I believe that I have it and though the Lord kill me yet will I trust in him Chap. 16. Faith about sense Remember Abraham The Promise was made to him that he should have a Son though he was old and Sarah was past Child-bearing
all Sin is in my Flesh 2. How all misery is in my Flesh And that this is but my outward Man the old Man That decayes and dies which I am daily putting off 3. How all Grace is in my Spirit 4. How all Glory is in my Spirit And that this is the Inward Man The new Man That quickens and lives which I am daily putting on And that therefore by my Faith I live above sin and above Misery and beyond them both while in my flesh I am perplexed with them both What then is all this Mourning by reason of Sin and for Afflictions here below Is not this the way to Heaven though it be thus Rugged and Thorny Is not this the Sea and are not these the Waves and Storms and Rocks and Quicksands that are therein But is not Christ my Pilot and am I not safe under him Have I not a sure Guide that will bring me into a safe Harbour Can I not then have a little Patience T is but to have a little Patience Dabit Deus his quoque finem 'T is but standing still a while and I shall see the Salvation of God Wherefore then all this a do Wherefore do ye trouble my Spirit I am ready not only to suffer but to dye There is no strang thing happened unto me but such as is common to all the faithfull and such as happened to Christ himself What though I am Tempted Afflicted Oppressed I live still The just shall live by his Faith My Vessel is covered with Waves yet she bears up against them My House is beaten and shaken with winds and waves yet it stands still because it is founded upon a Rock I am fearful naturally I do confess yet by the Grace of God I can look Sin Misery and Death in the face and trust in God still If I look only upon Sin and Misery and Death and Hell alas I dye for fear But if I look upon God and Christ I live for evermore If I consult with flesh and bloud I mourn and die but if I consult with the Spirit I rejoyce and live They that live after the Flesh shall die but they that by the spirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh shall live Qu. Do we then live by Faith or by Sense Spiritually or Carnally Ans If we say we live by Faith and by the Spirit I say then what means this lowing and bleating of the Beasts that I hear Vnde Luctus Planctus Where is all this howling and Lamentation Why all this Despairing and Doubting O we of little Faith A voice in Ramah is heard bitter Lamentation Rachel mourning for her children and refuseth to be comforted because they are not But is Christs Church a Widdow hath she not a Husband is she an Orphan and hath she not a Father Is she a stranger and hath she not a Protector Surely she is the Spouse and Daughter of Christ and no stranger therefore God will take care and charge of her and do for her abundantly above all that she is able to aske or think Doth God take care for Oxen and for the Birds of the Air and for the Lillies of the Field and shall he not much more take care for us O we of little Faith Let me alone therefore and trouble me no more from henceforth with idle Questions or direful Curses I have a God to trust to I have nothing to do with you O ye subtil O ye uncharitable ones O my Soul strengthen thou thy self in thy God alone it is good for me to wait upon my God and to keep my self close to the Rock of my Salvation Why Have I not found his Goodness all along and should I doubt now Have I served so good a Master and now should I leave him Why how and by whom have I lived all this while under all sorrows And how do I live still And how do I hope to live hereafter And how do I hope to live for evermore but by my Faith in Gods Promises I am not exactly Righteous therefore I cannot live by my works but I am willing to work Righteousness and by the Grace of God I shall be accepted and live by Faith CONCLUSION The Doctrine of Faith is sufficiently known that thereby we are Justified Regenerated Adopted Incorporated into Christs Church Elected Sanctified Assured and shall be raised up from the dead and live in glory everlastingly But who are the true Believers is not so sufficiently known and it is hard to know All will profess their Faith but how do they prove it All will reckon upon Salvation but how do they prove their Reckoning Here lies the main Point that men should not deceive themselves Professors enough Teachers many but how true God knows 2 Cor. 13.5 and they themselves do not know for want of Trial of themselves Well therefore said the Apostle Examine your selves whither ye be in the Faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates I take great care upon This. I find high Pretenders to Faith and to the Spirit Chap. 17 Pretenders and mighty zealots in all duties of Devotion but I find also that they are not honest but Lyars Cheaters Malicious Proud Boasters Rebellious Sacrilegious Extortioners Lovers of themselves Luxurious Covetous and the greatest Troublers of the World I do not say Swearers nor open