to beleeue and for an example to set before them Gods dealing with the Ephesians of whom the Apostle saith Eph. 2. 3. That when they were dead in trespasses and sinnes which is as bad as may bee yet hee heapes more of their wofull condition verse 2. 11. 12. yet these were quickned in Christ so likewise the Colossians Col. 1. 21. being before their conuersion strangers and enemies because their mindes were set on euill workes were reconciled to God c. And to say the truth so is it with all that bee conuerted as Paul testifieth of himselfe and all other beleeuers before their effectuall calling that they had their conuersation in times past in the lusts of their flesh in fulfilling the will of the flesh of the minde and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others All which if a poore sinner shall consider that others in as bad a state as he and many farre worse were receiued to mercy and that God doth in mercy as freely offer it to him as them and is as faithfull as euer to performe what he saith this doubtlesse will in time moue him to expect like mercy at Gods hands if hee shall with patience waite the Lords leisure and neuer giue ouer earnest supplication to God to draw him and daily meditation on Gods mercy Thus will I leaue this point hauing said more then I purposed Peace only I desire to be considered that vnder this reconciliation I containe that peace which Christ makes betweene God and vs whereof Rom. 5. 1. Eph. 2. 17. and elsewhere oft that it may bee referred to this head Now we come to the second fruite of our Iustification which is Adoption Adoption whereby I vnderstand that high fauour of God whereby hee maketh those who be iustified by Christ and so reconciled his owne children and heires of all his blessings If Dauid thought it no small preferment to bee sonne in Law to King Saul 1 Sam. 18. 23. what may bee thought of this And therefore the Apostle Iohn calleth all to an admiration of that vnspeakeable loue of God in calling vs to be the sonnes of God 1 Ioh. 3. 1. Wherein we haue to consider not only the excellencie of this estate but the certainetie of it without which we could haue no comfort by it This certaintie appeares as in this that God hath called all true beleeuers to be his sonnes so further in the next verse where he saith Dearely beloued now are we the sonnes of God though as he saith is appeares not what wee shall bee To this purpose well serueth that gracious promise which the Apostle citeth out of the Prophet Hosea And it shall be in the place where it was said vnto them Rom. 9. 26. yee are not my people that there they shall bee called the children of the liuing God So likewise when the Lord promiseth to such as shall separate themselues from the wicked And I will bee a Father vnto you 2 Cor. 6. 18. and yee shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almightie Reu. 21. 7. Againe Hee that ouercommeth shall inherit all things And I will be his God and hee shall be my sonne these promises must be the cause of our faith and our faith the cause of our obedience as hath beene said And therefore it is said Yee are all the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus Gal. 3. 26. And yet much more to our present purpose is that excellent Scripture Gal. 4. 4 5 6 7. which containes much for the strengthening of our faith in this whole point of the assurance of our saluation therfore I rehearse it all But when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman and made vnder the Law that hee might redeeme them which were vnder the Law that we might receiue the adoption of sonnes And because ye are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts which cryeth Abba Father Wherein to passe ouer all the rest this is euident that a maine end why God sent his Sonne to redeeme vs miserable sinners who are by nature vnder the curse of the Law was this that wee might by this redemption by Christ bee made Gods children and as the Apostle saith Rom. 8. 17. If children then also heires euen the heires of God and coheires with Christ as it followeth in the former Scripture Gal. 4. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a seruant but a sonne now if thou bee a son thou art also an heire of God through Christ If this be so as the deuill himselfe cannot denie who can sufficiently admire and magnifie the bountifulnesse and loue of God to man Vse by so great a price to purchase so high a dignitie Tit. 3. 4. as the Apostle John calls it that wee should be the sonnes of God Ioh. 1. 12. and partakers with Christ of all his glory in his Fathers kingdome But me thinkes I heare some one say It is true this is a most blessed estate if a man might bee assured it were his owne but seeing the Scripture oft witnesseth that they be but few who attaine this fauour Obiection how may I who am so vnworthy so full of sinne and voide of grace euer hope to bee a partaker hereof This beeing so great an obiection and so common whereby many be kept from beleeuing it is meete to be well answered It hath two partes first that so fewe come to bee Gods children to which I answer first the fault hereof is not in God who as oft hath beene said hath so largly proclaimed life in the Gospel to euery sinner Again if there were an almes of great value cast among many which a few onely could enioy what scrambling is there who could get it A memorable story of late yeares I will relate to be a witnes against all such wicked seruants Mat. 25. 26 and slothfull as our Sauiour calls them who hearing that a few shall bee saued will let others striue for it and be content to goe without it themselues which is indeede and so the Lord will count it a flatte despising of his mercy offered vnto them A rich woman gaue at her death a dole of sixe pence to the poore that came to Leaden Hall in London for which there was such striuing that many were troden to death how shall these rise in iudgement against our dainty idle ambitious couetous and voluptuous worldlings who euery one in their kinde striue extreamely for their desires but take no paines to be saued But to leaue these and to come to the second part of the obiection which concerns a better sort and farre neerer saluation who be kepr backe by their vnworthinesse whom as I much pitty for their vncomfortablenesse so can I no lesse blame for their ignorance that after so long preaching of the Gospell wherein all the mercies of God be
