expressely said so much Psal 84. 11. For the Lord God is a Sunne and shield The Lord will giue grace and glory no good thing will he with-hold from them that walke vprightly Which being so generall I nothing doubt but it includes this grace of holinesse among the rest To this end also doth the Lord so often promise to sanctifie and make holy his people as Exod. 19. 6. 31. 13. Leu. 20. 8. 21. 8. 22. 32. Deut. 22. 8. 9. Esa 4. 3. 35. 8. Joel 3. 17. I spare to set downe the words which they that list may easily reade Againe to the same end God promiseth to make his people fruitfull and so compareth himselfe to a good husband-man as in the 15. of Iohn I am the Vine and my Father is the husbandman Euery branch that beareth not fruit he taketh away and euery branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruite So Esa 27. 2 3. In that day sing yee vnto her a vineyard of red wine I the Lord doe keepe it I will water it euery moment least any hurt it I will keepe it night and day and Psal 92. 14. They shall still bring foorth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing This also is meant where the Lord as a good shepheard saith he will feede his people that they may be fat that is abounding in grace as Psal 23. Ezek. 34. 13 14 15. and Psal 36. 8. They shall bee abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house and thou shalt make them drinke of the riuer of thy pleasures c. This grace of God to leade a godly life is likewise intended in many other promises God giues strength as where it is said That God will giue strength to his people which as it is in some places meant against enemies bodily or spirituall so in other to walke in the waies of the Lord c. Esa 45. 24. Surely shall one say In the Lord haue I righteousnesse and strength Zach. 10. 12. And I will strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walke vp and downe in his Name saith the Lord and the like That God hath wrought all our workes in vs. Esa 26. 12. and so the Apostle Phil. 4. 13. I can doe all things through Christ who strengtheneth me But to this purpose be most plaine those promises where God saith Hee will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seede to loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule that thou mayest liue Deut. 30. 6. God makes able to obey And to the like effect verse 8. And thou shalt returne and obey the voice of the Lord and doe all his commandements which I command thee this day which is here made a promise of God to them what hee would make them able to performe as may appeare by Hosea 3. 5. and 14. 7. and Ierem. 24. 7. where the like promise is made And so Ezek. 11. 19 20. And I will giue them one heart and I will put a new spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will giue them a heart of flesh That they may walke in my statutes and keepe my ordinances and doe them and they shall be my people and I will be their God The like is repeated 36. 27. and 37. 24. Thus wee may see in these Scriptures and many 〈◊〉 of like sort Vse of these generall promises for sanctification how the Lord seeing the frailtie of his children both in obeying his will and in beleeuing that euer they shall be able to attaine thereunto hath for their comfort herein giuen many pretious promises in generall containing all grace needfull to the leading of a godly life which euery childe of God may boldly apply to himselfe in this manner seeing God who is faithfull hath said to all his people that he will giue grace that hee will sanctifie them and make them fruitfull satisfie them with the fatnesse of his house make them strong to walke in his waies and giue them a new heart to feare him for euer and to walke in his statutes and to keepe his ordinances and to doe them c. therefore I may boldly assure my selfe though I be neuer so weake yet through Christ I shall be able to doe all things For he hath wrought and will worke all our workes 2 Cor. 12. 9. and his grace shall be sufficient for vs. Yea we may say as Esa 45. 24. In the Lord haue I righteousnesse and strength If thus we would call to minde what God hath spoken for our comfort in this kinde it would well hearten vs to set vpon any dutie which the Lord shall require at our hands with confidence that we shall be able so to performe it as he will approoue and say Matth. 25. 21. It is well done good and faithfull seruant Whereas otherwise if wee looke vpon the difficultie of the worke and our owne insufficiency to euery good dutie we shall haue no heart to set vpon it but either quite giue it ouer or very vnfruitfully and vncomfortably goe about it as the manner of most is whereby God hath small honour and themselues as little comfort in all their profession This might suffice Particular graces to encourage vs cheerefully to set vpon a godly life in all the parts of it if we were not so vntoward to it in our selues and had not so many discouragements from others and so full of vnbeleefe towards God But because of all these the Lord in loue is constrained to take more paines with vs and not onely thus in general to promise vs his helpe but he descends to particulars and where he sees vs most mistrustful there he doth more specially promise his helpe that so we might more willingly serue him And first whereas we be all ignorant euen after regeneration in many things what is Gods will and how to performe such things as God requireth as may bee seene in those speciall duties before named in euery commandement and this hath beene of old and is at this day the complaint of the godly and so their oft and earnest prayer to God to teach them as that one booke of the Psalmes and therein that one Psal 119. doth shew wherein this prayer is oft repeated For these causes it is so oft said God will teach vs. that the Lord will teach his people As in that famous prophesie of the dayes of the Gospell where the zeale and faith of Gods people is foreshewed that they called vpon one another to frequent the publike assemblies vpō this ground That God would teach them his waies and they would walke in his pathes Esa 2. 3. Mich. 4. 2. So Psal 25. 8 9. He will teach sinners in the way and the meeke he will teach his way So Esa 54. 13. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord. And to this purpose that is special 1.
