and not locked and shut vp in time of danger Psal 42 Hee is my present helpe and my God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In whom that is in Christ wee haue this accesse and entrance to God and Faith giues it and workes it for vs not in our selues our workes merites righteousnesse oâ— by the mediation of any Saint or Angel No creature can make way for vs to God but Christ his Sonne Rom. 5.2 1. Pet. 3.18 Who died for sinners the iust for the vniust that hee might bring vs to God Iohn 14.6 I am the Way the Trueth and the Life no man commeth to the Father but by me No way to God but Christ no entrance to him but by his Sonne By Satan and Adam wee were led out of the way banished and separated from God the deuill teaching and leading vs a false way how wee should come to bee Gods knowing good and euill and so lead vs in the way of perdition from God this hee did by lies and falsehood deceiuing vs and so killing vs and euery sin like Satan its parent doeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 draw vs out of the way from God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intise vs with promises of false comforts profits glorie and so kill vs. Iam. 1.13 14. Rom. 7 11. Now Christ contrary to Satan and to all sinne as a Prophet hee teacheth vs the right way and as a great high Priest of good things to come Heb. 9.11 and such as are truely good and not onely hauing the shadowes of good things hee giues vs true good things by the word of trueth which is the Gospel Heb. 9.11 with 10. 1. Iohn 1.17 This Law of shadowes was giuen by Moses but Grace and Trueth comes by Iesus Christ and whereas Satan and sinne kill by deceit and raigne ouer vs by death Christ as King and Lord of life quickens vs. No man in sinne and Satan could so much as see God and liue but now Christ is both our way to God aâ— our Prophet the Trueth of all shadowes and ceremonies of the Lawe as true Priest by whom wee goe to God and as King and Lord of life wee liue by him Hee is our light as Prophet to shew vs the way hee is our Priest to make the way to God hee is our King to make vs liue in Gods sight that we may not crie as Hos 14. Hee shall reuiue vs and wee shall liue in his sight This is our confident accesse to God without feare that the sight and presence of God shall not kill vs. All the workes righteousnesse and mediation of men and Angels cannot make way for vs to God but onely Christ his Sonne Hee is the only way and entrance to God Reason For Gods loue mercie face presence are shut vp from vs and infinitly remooued from sinners yea such is the contrarietie of mans corrupt nature to Gods infinite pure and holy nature that it infinitly separates and remooues him from God Luk. 16.26 by such a â—hasma or gulfe that onely by such a person and high Priest as is infinitely holy separate from sinners Heb. 7.22 and higher then the Heauens can this gulfe bee filled vp to make way to God Therefore Christ first descended into the bottome of our hell Eph. 4.9.10 and miserie and from thence ascended Heb. 2.9.10 farre aboue all things that hee might bee our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bring many children vnto Glory Heb. 2. For be we neuer so neere God in place Church ordinances yea and haue God in our mouthes and could eate his reall flesh yet our hearts and natures are infinitly remooued and separated from God without Christ the Sonne of his bosome bring vs to him and hee is Emanuel God with vs so that now Rom. 8.39 neither height nor depth can separate vs the Sonne of God the second person hauing brought vs so neere to God For no euill is so great a meanes of separating vs from God as Christ is good and a meanes to bring vs to God the chiefe good No euill of sinne or punishment so contrary or remote from God as Christ is neere to God equall with God and one with God and pleaseth God more then all sinnes can displease him Matth. 3. vlt. My beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased Mat. 3.17 Iohn 1.18 Iohn 1. The onely begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father hee vnfolds God to vs and makes vs neerer and deerer to God then sinne which comes out of the bosome of the deuill can make vs hatefull and detestable to God and this onely Christ can doe To bring two such contrary natures together as light and darkenesse Gods infinite pure nature and our fleshly corrupt nature must needes bee by an infinite meanes of infinite merit and vertue God and sinne are so contrary Therefore count all as doung for Christ to bring thee to God Our wit wealth beauty learning righteousnesse goodnesse may make way for vs to men and Kings priuie-chambers and to mens Thrones and Courts Rom. 4.1 But considered with our sinnes they are doung to God and hee casts vs and all ours as dung out of doores see Phil. 3.7.8 Hereby wee see the difference betweene Philosophy the glasse of the creatures the Law of God and the glasse of the Gospel 2. Cor. 3.18 In the Law and in Philosophy this