For its Christs commandement that whatsoeuer our sinnes and vnworthinesse our feares doubtings and infidelitie be and how great so euer our misery be that yet we should beleeue that hee will pardon and heale all Nay because our misery by sins and punishments of God on soule and body are great and desperate passing all created power to cure or helpe them therefore to beleeue and to goe to him ordained of God a Physitian to heale all that are desperately sicke and diseased and past all hope in reason and sense Yet there is hope in Christ and hee commaunds vs to beleeue it and vpon his commandement to goe to him to ease vs of the burden of our sinnes and miseries when they lie so heauy vpon vs and so fastned on vs as we conceiue no possibilitie of remoouing them nor of any ease and refreshing from any creature promising that he will giue vs rest Obey the commandement which commaunds thee to beleeue against all vnbeleefe and aboue all beleefe and to hope aboue hope that is in infinite doubtings to beleeue and in all despaires to hope and when all reasons grounds meanes and hopes are wanting yet to beleeue only because God commands thee so to doe Though nature reason sense and thy owne heart faithlesse feares all creatures forbid thee so to doe Lam. 3. saying That thy strength and hope is perished from the Lord yet obey and beleeue none of these but Gods commandement commanding thee to beleeue his promise against them all and so to honour him as God aboue them all in power mercy trueth and faithfulnesse Though they say thy case is desperate God saith it is not they say Thy daughter is dead Mar. 5.35 why troublest thou thy maister with prayers and suites any further now all hope is past But Christ saith Feare not onely beleeue and fight against all that perswade thee to the contrary euen Satan flesh reason nature and all the World For this commandement of beleeuing is contrary to all creatures All other commandements of the Morall Lawe of naturall equitie and Iustice are seconded and sealed by the testimony of all creatures to bee iust faithfull and true and they perswade to the obedience of them onely this commandement of beleeuing is contrary to all creatures Heauen and Earth are against it and bid vs despaire for there is no hope This therefore is the greatest obedience and the cheifest worke most pleasing to God and most honouring him as God aboue all creatures and against them all and therefore God will honour and saue such a soule against all creatures He that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue Iohn 11.25 Of all sinnes and sinfull passions it s the hardest to resist infidelitie feares doubts and of all combats against sinne to fight the good fight of Faith Because nature giues some strength and aide to resist other sinnes and naturall reason but onely God and his word to resist infidelity Nature and all creatures forbid this beliefe that a dead man should liue and rise againe When we feele sinne and dead workes which surely bring death in reason sense and conscience course of nature when wee feele a dead heart and see nothing but dead bones as Ezek. 37.3 that these dead bones should liue againe all creatures forbid vs to beleeue it yet Christ commands vs to beleeue that he is the Resurrection and the life to quicken the dead and to trust in his voyce that the dead shall heare it and liue whatsoeuer the death be in heart or conscience and whatsoeuer soule-murdering despaires and feares destroy the life peace and comfort of our soules and consciences yet if we will hearken to Christs voyce and obey his commandement to beleeue his promise of life comfort peace willing desiring and indeauouring to beleeue hee will quicken in vs the life of Faith and fill vs with ioy and peace in beleeuing and make vs to abound in hope Rom. 15.13 through the power of the holy Ghost Fulfilling the good pleasure of his goodnesse 2. Thes 2.11 and the worke of Faith with power in vs. Faith hath God for its obiect in two respects First of his Person and Diuine authoritie which it beleeues simply and onely because God saith so and commands him to beleeue his bare Word This is that speciall honour which Faith giues to God aboue all creatures that though all creatures should command vs the contrary vpon neuer such reasons arguments and probabilities yet wee will beleeue God vpon his bare Word and commanding vs so to beleeue because he is God ought so to be obeyed and beleeued though wee can see no reason for it For if he be Iehouah hee will giue Beeing to his Word and hath Wisedome Power and will to doe whatsoeuer hee saith else hee were not God Therefore because the Gospel a mysterie and hid wisedome aboue the capacitie of men and Angels is preached by Gods soueraigne commandment Rom. 16.26 and wee are commanded to heare and beleeue it therefore we wil so doe onely because God commands Rom. 10.16 17. Faith therefore comes by hearing and hearing by the word and commandement of God which commands preaching and hearing as the meanes to beget Faith Now all wicked men and vnbeleeuers doe not onely not beleeue when the Word is offered but by a rebellion of will they refuse to beleeue Psal 50. and cast the word behinde their backes and the commaundement to beleeue and will not submit themselues to the meanes of beleeuing in obedience to God because God commands them But if they heare it s when they list themselues whom they please and in such maner and measure as likes themselues as learned eloquent preaching and for such ends as they thinke fit and not in simple obedience to God as his commaundement and ordinance to get Faith and by Faith all sauing good in Christ but in obedience to their owne reason and lusts Such men their infidelitie is not in them