saued he honoreth him who will saue him for his loue constraineth him so to doe Which although it bee most true and will be granted of the greater part yet because many content themselues to affirme it onely and other in a generall manner doe coldly goe about it I meane to honour God and shew foorth the fruits of faith which they think they haue as though any little would serue I thinke it very meete to set downe some speciall proofes of it that cannot be excepted against And first by that place to Titus The grace of God that hath appeared teacheth vs to denie vngodlines and worldly lusts and to liue holily righteously and soberly in this present life he saith plainly if we be once inlightened by that diuine grace and gift of the Gospell to see our selues partakers of saluation we are by the same knowledge taught and so learne it to renounce our old conuersation So that euen as a scholler plainly taught by his master becommeth skilfull in those points wherein he was instructed so is a man taught to see God worthie all honour and to giue it him by casting away the workes of darknes when he seeth that he hath brought him out of most wofull bondage into the glorious libertie of Gods children And is it any meruaile For what will we not be readie to doe for such a one as hath but once saued our liues from death How much more doe all they which know that they are discharged for euer from fearefull damnation see infinite causes why they should chaunge their wicked liues which so much displeased God and are also readie to doe the same Be not therefore deceiued God is not mocked by them who professe they looke to be saued and doe not bring foorth fruiteworthie amendment It is not a bare wandring desire to please God which this pretious faith and assurance of saluation worketh but it frameth also the man vnto it and teacheth him in some true and acceptable measure to goe about it The tidings of this treasure appeared so glorious to Agrippa being a King and therefore acquainted with earthly felicitie and a Heathen and therefore vnfit to see very easily into spirituall things yet this appeared so glorious tidings to him when he heard it by Paul not preaching in the pulpit but standing a prisoner at the barre that it caused him at the first to say Thou hast almost perswaded me to become a Christian And therefore he who hath not onely heard a sound of this heauenly newes with his eares which yet did weigh equally against a Princes kingdome in a Heathen mans iudgement but hath beleeued it to bee his owne and that for euer doe we thinke that any thing will be thought too deare for him who hath freely giuen it him And therefore when I see one cursed man raile against the doctrine of Gods word and his faithfull seruants another to loue the Christian life but from teeth outward and diuers men diuersly bewitched but all of them to loue darknes more then light because their deedes are euill Ioh. 3.19 I meruaile not at it they do after their nature and kind As they are not obedient to the will of God so neither indeed can they be who yet for all this know not any cause why they should accuse themselues but if they might see what kindnes God offereth them euen to bee made happie and might beleeue the same ye should see them changed as sensible as euer was Saul of a persecutor to become a preacher so they of oppressors mercifull persons and restorers of that which was ill gotten and of prophane holy and so to bee conuerted as that wee might say of them compared to the best seruants of God the lambe and the lion doe eate together But to let these goe as too grosse I would wish such to weigh these Scriptures aright who will take no nay but that they belong to Gods election when yet their goodnes is as the morning dew soone vanishing and blowne away or as a cake halfe baken Let them see how well this becommeth them to bee sometime forward sometime backward in some things zealous and yeelding to the will of God in othersome sinning against their owne knowledge and when they be straying from dutie to make no haste to it againe neither to see that any thing is amisse in them nay to be put in minde and reproued though neuer so iustly and kindly they cannot beare it It must in no waies bee denied them that they beleeue and are sure to be saued but where is the spirit which S. Paul speaketh of in those which know themselues saued which as an husband ruleth and beareth sway which commaundeth holy and heauenly motions and affections into the heart not suffering poysoned and earthly corruptions to defile the same where is that authoritie and gouernment ouer the members of the minde and bodie as ouer a wife that they may bee well ordred where are the traines and companies of all sorts of good fruites as their children and comely ornaments also beautifull to adorne and set out their liues when a professor of the Gospell shall not be able to denie that his heart is corrupt by fretting raging and vnquietnes for euery small trifle and yet not once trembling for it nor saying what haue I done or els loose vaine and foolish by other occasions and all this without repentance Where is his testimonie that his heart is a good treasurie and nurserie of good things when his tongue shall be walking not onely vnnecessarily and idly but in vnsauourie and offensiue speech in foolish iesting taunting railing mocking lying swearing slandering currish and churlish speaking how are the powers and members of the bodie in subiection as a wife vnto the power of Christ which ruleth as an husband in the heart of Gods beloued ones where is those mens religion which S. Iames boldly saith is none where the tongue is thus vngouerned what shew soeuer be made thereof And so I might goe forward to conuince many of our countrimen who haue often heard me and other of Gods Ministers vrging them after the same manner in our Sermons and doe know I tell them the truth that such things are in them indeed who yet seeme to be religious I haue said it oft and now say it with griefe that all these who haue such things raigning in them are not onely their owne enemies but also to our preaching of the Gospell of Christ neither is their reioycing good who glorie in their faith and hope when yet they are thus earthly and carnally minded They must know it howsoeuer they beleeue that God hath ioyned with faith vertue and godlines patience temperance and that who so beleeueth is thereby turned from his old conuersation For mine owne part I haue long misliked this haste and sudden shewes of great repentance in men who in their first acquaintance with the word
and the pride of life to be subiect to him An honour which Kings and Princes for the most part attaine not vnto for many of them aswell as of others worship the beast and offer to him their crowne and willingly submit themselues to his slauery And this honour which he bequeatheth to his faithfull ones is one commodity and fruite of his provident care and fatherly regard that he hath over them And yet in that there is no end of this but that he will continue it towards them throughout their life and that in more certainty and assurance it is so much the more to be had in admiration whereas in the meane while they who are none of his nor nourtered in his family which is his church cannot inioy the least part of this liberty they cannot beleeue nor be perswaded of any such thing at any time neither dare they promise to themselues that he will be with them and be a shelter vnto them but for want thereof they smart being hardened in their hearts and let loose after their owne desire to commit any sinne that their heart lusteth after euen with greedinesse and that because the lord hath not that especiall care ouer them that he hath ouer his owne beloued ones to keepe them from it This prerogatiue I say the wicked men of the world and vnregenerate not onely haue not while they remaine in that estate neither doe so much as fervently and constantly desire it nor cannot being no more able then the blind man is to see or the new borne child to walke and therefore in stead of these liberties they are still in bondage and for the most sweet dainties of gods children they are fedde with