that euerie sinne and blasphemy shal be forgiuen vnto men yea eueÌ„ blasphemie against the sonne of God which yet that wee might be the better assured of Paule we haue a comfortable example in Paule who confesseth of himselfe against himselfe for the plaine proofe of the trueth of this point that ouer and besides that he was a 1. Tim. 1 13. a persecutor he was a blasphemer and yet found fauour with the Lord to obteine forgiuenesse To which particular example tending doubtlesse to no small comfort of conscience you may adde for the further not onely inlarging but strengthning of your own ioy that the sinnes that you haue committed or the blasphemie that you haue spoken haue not bene done or sayd with a high hand or of prepensed malice but rather of infirmitie though happily agaynst knowledge and the same proceeding from a passionate and troubled spirite rather than of any wilfulnesse which weakenesse in you Satan by Gods appointment hauing you vppon the racke not to fetche anie thing from you against your selfe but to make your patience constancie and faith playnly known to others effectually felt in your selfe and graciously accepted in hys owne eyes hath vsed as a meane more and more to trouble your heart but yet not to ouerthrowe your hope And euen this consideration of the maner of offending haue Gods saintes obserued in themselues not so much to lessen their transgressions for they knowe that euerie sinne in it owne nature a Rom. 6.23 deserueth death but to comfort their consciences in the dayes of their distresse without which indeede they can hardlie serue God religiouslie or faythfullie discharge anie duetie either publike or priuate And this to be true we may amongest others behold it in Paule who sayth of hymselfe in the height and depth of his grieuous iniquities a 1. Tim. 1.13 that hee was receiued to mercie for that hee did it ignorantly thorow vnbeliefe And if this aforded hym comfort I see no reason why it shoulde not yeeld you consolation speciallie sith your sinnes for anie thing wee knowe are much lesse than his and you haue to deale with the selfe same God who is nowe as then b Psal 103 8. Exod 34.6 slowe to vvrath and of great compassion passing by sins and forgiuing iniquities and restoring mercie vnto thousands of generations Neyther is that of lesse force in my minde An other testimonie to comfort to lessen your sinne and to increase your comfort that either before the offence committed or in the deede doing or after it was performed you had a spirite within you that did not onely tell you it was euill but checked you and controlled you in about the action it selfe wherunto also though you were drawen and did for the time sleepe and delight therein yet would it not gâ—ue you rest till suche time as it had caused you vnfeignedlie to hate it humbly to confesse it and in a notable measure of b 2. Cor. 7.10 godly sorrow soundly to repent you of the same which thing as the wicked doubtlesse The wicked hate not their sinnes seldome or not at all atteine vnto for they notwiâ—hstanding the vglinesse of sinne loue it A speciall grace to gods children to hate their sinnes and hide their transgressions continuallie so are they special graces bestowed vpon such penitent sinners as God is pleased thorowe hys mercy in Christ to call vnto himselfe whâ—ch as it may appeare by many particular examples of the holy scripture so seemeth it to me to be iustificable by these words of the Apostle c Gal. 5. i7 The flesh lusteth against the spirite and the spirite against the flesh so that you cannot doe the same thinges you would And in another place d Rom. 7.19 what I woulde that doe I not but what I hate that doe I. Pull vp your heart therefore I pray you and be of good comfort An exhortation sâ—â—h that from the sinnes that you haue coâ—â—â—tted speciallie in the maner of the doing of them and from your selfe speciallie in the wrestling affâ—ctions that you 〈◊〉 in your selfe against sinne God and his word would haue you to reape comfort and consolation And as for your partâ—â—â—lar case of a troublous heart and disqâ—â—â—â—t spirite what is it els I pray you but euen that that hath taken holde of Gods saintes as well as of you doth not Iereâ—â—ah himselfe curse as it were himselfe and the mother that bare him and brought him into the worlde when hee saith e Iere. 1â— â—0 Woe is me my mother that thou hast born me a man of contention to all this land And doth not Ionah when God debated with him about the withering of the gourd that God prepared to be a shadowe ouer his head and to shelter him from heate and demaunded of him f Iona. 4.9 whether hee did well to be angrie for the gourd did not hee I saie aunswere and say I doe well to be angrie vnto death And yet these were excellent men and worthie prophetes and such as had receiued rare grace from God no marueile then though men of lesse sauour fall more But moste plainelie shall you see this in Iob of whome I pray you giue me leaue to write largely for your good Hee opened his mouth so wide that he bitterly cursed the night wherin he was conceiued g Iob. 3.1 c. the day wherin he was borne yea he thundred out execrations against many excellent creatures of God which could not bee but blasphemie against the Creator himselfe whose glorye is not onely much ioyned with but greatlie appeareth in the woorke of his owne handes as wee may perceiue by this that Salomon saieth h Pro. 17. 