regard of the stabilitie of the whole church and euery true member thereof according to that of the same Apostle 2. Tim 2.19 The foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his And thus as it is written Heb 6.18.19 The stablenes of the counsell of God afordeth vs strong consolation vpon the which the ancre of our soules that is the hope which is set before vs may bee sure and steadfast in heauen against all the stormes and tempests which we shall meete withall while we sayle as it were in the discomfortable and dangerous Sea of this wicked troublesome world Read also Mat 16.18 The gates of hell shall not ouercome the Church There be likewise many comfortable testimonies in the holy Prophets As Psal 46.5 c. God is in the midest of it therfore shall it not be moued And Ps 125 1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion c. Isai 54.17 All the weapons that are made against thee shal not prosper c Ioel 2 32. In mount Sion and in Ierusalem shal be deliuerance And chap 3 20. Likewise Obad verse 17. And Micah 7.20 God will performe his truth to Iaakob and mercie to Abraham c. But to the end we may haue our part in this so singular a comfort How may we be assured Question that wee are in the number of the elect of God and consequently true members of the holy catholike Church of God Hereby may we knowe that we are the elect of God Answer if so be we haue receiued his Spirit of adoption and sanctification ExplicatioÌ„ proofe We may doe so indeede For so saith the Apostle Iohn 1 Ep ch 4 13. Hereby we knowe that we dwell in God and God in vs because hee hath giuen vs of his Spirit The which Spirit also as wee haue seene before is as the earnest or seale of our election to salution And therefore it beareth the name of the Spirit of adoption c. Question But that we faile not nor be deceiued in this our comfort how may we know that God hath giuen vs of his Spirit and that wee are sealed thereby vnto redemption and saluation Answer We may know it certainly by the inward effects which the holy Spirit of God worketh in vs and by the outward effects of holines which the same Spirit inableth vs to performe and causeth our Spirits to take delight and pleasure therein from a pure heart with a good conscience and through faith vnfeined ExplicatioÌ„ proofe You answer truly and well For so doth the Apostle Iohn mentioned euen now teach vs 1 Ep ch 2 v. 3. Hereby we are sure that we knowe him if we keepe his commandements And ch 3 23.24 This is his commandement that we beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ and loue one another as he gaue commandement For he that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him and he in him hereby we know that he abideth in vs euen by the Spirit which he hath giuen vs. Now this Spirit leadeth vs into the obedience of Gods commandements whereby also it is discerned to be in vs. Prouided alwaies that our obedience be as was answered out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith vnfained According to that of the Apostle Paul 1 Tim 1 5. Moreouer the fruits of the Spirit whereby his abiding in vs may be assured vnto vs are in many particulars reckoned vp by the Apostle Paule Gal 5 22 23 And Eph 5. v. 9 in many other places Wherein if we take delight with care to practise them in our liues we may assure our selues that God hath giuen vs his Spirit And namely The Duties if we shall be carefull to acquaint our selues with prayer and supplication to God for the increase of these his good gifts and graces For this is a speciall propertie of the Spirit of adoption and sanctification as the same Apostle teacheth vs Rom 8 15. Whereby and by the other fruites of sanctification before mentioned the Apostle doth in the same place verses 14 and 16.17 assure vs that we are such as belong to God and to whom the inheritance of the kingdome of God doth belong For saith he as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sonnes of God For ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe but yee haue receiued the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father The same spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God If wee be children we are also heires euen heires annexed with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that â—ee may also be glorified with him And marke this well that among many other things the holy Apostle sheweth vs that our willing suffering with Christ that is while wee walke in the holy waies of God is a sure token that wee are in the number of the elect children of God For as he saith further verse 29. of the same chapter Those whom God knewe before he also predestinated to be made like to the image of his Sonne to wit euen in the induring of afflictions c. And to the same purpose of comforting and incouraging of all such that they are the vndoubted children of God tendeth all that which followeth euen to the end of that most comfortable chapter Whervnto also the testimonie of the Apostle Peter serueth notably in the first chapter of his 2. Epistle verses 5 6 7 8.9 10 11. Therefore giue all diligence therevnto ioyne moreouer vertue with your faith and with vertue knowledge And with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patience godlines and with godlines brotherly kindnes and with brotherly kindnes loue c. For as the Apostle saith hereby we shall make our calling and election sure And he assureth vs in the name of the Lord that if we doe these things we shall neuer fall but that an enterance shall bee ministred vnto vs aboundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Read also Ps 15. where the Spirit of God by his holy Prophet maketh the same conclusion from a rehearsall of sundrie like vertues in the former part of the Psalme And thus we see that the comfort of faith coÌ„cerning the Article of the holy catholike Church of God is very great and manifold in respect both of the vniuersalitie and holines of it and chiefly in regard of the holy election of God Hetherto therefore of the vse of the doctrine of this Article for the comfort of faith WE are now to inquire likewise after the vse of it touching the fruites of obedience and that in the same order wherein we haue inquired of the Comforts Question First therefore what is the dutie belonging to the comfort of faith concerning the vniuersalitie of the Church Answer Insomuch as there is but one Church of God and that without it here