draffe euen with fancies dreames and deceiuable pleasures But contrariwise that which was spoken to Mary the mother of Iesus thou being freely beloued of the lord he is euer with thee afterwards to preserue thee whom he hath loued the same may be verified of all gods children after he hath once receiued them into fauour forgiuing them all their sinns he is with them euer after to watch ouer and care for them that so they may be presented safe before him when he shall appeare for their euerlasting deliuerance By which it may be seene how excellent and how much to be desired the estate of the poorest of Gods children is aboue the flourishing youth that liueth at hearts case or the mightiest monarch or prince that is vnreformed It might seeme therefore that euen this honour that God giveth to his servants which I have already spoken of were enough And I confesse that if I might haue had my choise when I was in the depth of hellish anguish and misery I should not haue asked the tenth part of it the lord hath therefore giuen more then we could haue asked or thought yet these are not all the priuiledges which God hath bestowed vpon his beloued ones as shall be seene For heereby they walke in greater safety then if they were guarded with an army of men yea if whole armies of enimies came against them as against Elisha yet have they more with them then against them For the angels of God doe pitch their tents about them to keepe them And how great a prerogatiue this is they can best tell who beleeue it although they must needs commend it who doe but heare the report of it For they know and haue experience of it who receive these promises into their hearts by faith and beleeue that God will performe the same vnto them who are not at any time depriued of them but onely through their vnbeliefe I graunt that all gods children inioy not this neither say I any such thing but this I say and affirme freely that to every age in Christ both the weake the strong and the middle age there is more granted by God then is inioied of them not that God doth in words seeme to offer that which he meaneth not to performe but because men either know not or beleeue not through sathans malice what their liberties are or if they doe yet it is so faintly beleeued that they are holden backe by euery occasion almost to forgoe and be dispossessed of them Which all must grant to be through their owne fault which may easily appeare to him who is willing to see it thus whereas the spirituall riches which beautifie the soule are the greatest riches and therefore should most be sought after esteemed and delighted in many euen of good hope which will grant this with vs will not yet bestow any more trauell for the same be they neuer so great priuiledges which god offereth them then they did in times past that is with lesse delight and feruency then they shew in following and looking after their earthly commodities They cannot I say be brought to set an higher price vpon the graces of God and the heauenly liberties which belong to Christians then vpon transitory things which soone passe away And this in few words is the chiefe cause why not only earthly minded men attaine to nothing but euen some such as haue receiued the first fruites of the spirit grow not to any great experience what the excellent estate of a christian is and how great priuiledges God granteth many of them to inioy Alas if men tast but a little of beliefe that their sinnes shall be forgiuen them they hardly goe any further to daily proceedings in their faith though they are taught that they should grow from faith to faith and so to liue by it but stand at a stay for the most part euer ready to call into question whether they haue it or no. What are such the better for the infinit good things which God hath in store for his which also diuers of their brethren inioy already in respect of that which they may attaine to but rather as though they were no such they walke either heauily nothing able to beare off the discouragements which they meet with by spirituall helpes and incouragements which they haue not or rather in worse case that is not seeing when they are hindred at all I deny not that the diuill doth subtilely and vigilantly seeke to blindefold them weaken their faith and set manifold stoppes in their way but wherefore haue they beene taught this that the scripture giueth greater grace but that the eie should beleeue it and finde it so then And againe the greater is he which is in them namely the spirit of god then he that is in the world that is the diuill And yet al these other such excellent priuiledges which appertaine unto them are no more then God did see they should stand in need of to helpe them beare the burden of tribulation reproch and other discouragements which heere of necessity must meet with them which would shake them so as they would make them to faint vtterly if they were not vpholden
cleerely shewed his word to Iacob his statutes and his iudgements to Israel and hath committed to vs his holy oracles Wherein I meane not only that we haue the Gospell so publikly and plentifully preached which though great is common to vs with many but withall that in some admirable manner God hath reuealed his secrets vnto vs such as wee know no Church vpon the earth in which the true sense of the Scriptures and sound doctrine thereof are more sincerely embraced and professed Yea with what store of rare and excellent lights the Lord hath furnished this our Church he is blind that seeth not and malitious that wil not acknowledge it wherein though generally it falleth out by humane frailtie and Sathans subtiltie that there is more light of iudgement then integritie of conscience yet herein God hath not left himselfe without witnes of many worthie Christians both Preachers and professors of the truth who liuely expresse the forme of holie doctrine into which they are cast such as vpon my vttermost perill I dare professe the deuoutest Papist neither hath nor possiblie in that profession can attaine vnto lacking true faith the right mother and nurse of a godly life And herein to giue one instance in steed of many take and examine streightly this one work and if it breathe not out more sound godlines in one leafe then all their artificiall composed treatises of Resolution which in their estimation are chiefe in this argument of a godly life let me beare my deserued blame I leaue the life of the writer of that Popish booke to such as seeme vpon better knowledge to haue set out the same And for the Author of this Treatise I may not in modestie say what I know but could and doe desire that his life were so knowne to all to whom his writing shall come as it is to such who haue heard the doctrine and seene the practise hereof in himself these well neere thirtie yeeres But to spare the person for his life time and to foretell what you shall finde in his labours In my simple opinion it might in one principal respect be called the Anatomie of the soule wherein not onely the great and principall parts are laid open but euery veine and little nerue are so discouered that wee may as it were with the eye behold as the right constitution of the whole and euery part of a true Christian so the manifold defects and imperfections thereof Whereto be added most approoued remedies for the curing of all spirituall diseases with like preseruatiues to maintaine our health in such sort as may be enioyed in this contagious ayre and so in a second respect may be called the physicke of the soule In both which how welcome it shall be to all that loue their soules health I neede not doubt onely I would desire the Christian patient not to be offended with the largenes of the work as too deare for the poore and too much to be read ouer in long time but consider with me that if the arte of bodily physicke be so long as the father of that arte testifieth then is it no marueile that this spirituall physicke doth as much exceed the other in length as it doth in dignitie And yet for the reliefe of such as desire to profit by his labour great care hath been taken so to set out apart euery seuerall matter that by the helpe of the Table they may be directed