point to quiet the minds of all that be troubled with the doubt how they shall be able to get the mastery ouer their greatest corruptions If any should further require to haue particular promises for particular sinnes hee is to know that howsoeuer the Lord doth sometimes descend to particulars Ezek. 36. 25 26. as that the wil cleanse them frō their Idols and that he will take away the stony heart out of them and such like Yet this is not done in euery sin neither is it needfull for when God speaketh so generally that he will clense vs from all vnrighteousnes and that he will heale al our diseases and the like many as we haue seene in the forenamed places who would require more Let vs then learne to apply these generall promises to our particular occasions I nothing doubt but it will as sufficiently comfort vs as if the Lord had saide in particular hee will kill our pride our vnbeleefe our hypocrisie and the rest Onely let vs be familiarly acquainted with these as need shal require and be oft in meditation vpon these whereof wee shall haue daily vse and hereunto ioyne feruent prayer that the Lord would perswade vs by his Spirit thus to rest vpon his promise for his helpe in our greatest need and then shal we more couragiously set our selues against our greatest sinnes and dayly more and more get the victory ouer them all to the honour of God and of our holy profession to the good ensample and incouragement of our brethren and to the present comfort and saluation of our owne soules c. THE THIRD generall head of liuing by faith is concerning holy duties THus hauing seene how we are to gather out of Gods promises daily more certainety of our saluation both by faith and by the principall fruits thereof and in the second place how wee may bee daily more assured of a full victory ouer all our corruptions that they shall neuer ouercome vs but wee them which must needs bring much comfort to all poore distressed soules who groane vnder the burthen of them till they may be eased Wee are to proceede to the third generall point propounded wherein wee are to haue vse of our faith against those many doubts which arise in our hearts how we who be so full of frailty and so weake in grace may yet be able to performe all those duties which God requireth at our hands both towards his maiesty in the first table of the ten commandements and towards man our selues and others in the second table and that in such manner as may bee pleasing to him For howsoeuer many carnall professours in truth little better then hypocrites imagine it is no such hard matter to leade a godly life and so content themselues with such common duties as may vpholde a name in profession of true Religion as frequenting the publike assemblies saying prayers in their houses and liuing honestly among their neighbours all which must bee done and many come not so farre yet they who haue truely tasted of Gods mercy in their redemption by Christ doe know that God hath deserued better seruice at their hands What holinesse God requires and requires more duty of them 1. Pet. 1. 15 namely That as he who hath called them is holy so they must bee holy in all manner of conuersation and that it must be their chiefe Study to adde to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance 2. Pet. 1. 4. 6. and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse 7. brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnes charity And for the manner of their seruice it must bee 1. without feare that is not seruile and constrained but willing and cheerefull 2. vniuersall in holinesse towards God in righteousnes towards mē 3. before him as in his sight sincerely Luk. 1 78. 75. 4. all the dayes of their life constantly in all estates vnto the end and so to please God in all things Col. 1. 10. The faithfull people of God know Gods children vnable thus to liue by themselues that this is the life which God in his word so much requireth at their hands and which they so earnestly desire and endeauour to performe But so are they beset round with sinne Heb. 12. 1. and oft so taken captiue by the power of their corrupt nature That when they would doe good euill is present with them Rom. 7. 21 whereby it comes to passe that all euen the strongest Christians finde it a matter aboue their ability thus to leade their liues and many of the weaker sort bee oft discouraged to see how weakely they performe all Christian duties And no meruaile for seeing the regenerate themselues haue not receiued any such measure of grace whereby they may thus willingly and throughly sincerely and constantly so serue God as to feare him with reuerence and godly feare Heb. 12. 28 witnesse the slips and fals of the most worthy seruants of God but all our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3. 5. 12. 9. and his grace must bee sufficient for vs Ioh. 15. 5. and his power must bee magnified in our weakenesse and without Christ we can doe nothing Out of all this may be gathered what need we haue of faith to enable vs to leade this life wherby we may please God and finde comfort to our soules Which shall further appeare What is necessary to please God if we well consider what is necessarily required of vs sinners that we may please God in any duty we performe which I conceiue be these three 1. First a conscionable indeauour to doe the will of God Mat. 7. 21. in such sort as hee in his word commandeth 2. Secondly Psal 51. 17 a true griefe for our many failings heerein Esa 66. 2. both in the deede Heb. 11. 6. and right manner of doing 3. Thirdly a beliefe that God for Christs sake will assist vs and accept of our weake obedience All which as we see be euident in the scripture and oft required so are they as manifest by reason that seeing Gods will is the rule of all equity therefore whatsoeuer swarueth from it though neuer so little must needes be vnequall and so displeasing to God And on the other side seeing all our righteousnesse is as a stained or defiled cloath such as Gods pure eyes cannot endure of necessity it follows that they who will be acceptable to God must come vnto God in Christ All our sufficiency is in Christ receiued by faith both for strength to do that which God requireth and for fauour that God will bee pleased to accept of the satisfaction made by Christ for the pardon of their defects in their best duties and for the allowing of their obedience to bee well liking in his sight Whereupon it necessarily followes that whosoeuer intends so to leade a godly life that he may be pleasing