remained sure and both had and hath stil this seale The Lord knoweth who are his that is he so kâ—oweth them that he wil certainly preserue them to wit so many as shal truly â—orâ—ake their sinnes according to that which followeth in the same text let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie For the proofe of the second part read 2. Pet. 1 5. c. Therefore giue ye euen all diligence thereunto ioyne moreouer vertue with your faith and with faith knowledge and with knowâ—edge temperance patience c. And thus brethreÌ„ saith the Holy Apostle vse diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye doe these things ye shal neuer fal For by this meanes an entrance shal be ministred vnto you aboundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Notable to this purpose is the profession of the holy Prophet Ps 119 v. 166. and v. 1â—â— Where he ioineth this trust and longing after saluation with delight in obeying the law of God Lord saith he I haue trusted in thy saluation and haue done thy coÌ„mandements And againe I haue longed for thy saluation ô Lord and thy Law is my delight To this purpose also is that of the Apostle Paul Phil. 2.12 My beloued as ye haue alwaies obeied not as in my presence onely but now much more in my absence so make ye an end of your owne saluation with feare and trembling And Rom. 11 20 Thou standest by faith be not high minded but feare c. For the proofe of the third part of the answere read Heb 10 22.23 24 25 Let vs draw neare with a true heart in assurance of faith c. And let vs keepe the pâ—ofession of our hope without wauering for he is faithfull that hath promised And let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue and to good works not forsaking the felowship which wee haue among our selues c. Touching the 4. part read 1. Thess 4.1 c. Furthermore we beseech you brethren and exhorte you in the Lorde Iesus that yee increase more and more as yee haue receyued of vs how yee ought to walke and to please God c. And chapt 5.23.24 Nowe the verie God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I praye God that your whole spirit and soule and bodie may be kept blameles vnto the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Faithfull is hee which calleth you who will also doe it Brethren pray for vs. For the proofe of the last branche reade Rom 12.6 All Prophesie must be according to the proportion of faith Reade also Galat 1.8 9. Though that wee or an Angell from heauen preache vnto you otherwise then that which wee haue preached vnto you let him be accursed As we said before so say we now againe c. And againe 2. Thes 1.2.2 We beseech you c. Be ye not sodainly mooued from your minde nor troubled neither by spirit nor by worde nor by letter c. let no man deceiue you by any meanes c. and verses 9.10.11.12 And 1 Iohn 2.21 No lye is of the truth Hetherto of the dueties of the particular comforts Question NOw what is the duety of all the comfortes of faith in our one onely very true God eternall and almightie infinite inuisible c. they being all put as it were together Answere It is our duty both generally in euery particular respect in most solemne reuereÌ„d religious maÌ„ner to magnifie the most glorious reuerend name of the Lord our God ExplicatioÌ„ proofe This is indeede a generall duety as it were belonging both iointly and severally to all the former comforts of faith The practise wherof we may read to our own instruction and for our example and imitation 1. Chro 29.10 c. King Dauid blessed the Lorde before all the congregation And Dauid saide Blessed be thou O Lord God of Israell our father for euer and euer Thine O Lord is greatnes and power and glorie and victorie and praise For all that is in heauen and in earth is thine Thine is the kingdome O Lord thou excellest as head ouer all Both riches and honour come of thee and thou raignest ouer all and in thy hands it is to make great and to giue strength vnto all Now therfore our God wee thanke thee and praise thy glorious name Read also Psal 47. and Ps 72.18.19 Ps 89.52 106.48 Rom. 16.25 27. 1. Tim. 1.17 and ch 6 15 26. and 1. Pet 5.10.11 and in the Epistle of Iude verses 24.25 and Reuel 5.13 Thus therfore according to the holy exhortation Psalm 34.3 Let vs euerie one for our owne parts praise the Lord with the rest of his faithfull seruants and let vs all magnifie his name together Yea let vs to this ende abound in all particular fruites of true thankfulnesse to his most plentifull honour and praise as much as wee may possiblie attaine vnto For assuredlie faith receiuing the manifolde and aboundant comforts of the manifolde and superabounding grace of God it standeth deeply bound to yeeld all the fruits of thankes that may bee neyther can it receiue the grace of our most gracious God in vaine THe last point of our inquirie now onely remaineth concerning this Article of our faith in one onely true God that is touching the danger of noâ— beleeuing in h m Question What is that Answere Such as will not beleeue in him to their comfort neither walke dutifully before him in the obedience of faith as a fruite thereof besides that they shall want that vnspeakeable peace and comfort of conscience which faith yeeldeth the which of it selfe is a heauy punishment they shall finde in the end that both the wisedome and power and iustice of God yea that euen God himselfe and all that he is in his eternall and infinite nature wil be armed against them to their euerlasting and most wofull destruction Beliefe in one 〈◊〉 God three dâ—stinct 〈◊〉 It shall certainly come so to passe indeede The Danger of not beleeuing If yee beleeue not saith the Prophet 〈◊〉 chap â— verse 9. sureâ—y yee shall not be established And further Ier chapt Exâ—â—â—cation 〈…〉 17. â— Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and withdraweth his heart from the Lorde For hee shal be like the heath in the wildernes c. And yet further Psal 73.27.28 Loe saith the Prophet they that withdrawe themselues from thee shall perish thou destroyest all them that go a whoring from thee And againe Psal 78.21.22 Wrath came vpon Israell because they beleeued not in God and trusted not in his helpe For they perished in the wildernes chiefly because of this their sin Likewise Hebr 10 38 39. They that withdraw themselues from faith doe it to their perdition Finallie Reuelat 21.8 The fearfull and vnbeleeuing shall haue their portion in the lake that burneth with fire brimstone which is the second death