14.31 hee that oppresseth the poore or as it is in an other place mocketh him reprooueth or reprocheth him that made him Yea if wee reade hys Booke with iudgement wee shall see that hee doeth not onelie thus indirectlie as a man woulde say in his wordes oppose himselfe against God while he hudleth out heapes of curses against his workes but proceedeth so farre that hee seemed not eyther affrayde or ashamed to take God euen God himselfe by the face and to accuse him though most faslie of iniustice as maie euidentlie appeare as well by Iobes owne woordes and discourses in many places of his sayde booke as by the Lordes owne voice and answeare out of the whyrlewinde Chapter i Iob. 38. 39. 38.39 And yet notwithstanding this man found fauour with the Lord not onely to bee restored to a farre better estate in worldly respectes than before hee hadde but also to haue the iniquitie of his hart and mouth freely pardoned yea hee himselfe and that by the holie Ghost himselfe to be made a worthie paterne and example to all ages to come as of manie vertues so particularly of patience which you say you lacke for proofe whereof remember what Saint Iames saith of him
effectual pledges vnto vs as of Gods great fauor shed abroad into our harts so of the crowning of those his graces in vs with wondeâ—ful honour and glorious immortality at the last Lastlie it seemeth vnto me Of sin it self that eâ—en from sinne it selfe though not in it owne nature for so it is abhominable in the Lords sight o Haâ—aâ— 1.13 whose pure eies cannot sâ—e euill neither yet in the effects that commonly it bringeth foorth for so is it alwaies bytter making a fearefull p Isaiah 59.2 seperation betweene the Lord and vs hauing for the q Rom. 6 2â— wages of it eternal death and damnation yet euen in the heynousnes and heyght thereof being accompanied with gods fauour in the forgiuenes of the same we should may reap an inuincible argument of much consolation and singular comfort For wherein shal or can the mercy of God in this life so much appear towards his people as in pardoning the sinnes of his seruants To whom had they not offended neither could gods mercie that way foorth haue bin declared nor Christ for theÌ„ haue bin r 1. Tim. 3.16 God manifested in the flesh who therefore came into the world not to call s Math. 9.13 the righteous but sinners to repentaunce and did therefore appeare amongest men not onely that he might t 1 Ioh. 3.5.8 loose the works of the deuil but also that he might take away our sins Outward tokens of Gods fauour All the outward fauours that wee haue in this life if we should reckon theÌ„ vp one by one as for example creation preseruation health wealth c. or binde them all in a bundle together cannot so sensibly set before vs Gods loue because some of them are in some sort commoÌ„ to other creatures with men reach but to the bodie for the most part this time present onely the wicked many times beeing before Gods saintes in some of the same God also v Ps 17.14 filling their bellies with his hid treasure their children hauing inough and leauing inough of their substance for their children Spiritual graces Nay I will say more many of those spirituall graces that God vouchsaseth vnto his Church as h s worde sacraments praier of which the holy ghost saith he x Psal 147.19 sheweth his word vnto Iacob his statutes and his iudgments vnto Israell and he hath not dealt so with euerie nation doe not so plainâ—iy exâ—râ—sse the fauour and loue of the Lorde towardes hys people as the free pardon and full forgiuenesse of their transgressions the reason is because y Math 22.14 manye are called and fewe are chosen and diuers bee in the Churche that bee not of the Church This grace also extending it sâ—â—e not onelye to bodye and soule in says lyfe carrying with it comfort and the peace of a good conscience here but reaching euen vnto the life that is to come eternal saluation and life euerlasting being an inseperable companion to the forgiuenesse of our sinnes And that we might the better be perswaded that this is a verie speciall fauour God himselfe taketh vpon himself as a principall point of his glory this great worke of forgiuing laying z â—saiah 42.25 I euen I am he that putteth away thine iniquities for my owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes And in an other Prophet rehearsing the graces that he will vouchsafe vnto his people in the newe Testament he reckoneth vp this as the last and chiefest a Iere 31 34. I wil forgiue their iniquitie b Rom. 5.20 and remember their sinne no more that beeing true here that the Apostle saieth that where sinne abounded there grace abounded much more To conclude then good Madam out of all that is gone before The coâ—clusion Sâ—â—h in thys poynt of the forgiuenes of sins God who is greater than al is b Rom 8 3 on our side therefore wee neede not care who be agaynst vs Iesus Christ standeth for vs who is c Math 3 17 his dearely beloued sonne in whome onely hee is well pleased and thorow whome he hath d 2 Cor 3 19 reconciled the world vnto himselfe the word generally partâ—cularly the promises in the same which are in Iesus Christ e 2 Cor 1 20 yea and amen speake comfoâ—table things vnto vs the holy sacramentes ordeined by God for the strengthning of our weake faith seale vp that great and gracious fauor vnto vs the disâ—pline and voyce of the Church which is the f 1 Tim 3 16 piller ground of trueth and as it were Gods owne voyce from heauen confirmeth it the particular examples oâ— his saintes hauing in former time found it and felt it true doe ratifie and confirme the same the peculiar fauoâ—s that God hath giuen vs our selues in this life and namely faith g 2 Thess 3 2 which all men haue not with the sound truâ—tes thereof doe pledge it vp and that god that maketh the h Psal 76 10 rage of men to turne to his praise and in the beginning commaâ—nded i 2 Cor. 4 6 the light to shine out of darkenesse now maketh sin to serue for the magnifying