Deo per lignum accipiamus nostri debiti remissionem Irenaeuslib 3. cap. 17. For he hath redeemed vs from the curse of the law being made a curse for vs. For it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on tree And wherefore was the death on the tree accursed aboue all kindes of death but as the serpent was accursed aboue all beastes of the field Both for the first transgression whereof the serpent was the instâ—â—â—â—t the tree the occasion The father of all mankind would needes eate the sinfull fruite of the forbidden tree and the sonne of man must needes tast the deadly fruite of the cursed tree to recover our saluation as it were back againe by the same way h 1. Cor. 15.22 Wherefore as in Adam all dyed so in Christ shall all be made aliue Who hauing on the tree satisfied the law k Colos 2.14.15 blotted out the had writing of ordinances that was against vs and tooke it out of the way nayling it vnto his crosse And hauing so spoyled principalities powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it For when the law was satisfied and cancelled Satans commission for l Quomodo mors à capite superata videtur quae tanta adhuc libertate saevit in membra victa planè mors opus diaboli peccati poena victum peccatum causa mortis victus malignus ipse peccati author mortis Nam peccatum licet simul cum Christo cruci ipsius non dubitetur affixum adhuc tamen interim non regnare quidem sed habitare etiam in ipso dum viveret Apostolo permittebatur Sic mors ipsa minimè quidem adhuc abesse cogitur sed cogitur non obesse Bernard serm in transit S. Malachiae death which he had by the law expired m 1. Cor. 15.55.56.57 O Death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law But thankes bee to God which giueth vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ Thus the grace of God The spirit of Grace that bringeth saluation hath appeared vnto vs in Christ Iesus by which n Eph. 2.8 grace wee are saued through faith and that not of our selues it is the gift of God who worketh all grace in vs by his spirit As by the word spirit of God every thing was made at first as God would haue it So now he calleth men a Deus quos dignatur vocat quem vult religiosum facit Ambros l. 6. in Lucam c. 46. whom he pleaseth out of the world that lyeth in wickednes they b Hic absque cmendicatisaliunde suffragijs quos coÌ„pungit inungit quos invitat consummat quod praecipit efficit Arnold Bonav lib. de operibus sex dierum cap. 2. moued enlightened by his spirit belieue come c Haec erit vis divinae gratiae potentier vtique natura habens in nobis subjacentem sibi liberam arbitrij potestatem quod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur Tertul de an cap. 21. Without whose grace wee haue no present faculty or ability by nature to make meanes for grace or of our selues to vse the meanes being offered d Eph. 2.1 c 4.18.19 Being dead in sinnes and trespasses alienated from the life of God past feeling For although wee haue the same e Potentias habemus potestatem amisimus powers of nature as at the first yet haue we not the same natur all power to vse them being in our selues vtterly indisposed and disabled as paralytikes haue little or no vse of their limmes and sences And is it not often so with perfect men f Potentia prima secunda that they haue not the power as wee say to doe on a suddaine an ordinary thing at hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisost in â—ad Corinth hom 24. or to make vse of that which is their owne g Eccl 5.19 Every man to whom God hath giuen riches and vvealth and hath giuen him power to eate thereof and to take his portion and to reioyce in his labour this is the gift of God And if it bee so with vs in these naturall things and temporall how much more h Neque fideles fiunt nisi libero arbitrio tamen illius gratia fideles fiunt qui eorum a potestate tenebrarum liberavit arbitrium August ep 107. ad VitaleÌ„ mox ab initio in things spirituall and eternall i 1. Cor. 2.10.11 Againe what man knoweth the things of a man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God by whom they are revealed vnto vs. For k v. 9. they are such as eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither haue entred into the heart of man And naturally nothing enters into the heart but by some sense whereby wee haue all our intelligence Now l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Haec absque meliori afflatu acâ— diviniore virtute non posunt venire in contemplationem hominum Origen l 4. contr Celsum the things of God are not perceiued by sense nor comprehended by science but by manifestation of the trueth to every mans conscience in the sight of God through a priuate intelligence betwixt him vs by his spirit whereby he revealeth himselfe in the word m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neque enim ab vllis perspici aut intelligi possunt nisi quibus Deus Christus eius concesserit intelligentiam Iust Mattyr in Dialog cum Triphone Iudaeo to whom he pleaseth from vnder the letter as Christ did sometimes manifest himselfe to be the word the Sonne of God from vnder the flesh n Prou. 17.16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a foole to get wisdome seing he hath no heart to it o 1. Cor. 2.14 For the naturall man receiueth not nor indeede perceiveth the things of God both because all our p Iam. 3.15 naturall wisdome being carnall is earthly and sensuall if not deuillish and because the things of God are supernaturall But q 1. Cor. 2.14 they are spiritually discerned by the same spirit whereby they were revealed r Iob. 32. v. 8. Surely there is a spirit in man but the inspiration of the Almighty giueth them vnderstanding Every grace of God in vs Preventing Grace is the impresse of the like grace of God towards vs expressed in Christ Iesus s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vocat Chrisost eiusque discipulus Isiodor Pelus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impressed on our hearts by the Holy Ghost the almner dispenser of the manifold gifts and graces of God t 1. Cor. 12.11 dividing to every man sueuerally as hee will u Eph. 4 7. according to the measure of the gift of Christ * Iob. 1.16 Of whose fulnesse we all receiue euen grace
die excitatum atque in saecula manens Greg. Nazianz orat 43. it s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 698. as the temple of his body excelleth the body of the the temple as much as a spirituall house of liuely stones excelleth a materiall house of earthly stones as much as the Church Catholike excelleth the narrow compasse of Iury. At this time by meanes of these and the like predictions which could not but bee generally rumored abroade the desire of all nations was kindled and the expectation of all people was awakned k Pluribus persuasio inerat antiquis Sacerdotum literis contineri eo ipso tempore fore vt valesceret Oriens profectique Iudaea rerū potirentur Tacit Hist lib. 5. Percrebuerat Oriente toto vetus constans opinio esse in fatis vt eo tempore Iudaeâ profccti rerum potirentur Sueton. lib. 10. It was common throughout that part of the world that the Lord of the whole world should come forth of Iudea as the Heathen writers together with Iosephus doe witnesse whose testimony in this case cannot be suspected Now the time was come that the desire of all nations should come in whom they should all bee blessed l Malach. 