and passiō destroyed death also in the same victorye was disarmed and maymed 1. Cor. 15.56 For sinne is the sting of death when death had lost his sting was conquered in Christs resurrectiō frō death Sathan also lost his strēgth power which only rested vppon them which through sin were in daunger to death Ro. 6 1◠for the rewarde of sinne is death Finally because hel onely deuoureth those which through sinne and death are slaues vnto sathā it followeth that when the other three were by him so mightily vanquished hell also with all the daunger thereof was subdued and we deliuered from all their tirannie 16 The end of our redemption OVr Lorde Iesus Christe hath payed the price of our redemption and hath deliuered vs frō the captiuity of sinne sathan deathe and hell that we might walke before him in holinesse and righteousnesse al the dayes of our life Luc. 1.75 Ro. 6 3. Moreouer wee are baptised into the death of Christ and as we are pertakers of his death so should we be pertakers of his resurrection to the end that as Christe is risen from death so also wee shoulde rise from the death of sinne vnto the life of righteousnesse 1. Pet. 3.7 Rom. 8.17 Furthermore by the benefite of Christs passion we are made heires of God with him children of light And therefore wee should walk according to our calling haue no fellowship with the workes of darknesse neither passe our tyme in vaine delights but put on the lord Iesus Christe and not satisfie the lustes and desires of the fleshe Wee are also by profession citizens of heauen Eph. 2.19 and of the housholde of God our conuersation therefore shoulde bee in heauen with a manifeste declaration of the contempt of this miserable worlde and the transitory vanities in the same 17 Christ is the true shephearde OVr Lord Iesus Christ hath promised that if we hold him for our shepheard hee will not suffer the Diuel to haue any aduauntage of vs but he wil dispence the vertue and power of God his father whiche shall ouercome all hys enemies Io. 10.11 Eze. 34.23 Esa 40.11 and therefore we shal bee well defended if wee haue Iesus Christ to bee our captaine and guide For the which cause we must learne of him to bee Sheepe and to walke in his obedience and to cōmit our selues to his protection and that we may do so wee muste consider the frailtie that is in vs For when wee once know that we should quickly be ouercome of Sathan if we were not vpholden and maintained by a greater vertue it wil be as a spurre vnto vs to moue vs to haue our whole recourse vnto GOD and to call vppon him with alhumblenes carefulnes 18 Wee cannot merit Gods fauour IF wee stande in talke of acquiting our selues before God it is certaine that wee can finde nothing in our selues worthye suche a reconciliation or that maye come any thing neare it And therefore it standeth vs vppon to search our neede and want in Christ Iesus how by the price of his blood we are reconciled to God his father Io. 15.5 2 Cor. 3.5 and that wee haue free accesse giuen vnto vs so that we may boldelie and confidently call vppon him 19 Iesus Christ muste sanctifie our prayers SO often as the faithfull doe settle themselues to pray vnto GOD they muste knowe that all their prayers must be sanctified and consecrated by the blood of our Lord Iesus Christ For if in prayer wee doe not ground our selues vppon the grace of the onelye Mediatour that was giuen vs we must needes be in doubte and perplexitie all our prayers are polluted and vncleane There is no meane to sanctifie them and to make them stande good and stedfast before God vnlesse they bee watered by the bloud of Christ Iam. 1.6 Mat. 11 24 as the scripture also sheweth that if we pray not in Faith and certainty we shall neuer profitte any thing at all When we come vnto God we must be out of doubt that we pray as it were by his mouth and his wil must be a rule that can neuer deceaue vs He. 11.6 so that we may not swarue from it the least iott that may be neither to the right hand nor to the left For God will not be prayed vnto but after his owne will and not according to the fantastes of men 20 Christ the onelie mediator and why so called OVr Sauiour Christ is not onlie called a Mediatour in respect hereof that hee reconciled vs to God by his deathe at once But because hee appeareth now before the Maiestie of God to th' end that wee might be heard by his meanes 1. Tim. 2.5 For these are two thinges whiche cannot be sundred as namely the death and passion of the sonne of God and that he now maketh intercession for vs. Moreouer Iesus Christ is called the onely Mediatour not onelie because he now maketh intercession for vs but also because he suffered death for vs and therefore we cannot giue this office vnto the saincts but wee muste make them our redemers and so cast Christ cleane away the whiche is an horrible blasphemie 21 The Gospell a necessary witnesse of our saluation IT were to smal purpose that Iesus Christ had redemed vs from euerlasting death and had shed his blood to reconcile vs to God vnlesse wee were certified of this benefitte by meanes of the Gospell for it is faith that bringeth vs into possession of this saluation And although we finde it not but in the person of our Lorde Iesus we must needs come thither yet if we haue not this keye of faithe Iesus Christe shall bee as it were straunge vnto vs and all that he suffered will nothing at all profit vs as indeed it doth not thē belong vnto vs 22 Wee are called by the Gospell WHensoeuer the Gospel is preached wee haue to knowe and consider that it is to make vs pertakers of Iesus Christ that being ingrafted in him Heb. 2.11 wee mighte haue parte and portion in all his riches whatsoeuer he hath may be ours For seeing it hath pleased him once to become our brother we neede not doubt but in taking vppon him our poore wretched estate he hath made such an exchaunge with vs that we might be riche in him By the preaching of the Gospell God calleth vs vnto himself and it wil be neither in vaine nor lost labour if we come accordinglie 23 The perfection of Wisedome GOD hath giuen vs the perfection of wisedome in the holy scriptures and therefore no man shoulde geue himselfe to fables and foolish questions which are not profitable to edification but cleaue faste and content himselfe with the worde of God and with the trueth of doctrine conteyned in the same For the which cause wee are commaunded to try all thinges 1. Th. 5.21 and keepe that which is good For the Diuel cannot so culour his