For I am the Lord your God And Pâ—al â—0 7 Heare ô my people c. For I am God euen thy God Finally Ps 95.6.7 Come let vs worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture c. But proceed to some other duties belonging to the same comfort Question Which may they be Answere From this comfort the grace of faith striueth against naturall infidelitie and distrust or doubting of the goodnes and mâ—rcy of God It renounceth all selfe-trust and trust in any creature It abandoneth all selfe loue and vaine glory yea and all inordinate loue of any creature which would hinder or impaire our loue toward our God And on the contrarie It delighteth it selfe in the knowledge of God laboureth after the own growth and increase It maketh euery true beleeuer willing and ready boldly to professe his faith yea euen before the aduersaries thereof to the glory of God though if need so require it be to the perill and â—â—sse of their life Finally the faith of euery true beleeuer worketh by loue and is to the power of euery one of them beneficiall and helpfull to euery Christian brother and sister as they themselues finde all succour and helpe from God Explication and proofe Thâ—t tâ—â— fâ—tâ—â—s at warre with infidelitie it may be prooued from the praier of â—â—e man in the Gospell Lord saith he I beleeue helpe my vnbeliefe Mark â—â—â— And by the prâ—â—er â—f the more choise Disciples of our Sauiour Christ Lâ—â—e 17.5 Lord increase our faith Read also Psal 42 and Psal 43. Dauid was in earnâ—st comâ—â—te against his temptations of vnbeliefe That it renounceth all selfe-trust read â— Cor. 1 9. Likewise all trust in creatures as the practise of the seruants of God euidently sheweth as Psal 25. 1 and 31 1. and eueâ—y where That faith striueth against sâ—lf-loue read Galla. 5. verse 6. and against vaine glory as against a deadly enemie to the truâ— faith Iohn 5.44 For how can ye beleeue saith our Sauiour Christ speaking to the ambitious Pharisies who receiue honour one of an other and doe not seeke the honour which commeth of God alone It sâ—r uâ—â—h also against all inoâ—dinate loue of the creature because it cannot stand with the loue of the father 1. Iohn 2.15 That faith delighteth in the knowledge of God and seeketh after the own increase the praier of the Apostles before alledged may confirme as also the excellent estimation which they haue hereof aboue all things of this world Philip. 3 7. â— Read also 1 Cor. 1â— â—4 and Isai 43 10. That it is ready to professe and vtter it selfe to the glory of God it may be considered from the precept of the Apostle Peter in this behalfe 1. Ep 3 14 15 16 and ch 4 16 19. And the same is plâ—ntifully confirmed by the practise of thousands and ten tâ—â—â—sands of hoâ—y Martyres who haue not regarded their liues to that endeâ—â—ead also 2. Cor. 4 13 c. Finally touching that loue which euery true beleeuer beareth to hiâ— Christian brethren as a fruit of their faith and loue to God read Iames 1.14 15 c. And ch 1 27. Read also 1 Iohn 4 7 8 20 21 and chap. â— 1 These are the first sort of duties Question NOw in the second place which are the duties belonging to the comfort of this that the Lord our God is eternall euerlasting and most holy Answere It is the dutie of faith from that comfort which the eternall euerlasting and most holy beeing of God yeeldeth vnto it to acknowledge an infiniâ—e difference and inequalitie betwixt him and all other yea euen the most excellent of his creatures whether men or Angels who as they haue their beginning of God so they are either mortall as men here in this world or else they haue their immortalitie onely from him as Angels from their first creation and as the faithfull shall haue it in the kingdome of heauen And further also seeing we and all things else receiue our beeings and life all that we haue from God faith doth likewise acknowledge that it is the bounden dutie of all mankind whom hee hath indued with reason and vnderstanding both to imploy themselues and also to vse all things whatsoeuer they doe through his goodnes inioy so as hee may haue the whole honour and glory thereof Moreouer faith looking for immortalitie from the eternall and immortall God prouoketh euery true beleeuer the more seriously to follow after peace and holines without which none shall see God as the Apostle teacheth vs. Heb. 12 14. Finally faith looking for immortalitie endureth with patience al the afflictions of this life accounting the greatest of them and those also of longest continuance to be but eight and momentary in comparison of that most excellent and eternall waight of glory the which it doth comfortably looke and wait for Explication anâ— proofe It is vndoubtedly true according to that profession which the Apostle Paul maketh in the name of other as wel as of himself 2. cor 4.17 18. And Heb 10.34 And therefore much lesse will true beleeuers sell their birth-right as profane Esaue did preferring the transitorie things of this life to euerlasting happines as it followeth recorded in the same Chap. Read also Leuit 11 44 and ch 19 2 ch 20 7 8. 1. Thes 4 3. 1. Pet. 1 15 16. Read also Mal. 2 11. where is set down an earnest reproofe of the Iewes for that they profaned the holines of the Lord which they ought to haue loued and reuerenced And thâ—t all whosoeuer haue reason and vnderstancing by the gracious gift of God ought to imploy themselues with their vnderstanding memories c. and vse all things else to the honour and glory of God it may be euidâ—nt from that conclusion of the holy Apostle Rom. 11 36. insomuch as of him to wit as from the author and through him as the disposer and gouernor and for him that is for his glory are all things For this is the end scope of all Therefore it is most meet that the Lord our God should be glorified in and aboue all as faith doth iustly and dutifully acknowledge And in this respect iâ— is that the Church of God is so often exhorted and that it doth also so often praise God in his glorious name Iehouah and in his name Iah vsed in the same sence as we read Ex. 15 3. Ps 68 4. in the titles of many Psalms at the end of this word Halleluiah praise yee the Lord. Read also Isay 26.4 wherâ— this eternitie of the Lord God expressed in the names Iah Hallelujah Praise ye the Lâ—rd and Iehouah is noted for the ground of faith Finally that we may end with the proofe of that which was first mentioned in the answer read Ps 102.23 He abated my strength in the way and shortened my dayes And I said
