this particle Now the present interest that we haue in this our high preferment though the manifestation thereof in perfection remayneth till the appearance of the Lorde Iesus at whose appearance it shall be made most euident for that then We shall be like him and see him as hee is as he inferreth in the seconde parte of this latter verse And for the further confirmation of this poynte that we are the sons of Gods The Apostle sheweth both the Fountain from whence this great mercie floweth vnto vs to wit from the loue of God Secondly the meanes whereby this his great loue was procured vnto vs which is his méere grace and frée gift thorowe Iesus Christ For the Apostle sayeth he hath giuen vs for so the word signifyeth and so it is to be read But because there is no truth so plaine but that argumentation may be maintained against it and quarrells picked at it our Apostle answereth two obiections which might be obiected against the trueth of this comfortable assertion the one taken from the euil intreatie that we haue in this world For a man woulde thinke since wee are the sonnes of God who made the worlde the heauen the earth and al the fulnesse thereof that the worlde should know vs to be such and for our fathers sake make much of vs. But there is no such matter for the worlde as our Sauiour hath fore-tolde vs careth for it owne and as for Gods children because they are not of the world it respecteth not them To this the Apostle answereth in the latter ende of the first verse that the cause of the want of better entertainment at the worldes hand is because they know not the Father as if hee should saie let it neuer trouble you that are Gods sonnes that the world know you not and make no account of you for it knoweth not the Father that made it nor the naturall sonne of the Father by whom he made it as this our Apostle testifyeth He was in the world 1 Iohn 10. and the world was made by him but the world knewe him not therefore no maruell though it knoweth not vs that are but his adopted Sonnes The second obiection is taken from a consideration of our present estate in regard of our selues to whom no such outward royaltie appeareth as wee thinke appertaineth to the sonnes of so high a Maiestie whereunto the Apostle aunswereth First by a concession in the second clause or comma of the second verse graunting it to bee so that indeede yet it appeareth not what wee shal be Secondly by a certain declaratioÌ„ of the appoynted time when we shall receiue the perfection of this dignitie which is when he shall appeare that is when Iesus Christ in whom our life is hid shall come to iudge the quicke the dead theÌ„ our excelleÌ„cie which lyeth now buried as it were with so great ignominie shall be manifested to our endlesse ioy comfort These obiections thus aunswered whereby the trueth of this principle remayneth inuincible that wee are the sonnes of God The Apostle procéedeth to the duetie which wee ought to performe in respect of so great a prerogatiue which is the second generall parte of my text and contained in the third verse in these words And euery man that hath this hope in him purgeth himselfe Psal 51.5 euen as he is pure Wherein first he sheweth that wee are vncleane of our selues as being conceiued in sin borne in iniquitie hauing added therunto infinite thousand transgressions of our owne both in thought worde and déede and therefore haue néede to be purged Secondly that this worke of clensing or purging belongeth generally to euery one that hath this hope without exception Thirdly how farre forth we ought to labour and to proceede the rein namely not to giue ouer vntil we haue obtained to be pure as he is pure which because we can neuer attaine to in this corruptible life wherein sinne hangeth so fast on and sticketh so hard vnto vs Heb. 12.1 he meaneth that we should apply the whole course of our life vnto an earnest studie of sanctification and holinesse So that the summe of the whole is that God of his méere loue to vs-warde in Iesus Christ hath adopted vs in and thorow him to be his sonnes and daughters and that this is not a preferment of hereafter onely to be but a present prerogatiue and dignitie how-euer the world doth not so acknowledge vs nor the excellencie therof séemeth as yet so apparant to our selues 2 Cor. 7.1 and therefore it is our parts and dueties as our Father is holy so also to be holy and therefore to purge our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and of the Spirit and to growe vp into full holinesse in the feare of God as the Apostle S. Paule exhorteth And to shew foorth as S. Peter also admonisheth â— Pet. 2.9 the vertues of him that is of ouâ— heauenly Father which hath called vs out of darkenesse into his marueilous light Now to handle euery part and poynt in his owne order so farre forth as the time will permit we haue first to consider more at large of this our high calling and