to the particulars which I perswade my selfe will be so farre from glutting any though neuer so weake stomacke that it will rather procure him a better appetite For simply to say as I feele I haue not read in any mans writing a more sauourie stile and better relished All which I leaue to euery one to speake as they finde and so with my strongest desires doe commend the fruite of these labours to the blessing of God Ezechiel Culuerwel To the Christian Reader CHristian Reader I am constrained in commending this spirituall blessing vnto thee to begin with the excuse of a good deed For although it be a good deede to commend this commendable worke yet must I plead the pardon of my defectiuenes in doing it by alleaging my calling thereto and impleade the fulsomnes of the maligners of such holy enterprises who for the most part distast all things but vanitie The eare saith Elihu trieth words as the mouth tasteth meate to wit if the eare be truly spirituall otherwise there is an vncircumcised eare where there is an vncircumcised heart and he that hath an vnmortified eare which is an affection to carnall eloquence cannot escape a reprobate sense in iudging of the wisedome of God An itching eare requireth a clawing stile and the most readers seeke after that which this treatise purposely eschueth But wisedome will be iustified of her children and the godly hearted will lay that vnlooked for imputation vpon affectation of braue words which the holy Ghost laieth vpon womens brauerie mentioned in the 3. of Esay which soone after in the 4. chap. vers 4. by passage of speech he calleth the filthines of the daughters of Sion Something I graunt may be yeelded by way of indulgence to the weake but he that seriously seeketh the Lord will not be offended nor cloyed with that simplicitie which offendeth not God by turning away the mind by trifles from a bent purpose of sound edification The matter of this booke is right worthy to occupie the minds of men and will be receiued of the gracious perusers of it The rest of the professors which like wanton and full fed children begin to play with their meate brooke nothing but conceited writing and speaking are to be bewailed and as for the dogs they are to be detested and denied holy things The blessing and comfort of grace brought S. Paul to account all things as dung in comparison and their illumination how great soeuer is vnsanctified which are not so minded and if any man loue godlines indeed and be good mettall he will blesse the fire which is ordained to melt him and the mould which is made to cast him in but they which make the founder to melt in vaine shall be called reprobate siluer It is part of the blessing of a worke to bee wrought by a blessed instrument and although it be sacrilege to interuert the praise of God yet it is of religion to take notice of Gods chosen vessels and all men are more affected by such This is the aduantage of this booke I meane the long approued godlines of the Author as he is a Christian and his zealous painfulnes as he is a Minister And if it please God that his pen may be as his tongue hath been a tree of life the very leaues thereof will cure him of the sting of Serpents tongues That which S. Luke testifieth of Barnabas may after Gods admeasurement be spoken of him and hoped of his labours that he was a good man
perswaded that they haue faith and consequently that their sinnes are forgiuen them and yet by infallible signes and tokens we know that it is so I speake of the least measure of it for of the stronger faith the question is easier And the weakest measure of faith I call that when an humbled soule longeth and almost fainteth for Gods mercie in Christ and although he be not assured of it yet he seeth that it cannot be denied and therefore waiteth for it and is staied from despaire I say he seeth that it cannot be denied but that God doth graunt pardon to him against his sin because he seeth himselfe to haue obtained many graces and workes of the holy Ghost which cannot be in a reprobate as was said before and thereby he is holden from despaire and dreadfull feare And yet through weaknes and want of experience cannot call God father though he cannot suffer the contrarie thought to haue any place in himselfe and therefore the thing that he most laboureth to be satisfied in and resolued of is that he may haue some cleerer light and lay better hold of it that Christ hath redeemed him indeed yet is he as the child first taught to goe alone who at the first is weake in the ioynts but in time can runne about so shall it be with the soule which thus longeth and lamenteth after God This I haue spoken for their sakes who more hardly doe lay hold on Gods mercie and doe with more difficultie applie the promise to themselues the which to doe with all possible care and not to be turned aside from examining our selues soundly and throughly by any let is a grace of the greatest importance And he is wise indeede who will not stay before he haue it which wisedome God will teach them whom he loueth for though many very ignorant and carelesse hearers doe hardly yea neuer come to any resolution of faith yet ordinarily where people are soundly cleerely and wisely taught it is otherwise for to speake of them who shall be saued the word so preached by little and little soketh and distilleth into the hearts of many of them And though they know not when this gracious worke of God was wrought for the most part as neither can we discerne and see the plants and hearbes when they shoote out though in time wee see it is so yet some there are whom God in speciall manner doth priuiledge at one time and in one day to receiue that grace and gift of assurance which others are long labouring and trauailing for before they attaine it As our Sauiour Christ pronounceth of Zacheus This day is this man become the sonne of Abraham and saluation is come into his house So Lydia and they in the Act. 2.37 And this is the faith whether it be weake or strong which vniteth to Christ and maketh them that haue it which is a mysterie and riddle to the world to haue and enioy their hearts desire yea and indeed more then they could desire or thinke namely to be truly the children of God and thereby happy Euen the same faith for which Christ pronounced Peter blessed who when hee saw him but in base estate the sonne of man yet for the words which Christ had spoken and his miracles had beleeued him to be also the sonne of God the annointed of the Lord and his Sauiour he pronounced this of him Blessed art thou Simon for flesh and bloud hath not reuealed it vnto thee but my father which is in heauen This faith though Peter had and he hath it of whom I speake euen whosoeuer it be whom the Lord maketh blessed for both weake and strong are partakers of one and the same precious faith 2. Pet. 1.1 yet the common professors and hearers of the Gospell haue it not because they doe not looke that the Lord should reueale it to them without which they cannot haue it but take counsell of their owne wisedome and reason which doe hinder and hold them backe from it For reason thinketh it an absurd thing and to bee laughed at that a man simple in the world a sinner especially sore burthened with his miserie and confessing the same should yet be more happie before God and in his owne knowledge then all the worlds good can make him Mans wisedome I say can neuer be perswaded of this but faith holdeth it for truth and enioyeth such an estate with good securitie And how God reuealeth any such thing vnto men which yet is plainly said he did vnto Peter they cannot tell nor see except this be it when they thinke and haue a good hope that it is so as though such a thing might be wrought in them and they not know how the change which it worketh being so apparant or that God might reueale this secret mysterie of faith to them they not aware of it yea and that which is more especiall signes accompanying it But such men should vnderstand that as it is the gift of God to beleeue and he draweth men hereto by his secret working grace so yet hee doth it by meanes outward euen whiles men obey his ordinance in attending vpon the preaching of his word and waite for this