3.1 And the Lord himselfe whom they sought came suddenly into his temple even the Angell of the couenant whom wee delight in m Luke 2.28 c. Wherevpon the just old Simeon hauing Christ in his armes sang his Nunc dimittis Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people to bee a light to lighten the Gentiles and to bee the glory of thy people Israell For this was their glory and the glory of their Temple that n Rom. 9.4 to them pertained the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the giuing of the Law and the service of God and the promises Whose are the fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is ouer all God blessed for euer Amen Many other things were foretold of him that should come which were accordingly fulfilled in Christ Iesus o Act 7.24 For all he Prophets from Samuel those that follow after as many as haue spoken haue likewise foretold of these dayes Whos 's other predictions of temporall things also were all generally subordinate to things spirituall and eternall in Christ Iesus So it pleased God to temper them together as the promise of an abundant seede to Abraham and the gathering of the Gentiles in him the promise of the land of Canaan and of an heauenly kingdome the perpetual succession of Davids race in the kingdome of Israel and the eternall kingdome of Christ in his Church the prophesie of the Iewes deliverance from their captiuity and of the generall resurrection Christ his prophesie in the Gospell of the destruction of Ierusalem and of the end of the world p Prophetiae in vicem sibi tempora concinunt vt aliquādò ex futuris praeterita aliquandò ex praeteritis futura probētur Greg. praef in Ezech. that by the event of these temporall things in their seasons they and wee might be the better assured of the eternall to be fulfilled in the end and that by the hope of things eternall we may be comforted howsoeuer it goeth with vs in the meanetime Is it not the word of God who speakes things and they are so Hee foretold things to come in the old Testament but by the new he brings thē to passe For q Rom. 1.16 the Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation to every one that beleeueth The power of the Gospell effecting that in vs which it tels vs. The glutton in the Gospell was perswaded that r Luke 16.30 if one might come from the dead his brethren would beleeue him though they did not hearken to Moses and the Prophets Behold Christ risen from the dead how by vertue of his quickning spirit in this word of life he gaineth every where infinite beleeuers and so recovereth them from death to life Behold so many ſ Ipse modus quo mundus credidit si consideretur incredebilior resurrectione viz mortuorum invenitur Incredibile est mundum rem tam incredibilem credidisse Incredibile est homines ignobiles infirmos paucissimos imperitos rem tam incredibilem tam efficaciter mundo in illo etiam doctis persuadere potuisse Aug lib. 22. de Civ Dei c. 5. c. 8. Quisque adhuc prodigia vt credat inquirit magnum est ipse prodigium qui mundo credente non credit Aug. l. 22. de Civ Dei c. 8. witnesses come from the dead all giuing testimony to the word of God The Gentiles t Luke 1.79 who sat in darkenesse and in the shadow of death and sinners of all sorts who had u Eph. 2. c. 3.19 beene dead in sinnes and trespasses alienated from the life of God and past feeling Never did the word of any man or any oracle gaine that generall credit and beget such a new life in men so holy so happy nor all that ever men and angels could speake did make such a blessed change throughout the world as the Gospell hath done and that by most vnlikely meanes and motiues A few simple plaine illiterate men telling plainly what they must loose and what they must suffer in the world whosoever would imbrace their doctrine Neither could the most obstinate vnbeleeuers potent adversaries and desperate enemies of the Gospell though they conspired and practised against it never so maliciously ever bee able to suppresse or withstand the mighty power of God his word but it certainely prevailed to their vtter ruine and confusion Neither is it therefore any preiudice to the power authority of God his word although it obtaineth not the same effect with all men x Is 55.10 For it never returnes void but effecteth that for which it was sente y 2 Cor. 2.16 being the savour of life vnto life in them that are saued and the savour of death vnto death in them that perish z C 4.4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the mindes of them which beleiue not least the light of the glorious gospell of Christ who is the image of God should shine vnto them a Esdras 4.41 Great is the truth and it prevaileth Now is the effect shewes the vertue of the cause but giues it not so doth the Church The Church the professed company of beleeuers giue testimony but not authority to the truth of God his word b 1. Tim 3.15 For the Church is the pillar of truth not that the truth of God his word relyeth on the Church but because the Church is inlightned by the word of truth whereby it reflecteth light againe vnto the word being in the world as c Exod. 13. the pillar of light that went before the Israelites in the wildernesse d
the just shall liue by his faith The state of Grace for it shall bee vnto him according to his faith which is of life from God the father in Christ Iesus his sonne our saviour by the Holy Ghost quickning the Holy e Habet popusus Dei plenitudinem suam quāvis magna pars hominū salvantis gratiā aut repellat aut negligat in electis tamen praescitis atque ab omnium gegeneralitate discretis specialis quaedā censetur vniversalitas vt detoto mundo totus mundus liberatus de omnibushominibus omnes homines videantur assumpti Ambr. de vocat Gent. lib. 1 c. 3. Catholique Church which is his body f Eph. 1.23 the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all A life of grace here by reconciliation and communion with God and a life of glory hereafter thorough the forgiuenesse of sinnes and resurrection of our bodies to eternall life The g 1. Pet. 3.7 grace of life in Christ worketh in vs a life of grace by his spirit For the sanctifying graces of GOD rest not in the habit but are in action h 1. Thess 1.3 The worke of faith the labour of loue the patience of hope i Heb. 11. By faith A bell by faith Abraham by faith every one of the holy men in the cloud of witnesses did some notable worke which did evidēce their faith to be indeed as they professed k v. 16. Wherefore God was not ashamed to be called their God l Iam. 2.22 Faith wrought with their works for m Heb. 11.6 without faith it is impossible to please God n Iam. 2.22 by workes was their faith made perfect For the perfection of vertue consists in action So must o c. 1.4 Patience haue her perfect worke p 1. Ioh. 3.18 So must loue be not in word neither in tongue but in deede and in trueth q Iam 2.15.16 If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of dayly foode and one of you say vnto them depart in peace bee you warmed and filled notwithstanding you giue them not those things which are needfull to the body what doth it profit r 20.26 Faith without workes is dead and so is loue no faith indeede but a bolde presumption no loue indeede but a meere pretence ſ Iam. 2.18 Shew mee thy faith by thy workes but do thy workes before God in faith By faith our selues are iustified before God by good workes our faith and profession are iustified and approved vnto men For thereby it appeares that wee are in the faith and that our faith is in God t Tit. 3.8 This therefore is a faithfull saying that they which haue beleeued in God bee carefull to maintaine good workes u Iam. 2.26 For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith whithout workes is dead also And if our faith be dead whereby wee liue how dead are we * Iud 12. twice dead plucked vp by the roots x Rom 3.4 5. C. We are justified by a liuely faith sayth Saint Paul y Iam 2. We are not iustified by a dead faith saith St Iames wherefore little children z 1. Iohn 3.7 Let no man deceiue you saith St Iohn Hee that doth righteousnesse is righteous even as hee is righteous a 1. Tim 1.14 Now the grace of our Lord is exceeding abundant with faith and loue which are in Christ Iesus b 2. Pet 1.3 According as his Divine power hath giuen vnto vs all things that pertaine vnto life godlines through the knowledge of him