prerogatiue and therein to obserue howe by other places of Scripture both it is confirmed and also amplifyed This our Euangelist testifyeth That so many as receiued Iesus Christ Ioh. 1.12 to them he gaue this prerogatiue to be the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue in his name The Apostle S. Paule sayeth Ye are all the sonnes of God by faith in Iesus Christ And 2. Cor. 6. he alleageth the testimonie of God himselfe out of the Prophet Esay Gal. 3 2â— I will be your God and you shall be my Sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almightie Our blessed Lord and Sauiour when he teacheth vs in the 6. of Matthew to pray thus O our Father which art in Heauen thereby plainely signifyeth vnto vs that we are Gods children which â—hing also the holy spirit of God testifyeth witnesseth vnto our spirits in emboldning vs to crie Abba Father So that if wee beleeue these Scriptures which are so plaine and pregnant in this behalfe wee neede make no doubt of this great mercie of God vnto vs in making vs to be his sonnes But not onely thus simplie and positiuely the Scripture setteth downe that we are the Sonnes of God but it amplifyeth the same by gradation vnto the highest degrée In the 4. Galatians at the 7. verse the Apostle amplifyeth it First reiecting or renouncing vtterly that seruile estate wherin we once were saying Wherefore thou art no more a seruant and then peremptorily setting it downe but a sonne There-upon hee ariseth a steppe further If thou be a sonne thou art also the heire of God thorow Christ And most swéetely in the 8. to the Ron. 17. he reasoneth thus If we be children we are also heires which is one steppe higher heires of God a second step
himselfe expresse as we haue shewed in saying Col. 2.14 God so loued the world that hee gaue his only begotten sonne vnto death that whosoeuer should beleeue on him should not perish but haue life euerlasting This also doeth our Apostle renowne in the fourth Chapter verse 10. Herein is loue Iohn 3.16 not that wee loued God but that hee loued vs and sent his onely begotten sonne to be a reconciliation for our sinnes Where the loue of God is set in the first place for the cause efficient and principall his sonne sent for the cause materiall and to be a reconciliation for our sinnes for a cause finall nothing required of vs but that we beléeue in him and loue one another for him as he hath loued vs. If the consideration hereof were throughly layed to hart it would quickly remooue all proud opinion of our owne merit which is thus excluded by including the merit of Christ as alone the sufficient sacrifice propitiatorie for our sinnes and it would swallow vs vp with an admiration of the excéeding loue of God toward vs Epe 318. The height the depth the length the breadth whereof is incomprehensible and make vs ashamed of our owne corruption Gold and siluer and pretious stones being of no valew all the Sacrifices and ceremonies of the old Law being of no worth his blessed and glorious Angels being insufficient to effect our ransome whoÌ„ he so loued he spared not his owne onely sonne who was in his bosome more deare vnto him than the signet of his owne right hande who willingly said also Loe I come and gaue him to the death by his death to redéeme Psal 40.6 7 Heb. 10 5 â—â— vs according to that swéet saying of S. Peter We were not redeemed by siluer or gold 1. Pet. 1.18.19 or by any other corruptible things but by the pretious bloud of Iesus Christ as of a Lambe immaculate and without spot And wee in the meane while wretched men and women straine at euery curtesie and thinke euery thing too much we do in loue towards our brethren whom wee should not onely loue by supplying their wants in the expeÌ„ce of our goods as before we haue shewed but also loue by laying downe our liues for them by the expence of our bloud if néede so require as our Apostle by this example of our blessed Sauiour teacheth vs saying here in is loue that hee laide downe his life for vs wee ought therefore to laye downe our liues for the brethren 1. Ioh. 3.16 There remayneth in this clause yet one worde that further amplifyeth this loue of God in the greatnes thereof vnto vs For besides that it hath pleased him to make vs euen vs that were his enemies to be his sonnes to be his heires and ioynt heires with his owne natural sonne of such an inheritance that is immortall and that of his méere loue by gift not deserued by vs but purchased for vs by the pretious death and passion of our blessed Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus he vouchsafeth for the further assurance of our faith herein coÌ„fort of our soules to cal himself our father for adopting vs in his welbeloued Son Eph. 1.7 as his welbeloued Son by nature is not ashamed as the authour of the Epistle to the Hebrews wel obserueth to cal vs euen vs that were adopted from a thing of naught his brethreÌ„ saying