worke seeking it and praying for it daily his ministers so speaking and the people so reuerently hearing that they may beleeue and if not in the time of hearing yet after by their owne examining of their estate and comparing it with the doctrine taught as I haue shewed before in the person whom the Lord will saue And this thing verely men doe not that is heare trie their estate by the rule taught them weigh after examination and remoue le ts vntil they may see that they haue found that which they sought and that there is no iust cause to hinder it Few will bestow any labour or beate their braines about any such matter nor any trauaile of the minde for that is vnsauourie and vnwelcome vnto them Therefore it is that after so long preaching of faith there is as our Sauiour foretold little faith in the world few haue acquaintance with it though they cannot like in any wise to be so thought of as by this which I haue said may appeare and shall better appeare I trust by that which shall follow But before I goe any further I will for the readers better remembrance conclude that which I haue taken in hand in this third branch of the first part of this booke to proue that is to say although there be many departings from the right way leading to eternall life and many breakings off from it and though it be easily conceiued but of few yet he whom the Lord will chuse and repute for his shall both see into it discerne it from al by-paths and walke in it and so be partaker of happines by beleeuing Whereby also appeareth who is the Lords and who it is that in reuerent boldnes may
least conceite of them and finde not the least part of our nature to incline to them though otherwise we complaine of great frailtie as to haue thoughts to blaspheme God to be tempted to lay violent hands on others not moued thereto by any hate or malice or to deuoure our selues to dispaire and distrust of Gods mercie and grace all which sinnes with such other the partie hath neuer had delight in when hee was yet ouertaken with some other sinnes and had his heart drawne after them indeed and yet he is feared with the guiltines of those which he euer loathed And when the diuell can fasten vpon such as this weake person is in this wise he especiallie laboureth to dimme their knowledge and iudgement that they may haue no sure hold of any point of doctrine which may soundly comfort them that thus he may like a Lyon deuoure them more speedilie For when they cannot be perswaded in their iudgement that God can or will pardon them how are they able to desire or pray for it when it shall be beaten into them that they haue no faith nor any better things in them than reprobates how can they be moued to stirre vp that weake faith which they haue no more can they desire good meanes as counsell reading or any such like when he hath stricken this deadly blow in their consciences that God hath forsaken them And this be spoken of the diuels tempting the children of God when and whom it pleaseth the Lord for their triall and that without the helpe of outward meanes or any occasions to worke by the which I purposed to speake of to no further end but for the helpe of such as are sometimes deceiued and so oppressed after the same manner Here is no fit place to satisfie them who would be glad to know more of this matter To proceede therefore and so to draw to an end herein As he doth oft without any meanes deepely fasten vpon the weake consciences of Gods people to feare and dismay them so doth he the same much more easilie by the helpe of outward meanes so that when he hath couered their hearts with darkenes and brought them into a dreadfull feare of Gods wrath and plucked their armour from them whereby before they had resisted him he holdeth them at this vantage that euery thing which is before them is made matter to increase their distressed estate And therefore if they see a knife all their thoughts are to destroy themselues if they goe by water they are vehemently perswaded to drowne themselues and so are they tempted to strangle themselues if either the place giue them any occasion or the instrument wherewith they should doe it So if they see any merry their heauines is the more increased seeing say they we shall neuer come out of deadly sorrow and dispaire if they see a dogge they wish that they were so when they should eate their meate they thinke it wil increase their damnation and dare scarcely take the meanest scraps to relieue nature And if any Scripture be recited to them oh it belongeth not to them they say they are past hope and whatsoeuer we answere them be it neuer so fit for them and to doe them good yet they are neuer satisfied but raise new obiections against themselues as being nothing satisfied by that which was spoken to them It were infinite to set downe their speeches and thoughts like vnto these which I haue now mentioned which the diuell draweth from them by such occasions as he worketh by but all this is as we see through their owne letting goe their hold of Gods promises and mercies in Christ which yet sometime they haue imbraced and felt great comfort in or at least could not deny but that they had part in them And it is the vnspeakeable goodnes of God that they are not vtterlie swallowed vp but kept through his secret grace though not seene of them and that all other of his deare seruants are not plunged into the same depth of distrust and dispaire that there might be no one to comfort and counsell another but discouragements on eueryside For it is not to be attributed to Sathan or any want of subtiltie readines to hurt ablenes malice and crueltie that either the one sort is at all preserued or the other more freed from the like measure of languishing and feare or which is the senselesse sicknes and disease of this age and farre more dangerous from bold securitie and presumption but as I haue said the Lords keeping of them both Neither is it any meruaile to vs though it be not marked of the vnbeleeuers because the Lord hath his eye euer vpon his beloued ones as Dauid speaketh Psalm 41.12 That he may see that no hurt befall them euen as a mother hath her eye alwaies on the young child which beginneth to goe that it get no knocks But now to conclude ye will aske what remedies are to be vsed against such sore assaults First I say that seeing their consciences beare them witnes how much these temptations are repugnant to their desires and liking and chiefely raised and procured by Satan in them who abuseth their simplicitie therefore there is no cause why they should be so discouraged and out of heart although he hath haled and violentlie carried them to such miserie as though they had taken glorie in offending God this I say let them marke as soone as they be fit to heare it and the rather they are to count them to proceede from him than from themselues because they are such as are altogether contrarie to their former conuersation and to nature it selfe and such as haue no enforcement nor inticement but from him They are further to consider how much it doth displease God that they are remoued from their faith and giue place to the spirit of error and therefore they should gather more godly boldnes and confidence in him on the one side and more strength against Sathan on the other side For if God calleth and incourageth vs to trust and beleeue in him and we standing in need thereof would most gladly as we will all say in such a case imbrace his promises made in Christ Iesus who is he which should hinder vs If the Lord will iustifie and cleare vs who shall condemne vs Neither let them after all this be still obiecting that they feele small strength of faith and hope as many of Gods deare children doe for thereby the enemie may take great encouragement to their owne disaduantage for what if they feele not the sweete taste thereof which sometime they felt shall they iudge therefore themselues to be vtterly bereaued thereof If the soule be now sicke and tasteth not the sweete meates of consolation which it was wont was it therefore alwaies so Will they measure themselues by that which they presently feele when the soule hath lost her taste Or rather by the times past as the
