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A09780
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The fauourite: or, A plaine demonstration from Holy Scripture of Gods especiall loue to the righteous, in a sermon preached at S. Andrewes in Norwich, the 18. of Nouemb. 1611. since enlarged and newly published for the comfort of Gods people. By Timo: Plummer preacher of Gods word
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Plummer, Timothy.
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1622
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STC 20050; ESTC S105176
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25,009
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62
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Gods reuealed will the onely rule of righteousnes 2. Cor 3.18 1. Cor. 15.49 and that from one degree vnto another vntill at the last hee hath Gods image repayred and restored in as ample and better manner then euer it was at the first Psal 17.15 Eph. 5.27 to the prayse and glory of Gods rich grace VVHen on the contrary a wicked man is such an one A description of a wicked man Ephes 2.1 1. Tim. 5 6. Eph. 4.18 2. Tim. 2.26 Eph. 2.3 1. Cor. 2.14 Phil. 2.13 Prou. 15.8 Esa 26.10 as beeing the cursed off-spring of rebellious Adam is by Gods eternall and iust appointment left in that damnable estate who beeing dead in sinnes and trespasses that is to say hauing his minde darkened his will captiuated his affections disordered is not able to vnderstand will or doe any thing pleasing vnto God in the whole course of his life yea notwithstanding all the meanes God vseth and fauour he sheweth to reclayme him there is none effectuall vnto him he will not learne righteousnesse but dayly walke in the willfull breach of Gods righteous Lawe waxing worse and worse and treasuring vnto himselfe wrath against the day of wrath 2. Tim. 3.13 Rom. 2.5 â— and reuelation of the righteous iudgment of God FIrst if wee now make a suruay of the face of the world 1. Vse wee shall finde the wicked swarme and gather together in great multitudes but for men qualified according to our description of the righteous man the number will be very small so that we may haue iust cause to obserue and bewaile the paucitie and fewnesse of those that are truly righteous God in the old world found onely Noah that righteous man and a preacher of righteousnesse 2. Pet. 2.5 Gen. 7.1 Thee haue I found righteous before mee in this generation In Sodom and Gomorrha there was not found ten righteons men though they might haue saued the whole Cities from perdition Gen. 18. Onely Lot is deliuered that righteous man that dwelt amongst them who seeing and hearing 2. Pet. 2.7 vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their vnlawfull deedes Iob 1.8 In Iobs time there was none like to him in the earth Yea it is the continuall complaint of the Prophets and Apostles Psal 12.1 Esay 57.1 Mich. 7.2 Rom. 9. that few are found walking in Gods righteous Law And shall we that are fallen into the dregges of time looke to sinde a greater plentie though wee search the world with lights But what shall we say or doe when wee finde such scarcitie and want of righteousnesse on the earth We must pray that righteousnes may looke downe from heauen Psal 85.11 Psal 4.1 Let vs desire the God of our righteousnesse to array the Church his Bride with fine linnen cleane and white the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of the Saints Reuel 19.8 In particular let vs put vp our suites in the behalfe of our English nation Prou. 14.34 that righteousnesse may exalt it and that sinne may not be a reproach vnto it In speciall manner for the Kings most excellent Maiestie Prou. 16.12 25.5 Psal 7â— 1 that his Royall throne may still bee established through righteousnesse Giue thy iudgements oh Lord vnto the King and thy righteousnesse vnto the Kings Sonne Let vs not forget the Illustrious Prince and Princesse Palatine with their hopefull issue but pray that God would blesse him in all his iust designes that his righteousnes may be brought forth as the light Psal 37.6 and his iudgement as the noone day Let all in authoritie vnder his Maiestie in Church and Common-wealth be compassed about with righteousnesse Let the Magistrates put on righteousnesse as a Robe and a Diademe Iob 30.14 Psal 132 9. and let thy Priests bee cloathed endue thy Ministers with righteousnesse yea let vs pray that euery priuate man may haue on him the brestplate of righteousnesse Eph. 6.14 that we may offer daily the sacrifice of righteousnesse Psal 4.5 putting our trust in the Lord Oh