Hebr. 2 16. I wil declare thy name vnto my brethren so God his Father the Father by excellencie disdaineth not to cal himselfe our Father saying 2. Cor. 6.18 I wil bee your Father and ye shall be my sonnes and daughters The worde Father is a swéet worde and serueth to be obserued for many vses First it confirmeth al the former doctrine of GOD his louing vs fréely for as the childe receiueth nothing but from his Father and his Father bestoweth all things vpon him fréely in regard onely that he is his Father the childe deseruing not the least iotte of his loue So God being our Father it followeth that we receiue all from him our being our lyuing our mouing Act 17 28 benefites Temporall blessings Spirituall that of his owne méere loue because he is our Father without any desert or merit of ours Secondly it expresseth more sensibly the tender mercie and compassion of our good God vnto vs for thereby wee vnderstand that he tendreth vs as a Father according to that of the Prophet Like as a father pittieth his owne children Psal 103 13 euen so the Lord hath compassion on them that feare him Fatherly and Motherlie loue we know to bee verie great and none know it but they which are veri Patres Fathers indéede their bowels are mooued with more than an ordinarie affection toward their childreÌ„ as appeareth by the example of the harlot whose compassion was kindled toward her childe wheÌ„ she heard sentence giuen 1 King 3.26 and the sword drawen to haue it diuided God in like maner testifyeth Hos 8.11 that his hart is turned in him that his repentance is rouled together euen as a fathers doth wheÌ„ he taketh in hand to punish his childe he will beate him and he will not beate him loath he is and therefore though he doeth it hee doeth it vnwillingly so doeth also our heauenly Father he doth not punish vs with his heart saieth Ieremie in his Lamentations Lamen 3 33 but besides this his compassion farre excelleth in that not onely it reacheth further than is possible for any naturall affection to reach vnto but also for that it is immutable it neuer changeth A mother may forget the fruit of her wombe A Father may turne away his face from his owne sonne and renownce him for euer But though a woman should forget the fruite of her wombe yet would not forget thee Esa 49.15 saith the Lord for I am the Lord and am not chaÌ„ged Therfore the Apostle saieth Rom 11.2 His gifts and callings are without repentance And the Euangelist sayeth Iohn 13.1 Whome hee loueth hee loueth vnto the ende And right Honorable and beloued there is not a greater comfort vnto our soules and consciences in this our present heauinesse and distresse than this to consider that hee is our Father that doeth thus correct vs who though he be iustlie displeased with vs and his wrath fore kindled against vs for our sinnes yet herein he sheweth himselfe to be infinitely gratious and mercifull vnto vs in that hee hath taken the rod into his owne hand not deliuered it into their handes that hate vs to strike vs therewith The Spaniards hath often hoped to haue got this rod into their hands and haue as it were snatched to haue pulled it vnto them that they might haue bene Gods executioners A bloudie day had that bene beloued for the corps whom you haue séene honorably and reuerently in peace caried to their graues you should haue séene them lying waltering in their
proportion is not like to his that saide let him that hath two coates giue one to him that hath none and let him that hath meate do likewise nor like vnto his that said Halfe of my goods I giue to the poore Luc. 3.11 Nor like vnto his that said Sell all that thou hast and giue to the poore Luc. 19.8 Mat. 19.21 Nor like to theirs that sold their houses and possessions and brought the price to bee distributed to them that wanted Act. 4.34 Luc. 21.2 Nor like hers that hauing but two mites cast them into this banke being all the liuing she had being content to worke for more Yet as the meaning of these sayings and examples is not to set any iust rate but to shew that charitie must ouer-flowe in time of common necessitie so my meaning is not to prescribe vnto your wisedomes either a iust proportion or a maner of taxing but to shew how farreforth in liberalitie euerie one without compulsion of his owne willing and voluntarie minde for Hilarem daâ—orem diligit dominus 2. Cor 9.7 The Lord loueth a chéereful giuer ought to excéede to relieue the great miserie of them that are in want And this to doe in regard of that loue wherewith God haue loued vs for hee loued vs before wee loued him he loued vs when wee were his enemies and therefore his example not onely teacheth vs to loue such as are our friendes which stand in néede or to loue them who as they haue done vs no good so they haue done vs no hurt but euen them that haue wronged vs we ought to helpe Farre therefore ought these though vsual yet vnchristian spéeches be from vs