proofe That Adam and Eue did transgresse the commandement of God loose their blessed estate pull vpon themselues and their posteritie yea vpon the earth all curse and miserie it is euident Gen chap 3 verses 6.7.17.18.19.23.24 And all this according to the threatening or warning of God Gen chap 2.17 Of the tree of the knowledge of good and euill thou shalt not eate of it saith the Lord for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death That is to say death shall bee as it were the last pay and wages of sinne here in this world beside many fore-runners and punishmeÌ„ts making way vnto it and then also an enterance into a worse death if it be not preuented For vnder the the name of death God threateneth all the punishments of sinne both in this world and after in Hell The fore-running punishments making way to this death they did speedily take holde and as it were arrest both Adam and his wife so soone as they had contented in sinne against their God And that the punishment of their sinne as well as the guiltines and contagion of it hath spread it selfe vpon their posteritie we read Rom 5.12.13.14 As by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death went ouer all men c. And in many other places as they haue beene elsewhere gathered together and set downe by vs. Now further that the word fall is of so large a signification as was obserued it may be perceiued from the vse of it in diuerse places of the holy Scriptures as we read Ier 8.4 Shall they fall and not arise shall he turne away and not turne againe The holy Prophet speaketh thus to note the sinne yea the obstinacie of the people in their sinne And Prou 11.5 The same word noteth the punishment of sinne The wicked shall fall in his owne wickednes Likewise Rom 11. verses 11 12. and 1. Cor 10.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heede lest he fall And Heb 4.11 Let vs studie therefore to enter into that rest to wit the rest of God lest any man fall after the same ensample of disobedience And againe chap 6.6 And Reuel 18.2 The Angel cryed out mightily with a loud voice saying It is fallen it is fallen Babilon the great Citie c. Question But I pray you was the eating of the forbidden tree so great a sinne that it should deserue to be punished so grieuously Answere No doubt it was And so much the rather because the commandement of God whereby he tried their faithfulnes and obedience to him was so gentle and easie a coÌ„mandement And also because in this one sinne of theirs many yea in effect all sinnes concurre and meete together ExplicatioÌ„ proofe The commandement of God was indeede very fauourable and easie in that hee restrained them onely from one tree and gaue them the free vse of aboundant varietie yea and also in that he placed the tree of life so as it might well haue beene in their eye continually to admonish them from the middest of the garden of the singular loue fauour of God toward them Gen 2.9.16 Read also chap 3.2 where Eue her selfe acknowledgeth this bountie of God and so is from her owne knowledge and conscience a witnes against her selfe Thus the sinne may easily appeare to be very hainous Question But how can you shewe that this one sinne containeth in effect al sinnes both against God and themselues and also against all that were to come of them Answere First they trod vnder foote the gracious commandement of God together with the earnest warning and threatening which he gaue them as if there had beene neither equitie nor truth therein Secondly they did most vnthankefully neglect the exceeding great benefit of their creation with all the bountifull mercies and dignities belonging therevnto which God had most graciously bestowed vpon them Thirdly they did most proudly and ambitiously aspire to be equall with God Finally they did vnnaturally and securely passe by the consideration of that most woefull miserie which they might well knowe they should by their sinne bring not onely vpon themselues but also vpon their whole posteritie All these things are very plaine and euident against them as euery one of any vnderstanding may easily see Question But did they sinne thus grieuously against God of their owne first and selfe motion Answere The first motion was not of themselues but of the Diuel who as was noted before beeing at the beginning created a good Angel did soone after of his owne accord fall away from the Lord and then also speedily by his malice and craft brought mankinde to the like defection through his most wicked and subtile temptation Question So it was indeed What therefore was that his most wicâ—ed and subtile tentation whereby he deceiued them Answere He perswaded them that if they would eate of the fruite of that tree whereof God had forbidden them to eate they should then forthwith be in a farre more excellent estate then that was wherein God had created and set them And that God forbad them to eate of the fruite of it because he would hinder them from that more high aduancement which hee knewe that they might by this meanes easily attaine vnto That indeede was his subtile temptation Ye shall not certainely dye saith the Diuel but God doth knowe that when yee shall eate thereof your eyes shall be opened and yee shall be as Gods knowing good and euill Gen 3. verses 4.5 Question What meanes did the Diuel vse to suggest this most wicked and subtile temptation to mankinde at the beginning for likely hee could not immediately and internally corrupt their minds while they were yet in their vprightnes and integritie What meanes therefore did the Diuel vse Answere The Diuel vsed the Serpent which of all other creatures hee knewe to be most fit for him to deceiue by So by the Serpent he assalted woman first whom he knewe also to be the weaker vessell and then hauing deceiued her he did by her induce man likewise to consent and ioine in the same transgression with her Explication and proofe This also is plaine Gene 3. verses 1.2.3 c. Nowe the Serpent was more subtile then any beast of the field c Wherein â—hat the Diuel had his hand wee may euidently perceiue by that which we read Iohn 8.44 Where our Sauiour Christ affirmeth that of the Diuel which is here ascribed to the Serpent And it is euident also in that other where in the holy Scriptures euen from the ground of this historie the Diuell is called by the name of the Serpent euen that old Serpent the Diuel c. as Reuel chap 12.9 Question But doth not this somewhat lessen the sinne of Adam and Eue. in that it was not originally of themselues but from the suggestion of the Diuel Answere It doth not so lessen it that they should not fully deserue that punishment