that hath called vs to glory and vertue Now although the whole Church and euery true member thereof whom the Father hath chosen whom the Sonne hath redeemed whom the Holy Ghost hath effectually called through sanctificatiō sprinkling of the bloud of Iesus bee holy in Gods account although God bee glorified in his Saints here vpō earth by their blessed cōmunion with him with all men in loue wherby they are also highly dignified in a manner diefied c 2 Pet. 1.4 being made partakers of the divine nature so that they doe far excell al the world besides d 1 Iohn 5.19 that lieth in wickednes e In hac vita multi sine crimine nullus vero esse sine peccatis valet Greg. in Moral Vae etiam laudabili hominū vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. l. 9. confes c. 13. Nemosine peccato Negare hoc sacrilegium est Solus enim Deus sine peccato est Confiteri hoc Deo immunitatis remedium est Ambros in Ps 118. v. vlt. yet whē all is done we beleeue confesse that we haue stil need of farther grace mercy euen the forgiuenes of our sins if by any meanes we may attaine the resurrection of our bodies to eternall life Wherfore as on the one side f 1 Iohn 1.6 If we say that wee haue fellowship with God walke in darknes we lye doe not the truth So on the other side g V. 8. If we say that we haue no sin wee deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs. But if we confesse our sins he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sins to cleanse vs frō all vnrighteousnes If any man think that being of the Church in the cōmunion of Saints hee needeth not the forgiuenesse of sins to the last let him also raise his own body frō death to life h Phil. 3.20 21. But wee looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it maybe fashioned like vnto his glorious body inheriting eternal life Which begins so soon as we beleeue i Iohn 5.25 for the houre is come that the dead heare the voice of the son of God they that heare it liue neuer ends nor shall euer be quite interrupted by sin nor death k V. 24. For he that beleeueth hath euerlasting life shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life The briefe of all is The praise of the glory of Gods grace that l Habak 2. The iust shall liue by his faith which the Prophet Habakucke receiued of God like as Moses receiued the Law namely vpon his watch-towre with expresse charge m v. 2. to write it and to make it plaine on tables And the Apostle hath giuen vs the constat thereof purposely n Gal. 3. comparing the two covenants together o v. 11. That no man is justified by the Law in the sight of GOD it is manifest For the Iust shall liue by faith p v. 12. And the Law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall liue in them q Rom. 3.27 Where is boasting now It is excluded By what Law By the Law of workes Nay but by the Law of faith r 1 Cor. 1.31 That according
are by institution custome or compact other instrumentall meanes as it were morall instruments of conueiance as signing and sealing liurey and season or something in earnest representing the whole interest Mysticall acts they are because done in a c Sacramentū 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mystery wherein some d Sacramentū dicitur sacrum signum siue sanctum secretum Bernard Serm. 1. de caen dom sacred and secret matter is farther intended by that which is outwardly done and vsed The spirituall things signified by the outward elements are the all sufficient a Signum est res preter speciem quam ingerit sen sibus aliud aliquid exse faciens in cogitationem venire Aug. l. 2. de doctr Christ cap 1. Verbum visibile Aug. hom in Iohan. 80. meanes of grace the body and blood of Christ the mediatour once offered by himselfe for vs. The foreskinne circumcised was it not a type of the promised seed to Abraham and his prosterity b Rom. 9.5 of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came God blessed for euermore The paschall lambe did it not represent Christ the lambe slaine from the begining of the world in the counsell of God And now c 1. Cor. 5.7 Christ our passeouer is slaine d 1. Pet. 1.19 a lambe without blemish and without spot The water in baptisme is it not the e v. 2. sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ The f Cor. 10.16 bread which wee breake is it not the communion of the body of Christ But besides these spirituall things which are the meanes grace signified by the outward elements there are also spirituall acts of grace to wit our admission into the catholicke Church and the communion of saints intended by the outward actions whereby the sacraments are administred and receiued and without the which they are not compleate being as their names import certaine h Res gesta Isiod Docentur eriam homines socramenta esse actiones diuinitus institutas Polon confess Sacramenta exercitia sunt Calv inst lib. 4. c. 14.6 Signum practicum Bel. ceremonia ritus solennis L. 1. de◠Sacram. c. 9.10 11. acts that consist in the doing Not the foreskinne but the cutting of it as God had appointed was the circumcision not the lambe but the eating of it as was prescribed was the passeouer not the water but the i Baptismus non est aqua quae est res per manens sed lotio in aqua quae est operatio transiens Gab. dist 4. q. 2. dub 4 washing dipping or sprinkling with it in the name of the Father sonne Holy ghost is baptisme not the bread and wine but the vsing of them according to Christ his institution is the communion Howsoeuer the materialls themselues visible or spirituall or both may sometimes be called by the names of the sacraments as k 1. Cor. 10.16 the cup the communion l c. 5. v. 7. Christ the passeouer by a figuratiue speech most vsuall in things of so neere relation and not vnfit in figuratiue ordinances yet the elements although consecrated are not compleat sacraments vntill the other actions pertinent concurre whereby they are administred and receiued nor doe they continue sacraments any longer then while they are so vsed A mans deeds what are they to any one though in writing signed and sealed with his owne hand and seale vnlesse they bee deliuered and receiued as his act and deed By baptisme the sacrament of our new birth BAPTISME the a Tit. 3.5 lauer of regeneration the seale of adoption initiation and admission into the Church and b Heb. 12.23 company of the first borne which are written in heauen the couenant is contracted God preuenting vs with his grace which by the other sacrament is confirmed or renewed c Iohn 3.5 Except a man bee borne againe of water and the holy Chost he cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen When being regenerate wee take new names Christian names d Es 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and an other shall call himselfe by the name of Iacob and an other shall subscribe with his hand vnto the Lord and syrname himselfe by the name of Israell Now because we are by nature the e Eph. 2.3 Children of wrath and by corruption f v. 1. dead in sinnes and trespasses wee cannot be new borne but by a kinde of resurrection from the dead Therefore g Coloss 2.12 wee are buried with Christ in baptisme wherein also we are risen with him thorough the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead Whereof the water in baptisme is a most significant signe For water was the first element i Gen. 1.2 vpon which the spirit of God moued and produced all things according to the word and will of God k 2. Pet. 3.5 By the word of God the heauens were of old and the earth consisting of the water and in the water And wee by sinne being as water spilt vpon the ground doe by the grace of God in Christ thorough his spirit l Es 44.4 spring vp againe as willowes by the water courses a Ps 92.12 1◠and shall flourish in the house of our God as b Ps 1.3 trees planted by the riuers side c Es 44.3 I will powre out water saith God vpon him that is thirsty and flouds vpon the dry ground I will power my spirit vpon thy seed and my blessing vpon thy ofspring Whether we respect our regeneration admission or spirituall resurrection all which concurrent graces are intended by this sacrament it implyeth a reciprocall act betwixt God and vs. His call our answere his iustification of vs by acceptance in Christ our d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet 3.