question is much moued and intreated of what the chiefe good and happinesse of man is and how it may bee attained but onely Faith in the glasse of the Gospel resolues it fully To see the face of God which is our life and happinesse to behold the Father of glory and to attaine to this chiefe good and by what way and meanes to compasse him Rom. 16.25 Ephes 3.5 is the mystery hid from the foundation of the world The creatures all crie and professe they are not the chiefe good but point at God their Creator and direct vs to him The Law more cleerely shewes God to bee the chiefe good but how we should attaine vnto him it shewes not but but by a way impossible for flesh to goe Rom. 8.2 But the Gospel doeth more fully reueale God as mans chiefe good and shewes Christ to bee the onely way and meanes of comming to him Nature and Philosophy and all wit of man is dimme and weake in seeing and apprehending God the chiefe good but it s starke blind to discerne the way and meanes whereby man especially a sinner may come vnto God This is that hid wisedome 1. Cor. 2.7.9 which God determined before the worlds to our glory which neither eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor euer entred into the heart of man or Angel to conceiue how once falling from God by sinne they should euer bee able to recouer God againe and come into fauour and fellowship with him For there is no way in nature as by creation to God all way is hedged and stopped vp by sinne All
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
naturall good things haue a naturall way prepared by creation wherby to be attained but there is no way to attaine to that supernaturall chiefe good it s a light which cannot bee attained vnto 1. Tim. 6.16 The way is now prepared by grace that is Christ the Sonne sent from Heauen Ioh. 17.3 not borne by nature as a naturall way but sent from aboue as a Ladder reached vp to Heauen Gen. 28.12 Gods saluation which hee prepared before the face of all people Luk. 2.31 Luke 2.31 Question How is it then that wee are said to prepare the way Matth. 3.3 Answere Our preparation is for Christ who is the way It s not a way made by vs to God but a fitting of our selues for Christ who is the way and that is as much as in vs lyeth remoouing the things that hinder vs that is our sinnes by repentance and by faith receiuing Christ Not that repentance and Faith are our way or any meanes to attaine God our chiefe good but as preparations qualifications for Christ who is the only way and meanes of obtaining God For faith of it selfe and Repentance doe not iustifie vs or commend vs to God but dispose vs for Christ to inioy vse and improoue him in whom we walke as in the way to God and eternall life and happinesse Faith and Repentance and al◠good works are not worth a rush nor haue any vertue to bring vs to God but as they are from Christ and doe vse improoue Christ By faith we receiue and choose Christ as the only way to God forsaking all other waies and meanes and by repentance wee walke in Christ as in the way to God Col. 2.6 As yee haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him so that neither Faith nor repentance are the way but Christ Therefore as yee haue receiued Christ by faith as the way so walke in this way by Repentance that is forsaking all sinne and all meanes of safetie and lying vanities make vse of Christ Iesus only for all sauing good Who is made vnto vs of the Father Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification Redemption 1. Cor. 1.30 For Faith Repentance and all the works in the world without Christ cannot bring vs to God and are of no worth with God but as they make vse and improouement of Christ Vse Let vs therefore care for nothing but to get Christ and let Christ be the End of our Faith and Workes All our gaine and aduantage in life and death Phil. 1.21 and then let Christ alone for bringing vs to life heauen and happinesse Let vs by Faith make way for Christ to come into our hearts to be our Prophet Priest King Sheepheard that we may receiue him offering himself and then hee will make way for vs to God to heauen and eternall happinesse Let vs as sheepe that goe astray daily by Repentance Conuert and returne to Christ the Sheepheard of our soules 1. Pet. 3. vlt. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Accesse with confidence or a confident accesse not such as was vnder the Law with feare and trembling where the sight was so terrible that Moses said I feare and quake See Heb. 12.12 13. with verse 18 19 20. Wee come not before God as Diuels and Malefactors drawne into Gods presence as before the Iudge with feare and trembling to be arraigned vnwillingly inforced by conscience nor yet as vncertaine beggers that roue and wander vp and downe for helpe and knocke at euery doore and so goe to Gods doore but know not what intertainement they shall haue there But wee haue good assurance and good securitie and go confidently in exspectation of finding good entertainment with God Heb. 12.12 13. Lift vp your weake hands and strengthen your feeble knees and make streight steps to your feete least that which is halting be turned out of the way c. As if he had said There is great danger and feare we bee turned cleane out of the way if we goe not confidently in the way Prou. 18.10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous runneth to it and is exalted Running implies confidence Psal 33.6 They shall runne to him and their faces shall not be ashamed c. Vse This the property and vertue of this true Faith in Christ the Sonne of God our Mediatour whereby we must prooue and trie it and difference it from all faith in all creatures and all meanes out of Christ and all that affiance that man can haue in any naturall worldly helpes that this Faith in Christ steeles the heart and strengthens it with inuincible confidence more then any faith in any religion or any creature in the world It breeds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a confident glorying and boasting Heb. 3. 2. Chron. 20.20 Trust in the Lord and ye shall be assured Rom. 5.2 that is your hearts shall be confident and free from those feares scruples auxieties whereby carnall men that trust in earthly things Luk. 12.29 hang in suspence like Meteors in the aire wasting themselues and their liues with continual cares feares and griefes and are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Iam. 1.6 7 8. running from one helpe to another and are neuer secure Psal 27.14 Be strong and he shall strengthen your heart that is seeke all your strength and safetie by faith in God and not in earthly things and God shall strengthen your hearts with confidence No faith breeds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but this Luke 1.4 that is full certainty and Act. 2.36 Phil. 3.1 All other refuges that men flye vnto are with doubting anxiety and some distrust whether our workes or mediation of Saints or Angels or any creature because both the refuges themselues are not sure nor cannot promise certaine infallible helpe and therefore can giue no full securitie to the minde but God is a most sure inuincible and impregnable defence and strong tower and therefore the righteous runne to it with full confidence or secondly the meanes that men vse to attaine thereto may faile them and therefore they vse them not without care feare anxiety but Christ is a most sure and infallible meanes to bring vs to God and cannot faile and therefore this Faith in him breeds that confidence That as God is a sure strong and vndoubted defence that no man can make question So is Christ his Son like him as sure a Meane and Mediatour to come to him and to obtaine him But of this vertue of Faith and how it s increased and confirmed in Christ the obiect shall appeare more in the next Sermon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is boldnesse of face and freedome of speech Of all the vertues of Christ which he dwelling in our hearts exerciseth in vs Psal 3.3 this is one of the chiefe that he is the lifter vp of our heads and exalts our faces before God and giues vs free liberty of speech to plead with God that wee poore sinners dust and ashes
by this Manuduction is healed that wee may goe to God with boldnesse and confidence There bee two things that make boldnesse and confidence and the contrary makes feare and diffidence First affinitie of nature Secondly familiaritie and acquaintance the first is the cause of the latter The corruption and contrarietie of our nature and our estrangement and vnacquaintance with God by dayly defection from him by actuall sinne makes vs feare and distrust God and therefore cannot nor dare not goe to God by our selues but wee must be led by such a one as is of the same infinite Holy and perfect nature with God and neuer departed from him Ioh. 1.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but lies alwayes in his bosome who leading vs by the hand wee haue boldnesse towards God For that wee may bee bould and confident with God First our hearts natures and consciences must bee purged from all that which is contrary to God and made of Gods nature Secondly wee must haue perfect acquaintance with God as lying in his bosome neither of which haue wee in our selues and in our owne persons but in the person of Christ dwelling in our hearts by Faith Ephes 3.17 and by putting on the Lord Iesus Christ we haue both first our consciences are purged from all that which is contrary to God as the guilt of sinne as Hebr. 10. Draw neere with a true heart in assurance of Faith Faith first purgeth the heart and by that purgation after increaseth its owne assurance in the heart First a true heart purged and sanctified and then followes assurance of faith But what makes a true heart and like to God He shewes its one by two things First sprinckled with the blood of Christ to iustification and Christ dwelling in it Secondly washed in our bodies with pure water of sanctification begun in it As the strongest and