entrance then a way out except it be to his euerlasting destruction for his horrible presumption 113. Sinne is not of God IN the beginning of all thinges god made man not in such sorte as hee now is in miserable a bond slaue of sinne and death but excellent holye iust and good but through his owne fault and transgression of gods laws he fell into sinne punishment death hell and into the verie power of the diuel And hereby it is manifest that sinne was neither created nor commaunded by God but forbidden because god gaue vnto man a good and holy commaundement wherewith he forbadde him that fruit which being eaten woulde bring sinne death and damnation We must not now busily dispute and curiously search why god gaue this commaundement of not eating vnto man when notwithstanding he was not ignorant of the euent or of that which would come to passe or for what cause he gaue the deuill power to tempt and deceaue man Or wherfore God did not mightily keepe man from falling c. For the holye Ghost by the mouth of Paule reiecteth such kinde of questions and findeth great fault with them 1. Tim. 4.7 6.20 2. Tim. 2.16 Tit. 3.9 sharpely reproueth and condemneth them Wherefore the best and wisest waye is to beleeue that God is iust and to confesse that he willeth not that which is euil much lesse doth euill 114 The first steppe to the grace of God is to confesse our sinnes THey are incurable who hauing n◠feeling of their sinnes despise the grace of God Therfore it is horrible blindnes to be ignorant of our blindnes euen as not to knowe our sicknesse is almoste a disease vncurable And as the firste steppe to recouer health is to acknowledge our infirmitye euen so the firste steppe to the grace of God is to know our vngodlines and ignorance To this effect appertayneth that which S. Iohn sayth 1. Io. 1.8 If we confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and the bloude of Iesus Christe his sonne shall clense vs from all iniquitie In the verye chosen and deare children of God there surely is much sinne But it is taken awaye it is not imputed neither doth it remaine in the wicked onely there remaineth sinne and damnation There is therefore a passing sinne and a remaining sinne To this effect pertaineth this saying he that beleeueth in the sonne hath euerlasting life and he that obeyeth not the sonne shall not see life Io. 3.36 but the wrath of God abydeth on him Let vs therefore beleeue in the sonne of God let vs confesse vnto him our sinnes that we being illuminated by him and absolued from our sinnes may come at the last to that light which no man can attayne vnto 115 Sinne is not of Gods creation in man but of the diuels procurement WHereas sinne is in mans nature it is not of Gods putting in by creation but by reason that Sathan did spread his naughtinesse further abroad at such time as man was beguiled by his wilines to disapoint the benefyte of God And thus it appeareth that the Deuils became accursed of them selues and that their being cruell full of rebellion full of lying and full of wickednes came altogether of their turning awaye from their creator as the scripture teacheth vs. 2. Pet. 2.4 Yet for all that they cease not to be alwaies vnder the hand of God And therefore what a thinge were this if we had not the knowlege therof For whē it is said that the diuel is the prince of this world it were inought to make vs afrayd if so be we knewe not that there is a bridle alofte which reineth him backe and hindereth him of doing that which he would For if Sathans power were not limited he would out of hand haue his full fling at vs Wee know he desireth nothing but our destruction according also as he is our deadly enemy so that he goeth about like a roring lyon seeking to deuour vs. 1. Pet 5.8 So then one of the necessariest articles that we haue is to knowe that the diuel is helde shorte and that howsoeuer he play the cruel enimie against our saluation yet can he do nothing further then is permitted him from aboue 116 What ought to be considered in originall sinne IN the consideration of originall sinne the corruption of sinne it selfe is firste to be considered the strength whereof is so great that through the corruption thereof the image of God is destroyed in vs and in stead of righteousnesse and holinesse there is placed vnrighteousnesse and vncleannesse secondly the guilt is to be considered whereby God if he would might haue counted them for sinnes vnto death but God was reconciled vnto Adam yet not in such wise notwithstanding that he tooke from him all sinne and corruption that afterwarde hee shoulde not be sinnefull corrupt and mortall for hee left him in the same case of nature wherein he was then sette but hee was so reconciled vnto God that he doeth not followe his accusation nor pursue his right but rather doth not impute vnto him his vices and corruption to condemnation There remayneth then in Adam corruption and floweth into vs his children by corruption gotten by inheritaunce Gen. 8.21 The Lorde sayeth Genesis 8. that the imagination of mans heart is euill euen from his youth Who can make that cleane sayeth Iob which is conceaued of vncleane seede Iob. 14.4 Beholde I was borne in iniquitie sayeth the Prophet and in sinne hath my mother conceaued me Ps 51.5 Euerlasting death Gen. 3.15 whereunto all men through sinne remaine subiect remayneth in the vnfaithfull Heb. 2.15 but from the beleeuers it is taken awaye by the blessed seede 117 Three degrees of faultinesse in sinne without the act THere are three degrees of faultinesse in sinne although it come not to the outwarde acte The first is a fleeting imagination or thought which a man conceaueth by the beholding of any thing for thereupon some one toye or other wil come into his head Or else although he see nothinge yet notwithstanding his minde is so tickle vnto euill Gen. 8.21 as it carieth him hither and thither and maketh manye fancies to runne into his head And without doubt the same is a faultinesse but yet it is not imputed to the beleeuers for sinne The seconde degree is that vppon the conceiuing of such a fancie we be somewhat tickled and feele that our will swayeth that waye and although there be no consent or agreeing vnto it yet notwithstanding there is some inwarde pricking to prouoke vs vnto it Nowe this is a wicked sinne and as it were alreadie conceaued afterwarde followeth consent when wee settle our will vppon it so as there is no lett in vs for the performaunce of the euill but the want of occasion and opportunitie and this is the thirde degree For then is the sinne fully shaped in vs although there be