that we should rather reioyce and be glad as our Sauiour exhorts his Disciples Math 5. â—1 â—2 and the Apostle Iames 1. 2. which was often practised by the holy seruants of God Acts 5. 41. And Paul and Silas in the prison Sang praises vnto God Act. 16. 25. Wee reade also of Paul how he tooke pleasure in infirmities that is bodily not spirituall as himselfe expresseth in reproches in necessities in persecutions 2. Cor. 12. in distresses for Christs sake In all which it cannot be doubted but that the chiefe cause of this reioycing in afflictions was this that their sufferings made so much for Gods glory and the good of Gods Church who were greatly confirmed in the truth Phil. 1. 14 made bold to professe it and ready to suffer for it besides the manifold benefits themselues did reape thereby Heere I might take iust occasion more largely to shew how God is glorified by the afflictions of his children whether they bee sent for correction or for triall And likewise how these afflictions serue many waies for the good of others both which should and oft doe make Gods children more contentedly to beare them But seeing nothing can more preuaile with our fraile nature to make vs take such an vnpleasing potion or byting corasiue then the certaintie of the good it will doe vs therefore we will now consider what bee the chiefe benefits which God promiseth Chiefe Benefits by afflictions and his spirit worketh in the hearts of his children by afflictions Among all which this is most generall Blessed that they be blessed whom the Lord correcteth as Iob 5. 17. Behold happie is the man whom God correcteth therefore despise not the chastening of the Almightie The like Iam. 1. 12. 5. 11. Psal 94. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law that thou mayest giue him rest from the dayes of aduersitie vntill the pit be digged for the wicked In the same sense it is so oft said Pro. 3. 12 whom the Lord loueth he correcteth euen as father the sonne 11. in whom he delighteth Where this vse is made of it not to despise the chastening of the Lord neither to bee wearie of his correction Which is to like purpose repeated Reve. 3. 19 Heb. 12. 5 6. c. Dauid also professeth the like It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted Psal 119. 71. that I might learne thy statutes In all which and the like is Vse plainly declared that how bitter soeuer afflictions be to our feeling yet to Gods children they be very profitable meanes and so markes of happines and speciall tokens of Gods fatherly loue and therefore so to be accounted of and with thankfulnesse to be receiued The same is said of all the sufferings which Gods children endure for righteousnesse sake which though they greatly differ from chastisements for sinne yet seeing they be bitter to our tast and oft sore afflict vs we haue neede to be heartned to beare and directed to make the right vse of them For this cause the Lord doth pronounce them Blessed that thus suffer Mat. 5 10. 11 which in all former ages of the Church Luke 6. 22. hath made the faithfull to suffer patiently and cheerefully for righteousnesse sake 1. Pet. 3. 14 4. 14. and so must it mooue vs that so wee may glorifie God in our generation as they haue done in theirs But for our better incouragement heerein let vs more particularly consider some of those benefits which Gods children doe obtaine by afflictions These are fitly drawne to three heads by the Prophet Daniel Chap. 11. 3. Benefits by affliction Who soreshewing the afflictions which should happen to Gods faithfull people vers 33. That they should fall by the sword and by flame by captiuitie and by spoile many daies vers 35. he addeth And some of them of vnderstanding shall fall to try them and to purge them and to make them white Meaning heereby that these were the three chiefe ends why God sent such afflictions on his owne children First to take triall of them what drosse of corruption and what sound metall of grace was in them Secondly to purge out that corruption which was found yet remaining in them The third to make them more beautifull and shining in grace all which should turne to the glory of God to the good ensample of others and to their owne comfort For the first Afflictions be trials they be trials of our strength and weakenesse what faith and patience we haue in bearing them what loue we beare to God who sends them and what we be the better by them This is oft in Scripture set out by this comparâ—son of gold and siluer tried by the fire So Zach. 13. 9. Speaking of the remnant of Gods people who should be reserued out of that generall destruction saith And I will bring the third part thorow the fire and will refine them as siluer is refined and will trie them as goldis tried the effect whereof followes They shall call vpon my name and I will heare them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God So Ierem. 17. 10. Complaining of the deceitfulnesse and wickednesse of the heart to be exceeding saith I the Lord search the heart I try the reines to giue euery man according to his waies and according to the fruite of his doings heereof Salomon speaking more generally Prou. 17. 3. saâ—th The fining pot is for siluer and the furnace for gold but the Lord trieth the hearts But more specially to the present purpose is that of 1. Pet. 1. 6 7. where he sheweth that the end of those manifold temptations which for a season made sad the hearts of Gods children when neede required was this That the triall of your faith being much more precious then of gold that perisheth though it be tried by fire might be found vnto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ And therefore chap. 4. vers 12. he exhorts them Beloued thinke it not strange concerning the fiery triall which is to try you as though some strange thing happened vnto you But reioyce in as much as yee are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be reuealed yee may be glad also with exceeding ioy To like effect the Apostle Iames 1. 2. exhorts My brethren count it all ioy when yee fall into divers tempâ—tations knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience Many moe Scriptures might to this purpose be alledged In all which may be seene Application that this is one speciall benefit of the afflictions of Gods children that by thâ—se may be made manifest as to others so to themselues what drosse of sinne and pure metall of grace is in them It s not to be doubted but God knows perfectly what is in them yet he is sayd oft to
