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
and so are changed into it more and more in sanctification from glory to glory Whatsoeuer boldnesse of face and glory of countenance or libertie of speach wee may haue towardes men in and by our selues and our workes wee haue none towards God but by Faith in Christ Rom. 4.1 First the Law indites arraignes and stops our mouth as Rom. 3.19 shame and confusion couers our faces and then Christ lifts vp our head as Psal 3.3 Thou art my glory and the lifter vp of my head Yea hee annoints our head with oyle giues vs the oyle of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse 2. Cor. 1.21 1. Ioh. 2.20 27. as God hath created oyle to make the face to shine gloriously Therefore contrarily by the law in humiliation they cast durt on their heads and couered their faces in pleading their guiltinesse and in dayes of fasting the Pharises were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 6.16 Now Christ our high Priest was annointed with this oyle of gladnesse aboue his fellowes that it might lift vp his face for vs in the sight and presence of God to appeare before him and wee receiue an anointing from this holy One and hee annoints our faces with oyle of ioy for this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word signifies specially freedome and glory of speech in prayer or praises of God and thankesgiuings for in Christ wee haue a new mouth a new speach tongue and language of Canaan The end of mans creation being chiefely to glorifie God Adam was created with an excellent mouth and tongue wherewith to glorifie him which was his greatest glory life happines but by hearkning to Sathans blasphemous mouth and tongue belying and dishonouring God and beleeuing it he and all his posteritie haue lost their naturall mouth tongue and language and haue the mouth and language of Satan readier to blaspheme and curse God then to pray to him or to prâ—ise him and being man become earth and lacking the Image and Gloâ—ie of God and borne of the earth Ioh. 3 3â— he speakes of the earth as an earth-worme with an earthly mouth rising out of the dust As Satan is a lyer so is euery man from the wombe going astray and speaking lies Therefore Christ giues a new mouth tongue and language if we hearken to him as our only Prophet and Rabbi and a new 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by his spirit of Glory in vs according to his gracious couenant in Christ Isa 59.21 And I will make this my couenant with theÌ„ saith the Lord My spirit that is vpon thee and my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of the seede of thy seede from henceforth and for euer Therefore Christ is called the Truth Iohn 14.6 But first he is the Way then the Truth our Way to God and our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Priest and then is he the Truth and giues vs a new mouth But these particulars appeare more fully in the obseruations only thus much for vnfolding the text and the sense of the words Wherein wee consider two parts 1. The Excelcellencie of Faith in Christ set forth by two vertues or workes in the heart and inner man 1. Accesse to God or Manuduction with boldnesse or confidence or a confident accesse to God by Manuduction 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glory of face with liberty of speech 2. The limitation of this excellencie and of these vertues They are not in the whole man and beleeuer but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is so farre as he is in Christ not as he is or euer was in the first Adam or as he is in nature in the flesh and world or as he is in any other estate and condition in this life or that any man can haue in any other Religion then by Faith in Christ And whereas the childe of God may complaine that hee finds and feeles contrary to all this feare trembling flying from God shame of face for his sinnes and his mouth often stopped and not able to pray or praise God Answer is here made It is true so farre as we are not in Christ and haue nature and flesh in vs but as we are in Christ we haue all this contrary good 1. De Iure though not de facto by right though not by full possession 2. Wee haue these in some measure though mixt with contrary corruptions 3. We may haue more if the fault be not in our selues 4. We shall haue all these in full measure 5. These are prepared for vs in Christ and our Faith in Christ will grow vp to these and increase with the increasings of God and of Christ if we pray as Paul here doth for these Ephesians so they may haue all this in Christ and that their Faith may grow and haue these vertues working in them as in the verses following verse 16 17 18. which imply that they had them not as yet from Christ as they should haue hereafter but were only laid vp and prepared for them in Christ The summe then is that no Faith nor Religion giues that accesse to God with that boldnesse so cheerefull and glorious a countenance such a mouth to praise God to pray and speake freely to God to powre out our hearts before him that giues such a Spirit of prayer and of Adoption to cry Abba Father to make a man bold to plead with God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stand vpon interrogatories with God and to parle with him especially when Satan sinne and conscience accuse Now these vertues are not sanctifying graces in vs in their full perfection but they are such blessings and benefits in Christ as Faith drawes from Christ Therfore he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which Christ they are as in the propper naturall subiect roote and fountaine and Head and which Faith drawes and receiues from Christ or possesseth in him and therefore he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so I come to the obseruations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whom that is in Christ By Christ dwelling in vs we haue and exercise these vertues of Christ or Christ shewes himselfe to be in vs and we to be in him by these vertues All sauing good things in vs are sauing vertues in and from Christ Rom. 8.2 1. Pet. 2.9 To shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darkenesse As the soule shewes it selfe to be in the body by the life and vertues it exerciseth in the body such as the body it selfe hath not by its naturall humors So Christ exerciseth such vertues in the heart and soule of a Christian as the heart and reasonable soule haue not naturally As a man shewes himselfe to dwell in a house by the wisedome authoritie power he exerciseth therein So Christ to dwell in vs by faith as in his house when he exerciseth his vertues in vs Eph. 3.17 Heb. 3.6
