a 4. Humility true faith excludes boasting of our owne labors gifts or praises and makes vs able out of the sence of our owne vilenesse to acknowledge all the glory to Gods free grace and loue in Iesus Christ Rom. 3. 17. Gal. 3. 22. 5. The confession 5 Confessiō and profession of the truth Faith will make a man speake in defence of the truth I haue beleeued therefore haue I spoken saith Dauid Psalme 116 which the Apostles pleade to proue their faith also 2. Cor. 4. 13. 14. 6. The putting on of 6. Application of Christs righteousnesse righteousnesse which is not by the works of the Law done by vs. The application of and relying vpon the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ is the proper and onely worke of true faith Rom. 10. 7. It opens a spring 7. A verie spring of grace of graces in the heart of a true Christian he that is a true beleeuer is qualified with sundrie heauenly gifts which were not in him by nature which gifts do daily discouer themselues in his heart flowing from thence as if there were a spring of liuing waters in his bellie Sanctification of the spirit and faith of the truth be inseparable Ioh. 7. 38. 2. Thessalonians 2. 13. CHAP. V. The triall of a godly man by such heauenly gifts as serue him in his iourney to heauen THus of his triall in his humiliation and in his faith It followeth in the third place to trie him by his gifts which are the fruits of faith The true Christian differs from the wicked man in two sorts Two sorts of graces in a Christian of gifts Some of them are such gifts as are bestowed vpon him from aboue but serue him onely for his spirituall vse while he is on the way in his iourney to heauen and so onely in this life such as are the sacred thirst The loue to the word and meanes of his holinesse The spirit of supplication The loue of his enemies and his desire after the appearance of Iesus Christ Other gifts he hath which will accompanie him home into his heauenly country and abide vpon him for euer and are not abolished by death such as are sauing knowledge the loue of God and the loue of the godly First therefore of those heauenly gifts which will passe away and so he is qualified with fiue distinct holy gifts which cannot be found in any reprobate The first is his holy The holy thirst that is in the godly Christian tried by foure signes thirst which is a heauenly kind of appetite by which he is carried to the desire of things aboue nature such as are the merits and righteousnesse of Christ the fauour of God the presence of God the full deliuerance from all sinne the remouing of spirituall iudgements the saluation of other men and the like and this thirst is a signe the more infallible 1. Because it is constant and indelible in this life There is no part of his life but it continueth either in the sence of his affection or in the iudgement of his vnderstanding so as he accounts spirituall things to be the best things and though at some times his affections may be the lesse moued after them yet his appetite is daily renewed as it is in the hunger or thirst that is bodily 2. Because it is industrious For this holy thirst will guide him to a carefull vse of all the meanes by which good things may be attained and doth not breathe it selfe out onely with sudden and vaine wishes or flashes of desire Psal 27. 4. 1. Pet. 2. 2. Psal 63. 1. 2. Psalme 1. 2. Acts 2. 37. 3. Because it works a constant and secret meditation of heauenly things desired the heart frequently seekes after God day and night Isaiah 26. 9. Psalme 63. 1. 6. For what we desire feruently we thinke on almost continually 4. Because if the Lord quench his thirst and satisfie his desire in spirituall things the soule becomes as a watered garden and then followes in him an heauenly kind of satisfaction and contentment with singular delight in the soule and vowes and wishes of infinite and eternall thankfulnesse Psalme 63. 4. 5. Iere. 31. 25. 26. And thus much of the first gift Secondly the loue His triall by his loue to the word to the word is another signe that he is the child of God and a cleare euidence of his saluation Now because all sorts of wicked men may resort to the exercises of the word and those that haue but a temporarie faith may shew a great estimation of the word and find ioy in the hearing of it shew much zeale in things that concerne the word and may yeeld some obedience to the directions of the word also it is profitable to consider how the true Christian may proue that his affection to the word is more sincere then that affection which any wicked man can bring to the word And thus he may find that his heart is sound in his loue to the word by these marks 1. By his manner of 13. Signes to trie his affection to the word by receiuing it when he doth receiue the word as the word of God and not of men setting his heart before Gods presence and being affected as if the Lord himselfe should speake vnto him This no wicked man dares do he dares not present himselfe with the whole intendments of his heart before the Lord. For this signe the Apostle Paule acknowledged the Thessalonians to be true Christians 1. Thessal 2. 13. 