preached to the Gentiles is a mystery full of glory 2 CHRIST is the subject of this glorious mysterie of the Gospell 3 CHRIST is among us in the preaching of the Gospell 4 CHRIST is Hee in whom we looke and wait for glorie The end of the Doctrines A COMMENTARY ' VPON THE FIRST Chapter of Saint PAUL to the Colossians COLOS. Chap. 1. VER 1 2. VER 1. Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God and Timotheus our brother VER 2. To them which are at Colosse Saints and faithfull brethren in Christ grace bee unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Iesus Christ IN these two Verses there is layd downe the Salutation wherein you have the Persons saluting the Persons saluted The Persons saluting Paul and Timotheus Touching the description of Paul from his Office and calling I passe it by having spoken of it in the first Verse of the Epistle to the Ephesians For the meaning Saints here are those who are already actually sanctified Verse 2. called Saints 1 Cor. 1.2 Washed in CHRISTS bloud There are Saints by predestination as there are Sheepe not yet gathered and brought home to the fold of CHRIST I have other Sheepe which are not of this fold Ioh. 10.16 but he writes to such as had received the spirit of sanctification Colosse a City neere Laodicea and Hierapolis in Phrygia a Citie of the Gentiles inhabited with Idolaters And faithfull brethren not false brethren crept in but faithfull which must be understood by a Synechdoche comprehending all faithfull whether men or women Grace and peace Grace noteth GODS free favour which giveth all good things 2. It signifieth the effects of his grace in us viz. All good things spirituall and corporall which may as fruits testifie the good will of GOD to us his kindnesse and all the fruits of his kindnesse especially grace pardoning sinne and enabling us to doe good as also grace exciting and moving us to worke when now we are made able that we may not receive the former grace in vaine Peace is the effect of grace in us for Gods grace forgiving sinne worketh in us peace of conscience in regard of the accusation which would be in it 2. The habits or qualities of grace Peter calleth them The divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 this grace given us we have quiet from the rage of corruption in us which while it tyrannizeth in us filleth all the powers of the soule with disturbance this is called peace of sanctification the quiet fruit of righteousnesse 3. Heb. 12 1â— When GOD sheweth his favour in giving all outward things that are good there is Peace eternall in regard of our outward condition and if Gods grace in any of these wayes be â—id instead of peace we feele disturbance Thou hiddest thy face and I was troubled To come to the Observations Every true member of the Church is a Saint Obs 1 Thou must not be ashamed to be counted a Saint Every thing doth binde to it 1. Our God is holy therefore wee must bee holy ones As he which hath called you is holy 1 Pet 1.15 so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation 2. It is the end of our predestination Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen us before the foundation of the world that we should be holy c. 3. Our calling bindeth us 1 Thes 4.7 1 Thes 4.7 God hath called us not unto uncleannesse but unto holinesse 4. Our Redemption Christ gave himselfe for us Tit. 2.14 to redeeme us from all iniquity and purifie us unto himselfe 5. The grace of God which we taste for the present and the things we looke for hereafter doe teach us this lesson Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope c. And having such promises 2 Cor. 7.1 let us grow up to perfect holinesse 6. The finall judgement and our owne glory which we looke for do likewise perswade us to become holy Seeing all these things shall be dissolved 2 Pet. 3 1â— what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation And whosoever hath the hope of eternall life 1 Ioh. 3.3 he purgeth himselfe even as Christ is pure And all beleevers are called a Holy Nation 1 Pet. 2.9 7. The right constitution of the Church while the vigor of discipline flourisheth doth not allow that any should abide in her but Saints prophane persons being to be separated as Dogs from partaking in holy things Mat. 7.6 Give not that which is holy to Dogs neither cast Pearles before Swine 1. Vse This discovers to us the vanity of the Pope in restraining this common to all beleevers while they live to some few in comparison whom it pleaseth him to Canonize after they are dead 2. We see the lewdnesse of many prophane Esaus who disclaime yea scoffe at this name using such Proverbes These are the holy ones Young Saints prove old Divels Shall we have a Saint of you 3. We must remember what kinde of men wee must be even such as must professe and practise holinesse according to our calling At Colosse God gathereth and supporteth his people in all places Obs 2 Iob in VZ We say truly Where God hath his Church the Divell hath his Chappell and wee may say as well Where the Divell hath his Throne there God oft hath his people lie they where they will nothing shall keepe them from God I will say to the North winde give and to the South keepe not back bring my Sonnes from far and my daughters from the utmost parts of the earth Despaire of none Vse be they never so vile and farre from God if he have a purpose to call them they shall come home in despight of all the malice and power of the Divell for God is more able to save But why