any storme wee shall bee sure to escape shipwracke and so in the end arriue at our desired port of euerlasting saluation Thus haue I now shewed as briefly and plainely as I could how euery one who is troubled with vnbeleefe about the cercainety of his saluation namely whether such as he so void of all grace and so full of all sinne may be bold to beleeue and thereby be assured to be saued by Christ and to this end that his sinne is quite forgiuen and hee accepted as righteous in Gods sight so reconciled to God and adopted to be Gods child that hee may reioyce in hope of the glory of God how such an one I say may get and dayly increase this assurance of faith that there is no condemnation to him belonging but that he hath euerlasting life and is passed from death to life then which what can be more welcome and comfortable to a troubled conscience I well see not And therefore as oft before I exhort all that feele this weaknes of faith concerning their saluation aboue all to obserue these and such other Scriptures whereof there bee many wherein Christ and saluation be offered to poore sinners Obserue Scriptures concerning Christ that they who haue as good right to them as any may not for any thing they see in themselues put these promises from them as not made to them But rather in admiration of Gods wonderfull goodnesse mercy and compassion vpon such vnworthy wretches to giue glory to God in beleeuing and accepting this mercy so freely offered which they must doe before they shall see such a true change of heart life in them as they earnestly desire for want wherof they thinke they ought not to beleeue which is to such if not the onely yet the chiefest lette and hinderance from faith whereas on the other side when it shal please Gods spirit by these his free promises to drawe them to beleeue and though weakely yet truely to stay themselues vpon Gods great mercy so reuealed to them then assuredly shall they see and feele this change in their hearts that they know not what to say or thinke of Gods mercy in pardoning such as they feele themselues to be This cannot but breede an vnfained loue in them to God with an earnest desire and true purpose to glorifie him which be the chiefe parts of a holy life and surest proofes of sauing faith which can no more want these then a true fire can be without heate though too many carnal Gospellers think otherwise and so miserably perish Hauing thus seene how wee are by Gods promises to get and increase our assurance by faith that we be Gods children Now it followes that wee consider what be the markes of God children Assurance by the fruits of faith whereby we may be further assured thereof Among which markes seeing faith it selfe is the first and surest proofe that we be Gods children and to this end many pretious promises bee made to such as doe already beleeue as the former promises were made to beget and increase faith It is meete that wee take some view of these not for the strengthening of our faith but that by our faith bee it small or great we may haue a sensible assurance of our saluation To which purpose may this serue that we who beleeue in Christ are so oft said to bee blessed as our Sauiour said to Thomas Blessed are they who haue not seene Ioh. 20. 29. and yet haue beleeued Mat. 13. 16. 16 17. and againe to his Disciples Blessed are your eyes for they see c and likewise to Peter Blessed art thou Simon Bar Iona for flesh and blood hath not reuealed it vnto thee but my father which is in heauen and the like many to the same end also it is said That he who beleeueth shall be saued Mr. k. 16. 16 That the Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth Rom. 1. 16. 10. 9. Againe If thou confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt beleeue in thy heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt besaued and againe Whosoeuer beleeueth in Christ Ioh. 3. 15. 16 shall not perish but haue euerlasting life yea hath euerlasting life 5. 24. Ioh. ◠47. and is passed from death to life Againe 12. 46. 11. 26. I am come a light into the world that whosoeuer beleeueth in me shall not abide in darkenes and though he were dead yet shall hee liue and shall neuer dye The same also is intended in these Scriptures in which forgiuenesse of sinnes righteousnesse and iustification are promised to beleeuers Act. 10. 45. Rom. 10. 4. Act. 13. 30. Rom. 4. 5. 5. 1. Gal. 3. 26. So likewise it is saide Ioh. 1. 12. Wee are made the children of God by faith and as many as receiued him to them hee gaue power to be the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue in his name Lastly to heape vp no more of this kinde to this end is that Christ shall come to bee glorified in his Saints 1. Thes 〈◊〉 10. and be made maruellous in all them that beleeue c. In all these and many the like promiises made to such as doe truely beleeue in Christ may euidently appeare that if any doe know and can prooue themselues to bee in the faith 2 Cor. 13. 5. as the Apostle speaketh by this he may be infallibly assured of his saluation Wherein seeing the greatest part of professours of Christian Religion bee deceiued saying they haue faith when in truth they haue none it highly behooues such as looke for better comfort aboue all to beware their hearts doe not beguile them herein 2. Pet. 1. 10. and to bestowe all study to make their calling and election sure that they may know that Christ dwels in them otherwise they cannot bee approued neither by themselues nor any others to bee in the state of grace Thus much for faith it selfe whereby we may certenly know that we be Gods children heires of saluation and cannot perish We are now further to see some speciall fruits of our faith which be the effects of Gods Spirit in al true beleeuers be so many marks whereby they doe know themselues and be knowne to others that they be Gods sheep so be further euidences and assurances that they be Gods children and shall be saued In which respect Assurance by the fruites of faith this gift of Gods Spirit to beleeuers is called a seale Ephesians 1. 13. Where the Apostle setting out the conuersation of the Ephesians 1. by the gift of the spirit layes downe both these euidences first of their faith secondly of this gift of the spirit saying In whō ye also haue obtained inheritance after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospell of your saluation wherein also after yee beleeued yee were sealed with the Spirit of promise which is the earnest