A TREATISE OF FAITH Wherein is declared how a man may liue by Faith and finde releefe in all his necessities Applyed especially vnto the vse of the weakest Christians By EZEKEL CVLVERVVELL The Iust shall Liue by Faith EPHES. 6. 16. Aboue all taking the shield of Faith ROM 15. 4. Whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience coÌ„fort of the Scriptures might haue hope LONDON Printed by I. L. for William Sheffard and are to be sold at his shop at the entring in of Popes head Allie out of Lumbard-streete 1623. TO ALL GODS PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENIOYED any benefit by my Ministerie especially of my Pastorall charge DEARLY Beloued in the Lord although I cannot but be priuie to my selfe of many defects in discharge of my dutie which God required at my hands toward you which I humbly beseech the Lord and you to pardon yet this hath beene is and I hope shall be to the end of my dayes my comfort that I haue not laboured in vaine amongst you What were my labours and successe thereof I must appeale to the consciences of you who are yet liuing for you know that not a few are now at rest with the Lord whose holy liues and happy ends gaue good testimony hereof But to leaue these to the wise consideration of such whom they may concerne and to giue vnto all to whom these presents shall come a iust account of my proceedings herein I doe professe that for many yeares past I haue had my thoughts much exercised about this prime grace of Faith by which alone we receiue all sauing grace and without which none and after that by long experience I found through conference with many of diuers sorts that very few attained to the true knowledge much lesse to the right vse of Faith either in the assurance of their saluation or well ordering of their conuersation For to passe ouer all carnall Protestants who only haue a forme of godlinesse making an outward shew thereof and deny the power of it in walking after their owne lusts I haue obserued very many who haue in truth laboured after saluation yet through want of good direction haue made forsaking of their sinne the ground of their beleeuing and so building such a weightie matter vpon so weake a foundation could neuer come to such certaintie of their saluation or constancie in a holy conuersation as true Faith would haue brought them vnto Some others I haue seene who being deeply affected with the sense of their misery and knowing that there is no meanes of recouery but by Christ haue desired nothing more then to be deliuered and restored by him yet these not knowing the right way how to attaine to Faith by which alone doe receiue Christ and all his benefits haue spent many yeares vnprofitably and vnfruitfuâ—ly Others there be who perswading themselues that they haue Faith and thereby bee quieted from feare of condemnation yet much wanting the life and power of Faith neither so honour God and their profession nor in time of triall finde that sound peace and comfort which a liuely Faith would certainly procure By all which it appeareth how few they be that haue attained to the true knowledge of Faith what it is how it is goâ—ten and increased and how to liue by it The consideration whereof grieuing my soule to see so many mistaken in so weightie a matter and so much labour to be lost hath been the chiefe moouer of me to imploy all my thoughts how this great euill may be redressed Whereupon entering into deeper consideration how this might be attained I well perceiued that seeing Gods truth reuealed vnto vs in his Word is the sole ground of Faith the only way to get and keepe Faith is to bee well acquainted with Gods Word in which I cannot sufficiently admire the wisedome and loue of God in prouiding such store of heauenly comforts to releeue vs in all our necessities so that had wee the knowledge and the right vse of them we should then see what were the Life of Faith and the blessed estate of a beleeuer in this world aboue all other estates though neuer so excellent These thus being I gaue my selfe to the search of the Scriptures to finde out what these heauenly comforts were which God hath so abundantly prouided for our reliefe in all time of neede And to this purpose with no small labour haue gathered out all the promises as well as I could out of both the Testaments which being laide together made a great heape of heauenly treasure such as any of vnderstanding would greatly admire and reioyce in and I may in truth professe I was much affected with the bare reading of them But well considering that the naked laying downe of these promises would not be sufficient to direct euery one to the right vse and fit application of them for the begetting and increasing of Faith I haue laboured to draw these vnto seuerall heads such as in my opinion may containe all our necessities that at leastwise the weakest sort may more fitly apply them to their seuerall vses and so by Faith be comforted when all other helpes faile them If in this my labour I haue not so sufficiently satisfied the desires of the most iudicious I must content my selfe that according to the measure of grace receiued I haue laboured to be helpfull to such as stand in neede hereof and haue carefully auoided whatsoeuer I haue thought might hinder their profiting and specially all controuersies about Faith and haue plainly shewed out of the Scriptures what I haue conceiued to be the truth wherein I may haue this defence of my failing that I haue not had any guide in this labour neither haue I seene any who haue in this way gone before me and therefore I entreate my Reuerend brethren in the Ministerie whose abilities doe farre exceede mine that they would perfect this which is but weakely begun And for my part I will not cease to pray that this may be as profitable to others as painfull to my selfe which the Lord grant for his Christs sake Ezekel Culuerwell TO THE CHRISTIAN READER THE leading of a happy Life the attainement whereof this Treatise directeth vnto is that which all desire but Gods truth only discouereth and Faith only enioyeth In the first Adam our happinesse was in our owne keeping but he by turning from God to the creature made proofe what and whence he was a creature raised out of nothing and without the supporting power of Him in whom all things consist subiect to fall into a state worse then nothing againe Hence God out of his infinite power depth of goodnesse intending the glory of his mercy in restoring man would not trust man with his owne happinesse but would haue it procured and established in the person of a second Adam in whom we recouer a suter estate then we lost in the first for though Adams soule was ioyned to God yet