should we pray for them that have grace alreadie Quest Because the Divell is most bent against them Answ a candle new put out is soone blowen in So hee hopeth to kindle in new Converts their old sin which GOD by His Spirit hath extinguished To rebuke our carnall mindes whose lands Vse 1 preferments in marriage c. these things sometime the world will be thankfull for but of faith repentance and the worke of grace not a word with them A foole taketh more pleasure in colour of counters and a painted dagger than in gold and true treasure Such fooles are many found amongst us who are affected with these earthly vanities and are altogether carelesse of the true treasure If we be risen with CHRIST Vse 2 let us shew it in affecting spirituall treasures of grace and holinesse making these heavenly things the matter of our joy and thanksgiving This in Generall Particularly marke 1. Obs 2 What it is
this their restoring to life The first is pardon of sin The second is cancelling the obligation against them The third is the setting them free from those jaylors and executioners in whose keeping they were The two first are in this thirteenth verse the latter in the end of the thirteenth verse and in the other two following The first of the antecedents in the end of the thirteenth verse The second in the fourteenth verse The third in the fifteenth verse To returne to the thirteenth verse And first in genenerall from this his Commoration in this benefit wee note Doct. That our quickning in CHRIST is such a benefit which we must not quickly have done with and lightly passe over The Apostle cannot move from this till hee have dwelt a while upon it and amplified and enforced on them the consideration of it So it is we lend it little thought but the more is our fault we should when wee thinke on God's benefits in Christ make a stand and dwell upon them that so we might be more affected 2 Marke What Ministers must doe Doct. viz. they must amplifie to their people the benefits bestowed on them how often doth Moses this in Deutr. For 1 It is for the honour of God that His benefits should be set forth 2 It edifieth others and gaineth glory to God while they are to know the things bestowed on them and they are by this meanes wrought unto thanksgiving Againe wee are like children wee know not the worth of those great things wherewith GOD hath enriched us As a young childe that hath great patrimonies and priviledges doth not to any purpose conceive the worth of them yea we are as forgetfull as the eaten bread is quickly forgotten And beside a benefit while enjoyed groweth no dainties with us in all these regards we must use this practise of the Apostle If men have outward commodities and abilities and gifts of any kinde they know them too well even till they be proud of them but in heavenly things it is quite otherwise Now for their condition it is described from the state of death You when you were dead 2. The kinde of death viz. in sin 1. Actuall in trespasses 2. Originall in uncircumcision of heart which is set downe by a Synecdoche or Metonymie of the signe for the thing signified Outward Circumcision put for outward and inward which is more emphatical when they were so dead that inwardly and outwardly they did lye in evill the meaning is when you were utterly dead in soule mortall in body subject to eternall damnation by reason of your actuall transgressions and original corruption You then He quickened that is GOD the Father out of the Verse before with His CHRIST First then observe That we are by nature dead to God the same is Eph. 2.1 We are not like a man in a sleepe nor like the Samaritan greatly wounded but we are starke dead in regard of the life of GOD. Rom. 5. he saith Wee are of no strength not of feeble strength and the naturall man is often so called My Sonne was dead and is alive let the dead bury their dead A man is every way by nature dead his body is mortall in dying from his birth eternall death of soule and body hangeth over him His soule is quite dead for God in regard of His presence of sanctifying grace going from a man he dyeth in soule As the soule going from the body the naturall life is extinct But it may be said Object why man hath some reliques of knowledge Againe some of the Heathen have excelled in vertuous actions without grace Every knowledge is not the life of God strictly so called Answ but that knowledge which affecteth the heart to follow God to trust in Him love Him They that know thee will trust in thee otherwise the divels doe know God in their kinde 2 The knowledge of man is able to make him unexculable onely not able to make him alive according to GOD for these Heathens vertues they were but pictures without the soule and life of vertue in them splendida peccata good trees they were not and therefore their fruit could not be good all is not gold that glisters This then confuteth all doctrines of free-will Vse 1 or of any power in man which holpen a little can helpe it selfe Dead men have nothing in them to help themselves toward this world so it is with us toward the other Yea we see hence that it is not suggestions to the minde nor exhortations that will doe it we doe but tell a dead man a tale and all in vaine till God create a new light in the minde and take away the heart of stone and give us tender new hearts let us confesse our utter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impotencie and inability and give glory to God Hence must be enforced to the natural