Drunkards c. I wish these men to examine themselves better and know themselves to be Hypocrites For God and the World know them so to be for they daily rob God in Tithes and offerings and his Priests of honor and respect They rob the King of Tributes and Customes and of Honour and Obedience They do cheat and forswear to the ruin of their neighbours none more Now shall such a Faith save them It must be no other then a dead Faith Because they are Hypocrites and do no good works therefore they have made shipwrack of a true Faith and of a good Conscience 2. I find ordinary Professors of Faith formal enough Customary hearers and Worshippers and just men But they are not zealous but they are not sober and temperate but they are cursers and swearers I do not say they are Lyars I wish heartily these men would examine themselves better They are in a good way and are almost but not all together good Christians They are too luke-warm and formal They must stir up themselves more or else they will come short of true Faith 3. I find some that are close and private and make little open shew of any Religion to the World Being no comers to Church no Readers nor Prayers at home regard no Laws nor Magistrates nor Ministers But keep to their shops and employments greedily groveling upon the World and minding no divine Deity I wish these men would examine themselves better and awaken out of their sottish condition For they can have no grounds to build any solid
Passions and urge the Patient to Jealousies Railings Fightings which end in Wounds or Death And therefore Pittacus ordained a double punishment to such as were drunk and committed outrages during their drunkenness one for their drunkenness and another for the mischiefs done by them Drunkenness therefore is styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Divel that we invite to come unto us A Madness that we bring upon our selves Callicles in the Comedy did well convince Dinarchus when he prayed for Pardon saying Quod animi impos vini vitio fecerim Excuse me It was my Wine not I did this Non placet in mutum quicquid conferri quod loqui non potest Nam vinum si fabulari possit se defenderet Non vinum moderari sed vino solent Qui quidem probi sunt verùm Qui improbus est sive bibit sive idem caret Temeto Tamen ab ingenio est improbus That is I like not your answer That you should lay the fault upon the wine A dumb thing that cannot speak for its self for if it could it would defend its self well enough Blame not the Wine then for Wine does not govern a good man but a good man governs the Wine But he that is wicked is wicked from within whither he drinks or no. If you ask me concerning the Reasons Chap. 16. Extraordinary Visitations why the above mentioned Persons are so extraordinarily visited I answer I cannot tell for Reasons are best known to God himself and those most just though hid from us Certainly they are plagued not for their extraordinary Sins nor yet of their Parents but that God might shew his Glory and make his mighty Works to be seen and to humble us for our Preservation from such grievous miseries for our Deserts that we have To render us thankful for his free Grace and Love and to make us careful and fearful to offend least such or worse things come unto us And that we should not insult over their woe nor tread upon them that are down and add sorrow to their sorrow but rather fear and tremble at the mighty works of God and repent for fear we should all likewise perish Learn therefore to pitythose harmless distressed Creatures Chap. 17. Pity and Charity O pity them all you that are their friends All you that are Christians yea All that are men Shake not your heads and mock not as the Jews mocked Christ upon the Cross Say not in the Pride and Error of your minds doubtless these Persons were sinners more then ordinary or else God would never have so extraordinarily afflicted them Judge not that ye be not judged Be not like unto Jobs friends that because God had deprived him of all worldly comforts therefore they charged him to be an Hypocrite These were miserable Comforters Physitians of no value Remember your Saviours words Think not that those whose bloud Pilate had mingled with their Sacrifices or those on whom the Tower of Siloam fell were sinners above all others that dwelt in Jerusalem because they suffered such things I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy for though I do fall yet I shall rise again They that go forth weeping bearing good seed shall doubtless come again rejoyeing bringing their sheaves with them And greater shall their Reward be in heaven Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind and above all things put on Charity which is the band of all perfection Pity the condition of those whose Infancy Youth and Beauty are assaulted with Consumptions Poxes Lameness Madness and Death which is the last Punishment whose Prime and Golden yeers are cut off and all their Wits and Parts turned into folly Alas the budding Tree and the Tree laden with mature fruits suddehty wither and dye The