and manifesting of his mercie and the comfort and good of his children who is it that can distrust or rather who hath not iust cause with the Apostles and saintes of God to sing and say k 1. Cor. 15.54.55.56.57 death is swallowed vp into victorie O deathe where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the lawe But thanks be to God which hath giuen vs victorie thorow our Lord Iesus Christ And againe l Rom. 8 38 39. I am perswaded that neyther death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor height nor depâ—h nor anie other creature shal be able to separate vs froÌ„ the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Thus good Madame I haue as your honour seeth plainely deliuered my poore iudgement in this worthie point touching the comfortable feeling of the forgiuenesse of sinnes and some such assured seales and pledges of the same as by m Deut. 17 18 19 Ioshua 1 8 Psalm 1.2 Iohn 5 39 dayly reading of the holie scriptures and continuall meditation in the same holie duties that I and all other christians of what qualitie or calling so euer are bound vnto by Gods word to performe and woulde to God all did it as may knowe and confesse it the Lorde in much fauor I freely confesse it hath bene pleased in the dayes of my distresse to manifest to me miserable man that I am and that not onely for instruction and comfort vnto my self alone for God neuer bestoweth anie grace vpon vs much lesse such excellent fauors to that ende onely but for the good and consolation of others who being n 2
according to the scriptures we generally know beleue that he was c Heb. 2.17 â— 15. very man in euery respect like vnto vs sinne onely excepted but also because the Apostle speaking euen of this particular humaâ—ie affection in him plainly sayth in the Epistle to the Hebrues that hee was d â— 5 7. heard in the thinges which he feared Nowe to saie that he was touched or tainted any maner of way with anie though neuer so small spot of sin what is it els but to gainesay the holy scriptures which in d Isa 53.9 Ioh. 8 46. 1 Pet. 2 22. manie places affirme him and that most rightly to be voyd of iniquitie yea to make him no fit sauior for sinne because he that must redeeme others from inâ—quities and transgressions must be himselfe shamelesse otherwise he cannot be a price of reconciliation and which toucheth vs also to the quicke and importeth vs as nigh as life and death by consequent to depriue our selues of full pardon and forgiuenesse of all our sinnes because if Christ died not the e 1. Pet. 3.18 iust for the vniust wee remaine vnder transgression and being aliue f Ephes 2.5 are dead in trespasses and sinnes and so vnder eternal death Here then is required a right deserning spirite yea a hart indeede that is indued with a notable portion of heauenly wisedome spiritual grace froÌ„ aboue that so that which is not of it selfe euill though I speake particularly of the passion of feare yet it shall not bee amisse to practise it in all of the like nature may thorowe the great worke of the sanctfiication of the word and spirite of God growe euerie daie better and better with mightie increases from an high The sight and knowledge of al which as it cannot but strike muche terror yea horror into the hearts of the wicked and vngodly because thorowe the strength and power of their own sinne they haue made the light that was in them which in my minde may not vnfitly be resembled to the dawning of the day and was and is sufficient to make them without excuse or defence before God to become darkenesse and by that meanes are plunged into obscuritie as grosse if not more grosse as that of Egypt so should it be very comfortable to those in whom the Lord himselfe hath bene pleased by hys owne hand and ordinaunce to aduaunce that worthie worke of regeneration and that not onely while they doe not as the wicked sinne in all maner of extremitie of naturall passions adding drunkennesse vnto thirst and thorow the corruptioÌ„ of nature and Satans deadly and insatiable malice defacing their own light and so are become stocks and voyd of all sense of the same but also while they haue nature it self so inlightned by the trueth of the word and reformed by daily addition of grace froÌ„ aboue that in continuall wrestling and striuing against it speciallie the corruptions of it they gaine so much that they cause euen that as other thinges also to tend to the aduauncement of his glorie that is Lord of nature and hath it at coÌ„maund and to their owne comfort and the good of others wherat those sparks and remainders of nature that are yet in vs vndefaced doe in some sorte aime how much more may they attaine vnto it not onely when they are accompanied but when they are ayded thereto with the graces of God in vs. But to come somewhat more nigh to the point we are to deale in and yet it cannot be denied but that that which hath bene alreadie deliuered doth properly concerne the same methinketh we may betwene the two fe â—res which you desire to be satisfied in obserue a double difference the one as in respect of the causes I say causes neither let the seeme straunge vnto you that there are may be many causes of one and the self same thing from whence it commeth and proceedeth though some in the same bee more principall working causes than other as euerie petie logician wil redily acknowledge the other as in regard of the effectes and fruites that they bring forth in the seuerall parties and persons diuersly according to the diuersitie of the feares theÌ„selues affected therewith Of the feare of the wicked Whence it riseth That feare which is in the wicked ariseth either from some conceite that they haue within them of