gouernment vnder his authoritie and name and finallie to execute by his Ministers all the censures and iudgements belonging to the gouernment of hiâ— Church here in this world both for spirituall rebuke and also for comfort Explication and proofe That these things are so we may euidently perceiue from the latter part of the 110. Psal Reade also Heb. 3.6 Matth. 28.18 Luke 1.32 33. Act. 1. verses 2 3. 1. Tim. 5.21 and cha 6 13.14 Question Is there yet any other comfort that you can rehearse Answer He hath by the vertue and efficacie thereof made vs and all true Christians Priests and Kings yea a royall Priesthood vnto God Whereunto also he hath appointed and sealed vs by the earnest of his holy Spirit which he hath giuen vnto vs. ExplicatioÌ„ proofe This is expresly affirmed Reuel chap. 1. verses â— 6. And againe chap. 4.10 and 1. Pet. 2.9 and 2. Cor. 1.20 21 22. And whence should this double dignitie be deriued vnto vs but from this his owne anointing whereof he maketh vs partakers To wit in such sort as it may be meete for vs to haue communion with him herein as we shall consider further hereafter But now for a further helpe to the clearing of this matter What meaneth this Question that our Sauiour Christ hath made vs Priests and Kings vnto God Whereas we are in our selues profane God hath sanctified vs to himselfe in our Sauiour Christ taken vs all as it were into holy orders with him Answere and herefore doth not any longer account any of vs for profane and vnâ—oly but admitteth vs as holy Persons to performe the holy duties of his diu ne worsâ—â—p and seruice before him Lik wise thougâ— we are in our selues verie vâ—ssalls to sinne and Satan who is the Prince and after asort the God of the chi dren of this sinfull woâ—â—d by our Lord Iesus Christ we are â—et free and made more then conquerours ouer them so that by his power and vertue we are enabled to command them and as it were euen to tread and trample them vnâ—er our feete ExplicatioÌ„ proofe These verily are most great and comfortable aduancements and could in no wise agree to such base and sinfull wretches as we are were it not by meere and high fauour through the mediation intercession of the Sonne of God our most worthie and royall higâ— Priest Now therefore seeing our Sauiour Christ hath purchased them for vs and God hath for the same our Sauiours sake freâ—ly bestowed them vpon vs let vs not profanely cast away so great an honour and dignitie from our selues Nâ—ither let vs any longer suffer the Popish hierarchie falsely to appropriate it to them taking and making themselues an odious kinde of Priesthood of their owne deuising whereby they haue vniustly made the honourable name of Priest vnpleasant to christian eares in so much as they haue notoriously abused it to a most sacrilegious vsurpation highly derogatorie to the onely propitiatorie sacrifice of our Lord Iesus Christ in that they challenge to themselues a power to offer Christ euery day to God in an vnbloodie propitiatory and meritorious sacrifice for the quicke and the dead But we reiecting their wicked abuse and ouerstriding the stumbling blocke The Duties which they haue laid in our way Let vs according to the holy ordinance and meaning of the Lord reioyce and blesse his holy name for this our christian prerogatiue in that the vaile being rent and the Priesthood of the law abolished we are now all of vs made a holy and kingly priesthood to God Yet so as two cautions are herein necessarily to be obserued First that we doe not in thâ—s respect fancie any confusion in the Church of Christ as if there were no difference now betwixt Minister and people in regard of publike ministerie And secondly that we must alwaies remember that this is a spirituall and no earthly aduancement wherein we should pride our selues with contempt of Princes and Magistrates in the ciuill estate but that the truth and perfection of this our glorie and aduancement in Christ is to humble our selues most lowe in giuing glorie to God and in seeking the benefite of his Church lifting vp our mindes onely against sinne and the Diuell ouer whom our Sauiour Christ hath giuen vs power to reigne But of this more in the Duties Question Now in the last place of the Comforts What is the comfort of this that Iesus Christ the Sonne of God is called and is in verie deede our Lord Answere Seeing he hath the onely soueraigne right and Lordship ouer vs we haue this comfort to our consciences that wee are spiritually free from the bondage of all other whether profane Tyrants or superstitious and prowd popish Prelates in that they haue no lawfull power and authoritie granted them of God to command and binde our consciences to any thing contrarie to his lawes and to the doctrine of the Gospell of our Sauiour Christ. This in deede may also be iustly a great comfort considering we haue but one Master and Lord ouer our soules and consciences whom we are to serue and to whom we stand bound to seeke to approue our selues So that if we shall please him in the way of our saluation and in the spirituall affaires of his kingdome we may touching those matters be out of care to please any other Master or Lord whosoeuer shall shew himselfe to bee of a contrarie or disagreeable minde The comfort of this is the same in effect with the comfort of Christs kingly authority but it is vnder this word Lord more familiarly and distinctly expressed in the words of our Creed And finally let vs marke and we shall perceiue that all the comforts haue their originall ground from euery of the titles as well as from any of them and from all of them ioyntly though we haue for the more plainnes of instruction thus distinguished them Happy therefore yea thrise happy are all true christians who haue such a Sauiour as is both the Sonne of God and also Iesus and Christ and Lord that no consolation might at any time or in any estate and condition of life be wanting vnto them Hetherto of the comforts NOw let vs come to the Duties belonging to these notable Comforts of our christian faith Question And first to speake more generally Which may they be Answere In our iudgement we are to esteeme him to be most high and excellent aboue all other not onely earthly men but also heauenly Angells In our affection we are accordingly to loue and reuerence him aboue all creatures and most earnestly to seeke after the true knowledge of him In outward profession and practise of diuine worship it is our dutie euen from our verie soules and spirits to honour and serue him with the same honour and seruice which belongeth to the diuine Maiesty of God in faith and feare with prayer c. Finally we are to be so farre off from