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 3.6 Vid Act. 8.37 Anima non lauatione sed responsione sancitur Tertulide resur carn stipulation of a good conscience towards him his remission of our sins For e 1 Iohn 1.7 the blood of Christ clenseth vs from all sinne our repentance from dead workes to serue the liuing God hauing our f Heb. 9.14 consciences purged by his blood who thorough the eternall spirit offered himselfe without spot to God And therefore it is also called the sacrament of g Act. 2.3 repentance for the remission of sins h Deut. 26.17.18 Lauacrum illud èst obsignatio sidei Tertul. lib. de penit Now thou hast avouched the Lord this day to bee thy God the Lord hath auouched thee to be one of his people Of this contract there are i 1. Iohn 5.7 three that beare witnesse in heauen the Father the Word the Holy ghost these three are one For k 1. Pet. 1.2 we are elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father thorough sanctification of the spirit and sprinkling of the blood of Christ l 1. Iohn 5.8 And there are three
not man q In quo quemque invenerit suus novissimus dies in hoc cum comprehendet mundi novissimus dies quoniam qualis in eo quisq moritur talis in die illo iudicabitur Auguss ep 28. which shall at the last bee pronounced in open court when Christ that is our advocate shall be our iudge For as our first admission into the state of grace was by r Rom. 3.25 remission of sinnes past thorough the forbearance of God So shall our admission at the last be into the state of glory by the publike absolution and acquitting of vs at the tribunall of Christ Iesus from all our sinnes and trespasses Å¿ 〈◊〉 34. Come yee blessed of my father receaue the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world t 〈◊〉 4.6.7 which blessednesse of man is by righteousnesse freely imputed vnto him as David describeth it saying u Ps 32.1.2 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen whose sinnes are covered Blessed is the man vnto whom the Lord will not impute sinne Yet haue wee no immunity to sinne No immunity to sin as it were a warrant dormiant or pardon afore hand for we haue no hope of forgiuenesse but onely vpon condition of faith repentance no easie matter nor in our power to doe at our pleasure Hee that giues pardon to the penitent will not alwaies giue repentance to every peccant Neither doth repentance stand vpon such easie tearmes but that flesh and blood chuseth rather to dye in sin then vnto sin by crossing and crucifying and mortefying it selfe For the which every true penitent vndergoes a severe discipline if the Church and our selues neglect it God inflicteth the same vpon his childreÌ„ many times with sore strokes for their humiliation and amendment * Ps 89. Hee will not vtterly take away his louing kindnesse from them when they breake his statutes and keepe not his commandements but he will visit their transgression with a rod and their sinne with stripes And besides all the exercise of mortification God lookes for x Mat. â— 8 fruits worthy amendment of life implied in this one condition that we forgiue one an other without which wee cannot aske forgiuenesse at his hands And if not without forgiuing them that trespasse against vs certainly not without y Non dimittitur peccatum nisi restituatur ablatum Aug. ep 54. ad Maced giuing satisfaction to them whom our selues haue trespassed z Mat. 5.23.27 if thou bring thy gift to the altar there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee leaue there thy gift before the altar and goe thy way first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift a Mat. 18. How will God deale with that servant to whom he forgiues an hundred talents if hee will not forgiue his fellow seruant an hundred pence Will he not deliuer him vnto the tormeÌ„tors vntill he hath paid all that is due And good reasoÌ„ b Luc. 7.43.47 Secundum bominem plus fortasse offendit qui plus debuerat sed per misericordiam domini causa mutatur vt amplius diligat qui amplius debuit si tamen gratiaÌ„ consequatur Ambr. l. 6. comment in Luc. cap. 31. for hee must needs I am sure hee had need loue much to whoÌ„ much is forgiveÌ„ c 1. Pet. 4.8 loue will couer a multitude of sinnes d Mat. 18.22 not seauen times but seauenty times seauen A wonderful grace of God where it pleaseth him to bestow it so mortifying the wrath of man e Iam. 1.20 which worketh not the righteousnesse of God so mollifying the heart of man that wee become f Mat. 5.44 c like our heauenly father louing our enimies blessing them that curse vs doing good to them that hate vs and praying for them which dispightfully vse vs. And if God giue vs such grace to forgiue one another hee hath grace in store to forgiue vs and g 1. Ich. 3.19 hereby wee assure our hearts before him Insomuch that as before we desired to doe the will of God on earth as it is in heauen so now wee pray God that is in heauen to forgiue vs as wee on earth thorough his grace doe forgiue one another both alike though nothing equall Now thou art made whole goe thy way and sinne no more least a worse thing befall thee The care is Temptations after we haue obtained the forgiuenesse of our former sinnes and trespasses that we relapse not which is euer more and more dangerous and therefore our humble suit and supplication is that God will not so lead vs into temptations but to deliuer vs from the evill thereof sin death We pray not absolutely against temptation h 1. Cor. 5.10 for then must wee needs goe out of the world It is the will of God wherevnto i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Duc me o Iupiter tu fatum co quo sum à vobis destinatus Sequar enim alacriter Quod sinoluero improbus 〈◊〉 sequar nihilominuâ— Epict. Enchir c. 77. we must submit to lead vs thorough a world of temptations into the kingdome of heauen as hee led the children of k Deut. 8.2 Israel thorough the wildernesse into the land of Canaan to humble vs and to proue vs and to knowe what is in our heart and withall to manifest the l â—â—inquam servi Dei tentationes diaboli sustinere poâ—uissent si nequitiam eius pietas dei nô temperaret vel refrÄ™naret Bernard l. de mâ—do bene vivend Ser. 67. power of his grace in vs to the praise of his glory Thorough whose strength m 2. Cor. 12.9 which is seene in our weaknesse n Rom. 8.37 we are in all these things more then conquerours For it is a greater glory to haue o Eph 6.12 wrestled with principalities powers p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nec vero si succumbamus prohibemur in hac pugna quoÌ„ minus denuò decertemus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et iterum si non obtineas aggredi licebit quod sisemel viceris similis ei es qui succubuiâ— nunquam Arrian Epict. l. 3. c. 25. and to overcome then not to haue beene at all assaulted by them We must q Ium 1.2.3 therefore count it all ioy when we fall into divers temptations knowing this that the triall of our faith worketh patience r Rom. 5.4.5 and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed Å¿ 1. Pet. 1.6.7.8 When the triall of our faith shall bee found to praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ In whom therefore beleeuing we reioice with ioy vnspeakable and full of glory t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Itaque dolores provenientes ex tentationibus quas sustinemus aut voleates aut recusantes sunt ad profectum vtiles Arrian Epictet lib. 3. c. 25. ad