shame and disgrace before men in whose sight with them themselues it is a great and grieuous iudgement and goeth to their heart as cold as the panges of death to be clothed with confusion for being men and no more but naturall men as they like well of themselues so they woulde gladly be highly esteemed of their likes Groweth or els beeing bitten or stoong with the knowledge of some euill eyther conceiued or performed from some impression and sense that they haue of punishment before god for the same whose infinite iustice as they haue moste heynously offended so they certainly know that they cannot by anie meanes withstand and auoid Continueth this being ingrauen in their heartes by the light of nature that sinne and his punishment must alwaies goe as it were arme in arme or els from some other odde imagination and carnall conceit of their own as g Iere. 17.19 mans heart is deceitfull and wicked aboue all thinges who can knowe it and that still in selfe loue towardes themselues onelie for this neuer moueth them that by their iniquities they haue pulled wrath and displeasure vpon other men from almightie GOD all and euerie one whereof no doubt are muche furthered in them not onely through abuse of naturall feare and also by meanes of their melancholike constitution or complexion as we say a meane that God himselfe hath bene pleased to appoint and vse euen in his iustice against the wicked greatly to increase their terrors and feares but also by the horrible distrustfulnesse of their owne heartes Other causes thereof they finding no matter of true and stedfast ioy in themselues as who in the stinging testimonie of their owne soules are conuicted of moste grieuous transgressions and eternall iudgement for the same and how is it then possible for them to haue sound peace nor seeing anie sure comforte from others eyther in heauen aboue or in earth beneath among men who if they cannot when and as they would affoord themselues consolation much lesse may those other looke to receiue it at theyr hands because as in others so in this respect charitable reliefe beginneth with a mans owne selfe nor beholding any ioyfull fauour to them selues from God whose displeasure rather in hym selfe and hys creatures they haue highlie prouoked against them thorow infinite iniquities and therefore must looke not onely to haue his backe partes geuen them but all the vessels and vials of his wrath in time and in a full measure to bee powred foorth vpon them But the feare of the godlie is in them not onely
1.17 as wauering as mutable man and then to be subiect to alteration change when they idessie fantasie or imagine the same Yea they speake contrarie to common sense and reason for if the sins that are from our selues may as they ought indeede iustly cast vs down shall not the graces that are in vs from god be much more mightie to raise vs vp What is God become lesse than man or are his mercies inferiour to mans transgressions But we will put the case that we failed in those good workes that that hitherto hath bin put downe that out of the very word of trueth concerning the fruites of our faith were false yet see what euen in such a case also if it wer so the holy Ghost saith for our full perswasion and resolute comfort e It is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth The whole worke of sâ—luation dependeth altogether on Gods mercie in Iesus Christ but in God that sheweth mercy that so the whole worke of our saluation and euerie part and peece of it bee ascribed onely and wholie to his free fauour towardes vs in Iesus Christ For as this is sure that God saueth not vs for our good workes be they neuer so manie or excellent because hee shall haue alwaies some thing for matter or maner or ende and all to saie against them and vs for their sakes and to holde that were indeede to euamate Gods free mercie and to annihilate Christes sufferings and to puffe vp fleshe and bloud beyond all measure and trueth so he will not condemne vs vs I saie and not men because of our euâ—ll woorkes though they be neuer so manie and grieuous alwayes prouided that no man abuse this doctrine of trueth and comforte to licenciousnesse and carnalitie nor extend it beyond the persons of whome we meane it namely the elect and faithfull who as they haue receiued this sweete promise from God f 8. â— that to them that are in Christ there is no condemnation so they haue this giuen vnto them that they walke not after the flâ—she but after the spirite g Exod. 33.19 Rom 9. â— For hee will haue mercie on him to whome he will shewe mercie and he wil haue compassion on him on whome hâ—e will shewe compassion And this is it that the Lorde hym selfe sayth in Esaiah h Isa 43 25. I euen I am hee that putteth awaie thâ—ir iniquities for myne owne sake and will not remember theyr sinnes And in Ieremiah establishiâ—g as â—t were a newe contract with hys Seruauntes hee make Iesus a principall part of the couenaunt i Iâ—re 31.34 Heâ— 8.12 That hee will forgiue all theyr iniquities and remember theyr sinnes no more or as it is alâ—eadged by the holie Ghost in the eight Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrues I will be mercifull to theyr vnrighteousnesse and I will remember their sinnes and their iniquities no more vsing all these wordes of vnrighteousnesse sinnes iniquities c. to assure vs that neyther the heynousnesse nor the multitude of our transgressions shall for euer separate betweene the Lord vs but that of his infinite mercie he will receiue vs though we had not offended A comparison or similitude Of which wee may be the better assured by this that if we would giue credit vnto the worde of an earthly man speciallie if wee had some