vnaduisedly eating of the fruit which was forbidden him he made himselfe which was before threatned vnto him of God subiect vnto sinne Ge. 2.17 deathe and damnation 156 The firste meanes that man had to be deliuered THE first meanes that man had to be deliuered from this bondage of sinne deathe and other calamities whereunto by transgression he was subiect was the law which although it was not of power sufficient to acquite him yet being thereby brought to the knowledge of his misery he might learne to dispaire of his owne strength and fly vnto the refuge and anker hold of Faith Before faith came we were kept vnder the Lawe and shut vp vnto the faith which shuld afterward be reueiled Gal 3.23 Wherfore the Law was our Scholemaister to bring vs vnto Christ that we mighte be made righteous by faith 157 The second meanes THe Lawe being not able to acquite vs from this corruption the celestiall father because her loued the worlde hath restored vs to righteousnesse by his sonne Io. 3.16 namelie by condemning sinne in the fleshe of Christ by cancelling the handwriting of ordinances that was against vs Col. 2.14 hath done away the giltinesse wherewith we were held bound before the Lorde and so are wee absolued that God might repute vs iuste For that Ro. 8.3 that was impossible vnto the Lawe inasmuch as it was weake because of the fleshe God sending his owne sonne in the similitude of sinfull flesh and for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh He hath made him to bee sinne for vs 2. Cor 5.21 which knewe no sinne that wee should be made the righteousnesse of God in him Greater loue then this hath no man When any man bestoweth his life for his freindes Io. 15.13 This loue is sealed vnto vs. Matthew the 26.28 158 Of Christ his person and office his preisthoode and kingdome OVr Lord Iesus Christ before the foundation of the woorlde was laide was ordeyned and appointed to bee the Sauiour of the woorlde In the beginning was the worde and the word was with God and that word was God In substāce and nature touching his diuinity he is coequall with GOD. Io. 1.1 Ioh. 17.5 He. 2.17 4.12 1. Tim. 2. Act. 4.12 And now glorifie mee thou Father with thine ownself with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made There are two natures in Christ a Dyuine and humane the propertye whereof do safely remaine knitte and ioyned in one person He is our onelie Mediatour and Aduocate neither is there saluation in any other For amongest men there is giuen no other name vnder heauen whereby wee shal be saued He is our euerlasting preist who by his one oblation of himselfe hath satisfied for the sinnes of all those that by a liuely faith take hold vppon him But now our high Preist hath obtained a more excellent office inasmuch as he is the mediator of a better testament Heb 8.6 9.11 1. Pet. 1.19 Io. 18.36 He is a king but his kingdome is not of this worlde for if the kingdome of Christ were earthly it would be vnstable and transitory but nowe sith it is heauenly it is certaine that the same shall continue for euer The encrease of his gouernment and peace shall haue no end Esay 9.7 He shall sit vppon the throne of Dauid and vppon his kingdome to order it and to establishe it with iustice and with iudgement from hencefoorthe euen for euer Dan. 7.14 Mich. 4. His dominion is an euerlasting dominion which shall neuer bee taken away and his kingdome shall neuer be destroyed 159 Howe we ought to knowe and confesse Christ WE may not think that a fleight knowledge and confession of Christ the sonne of God and Sauiour of the world is sufficient Ia. 2.19 For the Deuills as Saint Iames saith do beeleeue knowe and tremble yea and the Turkes and infidels do after a manner acknowledge Christ But wee muste knowe and confesse Christe as Peter did saying Thou art Christe the sonne of the liuing God Ma. 16.16 We must deeply pearce or enter into the whole course of the scripture and earnestlye consider by what titles Christ is called and what hee is indeede both in person and office To confesse that Iesus is Christ the sonne of GOD is asmuch as to say that wee knowe confesse and beleeue that Iesus born of the blessed virgine is the blessed seede and the true Messias promised by GOD by the mouth of all his Prophets and the eternall and onely begotten sonne of GOD that is according to his person very God and very man and by his office the true Christ annointed of the holy Ghoste King of Kings and Lorde of Lordes the high preist principall shephearde of our soules the Maister guider and teacher of his flocke our onely Sauiour redeemer mediator and intercessor the head gouernour ruler and defender of his Church And wee may not thinke that the eternall prouidence and wisedome of God woul◠prepare so pretious highe and vnestimable a meanes as to sende downe his sonne to take the forme of a seruaunt vppon him in this vale of misery to woorke onelye some parte of our saluation and so but in parte to execute the office of a sauiour Wherfore wee muste assuredly knowe and confesse that Christ is al that is before spoken wholly and onely without any parte attributed to other For as Peter saieth in the Actes of the Apostles Act. 4.12 there is no other name geuen vnder heauen whereby wee shall bee saued but onely the name of Christ Iesus 160 Christ is the liuelye image of the Father FOrasmuch as men make themselues known by countenance and by worde euen so God sendeth forth his voice vnto vs by the voice of the prophets and hath in the Sacramentes as it were taken vpon him a visible forme that we may know him according to our capacity for as God by his nature is inuisible for God is a spirite so is he neither seene with corporall eyes nor yet heard by these corporall and corruptible eares Neuerthelesse he giueth vnto his seruauntes certaine signes of his presence Io. 4.24 and speaketh vnto men in such manner of speech as may be vnderstood For so he appeared to the Prophets Wherefore that which wee read in Deuteronomy concerning the voice of GOD which the Israelits hear◠is no otherwise to be vnderstood Deu. 4.10 then that they heard the voice of an Angel and not the proper voice of God But when Christ was made manifest in the flesh we had after a sort in him a visible image of the inuisible father Hee himselfe saying Io. 14.9 He which seeth mee seeth my father also He therefore which doth not acknowledge God in his liuely and expresse image doth sufficiently thereby declare that he worshippeth no God at al 2. Cor. 3.14 but a God of his owne imagination Therfore the Apostle saieth that the