of that excellent sentence 1 Cor. 2. 9. 8. 3. Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither hath entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him And to like effect But if any man loue God the same is knowne of him In all which and the like many our loue of God is made a certaine proofe that we be in Gods fauour and heires of his kingdome Our loue to Christ so likewise is our loue to Christ Ioh. 14. 21. 23. as he himselfe professeth And he that loueth me shall bee loued of my Father where our loue of Christ is not the cause but the effect of Gods loue to vs as followeth a little after If any man loue me hee will keepe my words and my Father will loue him and we will come vnto him and make our abode with him In like sort our loue we beare one to another as brethren and members of the body of Christ Loue of our brethren is made an infallible marke that we belong to Christ as he said to his Disciples Iohn 13. 35. By this shall all men know that yee are my Disciples if you loue one another And for further proofe hereof we need goe no further then to the first Epistle of John in which this brotherly loue is oft set downe as a sure euidence that we are in a blessed estate 1. Iohn 2. 10. Hee that loueth his brother abideth in the light chap. 3. 14. and there is no occasion of stumbling in him Againe we know that wee are passed from death to life because we loue the Brethren And in another place 4. Vers 12. If wee loue one another God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfected in vs. And a little before in the same chapter Vers 7. Beloued let vs loue one another for loue is of God and euery one that loueth is borne of God And againe verse 17. Herein is our loue made perfect that we haue boldnesse in the day of Iudgement Yea more our Sauiour teacheth Loue of our enemies that the loue of our enemies is a good proofe that we are the children of God as both the Euangelist Mathew and Luke report Matth. 5. 44 45. The places be knowne Luk. 6. 35. From all which wee see how any who calleth in question Vse whether hee hath true faith and be in the state of grace may by this grace of loue assure himselfe that he hath true faith and so shall bee saued Onely we must take heed wee deceaue not our selues with a vaine carnall loue Take heed of deceit as many doe which shall appeare by these two especially whether our loue come from Faith and secondly breed true obedience which if it doe it is sound and a sure warrant of sauing grace otherwise if either of these bee wanting then our loue at best is but naturall which can be no proofe of true happinesse For further manifestation hereof that our loue is sound and so our faith and safety we need no other arguments then to see what bee the fruites that grow from hence For the Scriptures in sundrie places make loue the root of all fruites of a godly life Rome 13. 10 calling it the fulfilling of the Law Col. 3. 14. and the bond of perfectnesse So that if our loue be fruitfull in holinesse to God and in righteousnesse to men it will manifestly declare that wee bee the true children of God Herein may well come in the first place 2. Feare of God the feare of God which if it come not from loue and be not tempered therewith is but a seruile feare and not that holy feare which is made such a marke of Gods children that it is vsually made a surname to them all to be such as feare God As Psal 112. 1. 115. 13. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and greatly delighteth in his Commandements Hee will blesse them that feare the Lord both small and great And the like many That which wee are here chiefly to regard is what high commendations are giuen to this fruite of Faith the feare of God whereby he that feeles this grace may know he is truly conuerted and shall bee saued This is to bee seene in all those Scriptures where they that feare the Lord be pronounced blessed as in the last forenamed places and so Psal 128. 1. 4. meaning hee that feares the Lord is and shall be euery way blessed To the same purpose be those Scriptures which set out the greatnesse and perpetuity of Gods mercy to those that feare him Psal 103. 11. 17. and Luk. 1. 50. the places bee knowne Such is that Psal 31. 19 O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee The like Eccl. 8. 12 It would bee long to cite all of this kinde These bee some that such as feare God are accepted of him Act. 13. 26 That God will teach the man that feareth him in the way that he shall choose Psal 25. 12 347 10 and more in the same Psalme to the like effect The Angell of the Lord encampeth about them they shall not want any good thing Psal 145. 19. 147. 12. The Lord will fulfill their desire bee taketh pleasure in them Mal. 4. 2. And to end this The Sunne of righteousnesse shall rise vp to these and the reward of eternall life shall be giuen them Reu. 11. 18. If this bee not sufficient I know not what may be to perswade any man who findeth this true feare of God in his heart that he is and shall be blessed for euer It behoueth therefore all that would haue this comfort to make sure to themselues that God hath put this holy feare into their hearts and so may they rest assured of Gods loue Thus would I leaue this point but I feare some tender consciences will aske how may I know that I haue this holy feare in me whom I might send to that briefe note of difference that I gaue a little before which in my opinion is the best difference between the good feare and the bad namely the holy and childe-like feare comes from the loue of God the other at the best from selfe-loue which may goe farre yet can it neuer come neere the holy feare as not in the roote of Faith and Loue so neither in the fruit of syncere obedience which the Holy Ghost makes the fruite of the feare of God Eccles 12. 13. Feare God and keepe his Commandements He then that feeles Gods rich mercie vnto him in calling him out of his miserable estate to some hope of saluation by Christ to breed in him a loue to God for the same and that loue to make him afraid to displease and offend so gracious a Father and shall finde this feare mouing him to shun what God dislikes though neuer so pleasing to his corrupt