fairest flowers are cropt in their full glories The Sun sets at Noon day And yet they are either altogether innocent as Infants or setting humane infirmities aside more righteous then other men and yet they are plagued more then other men But do not you therefore condemn the generation of the Just because the hand of God is upon them I say therefore that except you have suckt the breasts of Tygers and partake of the nature of the savage Beasts in the wilderness you cannot but stop your uncharitable censures and leave them to that God that made them and will save them and look you to your selves And now before I take off Pen from Paper I think fit to add one word more for the use of this Doctrine delivered which is To take off all Disputes if it were possible and that the minds of proud contentious and interessed men would bear it concerning the great noise that is made of Infallibility Supremacy the Light that is in us maintained either by the Pope Presbyter Independent or Quaker as also those endless wranglings of Schoolmen or Casuists which make up such heaps of confused Volums to the distraction of Churches and States for Jews Turks and Heathens to laugh at For if Faith be the ground of all Justification and Assurance Chap. 18. Fâ—â—â—dation What need all those heart burnings and separations about the Notion of the True Church Seeing all that hold the faith of Jesus Christ are the members of Christ all the World over though they differ about Consequences and Superstructures and forms of Discipline or external Worship If any man shall build upon that precious Foundation Gold or Silver or precious Stons Wood Hay Stubble every mans work shall be made manifest 1 Cor. 3.1.12 c. For the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is If any mans work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward If any mans work shall be burnt he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire And other foundation can no man lay then that is layd which if Jesus Christ We all agree in the main Foundation and therefore we might all hold the unity of the Spirit in the Band of Peace Therefore all other unnecessary Questions that engender nothing but strife do vanish of themselves and it will be found sufficient to hold to those few things that are necessary for saving Faith and Life and to trouble the people of God with no more Controversies Let all subtle Factious and Seditious spirits pack up their bundles of Trash and be gon We give them to understand that we have no such custom nor the Churches of God We have enough to secure us for Heaven hereafter and for Peace while we live here Here is a safe and a short way propounded for happiness if they will take it From henceforth let these Dividers look to themselves and Teach nothing but the Scriptures for Doctrine and the Laws of
as present and visible then she believes and hopes For hope that is seen is not hope Rom. 8.24 25. for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for But if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it A great Argument to Patience by having an Eye to the Recompence of the Reward and to the Price of the high Calling which is layd up for us in Christ which causeth us to endure the Crosse and despise the Shame A great Argument to live by Faith as if the Things were sensibly present and seen yea by Faith they are made present and seen for Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of Things not seen Where therefore these Two Principles and Arguments are they do necessarily inferre true Faith and they do shew the excellency thereof by the great effects of Patience and Courage which were wrought in the hearts of those famous Worthies whereby they obtained so good a Report from God who highly favoured them and rewarded them for all their sufferings The several Instances are very remarkable Chap. 2. of Examples of Faith Ver. 3. The World framed by Gods Word Things seen made of Things that do not appear but are understood by Faith By the Things now seen we have a sight of things unseen done long before our times The Scripture makes Faith of it Let there be light Gen. 1.3 Ps 33.6 and there was light c. By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made c. He spake the word and it was done We now see Trees of Trees Living Creatures from Living Creatures Men from Men but these first Trees Creatures and Men had not their beginning from these we now see Wisd 11.17 but from the Chaos or Deep without Form Ver. 4. Abel offered a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by Faith he leaves out Adam for his Sin Abels Sacrifice was not more valuable than Cains but more acceptable for his Faith The other was the Sacrifice of a Fool i.e. a sinner this of a wise man i. e. just Vers 5. Enoch was translated by Faith Gen. 5.21 for he walked with God and so pleased God how but by Faith for without Faith it is impossible to please God Vers 7. Noah prepared an Arke by Faith i. e. in hope of Gods promises He had a sight of Things unseen i.e. of the Floud yet to come a Subsistence of Things hoped for i. e. safely from the Universal Deluge Vers 8. Abraham sojourned and looked for a City to come by Faith Vers 27. and offered up Isaac the Child of Faith in the Promise not Nature Vers 11. Sarah by Faith conceived in her old Age above the strength of Nature Vers 20. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come in the Promised Land Vers 21. Jacob dying in Faith and worshipping blessed his Sons to the Promised Land Vers 22. Joseph by Faith gave Commandement concerning his bones to be buried in Canaan Vers 23. Moses by Faith was saved from drowning and refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasure of sin for a season Vers 30. The Walls of Jericho fell down by Faith Vers 31. Rahab by Faith perished not with the Unbelievers So Gideon Barak Sampson Jephthah and David Samuel and the Prophets who by Faith subdued Kingdoms and wrought Righteousness obtained the Promises endured tortures stopped the mouths of Lyons quenched the violence of Fire waxed valiant in fight 2 Mace women received their dead raised to life again c. Heb. 11.35 All this Faith arose not from any cleer Promise of a Resurrection Chap. 3. Acts of Faith but hoping in Gods Power and Goodness beyond this Life they endured all things here patiently Much more may we that have a full and open Promise and Example of the Resurrection by him that first brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel and is the first born from the Dead and the first fruits of them that slept Thus the Things that are absent from us and do subsist in themselves are made to subsist to us by our Faith As Christs Birth Life Miracles Suffering Death Resurrection Ascension Glory all real in themselves subsisting though before our times yet are made present by Faith So our Resurrection Ascension and Glory Eternal not yet come nor seen but are made present and visible by Faith anticipating their being to us before they be For we live by Faith here and not by Sense And blessed are those that have seen Christ in the Flesh and the works that he did and heard his words yea but much rather blessed are they that have never seen nor heard him or his Works or Doctrine and yet have believed And this is truly to know Christ and by this knowledg of Faith Christ is in us and we in Christ For we know not Christ now after the Flesh but after the Spirit i.e. as he is spiritually present with us by Faith and will be eternally present with us by sight For although we had lived in his time and known him after the flesh or been his Natural Mother Sisters or Brethren yet from henceforth by our Faith we should have known him no more in that state of weakness and Mortality of Flesh but in a farre better state of Eternal Glory and Power in the Spirit And in the Union and Communion with him by Faith And so we do know him and by the hearing and believing of his Word we are made one with him and he with us are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone are his spiritual Mother Sisters and Brethren Having fellowship already with the Father and with the Son by the Spirit of the Father and the Son and are already in heavenly places in Christ Jesus For Faith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen Doctrine 1. The Subject of this Text is Faith 2. The Circumstances are two 1. The Substance of things hoped for 2. Chap. 4. Of the fruits of Faith The Evidence of things not seen 3. The Reason is Because Faith obtains a present Right to a future Blessing and an earnest and assutance thereof and an Expectation of the full Possession 4. The Reason of this Reason is from the Nature of Faith which is not only an Assent to the Truth of Gods Promises with a Reliance and Dependency upon God for the performance of them but an acceptation and embracing them upon the condition of Holiness that they are offered unto us which Faith is therefore accounted unto us for Righteousness That is whereby we have a true Right Interest Title and Claim to the Inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven which is the Thing promised unto us This Description of Faith is thus illustrated unto us Chap.
cannot or will not shew unto man his Righteousness nor save a Soul from the Pit They are of such evil Natures and so full of spiritual Pride and Malice that they will neither enter into Heaven themselves nor suffer others that would by their good will Such whose Eye is evil because Gods is good and would fain have others to be in no better condition then themselves 4. Some make a true accompt and are able to prove it being strong in the Faith Chap. 17. Demonstration nothing doubting They Demonstrate their Assurance thus 1. The Cause of Salvation is Gods Promise 2. The Effect is Salvation its self 3. The means that makes the Cause to produce this effect is their own Faith So in Logick The Conclusion is the effect of two Propositions rightly figured whereof one is the Cause and the other is the Medium or Mean between the Cause and the effect The major Term in the major Proposition is the Cause The minor Term in the minor Proposition is