stoutest creatures are afraid of those things which are contrary to their natures which other creatures neuer so weake feare not being of the same nature No more fearefull creature then a fish flying at the shadow of a man yet it feares not the Ocean sea because it s of its owne nature which Lyons and the stoutest creatures feare Acquaintance and familiaritie with God A sheepe feares not his Shepheard by reason of acquaintance whom yet the Beare and the Wolfe feare whatsoeuer is strange and vnacquainted is fearefull If we acquaint our selues with God and walke with him as his friends we shall haue the more bouldnesse with God Hos 13.8 else hee meetes vs as a Beare robbed of her whelps and as a Lyon in secret places In whom both these are wholly wanting as in Deuils and all wicked men there is no accesse to God no acquaintance nor communion with him as in all of vs by nature wee are alients from God and strangers from the wombe and goe astray and can neuer come where God is In whom these are imperfect as in the regenerate that nature is partly renewed and fellowship acquaintance with God in part to know God by repentance but in part through contrarietie and corruption of nature and defection from God dayly by actuall sins there is no immediate accesse to God but by a Mediatour leading by the hand as among men that are strangers though of the same nature In this mixt condition there is a mixt motion of accesse to God which is by the Manuduction of a Mediatour of perfect nature and intimate fellowshippe with God If in our owne persons wee were perfectly holy and like vnto God in our nature and had full and perfect acquaintance with God neuer departing from him nor estranged by any sinne then wee might goe to God of our selues and needed not a Mediatour to take vs by the hand Againe haue wee neuer so much corruption of nature if there bee any true grace and sparke of Gods nature and life in vs wee need not feare and runne away from God as long as wee haue a Mediatour to take vs by the hand who will not despise nor quench the smoaking flaxe Matth. 12. nor breake the bruised reede Heb. 10.14 but with one offering hath perfected for euer them that are sanctified in any small measure And though we dayly fall from fellowship with God by sinnes yet if there bee any constant will and desire of repentance and seedes of conuersion acquaintance with God and that wee hate not fellowship with God as the Deuils and flie from him as they are not capable of a Mediatour by such a contrariety to lead them neither are such their children We are capable of a Mediatour to bring vs into perfect fellowshippe with God and of such a Shepheard to leade vs and conuert vs. 1. Iohn 2.1 2. God in himselfe is full and perfect light See 1. Ioh. 1 5.10 with chap. 2.1.2 and in him is no darkenesse at all Wee by nature are nothing but darkenesse and in vs is no light at all Now comes Christ a Mediatour betweene vs both that because there can be no communion betweene light and darknesse Christ the middle person in Trinitie becomes a middle person also betweene God and vs by taking our flesh betweene God that simple light and vs that are nothing but darkenesse communicating of both our natures and taking vpon him all our sinnes brings vs into fellowshippe with God reconciling and killing the enmitie betweene God and vs in iustification and then imparting Gods nature in part in sanctification which because its imperfect by his perfect sacrifice and intercession and leading to God dayly hee reneweth and increaseth our fellowship with God and communion till we be presented perfect in Christ Iesus to God his Father According therfore to our mixt condition in this life of light and darkenesse holinesse and corruption wee haue a mixt accesse to God which is by Manuduction Hence arise these consectaries First wee must haue sinne corruption of nature contrarietie and enmitie to God in nature and life and often fall from God by daily sinnes else we needed not a Mediator We might goe to God of our selues Secondly We haue neede of such and so great a Mediatour to lead vs to God as is holy harmelesse separate from sinners and made higher then the heauens because the cursed enmity of our natures and estrangement from God so requires it and needs it None other can lead such wicked sinners to God so full of enmitie and abhomination in nature and life to so iust and holy a God but such an infinite holy Sonne of God Thirdly If there be any sparke of God and Christs nature and life in vs its sufficient to make vs capable of such a Mediatour to take vs by the hand as his brethren partakers of his flesh blood to bring vs to God his Father Fourthly Such as haue no loue to God nor fellowship with Christ by repentance but loue darkenesse rather then light and fellowship with sinne and Satan haue