an infirmitie but an obstinate rebellion as of enemies to God and despisers of his commandement and of Faith The Saints doubt and feare but against their wils highly prizing faith and earnestly desiring it they submit themselues to the commandement of beleeuing which they obey as well as they can at least in consent and earnest desire to obey and beleeue subiecting themselues gladly to all counsell and meanes of getting Faith as Rom. 7.16 I consent to the Law that it is good So they consent to this Lawe of Faith as singularly good and delight in it Rom. 7.22 concerning the inner man If this bee true Obedience to the Law Morall thus farre to obey though we cannot fulfill the commandement then also is this rather true obedience to the Law of Faith to be willing and desiring and to labour to beleeue vpon Gods commandement lamenting our vnbeleefe and striuing against it when we cannot beleeue as wee would Especially the commandement
Whose house ye are if ye hold fast your confidence and hope of your reioycing c. 1. Cor. 1.30 31. Col. 2.6 As ye haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him And by his life vertue and strength to doe all things and not by the strength of nature and of your naturall spirit as Paul Philip. 4.13 I can doe all things by the helpe of Christ strengthning me Rom. 8.10 If Christ be in you the bodie is dead in regard of sinne but the Spirit is life in regard of righteousnesse that is the bodie lies dead from sinfull actions and motions from which a mans naturall spirit wit and pollicy cannot restraine him and his bodily members to make them lye dead but rather quicken and powerfully sway them Rom. 3.15 and 7.5 The passions of sinnes which are by the Law haue force vigour in our members to bring forth fruit vnto death and Romanes 6.12 but if Christ be in vs he deads these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the passions of sinnes or sinfull passions that they cannot worke in our bodily and earthly members For they that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and the lusts Gal. 5.24 Reason As Satan shewes his habitation in man as his house possessing as a strong man the pallace of the minde Luk. 11.21 and heart in peace by the vigour hee exerciseth in swaying their minds wils and lusts as Eph. 2.2 Iohn 8.44 2. Corinth 4.4 So Christ 2. Reason We are the children of the first Resurrection begotten of Christ risen from the dead 2. Pet. 1.3 by the greatest vertue and power of Christ quickning the dead 1. Peter 3.21 Wee are not only begotten of Christ by vertue of his Propheticall office as he is light as Hypocrites only inlightned are but we are begotten of Christ by vertue of his Priestly office as crucified for vs vnto Adoption and Iustification of life and by vertue of his Kingly office as risen from the dead to Sanctification and participation of his Diuine nature 2. Pet. 1.4 As Christ was discerned and differenced from all the sons of men to be knowne to be the Sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1.4 by his resurrection from the dead as the first begotten from the dead Col. 1.18 So are all we his yonger brethren by the same Spirit of power raising vs to a new nature and life with him Rom. 6.4 5. Col. 3.1 and 2.12 Eph. 2.6 we are discerned and differenced from all the naturall sonnes of men Vse That we may know whether we haue Christ in vs or no we must examine tempt and trie our minds hearts wils affections what vertues of Christ worke in them and sway them such as are propper to Christ and which no creature else can exercise in vs 2 Cor. 13.5 2. Cor. 4.10 As we beare in our bodies the dying of the Lord Iesus that is the greatest miseries and afflictions So the life of Iesus is manifested in our mortall flesh that is his greatest quickning comforting vertue when no creature can doe our mortall bodies any good in sicknesse or in death or other infirmities Christ is not only our light but our light of life that is in whom we haue not only light of knowledge but the same a quickning knowledge putting life into our wils and affections bodily members to practise what we know The Hypocrites light of knowledge is like the candle light which quickens nothing the Saints light of sauing Knowledge is like the Sun-light which quickens hearbs trees plants our light of naturall reason Philosophy Pollicy cannot so quicken vs and make vs so liuely and vigorous to good duties as this light of the sauing Knowledge of Christ Eph. 4.20 21 22. Let vs shew forth the vertues of Christ our light in vs Eph. 5.8 1. Pet. 2.9 A man may haue a wonderfull light of Knowledge in the lanthorne of his braine and yet his heart will and affections lye as dead as stones from desire or endeauour to embrace or practise the good hee knowes and haue no vertue from Christ to liue walke and fructifie This is for comfort to such as though they cannot feele Christ in them nor faith possessing Christ as long as Christ shewes himselfe to be within by such vertues exercised in them they may know themselues to bee in the faith and that Christ by faith is in them 2. Cor. 13.5 For as many haue Satan in them that doe not know or feele or beleeue Satan to be in them So many haue Christ c. and as many intertaine Satan in them by receiuing his lying Gospel and promises of wealth peace comfort by sinning and his temptations and perswasions to sinne So we receiue Christ when we beleeue and receiue his perswasions and temptations to good duties and suffer the words of exhortation and beleeue his promises and gladly embrace his word Therefore such as so did were baptized into Christ for seale and assurance that Christ was in them Acts 2.41 2. Iohn verse 9. See Iohn 14.23 If any man loue mee hee will keepe my words and