vnderstanding answerable to the cause of it that is to say the loue of Christ the which is said likewise to passe knowledge Ephes 3.19 Fourthly that with this vnspeakable consolation we haue power giuen vs to walke in some measure of holines righteousnes oâ— life we may learne from the grounds of the Apostles exhortation Rom. 6.12 c. For it is grounded in the vertue and efficacie of the death of our Sauiour whereinto we are baptized as we saw before And ch 8.3 God saith the same Apostle sending his own Sonne in the similitude of sinfull flesh and that euen for sinne that is because of sinne he hath condemned sinne in the flesh that is by Christes sufferings in the flesh hee hath vtterly disabled disauthorised sinne froÌ„ all power of condemning the faithful And that hath God done as it followeth in the next verse to the end the righteousnes of the law might be fulfilled in vs to wit by the imputation of the perfect obedience of Christ vnto vs that we also as a fruit thereof might through his spirit of sanctification walk after the spirit not after the flesh To â—he which purpose also he saith further ver 10. If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne that is as touching sinne so that it beareth the sway or dominion no longer but the Spirit is life for righteousnes sake Or as touching righteousnes mighty to quicken vs to the actions therof And thus also he deriueth the ground of sanctification from the death of Christ speaking in his own person Gal. 2.19.20 I through the law saith Paul am dead to the law and that I might liue vnto God I am crucified with Christ Thus I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in me and in that I liue now in the flesh I liue by faith in the Sonne of God who hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me Read also Heb. 9 13.14 For if the blood of Bulles and Goates and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling theÌ„ that are vnclean sanctifieth as touching the purifying of thâ— flesh How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge yâ—ur conscience froÌ„ dead works to serue the liuing God Fiftly that by the sufferings death of our Sauiour the blessings of this life are blessed and made comfortable vnto vs we may take one proofe from that which we read Psa 22. ver 26. where this is reckoned for a fruit benefit therof that the poore shal eate be satisfied And ver 29. All they that be fat in the earth shall eate and worship So that both poore and rich feele the benefit of the sufferings of our Sauiour Read also Act. 2.46 Christians did eate their meate together with gladnes and singlenes of heart Praising God they had sauour with all the people And that euen afflictions also are made beneficiall and comfortable vnto vs by the sufferings of our Sauiour see Heb. 12.2 3. c. Where they are held forth for a notable remedy against all fainting wearines in the middest of all trouble reproach yea and as a meanes of making vs partakers of the holines of God our heauenly Father and as leauing behind theÌ„ a quiet fruit of righteousnes Wherevpon the Apostle exhorteth afflicted Christians to lift vp their hands which hang down their weake knees c. verses 10.11.12 And Rom. 8.29 we are made like to the image of our Sauiour Christ by them It is also very comfortable that we in suffering any affliction for the loue we beare to our Sa Christ are for his sake in that hee hath suffered for vs accounted of God to haue coÌ„munion with him in his sufferings and he with vs. Act. 9.4.5 and Colos 1.24 Read also Philip. 3 8.9 10. And Rom. 8.17 If wee suffer with him we shall be glorified with him It is the ordinary and as it were the Kings high way to the kingdom of heauen to passe through many afflictions Act. 14.22 And 2. Tim. 2.11.12 And chap. 3.12 This causeth the seruants of God to reioice and to be of good cheare in the middest of their afflictions according to the exhortation of our Sauiour Luke 6.22.23 And of the Apostle Iames. chap. 1. ver 2. and of Peter 1 Ep. 4.12.13.14 All this doubtlesse is from the merit of the sufferings of our Sauiour for vs insomuch as of punishments they are by the vertue and grace thereof conuerted to be medicines to cure those euils that are in vs such as are selfe-loue and loue of the world c. yea they are turned to be blessed preparations and furtherances vnto vs toward the kingdome of God according to the holy Prouerb chap. 6 23. Corrections for instruction are the way of life And Ps 119. verse 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keepe thy word And verse 71. It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted that I might learne thy word Sixtly that we haue the right of dominion Lordship ouer the creatures restored vnto vs by the death of our Sauiour read Ps 8. conferred with Heb. 2.6.7.8.9 For though Adam at the first had this dignity by the right of creation through the bounteous mercy of God yet he lost it by his disobedience and presumption against God And he lost it not onely from himselfe but also from vs. Our recouerie of that interest is only by the redemption of our Lord Iesus Christ who alone is the heire of all things so that we are no better theÌ„ intruders and vsurpers of all whatsoeuer we hold not as it were by lease permission or by free deed of gift from him Seauenthly that the naturall death is by his death made a spirituall aduantage vnto vs we may be assured by that which we read Philip. 1.20.21 22.23 This aduantage doth first of all betide our soules in that they cease to sinne and in that they are first receiued to glory and then our bodies who resting from the toile of their labours are freed for euer from their infirmities and diseases and shall at the last day rise againe to the same glory Thus in death we haue through the death of our Lord Iesus Christ a plentifull remedy against death it selfe like as the Scorpion by the skill of the Phisitian yeeldeth a medicine against the venime of the owne stinging and so is also the cause of the owne death vnto it selfe Eightly whereas the holy Angels must needes be enemies against vs because of our sinfull rebellion against God they are nowe made our friends through our reconciliaâ—ion with God by the death of Christ Heb. 1.14 For doubtlesse it is with the holy Angels as with the seruants of a Prince in his Court who when any are in disgrace with the King all stand aloofe from them c. but if the King receiue the same partie or parties to fauour and doe pardon their offence then are they
