not to abolish but to fulfill the law and the Prophets And therefore Paul doubteth not to say that the righteousnesse of the Law is still fulfilled in vs. Rom. 8.4 Namely Euangelicè and applicatiuè according to the tenour of the Gospell by application but in Christ legaliter and inhaesiuè according to the Law inhaesiuely in himselfe 3 Causeâ— wâ—y in Scripâ—â—râ—â—â— so small mention of Câ—â—â—stâ— actâ—ue obâ—dâ—eâ—ce Why then will some say doth the Scripture speake so little of this kinde of obedience and so much of his passion There are sundry causes of it First because That of his Passion was most sensible and exposed to the eyes of all Secondly because that the Ceremoniall types had in that their accomplishment Thirdly because his Passion hath in it the chiefe actuall obedience See Chrysostom in the second homily on the Acts. The third degree of the giuing of Christ 3. In his death to suff r for 〈◊〉 which standeth more agreeably with this place is the giuing of him to be lifted vp vpon the tree that there in his bodie hee might beare our sinnes 1. Pet. 2.24 For in his lifting vp which phrase noteth the manner of his death hee answereth to the type of the brazen Serpent Iohn 3.14 Which as whoso looked on had cure for the stings of the fierie serpents so wee looking on Christ by faith are cured of the sting of that old serpent sinne and death Of this giuing Paul speaketh Rom. 8.32 He hath giuen his own Sonne for vs all Which iâ— the height â—f Godâ— louâ— And the Epitasis and height of Gods loue is made manifest in it that our hearts should burne within vs. Yea with the Spouse in the Canticles Cant. 2.5 we should swoone to consider it For what vnspeakeable loue is it that Almightie God a father so glorious and full of Maiestie should giue his onely Sonne a sonne like and equall to himselfe for his enemies to be made vnder the Law yea the curse of the Law and to be deliuered vp to the powers of darknesse This doctrine hath foure vses Vses 1. To make vs mourne for our â—â—nnes First it serueth to shew vs how horrible sinne is to engender in vs godly griefe and to make vs studiously auoide it Such Epicurisme is in vs that wee count sinne a light hurt which any thing will salue But whoso duely weigheth this that sinne ere it could bee done away and satisfied hath made the Lord of glory to empty himselfe of his Maiestie the Son of God to walke as a seruant God himselfe to shed his bloud this will make his heart to melt bleed within him for his sinnes and to water his cheekes with teares no lesse aboundantly then he hath before laughed merrily and blithely I will poure saith the Lord Zachary 12.10 vpon the house Dauid and vpon the inhabitants of Ierusalem the spirit of grace and compassion and they shall looke vpon mee whom they haue pearced and they shall lament for him as one mourneth for his onely sonne and be sorry for him as one is sorry for his first borne c. If once the Lord make vs turne our eyes to Christ and to regard what he hath suffered for our sinnes nothing will more then that humble vs with godly sorrow and bruise our hearts for them For what sorrow can we thinke deepe enough what teares sufficient for our sinnes which haue pearced the Sonne of God vvith extreame sorrowes and put him to most base vile and painefull sufferings And this grace also will curbe a man most effectually from breaking forth into euill and â—o curbe vs from sinne As Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God which bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared and teacheth vs that wee should deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts What is this grace of God but that fauour and loue vvhich God hath shewed vs in the sufferings of Christ then the vvhich there is no better master to teach vs and to presse vpon vs this lesson of vsing all endeauour to shunne sinne For therein as in a cleere glasse may we contemplate and behold what Christ hath endured to free vs from it what fearefull torments it deserueth how odious and hatefull it is to God which he would so seuerely punish in his owne Sonne And lastly into vvhat horrible misery it will eternally plunge vs if we doe not shake it off and abstaine therefrom 2. To comfort in temptation Secondly it is comfortable in temptation For when Sathan shall trouble our mindes and charge vs with our sinnes and vvant of righteousnesse there is nothing in the world that can quiet our mindes and stop his mouth but this that Christs righteousnesse and satisfaction is ours Shewing Christ to be ours and that by his death we are acquitted from our sinnes and by his righteousnesse made righteous before God But how is Christs righteousnesse and satisfaction made ours Euen by the gift and donation of God For as wee haue heard By Gods gift God hath giuen vs his Sonne