that knitting was within the contingent and changeahle liberty of his owne will but now we are brought to God in an euerlasting couenant of mercy by Faith in Christ who by taking the nature of man into vnitie of His person and not the person of any became a publike person to be Author of eternall saluation to all that receiue him and so gathering vs that were scattered from God into one head bringeth vs backe againe to God by a contrary way to that whereby we fell that is by cleauing to God by faith frō whom we fel by distrust A fit grace for the state of grace giuing the whole glory to God and emptying the soule of all selfe-sufficiency and inlarging it to receiue what is freely wrought and offered by an other thus wee come to haue the comfort and God the glory of mercy which sweete attribute mooued him to set all other attributes on worke to make vs happy Out of the bowels of his mercy as he chose vs to eternal saluatiō in Christ so vouchsafeth he all things necessary to life and godlinesse And as the same loue in God giueth vs heauen and furnisheth vs withall things needfull in the way vntill we come thither So the same Faith which layeth hold on the promises of necessary assistance comfort prouision and protection and this office it performeth in all the seuerall stations of this life vntill it hath brought vs vnto the enioying of Him in whose presenceis fulnes of ioy and pleasure for euermore Wee see that same loue in parents which mooueth them to gaue an inheritance to their sonnes mooueth them likewise to prouide for them and to traine them vp in experience of their fatherly care So it pleaseth our first and best Father besides the maine promise of saluation to giue vs many other rich and precious promises that in taste of his goidnesse and truth in these we may at length yeeld vp our soules to him as to our faith full Creator with the more assured comfort and the longer we liue heere be more rooted in Faith I know whom I haue trusted 2 Tim. 1. 12. saith aged S. Paul But alas how little is that we know of his waies because we obserue him no◠making good his word vnto vs. All his waies are mercy and truth Psal 25. 10. 12. 6. and euery word is a tryed word For the better helpe of Gods people to know there portion in those good things Psal 31. 19. which their Father not only layes vp for them for times to come but laies out for them heere as his Wisedome seeth fit this reuerend and holy man of God hath compiled this Treatise wherein he layeth open the veines of promises hidden in the Scriptures to the view of euery Christian and digesteth them in their order and withall sheweth their seuerall valew and vse for the beautifying of a holy life vvhich vvits-lesse exercised of themselues would not so vvell haue discerned For the benefiting by vvhich Treatise it vvill not bee inconuenient to know these foure things First that it supposeth a reader grounded in the knowledge of the nature and properties of God of Christ and his offices of the couenant of grace and such like because as in an arch one stone settles an other so there is such a linking together of points in diuinitie that one strengtheneth another For from vvhence hath Faith that efficacie but because it is that which is required in the couenant to lay hold on the free promise And vvhence haue the promises their strength but from the constant nature of Iehoua who giueth a being to his Word and is at peace with vs by the all-fufficient sacrifice of the Mediatour of the new couenant Words haue their validity from the authoritie of the speaker were not faith founded on the word of an infinite God so throughly appeased the soule would sinke in great temptations whereas now euen mountaines vanish before a beleeuing soule For what is all to Christ and vvho is able to subdue all to himselfe Hence it is that now we are by Faith safer then Adam in Paradise Phil. 3. 21. because we haue a promise which he wanted Safer it is to be as low as hell with a promise then as high in Paradise without it because Faith wrought by the power of God hath what strength God hath on whom it resteth and therefore worketh such wonders But howsoeuer the knowledge of these things serueth the argument in hand yet it must not be expected that hee should bee long in these things which are but coincident and should be foreknowne which I speake because some of weaker iudgement not considering the iust bounds of Treatises may expect larger handling of some things Whereas he hath laboured especially to furnish the argument in hand and not to load the discourse In the second place it must be knowne that the fruit of these things belong to such as are in Christ in whom all promises are yea and Amen made and performed Hee that by the immortall seed of the Word and Spirit is borne againe may claime a title to that he is borne vnto For cleering of this there be three degrees of promises one of saluation to absolute and personall obedience but this by reason of weakenesse of the flesh driueth vs to a despaire in our selues and so to the second promise of life by Christ This requireth nothing but receiuing by Faith which is wrought in those that are giuen to Christ whilst grace is offered the Spirit cloathing the words with a hidden and strong power and making them operatiue when they are commanded to beleeue their hearts are opened to beleeue To persons in this state are made a third kinde of promises of all that is needfull in this world vntill all promises end in performance of both these promises and the last especially this book speaketh of Thirdly it must be pressed vpon those that meane to profit that they resolue to come vnder Christs gouernment and be willing to be ledde by the Spirit into all reuealed truth Wisedome is easie to such as are willing and the victorie is as good as gotten when the will is brought from thraldome to base affections to resolue to bee guided for such a heart lyeth open to Gods gracious working and the Spirit readily closeth with such a spirit as putteth not barres of obstinacy Notwithstanding We must know in the fourth place that when we are at the best we shall yet be in such a conflicting state as that we shall long after that glorious libertie of the sonnes of God after we haue done the worke God hath giuen vs to doe For God will haue a difference betwixt heauen and earth and sharpen our desire of the comming of his kingdome which nothing doth so much especially in times of outward prosperitie as those tedious combates of the inner man and yet let this raise vp our spirits that it is so farre that this remainder should