experience of his fidelitie and that in matter of greaâ— importance and yet we know meÌ„ to be but men that is fraile inconstant we should much more beleeue the trueth of the eternal our God confirmed vnto vs by the deathe and bloudsheding of hys sonne the best pledge of immutabilâ—â—â— that can be and that in causes of greatest weight concerning vs who alwais k Mala 3.6 remaineth like vnto himselfe and who rather than he will fayle vs in hys promise or falter with vs in the performance of the same giuing vs lesse thâ— hee hath said will inlarge himselfe I cannot saie beyond his word and trueth for that remaineth alwaies as large as himselfe and God the God of trueth shall neuer bee found a lier but beyond our heart and hope I am sure And surely for your selfe in my mind this is one point that much perswadeth me and may yeeld you comfort that neuer can be vtterly taken awaie howsoeuer it may for the time be somewhat lessened that you belong vnto the election of God are as it were l Isa 49.16 grauen vpon the palme of his right hand that you haue not onely patiently susteined which is a rare vertue but mightely vanquished and subdued which is a greater grace doubtlesse in him that is the God of your strength many and the same long and bitter temptations which had you not belonged to God and hee himselfe had not reserued you for daies and times not onely of comfort in this life but of eternall ioy you coulde not haue indured much lesse ouercome for as this is a certaine trueth that m Psal 34 19â— manie are the miseries of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of all and that hâ—s children are conquerours ouer many assaults by the strength and power that they haue receiued from n Iohn â—6 33. Rom 8.37 him lo our onely temptation and the same as short and small as may be is able to quaile the strongest Giaâ—t amongst the reprobate and to throw him downe headlong into the bottomlesse pit of hell as experience of the wicked who in this respect to withstand aâ—t weaker then waâ—er and sundrie particular examples of former ages and of our present time doe playnely pâ—oue vnto vs if I thought it conuenient to alleadge them Thus you see my minde and poore iudgement concerning your scruples in such measure and maner deliâ—â—red as God hath inabled me Where also I must confesse I woulde gladly end as beeing almost wearie in my selfe and tedious I feare me vnto you sauing that the dutie of holie loue that I beare you will not suffer mee to let slippe a neceâ—sarie admonition that euen nowe commeth to minde and sauing also that your present distressed estate as I feare calleth for the inlarging of my selfe so farre as I may accomplishe some more particular course of comforte than as yet I haue deliuered Touching the former of these two An admonition let mee intreate you I beseeche you as the trueth is not to imagine as I knowe some doe that there are alwayes like effectes and fruites of Gods grace in the heartes and conuersation of hys people I meane eyther as in regard of feeling or action for wee knowe by that that we haue noted in others and obserued in our selues if euer God gaue vs grace to marke the one or the other that there is euerie day yea almost euery houre in a daye an entercourse of the same God by hys spirite manie tymes mouing vs to good thinges and ouerruling in the strength thereof
euen such doubtles is the state and condition of many distressed in conscieÌ„ce and amongst the rest your case particularlie wherein whatsoeuer you say of your selfe or vtter against your selfe yet I â—t many other though not the best phisitions yet your vnfeigned familiars that haue nowe a long time knowne you in God and his trueth haue seene in you since the daie and hower of our firste acquaintaunce vntill this present time and yet still doe beho de such euidencie clearnes of the graces of Gods spirite notwithstanding your long and continuall complaintes as all the smoke â—muther mystes and fogges and whatsoeuer els els that Sathan by him selfe and his suppostes hath or can cast out against you shall neuer bee able to take away the cleare sight of them from vs or mooue vs so much as once to doubt of the comfortable reuiuing of them in you euen vnto eternall lyfe And I hope wee haue the spirit of God and by the grace thereof as also by the light of his Woorde and experience that hee hath giuen vs are able to deserue some thinge in this behalfe though not so well in others as in our selues for that shall wee neuer bee able to doo yet in others also Wherefore to make an end where I began Be of good comfort good sir I beseech you and waite with patience the Lords ioyfull appearing whose you are doubtles and whereof you may be assured because you haue him x Rom. 8.31 on your side therefore not feare who shal or can be against you because also you haue his children standing with you and for you not onely suffering the same afflictions in bodie and soule that you do and so learning by themselues to remeÌ„ber you in bonds as those that are bound with you but with all holie comfort as in respect of your selfe and with all earnest praier as in regard of the Lord ayding you to their vttermost yea because he that z Iames. 