the article of the resurrection was by Hymeneus and Philetus who erred concerning the truth thereof p v. 25. yet will God giue thē repentance to the acknowledging of the truth whō he will saue which by the grace of God shall spring againe out of that seede of faith that remaineth in them q Rom. 3.3 Shall our vnfaithfulnesse make the truth of God of none effect r 2 Tim. 2.12.13 It is a faithfull saying if wee deny him he will also deny vs. If wee beliue not if wee doubt and erre in some things for the time yet hee abideth faithfull and cannot deny himselfe For ſ v. 19. the foundation of God abideth sure and hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his And they who are once iustified with God being effectually called t Rom. 8.28 according to his purpose are neuer vniustified againe For howsoeuer their sinnes may be such as deserue no lesse by the law yet their persons being vnder grace in Christ u Iohn 5.24 they shall neuer come into condemnation but are passed from death to life Now * Rom. 8.10 although the spirit be life because of righteousnesse Resurrection yet the body is dead because of sinne a body of sinne and of death and therefore x Exue corpus istud quod circumfers vestimentum ignorantiae fundamentum prauitaetis vinculum corruptionis mortem viuam cadauer sensibile sepulchrum portatile domesticum surem Hermes in Pemandro the body from whence our corruption springs originally wherein it resides perpetually y Lex est non paena perire must bee dissolued the soule being separated by death or at least some way changed that it may be made a glorious body at the appearing of Iesus Christ Our z Quam deus manibus suis ad imaginem sui struxit quam de suo af statu ad viuacitatis suaesimilitudinem animauit quam incolatui fructui dominatui totius suae operationis praeposuit quam sacramentis disciplinisque vestiuit cuius munditias amat castigationes probat passiones sibi appreciat haeccine non resurget totiens dei Absit vt deus manuum suarum operam ingenii sui curam afflatus sui vaginam molitionissuae reginam liberalitatis suae haeraedem religionis suae sacerdotem testimonii sui militem Christisui sororem in aeternum destituat interitum Tertul. de resur carnis bodies are the worke of Gods hands as our soules are from him he made the first mans body of the dust of the earth and breathed into it the spirit of life and a Psal 139.15 he fashioneth our bodies belowe in the earth * Plato in Timoeo vt habet August de civ Dei 22. scribit animas non posse in aeternum esse sine corporibus Hinc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commenti sunt philosophi poetae metamorphosm * De circida Arcadescribit Aelianus quod magno desiderio sit mortuus inquiens sperare se conventurum ex Philosophis Pythagoram ex historicis Haecateum ex musicis Olympum ex poetis Homerum neither is man compleat longer then he consists both of soule and body Now b Iob. 14.15 God who hath a desire to the worke of his hands will recouer and saue the whole man make him to liue notwithstanding the malitious practise of Satan the murtherer to the contrary Whereof hee hath giuen euidence in the whole course of nature euening and morning winter and summer and in his speciall prouidence ouer his Church and people by their Miraculous deliuerances and recoueries from captiuity and desolation as it were from death therefore vsually called their c Isai 26.19 Ezech. 37. resurrection Doe wee not see how d Eccl. 1.4 one generation passeth and an other generation cometh but the earth abideth for euer as it were the common stage and theatre of nature so long as it endureth But when all parts are acted heauen and earth and all shall be dissolued For as all the parts so the vniverse the whole systeme of nature begunne with time continues in time which is the measure of motion vntill time that spends all hath spent it selfe when e Rev. 10.6 time and temporall things shall bee no more f 2. Pet. 3.13 But a new heauen a new earth eternall wherein dwelleth righteousnesse A folly it is that some aske g 1. Cor. 15 35 36. with what body shall wee come No question the same body else were it not a h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lucianus Pythagorāvena lem exponens quis emet quis esse supra homines affectat quisscire vniuersi concentum reviviscere resurrection The same body howsoeuer changed as in this life wee feed not wee slepe not but our bodies are altered our digested food supplying what nature had consumed we are not cured but our bodies are altered Physicke repairing what diseases had corrupted and wasted Insomuch that some haue doubted whether we be the same bodies in age as we were in youth As a ship is still the same that where it decaies hath new plancks clapt on vntill in every place all be changed so are our bodies And though all be dissolued into the first materials yet being againe put together by the same almighty hand which made all of nothing it is the same mans body the same body of the same soule whereby it was and euer shall be i Forma principium indiuiduationio indiuiduated howsoeuer it be widdowed for a time and wonderously changed in the end in the meane time vtterly putrified and corrupted As the first mans body who was made after the image of God and bare a maiesty amongst the creatures was changed by sinne and became subiect to manifold diseases to shame to death and yet was still the same body so through death our bodies shall haue the vtmost of that change and yet bee raised the same bodyes and changed againe k 1 Cor. 15.42.43.44 from weaknesse to power from corruption to incorruption from dishonour to glory l Phil. 3.21 for they shall bee fashioned like vnto Christ his glorious body As the pure spirits of wine or the spirits of life in a man are bodies spirituall bodies and the quintescence of any mettall or minerall extracted from the grosse elements is of a celestiall nature and yet both it and the spirits are bodies the same bodyes purified sublimated in like manner though farre more excellent shall bee the resurrection of our bodies when God hath as it were distilled them through natures great lymbecke of what forme soeuer whether through the earth or water or bowels of beasts or by fire as all that remaines at the last day and shall extract a glorious body that shall inherit immortality m 1 Cor. 13.51 We shall not all sleepe but we must all be changed some way or other n v. 4◠for as we
him in whom he foresaw all things before he made them from euerlasting * Antiqui praedestinationem ad electos vt plurimum restrinxerunt Fr-Iun Thes Theol 10. §. 2. vid. Hypognost l. 6. Inter gratiam praedestinationem hoc tantum interest quod praedestinatio est gratiae praeparatio gratia verò jam ipsa donatio Aug. de praedest sanct c. 10. those he did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son in their order and time that he might be the first-borne amongst many brethren i Eph. 1.4.5 And againe he hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the World that we should be holy and vnblameable before him in loue hauing predestinated vs to the adoption of children by Iesus Christ to himselfe according to the good pleasure of his will Now Christ is the Mediatour by whom all things are done as they were purposed in him the mirrour from euerlasting Hee was the Mediatour of creation k Ioh. 1.3 by whom all things were made and without him was not any thing made that was made l Col. 1. v. 16. For by him all things were created that are in Heauen and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created for him by him He is the Mediatour of conseruation m Heb. 1.3 vpholding all things by the Word of his power n Col. 1. v. 17. For hee is before all things by him all things consist as well men as Angels o C. 2. v. 10. for we are all compleate in him which is the Head of all principality and power And he is the Mediatour of redemption for the sons of men A