Lord leade euery one of vs by thy Spirit in the pathes of righteousnes vntil thou commest to iudge the world in righteousnesse Psal 9.8 Act. 17.31 2. Pet. 3.13 making a new heauen and a new earth wherein shall dwell righteousnesse Amen and Amen Vse 2 Secondly vpon our survay wee exclude from all comfort of this doctrine the greatest part of the world which are openly prophane and grossely wicked That hold the truth in vnrighteousnesse Rom. 1.18 whose lust is there law who haue no feare of God before their eyes Psal 36.1 c. as yee may reade euery where in the booke of God Against such the wrath of God is reuealed from heauen 1. Cor. 6.9 Verse 10. Know yee not that the vnrighteous shall not inherite the Kingdome of God Be not deceiued neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselues with mankinde nor theeues nor couetous nor drunkards nor reuilers nor extortioners shall inherite the Kingdome of God And is this all their punishment this is punishment enough It is a hell to be out of heauen yet it were happie for them if they might escape with the depriuation of heauen but they shall be turned into hell Psal 9.17 the place prepared of old for the diuell and his angels Mat. 25.41 It was principally ordained for the diuell and his angels but wicked men sinning doe as it were encroach vpon the diuels right It is iust with God since wicked men will sinne like the diuell that they be punished with the diuell But oh thou liuing man while their is life in thy bodie there is hope of thy soule if thou wilt turne vnto the Lord he will receiue thee into fauour as I liue saith the Lord I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked Ezech. 33.11 but that hee should turne from his way and liue Turne yee turne ye from your euill waies for why will ye die ye house of Israel Discite iustitiam moniti non temnere diuos Learne in time before the gate of Gods mercy be shut to breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by shewing mercie to the poore Dan. 4.27 by a holy restitution of wrongs by the daily practise of repentance if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquilitie both in this life and in the life to come Let my counsell bee acceptable vnto thee doe not sell thy selfe to worke wickednes and gaine nothing but a roome in hell 1. King 21.25 in Tophet ordained of old Yea for the King it is prepared saith the Prophet he hath made it deepe and large Esay 30.33 the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a streame of brimstone doth kindle it Vse 3 Thirdly by this description we also vncase the hypocrite and ciuill man Luk. 18.9 Prou. 30.12 who haue
onely the outward shew and conceit of righteousnesse without the inward sound solide and substantiall change in heart and life Math. 23.27 28. Woe vnto you Scribes and Pharises Hypocrites for you are like vnto painted Sepulchres which indeed appeare beautifull outward but are within full of dead mens bones and of all vncleannesse euen so ye also appeare righteous vnto men but within are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie Therefore let me say vnto you as our Sauiour said vnto his hearers Except your righteousnesse exceede the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisies Math. 5.20 ye cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen Ye see in what damnable estate you are in ye are in no better case then notorious sinners nay I feare in worse There are most woes denounced against such Math. 23. The hypocrite is hatefull to God and man Fained sanctity is accounted double iniquitie and when God threatneth to punish extreamely hee will giue them their portion with hypocrites Mat. 24.51 Vse 4 Fourthly wee hence enforce a double exhortation 1. That euery one of vs would goe out of our selues First exhortation Rom. 13.14 Matth. 22.11 and get into the true fountaine of righteousnesse Put on the Lord Iesus Christ Put him on as a rich robe of righteousnesse the onely wedding garment of our soule Let vs not content our selues with a dreame figment and vaine shadow of righteousnesse but labour with S. Paul to be found in him not hauing our owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ Phil. 3.9 the righteousnes which is of God by faith If we be not found in him cloathed with his righteousnesse we shal be cloathed with perpetuall shame Let not the enemies of Gods grace the Papists perswade vs to weaue the spiders webbe of our owne workes Act. 13.10 Esay 39.5 They shall not become garments neither shall they couer themselues with their workes saith the Prophet Indeede if we presume to bring before God our workes they will bee