in all his promises yet nothing is more common then in time of tryall to distrust and feare God will not be as good as his word at least whatsoeuer is said wee feare wee shall perish We need not seeke for proofe hereof which is so recorded in the liues of the most worthy seruants of God who are otherwise highly commended for their faith hee that hath any insight into himselfe may see too much of this in himselfe how ready wee are to call into question Gods truth when God deferreth the helpe we looked for To passe by all others and to see this in the matter we haue in hand from whence is it that so few of those that bee truly humbled in the sight of their miserie who know and desire Christ yea more who haue heard and in generall beleeued the Gospell that it is the glad tydings of saluation that Christ bids al that be heauie laden to come vnto him and hee will ease them what is the cause I say that so few of these doe so laie hold on Gods word as to beleeue and to rest assured of their saluation by Christ I know no better answer then this that when it comes to our selues wee cannot beleeue God will performe his word to vs some thing or other will bee obiected by our vnbeleeuing hearts why we may not beleeue Against all which we haue no other buckler to hold out but Gods truth Psal 31. 5. as Psal 91. 4. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler which is such that hee cannot lie nor deceiue To this end it is that God is called the God of truth Reu. 3. 14. Christ the faithfull and true witnesse Ioh. 14. 17. the holy Ghost the Spirit of truth Ephe. 1. 13. the Gospell the word of truth that when our faithlesse hearts shall stagger and doubt whether that shall bee which God hath spoken we may stay our selues vpon this immoueable rocke God is faithfull 1 Cor. 19. As often it is repeated to strengthen our weake faith This then remaineth for the setling of the heart of the weake in faith That so oft as doubts arise concerning his saluation by Christ whether God so loue him that he hath giuen him his only begotten Sonne that he beleeuing might not perish but haue euerlasting life hee hath no other thing in the world to perswade him but this that God who cannot lie hath said it and therefore he may and ought to beleeue that Christ and all his benefits are his wherein the more to moue him he is to laie before him both what a great sinne it is not to beleeue no lesse then to make God a lyer 1 Iohn 5. 10. as the Apostle John expresly speaketh Ioh. 3. 18. and also what fearefull punishment it procureth euen a certaine and remedilesse condemnation as our Sauiour himselfe denounceth By these and the like considerations is true faith both first begotten and afterwards increased in all those that shall be saued which I haue more fully laid open not only for that it is the most principall matter to bee regarded concerning true sauing faith namely how he that hath it not may attaine to it But also for that it is if not the least knowne and laboured for Many seeke for markes of faith in vaine yet least attained vnto For I haue obserued many very inquisitiue for some markes of faith who neuer so much as knew any thing which might draw them effectually to beleeue And therefore now to end this point concerning the right and orderly way whereby an vnbeleeuer is brought to true and sauing faith my aduise is to all that finde their faith weake and consequently their liues much out of frame that first they take good heed whereupon they build their faith Build faith onely on Gods truth and that only vpon Gods mercy and truth reuealed in the Gospell which neuer changing are a sure foundation and not vpon their owne change which oft is deceitfull and at best variable and indeed is onely an effect and fruit of Faith accordingly shewing the strength and weakenesse of our faith and can by no meanes be made any cause thereof Thus haue we seene both what this faith is whereby the iust doe liue and by what meanes it is attained Now lest any should gather out of the former that any man may by his owne indeuour vsing these meanes attaine to faith I thinke meet to adde this that although it be Gods will and commandement to all to whom hee sendeth his Gospell Faith is not in mans power but wrought by Gods Spirit that they should beleeue receiue Christ offered vnto them and therefore it is the dutie of euery one so to doe and it is their sinne and shall be their condemnation who doe not thus as hath beene said in all respects yet such is the corruption of all man-kinde by Adams fall that not one soule hath either will or power to receiue this grace in Christ offered vnto him Rom. 11. 32. For God hath shut vp all in vnbeliefe that he might haue mercy vpon al Act. 13. 48. and so many beleeued as were ordained to eternall life Eph. 2. 8. and Faith is the gift of God Ioh. 6. 44. and none can come to Christ except the Father draw him Which is wisely disposed by God that no man might haue cause to glory in himselfe but that the glory of mans saluation may bee giuen to God From whence it commeth that besides this common fauour of saluation in Christ tendred to all in the Gospell yea besides the common gifts of the Spirit which many receiue who neuer receiued Christ by faith As knowledge both of mans misery the remedy thereof sorrow for the one and desire of the other with such others besides these I say God doth giue his holy Spirit to all that shall be saued who doth inwardly draw and incline their hearts to beleeue Gods free and gracious promises and so thankfully to accept Christ offered vnto them whereby indeed they bee truely made partakers of Christ and all his benefites and thereby bee iustified and sanctified and shall be fully and euerlastingly glorified And thus is a poore sinner by Faith made the childe of God and heire of glorie Now before we proceed to our principall intention to shew how this Iustified man may liue by his faith It shall not be lost labour to shew how this may be knowne of any How it is knowne a man hath this faith that he hath this true faith and how euery true beleeuer may be able to proue that hee doth so this certaine and infallible knowledge in any man that hee hath true faith Riseth ioyntly from the causes effects therof not from either apart as shall bee shewed Vnder the causes I comprehend all that worke of God Causes of faith wherby he worketh faith in any which standeth especially in these three things 1.