God the father mooued by nothing but his free loue to mankinde lost hath made a deed of gift and grant of his Sonne Christ Iesus vnto mankinde that whosoeuer of all mankinde shall receiue this gift by a true and liuely faith hee shall not perish but haue euerlasting life which the same Apostle expresly saith 1. Ioh. 5. 11. This is the record that God hath giuen to vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne meaning that this it is which God hath witnessed for vs to beleeue which hee that doth not makes God a lyar and shall most iustly be condemned therefore this then is the first thing in true faith to be considered that euery soule to whom God sendeth this message of the Gospell doe truely beleeue and giue credit vnto it to bee true that God hath made grant of Christ to sinners so that if he accept this grant he shall bee saued This is that faith which in schooles is called historicall because it goeth no further then to giue assent and credit to the story of that which God speaketh to be true which one may beleeue for another and therefore this cannot be true iustifying faith and this may be in those that knowe they are bidden to the wedding yet refuse to come So that though this bee necessary to true iustifying faith yet it is not sufficient therfore in iustifying faith there is required another and more speciall work namely to receiue Christ and life in him offered in the Gospell which was the second generall point to bee considered in the nature of this iustifying faith Namely that beside the assent of the mind and iudgment to the truth of the Gospell The second speciall worke of faith is to receiue Christ offered vs in the Gospell wee giue consent with our heart and will and so willingly and gladly accept Gods gift of Christ whereby indeede he is become ours and we his and so we in him be made partakers of all things pertaining to life and godlinesse 2. Pet. 1. 3. as the Apostle Peter speaketh where I would haue this specially to be marked that hee saith this is by the knowledge or acknowledging of him which I vnderstand to be by true faith whereby we know and acknowledge Christ to be ours This I the rather obserue for that I see some honestly minded herein beguiled to imagine that a man may be a true member of Christ and so be iustified before he thus actually beleeue and thereby apprehend Christ I deny not but that some weake in faith may feare that they do not beleeue and that they haue not apprehended Christ when in deede they haue apprehended him though they feele it not who may be discerned partly by their heauinesse for want of sense of faith but especially by their loue they beare to God shewed manifold waies whereof we shall here more in the triall of faith But that he who neuer apprehended Christ by beleeuing should ordinarily bee a member of Christ I cannot see sure I am the Scripture constantly speaketh otherwise as Iohn 12. As many as receiued him Gal. 3 26. to them hee gaue power to bee the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue in his name Gal. 2. 20. And to like effect often that we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Iesus That wee liue by faith of the Sonne of God That Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith Eph. 3. 17. In which and the like many it is euident that faith is the Instrument whereby wee receiue Christ our righteousnes and life And this is the constant opinion of all found Diuines so farre as I know Thus then we see that the very nature of faith consisteth in the true acceptation of Christ proclaimed in the Gospell How faith is gotten Now followeth to be considered how this faith is to be obtained and increased that so we may liue by it wherein wee haue these two points to be obserued 1. First 2. point what is the ground of faith 1. 2. Secondly 2. how faithis hereon builded But before this blocke at which so many stumble is to be remooued That wee yet speake not how a man that hath faith may know it to bee so whereof more in his place but how one that indeede hath not apprehended Christ by faith may attaine vnto it So that here onely we seeke the causes which beget this faith not the effects of faith which only prooue we haue it Many not discerning this difference doe much mistake Causes and effects of faith differing and being asked what caused them to beleeue they say because they haue truely repented and changed their course of life which if it proceede not from faith is not so much as a sound proofe of faith much lesse can it bee any cause to drawe them to beleeue By which mistaking it comes to passe that such persons building their faith vpon their life which is subiect to many changes can neuer haue sound and stedfast faith but a staggering vnconstant opiniō at the best We haue neede therefore to looke for a more sure ground whereon to build our faith which must stand against so many and mighty stormes wherewith it is so vsually assaulted The onely firme ground of this sauing faith is Gods truth reuealed in his word The onely ground of faith is Gods truth Reason why as is plainely taught Rom. 10. 17. So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God And so likewise it is saide of the Ephesians 1. 13. That they by hearing the word of truth the Gospell of saluation beleeued which is as manifest to reason in that there is not any thing in heauen or in earth which can testifie to vs such good will in God to saue vs but wee must haue Gods owne word to witnesse this vnto vs and all little enough It is a matter so incredible that the holy and iust God who cannot abide any iniquity Heb. 2. 2. but will certainely giue to euery sinne his due punishment yet of his owne free mercy hath giuen and granted to poore sinners eternall life Therefore hath the Lord so often and so euidently spoken no lesse that hee might thereby mooue vs to beleeue as 1. Ioh. 5. 11. expresly affirming This is that which is testified That God hath giuen vs eternall life and this life is in his sonne For our further confirmation wherein it is saide vers 7. that this is witnessed both by three witnesses in heauen The first the father the second the word that is the sonne of God the second person in Trinity the third the holy Ghost which three be one diuine nature and testifie the same things as also by three witnesses on earth all which be in euery true beleeuer and none els The first the spirit the second the water the third the blood which agree in one witnessing the same things wherby are meant By the first