Now this Hand of God is also the Hand of Christ the second Person as made Flesh It s the Hand of Flesh especially as risen from the dead and glorified the holy Ghost is his Breath Shadow Wings Arme Hands and whatsoeuer proceedeth from him towards his Church both Ministers and people is nothing but that eternall Spirit the third Person who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Iohn 14.26 By which as High Priest Heb. 9. hee offered himselfe without spot to God as with his owne Hands So now much more the same Spirit proceedth from him in more abundance from his Flesh glorified For before Ioh. 7.39 the Spirit was not giuen in that abundance because that Iesus was not yet glorified But now this Flesh of Christ being glorified this eternall Spirit is all the Breath Armes Hands Strength Shadow Light and Glory of Christ He now breathes nothing but the holy Ghost and Spirit He breathed vpon his Disciples Ioh. 20.21 and said Receiue ye the holy Ghost He hath it now at command as his Breath and as naturall to him and can as easily and plentifully giue it He holds the 7. Starres his Apostles and Ministers in his right hand not of Flesh but of the holy Ghost and being risen he gaue commandements to his Apostles not by a humane breath and voice as before but more specially by the holy Ghost Acts 1.2 See Iohn 5. The time shall come and now is but shall be much more that the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God that is shall shall haue his quickning spirit 1. Cor. 15. The first Adam was made a liuing soule and all that he could communicate to his posteritie and children if he had continued in innocency had bin only a liuing soule qualified with Gods holy Image but the second Adam is made a quickning spirit which hee communicates to his members and posteritie and which proceedes from him This Spirit is Christs light by which he shines to vs Eph. 5. Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and Christ shall shine vnto thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whatsoeuer proceeds from Christs Flesh now in heauen is nothing but Spirit He is ascended farre aboue all things Eph. 4.7 8. to fill all things with his Spirit Whereas therefore he is said to feed vs from heauen with his Bodie as Manna and to wash vs from our sinnes in his blood to guide vs with his light all this is nothing but his Spirit which being purchased by his death comes as it were through his body and blood giuen to vs as our own flesh and blood This Spirit is obtained and giuen by his death and sufferings and comes to vs by his humane flesh and nature into our flesh and nature Ioh. 6.63 Therefore his Flesh is called meate indeed and his blood drinke indeede For the flesh of it selfe profiteth nothing but because for the merit of his sufferings in his flesh and by it as by a cundit the third Person the holy Ghost proceeding naturally from the Father and the Sonne is hereby procured to flow issue and come forth to vs and into our hearts by grace Galat. 4.4 Because yee are sonnes reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts which cryeth Abba Father The Spirit doth and would euer naturally issue and proceed from God into vs as Iam. 1.17 did not our sinnes stop the currant and keepe him out of our hearts by our indisposition and vnworthinesse and vncapablenesse of receiuing him as Ioh. 14. Which the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but our sins remooued and abolished by the death sacrifice of Christ and by his flesh and body broken through it as by a conduite the spirit againe hath its issue and vent to flow into our sinfull flesh and hearts and God becomes againe that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That liuing God Iam. 1.3 that giues to all men simply without exception whatsoeuer his sinnes he and reproacheth no man that by faith comes to him but poures of his Spirit vpon all flesh Act. 2.17 This Spirit as its God the Fathers hand so it s Christs our Sauiours hand the hand of flesh which Christ reacheth from heauen to vs as to his brethren and takes vs by the hand Now that Christ is glorified in our flesh and nature that Spirit which from eternitie proceeded from the Father and the Sonne and was as their breath and hand by which they made the worlds and breathed into mans face the breath of life and made him a liuing soule the same spirit and third person doth now proceed from the Father of Christ as man and from Christ the second Person Incarnate and is now both the breath of Christ and the arme of Christ which breath of eternall spirit Christ now breathes into man dead in sinne to make him a new creature created in Christ Iesus vnto good works creating anew all the powers and faculties of soule and body as it were new hands and feete quickned with a new life for new motions towards God and seruices and workes it s the hand and arme of Christ which he now reueales and makes bare from heauen and thrusts into our hearts quickning and creating in vs new hands that is new faculties of our soules to lay hold on and fasten on spirituall good purchased by his death and offered vs by his Gospel Christ by his Priestly Office hath performed all things needfull for our saluation and prepared all sauing matter And by his Propheticall Office in the Ministery of his Word offers vs himselfe the second Person incarnate to be our Sauiour and all his sauing benefits and spirit if we will reach forth our hands that is the faculties of our soules to receiue and apprehend him but our hands lye dead in sinnes that is our minds and hearts from vnderstanding choosing willing and affecting any such Person and his Spirit and benefits offered Therefore Christ as King risen from the dead and as Lord of life reacheth forth his arme hand from heauen and creates in vs new hand◠that is new mindes and hearts Hee breathes into vs the breath of life that is his quickning spirit that quickens our dead hands to apprehend spirituall things For the naturall man by his naturall soule and spirit 1. Cor. 2. as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore the Spirit creates in vs. First a right hand of Faith to know and apprehend the Person of the Son of God and to choose and take him for our Sauiour as he is reuealed and offered in the Word reiecting all other Persons Angels or Saints or any creature or our selues and our workes betaking our selues to Christ alone and to this second Person in Trinitie made flesh fastning vpon him and receiuing him as offered and commended to vs in the Gospel euen as crucified and made our King
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
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