8. Godlinesse is profitable for all things hauing promise of the life that now iâ— and of that which is to come And to the same purpose is that of the Prophet Psal 19. 11 In keeping of theÌ„ that is Gods commandements there is great reward None of anie grace will denie these but not remembring or not beleeuing them and so not regarding them and being drawn away by other more desired gaine despise this the greatest gaine and neglect the meanes which bring the same The true practise then of this rule is that when we feele a backwardnes to anie dutie which we know God requireth then to stirre vp our hearts by laying before vs how we shall honor God and our profession draw on and winne others to the like obedience stop the mouths of gain-sayers procure to our selues much peace comfort and credite amongst Gods seruants yea drawe downe all needfull blessings and keepe away many sore cheâ—ke of a guilty conscieÌ„ce many reproaches in the world heauy chastisemeÌ„ts which God layes vpon his owne children for their bold neglect of duties which hee requireth If these were as they should bee well remembred and regarded it would at least make vs willing to doe our vtmost to please God which yet is not enough to make vs able to doe what we would for that which Paul speaketh of himselfe Rom. 7. 19. we finde much more in our selues That the good we would doe we doe not such is our decay by Adams fall that as wee haue no knowledge of Gods will for the well guiding of our liues till he reueale it and haue no will thereto till God make vs vnwilling so more when we haue both these yet we finde no ability to performe that which is good There is neede therefore of a third rule to direct vs 3. rule to get ability how to get this ability to doe that good which wee know and desire and seeing all our sufficiency to doe any good 2. Cor. 3. 5. thought word or worke is of God and as before vpon an other occasion was shewed Without Christ we can doe nothing Ioh. 15. 5. and I am able to do all things through Christ which strengtheneth mee as the Apostle saith Phil. 4. 13. By these and the like is euident that all our strength to performe any duty in such sort as may be pleasing to God lieth in Christ and must be from him communicated to vs that wee by it may be able to doe the will of God Now wee haue already heard that the onely way to applie Christ to vs and so to draw grace and vertue from him to doe any good worke is faith whereby as we are vnited to him so we receiue from him all needfull grace to inable vs to such measure of obedience as God wil accept at our haÌ„ds And therfore whensoeuer we feele a true desire to doe the will of God in any thing but finde no abilitie thereto as to forgiue our enemies to bee more patient vnder the crosse to humble our selues before God in fasting to pray more feruently and with fruite and more consciâ—nablie to heare Gods word c. Our practise must bee as before for mortication so now for new obedience to flie to Christ and to lay holde on him by a true faith that through him wee shall bee able to doe all things and from him receiue all grace necessarie for the leading of a godly life which is a speciall part of this great benefite wee haue by faith that being of our selues so weake vnto euery good worke by faith in Christ wee may bee strengthened in grace Heb. 12. 28 Whereby wee may so serue God that wee may please him with reuerence and gâ—dly feare In which respect also I commend it to our dailie practise that thus liuing by faith our liues may bring more glorie to God good example and profite to our brethren with sweet comfort to our own soules both in life death For the better practise whereof 4. Rule to set vpon duties the fourth rule is also to be obserued namely With this knowledge desire and faith to set vpon the duties we most faile in to put to all our strength to doe the will of God in all things and that in such manner as may bee most acceptable through Christ To this end be all those exhortations vnto holy life in the Scriptures both in the writings of the Apostles and Prophets Mat. 5. 44. as to loue our enemies to blesse those that curse vs and the like many All which though iustly by God required of all men yet indeed caÌ„not be performed without faith which is the cause why they be so seldome and that very sleightly obeyed For as some will set vpon holy duties by their owne strength and not drawing by faith vertue from Christ do labor in vain so on the other side many idle professors dangerously deceiue themselues in saying they hope in Christ for power and strength to lead a better life and yet very idly neglect those labours which God commands whereby they might attaine to more grace and better obedience so that all those rules will bee found so necessarie that not one of them can bee spared but he that looketh for the comfort of a good conscience either in the ouercomming of his speciall sinnes or conscionable practise of his speciall duties must constantly obserue these rules by which I dare affirme to say no more his gaine shall answer all his paines And thus haue I as briefely as I can and plainly vpon the former occasion shewed how a true beleeuer may attaine vnto this great grace to leade a godly life in both the parts of it in dying to all sinne and liuing to all righteousnesse Which as no other can possibly attaine vnto so neither they all who beleeue to be saued by Christ doe enioy this benefite for though they be renewed in part and in some measure doe mortifie the flesh and make conscience of some duties both of holinesse and righteousnesse without which they could not proue themselues to haue any sauing faith yet either not knowing how to liue by faith so as thereby they might shine as lights in the darke world or not practising this knowledge they be not onely dimme lights but giue out bad example liuing many waies offensiuely to the reproch of their profession griefe of the godly and small peace or comfort to their owne consciences All which might bee well auoided and the contrary blessings enioyed if this liuing by faith were brought into daily vse By all which and the former benefites of liuing by faith laid together I hope may be sufficiently seene that there is no life comparable to this life of Faith yea rather none to bee desired besides this which only hath all the promises of this life present and that which is to come And therefore to conclude this former part of the Treatise Conclusion of first