man what is his estate dead in his soule Vse 2 hee heareth not the thunder of GOD's Law nor His sweet promises he seeth no heavenly thing neither GOD nor any spirituall matter hee tasteth no relish in any meat of the soule he speaketh not a word powdred with grace hee stirreth not hand nor foot to that which is good Oh the world is full of these ghosts twice dead as Saint Iude speaketh yea the relikes of this spirituall death hangeth about us all Marke from this that we who are alive through grace Vse 3 must not associate our selves with those that are meere naturall men for we see that no living thing can abide that which is dead the beasts will start at a dead carrion our dearest friends we put from us when dead but alas the LORD's children now can goe hand in hand with such who have not a sparke of grace in them Oh this death is not terrible we are al so much in it that we see not the filthinesse of it As a blacke hue among the Black-moores is not reproachfull So dead ones with us whose graces are ready to dye agree well enough In sinnes Observe Doct. That sinne both originall and actuall is the death of the soule Mors animae peccatum Our sin in which we are borne and live is the death of our soules and the demerit of further death Death it is to death it goeth Now what is death is it not the absence of life the soule being gone with the entrance of corruption And what is sinne Is it not the absence of saving knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse with the corruption of the minde will affections so that the spirituall stinch of it streameth out at the eye lust at the eare itching after vanity at the mouth rottennes is the best I mean unfruitfull speech sometime bitternesse Looke as holinesse is the beginning of life everlasting which goeth on till it end in glory so is sin the death of the soule which doth if the grace of CHRIST heale it not never stay till it come to everlasting damnation As for sinfull actions they
and obedience is utterly ceased Lastly Qu. 5 it may be asked how these Ceremonies were nailed on the Crosse As we conceive our selves Answ and all our sins with Christ on the Crosse So all the specialties which were to shew against us yea all the conversation of us as it was after this world is to be conceived with Him that the whole old man with his debt with the deeds he had done acknowledging this debt with his manner of conversing in carnall rites I say all of the old man is to be conceived thus in CHRIST and crucified with Him that all old things might be abolished Now to come to the Doctrines Observe first Doct. That not onely our sinne which is our debt is answered but that whatsoever may shew any thing against us is done away in CHRIST not onely our debt but every thing which might testifie any thing or breed us future danger is cancelled If a debter doe know his debt is answered yet hath his bonds and bills uncalled in he is still in feare but when he hath all such things as might speake any thing crossed torne made utterly void then he is safe for the LORD will have man doe all things so as he may shew his true meaning and wisdome in the dealing betwixt him and our Lord Iesus Christ doth give us example for in CHRIST answering our debt it had not been wisdome not to have defaced and abolished all such things as made acknowledgement of our debt and in GOD to have taken from His CHRIST satisfaction for us and kept with Himselfe such things which might witnesse us still indebted to Him had not so agreed with that single and upright meaning which GOD sheweth in all His wayes Againe our peace had not beene provided for for the Divell our restlesse enemie would never have rested to have followed the suit on us if he had so good evidence as our owne confession whether in heart word or under our hand to shew against us to that most just GOD. The use of this is first to teach us the great bounty of God yea and to shew us a patterne of sincere dealing Vse 1 to pardon us our debts is much but to deface all such specialties which might shew any thing against us to give in cancell crosse teare the least bill he had against us this doth amplifie His bounty It is storied of Adrian that seeking to win the favour of His subjects in Rome and Italy he for gave them all they were indebted to his Exchequer and the more to amplifie his free pardon he gave them out all their bills and bonds by which they made acknowledgement of any due to him Thus the great God amplifying His love dealeth with us and teacheth men what to doe when a debt is answered even to keepe nothing to shew for it that so their sincere dealing may be witnessed This letteth us see the fulnesse of CHRIST's redemption Vse 2 would He leave a great part of our debt unanswered as veniall sinnes the temporary punishment of sins and not suffer the least line of a bill to be uncrossed and torne asunder Lastly this maketh much for our comfort Vse 3 when we know that every thing that might breed us dread for hereafter beside the Ceremoniall Law there are many other hand-writings as it were which the Divell will threaten against us what will he say thou justified Daniel Saint Paul and others doe they not confesse they are sinners miserable and wretched their righteousnesse as Esay speaketh like stained cloathes This confession of the greatest Saints speaketh against thee Againe thy conscience doth know that thou art a grievous sinner thou hast not crucified the lusts of thy flesh and how oft hath thy owne mouth