account take them so as in their iudgement they know and will say they ought to be so they are the men who will take most paine to withstand their lusts and desires they get most victorie ouer them and are least ouercome of them they it must needs be graunted haue greatest aduantage ouer them and know best what fruite in sound peace and many other waies is reaped thereby And such examples God be blessed we haue and those not a few in the Scriptures who haue attained to this I meane to a great measure of such grace and by their good example there are through Gods goodnes in this age many who haue inioyed great libertie from God this way that no man may thinke this which I am now about to bee a thing impossible to attaine vnto neither denied to be granted vs of God as it shall be sought and cared for But as I said all Gods seruants haue not one and the same therefore not this excellent measure To goe forward then for the edifying of the rest who by Gods grace are many more then the former who all desire to leaue and forsake their noysome corruptions and rebellious willes but yet haue nothing the largenes of heart and measure of grace which some others haue I would willingly say to them that which the Lord hath reuealed vnto me That they be not troubled at this that they bee behind others of Gods seruants in the ouercomming of themselues and haue not gotten masterie of all affections in such sort as some haue done neither doubt they that faith and godlines are vtterly to seeke with them because of this For all beleeuers haue not their part in one and the same measure of mortification and grace all men cannot reach and attaine to that which some do all know not alike all value not goodnes and libertie from fleshly lusts alike and therefore cannot take paines for the same as some others doe some receiue thirtie fold some sixtie fold and some an hundred fold by that which they heare It is commendable and meete that we should walke as wee haue the best for our examples and to follow them as they are paternes of good things vnto vs but to stay at this that wee are not at all in Christ because we are not in all points like vnto some other in subduing our affections that is in no sort to be yeelded vnto if that which is in vs be in vs in truth Which thing I speake for their cause who both thinke and oft vtter the same saying Oh I am not as such of Gods children they are happie for that they are not troubled with frowardnes impatience anger wearines of good exercises wandring in hearing of Sermons reading and prayer and such other like carnal desires as I am and yet the same persons both haue had a true taste of eternal life and earnest combates with their corruptions yea and while they complaine they testifie their going forward in subduing their corruptions farre otherwise then they who are not so troubled and doe declare plainly that they loue the grace which they mourne for and hate deadly the corruption which they complaine and crie out of Therefore let no man measure himselfe by another but in that little which he knoweth let him be faithfull renouncing fleshly lusts as he seeth what an excellent estate of life it is to be freed from them I meane not to bee in bondage to them for there is no libertie like this all other when wee seeke to fulfill our owne desire is vtter slauerie and bondage And these things being rightly considered it may appeare that in a godly life the inward lusts of the heart and knowne corruptions of it how common soeuer they bee in the world are resisted and declined from of all true Christians in their measure according to that which is alleaged by the Apostle S. Peter We hauing most pretious promises giuen vs of God are made thereby partakers of the grace of the holie Ghost by the which wee are able to flie the corruption that is in the world and reigneth amongst the vngodly If they then who imbrace and beleeue the promises and therefore haue fastened vpon a godlie life doe flie the lusts and corruptions which others delight in and imbrace it followeth on the contrarie that they who are ruled and led by them can claime no part in a godly life For he that is so minded cannot be but carnall estranged from God and a bondman of hel which if it were weighed would cause many thousands who now thinke themselues good Christians to take some paine to bridle their intemperate and vnruly hearts to be wounded for the same deeply who contrarily giue libertie to them in most things that they desire Let such weake Christians to omit these rest their hope in some certain estate and not ouerreach themselues with things which they canont compasse I meane by resting in some certain estate this First that they haue a cleere knowledge of their saluation Secondly that they account it as their chiefe treasure And thirdly be set forward in some plaine and good course of life whereby they may grow in faith and the obeying of God though with some striuing But if they walk destitute of any of these three they shall be snared much with feare vnquietnes while they feele that all is not well with them oft fearing that they haue not begun aright nor were euer truely called and yet if they should forgoe this hold seeing there is some liuely sparkle of the new birth in them let them not breake off and faint vtterly as the wicked doe but moane and seeke home againe as a bird wandring from her nest least otherwise they walke heauily many moneths it may be yeeres before they finde deliuerance And vntill they doe so set themselues to nourish their faith with great care diligence their godly life with what labour and toyle soeuer it be is but a building vp and a pulling downe for one day they shall like and another day mislike sometime they may feele themselues well staied and oft otherwise without peace Yea and I say againe when they are staied yet if they hold not this as their best riches to solace their soules euery while as they may well and easily doe hauing so many good helpes among them with this sweete fauour of God which may surmount all other follies and delights in their perswasion and estimation they shall not either abide long in that possession of peace or like the course of their life which they leade but the diuell who knoweth their weaknes and enuieth their godly and sweete estate will raise many occasions to vnsettle and trouble them These three things therefore being of so especall price must bee more regarded and sought after of such as want them more carefully then they haue been and preachers not onely heard teaching these but also conferred with about the
with props and staies most mighty Consider this yee that forget God and aske not after him but especially yee seruants of his who desire to doe his will For these things doth God indeed I meane he bequeatheth many goodly and sweet liberties to his and many of his beloued ones find them and feele them and you that doe not so behold what yee loose and goe without Claime therefore with reuerence that which is your due I meane which god hath bestowed vpon you and beware lest through your default the priuiledges of Christians should not be thought as great as the Lorde in his word affirmeth them to be whiles you inioy them not as though they were no such The Lord hath done great things for vs as it is written Honorable things are reported of thee O thou citty of God And if it were not so and if the loue of God were not sweetly shed in our hearts through the holy ghost yea if we were not perswaded that the Lord is a plentifull rewarder of them that seeke him and that all the afflictions of this life are not worthy the glory which shall be shewed vpon us we might soone be caused to cast downe our countenance and be discouraged who are not onely strangers heere and therefore not knowen nor regarded but we are among professed enimies who the more we differ from them the more we are hated of them and therefore in feare of continuall and infinite dangers by reason of them and their captaine and but for that the Lord hath promised to be with vs and guide vs we should vtterly faint and be discouraged CHAP. 4. Of the third priuiledge How God giueth grace to his children to liue godly and of the first branch