And first to begin with those earthly blessings which be generall and containe all the particular blessings of this life It may appeare that this is Gods gracious intent to succour our weaknes who although we enjoy many good blessings for this present life as health and wealth food and raiment and the like many yet if we wanted but one it would much molest vs and take away our comfort and chearfulnesse in his service for this cause the Lord as a tender father desiring the welfare of his beloved child bids him be a good and obedient child and so promiseth him he shall not want any thing So I say the Lord our kind and tender father bids vs as good children hearken to his voyce and to be ruled by him and tels vs we shall not want any thing that is good as is expresly sayd Psal 34. where Dauid led by a late experience of Gods mightie delivering him out of a great danger composeth a Psalme of thankesgiuing vnto God for the same wherein he provoketh all other the faithfull servants of God as to praise God with him Psal 34. so to consider this bountie of the Lord Vers 3. saying O â—ast and see that the Lord is good 8. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him 9. And againe O feare the Lord yee his Saints for there is no want to them that feare him Yea more speaking as I vnderstand him of the mightie and cruell oppressours of the world who like devouring beasts doe eat vp as sheepe Gods poore people Vers 10. sayth The Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger but they that seeke the Lord shall not want any good thing and to like effect much more in that Psalme as you may read Psal 84 11. The Lord God is a Sunne and shield c. and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke vprightly Againe beholding how much it vexed Gods children to see the wicked prosper in this world and the godly many wayes distressed â—e of purpose made the 37. Psalme to hearten the godly against this sore tentation which hath in all ages much troubled Gods people as may be seene by the complaints of Iob and Ieremy Iob. 21. and many others Ier. 12. In this Psalme the Prophet doth plentifully handle this point Psal 37. that the state of the godly is farre better even in this life then the wicked besides the infinite oddes in the life to come for proofe whereof as he in many words sets out the short and soone fading prosperitie of the wicked so doth he more largely lay downe the blessed condition of the godly in things belonging to this life As vers 3. Trust in the Lord and doe good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Vers 4. Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he will giue thee the desires of thine heart Vers 5. Commit thy way vnto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe Vers 1â— But the meeke shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselues in the abundance of peace Vers 16. A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked With many other like in the same Psalme as you may see To the same purpose was made the 73. Psalme where he begins Yet God is good to Israel and to such as are of a cleane heart and doubtlesse many other Psalmes were made to comfort the faithfull in this life that God would be their portion and reliefe in all their necessities as Psal 16. 5. 6. Psal 23. is wholly to the same end which he propounds v. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want and so proues it in the verses following I might heape vp many other scriptures to this end for God hath not beene sparing in this kinde as every one who is exercised in the Scriptures can witnesse Mat. 6. 33. But seeke yee first the kiâ—gdome of God and his righteousnesse and all these shall be added vnto you This is that which is so oft repeated Deut. 5. 16. 5 33. 6. 3. 18. 22. 25. 28. That it may goe well with thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee This also must needs be meant in those Scriptures which set out the goodnesse of the Lord as Psal 3â— 19. O how great is thy goodnes which thou hast layd vp for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men And Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good and his tender mercies are over all his workes Its needles to cite more of these which be so common wherein Gods goodnesse louing kindnes and mercy and that specially in things belonging to this naturall life are commended vnto vs For seeing godlines hath the promises of this life aswell as of the life to come It cannot be doubted but in all those generall promises wherein God sayth He will dwell with his and not forsake them That God will loue and blesse his people That he will be their God Will reioyce ouer them to doe them good Will compasse them with favour as with a shield Will keepe his covenant with them That he will see peace in their borders and prosper them in all they goe about In these I say and the like many it cannot be doubted but all needfull blessings of this life be contained And therefore this should be the Vse Vse of all these generall promises we should make of them all that whensoever we feele our selues pinched with any earthly necessitie then to runne to any one of these gracious promises that so well considering what abundant reliefe is contained in them we may quiet and content our minds therewith assuring our selues that seeing he is faithfull who hath promised we shall not want any earthly blessing at what time and in what measure it shall be good for vs. These generall promises of all good things for this life are the more to be observed in reading the Scriptures and at least some of the most principall in our conceit to be kept in memory that they may be ready for our vse in time of need both for that these be many mo and more oft repeated in Scripture then any particular and also for that we cannot alwayes haue ready the particular promises for our speciall necessities when we haue most need of them And this might be sufficient to haue spoken of this point for the strengthning of our faith in the assurance that we shall not want any earthly blessing which shall be needfull for vs. But seeing the Lord hath so far yeelded to our infirmitie Speciall promises as to apply his promises to our speciall necessities it shall be available for our comfort to take knowledge of them that so we may make our vse of them as need shall require Among all earthly blessings Long life life it selfe is the chiefe for vpon it
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