is a common thing not onelye to them that haue charge to preach the Gospell but also to all the faithful to be continuallye assaulted of Sathan when they would serue God Luk. 22.31 1. The 2.18 1. Pet. 5.8 Ro. 8.7 And it is also certaine that wee haue as many enemies which do endeuor to turn vs aside from the following of God of his worde as we haue thoughts and affections and therefore it is required that wee bee well armed with the knowledge of the Gospell to fight aswell against nature as against an infinit number of temptations which Sathan hath alwaies ready at hand 6 If we will follow Christ wee must suffer affliction SEing our Lord Iesus Christe is our head and captaine it cannot be but that our life must be as a continuall fight For Sathan who is a deadly enemie to the sonne of God 2. Tim. 3.12 wil neuer leaue the mēbers of Christ in reste but will torment and vexe them so that wee shall haue nothing but disquietnesse in this life And therefore we must take good courage in him that hath ouercome the world Io. 16.13 and our truste in him muste bee such that wee doe not doubt but that the victorie which he hath gotten is gotten for vs. 7 God defendeth those that are his THe fight of the faithfull is a good fight for God doth reache forth his hande vnto them Psal 18.2 1. Tim. 6.12 2. Tim. 4.7 and the victorye is alreadye prepared for them And therefore although the world be froward and althoughe it will alwayes resist the truth and troble them that bring it yet in the ende hipocrisie shal be confounded and the rage and hatred of the hipocrits shall serue to giue a greater glasse lighte to the vertue which God giueth vnto his worde 8 Faith and a good conscience the armour of the faithfull THe true seruaunts of God must be furnished with faithe and a good conscience if they will fight vnder the banner of our Lorde Iesus Christe And moreouer it is chiefly required in the ministers of the gospell that they continue in pure doctrine 2. Tim. 1.18.19 1. Tim. 3 9. 2. Tim. 2 15. that they finde not out false imaginations neither goe astraye from true religion but that they haue right vprightnesse in them And so generallye all the faithfull muste not onely haue a zeale to serue God but they must be defenced with good doctrine and their cheefest rule must be that God may be honored 9 Faith is a pretious treasure FAith is a treasure whiche is well worthy to bee kept For it is the staye that holdeth vs vp Act. 15.9 1. Pet. 1.9 1. Pet. 5.9 it is the prop of our saluation if wee bee not wel grounded in faith we shal quiklie sinke into the bottomelesse pitte of hell Io. 5.24 and therefore as the men of this worlde are carefull to lay vp their gold and siluer which are but corruptible mettals safe and in sure keping so ought we to be much more carefull to laye vp this treasure of faithe in a good conscience For it is a thing far more pretious and deserueth to bee more embraced and maintained 10 The meanes to enioy faith alwayes IF we will enioye faith not onelie for a little time but for euer Wee muste go forwarde with reuerence When God hath once shewed vs the way of saluation there must bee no hipocrisie in vs but the true humilitie of the minde Io. 8.31 Iam. 1.25 Wee must not bee lightheaded to be carried away with our violent lusts nor yet double hearted to mocke God and to despise his grace and so may wee bee sure that God will giue vs such a constancie steedines as shall neuer be ouercōe although all the temptations in the world do rise vp against vs Ro. ◠38 yet God will alwaye keepe vs for our saluation is in his hand and he hath promised to be our keeper and faithefull protector 11 Prayer is a proofe of Faith The chiefest exercise that the children of God haue is to pray vnto God For prayer is a good proofe of our faith when wee haue recourse vnto our God call vppon his name Pro. 15.29 Mat. 21 22. Ro. 12.12 2. Tim. 2.1 2 Iam. 5.15 and doe not onelye thinke and haue care of our selues but our charitie must reach it selfe toward al both small and great whether they bee of our familiar freindes and nighe acquaintance or whether they be strangers and such as we doe not know 12 Faith is not without prayer IT is a true token that we haue profited in the word of God if so bee that we haue an earnest desire and affection to pray vnto God and so that our soules doe as it were breathe thirst after it from day to day for that man which saith that hee trusteth in God and beleeueth the Gospell and in the meane while maketh no accōpt of prayer hee sheweth himselfe to bee but a scorner and an hipocrit Ps 34.13 Coll. 4.2 Luc. 18.1 1. Thes 5.17 For if wee receiue the promises of God if wee bee assured of that whiche hee saith wee must then seeke him for as he promiseth to bee our father and sauiour so he calleth vs vnto him hee reacheth out his hande vnto vs hee seeketh nothing but as we are called to the knowledge of his truth so wee should come and pray him to accomplish those things which we haue hoped for at his hands And theerfore al they that are negligent to praye vnto God do giue a great token that they neuer tasted of his promises 13 Of Prayer Wee muste not onlye pray for the faithfull whiche are our brethren alreadye but for them that are verie farre of as the poore infidels and vnbeleeuers althoughe there seeme to be a great distaunce difference between both yet must we notwithstanding haue pitty and compassion vpon their destruction to the ende that wee maye praye vnto God that he woulde drawe them vnto him selfe 14 Loue is a token of Adoption GOD hath adopted vs to bee his children if we be the members of his sonne Iesus Christe whiche cannot bee vnlesse wee bee ioyned together in brotherlye loue one towards another If we seperate our selues from them whom God wil haue to be his owne Io. 13.35 1. Io. 3.15 1. Io. 4.20 wee deuide in sunder asmuch as lieth in vs the bodie of our Lorde Iesus Christ and so banishe our selues from the kingdome of heauen 15 The price of our redemption VVHereas sinne Sathan deathe Hell and dampnation helde vs in captiuitie we are now deliuered from the tirannie of all thē by Christ Iesus crucified Firste hee ouercame sinne when beeing the sonne of God in the shape of a reprochefull man as an innocent lambe deseruing no punishment and yet suffering moste cruell punishment and bitter deathe gaue himselfe a ful and perfect sacrifice for our sinnes And when sinne was by his death