and if Christ himselfe be giuen vs doubtlesse vvith Christ wee haue all the merits of his obedience conferred on vs by the same gift And what better right and title can we haue to him and his righteousnesse then this that God who is the sole owner possessour of him hath bestowed him on vs 3. To make 〈◊〉 trust to God â—or all other good things Rom. 8 3â— Thirdly it is a ground of hope in all our vvants that God vvill supply vnto vs all things good and needfull For hath God giuen vs Christ his Sonne How shall hee not with him giue vs all things also No man vvhose kindnesse and loue to vs hath beene so great as to bestow on vs the best and dearest thing he hath vvill hold backe any thing that should make that gift sure and behoouefull to vs or see vs in distresse for want of smaller matters Loe God hath giuen vs his Sonne the most excellent deere and precious thing he had And can wee thinke that his loue is so cold as that hee vvill sticke to bestow vpon vs earthly things that are toyes and trifles to this great gift if he see them fit for vs or that he will not giue vs faith and other graces whereby this gift should be made certaine and of vse vnto vs 4. To â—ssuâ—e vs of the continuance of â—oâ—s loue herâ—a â—er Fourthly it doth assure vs of Gods loue for the time to come If when we were enemies vvee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled shall wee bee saued by his life Rom. 5.10 If a man out of loue haue sought the friendship of his enemie and vsed meanes to be reconciled to him is it not likely that he will be constant in this loue and take all waies to maintaine it vnto the end But howsoeuer it fall out with man who is variable most sure it is that GOD
And how can any conceiue it otherwise to bee made ours but as by faith it is apprehended of vs Heere the Papists say that Christ is our righteousnesse How Christ is our righteousnesse Not by sanctification two waies First because he meriteth the pardon of sinne which is reckoned ours Secondly because he worketh righteousnesse in vs. Answ It is very true that Christ doth sanctifie vs notwithstanding hee doth not make vs righteous before God by this inherent righteousnesse For wee are the righteousnesse of God not in our selues as we should be if this infused righteousnesse were the matter of our iustification but in him 2. Cor. 5.21 And Phil. 3.9 But by imputation when Paul doth oppose the righteousnesse which is of Christ and of God to that of the Law which also he doth call his owne as being inherent in him hee doth cleerely shew that Christ is not our righteousnes by that righteousnesse which the spirit doth beget in vs for that is legall but by another righteousnesse resting in his owne person and not transfused but imputed to vs. Reason 2. Secondly Faith and workes in this matter of iustification are alwaies opposed Ephes 2.8 9. Rom. 2.27 But now if faith iustifie vs as a worke they are not then opposite but may well stand together Reason 3. Thirdly when we say that faith doth saue iustifie and purifie vs if we vnderstand this of the inward act of beleeuing wee are made our owne Sauiours and sanctifyers For it is cleere that wee saue our selues when from our selues doth proceede that act by and for which we are saued Reason 4. Further the least true faith though it be vnperfect doth iustifie It cannot then bee that it doth this by its owne value For how should a weake and small faith that is as a graine of mustard seede be of equall value to a greater measure of the same when things of the same kinde differ in value according to their quantitie as there is much odds in worth betweene a mite and a massy wedge though both be of the purest gold Wherefore this excellent worke of iustification must be ascribed vnto the thing beleeued on that is Iesus Christ which a small and weake faith doth as truely apprehend and possesse vs of as a stronger Reason 5. Lastly it was an errour which the Gnosticks held that their faith did iustifie for the excellency of it Vses 1. It cleereth obiections about this doctrine First this doth serue to cleere some obiections about this doctrine For to some wee seeme not well aduised to exclude workes from iustification when faith is an habite and worke of the soule as is loue and other graces of the spirit and others may think that wee prize faith at too high a rate to make it that which doth giue vs righteousnesse and procure vs title to that super excellent waight of glory It vvere somewhat that these say if we did reach that faith did iustifie as a worke or should make faith it selfe our righteousnesse vvhich formally doth so present vs to God But that is farre from our minde It is Iesus Christ onely that is our righteousnesse it is onely his obedience by and for which we are righteous before the Lord. Faith hath no further