different manner of mediatiō by Christ for effecting that one eternall election of men and Angels in him By whom they were confirmed that they should not fall wee are recouered though wee did fall at once in Adam and doe often fall foule our selues d Col. 1.18 For he is the Head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first borne from the dead that in all things he might haue the preheminence None could bee the Lords Christ to performe the offices of Iesus the Sauiour implyed in that title e Mat. 1.21 to saue his people from their sinnes from the power and dominion of sinne from the punishment damnation for sin but the Sonne of God himselfe f C. 3.17 in vvhom alone he is vvell pleased and by whom all the powers of Satan could be conquered g 1 Iohn 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God vvas manifested in the flesh that hee might destroy the vvorkes of the Deuill and deliuer vs into the liberty of the sonnes of God * Iohn 8.36 Now if the Sonne make vs freee then are vve free indeed Therefore the Sonne of God The son of man the middle Person of the three in order became a middle person betwixt God and vs by participation of each nature that he might be a fit meanes and all-sufficient Mediatour of our reconciliation and redemption h Gal. 4.4 When the fulnes of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman as was promised from the beginning i Gen. 3.15 The seede of the woman shall breake the serpents head and was afterwards more plainely prophesied k Es 7.14 Behold a Virgin shall conceiue and beare a son thou shalt call his Name Immanuel The blessed Virgin Mary l Luke 1.35 by the power of the Highest through the vvorking of the Holy Ghost m Non autem omnes sunt sicut Maria vt dum de Spiritu Sancto concipiunt verbum pariant Ambros l. 2. in Lucam Vbi virgo benè credula mentē suam ossuum aperuit yt diceret Ecce ancilla c. mox iuxtà dictum Angeli Spiritus Sanctus superveniens in eam per apertas fidei ianuas sese infudit quò autem nimirùm priùs in sacrarium pudici pectoris deindè in templum sacri vteri ut Christi matrem faceret c. Rupertus l. 1. de operibus Sp S c. 9. c. 10. conceptusiste Spiritus Sancti non generatio sed operatio est conceived bare and brought forth our Saviour in the flesh n Luk. 1.35 Therefore also that holy thing vvhich vvas borne of her is called the sonne of God As at the first o Gen. 1.2 God spake the vvord and the spirit moned vpon the deepe working therein an obedientiall power to be what God would So in the fulnesse of time the Word himselfe was made man of the blessed virgin a Hunc ergò cum confiteamur natum de Spiritu Sancto Maria-virgine quomodo non sit filius Spiritus Sancti sit filius virginis Mariae cum de illo de illa sit natus explicare difficile est Proculdubiò quippe non sic de illo ut de patre sic autem de illa ut de matre natus est August Enchir. ad Laurent c. 38. by the ouershadowing of the same spirit which wrought b Et idem lib. 1. de peccatorum meritis remiss c. 29. Non concupiscentia carnis sed obedientia mentis virgo concepit c. faith and obedience in her heart whereby shee became indeede the mother of the Sonne of God At first shee doubted at the Angels message c Luk. 1. v. 34. Non dubitat esse faciendum quod quomodò fiat inquirit Ambros in Lucam l. 2. obstabant quidem adhùc multa quae carnis rationi dubium mouere poterant sed procul explosis illis omnibus diuinae voluntati sese committit et it à ex fide concipit sicut de Sarah in epistola ad Hebraeos scribitur Gualte◠hom 3. die conceptionis How shall this bee seing I know not a man But d Atque iam tune spititu donatam fuisse Mariam non est dubium Sed significatur singularis efficacissima Sp. S. operatio ut supra Samp. et prophet ib. vvhen the spirit of God came vpon her which might well be even whilest the Angell was speaking e Acts 10.44 As vvhilest Peter yet spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them vvhich heard the vvord then shee beleeued what was told her that the Sonne of God should become her child assuming flesh of her then shee said f Luk. 1.38 Contingat mihi secundum verbum tuum conceptus est voti Ambros l. 2. in Lucam Be it vnto me according to thy vvord She conceiued the Word first in her g Deum verum prius mente quà m ventre fuscepit virgo Rupertus l. 1. de operibus Sp. S. c. 9. Mente prius quam carne concepit Gersontin prooem centil Responde O virgo Verbum et suscipe Verbum profer tuum et suscipe diuinum Bern. hom 4. supermissus c. Responde Verbum et suscipe Filium
borne once new borne For it is vnto life eternall which once begunne neuer endeth h Rom. 6.3 Knowe yee not that so many of vs as were baptised into Christ were baptised into his death i v. 9. that as Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more k v. 11. so we once dead vnto sinne are aliue vnto God for euer through Iesus Christ our Lord Wherefore should any then be rebaptised For as for them who l Heb 6. hauing beene once inlightned and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and haue tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come if they shall fall away it is impossible to renew them againe vnto repentance and for them in whom though they fall a 1. Ioh. 3.9 the seed remaineth another baptisme is needlesse For by the grace of God remaining in them b Art Eccles Angl. 16. they may recouer and amend their liues Yet are there certaine mysticall acts though c Sacramentis numero paucissimis obseruatione facillimis significatione praestantissimis societatem novi populi colligavit August de doctr Christ l. 3. c. 9. not other sacraments namely confirmation and penance Confirmation and Penance which are appendants to the sacraments and in this case and other like of good vse in the Church for correction and instruction For by the one children that haue beene baptised are confirmed in the faith when they come to age wherevnto they were baptised When themselues assuming the vow of baptisme d 1. Pet. 3.21 stipulat a good conscience towards God and ratifie what was vndertaken for them by their sureties By the other such as are e Vid. 1. Cor. 5 excommunicate or deserue to be debarred the communion hauing any way violated or scandalized the communion of Saints are humbled both for the satisfaction of the Church whom they haue offended and for their owne reformation That hauing renewed their vow in baptisme by repentance they may bee absolued and g Vid. 2. Cor. 2 readmitted to the Communion Which h See the Preface to the commination in the common prayer-booke godly discipline more frequent in the primitiue Church is much to bee wished that it may be againe restored with vs to adde vigor and life to the word and Sacraments For although excommunication for sinne and absolution from sinne be vertually implied in the word and Sacraments for what is preaching but a generall proclamation of pardon to all penitent beleeuers and a publike denunciation of God his curse against obstinate vnbeleeuers And what are the Sacraments but the personall applying of remission and grace to every man in particular and the detaining of them from the Communion but the retaining of their sinnes Yet the positiue sentence of binding and loosing in a iudiciall proceeding is more powerfull with the conscience being Christ his a Mat. 18.18 Ioh. 20.23 ordinance is ratified in heauen where it is rightly administred Our Birth is at once Communion but our life in grace is a continued act and therefore hath continuall need of spirituall nourishment to repaire what is wasted daily by sinne and corruption wherewith we are incombred and for our growth to a perfect man in Christ Iesus Our naturall life consists in the b Vita animae deus est haec corporis hac fugiente soluitut hoc perit haec destituente deo vnion and communion of the body with the soule and our life supernaturall in the vnion and communion of our soule with God which