Ioh. 2. 27. where speaking of the spirit giuen to all the faithfull hee saith But the annointing which ye haue receiued of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same annointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and euen as it hath taught you yee shall abide in him Many moe promises to this effect might be alleadged Out of them all Vse thus we may conclude Seeing Christ doth bid vs come to him and so to annoint our eyes with eye-salue that we may see Reu. 3. 18. and God hath made so many promises to teach vs and that his Spirit shall leade vs into all truth Ioh. 16. 13. therefore be our ignorance neuer so great and our capacitie neuer so small yet we shall not want so much spirituall knowledge as God seeth meete And therefore we may with confidence come to God for it and vsing the meanes as he hath appointed we shall not misse This may suffice for knowledge Now for abilitie God will set our hearts in frame to walke according to our knowledge enough hath beene said in the generall Where also we heard that God will giue vnto his a new heart which is the fountaine of all obedience and may be a singular comfort to all those who being acquainted with the vntowardnesse of their hearts to any holy dutie specially to some doe mistrust nothing more then this how to get a good heart and so to keepe it who for their comfort are to set before them all those promises wherein God hath said that hee will change their hearts whereof I spake a little before vpon occasion that God would make his people able to obey his statutes and doe his commandements which cannot be without a new heart and none can haue that but from God for it is not in man to set his heart aright but this is Gods gift As besides the former Scriptures that is manifest Ierem. 31. 33. Where the Prophet speaking of the new Testament which God would make to his people vnder the Gospell saith I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts c. which is twice repeated in the Epist to the Hebrewes 8. 10. 10. 16. which is also intended Acts 15. 9. where it is said of the Gentiles to whom Peter preached that God purified their hearts by faith and in the next chapter that the Lord opened the heart of Lydia Act. 16. 14. Againe 2 Cor. 1. 22. that God hath giuen the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts 2 Thess 2. 17. and 4. 6. that God hath shined into our hearts that God comforteth our hearts Phil. 4. 7. keepes our hearts stablisheth them directs them 2 Thes 3. 4. and the like many From whence wee may safely gather this Vse That though our hearts bee neuer so corrupt so hardned and shut vp so darkned distressed declining fainting and wandring out of the right way yet that God as he hath promised will certainly succour vs in all and both set and keepe our hearts in frame that they may be fit for all such seruices as it shall please the Lord to set vs about This I doubt not will be welcome newes to all sound hearted professours who so much see and bewaile their naughtie and vnbeleeuing hearts that they may comfortably rest vpon God that he will by his holy Spirit so guide their hearts that they may be seruiceable to him Thus much for the heart in generall Now seeing the Lord contents not himselfe herewith but comes more particularly to the well ordering of our affections of ioy loue feare trust and the like we shall finde it vsefull for vs to apply to our selues these promises to hearten vs against all our doubts concerning these affections which are as the hands and feete of our soules by which we worke and be carried to euery dutie that being well furnished with these we shall be more apt and ready to euery good worke And whereas among these God giues faith trust and hope there are none more profitable then Faith trust and hope which three though they haue some speciall difference one from the other 1 Tim. 2. 8. yet they be neuer parted Eccle. 5. 1. and bee vsually contained one within another and so we will take them together Of these the Scripture exceeding oft witnesseth that God giues these to all those whom hee meanes to saue As Iude verse 3. saith of Faith that it was once giuen to the Saints the like Eph. 2. 8. And Heb. 12. 2. Christ is said to be the Author and finisher of our faith and so his Apostles prayed to him Lord increase our faith and Rom. 12. 13. that God hath dealt to euery man the measure of faith So likewise for trust and confidence in God it is said of Gods people Esa 10. 20. that they shall stay vpon the Lord the holy one of Israel and 14. 32. That the Lord hath founded Sion and the poore of his people shall trust in it and 17. 7. At that day shall a man looke to his Maker and his eyes shall haue respect to the holy One of Israel and Jer. 3. 19. Thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not turne away from me Zep. 3. 12. And for Hope Dauid oft professeth Psal 71. 5. 22. 10. that God was his hope and his trust euen from his youth and God made him hope euen from his mothers wombe 65. 5. Yea more that God is the hope of all the ends of the earth c. Did we well consider on the one side Vse of these what neede we haue of those three graces throughout our whole life as may easily be seene by that which hath beene said in this whole Treatise and on the other side how exceedingly we faile in them all in times of triall we would then with both hands lay hold on these promises wherein God giues and by his Word and Spirit doth work these in the hearts of all his children and therefore so oft as wee feele our hearts to faile let vs with Dauid comfort our hearts in the Lord Psal 73. 26. and say My flesh and my heart faile me but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer And seeing the Lord Iesus is both Author and finisher of our Faith let vs rest in hope that hee who hath begun the good worke of faith in our hearts will finish it and so pray with the Apostle 2. Thess 1. 11. that God would fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the Worke of Faith with power Come wee now to the next grace in the heart God promiseth Ioy. the first fruit of our faith which is Ioy I meane spirituall ioy which is called ioy in the Lord and ioy in the holy Ghost In thinking whereof I cannot but wonder in comparing together what God hath