good workes or our owne perfection Ro. 3 22. but God the promiser and Christe the Mediator Contrariwise the Pope commandeth vs to looke Eph. 2.8.9 not onely vnto GOD the promiser nor vnto Christ our high priest but vnto our workes merits Here on the one side doubting and desperation must needes follow but on the other side assurāce of gods fauour and ioy of the spirite if wee cleaue vnto God who cannot lye For as he promised so hath hee deliuered his sonne to deth the through his bloud he might redeeme vs from our sinnes and from eternall death Tit. 1.2 In this case we cannot doubt vnlesse we will vtterly denye God 103 The libertie of a true Christian A True Christian is the childe of grace and remission of sinnes because he is vnder no lawe but is aboue the lawe sinne death and hell And euen as Christ is free from the graue and Peter from the prison Mat. 28.6 so is a Christian free from the lawe And such a respect there is betweene the iustified conscience and the lawe as is between Christ raysed vp from the graue and the graue it selfe and as is betweene Peter deliuered from the pryson Act. 12.9 and the pryson it selfe And like as Christe by his death and resurrection is dead to the graue so that it hath nowe no power ouer him nor is able any longer to holde him but the stone beeing rolled awaye the seales broaken and the keepers astonished hee ryseth agayne and goeth awaye without anye lette and as Peter by his deliueraunce is freed from the pryson and goeth whyther hee will euen so the conscience by grace is deliuered from the lawe Heb. 13.9 and so is euerye one that is borne of the spirite 104 The first point of a true Christian THE kingdome of Christ is not earthly but a spirituall kingdome by the power of the holy ghost raigning and florishing in the hearts of men and setting it selfe against the workes of the Diuell and of the worlde and therefore looketh for no other thing in the worlde Io. 18.36 but miserie and trouble Wherefore the first point of a true Christian is so farre as mans frailty can suffer 1. Io. 2.15 to renounce the worlde and the affections and pleasures thereof and with the comfort of Gods mercie in Christ Iesu to arme himselfe with patience against all the mischiefes that the Deuil or the world can raise against him A true professor of Christ his gospell maketh this account before hand and looketh for no other and because he knoweth that life of a Christiā is a warfare vpon the earth he vnderstandeth also that Christs souldiers which wil professe to fight vnder his banner may not in this life looke for wealth Io. 15.18 prosperitye and quietnesse especially whē he seeth the Diuell the world and the flesh ready prepared to ouerthrow him and to bring him to confusion Whosoeuer therefore dallieth with the worlde sheweth himselfe more then half a traytor against Christe much more they that for the worlde revolte from Christ 105 A note to knowe a true Christian THere is a most certaine note whereby the true children of God are knowne and discerned from the children of the worlde if by the spirit of God they be regenerate vnto innocency and holinesse Ro 8.9 For as GOD by his spirit consecrateth vs for temples to himself so by the same spirite he dwelleth in vs Io. 14.17 1. Cor. 3.16.17 and so the sonnes of God are counted spirituall not in respect of a full and absolute perfection but only for the newnesse of life begunne in them and because they haue the spirite of God abiding in them howesoeuer they feele some reliques of the flesh remaining Ro. 8.10 The kingdome of the spirite is the abolishing of the flesh and in whō the spirit of Christ raigneth not they doe not appertaine vnto Christ They are not Christians that serue the flesh for by plucking him away from his spirit they make him like to a deade image or carcasse 106 A true Christian is partly vnder the Lawe and partlye vnder grace A True christian is deuided into two times In that hee is fleshe he is vnder the Law in that he is spirite he is vnder grace Concupiscence Gal. 5.19 couetousnes ambition pride and such like vices do alwaies cleaue to the flesh Also ignorance contempt of God impaciency murmuring and grudging against God because he hindereth and breaketh of our counsells our deuises and enterprises and beecause hee spedilye punisheth not suche as are wicked rebellious and contemptuous persons c. Such manner of sinnes are rooted in the fleshe of the faithfull wherefore if wee beholde nothing but the flesh wee shall abide alwaies vnder the time of the Lawe but these dayes must be shortned or no flesh shall bee saued The Lawe must haue his time appointed wherein it muste haue his ende the time thereof is not perpetual but hath his end Ma. 24.22 Ro. 12.4 Ro. 6.9 which end is Christ but the time of grace is eternall For Christ being dead dieth no more He is eternall therefore the time of grace is also eternall 107 The spirit of Christ dwelleth in Christians VVEE must always remember that free remission of sins cannot be seperated from the spirit of regeneration for that were asmuch as for to rent Christ in peeces Which thing if it be true as indeede it is most true then are the aduersaries of the gospel void of the true sence of the holy Ghoste 2. Cor. 5.5 when they charge vs with arrogancy in that we dare acknowledge the spirit of Christ dwelling in vs. For either wee must denie Christ or confesse that we are Christians by his spirit It is pitifull to consider their horrible falling from the word of God forasmuch as they doe not only boaste themselues to be Christians without the spirit of God but also scorne and scoff at the faith of others bring surely grounded vpon the rocke but such is the philosophy of the Papistes the spirit is indifferently sometimes called the spirit of God the father sometime of Christ not onely because all the fulnesse thereof is shedd vppon Christ Col. 2.9 as he is our mediatour and head that from thence might redoūd to euery one of vs his portion but also because the same spirite is common to the father and the sonne who haue one essence and the same eternall Deity 108 Christians must be constant BY constancy and perseuerance in faith how many cruell persecutions soeuer are exercised against vs what greeuous offences soeuer are obiected against vs by them that fal although the deceitfull error of false Prophets doe resist our faith 1. Pet. 1.9 yet notwithstanding at the length wee shall receaue the saluation of our soules which is the ende of our Faith Christ therefore acquireth this fortitude of those that are his Ma. 24.13 that they persist and abide