finde strength and nourishment of confidence by it so it also giues it and makes vs bold with God and fearelesse of sinne and death as Christ incourageth Ioh. 16. vlt. Vse Therefore renouncing all other meanes of courage and confidence and seeking not to make our selues safe and bould in our selues our workes righteousnesse wealth friends let vs goe onely by Faith to Christ to giue all true confidence securitie and comfort of minde and heart by his death and blood as the onely bread of life and strength to the soule and of cordiall vertues For all carnall men feele feare and griefe and anxietie of minde and in this sense they go to the world and wealth to the Lawe and workes and seeke to secure and strengthen and free themselues from these feares and griefes and to heale themselues by wealth and trusting here to and say If I could doe and liue thus and thus and had so much wealth or performe this or that righteousnesse then my minde would be quiet and at rest and fearelesse But these things can neuer giue securitie and rest to the minde and heart but vexation Goe to Christ by Faith and hee will giue thee rest Matth. 11. verse the last Vse Therefore confidence is as well a fruit of Faith as the forme of Faith For Faith goes to Christ for increase of it selfe its life and strength of confidence It could not goe at all to Christ if it had not some strength and life of confidence but because it feeles weakenesse of feare and doubting it goes to Christ to bee incouraged and strengthened and quickned more crying Luke 17.5 Lord increase our faith and giue vs mor◠courage and strength of Faith in heart by feeding vs with thy body and blood Mar. 9.24 Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe Therefore he saith here by Faith of him that is by going to Christ by Faith and betaking our selues to him and laying hold on him wee haue a confident accesse to God with more confidence then we can haue by laying hold on and choosing any other to lead vs. Therefore eate his Body and drinke his Blood that is take and choose his Death blood for your onely meate to nourish strengthen your hearts with comfort and peace as onely cordiall to giue you courage and confidence against sinne Satan and boldnesse with God and it will doe so For as meate requires some life and strength to take eate and digest it and so it giues and increaseth more life and strength to the heart So Christ the bread of life requires some strength of Faith to receiue him and digest him and so he giues more strength and courage with God and against sinne Therefore we must goe to the Sacrament as well to increase faith as to bring Faith with vs. In going we must by Faith renounce all comfort and confidence in our selues and all creatures and goe out of them to Christ onely and imbrace him that hee may giue vs all true boldnesse and confidence towardes God that nothing may incourage vs but Christ and that hee may giue vs better courage then any other creature can giue vs. Choose and take Christ for thy onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy guide and Captaine to lead thee to God and hee will incourage thee with inuincible strength and confidence and giue thee a heart of steele but trust to any thing else and it will faile thy heart and not be a sure Rocke to it but leaue it in feare doubting anxietie Goe to Christ onely and hee will giue the legges to goe better and strengthen thy feeble knees and make straight steps to thy feete and incourage thy heart to come more to him and to God by him but goe to any other and they will increase thy feares doubts and scruples Take heart to goe to God by Christ incourage thy heart and hee will giue thee more courage Bee strong and he shall strengthen your hearts Psal 26.14 All true Ministers and Christians boldnesse and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to preach or goe to Gods house to appeare before him to worship him is by faith in Christ and towards God as seeing him and in sinceritie approouing the heart to him as beholding him in Christ 1. Thess 2.1 2. The hypocrites boldnesse is only towards men in blindnesse and darknesse not seeing God but only men whose eyes and eares they can please and only satisfie their exspectation If Ministers could manifest Gods face and presence and God would shew himselfe in them as in the Primitiue Church only beleeuers durst ioyne themselues to the Church and to the Lord hypocrites would either abhorre or tremble or bee ashamed to appeare Act. 5.13 14. 