These I doe beseech to attend to such promises as God hath made to his people in particular concerning this grace that wheras he sees that naturally there is no feare of God before mens eyes he faith he will put his feare into their hearts as Ieremy 32. 39. 40. And I will giue them one heart and one way that they may feare me for euer for the good of them and of their children after them And I will make an euerlasting couenant with them that I will not turne away from them to doe them good but I will put my feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Which if we could beleeue would sufficiently assure vs wee should not want this sauing grace but that God will certainely bestowe it vpon vs in that time and measure hee sees meete But for our confirmation the Lord doth oft repeate this promise as Deu. 4. 10. where one speciall meanes wherby this feare is wrought is set downe Gather me the people together and I will make them heare my words that they may learne to feare mee all the daies that they shall liue vpon the earth and that they may teach their children So Prou. ◠5. They who seeke for wisedome shall vnderstand the feare of God To like effect Deu. 6 1. 2. and 17 19 it is specially spoken of the king and more generally of all chap. 32. 12. And to this purpose speciall is that of the Prophet Dauid Psal 40. 3. where hee shewes another meanes whereby God doth stirre vp this grace in his people namely the beholding of Gods mercy on others saying And hee hath put a new song in my mouth euen praise vnto our God many shall see it and feare and shall trust in the Lord so likewise Dauid being taught of God inuiteth others saying Come yee children hearken to mē I will teach you the feare of the Lord. Psal 72. 5. They shall feare thee as long as the sun and moone endureth through all generations The like Psal 102. 16. so Esa 29. 23. They shall sanctifie my name c. and shall feare the God of Israel Jeremie also speaking of Gods singular mercies which hee promiseth to his people chap. 33. 9. And it shall bee to me a name of ioy a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth which shall heare all the good I doe vnto them and they shall feare and tremble for all the goodnes and for all the prosperitie that I procure vnto it so Hosea 3. 5. Afterward shall the people of Israel returne and seeke the Lord their God and Dauid their king and shall feare the Lord and his goodnes in the latter daies These shall suffise it would be long to cite all The right vse we are to make of these and the like Vse is so oft as we finde our hearts condemning vs for want of this feare doubting how euer we shall attaine to it in any good measure so oft that wee must call to mind some of these promises which though deliuered in particular to some of Gods children yet in truth belonging to all of them Therefore euery child of God may and ought to apply them to himselfe and stedfastly beleeue that God will performe his word to him and so waiting with patience the Lords appointed season hee shall not bee disappointed of his hope but shall certainly enioy the fruit of his desire And thus much for this I see this third point how wee may bee sure of grace to leade a godly life so as shall be accepted growes large and no meruaile for it reacheth to all the duties required in both tables I may not therefore runne into all particulars but will make choice of some and namely such as I conceiue Christians most faile in and haue least comfort in performing them Of this sort be speciall Concerning holy exercises prayer c. all our spirituall seruices of God as our praiers and exercises in his word and sacraments In all which I haue heard many of good hope complaining that they found small comfort in these because they performed them in so weak and sinnefull manner A principall cause whereof I haue obserued in many to be this that they placed all their comfort in the good discharge of their duty wherein when they failed which they found oft then they were discomfited Which euidently shewes that they had little vse of faith in those duties for faith doth comfort in our greatest failings as well as in the least To make this more plaine which I feare is little seene of manie a poore soule who takes great paines to serue God and yet seldome findes comfort that his seruice being so full of infirmitie is pleasing to God It must be confessed that while wee liue here there is flesh and spirit mingled in all the actions of Gods children so that as their best prayers bee stained with some corruption of the flesh so I conceiue that there is some operation of the Spirit in their weakest which being offered vp in faith is assuredly acceptable to God therein may Gods childe finde sound comfort not in himselfe nor in his worke but in Gods pardoning of all his defects and accepting his obedience in the perfect satisfaction made by Christ whereas otherwise if any hauing prayed with great feruency of Spirit shall bee conceited therewith and not humbled for his failings in that his best praier and rather expecting for fauour for the goodnesse of his prayer then looking for mercy onely for the merite of Christ which though it bee too little seene yet too oft it falleth out I durst boldly say that the sleepy prayer offered vp in faith is accepted when the weeping prayer without faith is reiected In so saying Want of faith in Gods worship be it far from my thought to approoue of drowsinesse or any other grosse corruption in prayer or to disgrace any zeale or gift of Gods Spirit in prayer but that I aime at is to discouer a common and yet close and dangerous corruption in our prayers and other holy exercises that when we performe these in any sort to our liking then wee bee glad and rest quiet that God will accept them I deny not but such may then reioice in the assistance of Gods Spirit but the fault I finde is that these haue in such times little vse of their faith for not beholding the blemishes of these their best seruices of God they are not humbled for them and so not driuen out of themselues to seeke for fauour in Christ in whom alone God is well pleased and thus they staine their best duties for want of faith This will more cleerely bee seene in the contrary when these doe pray or heare reade or meditate or receiue the Sacraments with much accusation to their conscience they haue no comfort that such duties shall be accepted which must needs arise from want of faith for did they in their poorest praiers for which