BVt that it may better appeare how great this priuiledge is and so I may proceed vnto the rest let vs further heare what worthy and singular fruits doe flow from this fatherly eare and most louing prouidence of God ouer his and accompany the same thorowout their liues which though they arise and proceed from the former yet I will set them downe as particular priuiledges distinctly by themselues And because it is not so easily seene and conceiued of many much lesse beleeued I will more particularly lay forth the same and first this third the summe whereof is this that who so are thus cared for of God he bestoweth this grace vpon them that they learne of him that which none can learne elsewhere nor any but his chosen ones can learne that is how to liue and goe through their whole pilgrimage according to his will and how to die and goe from this vale of misesy that they may afterwards be taken vp into glory euen this prerogatiue he granteth them And it hath these two branches the one that they may be fruitfull in good life the other that they may be kept from foule offences Now concerning the first namely the holy life which God teacheth them to lead this is not the least I might rightly say there is no greater treasure here to be inioied that they need not count the Christian life combersome vnsauory and an heauy and tedious burden as the most doe but an easie yoke an estate wherein they need neither be idle nor vnprofitable but readily prepared vnto euery good worke Now that they may be able to doe this to be setled constantly in a godly course and wise to preuent and auoide the hinderances that lie in their way and to aime at the commandements of God as at a marke that they may keepe them is not this a benefit yea a singular priuiledge when the prophet calleth him an happy man that is inabled of God thereto and Christ himselfe teacheth that it is the chiefe happinesse which can be inioied in this life to keepe the word of God which we heare that it may direct guide vs yea that one day in his house that is spent and passed in the militant church and as his seruants doe is better then a thousand in any estate besides And although it be an estate full of happinesse yet let no man maruel that I say Gods beloued ones may haue this liberty and prerogatiue to walke and liue in it for the Lord inableth them thereunto by whose power they can doe all things he giueth them an heart not defiled and vncleane as it was sometime but purged and clensed in good sort and therefore now it is able to like and loue his will which sometime it loathed and they who beleeue and are perswaded that God will bestow and doth daily offer this grace of sanctification vnto them they receiue it and thereby are strengthened to doe that good in their life which they can loue with their heart and which they approoue of and allow in their iudgement Now if this liberty of Gods seruants be not either knowen of some good Christians or not beleeued I deny not but euen they as yet may goe without this priuiledge in great part accordingly as we may see in many But this need not be if they knew and were perswaded of Gods liberality and bounty towards them as some others are who is so farre from denying grace hereto that he hath pleasure to see them vse it well to whome he granteth it And vntill this be that they draw by faith daily strength from Iesus Christ to subdue their lusts they cannot obtaine to finde the Christian life easie to them as some others doe but goe to worke by their owne strength in all their duties and by the vertue of their praiers hoping to preuaile against their sinnes which indeed are not conquered by any such meanes but remaine in their old strength still the which they seeing that for all their labouring and striuing against them yet they doe not finde that they are weakened or abated in them but that although they toile themselues much yet they profit little they begin to be discouraged and faint euen in vsing the meanes which they did beholding how they sticke fast still in the mire wherein before they lay and so they being discouraged fall into some great sorow or which is little differing breake out into security and loosenesse And this slauery they are brought vnto through the malice and subtilty of the diuil who seeing their vnablenesse to beleeue the promise of God which is that he will strengthen them against their speciall infirmities doth play the Lion holding them vnder with vnbeliefe Against the which their remedy must be this that they resist stedfast in faith that is that they yeeld not to this distrust which long hath oppressed them but by little and little suffer themselues to be perswaded that their case is farre better then they conceiue which shall neuer be hard to perswade them who found true deliuerance from the spirit of bondage and that the Lord hath not taken them into his fauour to leaue them at six and
great part against their will as shall be said afterwards for else they should haue their heauen heere which may not be but as they espy it they giue it no rest but with hearty mislike they oppose themselues and fight against it and because they haue sweetnesse and pleasure in in the Christian life therefore the gainesaying lusts which rebell against that course and striue to hold them from it are neither so forceable as they haue beene neither doe so long time as they were wont hold them vnder But this which I haue said of the remainder of sinne and of rebellion of nature abiding still in the best of Gods seruants I would haue well to be marked for that many will be ready to take occasion otherwise to cauill and quarrel against that which I haue said namely that God hath giuen this priuiledge and liberty to serue him with delight For thus they reason If you can goe forward thus easily in a Christian life that you can take pleasure in it which to so many Godly people is toile it seemeth that you are not hindered nor clogged with the rebellion of the old man which is our corrupt nature but that his force and strength is extinguished and killed whereas the scriptures tell vs farre otherwise and the best men that euer were borne after the maner of men felt it smarted by it and complained of it Therefore say they you set before vs such a Christian as is no where to be found But to all this I answere somewhat more fully than I did before that if it were not for the stirring and rebellion of the old man and the corruption and naughtinesse that cleaueth fast vnto vs we should by many degrees farre exceed the greatest measure of holinesse which we can now possibly reach vnto although we denie not but that through the grace of God we haue attained to somwhat already For as we serue God with delight now and may God be glorified do so for the most part so we should but for the sinne that sticketh fast in vs doe so perfectly and continually without intermission and contradiction as the heauenly spirits do And as our Sauior Christ seeing he could neuer be conuicted of any sinne when he was heere vpon earth as his words prooue Which of you can accuse me of sinne therefore when the Prince of this world namely the Deuill came he found nothing in him which he looked for namely sinne euen so should it likewise be with vs but for this fountaine of spirituall leprosie whereas now we finde through the vncleannesse of our hearts that there is imperfection and weaknesse euen in our best actions that I say nothing of those which are common And although with delight we goe forward in duty both to God and men yet through weake knowledge faith memorie c. through subiection to sinne and Sathan euen the best estate that we can attaine to is with much infirmitie and with iust cause of crying out as the Apostle by his example taught the perfectest in this world to doe saying O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death So that the olde man is not killed nor his strength extinguished we say no such thing but abated indeed and weakned much aswell as pardoned through the grace and power which wee receiue dailie from our Lord Iesus Christ by faith And this for answere vnto the former obiection whereby it may clearely be seene what I meane when I say that