1. Cor. 14.24 25. The best and greatest boldnesse and confidence is towards God Diuels and wicked men by sinne pride malice or by wealth learning authoritie power may be bold towards sin full men weake and impotent and base like the earth as themselues but they haue no courage or boldnesse towards God but quake and tremble at his Maiestie and especially when they are ouermatched by death or any other euill They that are bold in mans day only beholding man shall tremble in the Lords day when God shall exalt himselfe Such as put their strength and confidence in their wealth pride malice are most feareful and cowardly with God and death Let vs draw neere with a true heart in assurance of Faith Heb. 10.22 without all doubt and scruple seeing we haue such an all sufficient High Priest ouer the House of God Heb. 7.25 that can perfectly saue them that come to God by him Heb. 7.26 holy harmelesse vndefiled separate from sinners and higher then the heauens that hath all-sufficiencie of all-sauing good as King Priest and Prophet to vanquish and remooue all sinnes and deuils and to conferre all good Receiue Christ into thee by faith lay hold on him to lead thee renouncing reason sense that thou mayest be strong and confident without all feare For therefore we feare and are in doubt because we looke to our selues and to our owne strength and righteousnesse and rest thereon and goe not wholly out of our selues to Christ to rest our hearts on him and to receiue him onely into vs to comfort and incourage vs but wee receiue the World or our workes into our hearts and feede on them which will neuer strengthen our hearts This bread wants that staffe and strength and vertue to vphold our hearts against sinne Satan and so many crosses that they cannot be strong but full of feare and doubting because they are not built on Christ the Rocke and are not fedde with his body broken and blood shed which only is that bread which strengthens the heart of man to goe to God without feare and fainting For therefore was Christs soule and heart and body broken with feare fainting horrors that ours might bee bound vp and healed If we haue no boldnesse with men but
A TREATISE OF FAITH AND OF SOME PRINCIPAL FRVITS THEREOF Deliuered in two Sermons vpon the third Chapter of the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians Verse the 12. With some additions and Enlargements tending to the satisfaction of such as are in doubt whether they haue Faith or no and to the comforting of such as are troubled about the weakenesse of their Faith By G. Throgmorton Minister of the Word of God Ephes 3.12 In whom we haue boldnesse and accesse with confidence by the faith of him LONDON Printed by I. â— for William Sheffard and are to be sold at his Shop at the entring in of Popes-head Alley out of Lumbard-street 1624. A TREATISE OF FAITH AND SOME FRVITS THEREOF EPHES. 3 1â— In whom wee haue boldnesse and accesse with confidence by the faith of him THe Apostle in the former verses had by many excellent titles set foorth the glory of the Gospel and his Office and Ministerie in preaching of it aduancing it farre aboue the Law and the Ministerie of the Church in former ages The Gospel he commends and sets forth especially by the subiect matter thereof which is Iesus Christ In this verse he continueth his praise of the Gospel from the sauing fruits and effects as it s receiued by faith and Christ the subiect matter thereof rightly apprehended The principall scope of the Apostle in this verse after his commendations of the Gospel is to shew the excellencie of faith in the gospel apprehending Christ aboue all naturall faith and confidence in any creature and aboue all faiths and religions in the world as the onely sure and infallible meanes of saluation This excellencie of true sauing faith in Christ is set foorth from the vertues or fruites it brings foorth in the heart and soule or inner man of him that hath it such as no other faith or any other Religion that leads vs to any other creature or meanes or name vnder heauen or in any other Gospel or doctrine can breed that is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that accesse to God by Manuduction with that confidence and freedome of speach Therefore hee inferres by way of exhortation in verse 13. that they should shew forth these vertues of their faith in all afflictions and not faint The Exposition of the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth Manuduction or leading by the hand to God 1. Pet. 3.18 Which being performed by Christ our Mediatour the Sonne of God taking vs by the hand we goe with boldnesse confidence to God This wee haue in and by Christ the second Adam The necessitie whereof is raised from this ground originally That whereas the first Adam and his posteritie were cast out of Paradice from all fellowship with God and from the tree of Life the way shut vp against him Gen. 3.24 and kept with a Sword drawne full of Terrour and Horrour Christ Iesus the second Adam not onely opens the way againe by his blood Heb. 10.19 20. and makes a new liuing way but takes vs by the hand to lead vs to God with boldnesse and confidence remoouing all matter of feare and the sword shaken This is also opposed to that going to God by the old Church vnder the Law at mount Sinay in the giuing of the Law and first Couenant of workes by the Manuduction of Moses their Mediatour Gal. 3.19 They had not this Manuduction with this confidence they stood afarre off trembling and might not goe vp into the mount to God Yea so terrible was the sight that Moses himselfe their Mediatour said I feare and quake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebr. 