iudged condemne not ye shall not be condemned forgiue and ye shal be forgiuen As we are allwaies to beware of rashe vncharitable iudging censuring of our brethren so then especiallie when wee are in the passions of anger and displeasure conceiued against them For then as we are vsually most vnaduised so are we most ready to condemne them of hypocrisie of all to naught Euery man is partiall in his own cause But our Sauiour will iudge all our iudgemeÌ„ts yea euen the iudgements of all thrones he wil reuerse euery vniust iudgement Finally concerning the last branch of the answer that the meditation of the last iudgement hath great force to moue vs to the care of nourishing and holding fast the holy fellowship coÌ„munion of Saints it may appeare by the exhortation admonition of the Apostle to the Heb ch 10.24.25.26 Let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue to good works Not forsaking the fellowship which we haue among our selues as the manner of some is but let vs exhort one another that so much the more because ye see that the day draweth neere For if wee sinne willinglie after that wee haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearfull looking for of iudgement and violent fire which shall deuour the aduersaries And besides it is a true saying that out of the bosome or lappe of the true Church of Christ there is no saluation to wit for those that may enioy the communion of Saints and doe despise it Ioel 2.32 Here also may the prouerbiall speech haue speciall good vse Looke where the dead corps is thither will the Eagles flie Matth 24.28 God therefore of his infinite goodnes vouchsafe so to open our eyes and so to touâ—h our heartes that wee may make these holie and blessed vses from thereuerend meditation of the most glorious and fearfull appearance of our LORD IESVS CHRIST when he shall come to iudge the worlde Amen ANd nowe that wee may conclude the whole doctrine of this Article Question What is the danger of not beleeuing of not yeelding this obedience of faith in respect of this last iudgement which our Sauiour shall giue vpon the quicke and the dead Answer All such shal be taken at vnwares neither can it bee but they must needes perish most woefully euen for euer and euer from the most glorious presence of the Lord our God And moreouer we may affirme it of like certaintie that they who doe not beleeue the second comming of our Sauiour Christ according to the truth of the holie Storie as yet to be fulfilled haue no true faith to beleeue that hee is already come ExplicatioÌ„ proofe It is very true For they haue either of them like warrant from the holy Scriptures of God And this is as plainely foretold that it shal be also the manner of it how as the other was before it was yet performed Yea our Sauiour himselfe in whom the former prophesies were fulfilled doth most plainely foretell assure his Church of this that it shal be as visiblie reallie performed in the externall view of the world as that was Yea more vniuersallie then that was For as the holy Scriptures affirme Euery eye shall see him Wherfore most false and presumptuous is the hereticall doctrine which H. N. teacheth his Familie of loue it beeing so directly contrarie to the doctrine of our Sauiour concerning the same that hee that runneth as they say may see it if wee compare them together For first of all as was said euen now The danger of not beleeuing this article the comming of our Sauiour to iudgement shal be visible to all the world the coÌ„ming which H N. telleth his sâ—hollers of is onely visible and apparant to those of his Familie or rather it is as he teacheth onely spiritually discerned and inwardly felt of them Secondly the comming of our Sauiour shal be from heauen in the clowdes according as he was taken vp into heauen by a clowde The comming which H. N. fancieth is reallie and in truth from the earth or rather a strong delusion from the lying spirit of the Diuell out of hell as we may say not from any of the clowdes of heauen but from the most darke and clowdie conceit of his carnall braine though with such a glorious shewe of words as if he were taught it by an Angell of light from the highest heauen Thirdlie the comming of our Sauiour shal be with an audible sound of the last trumpet by the ministerie of an Angell from heauen and with a showt as it were and sensible mouing of all creatures the comming of H. N. is by his base writings which contrarie to the truth of our Sauiour Christ seâ—keth to hide it selfe in darke corners Neither doth it willingly shew it selfe but to such as holde themselues in great secrecie and stillnesse as hee himselfe prescribeth vnto them The true comming of our Sauiour shal be to raise vp all bodilie out of their graues yea bodilie to restore to life all the dead whether buried in the earth or drowned in the waters or burnt in the fire or any other way destroyed and consumed from the beginning of the world to the ende thereof the counterfait comming of H.N. is according to the fantasticall Trumpet of his doctrine and by the hoarse sound therof onely to raise vp the mindes of his Familie spiritually while they doe remaine here vpon the earth in or with their bodies That is to say It is nothing else in truth but by a spirituall illusion from the false and blasphemous ground of his hereticall doctrine to raise vp by his gratious word as he calleth it wherof he pretendeth himselfe to be a speciall Minister of God and to that ende raised vp from the dead the godlie Nature and very true Beeing of God in all such as will imbrace the same his doctrine the which verie true Essence and Beeing as hee saith lay before dead in them as it were in the graue of sinne As touching the wicked that are deade in their sinnes and departed this life or the godlie departed in the faith H. N. by his comming hath no power to raise them vp at all either bodilie or spirituallie Neither is hee so voyd of subtiltie that he will professe anie thing in that behalfe lest his forgerie should thence be easilie espied euen of his simple and vnwarie Disciples Moreouer as touching the godlie both departed this life from the beginning of the world and also such as shal be found liuing at his comming our Sauiour shall come to take them bodilie vp into heauen the comming which H. N. boasteth of by his Ministerie is onely to make them spirituallie happie and to set them as it were in a Fooles paradice by a speculatiue fancie dreaming of an happie estate heere vpon this earth And so he sheweth himselfe to all those that haue grace to