our spirit by the second our sanctification by the third our iustificatioÌ„ that in the mouth of so many witnesses this truth which of al others is the greatest yet most hardly receiued may stand sure for the consolation of all beleeuers and conviction of all vnbeleeuers c. To which is further added vers 10. Hee that beleeueth in the Sonne of God hath the witnesse in himselfe he that beleeueth not God hath made him a lyar because hee beleeued not the record which God witnesseth of his sonne The selfe same word of life is in sundry other Scriptures published vnto vs because the Lord knoweth we haue neede to heare of it continually wee are so full of doubting in time of temptation therefore our Sauiour himselfe proclaimeth this glad tydings Ioh. 3. 16. For God so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life and verse 17. For God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might bee saued So likewise Ioh. 12 47. I came not to condemne the world but to saue the world Againe Ioh. 2. 2. If any man sinne we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the Iust vers 3. And he is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours only but for the sinnes of the whole world And Ioh. 1. 29. Behold the lambe of God which taketh away the sins of the world So the Apostle saith 2. Cor. 5. 19. For God was in Christ reconciling the world vnto himselfe not imputing their sinnes vnto them and hath committed to vs the word of reconciliation In all which and many other Scriptures this is manifest that God in his word hath made a generall offer of saluation in Christ and inuiteth all to whom hee sendeth his seruants the preachers of his Gospell to come to Christ that they might bee saued as is plaine in the parable of the wedding Mat. 22. 1. which is therefore called the Gospell that is good newes because it bringeth foorth this glad tydings of great ioye that shall be to all people as the Angels of the Lord tolde that the sheepheards of the birth of Christ Luk. 2. 10. And this is the same which our Lord Iesus himselfe after hee had finished his whole work of mans redemption here on earth and was to ascend vp to his father to prepare a place for all his members commanded his Apostles and so consequently gaue in commission to al their successours the preachers of the Gospell to proclaime and publish this Gospell to euery creature that is to euery man and woman that so euery soule to whom the sound of the Gospell should come might haue sufficient ground whereon to build their faith and be saued or be made without excuse for neglecting so great saluation which at the first began to bee preached by the Lord and afterward was confirmed by vs that heard him Heb. 2 3. This then is the only ground whereon sauing faith is builded Namely this generall pardon proclaimed in the Gospell to poore sinners which I haue very plentifully prooued for that it is not well considered by many who faine would beleeue yet being ignorant hereof doe long time pine away with griefe for that they see nothing which might make them being so vile in their owne eyes so bold as to beleeue that there is any such loue in God towards them as to giue Christ vnto them Others more dangerously presume of Gods fauour without any such ground whereon they build their perswasion but onely on the outward change of their life which often is found deceitfull as was before shewed Now followeth how a poore sinner yet voide of sauing grace How to build faith on the word and finding nothing in himselfe which may make him bold to beleeue may builde vpon this ground that so he may attaine to true faith whereunto these three considerations bee necessary Three consideraâ—ions First what is said Secondly to whom Thirdly by whom that so hee may haue good warrant to beleeue that he shal enioy this mercy offered For the former What is said the poore distressed sinner is to weigh with himselfe that in this Gospell and glad tidings of saluation is proclaimed and freely offered forgiuenesse of sins through Christ as is plaine by the Apostle Paul his preaching to them at Antioch Act. 13. 38. Bee it knowne vnto you therefore men and brethren that through this man is preached vnto you forgiuenesse of sinnes where as in all the former Scriptures and in many others Christ and all his benefits for our iustification sanctification and full glorification is the matter offered which beeing that which euery humbled sinner most desireth how can it be but welcome newes to heare that there are such things prepared and offered as hee most desireth which must needes mooue him oft to sigh for the same and say Oh that I might once haue my part in this vnestimable treasure but presently comes into his minde his owne vnworthinesse which driues him as farre backe from all hope that euer any such as hee should haue part therein wherin many a poore soule doth remaine a long season because he cannot see any thing which might make him bold to beleeue that there is any such benefite prepared for him For remedy wherof he is in the second place deeply to weigh this wonderfull mercy of God 2. To whom who so freely offers this great benefit of Christ and all his merits not to the righteous but to sinners yea to all without exception to whom the Gospell commeth as wee haue seene in the former Scriptures where the ground of faith was laide and because such as haue most feeling of their sinnes are most fearefull and hardliest brought to beleeue that this is tendered to them therefore are they more especially called as appeareth Matthew 11. 28. Where Christ himselfe hauing proclaimed that all things are deliuered to him of his Father Mat. 28. 18. meaning as els where Heb. 7. 27. that all power is giuen to him whereby he is perfectly able to saue all them that come vnto God by him inuiteth all that labour and are heauy laden to come vnto him promising that he will ease them wherby euery poore sinner who feeles his woefull estate by reason of his sinne and Gods curse hanging ouer his head for the same may certainely know that hee is the party whom Christ calleth to come to him and to whom this benefite of Christ and saluation in him is freely offered that so he may be somewhat more raised vp to conceiue hope that hee shall in due time enioy the same to which end euery one who faine would beleeue is to consider that as there is no grace in any why hee should hope for such fauour at Gods hand for Gods mercy in preparing and offering his Sonne a redemption for sinners is altogether