hand and stroke in this weighty worke then as it doth looke to Christ lay hold and possesse vs of him that wee may haue him vvith his merits to present to GOD in our behalfe 2. It comforteth the weake in faith Secondly this doctrine doth not a little comfort those that are weake in faith Weakenesse of faith is a want that many of Gods people doe bewaile in themselues and for which they do wel-nigh despaire of themselues And it is a worthy grace to be strong in faith as was Abraham For by it the heart is stablished against all assaults and is filled with peace and ioy in all estates and the more our faith is the more doe we abound in the assurance of our iustification and the pardon of our sinnes Notwithstanding let not any be out of heart for the small and scanty measure of his faith if he haue true faith It is not the excellencie and great measure of his faith that doth make him righteous before God Since faith is not our righteousnesse But Christ but â—hrist whom faith doth receiue and apprehend which a weake faith can doe as well as the strongest Say not then my faith is weake and feeble Is it a true and sincere faith which renouncing all other matter of righteousnesse doth depend and cast it selfe on Christ for pardon of sinne and saluation Be then of good comfort thou art as fully and perfectly righteous before God as he that hath the strongest faith in the world For thou hast Christ who is righteousnesse and perfect righteousnesse to euery one that doth beleeue euen as well to him that beleeueth with a feeble faith if a true one as to him that beleeueth with a strong faith Who is apprehended by a weake faith as wel as a strong Euen to saluation Looke not then on thy faith but consider him that is Iesus Christ on whom thy faith doth looke and repose it selfe and know that he is righteousnesse alsufficient to thee They that did looke on the Brazen Serpent but with one eye yea but with halfe an ey were as well and fully cured of the deadly stings of the fiery serpents as those which beheld it with both If the Prince bee disposed to bestow on sundry male factors their Pardon or some precious Iewels vpon Beggers they are as fully acquitted from their sinnes and made as rich by the possession of that Iewell which accept of these albeit with shaking and trembling as they that receiue them with lusty and strong hands Euen so is the case heere Hast thou but a dimmish faith yet such a one as doth looke vp to Christ and onely to him for saluation Hast thou but a weake trembling faith yet such a one as thou doest reach out to receiue Christ that rich Pearle of heauen and the pardon of thy sinnes offered in him and doest claspe it about him with all thy feeble strength Make no doubt but that thou art iustified in the sight of God doest stand clearely acquitted from all thy sinnes and shalt be healed of all their deadly stings It is the possession of the Iewell not their strong holding of it that doth make those beggers rich and the Kings Pardon that doth discharge Malefactors from the danger of the Law so they be willing to accept and pleade the same And so it is not our strong Since the true possession of him saueth vs not our strong hold of him or weake faith that is our righteousnesse and discharge before God but Iesus Christ and his obedience This onely is required on our part that we accept him offered vs in the Gospell and relye on him for full righteousnesse and redemption which
life that hath most excellent glory riches and happinesse ioined with it prepared and giuen vs through faith in Christ Is it not a base minde in a man that is owner or at least heire of most sumptuous and stately palaces to couet the poore cottages of beggers that stand by the high way side and repine if he cannot get them What will satisfie vs if heauen and etenall life cannot Doubtlesse Dauid made account that in this possession he was as well as heart could wish The lines saith he Psal 16.6 are fallen vnto me in pleasant places yea I haue a faire heritage So also is it very strange to see a godly man toile and moile for earthly matters in feare of want Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you a Kingdome Not doubt of earthly necessaries when God hath giuen vs an heauenly kingdome saith Christ Luke 12.32 What is it that we are bid not to feare The want of foode raiment and earthly necessaries which are mentioned in the former verses And why Because our Father in heauen doth meane vs a kingdome For what hath God prepared an eternall life for vs and will he not maintaine this temporall Hath he purchased heauen and the glory of it for vs and will hee see vs perish for want of earthly things There is not any earthly father that doth with great summes of money purchase large possessions for his sonne and meaneth to bestow on him his