is in Christ who c Iohn 14.6 is the life d Col. 2.9 in whom the fulnes of the Godhead dwelleth bodily By what meanes he became partaker of our mortality flesh and blood by the same hauing conquered sinne and death he makes vs partakers of his immortality and diuine nature imparted in him to the humane and by it to vs. The Church and all the members thereof are in Christ as Eue and all her children were in Adam g Gen. 2.23 flesh of my flesh saith he and bone of my bone That as wee drew corruption from Adam with his nature so from Christ wee deriue incorruption by his grace Nay nearer then so h Eph. 5.30 wee are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones not only deriued from him or new begotten by him but perpetually subsisting in him As the i Iohn 15.4.5 graft in the stocke which yeeldeth vs continuall sap and spirituall nourishment vnto eternall life k Iohn 14.19 Because I liue saith he ye shall liue also At that day you shall know that I am in the Father and you in mee and I in you So dearely hath Christ loued vs v. 20. and so nearely hath hee vnited vs vnto himselfe that he is not satisfied as not inioying himselfe without vs a Eph. 1.23 his body the Church the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all b 1. Cor. 12.13 And as all the members being many are one body so also is Christ namely his Church Of which communion wee haue this other Sacrament c Poculum immortalitatis quod confectum est de infirmitate nostra veritate diuina habet quidem in se vt omnibus prosit sed si non bibitur non medetur Prosp in responsione ad obiectionem Vincentianam The cup of blessing which wee blesse No transubstantiation d 1 Cor. 10.16 is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which wee breake is it not the communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for wee are all partakers of one bread Bread still though consecrated yea and receaued For it is the e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 communion not the f Not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commixtion or confusion of his body with the bread as if they were kneaded together nor the g Nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translation of the bread into his body as if the one were supplanted by the other But it is the h But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 communion of his body by a common vnion of them both in the sacrament which doth necessarily consist both of the outward signe and inward grace Whereof there is such a i A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nazianz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macarius hom 27. reciprocall relation and mutuall coniunction in a sacrament by diuine institution that they necessarily concurre as integrant parts thereof without either of which it is no sacrament And therefore to signify their neare and intimate vnion they vsually haue one an others k Solet res quae significat cius rei quam significat nomine nominayi August quaest 57. super Leuit. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Talis est praedicatio
they who most presume of their workes whilest they liue are glad if they haue the grace to dye in the faith renouncing all merit of workes to fly vnto the throne of grace for mercy h Iud. 20. v. 21. And yee beloned saith Saint Iude building vp your selues on your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost keepe your selues in the loue of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternall life Yet is not our saluation the lesse certaine because the finall accomplishment thereof is expected by hope and is not presently put into our owne hands For as our faith is so is our hope i Heb. 11.1 faith being the ground of things hoped for and the reason of the hope that is in vs both of them therefore are firme and sure because built vpon the rocke Christ Iesus k Mat. 16.18 Vpon this rocke as Saint Peter beleeued and confessed Thou l v. 16. art Christ the sonne of the liuing God the holy catholicke Church is built m v. 18. against which the gates of hell shall not preuaile but that euery true member thereof liuing and dying in the communion of saints shall notwithstanding sin death attaine by forgiuenesse of sinnes and the resurrection of the body eternall life And therefore n Rom. 5.2 wee reioice in hope of the glory of God as if wee had already attained To beleeue and hope as a Christian is not as the termes are vulgarly vsed and may perhaps sound in prophane eares to haue an vncertaine opinion and doubtfull expectation which indeed can bee no better in the things of men subiect to falshood and vanity But it is to be certainely assured fully perswaded and firmely resolued o 2 Tim. 1.12 knowing whom wee haue trusted that he is able to keepe that which wee haue committed to him against that day No weake nor vncertaine hold but p Heb. 6.19 an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast entring into that which is within the vaile whither the fore runner euen Iesus is entred for vs. Faithfull hope is such an assurance q Rom. 8. as Saint Paul professeth by the helpe of Gods spirit knit together and firmely bound vp with that r 28.29.30 golden chaine of the certanity of saluation in Christ Iesus Wherevpon with a bold confidence he bids defiance to all the enimies of grace ſ v. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect c. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angells nor Principalities nor powers nor things preset nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. As our faith and affiance is more and more fixed in God thorough Iesus Christ by his spirit and approued vnto him by loue in well doing so is t Si quis credit etdiligit bene agendo prae ceptis obtemperando efficit vt etiam speret se ad id quod credit esse ventutum August de doctor Christ l. 1. cap. 37. the assurance of our saluation more and more confirmed in vs. For true u 1. Tim. 4.8 godlinesse hath the promises both of this life and of that which is to come Of this life * Mat. 6.33 Seeke ye first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all these things shill be administred vnto you And for the life to come x Pl. 50.23 To him that ordereth his conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God Therefore as wee beleeue so wee pray in hope which is our last refuge that our heauenly Father who knoweth whereof we stand in need will in his ordinary prouidence giue vs things needfull for this life to whom hee hath giuen grace first to seeke his kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Est autem duplici honoris muneris genere homo affectus quod ipsesolus poenitentiâ veniam peccatorum impetrat et eius vnius corpus quamvis mortale caducum aeternll immortale redditur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quorum alterum quod ad corpus pertinet propter animum alterum quod ad animum propter corpus consecutus est Nemesius lib. de natura hominis c. 1. And that he will freely and fully forgine vs our daily sinnes and trespasses of his meere grace in Christ Iesus remembring whereof wee are made to whom he giues this grace for his sake to forgiue one another Farther wee beleeue and pray in hope that he will guid and keepe vs ever hereafter by his spirit in the way everlasting though it please him to lead vs thorough manifold temptations and that he will deliuer vs in the end from all evill even from death it selfe and from him that hath the power thereof that is the Divell by the resurrection of our bodies to the eternall praise of his kingdome power and glory in the life to come z The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me Thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever Forsake not the workes of thine owne hands Bread the a Lev. 26.26 staffe of life Our daily bread being the most necessary of all temporall things implies