1.17 Gracs from God bestowed on his elect is free from shaddowe of tyranny hath bestowed so many excellent graces of his his vpoÌ„ you as sound knowledge stedfast faith vnfained loue christian patience and a notable measure of holie obedience to his blessed trueth although that in some of these many go before you yet in al of them I hardly know any of my godly acquaintance in Christ that goeth beyond you And yet farther you may the more certainely perswade your selfe of the trueth of this point because you haue cast him so dear a peece euen the hart blood of his best beloued sonne whom he hath giuen as for the testification of his singular loue towardes man so to this end also a Iohn 3.16 that euerie one that beleeth in him shall not perish but haue eternal life And if that which men buy dear they esteem precious and cannot abide at any hand to haue it perish surely God will not see that lost that hee loueth so tenderlie and which he hath redeemed to him selfe with so great and high a ransome b 1. Pet. 1.18 yea with such and excellent an most pretious iewell To all which if you wil ad the manifold victories that here to foâ—e he hath giuen you against sinne and sathan and all their cruell and craftâ—e assaultes he euen then as it weâ—e most miraculously deliuering you wâ—en neither you nor any for you could so much as once dreame of a way much lesse beholde it how you mighte scape certainlie you may take it as the voice of God from heauen that hee will not now specially sith hee hath vouchsafed you so many mercifull meanes of a ioifull deliueraunce throwe you off or taste you awaye but deale rather with you as hee dooth with other his seruauntes c Phillip 1.6 make perfâ—ct in you the good thing that he hath begunne in you euen vntill the day of Iesus Christ and cause you d Act. 24.22 thorow manifold tribulations to enter into his owne kingdome e 1. Cor. 9.25 2. Tim 4.8 Iâ—mes 1.12 1. pet 5.4 and crowne you there with eternall glorie And what though you thinke it long before the Lord come in comfort to you yet knowe f 2. pet 3. that the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slacknes but that hee that will come wil come quicklie and wil not tarie His nature is not g psal 103.9 alwaies to bee chiding neither vvill he keepe his anger for euer as the Prophete saith Ioseph woulde not continuallie dissemble his tender affection towards his vnkinde brethren but must of necessitie h Gen. 43 30. breake forth into teaâ—es and weepe vpon Beniamins necke And shall wee thinke that the Lord is lesse compassionate If wee doo so we belie God and dallie with yea deceiue our owne soules I denie not but he maie for a time indeede hâ—de his louing countenance from vs Exâ—d 33 23. and shewe vs after a sorte as it were his darke partes and that the better eyther to prooue our patience in trying howe wee canne for a while forbeare that which wee exceedinglie desire and as it were hunger and thirst after or else to cause vs the more highlie to esteeme of the same For this is naturallie in vs in the continuance of Gods fauours to make little account thereof Howbeit this wee may assure our seâ—â—ues of that though k psal 30 5 vveeping may abide at euening yet ioy shall come in the morning l psal 89 2â— and that his louing kindnesse hee vvill not take from vs for euer nor falsifie the vvoord yea the oath that is gone out off hys mouth And mee thinketh that heereof you not onelye amongest but aboue manye other shoulde bee throughlie perswaded as well by the viewe of your owne estate as by the consideration of his most gracious nature wee beleeue his mercies yea you beleeue them to bee so greate yea so infinite that they cannot bee as a man would say conteyned within himselfe but must of necessitie ere long euen as continuall springing fountaines that will ouerflowe all and make euerie thinge fruitful and pleasaunt where they come breake foorth and shewe themselues not onely generallie to all but in a speciall maner to some chieflie m Esay 66.2 to those that are poor of contrite spirits treÌ„ble at his word n 62.3 and mourn in Sion for to such is it in verie deede that the Lorde vvill looke and haue a speciall regard Amongest the which sith if I knowe any you your selfe may iustlie bee numbred you can not but beleeue that you shall haue a plentifull portion of thys ouerflowing fauour because you bee as certaynelye inrolled in that number as if your name were particulerlye put down And as for your state you and wee together knowe it to bee long tedious and hard where in notwithstanding you ought to comfort your selfe because you are assured of this and that not only by
I confesse we shall see that we haue singular and speciall consolations and that not fewe in number alone and these weake and feeble also but manie and the same verie mightie yea euerie one of them strong and sufficient it selfe to beate backe this assault though it were muche more powerfull and forcible then it is that so being compassed about and as it were backed with such a r Heb. 12.1 cloud of witnesses our hartes might be the more stedfastly vp held not onely in present comfort but in hope of all good thinges to come I say therefore that whether we respect the father himselfe who otherwise s 1 Tim. 6 16 dwelling in light that no man can come vnto hath yet notwithstanding plentifullie and plainely reuealed himselfe vnto vs in his word or by the eye of a stedfast faith looke vppon Iesus Christ his son and our sauior who is also the brightnesse of the glory and the t Hebrew i. 3. ingrauen forme of his person or regard the blessed word of almightie God in all the parts and peeces of it but specially in the promises thereof propounded for our coÌ„fort or consider as we should and are bound The Sacramente 1 Cor. 10.1.2.3 c. Rom 4.11 the holy sacraments that he hath giuen vs in this world as pledges of his goodnes toward vs seales of the faithe that hee hath wrought in vs or might well as wee ought that right order of discipline gouernment Discipline of the Church that he hath established in his Churche for the repressing of euill or maintenance of all well dooing or diligently marke the singular fauors that hee hath plentifullie