in his sight but workes of iniquitie Verse 6. as in the same place Yea Beloued in the Lord Knowing that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Lawe Gal. 2.16 but by the faith of Iesus Christ let vs freely confesse In the Lord we haue our righteousnes and strength Esa 45.24 If God should enter into iudgement with vs no man liuing could be iustified Psal 143.2 Doth not Saint Iames labour to make men see 1. Obiect Iam. 2.24 that by workes a man is iustified and not by faith onely And yet S. Paul from good premises concludes That a man is iustified by faith without the deeds of the Law Rom. 3.28 Doe these Master builders and maine pillars of the Church differ and disagree in this fundamentall point of our saluation Answ The seeming iarres and oppositions found in Scripture may be easily reconciled if we plow with Gods Heifer S. Iames speaketh of iustification before men and so he maketh workes to iustifie Declaratiuè declaring who are to be accounted righteous in the Court of Sanctification and by this meanes the Apostle layeth the idle emptie verball professour vpon his backe who onely braggeth of faith not hauing the fruits thereof but remaine a dead and fruitlesse tree ready to bee cut downe and cast into the fire But Saint Paul speaketh of iustifying before God and so he maketh the poore hand of faith to iustifie Apprehensiuè apprehending Math. 3.10 applying and appropriating the righteousnesse of Christ vnto the sinner Rom. 4.5 by which the sinner may with boldnes appeare before Gods tribunall in the Court of iustification and by this meanes the Apostle beateth downe the proud conceited Pharisaicall Iusticiary that dares obtrude and thrust vpon God his owne good workes good intents and good meanings Yea this shall bee found an infallible truth that Christ came not to call such righteous but sinners to repentance Math. 9.13 The poore Publican that humbly confesseth his sinnes and desireth Gods mercy in the merits of Christ Luk. 18.14 is the man that goeth away iustified rather then the other Obiect 2 Doth not Dauid say Iudge me oh Lord according to my righteousnesse Psal 7.8 Ans I answer by distinguishing of righteousnes there is a double righteousnes one of the person another of the cause Dauid there would haue God to iudge him according to the goodnesse or righteousnes of his cause therefore if thou lookest euer to come to heauen cast away thine owne righteousnes as dung and drosse For as the Israelites did not possesse the land of Canaan for their righteousnes Deut. 9.4.5 6. Tit. 3.5 so thinke not thou to climbe vp to heauen by thine own workes and merits Let me deale plainely bee not so sortish to thinke of deseruing at Gods hands by thy workes of legall righteousnes considering what thou maist reade in Job against this conceit Iob 22.3 35.7 Is it any pleasure to the almighty that thou art righteous or is it gaine to him that thou makest thy wayes perfect If thou be righteous what giuest thou him or what receiueth hee of thine hand When we haue done all things commanded vs of God let vs say in truth and humility wee are vnprofitable seruants Obiect 3 Are not we enemies to good works by this doctrine Doe we not hinder well doing May not men say what vse haue we of good works when you so strictly preach faith onely Ans No we call as feruently and frequently for good workes as any Papist in the world and vpon farre better grounds and will any wise man say We are enemies to Noblemen if wee saye that Noblemen must not bee Kings Is there not other good vse in the state for Noblemen though they be not Kings and sit vpon the Regall throne So are there not other good vses of good workes though they be not admitted to be Causae regnandi and put in the top of Iustification May they not be Viae ad Regnum Eph. 2.10 wayes that God haue appointed vs to walke in Is it nothing that our heauenly Father is glorified by good workes Mat. 5.16 Gal. 6.10 2. Pet. 1.10 And that our brethren are many wayes bettered by them and that wee our selues are by the same assured of our effectuall calling and eternal election And know further that wee doe not so strictly call for faith onely but that we require works Iam. 2.18 the fruites of faith to iustifie and testifie the life and truth of the same faith Gal. 5.6 yea although faith other graces and workes be together in a Christian yet they doe not iustifie together they concurre not in the act of Iustification But as the cares and eyes are together in a man and the eyes onely see and as light and heate are together in the fire and the heat onely warmeth So faith loue and workes are in a true Christian but