Faith for our saluation by Christ For our strengthening in both of these assurances the Lord maketh diuers promises In all of which wee shall finde vsually these two things Matter what First what bee the excellent benefites and vnsearchable riches which be brought to vs in Christ which bee set forth vnto vs sometimes generallie all in a lumpe that hee will saue vs and sometimes more particularlie that hee will forgiue and cleanse vs all to this end to draw vp our earthly mindes and affections so to hunger and thirst after them as neuer to be at rest till wee doe in some measure enioy them Secondly Persons to whom the persons to whom these bee in the Gospell proclamed that so euery one may applie them to himselfe by Faith and be assured they be his Both which shall now better appâ—are in the particular promises And first concerning Christ and the benefites brought by him Christ promised wee may well begin with that which was the first promise made to man and the foundation of all others where the Lord denouncing his vengeance against the Serpent the deuils instrument in seducing mankinde said Gen. 3. 15. And I will put enmitie betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seed and her seed It shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heele In which besides sundrie other things there intended this is chiefe for our purpose that Christ the promised seed of the woman should fullie conquer Sathan and his whole kingdome howsoeuer Sathan would continually molest the seede of the woman till hee were quite vanquished The selfesame matter is more plainelie taught Heb. 2. 14. that Christ tooke our nature That through death hee might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Deuill And deliuer them who for feare of death were all their life subiect to bondage Which if God had made no other promise might bee a sufficient word to perswade euery soule that heareth it not onely to desire and seeke this deliuerance by Christ but to beleeue that hee shall enioy it seeing God hath so faithfully said it For the further confirmation of the faith of gods people in this point in all ages the Lord renewed this promise of sending Christ the promised seede As immediatly after the flood Noah by Prophesie blessing his two sonnes said God shall enlarge Iaphet and hee shall dwell in the tents of Sheâ—â— Gen. 9. 27. Which intendeth that wee Gentils Gal. 3. 16. should be called to bee one body with the Iewes in Christ The same was afterwards oft renewed to Abraham 22. 18. In thy seede shall all the nations of the earth be blessed 26. 4. 28. 14 Act. 3. 25. The like to Isaacke and to Iacob also In all which Christ was promised the true seede in whom alone all families be blessed And so forward in all succeeding ages Moses and all the Prophets in their times foretold of Christ as we reade Act. 3. 24. 10. 43. So that it is needelesse to write all the scriptures tending to this point All this serues thus to strengthen the faith of all that will giue credit to God Vse that seeing the Lord nourished the faith of his Church from Adam to Christ with those promises of saluation by Christ the promised seede we therfore may boldly rest hereupon much the rather seeing we vnder the Gospel haue all things fulfilled which they vnder the former Testament sawe a farre off Heb. 11. 13 and were perswaded of them and embraced them To passe ouer then all the promises of the olde Testament concerning Christ his benefits to come to the new Multitude of promises concerning Christ wherein all things which were foretolde are fully accomplished and wee may with open face beholde as in a glasse 2. Cor. 3. 17 the glory of the Lord. Here be so many promises wherein Christ and his benefites bee set foorth vnto vs that the bare rehearsing of them without any further opening of them would make a sufficient book and longer I feare then any of our idle professours would once reade ouer I intend therefore to range these into some order and to make choice of some principall of euery sort and by them to shew how wee may make vse of the rest that are of the same kind Now all these promises concerning this first point for the strengthening of our faith in the assurance of our saluation by Christ be propounded either generally or more specially as was before said Generall Matter Generally Persons in respect of the matter promised as that Christ shall saue vs and the like as also of the persons to whom these promises be performed that is generally to all mankinde Both which be for the most part ioyned together what is promised and to whom therefore we will handle them together for breuity sake least otherwise wee should be faine to alleage the same scriptures againe to sundry purposes which would bee tedious which I desire to auoide To begin then with the very names which throughout the new Testament bee giuen to our redeemer Iesus Christ they are both of great force to confirme our faith When the angell Gabriel was sent from God to the Virgin Mary with that heauenly salutation he told her That she should conceiue in her wombe and bring foorth a Sonne and she shall call his name Iesus Iesus Whereof the Euangelist Mat. giues this reason Luk. 1. 26. 31 for hee shall saue his people from their sinne Mat. 1. 21. and to like effect oft All flesh shall see the saluation of God Luk. 3. 6. 1 When Christ came to Zacheus he saide This day is saluation come to this house 19. 9 10. for as much as he also is the sonne of Abraham for the Sonne of man is come to seek and to saue that which is lost Christ himselfe saide Ioh. 3. 17. God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him should be saued And againe I came not to iudge the world 12. 47. but to saue the world And to heape vp no more of this sort to this end is Christ to oft called our Sauiour In all which we ought to reason thus Vse Seeing the eternall Son of God did take mans nature and so was Immanuel God with vs Mat. 1. 23. as the Euangelist Matthew Esa 7. 14. sheweth out of the Prophet and that to this end to saue vs being lost and not to condemne the world but to saue the world therefore vnlesse we will thinke all this is but a fable we are vndoubtedly to beleeue that there is in this Iesus and in him alone saluation for vs sinners Act. 4. 12. For there is no other name vnder heauen giuen among men whereby wee must bee saued And further if wee will not despise this wonderfull mercy of God in sending his Sonne and of