said thou hast no true faith no lively grace Nay sometime he hath got the hand to shew for their owne damnation How shall all this be answered Even by granting that indeed there are such confessions and bills of mine owne out against me but my CHRIST He did answer them and take them away This in generall Now in particular Doct. First we see That by CHRIST the Ceremoniall Law is taken away Looke Ephes 2.15 and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes which doth set it forth at large for the Law was not given that it should be perpetuall but only till the time of CHRIST which is called the time of correction or the setting things straight to that which they respected As a Physitian without changing his art giveth one thing to a childe another thing to a man And as a learned Schoole-master teacheth one booke to a novice another to a riper schollar so GOD without any change in Himselfe doth change these ordinances and did alwayes intend their ceasing in CHRIST Now we must know that when we say this Law of Ceremony was abolished in Christ the meaning is that it doth not binde any unto obedience As we see with us when Statutes are repealed they are not blotted forth of bodies and abolished from being monuments of advertisement but their force only taken away from constraining obedience so here c. not that the doctrine and knowledge of it nor yet the liberty of doing a rite in it while the edification of the Church so required is taken away the one is perpetuall the other was by the Apostles for a time lawfully practised For as the Morall Law is taken away from the use of seeking righteousnesse in it yet it remaineth as a rule of manners instructing us in our duties which we owe in thankfulnesse So this Law is taken away in regard of all the obligation and exercise of it but remaineth for many uses of doctrine and instruction The Vse is to let us see GOD's goodnesse to us Vse 1 what a benefit we count it when some one harmefull Statute by act of Parliament is repealed But what a benefit is this that a yoke which our fathers could not beare is taken away so that it never shall be laid upon us It letteth us see our happinesse above the Iewes Vse 2 that are free of so many fleshly grievances wherewith their worship abounded Wee see hence Vse 3 that it is GOD's will we should not be pestered with carnall rites and services GOD who will have His owne give place to our liberty how farre is He from liking that men should impose upon us their yokes of bondage This were misery for a man to be set free from GOD's hand and fall into mans usurpation Wherefore superstitious and lewd preambles of that popish captivity were those primitive ceremonies and observances which Saint Augustine in his hundred and nineteenth Epistle to Ianuarius complaineth of that all was pestered with humane presumptions And the Popish religion is hence erected as a yoke from whence by Christ we are redeemed The second thing to be marked here is Doct. That the Iewish Ceremonies as they were purely legall were as bills testifying the debt of the people before GOD The
had made a good profession before many witnesses We see that children when that they have done already is commended it doth hearten them to further diligence Besides it is a secret shame to leape from pale to sprigge and with the Moone to change our beliefes Therefore even in this regard it inforceth continuance to remember us what we have begunne in Besides be that setteth his hand to Gods plough and looketh backe is not fit for His kingdome Wherefore we must the rather I say hold on Vse What art thou ashamed to be counted an unconstant man by ceassing in that which thou beginnest sinfully and wilt thou not be ashamed to be variable in that course which is good and holy Oh thou hast forgot this who hast lost thy first love who hast beene more zealous more carefull of good duties who hast embraced CHRIST more powerfully and affectionately than now thou dost Why doest thou marre good beginnings with such slothfull proceedings VERSE 7. Rooted and built up in Him and stablished in the faith as yee have beene taught abounding therein with thanksgiving NOw followeth the manner of their walking on in IESUS CHRIST which is described from the augmentation of their Faith and their thankfulnesse for CHRIST and the doctrine which brought the knowledge of Him unto them The growth of Faith is described 1. From the effects 2. From the quantity The effects of a proceeding faith and obedient course of life led in Christ are two 1. A more firme union with Christ this is set downe by a double comparison the one taken from trees fastening their roots lower and lower The other from buildings wherein matter is surely laid upon the foundation The 2. Effect is the more full perswasion of the doctrine of CHRIST and grace of God brought them in the same which is set downe by the manner how it was to be held of them firmely even so as they had beene taught by Epaphras The Quantity followeth abounding in your confirmed perswasion above named The second thing followeth which is also a fruit of encreasing faith even thankfulnesse for CHRIST and His benefits bestowed on us and now more certainely perceived by us So that this verse may be thus conceived It describeth our coustant walking in CHRIST and our Faith in Him by these particulars 1 A more neere Vnion with CHRIST we fixing the roots of our affiance more deepely in Him and like as it is in buildings So wee being living stones which more