euery man out of himselfe for happinesse seeing God iustifieth the vngodly verse 5 and to draw all that shall bee saued to looke for saluation onely in Gods free mercy forgiueing their iniquitie and couering their sinne and not imputing to them their sinne Vnder which speeches is contained the way and meanes how the righteous God who will not let one sinne and breach of his Law to escape vnpunished without deserued condemnation doth yet set free poore sinners from their sinne and punishment which is onely by the satisfaction which Christ hath made for them in bearing their punishment wherwith God being satisfied doth fully and freely forgiue all those who by Faith accept this mercie offered vnto them To this end throughout the Scripture is this great benefite of forgiuenes of sinne by Christ so plentifully proclamed vnto vs miserable sinners I wil cite a few for many When Iohn the Baptist was sent to prepare way for Christ first seeing Christ coÌ„ming vnto him Ioh. 1. 29. hee cried out Behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world Our Sauiour himselfe after his resurrection appearing to two of his Disciples going to Emaus Luk 24. 45. hauing opened their vnderstanding that they might vnderstand the Scriptures 46. said vnto them Thus it is written 47. and thus it behoued Christ to suffer and to rise againe from the dead the third day and that Repentance and Remission of sinnes should bee preached in his name among all nations beginning at Ierusalem Likewise the Apostle Paul preaching at Antioch to the Iewes in their Synagogues said vnto them Be it knowne vnto you therefore men and brethren that through this man meaning Christ is preached vuto you forgiuenesse of sinnes Act. 3. 38 39. And from all things from which yee could not be iustified by the Law of Moses Rom. 4. 25. by him euery one that beleeues is Iustified Gal. 1. 4. And so all the rest of the Scriptures Tit. 2. 14. in which it is said Heb. 1. 3. that Christ was Deliuered to death for our sinnes 1. Pet. 2. 24. And gaue himselfe to redeeme vs from all iniquitie And hath by himselfe purged our sinne Reu. 1. 5. That he bare our sinnes on the tree That hee loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes And to shut vp all with that worthie saying of Saint John If any man sinne 1 Ioh. 2. 1 2. wee haue an Aduocate with the Father Christ the righteous And he is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but for the sinnes of the whole world In all of which what can any man thinke to be Gods meaning Vse but to prouide a meanes to saue vs sinners And therefore whosoeuer feeles his sinne and feares Gods wrath may boldly come to Christ and stedfastly beleeue that God for Christs sake will forgiue him and remember his sinnes no more And so much the more may and ought euery one to whom this good newes of pardon is brought by the preaching of the Gospell lay claime to this pardon and so shall hee please God and saue his owne soule otherwise as his sin shall bee exceeding great so shall his damnation bee more grieuous I doe therefore againe exhort euery poore soule who faine would beleeue not to make his sinne greater then Gods mercy but seeing Christ hath borne the punishment of his sinne and fully appeased Gods wrath for him and doth expresly call him and proclaime this pardon vnto him therefore that hee commit himselfe to Christ and so giue glorie to God in beleeuing that through Christ his debt is discharged and he freed from condemnation so that neither God will nor the deuill nor his owne conscience shall be able to lay any thing to his charge then which what can bee more comfortable to a distressed sinner I know not This might content vs if wee were not so full of vnbeleefe but the Lord both knowing and pittying our distrustfull hearts hath said much more to perswade vs of our saluation in and by our Lord Christ Iesus And whereas wee haue learned that to the iustifying of a sinner there is required not onely that his sinne and punishment bee quite taken away but that hee haue perfect righteousnesse 2. part of Iustification without which there can be no life for although these two bee neuer parted no more then soule and body in a liuing man yet they be not both one Imputation of righteousnesse but necessarily distinguished and both required in him that is iustified in Gods sight The Lord therefore hath graciously prouided a meanes whereby we who since the fall of our first parents haue vtterly lost our originall righteousnesse and bee no way able to attaine such righteousnesse as God in iustice requires at our hands may recouer our losse be made perfectly righteous such as God will allow and for which hee will in his iustice grant eternall life As Paul in his glorious triumph before his departure did boldly professe 2 Tim. 4. 6. For I am now readie to be offered 7. and the time of my departure is at hand 8. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the Faith Henceforth is laid vp for mee the crowne of righteousnâ—sse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to all that loue his appearing Which one Scripture might suffise to perswade vs to looke for this righteousnesse and eternall life which by due debt through Gods mercie and the merit of Christ is made ours But because this is not so easily seene much lesse beleeued that such as we shall euer attaine to this high dignitie the Lord hath reuealed his good will towards vs sinners in this behalfe that he hath prepared such a perfect righteousnesse for vs and made a faithfull free grant therof vnto vs that so wee may make it our owne by Faith This is most manifest in that heauenly comparison betweene the first Adam and the second Adam Christ Iesus set forth at large and in many degrees Rom. 5. 12 to the end The summe of all is this that the benefite we haue in Christ doth euery way exceede all the hurt we had in Adam as the Apostle himselfe saith verse 20. Where sinne abounded grace did much more abound v. 21. That as sinne had reigned vnto death so might grace also reigne by righteousnesse vnto eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Where wee see that as sinne through Gods iustice brought death so by Gods mercy the righteousnesse of Christ brought to vs eternall life As is expresly said verse 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Wherin it is cleere that as Christ by his obedience was perfectly righteous so by it many that is all that by Faith receiue Christ are made