the Effect And the Medium or middle Term in both major and minor Proposition is the Means that produceth the Effect in the Conclusion As thus A living Creature is Sensible A man is a living Creature Therefore A man is Sensible This last Proposition is the Effect of the two former in which Sensibility which is the Major Term is the Cause and a man is the Effect And a Living Creature is the Means whereby this Cause produceth this Effect For Because man is a Living Creature Therefore he is Sensible So in Logistick The Power or Product is the Effect of two Numbers rightly multiplyed when one of those two is the root of that Power and the other is the Rate between the Root and the Power As 6 is the Cause of 12 12 is the Effect and the Multiplication of the Root 2 is the Means between the Cause and the Effect So Promises are the Cause of Blessedness is the Effect and Faith is the Means between the Cause and the Effect The ground of both these Reasonings and Reckonings is this 1. Those things that agree in one Third do agree among themselves as in Logick As the Major and Minor agree in the Medium therefore they agree among themselves So in Logistick The Multiplicand and the Product agree in the Root by the means of the Multiplication by that Root As 6 and 12 agree together in the Root 2. by the means of the Rate or Multiplication by the Root 2. And into which they are resolved So Gods Promises and our Salvation do agree in Faith 2. Whatsoever is affirmed of the Genus is affirmed also of the Species and all that are under it As whatsoever is affirmed of Abraham the Father of the Faithful is affirmed of all the Faithful the children of Abraham Blessedness is affirmed of Abraham Gal. 3.9 Therefore Blessedness is affirmed of all the Children of faithfull Abraham So then All that believe are Blessed with faithful Abraham This is all the assurance that can be had and this is enough by all Reason to a reasonable Creature from a Reasonable God that reasons with us according to our capacities as reasonable Creatures As for Revelations and Inspirations we may not expect them For God will have us to live here by Faith and not by Sight or Sense that must be hereafter Therefore though I see or feel no comfort Chap. 18. Faith above Hope yet I have Faith and live thereby Though I be in the Dark and lie low in the Dungeon and stick fast in the Mire and Clay and the Waters flow over me and the weeds of Despair are wrapped about my head being gone down to the bottoms of the Mountains and the Earth with her Barrs are round about me for ever so that I say in the Judgment of my weak flesh I am lost I have no hopes Yea though besides all this to keep me down the more that I may be sure never to rise into any hopeful or comfortable condition I see nothing but misery about me and feel it in my own person and hear nothing but Scorns Reproaches and Condemnations yet I believe still I hold my own My house is built upon a Rock I keep me close unto my God I strengthen my self in him I see all and hear all and bear all and say nothing I am prompted often to renounce all hope and to curse God and die in detestation of the failings of his Promises because he hath mocked me And that I might not be altogether miserable here I am bidden to Eat and Drink for to morrow I shall Die To enjoy the good things that are present and speedily use the Creatures as in Youth To fill my self with costly Wine and Ointments Wisd 2.6 and let no Flowr of the Spring pass by me To crown my self with Rose-buds before they be withered not to go without my part of voluptuousness but to leave tokens of joyfulness in every place for this is my Portion and Lot For our Time is a very shadow that passeth away and after our end there in no returning for it is fast sealed that no man cometh again We are all but of yesterday and to morrow we shall not be All this I hear but give no consent I am content to lie still in silence though it be without comfort and wait upon my God and resolve that though he kill me yet I will put my trust in him And this is Faith to believe above Hope and contrary to Hope I speak nothing all this while to Hypocrites for their hope shall perish Hypocrisy cannot consist with faithfulness it makes shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience The Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone is the portion of Hypocrites even the same that was provided for the Devil and his Angels and for all them that make and love lies I speak nothing to profane Persons Atheists for these have condemned themselves But I speak to the plain True-hearted Believers That between God and their own Consciences they should fear nothing if their cause be good This takes off all Disputes about the Church Chap. 19. Disputes about Baptisme the Lords Supper Faith Justification Merits Infallibility c. We may all comply very well if we hold the same Faith in the prime necessary Principles which are but few There needs no hatred or strangeness to condemn or divide about Circumstances and Superstructures so long as we do all agree in Fundamentals And as for Ceremonies and Forms of outward worship the Law is a Rule to every mans Conscience and this is the safest way to fulfil all Righteousness But it is not safe to Divide or Rebel either in the Church or State for that overthrows the unity of the Faith and the bond of Peace This takes off all blame in God Chap. 20. Excuses and all excuses from our selves and puts every man into a hopeful capacity of Salvation For if we be not