and more settle as it were by constant walking in CHRIST on Him our Foundation 2 Our constant course bringeth us hitherto that whereas we were wavering touching the points of doctrine and God's grace as they were taught us we I say constant by walking in Christ come to be strongly perswaded in all the matter of faith as we first learned it from faithfull teachers 3. This shall accompany your proceeding in Christ that we shall abound in our perswasion of doctrine and GOD's grace toward us 4. That better knowing the things bestowed on us and eased of our doubting which unbeliefe excited wee grow to unfained thankfulnesse for CHRIST and His benefits The summe therefore is now easily set downe Continue in the faith you have begunne in and live according to His will and through His strength on whom you have beleeved growing by this constant persevering to be more neerely knit to Him rooted and builded more fully perswaded of the doctrine as it hath been taught you for measure more abundant both in knowledge and confidence finally heartily thankfull for so great things given you of GOD. Observe first Doct. out of the coherence What fruit we get by constant going on in CHRIST we come to have more firme conjunction with Him When a young plant is newly set the roots are of small depth in the earth one may well pull them up with an hand but as the tree shooteth up in sight and bearing fruit so it striketh the roots deeper and deeper downward yea both together though it be not perceived So that no force can move it So in a building stones new laid while the morter is yet greene may be pecked out but when the cement is dried and they are sunke downe and throughly settled upon the foundation they are more closely joyned to it then they cannot be easily moved So it is in us wee have not for degree so firme and neere conjunction with Christ but the more we live in Him like good trees spreading in the sight of all men and bringing forth the fruit of righteousnesse the more we come to take root downward by a more firme confidence which doth bring us to have a firmer conjunction and more neere union with Him Our Vnion is answerable unto that which uniteth us As the cause is in degree greater or lesser the effect is answerable Now at the first faith is weake like a bruised reed and smoaking weeke but while Faith holding Christ doth draw the Spirit from Him which maketh it fruitful in good works the more it exerciseth the more it is strengthned even as in babes their powers every way at first are feeble but the more they feed and exercise the more they waste the redundant moisture which before enfeebled their faculties and put forth strength in all their operations Saint Peter when faith was weake in him at the voice of a Damosell was shaken by walking in Christ awhile he was so rooted that threatnings whippings imprisonments conventings before great power martyrdome nothing could shake him Wherefore let us walke on without fainting Vse 1 hold on in Christ this will bring us further and further into Christ What if thou standest not so firme what if little winds seeme to shake thee goe on thou shalt grow rooted in him thou knowest not how yea while thou doest thus though thou shakest thy root doth strike lower and lower into Christ Many are moved to think how weakly they are fastened how slenderly they are rooted in Him but to be rooted is not every beleevers state I mean thus deepely rooted this is the condition which they attaine who have long walked in Christ But what then if Christians be not at first rooted Object a weake faith may be quite overthrowne True Answ if they be not rooted in any manner but this they are from their first setting into CHRIST by faith yea so rooted that they shall never fall altogether but this is an higher degree of rooting which doth not only shut forth falling which the other doth also but even that shaking and more grievous tottering for the most part which trees may have and stand neverthelesse to which the former degree is subject on feeling every wind I say for the most part for such may be temptation and desertion meeting that rooted David may shrewdly totter Hence may be shewed men why they are so weakely grounded in Christ Vse 2 because they walke so loosely and remissely so abound with greene lusts which craze their faith
rather than confirme it 2 Marke when he saith Walke on in Christ confirmed in faith growing to be setled in â—ull perswasion of the doctrine and grace brought unto you Observe hence Doctr. That resolved perswasion in the doctrine we professe and grace wee beleeve groweth out of a constant course in faith and obedience To be fully perswaded is not attained the first day Lord I beleeve helpe my unbeleefe Faith is mixed with doubting at the first but in progresse of time we come to out-grace this wavering of which all beleeving hearts complaine at times justly This was Abrahams prerogative he was fully perswaded of that GOD had promised him without once making question of it There is no man learneth any Art who at first can see how every thing is true which others skilfull therein tell him but oportet discentem credere beleeving that which his master saith and going on with it he commeth in the end most fully to discerne and be perswaded of all things So it is in this Art of arts and so much the more by how much it is the more divine and surpassing all naturall capacity than others When a man recovereth some long sicknesse and beginneth to walke he walketh