my Father will loue him and we will come vnto him and make our abode with him Adam and Eue and Iudas receiued Satan into them when they receiued his counsels and temptations and suffered themselues to bee swayed thereby So coÌ„trarily we receiue Christ If when wee giue place to wrath Eph. 4.26 27. we giue place to the Diuell counselling and exciting vs thereto then contrarily wee giue place to Christ and receiue him into our hearts when we receiue his Gospel of peace counselling and commanding vs peace and loue by reasons from the Gospel that is from his loue and peace towards vs. Euery one that harbours willingly in his heart any knowne sinne and sinfull suggestion of Satan he intertaines Satan the malicious man hath a furious Diuell the wanton a voluptuous Diuell So he that regards no sinne in his heart but casts it out Christ perswading him thereto by his Gospel and not the Law alone inforcing him by terrors He that turnes from sinne vpon such suggestions promises perswasions as Christ makes to him he receiues Christ by faith first Vse And Faith beleeuing and receiuing Christ for Prophet and only Rabbi to be his Disciple and as the only Way and Truth it goeth before Repentance which is nothing else but a walking in Christ as we first receiued him by faith shewing forth the vertues of Christ and the life of Christ to walke as he hath walked For Repentance is the life and vertue of Christ receiued as our way Truth and Life and made all our Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption and our light of life What is Repentance but liuing and walking in Christ For out of Christ euery motion is to death â—nd hell and can a man walke in Christ before hee haue Christ by faith in his heart Coloss 2.6 As yee haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him
Thus we see that all sauing good things are sauing vertues in and from Christ Now how and by what meanes do we receiue and draw these vertues from Christ or inioy them in him Ans This is only by faith of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is by Faith receiuing or going to Christs person pitching on him alone as reuealed and offered in the Gospel By Faith of him Doct. Faith in Christs person Name is the only meanes of receiuing all sauing vertues from Christ Rom. 3.22 Act. 3.16 When we beleeue the Gospel and glad tidings offering vs Christs person with all his benefits and vertues and behold him to be such a one towards vs as the Gospel reueales and offers him to vs that is as 1. Cor. 1.30 our Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption our King Priest and Prophet then is he indeede become such a one towards vs and we are made such in him 2. Cor. 3.18 Beholding as in a looking glasse viz. the Gospel the glory of the Lord with open face we are changed from glory to glory For in the Gospel God sets forth Christ before our eyes Rom. 3.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Mercy-seate was exalted and lifted vp before the eyes of the people that all may looke vp to him as the only Propitiation through faith in his blood and so finde mercy and peace with God Faith lookes vp to this Propitiation or Mercy seate and to this brazen Serpent thus lifted vp in the preaching of the Gospel and so finds healing vertue It directs our thoughts and desires to Christ in the sense of all sinne and misery as offered in the Gospel for cure and so receiues remedie Isay 45.22 Looke vnto mee and yee shall be saued all the ends of the earth c. Looke not vnto lying vanities Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched your eyes that is corrupted your minds and iudgements and drawn away your thoughts and desires from Christ that ye should not looke vp to him who by the Gospel is so cleerely manifested and described before your eyes that yee should not obey the Truth beleeuing Christ to be such a one to you as the Gospel offers him to you but looke a squint to circumcision and workes and other meanes of saluation Beleeuing the Word of the Gospel offering vs Christ and embracing the same gladly we receiue Christs Person and all that is his and inioy them by this only meanes as fully as any creature can inioy any naturall good by any naturall meanes as trees inioy the earth and sap of it by their roots so by faith in the Gospel wee inioy Christs person and all the sappe of the Spirit of Life in him Coloss 2.6 7. As the members inioy the Life and Spirits of the Head by the bond and vnion of the nerues and arteries So we the members of Christ by this Faith receiue the spirit of life from Christ our Head Rom. 8.2 with Gal. 3.2 5 14. As meate is receiued and inioyed by eating light by looking on it So is Christ by Faith By Faith in the Gospel and promises we know Christ we taste him and feede on him 1. Pet. 2.3 Wee are rooted in him built on him Col. 2.6 vnited to him By it we receiue his Person and are begotten by him into his Nature and life Ioh. 1.12 13. By Faith we goe to his Person and receiue life Ioh. 5.40 Ye will not come vnto me that ye might haue life and wee are made liuing stones by comming to him this liuing Stone 1. Pet. 2.4 By this Faith we are built on him as on a Rocke and the gates of Hell cannot preuaile against vs Math. 16. By Faith we walke in him Col. 2.6 We eate his body and drinke his blood that is we inioy all the Diuine vertues of his Godhead and the merits of his Person in all his sufferings and that fulnesse of the Godhead as dwelling in him bodily that hee is Emanuel God with vs and we are filled with all fulnes of God and all this only by beleeuing the Gospel that there is no facultie or vertue of soule or body of man or any creature that can inioy any naturall good belonging to it more fully and surely then we may inioy