shedde out vpon those that haue gone before vs in the fleshe and in the faith or see and feele the great graces that hee of his owne good will hath bestowed vppon vs our selues poore and miserable wretches that wee are or behold with a sound iudgement sin it selfe specially as in regard of the good that God maketh to flowe from it howsoeuer it be odious and vglie in it selfe we shall certainely finde that from all and euerie one of these wee may without doubt gather strong argumentes and forcible reasons assured and continuall comfort for the forgiuenesse of all our sins by consequent also for the sound and Christian peace of our own hearts Nowe to the ende that that which hath bene generallie spoken and shortly deliuered may yet appeare to bee as true and certaine so plentiful and large let vs come more particularly and at length as it were yet without tediousnesse to deduct and laie out these poyntes For the first we haue the verie mercifull nature Of the nature of God himselfe and readie inclination of almighty God in himselfe to shew pitie and compassion to those that are humbled who howsoeuer he declare himsâ—lf in word and deede armed and that with iustice against the proud Pharisee or benummed and senselesse professor as he hath good cause indeede for their continuance in sinne and want of a trembling spirite standeth yet notwithstanding in his fatherly compassion and loue moste graciously affected to such as quake and sloupe before him Which that we might be the better perswaded of he hath bene pleased plainly to tel vs and that in his holie worde also that hee hath no desire that u Ezech. 18 23 the wicked shoulde die but rather that hee should liue and againe that hee is the x Exod. 34 6 7 Lord strong mercifull and gracious slowe to anger and aboundant to goodnesse and trueth reseruing mercie for thousandes forgiuing iniquittes and transgressions c. and that he wil giue to such as y Isaiah 61.3 mourne in Sion bewtie for ashes and the oyle of ioy for mourning and the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse or as it is in the prophet Ezechiell z Ezek. 9 4 c. a marke by which they shal be known and freed from the common calamitie and destruction of the wicked Of the trueth of all which wee may bee the better assured because it is the worde not of a mortall man who will in the hypocrisie and corruption of hys heart doubt and dissemble but of the eternall God who as he is not deceiued so doth hee not deceiue and who beeing of an vnchaungeable nature remayneth fast and sure and the same with a cleare voyce and in wordes of muche euidencie published and proclaymed not once and awaie for then perhaps in the distrustfulnesse of our owne heartes wee might quickly call it into question a Psal 86 5 â—â— Psal 103.8.9 The sonne of God and mediator but sundrie times and in manie places of his holy word Secondly who seeth not that euen in Iesus Christ wee haue a mercifull measure of spirituall comfort pressed downe and running euer against this sharpe temptation and sore assault and that not onâ—ly because as he is God he is b Math. 9.5 able to forgiue sinnes and as man being c Heb. 2 17 made like vnto his brethren hee is pitifull and readie for that and all other good workes but also because in him dwelleth d Colloss 2 9 al the fulnesse of the godhead bodily we hauing in him e Colloss 1 14 redemption thorowe his bloud that as the forgiuenesse of sinnes in whome likewise f 2 Cor â— 20 all the promises of God are yea and amen hee himselfe being made of God vnto vs g 1 Cor 1 30 wisdom righteousnesse and sanctification redemption who alone was h Isaiah 53 5 wouÌ„ded for our transgressions brokeÌ„ for our iniquitie bearing the chastisment of our peace healing vs thorowe his stripes he himselfe and nowe other 63.3 treading the wine presse of gods wrath agaynst vs for our sinnes whome sith God hath bene pleased to k Rom. 8.32 giue vnto death for vs all howe shall he not together with him giue vs all thinges also If all things why not then the free pardon and ful forgiuenesse of all our sins Shal you imagine that God wil say al giue vs but some that were to make him a lier who is not Rom. 3.4 onely true but truth it selfe Or shall we deeme that for the testification of the largenesse of hys liberality he wil vouchsafe vs some pety fauours and withhold graces of muche greater excellencie that were to make god deale worse with his dear children then earthlie princes do with their dutifull seruants I say therfore againe if all things why not remission of sinnes speciallie sith in him are hidde yet so as they daylie are plainelie and in good time shall bee plentifullie displaied and aboundantlie yea perfectlie communicated vnto his people m Colloss 2 3 all the treasures of wisedome knowledge mercy and whatsoeuer els is excellent in God as in respect of himselfe or comfortable and profitable as in regard of vs. Thirdlie the blessed booke of God it selfe doeth in