2. By his Appetite to the word For there is in a godly man as true an hunger after the word as the food of his soule as there is in his stomach after the foode of his body which shewes it selfe to be the more sincere because it is constant he desires the word at all times and as his appointed foode daily as it is in the bodily appetite though after feeding the stomach may seeme to be full and satisfied yet the hunger reuiues againe euery day so it is with the heart of a child of God whereas wicked men regard the word but by fits and in a passion and then at length fall cleane away from the affection to it Psal 119. 20. Iob. 23. 12. 3. By his loue to them that loue the word 4. By his sorrow because other men keepe not the word Psal 119. 136. 5. By his vnfained estimation of the word aboue all worldly things accounting it to be an happy portion to enioy the word in the power and profit of it Psal 119. 14. 72. 111. 6. By his desire delight to exercise himselfe in it day and night that is constantly Psal 1. 2. 7. By his griefe either for the want of the meanes by which the word might be taught vnto him with power accounting such want of the meanes to be a sore famine or for want of successe in the vse of the meanes whē he doth enioy it Psa 42. 3. Am.
his knowledge are these three Knowledge the loue of God and the loue of the brethren These are perfected and not abolished by death And first in his knowledge And so he differs frō wicked men he differs from all wicked men and so in diuers things as First in the things he In the things he knowes knowes he knowes the nature of God in a right manner he knowes God in Iesus Christ he knowes the vilenesse of his owne sinnes he knowes after an effectuall manner the mysteries that concerne the saluation of his soule he knowes his owne conuersion and the forgiuenesse of his sinnes and the things that are giuen him of God Mat. 13. 13. Iohn 17. 3. Iere. 31. 34. 1. Cor. 2. 12. He knowes that Iesus Christ is in him 2. Cor. 13. 5. 2. Secondly in the 2. In the cause of his knowledge cause of his knowledge For flesh and bloud did not reueale those things vnto him he came not by them by the vse of naturall meanes but they are wrought in him by the word Spirit of God Mat. 16. 17. 1. Iohn 2. 27. and 5. 10. 1. Cor. 1. 30. Thirdly in the effects 3. In the effects of his knowledg of his knowledge for 1. It breeds in him an vnspeakable refreshing and gladnesse of heart in Gods presence Psal 36. 8. 9. 10. Philip. 1. 9. 2. It inflames him to a wonderfull loue of the word of God aboue all earthly things Psal 119. 97. 98. 3. It works in him an effectuall sauouring and tasting of the goodnesse of spirituall things Ro. 8. 5. 4. It enclines him to a constant obedience and practise of Gods will Pro. 8. 9. 17. Iohn 7. 17. Deut. 4. 6. It redresseth his wayes Psal 119. 10. 1. Ioh. 2. 3. and 3. 24. 5. It beates downe pride and conceitednes and frowardnesse and makes him humble and teachable Pro. 3. 5. 6. and 8. 13. 14. Iames 3. 17. Fourthly in the properties 4. In the properties of his knowledge of his knowledge for 1. It is infallible his knowledge hath much assurance in many things with strong confidence and resolution at some times especially when he is before God 1. Thes 1. 5. 2. It is indelible it cannot be vtterly blotted out it is fast grauen in his heart contrary doctrine or persecution cannot raze it out Iere. 31. 34. Eph. 4. 13. Prou. 4. 5. 6. 3. It is sincere for first it inclineth him to giue glorie to God and receiue all truth as well as any truth He receiues the doctrine of God though it be aboue reason and against the cōmon opinion of men or crosse his profit or desires or the like Secondly it leades him principally to vnderstand his owne way and guides him to study the things chiefly that concerne his owne reformation and saluation Pro. 14. 8. Colos 3. 16. And thus he differs from wicked men in his knowledge Secondly in his loue His loue to God tried by 9. signes to God he hath these things which no wicked man can attaine to 1. He hath a deliberate inward inflamed estimation of God aboue all things accounting his louing kindnesse better then life and the signes of his fauour his greatest ioy Psal 63. 2. 11. 2. He loues longs for the Lord Iesus Christ with certaine sincere affection Ephes 6. 24. 2. Tim. 4. 8. 3. He delights in Gods presence and shewes it by his vnfained loue to Gods house Psalme 26. 8 and by his heartie griefe for Gods absence Cant. 3. 1 and by his carefulnesse to set the Lord daily before him walking in his sight Psal 16. 8. 4. He hates sin heartily because God hates it and he dislikes sinners because they hate God accounting Gods enemies as if they were his owne enemies Psal 139. 21. 22. and 97. 10. 5. He constantly desires to be like God in holinesse being carefull to approue his affection to God by his obedience to his commandements so as it is not grieuous to him to receiue directions but serues God with all his heart being fearefull to displease God in any thing Ioh. 14. 21. 1. Io. 5. 3. Deut. 10. 12. and 11. 22 is more affected with Gods approbation then all the praise of men Rom. 2. 26. 