Christ and his Person life merits vertues by Faith in the Gospel only and the promises Hereby we know him we taste him we are rooted in him built on him vnited to him married to him Such is the necessitie and vertue of Faith in the Gospel that by it the Sonne is ours we haue and possesse him for our owne euen his Person as our Husband and his vnsearchable riches See 1. Ioh. 5.9 10 11 12 13. Vse Would we then inioy Christ and his benefits there is no meanes but his Word and Gospel imbraced by Faith and this meanes is infallible and all-sufficient by Gods ordinance Therefore care to get nothing but Faith in the Gospel that the word of Christ may dwell plenteously in vs and then Christ himselfe with all his riches and sauing benefits are in vs Colos 3.16 Wee neede not take thought who shall ascend vp to heauen or who shall descend into the deepe if the word be neere vs in our mouth and in our Heart then Christ descending and ascending both abased and exalted crucified and glorified and all-sufficient to Saluation is ours and in vs as Rom. 10.4 6 7 10. Say not what may I doe to obtaine eternall life and as Iohn 6.29 to worke the workes of God to serue him that wee may earne the bread of life This is all the worke that God requires and meanes of obtaining all sauing good to beleeue in him whom hee hath sent first from Heauen to Earth by incarnation now to all of vs by the preaching of the Gospel Act. 3.26 Eph. 2.17 Eph. 3.6 receiuing the promise of Christ by the Gospel wee are made one body with him and the whole Church and inheritors of all the same sauing good Christ hath ordained and Sanctified this meanes only and infallibly to conuey himselfe into vs his spirit life righteousnesse merits and not the Lawe or any workes or merits of man or any creature Gal. 3.2 3 4. Obey Christ the Son Iohn 3. vlt. Stumble not at his word 1. Pet. 2.8 bee not offended at it Ioh. 6 60 61 67 68 69. heare Christ Matth. 17.5 this great Prophet Act. 3.22 23. and hee will giue the holy Ghost to them that obey him Actes 5.32 The reiecting of the Word is the reiecting of Christ the receiuing of it and his Ministers is the receiuing of Christ Iohn 14.21 and 13.20 2. Thessa 1.10 Vse Abandon Transubstantiation Crucifixes Relickes Oralem manducationem for by none of all these doe wee inioy Christ which Idoles the Deuill taking away the Word and Gospel hath substituted in the roome to hold Christ by sense and not by Faith Admit wee could receiue Christ by sense yea and fill all our senses with him
suffer our selues to bee led by him and drawne from the world but follow our reason and lusts pursuing earthly vanities shall wee be still as sheepe that stray and not come to the Shepheard of our soules that hee may leade vs to God who hath died for vs to make way for vs by his blood to God and is risen from the dead for this end to bee our Shepheard and is gone the way before vs To vs hath God raised vp his Sonne Iesus Act. 3. vers last and sent him to blesse vs in turning euery one of vs from our iniquities Actes 3. vlt. He is raised vp to vs of God and giuen vs to be a Prince and a Sauiour to giue repentance to Israel and forgiuenesse of Sinnes Actes 5.31 The woefull condition of such as are without Christ they are without hope and without God in the world Ephes 2. and without all hope of euer comming to God He that obeieth not the Sonne to follow him and to bee led and guided by him shall not see life Ioh. 3.36 but the wrath of God abideth on him but he that beleeueth in the Sonne to follow him as his Shepheard and his voyce and doctrine as Iohn 10. hath euerlasting life My sheepe heare my voyce and I know them and I giue vnto them eternall life see 2. Thes 1.8 9 10. Because they obeyed not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ to bee led and guided by him the Prince of their saluation but followed their owne reason and lusts and senses c. 3. Iohn 14.6 Therefore commit thy selfe to Christ to bee thy guide to walke by him as the way to bee counselled and led by him as the trueth and quickned and strengthened by him as the life and neuer doubt but he will bring thee to God safely and thou shalt neuer miscarie Hee will bring thee into his rest and where God dwels and present thee before his face and perfectly saue thee Heb. 7.25 Thou shalt neuer perish by any sinnes lusts temptations crosses miseries for Christ hath made the way safe through all these and leade the way by sinnes temptations death to make it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a liuing way Heb. 10.20 1. Pet. 2.24 bearing all our sinnes in his body on the Tree who in that hee suffered was tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Therefore onely commit thy minde and heart to bee guided by him trusting to him as thy Prophet to counsell thee and call none Rabbi but him thy onely Priest to lead thee to God king to defend and to quicken thee Renounce thy reason wit learning lusts and all creatures trusting to Christ thy Shepheard onely to bring thee out of Egypt of Satans bondage and darkenes and to leade thee through the wildernes of this world For onely the Sonne that came from God his bosome can bring vs to God commit thy way vnto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be directed Hee as the Shepheard of of thy soule 2. Tim. 4.18 will keepe thee from euery euill worke nor suffer Satan or lust or the world to withdraw thee from God Isa 30.21 When thou turnest to the right hand or to the left thou shalt heare a voyce behind thee saying This is the way walke in it Psal 23. He is thy shepheard and hee will conuert thy soule when it goes astray 2. Tim. 3.16 Hee will make vs wise to saluation against the deceits of sinne and sinfull vanities Hee that followes