from him finally his power wherby he executeth the decrees and ordinances of his counsell By this reason wee say that the sonne coÌ„meth onely of the Father but that the holy ghost is of the Father of the sonne together Although theÌ„ that we can not consider the wisedome of God but as it proceedeth froÌ„ the father as it is engendred of him yet we must take heede that in this generatioÌ„ we inuent nothing temporall carnall or humaine but rather lette vs worship the same beholding it by faith let vs take heede froÌ„ searching further theÌ„ scriptures do teach vs thereof otherwise we should deserue to be blinded and punished for our ouer great curiositie 152 The vnitie of essence is not taken away by the distinction of persons AS the Sunne that shineth hath three distinct thinges of which euerie one differeth from another the globe the light and heate and although euerie one of these keepe seueraly their properties yet is it but one sun is not deuided into 3. suns So in the Deity the vnitie of essence is not takeÌ„ away by the distinction of persons yet for all that is there no confounding of persons nor chaunginge of one into another The doctrine of the Trinitie is euerie where certainly taught in the Prophetes but more plainely in the writinges of the Euangelistes and Apostles For the Angell Gabryell speaketh vnto Marie the mother of the Lorde in these wordes Luk. 1.35 The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most highest shall ouershadowe thee wherfore the holy thing also which shal be borne shal be called the sonne of god We haue here truly the Father which is the highest the sonne of God which is borne of the Virgin and the holy Ghost which ouershadoweth the virgin Mat. 3.16 At what time also Christ our Lord was baptized in the riuer Iordan of Iohn the Baptist Iohn sawe the holy Ghost comming downe like a Doue and lighting vppon him and there was also a voyce hearde from heauen 2. Pet. 1.17 saying This is my dearely beloued sonne in whome I am well pleased Io. 5. 14. Furthermore Christe our Lorde hath often and sundrie wayes taught that there is a holy Trinitie and lastly he commaundeth all thâ—se that trust in him to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the sonne and of the holy Ghost Wherefore seeing that in the holy scriptures Mat. 28.18 Mar. 16.16 in the Trinitie the vnitie of the Deitie is plainely clearely taught it is mete that we doe simply rest therein not curiously search nor lust after anye further knowledge in this life then which God hath reuealed 153 Gods grace is the only staye and repayrer of all thinges WHen we haue well considered howe brittle our life is wee must also marke howe wee be repayred againe by the grace of god and specially howe we be susteyned vpheld by the same according also as these two pointes are matched togeather in the 104. Psalme Ps 104.29.30 For it is sayd there that assoone as God withdraweth his spirite working al goeth to decay but the Prophet addeth also that if God spread forth his power all is renewed in this worlde and al thinges take their liuelinesse of him And thus wee see what wee haue to marke as namely that when we knowe our selues to be weake and so subiect vnto death as that we must run thither whether we will or no we must also vnderstaÌ„d that in this so great frailtie God holdeth vs by the hand so as we be maintayned by his power and strengthened by his grace But the chief point is that we should haue an eye to the benefite and good grace which God hath giuen vs aboue the order of nature in restoring vs by his worde as sayeth the Prophet Esaye Esay 40.6.7.8 All flesh is as grasse and all the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse the grasse withereth and the flower falleth away whereas the worde of the Lorde endureth for euer 1. Pet. 1.24.25 yea not onely to continue in heauen but also to the ende that by it we may haue euerlasting life and be redeemed out of the vniuersall corruption of this earthly life that God may dwel in vs and make vs pertakers of his euerlastingnesse 154 God is the creator of all things THe Lorde by his eternall woorde hath made and created al things conteyned within the compasse of heauen earth as Moses at larg describeth Ge. 1. By the word of the Lord saith the Prophet were the heauens made Ps 33.6 al the hoste of theÌ„ by the breath of his mouth The Lord herein hath shewed his wisedome power goodnes for by his infinite most excelleÌ„t works which make al men to wonder at them we may in a manner iudge how wonderful the wisedome power goodnes of this workemaster is The Lord hath not only created al things but by his euerlasting spirite preserueth gouerneth theÌ„ Who is like vnto the Lorde our God Ps 113.5.6 that hath his dwelling on high who abaseth himselfe to behold things in heaueÌ„ in earth He hath established theÌ„ for euer hee hath made an ordinance which shall not passe Ps 148.6 All thinges that the circuit of this world conteineth whether they be visible or inuisible all thinges I say were created of God for the vse of man as the Prophet Dauid likewise witnesseth Ps 8. and 23. Ps 8. 23 and also the Apostle Paule It is therefore meete that men be thankeful vnto God and keepe in perfect memory the creation neuer call it into doubt forasmuch as the Sabboth was therefore ordeined of God that the memorie of this benefite might be kept Ex. 20.11 against al aduersaries that denie and despise the creation 155 Of the fall of man GOd at the first created man after his owne similitude likenesse that is to saye righteous vertuous holy iust and good but by his owne fault he fell from the grace which hee receaued and so separated himself from God Eccl. 7.31 Gen. 1.26 insomuch that his nature became full of corruption being blinde in spirite and depriued of all perfectnesse As by one man sinne entred into the worlde death by sin Ro. 5.12 and so death went ouer all forasmuch as all meÌ„ haue sinned Man was created of God and made of two partes the soule and the bodie of which the body was made of the earth but the soule which is spirit and life was inspired by God Gen. 2.7 and thus was man made a liuing creature who afterward although hauing receiued a iust lawe from God and enioying innumerable benefites at his hande yet notwithstanding he was vnthankfull and disobedient vnto his creator beecause that hearing the woordes of the wicked spirit he gaue more credit vnto them then vnto the words of God and was brought vnto this poynt that