6. He is much affected with Gods mercie the blessings bestowed vpon him which he thankfully remembers to the praise of Gods free grace Esa 63. 7. Psal 63. 2. 3. 4. 6. 8. 107. 22. Iob 36. 24. Deut. 6. 2. 7. He loues all the godly for this reason chiefly because they are like vnto God in holinesse as being begotten by him 1. Ioh. 5. 1. 8. He is as heartily vexed for any dishonor done to God as for any disgrace offered to himselfe 9. Finally he shewes it in diuers cases that befal him in his course in this life as 1. If he be put to suffer any thing for Gods sake he endures it with much ioy and patience 1. Thess 1. 6. Act. 5. Iohn 22. 15 to 19. 2. If at any time he offend God by his owne faultinesse he is heartily grieued and cast downe and doth constantly desire to forsake any sinne though neuer so pleasing or gainefull vnto him rather then he would displease God Deut. 30. 6. 3. In all streights and wants he runs to God relying vpon God as his defence rocke and refuge in all times of troubles making his moane vnto him and powring out his prayers and complaints before him Psal 18. 1. 2. Thus of his loue to God Thirdly his loue to His loue to the godly tried by ten signes the godly doth also distinguish him from all the wicked men in the world because here are diuers things to be noted in his affection to them which cannot be found in wicked men 1. As first he loues the godly aboue all other sorts of mē in the world he accounts them as the onely excellent people Psal 16. 3. 1. Ioh. 3. 14. and affects them as if they were his naturall kinred Rom. 12. 9. 10. 2. He loues them not for carnall respects but for the graces of God in them for the truths sake and because they are begotten of God 1. Ioh. 5. 1. 2. Ioh. 1. 2. 3. Ioh. 1. 3. He delights in their fellowship and societie in the Gospell as accounting them the happie companions of this life Psal 16. 3. 3. Ioh. 8. Philippians 1. 5. 4. He hath a fellow feeling of their miseries he is in some measure affectioned to weepe with them that weepe and reioyce with them that reioyce especially he is glad when their soules prosper Rom. 12. 16. 3. Ioh. 3. 5. His desire is to walk inoffensiuely as being loath any way to be an occasion of stumbling or scandall to any Christian 1 Ioh. 2. 10. 6. He can beare their infirmities take things in the best sence suffer long is not easily prouoked he hopeth all things and boasts not himselfe or enuies them nor will receiue an euill report against them 1.
THE SPIRITVAL TOVCHSTONE OR THE SIGNES OF A GODLY MAN Drawne in so plaine and profitable a maner as all sorts of Christians may trie themselues thereby Together with Directions how the weake Christian by the vse of these Signes may establish his assurance By N. BIFIELD Preacher of Gods word at Isleworth in Middlesex 2. COR. 13. 5. Examine your selues whether ye be in the faith proue your owne selues Know ye not your owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates LONDON Printed by R. FIELD for IONAS MAN 1619. TO THE MVCH HONOred Ladie the Ladie RVTH SCYDAMORE increase of peace and ioy in beleeuing HOw great the benefite of assurance of Gods fauour and of our owne saluation is those onely know that are either scourged with the conflicts and terrors of their own doubtings or that are solaced and established with the sweet dewes of refreshing that arise from a rooted and well grounded faith If men studie assurances so much for their outward possessions in this world how much more earnest and diligent should men be to assure Gods loue and the inheritance of the glorie to come There is not a clearer signe of a profane heart then to account these cares needlesse nor do I know a iuster exception against any religion then that it should teach that when a man hath done what he can to obserue the directions of that religion yet he cannot be sure he shall go to heauen But since I know that all that are possessed of the grace of Iesus Christ do account assurance great riches I therefore conceiue hope that my paines about this subiect will not be altogether vnacceptable and the rather because in this present treatise I haue endeuoured to expresse the signes of trial in a much more easie way then before and besides haue added directions that shew how a weake Christian may establish himselfe in his assurance I make bold to dedicate my new Essay herein vnto your Ladiship You haue heard the substance hereof preached and receiued it with much gladnesse and in the priuate vse of these signes you haue bene pleased to professe to the glorie of God that you haue found much contentment and establishment of your owne assurance Your eminencie in the sincere profession and practise of true religion and the shining of the graces here intreated of long acknowledged by many witnesses haue made you worthy to be publikly obserued and praised in the Churches of Christ and your great respect and fauour shewed to me hath made this way of testifying my thankfulnesse but as a small pledge and assurance of my desire to do your Ladiship any seruice in the things of Iesus Christ Thus beseeching God to enlarge the comforts of his Spirit in your heart and to prosper you in all things that concerne the blessed hope