him shall not walke in darkenesse but shall haue the light of life Say not in thy heart Rom. 10.6 7. who shall ascend to Heauen or who shall descend into the deepe to goe to God! For Christ is come from aboue to bring vs to God and hee is descended into the lowest deepes to draw vs out from thence to God so that neither height Rom. 8.39 nor depth can separate vs from God Bee God neuer so high aboue vs and wee suncke neuer so low in hell and misery belowe him euen to the bottome of hell Christ is come from aboue to cary vs vp aboue and hee is descended into the lowest depths of misery to fetch and draw forth the most miserable to exalt them to Heauen and to bring them to God Therefore neither famine perill sword Vers 37. height or depth can separate vs from the loue of God in Christ but Christ will bring vs to God if we make him our Shepheard and lay hold on him Vse Hang and depend not on any man or creature Say not 1. Cor. 1. I am Pauls I am Apollos Christ is the onely shepheard of our soules Say not what Saint or Angel shall lead mee to God Was Paul crucified for vs or did Peter or Paul or any Saint or Angel come downe from Heauen or descend into Hell and come froÌ„ the dead againe to lead vs to God God dwels in that light inaccessible 1 Tim. 6.18 which no man or Angel can come vnto but onely Christ to lead vs to God to see his Face and to inioy his presence By other meanes guides wee may bee brought to wealth glory honour health as by learning loue workes of righteousnesse Philosophy but neuer come to God to see and inioy him Vse Hereby wee may know the true Faith and Religion and whether Christ and his spirit bee in vs. If they â—â—rie vs out of our selues and from all creatures to God to seeke all life comfort glory strength and safetie in God and not in our selues or any creature that there bee not in any of vs an euill heart of infidelitie Heb. 3.12 verse 14. to depart away from the liuing God Then are wee partakers of Christ if wee hold that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that principall pillar of supportance and the foundation of our sustentation which is God our Rocke and Adonay our staies For so I vnderstand that place Consider how thou commest before God in prayer and in his Church how is it thou darest appeare in his presence and tread in his Courts who makes way for thee and leades thee There is a third fleshly boldnes wherby by many rush into the Lords house and to his Table which makes them more bold then welcome as Isa 1.12 13. who being not led by Christ when hee shall question with them and say Mat. 22.12 Friend how camest thou in hither not hauing me for thy guide they will become speachlesse ouerwhelmed with the more desperate horrour as they came in with the more boldnesse They are most bould to goe to God who haue the least grounds of true boldnesse and these haue most feare in the end Isa 33.14 If Christ make way for thee then bee as bould as thou wilt Hebr. 4.14 15 16 chap. 10.19.22 In this Manuduction or leading to God wee consider two things First the ground of it Secondly the maner and meanes The ground is feare and diffidence which
Priest and Prophet our Wisedome Righteousnesse sanctification and redemption and all that good which the Gospel sets him forth and commends him vnto vs Christ himselfe giues vs such a minde 1. Iob. 5. The Sonne of God is come and hath giuen vs a minde to know him that is true and his infinite hand and arme that is his Spirit creates this minde as a hand by which we fasten vpon this Person euen the hand of Faith beleeuing the Gospel by which we are vnited to Christ this Person and are in him that is true and the only true Sauiour that is in his Sonne Iesus Christ this is very God and eternall life and therefore can by his Spirit giue vs such a minde to know him and quicken our dead minds as a liuing hand to apprehend his Person with all his benefits offered to vs. 2. This Spirit and Hand of Christ creates and quickens in vs a left Hand of a renewed Will and Affections For our wils and affections being dead in sin selfe-loue and lusts of the world this Spirit breathes into them such holy motions as casts out these wicked lusts and swaies the will and affections to heauenly things which spirit the Comforter so felt quickning the will and affections they againe close with this spirit consent to it imbrace and hugge these holy motions and resigne vp themselues with full resolution to forsake all for his Spirit and Graces and to be ruled guided and swayed only by this Spirit as by the hand of Christ and to be comforted supported and ordered by it That as the Faith of the minde as a right hand chuseth the right Person and preferreth him before all and takes him only by the hand as a Mediatour all-sufficient to bring him to God So the renued will and affections ioyne hands with his spirit that omnipotent quickning hand which hath created them a new and put a new life into them by spirituall and diuine inspiration which Person with all his offices and benefits offered and which hand of his spirit and spirituall motions and inspirations felt in our hearts by the word preached when our hearts wils and affections doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gladly imbrace then Christ and wee are one we goe hand in hand together to God and to heauen he leading vs by the hand of his Spirit and we following him by the motions and inspirations of it Rom. 8. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sonnes of God But if any man haue not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Now some in hearing the Word resist and put backe the hand of Christ the holy Ghost reiecting all spirituall motions and will not bee led by them but choosing rather to follow their owne reason flesh sense and lusts to walke after the flesh not after the Spirit as sheepe that goe astray and will not returne to Christ the Shepheard of their soules to bee led and guided by him 1. Peter 2. Rom. 10.21 In preaching of the word Christ stretcheth foorth his hands that is offereth vs his Spirit to counsell guide inlighten sanctifie and men refuse it which some doe ignorantly the Spirit hauing not inlightned their mindes to inable them to discerne it selfe to bee the hand of Christ graciously offered and reached forth to them and this is the common state of the World and of all sinfull naturall men as Christ sheweth Iohn 14. Which the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not nor knoweth him that is which Spirit and hand of Christ the world and all naturall men cannot receiue nor lay hands on or ioyne hands with because they are not inlightned by it to know it Christ and therefore cannot will or desire them but yee know him for hee dwelleth with you and shall be in you Some doe it vpon knowledge wilfully and maliciously who beeing made partakers of the holy ghost and inlightened by it so farre as to know Christes person the Lord of glory and his Spirit of glory and to see and discerne his gracious arme and power and to taste and feele in some measure and to perceiue the spirituall motions and inspirations of it and the powers of the world to come that is the powerfull vertues and suggestions to a better life but this Spirit and the hand of God not ouercomming the stony hardnesse and impenitencie of the heart and will dead as a stone in selfe loue and lusts of the world to make it resolue to forsake it selfe and its lusts and the world to receiue and choose Christs person benefits counting all things as doung for him and to imbrace the hand of his Spirit and promises aboue all creatures and his spirituall motions and inspirations but though they know them to bee such yet for selfe-loue and for their lusts sake to keepe them vnmortified they will rather fight against the spirit checke it and kill and strangle the good motions of the spirit and rather crucifie Christ againe and peirce through his hands and feete then that hee shall crucifie their flesh and lusts and his hands mortifie them their lusts and therefore through the rottennesse of their vnrenewed hearts they vtterly fall away from Christ his person and Gospel whom they know and haue professed and acknowledged and maliciously hate him and persecute him and his Ministers and members and in the disposition and affection of their hearts as much as in them lies they crucifie againe to themselues the Sonne of God and make a mocke and scorne of him of sinceritie and holinesse and tread vnder feete the Sonne of God despight the spirit of grace seeking to expose to all shame godlinesse and sinceritie and godly Ministers and people euen whom their consciences know to be such and onely because they professe and vrge the mortification of their flesh and lusts and liuing and walking spiritually which their corrupt and impenitent hearts and willes cannot indure But they that are Christs Galat. 5. haue crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts that is in the heart choice will and purpose accepting and allowing and imbracing that which Christ hath done for them to that end which wicked men abhorre and reiect being offered them Some through ignorance reiect the gracious mercifull hand of Christ reached from Heauen euen his Spirit and sauing vertues and benefits Some though knowing them by illumination of minde and by some taste of Diuine sweetnesse and comfort in them yet ouercome of their lusts and loue of the world their hearts and willes vnrenewed and vnchanged grow to hate and detest them seeking their destruction and abolishing because they seeke the destruction of their flesh and lusts and therefore had rather Christ were againe crucified and dead for euer in the graue then that hee should rise with such hands of his Spirit as should crucifie their flesh and lusts Therefore such is their malice that they would euen pierce through these hands
not the like vigour and vertue of life comfort strength into all the members of the body So nor Christ We must as well goe to Christ for faith and confidence as for any other grace and he requires of vs perswasion and faith that wee shall receiue it from him viz. that he will in dangers feares sinnes temptations strengthen incourage and comfort vs against them all euen death and hell and all enemies Say not I am a creature so weak and faint in faith that I shall neuer stand against these Cast not away thy weake faith as Heb. 10.35 Sit not still and keepe not thy bed because thou canst not goe so strongly to Christ as others can but goe as well as thou canst with thy feeble weake knees and let not that which is halting be turned out of the way but rather be healed Heb. 12. Seeke for more strength of faith rather then despaire and cast away all faith Fight the good fight of faith and striue to lay hold on Christ and he will strengthen thy faith only seeke not to strengthen and secure thy heart in wealth pollicie thy owne righteousnesse For he is the sheepheard of our soules Psal 23. and hath promised to conuert our soules and to dwell in our hearts if we by faith choose him to dwell in vs to bee his house reiecting all other lords and spirits then will he come into vs and strengthen vs by his Spirit in the inner man as Eph. 3.16 17. and he dwelling in vs as in his house we shall hold fast our confidence and hope of reioycing vnto the End Heb. 3. Therefore pray as the Disciples Luk. 17.5 Lord increase our Faith and cry as the Father of the Daemoniake Mark 9.24 Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe and giue me confidence and beleeue that hee will pardon thy weake faith and heale it as well as any other thy sinnes and enormities as long as they are but infirmities which thou striuest against lamentest and labourest for strength of faith desiring aboue all to honour God with confidence Beleeue hee will pardon the want of beleefe as long as thou striuest and labourest to beleeue and doest not affect infidelitie with an euill heart of infidelitie Heb. 3. totally euill and vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing God and to forsake him our Rocke and portion choosing and preferring other creatures as Heb. 10. vlt. For that which our hearts choose for our portion they trust in and are strong and confident in Where our treasure is Math 6. there will our hearts bee also Lam. 3. The Lord is my Portion saith my soule therfore will I trust in him Hereby I know I haue some true faith though with much feare when I choose God to bee my chiefe portion to be secure confident and fearelesse in him As a seruant that chooseth a Master in whose power riches authority for protection and maintenance he reposeth himselfe to quiet secure and rest his heart in him Some choose wealth some the Arme of flesh But a Christian by faith chooseth Christ Therefore Christ saith A man cannot serue two Masters to repose confidence and safety in them both but wee must either cleaue to the one and despise the other or hate the one and loue the other So yee cannot serue God and Mammon to seeke safetie and securitie from them both The heart seekes its security but in one treasure See Math. 6.21.24 That which is our portion giues vs confidence It belongs not to our Faith but to our portion which faith chooseth and pitcheth on to giue vs confidence Choose God for thy portion to rest thy heart in him as he hath promised to be the Rocke of thy heart and then try and see if God doe not giue thy heart secure confidence as a Rocke Psal 73.26 and 2. Chron. 20.20 Trust in the Lord and ye shall be assured Let thy heart bee Christs house to dwell in thee by faith thou shalt see that he will strengthen thee by his Spirit in the inner man not to faint or feare in any afflictions as Eph. 3.13 16. Thou shalt then sensibly feele know that Christ is in thee and thou art his house in that thy heart keepes this confidence and hope of reioycing vnto the End as Heb. 3. that is hereby we sensibly know it We are Christs house before by faith but we doe not so sensibly feele and know it that he dwels in vs till he as the Master of the house strengthen and incourage our hearts Wicked men and vnbeleeuers doe not beleeue that Christ can or will strengthen their hearts to make them strong and confident without feare and griefe therefore they put their strength and confidence in wealth pride malice Pride is to them as a chaine Psal 7.3 cruelty couers them as a garment They arme themselues with these weapons of the flesh and imbolden incourage themselues by them and not in God and Christ their Portion They seeke freedome from care feare and trouble of minde in wealth and honour and promise to themselues all securitie of minde and heart and safety of life and estate in these things as Luke 12. My soule take thine ease eate and drinke thou hast much goods laide vp for many yeares Contrary a beleeuing heart beleeues as God saith not as Satan Reason and flesh say viz. that though he had all abundance Luk. 12. yet his life stands not in his riches and though hee had all the world it will not keepe his minde and heart safe from feares cares griefe nor his body and life safe quiet nor secure but only God and Christs loue and mercy and therefore nothing will content him but these Therefore hee goeth to God and Christ onely to repose his soule in them and hauing them he is perswaded as the word saith that his soule shall dwell at ease and bee secure his defence shall bee the munition of rockes Isa 33. that the Name of the Lord will be a strong Tower Prou. 18. to him if he could attaine to it that he should lie downe in peace and sleepe and rise againe Psal 3. because the Lord would make him dwell in safetie Isa 33. that bread should be giuen him and his waters should bee sure But the wilfull infidelitie of vnbeleeuers makes them resolutly to conclude and say Who is the Almighty that they should serue him Iob 21.15 and what profit should they haue that they should pray vnto him They count not God any such secure refuge Isa 28.15 and therefore make falsehood their refuge and vnder vanitie hide themselues They cannot rest nor sleepe without their God Mammon their chiefe portion and their bellies filled with that meate that perisheth Contrary a Christian cannot rest nor sleepe feeling his soule emptie of God and Christ and the meat that indureth to euerlasting life Because hee beleeues that Christs body broken is that onely bread of life that
can quicken and strengthen his heart with courage comfort and confidence inuincible and therefore chooseth no other foode but this and layes foorth his money Isa 55.2 and labour chiefely for this Iohn 6.27 being perswaded that all nourishing comforting and strengthning vertue to the heart is in Christes death blood and sufferings and that all other bread is but ashes Isa 44.20 and that a seduced heart deceiueth men that they cannot deliuer their soules from feeding on these vanities If wee beleeue that all comfort and confidence is in Christ crucified and goe to him for it we shall find him indeed that bread of life that will giue life comfort strength courage as he promiseth by his word and Sacraments In which Faith and sense of his feares deadnesse Dauid so often repaires to God praying Quicken mee O Lord Psal 119. according to thy promise Let vs likewise goe to Christ and say Lord Iesus thou hast promised that if wee come to thee thou wilt giue vs life if wearied with our pride infidelitie feares and doubtings wee lament the same and come to thee thou wilt ease and refresh vs with strength in our soules and not breake the bruised reed Lord Iesus renouncing all other meanes of easing resting and refreshing my soule and heart and of giuing mee comfort and confidence and to free me from my feares and cares sinfull troubles of minde I come onely to thee the Shepheard of my soule See Hos 14.3 who callest mee vnto thee as Matth. 