be acceptable to God now by this all sufficient sacrifice of Christ all that lay hold on Christ by faith and so apply his sacrifice to themselues they shall bee accepted of God and their obedience pleasing to God in his perfect obedience Which alone is a sufficient meanes by the operation of the Holy Ghost to drawe any that heare and conceiue this to cast themselues wholy vpon Christ and to seeke for Gods fauour and all the fruits thereof onely in this sacrifice of Christ Besides these there bee many other Scriptures which in generall set out Christ and his benefits to vs but if they be well marked it will appeare they be contained vnder these As for example where Christ compares himselfe to a Vine Ioh. 15. 1. to teach that as the branch hath his whole life from the stocke so wee haue all our life from him so doth hee call himselfe the bread of life and is said to bee the head of the body Ioh. 6. 35. That he is full of grace and truth Ioh. 1. 14. Againe Hee that spared not his owne Sonne Rom. 8. 32. but deliuered him vp for vs all how shall hee not with him also Esa 55. 3. freely giue vs all things Againe I will giue you the sure mercies of Dauid Act. 13. 34. that is all those good things which were promised in Christ who was the seede of Dauid In all these and many moe Vse we see the intent of the Holy Ghost was to giue vs in one view a sight of all that good which Christ hath brought vs that heereby euery one who hears hereof may both wonder at Gods vnspeakeable mercy in prouiding so many and so great blessings in Christ for vs his enemies and hereby also bee drawne to labour by all meanes to be made partakers of them And this shall suffise to haue set out some of the generall promises and the vse of them how wee are to strengthen our faith by them Onely this I will adde concerning these When speciall want make vse of generall that if at any time in our doubts and feares for any particular distresse wee cannot readily remember some particular promise whereby wee might bee comforted then wee may safely runne to one of these generall promises which doe containe all particulars and so apply it to our present neede As for example if any poore soule should fall into great doubtings of Gods fauour by reason of some great affliction that lay heauy vpon him or some corruption which he could not master and in this perplexity could not thinke of any speciall promise whereout hee might gather some comfort then may he boldly lay hold vpon any one of these generall promises and rest thereupon for comfort in this maner O Lord thou hast said in thy holy word which is the word of truth that the Sonne of man is come to saue that which is lost Luk. 19. 10. Lord I am lost and see nothing in my selfe to helpe mee therefore I do wholly rest vpon Christ and looke for helpe only by him The same may bee said of all the generall promises the least of which contain matter enough to support vs in all our feares if we could fitly apply them Wherein I doe againe forewarne euery one who desires to beleeue in God Looke for nothing in thy selfe to cause thee to beleeue and so to liue by his faith aboue all to deny himselfe and not to looke for any thing in himselfe why he should beleeue which I haue obserued to bee a maine hinderance from true beleeuing but to cast all our thoughts vpon God First how mercifull hee is to prouide such helpe for poore sinners in Christ and freely to offer it vnto them in his word and secondly how faithfull hee is to performe all that he hath said that by this meanes the poore sinner may bee mooued to beleeue in God that he will surely succour and comfort him in due season and measure Thus would I now passe from these generall promises For the persons to whom first to all and come to the speciall but that I feare I haue not sufficiently cleared one point concerning these generals namely for the persons to whom God preacheth and proclaimeth these mercies that they may beleeue I speake not here who shall enioy these who be only beleeuers and their seed but to whom these bee offered From whence be raised the greatest doubts in many for their saluation that they know not themselues to bee of that number to whom God doth truely offer these mercies and no maruell For as it is not possible for a rebell against his Soueraigne to beleeue he shall be pardoned vnlesse he be sure that hee is contained vnder the Princes pardon so no sinner can beleeue to haue pardon till he know that he is in the number of those to whom the pardon is proclaimed by God in the Gospell for the knowledge wherof either there must be some special marke of difference wherby it may be knowne to whom the pardon is proclaimed and to whom not or els it must bee generall to all But there is no such speciall certaine difference between sinners before faith wherby one may know the pardon is granted to him and such as he is and not to any other for then might some know themselues to bee vnder Gods speciall fauour that is elected before he beleeue which is impossible by any ordinary meanes therfore of necessity the onely way whereby anie may know himselfe to be contained vnder the pardon is this that he heares that God in his Gospel doth proclaime forgiuenesse of sinne in Christ without exception to all sinners that whosoeuer heareth and beleeueth shall bee saued the rest shall bee condemned for not beleeuing and not accepting this mercy offered to them Hauing in the former part of this Treatise sufficiently prooued by many Scriptures this point that Christ and all his benefites be freely offred without exception to all mankinde as that one place Mark 16. 15. expresly sheweth I only now aduise euery one who is kept from beleeuing by this that he knowes not whether he bee contained vnder the pardon or no not to looke to Gods secret will but to attend to Gods reuealed will in his word wherein it is expresly said That God would haue no man to perish 2. Pet. 3 9. but would haue all men to come to repentance Ezek. 18. 23. 32. and so oft That he desires not tht death of a sinner that hereby hee may bee mooued to seeke and hope for that mercie which God is so willing to bestow vpon vpon him if the fault be not in his owne selfe as it was in the vnbeleeulng Iewes in Ierusalem Mat. 23. 37 of whom our Sauiour complained saying How often would I haue gathered thy children as the henne gathereth her chickens vnder her wings and yee would not A further manifestation of this willingnesse in God to saue