shall I loue him that hates me shal I do him good that hath wronged me Alas beloued God stood not vpon these tearmes with vs he loued vs when we were his enemies when wee blaspheamed him Math. 5 4â— shal not we by his example who also doeth good to the iust and the vniust causing his sunne to shine his raine to fall on them indifferently shall not wee I saye by his example learne to blesse theÌ„ that curse vs Mat. 5.44 to pray for them that persecute vs to doe good to them that wrong vs Let vs not deceiue our selues in boasting that wee are the children of God for vnlesse this affection in some measure be in vs we are no sonnes of God nor God any Father of ours But to procéede in magnifying further this loue of God the Apostle affirmeth that this loue which is bestowed vpoÌ„ vs is in maner of a gift gratis For he hath giuen it vs. Some men deserue loue for some good turnes or deserts that they haue done and so make him to bee a friend which before was an enemie as Iacob won Esau Gene. 32.20 But who hath giuen to the Lord first and he shall be recompensed Esa 40.13 Rom. 11.35 So the Lord demandeth by his Prophet and by his Apostle and who euer haue stood forth aÌ„swerd to the demaund I haue giuen Not Abraham for he acknowledgeth himselfe to bee dust and ashes Not Dauid for he prayeth Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant Gene. 18 27. Psal 143. Iob. 28 20. O Lord. Not Iob for he confesseth If hee should iustifie himselfe his owne mouth would condemne him God hath not set his loue to sale vnto vs for if he had whereby should or could we haue procured it should we haue giuen him a thousand Rammes to vse the wordes of the Prophet Micah or ten thousand riuers of oyle Mic. 6.7 should wee haue offered him the fruit of the bodie for the sinnes of our soule Psal 50.10 none of all these earthly things are ours they are all his so he testifyeth All the beasts of the field are mine Eze. 18.4 and so are the cattle vpon a thousand hilles And as the soule of the fathers is mine sayeth the Lorde so is the soule of the sonnes And more generally The earth is the Lords and all the fulnesse thereof the rounde worlde and all that dwell therein Psal 24.1 But were these earthly things all ours yet were they all too base to buy the least parcell of God his heauenly grace and loue towards vs. For what comparison is there betwixt earthly things and heauenly things betwixt things temporall and transitorie and things spiritual and eternall The string whereupon many and especially the Church of Rome doeth harpe in this respect is our righteousnes but what our righteousnes is Yea al our righteousnesses are the Prophet Esay telleth vs Esa 64 6. when hee saith they are as a stained cloth which lotheth the eyes of them that beholde so that with displeasure and detestation they turne from it Our righteousnesse therefore in it selfe considered without the merit of Christ by whom they are accepted as fruits of our faith they are too much stained and therefore too base to procure the aboundant riches of the loue of God And this we must néedes of our selues confesse if we be not caried away with too great a selfe-loue weening of our selues for euen our conscience which is a thousand witnesses witnesseth against vs the manifold corruptions which cleaue vnto the best and most holy worke that we doe The trueth therefore of this doctrine remayneth inuinsible and néedeth no further testimonie of any man that that eternall loue of God wherewith hee hath so loued vs as to make vs his children and heires is of his frée gift bestowed and giuen vnto vs according as our Apostle here sayth Behold what loue the father hath giuen vnto vs that wee should be called the Sonnes of God and according to that the Apostle saith Gal. 3.22 The promise by the faith of Christ Iesus is giuen to them that beleeue for this one worde giuen so often repeated by the Apostle if there were no further argument to prooue the fréenes of God his loue and grace towardes vs is sufficient to stoppe all mouthes that open themselues to the derogation thereof But yet further to remooue all opinion and conceit of our owne worthinesse and to set foorth the loue of GOD to bee beyond all measure GOD to aunswere the vtmost tittle of his iustice and to cancell all obligations and hand-writings against vs for our sinnes finding nothing in vs whereby to saue vs according as one well confesseth to him Nihil inuenis vnde salues multum inuenis vnde damnes August de verbis Apost ser 16. thou findest nothing for which thou maiest saue vs but thou findest much for which thou maist damne vs. God I saie sent his onely Sonne Christ Iesus who is with the Father and the holy spirit God blessed for euer to take on him our nature Rom. 9.5 and therein to satisfie the whole seueritie of his iustice and to pay the vtmost farthing of our debt The greatnesse of the loue of God in this behalfe doeth our Sauiour