whole estate who will neglect to finde him with foode and raiment and giue him such maintenance as is fitting Perhaps he will keepe him somewhat short during his nonage and not let him haue his purse alway full of money for his idle expenses vntill he haue wit how to lay it out and manage so great an estate So heere God doth not giue to his children outward things alway in that fulnesse that they desire because they haue not vnderstanding in this their nonage to dispose of them and it might be dangerous to feede their humours but if by faith we can once see that he hath meant vs his kingdome and appointed eternall life for vs it is foule distrust to doubt that hee will forsake vs and put vs to our shifts for our earthly necessaries 4. It is an incitement to faith Fourthly it must excite vs highly to prize faith and make vs looke about to get faith and how to grow in it Peter 1. Pet. 1.7 calleth faith a precious thing yea much more precious then gold And surely there is not a more precious iewell in the world then it is by which we obtaine Christ and all his riches As by which we obtaine saluation in Christ are drawn out of deaths dungeon quickened with a spirituall and interessed in eternall life It is not all the gold of America nor Rubies of the Ocean that can doe this for vs No there is no other grace of the Spirit but faith which can help vs to this benefit possesse vs of Christ and entitle vs to heauen For as we can onely see the light of the Sunne with the eye and take our foode with the mouth so is it faith onely And that onely by which we can see Iesus Christ and enioy him for our righteousnesse vnto life Yea Which is its speciall dignity aboue other graces there is more moment in a weake faith to our saluation then all other graces though they were perfect in vs. Light and heate cannot be separated in the Sunne Nor can faith loue repentance and other graces be found single in a godly soule But had a man perfect repentance knowledge and loue these could not saue him if there were not faith to apprehend Christ for his satisfaction and a propitiation for his sinnes A dimme eye to looke on the Brazen Serpent was of more auaile to a poore Israelite stung with a fiery serpent then the vse of all his other members For what would the swiftnesse of his feete strength of sinewes nimblenesse of hands c. stand him heere in stead if he had not an eye to looke on the Brazen Serpent So without faith we lye dead in sinnes and cannot but perish of the mortall stings which Satan hath giuen It it onely faith in Christ that can cure our soules of them and make vs heere to liue vnto God and hereafter in all happinesse with him FINIS A Pillar erected on the Graue and inscribed to the deere memory of that learned and godly Diuine Mr. PAVL BAINE By I. E. SOme Men in shape are Diuels and other some Mis-shapen monsters we may truely say Brute beasts full oft in humane shape doe come Whom carnall sense and furious rage doth sway The forme and name of Men many retaine That come farre short of the right humane straine Againe Some babes are demy-men I know In whom of man some ruder lines appeare But to mans stature few there are that grow Or the ripe nature of a man doe beare In troupes of men to finde a Man at Noon With Torch-light were a taske not easily doon Aye me deare Baine what treasure then we had Whil'st thou amongst vs didst aliue remaine And by thy death which good men made so sad What losse vnvalued doe we now sustaine Ah harmefull Death what Age shall vs requite So great a dammage and so foul despite Deere worthy Baine a man complete to be And more then any one meere man I finde The vertues which in most we single see As choyse Ingredients were in him combin'd Him to set forth though made of humane bloud A rich Pandera of diuinest good Rare is a faithfull zealous Christian More rare good conscience and great learning meet One of a thousand proues a godly man A learned Scribe a skilfull a discreete A watchfull Pastour Teacher excellent Such who can finde vnlesse Paul Baine be meant There was in him a blamelesse innocence A feruent zeale sound iudgement pearcing wit Not vulgar learning moouing eloquence An vnderstanding of deepe points to it An hart high-mounted farre aboue the sky Yet low as earth in true humility O Death I nere should cease of thee to plaine Who of such treasure hast vs now bereft Did not our losse turne to his greater gaine And had he not a world vnthankefull left Which sets at nought as drosse and basest Mine Most precious Pearls and of the brightest shine Worthy Elisha when thy Master deere In flaming coach was rapt vp vnto God Thou did'st obtaine that O thou happy Seer His doubled spirit on thee might make abode Oh! well were mee if so within my brest But halfe the spirit of this blest Saint might rest I. E.