their several Countries for Discipline and be quiet I wish Councils would make no more Creeds nor Definitions and Canons forced with deadly Curses and Anathema's against all Dissenters I wish no one Church would dare to Excommunicate another nor the same Church cut off her own Members so desperately for some fond opinions or scruples for they do but shew their malice and pride in calling Fire from Heaven in all haste Their blows cannot hurt a Soul that is ingrafted into Christ nor cut off any from Communion with him or his People in the Spirit They do but beat the aire They know not what spirit they are of Away with Transubstantiation Consubstantiation Merits and Works of Supererogation Prayers to Saints or Angels Indulgences Purgatories Supremacies Infallibilities Pilgrimages Whippings Penances or Pecuniary satisfactions and such like stuff These things are not worth the striving for they are all Hay Straw and Stubble to the effusion of Christian blood and wasting of Treasures How long will the World be deluded with vain Words It is enough to contend for the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints and neither to add to it nor take from it as it is contained in that Rule of Faith the Creed Apostolical out of Gods Word And all Divines and others should do well to bend their forces this way against the common enemy And pray what good have the Disputes about such things ever done Chap. 19. Disputes and what one Controversy have they laid asleep or ever will when both parties joyn wit to wit fallacy to fallacy equally triumphing in their own strength or success and neither party acknowledging themselves foyled but rather Conquerors And in the mean time while men contend for the Form of Godliness the power thereof is lost They raise such a thick dust by striving that the Truth cannot be seen and while the state of the question is debating The plain verity sneaks away The worst is they tye more knots then they are ever able to unloose and raise more Divels then they are ever able to lay This is the Scab of the Church When Aristotle and Plato or an idle Legend are greater Oracles then the Scriptures themselves I would fain the Church of Rome would better consider of these things why they should urge so many new Articles of Faith and such infinite Heathenish Ceremonies upon Christians and so hate condemn and persecute to death the Reformed Party as they do We are not so imperious and uncharitable to them but hope favourably of the honest poor people under them that are kept in ignorance and must know no better But woe be to the blind Guids I would fain the Reformers of our Reformation would better consider what reason they have to stand off and be so shy of the Episcopal and Royal Party because they do but their Duty to stand to the Discipline and Worship which by Law is established Lord what mischief have these men done Too like the old Zealots among the Jews and the Seditious Orators among the Gentiles So they cause the People to hate the Prince and the Priest and ravish their sacred Rights while they are pampered with the spoils of both and of the people to boot And the poor people on both sides will be deceived because naturally they do not love Dignities And this their Deceivers work upon If they that have eyes would see and they that have Ears would hear and they that have hearts would understand they would yeeld to the plain reason of Faith in the Laws of God and to the plain reason of Law in the Statutes of men But first these sweet tongued Orators must be removed These Mountebanks must be cashiered The Sea would be calme if the Winds were layd If Princes would silence these Mimical stage Players Nimble Sophisters and Fucous Declaimers their Subjects would be wiser and better then they are If Kings take care in the first Place that God be served after a pure and decent Form prescribed by their Law they themselves will be better served If Kings keep the Reins in their own hands and never prostitute their Sacred Rights to the ambitious Clergy and wild Rabble they will do their business and keep the Church Themselves and their Dominions in Peace O blessed way if it could be taken The only expedient to beget and maintaine Truth and Peace Who but such as are faithful to God and the King can have any assurance of their Salvation One thing more sticks in the way A Doctrine undiscerned hurtfull to Religion and Laws I mean An absolute Personal Election and Reprobation Chap. 20. Decrees Absolute 1. A Dishonour and Blasphemy against the Good God in making of him the Author of Sin and Misery to most of his poor Creatures so that they