the rest It was God his decree that in b Gen. 3.19 the sweat of our browes wee should eat our bread and it is the Apostles iniunction in the name of the Lord Iesus c 2. Thes 3.10 that if any man will not work he shall not eat wherevpon hee exhorteth every one d V. 12. with quietnesse to worke and to eat his owne bread Although it bee our bread our owne bread yet it is Gods gift without whose blessing e Ps 127.2 it is in vaine to rise vp early and so late to take rest to eat the bread of carefulnesse f Iam. 4.2 Yee lust and haue not yee kill desire to haue and cannot obtaine yee fight and warre and yet yee haue not because yee aske not yee aske and receaue not because yee aske amisse that you may consume it on your lusts which should bee for our dayly and necessary vse Some haue not of their own to eat g Ps 128.2 But thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands O well is thee and happy shalt thou be others haue not the h Eccles 4.8 power to eat of their own either not the health or not the heart i 5.19 this is also the gift of God And he giues it power to k Ps 104.15 strengthen mans heart and to sustaine our life from day to day Therefore it is called l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 6.11 daily bread adsubstantiall or supersubstantiall bread because being digested into our bodies it adds daily beyond its owne nature and substance thorough the blessing of God to our substance what the labour of life daily consumes What is there in
bread to make blood flesh and spirits But God giues it vertue and power beyond the nature and substance thereof to doe vs good speaking a blessing on it for our vse m Deut. 8.3 Mat. 4.4 Wherefore man shall not liue by bread only but by euery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God n 1. Tim. 4.5 Prov. 30.8 And it is sanctified and made convenient for vs by the word of o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honestum hoc insuper Deum iâ—itio comae prandii inuocari Diotogenes lib. de sâ—â—ctiltate God and prayer Yet it sustaines vs but from day to day for it is but daily bread and not as the tree of life whereof if the man had eaten hee should haue liued for euer The Manna which God gaue the Israelites from heauen it was but daily bread it would not ordinarily keepe vntill the morrow and p Ioh. 6.49 they that did eat thereof are dead Such is the condition of this life and the things thereof q 1. Cor. 15.19 And if in this life only wee had hope then were wee of all men most miserable Wherefore our r Ioh. 6.27 labour must bee not so much for the food that perisheth but for the meat which endureth to eternall life the supersubstantiall bread indeed Å¿ Cant. 8.7 aboue all the substance of our house t Ps 119.14 and to bee reioyced in aboue all substance Which Christ giues vnto vs for him hath the Father sealed u Ioh. 6.51 I am the liuing bread saith he which came downe from heauen if any man eat of this bread he shall liue for euer Gods prouidence doth not exclude ours in the vse of ordinary meanes but requires it directs and giues a blessing therevnto both in the things of this life and for a better But this is our folly we will either doe all our selues or no thing And commonly we can be content to leaue all to God for the world to come but in the things of this world we will bee our owne caruers Of the two * Luc. 16.8 the children of this world are in their generation wiser then the children of light They will provide for this life and we must provide x V. 9. that we may be receaued into everlasting habitations Wherin finding how short our store comes of such a purchase how vnworthy Gods grace we walk Forgiuenes of sins how ill we deserue thorough our owne corruption vtterly distrusting and disclaiming our selues wee flye againe vnto the throne of grace for pardon of our sins protection in temptations and rescue in the end from all evill Who can forgiue sinnes but God only against whom we sinne and doe euill in his sight For howsoeuer wee trespasse wrong Omniamandata Dei facta deputantur quando quiequid non fit ignoscitur Aug. l. 1. Retrac c. 19. and giue offence one to another which we may and must forgiue so farre as concernes vs yet can no man forgiue the sinne which is the transgression of the law but hee only who is the law-giuer He forgiues y Ps 32.5 the iniquity of our sin z Exod. 34 7. The Lord the Lord forgiuing iniquity transgression and sinne And he forgiues * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our debts the obligations of sinne penalties for sinne to whom we are so much bound in duty and by whose law we stand bound ouer vnto death a Rom. 6.23 the iust wages of sinne b Ps 49.7.8 None can by any meanes redeeme his brother or giue a ransome to God for him For it cost more to redeeme their soules so that he must let that alone for euer c Isa 43.25 But I even I am hee saith God that blotteth out all thy transgressions for mine owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes For when the offence is pardoned the d Impium est à Dto diminidiaem sperare veniam August punishment is remitted because it is the forgiuenesse of our debts the penalties of sinne When Christ cured any of their diseases he vsed to say e Mat. 9.6 Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee For they are the cause of all our maladies the remission whereof is therefore a present and a perfect remedy f Ps 103.3 4. God forgiueth all our sinnes and healeth all our infirmities so that they shall not tend to destruction in eternall death the iust wages of sinne and our due debt for the same g Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enimies we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more being reconciled shall we be saued by his life By whose grace we obtaine the forgiunesse not only of h Rom 3.25 sinnes past before grace thorough the forbearance of God but of our i Quotidianae incuâ— sionis Orabant autem vtiq iam fideles iam apostoli NaÌ„ ista oratio Dominica magis fidelibus datur Si debita illa tantummedò dicerentur quae per baptismum dimittuntur catechumenis congeueret magis orare Dimitte nobis debita nostra Aug. in Ps 142. daily sinnes and trespasses for which he hath taught vs as duely to aske pardon as for our daily bread with faith to obtaine k Rom. 5.16 For not as it was by one that sinned so is the gift for the iudgement was by one to condemnation but the free gift is of many offences to iustification euen so many and so long as we haue grace to beleeue and repent Iustification a terme in law denoting an act of the iudge not any habit in the party iustified being once passed vpon vs in grace l Rom. 8.28 according to his eternall purpose is neuer reversed but standeth more firme then the law of the Medes and Persians howsoever it be often reacted confirmed It was purposed of God to every one of his elect in his counsell from everlasting it was purchased and procured for them in the fulnesse of time by the death and passion of Christ Iesus It is published and proclaimed throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospell it is testified and applied to every penitent beleeuers conscience in the sight of God by his spirit and is sealed by the Sacraments and being apprehended by faith is often m Multò firmior est fides quaÌ„ reponit poenitentia Lactant. l. 5. c. 14. renued by repentance Whereby every poore publican that with true faith and repentance cryes God mercy n Luk. 18.14 goes away more iustified theÌ„ any proud Pharisee that iustifies himselfe o Iob. 33.23.24 And if there be a messenger an interpreter one of a thousand to shew vnto man his righteousnesse in his greatest a gonie and distresse God is gracious vnto him and saith deliuer him from going downe to the pit for I haue founde a ransome for him p Mat. 18.18 Whatsoeuer is loosed on earth it is loosed in heauen for it is God that doth it and