God hath giuen power to vs if we acknowledge and beleeue it to leade a Christian life with delighting in it which though it be not without change full and absolute yet in that it is so great libertie as it is it ceaseth not to be worthily accounted a most great priuiledge as I haue said before For is it a small thing to finde pleasure and the greatest reioycing in the subduing of our euill hearts and in the forgoing of our vnlawfull liberties which other men fight for with tooth and naile and would count their life worse than any death except they might inioy them Nay is it not an high degree of honour that we may from day to day be admitted to reioyce before the Lord in the duties which we doe euen all that we shall set our hand vnto when yet others are so farre off from it that they would chuse to lie in prison all the daies of their life rather than they would be thus yoked as they account of it O therefore praise the Lord all ye seruants the Lord I say who doth so wonderfull things for his for in this is that Scripture fulfilled which saith Honourable things are reported of thee that is which thy God hath done for thee O thou citie or people of God And if it were not so that the Lord hath done so great good things for his people how could that be true which is said in another place of their happie estate that it is better to be a doore-keeper in Gods house because we are there in his seruice and vnder his gouernment than to dwell in the tents of the vngodlie wheresoeuer yea though it were in the palace of Princes If it be further demanded Where are such as inioy this prerogatiue in their liues I say I know no cause why Gods people which haue an acquittance and discharge against the day of iudgement and the wrath to come and haue sound knowledge and assurance of their saluation and of Gods fatherly care ouer them while they liue here I say I know no cause why all they should not haue some good and liuely resemblance of such persons For did they holde fast this perswasion that God hath giuen this libertie vnto them the Deuill who it is which iniuriously deteineth it from them should deceiue and defeat them no longer in the grosse sort and maner that he doth But this I must adde because it is a common bait whereby they are snared earthly pleasures and profits yea though lawfull must be in meaner reckoning with them They are too eager and greedy in their dealings and their hearts especially must be pruned of much drosse rubbish as vnwillingnesse vntowardnesse in the vsing of those helps by the which men may wait vpon God with ease from time to time Also men must thinke it the greatest libertie to haue their hearts readilie framed and disposed to their seuerall duties and be perswaded that nothing is better for them then thus to bridle the vnruly affections which are euery while ready to breake off the best course that can be entred into of them And if we thinke it much to be inioined thus to curbe vp the old man which most hindreth from going forward with delight and readinesse consider what iniury we offer to the Almighty that whereas nothing goeth forward well that is vnwillingly gone about so neither should this worke of the Lord
crosses from God as sent to them in his loue they murmure not against him neither refuse to be chastised of him but are thankfull and therefore labour for patience that it may haue her perfect worke yea and further if they can finde any sinne in themselues which might draw these corrections of the Lord vpon them they heartily turne from it with all possible speed that so they may more confidently intreat the Lord to turne away all the tartnesse of their affliction frō them And they which after this maner behaue themselues vnder the crosse although they performe these duties but in weaknesse shall finde their troubles howsoeuer for the time irkesome vnto the flesh yet to be gainfull manie waies and in manie respects vnto their soules For they shall giue them a proofe of that grace as meeknesse trust and confidence which otherwise they could not know to be in them They shall teach them also experience of greater acknowledging Gods fatherly kindnesse which worketh and bringeth forth these sweet graces in them by as vnlikely occasions as the soft waters gush out of the hard and stonie rocke for in others what doe afflictions cause for the most part that haue them but rage and fretting and such like Besides in those who are rightly exercised in the bearing of them they hold them from many sinnes which others runne into they make them more humble and thankfull they hearten them by custome therein to beare greater yea greater than they thought possible that euer they should haue gone vnder and with all these commeth most sound and exceeding comfort in the end at least with hope in the middest of them which shall not make them ashamed Therefore if the seruants of God may inioy these with many other such commodities by their afflictions and haue so good liking of the Christian life that they will not forsake it for the greatest of them I conclude this third branch as the two former That the Lord hath not left their afflictions vpon them to vexe them and make their liues wearisome and vnpleasant to them but that they should receiue much good and benefit by them And although they be not without sharpnesse yet the Christian life hath so many sweet fruits of them therewith that as men are not wearie of the pleasant spring time though it be anoied with the flea so we do not loath our afflicted estate being so many waies gainfull for some bitternesse that accompanieth the same for holy securitie through the favour of God a good conscience and confidence of our cause that it is good maketh euen a hard state easie or at least tolerable And these priuiledges which I haue now spoken of who can sufficientlie maruell that our glorious God doth communicate to mortall men yea vile sinners which were once without God in the world I confesse in setting them downe that I am much astonished to thinke of his vnspeakable kindnesse especially because I haue mentioned no vaine speculations or dreames of mans braine which vanish in the aire but vndoubted truethes out of the word of God and found true by experience of many good Christians so that we may worthily be prouoked to seeke a part therein amongst them And yet so much the greater they are and better to be accounted of inasmuch as the longer they be inioyed the more fruit and comfort they bring to him that hath his part in them And when we finde not this doctrine sauourie and sweet to vs nor the vse of it in our afflictions let vs not charge and challenge the Lord for it but consider what we haue lost through vnbeliefe CHAP. 12. Of the eighth priuiledge Of growing in grace NOw as it cannot be denied but that these forementioned graces are singular priuiledges so to passe the next we are not to be ignorant of this that whatsoeuer good things Gods people already haue and inioy yet God hath more in store for them and will giue more grace and greater measure of his heauenly gifts then they before they had them could either aske or thinke And this is woorthy to be considered with the former as a further increase and higher degree of the fruits of his loue that he doth so largely and bountifully reach out his hand vnto them that thereby they may be inriched as farre beyond the beginnings of their true happines as their beginnings were beyond their first condition before it in the iudgement of all men For cleerer proofe heereof we are to know that he maketh them to grow in sounder vnderstanding of his wil in more assurance of faith and strength of hope in more patience vnder the crosse more moderation in the vse of their lawfull liberties and benefits of this life he giueth them better rule ouer their hearts and affections and that in more things then at the first and ofter easilier and so ouer their liues and actions their tongues their hands their eies their eares The Lord giueth them farre more inlargement in praier then in times past and constantly to bestow more time in all the helpes to godlinesse and to scoure off much rust and rubbish of the rebellious old man and their euill qualities as