with great feeblenesse and faintnesse but going on in exercise and diet nature overcomming the remainders of sicke matter which were left he goeth strongly and feeleth not his former imbecillity So when God healeth an unbeleeving heart there are at first such reliques of unbeleefe as make him full of doubting but going on in CHRIST the Author and Finisher of his faith GOD doth so assist his faith that it subdueth this contrary forme so that the man walketh confirmed in those things which he beleeved sometime very waveringly The use of this is Vse first to encourage those weake ones which are at a stand know not what to think of any thing almost yet mourne under this as a burthen and hold their LORD CHRIST be not dismayed goe on thy judgement shall be strengthened yea while thou walkest thus thou art in growing to it though thou canst not discerne it Who that saw a linke beaten against a wall would not thinke it would be put out yea this tendeth to make it burne more clearely So thy faith thus knocked with these doubtings shall when it getteth up be so much more confident Here we are given to understand Vse 2 whence it is that men are neither flesh nor fish prophanely not mourningly will say in faith he were a wise man that knew what hee might beleeve they know not for their parts one saith one thing another the contrary What is the cause of this O thou hast not yet walked obediently after the rule of CHRIST therefore GOD giveth thee up to darknesse As yee have beene taught viz. As you have beene taught by Epaphras Note hence a point of wisdome in Saint Paul and mutuall honour confirming and countenancing Epaphras a faithfull labourer Which is our Patterne for imitation the honour we owe our brethren requireth it the love we beare the truth doth require wee testifie for it yea the care of others salvation doth move us every way to make God's wholesome truth gratefull to them For men of note having heard some of lesse reputation preaching after them it is not amisse to have recourse to their matter and sayings and mention them with honour Againe it seemeth insinuated hence that the Divell did a little move them to unbeleefe even from this circumstance though they doubted not of the Gospell yet whether as he taught it or no it was true that might be questioned which if it be wee may see that continuing in faith and obedience will make us out-grow such carnall exceptions at which sometimes we stumbled If the Divell cannot bring us to say the meat is naught yet he will make us to thinke it is not aright handled the Cooke is not as he should Thus many thinke though they cannot gain-say the matter why the man is no great schollar no Doctor in schooles he preacheth plainly not a testimony of Fathers nor sentence of any Author Well if thou hast an honest heart goe on in CHRIST and these things shall vanish This by the way 3 Marke he saith abounding in it whence we learne What constant walking in CHRIST will bring us to Doct. and what we must endevour to not only to be well confirmed but to abound in perswasion Let every man abound in this sense If we doe any thing of things indifferent or beleeve any thing it is good to abound in the perswasion of it A man cannot trust God too much a man cannot goe too farre in this which doth glorifie God and put to His seale that He is true and good in all He speaketh to us We must therefore endeavour it Beside as waters a while dammed downe that they could not have course when once they breake thorow they over-flow all farre and wide even so doth Faith borne downe a while with doubting so much the more abundantly breake out and drowne all scruples in us Or as fire long smoothered and smoaking at length breaketh out with flames that touch the skie and like another Sunne enlighten the ayre So doth true faith when it swimmeth from under these waves of doubting which sometime over-whelme it The same uses which before may serve for this point Especially this confuteth Papists Oh say they Vse take heed of too much confidence lest you presume but God speaketh of true faith as if this were the onely measure to keepe no measure Indeed carnall presumptions as faith on our owne worthinesse workes c. wee cannot too much abandon but beleefe grounded on God's truth is not this while they hang it upon the Churches yea and nay But Saint Paul speaketh of the Gospell and this faith he calleth for which did root them in Christ But who can be sure of repentance and faith Object many have beene deceived judging wrong He that hath them may know them Answ and shall in time when infancie is over and temptation doth not intoxicate For those that have bin deceived though one in a dreame thinketh he eateth and doth not this hindereth not but a waking man who truely eateth may know the same infallibly Lastly marke What walking in CHRIST hath at length going with it hearty thanksgiving while we know not through weaknesse the things bestowed there is little thankfulnesse that can come from us but as we grow up to see what is given us thankfulnesse getteth up also You see in babes though their parents doe hang never such rich jewels and bracelets upon them alas they cannot thanke them for they know not how they are adorned but let them come to some knowledge and give them a thing then they will a little thanke you but let them grow to ripenesse of understanding and give them some great pretious things they will be much affected Two things breed thankfulnesse the one knowing that the benefit is of