sinne is the seruaunt of sinne But if the sonne shall make you free you shall bee free in deede That is you are made free from sinne the Deuil death and damnation that freely with good will by the operation of the holy Ghoste and not by compulsion you might do that good thing which you doe And they which are so redemed and indued with Christian liberty they attribute not the good which they doe vnto their owne power and freewill but to the grace of Christ and to the holy Ghoste whiche worketh the same in them For our Sauiour Christ saith He that abideth in mee Io. 15 5 and I in him the same bringeth foorth much fruite for without me ye can do nothing Saint Paule also sayeth wee are not sufficient of our selues to thinke any thing as of our selues 2. Cor. 3.5 but our sufficiency is of God And in an another place he saith 1. Cor 47 what hast thou that thou hast not receaued If thou hast receaued it why reioycest thou as though thou hadst not receaued it And againe he saith Phi. i. 29 2.13 Vnto you it is geuen for Christ that not only ye should beleeue in him but also suffer for his sake and furthermore it is God saith he which worketh in you both the will and the deede euen of his good pleasure 173 The doctrine of Freewill is blasphemous THey doe greatly erre which doe attribute vnto men freewil and the power to guide and gouern themselues they are also vnthankfull or at leastwise endeuor to bring al the world to vnthankfulnesse and are arrogant when so much as in them lyeth they dispossesse the holy Ghoste of his benefits giftes and attribute them vnto men Wherefore eschuing such doctrine as a deadly pestilence Ro. 12 13 Io. 15.5 Let vs harken vnto sobrietye The which we shal doe if with humblenes we acknowledge our selues to bee the braunches and that we truly confesse with Saint Paule that we are not able of our selues 2. Cor. 3.5 Phil. 2.12 but our strengthe commeth of God Let vs not be proud and arrogant but by humility of mind let vs occupy our selues about our saluation c. 174 We can neither attaine vertue not eschue vice by our Freewill WE cannot attain vnto any vertue nor yet tame and abolishe such faults and vices as are condemned by our freewill nor by any ablenesse that is in vs Phil. 2.13 Tit. 2.11 12 Gal 5.20 21 but God must worke in vs and we muste bee members of our Lord Iesus Christe It is said that wee must liue soberly righteously and godly And how shall we do so when the holy ghost shal rule in vs then shal we haue these vertues It is said that we must fly druÌ„keÌ„nesse intemperancy strife debate pride and such like And how hauing the spirit of meekenesse of the feare of God the spirit of wisedome and discretion and all this was geuen to our Lord Iesus Christ to th' end he should make them that beleeue in him pertakers of it Therefore seeing we are of nature intemperate full of vanity ful of ambition and pride geuen to vnrighteousnesse deceit and wrong let vs come submitt our selues vnto him that was appointed our head know that ther is no other meanes for vs to bee kept in obedience to God and to liue according to his wil vnlesse we bee vnited to the body of our Lord Iesus Christ for then is the holy ghost powred vpoÌ„ vs to strengthen vs the better for he is the fountaine of all holinesse of all righteousnes and to be short of all perfection 175 Opinion of freewil is vnthankfulnes SEing our nature is so corrupted the as God himselfe saith Ge. 6 5 our heart is bent only to euil euen from our youth how can any goodnesse proceede from vs as of our selues how can we chalenge power to fulfill Gods law by our good doings to be reconciled vnto him Io. 15.13 Without me saith Christ you caÌ„ do nothing And S Paule acknowledgeth that he is not able to thinke a good thought as of himselfe 2. Cor. 3.5 but all his sufficiency is of God If Saint Paule doth so humbly acknowledge his weaknesse why should we stand so proudly in our owne conceits Wee loste free will to loue and embrace the commaundements of god through the greatnesse of the sinne of our first Father Adam Wherefore men are vnthankfull and vnkinde vnto the grace of God in attributing much vnto needy and wounded nature Aug. ep 107. The first man Adam was so made that nothing resisted his will but after through freewill he sinned Wee as many as descend from his stocke are caste downe headlong into a necessity of sinning If in the fall of Adam wee loste freewill to loue and embrace the commaundement of God if we shew our selues vnthanful to gods grace by attributing so muche to our maimed and corrupt nature if by Adams offence we be cast into a necessity of sinning Let vs as the Gospell teacheth vs cast away this confidence of our owne power Let vs shake off this self liking hipocrisie let vs submit our selues vnder the mighty hand of God and acknowledge our own infirmity not kick at that doctrine of the gospel that layeth before vs our own weakenes and teacheth vs what need we haue of the grace of God in Christ Iesu 176. Our wil is vtterly blinde till God hath chaunged vs. IT is the power of the holye Ghost through which wee are drawne to the obedience of God according as he hath chosen and adopted vs for his children before the foundation of the world Moreouer the holye scripture sheweth vs Eph. 1.3.4 that we shall alwaies be enemies vnto God vntill hee haue chaunged and renewed vs. And this is the cause why Moses said vnto the people Deu. 29.4 that God had not yet geuen them an vnderstanding heart and seing eyes And therefore to th' end hee might bee obeyed hee saith that hee would giue them a new heart taking away the stony heart Ier. 3 1.33 The prophet Ieremie in the 31. chap. and so likewise Ezechiel and the apostle Paule doe agree in this that God giueth both to will and to performe Eze. 11.19 36.27 And in the firste of Iohn it is said that they which beleeue are not of the will of flesh nor bloud Phil. 2.13 Io. 1.13 Pâ—o. 3.10 But renewed of God Furthermore when the Apostle spâ—â—keth Ro. 3. of the will of man such â—â— it is by nature he decyfereth plainly inough that there is nothing but peruersitie and malice as also in the 8. chap. he saith Ro. 8.7 that all our thoughtes are enmities vnto God Also in his first chap. to the Eph. he sheweth well that faith and regeneration proceeded from no other thing then free electioÌ„ And indeede it must needes be that God accomplish in vs that which 〈◊〉 hath spoken by his prophet