weeping and with supplications wil I lead them 31. 9. I will cause them to walke by the riuers of waters in a straite way wherein they shall not stumble for I am a Father to Israel and Ephraim is my first borne 50. 4. And againe In those dayes and in that time saith the Lord the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Iudah together going and weeping they shall goe and seeke the Lord their God Hosea 3. 5. c. So Zacharie in his time prophesied that God would powre out vpon the house of Dauid Zach. 12. 10. and vpon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplications They shall call vpon my name 13. 9. and I will heare them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God Our Lord Iesus Christ in his time comforted his Disciples that they should not so hang vpon him as to haue no confidence in God the Father Ioh. 16. 23. but they shall boldly pray to the Father in his name 24. and shall receiue whatsoeuer they aske 26. No doubt but more places to this purpose might be cited The maine intent of them all Vse is not so much to shew it is our duty thus to seeke the Lord and to call vpon him or to perswade thereunto which is in many Scriptures required but rather whereas many are very willing to call vpon God according to his will and so as might please him but finding so small abilitie to pray as they would they be discouraged all this is to draw them to beleeue that God by his Spirit will teach them to pray so as he will heare them the certainty whereof depends not vpon any worthinesse of our persons or prayers but only vpon the mercy of God in promising and vpon his truth in performing his promise both which we deny and so robbe God of his chiefest honour if wee beleeue not that God will make vs able by his Spirit so to call vpon him as he will accept in his Son And therefore in all our doubts and feares about this matter our onely refuge must bee to these promises and so to giue credite vnto them that we comfortably seeke and looke for helpe from God when we can finde none in our selues And thus much for our comfort that God will assist vs by his Spirit in our prayers which also might suffise to assure vs that he will also accept vs for so much is expressed in the most of them and necessarily imployed in them all But seeing the Lord who better sees what we most need That God will accept our prayers then we doe our selues hath made so many promises that he will accept our poore seruices though neuer so weake if they be in truth which will be welcome newes to many an humble heart I may not defraud them of these comforts but will lay them open for their vse and beseech the Lord to make them profitable to all that vnfainedly desire it When Moses from God had sharply denounced feareful iudgments against Israel for their sin and namely a scattering among the heathen he addes this comfort But if from thence thou shalt seeke the Lord thy God thou shalt finde him Deut. 30. if thou seeke him with all thy heart and with all thy soule and to like effect hee addes much more This promise may be specially comfortable Vse to any poore soule cast downe in sense of some grieuous fall whereby he may see Gods readinesse to receiue any poore sinner comming vnto him The like promise did the Lord make to Salomon after his prayer saying Mine eyes shall be open 2. Chron. 7. 15. and mine eares attend to the prayer in this place And full oft we reade that the Lord promised to his people that if they should seeke him he would bee found of them as 2. Chron. 15. 2 the Prophet told Asa the King Ierem. 29. 13. And 1. Chron. 28. 9. Dauid said the same to Salomon his sonne Psal 34. 10. They that seeke the Lord shall not want any good thing The selfe same thing is truly to be gathered out of all these places where the faithfull professe either that God hath heard their prayers or their faith and confidence in God that hee will heare their prayers both which be grounded on Gods promises that hee will heare them Of this sort there be many as in the Psalmes so in sundry other Scriptures The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping Psal 6. 8 9. the Lord hath heard my supplication the Lord will receiue my prayer And Psal 9. 10. Thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seeke thee Psal 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine eare to heare Psal 18. 3. I will call vpon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I bee saued from mine enemies Psal 20. 6 Now I know the Lord saueth his annointed hee will heare him from his holy heauen with the sauing strength of his right hand These are sufficient to manifest this truth But seeing my scope is rather to stirre vp to beleeue I hope it will not be more tedious to any to reade these and consider them then it is to me to gather them and I may truely say I haue often read them with comfort For sometimes one sometimes another doth more affect I will therefore not spare to adde many moe To this purpose notable is that in the Psalme 34. 15. The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares are open to their cry verse 17. The righteous cry and the Lord heareth and deliuereth them out of all their troubles Which is oft repeated Psal 107. 6. 13. 19. 28. Psal 50. 15. the Lord saith Call vpon me in the day of trouble I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me And For thou Lord art good and ready to forgiue Psal 86. 5. and plenteous in mercy to all them that call vpon thee c. verse 6. 7. Psal 102 17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer to verse 20 to heare the groaning of the prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death Psal 145. 18. The Lord is nigh to all that call vpon him to all that call vpon him in truth He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him 19. he also will heare their cry and will saue them Prou. 15. 8. But the prayer of the vpright is his delight and verse 29. But hee heareth the prayer of the righteous He will be very gracious vnto thee at the voice of thy cry when he shall heare it he will answer thee Ioel 2. 32. And it shal come to passe that whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lord shall be deliuered Act. 2. 21. the same is repeated and Rom. 10. 13. Thus wee see how plentifully