of the appearing of Iesus Christ our mightie God and Sauiour I end and rest Your Ladiships to be commanded N. Bifield CHAP. I. Describing the godly man by such signes as discouer him to the obseruation of other men THe signes of the tru Christian that hath true grace in this world and shall be saued in heauen whē he dies may be cast into two Catalogues The Two Catalogues of signes one more briefe the other more large The one Catalogue of signes describe him by such markes as for the most part do outwardly distinguish him amongst men The large Catalogue I intend especially as a more infallible and effectuall way of triall as cōtaining such signes as for the most part are not obserued by other men or not fully but are knowne to himselfe and can be found in no reprobate For the first Catalogue The shorter Catalogue handled in this Chapter The true Christian vsually discouers himselfe by these marks First he will not haue 1. He auoids the companie of the wicked fellowship with the vnfruitful works of darknes he will not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners He will not sort himselfe with workers of iniquitie Psal 1. 1. 26. 2. Cor. 6. Secondly he will afflict 2. He is sorrowfull for his sinne humble his soule for his sinnes mourning and weeping for them till the Lord be pleased to shew mercie and forgiue him He doth account his sinnes to be his greatest burthen He cannot make a mocke of sinne c. Thirdly he labours 3. He is throughly reformed in conuersation to be holy in all parts of his conuersation watching ouer his owne waies at all times and in all companies Psal 50. 23. Esa 56. 8. 2. Pet. 3. Fourthly he makes 4. He maketh conscience of lesser sins as well as greater conscience of the least commandements as wel as the greatest auoiding filthy speaking and vain iesting and lasciuiousnesse as well as whoredome lesser oathes as well as the greater reprochful speeches as wel as violent actions c. Fiftly he loues and 5. He loues preaching esteemes and labours for the powerfull preaching of the word aboue all earthly treasures Sixtly he honours 6. He esteems the godly aboue all men and highly accounts of the godly and delights in the companie of such as truly feare God aboue all others Psal 15. Seuenthly he is carefull 7. He is carefull of the sanctification of the Sabbath of the sanctification of the Sabbath neither daring to violate that holy rest by labour nor to neglect the holy duties belonging to Gods seruice publicke or priuate Esa 56. and 58. Eightly he loues not 8. He is not in loue with the world the world neither the things thereof but is more heartily affected in things that concerne a better life and so doth in some degree loue the appearing of Christ Ninthly He is easie 9. He loues his enemies to be intreated he can forgiue his enemies desires peace and will do good euen to them that persecute him if it lye in his power Math. 5. Tenthly he goeth 10. He is constant in good courses though opposed on in the profession of the sincerity of the Gospell and doth such duties as he knoweth God requires of him in businesses of his soule notwithstanding the oppositions of prophane persons or the dislike of carnall friends c. Eleuenthly he setteth 11. He serues God in his family vp a daily course of seruing of God and that with his family too if he haue any and exerciseth himselfe in the word of God as the chiefe ioy of his heart and the daily refuge of his life calling vpon God continually c. CHAP. II. Shewing the generall diuision of the Signes and the ways how the signes were found out THus of the shorter Catalogue of signes Now it followes that I proceed to those infallible marks of Election and saluation And whereas I haue diuers yeares since published a Treatise which I called Essayes or signes of God loue and mans saluation Hauing obserued The occasion of this Treatise
that diuers haue accounted the manner of setting the signes downe somewhat obscure in diuers parts of the booke I will now by Gods assistance for the helping of the weakest Christians in this Treatise endeuour to expresse my selfe in this doctrine of the triall of a true Christians estate in a more plaine and easie course of examination and leaue both the former treatise and his new Catalogue vnto the blessing of God and the free choice of the godly reader of vse which he findeth most agreeable to his owne taste being both such as are warranted founded vpon the infallible euidence of Gods vnchangeable truth In this proiect then I consider of the triall of The signes referred to sixe heads a true Christian sixe wayes First in his humiliation Secondly in his faith Thirdly in the gifts of his mind with which he is qualified Fourthly in the workes of his obedience Fiftly in the entertainment he hath from God Sixtly in the manner of his receiuing of the Sacraments In all which he differs from all the wicked men in the world so as neuer any wicked man could find these things in his condition which are true of the weakest Christian in each of these signes And that the true Christian may not doubt of his estate hauing found these signes The infallibilitie of the signes in himselfe let him consider the proofes annexed to each signe that nothing may be wanting to his aboundant consolation I will tell him how I found out those signes and by what grounds I proceeded There are three sorts 3. Wayes to find out the signes of a godly man in Scripture of places in Scripture as I cōceiue which do point out the grounds of infallible assurance in those that can attaine vnto them as first such places as expresly do affirme that such and such things are signes As for example 1. Iohn 3. 