extraordinarie for the communicating of his graces to the people of God as Isay 48.16 The Lord God saith the prophet and his Spirit hath sent me So Acts 13.2 The holie Ghost said Seperate me Barnabas Saul for the work whervnto I haue called them And on the other side Acts 16.6 7. it is written that the holy Ghost forbade them to preach the word in Asia and that he suffered them not to goe into Bithynia Reade also 1. Pet. 1.12 The Apostles and the rest preached the Gospel by the holy Ghost And 1. Cor. 2.9 c. to the end of the chapter and 2. Epist 3.6 they are therefore called Ministers of the Spirit and not of the letter And Reuel chapters first second and third St. Iohn being in the Spirit did by the direction of the holy Ghost euen the Spirit of Iesus Christ write to the seuen Churches in Asia as is euident by that often repeated and most graue admonition Let him that hath an eare heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches And Act. 20.28 S. Paul directing his speech to the ordinary Pastors and Elders of the Churches chargeth them to take heede to themselues and to all the slocke whereof the holy Ghost had made them Ouerseers to feede the Church of God c. And yet more particularly to come to euerie of our selues As our first and naturall liuing mouing and being is from God by the holy Ghost as wee haue seene from the creation so and in more speciall manner is our new creation and our spiritual life mouing and beeing in the same For all whatsoeuer both enterance into the Church and kingdome of God here in this life and all increase of grace therein by the meanes either of word prayer and sacraments or any other holy way appointed of God euen to the full preparing and making of vs meete for the inheritance of the life and glory to come all is by the holy Ghost as wee haue the plaine testimonie of our Sauiour Christ himselfe Iohn 3. Except a man be borne of water and of the holy Ghost he can neither see nor enter into the kingdome of God For the naturall man perceiueth not the things of the Spirit of God c. 1. Cor. 2.14 According also as our Sauiour Christ said to Peter Matth 16.17 Flesh and blood hath not reuealed it vnto thee So necessary is it that the same Spirit which is a witnesse in heauen together with the Father and the Sonne should also be a witnesse on the earth with that water blood which flowed out of the side yea euen from the very heart of our Sauiour Christ 1. Iohn 5.7 8. And chap. 2. of the same Epistle it is the anointing of the holy Ghost saith saint Iohn which teacheth faithfull Christians and leadeth them into all truth as Christ had promised that he would send him to that end And chap. 4.4 Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world Also saint Peter saith 1. Epist 1.2 We are elect according to the foreknowledge of God to the sanctification of the Spirit And verse 23. Our soules are purified in obeying the truth through the Spirit to loue brotherly without feining c. being borne a new not of mortall seede but of immortall by the word of God who liueth for euer And Colos 1.8 The loue of Christians is by the Spirit And verse 9. And Ephes 1.17 18. The knowledge of Christians is called spirituall knowledge And touching faith we reade Gal. 5.5 that through the Spirit we waite for the hope of righteousnesse through faith Yea generally the fruit of the Spirit is loue ioy and peace c as in the same chapter verses 22 23. And Ephes 5.9 The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodnesse and righteousnesse and truth Reade also Rom. 14 17. The kingdome of God is not meate and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost And all this by the word of God For by it doth the Spirit giue the spiritual life 2. Cor. 3.6 and verses 17 18. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is libertie And we are changed into the image of the Lord from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. And touching Prayer it is the praier of the Spirit only that is to say that which the Spirit teacheth sāctifieth inableth vs vnto which is acceptable to God And therfore it is said of the Spirit that he helpeth our infirmities teacheth vs to pray c. Rom. 8.26 27. Whence it is also that saint Iude exhorteth christians to pray in the holy Ghost to the edifying of themselues in their most holy faith as verse 20. of his Epistle And the Apostle Paul I wil pray in the spirit and sing in the spirit 1. Cor. 14. That is I will both pray and also praise God as the holy Ghost shall teach me And Ephes 6.18 Likewise cōcerning the sacraments first Baptisme the very form of the institutiō sheweth that it is the holy Ghost who must giue that effect which it signifieth according to that which is said to note the true circumcisiō Phi. 3.3 We are saith S. Paul the circūcisiō which worship God in spirit And Christ is said in this respect to baptize with the holy Ghost though he baptized none with the outward element of water And 1. Cor chap 12 verse 13. By one spirit we are all baptized into one body Secondly concerning the Lords Supper our Sauiour Christ noting in the vse of it the nature of faith which feedeth vpon the flesh of Christ and drinketh his blood both which are presented by the bread and wine of that Sacrament hee himselfe teacheth that it is the Spirit onely which quickeneth and that otherwise the flesh and therefore much rather the signe of the flesh profiteth nothing Iohn 6. And againe 1. Cor 12.13 we haue beene all made to drinke into one spirit Thus euery way it is the holy Ghost who is from God the Father that also by the mediation of our Lord Iesus Christ the onely immediate beginner and perfiter of all grace in vs. And it is the rather to be throughly weighed of vs because as the Apostle Paul saith Flesh and blood cannot inherite the kingdome of God 1. Cor. 15.50 To him therefore both faith hope and loue inuocation and thankesgiuing feare and obedience is due as well as to the Father and the Sonne as we shall see when we come to the duties This is the true Christian faith of the Church of God of euery true member thereof touching the holy Ghost how many soeuer haue beleeued aright though the doctrine thereof hath not beene so fully clearly reuealed till the comming of Christ at the time of his most holy anointing to the taking of our nature vnto him God gaue his people of Israel his good spirit to instruct thē in former times as Neh 9.20 Isai 63.11.12 13.14 Read also Ezek ch 2. v. 2