without the preaching of the word so whosoeuer shall conscionably attend to it shall certainly be saued which if it were beleeued it could not but make men runne to it with great alacritie and so should they finde much comfort thereby To this purpose bee there so many commendations of the word throughout the scriptures specially in the bookes of the Psalmes and of the Prouerbs It would be too long to cite all yet all are to be referred to this end to breede in vs a greater delight in this word which bringeth such incomparable benefits Of this sort are these Psal 19. 7 c. The Law of the Lord is perfect conuerting the soule The testimonie of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The statutes of the Lord are right reioycing the heart And so followeth to like effect in the same place The whole Psalme 119 was written to this purpose to set out the excellencie of this word in all respects and specially for the worthy effects and fruits which it bringeth foorth in euery one who truelie embraceth it so that it is obserued by many learned Diuines that omong 176. verses there be scarce foure or fiue at the most wherein there is not some commendation of the word to stirre vp all Gods people better to esteeme it and more diligently to attend to it that they may enioy the fruites of it at all times and in all estates To which end I require euery true Christian to be much exercised in this Psalme that they may be familiarlie acquainted with it and so haue it in readines for their vse in all their necessities I might say as much for the booke of the Prouerbs wherein besides the many and most wise directions for the well ordering of our whole life are contained especially in the first nine chapters admirable commendations of those heauenly instructions which God as a Father by his seruants doth giue vnto his children Prou. 4. 13. A few for many Take fast hold of instruction let her not goe Keepe her for she is thy life Wherin what can bee more contained then this that instruction is our life meaning that thereby wee attaine all things pertaining to the comfort of this life and of that to come This might be set out at large in particulars both in the escaping of manifold euills sinnes and punishments which they fall into who want or will not receiue these instructions as also in the enioying of many blessings bodily and spirituall which others want but I leaue the further consideration of these to euery ones particular meditation who desires to see the truth hereof No doubt Dauid meant no lesse when he said Psal 119. 165. Great peace is and shall be to them that loue thy Law and nothing shal offend them Who would not highly prise that word which brings all manner of wisedome to all sorts learned vnlearned wise and silly olde and young Yet all this doth that one booke of the Prouerbs as is expresly said in the sixe first verses of the first chapter as you may there reade and therefore how much more is this to bee found in the whole Scripture Which Vse me thinkes should put life into any good heart to bee much conuersant in the hearing reading and meditating of the word of God For further quickning herein I will onely quote the places and referre euery one that listeth to heare more of this matter to peruse them and so shall he finde enough to hearten him to this duty Prou. 1. 9. 23. 2. from 1. to 13. 3. 1. to 4. 13. to 24 4 5. to 13. 20. to 22. 6. 20. to 24 7. 1. to 5. 8. the whole chapter In these and many other places of the olde and new Testament Applicatiō the Lord knowing our exceeding backwardnesse in true receiuing and keeping his word which yet is so necessary as that there is no saluation without it doth make so many pretious promises as I know not whether to any thing more That at least by some of them we who bee so full of doubting how wee may attaine to the right vse of the word may be more heartened to a conscionable and constant attendance vnto it that so we may in due season reape the sweete fruit thereof This then must be the care and labour of euery one who feeles the want of this comfortable vse of Gods word and earnestly desires it to bee well acquainted with these promises and out of all to gather some of the chiefe such as seeme to him most speciall and so commit them to memory that whensoeuer he goeth to the word he may meditate vpon these and so be more encouraged to attend vnto Gods word with expectation of Gods blessing vpon his labour The want of this meditation vpon Gods promises when wee goe to the word is one chiefe cause of that great sinne of vnfruitfull hearing and consequently of that little growth in grace which is euery where to be seene among ordinary resorters to the publike ministery as the Apostle reporteth of the Hebrewes that the Word preached did not profite them Heb. 4. 2. being not mingled with faith in them that heard it Out of this which hath beene saide of the word in generall Sacramēts which well may bee referred to all the seuerall exercises therein publike or priuate to euery of which many of these promises doe pertaine we may safely gather comfort in the vse of the Sacraments which be truely called a visible Word because that which is spoken in the word to the eare is in visible signes represented to our eyes sealed to our hearts that wee may bee the more assured of them to bee ours so that if wee had no speciall promises made expresly to them yet wee might out of the former receiue sufficient encouragement to looke for the benefite of them that is to be made partakers of Christ and life in him which is the summe and substance of all that which is promised in the word But seeing the Lord who in all ages of his Church ordained these holy signes and seales of his Testament in which he bequeathed Christ and all his benefits to true beleeuers and their seede knowing our great weakenesse of faith in receiuing these seales hath so laboured to giue vs assurance that if wee thinke there is any truth in him we may bee as sure that Christ and al his merits are ours as the outward signes which we see with oureies and our hands doe handle let vs for our comfort carefully consider hereof Not to meddle with the Sacraments of the olde Testament Circumcision and the Passeouer both which were to the people of God sure seales of the righteousnes of faith Rom. 4. 11. as the Apostle speaketh of Circumcision and doth as truely belong to all the Sacraments of the olde and new Testament this one Scripture might sufficiently assure any that hee truely receiuing the outward seales according to Gods appointment should