say but such n 1. Cor. 5.1 iniquitie as is not heard of no not among the Gentiles that one shoulde haue his Fathers wyfe Concerning which facte and reconciliation vppon repentaunce for the same the Apostle saieth els where o 2. Cor. 6.72 It is sufficient for the same man that hee was rebuked of manie so that nowe contrariwise you ought rather to forgiue him and to comfort him leaste the same shoulde be swallowed vppe with ouer much heauinesse wherefore I praye you that you would confirme your loue towardes hym In the holie scriptures or woorde of God we haue infinit store of examples Examples of Gods mercie and bee compassed about on euerie side as it were p Heb. 12.1 with a thick cloude of witnesses which both for their multitude and for their faithfulnesse are greater then al expectation and to whom for theÌ„selues and in whom for others God hath bene pleased plentifullie to declare as the riches of his mercie generallie so particularly that he q Deut. 7.9 2 Chron. 6.5 hath kept faith and trueth with them and will doe so for euer with al those that succeed them in faith and a Iame. 1.17 good conscience that so our hope and harte might relie vppon him alone with whom is no variablenesse neither shall neuer turne Let two verie woorthy and plaine one wherof is in the olde and the other in the newe Testament serue for all s Psal 32.5 Psal 1â— 3.3 Dauid from an vnfeigned heart acknowledgeth it and that more then once that the Lord in the multitude of his mercies forgaue both the punishment of his sinne and all his iniquitie whatsoeuer And Paule with a franke and free mouth openlie confesseth and that others might heare it and beleeue it saith t 1. Timoh 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and woorthy by all meanes to be receiued that Ieâ—us Chrâ—st came into the world to saue â—â—â—ers of whom I am chiefe And if wee respect their persons â—â—ey were men notwithstanding their â—â—â—â—s dearelie beloued of God the one taken t Psal 8 7â— by the Lord from the shâ—pâ—â—â—d and following the ewes with yong to â—eed his people in Iacob the other pulled from persecuting the church to preach to cary the Lords name among the gentilâ—s u Act. 9.15 If we consider the sins that they speak of we shall find them no lesse x 2. Sam â—1 than adulterie murther y 2 Sam 24. pride z â— Tâ—â— 1 1â— blasphemy persecutioÌ„ oppression suâ—dry such like If we regard the souâ—dnes sinceritie of their hearâ—s they speaking deliuering that as withouâ— a mind doubtlesse to deceiue otâ—eâ—s so without partialitie and respect as in regard of themselues and euen as they feâ—t Goâ—s fauour for themselues for others we cannot choose but beleeue it that we haue our part portion in it the rathâ—r because God hath geuen vs thâ—se and 〈◊〉 like holy examples to be as it wer seals set vnto the promises for the more strong establishing of the same in our hearts we perswading our selues that as we may and ought to profit by the presidents of gods a 1. Cor. 10.11 iudgement to work in vs vnfeigned feare reuerence of his maiesty and care of a better course theÌ„ euer we haue practised b Rom. 15.4 so we shal make vse of exaÌ„ples of his mercy to styr vs vp to make in vs a holy feeling of all spirituall coÌ„fort heauenly ioy And that the graces of Gods holy spirite Tâ—e â—â—â—ces of â—ods â—pirit which hee himselfe in Christ hath bin pleased plentifully to bestow vpon vs moâ—e particularly that our c Iude. 20. precious holy fa th together with the sâ—uâ—rall fruâ—ts efâ—â—cts that flow froÌ„ the samâ— shold pledge vnto vs this great fauour of God in the forgiuenes of our siâ—s thorow the death obedience of his sonne it â—s as cleare as the sunne in his glorie and brightnesse and that not onlie becaâ—se if that which is from sinne and from our selues may iustlie discourage vs and beat vs downe then that which proceedeth from God who is d greater than all and e onely good can not choose but being liuely felt and sensiblie perceiued but raise vs vp againe also because the scripture it self in terms that will admit no darke or doubtfull interpretation aduoucheth that God f 2 Cor 8.12 accepteth vs according to that wee haue and not according to that wee haue not For fayth wee haue amongst others that comfortablâ— promise of holie writte Oâ— Fayth g Habaâ— 2.4 Rom 1.17 The iust shall liue by faâ—th which cannot be vnderstood of life here as well because it speaketh of the tune to come as also because as in respect of breaâ—â— and being in this world the wicked haue â—t as well as the godly and we knowe that it was the Lords purpose by his spâ—râ—â— in that speach to discerne betweene h Ezâ—ch 22.26 the pretious and the vile If we well consider Vnfained lâ—ue either the loue that God hath wrought in our heartes towards his saintes or the vâ—â—â—ygned mind that thorow his great goodnes we find in our selues to forget and forgeue other mens trespasses wee shall finde that to the one the other may giue vs firme hope assured comfort of the forgiuenes of our own sins the holy ghost affirming of the former that by this we i 1. Iohn 3.14 know wee are translated from death vnto life because we loue the brethren for the other our sauiour himselfe not only teaching vs to say k Math. 6.12 forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespas against vs but also declaring in plain tearmes that except wee forgiue from our heartes each one to his brother his trespasses l Math. 18 3i ther is no forgiuenes of ours before God declaring withal that wher that is the other cannot bee wanting because God is not onelye much more readye but infinitely much more able to shewe sinners that notable fauour then men are so manifest it one to another Wherein it shall not bee amisse for vs to marke this further Of merits that howsoeuer all the good things we are enabled to no cannot as they come froÌ„ vs nor yet of theÌ„selues in that respect merâ—te Gods mercie because m Esay 64.6 al our righteousnesses are as filthie and stained cloutes before him n Luke 17.10 when we haue done al that we can wee are yet vnprofitable seruants much lesse any one of theÌ„ seperated from the rest the weaknes whereof arising not from the good things themselues in their owne nature as they come from God for so they are and must be verie strong exceeding good but by reason of our corruption the imperfection the thorow the same cleaueth therto yet all of them together and euery one of them selues may bee