And first to begin with those earthly blessings which be generall and containe all the particular blessings of this life It may appeare that this is Gods gracious intent to succour our weaknes who although we enjoy many good blessings for this present life as health and wealth food and raiment and the like many yet if we wanted but one it would much molest vs and take away our comfort and chearfulnesse in his service for this cause the Lord as a tender father desiring the welfare of his beloved child bids him be a good and obedient child and so promiseth him he shall not want any thing So I say the Lord our kind and tender father bids vs as good children hearken to his voyce and to be ruled by him and tels vs we shall not want any thing that is good as is expresly sayd Psal 34. where Dauid led by a late experience of Gods mightie delivering him out of a great danger composeth a Psalme of thankesgiuing vnto God for the same wherein he provoketh all other the faithfull servants of God as to praise God with him Psal 34. so to consider this bountie of the Lord Vers 3. saying O â—ast and see that the Lord is good 8. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him 9. And againe O feare the Lord yee his Saints for there is no want to them that feare him Yea more speaking as I vnderstand him of the mightie and cruell oppressours of the world who like devouring beasts doe eat vp as sheepe Gods poore people Vers 10. sayth The Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger but they that seeke the Lord shall not want any good thing and to like effect much more in that Psalme as you may read Psal 84 11. The Lord God is a Sunne and shield c. and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke vprightly Againe beholding how much it vexed Gods children to see the wicked prosper in this world and the godly many wayes distressed â—e of purpose made the 37. Psalme to hearten the godly against this sore tentation which hath in all ages much troubled Gods people as may be seene by the complaints of Iob and Ieremy Iob. 21. and many others Ier. 12. In this Psalme the Prophet doth plentifully handle this point Psal 37. that the state of the godly is farre better even in this life then the wicked besides the infinite oddes in the life to come for proofe whereof as he in many words sets out the short and soone fading prosperitie of the wicked so doth he more largely lay downe the blessed condition of the godly in things belonging to this life As vers 3. Trust in the Lord and doe good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Vers 4. Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he will giue thee the desires of thine heart Vers 5. Commit thy way vnto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe Vers 1â— But the meeke shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselues in the abundance of peace Vers 16. A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked With many other like in the same Psalme as you may see To the same purpose was made the 73. Psalme where he begins Yet God is good to Israel and to such as are of a cleane heart and doubtlesse many other Psalmes were made to comfort the faithfull in this life that God would be their portion and reliefe in all their necessities as Psal 16. 5. 6. Psal 23. is wholly to the same end which he propounds v. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want and so proues it in the verses following I might heape vp many other scriptures to this end for God hath not beene sparing in this kinde as every one who is exercised in the Scriptures can witnesse Mat. 6. 33. But seeke yee first the kiâ—gdome of God and his righteousnesse and all these shall be added vnto you This is that which is so oft repeated Deut. 5. 16. 5 33. 6. 3. 18. 22. 25. 28. That it may goe well with thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee This also must needs be meant in those Scriptures which set out the goodnesse of the Lord as Psal 3â— 19. O how great is thy goodnes which thou hast layd vp for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men And Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good and his tender mercies are over all his workes Its needles to cite more of these which be so common wherein Gods goodnesse louing kindnes and mercy and that specially in things belonging to this naturall life are commended vnto vs For seeing godlines hath the promises of this life aswell as of the life to come It cannot be doubted but in all those generall promises wherein God sayth He will dwell with his and not forsake them That God will loue and blesse his people That he will be their God Will reioyce ouer them to doe them good Will compasse them with favour as with a shield Will keepe his covenant with them That he will see peace in their borders and prosper them in all they goe about In these I say and the like many it cannot be doubted but all needfull blessings of this life be contained And therefore this should be the Vse Vse of all these generall promises we should make of them all that whensoever we feele our selues pinched with any earthly necessitie then to runne to any one of these gracious promises that so well considering what abundant reliefe is contained in them we may quiet and content our minds therewith assuring our selues that seeing he is faithfull who hath promised we shall not want any earthly blessing at what time and in what measure it shall be good for vs. These generall promises of all good things for this life are the more to be observed in reading the Scriptures and at least some of the most principall in our conceit to be kept in memory that they may be ready for our vse in time of need both for that these be many mo and more oft repeated in Scripture then any particular and also for that we cannot alwayes haue ready the particular promises for our speciall necessities when we haue most need of them And this might be sufficient to haue spoken of this point for the strengthning of our faith in the assurance that we shall not want any earthly blessing which shall be needfull for vs. But seeing the Lord hath so far yeelded to our infirmitie Speciall promises as to apply his promises to our speciall necessities it shall be available for our comfort to take knowledge of them that so we may make our vse of them as need shall require Among all earthly blessings Long life life it selfe is the chiefe for vpon it