what he promiseth we may come to beleeue them and so 〈◊〉 vpon Gods mercy for his blessing on our childrenâ— as well as vpon our selues which if we doe I cannot well see what shall be wanting to the full contentâ—â—â—â— of all Gods children even in earthly blessings which are so much desired and the want whereof is so distastfull and vnwelcome to our nature And thus to conclude this fift point I haue shewed how we may liue by faith that we shall not want any earthly blessing neither for our selues nor for our posteritie which being added to all the former will proue there is no life comparable to the life by faith and therefore this about all is to be laboured for by all that desire true comfort in this life and thereby hope of a farre better to come THE SIXT AND LAST GENERALL HEAD Of living by Faith is for Perseverance THere is now but one thing wanting as farre as I can see to the making vp of the full comfort of the true beleever so much as may be attained in this life namely how he being so frayle every way his enemies so many and strong should be sure that he shall hold out to the end and so overcomming receiue the end of his faith the salvation of his soule which being a matter of so great difficultie and so rarely attained they be not a few who flatly deny this certaintie of perseverance and many moe doe mistrust themselues herein and thereby much weaken all the comfort of their life It shall be therefore highly needfull to adde this to the former how a true beleever may attaine to this certaintie by faith that notwithstanding all his owne weaknesse and strength and malice of his spirituall enemies yet he shall persever to the end I intend not to make a treatise of this point of the perseverance of the Saints either to proue the truth of the doctrine or to confute the contrary errour which is done already and that soundly as by argument so by example both by auncient and latter Divines But as in the former points I haue chiefly laboured to strengthen the faith of Gods children to depend vpon God with hope and patience for succour in all their necessities spirituall and earthly so in this my onely labour shall be to establish our hearts in this confidence that he who hath begun a good worke in vs Phil. 1. 6. will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ Which as it was the confidence of the Apostle for the beleevers in his time so ought it to be ours in all succeeding ages to the worlds end seeing we haue the same promises whereon to build our faith which they had and which the Lord made to his people of old Let vs now then consider of these promises and so make our vse of them It is not to be doubted but this was intended in the first promise which God made that the seed of the Woman should bruse the head of the Serpeâ—t Gen. 3 15 and in that made to Abraham that he would stablish his covenant with him for an everlasting covenant Gen. 17. 7. Which is oft repeated but seeing we haue very many more cleare promises hereof we will passe by these This was plainely promised by God to David concerning 〈◊〉 2. Sam. 7. 14. and afterwards as truly performed I will bee his father and he shall be my sonne if he comâ—â—â— iniquitie I will chasten him with the 〈◊〉 of men and with the 〈◊〉 of the children of men â—5 But my mercy shall 〈◊〉 depart from him Psal 89. verse 28. the like is recorded Ths is more generally spoken of the blessed man Psal 1. 3. His 〈◊〉 shall not 〈◊〉 The booke of the Psalmes is full of these comfortable promises Psal 9. â—0 They that know thy name will 〈…〉 for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seeke thee and verse 18. for the needy shall not alway bee for gotten the expectation of the poore shall not perish for euer Psalme 15. 5. Hee that doth these things shall never bee moved the like Psal 112. 6. 125. 1. Pro. 10. 30. and 12. 3. Psalme 23. 6. Surely goodnes and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life Psa 48. 14. For this God is our God for ever and ever he will bee our guid even vnto death Psalme 73. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell and shalt receiue me vnto glory verse 26. My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strergth of my heart and my portion for ever Psalme 103. 17. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting vpon them that feare him In the writings of the Prophers we may reade many such promises for perseverance Esâ—â— 54. 8. But with everlasting kindnesse will haue mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer chap. 55. 3. Heare and your soule shall 〈◊〉 And I will make an everlasting covenant with you eveâ— the sure mercies of David the like Ezek. 16. 60. and 37. 26. is a speciall promise to this purpose I will put my feare into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Iere. 32. 39. 40. Many moe might bee gathered out of the old Testament Esay 59. 21. but I feare some wil thinke them to many who if they shall well waigh either the excellency of these promises or their owne backwardnes to beleeue them when they most stand in neede of them then will they finde all to little to vphold them against their feares of falling away Wee will therefore proceede to see what comforts for our perseveraÌ„ce are delivered in the new Testament which we shall find to be more cleere then the former for that as I thinke we bee in more danger in this last age of the world seeing the Devill knoweth his time is but short Revel 12. 12. is more full of wrath against Gods people to seeke their overthrow This moved our Saviour Christ himself so much to comfort Mat. 28. 20. his Disciples and so all the faithfull that hee would bee with them vnto the ende of the world Luke 〈◊〉 22. and bids them feare not little flocke Iohn 16. 33 for it is your Fathers good pleasure to giue you the kingdome Bee of good comfort I haue overcome the world which wee see is of great force to perswade them they should never be overcome but should hold out till they were received to glory for further assurance whereof he confidently affirmeth saying Iohn 6. 47 veritly verily Hee that beleeveth on me hath everlastingly 〈◊〉 and therefore can never perish or fall away for further assurance it is sayd Iohn 13. 1. That 〈◊〉 Christ loved hee loved vnto the end And what greater assurance can we desire and looke for then this 1. Thes 5. 24. that God fâ—ithful who hath called vs who also will doest that is as goeth before immediatly Presâ—rve our whole spirit soule and body blameles vnto