cannot love him as they would that is so unjust and cruel to condemn them from all Eternity for just nothing and in time to make his Decree good by forcing them to Sin under a colour that they may be justly damned I tremble to think that Sejanus's innocent Daughters must first be deflowred by the Hangman that they might be capable to be put to death according to Law 2. A Barre for ever to any Satisfaction Assurance or Comfort to any Soul that is in Distress A spade will be a Spade The Black-moor cannot be made White nor the Leopard loose his Spots withal the washing in the world They weary thēselves in the very Fire It is a Lottery if a man have the luck of it 3. A gap it will be do what they can to all Licentiousness and Presumption If Elected they must be called and persevere let them take no care If Reprobated they are sure to be damned let them take never so much care 4. A Prostration and Enervation of all Laws and endeavours There is neither Virtue nor Vice to reward or punish if the will be forced against its will to Good or Evil as by a Fate it must be 5. By it all Preaching and Exhortation to duty is a meer mocking For God means not as he speaks Salvation to all but he hath a secret reserved Will of Damnation to most These and many more absurd and profane consequences they can never avoid while the World stands let them say or do what they please But the thing that I wonder at is That the people should rather delight to hear these Boanerges's the Sons of Thunder then the Barnabas's the Sons of Consolation But any thing will go down kindly from those that speak against the present Powers For Power is a thing naturally hated though it be Gods But though they have the knack to cheat the Ignorant and weak by the dril of their Clappers antick faces and demure deportment Yet they cannot put out the Eyes of the Wise that can discerne sense from flams nor stop the Ears of the prudent that can distinguish betwixt the harmonious Touch of a skilful Musitian and the harsh scrape of a Country Fidler They know it can be no sense nor honesty to bid men see that are born blind to bid men run that are lame or fast chained to bid men hear that have their Ears dammed up To bid men eat and drink that are sick and can neither Tast nor take any thing or if able to do both shew them meat and drink and snatch it from them Though they may thus mock men yet let them not think to mock God also or that God is such a one as themselves verily they have their Reward See how great a part is deluded if not stark mad 1. The Papists that Damn all out of their Church as being without the pale cast overboord and sunk 2. The frantick Quaker says of all other Sects They are Damned And both these look when God shall put the Sword into their hands to destroy the Wicked as the vermin of the World 3. The Zenonian Pharisaical Tribe are of the same spirit but hide it more craftily They are not for fire and faggot as the Papists nor for a general Massacre as the fift Monarchy men c. But they are merciful to suffer the Gibeonites to live only they must be hewers of Wood and drawers of Water to serve the Elect which have the Right to all things Good men and True they can hunt down the game from his legs and when the Dogs of the same pack started before them and tore the game in pieces they barked and howled sadly because they lost the benefit of the Prey The Rabbies and Philosophers began early to mingle their Extravagancies among Christians Next the Pride of Infallibility and Supremacy began to peep from the chief Seats of Empire with Apish Imitation of Idolatrous Ceremonies They had not learned yet throughly the Art of Defence but being challenged by Arius and Pelagius those Mighty Champions among the rest they came to close Fights and in heat of bloud let fly at random Thus the Gap once opened In rusht a Crowd of Gowned Warriers cutting down all opinions but their own with the sharp weapons of their Tongues and Pens singing Jo Paean to this day flatly determining by their Legislative Power against pure and modest Antiquity And took occasion still by the very Reformation striving to be most contrary to them from whom they did justly depart taking all upon the credit of some few who were most famous for striking the first stroke There was all along a moderate Party especial at this last overture but they could not be heard for Peace because the Cry of the Zealots was against them and so it is still But the heat of the business is in good part over At leasure the Diligent have better considered and long for the Peace of Christendom Young Dupradii Novices may be indulged to believe their Masters when they know no better but when they come for their time to be Lytae and Regents themselves they may judge of what they have learned and teach better And so might thousands do if they knew their strength and were not Lazy and content with that little they have and if they were not tyed up under present pains or future Damnation to believe all that is obtruded upon them But the World we hope will grow older and wiser Amen FINIS