righteous in Gods sight To the same purpose it is said that wee are made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21 And that of the Prophet Esa Esa 53. 11. By his knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many for hee shall beare their iniquities And for this cause is Christ called The Lord our righteousnesse Ier. 23. 6. 33. 16. and that he is the end of the Law Rom. 10. 4. for righteousnesse to euery one that beleeueth And for this cause are the Sacraments said to be seales of the righteousnes of Faith 4. 11. to the same intent much wherein wee see how plainely and plentifully the Lord sets out this perfect righteousnesse and life thereby in Christ to be made ours Which if any shall but neglect and passe by and not accept how shall hee escape most iust condemnation As wee reade Heb. 2. 3. speaking of the same matter How then can this but perswade euery one Vse who desires saluation with both hands as wee say to receiue this great gift of Christs righteousnesse to bee his wherevpon depends so certainly his eternall happinesse And how iustly shalt thou perish who hearest of this great goodnesse of God prepared in Christ and offered in the Gospell to thee and yet wilt not receiue it but either securely neglect it or at least by thy vnbeleefe depriue thy selfe of so incomparable a benefite I can say no more to perswade thee but I beseech the Lord to perswade thee and doe thou giue the Lord no rest till by his Spirit he draw thee to embrace this benefite to thy euerlasting comfort Now to come to the fruites of Iustification Fruites of Iustification which bee so many effects of Gods grace accompanying and following our Iustification 1. Reconciliation 2. Adoption and 3. Hope of Glorie I am not ignorant that these bee set in another order diuersly by diuers Diuines which is not much materiall for all consent that they bee speciall benefites which Christ hath purchased for vs by his death and obedience and serue much for the assurance of our saluation Whereas on the contrarie the ignorance or doubting of them must needes breed much discomfort especially in time of temptation and at the houre of death Yet seeing these doe so depend vpon the former of our Iustification that hee who is iustified cannot want these and without a man be iustified he can neuer enioy any of them either to bee at peace with God much lesse to come into so high fauour as to bee adopted and made Gods childe and heire of all his blessings and lest of all attaine such hope of euerlasting glorie with God in his kingdome as might make him here in this vale of miserie not onely to cheere vp his heart in the expectation thereof but outwardly to reioyce and holilie to boast thereof seeing I say the iustified man and none else hath these most certainly the best way to get assurance of these is to make sure our Iustification in such sort as hath beene already shewed But seeing the Scriptures doe oft make mention of these that God hath prepared and offered these to vs in Christ it shall bee to our comfort to take knowledge of them and so labour for the right vse of them Remembring that I haue in the former part of this Treatise spoken of these effects of our faith out of Rom. 5. 1 c. to set out the great and pretious fruites which are gotten by Faith thereby to prouoke all more to labour for Faith I may now be the more briefe especially seeing the Scripture including them in the former is not so plentifull as in the former For the first of these Reconciliation Reconciliation I vnderstand that whereas before wee were in Christ we were enemies to God by reason of sinne Now by Christ wee are reconciled and made friends as Rom. 5. 10. For if when wee were enemies we were reconciled by the death of his Son much more being reconciled wee shall be saued by his life So likewise notably is this set forth 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20. All things are of God who hath reconciled the world vnto himselfe by Iesus Christ and hath giuen vs the ministerie of Reconciliation For God was in Christ and reconciled the world vnto himselfe not imputing their sinnes vnto them and hath committed to vs the word of Reconciliation Now then are wee ambassadours of Christ As though God did beseech you through vs we pray you in Christ stead that yee bee reconciled to God In both which Scriptures these two things I obserue for our purpose first that we being rancke enemies to God Christ by his full satisfaction whereof his death was a principall part hath reconciled God his Father vnto mankinde yet not so that any haue the benefite thereof but they who gladly doe accept it The second is that seeing none could so much as know this much lesse haue warrant to beleeue to haue any part in it Therefore the Apostle as a faithfull disposer of the secrets of God plainely affirmes and for more certaintie repeats that this reconciliation was wrought for the world that is all mankinde though againe I say none but beleeuers enioy it And the more to draw vs to beleeue that God hath granted out a commission to the Ministers of the Gospell to preach and publish this good newes of reconciliation wrought by Christ betweene God and man and that they should by all meanes labour to perswade men yea which is wonderfull he saith that God by his Ambassadours doth intreate them to bee reconciled to God that is to accept this vnheard of mercy offered to them These things when I consider I cannot but admire Gods vnspeakable mercie in so seeking to saue vs his enemies and our brutish ingratitude in so light esteeming thereof yea our sensles neglect of our chiefest good and our deadly vnbeliefe by which we depriue out selues of so vnualuable treasure freely offered vnto vs. What may be said more to moue our stonie hearts either to desire or to accept so great grace I well see not but this I see and am sure of that it shall be more tollerable for Turkes and Pagans in the day of iudgement then for thee whosoeuer thou art who liuing in the Church doest either despise or so distrust this bountie of the Lord that thou doest not receaue it As for such who preferre any worldly thing before this vnmatchable mercy and so if not grossely reiect it yet securely neglect it and as swine trample such pretious pearles vnder their feet Reu. 22. 11 I say no more but hee that is filthy let him be filthie still But for such poore soules as doe highly prise this exceeding fauour to be reconciled vnto God and onely bee kept from it by distrustfull feares that it is not for them they being so vnworthie I beseech them in the Lord deeply to weigh what hath beene said to draw them