hardened against the grace of God yet let him heare this worde of God and let it often fall into his eares Ier. 3.29 for it is as the Prophet saith a hammer which breaketh the stone in peeces and is able in the power of God to mollifie his heart or if the sinner be suncken downe so deepe that he will not rise it will crush him downe deeper that he may perish in sinne and so God saith to his Prophet Ieremie I will put my words into thy mouth and it shall be as fire Ier. 5.14 and this people shall be as wood and it shall deuour them And this is it S. Paule expresly witnesseth to be the onely meanes to glorifie God to preach the truth of his word vnto all for so saith hee we are alwaies a sweet smelling sauour of Christ vnto God as well in those that perishe as in those that be saued 2. Cor. 2.16 to the one a sauour of life vnto life to the other of death vnto death 237 The cause why the worde of God is despised BEcause the word of God is simple and teacheth vs not high and excellent thinges in the opinion of the world for this cause it is despised and men make no accompt to follow the way which it teacheth thinking it a great dishonour to be conformable to the same and that they should be scarce woorthy to liue Likewise men persecute at all times those that followe it as wicked and esteeme them vnworthy of life But those which despising the worde seeke out thinges which are in price with the worlde and follow them are reputed honest men and are placed alwayes in the most honorable place amonge worldlinges Which is the cause that they thinke themselues to be in good estate and of such force as they shall neuer perish Wherein they deceaue themselues Deu. 4.6 Leu. 18.5 Mat. 22.32 Mar. 12.27 for seeing the worde of God is our wisedome and vnderstanding and that he which doeth the thinges appointed by the same shal liue it foloweth that without this wisedome there is nothing but death 238 It is not for vs to knowe the times and seasons which the father hath put in his owne power BY the woorde of God wee are taught and instructed that the day of the Lorde shall come vpon vs as a theefe in the night When the light of the trueth is taken away when the heart of the good man of the house is at rest and his eyes are darkened that they cannot see and all his sences drowned in worldlye pleasures When wee care for nothing that is godly when we saye peace and rest then will the sonne of man come to iudgement then shall destruction sodainely fall vppon vs. Act. 1.7 1. Thes 5.2 Therefore let vs be readie for in the houre that wee thinke not will the Sonne of man come Of that daye and houre knoweth no man sayeth our Sauiour Christ no not the Angelles which are in heauen Mar. 13.32 neither the sonne himselfe but the Father What may wee thinke then of them that write Bookes and Almanackes and say and teach expresly that such a yeare and at such a time Christe shall come and with these speeches fraye and mocke the worlde Let men know that they are but mortall and that by nature they are vtterly blinde God hath giuen vs knowledge in measure we can not know asmuch as we would Let vs know that which is fitte for vs and speake that that is lawfull to be spoken Let vs thinke vpon the commandements of God to followe them and not search into his workes Luke 21.25 Esa 13.10 Eze. 32.7 Ioel. 2.31 3.15 to be curious in them for he that is curious in searching the maiestie of God otherwise then he hath reuealed in his word shall be oppressed and confounded by his glory Thus much we may well know that the Lorde will come that all fleshe shall appeare before him that the worlde the heauen and the earth the Sunne and the Moone shall haue an end Math. 24.29 42. that the day of the Lord shall come sodenly as a theife in the night This warning God hath giuen vs that we should not be taken vnawares but that we repent and stand in readinesse continually watching and praying euery minute of an houre that we may be caught vp into the cloudes to meete our Redeemer 239 Of the second comming of Christ THe Sonne of God shall come downe with maiesty from heauen the Trumpet of God shal sonnde and be hearde from the one end of the heauen to the other Then shall he be the iudge ouer al flesh Then shall hee shewe himselfe to be king of kinges Lord of Lordes Then shall he not come in humilitie meekenesse and mercye but with dread terror of iudgement and iustice Not with 12. poore Apostles but with so many thousande Angelles to attende vpon him Not in the preaching of the gospel and calling sinners to repentance but in the sound of a trumpet wherwith all the corners of the earth shall be amazed Then shall hee not saye Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauie loaden Mat. 11.28 Mat. 15.24 and I will refresh you I am sent to the lost sheepe of the house of Israell He shall not say Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe but he will saye you haue beene ashamed of mee and my worde before men therefore now wil I be ashamed of you before my heauenly Father Then shall they that despised the woorde of God knowe what they despised and the blasphemers shall reape the fruite of their blasphemy Then the carelesse Shepheard and idle Minister which hath not to his power fedde the Lordes sheepe but neglected them and left them at al aduentures which folowing the lustes of his owne heart hath betrayed his flocke and giuen them to be a pray vnto the wolfe shall receaue a iust recompence for his treason Then the aduterer oppressour and vsurer shall haue their life layde open before them They shall see him whome they pearced thorough Reu. 1.7 They shall see his sworde readie drawne to slaye all his enemyes and shall fall downe for feare of him that sitteth vpon the throne But the hearts of the righteous shall reioyce They shall lift vp their heades see him in whom they haue trusted Then shall they say This is the day which the Lorde hath made Ps 118.24 let vs reioyce be glad in it Let vs reioyce vnto the Lorde let vs come before his face with praise let vs sing loud vnto him with Psalmes Such shal be the state and countenance honor maiestie of our God when he shal come down from heauen for our deliuerance 240 Christ is the Apostle and high Priest of our profession IF we be Christians we must learn to professe no other teacher nor no other Sauiour but Iesus Christ onely 1. Cor. 1.30 We must beleeue and