they haue and see greater reason why they should doe so yea he worketh more sound comfort by the holy Ghost and more constant continuance thereof in them then they were wont to be acquainted with And to comprehend much in few words the whole course of their life is much better gouerned then it was wont to be and the image of God more liuely and cleerely restored And are not these thinke we priuiledges farre aboue their expectation and greater then they could looke for All which the Apostle knowing that they were dainties prepared for the Lords beloued ones and a great treasure although hidden from the world did daily wish and pray for that they might be giuen to the church of Colossa as he sheweth in these words After that I heard of your faith in Christ Iesus and loue towards all the Saints I ceased not to pray for you that you might be filled with all knowledge of his will in all wisdome and spirituall vnder standing that you might walke worthy the Lord and please him in all things bringing foorth fruit in euery good worke increasing in the acknowledging of God strengthened with all might according to his glorious power vnto all long suffering and lenity of mind with ioy What haue I said concerning this priuilege which the Apostle hath not fully conteined in these words And yet what people are there being but lately turned to God as the Colossians were which might not thinke that the graces which he put them in hope of and incouraged them to looke for were not more and farre greater then they might possibly be partakers of Which thing may liuely be seene in Moses example if we compare the time wherein God did first call
who hauing made good and commendable beginnings long agone yet haue taken discouragement from making answerable proceedings although it be written Let thy profiting be seene of all And I denie not but that the deuill raiseth occasions enough of fainting slouth deadnesse of spirit of earthlie mindednesse neglecting of meanes c. in such as haue well begun in a Christian life but God be thanked they are not least vnfurnished nor vnprouided of all helps against the same if they were acquainted with the will of God but as they might be Such therefore as see themselues faultie and weake this way let them learne of them which haue better experience in the waies of God than themselues and which doe more chearefully go before them that they by their example may more soundly and constantly goe forward For why should it not be with the Lords plants in his orchard as it is in an husbandmans that as grafts and plants being set in good ground doe spread their branches and shoot foorth their boughes apparently in a few yeeres so might the Lords plants doe Moreouer we see in all societies one commeth awke and vntoward to an occupation learning or any trade yet in few yeeres is able to guide others which plainly sheweth how he hath profited himselfe And can any thing be truly said why he which is but a yong Christian only such an one as is a liuely member of Christ though as yet he be to be thorowly grounded in the principles of religion yet can any thing I say be truly alledged why he should not in a few yeeres be well growen and increased himselfe and able also in those matters to instruct and guide others that as he was inexpert in the word of righteousnesse when he was a babe so after experience he may be stablished For to what end are all those goodly things reuealed in the Scriptures How we may grow from faith to faith and from grace to grace and that such as are aged and well growen should haue their inward senses of their minds exercised to discerne good and euill and that we should whatsoeuer we haue attained vnto more than others yet seeke to increase daily more and more To what end I say are such Scriptures and many other of like sort Are they not written for our instruction and edifying Or els do we thinke that they should lie by vs vnknowen and we not to meddle with them Which if we will not affirme as indeed no wise or well aduised person will why should we not looke to thriue and prosper in our spirituall husbandrie and that with much more assurance than in the earthly wherein yet many thousands doe exceedingly increase and the rather for that our gaine and the blessing of God is farre more certeine in that than in the other Why I say should not we of the ministerie first and principally and then the seuerall congregations and people which are taught and guided by vs not only shine as lights in the darke world but daily more and more as the morning light doth vnto the perfect day And to be so farre beyond our first beginnings in louing and obeying that which we know that as we were then readie and forward in a little when we knew no more so we may now giue occasion to many to praise God for vs whiles they see the same readinesse and forwardnesse to continue in vs as our knowledge is increased And as we were then carefull ouer other for the good of their soules so why should we not be still of the same minde exhorting one another daily with comfort prouoking to loue to good works and not neglect that dutie for the care of our bodies and wealth The which I heartily wish were done but with that alacritie and cheerefulnesse which I my selfe haue seene many yeeres agone But alas how rare a thing is this to finde either in the one or in the other which causeth this and such other worthie prerogatiues of the faithfull as are spoken of in the Scripture to be in small account seeing few examples are found of this practise And by this it may be seene what is to be vnderstood by growing and what this priuiledge is in the laying forth of the which I am now occupied namely that a true Christian may be able to see and in trueth to affirme that he inioieth farre better liking greater freedome much more ease and sweetnesse in seruing God and in the Christian course then sometime he was able to doe or euer looked for That he seeth farre greater light in the will and word of God and bewty in the Godly life and hath much more conquest ouer his rebellious heart in subduing the affections thereof then euer he thought had beene possible for him which who so inioieth not is vniustly depriued of so great a commodity as beside the saluation of his soule hath none like it vpon the earth and yet cannot be separated from that neither And yet as great as it is I haue shewed that the Lord thinketh it neither too great nor too good for his children but hath bequeathed it vnto them and giuen them free graunt of it and so they may haue their part in it although the greater the benefit is the more strongly the diuill keepeth men backe from possessing it yea euen many of Gods deare children themselues whom he holdeth in the cordes of sinne and baites of vanity so that thereby they lose and forgoe a great part in this heauenly priuiledge and liberty But how he and they doe stop their proceedings in grace and Godlinesse may be seene in the former treatise of the lets Yet I cannot omit here to put them in remembrance of this one let againe that without great heed taking they shall weaken their loue to their brethren through conceites and taking of pritches one against an other and that oft times without any iust cause so that they shall be much feebled therby from duties of loue which if it were well considered had little need to be so being sufficient to hinder euery good enterprise then the which their need be no greater But if these and such like be not their stops and staies let not any obiect and say that they desire with their hearts to be partakers of this priuiledge and benefit if they knew how for if they were willing to be perswaded to vse those meanes with that free and ready heart constantly and daily which they sometimes are willing to doe their desire should quickely be accomplished and they made partakers of that which they wish and that is alwaies to make reckoning of that to be their chiefest treasure To grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ and therefore without ceasing to keepe their hearts vnto it and to thinke there is nothing more to be regarded nor of greater weight and necessity then to bestow the day and the seuerall parts of