12.21 And whereas all this came originally by receiuing and admitting the deuill and his counsell beleeuing his false gospel and promises So contrarily all this good comes to vs by beleeuing Christ Iesus the Son of God whom God hath sent from Heauen to vs to redeeme and saue vs Acts 7.37 that great Prophet whom God hath raised vp to vs of our brethren like to vs and by receiuing him for our King Priest and Prophet by faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a one as God hath sent and giuen him to vs. Also by faith in Moses the people had accesse to God and by taking and following him their Prophet they came neerer to God and God to them then any other Nation and people as Deut. 4.7 What Nation is there to whom the gods come so neere to them as our God is neere to vs in all that wee call to him for yet had not they by Moses that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so neere to God nor with that confidence as now all Nations haue by Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth open manifestation and appearance Such as were of forward disposition and free spiri s to expresse themselues boldly without seare of their aduersaries were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aâ—…st Rhet. lib. 2. with glorious liberty which stands in lifting vp of the face countenance and in freedome of speech it s opposed to the effects of the sentence of condemnation by the Law when malefactours and guiltie persons arraigned and conuinced by euidence of inditements that they can say nothing for themselues beeing abashed and confounded haue both their mouthes stopped and their faces couered and so carried away to execution This appeares in the arraignement and sentence passed vpon Caine Gene 4.13 14. which made him crie out that his punishment was greater then hee could beare because hee was cast out from the earth and from Gods face hee should bee hidden hauing his owne face as couered with eternall shame neuer to come to appeare before God to sacrifice or pray to him But hee that beleeueth in Christ shall not be ashamed 1. Pet. 2.6 Rom. 10.11 Haman after the sentence of death was passed on him his face was couered and hee had out of the Kings presence neuer to appeare more before him And this is the state of all the damned vpon the last sentence of condemnation passed oâ— them that they aâ—e punâ—shed with euerlasting perdition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the face and presence of the Lord. 2. Thes 1.9 neuer to come and appeare before him nor to speake or to pray to him or to praise him and for confusion of face and shame wish the mountaines to fall on them and the rockes to couer them Contrarie to this woefall estate of the damned is this blessed and glorious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Saints by the sentence of the iustification of life in Christ that without shame or fear they may come beforâ— God with open face 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Cor. 3.18 and not as Moses with his face couered verse 13. may behold the glory of the Lord with open face and bee changed into it verse 18. For hauing our sinnes pardoned and our persons receiued into fauour with God wee may behold his face and glory as reconciled in iustification
feare their earthen faces tremble at their wrath whose breath is in their nostrils If the conscience of sinne make vs tremble before men how much more before God the Iudge 1. Pet. 3.15 with Isa 8.12 13. Seeke boldnesse with God It s nothing what boldnesse we haue with men that our hearts and consciences warrant vs to stand vpon Interrogatories with men and challenge Who dare lay any thing to our charg and we can shew our faces in any court stand vpon our righteousnesse But dare we doe so with God and stand vpon interrogatories with him either in Iustification as 1. Pet. 3.21 or Sanctification Psal 138.23 as Dauid Lord Prooue mee and try mee if there be any way of wickednesse in me In whom wee haue accesse with confidence as we haue our accesse to God out of our selues only in by Christ so we haue our confidence only in Christ and not in our selues First in regard of the matter all matter of confidence is only in Christ viz. his Death Resurrection Merits Righteousnesse Intercession as 1. Pet. 1 21. and 3.21 22. Luk. 18.9 with verse 8. and 13 14. 