which benefits being so desired and not attained without afflictions should make vs reioyce in them 4. comfort in afflictions God will helpe vs and deliver vs. The fift head is that we shall not want any earthly blessing needful 1. generall promises 2. particular 1. long life 2 health 3 wealth vnder welfare many other be contained 4. good name 5. and lastly for our posteritie â— that God will increase them 2. abundantly blesse them The sixt and last head of promises for our living by faith is for Perseverance which being not onely doubted of but gaine sayd God hath spoken much for our comfort on which we are oft to meditate that we may hold out to the end and so overcomming we may enioy al those rich promises mentioned in the second and third chapters of the Revelation This is the summe of that which more at large according to my poore abilitie I haue layd out in this Treatise what I haue sought herein I must leaue to him who knowes and shall judge even my intention as well as my actions what may bee the profit heereby to Gods people the effects shall shew And this I may say that had I not conceived good hope thereof I shuld never haue spent so many yeares about it And if I had not beene much encouraged by sundry men of good esteeme in our Church who perusing it after a sort charged me not to bury my labours but to communicate them to all that will receiue them mine owne meane conceit of my selfe and labours would haue kept them still close from so publike a view and censure Now to shut vp all Exhortation to labour for faith I doe instantly beseech in the Lord every soule who truely lamenteth his want of comfort in Gods favour in all his necessities and weaknes of obedience in all duties required both which doe principally arise from the want and weaknesse of faith that they would aboue all as the Apostle himselfe exhorteth Ephes 6. 16 labour to get and striue to maintaine this precious grace of saving faith in such manner and by such meanes as in this treatise hath beene set downe And for the better attaining herevnto their owne experience shall shew how needfull it shall be to make this a daily practise to meditate vpon Gods promises specially such as most concerne their present condition and to this end to commit to memory To learne speciall promises and to learne without Booke one or two principall promises for every purpose as I haue set them downe or themselues may obserue that so they may haue them readie for their vse As for example when they would goe to Prayer thinke seriously of that promise Rom. 8 26. Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it selfe maketh intercessionâ—er vs with groanings which cannot be vttered Vers 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Or that of Iames. 1. 5. If any of you lacke wisedome let him aske of God who giueth liberally to all men and vpbraideth not and it shall be given him I make no doubt but the due consideration what God hath sayd in either of these will put life into any Christian heart more comfortably to set himselfe to this holy dutie The like is to be done when we goe about our callings Psal 121. 8. The Lord shall preserue thy going out and thy coÌ„ming in from this time forth and for evermore So when any crosse befalleth vs remember that vnvaluable promise Rom. 8. 29. Also we know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God to them who are the called according to his purpose And that 1 Cor. 10. 13. There hath no tentation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you be able but will with the tentation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to beare it The same is to be sayd for the rest as more largely hath beene handled To this end I doe advise every one to set apart some time every day if there be no just hinderance to this dutie of nourishing their faith To set apart some time every day by prayer and meditation on Gods promises which although I feare it bee rarely practised yet I dare commend it to be of admirable gain to all good purposes and holy practises of Christianitie even in dayes of prosperitie though more specially in times of adversitie And herein the more to stirre vp all who desire to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living I will adde this of mine owne experience both in my selfe and others not a few with whose state I haue beene acquainted that as there can be no sound comfort in any part of our life without faith yet nothing more hard to keepe in life then true faith so this is the chiefe cause why so few find that good assurance of their salvation that comfort in afflictions that power against their corruptioÌ„s that growth in grace which full well they might if the fault were not in themselues for that they doe not make this a dayly practise to examine themselues whether they bee in the faith 2. Cor. 13 5. as the Apostle exhorteth that so finding their weaknes they might bee stirred vp more constantly and painefully to striue for the maintenance of their faith whereof they shall haue such dayly vse that without it there can be no proceeding but rather a dayly decay in all Christianity In consideration of all which I make this my last suite to all such onely to make triall of this dutie of dayly nourshing and in creasing their faith which if they shall endeavour not slightly but carefully with knowledge and conscience I make no doubt but that they shall find at least so much as shal incourage them to goe forward till they shal be further satisfied onely we must referre to God both the time when and the measure how much it shall seeme good to his wisedome to bestow on vs. And for my part I will not cease to pray vnto God for them all that he would fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of faith with power So be it FINIS