14. Hereby we know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren Here the holy Ghost shews vs expresly that the loue of the brethren is a signe by which a Christian may know that he is translated from death to life so the Apostle Paul giues signes to know whether their sorrow were after God or no. 2. Cor. 7. 11. So doth the Prophet Dauid Psal 15. giue diuers signes by which the man that shal dwell in Gods holy hill may be knowne So the Apostle Iames tels vs how we may know the wisedome from aboue by reckning the fruites and effects of it Iam. 3. 17. So doth the Apostle Paul tell vs how we may know whether we haue the Spirit of Christ in vs or no Rom. 8. 9. 15. c. Gal. 5. 22. 4. 6. 7. Secondly I find out signes by marking what graces in man the promises of God are made vnto for thus I reason Whatsoeuer gifts of God in man brings him within the compasse of Gods promises of eternall mercie that gift must be an infallible signe of saluation But such are such and such gifts as the instances in diuers Scriptures shew And therefore the man that can find those gifts in himselfe shall be certainly saued As for example The kingdome of heauen is promised to such as are poore in spirit Math. 5. 4. From thence then I gather that pouertie of spirit is an infallible signe The like I may say of the loue of the word and of vprightnesse of heart and of the loue of God and the loue of the appearing of Christ c. Thirdly I find out other signes by obseruing what godly men in Scripture haue said for themselues when they haue pleaded their owne euidence for their interest in Gods loue or their hope of a better life For look how godly men in Scripture haue proued that they were not hypocrites euen so may any Christiā proue that he is not an hypocrite neither As for example Iob being charged to be an hypocrite and lying vnder the heauy hand of God pleades his cause and proues that he was not an hypocrite by his constancie in Gods wayes and by his constant estimation of Gods word and desire after it as after his appointed food Iob 23. 10. 11. 12. More of this kind thou maist find in the proofes of particular signes Now whereas some signes are generall and thou mightst doubt of the exposition namely how that signe is infallible in such such sences For thy establishment herein thou mayst obserue that I expoūd the signe as it is expounded in other seuerall Scriptures As for example The loue of the brethren is a generall signe Now how shall I know that I haue the right loue of the brethren This I explane by flying to diuers other Scriptures wherein the particular explications of this signe are pleaded CHAP. III. The triall of a Christian by the signes of true humiliation THe first way then by which a Christian may trie himselfe is to examine himselfe about his humiliation for sinne whether it be right or no. For vnder this head is comprehended the explication of the doctrine of pouertie of spirit and godly sorrow and so in generall of repentance for sinnes Now the true Christian in this matter of humiliation shews himselfe to haue attained 26. Signes of true humiliation that which no reprobate could euer attaine and that in diuers particulars as First he hath a true 1. He sees his sinnes sight and sence of his sins He discernes his sinfulnesse of life both past and present and is affected and pained vnder the burthen of his daily wants and corruptions and sees his miserie in respect of his sinnes Ierem 3. 12. Math. 11. 29. Math. 5. 4. Secondly he trembles 2. He feares Gods displeasure at Gods word and feares his displeasure while it yet hangs in the threatnings Esa 66. 1. 2. Thirdly he renounceth 3. He trusts not vpon the merit of his own workes his owne merits and disclaimeth all opinion of true happinesse in himselfe or in any thing vnder the Sunne as being fully perswaded that he cannot be saued by any works of his owne or be happie in enioying any worldly things and therefore is fully resolued to seeke for the chiefe good in Gods fauour in Iesus Christ onely Fourthly he mournes 4. He mournes heartily and secretly for his sins and so he doth 1. For all sorts of sins For all sorts of sinne for secret sinnes as well as knowne sinnes for lesser sinnes as well as greater for the present euils of his nature and life as well as sinnes past yea for the sins he hath loued or haue bene gainfull and pleasing to him Yea he grieues for the euill that cleaues to his best workes as well as for euill workes Esa 6. 5. Rom. 7. Esa 1. 16. Math. 5. 6. 2. For sinne as it is sin For sinne as it is sin and not as it doth or might bring him shame or punishments in this life or in hell 3. He is as much troubled