2. Cor. 1.9 Phil. 3.3.9 Secondly as the Rocke and efficient cause of our actuall confidence dispensing it to vs arbitrarily as he sees fit and we need as enemies troubles and dangers increase There is nothing in vs naturally but feare and a spirit of infirmitie and weaknes wherewith we are bound and goe faintly but Christ suggesteth and breatheth into vs a spirit of courage and confidence aboue that we haue by faith whereof faith is an instrument and meanes to draw it forth Our hearts naturally meditate feare and we weaken and discourage our selues and Christ incourageth vs and giues vs strength and confidence We must vnderstand that there is a double confidence 1. Seminall which is in faith a kinde of naturall child-like confidence seeded in vs whereby we are well perswaded of Gods fatherly heart and good will as little children naturally are of their parents affection and yet vpon all dangers and miscarriages or other accidents they feare and tremble through weakenesse of iudgement and apprehension and imbecillitie of nature in which infirmities its the parents wisedome and indulgency to incourage and comfort Eph. 6.4 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be furiously angry least they be discouraged and all together put out of heart So is it with God and his children they haue some child-like perswasion of God the Father his Loue by which they goe to him which perswasion is seminall in their hearts the first habite of Faith but which is not of strength to carry them to God with confidence when conscience of sinnes Satan and Enemies and dangers assault but by weakenesse of iudgement and apprehension and frailtie of the flesh they are ready desperatly to cry out for feare as the Disciples did at the sight of Christ comming like a ghost vpon the waters till Christ incouraged them strengthned them saying It is I be not afraid Christ is not furiously angry against our infirmities feares doubts but spareth vs as a Father spareth his childe that serueth him as well as he can Psal 103. though with neuer such weakenesse and frailtie and he supports vs in our feares and doubts as Psal 93.18 When I said my foote slippeth thy mercy O Lord held mee vp Psa 93.19 In the multitude of the thoughts of my heart that is full of feares doubtings distractions thy comforts reioyce my soule So Christ giues all beleeuers confidence dispensing it as we need against our many sins temptatious dangers enemies For as our life is hid with Christ in God so is our confidence which is our life and strength increased and dispensed as Christ pleaseth as 2. Chro. 20.20 Trust in the Lord and yee shall be assured that is confident If yee by faith goe only to God beleeuing that he is able and willing according to his promise to helpe and choose him only for your Sauiour and protector and reiecting all other betake your selues to him alone he will not only saue you but giue assurance and securitie of saluation before-hand which is indeede the greatest part of saluation the healing of the soule of sinfull feares doubts and scruples and stablishing the heart and minde in peace passing all vnderstanding as I haue before touched Obiect I feare my faith is not true because I cannot be confidently assured that God will helpe me not rest therein without feare Answ Our Faith may be true though weake and ioyned with feare Let vs striue therefore against the feare and weaknesse of our nature and flesh and vse our weake faith to go vnto Christ and he will giue vs strong confidence That is his gift and not of our selues It s that fruit or rather growth and increase of the first faith sowen in our hearts rightly improoued as Psal 26.14 Be strong and he shall strengthen your hearts and trust in the Lord that is doe you improoue your weake faith to goe to Christ seeking to him for strength and courage and increase of your faith and goe not to any creatures to make your selues strong confident and secure in them and Christ will giue you confidence and securitie as Psal 73.26 My flesh faileth me and my heart also but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer Vse This makes greatly for the comfort of the weake in faith And let vs not exspect a faith without feare infirmitie anxietie but striue against this weakenesse and lament it and vse this weake faith in going to Christ to strengthen it with confidence The chiefe treasure of confidence and of this life of faith Christ keepes in his owne hand and will haue vs in the sense of our weaknesse of faith in his promise to goe to him for it and depend on him to keepe strengthen and support our weake faith as he hath promised Matth. 12. That hee will not quench the smoaking flaxe nor breake the bruised reede We haue a small roote of faith in our selues but the body and truncke is in Christ by this small roote we liue and goe to Christ and cleaue to him and sigh to him in our weakenesse and being thus humbled we depend on him daily to support our faith increase our confidence which we must not looke to haue alwaies in our selues but in and from Christ as his free grace shall arbitrarily dispense the same Therfore he suffers some of his Saints and members to be more weake then others and fearefull and into some he infuseth a greater spirit of confidence Some goe weakely and faintly all their daies and can hardly lift vp their weake hands Heb. 12. and feeble knees to make streight steps to their feete And this Christ doth partly for exercise of his owne grace and mercy in supporting such weake ones and for exercise of our mercy and loue Rom. 15.1 2. 1. Thess 5.7 As the soule infuseth
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