11.28 and Psal When I am afraid I will trust in thee Therefore Lord ease and refresh my minde with confident rest and repose in thee from all feare doubting anxietie Thou hast promised to giue to the thirstie soule that faints with feare griefe and trouble of minde like the parched ground that gapes the water of life Lord Iesus thou wast weary and thirstie in body and soule askedst drinke both Spirituall See Heb. 4 15. 2.17 18. and bodily whereby thou perfitly knowest what it is to haue a wearie faint and thirstie soule full of feare griefe doubting and didst promise the water of life which I beleeue thou onely hast to giue and wilt giue and therefore I come to thee I know and beleeue that thou promisest no more then thou canst performe and that thy Spirit and righteousnesse can doe it and therefore I renounce all other meanes of refreshing and come to thee as thou callest mee crying in the last Ioh 7.37 and great day of the Feast promising to make a better Feast then that was or all the Feastes of the yeere euen a continuall Feast to all that are thirstie and come to thee to drinke to refresh and satisfie their hearts desires in thee onely as our Passeouer sacrificed for vs. 1. Cor. 5.7 8. Obiect But my feares and griefes and despaires are so great that I feele no faith at all but all faith and hope is swallowed vp Answere It is so to sense but not so indeed as with Ieremie Lament 3. My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. Secondly it s not a wilfull willing and obstinate despaire reiecting all counsell and meanes of confidence as in Ahaz Isa 7.12 but a desperation lamented and striuen against with subiection to any counsell and meanes for the cure desiring and prizing Faith aboue all things and therefore is not damnable Thirdly especially if thou canst thus doe which is my counsell to thee to labour to doe that is to goe to Christ though quaking and trembling and full of feare flie not from Christ to any creature for refuge and confidence 1 Sam. 12.20 for that is to goe after vaine things that cannot profit Though by feares and doubts wee sinne and offend Christ yet flie not from Christ the only medicine of sinne cure of doubts infidelitie especially he calling commanding thee to come vnto him Therefore obey his cōmandement hope aboue hope and beleeue aboue thy faith that his grace mercy wil pardon and heale thy infidelitie say I will not vtterly feare despaire but in despight of my feares distrustfull heart and Satans temptations I will goe to him because he commands me If I cannot goe by faith yet I will goe by obedience because he commands mee to come to him and not suffer my feares to keepe mee backe I will resolutely cast my selfe on him if I cannot doe it faithfully yet with a wilfull resolution to obey his cōmandement though I cannot doe it with heart and affection delight as I would and should doe it Euen despairing of all hope from him of any good yet wilfully and resolutely cast thy selfe on him saying if hee will let mee perish so let it bee I will goe to him though without all hope and commend my selfe to him and if I perish I perish Obiect Oh but I can doe nothing but feare Answere Yet goe and cast thy feare and infidelitie and all thy sinnes on him who hath satisfied for them all and must heale them all chiding thy selfe for thy feares and doubts Why art thou so cast downe my soule Psal 42. and disquieted within me waite on God Christ and in despight of despaire with a contrary desperate resolution aboue all reason sense or hope say as Ionas Ionas 2. yet will I looke towardes thy holy Temple though to all reason and sense I am vtterly cast out from thy presence for euer I will not yet giue ouer prayer I will yet fight the good fight of Faith I will cast my selfe on him As there is in some wicked men a desperate wilfulnesse of rushing into euill against all meanes of restraint both of promises threats mercies and blessings from God and examples prouocations from men and a desperate will in men to aduenture vpon desperate meanes as if they were mad vpon no ground of reason or hope but only their owne foolish credulitie beleeuing their owne conceit and following the hardnesse of their owne hearts and desperate wils so much will they attribute and sacrifice such honour to the Godhead of their conceit and will That honour doe thou giue to Christ by a desperate resolution of a holy will converted to God aboue all hope and against all feares of apparent euils and discouragements to all reason vpon a credence of Gods word and promise against all arguments of despaire cast thy selfe vpon Christ because hee bids thee As Peter at Christs commandement goes vpon the waters and at his commandement casts forth his net to make a draught against all doubts and arguments of despaire Such authority giues Faith to Christs commaundement and word and such is the obedience of Faith Obey not therefore thy owne feares and doubts to beleeue follow them but obey Christs commandement to beleeue against all reason and sense feares doubts and despaires This is the obedience of Faith simple and absolute without any reason why but onely because Christ commands